to armes offering to furnish him with gold siluer and men and with all other things and prouisions whatsoeuer that should be needfull and necessarie for such an expedition Scanderbeg hauing heard these reasons and perswasions of the Venetian albeit of himselfe he was not vnresolued in his owne opinion yet because he vsed not to determine vpon any matters of consequence without the aduise of the people he called a councell of all his Chieftaines and Colonels where after long debating and discoursing vpon the matter there was not so much as any one of them who had a desire to renue the warre with the Mahometist for that the Sultan himselfe seemed to the vttermost of his power to shunne and auoide it and was vnwilling to enter againe into armes and the rather because he had of late caused the most part of the bootie to be restored which as he protested his souldiers onely in sport and of a certaine militarie licentiousnesse had taken and caried away out of Epyre. Hereupon the Ambassadour hauing heard this answere and resolution of the Albanois departed from thence very sad and sorrowfull for this repulse and he tooke his way to the Archbishop of Duras whom he knew to be in wonderfull good credite with the King of Albanie and that all the people of Epyre had a maruellous good opinion of him in so much as there was not any thing were it neuer so hard and difficult but if he pleased to vndertake it he could perswade them vnto it The cause that made him to resort vnto this personage was to see if he could perswade him to take the matter in hand and to deale with the King and his Captaines to make open warre vpon the Ottoman For he was as yet in some hope that the case was not altogether desperate This Prelate being most affectionate to the seruice of the common wealth of Venice in regard of the reuerence which he bare to that Senate was content to make a iourney to Scanderbeg This Archbishop being an Epyrot borne and in the citie of Driuasta was the sonne of Andrew Angell of whom we haue heretofore made some mention he was a man of excellent conceipt and vnderstanding of incomparable cloquence perfectly well seene in al good letters both diuine and humaine not ably learned in the languages both Greeke and Latin and therewithall his grauitie integritie of life was so singular and so great was his zeale and feruentnesse in the Christian religion that it purchased him high praise commendation with all men And Scanderbeg had him in great honor reuerence and estimation in regard of his modestie sinceritie and vncorrupt life and the people of Albany did alwaies hearken vnto him and beleeue him as if he had beene some diuine Oracle Nowe this personage comming to see Scanderbeg and hauing humbly besought him that he would assemble his Captaines and the seuerall companies of his souldiers enforced himselfe by his perswasions to induce them to resume their armes and to renue the warre against the Turkes speaking vnto them in this manner The diuine Plato most worthy Prince did affirme those coÌ„monweales realmes and Empires to be most happie and fortunate which were gouerned by men of wisedome and vertue The truth whereof we our selues doe see more cleere then the day-light to be now verified in the people and estate of Albanie liuing vnder the rule and commaund of thy Maiestie a most sage and vertuous Prince and a peerelesse and inuincible Chieftaine Good reason therefore had the Kings and Potentates thy next neighbors to elect choose and nominate thee alone for their worthy Chiefe and Generall as being sent from heauen to defend and protect their crownes and estates from the rage and fury of the Ottomans and from the fiercenesse of the Barbarians as they haue bene hitherto most excellently well defended and preserued vnder the protection of thy armes and the valure of thy souldiers The which being well perceiued by Mahomet a most subtle and wilie Foxe who lies continually in waite to entrap and beguile all Christians and is the most cruell and vehement persecutor of the Christian faith farre exceeding all that euer liued he hauing a greedie desire to satisfie his brutish extreame hatred conceiued against the name and profession of Christianitie by his crafty cunning dissimulation a thingifamiliar and vsuall to the house of Ottoman hath gotten and procured thee to conclude a peace with him condescending gladly vnto such lawes and couenants as it pleased thee to prescribe vnto him onely because he would not be molested and troubled by thy armes of which he stood in doubt more then of any thing else whatsoeuer But alas most sage and prudent Prince who is there that cannot discerne and discouer how this Barbarian by a barbarous kind of craft and deceipt hath drawen thee to this treatie and hath fradulently wonne thee to this peace onely first of all to roote out the other Princes thy neighbours that afterwardes he might come vpon thee also as he hath alreadie begunne and partly put in practise where are the Rascian Princes where are the Kings of the Illirians or Sclauonians what is become of the Emperour of Trebysond See how this traytor euen now of late against his owne faith and all couenantes and rights of the lawe of Nations hath bent his forces against thee also wasting and â—acking thy Prouince and by daily inroades and continuall inuasions doth trouble and vexe thy allyes and confederates For who can expresse the immortall rancour of this tyrant against thee doest thou thinke that he will suffer the death of his father such huge slaughters of his armies so manie murthers of his Captaines and Chiefetaines to remaine vnreuenged Is it possible that thou canst repose any trust and confidence in the wordes of this infamous deceiuer or canst thou admit his excuses doest thou thinke that he will keepe his promise and faith with thee who neuer yet had anie faith in him nor euer to this day did keepe his fayth with anie man liuing Good God who can number the villanies and mischiefes of this fellonous and cruell tyrant and yet to let them passe in silence and vntouched I holde it no lesse then plaine impietie For to inueigh against one that is notoriously wicked and to make them knowen vnto the worlde which are the authors of vice and wickednesse is a thing not only delectable and delightfull but it is greatly profitable and beneficiall because that men being terrified by their examples may abstaine from mischiefe and vitious actions And therefore as vertue ought not to be suffered to goe vnrewarded or to be without commendation so ought vice likewise to be checked and reprehended For by the one and the other of those twaine do we reape like frute and benefite both by the exalting of the good and the suppressing of the wicked This then is a thing both iust and reasonable that they which are vicious
the diuine prouidence by the which I confesse and doe acknowledge that all things are subsisting and haue their being and whereby all things are guided and gouerned that it behooueth me now to lay aside this mortall and fraile burthen of my bodie to goe to another and better place and that I must exchaunge the breuitie and miseries of this life for the felicitie of true and euerlasting ioyes and I protest vnto you before God that the thought hereof or rather this necessitie which is layed vpon me doth not in any sort trouble nor grieue me I do not repine against that law which the destinies did impose vpon vs at the time of our natiuitie for we ought not to be aggrieued or to find fault with that which we suffer according to lawe and iustice with this condition were we borne that we should be subiect to this necessitie of our mortalitie And I know well that whatsoeuer is of necessitie cannot be accounted miserable to any man particularly It behooueth vs in the end to yeeld earth to earth and to be obedient to nature and it is required of vs as our due that we resigne vp this our soule being eternall and immortall and this spirit of ours which is heauenly and celestiall to him which hath onely lent it vs for a time Neuerthelesse my deare friends and companions I do not receiue and embrace this fatall lot of my death and departure with such courage and cheerefulnesse because I am willing to be freed from the perilles and dangers or because I would eschew and shunne the trauels and labours or because I would withdraw my selfe from those mischieues and inconueniences wherein euen till this time I haue consumed all my best yeares and haue ended my dayes for the seruice of God and the religion of Christ for I am readie and could finde in my heart to expose and aduenture my life continually for the same to the like or greater hazardes but I see I see well that this is Gods good will and pleasure I perceiue it is my good God that calleth me to whom we must be obedient and I must now retire my selfe out of this earthly and filthie dungeon and from this miserable and wretched prison I haue followed nature long enough I haue liued long enough I haue finished the course and I haue run the race which it pleased God to appoint for me But yet before my soule depart from my bodie and before I doe leaue you one thing there is of which I hold it expedient now to admonish and aduertise you as I haue alwayes vsed in cases of importance when I was able in former times and in the better yeares of my age And that is That as heretofore during my life time euen till now you haue endured all trauels and labours euen to the last gaspe for the safetie and dignitie of the Christian religion and the Catholique faith by meanes whereof you haue made all the Princes of Christendome to fauour honour and admire you euen so hereafter when I am dead and gone let that be the onely and the whole desire of your hearts let that be the onely thing that you shall set before your eyes All things I can assure you will fall out easie and happily vnto you as long as you continue stedfast in concord and vnitie by which small things and contemptible do grow great and inuincible and as long as you entertaine mutuall loue and fidelitie and that you doe make litle account of all other things in comparison of the common profit and general good of all of you For there is no Empire so puissant so well grounded which falleth not to present ruine and declineth not to destruction where mutual enmities dissentions are suffered to haue an entrie and where priuate profit and particular commoditie is preferred before the publique and common good But if you shall ioyne together as brethren and friendes and shall liue one with another in perfect loue and amitie no attempts nor practises of your enemies whatsoeuer shall be able to grieue or hurt you Your Scepters and your crownes shall be durable and permanent and you shall maintaine your peoples your Prouinces your wiues your children and your riches in quietnesse and in perpetuall felicitie You shall not neede to feare the furie of the Ottoman nor the rage of the Barbarians their fraudes subtilties traines and cunning