The generall historie of the Turkes from the first beginning of that nation to the rising of the Othoman familie: with all the notable expeditions of the Christian princes against them. Together with the liues and conquests of the Othoman kings and emperours faithfullie collected out of the- best histories, both auntient and moderne, and digested into one continuat historie vntill this present yeare 1603: by Richard Knolles

AMVRATH. II.

[illustration]

AMVRANTHES SECVNDUS SEXTVS TVRCARVM REX FLORVIT ANNO 1422

* 1.1Europam luctu & funestis cladibus implens Saeuus Amurathes totus in arma ruit. Maior at Huniades virtute & fortibus ausis, Cogit eum trepida vertere terga fuga. Consilia Eugenij bellum furialia suadent, Sacrorum antistes Martia ad arma ruit: (Arma viri tractent, curet sua templa sacerdos) Europae exitium res tulit ista graue.

Fierce Amurath doth EUROPE fill with blood and wofull cries: And wholie giuen to martiall deeds, doth whole in armes arise. But yet Huniades (than he, of greater strength and might) Enforced him right fearefully to turne his backe in flight. Eugenius his infernall spels, stirs vp a fatall jarre: Who hauing charge of sacred rites, runs headlong into warre. (Leaue martiall deeds to martiall men, and let the priest goe praie) Such diuelish councell, worse receiu'd, wrought EUROPS great decaie.

THE LIFE OF AMVRATH, THE SECOND OF THAT NAME, SIXT KING OF THE TVRKES, AND THE GREAT ESTA∣BLISHER OF THEIR KINGDOME.

AFter that the death of Mahomet had been politiquely concealed one and fortie daies by the three great Bassaes,* 1.2 Baiazet, Eiuases, and Ibrahim: A∣murath or Murat (as the Turkes call him) his eldest sonne; at that time comming to PRUSA, was by them placed in his fathers seat, and the death of Mahomet at the same time published: wherevpon great troubles began on euerie side to arise.

The princes of SMYRNA and MENTESIA rose vp in armes:* 1.3 and at THESSALONICA an obscure fellow, crept as it were out of a chimneys corner, tooke vpon him the name and person of Mustapha, the sonne of Baiazet, which was slaine many yeares before, in the great battaile against Tamerlane at mount STELLA, as is before declared in the life of the vnfortunate Sultan Baiazet. This counterfait Mustapha animated by the Grecian princes, and going from THESSALONICA to VARDARIUM, set so good a counte∣nance vpon the matter, with such a grace and majestie, that not onely the countrey people (apt to beleeue any thing) but men of greater place and calling also, as Tzunites Beg, the prince of SMYRNA his sonne, with the sonnes of old Eurenoses Bassa, persuaded that he was the verie son of the great Baiazet, repaired vnto him, as vnto their naturall prince and soueraigne. From VARDARIUM he went to SERRae, and from thence to HADRIANOPLE, (Amurath being as then at PRUSA) where he was receiued as if it had been that noble prince Mustapha, whom hee feigned himselfe to be: so that in short time he was honoured as a king in all parts of the Turkish kingdome in EUROPE.

Amurath to represse this so great and dangerous a rebellion, sent Baiazet Bassa, a man of great authoritie in his court, with a strong armie into EUROPE. This great Bassa passing ouer HEL∣LESPONTUS, found all the countrey reuolted vnto their new found king Mustapha: but mar∣ching on towards HADRIANOPLE, with purpose to haue giuen him battaile, he was first for∣saken of the Europeian souldiours, which he brought out of ASIA, and afterwards of all the rest also: and so being left post alone, with his brother Hamze Beg, was for safegard of his life glad to yeeld himselfe to Mustapha; of whom he was gratiously entertained, and vpon promise of his loialtie, sworne one of his priuie counsaile.

Mustapha thus now possessed of the Turkish kingdome in EUROPE, and entertaining great thoughts, the better to maintaine his credit, leauied a great armie to make war vpon Amurath in ASIA. And as he was vpon his way, at a place which the Turks call SASLIDERE, or the place of Willows, his other counsailors repining at the great honor he gaue to Baiazet Bassa, aduised him to beware that he trusted him not too farre, of whose small faith he had sufficient triall alreadie, and was like ynough when occasion should serue, to reuolt from him to Amurath, and to draw after him some great part of his armie, to the great perill both of himselfe and all them his faith∣full seruants and followers. Vpon which jealous conceit, this great Bassa Baiazet was there forth∣with as a traitour apprehended, and without further triall executed: at which time his brother Hamze was with much adoe spared. This done, Mustapha proceeded on his journey, and passed

ouer with his armie at CALLIPOLIS into ASIA. Amurath vnderstanding of the proceedings of [ G] Mustapha in EUROPE, and of his preparation made for his inuasion of ASIA, created three new Bassaes, Omer, Vruge, and Alis, all three the sonnes of Temurtases; these he joyned with his old Bassaes, Ibrahim and Eiuases. All these fiue he vsed as councellours for the wars, by whose aduice he sent for Mahomet Beg, surnamed Michaell Ogli, who in the time that Musa raigned, was vice∣roy in EUROPE, and therefore a man well knowne to most principall men in Mustapha his ar∣mie, but had been kept prisoner in the castle of AMASIA, from the time that Musa was deposed and put to death by his brother Mahomet, vntill now that hee was after eight yeares imprison∣ment, for this speciall purpose inlarged and receiued into fauour.

About the same time that Mustapha set footing in ASIA, Amurath hauing gathered his armie, set forward from PRUSA to meet him; yet with such distrust in his forces, which were thought to be much inferiour to the Europian souldiours which followed Mustapha, that hee was glad vpon a superstitious opinion or zeale, to prostrate himselfe at the feet of an Emir (one of the false prophet Mahomets posteritie) to receiue at his hipocritall hands a gracelesse blessing for his better speed: by whom he was made to beleeue, that after two repulses, he had with much adoe, at the th••rd time, obtained graunt of the great prophet Mahomet, that he should preuaile in that war: and therupon had his sword girt vnto him with the Emir his holy hands, with many other vaine and superstitious ceremonies. Yet for all these charmes, hee marched on with his armie in feare enough, vntill he came to the riuer of VLIBAD, (otherwise called RINDACUS:) where hauing intelligence of the approch of Mustapha, he for feare caused the bridge ouer the riuer there to be broken downe, and encamped himselfe on that side the riuer. Not long after came Mustapha, and finding the bridge broken, encamped at the foot therof on the other side: so that nothing parted the two armies but the breadth of the riuer onely. Whilest they lay thus neere encamped toge∣ther, that the souldiours might on both sides take the full view one of another, and also talke to∣gether: Mahomet-beg surnamed Michael Ogli, but lately deliuered out of his long imprisonment (as is aforesaid) came to the riuer side, and with a loud voice called by name vpon the great cap∣taines, and old souldiours that were in Mustapha his armie; asking by name for many of his old friends and acquaintance: many of them being there present, rejoycing to see that honourable man (whom they supposed to haue been dead in prison many yeares before) came gladly to the side of the riuer to heare what he could say.

Then with a loud voice he began to persuade them, that the man whom they followed was not the honourable Mustapha, but some base high minded fellow, set vp by the Grecians, abu∣sing the obscuritie of his birth, as the vaile vnder the couert whereof, hee went craftily about to intrude himselfe into the honourable discent of Baiazet; and so masking in the counterfait titles of stolen honor, had misseled them from their dutie to their naturall king and soueraigne, to fol∣low him a meere deceiuer. And further assured them, that Mustapha, Baiazet his sonne, was dead and buried in the bed of fame, two and twentie yeares before; honourably ending his daies in de∣••ence of his countrey, in the great battaile of mount STELLA, against Tamerlane: Wherefore they should doe well, to forsake that supposed Mustapha, and againe to yeeld their dutifull obe∣dience vnto their vndoubted soueraigne Amurath. These words deliuered vnto them by Mahomet, whom they generally both reuerenced, and trusted; wrought such effect in their minds, that some presently aduentured to swimme ouer the riuer, and joyned themselues vnto him: and many others that staied still, began now to doubt, least they had worshipped a wrong saint. At the same time also, Eiuases Bassa, to terrifie Mustapha, sent vnto him letters as in great secret, aduertising him, That Amurath had the next night purposed with his armie to passe ouer the riuer aboue the broken bridge; at which time the chiefe captaines of his armie being (as hee said) corrupted, had promised to deliuer Mustapha into his hands, and with his head to pay the ransome of them all. This he coloured with such faire glosses; that Mustapha partly beleeued the same. So when the dead time of the night was come, Eiuases with certain troupes of horsemen, passed ouer the riuer, at the verie same place hee had in his letters named; and that with such a noise and tumult, as Amurath with his whole armie had been comming. Mustapha seeing things begin thus to worke, according as Eiuases Bassa had before written: and with this, doubting al∣so to be presently betraied,* 1.4 and carying about him a guiltie conscience, the mother of feare and distrust, tooke horse (slenderly accompanied, but with ten persons of his whole armie) and fled in hast, no man pursuing them, vntill he came to the riuer of BOGA, and there with a great summe

of money obtained passage, by corrupting the captaine that dwelt in the castle vpon the passage of the riuer: and the third day after passing ouer the strait of HELLESPONTUS, landed at CAL∣LIPOLIS. The flight of Mustapha once knowne in his armie, they all yeelded themselues to Ei∣uases Bassa: who taking possession of Mustapha his tent, caused the broken bridge to be repai∣red; whereby Amurath passing with his armie, joyned himselfe with Eiuases. The other Bassa (Ibrahim) counsailed Amurath to put to sword all those rebels that had followed Mustapha: but by the mediation of Eiuases, to whome they had yeelded themselues, they were generally pardoned.

Amurath departing from VLIBAD or LOPADIUM, came to BOGA, and there hanged vp the captaine that had giuen Mustapha passage. From thence he held on his way to LAMPSA∣CUM, intending to pursue Mustapha into EUROPE: but being come to the sea side, hee could find no passage, for that Mustapha had caused all the shipping on that side, to bee brought ouer into EUROE. Yet at last Amurath by good fortune chaunced vpon a great Genoway ship, which hee hired for foure thousand duckats to transport his armie, and so with much adoe, at length landed in EUROPE. Mustapha seeing that Amurath was now come ouer, fled to HA∣DRIANOPLE, where he found such cold welcome, that fearing to bee betraied hee was glad to speed himselfe thence, thinking all the world to little to hide himselfe in: and so came to an ob∣scure place in the countrey of the Turks called KISUL-AGATZ-GENITZE: where, the soul∣diours sent to pursue him, ouertook him, and brought him bound to Amurath then being at HA∣DRIANOPLE: [ C] by whose commaundement he was shamefully hanged,* 1.5 from the battlements of one of the highest towers of the citie, and there left to the worlds wonder.

This Mustapha, is of some writers reported to haue been indeed the sonne of the great Sultan Baiazet, and that he was kept in prison all that long time, and thus at length set vp by the Greeks to trouble the state of the Turkish kingdome: but the Turkish histories report as before, calling him Dusme or counterfait Mustapha. And it is verie likely, that if he had been one of the sonnes of Baiazet, he would haue found some meanes to haue made some great stirre long before that, as all the rest of the vnquiet brood of Baiazet did, which neuer rested vntil they had like the earth borne brethren one destroied the other: besides that, their bloodie natures considered, it is verie like that Mahomet his younger brother, who raigned in HADRIANOPLE almost eight yeares, and was in league all that time with the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, would for his more safetie haue got him into his owne power, if hee had been in prison with the emperour; or else haue dispatched him, if he had been in prison with himselfe. All which I am the rather persuaded to thinke, for that Orchanes (a child, the son of Solyman) could find no safe place of abode at CON∣STANTINOPLE in the raigne of Mahomet; but flying, was apprehended and his eies put out, as is before declared in the life of Mahomet: much lesse is it like that Mustapha, being a warlike prince, and his elder brother, could haue been so long preserued and kept in prison from his furie.

It fortuned in these late broiles (as oftentimes it doth with others in like case) diuers of the re∣bels Asapi,* 1.6 or common souldiors (whom he for his greater countenance had apparrelled and ar∣med like the Ianizaries) to fall into the hands of the true Ianizaries, Amurath his faithfull guard; whose liues indeed they spared, but vsing them with all the despight and indignities possible. A∣mongst the rest, one of the Ianizaries being an hungred, brought two of these Asapi his prisoners vnto a cookes shop, offering to sell them vnto him for a little victuall: which the cooke refused to giue him, as hauing no vse for such vnnecessarie seruants. Wherewith the proud Ianizarie en∣raged, swore many a great oath, presently to cut off their heads, & to giue them him for nought, if he would not for a thing of nought redeeme them. And like ynough he was to haue so done, had not the cooke, moued with pitie, offered him for them both a sheepes head: which the Ianizarie tooke for them, swearing, That the cooke had giuen for thē more than indeed they were worth. Which disgrace, so long since done vnto these Asapi, is yet oftentimes by way of reproch in great contempt, by the masterfull and insolent Ianizaries, objected vnto the whole bodie of the Asapi (the greatest part of the Turks huge armies) of whom for all that the proud Ianizaries make small reckoning, accounting them scarcely for men, & in their rage oftentimes telling them, That two of them are not worth a sodden sheepes head.

Amurath hauing at length with much adoe thus pacified the dangerous rebellion raised by the counterfeit Mustapha,* 1.7 both in EUROPE and ASIA; was yet not a little grieued, to thinke how the same had to the great hazard of his estate, beene first plotted by the Greekes, and after∣wards

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countenanced by the Greeke emperour, of whom he thought now to be reuenged. And [ G] therefore sending before him Michael Ogli, his lieutenant generall in EUROPE, with his Europei∣an souldiors to inuade the countrey about CONSTANTINOPLE, followed himselfe after with the Ianizaries and his Asian forces: and encamping before the cittie, filled all that necke of land which lieth before it, from sea to sea. And so encamped, began right furiously to batter the wals, in hope so to haue made a breach, and by the same to haue entered the cittie: but finding the wals of greater strength than hee had before supposed, and the defendants still repairing whatsoeuer the furie of his artillerie had beaten downe or shaken, hee ceased his batterie, and comming on with all his forces, desperately attempted by assault to haue gained the citie: wherein his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was not answerable to his desire. For approching the cittie, with arrowes, as showers falling 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ H] the defendants, and scaling ladders in the mean time clapt vp to the wals, and the Ianizaries with others of his best souldiors courageously mounting the same; they were by the defendants nota∣bly repulsed and beaten downe, loosing some their hands, some their armes, some their heads, but most their liues, no shot falling in vaine from the wals. Which Amurath beholding, and grieued to see (though vnwilling) commaunded a retreat to be sounded, and the assault ••••uen ouer: and shortly after seeing no hope to preuaile, in great rage raised his siege and departed. Vnto whom for all that the Greeke emperour not long after sent his embassadours, to entreat with him for peace; whereof he would by no meanes heare, but proudly threatened to be ere long of all his wrongs reuenged, Which caused the Greeke emperour to deuise what he might for the trou∣bling of his estate, so to keepe him otherwise busied: as he did shortly after with the Caramanian king, by countenancing another Mustapha (surnamed Cutzug or the little) Amurath his youn∣ger brother, against him, to the raising of new stirres, and Amurath his no small trouble.

Mahomet the late king had fiue sonnes and seuen daughters, whereof Amurath was the eldest, and succeeded in his fathers kingdome; Mustapha the second, surnamed the little; Achmetes the third, who died before his father: the other two, Iosephus & Machmutes, both died of the plague, being but children, after the death of their father. Three of their sisters were married to the three sonnes of the king of CARAMANIA, Ibrahim, Aladin, and Isa: other two were bestowed vpon the sonnes of the prince Isfendiar, Ibrahim, and Casimes: the sixt was giuen in mariage to Cozza-Beg, viceroy in ANATOLIA; and the seuenth to the sonne of Ibrahim Bassa, who died at M••CHA, whither she went vpon superstitious deuotion on pilgrimage.

At such time as Amurath was busied in his warres in EUROPE against Mustapha, the supposed sonne of Baiazet: the younger sonne of Mahomet (called also Mustapha) being but thirteene years old, and Amurath his brother indeed, was set vp to raise new troubles, by the king of CARAMA∣NIA, and other princes, as well Mahometans, as the Christian princes of GRECIA; who thought it good pollicie, by that meanes to impeach the greatnesse of Amurath. This young prince Mu∣stapha, strengthened with the forces of his friends, entered into his brothers dominions in ASIA, and besieged NICE, which was at length yeelded vnto him. Amurath aduertised of this new re∣bellion, by great gifts and large promises corrupted Ilias Beg, the young princes tutor, to betray the prince into his hands. Whereupon Amurath with great celeritie set forward with his armie from HADRIANOPLE, and in nine daies came to NICE, where he entered the cittie with small resistance, as was to him before promised, where Mustapha was by his false tutor to him presen∣ted: who because he would not spill one drop of the sacred Othoman blood (as the Turks call it) commaunded the executioner presently to strangle him with a bow string;* 1.8 which was done ac∣cordingly, and his bodie afterwards buried by his father at PRUSA.

Amurath hauing suppressed these two rebellions, and now out of all feare of any competitor, thought his fiue counsellers too many by three, and therefore remoued the three Bassaes, Om••re, Vrutzi, and Alis (the sonnes of Temurtases) into honorable places; retaining of his counsell, onely the two old Bassaes, Ibrahim and Eiuases. But shortly after, Eiuases was secretly accused to Amu∣rath, That he sought by his fauorits, the souldiors of the court, to aspire vnto the kingdome him∣selfe, and to depose the king; and that intending some such matter, hee did vsually weare a priuie coat. This suspicious report troubled the jealous tyrant: wherefore on a time as he rid accompa∣nied with Eiuases, he cast his arme about him, as if it had beene in kindnesse: but finding him se∣cretly armed, would needs know the cause thereof:* 1.9 whereunto Eiuases answered, That it was for feare of some enemies hee had in the court: but this excuse could by no meanes serue his turne: wherefore he was forthwith apprehended by the commaundement of Amurath, and both his

eyes burnt out with a hot steele glasse.

Whilest Amurath was thus busied in subduing rebellions at home, Muhamethes the Cara∣manian king besieged ATTALIA, a great cittie in PAMPHILIA, by the space of six moneths, which was valiantly defended by Hamza-beg, Amurath his lieutenant there: at which siege the vnfortunat king himselfe,* 1.10 as he was taking view of the citie, was slaine with a great shot out of the citie: whereupon Ibrahim, which succeeded him in the kingdome, brake vp the siege, & returned home to burie his father. At this time also, Dracula prince of VALACAIA, passing ouer DANU∣BIUS, did the Turks much harme about SILISTRA, but was afterwards enforced to submit him∣selfe to Amurath, and become his tributarie.

About this time also Tzunites, the prince of SMYRNA, which had before aided the rebell Mustapha, did by all meanes he could vex and molest Iaxis-beg, (Amurath his lieutenant in AI∣DINIA) & hauing by chance taken his brother prisoner, put him to death. This prince of SMYR∣NA was descended of the antient princes of AIDINIA, and therefore pretended an interest in that siegnorie: which his claime the people of the countrey secretly fauoured, so farre as they durst for feare of the Turks. Amurath hearing of the harmes that this prince of SMYRNA did, com∣maunded Hamze-beg, viceroy of ANATOLIA, with all his power to make warre vpon him. The viceroy without delay assembled a great armie, and inuaded the princes country: and the prince being well prouided for his comming, meeting him vpon the way, gaue him battaile: wherein Hasan the princes sonne, leading a great part of his fathers armie, had put one part of the Turkes armie to flight: and pursuing them with too much furie, left his father at the same time so hardly beset by the viceroy, that he was glad to flie to his castle of HIPSILY fast by. Hasan returning from the chace of the enemie, not knowing what had happened to his father, was by the Turkes in his returne ouercome and taken prisoner. After which victorie the viceroy presently laid siege to the castle wherein the prince was. This siege continued a great while: at length, the prince brought to extremitie, was content to yeeld himselfe vnto the viceroy, vpon condition he should vse no violence against the person of himselfe or his sonne, but to send them prisoners vnto Amu∣rath: which thing the viceroy by solemne oath promised, whereupon the prince came out of the castle, and yeelded himselfe prisoner to the viceroy. Iaxis-beg, whose brother the prince had be∣fore put to death, attended the going of Hamze the viceroy to his tent, where finding Hasan the princes sonne sitting vpon the ground, as the manner of the Turkes is, tooke him by the choller with great furie, and drawing him along to the feet of the prince his father, there most cruelly strucke off his head: and in the same rage laying his bloodie hands vpon the aged prince, strucke off his head also; to the great dishonour of the viceroy, who had before giuen his faith for their safetie. The heads of the prince and his sonne were set vpon two launces, within the sight of the castle; which the defendants seeing, and now despairing of all rescue, yeelded themselues, with the castle. This infortunat Tzunites was the last prince of SMYRNA, after whose death all his terri∣torie was vnited to the Othoman kingdome. After all these troubles, Amurath with great triumph married the daughter of the prince Isfendiar.

Amurath hauing laied vp in the depth of his thoughts the remembrance of that the Grecian princes had done, in giuing aid to the rebels aforesaid, thought it now high time to take reuenge of that wrong:* 1.11 and for that purpose gathered a great armie, wherewith he ranged at his pleasure through MACEDONIA, vntill he came to THESSALONICA, surprising by the way diuers cities and castles, at that time belonging to the Constantinopolitane empire. This famous cittie of THESSALONICA, now called SALONICHI, for beautie and wealth sometime not inferiour to any of the greatest and most renowned cities of GRECIA, is situate vpon the borders of MA∣CEDONIA, close vnto a bay of the ARCHIPELAGO or the sea AEGBUM: which bay was in aun∣tient time called THERMAICUS-SINUS, and now the bay of SALONICHI. To the Christian congregation there dwelling, S. Paul wrote two Epistles, in the latter whereof, hee forewarneth them of a great defection to come before the latter day. Before this Christian cittie, then in the protection of the Venetians, Amurath encamped his great armie of misbeleeuing Turkes; and laied hard siege to it, with most terrible batterie: at which time hee by secret meanes corrupted certaine of the wicked cittizens, to haue betrayed the cittie by a secret mine, and to haue let him in: which treason was by the Venetian gouernors perceiued, and the plotters therof for safegard of their liues glad to leape ouer the wals, and to flie into the Turks campe.

Amurath hauing greatly battered the wals of the cittie, the more to encourage his souldiors,

promised to giue them all the spoile thereof, if they could by force winne it. The greedie desire of this rich prey, wherein euerie common souldior promised vnto himselfe whatsoeuer his foo∣lish fancie or vnbrideled affection could desire, so inflamed the minds of these barbarous souldi∣ors, and especially of the Ianizaries, that giuing a most terrible assault to the citie, they by force entred the same, and wan it. The Venetian souldiors fled to their gallies, lying at anchor in the hauen, and so got to sea: but the infinite miseries which the poore Christian citizens indured in the furie of that barbarous nation, no tongue is able to expresse, or pen discribe: Death was lesse paine than the ignominious outrages and vnspeakeable villanies which many good Christians there suffered, heartily wishing to die, and could not; and yet the furious enemies sword deuou∣red all the people without respect of age or sex, except such as for stength of bodie, or come∣linesse of person, were reserued for painefull labour or beastly lust; which poore soules were afterwards dispersed into most miserable seruitude and slauerie, through all parts of the Tur∣kish kingdome. The infinite riches of that famous cittie, became a spoile vnto the barbarous souldiours; the goodly houses were left desolate, void of inhabitants. Thus the beautifull cit∣tie of THESSALONICA, sometime one of the most glorious ornaments of GRaeCIA, the late pleasant dwelling place of many rich Christians, was by the tyrant giuen for an habitati∣on to such base Turkes, as at their pleasure repaired thether to seat themselues, and so is by them at this day possessed. This calamitie happened to THESALONICA in the yeare of our Lord 1432.

* 1.12THESALONICA being thus taken, Amurath returned to HADRIANOPLE himselfe, and at the same time sent Caratze with the greatest part of his armie into AETOLIA. Charles prince of that countrey, dying a little before the comming of Amurath to THESALONICA, and hauing no lawfull issue, had diuided the countrey of ACHARNANIA amongst his three base sons, Mem∣non, Turnus, and Hercules, leauing all the rest of his dominion to his brothers sonne, called also Charles. But shortly after, such discord fell among these brethren, that Amurath sending his Turks to aid one of them against the other, as he was by them requested, in fine brought all that countrey of AETOLIA into subjection to himselfe, leauing nothing for the foolish brethren to striue for, more than the bare titles of imaginatiue honour. The other Graecian princes of A∣THENS, PHOCIS, BOETIA, and all the rest of GRaeCIA, vnto the strait of CORINTH, terrified by their neighbours harmes, were glad to submit themselues to the barbarian yoke, and to be∣come tributaries vnto the Turkish tirant; vnder which slauerie they of long time most miserably liued, if intollerable slauerie joyned with infidelitie may be accounted a life. Thus the Grecians lost their libertie, (which their auncestors had many times before, to their immortall praise, wor∣thily defended against the greatest monarchs of the world) and are now so degenerate, by the meanes of the Turkish oppression, that in all GRaeCIA is hardly to be found any small remem∣brance of the ancient glory thereof: insomuch that wheras they were wont to account all other nations barbarous in comparison of themselues, they are now become no lesse barbarous than those rude nations whom they before scorned. Which miserie with a thousand more, they may justly impute to their owne ambition and discord.

At this time amongst the distressed princes of MACEDONIA, and GRaeCIA, one Iohn Castrio•• raigned in EPIRUS: who seeing how mightily the Turke preuailed against the princes his neigh∣bours, and considering that hee was not able by any meanes to withstand so puissant an enemie; to obtaine peace, he was glad to deliuer into Amurath his possession, his foure sonnes, Stanisius, Reposius, Constantine, and George, for hostages: whom Amurath faithfully promised, well and honourably to intreat. But assoone as he had got them within his reach, he falsified his faith, and caused them to be circumcised after the Turkish manner, and to bee instructed in the Turkish su∣perstition, to the great griefe of their Christian parents: and afterwards, when he vnderstood of the death of Iohn Castriot their father, hee poisoned all the three elder brethren: And by Seba∣lie (one of his great captaines) ceized vpon CROIA, his cheefe citie, and all the rest of his ter∣ritories, as if they had by good right deuolued vnto him. But George the youngest, whom the Turks named Scander-beg or lord Alexander, for his excellent feature, and pregnant wit, he al∣waies entirely loued, and as some thought, more passionatly than he should haue loued a boy. Him he caused to be diligently instructed in all kind of actiuitie, and feats of warre, wherin he ex∣celled al other his equals in Amurath his court; and rising by many degrees of honor, came at last (being yet but verie yong) to be a great Sanzack or gouernor of a prouince, and was many times

appointed by Amurath to be generall of his armies; in which seruice hee so behaued himselfe, that he got the loue of all that knew him, and increased his credit with Amurath: vntill at last he found oportunitie by great policie and courage, to deliuer both himselfe and his natiue countrie, from the horrible slauerie of the Turkish tyrannie, as shall be afterwards declared.

Shortly after that Amurath had thus daunted the princes of GRECIA, he turned his forces into SERVIA: but the prince of SERVIA vnable to withstand so mightie an enemie, to procure his fa∣uour, sent embassadours, offering to pay him a yearely tribute, and to doe further what he should reasonably demaund. Amurath beside the yearely tribute, required to haue Marie (this princes faire daughter) in mariage; and that he should not suffer the Hungarians to passe through his countrey to inuade him; and further, not at any time to denie passage vnto the Turkish armie, when he should send forth the same for the inuasion of the kingdome of BOSNA. All which vn∣reasonable conditions the prince was glad to agree vnto, and sent his faire daughter by Saratze, who was afterwards maried to Amurath.

About this time,* 1.13 Iosephus and Machmutes, Amurath his brethren, and Orchanes the sonne of Solyman, who had his eies put out by his vncle Mahomet, with many other men of great ac∣count among the Turks, died of the plague at PRUSA.

Whilest Amurath was thus busied in his wars in EUROPE, the king of CARAMANIA his brother in law, inuaded his dominions in ASIA: for so it was agreed betweene the Christian princes of EUROPE, and the Mahometan princes of ASIA, to whom the greatnesse of the Otho∣man kingdome was now become dreadfull, That whensoeuer hee inuaded the Christians in EU∣ROPE, the Mahometan princes should inuade his countries in ASIA; and that whensoeuer hee should turne his forces into ASIA, the Christian princes should spoile his countries in EUROPE. Against this Caramanian king, Amurath transported his armie into ASIA: and as he went, seazed vpon the countries of SARUCHANIA, MENTESIA, and other prouinces, which were before but tributaries vnto him, driuing out the poore princes before him: and so entred into CARA∣MANIA, and inforced the king so farre, that he was glad to agree to such conditions of peace as it pleased him to propound vnto him, and to send his sonne to wait at his court. And at the same time picking a quarrell with Isfendiar prince of CASTAMONA, caused him to become his tribu∣tarie, and to send his sonne to his court also. By which meanes the name of Amurath became terrible to all the Mahometan princes.

When Amurath had thus quieted all his troubles in ASIA, he returned to HADRIANOPLE: and vnderstanding that the Hungarians passing ouer DANUBIUS, had in his absence made di∣uers incursions into his dominions, hee was therewith greatly offended, and in reuenge thereof first sent Alis Bassa the sonne of Eurenosis, with an armie to inuade HUNGARIA; which he per∣formed accordingly by the space of a moneth, and returned from thence with rich bootie. Not long after,* 1.14 he himselfe in person made another road into HUNGARIE, commanding the prince of SERVIA his father in law, to giue his armie free passage through his countrey, and charging Dracula prince of VALACHIA to aid him with his forces in that expedition: which his com∣mandement both the Christian princes (more for feare, than of good will) diligently performed. So Amurath hauing inriched his souldiors with the spoile taken in HUNGARIE, returned home and wintered at his court at HADRIANOPLE.

The secret confederation betweene the Hungarians and the Mahometan king of CARAMA∣NIA, was not vnsuspected of Amurath; which he was the rather induced to beleeue, for that whē∣soeuer he inuaded the one he was presently set vpon by the other, either in EUROPE or in A∣SIA: of which plot he doubted not but that George prince of SERVIA (his father in law) was chiefe authour, although in shew he was therein the least actor. Wherfore Amurath intending to spill the play, sent for the prince his father in law to come to the court at HADRIANOPLE: but he doubting some Turkish tragedie, pretended great occasions that he could not come; and fearing that which afterwards fell out, fortified and manned all his strong cities and castles by all meanes he could possibly, especially his chiefe citie SEMENDRE (otherwise called S••ENDERO∣VIA) and left ther••in his sonne Gregorie (or as some call him, George) as gouernour; for his other sonne Stephan was long before in Amurath his court, with the queene his sister. The prince of SERVIA himselfe went into HUNGARIE to procure from thence some aid, hauing there also himselfe certaine territories, which he had in exchange of Sigismundus (late emperour and king of HUNGARIE) for the citie of BELGRADE. It was not long after, but Amurath forgetting both

the affinitie and league hee had with the prince his father in law, entered with a great armie into [ G] SERVIA, destroying all before him, and hardly besieged SEMENDRE: where, after long siege, the young gouernour (the princes sonne) doubting to fall into his enemies hands by suddaine as∣sault,* 1.15 yeelded himselfe, with the citie. Which thing so discouraged the rest of the Seruians, that in short time SOPHIA, NOVOMONT, with all the rest of the cities of SERVIA were yeelded into the power of Amurath. After which conquest he returned to HADRIANOPLE, and hearing that the prince of SERVIA with the Hungarians, were making head against him; and that the two yong Seruian princes, Gregorie and Stephen his wiues brethren, had intelligence with their father, he commaunded them both to be cast in prison at DIDYMOTICHVM, and their eyes cruelly to be burnt out with a brasen bason made red hot, a cōmon vnmercifull practise among the Turks: [ H]

About this time Albertus duke of AVSTRIA hauing before maried Elizabeth the only daugh∣ter of Sigismund the emperor, and succeeding his father in law both in the empire and kingdome of HVNGARIE (vnto which type of highest honour nothing more furthered him than the re∣membrance of Sigismund;) in the second yeare of his raigne, before hee was well setled in those new a••chieued honours, died of the flix, as he was making great preparation against Amurath the Turkish king: who hauing lately driuen George prince of SERVIA and RASCIA out of his domi∣nions, had now extended the Turkish kingdome euen vnto the borders of HVNGARIE. This Albertus dying, left his wife great with child. The Hungarians, in whose minds the remembrance of Sigismund was yet fresh, could haue beene contented to haue liued vnder the gouernment of the queene his daughter, the widdow of Albertus (then great with child;) but that the Turkish king was now growne so great, and come so nigh, that it was thought more than needfull by Iohn Huniades, and other of the Hungarian nobilitie, for the defence of that kingdome, not wholly to rest vpon the deuotion of the people toward the queene, and the expectation of her issue, wherby they should be nothing strengthened: but to make choice of some great prince, by whose power they might the better defend themselues and the kingdome against their dangerous enemies. Whereupon with consent of the queene it was resolued vpon, to make choice of Vladislaus, the yong king of POLONIA, then a prince of great power, but of farre greater fame and expectation: and by embassadors to offer vnto him the mariage of the queene, & with her the kingdome also. This embassage being sent vnto Vladislaus, the matter was too and fro debated in the Polonian court, Whether it were to be accepted of or not? Some began to speake of the inequalitie of the match, considering that the king was but in the prime of his youth, and the queene well stept into yeares; vrging farther, that nothing was offered in that match but wars; and that the Hungarians therein sought for nothing more, than by the Polonian forces to defend themselues against the Turks. Others of contrarie opinion, said, That the vniting of those two mightie kingdoms would be to the great good of them both, and to the great honour of the king, whose very name would thereby become terrible vnto the Turkes: and that it were greater pollicie, by the forces of both the kingdomes, to keepe the Turkish king from entring into HVNGARIE, than to leaue that king∣dome to him for a prey, and afterward be inforced to fight with the same enemie in the heart of POLONIA: and as for inequalitie of yeares betwixt the king and the queene, it was not so great a matter, that in regard thereof so honourable and commodious alliance should be rejected; for as much as princes doe more regard the vertues of their choice, with the increase of their honour, and wealth of their kingdomes, than the Summer fruit of youth and beautie, which of it selfe in short time doth rot and perish, although it be neuer so carefully kept and preserued: and that for as much as there can be but one king in a kingdome, such choice was to be preferred of kings as had not therein the greatest hope of many children.* 1.16 After long deliberation, Vladislaus gaue answer vnto the embassadors, That he would accept of the offers by thē made▪ wherupon some of them returned to make relation thereof vnto the queene, and some of them staied behind to hasten the king forward. But whilest these things was a doing, the queen in the mean time was deliuered of a faire son, whom she caused to be baptized and named Ladislaus. After the birth of this child, the queene mooued with a motherly affection, began to repent her selfe, that she had giuen her con∣sent for the calling in of the Polonian king, to the prejudice of her sonne▪ And being animated by some of the Hungarian nobilitie (who presuming of the good grace they were in with the queene, hoped to grow great themselues, if they might first draw the gouernment of that king∣dome to the queene and her young sonne) determined now by all possible means to ex••l••de the Polonian king: but the greater part of the nobilitie better considering what was most expedient

for the present estate, and that they could neither with honor nor safetie flie from that which was before (for the common good) by the embassadours concluded; continued firme in their former resolution, for the bringing in of Vladislaus: so that by this meanes, some taking part with the queene and her young sonne, and others standing fast for Vladislaus, the kingdome of HUNGA∣RIE was deuided into two factions, and as it were rent in peeces, and so grew to ciuile wars. The queene with such as fauoured her claime, the more to gaine the minds of the common people (which are many times no lesse carried away with shewes than matter) caused her sonne Ladislaus being then but three moneths old, to be solemnely crowned king at ALBA-REGALIS, the vsuall place for the coronation of the Hungarian kings. But after that the Polonian king had entred in∣to HUNGARIE with a goodly armie, and joined his forces with his friends, most part of them which before followed the queene and her sonne, reuolted vnto Vladislaus. So that when she had done what she could, she was glad at last to commit the tuition of her sonne, together with the crowne of HUNGARIE, vnto Fredericke the third, then emperour: neuer ceasing for all that, to the vttermost of her power, to trouble the gouernment of Vladislaus, continually stirring vp great wars against him both at home and abroad, vntill that at the last by her death her quarrell tooke end, together with her life.

