nevertheless obliged to kiss the Hand that beat him Their Imploys are different in time of Peace for some wait upon Ambassadors others upon Merchants and Consuls others again upon such as travel through the Turkish Empire They likewise arrest Malefactors and see good Order kept being feared of all Men insomuch that if they buy any thing they will have it at their own Price the Vender not daring to refuse it They have great Power in their Princes Election no Emperour thinking himself safe in his Throne till they approve of him So that to gain their good Opinion every new Emperour at his entring upon the Government distributes large Sums of Money amongst them and increases their Stipends Though the chief Strength of the Turkish Foot Forces rests in the Janizaries yet are there another sort of Foot-Men called Acouices which is a Forlorn Hope These receive no Pay but have free liberty to plunder so that they deliver the fifth Part to the Grand Seigniour Another kind there are called Asapi who are but of small Account and rather used as Pioneers than to encounter the Enemy yet are they often thrust into the Front of the Battle with their Bodies to blunt the Enemies Swords or to scale the Walls of Towns that by being slaughter'd their Dead Bodies may fill up the Ditches and so give the Janizaries opportunity on their Dead Carkasses to mount the Bullwarks The Grand Seignior keeps in continual Pay six thousand Gunners whom the Turks call Topegi and for the Guard of the Powder and Shot upon the March of the Army twelve thousand Men are kept in pay called Jebegi The Grand Seignior hath likewise certain Officers attending on him to the number of three thousand whom they call Chiaus which act in the Nature of Serjeants at Arms. These Men are well esteemed and are often employed in Embassies to Forreign Princes They also carry Letters or Commendations from the Grand Seignior or his Chief Vizier and are impower'd to apprehend Malefactors But never go to the Wars unless the Grand Seignior be there in Person They are commanded by a Chiaus Bassa who is of such Credit with all Men that when he is sent by the Grand Seignior to any Bassa Sanzack or Caddi to have any Man's Head cut off though he have no Warrant in writing yet his Authority is not disputed Thus have I set down the Land Forces of the Turkish Empire in number so great that in shew they should breed Confusion and ruin themselves yet such is the Order and Discipline that in that point they give place to none They live for the most part on a little Bread baked in the Ashes with Rice and Powder of Flesh dried in the Sun Wine is forbidden them by their Law though 't is often drunk by them in private especially the Great Commanders No Women are seen in their Armies In their March they observe a wonderful Silence and all the Soldiers are governed by the Beck of the Hand or Shew of the Countenance Quarrels and Thefts are severely punished When they March they dare not enter any Corn-field or Vineyard The Valiant are assured of Preferment and the Coward of Punishment As for the Grand Seignior's Naval Forces they are great he having of late for Gain-sake allured many Christian Carpenters and Shipwrights to his Arsenal and hath a great number of Men trained up in Marine Affairs by being continually imployed aboard his Gallies at Rhodes Cyprus and Mitylene and Alexandria He has also at his Beck the Pirates of Tunis Tripoley Sally Argire and other Places from amongst whom he chooses his prime Commanders in Marine Affairs To maintain these great Forces it is requisite a wonderful Mass of Money should be imployed which is the Sinews of War and without which so great an Empire could not be kept in frame though many are of opinion that the Grand Seignior's Annual Revenues exceed not eight Millions meaning thereby that which is collected of his Subjects and upon the account of Customs For which they give these Reasons First That the Turks have no care but of Arms the which do rather ruin than enrich a Country Secondly They consume so many Men in their Enterprizes that they scarce leave a sufficient number to manure the Land insomuch that the Subjects despairing to injoy their Wealth and necessary Commodities which they might get by their Labour and Industry employ not themselves to work nor traffick more than by necessity they are constrained For they argue 't is to no purpose to labour for another their Lives and Estates being daily exposed to the Mercy of their Prince And for this Reason many spacious Countries in the Turkish Empire lie waste which neglect frequently causes a Dearth A Third Reason that is given why the Grand Seignior's Revenues are no greater is for that when he Conquers any Country he assigns the Lands therein to his Timariots who serve in the Wars and are no otherwise liable to accommodate their Prince But although his ordinary Revenues amount to no great Sum in consideration of the large Circuit of his Empire yet his extraordinary Profits accruing by Confiscations Presents for no Stranger may approach his Presence empty handed and Mony raised upon Places and Offices of Trust amount to a far greater Sum than what has been mentioned Nor are the Sums small which he draws from the Princes their Tributaries that are not absolutely under his Jurisdiction as Moldavia Vallachia and Transylvania with many more So that in all moderate Writers affirm That his Coffers are yearly supplied with twenty Millions The Management of which is left to the Defterdari or chief Treasurer who has many Sub-officers under him Thus much having been spoken of the Forces Revenues and great Officers I shall now proceed to give the Reader a View of their Religion if it may without offence be so termed which they call the Law of their great Prophet As for their Religion it began in the time of Heraclius the Emperor at what time the Heresie of Arius and Nestorius spread it self to whose Infamous Proselytes Mahomet the Impostor born in Arabia joyned himself impiously denying the Divinity of Christ and proclaiming himself a Prophet sent from God drawing a Multitude after him Insomuch that such as would not receive his impious Tenents by fair means he compelled by force And the better to ingratiate himself with the lewd and licentious sort of People he tolerated all manner of Lust and Worldly Delights By the Law this Impostor left and that now has overspread two Parts of the World a Distinction is made between clean and unclean Meats to content the Jews who are the greatest Merchants in the Ottoman Empire They also maintain Circumcision but not at the Expiration of Eight Days according to the Jewish Custom but at the End of Eight Years when the Infant is able to make a Confession of his Belief and lifting up his Finger to speak these words in the Arabick Tongue viz.
sore shaken with inrestine broyls But Clisalthâ—n dying gave some Rest by reason his Sons fell at variance among themselves as he and his Brothers had done for he leaving four all grown to Mens estate viz. Maful Coppatine Renâ—â—â—â—ine and Câ—ichofroes he divided his Dominions amongst them but they thinking each other wronged unless every one had all would not content themselves with what their Father had allotted them though Dominions large enough to suffice twenty Kings raised impious Broils But after long contention Masut the Elder seised by force all the Dominions in Persia making himself thereby absolute Sultan where I shall leave him setling his Dominions and return to Jerusalem After the death of Baldwin in Almericus his younger Brother was crowned King on the seventeenth day of February Aâ—â—â— â—163 who was no sooner setled in his Throne but he warred upon Dargan the Egyptian Sultan for refusing to pay him the accustomed Tribute and in a dreadful battel overthrew him who to stay the pursuit cut the Banks of Nilus and lay'd the Country under water But whilst he was busie in Egypt Noridin the King of Damasco making Inrodes upon the Christians near Tripolis was fought with by Gilbert Lacy an english man then great Master of the Templars and by him overthrown with the loss of three parts of his Army but the next year laying Siege to Arethusa the Christian Princes gathered their Forces to oppose him who upon their approach raised his Siege and departed and whilst they eagerly pursued he trained them into certain miry Fens where turning upon them he overthrew their Army with incredible slaughter and the Captivity of all the Princes commanding after which Victory he again laying Siege to the City had it yielded to him but Almericus was more successful in Egypt for he so prevailed against the Turks and Sarazens that they were obliged to purchase their Peace with the delivery of the City of Alexandria and most of the Prisoners taken by Noradin in the late overthrow and within a short while after the Turks infringing the Articles he aided by the Knights Templars and other Christians lay'd Siege to Pelusium which he after three days setting down before it won and gave it to the great Master and the Knights of the Order In this City they took the Sultan of Egypt's Son and Nephew for whose ransom the King received 100000 Duâ—ats and so he returned to Jerusalem when shortly after Sâ—raâ—con the Turkish General in those Parts under pretence of Friendship slew the Sultan of Egypt in his Tent and was in his stead proclaimed Sultan being first Turk 〈◊〉 ever governed Egypt yet he enjoyed not his ill got Dominion above the space or a year before death surprized him when in his stead Saladine his Nephew was crowned Sultan who desirous to be rid of the Caliph who as Successor to the Impostor Mahomet ruled in effect the Kingdom he upon some disgust with his horseman's Mace beat his brains out at a blow and then taking the chief Places of Trust from the Egyptians and giving them to his Turks so well secured himself and his Posterity that for the revolution of many years that fertile Kingdom remained in subjection to the Turks Being by the means aforesaid setled in his Kingdom he raised a great power and entered Palestine and after a short Siege took the City of Daron e're Almericus could come to relieve it and now the Turks increasing in great numbers the King of Jerusalem was obliged to send to the Christian Princes of the West for aid and in the mean while stoutly defended his Territory which the former Kings had extended to the uttermost borders of Arabia Felix larger than what ever the Israelites possessed and Anno 1173. Noridon King of Damasco died the sorest Enemy the Christians had but as Joy seldom comes without some taste of sorrow to allay it so now for Almericus the Sixth famous King of Jerusalem returning from the Siege of Peane 〈…〉 year fell into a Fever which after a short sick 〈…〉 him of life Up 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 Americus his Nephew Baldwi◠〈…〉 nightily opposed the Turks gâ—â—ing them many 〈◊〉 â—â—erthrows but was in the flower of his youth cut 〈◊〉 death the sixteenth of Aâ—â—y 1185. when as he haâ—â—eiâ—â—ed twelve Years and some Months In this King's stead his Son Baldwin the Fifth of that name and Eighth King of Jerusalem was crowned but long he had not reigned e'r his perfidious Mother to advance her second Husband Guy to the Throne poysoned him But Heaven leâ—t not such wickedness unrevenged not long after Guy the Ninth and Last King of Jerusalem took upon him the Scepter the Christians fell at variance amongst themselves ready to turn their Swords upon each other of which Saladine the Egyptian Sultan taking the advantage won many Cities and finally in a bloody battel the Christian Army was overthrown the King and most of his Nobles together with the great Master of the Templers were taken Prisoners which altogether broke the strength of the Christians in Syria for hightned with this success the Sultan with an Army of 200000 Horse and Foot besieged Jerusalem which being naked of men and wanting a Head was after fourteen days Siege and many fierce Assaults delivered up to the Enemy Anno 1187. after it had been in the hands of the European Christians for the space of 100 years upon condition that such Christians as would might still remain there with free exercise of their Religion and those that were minded to depart might be permitted so to do with as much of their Goods as they could carry upon their backs And thus the Holy City again fell into the hands of the Pagans who poluted it with their prophane Idolatries and superstitious Worship through the Christians lukewarmness and disrespect of God's Divine Worship who living in abundance of plenty forgat the hand that protected them trusting in their own arms as the Israelites to their cost had done before them After Jerusalem the Metropolis of the Kingdom was taken Anâ—â—eâ—â— was betrayed by the Patriarck such little regard had Christians of their Fidelity into the hands of the Turks for a certain sum of Gold 〈◊〉 afterward most of the other Cities either revolted or were taken by force Chap. IV. The Second Expedition of the Western Princes for the Recovery of the Holy Land c. JErusalem and most of the Cities of Palestine being lost as aforesaid the European Potentates were not a little grieved and to recover the same raised a mighty power and first that advanced was Frederick the German Emperor who setting forth from Vienna passed with a puissant Army through Hungary Bulgaria and Thracia and so to Constantinople where he passed over into Asia and entring Lyconia gave the Turks a great overthrow after which he besieged and took Iconium giving the Spoyls thereof to his Soldiers and from thence passing into Celicia in the Straights where the Greek Emperor some years before
where finding Amurath incamped with a huge Army he bid him Battel which as the former with great Slaughter continued for the space of 3 Days but with better Success for in the end Victory declared for the Christians all the Plains being covered with the Body of the Slain most of the Turkish Commanders either Perished in the Fight or fell into the Hands of Huniades who having recovered many Towns delivered the Prisoners to the Despot and returned with Triumph to Buda And now a quarrel arising between Scanderbeg and the Duke of Venice about one Lech Zachery a Nobleman of Epirus who being shamefully Murthered by Lech Duchagne his Kinsman and having great Territories on the Frontiers of the Kingdom the Duke claimed it as belonging to his Signory seizing upon the City of Dayna part thereof of which trouble Mustapha the Great Bassa who lay in Macedonia with a great Army being advertised by the command of Amurath entered Epirus of which Scanderbeg having notice gathered all his forces and finding him Burning the Country in the upper Dibria where both Armies confronting each other a Turk named Caragusa stepping forth Challenged any in the Christian Camp to Fight him Hand to Hand which bold Challenge being accepted by Manessi one of Scanderbeg's Captains he at the first Incounter slew the Challenger which did not a little dismay the Turks who highly relyed upon the Strength of their Champion for the Battle immediately joyning the Turks were overthrown with great Slaughter and the Bassa taken Prisoner who was afterwards Ransomed by Amurath for 25000 Ducats This overthrow so inraged the Tyrant that raising a mighty Power he came in Person to invade Epirus promising great rewards to those that could bring Scanderbeg's Head of which more then ordinary preparations Scanderbeg having timely notice furnished his Cities with all things necessary providing them with strong Garrisons himself resolving to keep the Field with his Army and by Ambushes and frequent Assaults to weaken and cut off the Enemy which upon the arrival of the Turkish Army he so effectually performed that seldom a Day or Night past that he intrapped not some or other of the Vauntcuriers or broke into their Camp insomuch that they were obliged to be continually in Arms whereupon Amurath designing to win some strong City there to leave a Garrison and so to depart besieged Sfetigrade with all his power continually thundering against it with his great Ordnance But one Prelat a Valiant Captain being Governour right Manfully defended it insomuch that in the frequent Assaults made he lost 20000 of his best men yet being ashamed to raise his Siege ' ere he had won the City sent to offer terms of Peace with great Priviledges and immunities if they surrender'd the place as likewise by secret means indeavoured to corrupt the Captains with great promises but they detesting his offer regarded more their Loyalty to their Prince then his Gold yet at the same time there wanted not one base minded Vallain who for a Sum in Hand and other large offers when he had performed his promise undertook to deliver the City into the Hands of Amurath which by this means he effected This great City standing upon a Rock had in it but one Well which served both the Soldiers and Citizens plentifully with Water into this Well did the Villain by occupation a Smith cast the Carkas of a stinking Dog which the next Morning found by some of the Soldiers and drawn thence the rumour thereof was quickly spread throughout whereupon the Soldiers notwithstanding all the intreaties of the Governour and chief Citizens the Soldiers would not be perswaded to Drink thereof resolving rather to indure the worst Extremity and by this means the City not being tenable the Governor to prevent a mutiny amongst his Soldiers and the danger the City was in to be sacked sent to Amurath to acquaint him that upon condition the Garrison might pass with Bag and Baggage to Scanderbeg and the Citizens live peaceably he would deliver him the City who being glad of this offer freely granted their demand only with this condition that the Citizens should build their Houses without the City These Articles agreed on the City was delivered to Amurath and the Traytor by whose means it was surrendered was rewarded with three rich Suits of Apparel 50000 Aspers and the promise of a yearly Pension of 2000 Ducats but long he had not enjoyed his riches ' ere he received a juster reward of his Treason being as 't is said secretly made away by the command of Amurath who tho he loved the Treason abhorred the Traytor The City being thus gained Amurath having furnished it with a Garrison of his best men departed with the rest of his Army to Hadrianople upon the Rear of which Scanderbeg setting with 8000 Horse and 3000 Foot cut off a great part of his Army And having followed quite out of his Territories returned to Croia and fortified it upon notice that Amurath intended to return with his Army in the Spring in which he was not deceived for the old Turk desirous to subdue the Country of Epirus to obliterate the disgrace he had received by the many overthrows he had there received he sent Sebahyas one of his Bassas before with part of his Army himself following slowly with the rest and upon his arrival sat down before the great City of Croia where having cast 10 Pieces of Cannon he began to batter it the which with great fury he continued to do for the space of 4 Days in two places beating down part of the Wall upon which he commanded the Assault to be given thrusting his men desperately into the Breach giving order that such as Shrunk should be killed by their Fellows and on the other side promising them great reward if they entered the City and Mahomet his Son being then in the Camp and commanding as General promised 100000 Aspers to him that should first advance his Ensign upon the Wall but neither prevailed for Vranacontes the Governour a Valiant man incouraging his Soldiers gave the Turks such a Welcome that they left 8000 of their dead Bodies in the Breach Ditches and Plains adjacent which Amurath perceiving and understanding the invincible courage of the Epirots caused the retreat to be sounded and after many repulses and no hopes of prevailing he fell to his old practice endeavouring to corrupt the Governour and chief Captains with large Gifts and to that end sent a Crafty Bassa with two Servants Loaded with Treasure which the Governour with disdain rejected Vowing that if the like were attempted again that he would cause the Hands Noses and Ears of the Messengers to be cut off and they so returned to their Master During this Siege Scanderbeg was not Idle but still hovered about the Turks Camp frequently Alaruming 'um and breaking into one Quarter or other killing those that Guarded it and taking great Booties insomuch that after several Months Siege and the loss of 30000 men