sleights shall not be able to harme you nor to preuaile against you Doubt you not but the tirant doth seeke to disioyne you and to disunite your forces he doth lay many plots and deuises he is verie watchfull and vigilant he doth spare no paines nor labour to deuide and seperate you which if he can once bring to passe and doe see you neuer so litle at variance he will oppresse you one after another and in the end he will vtterly destroy and consume all of you Moreouer my good friendes and confederates there is Iohn my sonne whom with all possible care affection and diligence as hartely as a father can doe I do recommend vnto you I doe commit I do giue and dedicate him to your faith and fidelitie and to your singular vertue His tender yeares and the infirmitie of his age which is yet as it were stuttering and stammering do make him vnfit either to foresee or to repulse the imminent calamitie he is not able to preserue himselfe from being torne-in pieces and deuoured by those fierce enraged Tigers to keepe himselfe from being oppressed by that periured common enemy Mahomet who is of him and his kingdome so greedie and desirous that he ceaseth not to watch continually how he may swallow vp both in his bloudy cruell throt And alas he will worke it he will effect it he will oppresse him poore wretch if your armes if your valour do not protect and preserue him For assoone as he shall perceiue that I am dead the cruell tirant will not make any stay at all but he will come flying as a sauage and wilde beast to the intent he may reuenge so many losses so many outrages and calamities which he hath suffred and endured by the father vpon the poore and vnhappie infant and to the intent he may execute vpon him silly wretch all kindes of cruelties and whatsoeuer his barbarous and felonous heart can put in practise Let me therefore my louing friends and good companions entreate you to embrace his estate and his affaires with like loue fidelitie and promptnes of affection as I haue embraced your commoditie and your glorie all the dayes of my life if you list to acknowledge the truth of that which I now speake For you know I haue not liued to my selfe alone but for all you and your children I haue so laboured toyled my selfe that day nor night I haue not spared any paines or trauels for your sakes In the whole course of my life I haue not enioyed any time or space of rest
me in the death of my father this Hydra this monster of all mischiefes hath infinitly prouoked against him my iust wrath and indignation But foolish man as he is let him take his pleasure for a time let him hold on his course yet a while let him glory in his goodly realme and in his ambitious pouerty whilest the destinies do permit and suffer him it shall not be long ere I will swallow him vp in endlesse ruine and perdition This therefore is my aduise that we goe right on to Croy the capitall and chiefe city of that Prouince with so great forces and puissance that it shall not be able to hold out against vs. For when Croy is ouercome and conquered all the other places and strong holds of the countrey will be soone reduced to the same estate and condition This matter being propounded by Mahomet and approued by the generall consent and voices of his Visits and Captaines infinite commissions were granted forth and publike proclamation was made throughout all the territories and dominions vnder the Turke his obeysaunce that all men which were apt to beare armes should repaire to the Commissioners and cause their names to be enrolled insomuch that innumerable forces were leauied and in the meane time prouision was made of munitions instruments engines and other necessaries for the Campe all which being in a readinesse the Turkish Monarch with a most proud and glorious traine tooke his way towards Epire. Vpon these troubles and tumults approaching Scanderbeg wanted not his intelligencers and ordinary spies but that they gaue him sure and speedy aduertisements of all things which was the occasion that he assembled all his friendes and nobles and amongst others Paul Angell Archbishop of Duraz vnto whom he imparted his most secret counsels and to them he adioyned also Iosaphat Barbare the Venetian Ambassadour a worthy personage of great iudgement and experience and singularly zealous of the Christian religion who together with the Archbishop was seldome or neuer from the side of the Prince of Albanie By the generall aduise and consent of this assembly it was ordained that all the townes places and fortresses of the realme should be diligently furnished and prouided with victuals and other necessary prouisions and fortified with good and faithfull garrisons especially Croy the principall bulwarke and stay of all the estate of Albany and whereuppon all the rest depended He prouided therefore and stuffed it with good store of souldiers part of them Albanois and part Italians all of them of approued loyalty and resolution and he made choise of an Italian Gentleman to be gouernour of the towne one Balthasar Perduce a man highly esteemed for his prudence iudgement and resolution But before I passe any further it shal be requisit that I recount vnto you one plot or deuise forged and framed in the shop or store-house of the Ottomans trecherie and infidelitie the inuention and practise whereof as it was suttle and deuilish so was it miraculously discouered and auoyded by the knowledge whereof you may easily coniecture how greatly they redoubted and stood in awe of Scanderbeg whom they could not suffer and endure no more then a thorne sticking in their foote The Turkish Monarch perceauing that the Prince of Epyre was now growen to that height of honour that his name began to be fearefull and terrible vnto all the Mahometistes was in great feare least that by reason of this exceeding fame and renowme of the Epyrots his owne people and subiectes should take an occasion to grow mutinous to raise some sedition and so taking armes against him should either seeke to murther ther him and to cut his throat or else might chase and expell him out of his â—eate anâ— throne Imperiall and bestow the same vpon the king of Albanie for he was not ignoraunt that his notable crueltie had made him most hatefull and odious vnto al men whereas this is not the meane to reigne long and happily but clemencie and iâ—stice are the firme pillers of each estate and Empire for this cause did he imagine anâ— determine to surprise Scanderbeg by deceipt and trecherie whom he saw he was noâ— able to destroy by force and violence he procured therefore and prouided him selfe oâ— two men practised and expert in most languages as it is commonly seene that Princes and great personages doe neuer want ministers to execute their dissolute and vnlawfull passions and hauing corrupted them with great giftes and bountifull rewardes and assuring them that he would continually and dayly heape vpon them greater and better benefites he perswaded and instructed them to fayne and dissemble them selues to be fugitiues from the countrey and dominions of the Turke and that for the zeale of Religion they were come to offer their seruice vnto Scanderbeg and to pray him to haue pitie and compassion of their estate and that they might be receiued and admitted to the holy Sacrament of Baptisme as good Christians the which after they had perswaded him according to their desires that then they should finde the meanes to worke his death either by poyson or otherwise These wicked wretches had no sooner presented them selues to the presence of Scanderbeg but that both of them were baptised and as the common report is were enrolled and admitted to be of the garde and to wait vpon him for the ordinarie safegarde of his person Within a while after it pleased God who had this Prince in his especiall protectioÌ„ to reueale their pernitious attempt conspiracie such was his good pleasure that this good Prince and faithfull seruitour of Christ should not dye so miserable and vnhappy a death for the parties them selues were made the bewrayers and discouerers of their owne deuilish intent and practise For so it happened that a iarre and contention fell betweene them and it may be it was in their cuppes and in a dronken humour but their choler and furie grew so outrageous and immoderat that each vpbrayding other with iniurious and grosse wordes they fell in the end to accuse and detect one an other openly obiecting that they were purposely sent by Mahomet to empoyson Scanderbeg wherepon being apprehended and put to the tortures they presently confessed the whole order of the matter by meanes whereof being deliuered to the executioner they were both hanged according to their desertes Let vs now returne to the course of our discourse The places and fortresses of Epire being carefully furnished and prouided with necessaries in such sort as we haue shewed it was not long but that often letters and messengers did arriue from all partes giuing the allarme and making report that Mahomet with two hundreth thousand men would be shortly before Croy and that his light horsemen and vauntcurrours were euen at hand who accordingly did make their present entry into Albany and for two daies were seene to course vp and downe the countrey and to put all to sword and fire
puissance and authority Alledging moreouer that he being suspected by those in court it was a good and sufficient proofe of that which he did inwardly intend and aspire vnto All this it was easie to perswade the Prince and the rather for that the accusation of his magnificence and his large expences did openly shew it selfe to be true according to their surmise Also the old age of the Sultan being of it selfe fearefull iealous and suspitious did curiously interpret all other matters to the worst in such sort that a certain doubt did by litle and litle engender in his spirite causing him to be mistrustfull not only for the Realme of Albany but also for the soueraignty euen of his own Empire And his conscience being confounded and conuinced by the gilt of his owne misdeedes and wickednes and the iealousie which he had of his estate ill gotten made him repute all things ful oftrechery and infidelity and to suspect his most inward and familiar frends as most dangerous and secrete enemies This his suspition being augmented he began secretely to hate Scanderbeg and to beare a more watchfull and intentiue eye vpon him to see if he could by any couert and close meanes cut him off and worke his confusion not that his wicked and pernicious will wanted power and liberty to doe any mischief but because he had no reasonable cause nor sufficient colour to procure his death destruction To oppresse him wrongfully and by violence he was afeard because he saw him so well beloued of all men generally and for feare least he should alienate the hearts of others and by an example of such cruelty shut vp and take away in time to come from his Kingdome the hope of all vertues and good deserts