In the middest of these ciuile warres, Amurath thought a faire oportunitie presented vnto him, to make an entrance vnto the conquest of HUNGARIE, which kingdome he had in his am∣bitious mind alreadie deuoured. And therefore gathering a great armie, he marched along the ri∣uer DANVBIUS,* 1.17 vntill he came to the strong cittie of BELGRADE, called in antient time. TAVRUNVM, and of some ALBA GRaeCA, but now commonly GREICS WEISENBURG. This ci∣tie is enuironed on the East side with the famous riuer DANVBIUS, and on the South with the great riuer of SAVS or SAWE, which there falleth into DANVBIUS; and on the other two sides is defended with strong wals, with deepe and large ditches; and was then accounted the gate or entrance into HUNGARIE. Vnto this cittie Amurath at his first comming gaue two terrible assaults,* 1.18 & was in good hope so to haue woon the same, but yet was both times valiantly repulsed, with great slaughter of his men. Wherfore finding it to be a matter of more difficultie than was by him at the first supposed, he began to raise mounts against the citie, and high towers of wood to annoy the defendants, and furiously battered the wals. At this time also he caused great num∣bers of gallies and small pinnaces to be brought into both the riuers of DANVBIUS and SAWE to assault the cittie on those parts where was least feared, and by that meanes also to keepe them of the cittie from all succours to be sent that way out of HUNGARIE. Yet for all he could doe or deuise, the citie was still valiantly defended by the Christian soldiors, which vnder the leading and conduct of Ioannes Vranus, a Florentine, gouernor thereof, with often sallies and continuall shot slew great numbers of the Turks. At the time of this siege, Vladislaus, king of POLONIA, and lately elect king of HUNGARIE, was sore troubled by the queene and her faction in HUNGA∣RIE: which thing the Turkish king knew right well, and thereupon continued his siege, although famine began greatly to encrease in his campe; hoping in nothing more, than that the defendants despairing of helpe from the king, would in short time yeeld vp the cittie. Vlad••slaus being so en∣tangled with ciuile wars, as is aforesaid, that he could not possibly prepare such force as might re∣lieue the besieged citie: yet for as much as the Turkish king had not long before by his embassador required to joine with him in league & amitie, he thought good now to assay if he could raise the siege, by sending vnto him the like embassage. Whereupon he sent Dobrogosius, Ostrorogeus, and Lucas Gorsensis, three of the Polonian nobilitie, embassadors vnto Amurath: declaring vnto him, That for so much as he had first offered by his embassadours, to joine with him in league before he came out of POLONIA, the remembrance thereof had taken such deepe impression in his mind, that hee would not take vp armes against him, although it were in his owne just defence, before hee had offered vnto him reasonable conditions of peace: wherefore if hee would desist from inuading of HUNGARIE, whereof Vladislaus was now by God his permission, and consent of the people, chosen king, and so raise his siege, that then they should afterwards easily agree vp∣on the desired peace: in concluding whereof, he should not find Vladislaus inferiour to himselfe in any manner of princely courtesie: but if he had rather to proceed in armes, & to make proofe of his strength, he would then doe the best that he could, to make him know, that he was of suf∣ficient power, in so just a quarrell, to withstand his greatest forces, and to reuenge the wrongs to him done. When Amurath had receiued this embassage, he appointed the embassadors to with∣draw

themselues for a while to SYNDEROVIA (a cittie of SERVIA, not farre off) vntill he might better consider of their demaunds: pretending, that he did it for their safetie; but as appeared af∣terward, secretly resoluing with himselfe, presently to do his vttermost deuoire for the gaining of the cittie, and vpon the successe thereof to shape them answere accordingly. Wherfore so soone as the embassadours were departed to SINDEROVIA, hee first by his messengers aslaied the minds of the cittizens and souldiors with magnificall promises of large liberties, and infinit re∣wards and preferments, if they would yeeld vp the cittie: and many arrowes with letters made fast vnto them, full of like promises, were at the same time shot into the cittie. But when he saw no hope to preuaile by that meanes, hee called together the captaines and commaunders of his ar∣mie, and there in the presence of them all spake vnto them as followeth:

* 1.19Although I know it is in mine owne power, to graunt, or not to graunt, the peace whereof our ene∣mies haue made a motion: yet it is my pleasure (worthie soldiors) to know your minds also. For so much as we haue that warre in hand, wherein with worldly felicitie, (whereof amongst you I hold the cheefe place) is also indangered our religion, and puritie of life; the defence and care whereof equally belon∣geth vnto vs all: for although we differ much one from another in the manner of our vocation and li∣uing here, yet after death we all hope for one and the selfesame felicitie. And therefore I would haue you to vnderstand, all that I shall say, as proceeding not of any regard of mine owne priuate, but vpon the consideration of the common good of you all. For as concerning mine owne estate, I possesse so large countries in ASIA, such great dominions in EUROPE, that either part thereof (in good time bee it said) might seeme a sufficient kingdome: so that perhaps it might better stand with my estate, to take more care for keeping of that I haue, than to trauell for the gaining of more: but you are to consider with your selues, whether you haue euery man sufficient to suffice himselfe or not, and how long you thinke your selues assured of the same; and moreouer, that together with these worldly things we shall be driuen at length to forsake our profession and religion, if we shall now lay downe armes. For our ene∣mies require, that we should first cease from warre, and then afterwards they thinke it meet to talke of peace. I will not speake of the indignitie, that men besieged, and in euill plight, should propound condi∣tions of peace to them that besiege them, and are well furnished of all things; that feeble and cowardly men should promise peace vnto courageous and expert souldiors: I omit what labour and paines we haue taken in laying our siege, in raising of mounts, in making of shipping; all which our enemies commaund vs to forsake, as if they had vs alreadie bound or couped vp in hold, as we haue them. All BULGARIA, and the greater part of RASCIA is now by vs conquered, and most part of SERVIA is at our com∣maund: all which places are either by vs to be kept, or els all the rest of that we possesse in EUROPE, is with them to be quite lost and forsaken. Whosoeuer shall haue in their power this citie which we besiege (and that our enemies know right well) shall haue not onely as it were a fortresse and bulwarke of de∣fence for his owne, but also a castle and entrance for the subduing of others. The kingdome of HUN∣GARIE is now deuided in it selfe, and full of domesticall sedition: neither is it so much strengthened by the vniting of the kingdome of POLONIA, as it is by ciuile dissention weakened: and in this mo∣tion of peace nothing is sought for, but to gaine time for the pacifying of their priuate quarrels, that they may afterwards with their doubled forces set vpon vs. For if we shall breake vp our siege before we haue woon the cittie, they will easily find delaies so long to protract the conclusion of peace, vntill that either Vladislaus his good fortune, or els the Hungarians being of themselues better aduised, shall make an end of their ciuile wars. What manner and conditions of peace will they then require of vs, when they are at vnitie amongst themselues, and in armes against vs; seeing that now being in dan∣ger with mutuall discord, and almost by vs vanquished, doe thinke it reasonable (as if they had woon the field) that we should first raise our siege, and then entreat of peace? Their proud demaunds for the re∣stitution of BULGARIA and RASCIA, with other countries and citties woon by our trauell and danger; alreadie sound in mine eares: Which if wee shall refuse to graunt, not onely the Hungarian being then at vnitie among themselues, but also the Polonians, joined vnto them, will bring those wars home to our dores which we now at great aduantage make vpon them, troubled with discord and ciuile broiles. And if for desire of peace we could be content to yeeld vnto such shamefull and miserable con∣ditions, and restore vnto them all they should or in reason could desire; do you thinke the prince of SER∣VIA would rest contented with his owne? whose haughtie mind (I am sure) being inflate with the com∣bining of two such mightie kingdomes, thinketh not onely of the recouerie of that hee hath lost, but euen now gapeth at all that is ours in EUROPE. He will not thinke himselfe satisfied, before he (ha∣uing

brought the Hungarian and Polonian forces against vs) shall see the same hauocke and spoile made in our kingdome with fire and sword, which he hath before seene made by vs in his owne. Where if his fortune should answere his designes (which God forbid, but yet it may chance) beside all the miserable and intollerable outrages, which are to be feared of an angrie conquerour, it is accounted with them for a godly and religious worke, to vse all cruell and vnspeakeable villanies against our nation, except wee will forsake the faith and religion deliuered vnto vs by our ancestors, and follow their new and incre∣dible ceremonies. Neither doe they thinke they can more easily and effectually procure the fauor of God with any other kind of sacrifice or seruice, than by ouerthrowing and prophaning our temples, by scof∣fing at our most sacred and secret rites and ceremonies, by scorning our religion, and priests: and that you may know all the furie wherewith they rage against vs and our religion, they account all them for holy saints which die in fight against vs. There is no cause (valiant souldiors) that vpon the vaine hope of peace, we should expect whilest the enemie doth gather and vnite his forces and armes against vs, especially such an enemie as propoundeth not spoile and worldly honours, but immortalitie it selfe, as a reward of his victorie. We haue alreadie taken much more labour than we haue to take, we haue filled the ditches with restlesse labour, we haue cast vp bulwarkes equall with the wals, and part of the wals we haue beaten euen with the ground, so that you see the towne halfe opened: and that towne, by gaining wherof, all that ours is, may be made safe and quiet; and that which our enemie possesseth, subiect to our spoile and prey. If you will but a little inforce your selues as men mindfull of our good fortune and for∣wardnesse, you shall find our temples, our sacrifices, our religion, all worldly and heauenly felicitie to bee then assured vnto vs, when as you shall to morrow ouerthrow the very foundation of the enemies wall. Then (couragious souldiors) we may crie victorie, not for the present, but for euer. If this warre should bring vnto vs nothing els but an assured securitie of our estate, it were sufficient reward: for which we ought cheerefully to aduenture our selues to all dangers, and to challenge in combat euen death it selfe. But as this victorie doth defend all our things as with a deep trench or sure wall, so doth it lay open and expose all our enemies dominions vnto danger & spoile. Hitherto we haue striuen with nature her selfe in the rough and abrupt mountains of BVLGARIA & RASCIA, where we were to striue with hunger, thirst, labor, & desperation: all them we haue ouercome, allured with no other reward, but that at length we might attaine vnto the wealth of fruitfull HVNGARIE, from whence we must fetch the guerdon of our victorie, and the ground of our glorie. We are come to the gates, which being laid open, we are not to passe ouer inaccessible rocks, or vncouth desarts, but we shal go through most pleasant places, dec••ed both by nature her selfe, and the industrie of man; where the temperatnesse of the aire, and liuely springs, with the fruitfulnesse of the soile, doth euery where yeeld plentie of all manner of food both for man and beast, not only to serue for natures necessitie, but euen to glut our wanton desires. What thing soeuer curious in∣deuor hardly bringeth forth in other places, that the fertilitie of this soile yeeldeth plentifully of it selfe: so that it is to be thought, that nature adorned HUNGARIE with a certain extraordinary care, when as she would set forth a pattern of good husbandrie, for other countries to imitate. Neither hath she in any place ben more bountifull in bestowing her rich gifts: for gold, which other men most painfully dig vp, & that in few places, the Hungarians gather at their ease, as if it were a growing plant. It is in your power (worthie soldiors) whether you will to morrow open a way to all these good things for your selues for euer, or els leaue the way open for your enemies vnto all that you hold. I would that you would remember when you goe vnto the breach, that all the store of happie fortune is laid open vnto you for a prey, without any other defence, without any other garrison, without any other keeper; and that behind you are your wiues, children, your houses, your temples, and religion, together with the rewards of all your former victories: ouer whom (except you win this citie) the furie and insolencie of the victorious enemie, will most cruelly and shamefully insult. I, according as I shall see you fight at the breach to morrow, shall easily perceiue how you are set downe to commaund as conquerors, or els as slaues to be commaunded; and also what to answere to the most insolent demaunds of the proud embassadours. In the meane time make much of our selues, and together with your armour haue all things in readinesse, that to morrow with the daw∣ning of the day we may assault the breach▪

The Turkish captaines for that time joyfully departed, as if they had been alreadie assured of the victorie, and of all those good things which Amurath had so liuely set before their eies. The next morning very early, Amurath commanded the assault to be giuen vnto a great breach which he had made in the wall with continuall batterie: the souldiours with great courage assailed the breach, especially the Ianizaries, who vnder the leading of Haly-Bassa valiantly woon the same,

and were entring the citie with assured hope of victorie. The Christians seeing all in danger to be lost, running to the breach from all parts of the citie, so forceably charged the proud Ianizaries on euerie side, that they were glad to retire with more hast than they before entred▪ in which re∣trait, many of them were slaine,* 1.20 and the rest flying out at the breach, were either slaine or burnt to death in the towne ditch with wild fire; whereof the defendants had cast great store vpon the Turks at the breach, which hauing taken hold vpon the faggots, hurdles, and other light mat∣ter, wherewith the Turks had vpon the sudden made their way ouer the towne ditch, did so ter∣ribly burne, that the Ianizaries which had entred the breach, being againe repulsed, were in that fierie lake consumed, or else with smoke strangled. In this assault Amurath is reported to haue lost eight thousand of his best men, beside seauen thousand others ouerwhelmed or strangled in the mines, by the countermines of the Christians. The other part of the Turks which at the same time assaul••ed the citie by water, out of their gallies and small ships, had as euill or rather worse successe: many of them were sunke with great shot, and some burnt by the fire cast from the wals, and so fired one another; and diuers of them in that sudden feare, for avoiding of that present danger, ran a ground vpon the shelfs in the riuer, and so split. Amurath wonderfully disco∣raged with the slaughter of his men, and shamefully beaten from the assault, returned to his camp with his Turks, much like men which had lately escaped from some great shipwracke. And thus partly by famine, and partly by the defendants force, hauing lost the greatest part of his ar∣mie, he determined now after seauen moneths siege to returne home. Yet because hee would not encourage his enemies, by shewing his feare, he sent for the embassadours into the campe, and with sterne countenance answered them in this sort.

* 1.21We will (said he) then talke of peace, when Vladislaus shall deliuer vnto vs all that part of RASCIA which he yet holdeth, and also this citie of BELGRADE, as a pledge of the league. And for this time I will raise my siege, to giue Vladislaus time to aduise himselfe: yet I would wish him, rather to accept of my friendship vpon these conditions, than by denying that little which is demaunded, to h••∣zard the state of both his kingdomes. I aske but that which is mine owne by law of armes, before Vla∣dislaus was called into HUNGARIE: and the Hungarians cannot transfer vnto him that right which they had not themselues. Wherefore if hee will proceed rather to striue for that which is other mens, than quietly to possesse his owne, I will in good time repaire hether againe, with my God the beholder and reuenger of wrong.

With this answere he dismissed the embassadours, and forthwith rise with his armie, sore re∣repenting his comming thether: yet because he would take something in his way, he left his ne∣phew Isa-beg with certaine troupes of horsemen at SCOPIA in SERVIA, who so troubled the king of BOSNA, that he was glad to require peace of Amurath, and to promise vnto him a yearely tribute of fiue and twentie thousand duckats.

Vladislaus newly elected king of HUNGARIE, seeing that part of his kingdome which is cal∣led TRANSILVANIA, or PANNODACIA, to bee much subject to the incursion of the Turks, (who hauing got into their possession all the countrey of MOLDAVIA, and growne insolent by continuall victories ceased not to inuade and spoile the countrey of TRANSILVANIA) for remedie of that daily mischiefe, created Iohn Huniades Vayuod, or his vice-gerent in TRANSIL∣VANIA. This Huniades as some write, was Earle of BISTRICE, borne in VALACHIA: others say that he was borne but of meane parents, and called Huniades of the village wherein he was borne, and grew to be great by his vertue and prowesse. Whatsoeuer his parents were, he him∣selfe was a most polliticke, valiant, fortunate, and famous captaine, his victories so great, as the like was neuer before by any Christian prince obtained against the Turks: so that his name be∣came vnto them so dreadfull, that they vsed the same to feare their crying children withall. This worthie captaine according to the trust reposed in him, began to keepe the Turks short, by cut∣ting them off, whensoeuer they presumed to enter into his countrey; and also by shutting vp the passages wherby they were wont to forrage the countrie of TRANSILVANIA; & when he had put his owne charge in good safetie, hee entred into MOLDAVIA, and neuer rested till hee had won it quite out of the Turks hands. And not contented with this, passed many times ouer DA∣NUBIVS into the Turks dominions, making hauocke of the Turks, and carying away with him great bootie, with many captiues.

Now were two great and worthie captaines met together, in places nigh one to another, Huniades in TRANSILVANIA, and the next part of HUNGARIE; and Isa in RASCIA, and the vpper part of SERVIA: the one lying at TEMESVVAR, and the other at SINDEROVIA; both men of great spirit, and desirous of honour. Of these two, Isa in great fauour with Amurath, and by him highly preferred, to increase his credit with the Sultan his vncle, & to inlarge the bounds of the Turkish kingdome committed to his charge, continually forraged the countrey about BELGRADE, to the intent that hauing wearied the inhabitants with the harms he daily did them, and brought the citie into great wants, he might so at length gaine the same, for the most part a∣bandoned of the citizens, which Amurath could not by force obtaine, and so to open a way into HUNGARIE. Thus was the countrey by him spoiled, the villages rifled and burnt, and great numbers both of men and cattell daily caried away: yea sometimes not contented to haue spoi∣led the open countrey, he assailed the verie suburbs of the citie, and was thence hardly repulsed: and finding Huniades the onely man that hindred his further proceedings, to require him, and prouoke him the more, he brake sometimes into his countrey, laying in euerie corner as he went strong ambushes, so to haue circumuented that warie captaine, if it had been possible. But he, gree∣ued to see the countrey thus spoiled, and purposing to be therof reuenged, secretly raised a strong power, both of horse and foot, and with his companion Nicholas Vilach a right valiant captaine, [ C] passing ouer DANUBIVS, came and encamped betwixt BELGRADE and SINDEROVIA, be∣ing about twentie miles distant. Of whose comming Isa-beg vnderstanding, forthwith set for∣ward with a great armie against him, least he should by longer delaie, seeme to stand in doubt of his enemie, whom he had by many injuries so often prouoked. So marching on with his armie ranged in order of battaile, hee found Huniades as readie for battaile as himselfe, who in both wings had placed his light horsemen, and behind them his men at armes, with certaine compa∣nies of crosbowes on horsebacke: in the middest stood his armed men with his archers, and other souldiours more lightly armed, readie at all assaies, all strongly guarded with men at armes: after whom in the reareward followed also a strong squadron of valiant footmen. The signall of bat∣taile being giuen, there began a great and cruell fight, as amongst men desirous either to ouer∣come, or there honourably to end their daies. At the first encounter, the wings of Huniades his bataile were by the Turks enforced to retire: but comming to the men at armes, their furie was there staied, and a cruell battaile fought, wherein many fell on both sides, but of the Turks moe, who trusting to their agilitie and nimblenesse of bodie, were not able long to endure the shocke and strength of the men at armes, but were there by heapes ouerthrowne, and most miserably slaine. Which Isa-beg beholding, and perceiuing the Hungarians couragiously to fight, as men almost in possession of an assured victorie; to saue himselfe turned his backe and fled to SINDE∣ROVIA. The rest beholding the flight of their generall, betooke themselues to flight also: after whō the Hungarians fiercely followed, especially Huniades himselfe, who by his example to ani∣mate the rest, left not the chase vntill he was come almost to the suburbs of SINDEROVIA: few of the Turks escaped, the rest being either taken or slaine. Huniades after so great a victorie, with a rich prey and a multitude of prisoners returned to BELGRADE: hauing now sufficiently reuen∣ged himselfe of the wrongs he had before receiued: after which time, Isa the Turke was more quiet, as hauing sufficient proofe of his valour. The fame of this victorie increased not a little the ••ame of Huniades, the report whereof comming to BUDA, filled the citie with joy and gladnes▪ but most of all king Vladislaus, who therevpon caused publique praiers, with thanksgiuing to be made in euerie Church: and by his letters gratulatorie, with many rich presents, encouraged Hu∣niades to the prosecution of the religious warre, wherein was propounded vnto him not onely the increase of his wealth (a base regard in the honourable) but the immortalitie of his name,* 1.22 and hope of eternall blisse.

Not long after this victorie,* 1.23 Huniades obtained a farre greater in TRANSILVANIA. For A∣murath much greeued with the losse he had first by himselfe, and after by his lieutenant Isa, re∣ceiued at BELGRADE, and in the countrey thereabout; least he should seeme to yeeld vnto the Hungarian, repaired his broken forces with new supplies, with purpose againe to renew his warres in VALACHIA. And so hauing put all things in a readinesse, sent one of his Bassaes cal∣led M••sites (his Viceroy in ASIA, a man of great wisedome, experience, and valour) with a pu∣issant armie vpon the suddaine by the way of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA, to inuade TRAN∣SILVANIA. This worthie captaine according to his charge, departing out of SERVIA, and pas∣sing

ouer DANVEIVS, suddenly entred into Huniades his countrey, burning and spoyling what∣soeuer [ G] came in his waie, and killing all that he light vpon, man, woman, and child, without re∣spect of age, sex, or condition; filling all the countrey as he went, with tumult and terror. Wher∣of Huniades (but lately come into the countrey) vnderstanding, and hauing as then, no sufficient forces to oppose against the furie of so puissant an enemie, either meanes to raise any, in so great a confusion and feare; was wonderfully grieued thereat, and perplexed in mind, as not well know∣ing which way to turne himselfe.* 1.24 At length hee tooke his flight into ALBA IVLA, vnto his old friend George Lepe, Bishop of that citie, a man of great vertue and grauitie: but whilest hee there staieth with his friend, about the raising of a tumultuarie armie, the enemie was now come neere vnto him; who hauing ouer-runne the greatest part of the countrey, had scraped together such a [ H] bootie, and taken such a multitude of prisoners, that surcharged as it were with the spoile, he was glad to march softlier: yet still burning the countrey before him. Which Huniades and the good bishop beholding out of the citie, so much greeued thereat, that albeit that they both well knew themselues, with an handfull of men in hast taken vp hand ouer head, too weake to encounter with their enemies: yet thought it better with such power as they had, to goe out, and so in de∣fence of their countrey honourably to die, than longer to behold the most miserable destructi∣on of the same.* 1.25 But whilest they vpō this resolution (caried forth with too hot a desire of reuenge) march vnaduisedly on headlong, without any scouts or espials sent out before them, they fell before they were aware into such ambushes, both of horse and foot, as the craftie enemie had in the secret woods and vallies wherby they were to passe, laid of purpose to intercept them; which now with great force and horrible outcries breaking out vpon them on euerie side, dismaied them with a great feare. Huniades and the bishop, seeing themselues so entrapped and beset with the multitude of their enemies, as that they must needs perish if they should longer staie, fled in∣continently backe againe; after whom followed all the rest of their armie, and at their heeles the egre Turks, who spared none of the flying Christians they could ouertake, but put them all to the sword: neuerthelesse, most part of them escaped backe againe to ALBA IVLA. The Bishop thinking to haue saued himselfe by the swiftnesse of his horse, comming to a riuer, in taking the same was ouerthrowne, and there by the enemie slaine. With whose death the Bassa encouraged, as also with the present victorie, began now more at libertie to range abroad, and at his pleasure with fire and sword to wast that part of the country which yet remained vnspoiled: leauing in the meane time (as a man out of feare) the rich prey hee had taken, together with his baggage and cariages, to be carried all together, as a notable testimonie of his victorie vnto his great lord and maister. Huniades in the meane time, with wonderfull celeritie running about the borders of his country, and out of euerie towne and village taking such souldiors as he could, persuaded also the Sicilians (or people commonly called Siculi) in defence of their wiues and children to take vp armes: who all, in respect of the present necessitie, cheerefully did whatsoeuer he commaunded. With this tumultuarie armie, he followed the Bassa (who thē in great pride was returning, laded with the spoile of the whole countrey) with purpose to set vpon him, as time or place should giue him occasion. In the meane time Mesitis being told, that Huniades with a great power was com∣ming after him, and now euen at hand: is reported to haue made no great reckoning thereof, but to haue proudly answeared vnto him that brought the newes, Let him come, and with the spoile of himselfe enrich our victorie. There was present when he thus said, one Iohn, one of Huniades his espials, who discouered vnto him many of the Turkes designes, concerning the joyning of bat∣taile with him; but especially, that the Bassa had commanded through his armie, That aboue all things they should in the beginning of the battell assaile the person of Huniades himselfe, for that he being once slaine, the rest would easily be put to flight, as all depending on his direction: and that for the performance thereof, he had appointed certaine companies of his best souldiours, gi∣uing them certaine tokens whereby they might know both him and his horse. There was then in the armie, one Simon Kemene a right valiant and couragious gentleman, not much vnlike vnto Huniades, with whom he chaunged both his horse and armour, appointing vnto him a strong troupe of his choise horsemen to attend vpon him: neither was this counterfait Huniades vnwil∣ling to expose himselfe vnto the danger, accounting it honour inough, if by his death he might saue the life of his friend, and preserue so worthie a defendour of the common weale. Huniades following fast after the Bassa marching before him, sought by light skirmishes sometimes on the one side, sometimes on the other, and sometimes in the reareward, to stay him▪ and at some ad∣uantage,

if any such were giuen, to fight with him, before he should get out of the countrey. At length finding such an oportunitie as he thought good to lay hold vpon, he with all his forces, as if it had ben a violent tempest, came vpon the Turks so sodainly, as that they had not time to put themselues into order of battell, but were glad confusedly to fight as they might, and without or∣der: in which disordered fight many fell on both sides, but farre more of the Turkes. But whilest both armies with like obstinacie encounter together, certaine troupes of the most valiant Turks descrying Simon the counterfeit Huniades,* 1.26 and by the signes before deliuered vnto them, both of his horse and armour, supposing him to haue been Huniades indeed; with all their power made towards him, to haue slaine him, according as they had in charge: where meeting with right vali∣ant men, of no lesse courage than thēselues, there was fought a most terrible & bloodie battell, in such sort, as if in that very place should haue ben tried the whole fortune of the day. But the Turks still bending their forces more & more thither, for the killing of him, of whō they stood in more dread than of all the rest: at length by plain force made a way vnto him, & hauing slain them that were about him, though not without their own great losse, furiously assailing him, slew him, vain∣ly supposing it to haue ben the very generall himselfe: who had he there perished (as like inough it was he should, had hee not beene before warned of the Bassaes purpose) no doubt, but that the whole country had bin with him, or shortly after, quite lost. But Huniades in the mean time riding too and fro in the armie, encouraged his soldiors not to forsake the victorie they were now as it were in possession of, nor leaue vnreuenged so many slaughters and harmes so lately committed by their enemies, but to remēber as they were fighting, that they caried in their hands their wiues and children, and were in that one battell to reuenge the wrong by them done both to God and man. Sometime he with new supplies encouraged such as were ouercharged and euen now ready to flie; othersome he with cheerfull words staied, that had already turned their backs; performing in euery place all the parts both of a worthie commander and valiant souldior, as the necessitie of the time and place required. In the heat of this battell, fortune yet fauoring neither part, but both fighting with all their power, the Transiluanian prisoners that in great number were kept in the campe, wishing rather there to die than to be caried away in captiuitie, and thinking it now or ne∣uer, time for them to attempt their deliuerance; with one consent brake in sunder their bonds, & with such weapons as first came to hand, set vpon their keepers, of whom they slew a great num∣ber: and so desperatly issuing out into the battell, encouraged their countrimen, and discouraged their enemies. Yet was the battell hardly fought, though not altogether with like courage, or for like cause: for why, the Transiluanians fought for their country, their wiues, their children, their liues, their libertie, their religion and altars: but the Turks for the rich prey they had before taken, and that they were by victorie in hope of. But at length the Turks by the breaking out of the pri∣soners (who laid about them like desperat men) out of hope of the victorie, began by little and lit∣tle to retire: and the other on the contrary part, by this vnexpected aid encouraged, and quickly finding the enemies fainting, fought more fiercely than before. Mesites seeing his armie thus in euery part wauering, was therewith exceedingly troubled: but presently after, beholding some of his men retiring, as if they had fled, and othersome flying outright, and no means to stay them, for safegard of his life turned his horse and fled also: after whom the Hungarians followed with most terrible execution, as men desirous of the bloud of thē that had done them so great harme. In this chase Mesites himselfe with his son, were both slain: the report of whose death, in the pursuit, added swiftnesse vnto the Hungarians to the increasing of the slaughter of the Turks, whō for the desire of reuenge, they ceased not for certain daies to pursue, vnto the top of the alps. In this battell were slain of the Turks 20000, & of the Hungarians about 3000. Huniades with this victorie recouered all the prey the Turks had taken of the spoile of the country, together with their tents & baggage: vnto whom at his returne into the campe, a wonderfull number of the poore captiues came, and falling at his feet and kissing them gaue God thanks for their deliuerance by him: some called him the father,* 1.27 some the defender of his country; the souldiors, their inuincible generall; the captiues, their deliuerer; the women, their protector; the yong men & children, their most louing father. In all which joyfull acclamations, no honourable additions was heard, which in the judgement of all men, worthely agreed not with his deserts. He againe with teares standing in his eies, cour∣teously embraced them, rejoycing at the publicke good: and himselfe giuing most heartie thanks vnto God, commaunded the like to be done in all churches of that prouince. Sometime he com∣mended the souldiours valour, and in generall, the peoples loyaltie. The nobilitie and woorthie

captaines he extolled by name, according as their deserts had beene in that notable battaile, not detracting any thing from any mans worthie praises: part of the spoile of the Turks he appoin∣ted vnto deuout vses, and the other part he deuided amongst the souldiors▪ and willing as it were with the first fruits thereof to gratifie king Vladislaus, and the Despot of SERVIA, then present with him, he sent a great waggon, which ten horses could scarce draw, laded with the Turkes en∣signes and the cheefe of their heads, where the heads of the Bassa and his sonne stood formost, and aboue them was placed an old Turke, sometime well knowne vnto the Despot: who in this order presented vnto them, is said to haue thus deliuered his message, as followeth:

* 1.28Huniades your majesties most humble seruant, and the most honourable Despots sonne, sendeth vn∣to you this part of the spoile gained by this late victorie, least he should seeme to defraud you of the honor of the battaile, happily fought vnder your good fortune. These heads of the Asian nobilitie bee sendeth you for a present, that you should not want the assured testimonie of so notable a victorie: these are two princes heads, the one of Mesites Bassa the generall, and the other of his sonne. The rest are the heads of the other great commaunders and Sanzacks. All these witnesse the greatnesse of the late slaughter, and exhort you to greater atchieuements. What your royall majestie for the naturall instinct of pietie and religion ingrafted in you, may hope for; and what an occasion of immortalitie and glorie is offered vnto you, Huniades wisheth you hereby to consider: and humbly requesteth, that generall supplications may be commaunded, and a great armie prouided, for as much as all men suppose, that the Turke will gage his whole forces, and leaue nothing vnattempted, in reuenge of so great a slaughter of his people.

Hauing ended his speech, he shewed vnto them the grisely mortified heads: which the nobi∣litie and others there present, earnestly beheld and wondered at, especially the king and the Des∣pot, who by letters farther vnderstanding the whole proceeding of the warre, and fortune of the battaile, highly commended the discreet valour of Huniades, together with the glorious victorie, worthie (as they said) of a Romane triumph: for which, Vladislaus commaunded publicke sup∣plications to be made in all churches through HVNGARIE, and by honourable messengers sent of purpose to Huniades, gaue him great thanks, according to his deserts, with many rich presents also, commending his faithfull and worthie seruice: and requesting him with like courage and care to prosecute the warre so happily begun, promising him, That hee should want neither men nor money, or any thing els needfull thereunto. Vpon this victorie, the countries of MOLDA∣VIA and VALACHIA, before tributaries vnto the Turks, now reuolted againe vnto the Hunga∣rians, to the great greefe of Amurath: & the fame of Huniades was in short time dispersed through all EVROPE, and a generall hope conceiued of him, as of one most like to be one of the greatest champions of the Christian commonweale, as in his time vndoubtedly he was.

The report of this late ouerthrow, with the death of the Bassa Mesites, and the losse of his ar∣mie, being brought to HADRIANOPLE, much troubled the Turkish tyrant: but most of all the reuolt of the two countries of MOLDAVIA & VALACHIA. So that full of wrathfull indignation and desire of reuenge, he commaunded a great armie to bee raised against the next Spring, with intent to haue gone therwith himselfe: but afterward vpon better aduice changing his purpose, [ L] he committed the leading therof vnto one Schech Abedin Bassa (corruptly called Sciabedin Bassa) an eunuch, and yet neuerthelesse a right valiant and expert captaine, and his viceroy in EVROPE▪ with charge first to enter into VALACHIA, and there hauing done what harme hee could with fire and sword, to doe the like in MOLDAVIA: and after that with all his power to breake into TRANSILVANIA, there to reuenge vnto the full, the losses before receiued, and with the slaugh∣ter of the Hungarians to sacrifice vnto the ghosts of their dead friends & companions. The Bassa according to his charge, departing out of MACEDONIA, and marching through MYSIA, and so passing ouer Danubius, with an armie of fourescore thousand fighting men, whereof foure thou∣sand were of the best Ianizaries, entred into VALACHIA, filling the country with feare and tumult; the Valachians now altogether in despaire to bee able to defend themselues against the furie of the Turks, and sore repenting them of their reuolt from them vnto the Hungarians. Whom for all that,* 1.29 Huniades comforted with cheerefull words, willing them betime to retire themselues vnto the safest places of their countrey, and not to expose themselues with their too weake forces against the furie of the Barbarians, promising in good time to come himselfe to their releefe; not doubting by the power of Iesus Christ, to dare them battell in the plaine field, & to haue of them

a glorious victorie, although they were in number farre moe than they were reported to be. The Bassa diuiding his armie into two parts, forraged the countrey farre and neere, burning the coun∣trey townes and villages before them, spoyling whatsoeuer came in their way, and killing who∣soeuer they light vpon, men, women, or children, without respect of age, sex, or condition. But the Valachians for the most part, had retired themselues, some into the mountains, some into the strong townes, and some into places further off; so that few fell into the enemies hands, but such as were not able to flie, or not regarding the danger had negligently staied the enemies com∣ming, and so perished. VALACHIA thus spoiled, the Turks passing ouer the mountaines, descen∣ded into TRANSILVANIA, as Amurath had commanded, with purpose there to haue done the like or greater harme, if possible it had been to haue so done: but there was Huniades with 15000 chosen soldiors readie to incounter thē. A small power indeed, in comparison of the multitude the Bassa led: but all men of great experience and resolution, in valour counteruailing the great num∣ber of their enemies, men resolued rather to die than to flie. Of whose approch the Bassa (vnto whom the name and fortune of the man was dreadfull) by his espials vnderstanding, stayed his in∣tended furie, and as one well aware with whom hee had to doe, without farther proceeding, en∣camped himselfe with his armie, to see what power and courage the enemie had. But certainely informed by his scouts, for that purpose sent out, That he was not in number a quarter so many as the Turkes, but lay strongly encamped with his waggons and carriages, as in a sure fort, in such order, as that he could not without great danger bee assailed, and yet might at his pleasure come foorth, and so if need were retire againe, as into a strong hold: he wondered at his courage and skilfull maner of encamping; yet presuming of his own multitude and strength, he doubted not to march forward, and to offer him battell. Being come within halfe a mile the one of the other, although they were on neither side vnwilling to fight, yet hoping both for a great victorie, they thought it not best to attempt any thing rashly, but betooke themselues both vnto the highest of their wits, as willing in so great a conflict as well to shew the vttermost of their pollicie and skill, as of their courage and valour. The Turke thought it best not to joine battaile with his enemies in one front, for feare of confounding so great a multitude, but to deuide his armie into certaine battailions, and so to fight by degrees and in good order, whereby to make all his men profitable: or if he could not do so, then with his multitude to enclose the Christians round, and so to ouer∣whelme them. On the other side, Huniades charged his souldiours, aboue all things to keepe their order, and in no case to suffer themselues to bee deuided by their enemies. The next day, be∣ing come vnto a place which they call VASCAPE, both the armies by the breake of day began to dislodge, at which time the Bassa spent a good space in the martialling of his great armie, as did also Huniades, seeking by prouident foresight and pollicie to match the multitude of his ene∣mies. And so hauing set all things in order, calling vnto him the cheefe captaines and commaun∣ders of his armie, with cheerefull countenance encouraged them as followeth:

No courage (beleeue me) worthie companions, and fellows in arms, could haue induced me to encoun∣ter so great a multitude,* 1.30 did not necessitie it selfe enforce me, your approued valour persuade me, & the assured hope I haue in Christ Iesu aboue all things confirme me: hauing made choice of vs to fight this his sacred battaile, and by our right hands to reuenge the dishonour of his holy name. In which his espe∣ciall choice we are to consider how much hee hath beloued vs: and for the same to praise his infinite goodnesse and mercie. Three such commodities hath God thereby euen this day propounded vnto vs, if we will be the same men we haue been in times past, as that the least thereof were sufficient to encou∣rage men of worth, for the same to lay downe their liues, held they them neuer so deare: First, you are to sight for the health and welfare of your children, wiues, and countrey, joyned with your whole estate: then, for eternall glorie and renowne in this world: and last of all, for immortalitie and a crowne that shall neuer be taken from you, in the world to come. How many miseries and calamities we haue in for∣mer times, and of late, receiued from the Turks, would to God you had rather heard thereof by report, than seene the same with your eies, and endured them in your selues. You had long since been bereft of your welbeloued wiues and children, whom most miserable seruitude had ouerwhelmed; you had had neither house nor church, wherein to dwell or to serue God, had not the diuine power of God, and your rare prowesse been at hand for present rescue: your countrey, your goods, your honour, your libertie, you could not haue kept, had not your valor, confirmed by an assured confidence in the highest, preserued all these things vnto your selues: The horrible furie of the Turke had now brought all these things into

the power of it selfe, had they not been by your armes defended: and he by so many bloodie ouerthrows [ G] repressed. He could not before be staied: the Grecians, the Macedonians (both sometimes the greatest commaunders) the bold Thracians, the strong Bulgarians, the valiant Epirots, and Dalmatians, could not abide their force: The Athenians, the Thebans, the Lacedemonians, authors and maisters of the antient discipline of warre, willingly gaue place vnto these. Vnto vs, is this praise and great glorie of this victorie by God assigned, who often times with a small power, yea and that sometime against all hope, haue with a notable slaughter ouerthrown them, vanquished them, & put them to flight. Neither is there any men in the world whom they more feare and stand in dread of, than you, whom though in number but few, they haue by their daily slaughter and losses, learned no lesse to feare, than if you were many. And now to trie the vttermost of their power, they are come with their innumerable le∣gions: [ H] but are not for that of you any thing the more to be feared than before, seeing that we all beare armes vnder the conduct of the most mightie God; and are by daily victorie, long experience and ap∣prooued valour taught, what we are to dare: besides that, the greatest part of their armie is of common souldiours, slaues, or rude countrey pesants, or men by force by them compelled; more than the Iani∣zaries, are no good souldiours among them, the rest as men enforced, serue them for feare, and against their wils, and they by their cowardize brought into that bondage and slauerie. What Greeks, Mace∣donians, or Sclauonians soeuer are sent to their aid, forasmuch as they are not yet reuolted from the Christian faith, deeme them not to stand for them, but for vs; they long for vs the reuengers of their wrongs, and for you as victorious conquerours: in this warre they haue giuen vnto the Turkes their names, but vnto vs their hearts, and power, and pray heartily for our victorie: wherefore you ought so much the more valiantly and couragiously to fight, by how much greater you see the victorie, the ho∣nour, the prey before your eies. We are not to fight for other mens houses, and altars, but for our owne; so our present necessitie requireth, in such sort, that if wee our selues deliuer not our selues, and beare our selues vpon our woonted hope and valour, wee shall this day bee enforced to endure the greatest miserie that men may possiblie: First, the losse of our goods and substance, the captiuitie of our children, the deflouring of our daughters, the rauishing of our wiues, the slaughter of our parents, the burning of our houses, and churches; and that which worse is than all this, the scorne of our Saui∣our Christ Iesus, and his saints, whose images you shall see in despight broken, or dragged in the durt, or moulten and conuerted into other prohane vses; all religion trodden downe, and God himselfe (if it were possible) with violence and dispaire driuen out of our hearts, if we stand not manfully vnto it as becommeth worthie champions. God is able with his little finger, if he so will, forthwith to destroy all the Turks in the world; but seeing he hath committed vnto our right hands the defence of his name, he first maketh proofe of our courage and valour, that finding the same faithfull, and readie, hee may strengthen and defend it with his owne right hand. He neuer yet forsooke any faithfull or deuout man, neither will our Sauior Christ be wanting vnto you, if you be not wanting vnto your selues: in the power of his name, which is aboue all names, he shal tread down his rebellious enemies, and exalt the righteous that put their trust in him. Moreouer, the causes that we and they combat for, are diuers, and our hopes much stronger: They fight for their Prophet, a most prophane man, author of all impietie, for spoile and prey, for the destruction of nations and countreys, for other mens kingdomes, for the enlarging of their dominions and territories, for worldly praise and glorie: But wee contrariwise beare armes for [ L] the sauiour of the world, for our faith and religion, for the Christian commonwealth, for our natiue countrey, for our wiues and children, for our fortune and state; than which nothing can bee more ex∣cellent, more commendable, or honourable. What reward is laid vp for them in heauen which haue wor∣thily protected or deliuered their countrey, or laid downe their liues in defence of their faith and reli∣gion? Neither, hauing often prooued, are we ignorant, that God will neuer forsake them that honour, feare, and serue him. Whereby (fellow souldiors) you may plainely perceiue, how farre your hopes are beyond theirs. Beleeue our Sauiour, promising vnto you an eternall reward: and shew your fidelitie and valour vnto God and your countrey together. Wherefore, seeing without the power of God wee can do•• nothing, before the signall of battaile be giuen, I beseech you collonels, captaines, and lieutenants, by your effectuall and Christian exhortations in your regiments and companies, to encourage your souldi∣ors, [ M] valiantly to fight the Lords battaile, and for the present, euerie man by taking a little earth in his mouth, to prepare himselfe according to the necessitie of the time, as it were to the receiuing of the lords supper: so hauing clensed your soules, embrace you one another, plight your mutuall faith with your right hand and a kisse; and make a perpetuall couenant among your selues, none of you to forsake one another in this holy battaile, but for your religion and countrey valiantly to fight it out, euen vnto

the last man. And a little refreshing your selues with a short repast as you stand, vpon the signall giuen, thrice calling aloud vpon the mightie name of Christ Iesu, fight with the like valour and courage so neere as you can, that he in the agonie of death fought for your redemption and libertie: which that you will willingly do, I request and charge you this for our sauiours sake, for the loue of our countrey, and for the faith you owe both to God and man. I also pray and beseech you, so to fight, as men resolued either to gaine a most glorious victorie, (whereof I doubt not) or else if it should otherwise chaunce, this day to purchase vnto your selues a blessed life in the kingdome of heauen: not to sup in Hell with the Turks, but with the blessed wights in heauen: For Christ Iesus our Sauiour will be alwaies pre∣sent with vs, who (beleeue me, and so hope) will this day not onely deliuer vs out of the hands of the Turks, but to our immortall glorie lode vs with the rich spoyles of our enemies, and so in safetie bring all home againe with much ioy and triumph.