and soon after was sent to besiege Croia in Epirus to the relief of which the Venetians hast'ned with an Army under the leading of Contarenus a man of great courage who at the first onset overthrew the Turks with great Slaughter obliging them to leave their Camp but not pursuing them by Reason of the near approach of Night whilst they were taking the Spoil the Enemy rallying fell into their disordered Ranks and soon turned the Scale of Victory by subduing those who a little before were Conquerers in which last Fight the General and several of his great Captains were Slain Heightned with this Success the Year following Asa-Beg with a considerable Army passed the River Sontium where being incountered by the Garrison Soldiers of three several Forts under the leading of Hieronimus Nowel the Count of Verona he trained the Venetians into an Ambush by which they being few in number and beset on every side were mostly Slain after which the proud Conquerers proceeded to spoil the Country wasting it with Fire and Sword taking great Spoils and driving before them a number of the miserable People into Captivity The Year following Anno 1478. about Harvest-time they come again and with a great power passing the aforesaid River marched further into the Country wasting all before them and unopposed passed over a part of the Alps towards Germany a way both difficult and dangerous and so plundering the Mountaniers who little dreamt of such troublesome Visitants they returned home laden with great Spoil And now Mahomet remembring the disgrace he received at the Siege of Scodra of which he allowed one a yearly Pension to put him daily in mind he sent for his Soldiers from all parts of his Dominions and under the Leading of several of his Bassaâ— himself being there in person likewise he set down before the City with an Army of 350000 men and there casting several pieces of Ordnance of Mettal he had for that purpose brought thither in Mass one of them carrying a Bullet of 1300 pound Weight he after he had in vain Essayed to have the City delivered by fair means from the Mounts incessantly battered the Walls and withal threw into the City huge Balls of Wild-Fire and Stones of a prodigious Weight which beat down and fired many Houses yet so far were the besieged from being discouraged that they daily animated each other couragiously to defend the City to the last man every Night Countermuring the Breaches the Cannon made with Earth Timber and Planks which Mahomet perceiving commanded his men to give a furious assault and either by Firing the Planks or scaling the Walls to enter the City the which in hopes of great rewards promised them if they happened to be Succesful in the attempt thrust themselves into the mouth of Slaughter being cut off in such numbers by the storm of Shot sent from the Walls that all the plains were covered with their Bodies which Mahomet perceiving and understanding they could not accomplish his desire caused the retreat to be sounded and gave order for the renewing the Battery so that in one day the Engineers sent 194 great Shot into the Breach and immediately caused a second Assault to be made tho with as bad Success as had been the former About this time the Turks under the leading of Solyman Bassa had taken Croia more through Famine then their Valour which City the Inhabitants nigh perished with Hunger and not being able to expect any Relief all the Country about the City being in the hands of the Turks had delivered upon promise of Life and Liberty but the Faithless Bassa not having Regard to his Promise having got Possession put the remaining Skeletons to the Sword which the Scadrians understanding by some Christians in the Turks Camp were the more incouraged resolving manfully to dye rather then trust the perfidious Infidels Mahomet inraged at the besieged obstinacy and the loss of his men in the two assaults after he had with his Artillery beaten down a great part of the Wall Commanded the most Couragious of his Soldiers to give a third Assault which they did with great Fury shouting in the mean while Showers of Arrows and Bullets into the City and at length as men desperate entering into the Breach came to Hand-strokes with the Christians and began a cruel and dreadful Fight in which many were slain on either side The Turks still renewing their assault with fresh Forces till at length they so far prevailed that those who defended the Breach were at the point to retire at what times a fresh Troop brought by the Governour came happily to their Relief and beat off the Assailants with great slaughter Whereupon Mahomet again renewed his Battery and lodged 173 more of his great Shot in the Breach and then sending for his chief Commanders into his Tent-Royal pitched upon a Mount advantagiously to behold what passed and there by Threats and Promises incouraged them to undertake a fourth Assault In which he lost 12000 of his best Men and was forced at last to sound a retreat yet by the several Fights the Christians were sorely weakened in all the Streets lying covered with Turkish Arrows and the Breaches with the mingled Bodies of the Christians rent most miserably by the great Shot they were forced to Labour both Day and Night to repair the Breaches every one incouraging his Fellow in such sort that Mahomet began to despair of Victory and blaspheming God for as he impiously pretended hindering his Proceedings he retired in his Melancholly Mood into his Tent where Tormenting himself for the space of two days he would not be spoken with by any but the third Day calling a Council it was concluded another Assault should be given which was according done with great Fury and much Effusion of Blood on either side but the besieged and resolving to fell their Lives dear so manfully withstood them that with Shame and greater Slaughter then ever they were forced to retire and now all Provision being cust off from the besieged the Tyrant resolved to gain that by Famine he could not do by Force and therefore ceasing any further Assault caused the City to be so closely Blocked up that the Christians were forced to Eat all manner of unclean and loathsome Things as Horses Dogs Cats Rats Mice and the like Which miserable state of theirs made known to the Senate of Venice under whose Protection that City was and they being grown weary of their twenty years tedious War with the Turkish Tyrant sent Benedictus Trivisanus their Embassador to Constantinople whither weary of the Siege Mahomet was returned leaving one of his Bassas with the Army to Block up the City as aforesaid who upon his Arrival being admitted to the Presence of the Tyrant he so ordered the Matter that a Peace was concluded upon these Articles First that the Venetians should deliver him the City of Scodra the Isle of Lemnos the strong Castle of Tenarus in Peloponnesus and pay
Bassa Charging furiously with fresh Troops of Horse entering too far amongst the Squadrons of his Enemies was slain which so discouraged his men then at the point to have prevailed that they first fainted and afterwards betook themselves to plain flight so that in passing the Mountains many of them were slain and more taken Prisoners Bajazet hearing of the Success of the Rebels sent Jonuses Bassa against them with 40000 Horse and Foot upon whose approach they retired into the Mountains but being driven thence they fled into Armenia Whereupon the Bassa fretting that he had not beset the ways caused all that he found to imbrace the new Religion or to have born Arms against Bajazet on the behalf of Techellis either to be put to Death Burnt in the Forehead with a hot Iron or Transported into Europe to prevent any future Insurrection and upon his return to Constantinople had Notice that Techellis and his scattered Forces in their flight lighting upon a Caravan of Silks and other Rich Merchandize took the spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the Command of Hysmael hanged upon Gibbits and Techellis for a Terror to others burnt alive The Astan Rebellion suppressed by the means aforesaid the year following viz. Anno 1509. a dreadful Earthquake happened in Constantinople and the Countries adjacent which lasted with very little Intermission for the space of eighteen days or as the Turks affirm a Month in which time â—â— tâ—ew to the ground many stately Buildings in Constantinople Hadrianople and other Cities of Greece and in their Ruins overwhelmed 13000 People after which a great Mortality happened which dispeopled many Cities in the Turks Dominions but both being past Bajazet set 80000 to repair the mischief Constantinople had sustained by the Earthquake which they performed in four Months Beautifying the City more then ever Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters who lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governours in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish History after this manner reckons up viz. Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Mahomet yet as Antonius Vtrius Genois who long time lived in Bajazet's Court accounts they were only six whose Names he recites thus Scieniscia Alemscia Achometes Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus and that the two former dyed long before their Father and were by him greatly lamented now as for Tizhan and Abdula Zelebi the Turks report they were put to Death by their Fathers Command upon Suspition that they aspired too high in Conceit of Empire Of all these Sons Mahometes was of greatest hope who was by his Father made Governour of Magnesia but being by reason of his Youth somewhat Frolicksome he often went disguised to take a view of his Brothers Courts how therein they behaved themselves c. And at last came with two others in the habit oâ— Sea-faring men to the Court of Bajazet where not at first finding Admittance to the Emperors Presence they went and bought a fair Christian Captive and then pretending they had a Present to deliver were by the Warders permitted to enter and having delivered the Present found means to depart being first rewarded with three rich Garments but e'r they were gotten on Ship-board they were met by a Courtier that knew Mahometes who allighting would have done him Reverence but he forbad it as not being willing to be discovered yet it was not kept so close but it came to Bajazet's Ear who jealous as always Tyrants are that under such like Intreagues might be hid some secret Conspiracy against his Life or Empire he wrote to one Asmehemides a Courtier highly in Favour with Mahometes to poison him sending withal a poisonous Powder to effect it which this perfidious Courtier in hopes to succeed him in his Government performed but long it was not e'r the Tyrant repenting him of his inhumane and unnatural Command cast the said Courtier in Prison where he miserably perished Bajazet having caused Mahometes to be poisoned whom he need not to have feared Selymus the Governour of Trepezond one whom he intirely Loved immediately Conspired against him and having Corrupted most of the great Bassas of the Court the better to strengthen himself married the Daughter of Mahometes the Tartarian King who Aiding him with 15000 Tartarian Horse he left his Government and passed over the Euxine into Europe under pretence of invading Hungary where haivng notice that his Father intended to declare Achometes his Successor leaving the Coast of Hungary he marched directly towards Hadrianople where Bajazet lay with his Army and incamping within sight of the City sent a feigned Message to excuse his coming in a Hostile manner the which was as he said only that he might gain Access to his Presence to shew him such Reasons as he doubted not but he would approve of why Achometes should not succeed him but Bajazet not trusting to his fawning sent him word that if he did not immediately return to his Government in Asia and disband his Army he would not fail to chastise him with the Scourge of War But this Speech did not at all dismay the Head-strong Youth nor could all the Presents and fair Words Bajazet could devise avert him but raising his Camp marched directly towards Constantinople which Bajazet perceiving drew his Army out of Hadrianople and marched to prevent his surprizing the Imperial City at whose Departure out of Hadrianople Selymus entered it and having there refreshed his Army followed hard upon his Father cutting off the straglers of his Army and part of his Rear which caused the Old man to Face about and bid him Battle though all the Bassas except Cherseogles disswaded him from it as secretly favouring Selymus which Selymus as willing to accept after both Armies were put into Order and Bajazet with a moving Oration had incouraged his Men a cruel Fight began which continued from Noon till the setting of the Sun at what time the Tartarian Horse sore Gauled with the shot of the Harquebusses and terrified with the Thundering noise disranked and fled in spite of their Rider after which the Foot being Charged by the Janizaries were most of them slain Selymus himself upon a swift Horse hardly scaping In this Battle fought Anno 1511. near Chiurlus 30000 of Selymus his Men were slain and taken Prisoners with the loss only of 7000 of Bajazet's Soldiers after which Bajazet kept on his way to Constantinople where he no sooner arrived but he bountifully rewarded his Men Achometes Bajazet's eldest Son being at Amasia and hearing what had passed raised an Army of 20000 Horse and Foot and by speedy marches came to Scutari Antiently called Christophorus situate upon the Straights of Bosphorus over against Constantinople where incamping he sent Messengers to his Father requesting him as he had frequently determined to declare him his Successor as by Seniority he ought and to resign him the Empire
over at length weary of his unwonted diet he sent his Servant to a Shepherds Cottage to purchase natural Food who suspecting by some words that passed that it was the Prince like a perfidious Swain he gave notice thereof to Coshmos one of Selymus's his Captains who was come insearch of him upon which he was apprehended and carryed towards Prusa of which the Tyrant having notice greatly rejoyced and immediately sent one Kirengi Og'ly a Squint-Ey'd Captain to strangle him by the way who accordingly performed his wicked Masters pleasure and now none remaining alive to obstruct the progress of his greatness but Achometes and his two Sons he resolved to go against them but in the beginning of his Expedition he intercepted some Letters signed by several Commanders of his Camp and directed to Achometes desiring him to advance towards Selymus with all speed and that he might be assured upon his approach a great part of the Army would revolt or at least in the Battle they would kill Selymus Upon this discovery those that were found to be concerned therein were Executed and the Letters notwithstanding sent upon which Achometes presuming made such hast that he left his Footmen behind at what time 10000 Janizaries were come to Selymus out of Europe so that Battle joyning after a most Bloody conflict Achometes was overthrown and seeking to save himself by flight his Horse fell with him into a deep Ditch where he was taken by the pursuers at whose hands he could not procure himself to be Slain tho he earnestly desired it but was lead Captive to his cruel Brother who Commanded the Squint-Ey'd Captain that had dispatched Corcutus to strangle him with a Bow-String and now desiring nothing more then to get in his possession the two Sons of Achometes who to his great Grief heard they were honourably received the one in the Persian and the other in the Egyptian Courts and that Amurath the Elder aided by Hysmael the Great Sophy with ten thousand Persian-Horse was entered into Cappadocia wasting the Country before him for fear of whom most of the adjacent Provinces had submitted to do him homage he resolved after he had driven him back in revenge of the aid the Sophy had lent him to War upon his Countries in Persia wherefore preparing a great Army tho many of his great Commanders lay'd before him the difficulty and danger of the undertaking and amongst the rest Chendemus Vice-Roy of Natolia a man of great Experience and of all others in greatest Credit and Authority with Selymus who used many Arguments to disswade him therefrom which he afterward found to be undeniable truths but some of his Flatterers perswading him that Chendemus was bribed by Amurath to divert his Arms another way and bring certain Ruffains hired for that purpose to attest what they had said the Tyrant caused the faithful Bassa to be slain without hearing his Excuse and then Marching from Arsenga he came to the Confines of Armenia the Less before whose Powerful Army the young Prince fled but Selymus fearing lest the Mountain Kings not being made his friends and yet left behind him should fall upon his Rear sent Ambassadors to them to desire free passage through their Territories and to send him provision for his Money at such time as he should be entered into Armenia the greater to all which they accorded whereupon with all his Army he passed the Mountain Scodrisci and after 8 days Marching over an other great Mountain called Moschiâ— which the famous River Euphrates with his mighty streams and huge broden Banks separateth from the great Mountain Anti-Taurus and with perpetual steep ridges runneth into Iberia and Cholchis Here Selymus with his Ensigns displayed Marching along the Banks of the River departed not from the same for fear in that hot Country he should be distressed for want of Water and so held on his way directly Eastward leaving the Country of Armenia the less upon the Left and the Kingdom of Aladeules on the right and so along to the Banks of Araxes finding all the Country before him destroyed and by reason the Mountain Kings kept not their words in sending him provision his Army began to fall into great want which though too late made him call to mind the faithful Council of Chendemus yet having Marched thus far he could not without great dishonour turn back and therefore passing Arazes about the City of Coy to defend which City Vsta Ogli the Persian General approached with his whole power contrary to the expectation of Selymus whose Souldiers being oppressed by want and for the most part were forced to live upon wild fruit began to Mutinie so that whilst either Army lay Hovering at some distance Hismael came in Person into his Camp and from thence sent a harauld to Selymus to know why he had in hostile manner entered his Country having no title thereto as likewise to take a view of the Turkish Army to which demand Selymus replyed that his Grandfather his Uncle and himself had greatly Indamaged the Othoman Empire by making several Invasions and Aiding the Rebels in the Reigns of Mahomet Bajazet and of late in his Reign yet he esteemed them not as sufficient causes of War but sought after his enemy young Amurath his Brothers Son who had of late spoiled Cappadocia whom if he would quietly and friendly deliver unto him he would withdraw his forces and peaceably return into his own Kingdom otherwise with fire and Sword he would destroy not only the frontiers of Armenia but the heart of Persia also and so dismissing the Herauld both the Armies for that day lay still in their trenches expecting the dreadful event of Battle and after both Armies were Marshalled and put in order the Bloody Blast was sounded whereupon the Persian Horsemen came on with great fury making great Havock of the Vaunt-guard of Selymus his Army overthrowing the Alapi or common Souldiers by heaps which are such as the Turks for the most part carry to stand the first Shock of the Enemies fury and to blunt their Swords nor did the Turkish Horse stand firm but charged in either Wing gave ground which Selymus seeing caused his orders to open and began with his great Ordnances to play furiously to avoid whose Murthering shot the Persian Horsemen opened likewise to the right and the left yet the thundering of the Cannon so amazed the Horses that many of them cast their Riders yet Hysmale with great fury broke and disordered the Turks right Wing composed of Asian Horsemen but whilst Vsta Ogli was indeavouring to do the same to the left he was slain with a harquibus shot which much dismayed the Soldiers under his command yet could they not be forced to retire till Selymus came on with all his Power of Janizaries yet gaining little ground whereupon he commanded all his great Ordnance which he had reserved as his last refuge to be furiously discharged against the right Wing of the Persian Horse where
Bassa Vice-Admiral of the Turk upon his arrival landed 800 Horsemen and 1000 Foot who ranging up and down the Island did great harm by burning and destroying all before them till they came to the Suburbs of Corfu which they attempted to set on fire but were beaten off by the Garrison Souldiers who sallyed upon them with great fury killing a great number of them and amongst the rest Paphus Rays a man of great account causing the rest to betake themselves to flight who coming on board the Gally weighed Anchor and sailed to the Bay of Corinth otherwise called Lepanto having on board the Fleet 15000 Captive Christians taken in the Islands belonging to the Venetians The outrages of the Turks made the Christian Confederates hasten out their Fleet which met at Messina where the Admirals and other great Commanders called a Councel to consider what was best to be done in the management of the War against so powerful an Enemy not doubting the victory for why the Venetian Fleet consisted of 108 Gallies 6 Galliasses 2 great Ships and many small Galliots to whom were joyned 12 Gallies of the Popes Commanded by Columnius And with Don John General of Spain Base Son to Charles the 5th and Auria the Spanish Admiral came 81 Gallies of which three appertained to the Knights of Maita In this Fleet besides Mariners were reckoned to be 20000 Men an Army not onely most beautiful for shew as consisting of able Men but for the most part composed of old experienced Souldiers amongst whom were a great number of the Christian Nobility who came to serve against the Infidels of their own accord drawing after them a number of their Favorites whom they at their own charge maintained The chief of which were Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma Franciscus Maria Prince of Vrbin and Paulus Jordanus Vrsinus of the Honourable Family of the Roman Vrsini All things being thus in a readiness the Venetian Admiral in the Counsel called to determine what was to be done vehemently pressed the General and the rest of the great Commanders instantly to give the Enemy Battle and was seconded by several others of Note as well Spaniards as Romans whereupon Commandement was given for putting the Fleet in order which by the three Admirals of Venice Rome and Spain being brought into the Ocean was martialed in this manner In the right wing which consisted of 53 Gallies was Auria the Spanish Admiral placed In the left wing Augustinus Barbadious with the like number of Gallies and in the middle Battle stood the General himself with 70 Gallies on the right hand of the General stood Columnius and on the left Venerius his Associates and thus with equal form the Fleet set forward as if they instantly had been to joyn the Enemy During this preparation of the Christians the Turks were not idle but calling a Council of the chief Commanders held a long debate whether they should give the Christians Battle or decline it but at length those that held it dangerous to give Battle being over-ballanced by those that were of the contrary opinion it was resolved that the whole Fleet should be put in order of Battle which at the command of Haly Bassa General of the Land Forces and Great Admiral of the Turkish Gallies coming out of the Bay of Corinth or Lepanto they were put into order of the Battle after this manner The middle Battle in number much like the Christians was conducted by Haly Bassa and Partau attended upon by Agan Master of the Turks Arsenal Mustapha Zelibi the Treasurer Achmat Bay with Mahomet his younger brother the sons of Haly Achmat Aga Governor of Teuthrania Assis Caiga Governour of Calipolis Caracoza Cassanes Son to Barbarossa Malamur Governour of Mytilene Dely Solyman Gider Captain of Chios Cassambeius Governour of the Rhodes Provi Aga Captain of Nauplium Giaper Zelibi President of Calabria Dordagnan Dondomeni with many others too tedious to recite The right wing was by the appointment of the Bassa's commanded by Mahomet Bey with 56 Gallies to whom were joyned many Captains of great Experience in Sea affairs The left wing was commanded by Vluzales Viceroy of Argiers an old experienced Pirate composed of 90 Gallies accompanyed with Cariolo and Araby his two sons attended on by a multitude of Pirates who entered into the War in hopes to get great spoil In the Rearward was placed Amurath Dragut with 30 Gallies and divers other small vessels Both Fleets being set in order of Battle about noon a fierce ingagement happened in the beginning of which God so ordering it the Wind turned about to the great advantage of the Christians driving the smoake of the great Ordnance and vollies of small shot in the face of the Infidels whereupon for a long time the fight continued with equal success victory inclining to neither side but after four hours space the Turkish Admiral being slain his Gally taken and about 40 others sunk and fired victory began to declare her self for the Christians Yet the desperate Turks as searing Selymus Anger if they should return vanquished fought desperately but true valour prevailing and all the chief Commanders except Vluzales slain or taken Prisoners and he resolving to reserve himself to his better fortune fled after 5 hours desperately fighting with between 30 and 40 Gallies into the Bay of Lepanto leaving the victory to the Christians who having pursued him as far as they thought convenient returned to take the spoil where it was a horrible spectacle to behold the Sea coloured with blood and covered with the bodies of the slain fragments of broken Ships and such weapons as were subject to float upon its surface The number of the Turks lost in this great overthrow could not be known by reason of the Multitude that were buryed in the Sea but Antonius Gnarnaerius writing the History of this war reported 32000 to have perished and amongst them these of Note viz. Haly Bassa General Mahomet Bey otherwise called Chiroche or Siroche Governour of Alexandria Cassanes the Son of Barbarossa together with his son Mulaune Governor of Mitylene Gider Governour of Chios Cassambaunes Governour of Rhodes Provi Aga Captain of Nauplium Mustapha Zelibi the great Treasurer Caracoza Viceroy of Argiers with many others The chief Prisoners taken in this Battle were Achmet and Mahomet sons to Haly Bassa and Nephews to Selymus who being afterwards sent as a Present to the Pope the Eldest died at Naples and Machmet Bey Governour of Euboea and of lesser note 3500 of the Enemies Gallies were taken 161 40 sunk in the fight and taken about 60 Galliots and other small vessels This notable Victory thus obtained Don John Venerius and Columna coming together friendly embraced each other and afterwards in a most Christian manner on their knees returned most hearty thanks to Almighty God for giving them so Great a Victory over the Enemies of his Name which pious example was seconded by all the Captains Mariners and souldiers of the Fleet