by any straungers by which meanes principally the Ottoman Empire had bene amplified and raised vnto his greatnesse But whilest these things were thus a doing other affairs of greater waight and importance happening abroad did sucke and swallow vp these domesticall suspitions distrusts for open warre was proclaimed against George Lord of Misia commonly called the Despot of Seruia The king of Turkes desired nothing more then to commit this charge vnto Scanderbeg and that for two speciall considerations The one because he could not finde any man whose seruice in his affaires was so fortunate as was his The other for that knowing him to be hot forward in the war and prompt ready to hazard him selfe to all dangers he did well hope that he should see him miscarie in some one encounter or other against the enemy as in armes it doth oftentimes betide to diuers For this cause hauing leauied his forces Castriot was sent against the Misians This was at that time that he dealt worser with the Christians then he was accustomed for feare least in temporising attending some fit oportunity of retrait if he should not take the occasion to ouercome when it was offered he might minister matter of suspition to Amurath who was already enclined to take any impression of mistrust in his iealous and suspicious head Oftentimes therfore he defeated the Despot and put him to the worse returning in all conflictes with victory to Andrinople Againe at such time as the said Despot had newly repaired his forces and did begin to make head againe and to reenforce his army Scanderbeg being dispatched against him with more lusty forces did vanquish him in battell and put his army to flight And hauing razed many of his holdes and fortresses he ledde backe his souldiers loaden with the spoiles and rich booty of their enemies These tumults abroad being appeased the old wretch by the like pursuit of his former detestable desseignes did againe addresse himselfe and conspire against him who had bin the author of so notable a victory and of the rest and tranquillity of his estate To this end he caused the same time a solemn Iusts and tournement to be proclaimed both on horsebacke and on foote promising gifts and rewards of great value to them that should beare away the prize to the intent that by this deuise and policy he might expose and put Scanderbeg to all perils and extreme dangers But as his counsails were abhominable so did they appeare to be vain and of no effect For albeit great numbers both of subiects and of strangers all hardy actiue and able men did daily present them selues to this triumph yet did Scanderbeg continually shew himselfe amongst them with an admirable hardines brauery and no lesse good hap held against all cōmers and as one fatally predestinated to be victorious he alone did cary away the honor the prize with the extreme wonder and singular fauor of all men The vnmatcheable vertue in this gentle warriour which might haue sufficed to asswage and mollifie the arrogancy fiercenes euen of his enemies could no whit bend the corage of Ottoman alone to any curtesie or clemency but his distrust ech day growing more forcible his heart also began to be enraged enflamed with anger hatred making him to bethink with himself more ardently how he might by some other secret kinde of death dispatch him But why am I thus caried away in the pursuit of these vain reuenges foolish counsailes of Amurath on the one part the prouidence of Scanderbeg on the other part why rather do I not in a word attribute the safety and preseruation of this man vnto God only Assuredly he it was that confounded the spirits senses of Ottoman he it was that raised vp those disturbances of the wars and new commotions in Misia finally he it was that stirred vp the arms of the Hungarians to the intent that this mans life being vowed and destinated to maintaine the dignity of the Christian religion should not be abridged cut off and that the ancient liberty of Epire might once again be reuiued for had not a kind of diuine power interposed it self in this case there is no doubt but that Amurath had attained to the height of his intent and desire Did he want any means to bring him to his end might he not haue had a thousād deuises with which without the least fear of sedition he might haue circumuented him where were poisons where were secret traines ambushments where were fals and slanderous accusations which are the ordinary weapōs of tyrants to execute their malicious and mischieuous attempts Scanderbeg hauing with great facility discouered these trains secret practises perceiuing that if he cōtinued long about the prince he should hardly be able to auoide his snares he found it high time to bethink himself how he might aduance his affaires for the recouery of his fathers estate by some good vertuous exploit by the subtelty of his own spirit a thing which he had alwaies conceiued in his thoughts by the sweete remembrance of his liberty he deuised some honest colour to quit him selfe of the seruice of
oppresse the Sentinels who being dispersed vppon the walles as the manner is in litle standings or cabinets of woode were easily subiect to their violence and soone put to the sword others being disposed in their places With no lesse furie the priuate houses being forced open the bands of Croie were the first that marched Scanderbeg himselfe doing the office both of a commander and a souldier At the shutting vp of the gates many being surprized suddenly had their throtes cut in their beds But the alarme being come from one and other to all the rest a great number being wakened ran presently to armes according as the tumult and the darknesse of the night did giue them leasure and rendring them selues vpon the place they endeuored to cast themselues in order of battell with intent either to die honorably or by making head a while against the enemie and gaining one of the ports to saue them selues by flight This notwithstanding all the passages being shut vp and both the one and the other of their desseignes being assayed in vayne they saw them selues on all partes murthered and slaughtered as beastes Thus the hope of all flight being taken away from them and being depriued of all good and honest meanes to dye with honour they had recourse to cryes and lamentations which they had long forborne and with teares abhorred of all generous hearts they called for mercie to Scanderbeg praying and adiuring him to make a stay of further slaughter and not any more to deface and staine the fortunate beginning of his estate with bloudshed and that he would make choyce rather to let them liue and to reserue them to a seruile estate of bondage for the further increase and ornament of his triumph then to disgrace it so with the shew of their bloudie slaughtered carcasses and by too too much crueltie to dishonor this day of ioy and the assurance of his estate with their innocent bloud howsoeuer iustly spilt that they had not merited any such thing that they had not deserued the ill will and malice of the people nor had bene iniurious to any but that they had as friends rather then as enemies inhabited and conuersed with them in the towne which was committed vnto them by Amurath and that for their part they would not from thenceforth debarre any man from regaining their libertie but laying downe their weapons and their armes they did prostrate them selues inuocating the mercy of the vanquishers On all sides were heard horrible and fearefull cryes clamours plaints howlings sighes threats and lamentations full of confusion In the middest of the heate and furie of the massacre Castriot with all his power causing his souldiers to retire and to sound the retrait was easily moued with the pitifull voyces of these miserable suppliants and he deferred the course of his proceedings till the morning following in hope that this people so beset on all sides and ouerwhelmed with infinite miseries and mischiefes might peraduenture either by faire or fowle meanes by flatterie or by threats be brought and drawen to embrace the Christian religion Neuerthelesse for all that wisely ordering his companies and appointing to each man his place he commanded to keepe good watch for feare and doubt of some surprise that might be made by the enemie Him selfe in the meane time rode directly to the port accompanied with Amese and some others that followed them and there sent and dispatched him away with certaine Dibrians to carrie the tidings to Dibria vnto them who were of his faction how that Croie was his owne and of all the rest which passed admonishing them all in generall to take armes and to sollicite their allies and neighbours to the recouerie of their libertie and that they would not faile during this troublesome change and vnexpected astonishment on all partes to expell and driue away the garrisons of the enemies especially now that Amurath did not yet know any thing and whilest he was occupied in the wars against the Hungarians And as for him that as soone as he had cleered the towne of the Turks set the state thereof in good peace and quietnesse he would incontinently be with them with the best and brauest troopes that he could possibly assemble The next morning at the sunne rising being desirous to make an end of that which rested vndone within the towne he caused it to be cried by sound of trumpet that all those which would be baptized and become professed Christians shoulde retire them selues neare vnto him without armes and they should both haue their liues giuen them and be indifferently admitted to all places of charge and dignity within the towne But all those which should neglect and refuse this fauour should be held for enemies and it should be lawfull for euery man to punish them with all extremity of cruelty The terrour of this Proclamation did not much moue their wretched soules and obstinate mindes and few there were that did hearken vnto this good and wholesome counsaile so liuely were the old preceptes of their auncesters fixed in their feeble spirites and so deepely had they taken roote and were as it were engrauen within their bones that they could not be disswaded from them Most willingly therefore did they make choise that their miserable bodies should accompany their guilty soules to destruction rather then they would enioy the exceeding clemency both of God and men The Turkes therefore desisting from prayers for that the condition propounded vnto them by the Christians seemed vnto them very vnreasonable and hauing recourse vnto a vaine and bootelesse flight they did rather delay then auoide their torment by reason that the corpes du gard of armed souldiers disposed on all the wayes did easily oppresse them being amazed and dispersed And albeit that many of them enraged as it were when the hideous image of imminent death and destruction did present it selfe to their eyes did with their naked swordes make them selues a passage in some of the streets through the middest of their enemies yet could they not for all that auoide the handes of the rest and though they ranne here and there as birdes shutte vp in a cage and did wander by all the crosse wayes of the towne hauing no way to escape yet were they ouerthrowen by the souldiers comming vppon them or else did they murther them selues with their owne weapons For it is sayed that some of them were slaine by their owne hands others getting into the Temples and sacred places to hide them selues were drawen out by the souldiers desirous of bloud and were made as it were a sacrifice for the common liberty Libertie was in euery mans mouth and euery where sounded the sweete name of Liberty Many of them being not yet for feare gotten out of their houses but keeping themselues within dores did there shedde their owne bloud excepting such as retiring them selues into the inner and most secrete partes and corners of their houses did for a