The Bassa on the other side likewise encouraged his souldiors, putting them in remembrance of their former victories, exhorting them not to degenerate from their worthie ancestours and themselues, by whose great valour the glorie and empire of the Turkes had been so mightily en∣creased▪ and vnto whom their great prophet Mahomet, the interpretor of the gods, had foretold the empire of the whole world to be by all the gods allotted; and had by diuine inspiration pro∣phecied, [ C] that antient and stately nation in time to become the terror of the world, the scourge of the wicked, and commander of all nations. He farther declared vnto thē what an increase of king∣domes they had got in that short time, since which they first passed ouer into EVROPE: and filled them with the hope of a great spoile; promising vnto them that should in the battaile valiantly behaue themselues, not onely the spoile and prey, but whole villages, towns, and cities, and other great preferments, according as they should deserue. As for the victorie, considering the weake power of their enemies, and the great number of themselues, hee assured them thereof, if they would but a while valiantly fight it out like men. In conclusion, he told them, that hauing ouer∣come Huniades, whom onely, as hee confessed, he had found to bee the most valiant and skilfull captaine of the Christians, nothing should afterward be able to stand in their way, or to hinder their farther conquests: and that if this day they should vtterly ouerthrow him, they should gain the most honourable victorie that was euer yet got in EVROPE. Wherefore hee willed them aboue all things, in the battell to seeke after him; promising vnto him that should kill him, a great reward, with most honourable preferments. Hauing thus sufficiently, as he thought, encouraged his Turks, he set forward with his armie in order of battaile. His horsemen and footmen he deui∣ded into two great wings, betwixt which marched the Ianizaries in a square battaile, all men of approoued valour: after whom followed the rereward: vnto the wings he had also joyned cer∣taine loose companies of light horsemen to begin the battaile, and to flie about the enemies, and so as occasion should serue, either to charge or retire. Huniades likewise had placed in both wings two square battailions of men at armes, and with them certaine horsemen with crosse-bowes: before these wings he had also placed certaine troupes of light horsemen, to encounter the ene∣mies: in the middest stood two square battailes of men at arms: and betwixt them a strong squa∣dron of armed men, guarded behind with a conuenient number of pikemen and archers: both the wings he had compassed about with a multitude of carts and waggons, and they also well manned. So marching forward, and both armies being come within a quarter of a mile together, the signall of battaile was on both sides giuen,* 1.31 and the battaile begun. Huniades seeing the multi∣tude of his enemies, cast his first battaile into the forme of a wedge, the more easily to deuide them: and they on the other side in forme of a paire of sheeres, were readie to receiue him: where on both sides they encountered together with such furie and outcrie, as neuer was thing more terrible to be heard or seene. The Turks trusting vnto the multitude of their nimble light horse∣men, first with their light staues, and afterward with their crooked Scimators fiercely assailed the Christians light horsemen, in which first encounter many fell on both sides. But the wedge bat∣taile of the Christians could not of the Turks be broken, as consisting all of valiant expert soul∣diors, and they also strongly armed; who, doe the Turks what they could, with a great slaugh∣ter cut their armie in sunder, but not without a great fight, and some los••e also vnto themselues. In the wings also the light horsemen for a while fought courageously and with like hope: But the Turks with that kind of fight better acquainted than the Christians, & better appointed for that purpose, and exceeding in number also, put the Christian light horsemen to the worst, and enfor∣ced

them to retire to the men at armes. Here began the fortune of the Turks to stay, where both [ G] parts desperatly assailing the one the other, was made a most terrible fight, wherein most part of the Turks light horsemen were slaine: for why, they were not able to abide the force of the men at armes, although in comparison of them, but few; but were with their launces & arming swords ouerthrowne and slaine, no otherwise than if they had beene naked men: so that in both wings the Turks began now to faint. But the battaile in both the wings yet wauering and the victorie doubtfull, in the maine battaile was fought a most cruell fight: the Ianizaries with a strong power of men at armes, and certaine troupes of light horsemen, compassed about the men at armes that stood (as we said) in the maine battell of the Christians, where the old Ianizaries with their croo∣ked S••imitaries, with great courage cut in sunder the legs of the horses of the men at armes; of [ H] whom many fell downe, and lying along vpon the ground, were made shorter by the head: as likewise on the other side, the Ianizaries whilest they seeke the destruction of the men at armes, were themselues ouerborne and troden vnder foot. Whereupon such a slaughter was made, that the bloud ran like riuers, whilest they desperatly fight with furious rage both on the one side and the other. In this cruell fight most part of the Ianizaries were slaine, and many of the Christian men at armes also. The Bassa now perceiuing the Hungarians to haue the better, both in the wings and in the maine battaile, and yet in hope that with long fight they would faint (although hee saw great slaughter of his men in euery place) came on with the rereward, and a number of other fresh souldiors which he had left for the guarding of his baggage, all yet sound men, in good hope so to ouerwhelme the wearied Hungarians. It was now foure houres that this cruell fight [ I] had endured, when as the Bassa began it afresh: neither was this by him done without reason; for why, he was afraid least if his men should turne their backes and flie, the whole armie should fol∣low after: and therefore to make vse of all the men he had, he brought on his rereward, in hope that his enemies, now spent with long fight, would not longer endure a fresh charge. And the more to encourage his men, he commaunded them to compasse in the Hungarians round, and to dispatch their wearied enemies, vainely boasting, That it would bee the last battaile that euer the Hungarians would fight. On the other side, Huniades perceiuing the enemies purpose, suffe∣red his men to bee in part enuironed, and by and by caused the waggoners with the armed carts and waggons to thrust in behind them, and so to compasse them in, deuided in part from the rest, and afterward with fresh supplies renewed the battaile with the enemie. The fight was great, and in euery place right terrible: and albeit that the slaughter of the Turks was in many places great, yet by reason of their multitude they felt it not much, but fought yet still most desperately: vntill that they in the right wing seeing themselues compassed in behind with the waggons, & so from them charged with shot, darts, and other such missiue weapons; standing in doubt which way to turne themselues, and beset with danger on euery side, began to faint, and fearing the danger be∣hind them, shruncke from the fight. On the other side, the Hungarians, now in good hope of vi∣ctorie, with great and cheerefull outcries, as men inspired with fresh spirits, more furiously assailed their fainting enemies afront, than before; encouraging them also that assailed thē behind in the waggons,* 1.32 to approch them neerer: with which double danger the Turks hardly beset, fought dis∣orderly, and doubting to be all inclosed round, first retired, and presently after betook themselues to plaine flight. But they which were alreadie shut in betwixt the waggons and them that fought before thē, perished euery mothers son. They which fought in the left wing also, discouraged with the flight of their fellowes, fled likewise: after whom the Hungarians fiercely followed. The Bassa himselfe seeing both the wings of his battell put to flight, & his own battell sore broken also, struc∣ken with dispaire fled, with certain companies of the Ianizaries, which he had still kept about him against al euents, for the safegard of his person: after whō followed also so many other of the Turks as could; the rest dispersedly flying through the woods, forrests, & mountains, either there perished with hunger, or falling into the hands of the Valachians, were by them slain. Of so great an armie as the Bassa brought into TRANSILVANIA, scarce the one halfe returned againe ouer Danubius. It is reported by some that were in that battell, that if Huniades hauing them in chace, had pursued them vnto Danubius, scarcely one man of them had escaped ouer the riuer. But he contented with so great a victorie, & to haue driuen his enemies out of the field, pursued them not far: but entring into their campe, with the spoile therof greatly enriched both himselfe and his soldiors. Beside the great multitude of the Turks here slaine, 5000 more were taken prisoners, & 100 of their ensignes. Long it were to rehearse and reckon vp the rich spoile there taken, the guilt armour, and goodly

furniture, both of men and horses, beside the rich pauillions and tents there standing. In breefe, the wealth there found, was so great, as that there was no man in Huniades armie, which was not thereby for euer enriched. Huniades for this so great a victorie, and for his countrey, deliuered from so great a feare, caused generall prayers with thankes giuing, for the space of three daies, to be made in all churches of those three prouinces, vnto whom that danger was threatened; and at VASCAPE, where the battaile was fought, hanged vp certaine of the Turks ensignes, as tro∣phees of the victorie there gotten. This was the famous battaile of VASCAPE, wherein Hunia∣des got the greatest victorie that euer any Christian prince before that time obtained against the Turkish kings. The fields thereabouts lay couered with the dead bodies of the slaine Turkes, whose carrion carkasses so infected the aire, that many of the better sort of the inhabitants of the countrey were glad for a season to leaue their dwellings, and to get them further off, for feare of infection. Afterwards he in great triumph came to BVDA, and there presented vnto king Vladi∣slaus the enemies ensignes, with such a part of the spoile, as might both well declare the greatnesse of the victorie, and beseeme the greatnesse of so great a prince, which the king thankefully recei∣ued, highly commending his great valour, the fame whereof had in short time filled euery corner of EVROPE.

Amurath a little before this great ouerthrow of his armie in TRANSILVANIA, assuring himselfe of the victorie, had sent a proud embassage vnto king Vladislaus into HVNGARIE, offe∣ring him peace, vpon condition, That he should deliuer vnto him the strong citie of BELGRADE or els yeeld to pay him a yearely tribute: vnto which, vpon the first report of the victorie, ans∣were was giuen by the king, answerable to the proud demaund, That according to the issue of matters in TRANSILVANIA, hee would shortly in person himselfe come and giue him farther answere. With which short answere the proud embassadors were dismissed and gone, a little be∣fore the comming of Huniades to BVDA.

How much this late ouerthrow greeued the great king Amurath, Vladislaus was not ignorant; either of his power and desire of reuenge, as sufficiently warned thereof by the worthie Hunia∣des: for the withstanding whereof, he thought it good not to be vnprouided. Wherefore calling together the states of his kingdome, and with them Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angel, the Popes Legat; at such time as they were all assembled, he propounded vnto them the greatnesse of the danger threatened by the angrie Turke, leauing it vnto their graue consideration, to determine how the same were by strong hand and plaine force, or otherwise to be auerted. In which most honourable assemblie, Iulian the Cardinall, of purpose sent thither by Pope Vrbane to stirre vp the Hungarians against the Turks, being requested by the king to deliuer his opinion first, spake vnto them as followeth:

Since the time that the Turkish pestilence began to rage in EVROPE,* 1.33 no n••wes was euer more wel∣come vnto the great Bishop, vnto the Apostolicall Senate, and other princes of ITALIE (most migh∣tie king, and you other most worthie princes) than when it was told them, That Vladislaus, king of POLONIA, was by you also chosen king of HVNGARIE. For a fitter gouernour of the Hungarian state, and leader of their power, could not the Hungarians any where haue found: as he in whom iustice, religion, wisedome, valour, and martiall skill, doth so abound, that he seemeth rather for the good of this kingdome by God sent from heauen, than here in earth chosen by men. By this happie & fortunat choice, the minds also of all the Italians, which before lay heauie and discouraged, were lightened and reuiued: and therefore, that this choice might be vnto the Christian commonweale both glorious and fortunate, they made their solemne vowes and prayers. At such time as the most holy Senat vnderstood of the ciuile discord of this kingdome, and the danger of the Turks fast by, it sent me hither to deale with you for the appeasing of those troubles and repressing of that mischeefe (as you haue oftentimes heard me say.) The kingdome is by your force and valour, by my mediation, and the death of the queene, well pa∣cified: but yet the other remaineth full of honour, full of profit, full of safetie, glorie, and immortali∣tie, best ••itting: Vladislaus conduct and fortune, and the valour of the Hungarians. The Turkish ty∣rannie and their proud commaund (worthie princes) is to be repressed: yea their seruile yoke, hanging euen now ouer our neckes, is to be shaken off, and to be driuen away. What you are to dare to doe, the va∣lour and fortune of Huniades foretelleth you: the fortune said I of Huniades, nay the fortune of the Christian commonweale, and present mercie of our blessed Sauiour, which suffereth his people to be vp and downe tossed, but not quite drowned. If so great an armie of the enemies was vanquished and put

to flight by the power of one of thy captaines, and that but small: what is to bee hoped of thee (most mightie king) if thou shalt lead foorth thine armies thy selfe in person, vnder thine owne conduct▪ and the protection of Christ Iesu. The eyes of all Christian princes are cast vpon thee, vpon the Hungarian and Polonian forces; vpon thee haue they reposed all their hopes, they all expect that thou shouldest bee the reuenger of the Barbarian crueltie, the defendor of the faith, and protector of EVROPE▪ and that is it for which the Pope doth with his letters dayly solicite and importune you. And albeit, that the com∣mon cause and quarrell of the Christian religion require it, yet doth the necessitie of HVNGARIE and POLONIA no lesse enforce it: of which, the one is most miserably and daily vexed with the Turkes forces and furie out of SERVIA and DALMATIA; and the other out of MOLDAVIA and VA∣LACHIA. Now if any there he, whom neither the zeale of religion, the necessitie of the cause, the hope [ H] of immortall fame and glorie, can moue, let their owne safetie, the present seruitude of their wiues and children, the safegard of their wealth and substance, the lawfull reuenge of the wrongs done them, sti•• them vp to take in hand this sacred expedition. So fit an oportunitie is now giuen vnto you, that at one and the selfesame time you may set your bodies in perpetuall safetie and happinesse, your soules in quiet∣nesse and rest, and vnto both giue eternall glorie and happinesse. You lacke not (worthie captaines) mo∣ney, the sinewes of the warre, which shall be brought vnto you from all parts of the Christian common-wealth, not lustie and courageous souldiours, not policie, not fortune, not the propitious heauenly powers, which haue made choice of you for the defence of the true faith and religion: you want nothing (woor∣thie princes) but will. It is an expedition necessarie, religious, profitable, and honourable: wherein are propounded most ample rewards both in this life, and in the life to come. Wherefore (most mightie prince, and you right worthie princes all) I pray and beseech you by the faith of Christ Iesu, by the loue of your children, by the health of your kingdome, and deliuerance from your present destruction, with valiant courage, and one consent to take this sacred war in hand, and so thereby to enroll your names in the eternall booke of fame. And sith that you are to goe, not so much to a worldly as a spirituall war, against the enemies of Christ and his truth, take vp your armes with such zeale, courage, and cheere∣fulnesse, as the expectation and hope of men, as your valour, the present danger, and the mercies of God towards you▪ seeme of right to require.

The Legat hauing made an end, forthwith ensued the miserable supplication and teares of the Despot,* 1.34 persuading them, of the necessitie of that expedition to be taken in hand, declaring vnto [ K] them the crueltie of the Turks, their torments and strange tortures, his sonnes depriued of their sight, and spoiled of their genitoires, many halfe mangled, and moe cut in sunder with sawes; some ••laine quick, and other buried aliue, with many other strange kinds of death, such as would abhorre any Christian eares to heare. And warning the Hungarians, by his example to beware how much they had need to looke to themselues, told them, That they were but by the riuer SA∣VUS, deuided from the Turks; which in Summer was oftentimes to be waded ouer, and in Win∣ter hard frozen, and so to bee passed: that the countrey beyond DANVBIVS lay all open vpon them; and that he, sometime the rich king of SERVIA, was now driuen into exile by the power of the Turke, depriued of his kingdome, of his children, shamefully disgraced, spoiled of his wealth and fortune, glad to flie from place to place, and yet not able to find any safe place to rest in. First he fled (as he said) to RAGVSIVM, where by and by he was sought after, and endangered by the Turks: then into HVNGARIE, which was also forthwith by them on euery side infested; and whereof the Barbarian king now asked tribute, to haue some colour for the inuasion there∣of: which dreadfull enemie was not farre off from it, but still houered euen ouer it: as well wit∣nessed VALACHIA and TRANSILVANIA, two of the greatest and richest prouinces of the Hungarian kingdome; which had not the valour of Huniades, the fortune of the commonweale, and aboue all, the mercie of God, deliuered out of the hands of this filthie nation, the state of HVNGARIE had now ben vtterly forlorne. The euents of war (he said) were diuers, fortune vn∣certaine, and that God would not euery day bee tempted. Wherefore with many teares abun∣dantly running down his aged face, he besought king Vladislaus & the rest, not to let slip this faire occasion, neither by cowardise or negligence to break off the course of their good fortune and vi∣ctorie: but to make choice rather to become reuengers of other mens harmes than of their own, and to satisfie the good opinion the world had conceiued of them. He was (as he said) a sufficient example to all men. Besides that he offred a great sum of mony himselfe towards the defraying of the charges of the war, assuring thē also of great supplies both of men & mony from diuers other

Christian princes. Which opinion of the Legat & Despots, being generally liked & approued, a decree was made by the whole court of parlament there assembled, That the king should himselfe in person with all speed possible entertain that honorable war. So that though it were now vpon the approach of winter, yet were men taken vp in euerie place, and embassadours sent vnto the Emperour, and the other neighbour princes, to pray of them aid against the common enemie. Who for the most part excused themselues by their owne particuler affaires, but sent no aid at all. Neuerthelesse many deuout Christians both out of FRANCE and GERMANIE, for the zeale they bare vnto Christ and the Christian religion, forsaking wife and children, and whatsoeuer they had else, came and worthily serued vpon their owne charge. The Spring being come, and supplications made in all places for the prosperous successe of that religious warre, king Vladi∣slaus the first of May set forward from BUDA, where passing the riuer DANUBIVS and mar∣ching faire and softly, and coming to the riuer TIBISCVS, hee there staied three daies for the comming of his armie. Departing thence, and marching on alongst the side of DANUBIVS, vntill he came within the sight of BVLGARIA, hee there at a place called COBIS, oueragainst SYNDEROVIA, passed ouer DANVBIVS with his armie, which was now growne verie great: and so marched directly to SOPHIA scituate about sixe daies march from DANVBIVS, in the frontiers of BVLGARIA, so called of a most sumptuous and magnificent temple there built by Iustinian the great emperour. Which citie being then old and ruinous, and but badly fortified, was easily taken;* 1.35 and afterward for that it was not well to be holden, was by the kings comman∣dement burnt, as were all the other countrey townes and villages thereabouts, to the terrour of the rest. Marching thence hee came vnto the riuer MORAVA and there encamped: where the plaine countrey, easily riseth and falleth in manner of the sea when it is mooued with a little wind. Here fiue hundreth light horsemen, being sent ouer the riuer, not so much to seeke after preie, as to view the countrey which way the armie might most safely and easily passe, hapned vpon the Turks scouts, of whom they tooke foure: and vnderstanding by them, that two thousand of the Turks were comming at hand, knowing themselues to weake to encounter them, they retired backe againe with all speed they could vnto the riuer: where many of them, for feare, leapt head∣long from the high and broken bankes, and so perished in the deepe; the rest terrified with the misfortune of their fellows, stood still doubtfully expecting what should become of themselues. Beyond the riuer was another hill, vpon the top whereof the king with a great number of horse∣men were hunting: whom the Turks a far off discrying, and doubting to fall into some ambush, of purpose laid for them betwixt them and the riuer, without cōming on further, retired. Which they that before fearefully staied on the farre side of the riuer perceiuing, and now encouraged by the comming of the king downe to the riuer, followed a while after, so to increase their feare; and so hauing well feared one another, retired on both sides worse afraid than hurt. The next daie the king passed ouer the riuer, sending out his scouts to see if all were cleare before him: by whom he was aduertised that the Turks were at hand, hauing placed certaine ambushes fast by, expecting but a fit time to set vpon him. Wherevpon entring into counsaile with his best and most expert captaines, what were best to be done; it was resolued vpon, that Huniades the next night with ten thousand choice horsemen, should vpon the suddaine set vpon the enemie, then fearing nothing lesse. Who conducted by the espials, was in the first watch of the night brought verie neere vnto them. The moone by chance as fauoring his great attempt, did then shine out, so that he might well discern how the enemie lay encamped, and which way for to charge them to his most aduantage; which was by the same way they were most like no flye, if they should be put to the worst: vnto which place he led his men, and there with a most hideous outcrie▪ entred the campe, as then for the most part buried in sleepe and securitie: when as the Turkes awaked with the suddaine noise as it were out of a dead sleepe, and dismaied with the horrour of the crie, began to betake them some to their weapons, some to their heeles. Of whom such as fled, ligh∣ting vpon the enemies troupes standing in their way, ran as fast backe againe: the other scarce yet well awake, and ouercome with feare, and now scarcely themselues, had much adoe to make themselues readie to fight.* 1.36 Huniades in the meane time riding vp and downe amongst his men, cheered them vp, still crying out and calling vpon them, couragiously to assaile their sleepie na∣ked and fearefull enemies, and not to let slip so faire an occasion and so notable a victorie now alreadie in their hands. At the first encounter the Turks rather made a stirre than fought; but af∣ter that they heard that Huniades was there, as men dismaied with his name, they turned their

backs and fled, finding which way soeuer they tooke, their fellowes halfe dead or wounded: ye•• such a confusion was raised amongst them, with the greatnesse of the sudden feare, that thustin•• together, with an inconsiderate desire of flight, they trod one another vnder foot, and thru•••• themselues vpon one anothers weapons: the greatest part of them driuen headlong into the thickets, and other straits, and not able in time to get out thence, were there by the victorious ene∣mie fiercely pursuing of them, slaine. All that night the fearefull Turks were with great slaugh•••••• held in chace: but as soone as it was day, the rest that remained of them ran also the same for••••e with their fellowes. A farre greater slaughter was there made, than a man would thinke that so few men could haue made, when as but with ten thousand horse, thirtie thousand Turks were in one night slaine, and foure thousand taken, with a number of their ensignes. Of Huniades his men were not many lost, for the greatnesse of the slaughter, most report not aboue fiue hundreth; for few of them found any enemie to resist them. There was taken all the spoile of a most rich camp, the enemie hauing caried with them nothing out of it. Huniades hauing in so short time gained so notable a victorie, and enriched his armie, returned to the king in great triumph: neither w•••• that day more joyfull vnto these victorious souldiors, than vnto the rest of the armie, who most joyfully expected their returne. The king and the Despot, hearing of the approach of Huniades from the slaughter of the Turks, with the great applause and joyfull acclamation of the other le∣gions went to meet him three miles:* 1.37 and at such time as at their first meeting Huniades was a∣bout to haue lighted to haue done him honour, he would in no case suffer him so to doe, but ta∣king him by the right hand, joyed with him for the victorie, thanking God in the hearing of the whole armie, that hee of his mercie had giuen him such a captaine, as without enuie in all mens judgements was worthie to rule the Romane empire. In briefe, he shewed how much his coun∣trey, his kingdome, yea the Christian commonweale was bound and indebted vnto him, gaue him his due praises, exhorting all others to imitate his glorie: the like honour did also all the rest of the nobilitie vnto him. As for the common souldiors, they could not be satisfied with be∣holding of him, but embracing one another, as if they would haue died one in anothers armes, welcomed their victorious friends. So with joy joyning their forces together, and sending the rich spoile of the enemie, with the prisoners chained together in long rancks, before them; the king and Huniades, in great triumph returned into the campe, where they caused generall pray∣ers with thankesgiuing vnto almightie God, for so great a victorie, to bee made thoughout the armie.

The Legat Iulian, generall of the voluntarie Christians, which for deuotion serued of their owne charge, after so great a victorie most earnestly persuaded the king and the rest of the great commaunders of the armie to prosecute their good fortune, and in God his so great fauor not to loiter, but daily to march forward, and to take in the rest of BVLGARIA. Now had Huniades by his espials learned, that from SOPHIA it was but three dayes journey to PHILIPPOPOLIS, a great citie of THRACIA; and the like distance from thence to HADRIANOPLE, the cheefe seat of the Turkish tyrant; and as much more to CONSTANTINOPLE. The onely difficultie was, how to passe the great and rough mountaine HEMVS, which running a maruellous way in length, euen vnto the Euxine sea, and mating almost the skie, deuideth the countries of BVLGARIA and SERVIA, from MACEDONIA and THRACE: and for the great height and roughnesse thereof, is not to be passed ouer but in two places; the one made by the great emperor Traian and the Ro∣manes, where as yet is to be seene a mightie strong gate built of great square stone, whereby the passage that way was opened or shut at the pleasure of them that had the keeping thereof: the other neere vnto a little riuer, which the Bulgarians now call SALTIZA. By either of these waies if he should find them open, Huniades, vnto whom the king had committed both the leading and the conduct of the armie, purposed to enter. Wherefore marching forward, they tooke all such townes of BVLGARIA as stood in their way; some by force, some by composition: wherin was no small helpe, the conformitie of the Christian religion, the horrible crueltie of the Turks, and great affinitie of language, the most effectuall meanes to win the loue of strangers: For the Polonians and the Bulgarians, both descended of the Sclauonians, and vsing the same language, the Polonian horsemen came to no towne, but it presently yeelded. But being come vnto the mountaine HEMVS, to haue entered into THRACIA, the Winter weather be∣ing now very cold, they learned by their espials, that the aforesaid passages were both fast shu•• vp with great stones, timber, and such other like matter, so strongly, as that they were very hardly

to be forced. Wherefore Huniades leauing the straighter way made by the hand of man (which beside the former fortification at the great gate, the Turkes had in many places, with abundance of water poured downe the steepe hill in the night, and hard frozen with the coldnesse of the weather, made so slipperie, as that it was not possible either for man or beast there to stand, or to get vp that way) vpon Christmas euen came to the other, by which the riuer Saltiza runneth, the which he found likewise shut.* 1.38 Here they met with many inconueniences: first, the difficultie of the passage, which old Amurath had not without great reason shut vp, and there placed strong garrisons, so at ease and without danger of battaile (so often by his Bassaes vnfortunatly proued) to defend his kingdome in MACEDONIA and THRACIA from the inuasion of the Hungari∣ans, whom now of all nations he most dreaded. Beside that, in the armie was such want of all things, as that the souldiors were readie to forsake their ensignes, and to rise vp in a generall muti∣nie: for the countrey neere vnto the mountaine HEMVS, rising high with broken rockes and in∣accessible places, was altogether barren, and victuals failing in the campe, they were glad to liue with a little wheat and flesh boiled together, and that so sparingly, as that the soldiors began now generally to grow weake and faint. Besides that, the Winter was exceeding cold, and the frost so great, that many times they could not goe out of their tents to seeke for forrage or water. So that the armie enforced with hunger and cold, and the difficultie of the passage, began to retire, & had now vndoubtedly beene dissolued, had it not been for the often and earnest persuasions of Huni∣ades: for he daily told them, that the greatest difficulties were alreadie past, that that which re∣mained, was with their wonted valour and courage to be endured, whereunto nothing was high or difficult: that they should forthwith come into the borders of THRACIA, where they should find plentie of all things: that they were now come so farre, that if they would go backe againe, they should in those wast countries, through which they were to passe, find greater difficulties and dangers than in going forward: that these straights once opened, remained no more trauell, but cheerefully to fall to the spoile of a most rich and pleasant country. They were not (as he said) to stay in the middest of their fortunes, for that it was not alwaies permanent: and for that the contempt of God his fauours, caused them to be oftentimes taken from vs: all that was yet done (hee said) was nothing, if they proceeded not farther: for that whatsoeuer they had alreadie woon, was easily by the enemie to be recouered; except that those which yet remained (for that most part of them, as he said, were slaine with their houses burnt ouer their heads) were driuen out of THRACIA and MACEDONIA, and so quite out of EVROPE. So whilest the souldiours heard Huniades speake, euery man was well encouraged: but when they remembred the mise∣ries wherewith they were enuironed, they cursed all the rash attempts of ambitious princes. In the meane time newes was brought by the scouts, that the Turkes were comming after them: but then began they to rejoice, as deeming it much more honor, manfully to die in battell, than to starue with hunger and cold. Against these Turks was Huniades sent, with certain troupes of horse∣men: who encountering with them, easily inforced them with losse to retire. Eight times he en∣countred them (as the soldiors there present reported) and as often put them to flight. In retiring backe from the impregnable mountaine, the king with the greatest part of the armie went before; after whom followed Huniades & the Despot, a good daies march: when the Turks that kept the passage vpon the mountain, vnderstanding of their return, followed them downe the hill, in good hope to be of them well reuenged, before they should get out of BVLGARIA. Carambey the Bassa of ROMANIA, and brother to Caly-Bassa (a man of all others in greatest fauor with Amurath, and his brother in law, as hauing married his sister) was generall of this armie, and by him appointed for the keeping of these straits; with expresse charge, vpon no occasion whatsoeuer, although it made shew of neuer so assured a victorie, to fight with the enemie: for he thought it victorie ynough, without any losse to haue kept his enemies out of THRACIA. Which the old kings cō∣mand, Carambey for all that neglected, in good hope by a notable victory easily to answer the con∣tempt of that he was commanded. The Christian armie descending down the broken mountains was come to a great mountaine, which the Bulgarians call CVNO••IZA, and part of the moun∣tain HEMVS: at whose heeles followed Carambey, with his Turks, still houering ouer their heads, to take them at some aduantage: whom the Christians beholding, could not by their captaines be staied, but that they would many times by companies flie forth vpon them, and desperatly fight with them in places of great disaduauntage, saying, That they had rather die in fight like men, than to starue with hunger and cold. Here Carambey, being himselfe a man of great courage,

and desirous of honour, and by the rashnesse of his enemies allured to fight; and withall, be∣side the aduantage of the ground, perceiuing himselfe to exceed his enemies both in strength and number of men, could not be staied but would needs giue battaile, with such a desire, as if he had been alreadie assured of the victorie. Huniades and the Despot had before perceiued that the Turks, prouoked with the brauing of their men, would assuredly fall vpon them, and were there∣fore much troubled with the absence of the king, who (as is beforesaid) was gone a dayes ma••ch before they saw they could neither shun battaile, neither if they could haue so done, would their desperat souldiors be staied, for the desire they had to fight. Yet seeing Carambey comming down vpon them, they put themselues (though vnwillingly) in best order they could to receiue him; persuading their soldiors not rashly in furie to run vpon their enemies, as desperat men prodigall of their liues, but to keepe their rankes, and orderly to fight, and so like valiant men to carie away the victorie, or to leaue vnto their enemies a bloodie remembrance thereof. Now had Carambey sent his horsemen downe the hill,* 1.39 and the battaile was begun, where both the armies met toge∣ther with great furie, and a cruell fight was made both at the foot of the hill and amongst the hils and vallies also: in which hard encounter many were slaine, as well on the one side as the other. The Polonian men at armes (whom the king but a little before had left with Huniades against all euents) with the Hungarian light horsemen (of whom the Despot had the leading) fought so that day, as if they had sought for nothing more but how honourably to die. And the Turkes for a space stood hard to it, so that many were there slaine: yet at length finding them∣selues hardly laied to, as by desperat men, resolued to sell their liues deere, they began to faint and to giue ground: when as Carambey comming in behind them with new supplies, rated the cowardly, stayed them that were flying, and sometime with rough speeches, sometime with faire persuasion, encouraged the wauering, and restored the battaile, before almost quite lost. Neither did Huniades and the Despot lesse bestirre them, but as soone as they perceiued the ene∣mie a little to faint, by and by cried out Victorie; with cheerefull speech encouraging their men, still calling vpon them, To keepe their rankes strong, and to vrge their present good fortune, as∣suring themselues, that they fought against those infidels, vnder the fauour and protection of the Almightie. And forthwith sent certaine companies of footmen, who climbing vp the hill, amongst the bushes with their halfe pikes and bore-speares paunched the Turks horses as they passed by them. These loose companies did the Turkes horsemen much harme, and here be∣gan their battaile to decline; they which were comming downe, for feare of the danger reti∣ring backe againe vnto them that were left aboue, for the keeping of the straits. And the bol∣der sort of them, which were come downe into the valleyes, compassed about with the men at armes, hardly recouered the rising of the hill. Carambey in the meane while crying out behind them, one while called backe them that fled, another while releeued them that fainted, and to the vttermost of his power restoring the battaile, performed all the parts both of a valiant souldiour and worthie captaine, couragiously fighting himselfe in the thickest of his enemies, and by his owne valour staied for a time the lost battaile. At length performing his last ende∣uour, deceiued by the snow,* 1.40 he fell into a bogg, where sticking fast with his horse, and not able to helpe himselfe, hee was taken prisoner by a common souldior. The rest that escaped out of this bloodie battaile, retired themselues vnto them that were left aboue vpon the mountaine for the defence of the passage. After whom the Christians followed, through the vntract and rough places, vntill that hindered of their farther pursuit by the approch of the night, and the abrupt∣nesse of the way, they were glad to sound a retrait, and so retired vnto the campe. Many other great men were taken beside Carambey, but many moe slaine in the battaile, and most of all in the flight; few escaped, but such as fled backe againe vp into the mountaines. In the retrait Hu∣niades seeing so gallant a man as was Carambey (though to him altogether vnknowne) vnwor∣thily bound, and led prisoner by a common souldiour, asked the souldiour, if he would sell his prisoner? who said, he would; and asked for him ten duckats (a poore price for so great a man:) vnto whom Huniades commaunded to be giuen foure hundred, and so sent him to his tent, com∣forting of him vp with cheerefull words, and willing that he should be well vsed. The Despot the same night comming to Huniades his tent, to conferre with him about the remainder of the war, and seeing so braue a man standing among the rest by the fire side, began to talke with him in the Turkish language, whereof hee had some knowledge, by reason of the neerenesse of the nation, and such matters as he had sometimes to do with them; and hauing some gesse by his talke what

he was, and pittying his estate, asked Huniades, how he would ransome him? who said, that hee cost him foure hundred duckats, but that he valued him at fortie thousand, which the Despot of∣fered to pay him. Thus by the strange change of fortune was Carambey, of late so great a com∣maunder, and so neere alied vnto the great Turke, valued and prized twice in one day by his ene∣mies, as a mirrour of the vncertaintie of worldly blisse and felicitie. The Polonians report some∣what otherwise of this battaile, as that Vladislaus should himselfe therin be present, and the cheefe that therein commaunded: howbeit the Hungarian writers, whose credit herein we follow, re∣port it as before, not to haue beene fought vnder the good fortune of the king then absent, but vnder the leading of Huniades and the Despot.

Out of this battaile (or as some others report, a little before out of the battaile of MORAVA) fled the great captaine George Castriot,* 1.41 otherwise of the Turks called Scanderbeg, now seeking to deliuer both himselfe, and his natiue countrey of EPIRUS out of the thraldome of the Turks, as presently after he did: whose vnwonted flight, not a little terrified the rest of the Turks armie, and much furthered the Christians victorie, whose proceedings he alwaies secretly fauored: ha∣uing (as it was thought) secret intelligence with the great captain Huniades, who not without in∣structions from him (as some say) gaue that great ouerthrow vnto the Turkes at MORAVA. But of him and his worthie acts done for the deliuerance and defence of his countrey, more shall be said hereafter.

Shortly after this great ouerthrow and discomfiture of the Turks, the two great captaines Huniades, and the Despot, together with the king, consulted for the remoouing of the Turks ga∣risons left aboue for the keeping of the stait passages of the mountaine, and the prosecution of the war. Which Vladislaus (considering the difficultie of the matter, and his souldiors necessitie) thought it not good further to prosecute, but forthwith to returne. But Huniades and the Despot, the one thirsting after honour, and the other in no lesse hope, by the good successe of this war, to recouer again his lost kingdome, sayd, That the Turkes were in any case to be remooued, the passage opened, and the sparks that yet remained, for feare of raising a greater fire, extinguished: opposing against the difficultie by the king alleaged, the inuincible courage of his souldiours, whereunto they said nothing was impossible or difficult. Vnto which opinion the king also (least he should seeme to distrust the valour of his captaines or souldiours) easily yeelded, and so com∣maunded on God his name to set forward. The first that mounted the hill was the king his bat∣taile, which by the roughnesse and abruptnesse of the mountaine hindered,* 1.42 oftentimes staied. But Huniades still caried with an earnest desire to prosecute the victorie, and leauing nothing vn∣attempted, in searching about found a crooked turning way, whereby he with his men more ea∣sily and readily got vp to the top of the mountaine euen with their enemies, vndescried or mole∣sted, by reason of the broken couert of the place: from whence they were in good hope easily to haue come vnto their enemies. But being come vp to the place they desired, they found such a deepe and wide gaping of the rocke, betwixt them and the enemie, as was neither to bee passed, or filled vp: yet being come verie neere, they attempted by crosbow shot, and great stones cast out of slings, and other such engines to haue remooued the Turks from their places: who were therewith and with their vnexpected approach, at the first so greatly both annoyed and discom∣fited, that they were almost at the point to haue forsaken the passage, had not Alis Beg (but the night before chosen for their Generall in stead of Carambey) encouraged them and taught them, how by shrowding themselues vnder the broken rocks, and parapets with tumultarie labour cast vp, to saue themselues from the shot of their enemies. In the meane time also, Huniades by ano∣ther more high and steepe way, whereby the enemie was also to be approached, had sent vp other companies of souldiours: who fighting at too much disaduantage, were by the Turks ea∣sily rejected. So at length seeing the vain attempt giuen by himselfe vpon the top of the hill: and the desperate danger of the other in climing the inaccessible mountaine, where one might keepe downe an hundreth, dispairing to inforce the enemie, hee by the kings commaund, caused a re∣trait to bee sounded, and so againe retired downe the mountaine, to the great rejoycing of the Turks. The next daie the winter cold raging, and wants in the armie still more and more increa∣sing, the king with the rest of the great commaunders entred into consultation, for the hasting of their returne out of that rough and barraine countrey, into places of greater plentie, before the armie were brought to any greater extremitie. Wherevnto Huniades (giuing place vnto neces∣sitie, which alwaies suffereth not to bee regarded that is seemely) now easily yeelded: onely the

Despot spake against it, blaming them, that hauing taken the Generall, and put their enemies to flight, and victorie now as it were in their hands, they would not prosecute the small remainder of the warre, but cowardly turne their backs vnto their vanquished enemies: promising that hee himselfe would find money inough for the prouiding of all things needfull for the releefe of the armie. So said the Popes Legat also. But forasmuch as the wants in the armie were great, and the souldiours presently pinched with hunger and cold, they could with no hope of any profit, were it neuer so great, be persuaded to staie; openly crying out, that it was not their captains and lieutenants, which wanted nothing, but them the poore souldiours that starued for hunger: as for the Despot, that he in hope of recouering of his kingdome, persuaded things impossible, and no way to be performed, neither to be any thing mooued with the death of their men or cattell: Need (they said) could not be vanquished: but that when Winter was past, they would willingly returne againe vnto the sacred warre: In the meane time Winter raging, and hunger commaun∣ding, let vs giue ouer (said they) and depart into more fruitfull places, there to refresh our bodies, spent with labour, cold, and hunger. For which reasons, the king sending before his baggage, reti∣red againe by the same way he came. Which the Turkes from aboue beholding, and strengthe∣ned with new supplies, followed after them, as after men that had fled: oftentimes assailing them in the rereward, and setting vpon them sometimes on the one side, sometimes on the other, with often skirmishes both did and receiued much harme. Whose manner of fight was, to retire when they were themselues charged, and presently by great troupes to charge again their enemies, their backes once turned to them; and so troubled the armie, that it was constrained oftentimes to stay; besides that, loaded with the rich spoile of the enemie, and much baggage, it could not of it selfe make any great hast. Now was it by the way come into a great thicke wood, full of deepe boggs and water-courses, hard to be passed through: where the rest of the armie going before, in the rereward, at the entrance of the wood, were left certaine strong companies of men at armes, as a wall against the pursuing enemies;* 1.43 whom the Turks with their readie light horsemen fierce∣ly charged: where betwixt them, in the wood, was fought a great fight, and a great tumult raised: vnto the noise whereof, they which marched before hastily returning, in skirmishing, many of them fell into those deepe boggs and queachie places, out of which they could hardly rid them∣selues againe. Besides that, there were many crooked and troublesome turnings and windings, with suddaine discents, so steepe, as that in going downe the same, their horses came tumbling heeles ouer head, and there lay ouerthrowne, together with their riders: in such sort, as that to a∣uoid these difficulties, they were oftentimes enforced to fight on foot. In which troublesome skirmish, about fourescore of the men at armes were lost; but of the Turkes, beside them which were slaine, were taken an hundred and seuentie, all whom Huniades caused to be presently slain. In this wood the Christians were more troubled with the difficulties of the place, than the ene∣mies assaults. Wherefore wants daily more and more encreasing in the armie, which by reason of the multitude of their carriages, abundance of their baggage, and often assaults of the Turkes, was able to make no way: the king for feare his armie should in so long & slow a march through those troublesome and barren countries, be consumed with hunger and other wants, caused all the carriages and baggage to be brought into the middest of the armie, and of it, all such things as serued rather for burthen than vse, to be there burnt: and the armes as well of such souldiors as he had lost, as of the enemie, to bee buried in the ground, and all the weake beasts that serued for burthen, to be killed. So the armie well discharged of such vnprofitable burthens, marched much more speedily, neither was so much subject vnto the assaults of the Turks, as before. And so at length by long journies, Vladislaus with his armie arriued at BELGRADE, where hee was of his subjects honourably receiued. And hauing there staied certaine daies, and well refreshed his ar∣mie, departing thence, and passing the riuer SAVUS, came to the royall citie of BVDA: where he was of all his subjects joyfully receiued also. The Legat and Huniades going on his right hand, and the Despot on the left:* 1.44 after whome followed other colonels, captaines, and lieutenants, with their companies; who at the first meeting with the cittizens, more than a mile out of the cittie, in token of their mutuall joy, gaue together such joyfull acclamations and outcries, as that the heauens seemed to resound, and the earth to shake with the noise thereof. Before the king, at his comming vnto the cittie, went a long companie of the notable Turkes cap∣tiues; and next before him, Carambey, bound in chaines, vpon whom all mens eyes were fixed. With them were also carried the enemies ensignes, and such spoyles as had beene saued.

Behind the king came Huniades in a triumphant robe, in the middest betwixt the Legate on the right hand, and the Despot on the left, as he that next vnto the king had best deserued the honor of the triumph. Next vnto them followed the deuout Christians, that for the zeale of religion had most honourably of their owne charges voluntarie serued in those wars: and on both sides of them the ciuile magistrates and best of the citizens: behind them came the rest of the legions, and about them both vpon the right hand and the left, the promiscuous common people, dou∣bling and redoubling the praises of the king, and Huniades. Before all these went the prelates and priests in solemne procession, singing hymnes and psalmes of thanksgiuing vnto almightie God: Vladislaus comming vnto the gate of the citie, acknowledging God to haue been the authour of so great a victorie, alighting from his horse, on foot went first vnto the Cathedrall church of our ladie; and there giuing most hartie thanks vnto almightie God, hanged vp the enemies ensignes, and part of the spoile, in perpetuall remembrance of so notable a victorie: which hee afterward caused to bee most liuely depainted in a faire table of most curious worke, and there in the same church to bee hanged vp: as were also the armes of all the noble Christians that serued in that most famous expedition, which there long time after remained. Which solemnities ended, he went to his pallace in the castle, and there hauing giuen vnto euerie man, but especially vnto Hu∣niades, his due commendation, gaue them leaue to depart. Thus the Hungarians, with whom al∣so the Polonians in most part agree, report of this notable expedition of their king Vladislaus: howbeit the Turks (notable dissemblers of their own losses) confessing the great ouerthrow, call the Bassa so ouerthrowne not by the name of Carambey, but of Cassanes; and the noble prisoner that was taken, by the name of Mechmet Beg, Sanzacke of ANCYRA Amurath his son in law, and brother to Cali-Bassa Amurath his great councellour, of some called Carambey after the name of his father.