Forces to the Conquest of that great Kingdom which the dissension amongst the Sons of the deceased King about the succession made him suppose was easie to be effected whereupon raising such great Forces as held Christendom in suspence he yet declined attempting any thing till he had knowledge what effects the civil broyls had wrought which were that after a long contention and the Murther of many of the Sons and Grandchildren of the deceased King Mahomet Eldest son to Tamas who had before rejected the Diadem to prevent the ruin of his Native Country took upon him the Regency though not without the envy of many of the great Sultans whose guilt upon his being proclaimed King had caused them to fly who like thorow paced Traitors in their exile solicited Amurath by all means speedily to invade the Kingdom of Persia laying before him the facility of conquering that noble Kingdom abounding with all manner of riches and that the Georgians and Saracens evily affected towards the new King would not fail upon the approach of his Army to joyn with him These and the like perswasions fired the Turk with hopes of so glorious an atchievement that notwithstanding he was in League with the Persian yet after long debating the matter in the Divan it was resolved that the War should be undertaken and carryed on with all vigor and that the first attempt should be made upon the Countrey of Servan the better to effect which by alaruming the Enemy in divers places he sent to his Bassa's Governours of Babylon Van and other places on the Persian Frontiers to molest the Territories by frequent inroads to perform which they were no ways wanting And now Stephen the Prince of Transilvania having marryed Queen Anne and being confirmed by the free choice of the Nobility King of Poland he sent his Ambassadors to Amurath to conclude a firm and inviolable League which was granted by the Turk very advantageous to the Christians that he might not be hindered in his Persian War which in Anno 1578. he undertook sending a great Army under the leading of Mustapha Bassa who in the Reign of Selymus had Conquered Cyprus into the Countrey of Servan composed of these following Nations viz 12000 Mesopotamians 14000 Babylonians and Assyrians 2000 Syrians 10000 Natolians 1000 Jews of Palastine 4000 Cilicians after which followed the Soldiers of Grecia the Glory and Hope of the whole Camp to the number of 10000 as likewise 10000 Janizaries Harquibusires to whom 4000 of the Citizens of Er Zicshum were added besides many Voluntiers of divers Nations insomuch that the whole Army consisted of 110000 Horse and Foot besides this multitude of men Mustapha brought into Persia 500 pieces of Artillery and 50 Waggon loads of Money to leavy other Soldiers if occasion required it The Bassa with the Army aforesaid arriving at Chars after three dayes staying there during which time being marvellously troubled by reason of a suddain Tempest he raised his Camp and departed to the foot of the Mountains of Chielder otherwise Periardo where he had knowledge of the Persian Sophies Army Approach which caused him to put his Army into order of Battle dividing it amongst his great Commanders which were Deruis Bassa of Caraunt and Osman Mahomet and Musta Fada Bassas as for the Persian Army under the leading of Tocomac an experienced Captain whom for his known valour and Loyalty the Sophy had made General it consisted not of above twenty thousand all Horsemen gathered out of Georgia Media and Antropatia who misinformed by their Scouts of the Turks number boldly held on their way resolving to give them Battle who from the Hills perceiving their intent put themselves in a posture to receive them whereupon about one in the Afternoon a dreadful sight began wherein at the first charge were slain seven of the Turks Sanzacks with a Great number of Soldiers without any apparent loss to the Persians who fighting close together slew the Turks at a distance with their shot of Arrows and the continual thundering of their Harquibuzes of which Engins by this time they had learned the perfect use But Mustapha who with a great power of his choice souldiers having waited a fit opportunity peirced the Squadrons of the horse having first made a lane by the reiterated Vollies of his Artillery and charged with such fury that although the Persians incouraging each other did all than men were capable to perform yet being overpowered with number were at length broken and disordered they under the shelter of the night retired which the Turks without much difficulty permitted they not having any cause to rejoyce at the Victory so gotten their loss was so great yet keeping the field all that night the next morning in token of his good success Mustapha sent the heads of five thousand Persians and three thousand live prisoners to Amurath and for the greater terror of the enemy caused the heads of three thousand others to be stricken off and piled on heaps the Turks lost in this battle near twenty thousand many of their chief souldiers The next day after the battle Manuchlars a Prince of the Georgians sent a messenger to Mustapha to acquaint him that he was coming to confer with him which did not a little rejoyce the Turk insomuch that he caused all his Great Commanders with Trumpets Ensigns displayed Drums beating and the discarge of all the Great Ordnance to receive him and in like manner to conduct him to his Pavillion not doubting but that the revolt of this Prince would greatly further his affairs which being being done and he entering the Bassa's Tent he there was caused to sit down on his right hand when after having made him presents of such chings as for that purpose he had brought he gave the Bassa to understand That for the honour and estimation he conceived of the Turkish valour he was ever devoted to the house of the Ottomans and as he had often times desired to venture his life and fortune in their service so at this present time he moved by his former desire allured by the strange fame of his wonderful and victorious Army and stirred up by a particular Fantaâ—e to learn the Turkish Discipline in martial affairs under such a General as was the Bassa to whom he offered all his devotion and service things as he said not offered to any before and in sine besought him to accept of him in the name of Amurath whose obedient vassal he had vowed himself This Speech ended the Bassa highly commended him for his prudent choice and good will towards the Turks and the more to confirm him in the opinion he had of the Ottoman Greatness he caused him to be led throughout his Camp that so he might take a view of the Turkish Magnificence where amongst other things he with detestation beheld the Pile of Persian heads and then returning to Mustaphas Tent he was presented with Garments of cloth of Gold a Gilt Battle Ax and
favours towards him then stood with her honour and at the same time Mahomet intending to match him to his Daughter thereby to procure the Friendship of the great Tartarian Cham it so far moved the Sultans or great men of the Court with envy that they slew him in the Palace and at the same time as many reported strangled the Queen whom they found over familiar with him in his Chamber but whether so or not certain it is she was never afterwards seen The Tartars Forces thus destroyed the Terror of the young Persian Prince was so great that what by Stratagem and plain Force he wrested out of the Turks hands most of the Cities they had before possessed Insomuch that the City of Derbent of which Osman Bassa was Governour with the title of Vizar of Sirnan excepted the Turks were driven out of all their strong places nor was it long ere the Persian Sophy practised with Shahamel Lord of the Mountain of Brus whose Daughter Osman had married to betray him and the City into his power for that he was the onely man amongst the Georgians whom Osman trusted who won by the great promises of the Sophy without any respect to the Turk as he was his Son-in-Law undertook to gratifie him in his desire but he carried not the matter so close but his Daughter understanding what that passed and more studious for the preservation of her Husband than furthering her Fathers purpose she still revealed all she knew which so inwardly perplexed Osman that he resolved to prevent the Treachery of his Father-in-law by taking him out of the way whereupon as his usual manner was inviting him to a solemn Feast with a chearful countenance he commanded 500 of his Soldiers to be in a readiness and that as soon as Sahamel was entered the Court off his Pallace to seize him and after having cut of his Head to put all his followers to the Sword which was accordingly put in execution and not so contented he sent out 2000 Horsemen to spoil his Countrey to the great astonishment of all the neighbouring Princes but to the exceeding grief of the Sophy who found his hopes frustrated by the death of Sahamel The year following viz. 1578. Amurath calling to him his Bassa's consulted what was further to be done in relation to the Persian War when after a long debate it was upon mature deliberation resolved that it was a matter of dangerous consequence to send an Army into the heart of Persia where they should not only have a fierce Enemy to deal with but likewise many other difficulties as hunger overflowing of Rivers passing craggy Mountains and the like But that it was therefore necessary that by degrees they should pass conquering on from the Borders still securing all at their backs the care of managing which being referred to Mustapha he sent into all the Heredatary Countries of the Empire commanding the respective Governours to send him store of Pioners and men skilled in Architect as likewise a great number of the most expert Souldiers but especially those that had been disbanded the year before upon notice of which great multitudes flocked to the service who early in the Spring met at Erzirum from whence they marched under the command of the Bassa to Chars a City on the Frontiers of Sirnan which in the late War had been demolished yet now again Rebuilt and Fortified within the space of 23 dayes notwithstanding the abundance of Snow that fell during their labouring therein the which was no sooner finished but news came that the strong Castle of Testis was besieged by the Persians who had reduced the Garrison to so great a straight that through Famine they would be obliged to yield up the place if they were not speedily relieved Upon which in great perplexity he sent Hassan Bassa Son to Mahomet Principal Vizar of the Court and Resuan Captain of the Adventurers with 20000 Horse and Foot furnished with Provisions and others Necessaries for the relief of the Besieged who passing the straits of Tomanis were set upon by 8000 Persians under the leading of Aliculi Cham and Simon two expert Captains who in those intricate mazes slew many of them and took considerable spoil which so hightened them that within a while after setting upon the Turks and thinking to have the like advantage fell into their Ambush so that most of the Persians fell by the Sword or were taken Prisoners and amongst the latter Aliculi Cham wwhich gave Hassan opportunity to march without further controul to Testis where through Famine he found half the Garrison lost yet encouraging them in the best wise and storing them with all manner of Provision and Warlike Munition he having at their request displaced Mahomet the Governour and constituted Amet Bassa in his stead he was about to return the same way he came but upon notice that Simon had strongly possessed himself of the aforesaid straights and barrocadoed them with his great Artillery he was wonderfully perplexed as dispairing of his safe return which Aliculi perceiving promised upon consideration that he would release him to shew him a way both plain and easie through which he might pass without any danger from the Persians whereupon the Bassa swore to perform what he requested but afterwards as is very usual amongst those Infidels revoked his Oath excusing himself by saying it was not in his power to release any Prisoner taken in War without the consent of his General of which perfidious dealing Sinan having notice who before in consideration of the delivery of Aliculi had winked at their passage he with his Light-Horsemen pursued hard after them when overtaking the Rear he charged them with such fury that in great confusion they fled In which flight a great number were slain and taken Prisoners with a great booty especially the Treasure of the Bassa and of Resuan Captain of the Adventurers which loss so sensibly afflicted Mustapha that upon notice thereof he broke up his Army not thinking it convenient to attempt any thing further that year and soon after he being discharged of his Generalship was called home where upon his arrival at Court he was accused by Sinan Bassa for neglecting the Emperours affairs wasting his Treasure in unnecessary buildings and rather giving the Enemy cause to contemn the Ottoman Forces then to fear their Prowess These and many other such like complaints being exhibited against him so incensed Amurath that he resolved he should be strangled in order to which he sent his chief Gentleman Porter attended on by fifteen others to the Bassas Pallace but the crafty old blade being forewarned of what was intended against him caused himself for a long time to be denyed but when the messengers impatient of delay urged that he must and should render obedience to the Emperors warrant which they then produced they were admitted to his presence but frustrated of their design by a Guard that inclosed the Bassa with weapons forbidding any access
further then a circle made for that purpose which they perceiving thought it no time to put their design in practice but rather to intreat him by fair means to come to Court which he refusing they presented him one of the Emperors Letters in which he commanded him that if he would not come in person yet to send his Chancellor and Treasurer to give up their accounts and to answer to the accusation against him and them to which he consented upon promise that they should not be prejudiced thereby yet upon their arrival they were sent prisoners to the Tower called Jadicula but by the Mediation of certain Great Ladies of the Court bribed with Jewels of Extraordinary price the Bassas peace being made and he coming into the Emperors presence all was blown over and his two Ministers set at liberty without any further examination During these passages the Great Vizar Bassa Muhamet was stabb'd in the Divano by a private Souldier whom he had bereaved of his Pension got at the price of his long service in the wars for which the said souldier was put to death with most exquisite Torments in whose place Mustapha Bassa laboured to be chosen as his right by course but Amurath inwardly displeased with his proceedings rejected his sute and sent the seal to Sivan Bassa whom he also made General for the Persian war who preparing a great Army marched to the Frontiers and there expected the success of Maxut Chau the Persian Ambassador then arrived at Constantinople to sue for peace but not obtaining his desire on such Articles as he insisted on both Potentates prepared for a resolute and vigorous war the one to offend and the other to defend during which time Mustapha Bassa dyed at Constantinople supposed either to have been poysoned by the command of Amurath or else that to prevent the fate of strangling he had poisoned himself The Persian Ambassador being returned to his Master and giving him to understand that there was no peace to be had with the Turk unless he would peaceably deliver into his possession the Country of Sirâ—an and that himself being taken for a Spye in the Turkish Court was glad to give Amurath great hopes of obtaining his desire to prevent death or imprisonment yet that it remained at the pleasure of the King whether he would stand to any thing that had been by him proposed for which good service of Mexut Chau the Sophy made him Great Treasurer of Tauris which at that time was Governed by Emir Chau his mortal enemy who sought by all the means he could to destroy him wherefore declining to go thither in person he officiated his Office by his Deputy of which Emir taking hold of as a fit opportunity to work his destruction secretly induced the Sophy to believe that he held secret correspondence with the Turks and for that reason lay hovering on the Frontiers placing a base fellow as his Deputy to officiate so great a Trust which was not a little dishonour to the Majesty of the Persian King whereupon the Sophy gave him power to seize Mexut Chau and most of his principal servants and by Torture to wring out of them the truth of the matter Glad was Emir to have so fair an opportunity to destroy Mexut and thereupon without further delay sent fifteen stout fellows to Caffangich Mexuts place of abode to fetch him and his servants by force who arriving there and having admittance to his presence he promised to go with them and gave to each of them a present ordering his Steward to make them merry whilst he prepared himself to accompany them to their Lord Emir but with secret command to make them drunk which his Steward so suddenly effected that within an hours space they fell fast asleep which Maxut perceiving fast bound them with ropes and throwing them into a deep well with all his family fled to the Turkish Bassa then with his Army on the Frontiers who upon notice of what had happened kindly received him Sivan Bassa having stayed at Chars with the Turkish Army eight dayes he by easie marches came to Teflis having by the way lost many of his Forragers cut off by the Georgian Horsemen but arriving at the place aforesaid he was recruited out of Syria and Judea and having distributed part of his Treasure amongst the Souldiers and set all things in order he with his Army departed thence when passing the Strait of Tomanis he had notice from Mustassad afterwards Governor of Aleppo that not far distant on the right hand were several fields of standing Corn and Herds of Cattle grazing slenderly guarded which the Bassa induced to believe sent the said Mustafsad with a strong power to seize upon that booty of which his Army stood so much in need but they were no sooner within danger but the Persians and Georgians burst out upon them in great numbers putting them on every side to flight whom they pursued so fiercely that seven thousand of them were slain many taken Prisoners and all their Cammels and other beasts of burthen taken of which Sivan having notice in a great rage dispatched the Bassa of Caramania with twenty thousand horse and foot to pursue the Persians after whom himself followed with the whole Army but too late for that perceiving from a high mountain what was intended had withdrawn themselves yet some straglers fell into the Turks hands part of whom they slew and part they saved alive yet the Turks holding on their way came to Triala where they understood that the Persian King being departed from Tauris was coming against them with a great Army resolving to give them battle upon which Sivan gave strict command throughout his Army that every man on pain of death should be in a readiness to March he resolving to meet the King on his way after which he descended into the large Plains of Chielder where a former battle had been fought between the Turks and the Persians where not hearing of the Kings approach after having mustered his Army he resolved to March to Tauris to inrich himself with the spoiles of that City but by the way under pretence of trying his men he caused a counterfeit battle tobe fought amongst his own Souldiers as in case of a General muster which ever after rendred him a by-word to his Souldiers and loytering in the aforesaid plains for the space of eight dayes in the mean space Aider the Aga as an Ambassador from the Persian King came to his Camp offering in the name of his Master such proposals as Maxut had before done at Constantinople which were that Chars and Teflis should be quietly possessed of the Turks that so a good correspondence might be continued between the Subjects of both Potentates for accomplishing of this desired peace Sinan promised to deal with Amurath provided the Persian would send an Ambassador to Constantinople which being resolved on the proud Bassa returned to Chars and from thence departed to Erizirum where he