I will be readie and willing to yeeld vp vnto Amurath if you thinke it good both Croye and all the reliques of this vnfortunate Realme and Kingdome desiring much rather with the particular daunger of mine owne life to prouide for your suretie then to raigne with the publique detriment and dammage of all of you One thing onely there is the griefe whereof doeth greatly presse me and that is the miserable condition of my people and the innocent bloud of my cittizens whome my heart can not suffer to be offred vp as a sacrifice to the enemie without a chiefe without a gouernour seeing their faith and loyaltie presenteth it selfe daily to my remembrance of the which at the time of my restitution into this kingdome euen of late they haue left sufficient and good proofe vnto all ages that shall succeede hereafter But what O immortall God! giue me leaue my lords to speake freely vnto you Is there any reason that your fellow citizen and countrie man should still abide with the tirant in the middest of so many dangers and euer dwell in so damned a religion as a continuall fugitiue from his natiue countrie rather then to spend the rest of his life in Epire in the place of his natiuitie in the societie of Christians and in the middest of you his owne countrie men Or is it possible that I should be in Epire and there to see and endure hereafter that the seate of my auncestors the scepter of my father our sepulchers our temples especially if I may so speake that our Gods should any longer remaine vnder the tirannie of the circumcised miscreants alas doth it seeme a small thing to you that I haue euen vntil this day seene their hands filled with the blood of my subiects that I haue dwelt so long with a wicked and vnmercifull bloudsucker and haue spent well neere all the best and most pleasant season of my age in manifest certaine danger of my life From henceforth let vs seeing God hath so permitted it let vs I say be ashamed of our condition It is a great shame infamie for vs any longer to endure those for our masters so do our mishaps constraine me to call them whom in the time of our fathers one base and ignoble towne of Scythia could scarcely suffer for slaues and villaines so contemptible were they at that time and being accustomed only to rapine theft robbery they haue encreased euen till this day wherin they haue growen so hardie as to threaten menace Christendom with all kinds of extremitie Wherfore most magnanimous and couragious Princes assure your countrie your wiues your children defend them and restore them to the true repose of a quiet libertie tranquilitie But if your owne estate seeme vnto you tollerable at leastwise betake you to rightfull and iust armes for me and in my behalfe not for an Albanois not for the sonne of a Prince not for your kinsman but for a poore exile and banished person I speake not to men that will refuse a iust and lawfull warre but I would haue you my masters to defend him whō Iohn Castriot a Prince not carelesse of your good welfare if he were now liuing would recommend at this present vnto your valure and fidelitie And if for all this my calamitie doe not yet moue you but that you preferre an ignominious peace before an honorable warre I will haue recourse to my owne Nation to my owne people and citizens being resolued to submit my selfe quietly to the hazard and aduenture which fortune shall send me and with those only who with so constant free harts haue vowed and consecrated their owne liues for my safetie But neither will you most courteous Princes as I thinke forsake abandon me for to what end are all of you here assembled in such deuotion if it be not for the warre seeing that you cannot serue your selues of me to any other vse or purpose You I say will defend me though it were euen against your wils when you shall vnderstand that this land afflicted by Amurath shall implore craue your aide and assistance when you shall know that the enemie insolent puffed vp with victorie will subuert ouerthrow your Seigniories your libertie with a bloudy throat full of rage with polluted and sacrilegious hands wil run make hast furiously to sucke swallow vp your bloud But let me intreat you not to stay and attend these extremities doe not you make so long stay and tariance till you see some comming then perhaps it will be too late to implore your succours but euen now rather and presently conioyning your forces with our forces your armes with our armes let vs driue and compell the enemy speedily to take the field or let vs be the first to rush vpon him and to inuade his territories Then if he shall once see vs vnited sure certaine it is that either he will change his thoughts or if he do aduenture to march forward he may well to his cost loose and come short of his wretched and greedy desire of victorie conquest For doe you thinke that I in the meane time with the troupes which you shall commit vnto me will remaine shut vp and restrained within the enclosures of any walles and that as one of a faint courage and degenerating from my ancestors I will hide my selfe in some corner or that from some high place or tower amongst children I will take vp my stande to beholde the enemie spoyling of your fieldes and suffer the destruction of your landes and liuings and such like calamities No be you assured that such cowardize shall neuer come within my heart the enemie shall see me daily continually euen in his face with my ensignes with my souldiers to trie the fortune of his assaies and attempts not in plaine battell open fight but God aiding me by some other better kind of pollicie and it may be with verie litle and small losse of my men I shall make the desseignes and audacitie of Amurath to turne to smoake and to vanish away to nothing and that from hencefoorth he shall haue enough to do and be constrained to giue ouer his quarrell and to leaue his baggage vnto you for a prey and bootie at leastwise if he loue not to see his campe after long continuance in his enemies countrie in the fields of strangers and in the midst of many discommodities to be brought to that passe as it shal be rather in estate of an armie forced and besieged then of a besieger one that forceth others Vp then noble and most Catholique Princes let vs set aside all delaies let vs visite the Prouince let vs set downe good lawes orders of discipline let vs leauie and muster our souldiers and let vs lead on our forces that when the infidels come in sight and the sound of the trumpets doe call the souldiers to the battell we
Seruia and Ruscia which notwithstanding was soone after violated by the means which I will now shew you The Turkishe Ambassadour being dislodged and departed from the Court of Vladislaus beholde sodainely there arriued letters from Francis Albert a Florentine Cardinall of the holy siege the contentes whereof were That the Turke with innumerable companies was passed ouer into Asia to fight against the King of Caramania hauing left his countrey in Europe vnprouided and difurnished of defence and wholly disarmed and that he with three score and tenne Gallies well armed and appointed and many other great Vesselles of warre hauing seized on all the portes and passages hadde taken from the Infidell all meanes and hope anie more to transport his troupes and forces on this side the Sea And that such opportunity which then was offered ought not to be lost and omitted that now this cursed and wicked nation might be either rooted out in a manner without anie fight or at least wise chased and driuen so farre off that they should be no more heard nor spoken of For you must note that Iulian Caesarin Cardinall of Sainct Angell and legate of his holinesse being then neare about Vladislaus at Buda had lately procured a new league betweene the Christians for the ruine and destruction of the name of Ottoman and had caused Pope Eugenius the fourth of that name the Duke of Burgoyne the Venetians and the Genowayes to enter into the same who hauing put in readinesse and prouided this army by sea hadde now seized vppon that straight At the same instaunt as if it had beene a thing done of purpose the Messengers of the Emperour of Greece reported the like newes and in manner to the same effect If these tidings were displeasing to the legate I leaue to your opinion For hee was greatly greeued to see the accord and agreement passed betweene the King of Hungarie and the Turke to the preiudice of his practises and endeuours by meanes whereof so great and mighty forces were assembled at the sea neare * Gallipolis And he doubted least he should be taxed either of lightnesse and inconstancy or of faithlesnesse and infidelity But he knew so well both how to do and to speake vnder colour of this Maxime * That faith ought not to be kept with infidelles and miscreants that the compact and conditions of the peace were broken and violated And he absolued and freed both the king his nobles and all others who had benesworne thereunto from the oath which they had solemnly taken and made so that all of them entred chearefully and gladly into this * blessed league The Romaine legate him selfe was there present followed with a faire and goodly troope vnder the Crosse Iancus Huniades that tempest of warre with his Valachians came thither likewise and had the title to be lieuetenaunt Generall of the Army royall Vppon the preparation of so high and haughty an enterprise all were moued at the glorious renowme of Scanderbeg and at his fresh victory gotten vppon Halie Bassa and they perswaded them selues that if they could ioyne vnto this their great preparatiue and prouisions of the Hungarians the forces of the Albanois yet shining in the Vermilion colour of the Turkish bloud this would be an aide and supply vnto them of singular aduantage and a most certaine assuraunce of a good and happie successe to their desires For this cause vppon good deliberation approued by all of them and with all speed possible according as the apparaunce of mischiefe and inconuenience neare and imminent did require letters were sent