Out of this late slaughter of the Turkes, wherein Carambey was taken, escaped that valiant prince and famous warriour George Castriot (of the Turks called Scanderbeg) as is before decla∣red: whose noble mind had long time desired to breake out of the golden fetters of the Turkish thraldome, and to be reuenged of the intollerable injuries by Amurath done to his countrey, his parents, his brethren, and himselfe. Although hee had alwaies most warily dissembled the same, for feare of the old tirant:* 1.45 being often times solicited and animated therevnto by secret letters and messengers from his friends in EPIRVS, knowing right well that the least ouerture thereof, had been vnto him present death. But finding no fit meanes for the accomplishing thereof, wisely dissembled the same, with all the shewes of loue and loyaltie vnto Amurath that might be: vntill that now in this great ouerthrow of the Turks armie, vnder the leading of Carambey, and in so great a confusion, he tooke occasion to put in practise what he had long before in his deepe con∣ceit plotted, for the deliuerie both of himselfe and his countrey from the Turkish bondage and slauerie. At which time Scanderbeg (for so from henceforth we will call him) hauing a little be∣fore imparted the matter vnto some of his trustie friends and countrey men, no lesse desirous of libertie than himselfe, but especially vnto his nephew Amesa, the sonne of his brother Reposius, a young man of great courage (in that great confusion of the Turkish armie, when euerie man was glad to shift for himselfe) had euer in his flight a vigilant eie vpon the Bassaes principall secre∣tarie▪ whom accompanied with a few Turks, he with his nephew Amesa, and other of his faith∣full friends closely followed, as he fled from the slaughter: but when he had got the secretarie with his few followers in place most conuenient for his purpose, he set vpon the Turks and slew them euerie one: and carying the secretarie away with him fast bound, when hee had brought him whether he thought good, with great threats compelled him (sore against his will) to write coun∣terfait letters, as from the Bassa his maister, vnto the gouernour of CROIA, commanding him in Amuraths name, Forthwith to deliuer vnto Scanderbeg, the new chosē Gouernor, the charge of the citie with the garrison there: cunningly enterlacing many other things in the same letters, wherby the matter might seeme more probable. Which letters so extorted, he presently slew the Secretary, & as many more of the Turks as came in his way, of purpose that his doings might be the longer kept from knowledg of Amurath, who not hearing what was become of him, might reasonably conjecture that he was slaine by the Hungarians amongst the rest of the Turks.

Whilest the fame of this great ouerthrow is going to HADRIANOPLE, and there filleth the Turks court with sorrow and heauinesse, in the meane time Scanderbeg hauing with him three thousand Epirot souldiours which followed him out of the battaile, as men desirous rather

to fight for the libertie of themselues and of their countrey, than in the quarrell of the Turk••, was with incredible celeritie come into the vpper country of DI••RA, in the borders of EPIRUS, about seauenty miles from CROIA: into which countrey he was most joyfully receiued, where he staied but one daie, and chose a few of those three hundreth which he brought with him, to wait vpon him when he went to CROIA, as if they had been his domesticall seruants: the rest, with other three hundreth lustie souldiours, which were then come vnto him out of DIBRA, he appointed to be led by secret by-waies through the woods and mountaines by perfect guides, vn∣till they came so nigh CROIA as was possible for them to come, vnperceiued; and there to s••aie vntill he might find oportunitie to conuaie them into the citie to oppresse the Turkish garrison▪ So hee with a small companie of his followers, as if they had been his priuat retinew, tooke the way towards CROIA. But when he began to draw neere to the citie, he sent Amesa before with two seruitours attending vpon him, as if he had been his Secretarie, to certifie the Gouernour of his comming. This young gentleman, as he was of a most sharpe wit, and well spoken, so had be framed his countenance and attire, that he seemed to be a naturall Turke: who assoone as he was come into the citie, he went vnto the gouernor, whom after he had saluted according to the Tur∣kish manner, hee deliuered his message as from Scanderbeg his maister, with so good grace and words so well placed, that all he said was verily beleeued for truth. But when Scanderbeg himself came, and had deliuered the great commaunders letters, the Gouernour made no further questi∣on of the matter, but presently deliuered vnto him the gouernment of the citie, and the next day departed out of CROIA with all his houshould towards HADRIANOPLE. Scanderbeg hauing by this pollicie got the gouernment of the cheefe citie of EPIRVS, the night following found meanes in the dead time of the night, to receiue into the citie the souldiors of DIBRA, who were by this time come according as he had before appointed: most part of them hee placed in most conuenient places of the citie, and for the speedie suppression of the Turkish garrison, hee with the rest first set vpon the Turkes which kept the watch vpon the wall and slue them; and after∣wards breaking into their priuate houses, slew many of them in their beds: the Christian citizens also taking vp armes at the same time, helped to increase the slaughter of the Turks, so that in the space of a few houres, there was none of the Turkish garrison left aliue, except some few which were content to forsake their Mahometan superstition, and to become Christians. Many of the Turks might so haue saued their liues, and would not, choosing rather to die, and (as it is repor∣ted) also to kill themselues, than to forsake their damnable superstition: so small is the regard of life vnto resolute mindes, in what quarrell soeuer.

The citie of CROIA being thus happily by Scanderbeg recouered, wherein appeared both the greatest difficultie, and hope of his good or bad successe in so great an attempt; he presently sent Amesa backe again into DIBRA, and other speedie messengers likewise into all the parts of EPI∣RVS, to dispierce the newes, and to stirre vp the people to take vp armes for the recouerie of their lost libertie: but flying Fame, the speedie post, had preuented the messengers by him sent, and al∣readie filled euerie corner of EPIRVS with report of Scanderbeg his comming, and of all that was done at CROIA. And the oppressed Epirots which had long wished to see that happie daie, were now vp in armes in euerie place, wanting nothing but leaders; whose comming although they greatly desired, yet they stayed not therevpon, but running together by heapes (as the m••∣ner of the common people is in all great tumults) they set vpon the Turkes garrisons which lay abroad in the countrey, and slew most part of them▪ whereby it came to passe, that no Turke could stirre in the countrey, but that he was snatched vp and slaine, so that in few daies there was not a Turke to be found in EPIRVS, but such as lay in garrisons in strong townes. In this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the people, the Gouernour of CROIA, with all his re••••nue, was by the countrie people by the way as he went set vpon and slaine, and all his goods taken as a prey.

When Scanderbeg had thus recouered CROIA, and scoured the countrey; yet to remooue the garrisons which Amurath had put in euerie strong citie, was thought to be a matter of great importance, and more difficultie. For which purpose he commaunded those whom he had ap∣pointed for captaines, speedily to repaire vnto CROIA with all the power they could make. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which time also, diuers noble men his nigh kinsmen, resorted vnto him with their followers▪ so that within a few daies,* 1.46 he had together at CROIA twelue thousand souldiours well appointed▪ With this armie he marched from CROIA to PETRELLA, a strong citie 25 miles distant from CROIA, and encamped before it. This citie is strongly scituate vpon the top of a steepe roc••e

mountaine, as all the rest of the cities of EPIRUS be, and was by the Turks well furnished with men, munition, and others things needfull: yet Scanderbeg was in good hope, that the Turkish garison there, terrified with the fortune of the garrison of CROIA, and the slaughter of the Turks in the countrey round about, would be glad to hearken vnto reasonable conditions. Which to make proofe of, as soone as he was encamped, he sent one of those souldiours which had follow∣ed him out of HUNGARIE (a faithfull and wise fellow) vnto PETRELLA, to offer vnto the souldiors, That if they would yeeld vp the citie, it should be at their choice, either to continue in seruice with Scanderbeg, with whom they should find most bountifull entertainement; or else to depart in safetie with bagge and baggage at their pleasure, with an honourable reward to bee diuided amongst them. The subtile messenger comming thether, and framing his tale according to the present occasion, and necessitie of the time; first declared vnto them, how that Amurath of late vanquished by the Hungarians in a great battaile, and looking euerie day to bee set vpon by diuers other Christian princes, was so busied that he had no leasure to looke into EPIRVS, or to send them any releefe: after that, he in the name of Scanderbeg, offered them the conditions be∣fore rehearsed, setting the same forth with many great words; willing them oftentimes by the way to consider the dreadfull miserie that but the other day befell to the garrison at CROIA, and other their fellowes abroad in the countrey, whose dead bodies as then lay in euerie corner of EPIRVS for a prey to the hungrie dogs and greedie wolues: which thing was easily beleeued of them of the garrison, for that diuers of the Turks lately fled out of the countrey into the citie, had themselues seene the same to be true. The Gouernour hauing a little considered of the mat∣ter, was content to giue vp the citie, vpon condition that he with the souldiours might in safetie depart with such things as they had: not couenanting vpon any further reward, because it should not be said that he had sould the citie. Which when Scanderbeg had faithfully promised to per∣forme, the Turkish Gouernour comming forth with all his garrison,* 1.47 yeelded vp the citie: and Scanderbeg mindfull of his promise, gaue vnto them both meat and money, and sent them with a sufficient conuoy of horsemen in safetie out of EPIRVS.

When Scanderbeg had thus gained PETRELLA, he placed therein a conuenient garrison, and set all things in order as he thought good: but suffered none to enter into the citie, more than the appointed garrison, although it was then verie cold and frostie weather. This done, he presently raised his campe, and following his good fortune, marched towards PETRA-ALBA in such hast, as if the citie had been running away from him; well knowing, that though Time be euer more pretious, yet neuer more than in martiall affaires, wherein the least moment is often times of such power as to effect or frustrate mens greatest designes. PETRA-ALBA is a citie in the country of AEMATHIA distant from PETRELLA thirtie miles, strongly scituat vpon the top of a mountain, neere vnto the riuer AEMATHVS. Scanderbeg had scarcely well encamped himselfe before this ci∣tie, but that the Gouernour thereof, terrified with the fortune of CROIA, and PETRELLA, offe∣red to deliuer vp the citie,* 1.48 vpon the same conditions that were graunted at PETRELLA: which being agreed vpon, the citie was forthwith deliuered, and the conditions by Scanderbeg faithfully performed.

PETRA-ALBA being thus taken, & all things set in order▪ Scanderbeg caried with the course of his victorie, without delay came to STELLVSA, which is also a strong citie of AEMATHIA, fiftie miles distant from CROIA, pleasantly (as it were of purpose) built vpon the top of an high hill, standing in the middest of a pleasant and fruitfull vallie, with great plaines round about it. There Scanderbeg encamped a little before the going downe of the sunne, and rested that night. In the morning he sent a messenger to the cittie,* 1.49 with like conditions as were accepted at PETRELLA and PETRA-ALBA: which most part of the garrison souldiours of the Turks would gladly haue accepted, but that Desdrot the Gouernour of the citie, with some few others, earnestly withstood the rest; wherevpon a great contention arose amongst the garrison souldiours. But the greater part desirous to yeeld vp the citie, when they could by no meanes persuade the Gouernour and those few which tooke his part, to yeeld to their desires; they violently set vpon him, and deliue∣red him with the rest to Scanderbeg, fast bound, and so yeelded vp the citie. For which fact, fea∣ring to returne to Amurath, some of them remained with Scanderbeg, and afterwardes became Christians: the rest were either honestly prouided for, or else well rewarded and suffered to de∣part whether they would. All the other weaker places of EPIRVS wherein any of the Turkish garrisons lay, hearing that the strongest cities were alreadie deliuered vnto Scanderbeg, in short

time yeelded themselues vpon like conditions: onely S••ETIGRADE (otherwise called the holy citie) remained in the possession of the Turks: which citie is placed in the vpper country of DI∣BRA, in the frontiers of EPIRVS, vpon the top of an high & steep hill, as if it were an Eagles neast. Vnto this citie came Scanderbeg with all his armie: and hauing placed his tents, hee began first to assay if he could gaine it by composition, as he had done the rest: and the rather to moue them by the examples of others, he caused his embassadours to declare vnto them all that had happe∣ned at CROIA, PETRELLA, PETRA-ALBA, and STELLVSA, especially how he had vsed the garrison of STELLVSA which yeelded vnto him, with all bountie and courtesie; and how that on the contrarie part he had the gouernour in bands with all his wilfull partakers, whome they should presently see executed before their faces, if they forthwith deliuered not the citie. This mes∣sage troubled the minds of all the garrison, but especially of the gouernour, seeing before his ei••s in the wofull example of another man, what might by and by happen vnto himselfe. Wherfore fearing to deliuer his owne opinion and to giue answere vnto the embassadour, for offending the inconstant multitude and vnknowne minds of the people, he first entertained the embassadours honourably, and afterwards turning himselfe vnto the citizens and souldiours, said vnto them: Worthie men and most faithfull souldiors, what is your pleasure, or what shall we answere to these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enemies demaunds? Then one of the souldiors that stood by (a rough bold spirited fellow) vnwil∣ling for his owne part to giue vp the citie, and deeming the gouernour to be of the same mind, in that he had tearmed them worthie and faithfull, and Scanderbeg by the name of an enemie, draw∣ing out his sword, and with his right hand shaking it on high, answered:

* 1.50Most valiant Gouernour, this same and the like, shall make answere for vs. Nothing was to lesse purpose, than with premeditated words to seeke to terrifie valiant minds, first with the diuerse fortune of CROIA, and then of STELLVSA; for as the faces and countenances of men are diuers, so also are their minds and dispositions. Euery man wisely directeth his owne actions, according to his owne proper humour, and by the same plaies the foole or bedlam. We prescribe no laws to them of PETREL∣LA, nor to them of STELLVSA, neither let them prescribe any vnto vs. Let neuer so base examples of cowardly slaues euer enter into the thoughts of courageous men: braue minds disdaine to imitate other men in their honest actions, much lesse in their cowardise. And why? for euery man liueth after his owne fashion. Wherefore let Scanderbeg proceed, let him kill the gouernour of STELLVSA before our faces, let him sacrifice our fellow souldiors, doe you therefore thinke that we shall die in their bodies? shall our liuing spirits be there extinguished? shall our blood there be spilt? But ô happie bodies, •• ghosts of me euer to be reuerenced, which in worthie defence of your libertie and faith haue indiffe∣rently contemned gold, siluer, death, and torture, and whatsoeuer els miserable worldlings hold deere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dismall! Wherefore carrie thou backe againe vnto thy master this answere from a common souldior, ••f he seeke to impose these conditions vpon vs, let him once more bare that arme of his, which men of co••∣rage feare not so much as he thinketh. He may peraduenture inforce vs to these conditions of his, if God forsake vs: but assuredly, persuade vs vnto them, shall he neuer. And yet for all that, your master Scanderbeg is not the man we haue long since heard him reported to be, of an honourable mind, easie to forgiue, and such a one as will indifferently judge betwixt the enemie and himselfe: for why then do••th he hold in bonds the gouernour of STELLVSA, for that he freely, justly, and honorably stood in defenc•• of his king, his faith, and libertie? Why doth he threaten him with death, whereas he hath not deserue•• the same, although he hath resolutely offered himselfe thereunto, for defence of his libertie?

All they which were present, listened with great attention to the soldiors speech, neither was he interrupted by any, vntill he had said what he would. Thē the soldiors thronging about him, and beating their swords & targets together, withall gaue a great shout, in token that they all approued his speech for answer. So the gouernor, encouraged with the cheerefulnes of his soldiors, returned the embassador without other answer than that of the common soldiors, and presently appointed euery man to his charge, and with great carefulnesse ordred all things for the better defence of the citie. But whē Scanderbeg had heard the answere that was sent him from the citie, deliuered by the mouth of a cōmon soldior,* 1.51 he smiled thereat & said: He is vndoubtedly a valiant soldior: if his deeds be answerable to his speeches: but if my force faile me not, I will also make him happy amongst the happy ghosts of thē of STELLVSA: and by & by commanded the gouernor of STELLVSA, with the other captiues to be brought before him, & there caused some of thē which were content voluntarily to

forsake their Mahometane superstition,* 1.52 to be presently baptized, to the great greefe of the other Turks. Desdrot the Gouernour, with the rest, to the terrour of the defendants, were in their sight put to death: whereupon the garrison souldiors with great indignation gaue a great shout from the wall, and bitterly rayled vpon the Christians.

Scanderbeg considering the strength of the citie, with the time of the yeare, vnfit for souldiors to keepe the field, for Winter was now growne on; left Moses Golemus, a most valiant captaine, with a garrison of three thousand souldiors, to keepe in the Turkes garrison at SFETIGRADE, and to defend the borders of EPIRVS, vntill he might at more conuenient time himselfe returne againe to the siege: and so with the rest of his armie repaired to CROIA, when hee had in the space of little more than one moneth, to his immortall praise, recouered his kingdome, and driuen the Turks out of euery corner of EPIRVS, excepting onely SFETIGRADE: which citie also not long after was by composition deliuered vnto him. During all this time, from his first comming into EPIRVS, he neuer slept aboue two houres in a night, but with restlesse labour prosecuted his affaires. He euer fought against the Turkes with his arme bare, and that with such fiercenesse, that the blood did oftentimes burst out of his lips. It is written, that he with his owne hand slew three thousand Turkes in the time of his warres against them. But of his great and worthie vi∣ctories obtained against the two mightie Turkish kings, Amurath, and Mahomet his sonne, more shall be said hereafter in due time and place.

After that Scanderbeg had thus by great force and pollicie wrung his inheritance out of Amu∣raths hands,* 1.53 and sco••red the Turks out of euery corner of EPIRVS; he proceeded further, and ouerran part of MACEDONIA, making sundrie incursions into the heart of that countrey, being then in the Turks possession, whereby he so enriched his souldiours, that they desired of him no better pay. Which was so vsuall a thing with this restlesse prince, as that it began to grow into a prouerbe in most princes courts, That the spoile of Amurath his dominions, was Scanderbegs reuenewes. Complaint hereof came daily to Amuraths court, which the craftie aged sire (be∣ing then troubled with the Hungarian warres) seemed at the first to make no great account of, but as of that hee could easily and at his pleasure remedie; although hee was therewith inwardly greeued at the heart. But when the certaine report of one mischeefe as it were in the necke of a∣nother, continually sounded in his eares, and that he saw no end to be expected of these miseries; he sent Alis Bassa,* 1.54 one of his greatest men of warre, with an armie of fortie thousand select soul∣diors, at once to subdue the countrey of EPIRVS, and to bring it againe vnder his obeisance. The setting forth of this great armie, vnder the conduct of so famous a captain, replenished the minds of the Turks with such an assured hope of victorie, that a man would haue thought Scanderbeg had been alreadie taken, and now brought to execution: yea the common souldiors before their setting forth, were oftentimes at vaine contention for the diuision of the spoile they were neuer like to haue: So readie are men to promise wonders to themselues, whilest they conferre but with their owne desires. And on the other side, Fame, the forerunner of great attempts, had filled all the small countrey of EPIRVS, with great terrour and feare of Alis Bassaes comming. The countreymen with their families fled into the strong citties, and the cittizens within their wals fell to fortifying the same, and kept continuall watch and ward, as if the enemie had then••lien euen fast by them: ••he aged men and women commended themselues and all theirs first vnto God by prayers, and then to the courage of the lustie souldiors with teares, as in case of extreame perill and danger. Onely Scanderbeg was nothing mooued either with the terrible report of the Bassaes comming, or the vaine feare of his subjects; but alwayes kept the same cheerefulnesse both of countenance and speech, as he was wont, being well acquainted with the tumult of the Turkish wars, and ha∣uing (as was supposed) certaine intelligence before from his secret friends in the Turkes court, of all Amuraths designes. So that hauing set all things in order for the safetie of his countrey, he began to leuie an armie at CROIA: at which time most part of his subjects of EPIRVS, which were able to beare armes, repaired vnto him: the confederate Christian princes also, his neigh∣bours, and for most part his kinsmen, sent vnto him great supplies: beside other deuou•• and war∣like minded Christians, which voluntarily resorted vnto him from farre in great numbers. Out of which multitude of people he chose only eight thousand horsemen and seuen thousand foot, when as he might haue raised a far greater armie: and placing some few in garrisons in the fron∣tier cities where he thought most conuenient, all the rest he sent home againe to their dwellings. At which his confidencie, his friends, yea and his enemies also much maruelled, that when hee

might haue had so many, he would take the field with so few. With which small armie of f••∣teene thousand, he marched from CROIA, fourescore miles to DYBRA: where hearing by his espials, of the approch of his enemies, after he had with cheerefull speech encouraged his soul••••∣ors, he encamped with his armie in the lower countrey of DYBRA, neere vnto a wood side, righ•• in the way where the Bassa must needs passe. In which wood, he placed Gnee Musachee, and A∣mesa in ambush with three thousand men: commanding them to stand close, vntill they saw 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had throughly joyned battaile with the Bassa, and then with all their force to breake forth vpon his rereward. The Bassa marching forward, came and encamped neere vnto Scanderbeg; a little before the going downe of the Sunne, and there rested that night, making great shew of mir•••• and joy, with great fires in euerie corner of the campe, as the Turkish manner of encamping is. Wheras in Scanderbegs campe, all things were silent, and no shew of any fire at all; for so Scan∣derbeg had commanded: which made the Turks the more carelesse, deeming thereby the Chri∣stians as good as alreadie discouraged. The next morning Scanderbeg ranged his armie in order of battaile, placing Tanusius in the left wing, with fifteen hundreth horsemen, and as many foot; and Moses in the right with like number: and leading the maine battell himselfe: The reareward was committed to Vranacontes, a man renowned in those daies, both for hi•• ••rauitie in counsell, and for his valour in armes, fit to command or be commanded; but afterwards, amongst the rest most famous, for the worthie defending of CROIA against Amurath, being then there himselfe in person. Alis Bassa contemning the small number of Scanderbeg his armi•• seeing nothing ther∣in to be feared more than the good order thereof, gaue the first charge ••ith a small troupe of horsemen: who at the first encounter retired, as if they had fled, of purpose that the Christians hastily pursuing their vntimely hope,* 1.55 might disorder their battaile, and so giue occasion to their owne ouerthrow. But by the commaundement of Scanderbeg (who easily perceiued the Bassaes meaning) their dangerous forwardnesse was warily waied, and all with safetie kept in good order. So both armies comming on, the wings beganne the battaile a fresh, and Scanderbeg with great courage bringing on his maine battell in the face of the Bassa, valiantly charged him. But by that time that the battailes were throughly joyned, Musachee and Amesa suddenly issued out of the wood, and fiercely set vpon the rereward of the Turkes armie, where they made great slaughter, and forced many of the Turkes for feare to flie. Thus was the Bassaes great armie driuen to fight both before and behind, being hardly beset and laied vnto with a small number. The Bassa had placed his best souldiours neerest vnto himselfe in the maine battaile, as his most assured strength and last refuge: these valiant men stood fast, and renewed the battaile, before almost lost. And here Scanderbegs fortune was euen at a stand: vntill that the well aduised and valiant captaine Vranacontes hauing receiued the wearied souldiors into the rereward, and setting all things there in safetie, accompanied with certaine troupes of fresh souldiors which he brought out of the rere∣ward, brake through the Bassaes armie with such slaughter of the Turks, that hee made way for Scanderbeg and all the rest of his armie.* 1.56 The Turks discomfited with the inuincible courage of these old souldiours, and the slaughter of their fellowes, which lay by heapes wallowing in their owne blood, betooke themselues to flight; whom the Christians fiercely pursued, and slew of them two and twentie thousand: at which time were also two thousand others taken prisoners with foure and twentie of the Turks ensignes: whereas of the Christians were slaine not past 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hundreth and twentie. The enemies tents with all their cariages, were at the same time taken also▪ After this great victorie, when Scanderbeg had made all his seauen thousand footmen, horsemen, by giuing vnto them the horses of the slaine Turks, he brake into the enemies countrey, and en∣tred farre into MACEDONIA, where he filled the desires of his souldiours with the wealth and spoile thereof, sparing nothing that fire and sword could deuoure: and so with victorie retur∣ned to CROIA, where he was of his subjects joyfully receiued. Alis Bassa with the remainder of his discomfited armie, returned to HADRIANOPLE, and there by Amurath was hardly charged of cowardise, and want of discretion, for that he had lost so puissant an armie to so weake an ene∣mie. Wherof when he had cleared himselfe by the modest rehearsall of his former victories, and the testimonie of all the other captaines present with him in that battaile, he was pardoned, and so againe receiued into fauour, and that great ouerthrow imputed to the chance of warre.

* 1.57Amurath hauing reciued two so great ouerthrowes, first from Huniades and the Hungari∣ans, and now from Scanderbeg; and seeing himselfe elsewhere beset with so many mischiefes, as that he could not tell which way to turne himselfe; tormented with dispaire, and desire of re∣uenge,

whereof hee saw small possibilitie, fell into such a melancholie passion, that ouercome with the darke conceits thereof,* 1.58 he was about to haue become the bloodie executioner of him∣selfe, had not Cali Bassa by his graue aduice comforted vp his dying spirits: by whose persuasion, contrarie to his haughtie nature, he yeelded by his embassadors sent for the same purpose, to de∣sire peace of Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE, vsing the exiled Despot of SERVIA (his father in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, then present with the king) as a meane therein. Who at the first gaue small credite vnto the embassadours, or vnto such things as they told him, vntill that at length better persuaded of the true meaning of the Turke, he so wrought the matter both with the king and the rest of the no∣bilitie, and especially with Huniades,* 1.59 that there was an honourable peace concluded. The capitu∣lations wherof were, first, That Amurath withdrawing all his forces and garrisons, should clearly depart out of SERVIA, and restore the same vnto the possession of George the Despot, the right lord and owner thereof; deliuering also freely vnto him his two sonnes, Stephen and George, who bereft of their sight, he had long time kept in straight prison. Also, that from thenceforth he should make no claime vnto the kingdome of MOLDAVIA, nor to that part of BVLGARIA which he had in the last wars lost. And finally, that he should not inuade or molest the Hungarians, or any part of their kingd••me, during the whole time of that peace: and to pay 40000 duckats for the ransome of Carambey. Vnto which hard conditions, when the Turkish tyrant full sore against his will had condiscended, a peace for ten yeares was forthwith on both parts concluded, and the same by solemne oat•• confirmed: king Vladislaus taking his oath vpon the holy Euangelists, and Amurath (by his embassadors) vpon their Turkish Alcoran. This was the most honorable peace that eu••r Christian prince had before that time made with any of the Turkish kings, and most profitable also, had it been with like sinceritie kept, as it was with solemnitie confirmed.

Amurath with this peace deliuered of his greatest feare,* 1.60 conuerted all his forces against the Ca∣ramanian king, in reuenge of the injuries by him done, whilst he was occupied in the Hungarian warres. This king of CARAMANIA knowing himselfe vnable to withstand so great an enemie, durst neither meet him in the field, nor trust himselfe to the strength of any his cities or strong castles, but fled into the mountaines, there fortifying himselfe more surely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in any other his strong holds. Amurath entring into CARAMANIA, made great spoile in the country as he went, and tooke great booties. At last comming to ICONIVM, he laid hard siege to the same. The poor king seeing his kingdome spoiled, and his cheefe citie in danger to be lost, sent embassadours, and with them his wife also, which was Amuraths sister, to intreat for peace; offering to pay vnto him yearely the double tribute which hee before paied, and for the performance thereof to giue his sonne in hostage. Vpon which conditions Amurath graunted him peace, and so returned. In this warre, Aladin, Amuraths eldest sonne, died, to the great greefe of his aged father, being slain with a fall from his horse, as he was hawking.

Old Amurath throughly wearied with continuall warres, and other troubles incident vnto restlesse roomes, resolued now to retire himselfe to a more priuat and qui•••• kind of life: and ther∣fore sent for his sonne Mahomet, being then but fifteene yeares old, to whom hee voluntarily re∣signed his kingdome, appointing Caly Bassa his tutor, with one Chosroe, a learned doctor of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to be his trustie counsellors and cheefe directers. And so taking with him Hamze-Beg, one 〈…〉〈…〉 noblemen in whom he tooke greatest pleasure, departed to MAGNESIA, and there as a man wearie of the world, gaue himselfe to a solitarie and monasticall kind of life, in the compa∣nie of certaine religious Turkish monks, as they accounted of them.

Many great kings and princes, as well Mahometanes as Christians, glad before of the Hun∣garian victorie, were now no lesse sorrie to heare of the late concluded peace betwixt king Vla∣dislaus and the old Sultan Amurath: as being of opinion, That the prosecution of that warre so happily begun, would haue beene the vtter ruine and destruction of the Turkish kingdome. Wherefore they sought by all possible meanes to induce the young king Vladislaus to breake the league he had so lately and so solemnely made with the Turke: especially Iohn Palaeologius the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, did by letters importune the king to remember the confe∣deration he had made with the other Christian princes, for the maintenance of the wars against the common enemie of Christianitie: which princes were now prest and readie (as he said) to assist him with their promised aid: adding moreouer, That whereas Amurath had diuerse times sought to joyne with him in amitie and friendship, hee had vtterly rejected that offer of peace, preferring the vniuersall profit (like to ensue to all Christendome by that religious warre) be∣fo•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 owne proper securitie and profit, being for his part in readinesse to joyne his forces

with the kings, if he would presently enter into armes: which he could neuer doe in better time than now, whilest Amurath, terrified with his late ouerthrow, and still beset with doubtfull wa••, had drawne his greatest forces out of EVROPE into ASIA, in such disordered hast, as that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should seeme he rather fled for feare of his enemies in EVROPE, than marched to encounter hi•• enemies in ASIA, and now being wearie of all, had betaken himselfe vnto a priuat kind of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 To conclude, he requested the king not to leaue him and the other Christian princes of small p••••wer, as a prey vnto the Turke, who would assuredly with all hostilitie inuade them, so soone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he thought himselfe safe from the danger of the Hungarians. At the same time also, and vpon the departure of the Turkes embassadours, for the performance of such things as they had pro∣mised; letters came from Francis the Cardinall of FLORENCE, Generall of the Christian fleet, declaring how that Amurath hauing left almost none in EVROPE, was with all the power hee could make, gone ouer into ASIA against the Caramanian king, leauing a most faire occasion for the Christians easily to recouer whatsoeuer they had before lost in EVROPE: and that hee was in good time come with his fleet vnto the straits of HELLESPONTVS, according vnto pro∣mise, and there lay readie to embarre the Turks passage backe againe out of ASIA. Both these letters being read in the Counsell, so much mooued the king, with all the re•••• of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE there present, as that they were neuer more sorrie or ashamed for any thing they had done in their liues, than for the league so lately with Amurath concluded: for why, they saw that all the plot they had laied, for their immortall glorie, was now by this ••astie peace that they had made with the Turke, without the good liking or knowledge of their confederats, brought to nought; and that they had thereby most shamefully deceiued the generall expectation tha•• the Christian commonweale had conceiued of them; and that they, of long time called the pro∣tectors of the Christian faith, the defendours of true religion, the reuengers of Christ his name, and deliuerers of the faithfull nations; should now be accounted the breakers of the Christian league, men forgetfull of their confederation both with the Latines and the Greeks, contemne••s of immortalitie, and louers of their owne profit onely. In this doubtfulnesse of minds whilst they stood yet thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Iulian the Cardinall and L••gat, alwaies an enemie vnto the peace, and by reason of his place a man in greatest authoritie next vnto the king, tooke occasion to dissuade the same as follo••eth.

* 1.61If any of you right worthie (said hee) shall happily maruell, that I should speake of breaking the league, and violating our faith, let him first vnderstand, That I at this present am to persuade you to nothing els, but the faithfull obseruing both of the one and the other: led with like repentance with you, repentance I say, and not sorrow, when as I, as from a watch-tower foreseeing all these things which were decreed against my will, to sort also contrarie to your expectation, am now for the dutie of my le∣gation, and the Zeale vnto the Christian religion, enforced with you to doubt: and so much the rather, for that at this present 〈◊〉〈◊〉 question is of the losse and hazard of all our honours and credit in common: which except we by common consent, and wonted valour, endeuour to amend; ô how much it is to be fea∣red, least for shame neither may you goe out of HVNGARIE, or I returne to ROME, where all things are with most deepe judgement censured. Consider I pray you into what miseries this hastie resolu•••••••• hath cast vs. We haue entred into league with the Turke, an infidell, to violate our faith with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and to breake the holy league before made with the great bishop, and the other Christian prin••••s our confederats. And that for what, for what profit I say? Forsooth, that so we might againe reco•••••• SERVIA, long before destroied. Verily a small and wofull profit, which may againe in short time be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 off, and depriueth vs of others farre greater, and of much longer continuance. For what can bee more fond or inconsiderat, than in our consultations to haue regard to our priuat profit only, and not the pub∣licke, without respect of religion, honestie, or conscience? It is not demaunded of you at this present (right honorable) what you owe vnto the periured Turke: but you are by me Iulian, the great bishops and the confederat Christian princes Legat, and Agent, before the tribunall seat of your owne con∣sciences, accused of breach of faith, breach of league, and breach of promise; and thereof euen by your owne judgement, rather than by the iudgement of God, or other man, I will condemne you. An∣swere me you noble Worthies: After you had happily six moneths made warres against the Turkes in BVLGARIA and the borders of THRACIA, and after that, triumphantly returning into HVN∣GARIE, receiued you not honourable embassages from almost all ITALIE, and from the gre•••• emperour, with common rejoycing for your so glorious a victorie, and exhortations▪ to conti••••••

the war? We receiued them. Did not you in my presence, and I the author therof, willingly make a most holie league with the Italians and Greeks, That the one should with their aid and power meet you out of THRACIA; and the other with a great fleet should come into the HELLESPONTVS? We made it. If you made it, why breaking this, made you another with the Turks? or by what right can you keep the same, being made? Wherefore, if the last yeare you made a league with the great Bishop (God his vicar 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on earth) if you be men, if you be in your wits, if you be Christians, this second league is to be bro∣ken, least you should violate the first, and that a most Christian league: which except you doe, I feare least that as Iudas betraied Christ, so you may seeme to betraie his vicar; or that God, whom hether∣to you haue alwaies found present, propitious, and fauourable, you shall hereafter find him angrie, and an enemie to your proceedings. And now I pray you tell me, what will you answere vnto the Constan∣tinopolitan emperour; who according to your appointment, hath now with the first taken the field, and in so great an oportunitie expecteth but your comming? what will you answere the great Bishop? what the Venetians and Genowaies, who haue their great fleet readie as was appointed? what the Burgundi∣ans, who for their zeale vnto the Christian faith & religion, haue long since passed the Ocean, and so by many dangers of the sea now flote in the HELLESPONT? Deuise (I praie you) if you can, some excuse and colour, that we may not seeme altogether vnlike our selues: if out of your hidden skill you can coine any thing, shew it. You promised with the first of the Spring, that you would be in the field: and now your souldiors both the Spring and Summer, play, so great and so wholsome occasion passing away, through your wofull slouth and negligence. O the great blindnesse of mens minds! O grosse cowardise! O dete∣stable league, made to the destruction of the common weale! Some man happily will blame mee, and aske, why I suffered it with the rest? I was present I confesse: but as much as in mee was, I intreated it might not be. I disliked it: and as many of you here present can testifie, I vtterly condemned it. I was ouercome by the wisedome and authoritie of Huniades, and the compassion of the Despot, least vnhap∣pie man, he should by my intercession seeme longer to want his kingdome and children: and least any man should call me a contemner or impugner of your good, I fall of sorrow, and vnwillingly, gaue way; not ignorant the health of the Christian common weale to be therin weakened, the hope of your immor∣tall glorie extinguished, and vs all (by your leaue may I say it) accounted breakers both of diuine and humane leagues, forsworne men, and traitors vnto all good Christians. Wherefore except before the report of our perfidiousnesse be further bruted, we deliuer our selues from this infamie, nothing can be greater or more miserable than our shame or villanie: if we will so do, we may not so easily, as justly and religiously do it. Hauing made restitution againe of SERVIA and the captiues, what remaineth els for you to do noble worthies, but to repaire your armie, to prepare what so is needfull for war, & to keep your first league with the Christian princes? and to say, That king Vladislaus, after his league made with the Greeke and Latin princes, could not without the consent of those his confederats and allies, vnder whose good fortune that common war was vndertaken, conclude any thing, especially with the enemies of the Christian religion? And that therfore, if any thing were agreed vpon betwixt him and the Turk, it was frustrate, & the first league to be stood vpon. Who is so partiall an esteemer of mens actions, that would not easily judge, That in case Faith were giuen to both, it were rather to be kept with a Christian, than with a Turk; with a beleeuer, than with an infidell? Against a perfidious enemy it is lawfull (as they say) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man to vse all cunning, force, and deceit, deluding craft with craft, and fraud with fraud. By craft 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Turke first passed ouer into EVROPE, by little and little he crept into that kingdome, he neuer kept 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with any, he grew to this height rather by cunning than by strength: and are you become so blind, as to thinke it better to keepe your promise with the Turke, deuoid of all faith and humanitie, rather than with the faithfull Christians, and especially the most holy Bishop? All great things are done by deuice and policie: the Romanes our ancestors vprightly and religiously alwaies kept their leagues with their confederats, but deluded the deceitfull with their cunning. Caesar was of opinion, That for soue∣raigntie the law was sometimes to be broken. And Philip, the father and master of him that conquered ASIA, oftentimes vsed cunning and deceit for the desire of rule: yet were not these men called trai∣tors. It is sometime lawfull for the commonweale sake, neither to stand to our leagues, neither to keepe our faith with them that be themselues faithlesse. Lawfull it is to breake vnlawfull oaths, and especi∣ally such as are thought to be against right, reason, and equitie. Was it lawfull for Diomedes, vowing for to sacrifice vnto the gods whomsoeuer he first met at his returne into his countrey, to kill his sonne by that his vow and oath? verely it was a great impietie. Wherefore a just and lawfull oath is in the judgement of all men to be religiously kept, but such an oath as tendeth not onely vnto priuat but pub∣licke destruction, that ought to be vaine and frustrate. Wherefore before our faithlesse dealing be far∣ther

spread abroad, I beseech you worthie men, and thee especially most glorious king, not in any point to violate your faith, for the good of the Christian commonweale giuen vnto the most holy father and the other Christian princes. The league you haue made with the Greekes and the Latines, faithfully and re∣ligiously keepe; the expedition by common consent taken in hand by the example of your confederates, prosecute; the foundation of immortall glorie by you laid, build vpon. Deliuer the Christian prouinces oppressed with the Turkish seruitude, satisfie the hope conceiued of you, and deceiue not the expecta•••• the world hath now conceiued of you, than which, nothing can be more dishonourable: make no consci∣ence of the league you haue made with the Infidell, but thinke it a great impietie and wickednesse to vi∣olate the holy league made with the great bishop, and the other Christian princes: thinking, that if you should doe otherwise, God (which he of his mercie forbid) would become of that your falsified faith a most seuere and sharpe reuenger: and that you can do nothing more acceptable vnto our Sauior Christ, or more glorious to your selues, than to deliuer the oppressed Christian countries from the cruell slauerie and bondage of the Turke. Suffer not this so fit an occasion to slip away▪ than which, a fitter can neuer be giuen. EVROPE is vnfurnished of the Turks, busied in the Caramanian war; their returne is em∣barred by the Christians fleet, now in the sea of HELLESPONTVS; you need but to goe see, and as it were to take a view of THRACIA, MACEDONIA, GRECIA, and EPIRVS, there is no enemie there left to oppose himselfe against you. Wherefore for God his cause, I request you aboue all things to continue the Christian league, and with your happie and victorious forces, to march forward into MACEDONIA and THRACIA, as is before by you with the other Christian princes your confede∣rates, agreed.

* 1.62In conclusion, hauing much spoken of the authoritie and power of the great bishop, he in his name disanulled the league whatsoeuer, by the king made with the Turke; and absolued him, with the rest whom it might concerne, from the oath they had giuen, and the promises they had made. Which so well contented both the king and the rest, that there was now no more questi∣on of the oath, or of the lawfulnesse of the warre, but a decree made for the continuation of the league with the other Christian princes their confederats (and for the prosecution of the warres against the Turks) as was with them before agreed: whom they could now say, they were not to forsake, and to leaue them as a prey vnto the Turke their greedie enemie; now for nothing more in danger, than for that, at their request they had taken vp armes in their quarrell. Vnto which vn∣fortunat decree, both the Despot and Huniades, the cheefe authors of the late peace betwixt the king and Amurath, easily consented: the Despot, induced with the great hope he had conceiued of the good successe of the war; and Huniades, with the desire of the kingdome of BVLGARIA promised vnto him by Vladislaus, and by faire charter also (as some said) assured vnto him.