the Turkish obedience The news of which greatly troubled Sigismund the late Prince who resided in Polonia but more Mahomet the Turkish Emperor imbroiled in new troubles by the revolt of Chusahin or Cassan the great Bassa of Carraâ—â—â—â— who had caused most of the Countries in the letter Asia to cast off the Turkish yoke but Mahomet sending great Forces against him under Mahomet Bassa who after several conflicts spoiling the possessions of the Rebells in Arms he so dealt with the chief of them that by bribes and large promises he prevailed with them to leave their ringleader he was taken and brought in chains to Constantinople where with most exquisite torments he was put to death The end of which dangerous Rebellion gave the Ottoman Emperor more leasure to prosecute his wars in Hungary to oppose whose Forces the Christians were not wanting for in an other Diet assembled new supplies were granted by the Electoral Princes for the carrying on the war toward which the Bishop of Rome contributed very largely so that Anno 1600 the Christian Army early in the Spring took the field though to breed delay therein the Turkish Bassa in the name of his master had made many offers tending to peace but e'r any notable action was performed the renowned Lord Palfie the greatest Commander of that Age dyed at his Castle of Bibersperg whereupon the Lord Swartzenburg was by the Emperor appointed Governor of Strigonium in his stead who to the great grief of the Army soon after slain with a shot as he was reducing Papa to its obedience it having a little before at the instigation of De la Mot a seditious French Commander there in Garrison revolted from the Emperor and yet stood neuter not permitting the Turks to enter yet was it again reduced notwithstanding the death of the Lord Swartzenburg and most of the Rebels Executed after the severest manner that could be invented These things passing the troubles in Hungary daily increasing and the Turks were every where put to the worst and amongst the rest the Bassa of Sigeth with five thousand of his Turks and his head sent to the Emperor Jula was likewise surprized and the Bassa thereof with two Sanzacks and Five Hundred common Souldiers slain and now the Government of Transilvania being vacant by the death of Cardinal Battor and the absence of the Prince the Emperor confirmed it to the Vayvod of Valachia who raising a great power went against the Prince who aided by the Turks Tartars and Polonians was coming to try a field Battle for the recovery of his Inheritance and in a set battle overthrew him with great slaughter of his men himself hardly escaping after which he seized upon the Countrey of Moldavia causing all the inhabitants to swear Allegiance to him when the better to incourage him to invade the Turks Dominions the Emperour not only confirmed him in that Principality also but sent him six Thousand Men under the leading of D. Petzen with a mass of mony to pay his Souldiers appointing him one of his Council and cheif Intendant for those Countries but he behaving himself roughly towards the Transilvanian Nobility they sent Ambassadors to Basta the Emperors Lieutenant General praying him to take then into the protection of the Emperor onely and that they might obey no other Soveraign Prince whereupon Basta after mature deliberation resolved to grant their desires and to protect them from the fury of the Vayvod whom he yet not able to appease by fair means he resolved to compel by force of Armes to acquiesce with what he determined and therefore gathering such forces as he could with Eighteen Thousand well appointed Souldiers he awaited on the Frontiers of Transilvania his coming and near to a Village called Mivislo adventured to give him Battle though under his standard he had double the number and after six hours desperate fighting put him to flight with the loss of Ten Thousand of his men taking likewise several Prisoners and a great spoil yet nevertheless the Vayvod bating of his proud temper by the mediation of Friends they were afterwards reconciled Yet the Vayvod jealous of the Imperialist as being also without cause perswaded thereto by the Polonians to prevent as was suggested to him his being taken Prisoner with a few of his followers fled into the fastness of the Mountains whereupon one Simon was placed in his stead by the haughty Chancelor of Poland which choice Basta altogether disliking resolved to displace the upstart Vayvod but the Transilvanians desirous of freedom and in order to recover it raising many rumours portending the mischief intended against the Imperialists at that time hindered his violent proceedings so that for the future the whole matter was referred to the Emperour The Transilvanians likewise casting themselves upon him and when they perceived no remedy desired that Maximilian the Arch-Duke might take upon him the Government of that Province but whilst these affairs were in controversie the Turks with a huge Army besieged Canisia a strong City of Stira to the relief of which came the Imperial Army consisting of Forty Thousand Horse and Foot composed of divers Nations under the leading of Duke Mercury General of the Emperours Forces in Hungary to oppose which Ibrahim Bassa drew out of his Trenches thinking by their multitude to oppress the Christians but was therein deceived for after a bloody and doubtful fight for the space of eight hours victory declared her self against him yet not so apparently but that the next day by reason of the discord amongst the Christian Captains who at the Command of their General refused to charge the Turks in their strengths the scale was turned and their Convoy of Provision upon its way to the Camp being taken by the Tartars they were so straightned that after having layn still for the space of three dayes they rose in the night but not so secretly but that the Turks following hard after them cut off Three Thousand of the rearmost took several pieces of Cannon and a great part of their Baggage and afterwards had the City of Canisae yeilded to them upon condition that the Garrison should be safely convoyed over the River Mur with Bag and Baggage and hightened with this success they afterwards forraged the Countrey of Stira for fear of whom the Inhabitants with such of their substance as they conveniently carry with them fled to the Mountains whereupon the Bassa sent forth a Proclamation commanding them to return and that such as would willingly submit themselves to the Turkish obedience should be taken into safe protection upon which Proclamation many of the half starved people returned and submitted themselves but the ever renowned mirrour of Vertue and Valour the Heroick Count Serenus being the man that the Bassa aimed at as well knowing whilst he went free his new Conquests were slightly cemented to the rest he the better to decoy the Noble Youth into his power wrote to him as followeth We Ibraim Bassa Chief
that time were governed by valiant Captains so that they prevailed not greatly yet the General confusion made the Emperour desirous of Peace in order to which he sent Sigismund Forgat with full instructions to Kyrpa where the Estates of Hungary were to assemble thither likewise came several Commissioners from Botscay and the Turkish Bassa's of Buda Pesth c. when as in the mean time other Imperial Ministers were sent to Comara to Treat only with the Turks they having so required but the demands of the Turks and Rebels were so unreasonable that many believed they only set that treaty on foot to protract the preparations of the Imperialists so that all hopes of an amicable conclusion vanishing fierce War began to rage more terrible then before all the Countreys round being covered with the smoak of flaming Villages by day and illuminated with shining â—ires by night nor did the Rebels spare to sell the poor Christians like beasts to the merciless Turk by them to be carryed into perpetual slavery nor desisted from comitting such cruelties as even amazed the Infidels to see themselves out done To prevent which outrages the Imperialists drawing together in a body set upon a strong power of the Turks and Rebels who thought to have surprized them in their Camp and after a sharp dispute drove them with great slaughter to the Walls of Canusia and afterwards put strong Garrisons into most of the important towns and Castles which bad success made the Rebels again bethink themselves of a timely peace so that Botscay their Ringleader having received Letters of safe conduct from Matthias the Arch-Duke came with his Wife and Children to Vienna and there by frequent by conferring with the Imperial Commissioners matters were so ordered that peace was concluded between the Emperour and his Rebel Subjects of Hungary according to the Tenour of these Articles Articles of Peace agreed upon Anno 1606. between the Emperor and his discontented Subjects of Hungary 1. That from thenceforth it should be lawful for every man throughout the Kingdom of Hungary to have the free use of his Religion and believe what he would 2. That if the Hungarians so thought good they might chuse a Palatine for their Governor and that in the mean time the Arch-Duke Matthias should no more use the Title of Governour but Vice-Roy 3. That the Crown of Hungary should still be left in the Emperors keeping 4. That the Bishops that were nobly descended in Hungary and had Lands of their own should be forthwith admitted into the Council but the other Bishops not to be so received 5. That Botscay for himself and his heirs male should ever hold Transilvania 6. That the same Countrey of Transilvania should be still subject to the Kingdom of Hungary 7 That for his Arms he should bear three Royal Crowns and three open Helmets 8. That he should not more stile himself Prince but Lord of part of Hungary 9. That they should pay the Heyducks their wages who had leavyed them 10. That the harms done on both sides should for ever be forgotten 11. That Bohemia Moravia Lansnisium and Aâ—stria should not only with their Letters and Seals confirm the Articles but also swear at Vienna to keep the same so far as they conerned them 12. That the Hungarians likewise should send some to Vienna who in their behalfs should with their Letters Seals and Oaths Confirm and Ratifie these Articles 13. That the assembly of the States of Hungary should be referred unto a more convenient time for their meeting 14. That these things being done this Agreement should be publickly confirmed and inrolled in the Records of the Kingdom of Hungary 15. That it should be lawful for the Hungarians by their Ambassadors to invite the Princes of the Empire to the Approving and Confirming of these Articles Peace thus concluded with the Hungarians the Treaty of Peace between the Turkish Sultan and the Emperour went on and with such good success that a Peace was soon after concluded to the joy of all the Emperors Subjects who weary with the continual toils and miseries of War were now desirous of nothing more then to repose themselves in the downy armes of Peace After which Botscay called an assembly of the Estates of Hungary recommending to them the care of preserving inviolable the Articles and the speedy Election of a Palatine and that above all things they would maintain and incourage the Reformed Religion and in the next Assembly labour to have the Articles for burning Hereticks repealed and as much as in them lay to restore the lost Trade of the spoiled Provinces These things done Botscay fell sick which sickness increasing he greatly bewailed his late Rebellion and the blood therein shed wishing nothing more then that before he died he could beg pardon for the same of the whole Roman Empire yet had not his wish but of that sickness died at Cossovia on the 30th of December 1606. perswading in the time of his sickness such as had been his followers to adhere to the Emperours interest yet his Counsel was not so well observed but that after his death notwithstanding Matthias the Arch-Duke had caused himself to be Crowned King of Hungary including the Principality of Transivania there wanted not some who aspired to the Title of Prince which caused new discontents but with relinquishing of that Title they vanished Achmat having made Peace with the Emperour resolved to turn his arms against the Persian King and Asian Rebels against whom Anno 16â—7 early in the Spring he sent the Vizar Bassa who by Policy more then strength appeased the latter when upon notice that the Bassa of Aleppo had overthrown the Bassa's of Tripolis and Daucasco and that at the request of the Sultan he refused to lay down his arms he marched against him with One Hundred Thirty Thousand men which puissant Army the Bassa of Aleppo incountered with Fourty Thousand and in three Battles remained victor but upon notice that the Bassa's of Damasco and Tripolis were coming to the Aid of the Vizar Bassa with great Forces and he by reason of the loss he had sustained not able to withstand their united power fled with most of his Friends to the Mountains Yet at the intercession of the Vizar Bassa but more for fear he should revolt t the Persian he was afterwards pardoned and received into favour upon which the King of Persia wrote to the King of Spain intreating him to joyn Forces with him against the common Enemy but more especially to send his Ships of War into the Gulf and the rather to induce him so to do he sent him several rich presents Whilst these things passed the Turkish Garrisons who for the most part lived by spoiles impatient of Peace with the Christians committed some outrages and secretly incouraged the Heyducks to commit more of which Achmat having notice sent strictly to charge the Bassa of Buda not upon pain of his head to infringe the Capitulation whereupon Six
Letter to the Bassas of those two Cities to send their Commissioners to to the Port to answer to what was objected against them and at length to promise not any more to molest the English in order to the confirmation of which several Articles were drawn and delivered to Sir Thomas Rowe then residing at the Port with the Grand Seigneours Letter of command to the Dage Bassa and Divan of Argier and Tunis to forbear assaulting or in the least injuring any English ships or the Subjects of the King of England in what part of the Ottoman Empire soever they resided insomuch that the fear of punishment did for the space of five years deter those Pirates from molesting the English either by Sea or Land and the better to ingratiate themselves they delivered six hundred English Marriners which they had taken at divers times without Ransom but upon the Expiration of the years aforesaid they again robbed and spoiled the Merchants ships Trading in those parts but were frequently met withall by the English men of war that were sent into those Seas to secure the Traffick Anno 1624 on the 24 of March Ali Bassa the great Visier by whose means Morat was advanced to the Crown was sent for into the Seraglio where being questioned by the young Emperor about the affairs of the Persian Invasion and not answering to the satisfaction of those present he was then and there at the commandment of the Emperour beheaded and his body cast out into the street which caused much murmuring amongst his friends and one Creques Mechemet advanced to the Dignity of Grand Visier but he was not settled in his place before news came that the Roman Emperour had entered Hungary with an Army of Fifty Thousand Horse and Foot resolving to recover the Towns a little before take by Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania and that the Cossack with four hundred Boats were abroad in the Black Sea and had taken many vessels laden with Provision as likewise made great spoil upon the Coast To prevent which the Bassas of Buda Temeswar Bosna Canisa and Agria received Orders to joyn with the Transilvanian and several Gallies dispatched into the black Sea nor were the preparations against the Persians slackned who still marched on conquering for by this time Abassa Bassa upon the receipt of the Grand Signeours pardon had submitted himself and with the forces under his command marched towards the frontires to joyn with Hafis Achmet Bassa who made head on that side by which the suspicion of the Janizaries being removed they to the number of Thirty Thousand were mustered for the Wars and Forty thousand Spahi their rendezvous being appointed about Brussia and at the same time Biram Bassa was dispatched General of the frontires of Poland and Bugdania with Four thousand Souldiers and Orders to command all the Begs and Sanzacks to raise such forces as they could and joyn him to prevent the incursions of the Cossacks and more Gallies sent into the black Sea to transport Jean Gheray Han Prince of Tartary the year before deposed by Mechmet and to re-establish him in his Kingdom but Mechmet having notice of his arrival raised an Army of Sixty thousand Horse and drove him from the Land with the slaughter of many Turks which so inraged the Grand Signeour that as he said his honour being engaged he resolved to re-inthrone him for Mechmet was suspected of holding correspondence with the Persian to whose proceeding the Turks and Arabians had by this time put a stop but failed therein for the Captain Bassa with a great Army Landing the second time was routed two Bassas and about Five thousand Turks slain as many taken Prisoners and Twenty pieces of Cannon with much rich Furniture left to the Tartars who by that means found that they were able to deal with the Turks Things falling out thus in Tartary the Cossacks taking the advantage of the Turkish Fleets absence with Eighty Boats or small Barks entered the straights of Bosphorus where lying before Constantinople they brought a general fear upon that great City and after having plundered and razed several Towns upon the Sea Ceast they returned in Triumph unopposed which good success imboldened them with a greater number of Vessels to adventure a second time when as before they returned with a great booty the Turks not being able to prevent it About the same time the Pirates of Tunis and Argiers revolted from the Grand Signeours obedience and robbed many of his Ports in the Mediterranean taking such Ships as they found therein and setting fire to a great number of Storehouses so that the loss the Christian Merchants sustained by them in one Expedition amounted to 4 Millions of Ducates nor did they less harm by Land to such as bordered on their Country neither regarding Friends or Foes any longer then stood with their conveniency and profit being indeed Enemies to all men which intestine troubles obliged Morat to conclude a Peace with Mechmet the Tartar Prince dissembling the intentions he had to depose him laying all the fault of what had happened upon the Captain Bassa whose head had like to have gone off to have rendered his Masters story plausible such danger are those in that live under a Tyrant whose will is his Law not weighing Justice nor good deserts further then may serve his purpose Yet blood was not wanting for Huzein Bassa who sometime before fled being taken and brought to Constantinople where after in hopes to save his Life he had confessed his Treasure he was strangled Abassa Bassa notwithstanding the specious shews he made to march against the Persians linger'd greatly which gave the Janizaries a suspicion that he had contrived the matter only to draw them into his danger and then to destroy them as he had formerly purposed which opinion of theirs had turned all again into confusion had he not at that instance reconciled himself to the Grand Visier and protested that he would not hurt the Janizaries but use his Arms in defence of the Empire So that by swearing three times on the Alcoran that no violence should be done on either side all animosities vanished the Government of Arzirum being confirmed to him and he allowed a competent number of Souldiers to guard the frontires as likewise places of trust bestowed upon most of his chief Officers but upon the Janizaries putting many of his Friends to the Sword who had yielded themselves to the Grand Visier he in a rage fell into their quarter making slaughter of three or four thousand of them though not without the loss of as many of his own men but finding that the Visier had drawn up his Army in Battalia he sounded the retreat and marched to his Government and the Visier kept on his way towards Diarbecher to seek the Persian when in the mean time the Persian General treated with Abassa to deliver up the City of Arzirum to the King his Master promising in lieu thereof great rewards but
difference Christian Princes make between an Ambassador and an Envoy And now Morat studying on whom to turn his Arms at length concluded to invade Germany and in order thereto called him the new Grand Visier Mustapha whom he had left with a part of the Army in Persia but death frustrated his project for drinking excessively with several of his Favourites and pot Companions he fell into a Fevour whereupon his Physitians being called were fearful to administer remedies least proving unsuccessful their lives should be indangered yet at length they concluded to let him blood which haâ—â—â—â—ed his end â—he dying the 8th of February Anno Dom 1640. of his Reign the seventeen and of his Age thirty one having ruled in the height of all excess and irregular disorders his youthful years inabled him to support having murthered Orchan and Bajazet two of his Brethren and leaving himself no Issue so that Ibrahim Son of Achmat and his younger Brother preserved by strange Providence from his fury succeeded him in the Empire CHAP. XXIII The Life and Reign of Sultan Ibrahim the Twefth Emperour of the Turks MOrat being dead as is before recited Ibrahim the onely Male surviver of the Ottoman Race was taken from the Prison in which his Brother had confined him and proclaimed Emperor though Morat in his Life time had by his will bequeathed his Empire to the Tartar This new Emperor being of a soft nature suffered himself to be wholly governed by his Mother and such Ministers as were about him himself being altogether weak in his understanding So that the War intended against the Germans was by the Council of the great Visier reverted on the Cossacks yet for some reason for a while suspended the great Visier in the mean while studying to take such out of the way that might Eclipse his grandure and amongst the rest he caused the Captain Bassa the deceased Emperors Chief Favorite to be beheaded in Selistra whither he had sent him Governour for that purpose The news of Sultan Ibrahims advancement to the Throne being known to the Christian Princes few of them deferred to send Ambassadors to congratulate him on that occasion each making him large Presents as the manner is for as 't is often said in this History none may have Audience of the Turkish Emperour that comes empty handed The Grand Signeour about this time greatly addicting himself to the use of Women fell into an Apoplexy which put many in doubt of his recovery and raised the greater confusion by reason he had no Children and that it was given out by his Women with whom he had to do that he was not capable of generation therefore the Councellors consulted amongst themselves that in case he died without Issue the Son of a Sister or Neece should ascend the Throne and that in no wise the Succession should devolve to the Tartar whose right it is upon the failure of the Ottoman Male-line but he soon after recovering of his indisposition put them in some hopes though that joy was damped by the advice that came to Court of the ruine of several Important Cities on the Frontires of Persia by a terrible Earthquake Yet the Grand Signeour to show the World that he intended something gave Order to the Grand Visier to besiege Asac possessed by the Cossacks in the Reign of Morat as is aforesaid which he did both by Sea and Land and not without great loss of his best men reduced it to the Turkish obedience Anno Dom. 1641. at what time it was abandoned by the Garrison of Cossacks who despairing to hold it long departed with all their substance About the beginning of the following year the doubt of the Grand Signeours improcreation vanished for one of his Sultanesses brought forth a Son who was named Mahomet which replenished the Turkish Empire with joy which Prince now sways the Ottoman Scepter during the Triumphs for the birth of the young Prince the Persian King by his Ambassador renewed his League with the Sultan which was performed upon an additional Article that the Sophy would demolish the Fortress of Fortrina which he had built contrary to Articles on the Frontires not far from the Caspian Sea which that it might assuredly be performed a Capugibathee was dispatched to see it effected after which a considerable body of Turks gathering together in Hungary endeavoured to surprize â—ab a strong Garrison on the frontires in this manner viz. one hundred men being trussed up in Carts and covered with Hay and Straw in the habit of Peasants who getting enterance were to leap out and surprize the Centinels that guarded the Gate at what time four thousand Turks for that purpose layed in Ambush were to enter and possess themselves of the place but this Treachery succeeded not the Ambuscado being discovered by an Officer of the Garrison that was abroad he made it known to the Guards who notwithstanding permitted the Carts to enter and then drew up the Bridge and unloaded the Carts which rendred it apparent the intended Treachery in time of Peace of which the Emperour sent and Ambassador to Constantinople but the Turks being ashamed of what had happened especially of their evil success would not admit the Ambassador to his Audience unless the Emperor would first agree to pay a yearly charge of one hundred thousand Rix-Dollars to the Port not by way of Tribute but of Present in which unreasonable demand they took more confidence for that they well perceived the Emperour was intangled in his Wars with Sweden the Christians dissension being ever advantagious to the Turks To these dishonorable demands the Emperour would in no wise condescend supposing it less perilous to venture a War in Hungary then to comply with propositions so derogatory to the Majesty of his Câ—saâ—ean greatness Ibrahim addicting himself to the Company of Women then in which he seemed in nothing more to delight spent more Treasure in the sift Wars of Venus than his Predecessor had done in his Persian Expedition and so laboured he therein that Anno Dom. 1643. he had two other Sons born which absolutely took away the reproach of his frigidity and impotency proving afterward the most Lascivious and devoted Sultan that ever aspired to the Mahometan paradise where the Company of fair Women is the chiefest felicity promised Yet that he might not be forgot abroad he sent out his Fleet of Gallies under the command of his Captain Bassa who after much Treasure spent without effecting any thing except strangling the Bassa of Cyprus for his store of Wealth he returned About this time a great Plague raging at Alexandria about six thousand slaves found means to escape and carry with them several Vessels that rode at Anchor in the road in which they conveyed themselves to Candia and Malta and from thence many of them found means to depart to their respective Countries of which the Grand Signeour having notice sent to the Signory of Venice to command their redelivery which not