away of which this was the tenour Vladislaus king of Hungarie and of Poland sendeth health to Scanderbeg Duke of the Albanois It may be that Gods will was that this our late congratulation should be deferred vntill this present to the intent that wee might at this time reioyce together with you in the double successe of your prosperitie not onely for the happy recouery of your owne estate but also for that by your vertue and prudence the same hath bene couragiously defended In this then doe we solace and reioyce our selues both with you and with all Christendome considering that the diuine clemency and your valour hath giuen such succours and comfort to the publique weale and estate Christian For to speake the trueth the losse of the nation of Albanois hath beene such a wound that wee may continually bewaile it as much as any one of our other mishappes and misfortunes at that time when Iohn Castriot your father whom God pardon a Prince as I vnderstand of excellent merite and desert being oppressed by Amurath and taken out of this world by the vngratefull destenies had neither the meanes to leaue vnto you the inheritaunce of his Crowne and Scepter as vnto his Sonne being then vnder the yoke and bondage of a stranger nor yet was able otherwise to prouide for his affaires O that it had pleased God that this Father being most happy and fortunate in such a Sonne had bene now liuing no greater blisse could haue befallen him whereby to surmount all humaine felicity then to haue seene you before his death For so doe you seeme vnto me aboue all other Princes in this world be it spoken without displeasing of any other the most accomplished in all graces and perfections both of minde and body as being diuinely endowed with a certaine fatall and wonderfull Fortune by the good encounter whereof not onely all the land of Albany may vaunt it selfe to be in surety and security but they shall also recouer their first forme and beauty the auncient glory of their kingdome the free liberty of their religion and all the rightes and priuiledges of the people which were lately dismembred from the Realm of Macedon by the vnlawfull robbery of the Ottomans For to say nothing of those things which from your infancy hauing made you continually to be enuyed haue purchased vnto you heretofore euen amongest the Barbarians an immortall name and glory what can there be more magnificent then this victory which as wee haue heard and doe beleeue you haue obtained with singular admiration in the vtter ouerthrow and discomfiture of Haly Bassa and so great and mighty troupes of the Pagans But now ô Scanderbeg there offers it selfe vnto you a subiect of farre greater glory vnder the fauour and blessing of God who by his wonderfull counsaile and decree hath reserued you in these so difficult and daungerous times for the safety and publique good of Christendome with a most faire and fitte occasion to reuenge vppon the Sultan all his wrongs and iniuries both new and old as well those done to your owne person as those against the estate and kingdome of Albanie and not onely the domesticall and ciuill miseries of your owne countrey but the publique calamities also and those opprobrious disgraces done against the Christian religion now oppressed I will not say extinguished if so be that vppon the point
vnruly multitude who would hardly be brought to receiue or admit the command of any second or inferiour person This is the point my maisters wherein consisteth all our difference either that absolutely as I haue sayd we doe refuse to send the King any succours or else that you chaunge your aduise and opinion What shall we send these triumphant succors vnto the Hungarians without Scanderbeg whose onely name will yeeld them more succour then if all of vs were with them and he absent whom they especially doe inuite and whom all of them doe demaund and seeke after Let vs send them then a gods name if any be disposed to goe without him Cannot your Citizens liue one day in rest and quiet without Scanderbeg and will you that the souldiour being in armes should follow the aduenture of forraine seruice without his Captaine Do you thinke that our houses and our countrey shall be in danger without his assistance and shall the souldiour finde him selfe safe and secure in a straunge countrey and a farre off being seperated and farre remoued from his accustomed Chiefetaine and Generall What is then to be done On the one side your forces doe hate and abhorre to go into Hungarie without their Scanderbeg and on the other side the loue of your countrey and the desire of your fellow Citizens doth restraine and withhold you For my part my aduise is that a speedy leauy be made as great and as puissaunt as may be that wee lose not the occasion of this warre proposed and laied before vs and during the other affaires and businesses of the Ottoman let vs not doubt the estate of our owne countrey Furthermore who is he that will not promise and assure him selfe of an vndoubted victory by the issue of this encounter Vnlesse it be some one whom his timerous spirite misledde and abused doth terrifie and hinder from being resolute As touching Scanderbeg there is not any one of you but will confesse that it is more easie for you to finde a man to gouerne you in peace and to administer iustice then to conduct and lead souldiours marching with their Armes But to the intent you may not thinke that in this discourse I bring you nothing but great and glorious wordes Behold here am I who doe offer my selfe with fiue thousand men to the warre of Hungarie and if neede be doe vow and consecrate my life for the seruice of Iesus Christ principally and next for the glory and reputation of all of you and for Scanderbeg his honour name and dignity This round and sharpe Oration of Ducagin and the liberall offer of his paines and labour together with the great authority which the man had with all the Princes of Epyre and with Scanderbeg especially did soone worke a chaunge and alteration in their mindes and opinions Scanderbeg him selfe was the first that approued his deuise and after he had recounted and numbred vp his merites and worthy actes in the whole course of his life before past he sayed that there was not any one besides him in all the company that had spoken rightly and for the reputation of them in generall And he did often times repeate it that most happy and fortunate should the estate of Albany be if it had many such men of like deuotion This Paul as we haue said was one of the most puissaunt and noblest Princes of Epire and amongst other his vertuous conditions he was most singularly commended for a certaine true vnfayned and perfect zeale in religion and was held in high accompt and estimate amongst all men being descended out of that honorable family from which very many most famous and warlike Captaines had beene descended and especially Nicholas sonne of the sayd Paul who farre surpassed and excelled all his forefathers and ancestours in the honour and renowme of Armes Of this man there is yet at this day extant and remaining in Peneropole a towne of Thrace by the inhabitaunts called Persera a notable monument or marke of his excellent vertue and of the strength of his arme if I may so tearme it immortall And that is the reliques or peeces of an enemies target the which in a certaine fight of late whereof the memory is yet but new and fresh he did with one onely blow of his Cymitary cut quite in sunder from the one side thereof to the other that the hand of the Barbarian holding it then in fight was so maymed as from thence forward he was neuer able to vse it any more in the warres I take it not altogether impertinent if I haue here a litle digressed from the intēt of our history to the intent that both so honorable a father may be the more commended in so worthy a sonne and that an act so rare and memorable might not vtterly be forgotten nor altogether swallowed vp in the deuouring gulfe of obliuion and vngratefull for getfulnesse The whole power and care of ordering the expedition into Hungarie was absolutely referred and committed vnto Scanderbeg that he should doe and ordaine all things as him selfe should thinke to be best and most conuenient both for his owne honour and for the well fare and credite of the nation and name of Albanie To the intent therefore he might no longer delay the ardent desire of Vladislaus in so vrgent necessitie of his affairs before that he published the leuie or muster of any companies he speedily dispatched away the Kings messenger and willing him to hasten with all speed possible he gaue him letters to this effect To Vladislaus king of Hungarie and of Poland Scanderbeg Prince of the Epirots wisheth health and prosperitie Most inuincible King your letters I haue receiued with no lesse ioy then contentment the tenour whereof hauing caused publikely to be rehearsed in a full and generall assembly of my Captaines and Chieftaines there is not anie one of them but with most voluntarie and liberall hearts haue aduised vs to embrace this so fitte and oportune an occasion of so iust a warre by you offered vnto vs. And euerie man doth frankely and freely affirme both openly and in priuate that nothing could haue happened vnto them by the Diuine bountie more agreeable and acceptable then that they might by some notable seruice testifie their gratefull and thankefull mindes and binde vnto them so excellent a Prince as also to giue so fit succours vnto the estate of Christendome I am exceeding glad and doe take singular contentment in this laudable deuotion and forwardnesse of mine owne people both in regard of your selfe and in the behalfe of the common and publike cause in that our men of warre and all other my subiectes of all estates and degrees without any perswasion vsed on my part doe shew them selues so chearefully and couragiously minded in defence of the faith and Christian religion and so well affectioned towardes your Maiestie And to speake the verie truth who is he if he be not hatefull both to