Of this the kings resolution for the breach of the peace with the Turke, notice was with all speed giuen vnto the Constantinopolitane emperour, and Francis the Florentine Cardinall, then lying with a fleet of seuentie gallies at the straits of HELLESPONTVS; for feare least they hea∣ring of the former concluded peace, should alter also or els quite desist from their former purpo∣ses. In the meane time whilest these things were yet in plotting, the Turke ignorant hereof accor∣ding to his promise had withdrawne all his garrisons out of SERVIA, and other places befo•••• agreed vpon in the late concluded peace, restoring the same vnto the Despot, and others the la••••full owners, although it was not done at the very prefixed day, at which it should haue been done▪ In which time also he set at libertie great numbers of captiues, & amongst the rest, the two blind sonnes of the prince of SERVIA; faithfully performing whatsoeuer he had before vpon his reli∣gion promised in the league with the Christians before concluded, so desirous hee was of peace with the Hungarians. Howbeit, Vladislaus by the counsell of Huniades, detained to his own vse certaine of the strong holds in SERVIA: for which cause, George the Despot euer afterwards bore a secret grudge against Huniades.

Now as king Vladislaus (hauing by the persuasion of Iulian the Cardinall, renounced the league betwixt him and Amurath) was preparing his forces, the same of the Epirot prince Scan∣derbeg was also (by the recouerie of his fathers kingdome of EPIRVS out of the Turkes hands, and by the late ouerthrow of Alis Bassa) growne great, euery man speaking of him honour and praise. Wherewith Vladislaus moued, and reasonably persuaded what a furtherance it would be vnto his haughtie designes (aiming at no lesse than the vtter ouerthrow of the Turks kingdome in EVROPE) if he might vnto his owne great preparations joine also the strength of that so for∣tunate

a prince, by the consent of his nobilitie, with all speed dispatched away his embassadours with letters vnto him, certifying him of his honorable purpose, for the rooting out of the Turks, and in that common cause praying his aid against such a dangerous and dreadfull enemie: the purport whereof here followeth.

Vladislaus king of Hungarie and Polonia, vnto the noble Scander∣beg, prince of EPIRVS, greeting.

It may be that some good hap hath deferred this our late congratulation vntill this present,* 2.1 to the intent we might at this time, together with you, rejoyce in the double successe of your prosperitie: first, for the happie recouerie of your estate; and then, for that the same hath by your wisedome and valour beene of late so notably defended. Wherefore in this we rejoyce, not onely in your behalfe, but in the behalfe of all good Christians, that it hath pleased God of his goodnesse, by your valour to haue giuen so great an encrease and comfort vnto the Christian commonweale: for as much as amongst other our great euils, the losse of the Albanian people hath not beene to be accounted the least, at such time as Iohn Castriot, a worthie prince, your father, oppressed by Amurath and by the vngratefull destinies taken out of this world, had neither the meanes to leaue vnto you his kingdome and scep∣ter (as vnto his sonne, then liuing in his enemies power) either was able yet otherwise to prouide for his affaires. And would to God this your father, most happie in such a sonne, might haue till now liued: whose felicitie had in that surmounted all others, if he might but haue seene you before his death. For as you seeme vnto me aboue all other princes in the world (without offence bee it said) most accomplished with all the good graces and perfections both of bodie and mind, so are you endowed also with a certaine diuine and wonderfull fortune: vnder the good conduct whereof, not onely the whole kingdome of EPIRVS may thinke it selfe in securitie; but all the rest of the other nations also, lately by the detestable fraud and violence of the Othoman kings dismembred from the realme of MACEDON, may also recouer the former beautie of their antient lawes and liberties. For (to say nothing of those things which euen from your childhood hauing continually made you enuied, haue heretofore purchased vnto you an immortall fame and glorie euen amongst the Barba∣rians themselues) what can be more glorious than this victorie, which (as wee haue heard and be∣leeue) you to your singular admiration, haue obtained by the ouerthrow and vtter discomfiture of Alis Bassa, with his so great and mightie apower? But now ô Scanderbeg (God so appointing it, who in his deepe and secret wisedome hath reserued you vnto these so dangerous times, for the publicke good and comfort of the Christian commonweale) there offers it selfe vnto you an object of farre greater glory, with a most faire and fit occasion for you to reuenge your selfe of all the wrongs and injuries both new and old, by Amurath the Turkish Sultan done, not in priuate to the person of your selfe onely, but vnto the whole state and kingdome of EPIRVS also; and not the domesticall and ciuile miseries of your own countrey onely, but the publicke calamities also, and those opprobrious disgraces done against the Chri∣stian faith and religion in generall, now oppressed (I will not say extinguished:) and that is, if you with your victorious forces will succour vs in this extremitie of our affaires, not yet altogether desperate. Hereunto doe all the princes of HVNGARIE and POLONIA, and all other men of courage inuite ••ou, Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angell entreateth you, with all those deuout and courageous Chri∣stians, which long since here with vs, and readie in armes, wish for nothing more than the presence of your victorious ensignes. Which so faire an occasion (by God himselfe now offered) if you refuse not, will in all mens judgement bee a sure meane to vanquish and ouerthrow our common enemie the Turke, and to driue him quite out of EVROPE, wrongfully by him of so long time possessed. I neede not therefore (as I suppose) to vse any kind of persuasion vnto you in this cause and quar∣rell, the defence whereof doth purchase vnto vs health, light, and libertie: but being neglected, I feare and abhorre to forbode what may ensue thereof. Wee Christians haue beene too too slacke and backeward in helping one another: the flame hath now well neere consumed vs all, whilest no man thought it would haue come neere himselfe. What doe we see of the Greeke empire? what of the Bul∣gurians, and Seruians? yea mine owne losses and manifold calamities, alreadie, and yet also to bee endured, who is able to recount? The braue and most valiant princes, the surest bulwarkes and defences of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, from time to time lost; and the puissant armies with one and the same fatall chaunce of warre consumed and brought to nothing, who is able to reckon vp? Insomuch that there is no house, wise, or matrone, in all HVNGARIE, which is not in some

measure partaker of this heauinesse. All this doe the Christian princes heare of, and yet the miserable [ G] estate and condition of their allies can nothing mooue any one of them: but suffer vs thus as a sa∣crifice for the rest, to be on all parts exposed to the rage and furie of the common and mercilesse ene∣mie. Onely Eugenius the most holy bishop of ROME, and Philip duke of BVRGVNDIE, haue not re∣fused to beare a part of the burthen of this our afflicted fortune: The one hath sent hither his Leg•••• Iulian the Cardinall, with notable and puissant succours; and the other with his fleet at sea, and com•• as farre as HELLESPONTVS, so much as in him lieth doth notably hinder the Turkes passage into EVROPE. And one other hope there is not now farre from vs, and that is, your helpe, whereof we are so desirous: which we require of you, mooued thereunto, partly by your valour so well knowne, and partly in regard of the imminent perill and common danger of vs all. And albeit we are not ignorant, how [ H] euill you may be at leisure to take such an expedition in hand, for the late troubled estate of your affairs, and your new recouered kingdome, as yet scarcely well established: yet notwithstanding, let it not with∣hold you or keepe you backe; assuring you, that as this expedition cannot be but vnto you most honoura∣ble, euen so this your present desert shall not be bestowed vpon vngratefull or thankelesse men: but that which you shall now first begin and vndertake for our preseruation & dignitie, we will from hence∣forth and euer continue for your glorie and for the increase of your greatnesse. Fare you well from our regall citie of BVDA, the fourth of Iuly 1444.

Of this the kings motion, Scanderbeg liking well, and thinking it farre better now in so fit a time, with his owne forces joined vnto the Hungarians his friends, throughly to busie Amurath, than in short time after, himselfe alone to sustaine his whole power: by the generall consent of the Albanian princes his confederats and allies, yeelded vnto his request; in liberall tearmes promising him by his letters, in good time to be present with him with thirtie thousand good souldiors. The copie of which letters I thought it not amisse here to set downe also.

Scanderbeg prince of the Epirots, vnto Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE and POLONIA, greeting.

* 3.1Your letters most inuincible king, I haue with like joy and contentment receiued: which I in the generall assembly of my cheefetaines hauing caused publickly to be read, there was not any one of them which was not of opinion, but that so just an occasion of war by you offered, was forthwith to be joyfully on our behalfe also embraced. And so euery man doth both publickly and priuatly affirme, That nothing could haue happened vnto them more acceptable from God, than that they might by some notable ser∣uice testifie their gratefull minds, and bind vnto them so excellent a prince: as also to giue so fit succors vnto the Christian commonweale. In which forwardnesse of my people, I my selfe tooke great content∣ment and pleasure, both in regard of your selfe, and in the behalfe of the publicke and common cause: seeing my men of warre, and all other my subjects, of what state or degree soeuer (without any persua∣sion vsed on my part) to be so cheerefully and couragiously minded in defence of the faith, and of the Christian religion; and so well affectioned towards your most royall majestie. And to say the truth, who is he (if he be not hatefull vnto God and man) albeit there were no question of religion, or of the com∣mon danger, that would refuse so just and lawfull a warre? for such a king, as vnto whom alone we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and ought to attribute, That we Christians doe not onely raigne, but euen liue, breath, and enjoy the li∣bertie of our speech. Who would not willingly take vp arms, and aduenture himselfe into most manifest and certaine danger for the people of HVNGARIE; by whom in all ages the Christian commonweal•• hath with their so many trauels and so much of their blood, beene so mightily supported and defen∣ded? who euen from the very cradle haue beene continuall enemies vnto our enemies, and haue as it were euen vowed themselues for the honour of the Christian religion and name. Would God (most mightie and redoubted Vladislaus) it had beene in my power to haue brought vnto you such for∣ces to this honourable warre, as were answerable vnto my courage and desire: then happily EVROPE should not longer lie in this ignominious estate, oppressed by Amurath; neither should the fields of VARNA or BASILIA so often smoke with the blood of the Hungarians, nor euery corner of MACE∣DONIA with the blood of the Epirots: both nations being as it were become the expiatorie sacrifices of others sinnes and offences, we all now by turnes perish, whilest euery man thinketh himselfe borne but for himselfe alone. But why do I vnto my selfe poure forth these vaine complaints. Truly, it neither re∣penteth me of my forces, neither as I suppose (if it shall please God, that our forces may once meet and

joyne together in so happie a warre) shall the Christian commonweale haue any cause to sorrow or be agreeued with the issue and euent of our fortune. For vnto those fifteen thousand good souldiors which lately discōfited Alis Bassa on the borders of MACEDONIA, my purpose is to joine as many moe vnto them: with all which strength as soone as conueniently I may, I will begin to set forward, ready to follow your ensignes to all euents whatsoeuer. And so fare you well, from CROIA the third of August 1444.

These letters being dispatched away vnto the king, Scanderbeg forthwith began to leauie his forces. And first of all he caused with new supplies to be made strong, all those companies wher∣with he had ouerthrowne Alis Bassa; not suffering any one of them to absent himselfe from this expedition. Vnto whom being in number fifteen thousand, all men of approoued valour, hee joyned other fifteen thousand moe, no lesse valiant than they: such a power as hee neuer either before or after raised for the recouerie, or defence of his kingdome. And so furnished with all things necessarie for so honourable a war, cheerefully set forward, accompanied with the vowes and hope of all his most faithful and louing subjects. But being come to the borders of SERVIA, he found the strait and difficult passages of that rough countrey shut vp by George the Despot, (lord thereof, a man adorned with all the graces of nature, but otherwise a verie wicked damned Atheist, and a Christian but in name only) who but lately before restored vnto his kingdome by the helpe of king Vladislaus, hauing changed his mind, did now mightily cleaue vnto the Turke his sonne in law (by whom he had before been himselfe exiled) and in fauour of his quarell, and despight of the Hungarians, but especially of Huniades, had stopped vp the waies and passages whereby Scanderbeg was with his armie to passe: who by his embassadour sent of purpose vnto the Despot, complained to him of that wrong, putting him in mind of the perjurious dealing of Amurath with him, notwithstanding he had maried his daughter; and of the great pleasures the Hungarians had done him; of both which he had good proofe: requesting him if it were but in regard of the common cause of Christianitie to giue vnto him (as vnto his friend by whom hee was neuer in any thing wronged) passage; and not to staine himselfe with the perpetuall note of infamie, That he being a Christian prince, and of late so mightily oppressed by the Turk, should now to the great hinderence of the Christian cōmon weale take part with him, against his friends and deliuerers. But what auaileth praiers or requests, bee they neuer so reasonable, with a man set downe to mischiefe? Scanderbeg out of hope by any other meanes to open his way, but by plaine force, resolued so to doe: although it much grieued him to spend those forces vpon a Christian prince, which he had prepared against the capitall enemie both of himselfe and all good Chri∣stians, old Amurath the Turkish Sultan.

But whilest he thus discontented, spendeth his time with his armie vpon the borders of SER∣VIA, beset with many difficulties: Vladislaus prickt forward by the continuall solicitation of Iuli∣an the Cardinall,* 3.2 or else drawne on by his owne ineuitable destinie, hauing assembled a great ar∣mie of valiant and couragious souldiours out of HVNGARIE and POLONIA (yet in number farre inferiour to that he had the yeare before, for that most of the voluntarie souldiours were re∣turned home) set forward from SEGEDINVM, and in the beginning of Nouember (a time vn∣fit for wars) passed ouer DANVBIVS, and entring into BVLGARIA came to NICOPOLIS, the Metrapoliticall citie of that kingdome (but then in possession of the Turks;) where he burnt the suburbs therof, and in that fruitfull countrey therabouts refreshed his people three or foure daies, where he also mustred his armie and tooke a view thereof: at what time Dracula Vaiuod of VA∣LACHIA, a man of great experience in martiall affaires, being then present, and considering the small number of the kings armie, began to persuade him to retire, saying, Hee had sufficiently learned by his owne harmes, to deeme aright of the power of the Turkish Sultan; who (as hee said) was wont many times to carie more men with him into the fields in his disport of hauking and hunting, than was there in the kings campe: wherefore he should doe well, not to expose those his small forces vnto so manifest perill, in such vnseasonable time of the yeare, but to reserue them vnto a more fit oportunitie, when hee might with greater power encounter his puissant enemie. This his counsaile most men of greatest experience, and not caried away with other pri∣uat respects, thought wholesome: but the Cardinall, authour of this fatall warre, extolling with great words the last yeares victorie obtained against the Turke, with glorious promises of great aid, as well by sea from the Pope, and the Venetians, as by land from the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and other Christian princes; augmenting also the great troubles in A∣SIA,

and promising an easie and happie successe vnto these wars in EVROPE; persuaded the king that Dacula his speech proceeded either of ignorance, vpon a superficiall judgement which her made of the kings power there present, without regard of further strength from his friends; or else of the priuat respect of his owne securitie, in regard of a commodious league made a little before betwixt him and the Turke. So that the poore prince seeing his counsell mightily impug∣ned by the Cardinall, and not so well taken, as it was meant by him; stood in doubt whether to leaue him to his owne fortune, and himselfe to his quiet peace, or casting off the Turkish league, to joyne with the king in this chance of warre: but at length resolued as a martiall minded man, preferring the vncertaine glorie of the field before his owne assured rest, said vnto the king:

Seeing that either your princely fortune, which hath euer hetherto fauoured your high attempts▪ else the hope of friends helpe, which I pray God faile you not at your need; or the secret designement of your destinie, vnable to be auoided, doth draw your majestie into a different opinion from me: that your resolution which I cannot by reasonable persuasion alter, I will as the suddenesse of time, and my small abilitie will permit, most gladly further.

And therewith presented vnto the king,* 3.3 his sonne, with foure thousand horsemen well appoin∣ted, to serue him in these wars; wishing vnto him such good successe as he himselfe desired. Af∣terward when he was about to take his leaue of the king, he preferred vnto him two lustie yong men, perfect guides for that countrey, with two horses of incredible swiftnesse, and with teares standing in his eies said vnto him:

* 3.4Take this small gift in good part, as a poore refuge to flie vnto, if your fortune happe to faile you, which I tremble to thinke vpon: I pray God they be giuen in vaine, and so they shall if my pray∣ers may preuaile. Yet if necessitie shall inforce you to vse them, you shall find them seruiceable at your need.

And so taking his last farewell of the king, returned into VALACHIA. Vladislaus marching on from NICOPOLIS toward THRACIA, tooke many townes and forts by the way, which the Turks for feare yeelded vnto him: at last he came to SVMIVM and PEZECHIVM, where the Tur∣kish garrisons trusting as much to the strength of the places, as to their owne valour, stood vpon their guard: but the king laid siege to both the said places, and tooke them by assault; where he put to sword fiue thousand of the Turks.

The Turks Bassaes terrified with these vnexpected troubles, aduertised Amurath thereof, re∣questing him to leaue his obscure life, and to leauie the greatest power he could in ASIA, for the defence of the Turkish kingdome in EVROPE, which otherwise was in short time like to be lost blaming also his discretion, for committing the gouernment of so great a kingdome, to so yong a prince as was Mahomet his sonne, vnto whom many of the great captaines did halfe scorne to yeeld their due obedience. Amurath herewith awaked, as it had been out of a dead sleepe, left his cloister, and with great speed gathered a stong armie in ASIA, & came to the straits of HE••∣LESPONTVS; where he found the passage stopped by the Venetian and Popes gallies, and was therfore at his wits end. But marching along the sea side vnto the straits of BOSPHORVS, he there found means to conuay ouer his whole armie: vsing therin (as some write) the helpe of the Geno∣way marchant ships, paying vnto the Genowayes for the passage of euery Turke a duckat, which amounted to the summe of 100 thousand duckets: or as some others affirm, corrupting with grea•• bribes them that were left for the defence of this passage. And being now got ouer, joyned his Asian armie with such other forces as his Bassaes had in readinesse in EVROPE: and so marching on seuen daies, encamped within four miles of VARNA, a citie pleasantly standing vpon the Eu••∣ine sea side in BVLGARIA, where the Christian armie lay: for Vladislaus hearing of Amurath his comming with so great an armie, had retired thether, hauing but a little before taken the same citie of VARNA from the Turks, with CALACRIVM, GALATA, MACROPOLIS, and others vpon the sea coast.

Vpon the first report that Amurath was with such a mightie armie come ouer the strait of BOSPHORVS, Vladislaus who before was in good hope that he could not possibly haue found any passage, entred into counsaile with the commaunders of his armie, what course was now best to take: where many which before had been most forward in that action (presuming that Amurath could by no means haue transported his armie) were now so discoraged with the same of his comming, that they aduised the king in time to retire home, and not to oppose so small an armie against such a world of people as was reported to follow the Turke. But other captaines

of greater courage, and especially Huniades, said, It was not for the kings honour, first to inuade his enemies dominions, and presently to turne his backe vpon the first report of their comming; wishing him rather to remember the good fortune of his former wars, and that he was to fight against the same enemie whom he had victoriously ouerthrowne the yeare before: as for the multitude of his enemies, he had learned by experience (as he sayd) not to bee mooued there∣with, for that it was the manner of the Turkish kings, more to terrifie their enemies with the shew of a huge armie, than with the valour of their souldiours, which were nothing to bee ac∣counted of, but as effeminat, in comparison of the Hungarians. Whereupon the king resolued to trie the fortune of the field.

Vladislaus vnderstanding by his espials, that Amurath the night before encamped within foure miles, was now putting his armie in order of battell; committed the ordering of all his forces vn∣to the valiant captaine Huniades: who with great care and industrie disposed the same, garding the one side of the battaile with a fenne or marrish, and the other side with cariages, and the rere∣ward of his armie with a steepe hill. Therein politiquely prouiding, that the Christian armie, be∣ing farre lesse than the Turks in number, could not bee compassed about with the multitude of their enemies,* 3.5 neither any way charged but afront. The Turks armie approaching, began to skirmish with the Christians, which manner of fight was long time with great courage main∣tained, and that with diuers fortune, sometime one partie preuailing, and sometime the other; but with such slaughter on both sides, that the ground was couered and stained with the dead bodies and blood of the slaine. At length the battaile beeing more closely joyned, the victorie began to incline to the Christians, for Huniades had most valiantly with his Transiluanian and Valachian horsemen, put to flight both the wings of the Turkish armie, and made great slaugh∣ter wheresoeuer he came. Insomuch, that Amurath dismaied with the flight of his souldiours, was about to haue fled himselfe out of the maine battaile, had hee not been staied by a common souldiour, who laying hands vpon the raines of his bridle staied him by force, and sharpely re∣prooued him of cowardise. The captaines, and prelats about the king (whom it had better be∣seemed to haue been at deuout prayers in their oratories, than in armes at that bloodie battaile) encouraged by the prosperous successe of Huniades, and desirous to be partakers of that victorie, foolishly left their safe stations, where they were appointed by him to stand fast, and disordered∣ly pursued the chase, leauing that side of the battell where they stood, open vnto the Turks: But they were not gone farre, before they were hardly encountred by a great part of the Turks armie, for such purpose placed in a vallie fast by. In which fight Lesco one of the most valiant captains of the Hungarians was slaine; and the Bishop of V••RADIVM a better church man than souldior, and the first man that disordered the battaile, seeking to saue himselfe by flight through the fenne, was there filthily strangled in the deepe mud, after he had with his horse therein struggled a great while. The Bishop of AGRIA, a man of greatest authoritie with the king, was at the same time also lost, with many other church men more. The Cardinall, with some other of the expert captaines retiring toward their former standings, were hardly assailed by the Turks, who by the comming in of the king and Huniades, were with great slaughter forced to retire, and euen rea∣die to flie. Amurath seeing the great slaughter of his men, and all brought into extreame dan∣ger, beholding the picture of the Crucifix in the displaied ensignes of the voluntarie Christians, pluckt the writing out of his bosome, wherin the late league was comprised, and holding it vp in his hand with his eies cast vp to heauen, said:

Behold thou crucified Christ, this is the league thy Christians in thy name made with mee: which they haue without cause violated.* 3.6 Now if thou bee a God, as they say thou art, and as we dreame, re∣uenge the wrong now done vnto thy name, and me, and shew thy power vpon thy perjurious people, who in their deeds denie thee their God.

The king with Huniades furiouslie pursued the chased Turks, with bloodie execution a great space: when as the king in his heat hardly persuaded by Huniades to returne againe vnto his campe, at his comming thether found the Cardinall Iulian, with Franke, one of his cheefe cap∣taines, and others, ouercharged with the Turkes, which had againe made head against that part of the Christian armie: and there yet fought couragiouslie, by reason of their multitude, being al∣so backt by the Ianizaries, which all this while had stood fast with their old king, as his last and most assured refuge,* 3.7 but were now come in. There began a most cruell and fierce fight: in the successe whereof, the Turks well saw the whole estate of their kingdome in EVROPE to consist,

many were there slaine on both sides: the Turks feeling their losse lesse than indeed it was, by reason of their multitude; and the Christians, by reason of their courage. A great while the vi∣ctorie stood doubtfull, insomuch, that at length the Turkes began to shrinke backe, in that part of the battaile where the king and Huniades fought. But in the left side, they preuailed so vpon the Christians, that they were euen readie to haue fled. Which when Huniades (hauing a vigi∣lant eie vnto euerie part of the armie) perceiued, hee with speed made thether, and there againe with his presence restored the battaile almost before lost. Which done, hee returned againe to∣wards the king, who in the mean time had most valiantly repulsed a great number of the Turks, and was now come vnto the Ianizaries, Amurath his last hope. There was to be seene a thou∣sand manners of death, whilest both the armies fought more like wild beasts in their rage and furie, than warie and politique souldiours. In this confused medly, the yong king Vladislaus with greater courage than care of himselfe, brake into the battaile of the Ianizaries: at which time, Amurath himselfe was by a valiant Frenchman a knight of the Roads, first wounded with a pike, and after assailed with his sword,* 3.8 and had there ended his daies, but that hee was speedily rescued by his guard, by whom this worthie knight after great proofe of his valour was there slaine in the middest of his enemies. Vladislaus being got in also amongst them, valiantly performed all the partes of a worthie souldiour, vntill such time as his horse being slaine vnder him, hee was forthwith oppressed by the multitude of his enemies and slaine:* 3.9 his head being strucke off by Fe∣rizes, one of the old Ianizaries, was by him presented vnto Amurath; who commaunded it pre∣sently to be put vpon the point of a launce, and proclamation to be made, that it was the head of the Christian king: which was afterwards so caried through the principall cities of MACEDO∣NIA, and GRECIA, as a trophey of the Turks victorie. Huniades after hee had in vaine giuen di∣uers braue attempts, to haue rescued the kings bodie, retired with a few Valachian horsemen, and seeing no hope of better hap (for all the Christians being discouraged with the death of the king, had now taken themselues to flight) gaue place to necessitie and reseruing himselfe to his future fortune,* 3.10 fled ouer the mountaines into the thicke woods, from whence with much difficultie he got ouer DANVBIVS into VALACHIA, and was there (as some 〈◊〉〈◊〉) by Dracula prince of that countrey taken prisoner: In reuenge whereof, after hee was enlarged by the Hungarians, hee so aided Danus against Dracula, that in fine, Dracula and his sonne were both slaine, and Danus pla∣ced in his roome. Iulian the Cardinall flying out of the battaile, was found by that worthie man Gregorie Sanose, lying in the desert forrest by the way, side mortally wounded, and halfe stripped: by whom hee was in few wordes sharpely reprooued, as the wicked authour of that perfidious warre: and there left giuing vp the ghost. Many of the Christians which fled out of that battell fell into the enemies hands, and so were slaine: but greater was the number of them, which were drowned in the fennes, or that by hunger and cold perished in the woods, or else after long and miserable trauaile, finding no passage ouer DANVBIVS fell at length into the Turkish slauerie. This great and mortall battaile as it was with diuers fortune fought, so was also the present re∣port thereof most vncertaine: for the Turks that were at the first put to flight, reported in the townes thereby as they fled, that the battell was lost: and they which had all the daie endured the fight, not altogether assured of the victorie, and not knowing whether the Hungarians had re∣tired themselues, whilest they suspected some deceit in the kinges campe, by reason of the great silence therein, staied two daies before they durst aduenture to take the spoile thereof. The num∣ber of them that were slaine in this battaile, as well on the one side as the other, was great; as the mounts, and little hils, raised of the bones and bodies of them that were there buried, doe yet at this daie declare. Howbeit the certaine number was not knowne, some reporting moe, some fewer. Yet in this most agree, that of the Christian armie being not great, scarce the third part escaped: and that the Turkes bought this victorie, with a farre greater losse, although it was of them lesse felt, by reason of their multitude, made lesse by that slaughter; as they that report least thereof affirme, by thirtie thousand. Which may well seeme rather to be so, for that Amurath after this victorie, neither farther prosecuted the same, nor shewed any tokens of joy at all, but became verie melancholie and sad, and being of them about him, demanded why after so great a victorie, he was no merrier: answered, That he wished not at so great a price, to gain many such victories. Yet in memoriall thereof hee erected a great pillar, in the same place where the king was slaine, with an inscription of all that was then done: which as they say is yet there to be seene at this day. This bloodie battaile, was fought neere vnto VARNA (in ancient time called DIO∣NISIOPOLIS

(a place fatall vnto many great warriors, and therfore of them euen yet abhorred) the tenth day of Nouember, in the yeare of our Lord Christ 1444.

Some maliciously impute the losse of the battaile of VARNA, and the death of the king, to Huniades, who (as they said) fled out of this battaile with ten thousand horsemen: but this report agreeth not with the noble disposition of that courageous and valiant captaine, but seemeth ra∣ther to haue been deuised, to excuse the foule dealing of the cleargie; who as most histories beare witnesse, were the cheefe authors both of the warre, and of the lamentable calamitie en••uing thereof.

From the battaile of VARNA Amurath returned to HADRIANOPLE,* 3.11 hauing lost the grea∣test part of his best souldiors, and there with great solemnitie buried the bodie of Carazia, vice∣roy of EVROPE, slaine in that battaile: and then calling together all his nobilitie, againe resig∣ned vp his kingdome vnto his sonne Mahomet, retiring himselfe vnto MAGNESIA, where he li∣ued a solitarie and priuat life, hauing before vowed so to do, in the great feare he was in, in the late battaile against Vladislaus: but after hee had a short time performed these his vowes in that ob∣scure and melancholie life, he wearie thereof, as some suppose, as not a little reuiued with the late victorie, or els solicited by Caly Bassa and other great counsellours, returned againe to HADRI∣ANOPLE, resuming vnto himselfe the gouernment of the kingdome, to the great discontentment of his ambitious sonne Mahomet.

Scanderbeg yet sticking in the borders of SERVIA, and hearing what had happened vnto king Vladislaus with the Hungarians, was therewith exceedingly greeued: and hauing now lost the hope whereupon he had vndertaken that so great an expedition, resolued to returne home again into EPIRVS. Neuerthelesse, to be in some part reuenged of the wicked Despot, he with his ar∣mie forcibly brake into his country, and there did exceeding great harme. In his returning home∣wards, great numbers of Hungarians and Polonians, lately escaped from the slaughter at VAR∣NA, repaired vnto him, whom he (according to the extremitie of their fortune) courteously re∣leeued: and furnishing them with such things as they wanted, prouided them shipping to RAGV∣SA, from whence they might in safetie returne into their owne countries. Thus by the disloyaltie and trecherie of the faithlesse Despot of SERVIA, was Scanderbeg stayed from being present at the bloodie battaile of VARNA, to the vnspeakeable losse of the Christian commonweale: for it could not be, but that so many thousands of most resolute and expert souldiors, vnder the leading of so worthie a cheefetaine, must needs haue done much for the gaining of the victo∣rie. And what more glorious sight could a man haue wished for, than to haue seene so puissant an armie in the field against the sworne enemie of Christendome, directed by two such valiant and renowned cheefetaines, as neuer either before or since their time was seene the like in one battell against the enemies of Christ and the Christian religion? They were both men of inuincible cou∣rage, of exceeding strength,* 3.12 and agilitie of bodie, wise, prudent, and subtile; both of long time ex∣ercised in the Turkes warres, the greatest terrour of that nation, and most worthie champions of the Christian religion, being therein both very zealous. Of the two, Huniades was at that time accounted the better commaunder, and the more polliticke, as a man of greater experience in martiall affaires, by reason of his greater yeares: which was well counteruailed by Scanderbeg his perpetuall good fortune, still as it were attending vpon him, & by his experience afterwards got∣ten, as in the course of his historie well appeareth.

Amurath aduertised of these proceedings of Scanderbeg▪ as also of the great harmes by him done in MACEDONIA, and that the frontiers of his dominions bordering vpon EPIRVS, were by his furie vtterly wasted and spoiled, and his people there for most part slaine, and that the rest had for feare forsaken their dwellings and left the countrey desolate and vnpeopled; was there∣with exceedingly mooued. Yet for so much as he still stood in dread of the Hungarians, and was now himselfe clogged with yeares, and therefore more desirous of rest▪ considering also the young yeares of his eldest sonne Mahomet, as yet vnsit for the gouernement of so great and troublesome a kingdome; with the perpetuall good fortune of Scanderbeg, and mallice of Huni∣ades: he thought it not best to conuert all his forces vpon him, but to proue if he could cunning∣ly draw him into some dishonourable peace for a time, that so he might afterwards at leisure bee the better reuenged of him. For which cause he writ vnto him letters, mixt with grieuous threats and some faigned courtesies, as followeth:

Amurath Ottoman, king of the Turkes, and emperour of the East, to the most ingratefull Scanderbeg, wisheth neither health nor welfare.

* 4.1I neuer wanted honourable preferments to bestow vpon thee all the while thou diddest liue in my court, of all others most vnkind Scanderbeg; but now I want words wherewith to speake vnto thee, thou hast so highly offended my mind, and touched mine honour, that I know not in discretion what words to vse vnto thee, but of late one of my domesticall seruants. For neither will hard speech moli••e the naturall fiercenesse of thy proud disposition, neither art thou worthie of better, which hast farre ex∣ceeded all hostilitie. And because thou wouldest omit no occasion to prouoke me, hast of late proceeded to that point of follie, that thou hast had thine owne affaires, and the welfare of thine owne subjects, in small regard, by confederating thy selfe in armes with the Hungarians, against me. It greeueth mee to rehearse other thy vnkindnesse, and as it were to touch those sores, if my mind would euer suffer me to forget the same, or that thy so manifold & horrible treasons, and strange examples of a most vnthank∣full mind, were to be couered with silence. Yet I thought good to aduertise thee (although perhaps too late) least that thy vnstaied heat doe vntimely ouerthrow thee, with thy vnluckie kingdome: and then thou wouldest make humble confession of thy long transgression, when thou hast lost thy selfe, and le••t no hope of refuge in thy desperat estate. We haue hitherto sufficiently suffered thy manifold iniuries: thou hast sufficiently prouoked the majestie of the Othoman empire, with wrong and contumelious despight, and I with patience haue borne all these thy contempts. Thinkest thou that my armie by thee betrayed vnto the Hungarians, shall be vnreuenged? Thinkest thou that so many cities and townes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 EPIRVS, by thee rent from the bodie of my empire, with my garrisons there slaine, shall be forgotten? Or thinkest thou with thy late committed outrages to escape my reuenging hands? Remember the de∣struction of mine armie vnder Alis Bassa; the wasting and burning of my dominions; and lately, the Hungarian warres, by thee so far as in thee was, countenanced; with the territories of George, the De∣spot of SERVIA, my father in law, by thee spoiled. At length amend thou gracelesse man, and expect not farther, whether my indignation will breake out. Let not these trifling allurements of thy good for∣tune, so puffe vp thy foolish desires, and sharpen thy conceits, that thy miserable fortune afterwards may moue euen thy greatest enemie, or my selfe, to compassion. I would thou shouldest at length remember my courtesies (if any sparke of humanitie remaine in thy sauage nature) and make me not longer sor∣rie, that I haue so euill bestowed the same. And although it is not the part of an honourable mind, to rehearse those things which we haue in bountie bestowed vpon any man; yet is it the token of a most vn∣thankfull nature, so easily to forget all kindnesse past, as to need to be put in remembrance therof. Wher∣fore Scanderbeg, I cannot but bewaile thy hap, and lament thine estate: For, to let passe the health of thy soule (which thou a very reprobat, esteemest as nothing) not to speake of the lawes of Mahomet, by thee despised, and the holy prophet by thee contemned, for the zeale thou hast vnto the Christian super∣stition: what hast thou (which now holdest thy poore and base kingdome in such price) euer wanted at my hands of all those things which most delight the desires of men? Diddest thou euer want armo••••, horses, a great traine of followers and seruants, money, or other superfluities, the allurements of all ages? Or diddest thou want matter to exercise thy valour, for encrease of thine honour? Wast thou euer deni∣ed preferments, dignities, and honours of all sorts fit for thine age, both at home and abroad? Was any man in my court deerer vnto me, than thy selfe? What growing wit, not of strangers onely, but of them that were neerest vnto my selfe, was better welcome vnto me than thine? With what carefull instru∣ction did I cause thee to be brought vp? When thou wast deliuered vnto me almost a child, I daily che∣rished and encreased thy hoped towardlinesse, with learning and nurture: I haue at all times honoured thee with rich rewards, magnificall praises, and honours of the field (which of all worldly things is most glorious) so that in all feats of armes no souldior was to me better knowne, or captaine of me more ho∣noured. For all these great benefits, Scanderbeg, thou now shewest thy selfe such an one, that I may be thought not to haue brought vp such a man as I hoped for, but a very serpent in mine owne bosome. But the loue of thy countrey did moue thee: which if thou hadst asked of me, would I haue denied the same vnto thee? Which (if thou doest well remember) I so oftentimes voluntarily profered vnto thee? But thou haddest rather to gaine the same by trecherie, than to receiue it at my hands of courtesie. So, thine be it therefore on God his name, and that with my very good will. And verely, according to my acc••∣stomed clemencie towards all them whom I haue once well knowne, and beene familiarly acquainted

with, I now pardon thee all thou hast offended me; not for any thy present deserts, which are none, but because in this publique enmitie, it pleaseth mee to remember my former kindnesse in priuat to∣wards thee, and thy faithfulnesse sometimes in my affaires; especially for that the time was much lon∣ger wherein thou seruedst me, than the time wherein thou hast offended me. CROIA and thy fathers kingdome (although thou hast gained the same by fowle treacherie) I giue vnto thee, vpon condition thou willingly restore vnto me the other townes of EPIRVS, which by no right belong vnto thee, but are mine by law of armes, by my selfe honourably wonne. Whatsoeuer thou hast taken from my father in law, the prince of SERVIA, thou shalt forthwith restore, and make him an honourable recompence for the other harmes thou hast done vnto him; and for euer hereafter, thou shalt as well forbeare to of∣fer violence to any our friends, as to aid any our enemies. So shalt thou for euer auoid the displeasure of the Turks, and stand in my good grace and fauour, as thou hast done before: except thou haddest ra∣ther (being taught by thine owne harmes) then in vaine crie for mercie, when thy furious outrage shall haue me in person, an implacable reuenger. Thou knowest thy forces, thou knowest the strength of mine armes; thou hast before thine eies the fresh example of the Hungarian fortune, so that thou nee∣dest no further admonitions. Yet I would thou shouldest write at large what thou intendest to do. Thou maiest also conferre with Ayradin our seruant, our trustie and faithfull messenger, of whom thou shalt vnderstand more than are in these letters comprised. Farewell if thou be wise. From HADRI∣ANOPLE.

To these letters Scanderbeg gaue small credit, and lesse to the messenger, but least of all to the old Fox himselfe, whom he well knew to haue written nothing simply of good meaning, but onely to gaine a cessation from warres, vntill he might at better leasure set vpon him with all his forces: wherefore calling Ayradin the messenger vnto him, whom he rather held for a craftie spie, than an honourable embassador, after hee had many times both publiquely and priuatly discoursed with him, so farre forth as was possible to sound the depth of his comming, and had also further entertained him with all honourable courtesies, hee shewed him all his campe, with the strength thereof; which hee did, because he would not haue the craftie messenger to thinke, that he was any thing afraid of his maisters greatnesse. And at last greatly complaining of Amu∣rath his cruell and perfidious dealing against his father, his brethren, and himselfe, he sent him away with such answere in writing as followeth.

The souldiour of Christ Iesu, George Castriot surnamed Scanderbeg, prince of EPIRVS, to Amurath Ottoman king of the Turkes sendeth greeeing.

Thou hast in times past (as thou writest) exceeded mee in many kinds of courtesies, and at this present I will exceed thee in modest and temperat speech:* 5.1 For I thinke there is no greater token of a base mind, than to be able to forbeare to giue railing and opprobrious words, euen vnto our most mor∣tall enemies. Wherefore we haue with patience receiued and seene, both thy letters and messenger: and to confesse a truth, they haue ministred vnto me greater occasion of smile, than choller: whilest at the first thou shamest not to accuse me of much ingratitude, & treson: and presently following a milder pas∣sion, seemest carefull of my soules health, being ignorant of thine own miserable estat••, as a studious defender of a most damnable errour. And at last, keeping neither law of armes, nor orderly course answering to our affaires, doest most insolently and vnaduisedly, as a valiant conqueror to his vanqui∣shed enemie, propound many conditions of peace, of such qualitie and condition, that mine eares scorne to heare the same. Truely Amurath, although thy immoderat railing might mooue a man of greatest patience to intemperat speech: yet I impute the same partly to thy great age, and partly to the wa••ward∣nesse of thy nature; and the rest, to thy conceiued griefe, which I know thou canst hardly moderat: and the more, for that I haue not set downe my selfe to contend with thee in foule and vnseemly language; but with armes and the just furie of warre. Yet I pray thee, wherfore doest thou so exclaime vpon me be∣fore God and man•• as though thou hadst first suffered wrong and injurie from me, and that thou hadst not in truth first don the same. Doest thou call my necessary departing, a perfidious treacherie? my natiue countrey by my policie and valour recouered, doest thou object to me as a villanie? object the same still and spare not; charge mee with such crimes for euer, I care not. The long catalogue of thy kindnesse to∣wards me, which thou rehersest, I could willingly rmēber, if it drew not with it the wofull remembrance

of my greater miseries. Which if they were to be compared together, the greatnesse of thy good deserts [ G] would be ouerwhelmed with the multitude of thy greater tyrannies; which I had rather thou shouldest count with thy selfe, than blush whilest I repeat them. Euery man that knoweth them, may meruell how I had power to endure them, or that thou wast not wearie at last of thy crueltie and secret hatred. Thou tookest away my fathers kingdome by force; thou diddest murther my brethren; and my selfe thou did∣dest most wickedly vow to death, when I little feared any such crueltie. And doth it now seeme strange to thee, ô Amurath, that an inuincible mind, desirous of libertie, should seeke to break out of the bonds of so great slauerie? How long at length diddest thou thinke I would endure thy proud and insolent bondage? which for all that I many yeares endured, and refused not thy commaund. I exposed my selfe to publicke and priuat dangers, both voluntarily and by thy designement: speeches were giuen out daily [ H] by thy selfe, and the admonition of my friends concerning thy deepe trecherie, was rife in mine eares: yet for all that, of long time I simply beleeued both thy words and deeds to haue beene deuoid of all fraud, vntill thy cankered mallice began too too apparently to shew it selfe, then began I also to glose with thee, wholly metamorphosed into thine owne conceits, vntill I found occasion to recouer my liber∣tie. Wherefore there is no cause thou shouldest now greeue, if thou be well beaten with thine own rod. But these are but trifles, Amurath, in comparison of those things which I haue laied vp in hope and resolution of mind. Therefore hereafter surcease thine angrie threats, and tell not vs of the Hunga∣rian fortune. Euery man hath his owne resolution, and euery man a particular gouernour of his acti∣ons: and so will we with patience endure such fortune as it shall please God to appoint vs In the meane time, for direction of our affaires, we will not request counsell of our enemies, nor peace of thee, but vi∣ctorie [ I] by the helpe of God. Farewell from our campe.