being performed afterwards occasioned the loss of Candia as shall in the Reign of Mahomet the fourth be discoursed of more at large Now the year 1644. beginning Rogotskie Prince of Transylvania who succeeded Gabor in that Principality being of a turbulent nature he so wrought with the discontented Hungarians and Austrians that he caused them to Rebel to whom he joyning his Forces drew after him fifty thousand Horse and Foot with which he took Solnock besieged Filek and Cassovia for suppressing of whom the Emperor caused his Troops to advance who in divers skirmishes worsted the Rebels and overthrew six thousand Turks who were coming to the assistance of Rogotski but at length both parties tired with the toiles of War on the 14th of August in the following year a Peace was concluded and soon after the Grand Signeors Mother ruling all in effect caused the Grand Visier to be put to death thereby to render her Authority more dreadful to the rest and caused her Son to appoint Mahomet Bassa of Damascus Grand Visier in his stead who was altogether at her devotion as being first promoted to the Bassa-ship of Damascus at her instant sute to her Son Morat Predecessor to this Emperor Whilst these matters were in agitation the Tartars forgetful of their late Peace made an incursion with thirty thousand men into Russia against whom Konispolski having made head with twenty thousand Horse and Foot defeated them killing twelve thousand and taking three thousand Prisoners pursuing the remainder to the Borders of Valachia in like manner Wisnowick a noble Polander happily encountering another party of Tartars as they were returning from the spoil of a part of Moscovia killed ten thousand of them and recovered a great booty sending the rest naked into their own Countrey The Polonians thus prevailing the Grand Signeour to curry favour with the Polonian King deposed the Tartar Han from his soveraignty which caused various discourses but upon the birth of the Grand Signeours fourth Son that wonder ceased nor was that all which changed the scene of admiration for about this time six Gallies of the Turks passing from Constantinople to Alexandria were taken by the Knights of Malta which greatly incensed the Grand Signeour against the Venetians who had it in charge according to the League concluded between that Signory and the Port to guard those Seas insomuch that under Pretence of destroying the Island of Malta this and former grievances induced the Grand Signeour to make great preparation for the Invasion of Candia formerly called Grete yet the Venetian Balio or Ambassador was caressed at such a rate as he suspected no such Treachery but the state growing jealous upon notice of the great Naval preparation provided cautiously for the safety of their Island During these preparations the Grand Signeor followed his Lascivious courses keeping his female Court in such splendor that his greatest Treasure was spent therein nor was all the Silks of Italy sufficient to suffice his Women but upon the false rumour that the design was against the Maltesians they were not idle but in the best manner Fortified their chief places of strength yet in the end the storm fell not there but upon Candia for the Fleet of a hundred Gallies and fifty great Ships with three hundered Saicks most of the latter being pressed for the transportation of Souldiers being arrived at Scio after refreshment of the Army consisting of seven thousand Janizaries fourteen thousand Spahies fifty thousand Timariots three thousand Pioners besides Cooks Bakers and other necessary followers set sail for Napoli Di Romagnia and having stayed there some time weighed Anchor and touching at divers Islands some belonging to the Venetians and others not they at length came to Candia having taken a Venetian Vessel laden with Ammunition and bound for Retimo by the way where no longer being able to hide their intentions they unmasked themselves by publishing the War both there and at Constantinople the latter of which was attended with the imprisonment of the Balio or Venetian Ambassador and giving order through all the Archipelago for the enslaving and destroying all the subjects of that Republick and here the Turk practised his usual beginning of War with more then ordinary caution for though with other Princes whose Territories border on him by Land he usually endeavours to strike at the same time when he gives the salutation of Peace Yet here being to contend at Sea where he was conscious his forces were inferiour to those of Venice he practised by a different method making many vows and protestations that no such thing was intended till he had safely Landed his Forces yet were not the Venetians so easie of belief but that they likewise Armed thirty Gallies seventeen English and Dutch Ships two Galliasses and several other Vessels of force raising a great power by Land to transport into that important Island imploring the assistance of divers Christian Princes who were not backward to their said sending their Fleet to Sea under the Command of Antonio Capello Francisco Molino being made Proveditor General whose good conduct in affairs caused him to be made Proveditor General and afterwards Duke of Venice and an express sent to Andree Cornaro Inquisitor in Candia to Arm out twenty Gallies from the Arsenal of Canea and to promote this design the better two English an one Dutch Ship then in the Port of Mallomocco were hired to carry Timber fitted and already squared for the compleating the said number of Gallies and Francisco Erizzo was appointed General of all the Naval Forces but he being stricken in years whilst he intended to crown the remainder of his dayes with glory was taken off by death leaving sufficiently graced with the memory of his past actions yet the Fleet was no ways obstructed but with a prosperous gale sailed to Corfu and from thence to Candia where the Turks were arrived before them and had landed without opposition occasioned by the difference that antient Remora amongst the Christian Princes Confederates with the Venetians about bearing the flag which was vigorously contended for by the Genoways and Florentines nor could it be reconciled though the Pope earnestly laboured therein advising them for the deciding the controversie at a time when the urgency admitted of no delay to wave Ceremonies yet ere they could come to the assistance of the Venetians the Turks had spoiled a great part of the Island and after divers skirmishes with much blood and slaughter took Canea the second City of importance and after that Retimo in defence of which Andrea Cornaro lost his Life by a Musquet shot Anno 1646. The opportunity was fair for destroying the Turks Fleet as it carelesly rod at Anchor near the Isle of Theodoro opposite to Canea where had the advantage been improved it might easily have been burnt but such was the contention amongst the Christian Commanders that nothing was attempted worthy of mention whereupon Molino General of the Venetian Land Forces was revoked
Age the Government was committed into the hands of the Grand Visier and the Queen Mother called by the Turks Riosem and of 12 Bassa's who were to manage all affaires with supream power during the Minority of Sultan Mahomet whose Reign I shall pursue in the following chapter CHAP. XXII The Reign of Mehmet or Mahomet the fourth of that Name and Thirteenth Emperor of the Turks who now Reigneth IBrahim deposed and murthered as in the foregoing Chapter is related Mehmet or rather Mahomet his Eldest Son of the Age of seven years supplyed the empty Throne during whose minority which was to continue ten years longer His Grand Mother the Grand Visier and twelve Bassa's took into their hands the Reins of Government and after many debates resolved to continue the War with the Venetians which Ibrahim designed to conclude the treaty of Peace in order thereto being far advanced and the Ambassador of that Signiory then at the Port impatiently expecting an end of his negotiation but whilst these affairs were in hand the unruly Spahi's not having received the Largess usually bestowed amongst them at the Installment of a new Emperour making it their pretence the better to colour their discontents that they were resolved to revenge the death of the murdered Emperour whose fall the Janizaries had occasioned insomuch that a great difference arose between those two orders the former being the best Horsemen and the latter the best Footmen and although many laboured to appease that Tempest which threatned the dismembering the Empire Yet many skirmishes happened between these contrary Factions in the streets of Constantinople in which some hundreds were slain but the Spahies being for the most part worsted at length abandoned the City These animosities and divisions amongst the Turkish Souldiers gave the Venetians opportunity to provide for their defence as expecting nothing less then a War for that their Ambassador had been clapped up on Prison for demanding Audience and chains put upon him but at the intreaty of the other Christian Ambassadors there residing he was set at Liberty Yet to affront him the Grand Visier caused his Dugerman or Interpreter to be executed and his body thrown out at the Castle Window which barbarous act is frequent amongst the Turks either to put a disgrace upon the Ambassador or to terrifie those Interpreters that they shall not dare to speak any thing after an Ambassador though upon his Audience that should be ungrateful to the Grand Signeour which causes them many times to mince their words and not render a true interpretation These matters widening differences between the Venetians and the Turks great preparations were made on either side the former with all diligence reinforcing Candia and the latter to hinder it so that many skirmished happened by Land and Sea till at length the Bassa Governour notwithstanding the Venetian Fleet blocked up the Dardaneles having received a recruit of 1500 men laid siege to the strong City Candia and battered it with many pieces of Ordinance till at length having taken a small Fort that flanked it he lodged his men therein just as 6 Gallies of Malta arrived with 600 Voluntiers and 60 Knights of the Order who beat out the Turks with great slaughter yet they retook it again and planted the Ottoman colours upon the highest Bullwark which so inraged the Christians that sallying with all their force they drove the Turks from the Walls with great slaughter regained the piece and caused the Bassa with shame and loss to raise the siege The Wars growing hot in Candia the discontents between the Spahi and Janizaries that was before supposed to be appeased grew hot again and much slaughter happened between those inveterate factions when to pacifie the latter the great Visier was deposed and executed Yet that little availed nor was that all for several of the Bassa's denyed to return the Tribute of their Provinces alledging they would reserve it till the Grand Signeour was of age and then be to him accountable both for principal and interest nor were the Wars in Bosna Dalmatia Foscolo and other places on the Venetian Frontires neglected but continued with doubtful success and great slaughter yet part of the Ottoman Forces on that side were diverted by the Cossacks who at the instigation of the Tartar Han covered the Black Sea with their Boats and committed many outrages insomuch that Constantinople trembled at their approach as fearing a sack by the hands of those resolute people but in the end having gotten a rich booty they returned to their station The Venetians finding the Turks resolute bent to make themselves absolute Lords of Candia in which Island they had got strong footing laboured as earnestly to expell them so that huge Fleets on either side were prepared that of the Turks consisting of 1100 Ships Gallies Galleasses Saiques Brigantines and lesser Vessels furnished with Bombes Mortar-pieces and Fireworks producing strange effects and in that order set forward from the Port of Constantinople with a strict command to give Battle of which Mocenigo the Venetian Admiral having notice with the same willingness bore up with them so that there began a bloody and for a long time doubtful Fight but the Venetians being better appointed than the Turks broke and disordered their huge Armado sinking and taking several Galleys and putting the rest to flight killing in one of them flying the Bassa of Anatolia who was sent to succede Chusadin Bassa who had been made Grand Visier in the General Ship of Candia yet the Turks having put into the Islands and conceiving it a shame for so great a Fleet to fly from one much inferiour in number resolved to hazard another Battle and therefore coming out of the several Harbours and ranging in the form of a Crescent the Captain Bassa fired two Guns a Stern in token he was ready to Ingage which Mocenigo perceiving bore up with him and began a second fight more dreadful than the former playing with his Canon so furiously that he broke off her Poop and killed 100 so her Men sinking two Galleys by her side and greatly disablihng several others nor were the Turks idle but used their utmost endeavour to blot out the disgrace they had sustained by their late flight but it availed not for by the Thundering shot and Fire-works the Venetians plyed them with they were evey where put to the worst so that flying in all parts the Venetian General following the advantage took 39 Galleys 23 Ships 3 Galliasses and 3000 Soldiers 40 Gallies Ships and other Vessels were burnt or sunk and in them and by the great and small shot 9000 Turks perished in both Ingagements the rest hardly escaping to Naxos This great loss made the Turks out of heart with marine Affairs and so far discouraged them that ever since they have layd aside building Vessels of Force as useless say that God hath given the Sea to Christians and the Land to Turks About this time came news to Constantinople that the
Christian Ministers residing at the Port and salve up the wounds his honour received by the disgrace The Emperor of Germany resolving on a War with the Turks after great preparation was obstructed and obliged to come to a dishonourable treaty by reason of an accident that happened at Rome occasioning a wide breach between the Pope and the French King to the indangering of Christendom which was thus the French Ambassadors Coach passing the streets of Rome was assaulted by the Corsi Natives of the Island of Corsica which are retained as the Popes guard the page killed in the boot and the Ambassadors Lady wounded but upon what instigation remains doubtful yet the King took it so heinously that he resolved to War upon the Popes Territories in Italy which discord did not a little rejoyce the Turks who imputed it the merit of â—â—eir Prayers as indeed they do all other divisions amongst the Christians The Treaty of Peace by reason of the divisions aforesaid having continued between the two Empires without coming to any result about the beginning of the year 1663 great forces were levyed on either side and all hopes of peace vanished insomuch that the Turks squaring out the platform of the War on their part resolved to recover the places they sometimes held in Hungary but more especially Rab and Komora and thereupon with a great Army passed the Danube over a Bridg of Boats upon whom the Governour of Newheusel sallied with eight thousand men though contrary to the advice of his Council with which in the night he entered their Camp and made a great slaughter but the gross of the Army having passed the River and taken the alarum Cressent-wise closing the horns at the back of the Christians made of them a miserable slaughter who notwithstanding sold their lives at a dear rate falling upon heaps of the Enemy till at last tired with slaughter those that remained alive yielded themselves Prisoners and were notwithstanding contrary to the Law of Arms by the Visiers command barbarously murthered In this disaster the Governour hardly escaped and in his return was but coldly received for that he by his rashness had exposed the lives of so many brave Soldiers to the cruel Swords of their barbarous Enemies but this cruelty was soon after revenged upon the Turks in like manner by Count Serini This fatal loss sounded harsh in the Emperours ears and obliged Forcatz Governour of Newheusel to send to Monticuculi Governour of Rab to advise him of his evil success and that if a re-inforcement was not speedily sent the place must of necessity fall into the hands of the Enemy whereupon one thousand select Souldiers were drawn out of Rab and sent thither but scarcely were they entered before the Turk set down before it and summoned the Governour to surrender but upon his refusing on the 14th of August they prepared for a General storm In order to which about break of day Faggots and Rubbish were brought to fill up the ditch and scaling Ladders to ascend the Walls but although they were many in number and the assault made with all imaginable vigor yet they were received by the defendants with that courage and gallantry that the Trenches were filled with their Carkasses and at length obliged to retreat with the loss of six thousand of their men The siege still continuing the Turks angry and inflamed with the disgrace of their late foil endeavoured to redeem their honour by a second attempt filling up the Ditches as before and furiously attacked the outworks but was so miserably rent with the Flankers that they were forced to fall of with more loss and confusion then before which so incensed the Visier that drawing and part of his Army to which he joyned some Companies of Tartars he sent them over the River Waag to Forage the Countries of Austria and Moravia which they did after having defeated the German foâ—… that few in number were appointed to guard the frontires in such a manner as the like desolation had never happened in those parts running even to the Walls of Vienna with Fire and Sword which put that City into a great consternation and caused the Emperour to remove to Lintz yet for all this imminent danger the Diet brought nothing to perfection in order to the inabling the Emperour to raise more Forces but rather spent the time in cavilling at little niceties during which Newheusel upon their Magazine of Powder accidentally taking Fire surrendred upon Articles honourable to the besieged The Turks heightened with their success layed siege to Levents which after many threats and fair promises was put into their possession by the Inhabitants which so overjoyed the Turks that feasted they for several dayes and then marched to Schinta the Magazine of the Emperours Arms and Artillery which they assaulted but with great loss were beaten off and forced to raise their siege yet passing on they took Novigrode a strong Castle scituate upon a Rock and Garrisoned with six hundred Souldiers provided with all necessaries that might have incouraged them to a resolute defence and not upon such easie terms have surrendered a place of such strength Winter approaching the Grand Visier with part of his Army marched back to Belgrade there to qâ—arter till the Spring ordering a flying Army of 〈◊〉 thousand Turks and Tartars under the leading of the Bassa of Temeswar to pass into Stira and Crotia the Countries of Count Serini who was about that time returned out of Hungary and there to sill all places with desolation of which the heroick Count having notice resolved they should not want a welcome and therefore raising such Forces which were not above six hundred and with this handful betook himself to the banks of the River Muer to give a stop if possible to the passage of the Enemy placing Centinels in all places where the River was fordable yet two thousand Turks passed undiscerned upon whom he set with such undaunted courage that he soon put them to flight who in seeking to repass the River and missing the place they passed at and pressed by the Count they threw themselves headlong into the depths and there mostly perished which the Turks on the further bank perceiving were so amazed at the stupendious valour of Serini that their courage failing them they desisted from any further attempt upon his Countries Yet the Count not satisfied raised against the Spring viz. 1664. a considerable power and marched into the Turks Territories destroying all before him taking many important places and burning a bridge made over the Fenns six or seven miles in length which cost the Turks six hundred thousand Dollars in building and six years labour he likewise took Quinque Ecclesiae and following the course of his victory taking in many small Towns and Castles in his way he came before Sigeth a Fortress of the Turks consisting of the new and old Town joyned by a bridge cross a famous marsh and fell into the hands of the