beget children when he was past foure score yeare of age vnlesse perhaps this age of ours also haue receiued that rare gift and bounty of nature which the auncients haue obserued in Masinissa and Cato the eldest Howsoeuer it be it is not much materiall onely I could wishe that trueth might haue place for in writing of an History I would not willingly set downe any vntrueth nor yet reprehend others ouer rashly For such is the law and rule of Histories that many fables doe fall out oftentimes to be entermingled with true reports which must straightly be sifted and examined that in proceeding with the matter truth and vntruth may be discerned no otherwise then as they which are to drinke of a brooke will purge and clarifie the water from all mud and filthinesse But to the purpose Mahomet pursuing his blouddy beginnings as one that would not omit any thing of his former furious proceedings did daily deuise suborne new slanders and accusations against the greatest persons of his Court and his fathers seruants and vnder colour of calling them to an account some of them he caused to be put to death and of others he would procure the goods offices to be confiscated in such sort that within a very small time according as before his comming to the Crowne he had secretly plotted and purposed in his conceipts he became terrible and more to be redoubted then is fitting for a king and he grew odious and hatefull almost to all his subiects He altered and changed in a manner all the statutes and ordinances of his auncesters and all the lawes and constitutions both ciuill and military sometimes reforming and correcting them sometimes adding of new vnto them he surcharged and burthened his people with new imposts and subsidies and he bental his endeuours more then any other of his predecessors to amplify and augment the numbers of the Ianissaries and of his men at armes and to enrich and encrease his treasures For amongst many of his other wicked conditions the humor of auarice and couetousnes had that command ouer him that the meane and simple order both of his diet and apparell was reproachfully obiected vnto him as a vice and it was supposed that his excessiue sparinesse and abstinency proceeded only of a miserable and couetous humor All men doe attribute vnto him a certaine liuelinesse and viuacity of spirit euen more then humaine a heart couetous and greedily thirsting after glory and not vnlike to that of the great Alexander And it is most certaine as we haue partly before touched he did excell all men liuing in cruelty vsing as the saying is a rod of iron both against his subiectes and against strangers and he shewed himselfe to haue as litle care of the bloud and life of his owne people as of his foes and most mortall enemies in such sort that vppon euery sleight and trifling occasion he would put to death euen those litle boies and laddes whom he loued voluptuously and which he kept within his * Serayl for the fulfilling of his beastly pleasure On the contrary he was a most francke and liberall rewarder of those men who were of a quicke and ready spirite and such as were of valour and great courage and of them which did serue him faithfully and loyally For periury there was neuer any man more notorious for he neuer kept faith nor promise with any persons whatsoeuer Moreouer many haue bene of the opinion that he did not beleeue in the law of Mahomet their owne Prophet no more then in the Gospell of Christ For albeit he was born bred instructed by his mother who was the daughter of George Despot of Seruia and professed the Christian religion and taught him the Pater noster Creede and Aue Maria yet when he came to ripe yeares and that he betooke himselfe to the embracing of the Mahometan profession he did so litle cleaue either to the one or to the other that he liued a meere Atheist and acknowledged serued nor adored any other Deity but that alone which he called good Fortune Hee did maruellously honor and esteeme those which were skilfull in any Art or mystery whatsoeuer and he tooke great care that his victories and conquestes might be written by learned men and those that were of iudgement he delighted infinitely in reading of the Histories of the auncients he was very skilfull and learned in the Greeke Persian and Arabian tongues he made great shewes of loue and kindnesse vnto Iohn Maria of Vicentia the slaue of his eldest sonne Mustapha because hee would haue had him to write in the Turkey and Itatian tongs the famous victory which he obtained against Vsuntassan king of the Persians He gaue great rewardes vnto Gentill Belin a Painter of Venice whom he caused purposely to come from thence to Constantinople because he would haue his picture drawen as liuely and naturally as hee could by his art possibly and because he should paint out the habites and fashions of the Occidentall nations Moreouer he was a curious obseruer of the Starres and Planets according to the course and motion of the which he ruled and directed all his actions Besides he had in his mind euen with his cruelty some impression and shew of iustice and seuerity in so much that during his raigne all the passages and high waies were free open and safe for trauellers and the name of theeues and robbers was wholly extinguished and abolished A great warriour he was strong and valiaunt of his person hardened and enured to endure watchings and trauels with notable patience happy and fortunate in most of his actions and to speake in a word he was euen a king of Fortune which made him worthy of the Empire of Constantinople As touching the forme and feature of his visage and the making of his body he was of a meane or rather of a short stature which notwithstanding did containe within a great heart and full of magnanimity He was pale of face and of a sallow complexion correspondent vnto his courage his looke and aspect was frowning fierce and terrible his eye browes hollow and his nose so high and crooked that the point thereof seemed to touch his lippes His shoulders were large and square and all the members and lineamentes of his body were strong set and very well made and with such strength and vigour in his armes that at such time as Scanderbeg liued with Amurath his father amongst all the youths of the Court he would yeeld and giue place to none but to him only in drawing the bow or in wrastling It may be that I haue busied my selfe about Mahomet more then needed considering that my purpose was not to describe his life nor his maners but the life of Scanderbeg onely Neuerthelesse I thought it not amisse herein to seeke the pleasing and contentment of all men For as my desire is that these memorialles such as they are
enterprise But now vppon the notable victorie of Sebalias thinking that his mortall enemie was so ouerthrowen as he should neuer be able to rise againe he grewe into such a confidence of his prosperitie that he doubted not to proceede with his former voyage and with full sayles to followe his good fortune which now seemed to fawne on him with a merrie and pleasant gale of winde as we see it is an ordinarie thing that if some one of our actions be seconded with good happe it hardeneth and encourageth vs to vndertake other matters farre more difficult The Turkish Monarche hauing commaunded a generall and speedie leauie of souldiers both horse and foote throughout all his Dominions and that in more extraordinarie and excessiue numbers then had beene heard of in many ages vsed an extreame kinde of diligence and all possible celeritie in the raising of that armie pretending that those preparations were for an other warre because the Princes of Christendome should not haue him in anie mistrust or suspition Moreouer hauing prepared an infinite number of vessels and shippes both for fight and for carriage of necessarie prouisions for this man of all the Ottomans was the first that vsed shipping or men of warre at sea he departed from Andrinople neere about the same time that Moses tooke his iourney for Epyre and with long and continuall iourneyes both day and night he tooke the way of Romania both by sea and by lande with an incredible traine of artillerie engines and other prouisions of assault He made but a iest at those auncient ceremonies and solemne obseruations vsed by his predecessors and other Princes to denounce and proclaime warres before they made anie inuasion vpon their neighbors For violating the faith and promise which he had formerly sworne and breaking the oath and peace which he had vowed most religiously to obserue with the Emperour of Constantinople he suddenly ouerranne and inuaded all the plaine countrie and vpon the nineteenth day of Aprill he planted his campe before that noble and famous citie hauing in lesse then three dayes streightly girt it in and besieged it rounde on all sides His armie exceeded foure hundreth thousand men most part of which were collected and gathered out of the Nations neere adioyning such as yet retayned and helde the name and profession of Christians namely from Greece Sclauony and Valachia and from amongst the Dardanians or Rascians the Triballians or Seruians and the Misians or Bulgarians There were verie fewe of them naturall Turkes but with those former Nations out of Europe were mingled other troupes out of Asia both from Bithinia called Natolia and from Gallatia Lidia or Briquia and Cilicia which is the countrie of the King of Caramania In this manner did these Miscreants Infidels and Barbarians serue themselues with our owne forces and the peoples of our owne profession and alliance augmenting and encreasing their estate with the aide and helpe of them onely who were the most warrelike and stoutest Nations of all their campe and by whom they did principally worke the ruine of that Empire and the destruction of the Christians Concerning the citie it selfe and the meanes of their defence the whole forces of the garrison setting aside the multitude which ordinarily is more hurtfull then fit or apt to beare armes did not amount to aboue 9000. souldiers of which 6000. were Greekes of all sorts both good and bad And the other 3000. were partly Venetians and partly Genowayes True it is that for the better strength and suertie of the citie if the maiestie and reuerence of the sacred Imperiall name could haue done any thing to the furtherance thereof the Emperour himselfe Constantine Paleologus was there in person But ouer and aboue this outward glorie and externall shewe of his presence I doe not finde and the subiect of this discourse will declare it that his being there did anie great good to the preseruation of the place The great searcitie and want of munition powder armes corne treasure to pay the souldiers and such like prouisions did sufficiently testifie and make proofe of no lesse then I speake For he did of a long time before discerne and knowe of the great preparations of the Turke and he foresawe the terrour of this tempest that menaced the state of Greece yet did he proceede but very coldly in making his prouisions Onely he had recourse by Ambassadours to Pope Nicholas the fifth to the Emperour Fredericke the third to Charles the seuenth King of France and to other Kings and Potentates of Christendome to induce and perswade with them to sende him succours and to shew them the imminent perill and approching decay and ruine of so noble and aunclent an Empire the losse whereof could not but redound to the perpetuall shame and infamie of the whole name of the Christians and finally he acquainted them with the extreame miserie which they were like to encurre falling into the cruell and vnmercifull handes of a Nation most fierce and Barbarous and more thirsting after the bloud of humaine creatures and Christians then after wine or any other liquor whatsoeuer and in conclusion with aboundance of teares and lamentations did his Ambassadours labour to moue them to some compassion and