When Amurath had read these letters, and further conferred with Arradin, hee was filled with wrath and indignation, wondering at the great resolution of so small a prince, presently ca∣sting in his mind (as was thought) the difficultie of that warre. Yet because he would giue no to∣ken of feare, oftentimes stroking his white beard, as his manner was when he was throughly an∣grie, with a dissembled cheerefulnesse of countenance said:

Thou desirest (wicked man) thou desirest the title of some honourable death: we will giue it thee (beleeue vs) wee will giue it thee.* 5.2 Wee our selues will bee present at the buriall of our foster child, and in person (though vnbidden) honour the funerall pompe of the great king of EPIRVS; [ K] that thou shalt neuer complaine among the damned ghosts, that thou diddest die a base or obscure kind of death.

And for because at that time, by reason of many great occurrents, hee could not conuert his whole power into EPIRVS, he sent Ferises, one of his best captaines, with nine thousand choice horsemen, to keepe Scanderbeg in doing, and to spoile his countrey so much as he could. Which was with such speed done, that it was thought Ferises would haue beene in the heart of EPIRVS, before Scanderbeg could haue had knowledge of his comming. But for all his hast, he could not so preuent the flying fame, but that Scanderbeg hearing thereof, and hauing his men alwayes in readinesse, placed fifteene hundred good footmen in ambush vpon the rough [ L] mountaines, leading into the valley of MOVEA, whereby the Turks must needs passe into EPI∣RVS; placing also two thousand horsemen, as he thought most fit & conuenient for his purpose. Ferises descending from the high mountaines full of woods and bushes, by the broken and stonie waies leading into the valley, was in that troublesome and intricate passage fiercely set vpon by Scanderbegs readie footmen, suddainely arising out of ambush, where the Turks hauing no vse of their horses, but rather by them encombered, were slaine as Deere enclosed in a toyle. In this conflict seuen hundred and sixtie Turks were taken prisoners, and a greater number slaine, and Ferises himselfe, with the rest, enforced to flie, crying still out as hee fled, Better some sa∣ued, than all lost. Scanderbeg hauing thus ouerthrowne Ferises, pursued him into MACEDO∣NIA, and with the spoile there taken, rewarded his souldiours, as he had also many times be∣fore [ M] done.

Amurath greeued with the ouerthrow of Ferises, presently sent Mustapha a politicke and hardie captaine, with a new supplie of six thousand souldiours to take the charge from Ferises; commaunding him in no case, nor vpon any occasion, to enter farre into EPIRVS: but onely to burne and spoile the frontiers thereof, saying, That he would account it for good seruice, if he might but vnderstand, that the trees and fruits of that countrey, had felt the force of his anger.

[ A] Mustapha hauing receiued his charge, when he began to draw neere the borders of EPIRVS, con∣tinually sent out scouts before his armie, to see if the passages were cleere, and so warily entred the vallie of MOCRE, A where Ferises not long before was ouerthrowne. In this fruitfull vallie, being the frontiers of Scanderbegs dominion, Mustapha entrenched his armie, vpon the rising of a hill, and placed espials vpon the tops of the high mountaines round about, by them to disco∣uer the comming of the enemie, and to haue notice thereof by signes into the campe: then re∣seruing foure thousand horsemen with himselfe, to keepe his campe, hee sent forth the rest of his armie, about nine thousand horsemen, to forrage and spoile the countrey; giuing charge before, that euerie man vpon paine of death should presently retire to the campe, vpon signe giuen from [ B] thence, as to a place of safetie and refuge. The Turkish armie ranging ouer that rich and plea∣sant vallie, burnt the villages, cut downe trees, spoiled the vineyards, and made hauocke of all things that fire and sword could destroy; in that point executing Amuraths commaund to the full. At length Scanderbeg drawing neere to this vallie, with foure thousand horsemen and a thousand foot, was aduertised of all the enemies doings, by an Epirot souldiour, who greeuously wounded had hardly escaped from the Turks: of him he vnderstood, what number of Turkes were burning and destroying the countrey, of the campe also kept by Mustapha, and how espials were placed vpon the mountaines. Scanderbeg hauing well considered Mustapha his warie pro∣ceedings, and seeing no pollicie to bee vsed against so carefull an enemie, resolued to vanquish him by plaine force, by assaulting him suddainely in his trenches, before his dispierced souldiors [ C] could repaire to the campe: and hauing to this purpose, with effectuall persuasions encouraged the minds of his valiant soldiors, readie of themselues to follow him through all dangers; whē he had set all things in order for assaulting the enemies camp, speedily entred the vallie, and was pre∣sently discouered by the enemies espials, from the tops of the high hils, and a signe giuen to the campe, from whence also the appointed signe was giuen for the dispierced soldiors to retire: but most of them being straied from the campe; and busied in taking the spoile of the country, heard not or saw not the sign giuen: Those which were within the hearing therof retired to the campe, and at their heeles followed Scanderbegs souldiours,* 5.3 terrifying them with calling vpon the name of Scanderbeg. Many of the Turks were by the Christians slaine in the entrance of the campe, with their booties in their hands, and presently the Turks trenches were now by Scanderbegs sol∣diors [ D] couragiously assaulted, and the Turks beaten from the top of them. They hauing wonne the trenches, preuailed still vpon the Turks, filling all their camp with feare and slaughter. There was no vse of shot in that medlie, by reason of the straightnesse of the place, for they were now come to pell mell. Mustapha seeing his souldiours put to the worst, and that the campe was not long to be defended, tooke horse and fled by the port which was furthest from the enemie. The rest of the souldiors fled also, making such poore shift for themselues as they could. In this bat∣taile 5000 Turks were slaine, and but 300 taken; for the Christians enraged with the spoile of the country, reuenged themselues with the slaughter of the Turks. Scanderbeg lost in this conflict but 20 horsemen, and 50 footmen. The rest of the Turkes armie disperced in the countrey, hea∣ring the tumult in the campe, misdoubting the fortune of their fellowes, fled also: yet many of [ E] them were in that fight pursued and slaine.

After this ouerthrow, Mustapha returning to Amurath, the better to excuse the misfortune of himselfe, and the other captaines before sent, greatly commended the inuincible courage of Scanderbeg, and his wonderfull skill in feats of armes; persuading Amurath either to send a grea∣ter power against him, or else none at all, saying, That to send such small armies, was but to mi∣nister matter to the increase of his glorie, and the infamie of the Turks; and to vse pollicie against him the maister of pollicie, was but meere follie. It greeued Amurath to heare the praises of his enemie, although hee knew the same to be true, by the continuall fortune he had alwaies against his great captaines Alis-bassa, Ferises, and Mustapha: wherefore he determined for a time not to prouoke him further, but to suffer him to liue in peace: yet commaunded Mustapha to renew his [ F] armie for defence of the borders of his kingdome towardes EPIRVS, against the innouation of Scanderbeg; but straightly commaunding him in no case to inuade any part of EPIRVS, neither vpon any occasion offered, or conceiued hope of victorie, to joyne battaile with Scanderbeg, for feare of such euill successe as before.

At this time also the Grecians of PELOPONESVS now called MOREA, hauing before forti∣fied the strait of CORINTH from sea to sea, with a perpetuall wall, which they called HEXA∣MYLVM,

and deep trenches about six miles in length, had also built fiue strong castles in the same [ G] wall, of purpose to take away all passage by land into that rich countrey, and begun now not on∣ly to denie the yearely tribute they were wont to pay vnto the Turkish king, but also to inuade such princes of ACHAIA their neighbours, as were content to remaine still the Turks tributaries▪ amongst whom Nereus prince of ATHENS, and Turacan Gouernour of THESSALIA for A∣murath, ceased not by continuall complaints to incense him against them of PELOPONESVS. Who hauing his armie in readinesse, although it was now winter, and he himselfe verie aged, set forward from HADRIANOPLE, and marching through THESSALIA, came into ACHAIA, where most of the Grecians were before fled for feare into PELOPONESVS. So passing on with his armie, he came to the strait commonly called ISYMVS, where the famous citie of CORINTH [ H] sometime stood; and there encamped his armie neere vnto the strong wall, and castles, lately be∣fore built, hoping that the Grecians of PELOPONESVS, terrified with the multitude of his ar∣mie, would without resistance submit themselues: but when he perceiued them to stand vpon their guard, and to trust to their stength, he laid battrie to the wall foure daies, and hauing made it saultable, brake throgh the same with his armie. The Grecians hauing lost the wall (their cheefe strength) fled, some to one strong hold, and some to another, as their fortune led them; the Turks at their pleasure spoiling and destroying that rich & pleasant country, sometime the nurse of worthie wits, and famous captaines: where they found wonderfull riches, and tooke prisoners without number; insomuch that they were sold among the Turks at most vile price. There A∣murath for his pleasure, cruelly sacrificed six hundreth Christian captiues, to the hellish ghost of [ I] his dead father Mahomet: & afterwards imposing a yearely tribute vpon the Peloponesians, and others Grecian princes now yeelding againe vnto him,* 5.4 as an induction to their further slauerie vnder the Turkish rirannie, he returned, taking in his way the two famous cities of PATRAS and SICYONE. Thus the rich countrey of PELOPONESVS, and all the rest of GRECIA, sometime fountaine of all learning and ciuilitie, became tributarie to the barbarous and cruell Turkes, in the yeare of our Lord 1445.

* 5.5Old Amurath now clogged with yeares, and wearied with long wars, was content to take his rest at HADRIANOPLE:* 5.6 during which time, Baiazet the sonne of Mahomet was borne in the yeare 1446, who afterwards of long time with great glorie gouerned the Turkish empire at CONSTANTINOPLE, as in his place shall appeare. [ K]

The Hungarians after the calamitie of VARNA, wherein they had together with Vladislaus their king, lost most part of their nobilitie also; in a generall assembly of their states, made choice of Ladislaus, the posthumous sonne of Albertus (and then in keeping of Fredericke the empe∣rour) for their king. But for as much as he being then but a child of fiue yeares old, and chosen king, more for the remembrance of the emperour Sigismund his grandfather, and Albertus his father, and for the good hope conceiued of him, than for any other thing presently to bee expe∣cted from him; it was thought more than necessarie, to make choice of some notable and woor∣thie man, vnto whom they might (during the time of the kings minoritie) commit the gouerne∣ment and protection of that so great and turbulent a kingdome. Many there were in that hono∣rable assemblie well thought of,* 5.7 both of themselues and others: but such was the glorie and va∣lour [ L] of Huniades, and so great the remembrance of his worthie deserts both of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, and of the Christian commonweale in generall, as without his seeking, procured vnto him the generall fauour and suffrages of all; yea so farre, that euen they which most enuied at his honour, as ouershaddowing their own, were glad to hold their peace, for that without him it was commonly thought the state of that shaken kingdome could not long stand: So by the generall consent of all the states there assembled, hee was with the great applause of the people chosen and proclaimed gouernour, as of all others most fit for so great and heauie a charge: wherein he quietly spent some few yeares in deciding of ciuile controuersies, in composing the quarrels of the nobilitie; not forgetting in the mean time the indifferent administration of justice to all men, ending many controuersies farre from the place of judgement, and that without all [ M] suspition of corruption, vsing therein such expedition and neuer-wearied patience, in hearing euery mans cause, that sitting, going, standing, riding, hee dispatched many great and waightie matters: alwayes shewing himselfe affable and courteous, as well vnto them of the poorer sort, as others of greater calling, that had any sutes vnto him. So that it was of him truly said, That no man was than he vnto his friends more friendly, or vnto his enemies more crosse and contrarie.

[ A] In time of peace he was alwayes prouiding for warre, heaping vp great treasure; and such other things, as without which, the warres could not be maintained. But aboue all things, he was care∣full of the good agreement of the nobilitie, taking great paines in reconciling their displeasures conceiued one against another, and that with such dexteritie, as that he was both of them and o∣thers generally both beloued and feared.

In the meane time,* 5.8 whilest he was thus busied in disposing of the ciuile affaires of the com∣monweale and the administration of justice,* 5.9 hee was aduertised by his esp••als, how that the old Sultan Amurath was raising great forces both in ASIA and EVROPE, and that as the common fame went, for the inuasion of HVNGARIE. For the withstanding whereof, Huniades not vn∣prouided, [ B] as neuer vnmindfull of so dangerous an enemie, or of any thing more desirous, than in some sort to be reuenged of the great losse receiued at VARNA; in the fourth yeare of his go∣uernment and in the yeare of our Lord 1448 accompanied with most part of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, and the Vaiuod of VALACHIA his friend and confederate, set forward against the Turke, with an armie of two and twentie thousand choise souldiours. So hauing passed the riuer TIBISCVS, or TEISE, and trauailing through VALACHIA, a little beneath where the riuer MOROVA running through SERVIA, falleth into DANVBIVS, he with most part of his armie passed that great riuer; the rest in the meane time taking passage ouer at a towne called SEVE∣RIN. Huniades with his armie being thus got ouer into SERVIA, by his embassadours requested the Despot, as he had oftentimes before, to put himselfe into that most Christian warre; and re∣membring [ C] the great benefits he had receiued from the Hungarians, not to shew himselfe therfore vngratefull, than which, nothing could be more dishonourable: and to encourage him the more, certified him both of his owne strength, and of the aid brought vnto him by the Vai∣uod; and that for the good successe of the warre, there wanted nothing but his presence and di∣rection, with such troupes of light horsemen as he knew he had euer in a readinesse. Where∣with he requested him with all speed to follow him. But he being a man of no religion, and bet∣ter affected vnto the Turke than to Huniades, the more cleanly to withdraw himselfe from this warre, pretended many excuses: first, the league he had with Amurath his sonne in lawe, which he said he might not breake, for feare that if things chanced not well, he might so fall againe headlong into his old miserie; then, the vnseasonablenesse of the time, Autumne being now [ D] past, which difficulties in those cold countries they had to their cost too much felt in the late war: These with many other such like he alleadged, in excuse that he came not: but the truth was, the malice of the man, grieued to see Huniades preferred before him in the gouernment of the king∣dome, and disdaining to serue vnder his ensignes, being himselfe Despot, and king of SERVIA, descended of the royall race, the cause of his backwardnesse: so that blinded with enuie, he could not there rightly judge of himselfe, or what was fit for him in this case to haue done. But Huniades angrie with his vnkind answere, threatned him with his owne hands to be reuenged vpon him, and to giue away his kingdome to one more worthy thereof than he, if he should with victorie returne.* 5.10 So passing through SERVIA, as through the enemies countrey, he came into BVLGARIA. After whose departure, the false Despot by speedy messengers aduertised A∣murath [ E] both of the comming of the Hungarians, and of their strength; yea he certified him of euerie daies march, and how that Huniades was but with a small companie of his owne, and some weake supplies of the Vaiuods come ouer DANVBIVS: whom if he should not presently meet, but suffer him to come on further, and so with his armie to get betwixt him and home, hee might so shut him in, as that he should hardly be able to scape his hands. All which he did, partly for enuie, partly to gratifie the Turke, and the better to keepe friendship with him. So Amurath not contemning the Despots counsell, suffered Huniades without resistance to enter a great way into his countrey, and comming two or three daies march behind him, so stopped the passage as that he could not possibly retire, but that he must needs fight. And now they were both come vnto a great plaine in BVLGARIA, which the Hungarians call RIGOMEZV, and the [ F] Rascians the plaine of COSSOVA, through the middest whereof the riuer SCHICHNIZA rising out of the mountaines of ILLIRIA running, at length falleth into MOROVA, and so into DA∣NVBIVS: this plaine is about 20 miles in length, and in bredth fiue, enuironed on each side with pleasant mountaines, in manner of a theatre, the riuer and low vallies at the foot of the moun∣taines being garnished with many countrey villages and townes. Into this fatall plaine when as the Hungarians first, and after them the Turks, were as into a place of combate descended;

an old woman dwelling in one of the villages vpon the riuer side fast by, where both ar∣mies [ G] of late passed, with a loud voice cried out, Oh how much I now feare, the hard fortune of the Hungarians. When as their passage ouer by the foord troubled the riuer but one daie, and the Turks three.* 5.11 By the small number of their armie, diuining their ensuing ouerthrow. In the middest almost of this plaine ariseth a small hill, by the foote whereof the riuer SCHICHNIZA runneth; not farre beyond which, toward the head of the plaine, was a certaine tower built like a piramides, in memoriall of Amurath the first of that name, and third king of the Turks there slaine: which tower, Amurath fearing least Huniades marching before him, should take, and so become vnto him ominous (for in such matters the Turkes are verie superstitious) hee made the more hast, of purpose to joyne battaile with him before he should come to the foresaid tower. [ H] Huniades being come vnto the hill, easily arising in the middest of the plaine, there encamped, ex∣pecting the comming of Scanderbeg; who was said (according to appointment made betwixt him and Huniades) to be euerie houre comming. Wherefore Amurath fearing least the tower fast by should be taken, and the enemies power strengthened by the comming of the Albanois, prouoked Huniades to battaile; who still refused the same, in hope of his friends comming which made the Turke more fierce vpon him, seeking by all meanes he could to draw him to battaile, but especially by cutting him off from water and forrage: for why hee much presumed vpon his multitude, hauing in his armie about fourescore thousand fighting men. At length Huniades for want of water and other necessaries, enforced to fight, vpon S. Lukes day being then Thursday, commaunded his souldiours to make themselues readie: and diuiding his armie into two and [ I] thirtie battailions, in such order as he ment to giue battaile, the more to encourage them spake vnto them as followeth:

* 5.12At length (valiant souldiours and fellowes in armes) the day is come, wherein you may reuenge that dishonour, or disgrace, you receiued in the battaile of VARNA; and recouer your former credit of constancie, and praise, if you will play the men: the enemie opposeth against you, but these reliques of his armies, by you so often broken and discomfited; who although they be in number moe than you, yet are they in hope, quarrell, and strength, far inferior. For what can they hope for, which fight not for their owne, but for another mans kingdome? and in conquering, procure vnto themselues nothing but bondage in this life, and torment in the life to come, and in both perpetuall and endlesse miserie? [ K] Whereas you on the other side, howsoeuer the matter fall out, fighting for your owne kingdome, your children, your countrey, your houses and altars, may assuredly hope for in both, eternall and vndoubted blisse. You haue also far greater cause to fight, as they which if they do not valiantly ouercome their ene∣mies, are in danger with themselues to loose also all that theirs is. The strength of both are sufficiently tried. Once we vnfortunatly joyned battaile at VARNA, where if wee might make exchange of our fortunes there found, happily the Turke would make choise of our flight, rather than of the great slaugh∣ter of his owne men: who being not able to ouertake vs, was there notably beaten, with the losse of a great part of his armie: whose great losse there receiued, may counteruaile our dishonour, although the losse, he suffred perforce, but we our flight by choise. But of that our ouerthrow, the angrie powers from aboue (willing to reuenge our breach of faith) were as I verily beleeue, the cause, rather than our cow∣ardise: [ L] for euen there, all the authors of that perfidious dealing, euen there I say, euerie one receiued the just guerdon of their treacherie. Whereas we against our wils, drawne into that wofull warre, by the mercie of God yet liue with you, preserued for the defence of the Christian commonweale, and espe∣cially of HVNGARIE, that it should not be ouerrunne with the Turkish power and rage. The number of your enemies is not of you to be feared, when as you with few, haue oftentimes learned to fight with their multitudes, and caried away from them the victorie. Hetherto we haue rather fought by the pow∣er of God than man, and in the name of Christ Iesu our Sauior, haue easily ouerthrowne their prophane battailes. Which way soeuer wee haue turned our selues, in his most mightie name, we haue with our victorious armes opened our way, for that wee fought vnder the leading and conduct of the highest, whose helpe we haue alwaies felt at hand: neither shall we thereof this daie faile, if we be mindfull of [ M] his forepassed loue towards vs, and of our wonted valour. God is alwaies present with them that in his just quarrell fight couragiously. Hereunto is joyned the safe manner of our fight, by reason of our men at armes, and barbed horses, who like a strong castle cannot easily be ouerthrowne. Our battalions are such as may easily be commaunded, and yet strong inough against our enemies: whereas their great multitude breedeth but confusion. We haue many notable and forcible engines of warre, which they

[ A] haue not. Besides that, euerie houre we looke for the worthie Scanderbeg his comming. The danger is not so great, as that we should feare it; or so little, as that we should contemne it. Backe againe without victorie we may not goe, for that our armie is hardly by the straits of these mountaines to beeled: and if the way were neuer so easie, yet without doing that we came for, and glorie with victorie, we may not retire. Vnto the valiant, all difficulties are propounded. Wherefore sith this your last labour is at hand, wherein the whole strength of the Turkes may be for euer cut off, I pray and beseech you (fellow soul∣diors) by that God vnder whose power and protection wee serue, and by the loue you beare vnto your countrey, your wiues, your children, and wealth, vpon the signall of battaile giuen, so to shew your va∣lo••r, as men resolued to be fully reuenged of the injuries by that filthie and wicked nation done both to God and man: and especially of the losse receiued at VARNA. We lost there a deuout king, who for our safetie, and for the breach of his faith, sacrificed himselfe; by which royall sacrifice, that diuine anger is appeased: vnto whose ghost, I beseech you, in this battaile to make an honourable sacrifice. Not for∣getting withall, to reuenge the death of other worthie men in that battaile slaine. This feare of the Turks, is at once and euen this day to be cut off; and so, as that it should neuer grow againe: and the kingdome of HVNGARIE, so to be deliuered from the danger of most cruell slauerie, as that it may by this daies worke gaine perpetuall rest, and glorie, vnto the enioying of the pleasures both of this life, and of the life to come. Wherefore (worthie souldiours) we must fight with all our force, for that our honour so requireth, our profit so persuadeth, and necessitie enforceth. As for our selues, howsoeuer the matter fall out, all shall be with vs well: If victorie, perpetuall blisse and happinesse shall thereby be [ C] procured vnto our countrey, and immortall fame vnto our selues; but if we shall be ouercome, here we shall be most honourably buried in the bed of fame, to liue in heauen with God and his saints for euer. Wherefore I beseech you so to fight, as men resolutely set downe to ouercome, or if it shall otherwise fall out, as men resolued honourably to die.

With this the Generals speech, all the minds of the hearers were greatly enflamed, and they all by his words, and their owne hot desires, sufficiently encouraged. Neither did old Amurath on the other side with lesse care or diligence marshall his armie and encourage his Turks, sparing neither cheerefull speech, glorious promises, or seuere commaund: Whose armie being brought into the plaine, and ranged in order of battaile, filled the same from the one side to the other, euen [ D] vnto the verie mountaines, to the great astonishment of the Christians: and so about nine a clock in the morning set forward. Huniades had from the hill where he lay, sent downe both the wings of his armie, and had afront on both sides before them, stretched out certain long troupes of light horsemen,* 5.13 to begin the skirmish: In the middest betwixt both he had placed Zechel, his sisters sonne, with a strong square battaile of men at armes: and such as he had kept aloft vpon the hill for rescues, he had compassed about with his waggons, as with trenches. The signall of the battaile being giuen, the fierce and couragious souldiors on both sides, with cheerefull mindes, began at first to skirmish a farre off: but afterwards fortune as it were fawning vpon both sides, and their courage thereupon increasing, they began with greater force to fight foot to foot, and hand to hand. Which hot fight, continued about three houres: at length the Turkes battaile [ E] was put to the worst, by Benedict Losoncius, who had the leading of the right wing; and so like∣wise in the left also by Stephen Bamffi, who with great slaughter had notably foyled the great Bassa of EVROPE, still pressing hard & desperatly vpon him. Which discomfiture of his men in both wings Amurath beholding, presently sent in strong supplies, & in both places renewed the battaile: whereby the Hungarian and Valachian light horsemen before wearied, were enforced to retire vnto the men at armes; who ferred together, and standing as a strong wall, easily re∣pulsed the greatest assaults of the Turks: In which manner of fight many were on both sides slain, but farre mote of the Turks, by reason they were neither so well horsed nor armed as were the Christians. Huniades in the meane time with the artillerie from the hill, did the Turks great harme: which Amurath perceiuing, drew as close vnto the hill as he could, by that meanes sa∣uing his people (so much as was possible) out of the danger of the artillerie, mounted on high aboue them in such sort, as that it could little or nothing now hurt them. Which Huniades from the hill beholding, came downe to the releefe of his men, sending new supplies to both wings; sometime encouraging them with cheerefull speech, and sometime with his owne most valiant hand: vnto the wearie he sent releefe, the fearefull he encouraged, them that were flying he stai∣ed, and where hee saw the enemies fastest comming on, there was hee himselfe present to meet

them, omitting nothing that was of a good Generall or worthie souldiour to be done. The vali∣ant [ G] he commended, the coward he reprooued, and as a carefull Generall, was himselfe in euery place present. Whereby the battaile became so fierce and terrible, that in euerie place a man might haue seen all fowly foiled with blood, and the quarrey of the dead. Amurath in like maner still sent in new supplies, nothing discouraged with the great losse of his men, presuming vpon his multitude, as fully resolued orderly to fight, and to make vse of all his forces; in hope at length by continuall sending in of fresh supplies, to wearie his enemies, whom he saw hee could not by force ouercome. Wherein he was not deceiued, for one battailion of the Hungarians was often times enforced to wearie foure or fiue of the Turks before they could be releeued, they came on so fast. That day they dined and supped in the battaile, refreshing themselues with such short re∣past [ H] as they could eat standing, going, or riding. The Turkes armie was that day in euerie place put to the worst, & often times with great slaughter enforced by the Hungarians to retire almost vnto their trenches: yet was the battaile still againe renewed, and so fought on both sides, as well appeared they were resolued either to ouercome, or there to die. This cruell fight maintained all the day, was by the comming on of the night ended, both the armies retiring into their owne trenches: but with purpose the next daie to renew the battaile, and not to giue ouer or turne their backes, vntill the victorie were by dint of sword determined. So with little rest, was that night spent, both armies keeping most diligent watch, all carefully expecting the next day, as by battell therein to trie whether they should liue or die. It was yet scarce faire daie, when both the ar∣mies in good order readie ranged began againe the battaile:* 5.14 which at the first, was not by the [ I] Hungarians fought with such force and courage as before, for there was none of them which had not the day before spent their whole strength; whereas there was yet almost fortie thousand of the Turks,* 5.15 which either had not fought at all, or but lightly skirmished. Yet Huniades exhor∣ted his souldiors, not by faint harted cowardise to breake off the course of the victorie by them the daie before so well begun, but couragiously to prosecute the same; beseeching them not to be now wanting vnto themselues and their country, but to remember how well they had fought the day before, how many thousands of their enemies they had slaine, and not now at last to giue ouer, and so shamefully to frustrate all the paines and dangers by them before endured: for that they (as he said) were to be thought worthie of honour, not which began, but which well ended honourable actions. He wished them to set before their eies the calamities like to ensue, [ K] if they should as cowards be ouercome: first, the diuers kinds of death and torture; then, the sla∣uerie of their wiues and children; the rauishment of their virgins and matrons; and last of all, the vtter destruction of their kingdom, with the horrible confusion of all things, as well sacred as pro∣phane: all which were by that one daies labour (as he said) to be auoided. And therefore he be∣sought them for the loue both of God and man, with their wonted valour, that day to set at liber∣tie for euer, themselues, their countrey, their wiues and children, and what soeuer else they held deere. In like manner also did Amurath encourage his souldiours, with great promises, and threats, persuading them rather to endure any thing, than by that daies ouerthrow to bee driuen out of EVROPE. He carefully viewed his armie, ordered his battailes, and with many graue rea∣sons persuaded them to play the men. But after that some light skirmishes being past, both the [ L] armies were fully joyned, the battel was fought with no lesse force and furie than the day before. Of the Christians many then wounded, came now again into the battaile, there either by speedy death or speedie victorie to cure their wounds before receiued; and there did right good seruice. Great was the slaughter in euerie place, neither could the force of the Hungarians be withstood; whose furious impression, whē the Turks could not by plain force endure, they began with their fresh horsemen, cunningly to delude their desperat fiercenesse: at such time as the Hungarians be∣gan most hardly to charge them, they by & by turned their backs, suffering them a while to fol∣low after thē, far scattered & dispersed: who allured as it were with the hope of a present victory, eagrely pursued them, & in the pursuit slew diuers of them. And they again vpon a signall giuē, closing together, & turning back vpon the dispierced troups, well reuenged the death of their fel∣lows: [ M] & with their often charges, & retraits, wonderfully wearied the Hungarians; notably delu∣ding their furious attempts with that vncertain kind of fight, all the day long. Many of the Hun∣garians were there slain, and the Turks had that day the better, and so both armies being wearied, night and wearines ended the fight: both retiring into their trenches, there keeping most carefull watch. The next morning by the dawning of the day, the battaile was again begun. Huniades his

[ A] brother, Generall of the Valachians, with his light horsemen setting first forward; after whom in seemly order followed the rest of the nobilitie,* 5.16 with their companies. Where for certaine howers, the battaile was hardly fought with like hope on both sides, and a great slaughter made, but especially of the Hungarians; who wearied with the long fight, & most part of them woun∣ded, were now all to endure this third daies labour. Zechel (Huniades his sisters sonne) valiantly fighting in the front of the battaile, was the first of the leaders there slaine in the thickest of the Turks. Emericus Marzalus and Stephen Bamffi, both great commaunders, enclosed by the Turks, there died also. Amurath seeing the formost ensignes of the Christians which stood in Zechel his regiment, taken, and his soldiors (discomfited with the death of their colonell) turning their backs; [ B] presently commaunded all the companies, which were manie (yet left in the trenches, for fresh supplies) to issue foorth, and at once to ouerwhelme the Christians, being (as hee said) but few and ouerweried with three daies continuall fight. Vpon which the kings commaund, they fierce∣ly breaking out, presently ouerthrew both the wings of the Christians, before wauering; and in a great battaile (wherein most of the chiefe commaunders were slaine, and their ensigns taken) dis∣comfited the rest, and with a great slaughter put them to flight. Huniades seeing his brother now slaine,* 5.17 the ensignes taken, and the battaile quite lost; betooke himselfe to flight also, leauing behind him his tents and baggage, all which shortly after became a prey vnto the Turkes: who from noone vntill night furiously followed the chase, with most cruell execution; but at length staied by the comming on of the darkenesse, they returned againe vnto their trenches. The rest [ C] of the Turkes armie that followed not the chase, compassing in the Hungarian campe, were there by the wounded souldiors, the wagoners, and other drudges of the armie, kept out so long as they had any shot left; but yet were in the end euerie mothers sonne slaine, though not alto∣gither vnreuenged, two or three of the Turkes in many places lying dead by the bodie of one Hungarian. Amurath to couer the greatnesse of the losse he there receiued, commanded the bo∣dies of his captaines there slaine, to be forthwith buried; and the bodies of his common souldi∣ours, to be for the most part cast into the riuer SCHICHNIZA: For which cause the inhabitants of the countrey there by, of long time after abstained from eating of any fish taken in that ri∣uer. The plaine by this great battaile made once againe famous, lay neuerthelesse many yeares alter couered with dead mens bones, as if it had been with stones: neither could be ploughed [ D] by the countrey people, but that long time after armour and weapons were there still in many places turned vp and found. Thus albeit that this bloudy victorie fell vnto the Turkes, yet was their losse farre greater than the Hungarians; hauing lost (as was reported by them that say least) foure and thirtie thousand of themselues, for eight thousand of their enemies. Howbeit they themselues report the losse to haue beene on both sides far greater;* 5.18 as that of the Christians were slaine seuenteene thousand, and of themselues fortie thousand: which in so long and mortall a fight, is not vnlike to haue been true. In this vnfortunate battaile fell most part of the Hunga∣rian nobilitie: all, men worthy eternall fame and memorie, whose names we for breuitie wil passe ouer. Many in the chase taken, and the next day brought to Amurath, were by the commande∣ment of the angrie tyrant slaine. Such as escaped out of the slaughter by the way of ILLYRIA, returned in safetie: but such as sought to saue themselues by returning back againe through SER∣VIA the Despots countrey, found the same so troublesome as that few of them escaped, but that they were by the way either slaine, or quite stripped of all they had.

Neither was the fortune of the noble Huniades much better than the fortune of the rest, who hauing on horsebacke all alone by vncouth and vntract waies, trauailed three daies with∣out meat or drinke, and the fourth day tired his horse and cast him off; being on foot and dis∣armed, fell into the hands of two notable theeues, who in dispoiling him of his apparell, finding a faire crucifix of gold about his necke, fell at strife betwixt themselues for the same: whereby he tooke occasion to lay hand vpon one of their swords, and with the same presently thrust him through; and then suddenly assailing the other, put him to flight also. So deliuered of this dan∣ger, trauailing on, and almost spent with thirst and hunger, the next day he light vpon a sheep∣heard, a sturd••e rough knaue, who hearing of the ouerthrow of the Hungarians, was (in hope of prey) roaming abroad in that desolat countrey: Who at their first meeting, strucken with the majestie of the man, stood at gaze vpon him; as did also Huniades, fearing in his so great weak∣nesse to haue to doe with him. Thus a while hauing the one well regarded the other, they be∣gan to enter talke, the sheepheard bluntly asking him of his fortune; and he for Gods sake cra∣uing

of him some thing to eat. When as the sheepheard hearing of his hard happe, mooued [ G] with his estate, and hope of promised reward, brought him vnto a poore cottage not farre off, causing to be set before him bread and water, with a few oynions. Who in the pleasant remem∣brance of that passed miserie, would oftentimes after in his greatest banquets say, That he neuer in his life fared better, or more daintily, than when he supped with this sheepheard. So well can hunger season homely cates.* 5.19 Thus refreshed, he was by the sheepheard conducted to SYNDI∣ROVIA: whereof the Despot hauing intelligence (whose countrey was all layd for the staying of him) caused him by the captaine of the castle to be apprehended, and imprisoned. But after certaine daies spent in talke about his deliuerance, it was at length agreed, that all such strong townes in RASCIA and SERVIA, as had by the Hungarians been detained from the Despot, at such time as his kingdome was by king Vladislaus restored vnto him, should now be againe to him deliuered; and that Matthias, Huniades his youngest sonne, should for the confirmation of farther friendship, marrie the Despots daughter: with some other such conditions as it plea∣sed the vngratefull prince for his owne behoofe to set downe. For performance whereof, he re∣quired to haue Ladislaus, Huniades his eldest son, in hostage. All which Huniades was glad forth∣with to yeeld vnto, for feare the false Despot should haue deliuered him into the hands of Amu∣rath, his mortall enemie. So the hostage being giuen, Huniades was againe set at libertie. Who vpon Christmas day comming to SEGEDINVM, was there by all the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, and great concourse of the people, honorably receiued. This ingratitude of the Despots no lesse greeued this worthie man, than the dishonour receiued from the Turke. Wherefore vpon the suddaine raising a great armie, he inuaded the territorie, long before giuen to the Despot by the emperor Sigismund in HVNGARIE, in exchange of the strong town of BELGRADE, destroying the countrey before him, and burning the villages, neuer resting, vntill he had got into his power whatsoeuer the Despot had in HVNGARIE: & yet not so contented, presently entred into RAS∣CIA, where the Despots embassadors met him, bringing with them Ladislaus the hostage, honora∣bly rewarded, & humbly crauing peace at his hands: which he at the request of the nobilitie, easily granted, with forgiuenesse of all former wrongs or injuries. And so hauing with him concluded a peace, returned backe again into HVNGARIE. But Fortune neuer suffereth long the valiant man to rest, but still keepeth him busied, least he should at too much ease attaine vnto honours glorie.

* 5.20The yeare following, Amurath certainely enformed, That George the Despot hauing of late [ K] Huniades in his power, had againe set him at libertie: was therwith exceeding wroth, blaming him of great ingratitude,* 5.21 That for a kingdome which he had at his hands receiued, he had not deliue∣red vnto him his enemie, in full recompence thereof: whom of all others he most feared, & there∣fore likewise wished to haue had him perish. In reuenge of which injurie (as he tooke it) the me∣lancholie tyrant, sent Fritze-beg and Iose-beg, two of his most expert captaines, with a strong po∣wer to inuade RASCIA, the Despots countrey: who accordingly entring thereinto, strongly for∣tified CHRYSONICVM, a towne before ruinated, vpon the side of the riuer MORAVA, and from thence with fire and sword destroyed the countrey both farre and neere. The Despot dismayed with this suddaine and vnexpected inuasion, wist not well which way to turne himselfe: the an∣grie Turke, he well knew, was not to bee appeased without yeelding vnto some great inconueni∣ence; [ L] and to pray aid of Huniades, without which he was not able to withstand the Turkes, hee thought but vaine, for the wrong he had before done him. So that what to do he he wist not: yet had he rather to endure any thing, than againe to suffer the heauie bondage of the Turke. In this extremitie he thought best to make proofe of Huniades, of whom hee humbly and not without great shame craued aid. Which the courteous gouernour, according to his honourable nature, forgetting all former injuries, easily graunted: and the rather, for that hee desired nothing more, than to be of the Turks in some part reuenged of the ouerthrow from them of late receiued in the plaines of COSSOVA: as also for that he wisely foresaw, That the Despots countrey being lost, hee should haue the Turkes still brauing him euen as it were in the gates of HVNGARIE. Wherefore hauing with great speed raised a conuenient power, he forthwith in person himselfe [ M] set forward, and at SYNDEROVIA passing ouer the riuer DANVEIVS into RASCIA, there joy∣ned his power with the Despots, which hee found there readie. And so marching forward with such expedition, that hee preuented the fame of his comming; and the weather also at the same time as it were fauouring his purpose, and couering the countrey with a thicke mist, hee was the fourth day vpon the Turkes before they were aware of him. Who wonderfully dismayed with

the suddaine comming of the Christians, and vpon the breaking vp of the mist, discouering also Huniades his ensignes (alwaies vnto them dreadfull) thought now no more of resistance, or of the ordering of their battaile, but as men discouraged, betooke themselues to speedie flight. After whom followed the Hungarian and Seruian light horsemen, with most bloodie execution ha∣uing them in chace all that day; Huniades with his men at armes following still after in good or∣der, for feare the Turkes should againe make head vpon the light horsemen that had them in chace. And had not the comming on of the night ended the slaughter, few of the Turkes had there escaped: but by the approch thereof many of them got into the woods, and so saued them∣selues. Fritze-beg the Generall, with most part of the Turkes best commaunders, were in that flight taken. Huniades after this victorie entering into BVLGARIA, came to BVDINA, the me∣tropoliticall citie of that countrey, which (as the cause oftentimes of great wars) he burnt down to the ground. And so hauing well reuenged himselfe, and cleared the countrey of the Turks, he returned backe againe into SERVIA, and there gaue vnto the Despot for a present all the priso∣ners he had taken: and contenting himselfe with the honour of the victorie, returned with tri∣umph to BVDA, there to find no lesse trouble with the Bohemians, and some of the disconten∣ted nobilitie of HVNGARIE, than hee had with the Turkes, to the great hurt of the Christian commonweale.

All this while that Amurath was thus troubled with Huniades and the Hungarians, Musta∣pha lying still vpon the borders of MACEDONIA, as Amurath had commaunded; it chaunced [ C] that a great quarrell grew betwixt the Venetians and Scanderbeg, about the inheritance of Lech Zacharie (a noble man of EPIRVS) then shamefully murthered by his vnnaturall kinsman Lech Duchagne; part of whose inheritance lying in the frontiers of EPIRVS, the Venetians claimed, as belonging to their seignorie: and hauing got possession of the citie of DAYNA, part thereof, by force held the same against Scanderbeg: vpon which quarrell great warres arose betwixt the Ve∣netians and him, who had before beene very great friends: insomuch, that in the end they joined in battaile at the riuer of DRINE, where the Venetians were by him in a great battaile ouer∣throwne. Of which troubles Mustapha daily vnderstood, and how that Scanderbeg so busied, had left but a small garrison vpon the borders of EPIRVS. Wherefore being desirous to redeeme his former disgrace with some better hap; hee would faine haue taken the oportunitie now pre∣sented, [ D] but that his great masters command lay so heauie vpon him, as that he durst not without his leaue attempt the same; knowing that the danger of his euill fortune, if it should so fall out, would farre exceed the vncertaine glorie of his better successe. Yet ceased hee not from time to time to giue Amurath intelligence of these troubles and warres in EPIRVS, earnestly requesting him not to let slip so faire an oportunitie, but to giue him leaue to enter into the countrey: in manner, assuring him beforehand of the victorie. yet the suspitious old king was long in resol∣uing what to doe, still fearing the fortune of his enemie. At length discharged of the feare of the Hungarians, and commending Mustapha his forwardnesse, hee sent vnto him a messenger with letters of this purport, answerable to his desire.