Turk Serniswar the Imperials not so much as vouchsafing to relieve it which so afflicted the Noble Mind of the Count Serini that growing Melancholly to divert himself he often used Hunting when one day Chasing a Bore whom he wounded in several places the furious Beast turned upon him and with his Tusk struck him on the Knee which made him fall to the ground when before he could recover himself with a second stroke he was mortally wounded in the head and soon after dyed in the Armes of one of his Pages This was the end of this valiant Captain whom his Enemies could never subdue to the great grief of all worthy Christians and the joy of the Turks whose Mortal Enemy he was a man in dangers most couragious in War valiant and patient in labour in peace courteous and moderate in his pleasure and in fine he was accomplished with all those vertues that renders a man compleat After the death of this Count the Peace between the Empires was concluded when as the Grand Seigniour being at leasure plotted the destruction of his Brothers but at the perswasion of the Muphti altered his Resolution About this time the Grand Visier indeavoured to depose the Tartar Han and place his Son in his stead but the young Tartar though barbarous would not consent thereto but sent his Father secret notice what was intended against him which so inraged the Tartar that he used his utmost indeavour at the Ottoman Court to overthrow the Visier and promote another to that Office in order to which he dealt with the Bassa of Buda promising him his utmost interest at the Port to make him great Visier by which though contrary to his wish he destroyed him for the Visier having notice of what had passed obtained a private Commission from the Grand Seigniour by which he Summoned the Bassa to appear before him when immediately without any process proof or accusation caused his Head to be stricken off Anno Dom. 1665. The Genoese sent the Marquess Durazzo as their Envoy Extraordinary to the Ottoman Court where by gifts and other means he so effectually wrote with the Grand Visier that a peace insued between the Grand Seigniour and that Republick the which was the rather accorded to that the War against Candia might be the better carryed on on which the Turks seemed absolutely bent in order to the Equiping of Gallies and other things necessary the Grand Seigniour came from Adrinople to Constantinople but before his arrival great part of the Seraglio was burnt to the ground fired by some of the women to prevent the discovery of their stealing divers Jewels that garnished the Royal Cradle and upon his arrival he desired of the Earl of Winchelsea Fifteen Sail of English Men of War with the consent of His Majesty of Great Brittain but the Earl excused it saying that though his Majesty of England did always entertain a good affection and zealous disposition towards the affairs of the Ottoman Port yet at present the Wars with Holland and ill understanding with France made his occasions for his own Shipping more urgent then usual and the time most unseasonable to press his Majesty in that particular whereupon the Grand Visier gave order for the building Sixty Gallies against the Spring at what time a great Fleet was in a readyness several English French and Dutch Merchant Men who were at that time found in the prots of Aleppo Smyrna and Alexandria being pressed for the service These proceedings greatly alarumed the Venetians insomuch that they delayed nothing that was requisite for the defence of their important City of Candia the which who ever holds commands the rest of the Island whereupon the Marquess Ghiron Franciseo Villa a brave Souldier was entertained as General of Foot and a Sallary of twelve thousand Crowns per Annum alowed him with a large Commission not to be subject to any command but that of the Captain Generals who with a great train arriving at Venice made an Oration to the people wherein he incouraged them to the utmost to fight against the enemies of their Country and Religion with wearyness and chearfully to provide all necessaries for so honourable a War whereupon they fitted their Fleet with all things necessary and strengthened their Forts both with Horse and Foot drawn out of their Garrisons on the Terra Firma being assisted with Men and Money from other Princes and States The Pope gave them permissions to levy four thousand men out of his Countries the Emperor likewise notwithstanding the peace furnished them with considerable Forces to which were additions made from other parts of Germany and indeed from many of the Christian Princes who were grieved to see an Infidel incroach yet farther into Europe but above all the French King contributed largely though at the same time he sent Mounsier d' Vently his Ambassador to the Port who as the former received many affronts during his residence there The Captain of the Ship that brought him thither likewise was ordered by the Grand Seignior to be Executed for too rudely pressing into his presence which Sentence had been put in Execution had not the Bostangi Bassa interceeded for him yet he nevertheless was imprisoned and put in chains nor could the Ambassador without a great Sum procure his Liberty nor at his Audiences had of the Grand Seignior and Grand Visiâ—r was he received with such respect as became his Character yet he made the best on it boasting to the other Christians Ministers of the ample satisfaction he had received both for his own affronts and the affronts put upon his Predecessors Whilst these things passed the Marquess d' Villa passed into Dalmatia to take a view of the Forts and strong places on that side as fearing whilst the Turks gave out for Candia they might suddenly turn their Forces upon that Frontier Territory of the Venetians but having given such necessary orders as he thought requisite and being certified from Count Lisle the Emperors Ambassador at Constantinople that the Grand Visier early in the Spring would with a puissant Army land on the Island he set over with such Forces as he had to joyn those already there About the beginning of the Year 1666. great troubles had like to have risen in the Ottoman Empire occasioned by one Sabatai Seni a Jew born at Smyrna who impiously pretending himself to be the Messia drew after him a multitude of that unhappy nation declaring that he came to restore them to their temporal Kingdom and to gather the scattered tribes filling their heads with prophesies dreams and false delusions that they every where credited him and laying aside all business prepared for their march to Jerusalem once more to possess the Land of Promise and raise a Glorious Monarchy above what ever their Ancestors could pretend too and to that purpose made themselves Garments according to the Levitical Ordinance several of them affirming that they had seen Elias and that he had expresly
the Christian cause who in order thereto raised seven or eight thousand foot under the command of the Duke of Beaufort near Kinsman to the King the Duke of Navailles the Marescaâ—s Lambert and Colebert with many others of note who were desirous to signalize their vallour in the Field of Fame who imbarquing on the Ships for that purpose prepared at Toulon arrived before the City of Candia on the 19th of July where fourteen Venetian carnals laden with horse attended their coming on which they were mounted and now began the hopes of the besieâ—â—â— to rise high and the Turks although within thâ— City in a manner to despair nor were the French slow in entering the City for the night of the same day they arrived the Duke of Navailles with the Regiment of old Souldiers Mounted the guard on the Fort of St. Andrea the place of greatest danger and the next day a council of War was called wherein it was concluded that the Town was not Tenable or to be long maintained without some extraordinary Enterprize attempted on the Enemy and by some furious sally performed with resolution and stratagems of War in order unto which it was resolved that the 27th should be the day for sally both with Horse and Foot an the Fleet not to lose their part in this action but should play their great Guns on that side next St. Andrea making as it were a Wing to the Army The Sally agreed on the Army was drawn up in four Battalions the first called the Admirals commanded by the Sieurs Martel Vander and Grauier the second was the Vice-Admirals commanded by the Sieurs deâ—la-Mothe and Planta the third was the Rear-Admirals under the command of the Chevaliers Bovillion Gabaret and Dailly the fourth was the Battalion of the Sieur d' Almeras commanded under him by the Siâ—urs Panetire de la-Rogne Fontier Bitault and the Chevalier de Nemond On the Left hand of these â—â—re the Guards of the Duke of Beaufort himself though thereto perswaded by all the Nobility not refraâ—ing to make one in the Enterprize who after he had given order for the Fleet to accoast the shoar on the side of St. Andrea as near as coâ—iâ—sted with their security and from thence with their great Guns to play upon their Enemies Camp he resolved to fight at the head of the Forlorn hope consisting of Four Hundred Men preceded by Fifty Granadeers flanked with Three Troops of Horse Commanded by Count Dampire and the Regiment of Guards with Four Troops of Horse for their Wing flanked with Three Regiments of Foot The reference consisted of the Regiments of Harcourt Conti Lignieâ—es Rosan Mont-Pesat and Vendosme flanked with Four Troops of Horse under the Command of Count Choiseul which placed themselves on a rising-ground to hinder all communications between the Visier whose Camp was before St. Andrea and the Janizaries Aga who was Incamped before Sabiâ—â—era between the first and second Line were placed Fifty of the Kings Musquentiers to be assistant on occasion and the other Troops of Horse were to take the left hand along the Trenches leading to the Sabionera The Regiment of â—â—oâ—peyrâ—â—x was appointed to mount the Guard of St. Demetrius to second the retreat if occasion required it in like manner Five Hundred Pioneers were ordered to level the Trenches of the Enemy on the quarter of St. Andrea whilst the Body of the Turks Army was imployed in repulsing the violence of the Sally All things being in a readiness the French about Two hours before day in the secretest manner imaginable sallied at St. Georges Gate the Signal to fall on being the springing of the Royal Mine which through the Dampness of the Powder or the timerousness of the Enginiere took not effect the General impatient of delay not staying for the onset of the forlorn-hope which lay within half Musquet shot of the Enemy assaulted two redoubts took them and put all he found in them to the Sword with the like courage the other Regiments entered the Line and after much blood and slaughter made themselves Masters of the Trenches storming a Fort on which was a Battery directed against St. Demetrio possessed themselves of it 〈…〉 up all the Cannon found therein at what time day appearing discovered the bloody Scene which caused the Turks to hasten from the Hills near New Candia in great number to regain their Trenches whereupon the Duke D' Navailles perceiving his forlorn hardly beset came in with Two Troops of Horse and two Regiments of Foot who with great slaughter beat the Turks out of their Trenches following the Execution even to the heart of their Camp but whilst fortune seemed thus to favour the Christians an unhappy accident fell out which quite turned the scale of Victory for a Magazine of Powder containing One Hundred Thirty Four Kintals being won from the Turks and possessed by the Christians accidentally or as some suppose by lighted Matches purposely dropped into it upon its surrender blew up with such a terrible noise that it not only destroyed most of the Battalian of Guards but terrified the rest of the Army by making the Earth as with a violent Earthquake tremble under them that they verily believing a great number of Mines were springing under them opened in great confusion to the right and left and in the end notwithstanding the endeavours of the Commanders to restrain them the Souldiers betook themselves to open and shameful Flight nor could they be perswaded to rallie or once more face the Enemy but in great disorder re-entered the City The Duke of Beaufort is said to have laboured much in resisting the shameful flight of his Men and ventering his Person into danger from whence he resolved never ingloriously to retreat was oppressed by Numbers and fighting couragiously amongst the thickest of his Enemies expired on the heaps but by reason his Body though much sought after could not be found many conjectured him to have perished by the fatal blow of Powder which so frighted and disordered the Christian Army nor had the French Fleet much better success for being driven from shoar by a strong Wind they little or nothing indamaged the Turks but received considerable dammage for a great Ship of Sixty Brass Guns blew up in which Two Hundred Ninety Two perished and her shot passing through the Admiral killed several on board and indamaged other Ships by the fall of her Timber and Splinters The Loss the Turks sustained is uncertain but however according to their own report Eight Thousand are said to fall in the Trenches Forts and Redoubts the loss amongst the French consisted mostly in their Nobility and Officers of note a fate incident to that Nation the chief of which were the Duke of Beaufort Count Rosan the Marquess D' Fabert the Chevalier Villereceaux and the Chevalier D' Quelas with about Twenty others all Commanders and a Thousand common Souldiers many of note were likewise wounded the Prisoners taken exceeded not Seven or Eight
the chief of which were the Sieur D' Bois Dauphin Son to a Marshal of France of that Name and the Sieur D' Chateau Neuf the first for his youth and beauty and the second for his courage being afterwards greatly esteemed by the Turks and both entertained by the Visier with more generosity than ordinary These proceedings so amazed and discouraged the French that the Duke D' Navailles now their Commander in chief could not be perswaded to stay any longer in defence of the City but pretending the Kings express command for his return at a time prefixed and that time being almost come notwithstanding the earnest intreaty of the Captain General he withdrew the greatest part of his Forces and although he met further orders that injoyned his stay yet imbarquing he returned to France where for his Cowardise he was forbid approaching the presence of the King or entering the perâ—ues of the Court for a considerable time The French thus departed the Turks took courage and attacqued the quarter of Sabionera and St. Andrea where putting the out-Guards to flight they advanced to the Palisado of the new retrenchment but Vollies of Cannon and showers of Musquet-shot with quarries of stones thrown from the Engines pouring on them gave a check to their proceedings but the Candiots perceiving they opposed the multitudes of the Enemie in vain with one voice implored the Captain General to surrender the City that was not Tenable and not to expose them to the fury of a Merciless Enemy of whom the Marquess D' Montbourn taking pity and finding himself too weak to oppose such powerful Forces as the Turks by reason of new supplys had in their Camp they as it were already having possessed the main strengths of the City he assembled a Councel of all the Chief Officers both in the City and those that belonged to the Fleet who after a serious consideration concluded that the City could not by force nor policy be much longer held by reason of the small number of the Defendants and the incroachment of whose number was ten to one whereupon the General was of opinion that having imbarqued all the unnecessary people and those that were wounded they should by firing of Mines lay the City waste and so leave the Enemy a bloody and inglorious Victory which Noble Resolution was seconded by several other Chiefs but in the end it was agreed that a treaty should be had with the Turks about its surrender the which after some debates was concluded on these Articles First that for obtaining a good and lasting peace it is agreed that the City of Candia with all its Cannon which were planted there before the time of the War be consigned into the hands of the Visier Secondly That the quiet possession be given to the Republique of Suda Carabusa Spina Longa and the Territories thereunto belonging together with the Fortress of Calissa and Dalmatia Thirdly That the Venetians may carry away all the Cannon which have been brought into the Town since the beginning of the War Fourthly That for Imbarquing the Souldiers Pioneers and Inhabitants of all Qualities and Conditions with their Arms Provisions and Baggage Twelve days shall be allowed Fifthly That what shall remain unshipped at the end of Twelve days the Visier shall with his own Boats assist the Lading thereof Sixthly That during this time of Truce no Person whatsoever shall transgress his Limits and he that doth shall be treated as an Enemy Seventhly That so soon as those Articles shall be subscribed under the White Flag all Acts of Hostility shall cease under the one side and the other Eighthly That for security of performance of these Articles Three Hostages be mutually given on the one side and the other Ninthly That for better assurance that the Venetians will use all their indeavours to imbarque their Men The Turks may imploy two Officers for Eye-Witnesses of the same Tenthly That for Effecting hereof all Ships Galleys and other Vessels may freely approach unto the shoar and enter the Port either day or night Eleventhly That the Venetian Fleet may remain at Sâ—andia or at any other Island in the Archipelago until such times as they are dispatched or that things are duly prepared for their departure Twelfthly That all Commissions given by the one side or the other be revoked and that whosoever within the space of Forty days shall commit any Hostility against the Tenour of these Articles shall be punished with capital punishment Thirteenthly That so soon as an Embassador from Venice shall arrive at the Port all Slaves and Prisoners taken under the Venetian Colours shall be freed and released Fourteenthly That what Depredations shall be made at Sea or Land after these Articles shall be subscribed and before the publication thereof shall be faithfully made good and restored Fifteenthly That a General pardon be given to the subjects on both sides who have acted contrary to their Faith and Allegiance during this War Sixteenthly that in virtue of these capitulations the former Articles be confirmed which were made in the year 1571 and that no Tribute or Present be demanded by the Port unless such as has formerly been payed for such Islands as the Venetians hold in the Archipelago Seventeenthly That two Copies of them be made one in the Turkish Language subscribed by the Visier Sealed with the Grand Signiours Signet and another in the Italian Language under-wrote by the Captain General and Sealed with the Seal of the Republique of Venice These Articles being signed the Hostages were given on both sides those for the Venetians were Faustino da Riva Lieutenant General Giovanni Commissary and Zacar a Mocenigo who had been Duke of Caâ—â—â—a Those on the part of the Grand Signiour were these viz. Belir Assan Bassa Mahomet Aga of the Janizaries and Gurgi Bei Teâ—terder or Treasurer During this siege Three Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety Five Christians were killed and wounded and of the Turks a Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Four The Batteries which the Turks raised against the Sabionera and St. Andrea consisted of Fifty Nine pieces of whole Cannon carrying most of them Bullets of a Hundred and Twenty Pound weight The Storms which the Turks made upon the City were Sixty Five The Sallys made by the Venetians Ninety Six The Mines and Fâ—rneli sprang by the Venetians Eleven Hundred Seventy Three The Combates under ground Forty Five The Mines sprung by the Turks Four Hundred Seventy Two In this siege the Venetians spent Fifty Thousand Three Hundred and Seventeen Barrels of Powder and Bombies of all sorts from Fifty to Five Hundred weight Forty Eight Thousand One Hundred and Nineteen Granadoes of Brass and Iron One Hundred Thousand Nine Hundred Sixty Eight Granadoes of Glass Four Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy Four Cannon-shot of all sorts Two Hundred Seventy Six Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Three Pounds of Lead Eighteen Millions Forty Four Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Seven Pounds weight and of Match Thirteen