commiseration of their pitifull estate But all their trauels were in vaine and which I abhorre to speake they found the eares of all those Princes to be so deafe and their eyes so blinded nay rather their minds so senselesse as they could not foresee that if the Empire of Greece came once to decay and confusion it would cause all the residue of Europe in time to come to be buried and ouer whelmed in the like ruine and destruction to the manifest and ineuitable abolishing of the Christian religion But shall we thinke that they were ignorant hereof nay rather I am of the opinion that they knew it sufficiently but being occupied and distracted with their priuate hatreds and quarrels and with the care of their owne particular commodities their hearts were obdurate and hardened and they did neglect the vniuersall good and publique welfare of all in generall For behold and marke what was the occasion that withheld them Italie was drawen drie of money and treasure by meanes of the Schisme in the Papacie and by the factions of the two famelies of the Vrsins and the Colonnezes Almaine was vexed and rent with ciuill warres and the greatest part of France was in the subiection and welneere wholly possessed by the English and in briefe all Europe according to their accustomed manner was deuided into sects and partialities But that you may the better perceiue both with what diligence and industrie the Turkes laboured to carrie and conquer this goodly Citie and to reduce it vnder the Dominion of the Ottoman Empire and howe the defendants also did diuersly demeane themselues who laboured and endeuoured still to retaine it in the power and deuotion
it that these barbarous miscreants are so mercilesse and cruell that they haue no respect of sexe nor age and that their fashion is to deuour and swallow vp all sortes and degrees of persons in one and the same gulfe of vnspeakeable mischiefe without all pity and compassion The Colonels and Captaines of the Turkes seeing the countenance of the Christians as soone as they perceiued them to faint and wauer they encouraged their souldiours and with high clamours animated them on to scale the walles which were in a manner quite forsaken and abandonned Then the Infidelles who had already deuoured in hope the rich promises of the Sultan and were greedy of reuenge for the losse of their bretheren friendes and fellowes that lay slaine before their eies in the ditches of the towne they began to presse forward in good and close array and with greater feruency and violence then at any time before Some of them forced through the breaches others by their scaling ladders got speedily to the toppe of the rampiers and in a moment made them selues maisters both of the second or vttermost wall and of the rampiers and bulwarkes thereof chasing thence the Greeke souldiours who being now quite discomfited sought to saue them selues by flying into the towne through that gate which was lately opened to Iustinian In this disarray and foule confusion the Emperour also forgot him selfe and his duety which was to haue held good and to haue died with his armes in his handes But he because he would not fall aliue into the handes of the Infidelles turned his backe likewise most shamefully and holding company with the rest that fled as he striued to enter in at the city gate in the middest of the presse and throng being regarded no more then a priuate person hee was borne downe forcibly to the ground troden and trampled vnder foote and so most miserably smoothered It is a strange thing and worthy to be obserued that in so great a feare and confusion amongest so great a multitude of souldiers and valiant men onely two were found and no more who contemning the present perill and all feare of death did stoutly oppose their bodies as a bulwarke for the defence and for the safety of their countrey and preferring religion before life and an honourable renowme before their priuate safety did euen vow and consecrate them selues to the death fighting valiantly euen to the last gaspe The one of them was Theophilus Paleologus the Emperours kinseman the other was Iohn of Sclauony a man otherwise of a meane and seruile condition but in his end noble and honourable These two reputing it an extreame shame and disgrace to flie away did for a great while all alone sustaine the fury and violence of the Barbarians and hauing slaine many with their owne hands in the end being oppressed with the multitude and rather tired then vanquished they did yeeld vp their glorious soules vnto God amongst the heapes of the dead bodies of their enemies Iustinian who during this time had conueyed himselfe to Pera went from thence by sea to the Isle of Chios where falling sicke either by meanes of his wound or for griefe and sorrowe within fewe dayes after departed out of this life hauing most shamefully lost the fruite and benefite of that incomparable glorie which he might easily haue purchased For without all doubt most happy and fortunate had he bene if he had continued his first resolution to die valiantly and honorably vpon the walles of Constantinople The Turkes hauing wonne the Vawmure chased the Christians towardes the towne and entring the port pell mell together with them they slue of Greekes and Latines about an eight hundreth within the gate From the body of the Emperor being found and knowen by of his coate armour they did cut off the head and fastened it vpon a pike carying and shewing it vp and downe for a token and signe of victorie whilest others in the meane time hauing gotten to the top and gayned the chiefe and maine wall of the Citie with shot arrowes stones and such like chased thence the citizens who hearing the alarme at the gate ranne thitherwards thinking to haue shut it and to haue made a Barricado to keepe the enemie from entring But the gate being alreadie wonne and the walles now voyde of defence the infidels became maisters of the towne exceedingly triumphing both for the conquest of the place and for the infinite riches and treasures which they found there inestimable The furie and the victorie of the souldiers was soone and easily to be discerned by the cryes and howlings of those whom at the first entrie they beat downe to the ground killing and cutting in peeces all those whom they encountred with armes on their backes or weapon in hand After the furie and heate of the slaughter was somewhat appeased they gaue them selues on all parts to prey and pillage ransacking the towne of all things with extreme rapine and greedinesse and after the sack was ended what Iliads are able to recount the particulars of the infinite disorders excesse villanies and enormities which that barbarous impious and infamous people addicted to all voluptuousnesse auarice and crueltie did dare to exercise vpon the wretched and miserable inhabitants O how pitifully and horribly were they forced and violated no sexe nor age being spared or pardoned they confounded and intermingled murthers with whoredomes and whoredomes with murthers greedily seeking to satisfie their brutish and vnsatiable humour of lecherie whereunto that nation of all others is extremely and mightily giuen ouer and enclined They shamed not to put in irons as well the old men who were decrepit for age as the young lads and tender maidens whom the fortune of the towne had reserued aliue whom also being coupled and chained together they draue before them with great despite and derision And if by chaunce there happened any maiden woman or young boy any thing beautifull and comely to looke on euerie man striued who should haue them to abuse them in most villanous and shamefull maner which was an occasion also that many times they would like brute beastes one kill another The like also would they do when they lighted vpon any bootie that was of great value were it either sacred or prophane for so many would set hand on it together that oftentimes they would murther each other for the same And by reason that their armie was compound of diuerse nations differing in language and in manners there was no kinde of villanie or impietie how hatefull and enormious soeuer it were but it was suffered to the ruine and extreme desolation of this miserable citie The Temple of Saint Sophie whose like was neuer seene builded by the Emperour Iustinian being spoyled of all her ornaments and sumptuous riches which were innumerable both of gold siluer and other precious vessels and being contaminated and polluted with all kind of filthinesse and villanie possible to be
people of the countrie doe holde them selues in more safetie in those places then in the best and strongest fortresses and there is no power nor puissance of the enemie be it neuer so great that can driue them to forsake those places Some also haue added this moreouer that certaine fugitiues came the same night to yeelde themselues vnto Scanderbeg and that certaine Scoutes or Espyals of the Turkes falling into the handes of the Christian courtes of garde were put to the sword excepting one onely who being by good happe saued aliue and brought before the King who was then preparing for his iorney against the next morning did enforme him of manie things particularly concerning the purpose of the enemie by meanes whereof it may be easily imagined and not without shewe of credite that he was a principall meane and authour of the victorie of the Christians which followed soone after For my part it shall suffice that without eyther approuing it for a truth or reproouing it as fabulous I haue simply made recitall of it And therefore referring the truth thereof to be iudged by others I will betake my selfe to the prosecuting of those affaires which hauing bene for a while intermitted vpon the comming and arriuall of the Turkes doe now reuoke and call vs backe to consider of them You haue heard how the flight of Scanderbeg towardes the towne of Lissa was not such as the aduerse partie had imagined but hauing nowe gotten farre out of the sight of the enemie he went vnto those partes of the countrie which laye vppon the frontiers of Albanie where were manie and diuerse passages into the Prouince by which the enemie might easily be surprised There did he abide for that day attending the setting of the Sunne and then leauing there his Ensignes and being accompanied with a verie fewe horsemen he went vppe to the toppes of certaine mountaines from whence he might well discouer all the plaine countrie about * Emathia Then calling to remembraunce the speeches of his prisoners afore mentioned hee disposed and bestowed certaine Scoutes vppon the toppes and edges of the mountaines who hauing little streamers or penons according as the manner is were admonished and charged to holde them vp aloft that they might be seene wauing in the ayre and that towardes the same side where they should see the enemie encamped they should throw downe those penons from the toppe to the bottome Other signall then this they had not at that time