[ E] The warres thou so greatly desirest,* 5.22 behold Mustapha we graunt vnto thee: the glorie thereof (if those things be true which we heare of the Venetian war) thine owne valour, and worthie right hand shall giue thee: yet thou must warily deale with that enemie, and not rashly take vp armes, which thou maiest be enforced shamefully to cast away, when thou thinkest least. Peraduenture the counterfeit shew of warre, and faigned falling out among the Christians, do too much allure thee; for the common say∣ing is, There is no quarrell sooner ended, than betwixt the father and the sonne: wee in person absent, can neither aduise thee as present, nor commend a foolish forwardnesse in armes. Thou must before thou put on armes, dispose of all things, and consider of euery particular, which is to be put in execution when thou art in the field. Thou hast a great armie of fresh and lustie souldiors, thine enemies are with continuall warres wearied and spent: in that remaineth, doe as thou thinkest good, for I forbid thee the [ F] doing of nothing, which thou thinkest may be for the aduancement of our honour.

Mustapha hauing thus obtained leaue, and well appointed, with all his forces entered into EPIRVS, hoping in one battaile to end that warre: which he (presuming vpon the strength of his armie) many times offered in the plaine field. Newes hereof was brought to Scanderbeg (then lying at the siege of DAYNA against the Venetians) from his garrisons lying vpon the frontiers

of EPIRVS, to whom he addressed a speedie messenger: commaunding them in no wise to en∣counter [ G] with the enemie, but to keepe themselues within the sauegard of their strong holds, and to protract the time vntill his coming. Afterwards selecting out of his armie fiue hundreth horse∣men, & fifteen hundreth chosen footmen, all old beaten soldiors, he with that small number mar∣ched to the place where he knew lay his garrisons intrenched, in the vpper countrey of DIBRA: leauing Amesa his nephew at the siege of DAYNA. Mustapha hauing many times in vaine sought to draw the garrison souldiours out of their trenches by offering them many faire oportunities of aduantage, and now out of hope that way to circumuent them, began to spoile and burne the countrey round about. But when he vnderstood by his scouts of Scanderbeg his comming, hee speedily called together his armie, and encamped within two miles of Scanderbegs campe, at a [ H] place called ORONOCHE, in the vpper countrey of DIBRA. Scanderbeg had there in his campe of his garrison souldiours and those he brought with him, foure thousand horsemen, and two thousand foot, all old expert souldiours: where, after he had made his trenches strong, hee left therein three hundreth of them, and brought the rest into the field in order of battaile. Mustapha on the other side likewise brought on in good order his armie also. But whilest both armies thus stood ranged one within the view of the other, expecting nothing but the signall of battaile, suddenly a man at armes, in gallant and rich furniture, issued out of the Turks armie into the mid∣dest of the p••aine betwixt both armies, and from thence with a loud voice challenged to fight hand to hand with any one of the Christian armie. This Turke was called Caragusa. At the first Scanderbegs soldiors vpon this challenge stood stil, one looking vpon another; for as they were all [ I] ashamed to refuse so braue an offer, so the danger so suddainly offered, staied euerie mans for∣wardnesse for a while: Vntill that one Paul Manessi, accounted the best man at armes in Scander∣beg his armie (vpon whom euerie mans eie was now cast, as if he had been the man by name cal∣led out by the proud challenger) not able longer to endure the Turkes pride, with great courage and cheerefull countenance came to Scanderbeg, requesting him that he might be the man to ac∣cept that challenge. Who greatly commended him, and willed him on God his name to set forward, first to win honour to himselfe, and then to giue example of his valour for all the rest of the armie to follow. Paul staying a while, vntill he had for that purpose most brauely armed himselfe, mounted presently to horse, and riding forth into the plaine, called aloud vnto the Turk, that he should make himselfe readie to fight. Whom Caragusa required to stay a while that hee [ K] might speake vnto him a few words, indifferently concerning them both.

* 5.23The victorie (said he) our force and fortune shall determine: but the conditions of the victorie, we are now to appoint our selues. If the Destinies haue assigned vnto thee the honour of this daie, I re∣••use not, but that thou maiest by law of armes, when I am ouercome, cary away with thee my rich spoiles, and at thy pleasure dispose of my dead bodie. But if thou shalt fall vnder my hand, I require that I may haue the same right, and power ouer thy captiue bodie: and that the Generals will graunt that no man shall mooue out of either armie, to better the fortune of either of vs in the time of the combat, or after.

* 5.24Whereunto Manessi answered, That hee agreed to those conditions of the combat, which hee [ L] vpon a needlesse feare ••ad so required to be kept: saying, That where the fierce soule had yeilded, there of good right all the rest ought to be the conquerours; and that therefore he should fight without feare of any more enemies than himselfe: whom so soone as he had depriued of life, he should haue free pow∣er to doe with his dead bodie what he would. Which if thou wouldest giue (said he) vnto the teares of my fellow souldiours, yet would not worthie Scanderbeg suffer the carkasse of a vanquished coward to be brought backe againe into his campe.

Caragusa maruailed to heare his so braue a resolution, and as it was thought, repented him of his challenge. But after that both the Generals had vpon their honours confirmed the lawes of the combat before rehearsed, both the Champions were left alone in the middest of the plaine betweene both armies, with all mens eies fixed vpon them. Now both the armies betwixt feare [ M] and hope, stood in great expectation of the euent of the combat, presaging their own fortunes in the fortune of their Champions. In which time they both hauing withdrawn themselues one frō the other a conuenient distance, for the making of their course, and after with great violence run∣ning together: Caragusa was by Manessi, at the first encounter stroke through the head and slaine. Manessi alighting, disarmed the dead bodie, and stroke off his head: and so loaded with the armour and head of the proud challenger, returned with victorie to the armie, where he was

joyfully receiued and brought to Scanderbeg, of whom he was there presently honourably both commended and rewarded. Scanderbeg seeing his men by this good fortune of Manessi greatly encouraged, and the Turkes as men dismaied with the death of their Champion hanging their heads,* 5.25 like an inuincible captaine himselfe set first forward toward the enemie, as it were in con∣tempt of their multitude: and had charged them as they stood, before they had set one foot for∣ward, had not Mustapha to encourage his souldiours, with certaine disordered troupes opposed himselfe against him, which the whole armie seeing, faintly followed: but as they set forward with small courage, so were they at the first encounter easily driuen to retire. Which when Mu∣stapha saw, he called earnestly vpon them to follow him, and the more to encourage them by his owne example, put spurres to his horse, and fiercely charged the front of Scanderbegs armie, as one resolued either to gaine the victorie, or there to die; after whom followed most of the principall captains of his armie, which would not for shame forsake their generall: thus by his va∣lour the battaile was for a while renued. But Moses preuailing with great slaughter, in one part of the armie, the Turks began to flie: in which flight Mustapha the Generall, with twelue others of the cheefe men in that armie, were taken prisoners, but of the common souldiours few were saued. There was slaine of the Turkes armie ten thousand, and fifteen ensignes taken, whereas of the Christians were lost but three hundreth. The Turks tents and campe, with all the wealth thereof, became a prey to Scanderbegs souldiours. Wherewith although he had satisfied the de∣sires of them all, yet to keepe his old custome, he entred into the confines of MACEDONIA, and [ C] there burnt and spoiled all that hee could. And afterwards leauing a garrison of two thousand horsemen, and a thousand foot, for defence of his frontiers, returned againe with the rest of his armie to the siege of DAYNA.

Not long after, the Venetians made peace with Scanderbeg: and Amurath desirous to redeeme his captaines, about the same time sent great presents vnto Scanderbeg, with fiue and twentie thousand duckats,* 5.26 for the ransome of Mustapha, & the other chieftaines: whom Scanderbeg so ho∣nourably vsed, as if there had neuer been any hostilitie betwixt him and them: and so with a safe conuoy, sent them out of his countrey. The raunsome of Mastapha and the other Turks he de∣uided amongst his souldiours. When Scanderbeg had thus made peace with the Venetians, hee forthwith led his armie againe into MACEDONIA, with the spoile of that countrey to make his [ D] souldiours better pay, as his vsuall manner was. And to doe the greater harme, he diuided his ar∣mie into three parts, wherewith he ouerrunning the countrey, wasted and destroied all before him, putting to the sword all the Turks that came in his waie. As for the Christians that there li∣ued amongst them, he spared, but left them nothing more than their liues: the buildings of the countrey he vtterly consumed with fire, so that in all that part of MACEDONIA which borde∣reth vpon EPIRVS, nothing was to be seen more than the bare ground, and the showes of the spoile by him there made. Which vnmercifull hauocke of all things he made, to the end that the Turks should find no releefe in those quarters, whensoeuer they should come either to lie in garrison in that countrey, or to inuade EPIRVS. The spoile hee made was so great, that it was thought hee left not in all that countrey, so much as might releeue the Turkes armie for one [ E] daie.

Of all these great harmes by Scanderbeg done in MACEDONIA, Amurath was with all speed aduertised, and therewith exceedingly vexed: howbeit he resolued with his great counsellors, no more to send any of his Bassaes or captaines, but to goe himselfe in person, with such a royall ar∣mie, as should be sufficient not to conquer EPIRVS, but if need were, to fill euery corner thereof. Wherefore hee commaunded commissions to bee speedily directed into all parts of his king∣domes and prouinces, for the leuying of a great armie for HADRIANOPLE: yet whither he in∣tended to imploy the same, was not knowne to any in the Turks court, more than to the Bassaes of the counsaile. Which caused all the bordering Christian princes to make the best preparation they could for their owne assurance, euery one fearing least that growing tempest should breake out against himselfe. But Scanderbeg of long acquainted with the Turkish policie, easily perceiued all that great preparation to be made against him: which he was the rather induced to thinke, by reason of the vnaccustomed quietnesse of Amurath, who all that while had neither sent any armie to reuenge the ouerthrow of Mustapha, nor so much as a garrison for defence of the bor∣ders of his kingdome, but had let all things negligently passe, as if he had beene in a dead sleepe. Besides that, it was also thought, that he had secret intelligence from some of his old friends and

acquaintance in Amurath his court, who probably suspected the matter. Wherefore Scanderbeg [ G] setting all other things apart, gaue himselfe wholly to the preparing of things necessarie for the defence of his small kingdome against so mightie an enemie. First hee by letters and messengers aduertised all the Christian princes his neighbours and friends, of the greatnesse of the danger of that warre; wherein Amurath (as he said) sought not onely his destruction, but the vtter ruin of them all: exhorting them therefore to consider, how farre the danger of so great an armie might extend, and therefore to stand fast vpon their guard. Then hee sent Moses and other his expert captaines into all parts of EPIRVS, to take vp souldiors, and all the prouision of corne and victu∣als that was possible to be had. Wherein he himselfe also busily trauailed day and night, not re∣sting vntill he had left nothing in the countrey whereupon the enemie might shew his crueltie. Most part of the common people with their substance, were receiued into the strong cities, the rest tooke the refuge of the Venetian and other Christian princes townes and countries farther off, vntill this furie was ouerpast: all such as were able to beare armes, were commaunded to re∣paire to CROIA; where when they were all assembled, there were ynow to haue made a right puissant armie. But out of all this multitude Scanderbeg made choice onely of ten thousand old expert souldiors, whom he purposed to lead himselfe to encounter with the Turkes great armie, as he should see occasion: and placed a thousand three hundred in garrison in CROIA. The cit∣tizens also themselues were throughly furnished with all manner of weapons and other prouisi∣on meet for the defence of their cittie. Then proclamation was made, That all the aged men vn∣fit for warres, with the women and children, should depart the citie; and none to bee therein left but the garrison souldiors, and such citizens as were willing to tarie, and able to beare arms. This cittie of CROIA was the cheefe citie of EPIRVS, and of the fortune thereof seemed to depend the state of all the other strong townes and citties, and so consequently of the whole kingdome: for which cause,* 5.27 Scanderbeg had the greater care for the defence thereof. It was a miserable sight to see the lamentable departure of this weake companie out of CROIA: all was full of weeping and wailing; no house, no street, no part of the cittie was without mourning: but especially in the churches was to be seene the very face of common sorrow and heauinesse; where all sorts of people in great numbers flocking together, poured forth their deuout praiers, with fountaines of teares, wringing their hands; yea, and some in the impatiencie of their greefe forgetting them∣selues, seemed to expostulate their greefe with God. But when their sorrow was with teares as∣suaged, [ K] and their hearts somewhat eased, the aged mothers kissing their sonnes, gaue them many a fearefull commandement: sometime rehersing how louingly and tenderly they had brought them vp, and othersome times shewing vnto them their feeble limmes and hoary haires, willing them to bee mindfull of them: The wiues presented their children vnto their husbands, bewayling to leaue them as childlesse wydowers, and their houses desolat: The old men mute with sorrow, & carefull of their children, durst neither encourage them, for feare of making them too forward; neither dissuade them from aduenturing themselues, least they should seeme to loue them more than their natiue countrie. In the middest of these passions commandement came from Scanderbeg, that they must now depart, that the souldiors might take their places & charge. Then began their sorrowes afresh, with pittious scriching & teares. A man would haue thought [ L] the cittie had euen then been presently taken by the Turks. They could hardly be drawne from the embracing of their friends, all now desiring to remaine still with them in the citie, partakers of their common dangers. But when they saw the officers begin to be earnest vpon them, and to hasten their departure, then with heauie hearts they tooke as it were their last farewell, and departed out of the citie, setting their feet many times they wist not where, for desire they had to looke backe againe vpon the citie. This great multitude was conueyed also into the Venetian cities, and other places free from danger: whither all the countrey people, which were not before receiued into the strong cities, resorted also, with all their substance and cattell; leauing nothing in all the countrey of EPIRVS, but the bare ground for the Turks to prey vpon. After this multi∣tude was departed, and all well quieted, and none left in the citie but men fit for seruice, Scander∣beg [ M] throughly stored it with all things needfull for the defence thereof, and for the enduring of a long siege: besides that, he gaue to euery souldior conuenient armour, with some small reward. Then he placed Vranacontes (a valiant and famous captaine, honourably descended) gouernour of the cittie. And so hauing set all things in order for the safegard thereof, after hee had in few words exhorted them courageously to endure the siege, and not to listen to Amurath his flatte∣ring

[ A] and deceitfull charmes, he departed out of the cittie vnto his armie, then lying within view, and began presently to march towards DYBRA. But he was not farre gone, before he met with Moses with a gallant troupe of horsemen comming from SFETIGRADE, a strong citie of DY∣BRA, situate in the confines of EPIRVS, bordering vpon MACEDONIA: which citie was Scan∣derbeg his second care, for that it was like to be the first that should endure the angrie tyrants fu∣rie, standing first in his way, as it were the fortresse of that countrey. Moses had there set all things in like order, as had Scanderbeg in CROIA; and had there placed one Peter Perlat (a graue and polliticke man) Gouernour, with a strong garrison of souldiors chosen out of all the countrey of DYBRA, which were alwaies accounted the best men of warre in all EPIRVS, and was for so do∣ing [ B] greatly commended of Scanderbeg. Who deliuering vnto him all the forces hee had prepa∣red for the defence of the other castles and citties of EPIRVS, sent him with diuers other of his nobilitie and captaines, to take order for the safetie of those places, appointing vnto euery man his charge.* 5.28 As for himselfe, he with a small troupe of horsemen went to SFETIGRADE, carefull of that citie aboue measure, as it were before deuining the ensuing danger. Being come thither, and all the souldiors assembled by his commaundement into the market place, hee there in open audience spake vnto them as followeth:

Almightie God could not this day offer vnto you (worthie souldiours of SFETIGRADE) better matter:* 5.29 neither could a fairer occasion be presented vnto braue minds and souldiors desirous of honor, [ C] than that which now hath caused you to take vp most just armes. Wherein you may for euer by worthie example make knowne your constant faith and worthie valour, both towards me in priuat, and the peo∣ple of EPIRVS in generall. Hitherto we haue horne armes for the honour of our kingdome, but now we must fight for our liues, our libertie, and the wals of our countrey. You must now force your selues, that you doe not by reproch and cowardise staine the worthie praises you haue alreadie deserued, by the great victories by you obtained vnder my conduct. The greatest part of the fortune of this war depen∣deth vpon you: For the first passage of Amurath into EPIRVS (that I my selfe may be vnto you the first messenger of that danger) will be this way: the first furie of the Turkes will assaile you, that ha∣uing here as it were broken downe the strongest fortresse of EPIRVS, hee may afterwards breake through the countrey, more subject to danger. The first fruits of this war is yours, you (if you beare the [ D] hearts of courageous men, mindfull of your libertie) may beat downe the proud strength of the haugh∣tie enemie, and discourage his high conceits. The Othoman king shall haue the beginning both of his hope and feare, of you: if he shall find you so minded, as I now see you gallantly mooued, and with joy heare your violent indignation; he will in euery place feare a great force of danger, and thereby learne to abstaine from the other cities of EPIRVS: neither will he lie here long at a vaine siege, except the wa••ward old man, will foolishly hereupon gage all his forces: for such is the situation and strength of this citie, that it may easily set at nought an angrie enemie. Wherefore resolue with your selues worthie souldiors and cittizens, only by constancie and faithfulnesse, without bloodshed, to gain vnto your selues an honourable victorie. Of your valour (which I willingly speake of) dependeth for the most part the faithfulnesse of all the rest, they will looke vpon you whom they may praise or accuse, and whose exam∣ple [ E] they may follow in the fortune of these warres. But to what purpose should men of woorth in their actions pretend the necessitie of faith, or chaunce of fortune? whereas, by reason things are both best begun and accomplished. It seldome chaunceth, that fortune faileth the sound aduice, or is not obedient vnto vertue: and you haue all things which most politicke care could prouide for your safetie. You want not armour, you want not plentifull prouision of victuals, you want not valiant men: the superfluous multitude of vnnecessarie people, the pitifull lamentation of women, and troublesome crying of chil∣dren shall not withdraw you from your publike charge, from your seruice and defence of your countrey; I haue left you alone to your selues, for defence of your citie, your religion, and dwellings, that you might be encouraged onely with the prouocations of honour and libertie, with the emulation of aduenture and danger, and the very sight one of another; and I my selfe will not be far off with my courageous soul∣diors, [ F] a silent beholder and encourager of your vertue: where although I may not auert from you all the force of the cruell enemie by rash aduenture, nor trie the whole fortune of this war in plaine field; yet will I turne a great part of your dangers vpon my selfe, and trouble the enemies designes, with ma∣ny a hot skirmish. For as much as there is no better manner of fight, nor safer kind of warre, for vs a∣mongst such a multitude of men, and so many thousands of souldiors, than neuer to offer battaile vnto the enemie in plaine field, neither to aduenture all vpon the fortune of one conflict, although a man did

see apparent signes of victorie. He will of purpose at the first giue vs the oportunitie of good hap: hee [ G] will feed our hardinesse with the blood of his base souldiors, the easilier to intrap and oppresse our rash∣nesse, allured with the sweet bait of good fortune: but the craftie deuises of the Othoman king, are by great policie and consideration to be frustrated. This mightie enemie is by little and little to bee cut off, as time and place shall giue occasion. For truly that victorie should bee vnto me lamentable, which I should buy with the blood of my souldiors: and beleeue me, it would be vnto me a more sorrowfull than pleasant sight, to see eight or ten thousand of my enemies slaine, with the losse of a few of you. I will praise and honour my subiects of EPIRVS for valiant conquerours, if they shall not suffer themselues to be conquered of the Turkish king. The rest I had rather you courageous souldiors of DIERA should consider with your selues, than that I should seeme to distrust of your assured faith, by giuing you a care∣full [ H] and tedious admonition.

When Scanderbeg had with cheerefull persuasion thus encouraged the minds of them of SFETIGRADE, he departed thence, and visited diuers other cities of EPIRVS, where finding all things politickely ordered by Moses and the other captaines, whom he had put in trust, he retur∣ned to his armie, then lying neere vnto CROIA.

Whilest Scanderbeg was with great carefulnesse yet thus prouiding for the safegard of his kingdome, in the meane time Amurath his armie was assembled at HADRIANOPLE, to the number of a hundred and fiftie thousand men, whereof many were pioners, and men appointed for other base seruices necessarie at the siege of townes. Of this great armie Amurath sent fortie [ I] thousand light horsemen before him to SFETIGRADE, who according to his commaund came and encamped before the citie: the newes of their comming, with a great deale more than truth, was forthwith brought to Scanderbeg, then lying with his small armie neere CROIA: whereup∣on he with foure thousand horsemen, and a thousand foot, took the way toward SFETIGRADE, and strongly encamped his armie within seuen miles of the citie. Where hauing set all things in good order, he, accompanied with Moses and Tanusius, went by certaine blind waies through the mountaines and woods, vntill he came so neere vnto the citie, that from the place where hee stood, vpon the top of a hill, he might easily discouer in what sort the enemie lay encamped: and so returning backe againe to his campe, rise with his armie in the night following, and drawing as neere vnto the Turks armie as he could, vndiscouered, placed all his armie in the couert of the [ K] woods and secret valleyes,* 5.30 vnperceiued of his enemies. After that hee sent forth Moses and Mu∣sachi his nephew, with thirtie of his best horsemen, apparelled as if they had been but common souldiors, but passing well mounted, driuing before them certaine horses laden with corne, by a by-way, as if they had purposed to haue secretly got into the cittie. The day then breaking, they were discouered by the Turks scouts, and set vpon: where at the first Moses and the rest began of purpose to flie, but when he saw that they were pursued but with like number to themselues, hee returned backe vpon the Turks, and slew fiue of them, and chased the rest vnto the campe. The Generall seeing what had happened, sent foorth foure thousand horsemen to pursue these suppo∣sed victualers: whom they quickly recouered the sight of, for that Moses of purpose had made small hast to flie: but when the Turks began to draw nigh, Moses left the horses laden with corn, [ L] and fled; yet so that he still drew on the Turks with hope to ouertake him, vntill he had brought them where Scanderbeg with his armie lay in wait: by whom they were suddainly assailed on euerie side, and with great slaughter put to flight. In this conflict, two thousand of the Turkes were slaine, and a thousand of their horses taken: of the Christians were lost but two and twen∣tie. This was the first welcome of the Turks armie to SFETIGRADE.

About eight daies after came Amurath with all his armie, in the beginning of May in the yeare of our lord 1449,* 5.31 and hauing made the greatest shew he could with his huge armie to terrifie the defendants:* 5.32 he encamped the baser sort of his footmen at the foot of the hill, whereon the citie stood, and lay himselfe with his Ianizaries, and other his most valiant souldiors, about three quarters of a mile further off: where after he had line still one daie, & well considered the strength [ M] of the place, towards euening he sent a messenger to the citie, who requested to speake with the Gouernour Perlat. Whereof hee hearing, came to the wall: of whom the messenger reque∣sted, That he would commaund the souldiours standing by, to goe further off, for as much as he had some thing in secret to say vnto him from his master. Vnto whom Perlat merrily answered: It is like indeed to bee some great secret, that you would haue kept not onely from the hea∣ring

[ A] of my soldiors, but from the verie light of the dale, and therefore haue chosen the night: but I haue not learned of mine elders, to heare any message from mine enemie by night, neither at any time else out of the hearing of the garison, to whom Scanderbeg hath committed the defence of this citie, and I the sauegard of my person: you must therefore at this time pardon me, and to morrow if your maister so please, I will heare you at large. And therewith commanded him to depart from the wals. So he returned for that time without audience as he came. It grieued Amurath not a little to see his messenger so lightly regarded: yet forasmuch as hee had more hope to gain the citie by large offers, or some reasonable composition, than by all his great force▪ he dissembled his wrath: and the next daie sent the same messenger again, with one of his Bassaes▪ a graue and well spoken man, himselfe borne in EPIRVS. This Bassa with three souldiours, and two seruitours, was by the gouernours commaundement by one of the ports receiued into the citie, and brought into S. Maries church. Where after he had with great eloquence sought to in∣sinuate himselfe into the minds of the Gouernour, and the hearers, and afterwards augmented the terrour of Amuraths power beyond all measure, laying before them the great victories by him obtained against the Hungarians, and the other Christian princes: in fine he exhorted them to yeild the citie vnto him, in whose name he promised first that the citizens should in all respects vnder his gouernement liue as they had before done vnder Sanderbegs; then, that the Gouernor should receiue at Amurath his hands most honourable preferments, with many rich and princely gifts; and that it should be lawfull for the garrison souldiours to depart in safetie whether they [ C] would, and to haue three hundreth thousand Aspers diuided amongst them in reward. But when the Bassa had ended his speech, the Gouernour in this sort replied:

If you had not deliuered this speech vnto resolute men, deuoted vnto the defence of their libertie, it might perhaps haue wrought some effect;* 5.33 and we (said he) might peraduenture listen vnto your offers, if we were either afraid of the Othoman king, and the vaine threats of our enemies; or else were wearie of the gouernement of the noble Scanderbeg. But forasmuch as no euill desert of his, nor good desert of your masters, hath yet passed, for which we should preferre a stranger before our naturall so∣ueraigne, an enemie before a friend, a Turke before a Christian; let your maister proceed first in his action begun, let him prooue his fortune, let him by force terrifie vs, beat downe our wals, make ha∣uocke [ D] of our men, and by strong hand driue vs to humble our selues at his feet, and to sue for peace: But it were a great dishonour, yea a thing almost to be laughed at, if we should cowardly accept of these con∣ditions by him offered, before any assault giuen, before one drop of bloud spilt, before any souldior did so much as once grone for any wound receiued, before one stone were shaken in the wall, or any small breach made. But your maister shall doe better to raise his siege, and get him backe againe to HADRI∣ANOPLE, there to spend the small remainder of his old yeares in quiet, and not to prouoke vs his fatall enemies, whose courage in defence of our liberties, and fidelitie towards our prince, hee hath so often times prooued to his great dishonour, and losse of his armies. The faith I haue once giuen to my Soue∣raigne, for the defence of this citie, I will neuer forget, vntill the effusion of the last drop of my bloud. It shall be vnto me reward and honour inough, if I either liuing defend this citie, or with losse of my [ E] life shall leaue my guiltlesse soule at libertie, and my carkasse amongst the dead bodies of worthie soul∣diours, when I shall find a way into a farre better place.

The Generall hauing giuen this resolute answere vnto the Bassa, bountifully feasted him that day at dinner, and afterwards led him through the middest of the citie: where he saw great store of victuals, by the Gouernour commaunded of purpose to be set in shew, to put Amurath out of hope of winning the citie by long siege. And so sent the Bassa out by the same port whereby he came in, much discontented with the answere he was to returne to his maister.

When Amurath vnderstood by the Bassa,* 5.34 of the Gouernours resolution, he was therewith exceeding wroth, and thereupon with his great ordinance battered the citie three dayes without [ F] intermission. And hauing by the furie of his artillerie made a small breach, he foorthwith gaue thereunto a most terrible assault, labouring first to win the same by the force and multitude of his common souldiors, which the Turks call Asapi, whom hee forced by great numbers to that seruice. Of these souldiors, the Turke in his warres maketh no great reckoning, but to blunt the swords of his enemies, or to abate their first furie, thereby to giue the easier victorie to his Iani∣zaries and other his better souldiors: which the Othoman kings hold for good policie. Whilest

these forlorne souldiors, without respect of danger pressing forward, are slaine by heapes at the [ G] breach, the Ianizaries at the same time in another place attempted to haue scaled the wals of the citie: but whilest they with much labour and difficultie first crawle vp the steepe rocke whereon the cittie was built, and afterward desperatly mount vp their scaling ladders, they were by the defendants with huge stones and weightie peeces of timber cast vpon them, beaten down, wher∣with they were driuen headlong to the bottome of the rocke, and so miserably slaine. Many of them together with their skaling ladders, were by the Christians thrust from the wall, and tum∣bling downe the rocke, violently carried with them others, comming vp behind them. Some few got to the top of the ladders, and taking hold of the battlements of the wals, lost some their fin∣gers, some their hands, but most their liues, being beaten downe as the other were. Many of them [ H] which stood farther off, were then wounded also, and with shot from the wals slaine. With this miserable slaughter, and no hope to preuaile, the Turks discouraged, began to withdraw them∣selues from the assault: but the Bassaes and captaines standing behind them, forced them againe forward, exhorting some, threatening others, and beating the rest forward with their trunchions. By which meanes the assault was againe renewed, but not with such courage as before, though with no lesse slaughter: which the defendants seeing, gaue from the wals great tokens of joy and triumph. Amurath perceiuing his discouraged souldiours readie of themselues to forsake the assault, presently sent Feri-Bassa (one of his most valiant captaines) with a new supplie of three thousand chosen souldiours to renew the fight. The Christians well aware of their comming, ceased not with continuall shot to beat them from the wals: but such was the forwardnesse of [ I] that fierce captaine, that without regard of danger he brought his men to the wals, where the de∣fendants from aboue ouerwhelmed them with stones, timber, wild fire, and such other things as are vsually prepared for the defence of townes besieged. For all that, Feri-Bassa gaue so great an assault, that he slew diuers of the defendants vpon the wals, and had there forcibly entered, had not the Gouernour perceiuing the danger, with a companie of fresh souldiors come with speed to the defence of that place;* 5.35 whereby the enemie was presently repulsed, and driuen againe from the wals. Amurath seeing the great slaughter of his men, and no hope of successe, caused a retreat to be sounded, and so leauing the assault, retired againe into his campe. The great losse and disho∣nour at this assault receiued, much troubled his wayward mind: who for all that yet ceased not to giue the like vaine attempts. At length the captaine of the Ianizaries perceiuing that part of [ K] the citie which was farthest from the campe, to be commonly but slenderly manned, by reason that it seemed a place impregnable, both for the height and steepenesse of the rocke; told Amu∣rath, That he would assay (if it so pleased him) secretly in the night to attempt by that place to en∣ter the cittie: where as they thought nothing was more to bee feared, than the height thereof, which they supported with the wings of desire, doubted not to mount vnto. This his deuice ex∣ceedingly pleased the king, and was the next night with great silence put in execution. But such was the carefulnesse of the Gouernour ouer euery part of his charge, that nothing could be done against the same,* 5.36 but that it was by him forthwith discouered. The Gouernour aduertised by the watch, of the Turks attempt; with great silence presently repaired to the place with a great com∣panie of the garrison souldiors, and standing close, from the top of the wall beheld the Turks, as [ L] it had beene a swarme of Emmets climing vp the high rockes, and one helping vp another by such desperate way, as was in reason to haue been thought no man would haue attempted. But when they were come to the top of the rocke, & now euen readie to enter, they were from aboue suddenly ouerwhelmed, as it had been with a shower of shot, and so violently forced downe that high rocke, that most part of them which had got vp to any height, were miserably crushed to death either with the weight of themselues, or of others falling vpon them, and many of the rest slaine with shot from the top of the rocke:* 5.37 whereof Amurath presently vnderstanding, was ther∣with exceedingly greeued.

During the time of this siege, Scanderbeg neuer lay long still in one place, but remooued con∣tinually from place to place, as best serued his purpose, breaking sometimes into one quarter of [ M] the Turks campe, and sometime into another, and straightway so suddenly gone againe and as it were vanished out of sight, that Amurath many times wondered what was become of him. At this time, being the latter end of Iune, he was come with his armie within eight miles of Amu∣raths campe: and from thence sent Moses his greatest captaine, in the attire of a common soul∣dior, with two other, to take view how the enemie lay encamped. By which trustie espials he was

[ A] enformed, That the Turkes lay in great securitie, as men without feare, keeping but negligent watch. Of which oportunitie, Scanderbeg rejoycing, the night following suddenly assaulted one quarter of the Turks campe. Whose comming, although it was a little before by the Turkes scouts discouered; yet his furious assault was so suddaine and so forceable, that he slew two thou∣sand of the Turks, and filled euery corner of that great campe with feare and tumult, before they could well arme themselues or make resistance. After which slaughter he safely retired, carrying away with him two hundred and thirtie horse, with seuen of the Turkes ensignes, hauing in this skirmish lost of his men but two and fortie: whose dead bodies the Turkes the next morning in reuenge of their slaine friends hewed into small peeces.

[ B] Vpon these great disgraces one following in the necke of another, Amurath hauing no other object but the citie to shew his furie vpon, gaue three fierce assaults vnto the same, one after ano∣ther, and was alwaies with losse both of his men and honour repulsed. But the more he lost, the more he burnt with desire of reuenge, persuading his souldiors, That as the strongest citties and fortresses were built by mens hands, so were they to bee ouerthrowne and laied euen with the ground by resolute and valiant men: encouraging them to a fresh assault, with greater promises of reward than euer hee had done before in all his warres, from the first beginning of his raigne. And because he would with more safetie giue this his last and greatest assault, he appointed Feri-Bassa, with twelue thousand horsemen and six thousand foot to attend vpon Scanderbeg, if hee should hap to come (as he thought he would) to trouble the assault, by assailing of his camp. Feri-Bassa [ C] glad of this charge, well hoping now to redeeme his former ouerthrow with some great victorie, and leading forth his armie a little from the campe, as he was commaunded, so lay; wi∣shing for nothing more than the comming of Scanderbeg, vainely boasting, That he would seeke him in the field, and there trie his force and fortune with him hand to hand: which he did shortly after to his cost. When Amurath had thus set in order all things requisit, as well for the siege, as for the safegard of his campe: the next morning he compassed the citie round about with his ar∣mie, and couered the ground with his men of war, purposing at that time to gage his whole for∣ces vpon the taking thereof. The wals he had before in some places battered, so much as was pos∣sible; and yet but so, as that they were not without skaling ladders to be assaulted: partly for the naturall strength of the place, and partly for that the defendants had with great diligence conti∣nually repaired and filled vp with earth what the furie of the cannon had throwne downe. This assault Amurath began first with his archers and small shot, which deliuered their arrowes and bullets vpon the top of the wall, and into the citie, as if it had beene a shower of haile, thereby to trouble the stationarie souldiours. In this heat, ladders were clapped to the wals in euery place where any could be possibly reared, and the Turkes began desperatly to skale the wals: but the Christians nothing dismaied thereat, with great courage resisted them, and with shot from their safe standings wounded and slew many of them: yet others still pressed vp in the places of them that were slaine, so that the assault became most terrible in many places at once, but especially neere vnto the great gate of the citie; where the Turks had vpon the suddaine with ladders, tim∣ber, and planks clapped together, raised close vnto that tower, as it had beene a woodden tower, equall in height to the wall; from whence the Turks greatly distressed the Christians in that place, fighting with them as if it had been vpon euen ground, still sending vp fresh souldiors in stead of them that were slaine: and thereby preuailed so far, that they had set vp certaine of Amurath his ensignes vpon the wall, to the great comfort of the Turkes, and astonishment of the besieged Christians. The Gouernour seeing the imminent danger, hasted to the place with a companie of fresh and valiant souldiors, by whose force the Turks were quickly repulsed from the wall, their ensignes taken and sent into the market place: the tower of wood with many ladders and much timber by the Turks brought to that place, was quickly consumed with wild fire cast vpon the same from the wals. Perlat hauing deliuered the citie of this feare, presently placed fresh soldiors in stead of them which were slaine or hurt, and so worthely defended the citie.

Whilest Amurath was giuing this great assault to Sfetigrad, Scanderbeg to withdraw him from the same,* 5.38 came with nine thousand souldiours to assaile the Turkes campe, as Amurath had before suspected, and was now come verie neere the same. Feri-Bassa glad of his comming, opposed his armie against him: which Scanderbeg seeing, retired a little, of purpose to draw the Bassa farther from the campe, and then forthwith began to joyne battaile with him. The Bassa considering the small number of his enemies, and his own greater power, withdrew foure thou∣sand

horsemen out of his armie to fetch a compasse about, and to set vpon the rearward of Scan∣derbegs [ G] armie: hoping so to inclose him, that he should neuer escape thence, but there either to be slaine or taken aliue, and his armie vtterly defeated. But the expert captaine perceiuing his purpose, to meet therewith, left Moses to lead the maine battaile, and he himselfe with two thou∣sand horsemen, so valiantly charged those foure thousand of his enemies before they were well departed from the rest of the Bassaes armie, that they had now more cause to looke to their own safetie, than how to circumuent others. In this conflict Feri-Bassa hand to hand, as he had oft times before desired, encountring with Scanderbeg, was by him there slaine. All this while that Scanderbeg was in fight with Feri-Bassa in the right wing of the armie, and Musachie in the left, Moses stood fast, receiuing the assault of the enemie without mouing anie thing forward, expe∣cting [ H] the successe of the wings. But Scanderbeg hauing discomfited the right wing, and slaine the Generall, comming now in, he set forward with such force and courage, that the Turkes not able longer to abide his force, turned their backs and fled: of whom manie were slaine in this chase, though Scanderbeg doubting the great power of his enemie so nigh at hand, durst not fol∣low them farre; but sounding a retrait, put his armie againe in good order, for feare of some so∣daine attempt from the campe, and after appointed some of the meanest of his souldiors to take the spoile of the slaine Turkes. When Amurath had vnderstood what had happened to Feri-Bassa, he was so ouercome with anger and melancholy, that for a while he could not speake one word: but after the heat was a little past, he commaunded certaine small peeces of ordinance, which he had before vsed against the citie, to be remoued into the campe, and there placed vpon [ I] that side which was most in danger to the enemie. He also presently sent thither foure thousand souldiours to joyne with the remainder of Feri-Bassaes armie, for defence of the campe, with straight charge that they should not issue out of the trenches. Neuerthelesse he himselfe conti∣nued the assault of the citie all that day: but when night drew on, and no hope appeared for him to preuaile, he caused a retrait to be sounded, and leauing the assault, he returned againe into his campe. At this assault Amurath lost seuen thousand men, beside manie that died afterwards of their wounds; but of the garrison souldiours were slaine but seuentie, and nintie mo hurt.

The terror of the turkish armie, began now to grow into contempt throughout EPIRVS; and Scanderbeg was in good hope, that Amurath after so manie ouerthrowes and shamefull re∣pulses, would at length raise his siege and be gone: yet he sent spies continually to discouer what [ K] was done in the Turkes campe, and he himselfe with two thousand souldiours would oftentimes shew himselfe vpon the sides of the mountaines neere vnto Amurath his campe, of purpose to draw the Turkes out, that hee might take them at some aduantage. But the old king had giuen commandement vpon paine of death, that no man should go out of the trenches without leaue, or once to speake of giuing battaile or assault: so that hee lay certaine daies in his campe, not like a king besieging of a citie, but more like a man besieged himselfe: the which his still lying, Scan∣derbeg had the more in distrust, fearing greatly that he was hatching some mischiefe, which so soone as it was ripe would violently breake out.