against them and obliged them to retire at whiat time the Tartars committed divers outrages upon their Frontiers carrying away much People and Cattle burning and destroying all before them the which though it incensed the Tartar Han yet feigning himself sick upon some displeasure received he refused to take the field in person though the Grand Seignior had commanded it yet that that might not obstruct the progress of the Ottoman Armes the Great Visier sent him his own Physitian an Italian of great experience who found him overwhelmed with deep Melancholly but with Cordials and Medicaments soon raised him to his former vivacity Keminitz all this while blocked up was by the approach of the Turkish Army relieved which the Visier perceiving caused his Troops to March to Chuozim a strong Fortress taken by the Christians upon the defeat of Chusaein Bassa which was retaken and the Garrison contrary to Articles put to the Sword nor durst the Muscovites who were far advanced oppose his Forces but retired before them leaving Asac dismantled and plundered which the Turks rebuilt and fortified About this time Mahomet Bassa being made at the instance of his Favourites Captain of a Squadron of Gallies plundered and harassed most of the Islands in the Archipelago which raised such hatred against him and the loud complaints of the people being arrived at Constantinople before him he at his return had his head stricken off and all his ill gotten gains confiscated So that like an Indian Cormorant which being made tame and taught to fish for the benefit of his Master he was prevented from swallowing the prey Hungary being torn with civil dissentions the Male-contents desirous to throw off the German yoke sent to the Port desiring to be taken into the Grand Seigniors protection and to become his Tributaries which made the Turks hasten to settle their affairs that they might be the better at leasure to take the advantage of those intestine troubles for the reducing the rest of that spacious Kingdom to the Ottoman obedience and the better to secure his new conquests he removed a part of the Cossacks with all their substance to the banks of the Black Sea there assigning them Lands and as for the Armenians and Jews that dwelt in Reminitz he transplanted them to Philopolis Adrinople and Constantinople giving the youngest and lustiest of either Sex as a prey to his Souldiers who sold them for slaves throughout the Turkish Empire and then returning with his Army to Adrinople there to watch all advantages he soon after disbandoned part of his Asian horse as chargable and troublesom but whilst these projects in State were broaching great differences arose between the Latin and Greek Church about the possession of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem which had been so possessed by those of the Roman Catholick Religion for many years but now at the instance of Panajoti the Visiers Interpreter a zealous Greek the latter were preferred and after a long controversie and much Money spent the Greek obliged the Romanists dwelling in those parts to pay them tribute for such places relating to Religion they there held every Fryer paying a dram of Silver yearly to the Patriarch So that now the Romanists have possession neither of the Chappel of Bethlehem nor of the Sepulchre The former of which had of a long time held and the latter as earnestly contended for The Grand Seignior not unmindful of the affairs of Hungary gave order to the Bassas on the Frontires secretly to incourage the Division till such time as he should be at leasure to imploy his Armes on that side hoping that an accommodation with Poland would insue but found not the Poles so forward therein as he expected for the Wars still continued though not with such violence as before which gave the Grand Seignior leave to Solemnize the Marriage of his Daughter with Rul-ogli which in the Turkish Language signifies the Son of a slave who was his great Favourite and Bassa of Magnesia as also to Circumcise his Son the former being 17 years of Age and the latter 12 to solemnize which the Festivals were appointed on the 16th of May Anno 1675. when in the Morning the Grand Seignior with the young Prince his Son went to their Tents which were pitched in a Plain before the City exceeding rich round which all the great men of the Court had their Pavilions placed amongst which was raised a stately Throne covered with a Canopy of Cloath of Gold placed beneath the umbrage of two Elmes which shining with many Lamps in the night made a glorious shew and in this Seat of State the Sultan placed himself in the Morning being accompanyed thither by all the Bassa's then residing at Constantinople and by the representatives of those that were absent who according to their degrees kissed his Robe and in silken Purses deliver a note of what Presents they had brought which were put into the hands of the Treasurer to see them duly received opposite to the Tents were several Poles fixed on which by night many Lamps were hung giving a glorious Light by which were exercised several tricks of activity as Wrestling Dauncing Singing and Comedies Fireworks there were in abundance but not effectually made The Night being passed in the Morning the several Trades passed before the Tents one after another every one making their Presents and bearing Pageants Musick all the while sounding after whom came a Cavilcade of all the chief Officers and amongst them the young Prince flaming with Diamonds Rubies and other precious Stones and before them passed Twenty Four small Nachils or Pageants and two large one higher than any Ship-Mast supported by a Hundred Slaves and were afterward set before the Seraglio On the 27th being Mahomet their Impostor Prophets birth-day the Grand Signior went publickly to the Mosch of Sultan Selim with no other Attendance than those of his own Court his Pages richly clad in Cloath of Gold carryed each a Feather studded with Jewels of great value after the Grand Signior rode the young Prince who that night was circumcised During this Festival a great number of people had their Provision at the expence of the Grand Signior and about Two Thousand being at that time circumcised every one of them had a Quilt given him with a Pension of three Aspers a day for Life The Solemnity of the Circumcision ended the Festival for the Marriage of Rul-Ogli with the young Princess which Ceremony in forme and manner according to the Turkish fashion was thus The Kuzlier Aga or Black Eunuch of the Women was Bridegroom or Compere to the Princess and the Lord Treasurer to Rul-Ogli both which in the Name of the Bridegroom and Bride went before the Kedelescher or Chief Judge who wrote the Articles of Marriage and passed them into an Act which done the Presents were sent and first those from the Bridegroom to the Bride which were a great number of Beasts and Birds made in Sugar Thirty Mules laden with
to demolish it which was accordingly done During these Transactions his Imperial Majesties Embassador at the Port was flattered with a promise of renewing the League between the two Empires and conducted to his Audience with the usual Ceremonies which was only to protract time till the Turks had possessed themselves of such strong places as might render them formidable and give them hopes of annexing all Hungary to the Ottoman Empire but the German Princes perceiving their drift sent several of their own Troops to reinforce the Imperial Army under the Command of Count Caprara with whom the Count Strosoldo refusing to joyn in order to give the Turks Battle near Lewentz fell into the Emperors high displeasure being sent for to Vienna and for a while is suspended but upon his submission was again restored to favour Winter approaching Count Teckely sent Four Hussars to Count Caprara to procure of him a pasport for the safe passage of such Deputies as he intended to send to the Emperor to treat of a Truce which Hussars were by the Counts express Command Imprisoned till such time his Imperial Majesties pleasure was known therein but in the end they were released and the Deputies permitted to pass uncontrouled when after many debates a Truce was concluded for two Moneths whereupon Count Teokley by reason of the Difference between him and the Prince of Transylvania retired with the greatest part of his Troop to a strong place which together with some others in dowrie with the Princess Ragotski whom this year he had married The Turks for the most part Wintered in Temeswar Buda and New Hausel and the Imperialists on the Frontires of Austria and so ended the Campaign for this year Anno 1683. Early in the Spring the Imperialists and Turks taking the Field and several skirmishes happening between parties with various success The Count Wallastain his Imperial Majesties Minister residing in the Polonian Court dealt so effectually with that King that he resolving no longer to sit still and see the Infidels and Rebels insult over his Neighbouring Countries on the second of April pursuant to a treaty on foot signed an alliance with the Emperor by which he obliges himself to take the Field with between Thirty and Forty Thousand Horse and Foot to act offensively against the Turks and defensively against all other enemies to the German Empire in consideration of which the Emperor binds himself to have an Army of Sixty Thousand Men in readyness upon all occasions immediately to pay Twelve Hundred Thousand Florins and that himself and the Queen Dowager of Poland disclaim all Pretensions to the Crown of Poland and that neither Potentate enter into a treaty with the Turks tending to Peace but with a joynt approbation And that both Armies act separate unless Cracow or Vienna be besieged and then with United Forces to fall upon the Enemy into which Alliance it is expected the Czar of Muscovy will shortly enter to revenge the outrages done him by the Turks and Tartars who since the late Divisions have made divers incursions into his Countries This Alliance made known to the Grand Seigniour greatly perplexed him insomuch that he sent orders to all the Bassa's Begs or Sanzacks of Europe to raise what Forces they could to attend him in the Field himself resolving instantly to march to Belgrade whither the Great Visier with an Army of 60000 Horse and Foot marched before to joyn with the Tartars under the leading of Tartar Han or Cham and then to cover such places as Count Teckely who now seems jealous of the Turks shall besiege The better to take measures for the carrying on the War his Imperial Majesty on the 8th of April called a Council of War at Vienna where it was concluded that the Duke of Lorrain should be Generalissimus of all the Forces on that side and the measures concluded on were these that the Imperial Army the third of May should muster near Presburg to the number of 40000 men That General Schutz shall with 7000 men joyn with 6000 Polish Horse already on their march under the command of the Prince Lubomerski and that the Hungarian troops in conjunction with those making a body of 25000 men act in the upper Hungary and another body of 6000 Incamp near Leopaâ—stadt on the Waag and in case they find the Turks have a design upon that place to put themselves into it and besides these 10 or 12000 men to be posted on the confines of Moravia and Silesia to secure those Countries against the incursion of the Enemy This being the state of the Imperial Army designed against the Turks and Hungarian Rebels Count Teckâ—ey the better to secure himself and reinforce his Army sent out summons to the Nobility once more to be in Armes and as occasion served to oppose the Imperalists but most of them seemed unwilling to comply therein as abhorring to bear Armes against their Lawful Soveraign Whilst matters were thus carryed on that side the King of Sweeden has obliged himself to assist the Emperour with seven thousand Horse and Foot four thousand of which he intends to raise in Germany and the rest in his own Countries nor will the Elector of Bavaria who is in all likelihood shortly to marry the Emperors Daughter be wanting to send his Forces against the common Enemy The King of Poland the better to compleat the Quota he intends to summon the Arrearban of that Kingdom all the Nobility shewing a ready compliance to attend in the Wars his Army to the number of thirty thousand mustering near Leopol he advanced against the Turks who made divers incursions into his Territories on the Vkrain a party of whom advancing too far he cut off killing three hundred and taking a like number of Prisoners and following the success of his Arms he is preparing to besiege Caminieck a strong Fortress taken from the Poles by the Turks some years before and sent an Express to Count Teckley to inform him of the Alliance made with the Emperor and to let him know that unless he does immediately make Peace with his Imperial Majesty he shall be obliged to treat him as an Enemy These Menaces caused Teckley to draw up his Troops with great diligence and send immediately to the Visier of Buda for such Forces as by the Grand Signeours appointment were to joyn him that he might the better be able to defend himself till the gross of the Ottoman Army reported to consist of one hundred and fifty thousand men could arrive and immediately dispatched his Secretary to the Emperors Court to crave a truce but the proposals were so insignificant that he nothing prevailed For the Emperor in person having been at the Randezvous near Presburg in Hungaria was so well satisfied with the order of his men that he altogether contemned the Forces of the Enemy Yet to appear like himself he caused a general Pardon a third time to be published indemnifying all Hungarians and Germans that have been actually in
the Divano or Council-House where the Grand Vizier and such others as are by the Grand Seignior appointed his Councellors four times a Week or oftner of Occasion require it sit to consult the Important Affairs of the Empire to hear and determine all Matters of Controversie and give Audience to Ambassadors and other Forreign Ministers In this Seraglio the Grand Seignior has many Chambers hung with Cloth of Gold gilded Skins and Tapestries made of Silk and Gold wherein are lively represented the Wars of the Ottoman Emperours His Lodging-Chamber is garnished with divers Precious Stones of great value and constantly attending him six young Men who do Service in his Chamber and watch his Person all Night two and two by turns with lighted Torches the one sitting at the Head and the other at the Feet of his Bed And when he attires himself they put into his Pockets a thousand Aspars and twenty Ducats of Gold the which if he does not distribute that Day at Night is their Fee for he seldom or never puts on one Suit of Apparel twice and whensoever he goes to Hunting or any the like Exercise besides the Money in his Pockets his Casnadar Bassa or Chief Treasurer follows him with great store of Money to give away Of these six Young Men who are changed at Pleasure their Offices are distinct for the first carries his Shoes the second his Bow and Arrows the Third his Vest the fourth a Vessel with Water the fifth his Seat and the sixth called Oda Bassa is Head of the Chamber He hath daily a great number of Persons resident in his Palace imployed in their several Charges the chief of which are these First The Capi Aga by whom the Grand Seignior speaks to such as have any Important Business for no Ambassador can be admitted to his Presence but at his first Arrival when he delivers his Letters of Credit and Presents But if afterward any matter arises he must address himself to the Capi Aga that is the Grand Vizier or his Substitute Secondly The Casnadar Bassa or Chief Treasurer of the Houshold Thirdly The Chilergi Bassa or Chief Cup-Bearer Fourthly The Seragli Agasi Steward or Master of the Houshold Fifthly The Chiller Agasi or Seraider Bassa Overseer of the Seraglio of Concubines who is always an Eunuch Sixthly and lastly The Bostangi Bassa or Chief Gardiner who is Captain of the Jamoglans and steers the Grand Seignior's Barge When ever he goes by Water he hath a Protogero or Lieutenant and many Gardiners to attend him which are called Bostangi who are frequently listed in the number of Janizaries when fitted thereto by hard Labour c. These Six Officers have no Authority out of the Seraglio yet the greatest Bassa's fear them for that they being always near the Emperour frequently incense him against them to their Destruction Near unto the Grand Seignior's Person are commonly six Mutes Men born both Deaf and Dumb with whom he makes himself Pastime There are found likewise about thirty four more of the same Tribe which he keeps as Executioners of his Wrath for upon the least Command they will strangle the greatest Bassa of the Court or otherwise make him away it being their frequent Practice Within the Seraglio are kept to the number of five hundred such Youths as are taken up for Tribute-Children in Graecia and other Parts of the Empire all Sons of Christians who taken young from their Parents are instructed and brought up in divers Arts and taught more especially to manage all sorts of Weapons and to be perfect in the Mahometan Superstition few of them being above eight Years of Age at their first Entrance Of these some they make Janizaries others are preferred to Offices of Trust and come to great Preferment But none of them may on Pain of Death stir out of the Seraglio till the Sultan thinks them of a fit Age and sufficiently qualified for his Service He has in like manner eighty Mutaferache or Launce Bearers who carry his Launce and are subject to the Command of none but himself He hath in continual pay a thousand Eunuches whom the Turks call Hundurni many of which are imployed to attend his Virgins and Concubines in the Seraglio They are not only deprived of their Genitors but in their Youth they have their whole Privities smoothed off by their Bellies And in their Turbants they bear a Silver Quill or Crue through which they evacuate their Urine This Inhuman Barbarity was first commanded by Solyman the Magnificent who grew jealous of them upon his observing a Gelding back a Mare gathering from thence that his Eunuches though they had lost their Genitor might yet dalliance with his Females The Seraglio of Women is within the Palace in which are constantly five hundred Virgins the choicest Beauties that can be procured being all Daughters to Christians taken from their Parents when they are about eight Years of Age or under none above are admitted lest they should be debauched e're they enter These are brought up to curious Works And when at any time the Grand Seignior is desirous to have any of them brought to his Bed he the Day before gives notice to the Captain of the Eunuches who commands those under him to put them in order and array them in their best Attire Which done the Grand Seignior attended by the said Captain walking between them as they stand demurely in rowes on either Hand and where he likes drops his Handkerchief of which he has many hanging at his Girdle which the Eunuches that follow observing put her or as many as his Pleasure is to signifie by such Tokens into a Coach and carry them to his Lodgings where they are gorgeously attired and used as he has occasion for them After which they return not to the Seraglio of the Virgins but have other Lodgings appointed them And when by reason of the Failure of Tribute-Virgins the Seraglio grows empty they purchase the Fairest they can find in the Market of Constantinople whither they are brought to be sold as Slaves Another Seraglio there is in which the Grand Seignior keeps his Sultana's or Sultanesses and their Children as likewise such other Concubines of whom for his delight he hath chosen from amongst the Virgins He never marries but when any one is brought to his Bed side he gives her a Golden Head-tire and ten thousand Aspers causing her to live apart daily increasing her Maintenance The first that bears him a Child is called the Sultana or Sultaness and is accounted Mistress of the rest of his Women and by him for the most part best beloved The rest that hath been brought to his Bed and with whom he hath dallianced are returned back to their several Apartments there to expect the Issue and if they prove not with Child then are they given in Marriage to his Slaves whom for their sakes he advances to great Dignity for the most part He hath three hundred Sollacchi who march continually about
his Higness not to hazard any thing rashly This advice altered the former resolves especially upon notice of the near approach of the Polonian Horse yet the Scouts giving information that a great body of Turks and Hungarians were on their way to joyn with the Besiegers under the leading of the Bassa of Buda Prince Lubomirskie with the horse under his command and three Regiments of Imperial Dragoones advanced to meet them upon whom coming unexpectedly after a hot dispute he put them to flight with the slaughter of four or five thousand of them taking many prisoners and a great Convoy of Provision and Ammunition such as escaped flying to Gran New-haussel and other adjacent Garrisons The Prince was no sooner returned with these spoiles to the Camp but an Officer arrived from the King of Poland assuring the Duke of Loraine that the King was with thirty Regiments of Horse within twelve or fourteen hours of the Imperial Camp whereupon his Higness dispatched the Margrave of Baden to complement him upon his arrival and immediately drew up his Army in Battali◠to receive him at the head thereof resolving with all convenient speed to give the Turks a Camisado and withal sent an express to the Emperour lying at Pashaw to let him understand the Polonian Kings Aproach and his resolves to fight the Ottoman Army with the first advantage offered as also in what danger the City of Vienna had been and was in giving at the same time strait command to every officer throughout the Army to be in readiness to March upon six hours notice The Imperial Camp being put into good order and a resolution taken to fight the Infidels the King of Poland on the 29 of August arrived with all his Chivalry and was immediately followed by the remaining Troops of horse his foot being at the same time advanced ◠within 8 〈◊〉 German Miles of the Imperial Camp when upon his arrival having been by the Margrave congratulated first in the name of his Imperial Majesty and then in the name of the Duke and all the great Commanders of the Army he encamped about a mile on the left of the Imperialists and the next day a Tent Royal was pitched between both Armies where the King the Duke of Loraine the Electors of Bavaria Saxony and divers other Princes met and after passing the usual complements fell to debate about the necessity of their attempting to raise the siege and that no time was to be lost in that affair for that the Garrison Souldiers from twenty thousand were by divers distempers and the fire of the enemy reduced to five or six thousand nor were they slow in coming to a resolve upon the Method to be observed therein During these transactions the Turks incessantly Battered the City of Vienna labouring earnestly in their works as being greatly desirous to take it by storm and more especially to save the Grand Visiers oath who had sworn by the head of Mahomet to take it or dye under the walls though afterward it appeared he had not strength enough to acquire the former nor courage sufficient to keep his word in the latter for such was the courage of the besieged that sallying they beat the enemy once more out of all their works but by the former sallies and sickness as before mentioned they were exceedingly weakned insomuch that they despaired much longer to maintain the City against the assaults of such so numerous and restless enemies so that on the fourth of September Count Staremberg at the earnest intreaty of the Burghers caused it to be signified from St. Stephens Tower by setting up a purple slag the signal appointed that the City was in distress which being perceived by the Imperial Scouts they acquainted the King and Duke who thereupon drew up in Batalia and sent out four hundred horse to observe whether the enemy had possessed the Forrest and immediately set forward with the whole Army altogether full of courage and brave resolution desiring nothing more than to be in action with the Infidels when in the mean time the City being pressed by two successive assaults and a Mine sprung on the point of the Bastion the Besieged on the eight made another sign from the Tower of the great danger they were in and sent out two Enginiers to inform the Duke of Loraine thereof by word of mouth the better to hasten relief before the enemy had finished the new Batteries within Musquet shot of the Scottenburg Gate but one of them was taken by the Turks Scouts and the other supposed to be drowned in passing the Danube But the General having received sufficient notice and dreading of what evil consequence the least delay might prove in good order passed the Forrest of Vienna which the Turks to their great disadvantage had no where Fortified But coming to the hill of Calemberg on the 11th of October found it strongly possessed whereupon a squadron of horse and eight Regiments of foot ascended to Attack the enemy and remove them from their post who charged up with such bravery that after a hot dispute the Turks gave ground and retired in great confusion to a strong retrenchment made at the bottom of the hill towards their Camp where being reinforced they made a stand and again disputed it but being cut off in great numbers by the shot of the Imperial Cannon from the hill on which by this time they were planted and charged on the one hand by the Polonian horse and on the other by the Bavarian foot they after an hours dispute were driven thence leaving an open field to the Imperial Army which under the Duke of Loraine advanced in good order to charge the Bassa of Sielistra who as the forlorn with ten or twelve thousand men advanced though in some disorder by reason his Ranks were broken by the shot from the Hill which played furiously till the Dukes squadron of horse under the leading of the Margrave of Baden caused the Bassa after a sharp dispute to retire to the main Body when the Duke of Loraine with fifteen thousand horse taking the advantage fell into the left wing with such fury that the Turks in spite of the resistance they made began to fall into disorder when as the King of Poland charging on the Right where the Visier sought in person great was the slaughter till in the end the Turks as men discouraged and dismayed began to shrink together which the Margrave of Baden perceiving drew off to relieve the besieged and by six in the evening posted himself before the Sotch gate yet did not the Turks in the Trenches desist from assaulting the City but like men desperately resolved to lose their lives or win it but the scale of victory by this time turning apparently on the Christians side they being seconded by six thousand fresh horse made great slaughter though the Bassas laboured to encourage their men and restrain their flight in vain for by this time the King of