neyther by fires nor other watches for the night True it is that the most worthie and in a manner the best souldiers were appointed to stande Scout in that place amongest whom was Peic Manuell a Gentleman of no lesse wisedome and policie then of hardinesse and good resolution in deedes of armes because that the weight and consequence of their whole affaires did consist in the diligence and trust of these Sentinels This done he returned in the dead of the night into his campe where hauing past the most part of the same in rest and silence he dislodged verie secretly without any noise and he had not ridden farre with all his forces but that he put himselfe in ambuscado in the bottome of a certaine valley verie neere vnto that watch which we last spake of determining not to depart or to remoue from thence before he had deliberated and taken counsell for his proceedings and that he might take his directions by the signe and token which should be made vnto him by those streamers It was scant fayre day breake but that the Bassa drewe his troupes foorth of the campe hauing a purpose and determination by preuenting the heate of the day to enter into the plaines of Emathia where as he vnderstood was remayning some bootie that would be abandoned to the prey of the souldiers Not pawsing therefore vpon the matter he beganne to march forward verie early whilest the leaues and grasse of the fieldes were yet moyst with the dewe of the morning and troade with their feet greedie of prey and pillage vpon those fieldes that are euen yet famous through the bloud and slaughter of the auncient Romaines But to the intent that a case and accident so maruellous and so shortly after ensuing might not be without some presage there be many who doe affirme that the Generall his standard-bearer hauing stumbled at the ruines of an old wall as there are many such in those quarters which doe bound the landes and possessions of priuate persons both horse and man with the standard also fell so rudely to the ground that his companions were constrayned to take him vp halfe dead and to helpe him againe to horsebacke Notwithstanding they made not any account of the matter but onely tooke it as a warning to the residue to looke better to their feete and to eschewe that place And it may be that we also ought to make as little account and reckoning of such signes and tokens rather then to followe the vanitie of such fonde coniectures in this accident seeing that both the libertie of mans free will leading and guyding him in such actions and the good doctrine and instructions of Christian religion doe seeme to argue and teach vs the contrarie But yet one other thing there is wherein I knowe not howe I should gainesay it or dissent from others who haue affirmed that the Vultures and Rauens and such like fowles which vse to frequent and hunt after carrion and dead carkasses did flie in such aboundance into those places as it were foreshewing the great effusion of bloud that was likely shortly to ensue that the verie heauens seemed in a manner to be darkened with their huge numbers Besides there was an other verie straunge and wonderfull signe which I had almost forgotten and which I see no reason why it shoulde be neglected or nor regarded and that was that in the ende of the spring that selfe same yeare as it is reported by them that sawe it the heauens did raine downe bloud vppon the earth Of which signes there is not any of them that proceeded from the acte of anie man or earthly creature neither was it in the power of mans counsell or prudence to foresee or to preuent the effect of those accidents Manie are the influences which did descende downe from the heauens by certaine secret and vnknowen causes of thinges and it is often seene that sundry both good and euill chaunces are manifested vnto vs by the operation of the starres and the celestiall bodies the which whilest we doe disdaine to obserue wee doe referre them to meere accidents and casualtie and we doe not vse eyther the seruice and ministerie of our owne prudence nor the industrie of our owne counselles to purchase vnto vs the fauour and blessing of the diuine bountie nor to turne away the anger and threatnings of the heauens For what reason haue we to thinke that this extraordinarie flight of so manie birdes
and newly shed wherewith both all Greece and the fieldes of Hungary are now ouerflowen Shall we recompence the late losse of Morea with such a peace shall we with a most base and cowardly truce shame and disgrace that notable victory and the late glory of the Hungarians before Belgrade let Mahomet as long as he will seeke for peace as for vs we will purchase our quietnes by the sword and hauing once gotten and attained it we will by the sword likewise seeke to maintaine it and the rather for that it is not only your excessiue iniuries or your notorious disloialty but a certaine naturall disposition that hath made vs your enemies the hatred wherwith the one of vs is armed and hardened against the other is perpetual and immortall For my part I am your enemy euen by birth by natiuity and the enmity which I beare you is hereditary my desire is not so much to get me honor reputatiō vpon you as to seeke the iust deserued reuenge of the bloud of my friends which you haue shed and of the bondage both of my selfe and my people the Albanians and I am fully resolued neuer to make an end of these my trauels till such time as I haue either restored my citizens to their auncient estate or rendred this my life vnto you to whō it is so hatefull All this could not make the Saniacke to desist from his pursuite but putting him in mind of the variable succes of wars withall repeating vnto him many accidents of diuers ages and times past as fit examples to that purpose and effect he told him that if he did take so great a pleasure were so desirous of war he might after the truce was once expired returne to armes and that he could neuer want occasion to reuiue the wars that he demanded only truce for ten yeares during the which time the forces courages of the Albanians might be greatly repaired and might be the better able to attaine to a more notable reuenge and to purchase themselues new honor reputation Scanderbeg by litle and litle suffred himselfe to be perswaded he began somwhat to relent from his first obstinacy seeming to hearken more willingy to the demands of the Saniacke Neuertheles he would not in any case yeeld to any abstinency of arms not so much as for a moneth only except that both Sfetigrade and Belgrade might be yeelded vnto him for a recompence Thus without any thing concluded did Messeit and his companions returne to their owne country howbeit he had truce granted till such time onely as he had acquainted the Turkish Monarch with the conditions propounded by Scanderbeg in case the peace proceeded There were many other Turkes permitted to depart in the company of the Saniacke besides those 40. which were ransomed vnto whom the king of Epire did freely and of the magnanimity of his owne mind grant their liberty suffring them without ransome to returne into their country the rest also which remained were deliuered out of prison some of them becomming Christians and being baptized did plant themselues to dwel in Epire the residue were dipersed abroad for presents in a maner to all the kings of christendome to the kings of France and Spaine besides those slaues was sent a great quantity of horses and other spoiles of all sorts and to other Princes were sent other the like presents The citie of Rome as it had bin filled with the renowme of this victory so was it replenished with many of the trophees ornamēts of the same Thus did Scanderbeg determine to the vttermost of his power to bind vnto him by his curtesie almost the whole world Together with these giftes and presents did he send solemne ambassades who had giuen them in charge to exhort all Princes Christian to concord and amity and earnestly to pray them that they would now at the length awake out of their long dead sleepe and that they would chase away that mist of darknes wherewith they had bin so blinded and consider more aduisedly the imminent ruine which was threatned to the Christian liberty and religion that they would at the last seeke to redeeme it from the miserable and wretched yoke and seruitude of the Infidels Mahometans otherwise they should be well assured that the plague which by litle and litle did grow within their bowels would in the end pierce into their hearts Scanderbeg sent also which I may not omit diuers presents vnto his great friend Alphonsus which were so magnificent that they caried the shew of a very beautifull and goodly triumph Amese his nephew was sent also together with these presentes vnto Naples where he was kept in a most straight and close prison for the Sultan tooke no care for his deliuerance and if he had made any such motion I doe assure my selfe that all the golde of the world would not haue redeemed him for he was condemned to perpetuall imprisonment The mind last resolution of the king of Epire touching the treaty of the peace between them being related vnto Mahomet he esteemed so slightly of the matter that he would not vouchsafe him any aunswere such was the haughtines and fiercenes of his minde notwithstanding that he were hard pressed on all sides with infinite affaires of great importance both from the partes of Hungary and by daily diets and assemblies which he knew very well were continually gathered against him throghout all christendome by the procurement and earnest meanes of the Popes holines He prouided therefore a most strong and puissant garrison to be sent into Epire for the surety of his countrey according to that which as we lately told you had bin before decreed in his priuat and secret councell Hamur and Synam had the charge of this commission both of them being expert and polliticke warriours and ech of them had 10000. horse and 4000. foote which number was iudged to be sufficient both to weary out the forces of Epire and to haue terrified euen a most stout and puissant enemy notwithstanding ech of them was expresly forbidden to attempt any thing against him whatsoeuer occasion and oportunity were offered them only he recommended vnto them gaue them in charge to looke to the defence of those limits which were assigned vnto thē The whole sommer being spent in this maner both on the one side the other it was now about the middest of Autumne at which time these troups being dislodged from Constantinople the report thereof preuented their cōming was brought to the eares of Scanderbeg who was ignorant of all this practise for that he relied vppon the word of the Saniack he did expect some answer from the Sultan whether he would either accept or reiect the summe of his demaunds for this cause departing from Croie with all speed possible he went presently into Dibria where hauing leauied new forces renued his old companies he attended the aduersary