his Person and make as it were his Guard being under the Command of the Aga of the Janizaries all of them attired in Linnen-Garments hanging down beneath their Knees and over them quilted Wast-Coats with half Sleeves of Taffety Damask or Sattin and on their Heads Caps and Feathers carrying Bows and Arrows There are another sort of Foot-men called Peiâ—â—i wonderful swift of Foot whom he imploys in the nature of â—â—â—qâ—ies or Foot-Posts being attired in Cloth of Cold with 〈…〉 of the same tyed fast about them upon their Heads wearing Caps like Butter-pots with a Silver Pike standing out before in the nature of a Horn. The Porters of the Court that give Attendance there are four thousand and are attired like the Janizaries having over them three Capigi Bassa's The Grand Seignior's Power is so absolute and his Government so tyrannical that his Subjects term themselves his Slaves none of them being sure of his Life or Goods beyond his Pleasure for without any Tryal or Process he puts to Death whom it pleaseth him unless restrained by the Souldiers who often rescue their Minions out of his Hands and oblige him to pardon them Their Sutes are few and those very short they rarely being permitted the Favour of Advocates to procrastinate Matters from coming to a speedy Result tho' commonly he who can bribe most fares the best For the Turks are of all Nations the most Avaricious doing no Man a Kindness unless they are fee'd though they have the least Certainty of any People to keep what they have gotten all as is aforesaid being at the Disposal of the Prince They punish Crimes with great Severity and so speedily that it is observed that seldom any Theft or Murther is committed by any private Turk but what Outrages do happen in the City or elsewhere are committed commonly by the Grecians and those that are not of the Progeny of the Turks The Grand Seignior's Chief Councellor is the Great Vizier who wears his Signet and is stiled his Lieutenant every Divano-day giving him an exact Account what is said and done Nor dare he dissemble in ought for that the Grand Seignior has a Window from whence he can see and hear and yet not be seen himself which Window looks into the Divano When this Vizier is abroad which never happens unless to be General of an Army or upon some such like important Occasion at what time he appoints his Lieutenant to officiate in his Absence who is called the Chimacham Next unto the Bassa's of which there are many dispersed throughout the Empire to manage the Affairs thereof are the Beglerbegs or Lords of Lords They are Men of great Authority and have the Command of great Kingdoms and Armies under whose Obedience are divers Sanzacks which are sent as Governors into Provinces during the Princes Pleasure being Men of great Experience for the most part commanding over the Spahi and Timariots the Turks chief Horsmen whom they continually exercise to render them the more expert The Chief of these Beglerbegs is the Beglerbeg of Romania or Grecia under whose Command are twenty one Sanzacks next to him is the Beglerbeg of Buda who hath under his Command thirteen Sanzacks The Beglerbeg of Temeswar has under his Command eight Sanzacks The Beglerbeg of Bosna hath under his Command nine Sanzacks The Beglerbegship of Coffe or Capha who resideth in Taurica Chersonesus and commandeth over the Sanzacks near unto the great River Tanais and the Fenns of Maeotis which was at first but a Sanzackship and depended upon the Beglerbegship of Grecia and is indeed rather a Beglerbegship in Name than in Power These Beglerbegs or Lords of Lords great Governours of the Turkish Empire in Europe besides the Sanzacks have under their Command 257000 Timariots or Horse-men who are bound for certain Lands alotted them by the Grand Seignior out of his Conquests to serve in the Wars upon all Occasions The Beglerbegs or Great Commanders of the Turk's Empire in Asia are thirty in number under whom are a proportionable number of Sanzacks and not less than 400000 Timariots The Beglerbegs commanding the Turk's Empire in Africa are four and have under them fourteen Sanzacks and sixty two thousand Timariots Besides these Timariot-Horsemen there are the Spahi who are for the most part Europeans being such as were brought up in their Infancy or taken Captive As likewise Spaâ—hoglanians Silictarians and Olofagians who have likewise Lands or Annual Pensions assigned them for which they are bound to serve in the Wars for no Man in the Ottoman Empire can have any Lands or Yearly Revenues that way but must be ready or send others in his stead it being held that the whole Empire in Fee simple is the Grand Seigniors No Man being permitted to buy or injoy any Lands longer than it pleases his Prince Nor can any one claim a Propriety to a Foot unless by the Donation of the Grand Seignior or his Assignment and that last at longest but during the Natural Life of him to whom it is so given or assigned These Horsemen march under a white Banner being armed with strong Coats Bows and Arrows Culeverings Scymitars and Battle Axes Another sort of Horsemen there are called Caripices not exceeding eight hundred who still ride near the Grand Seignior as his Life-guard in the middle of the Battalion of the Janizaries and are the best Horsemen accounted of all others being for the most part Sons of the Great Commanders As for his Foot Forces the chief Strength consists of Janizaries who are Children taken from their Christian Parents and inured in their Youth to all manner of Hardship taught all the Use of Arms and trained up in all Warlike Discipline till they are adjudged fit to be inrolled for the War These are taken up in Europe no Children born either in Asia or Africa being admitted into their Seminary These Men always inclose the Person of the Grand Seignior at what time he marches with his Army and are the last that fight unless urgent Necessity require it They wear white Caps carry Harquibusses and sharp Scymitars who since their first Institution have been the chief Supporters of the Turkish Empire but of late they are much degenerated from their former Discipline giving themselves up wholly to Ease and Pleasure yet keep themselves in good order for the most part There remains twenty four thousand of them in Constantinople and a far greater number in divers Places of the Empire They are commanded by their Aga or Captain to whom nothing is so fatal as their Love for him for then the Grand Seignior has him in mistrust and well is it if he be not made away They sleep together in great Halls their Beds being placed on either side and all those of a Squadron feed at one Table the Younger ever serve the Elder And if any one of them be absent from his Lodging in the Night unless upon publick occasion then is he the next day severely câ—dgelled and
Tower overthrew the mortars sallying out at the same time and making a terrible slaughter of the enemy who were advancing to the wall with a design to enter the new breach recovering from them a Bastion of which they had possessed themselves and cutting in pieces all they found therein This bad success making it apparent that the City was not so easie to be taken as the Visier had supposed he commanded Arrows to be shot over the walls with Letters fastened to them containing his admonition to the besieged speedily to surrender and receive liberty in their persons a free exemption of their goods and such treatment as they should desire but if they refused and held out obstinately till the City should be taken by storm or reduced by famine no mischief should be left unpractised that wit or horror could invent but this device not at all prevailed but rather induced the besieged to contemn the besiegers whose weakness thereby they the better understood as observing from former acts of the like nature they never capitulate underhand till they despaire of obtaining their ends or grow weary of the siege All this while the Duke of Loraine lay close in his Camp within sight of the City the better to incourage the besieged daily increasing his number and as earnestly expecting the Polonian King who had sent the Prince Lubomirskie before him with six thousand horse and daily Curriers passed between him and the Emperor who with the Court was retired to Pashaw there to expect the great event on which the eyes of all Nations were fixed The increase of the Christian Camp did not a little trouble the Visier who well knew that if he could not make himself master of the City before the King of Poland arrived he must be obliged to give battle or raise his siege and that if he miscarried in the former it would greatly redound to his disgrace if not hazzard his life by rendring him obnoxious to the Grand Signiours displeasure whom he had assured of taking the City whereupon to hasten the enterprize he spared not his men but thrust them on even into the mouth of slaughter swearing by Mahomet that in whomsoever he found the least mark of cowardise or neglect of duty he should be put to death and thereupon he commanded the Cannon from all the Batteries to play without ceasing but such was the care and skill of the Christian Engineers that they with their great shot dismounted divers of them overthrowing their battery and burying such as were there posted in their ruins yet having made two breaches in the wall one near the red Tower and the other not far from the Imperial Pallace he commanded five thousand Janizaries and ten thousand other souldiers to enter the Breach but Count Staremberg having drawn his chief strength on that side to oppose the Torrent although as men desperate they came on yet the besieged sallying out and coming to hand strokes by plain force drove them back killing about three thousand and recovering the Raveling and Counterscarp of which they had strongly possessed themselves yet in this sally five hundred of the Imperialists fell and two hundred wounded This hot dispute over and the Turks beaten out of divers of their Trenches they lay still for two days not attempting any thing when on the third the Visier sent to the Count Staremberg for a Cessation or a five days Truce to bury the dead whose noisome smells greatly afflicted his Camp with sickness but the Count returned for an answer that he had no need of a Truce nor would he accord to any upon which under the shelter of the night the Turks in great numbers approached the walls but being discovered by lights thrown out for that purpose the shot from the Flankers and Battlements gabled them so desperately that they were obliged to return two thousand less than they came on when upon their retreat three thousand of the Imperialists sallyed and did great execution whereupon the Visier storming and finding the greatnes of the loss he had at divers 〈◊〉 sustained 〈…〉 unsuccessful attempts repaired his Batterie and planted as near as he could his Mortars to the wall with which he threw divers Granadoes and Bombies into the Town freeing some houses on fire and killing 〈…〉 the inhabitants the which he continued all the 21 and 22 of July but by the extraordinary diligence of the besieged who still countermured the breaches repaired what was shattered and earth behind to keep the Bullworks from renting and the wall from shaking by the force of the furious shot the Turks at that vast expence of powder and shot were little advantaged The Duke of Loraine having received another supply of five thousand men part of the Troops of the Circle and certain notice from the King of Poland that he was advancing with all diligence he the better to encourage the besieged sent a Fisherman to assure them of speedy succour commanding him to give him notice of his safe arrival by setting up a blew flag upon the battlements of the Tower and that the besieged if they were in danger should set up a red flag and that rather then the City should sall into the hands of the Infidels he would without the King of Poland endeavour to raise the siege though at the hazard of a Battle nor was it long e'r he safely arrived by swimming over the Danubius and gave the first signal but so far were the besieged from giving the second that they encouraged thereto by their renowned Governour the Count d' Staremberg sallyed early in the morning and finding the Turks advancing their Mines fell upon them with such fury that they overwhelmed the Miners and beat the Janizaries who were appointed to guard them insomuch that the noise arose so great that the Grand Vizier not well assured supposed the Christian Army had at that time attempted the relief of the City and for his own safety caused him to draw up his Army in Battalia Things being at this pass the Duke of Loraine in his Camp where he lay had notice that a Convoy of provision and Ammunition was on its way to the Turkish Camp and arrived within three Leagues thereof whereupon he commanded out a party to intercept it who accordingly performed his desire killing and taking prisoners and putting to flight those Turks who guarded it nor was the booty less worth then forty thousand Dollars On the 24 of July the besieged made a vigorous sally with five thousand horse and foot and charging the Turks in their Trenches with much bravery and resolution drove them thence thereby recovering though not without considerable slaughter on either part divers redoubts of which they had possessed themselves firing the bavins and planks with which they attempted to fill up the Ditch in order to a storm which the next morning was intended but seven thousand Turks being sent to reinforce those that were routed they with fresh fury returned upon
the Imperialists to succour whom two thousand issued out of the Town at what time the fight was renewed and for a long time continued bloody and doubtful and most of the works the Christians had possessed themselves of were recovered the Turks still pressing on to enter the Town with the besieged but being within danger the Imperial Engeniers sprung a mine and thereby destroying about two hundred of the forwardest put a stop to the courage of the rest and gave fresh vigor to the besieged insomuch that again charging the enemy with the former courage and bravery they overthrew them far and near insomuch that five thousand were computed to fall during the action which carnage so infected the Turkish Camp that the soldiers dyed in great numbers which obliged the Visier to remove three or four miles further with the gross of his Army leaving onely a competent number to guard his former Camp and cover the siege The Elector of Bavaria according to his promise having raised an Army of thirteen or fourteen thousand men for the service of the Empire after having mustered them in the presence of the Emperor caused them to march directly towards Kremps to joyn the Imperial Forces resolving in person to follow them with all convenient speed when in the mean while General Dunwalt having notice that seven or eight thousand of the enemy were fallen into the upper Austria he strengthening himself with what Forces he could marched with all diligence to oppose their progress in which they made such devastation that the like had not been formerly known and such was his good success that coming upon them at unawares he put them to the rout killing a great many of them and rescuing two thousand Captive Christians whom they had taken in their progress as also recovered a great booty Upon notice of these and the like successes the Imperial Confederates hastned their quotaes to joyn the Army and for that purpose a Conference was held at Hasford on the 27 of July between the deputies of the Elector of Brandenburg the Bishop of Bamberg and Wittenberg the Princes of Hanspatch Bereith c. wherein it was resolved that the Troops of Franconia designed for the asistance of the Emperor should set forward on the second of August and that the Bishop and Chapter of Wirtzberg should for this service furnish out two Regiments of foot and that four Companies of the Guards of the Elector of Brandenbxrg over and above his Quota as likewise a Regiment of new raised horse should be imployed against the Turks under the command of the Velt Marshal Dorfling Fresh Troops daily arriving at the Imperial Camp and the besieged receiving new assurance of being suddenly relieved would by no means admit of any Treaty with the Turks but generously scorned their pretended advantagious proposals which not a little inraged them so that on the 30 of July they renewed their Battery with great fury against the Red Tower and Scotenburg Gate continually thundring against them for twenty four hours when having made two small Breaches they came on with great resolution but were by the sallyers as strongly opposed whilst the Cannon from the Tower Battlements and Flankers made such destruction amongst them that they retired in great disorder but whilst the Imperialists hotly pursued their own Cannoniers not discerning them from the enemy by reason of a great mist that fell about that time divers of them were killed by the great shot and scarcely was the mistake rectifyed e'r the Turks being seconded with six Regiments of Janizaries and Spahies returned upon them so that the fight on all sides was continued with great fury each being desirous of honour and victory but at length the Turks not being able to endure the Force of the Christians retired yet being commanded to a third assault and receiving fresh supplies from the Camp they again returned strongly possessing the works out of which they had been before beaten 〈◊〉 Count Staremberg accompanyed with divers Commanders and one thousand foot soldiers coming upon them so incouraged his weary men who had been in the heat of the action with little intermission for the space of ten hours that a greater slaughter then ever was made and in sine the Turks put to flight During these three assaults not less then eight thousand of the Besiegers were slain not fewer then three thousand of the besieged So that the Visier fearing the noisomness of the Carnage might oblige his men to forsake their Trenches again desired a Cessation to bury his dead but it would not be granted but rather the slaughter Increased by another sally the besieged made whilst their Cannon on the wall being skillfully mounted overthrew the Turks Cannon and ruined their new Battery against the Scotenburg Gate This great City in the siege of which the Turks have been alwayes unfortunate had not above sixteen hundred Garison soldiers in it the morning of the day wherein it was besieged and but lightly stored with provision but so providence ordered it that in the sight of the Turkish Army two great Vessels laden with provision coming up the River Danubius got into the Port safeâ—â— and the Garrison augmented by sixteen thousand horse and foot left there by the Duke of Loraine as he marched through the City in his retreat nor were the Burgers and Religious Orders less diligent in the defence thereof then the souldiers being by the women animated thereto but more especially by the unwearied example of their Governour who spared no pains nor labour being ever seen in places of greatest danger sacrificing his rest and safety to the Publick good of Christendom and preservation of his Country of which that great City is the only Bulwark and since money was mostly wanting he borrowed it of the Monasteries and Religious foundations promising to refund it with great interest if the City scaped falling into the hands of the Infidels or if it did so be it his Life and Liberty remained to him they should lose nothing By this time the King of Poland having mustered his Army under the walls of Cracovia and furnished himself with all things necessary divided it into two parts and by hasty Marches advanced to joyn the Imperial Camp now swelled big by the daily arrival of fresh Troops and longing to be in action which the Grand Vizier well noting used all diligence in running his Trenches chiefly trusting to his Mines many of which being successefully sprung ruined a great part of the outworks but such was the indefatigable endeavours of the besieged that they made them for the most part good e'r the Turks could enter and frequently by digging deep sounds laying pibbles upon drums and setting basons of water near the walls discovered their Mines which they countermining frustrated destroying the Miners in them for the most part or taking thence the powder Teckely imagining that the Duke of Loraint durst not adventure out of his Camp for fear of being attacked