* 5.39Amurath considering with what euill successe he had manie times assaulted the citie, and [ L] holding it for a great dishonour to raise his siege and depart, hauing done nothing worth the re∣membrance; thought good once againe to prooue, if it were possible to ouercome the minds of the garrison soldiors with gifts, whom he was not able to subdue by force. For which purpose he sent an embassadour vnto the citie, offering vnto the besieged and garrison souldiors easie conditions of peace, with such large gifts and rewards as had not been heard offered to any garri∣son in former time. All which his magnificall promises were lightly rejected by the common consent of all the whole garrison, preferring their faithfull loyaltie before all his golden moun∣taines. For all that, Amurath was in good hope, that amongst so manie, some would be found into whose minds his large offers might make some impression: wherein he was not deceiued. For one base minded fellow amongst the rest,* 5.40 corrupted with the Turkes great promises, pre∣ferring [ M] his owne priuat wealth, before the welfare of his countrey, waiting his time, had secret conference with the Turks espials, and promised vpon assurance of such reward as was before by Amurath proffered, to find meanes that in few daies the citie should bee yeelded into his power. This corrupted traitour, had laid many mischieuous plots for the effecting of this horrible trea∣son: but the first deuice he put in practise, which of all others a man would haue thought to haue been of least moment, serued his wicked purpose in stead of all the rest. All the garrison souldi∣diours

of SFETIGRADE were of the vpper countrey of DIBRA, put into that citie; by Moses▪ for their approoued valour aboue all the other souldiours of EPIRVS. But as they were men of great courage, so were they exceeding superstitious both in their religion and manner of liuing, putting nice difference betwixt one kind of lawfull meat and other: accounting some cleane, some vncleane; abhorring from that, which they fondly deemed vncleane, with more than a Iewish superstition, chusing rather to die than to eat or drinke thereof: such is the strong delusi∣on of blind errour, where it hath throughly possessed the minds of men. The cittie of SFETI∣GRADE (as is aforesaid) is situat vpon the top of a great high rocke▪ as most of the cities of EPI∣RVS now be, and was then watered but with one great well in the middest of the cittie, which sunke deepe into the rocke, plentifully serued both the publicke and priuat vse of the inhabitants. Into this common well the malicious traitour in the night time cast the foule stinking carion car∣kas of a dead dog,* 5.41 knowing, that the conceited garrison souldiors of DYBRA would rather in∣dure the paines of death, and starue, or els yeeld vp the citie vpon any condition, than to drinke of that polluted water. In the morning when the stinking carrion was espied, and drawne out of the well, the report thereof was quickly bruted in euery corner of the citie, and that the well was poysoned: so that all the people were in manner in an vprore about the finding out of the traitor. The citizens were exceeding sorrie for that had happened, but the garrison soldiors detested that loathsome and vncleane water (as they accounted it) more than the Turkish seruitude, protesting, that they would rather perish with thirst, than drinke thereof. Whereupon some of them desired to set fire vpon the citie, and whilest they had yet strength, to breake through the enemies campe or there manfully to die. And they which thought best of the matter, requested, That the cittie might be yeelded vp: for now, they discouraged with a superstitious vanitie, could be content to hearken to the former conditions of peace, yea they were readie ynough of themselues to sue vnto Amurath for peace, though it had beene vpon harder tearmes. The Gouernour troubled with that had happened,* 5.42 and astonied to see so great an alteration in the minds of his souldiours vpon so small occasion, could not tell whether hee might thinke it to proceed of a superstitious conceit, or of some secret compact made with Amurath. But the better to pacifie the matter, hee came into the market place, and there in the hearing of all the garrison, with many effectuall rea∣sons, exhorted them to continue faithfull vnto their prince and countrey in that honourable ser∣uice; and in a matter of so great conseqence to make small reckoning to vse that water, which would easily in short time be brought againe to the wonted puritie and cleanenesse: And to per∣suade them the rather, he went presently to the well himselfe, and in the sight of them all drunke a greater draught of the water, whose example the cittizens following, dranke likewise. But when it was offered to the captaines and souldiors of the garrison, they all refused to tast thereof, as if it had been a most loathsome thing, or rather some deadly poyson, and with great instance cried vnto the Gouernour, to giue vp the citie: for which cause many thought they were corrupted by Amurath his great promises. Howbeit none of that garrison (except that one traitour) did euer afterwards reuolt vnto the Turkish king, or yet appeared any thing the richer for any gift recei∣ued, whereby such suspition might be confirmed. When the Gouernour saw that the obstinate minds of the garrison were not to be mooued with any persuasion or reward (whereof hee spa∣red not to make large promise) nor by any other meanes which he could deuise: hee called vnto him his cheefe captaines, with the best sort of the citizens, & resolued with them full sore against his will, to yeeld vp the citie to Amurath, vpon such conditions as they themselues there agreed vpon: which were, That it should be lawfull for all the captaines and souldiors to depart in safe∣tie with their armour and all other things; and that so many of the citizens as would stay, might there still dwell in the citie, in such sort, as they had done before, vnder the gouernment of Scan∣derbeg; the rest that listed not to remaine there still, might at their pleasure with bag and baggage depart whether they would. Glad was Amurath when this offer was made vnto him, and graun∣ted them all that was desired, sauing that hee would not consent that the citizens should continue in the citie, yet was he content that they should liue vnder him as they had before done, quietly enjoying all their possessions, but to build their houses without the wals of the citie: which con∣dition some accepted, and some forsaking all, went to Scanderbeg. When all was throughly agreed vpon, the keyes of the gates were deliuered to Amurath, and the Gouernor with the cap∣taines and all the garrison souldiors suffered quietly to passe through the Turkish campe, as the king had promised. Howbeit, Mahomet the sonne of Amurath, a prince of a cruell disposition,

earnestly persuaded his father, to haue broken his faith, and to haue put them all to the sword: saying, it was one of their prophet Mahomets cheefe commaundements, to vse all crueltie for the destruction of the Christians. But the old king would not therein hearken vnto his sonne, saying, That he which was desirous to be great amongst men, must either be indeed faithfull of his word and promise, or at leastwise seeme so to be, thereby to gaine the minds of the people, who natu∣rally abhorre the gouernment of a faithlesse and cruell prince.* 5.43 The traitor which corrupted the water, remained still in the citie, and was by Amurath rewarded with three rich suites of apparell, and fiftie thousand Aspers, and had giuen vnto him besides a yearely pension of two thousand duckats. But short was the joy the traitour had of this euill gotten goods: for after he had a few daies vainely triumphed in the middest of Amurath his fauours, he was suddenly gone, and neuer afterwards seene or heard tell of: being secretly made away (as was supposed) by the commande∣ment of Amurath: whose noble heart could not but detest the traitour, although the treason ser∣ued well his purpose. Amurath entring into SFETIGRADE, caused the wals to be foorthwith re∣paired, and placed one thousand two hundred Ianizaries in garrison there. And raising his campe the first of September, departed out of EPIRVS, hauing lost thirtie thousand of his Turks at the siege of SFETIGRADE; much greeued in mind for all that, that hee could not vanquish the ene∣mie, whom he came of purpose to subdue. In his returne, the viceroy of ASIA marched before him with the Asian souldiors; in the rereward followed the viceroy of EVROPE with his Euro∣peian souldiors; in the middest was Amurath himselfe, compassed about with his Ianizaries and other souldiours of the court. Scanderbeg vnderstanding of Amurath his departure, followed speedily with eight thousand horsemen, and three thousand foot, and taking the aduantage of the thicke woods and mountaine straits (to him well knowne) wherby that great armie was to passe, oftentimes skirmished with the Turks, charging thē sometime in the vaward, & sometime in the rereward, sometime on the one side, and sometime on the other, and slew many of them: where∣by he so troubled Amurath his passage, that he was glad to leaue the viceroy of ROMANIA, with 30000 to attend vpon Scanderbeg, that he himselfe might in the meane time with more safetie march away with the rest of his armie. Scanderbeg perceiuing the stay of the viceroy, ceased to follow Amurath further, fearing to bee enclosed betweene those two great armies. The viceroy seeing that Scanderbeg was retired, after he had staied a few daies, followed his master to HADRI∣ANOPLE, and so Scanderbeg returned to CRO••A.

Shortly after the departure of Amurath out of EPIRVS, Scanderbeg left two thousand souldi∣ours vpon the borders for defence of the countrey against the Turks. These soldiors so straightly kept in the Ianizaries left in garrison at SFETIGRADE, that they could not looke out of the citie, but they were intercepted and slaine. And within a few daies after came himselfe with an armie of eighteene thousand, and laied siege to SFETIGRADE the space of a moneth, which was from the middle of September vntill the middle of October. In which time he gaue two great assaults to haue recouered the citie, but was both times repulsed, with the losse of fiue hundred men. Amu∣rath vnderstanding that Scanderbeg lay at the siege of SFETIGRADE, sent with all speed to recall his armie, but lately before dispersed. Whereof Scanderbeg hauing intelligence, considering also the difficultie of the enterprise, with the approch of Winter, raised his siege, and returned to CROIA: where he set all things in the same order he had done before the comming of Amurath to the siege of SFETIGRADE, and put two thousand of his best souldiors there in garrison, vnder the charge of the famous captaine Vranacontes, and stored the citie with sufficient victuall for a yeares siege, wherein he had great helpe from the Venetians and other Christian princes, for that there was then great scarcitie of all things in EPIRVS, by reason of the late warres. The like care he had also of all the rest of his cities, being continually aduertised from his secret friends in the Turks court of the great preparation intended against him by the Turkish king, against the be∣ginning of the next Spring.

* 5.44Amurath vnderstanding that Scanderbeg was departed from SFETIGRAD, changed his for∣mer determination for the calling backe again of his armie,* 5.45 & appointed it to meet againe at HA∣DRIANOPLE, in the beginning of March following: whether the Bassaes, and other great com∣maunders, at the time appointed assembled with their companies, according as Amurath had before commaunded. So that by the latter end of march, hee had there in readinesse an armie of an hundreth and threescore thousand men strong. Of which great multitude, he after the man∣ner of the Turkish warres, sent fortie thousand horsemen, vnder the leading of Sebalyas a polliticke

captaine, as his vauntcourriers into EPIRVS, in the beginning of April, in the yeare 1450. The valiant captaine with great speed and no resistance entred into EPIRVS, as was giuen him in charge, and without let came to CROIA: where, after he had aduisedly considered of the scitu••∣ation thereof, and of the places thereabouts, he strongly encamped himselfe neere thereunto in the pleasant plaine called TYRANNA: and there within his trenches kept his souldiours close, at∣tending nothing more, but that no new supplie of men, munition, or victuals, should be conuaied into the citie, more than was therin before his comming. For he was not able with his horsemen to doe any thing against the citie: and Scanderbeg had left nothing abroad in the countrey subject to his furie. Besides that, he was expresly by Amurath forbidden, to attempt any thing against Scanderbeg himselfe.

After Sebalyas had twentie daies thus line encamped before CROIA, neither doing nor taking harme; Amurath by reason of his great age, hauing marched oftentimes but fiue miles a day, came thether also with his whole armie, wherewith hee filled all the countrey round about: the very sight whereof, had been inough to haue discouraged the small garrison in CROIA, had they not been men both of great experience and resolution. Where after he had spent foure daies in set∣ling of his campe, he sent two messengers to the Gouernour (as the manner of the Turkes is) offering him if he would yeeld vp the citie, that it should be lawfull for him with all his souldiors in safetie with bagge and baggage to depart; and the Gouernour himselfe to receiue in reward two hundreth thousand aspers, with an honorable place amongst the great Bassaes of his court, if it would please him to accept thereof: and further, that the citizens should enjoy all their anti∣ent liberties as in former time, without any alteration; with promise also of greater▪ These mes∣sengers comming to the gates of the citie, could not bee suffered to enter, but standing without, were commaunded there to deliuer their message. Which when the Gouernour had heard, hee scornefully rejected their offers, and returned the messengers shamefully derided by the souldi∣ours which stood vpon the wall. Amurath more offended with this contempt, than the refusall of his offers; and seeing no other meanes to gaine the citie, conuerted all his deuises vnto the siege thereof. Wherefore he first commaunded ten great peeces of artillerie to be forthwith cast, for he had brought none with him readie made, because of the difficult passage ouer the high moun∣taines into EPIRVS; whereby it seemed to bee a matter of infinite trouble to haue brought his great ordinance: and therefore caried with him great store of mettall in masse, whereof at his pleasure to make his great artillerie as he saw cause. In fifteen daies this worke was brought to perfection, and ten peeces of huge greatnesse were readie mounted vpon cariages. Six of them he placed against the East side of the citie, towards the plain of TYRANNA, and the other foure against the gate: in which two places onely, CROIA was subject to batterie, being on all other parts naturally defended with impregnable rocks,* 5.46 vpon the tops whereof were built faire battle∣ments more for beautie than needfull defence. These two places Amurath battred foure daies continually, and with the furie of his artillerie had in both places beaten downe halfe the wall, and sore shaken the rest. Wherewith the Turks were exceedingly encouraged, and with great cheerefulnesse made all thinges readie to assault those breaches, whensoeuer Amurath should commaund, striuing among themselues who should shew himselfe most forward in that dange∣rous enterprise. And Mahomet the young prince, the more to encourage the souldiors, besides the great rewards by his father proposed, promised of himselfe to giue an hundreth thousand as∣pers to him that should first set vp an ensigne vpon the wals of the citie. The garrison souldiours on the other side, considering that the whole state and welfare of EPIRVS was reposed in their valour; and that the eies of most part of Christendome were as it were fixed vpon them, were nothing dismaied with the breaches made, but manfully comforted and encouraged one another to endure all manner of perill and danger that might possibly chance: but especially the worthy Gouernour Vranacontes, who going through the middest of his souldiours, and shaking some of them by the hands, withall said:

These,* 5.47 these are the fortresses of our citie, these are the inuincible bulwarks, these are the irremo∣••able stones and surest sement. What honour? what praise? what triumph should we hope for? if these wals standing whole and strong, we should lie shrouded vnder the defence of them, and not they defen∣ded by vs? So can cowards defend cities, and sheepe feare not the wolues rage, when they are safely shut vp within the wals of their sheepcoats: But that is the praise of the wals, and not of the men.

Worthie Castriot▪ our prince hath commended this his citie to bee defended by vs, and not vs by it: [ G] Honour is attended vpon with danger, and fostred vp amongst perils: euerie base mariner may be a ma∣ster in faire weather: and firme things stand of themselues and need not our vpholding. Wherefore, men of worth shun such things, which being kept or lost, yeild like praise. Things readie to fall need shoaring, and thether hasteth honour; and there (worthie souldiours) appeareth courage and valour. Wherefore let our valiant right hands defend these broken breaches, and in stead of these dead wals, couragiously oppose our lustie and liuely armed bodies against the force of our enemies. If these wals stood still firme, and vnbattred, you should then fight from the top of them like women; but now that they are something shaken, you shall as men stand vpon somwhat more euen ground, and encounter your enemies hand to hand, the better to satisfie your furious desire. Where I also in the thickest, shall easily [ H] view and judge of euerie mans priuat courage, in perticular, and of all your valour in common. And yet if we well consider of the matter, the place it self doth yet notably make for vs; and our former good hopes are little or nothing by these small breaches diminished: For, this rising of the hill (not possible to be taken from vs) although it be not so high as it is in other places, yet doth it not serue vs suficiently at great aduantage to charge our enemies, and hinder their assault? the steepenesse whereof, as it will be troublesome vnto them, so will it keepe vs most fresh in strength: and make our shot more forcible. Wherfore this had been a thing of vs to haue been wished for, if we desire the slaughter of our enemies at this siege; or if wee wish for perpetuall honour and glorie by this warre. For this breach of the wals wil encourage these barbarians, & allure their armed men to clime vp in greater multitude than if the wals were whole; whereof so many shall on euerie side bee easily slaine, as wee shall but ayme at: except [ I] you had rather sit still, holding your handes together in your bosomes as cowards: Their dead bodies shall fill vp the breaches againe, if you be men mindfull of your libertie. What is there (worthy captaines and souldiors) that letteth our victorie? or memorable slaughter of our enemies? by whom onely these two places of the citie can bee assaulted: all the rest is out of daunger, and feares no enemies force. Here onely is the paines to be taken, this onely is left for you to defend, and here shall you all be: the cou∣rage, force, and strength of you all shall in this place appeare. How will you so many worthie captaines, and valiant souldiours, in so little roome bestow your selues? we are too many defendants for so small breaches. Yet let vs play the men, and doe our endeauour: let vs in one conflict weaken the tyrants strength, and burst his proud heart; he will forsake this citie, and raise his siege vnfortunatly begun, so soone as he shall see his first assault to cost him the liues of so many thousands of his men. [ K]

When Vranacontes had with this comfortable speech thus encouraged his souldiours, against the assault which he expected the next day;* 5.48 and had with great care and diligence set all things in order for the same, and repaired the breaches as well as was possible in that case: hee gaue them leaue for that night to take their rest. In the morning Amurath commaunded the assault to bee giuen to both the breaches, which was forthwith by the Turkes cheerefully begun, and euerie man busie to performe the seruice hee was appointed vnto. But by that time that the assault was well begun, a suddaine allarum was raised throughout all the Turks campe: for Scanderbeg with fiue thousand valiant souldiours, had suddainely broken in vpon one side of the Turkes great [ L] campe, and at the first encounter had slaine six hundreth of the Turks, and was now spoiling their tents. The rumour whereof, troubled the whole campe, and made the Turks with lesse courage to assault the breaches, for feare of the danger behind them. Amurath although hee had great confidence in them whom he had before left for the sauegard of his tents, yet for more surety sent Seremet one of his greatest captaines, with foure thousand souldiours backe into the campe, for more suretie: saying, That nothing could be too sure, against that wild beast: meaning the furie of Scanderbeg. Mahomet also the yong prince, hasted thether in great choler with his guard, much against his fathers will. But Moses, Scanderbeg his lieutenant, knowing himselfe too weak to with∣stand the multitude that was swarming thether (contenting himselfe with that which was alrea∣die done) had before Mahomet his comming, speedily retired with all his armie into the safegard [ M] of the mountaines, from whence he came: hauing done great harme in the Turks campe, with the losse but of ten men. Scanderbeg in the heat of this skirmish, forgetting himselfe, had so farre engaged himselfe among the Turkes,* 5.49 that hee was by them on euerie side enclosed, and in great danger to haue been slaine or taken: yet valiantly breaking through them, hee escaped the dan∣ger and recouered the mountaines, and with much adoe came at length to his campe, to the great joy and comfort of them all, being before in great feare hee had been lost. This was accounted

the greatest ouersight of Scanderbeg in all his warres, for so much as the office of a good Gene∣rall consisteth not in aduenturing of his person to manifest danger, but in the politike gouern∣ment of his charge. During the time that Scanderbeg thus assailed the Turkes campe, Amu∣rath but faintly assaulted the breaches; expecting the successe in the campe: but when he vn∣derstood that Scanderbeg was retired and all quieted, he brought all his forces to the wals, and first with the multitude of his archers and small shot, laboured to driue the defendants from the wals, ouerwhelming them with arrowes falling as thicke as haile. And likewise at the same time other common souldiours of baser account, brought scaling ladders and other things needfull for the scaling of the wals. After whom also followed the Ianizaries and other chosen souldiours, readie to mount the ladders as soone as they should be set to the wals. But whilest they climbe vp the high hils in this order, the garrison souldiours made such slaughter of them with shot from the wals and out of the citie, that they would haue presently retired, had they not been forced forward by their captaines, who spared neither stripes nor wounds when words would not serue. By this tyrannicall meanes, the scaling ladders were with great slaugh∣ter of the common souldiours set vp against the wals, and the Turkes climing vp, came to han∣die blowes with the defendants at the breaches: nothing was to be heard, but the crying of peo∣ple, the clattering of armor, and the instruments of warre, which was terribly redoubled with the ecchoes from the mountaines round about. The Turkes doing what they might to winne the breaches, were by the Christians worthily repulsed, & with their ladders tumbled headlong downe the mountaine, with such horrible slaughter and discomfiture, especially of the common souldiours, that none of them would set one foot forward againe towards the walles, although they had small hope to saue themselues by retiring backe: for the fierce young prince Mahomet, euen then making shew of his cruell disposition, caused them that returned, to be slaine, by the terror thereof to driue others forward. These common souldiors whom the Turkes make small reckoning of, are for most part miserable Christians, which liue in such coūtries as had somtimes receiued the faith of Christ, but are now vnder the Turkish slauerie; of which sort of wretched people, the Turkish tyrants draw with them great multitudes in their warres, most commonly vnarmed, because they dare not well trust them in warres against the Christians: these carrie all the baggage of the campe, these serue to fetch wood and water for other souldiours of better ac∣count, these serue in steed of pioners to cast trenches and raise bulwarks: and when battaile is to be giuen, if it be in plaine field, these haue then weapons put into their hands, and thrust into the forefront of the battaile to blunt the enemies swords: but if a citie be to be besieged, these serue as fit matter to fill the ditches with their dead bodies, or to make bridges for other souldiours to passe ouer vpon: and if they shrinke to attempt any thing they are commanded, then are they more cruelly vsed by their commanders than by their enemies. When Amurath saw his soul∣diours so discouraged, he stood in doubt whether it were better for that time to sound a retrait, or to send a new supply: but being inraged with the losse of his men, and desirous to be in some part reuenged, he sent diuers companies of his better souldiours for the incouragement of them which were before discouraged, and so gaue a fresh assault. But with as euill, or worse successe than before: for Vranacontes had withdrawne from the breaches all those souldiours which had indured the former assault, and placed other fresh and lustie men in their steed; who incouraged with the former victorie, and loth to be accounted inferior to their fellowes, repulsed the Turks with double slaughter: vntill that the aged king, not able longer to behold the endlesse losse of his men, caused a retrait to be sounded; which all his souldiours were glad to heare, and so retur∣ned into his campe, hauing lost in those two assaults eight thousand men, without any notable harme done vnto the defendants worth the remembrance.

This shamefull repulse much grieued all the captaines and commaunders of Amuraths army,* 5.50 but especially Mahomet the young prince, whose violent nature vnacquainted with mishap burnt impatiently with reuenge. Wherefore vnderstanding that Scanderbeg lay intrenched vpon the mountaine of TVMENIST not farre from his fathers army, he drew most of the best and readiest souldiours of all the whole campe, into that quarter which was nearest vnto Scanderbeg: of pur∣pose that if he should againe assaile the campe in that place (as it was most like he would) he should be encountred with so many braue and valiant men there in readinesse, as that it should be hard for him either to doe any great harme, or for himselfe to escape. Of all which, Scander∣beg by certaine fugitiues had intelligence, as also in what order the campe lay: Whereupon he

left Moses with fiue hundreth souldiours in the place where he lay, taking order with him before his departure, that he at a certaine appointed houre in the night following, should assaile the Turkes campe in the quarter next vnto him where Mahomet lay; and hauing there raised some tumult, speedily to retire againe to his assured strength in the mountaine. Scanderbeg himselfe with the whole strength of his army, in number about eight thousand, in the meane time tooke a compasse about, and by certaine secret by-waies through the woods and mountaines, came vnto the farther side of the Turkes army, to a place called MOVNTECLE. The night following▪ Moses at the appointed houre with his fiue hundreth souldiours assailed that part of the Turkes campe next vnto him, with such noise & tumult, as if it had been some great army. By occasion whereof, all the Turkes campe was in alarme, and drew in haste to that place where they heard that great tumult, as was before by Mahomet cōmanded. When at the same instant, Scanderbeg with all his army brake into the other side of the Turks campe, where he was least feared or loo∣ked for, and from whence the best souldiors were before drawne by Mahomet: and there made such slaughter and hauocke of the rest, not knowing which way to turne themselues, that the losse a little before receiued vnder the wals of CROIA was now forgot, as a small thing in com∣parison of this. Moses hauing raised a great feare, and done little harme, retired in safetie to his well known strength: and Scanderbeg hauing made great spoile in the campe, fearing to be op∣pressed with the multitude of his enemies if he should there longer stay, returned in good time, hauing scarce lost one man.

Amurath after this great losse and trouble of his campe, withdrew most of his small ordi∣nance which he had before bent against the citie, into his trenches, placing it as commodiously as he might for the defence thereof against the suddaine attempts of Scanderbeg. Yet for as much as he could not in that hoat season of the yeare so closely encampe his great army, but that some part thereof would still be in like danger as before; he therefore appointed Sebalias with sixteene thousand soldiors to attend vpon Scanderbeg, that he should no more trouble the whole campe. After which order taken, he battered the walles of CROIA afresh, and with his great ordinance ouerthrew whatsoeuer the citizens had repaired, making the breaches greater and more saulta∣ble than before, intending once againe by a new assault to prooue his fortune, and the force of his souldiours: which he appointed to be the next day. But when he perceiued no signe of cou∣rage or good hope in the heauie countenances of them discouraged, and that they yeelded to him their consents, rather for feare and shame, than for hope of victorie; he called them cowards dis∣couraged with the least frowne of fortune, and said:

* 5.51Euery weake castle is able to hold out one assault: but if you will draw these wilde beasts out of their d••ns, you must arme your selues like resolute men of inuincible courage, to indure what thing soeuer shall happen. Great captaines with their puissant armies haue growne old vnder the wals of their ene∣mies, vpon light and small displeasures: and will you hauing receiued so many disgraces of these peri••∣red Epirots, leaue them all vnreuenged? What great victorie was euer yet by any man gained with∣out bloudshed? Remember the most glorious victorie of VARNA. It is hard without bloudie hands to put the yoke vpon the fierce enemies necke. All honourable things are brought to passe with aduen∣ture and labour: and the end of this warre dependeth of the taking of CROIA. If it were once woon, [ L] all this warre were at an end: which if Scanderbeg lose (being the strength of his kingdome) he will not tarrie one day longer in EPIRVS. Wherefore be of good cheere, and couragiously set vpon it: there is not more vncertaintie in any thing, than in matters of warre. Fortune is to be prooued, and often∣times prouoked of him that will wed her. And yet I will not denie, but that we must go more warily to worke against this enemy, and hazard our selues with better aduisement, and not without reason like wild beasts to runne headlong vpon our owne death. At length we shall weare them out, if we kill but ten of them at an assault: yet are they daily to be assailed, that they may haue no leisure to refresh themselues, or to make vp their breaches. And peraduenture if force may not preuaile, fortune may find some meane that we looke not for, as it fell out at the siege of SFETIGRAD, beyond all your expe∣ctation. Treason is ingenious, and mens desires great, where great rewards are propounded. [ M]

With these and like speeches old Amurath encouraged his captaines and souldiours, and the next day early in the morning began the assault, which the Turkes valiantly attempted: and without regard of danger came to the gates of the citie, assaying, but with vaine and desperate la∣bour

to haue broken them open. In this assault wild fire, was cast into many places of the citie, and the great artillerie oftentimes discharged into the breaches: whereby many of the Turkes themselues were slaine with their owne great shot, together with the Christians: for Amurath desperatly set, was content to buy the life of one Christian with the losse of twentie of his Turks. But the Christians still valiantly repulsed their enemies, so that of them that came to the gates, none escaped aliue; and of them that assaulted the greater breach, they which were most for∣ward, were first slaine, and they which stood farther off, were sore wounded with shot. Yet for all that, Amurath still maintained the assault, by sending in of new supplies, delighting to see them goe forward,* 5.52 but greeued at the heart to see them so slaine: vntill at last, wearie with beholding the slaughter of his men, he caused a retreat to be sounded, and so ended the assault; persuaded by his Bassaes, not wilfully to cast away his valiant souldiors where there was no hope to preuaile, but to reserue them for his better seruice.

Amurath now out of hope to win the citie by assault,* 5.53 thought good to proue what might be done by vndermining of the same: during which worke, he caused small alarums daily to be gi∣uen vnto the citie, to the intent that the defendants busied therewith, should not perceiue the se∣cret worke of the mine. About which time his prouision of corne began to faile in his campe; for which cause hee sent his purueyors for corne to LISSA, a citie of the Venetians, with whom he was at that time in league, and bought of them great store of corne. But as his officers were conueying it to his campe, Scanderbeg hauing intelligence thereof, slew the conuoy, and carried away with him all that pro••ision, deuiding it amongst his owne souldiors. Howbeit, not long af∣ter Amurath receiued great abundance of corne and other prouision out of MACEDONIA: beside that, the Venetian marchants afterward furnished him with plentie of corne, oyle, honey, and other necessaries; which Scanderbeg might well haue hindered, but that he would not in so doing offend the Venetians, which were also his secret friends, considering that Amurath might haue had all the same prouision out of the further part of MACEDONIA, THRACIA, MYSIA, and such other places, if he had not otherwise had it from the Venetians.

Whilest Amurath thus lay expecting the successe of his mine, foure hundred of the garrison souldiors of CROIA sallying out of th•• citie, chased diuers of the Turks that were come foorth backe againe vnto the campe: whereof Amurath was glad, hoping, that they encouraged with that good hap, would to their further losse giue the like attempt afterwards. But the staied dis∣cretion of the Gouernour deceiued that his expectation: who considering the danger, would not suffer his souldiors any more to sallie out of the citie. Scanderbeg also at this time hauing en∣creased his armie with a new supplie of two thousand soldiors, deuided the same into three parts, deliuering one part to Moses, another to Tanusie, and reseruing the third to himselfe. With this armie of nine thousand thus deuided, he determined by night at one instant to assaile the Turks great campe in three diuers places: appointing in which quarter euery one should charge. But as Scanderbeg in the night appointed, was comming towards the Turks campe, hee was discouered by their scouts: whereupon a suddaine alarme was raised in the campe, and all mens minds tur∣ned that way, and souldiours appointed with all diligence to guard that side of the campe. But whilest the Turkes were all at gaze this way for feare of Scanderbeg, Moses and Tanusie, in the dead of the night, at one time assailed the Turks campe in two diuers quarters, as they were ap∣pointed, where they slew a number of the Turks, and made great spoile. At which time Scander∣beg did also what he might: but by reason he was before discouered, did not much harme. Vpon the approch of the day Scanderbeg retired againe to the hils, and by that time it was faire day∣light, sate downe vpon the side of a great mountain, about twentie furlongs off, in the open sight of all the Turks campe: which he did of purpose, that Moses and Tanusie, which were by night retired into the mountains, might see which way to hold, to meet with him again. But the Turks thinking that hee stood there to braue their whole campe, and as it were to deface them, to the great encouragement of the defendants: diuers of them earnestly craued leaue of Amurath, That they might goe vp to him, and at leastwise beat him out of sight: which hee graunting, twelue thousand of his best soldiors, whereof seuen thousand were horsemen, and the rest foot, present∣ly set forward to encounter him. Scanderbeg seeing them all the way they came, vpon their ap∣proch softly retired a little farther vp into the mountaines, still expecting the comming of Moses and Tanusi••. The Turks vnacquainted with such difficult waies, marched vp the steepe hils after Scanderbeg with much labour and paine, well wearied of themselues: but when they were come

a great way into the mountaines, they perceiued by the rising of the dust, that some greater force was comming crosse those mountaines: and not long after they might plainely see the formost of their enemies. Wherefore fearing to be enclosed, they began to retire, in which retreat Scan∣derbeg hardly pursued them, and hauing the aduantage of the ground, slew many of them, but especially with his archers. Moses also comming in afresh on another side, caused them to flie downe the hill amaine, and beside the slaughter that he made, took diuers prisoners. After which victorie, by Scanderbeg obtained in the sight of Amurath and his whole armie, he retired againe into the mountaines.

The late spoile of the Turks campe, with this ouerthrow of the soldiors but now sent against Scanderbeg, much greeued the old tyrant: but the worke of the mine, wherein he had of long laid vp his greatest hope, forting now to no good purpose, being deemed as well an endlesse peece of [ H] worke for the naturall hardnesse of the rocke, as also of small importance, for that it was by the defendants discouered, draue him to his wits end. His forces hee had to his great losse sufficiently prooued, and still found them too weake: and policie preuailed not. Nothing now remained, but to prooue, if by great gifts and glorious promises hee could first corrupt the faith of the Go∣uernour, and afterwards the garrison: wherein he determined to spare no cost. Vpon which reso∣lution, he sent one of his Bassaes (a man of great authoritie and dexteritie of wit) vnto Vranacon∣tes, with such rich gifts and presents as might haue mooued a right constant mind: commaun∣ding the Bassa (if it were possible) first to fasten the same vpon the Gouernour, as presents sent from Amurath of meere bountie, in the honour of his valiant mind; and afterwards to deliuer his message, not sparing to promise any thing for the giuing vp of the citie, yea more than should be desired. The Bassa attended on but with two seruants, came with this rich present neere to the gates of the citie, and there staied, vntill the Gouernours pleasure were knowne: by whose com∣maund he was receiued into the citie, and brought to his presence. Then the Bassa with much reuerence and many magnificall words presented vnto Vranacontes the rich gifts sent from A∣murath, and would forthwith haue deliuered them vnto him, as the rewards of his valour. But Vranacontes willed him first to declare his message from Amurath; vpon the hearing whereof, he would (as he said) as hee saw cause, either receiue or refuse them: before which time hee would not be beholden to his enemie, by receiuing from him the least courtesie. With which answere the subtile Bassa nothing dismayed, with great constancie thus began to deliuer his message. [ K]

* 5.54Howsoeuer we agree (said he) vpon other matters we come for, we brought not these gifts of pur∣pose to deceiue any: for so men vse to deale with their children and seruants, and not with men of cou∣rage and valour. And albeit that enemies gifts are euer to be suspected (as you haue right wisely said, and we our selues well know) yet wee durst not for shame come vnto so worthie a Gouernour (as the common saying is) emptie handed: neither ought you, if you be the man you seeme to be, and whom men report you are, to refuse our courtesie. Take these presents in good part, which shall no way enforce or hinder you to determine or dispose of your affaires otherwise than shall seeme vnto you good: nei∣ther shall we once object vnto you these gifts, which wee so franke and freely offer in the great Sultan name, whether you reject or admit our demaunds and message; wherein there is (perhaps) no lessere∣gard [ L] had of your good, than of ours. For there is no greater token of a base mind, than to giue, in hope to receiue againe. We come vnto you franckly (worthie Gouernour) I speake it from my heart: we goe not about with filed speech and rich rewards to circumuent thee, whose inuincible mind wee haue so of∣ten in vaine prooued with our forces and power. That is it for which Amurath loueth thee. He doth wonderfully admire the vertues of his enemies, and if it were possible, desireth to haue them with him∣selfe. There verily with so mightie a monarch might thy inuincible mind and pregnant wit find a bet∣ter way vnto the highest type of fortunes blisse. Not that I condemne Scanderbeg, whom we his ene∣mies doe highly commend, for his countrey so well recouered, and so oftentimes worthely defended, yet cheefely by your helpe: but you are worthie another manner of Soueraigne, and of another manner of calling, and not to spend all the daies of your life and such heroicall vertues in obscuritie and (without offence be it said) in contemptible basenesse. Besides that, Scanderbeg his estate is but momentarie, the destinies haue assigned vnto him too too mightie an enemie; his destruction may well be deferred, but not by any meanes auoided. Amurath hath conceiued against him an implacable displeasure, and prepared his forces accordingly: hee hath sworne to spare no cost, no labour, no danger: and that hee

will neuer whilest he liueth depart out of EPIRVS, before he haue imposed a deadly yoke vpon his neck▪ And behold, the first of this miserie beginneth at this citie, and vpon your selues. We daily heare his pa∣••ilions sound with these and such like speeches, That hee will neuer depart out of this place before hee haue taken this citie, and satisfied his angrie mind with the torture of your bodies, no, not if he should therefore lose HADRIANOPLE, yea, and that more is, his whole kingdome. And verily he will doe it, which I feare to deuine or thinke vpon. For although I with others beare against you the mind of an enemie, yet am I a man, and mooued with humane compassion: beleeue me (ye men of CROIA) be∣leeue me, my eyes would scarcely endure to behold the horrible spectacle of your miserable fortune. I tell you againe he will doe it, except you change your purpose, and now receiue health, life, libertie, and peace, whilest it is so freely offered. For albeit, that this notable strong place, these impregnable wals, and especially your owne valour, doe yet defend you: how long will it hold out? Verely, no longer than you haue victuall, no longer than you haue meat to sustaine your bodies. Do you thinke that Amurath will raise his siege in the middle of the heat of this war, and be gon? No, no, if force may not preuaile, if all his attempts faile, yet shall you see and feele these enemies continually to your hurt: you shall alwaies haue these tents in your eyes and at your gates, vntill long famine, which mastereth all things, tame your courage also. I pray you, what hope haue you left? from whence ariseth in your resolute minds such d••sperate contempt of danger? Can Scanderbeg victuall you, being so straightly besieged? which bideth himselfe (poore man) in the woods all day, and fl••eth ouer the tops of the mountains, loaden with trauaile and care, scarce able to releeue his owne miserie. Or will the Venetians releeue you? which daily bring vnto vs and store vs with too too great plentie of all things necessarie for this war against you. Wherefore repent your too much hardinesse, and gather your wits together. Behold I your enemie aduise you. You haue long ynough continued in your obstinacie. Your countrey and libertie is not so far to be defended, as that you should therefore fight against God. But wherefore doe I call this libertie? You must giue place vnto your fortune, and learne to obey them that be too strong for you. You shall find assured libertie, rich rewards, perpetuall rest, with Amurath. Prouide for your selues, if you be wise, whilest all things are yet whole for you to determine of; whilest we your enemies exhort and request you, and had rather haue you our voluntarie companions and friends, than our enforced seruants and slaues.

This the Bassa spake with great grauitie and no lesse vehemencie, expecting some great moti∣ons to haue risen in the minds of the souldiors. But when he perceiued that his speech had rather filled them with indignation, than with feare: and that it was but a vaine thing to goe about to terrifie them with words, whom all the power of Amurath could not make afraid with weapons, he requested to talke alone with the Gouernour in secret: which was also graunted. For all men had no lesse good opinion of the worthie Gouernours fidelitie, than of his great wisedome and valour.* 5.55 The craftie Bassa hauing him by himselfe, began with great cunning to deliuer his more secret message: when Vranacontes perceiuing by a little what the whole tale meant, interrupted him in the middle of his speech, and without more adoe commaunded him to depart: straight∣ly charging him, That neither hee nor any other should after that time presume to come from his master to the cittie to speake with him about any such dishonourable matter; for if hee did, he would in detestation thereof cause their hands, their noses, and their eares to be cut off, and so returne them dismembred in stead of answere. And so the Bassa was with his presents againe tur∣ned out of the citie, and no man suffered to receiue any thing of him in reward, although the sol∣diors could haue beene well content to haue eased him and his seruants of that carriage, if the Gouernour would but haue winked thereat.

Great was the expectation in the Turks campe, of the Bassaes returne: but when they saw the presents were not receiued, they easily guessed that all went not as they wished. But when Amu∣rath himselfe vnderstood the Gouernors resolute answere, he in great rage commanded all things to be made readie for a fresh assault: which he did rather to satisfie his anger, than vpon any hope he had to preuaile therein.* 5.56 The next day, he caused a furious assault to be giuen to the citie, but with greater losse to himselfe than before; the Christians still valiantly defending the citie against the Turkish furie. In this assault many of the Turks were slaine at the breach, with their owne great shot: for whilest Amurath sought therewith to driue the Christians from the defence of the breach, he slew a great number more of the forwardest of his owne men than he did of the de∣fendants. But wearied at length to behold the endlesse slaughter of his men, he gaue ouer the as∣sault,

and returned into his campe, as if he had been a man halfe franticke or distract of his wits; [] and there sat downe in his tent, all that day full of melancholie passions, sometimes violently pulling his hoarie beard and white locks, complaining of his hard and disaster fortune, that hee had liued so long to see those daies of disgrace, wherein all his former glorie and triumphant vi∣ctories were obscured, by one base towne of EPIRVS. His Bassaes and graue counsellours labou∣ring in the meane time with long discourses to comfort him vp: sometimes recounting vnto him his many and glorious victories; and other whiles producing antient examples of like euent. But darke and heauie conceits, had so ouerwhelmed the melancholy old tirant, that nothing could content his waiward mind, or reuiue his dying spirits: so that the little remainder of natu∣rall heat which was left in his aged bodie, now oppressed and almost extinguished with melan∣cholie conceits, and his aged bodie dried vp with sorrow, hee became sicke for griefe. Where∣vpon [] by the counsaile of some of his Bassaes, he sent an embassadour to Scanderbeg, offering him peace, if he would yeild to pay vnto him a yearely tribute of ten thousand duckats: thinking by that meanes his honour to be well saued, if before his departure out of EPIRVS, hee could but make Scanderbeg his tributarie. This embassadour was by Scanderbeg honourably enter∣tained in his campe, but the offered peace at the same time vtterly refused. The embassadour returning to Amurath, declared vnto him the euill successe of his embassage, which greatly encreased his melancholie sicknesse. And Scanderbeg to greeue him the more, vnderstanding that he was dangerously sicke, and that the great Bassaes were more carefull of the kings health than of the successe of the warres; diuers times assailed the Turks campe. Which thing though the Bassaes kept from his knowledge with all carefulnesse: yet he often times suspected the matter, [ I] by the often allarums and tumults in the campe, and with the greefe thereof languished. So fee∣ling his sicknesse daily to increase, and that he could not longer liue, lying vpon a pallet in his pa∣uillion, greeuously complained to his Bassaes, That the destinies had so blemished all the former course of his life, with such an obscure death, that hee which had so often repressed the furie of the Hungarians, and almost brought to naught the pride of the Grecians, together with their name, should now be enforced to giue vp the ghost, vnder the wals of an obscure castle (as hee termed it) and that in the sight of his contemptible enemie. After that, turning himselfe to his son Mahomet, he earnestly commended him to the faithfulnesse of his Bassaes, and gaue him many graue aduertisements, sometimes in secret betwixt themselues, and sometimes in the hearing of others: want of strength, & abundance of teares running down his aged face (vpon the sight of his [ K] son) often times interrupting his speech. Yet sick vnto death as he was, and drawing fast vnto his end, he forced himselfe, to warne his sonne of such things as now at his death greeued him most.

* 5.57Let mine example (quoth he) be a warning vnto thee my sonne, neuer to contemne thine enemie, be he neuer so weake: of which one thing aboue all others, I haue repented my selfe of long, and shall doe after my death, if any feeling of humane thinges remaine in the dead. And that I was so foolish, and inconsiderat as to foster vp as it were in my bosome this my domesticall and neglected enemie: wherby I haue purchased vnto my selfe this calamitie, and for euer blemished the honor of the Otho∣man kings: whilest I so basely ending my daies vnder the wals of CROIA, shall become a by-word vn∣to the world, and all posteritie for euer. This traitour should euen then haue been oppressed, when hee [ L] by great treacherie, first recouered his wicked kingdome: in that newnesse of his estate, and before the minds of the people were assured vnto him, then it had been an easie matter, without bloudshed to haue vtterly extinguished the wretch, together with his name. Ali Bassa whose euill fortune was the first beginning of his good: nor the other Generals, who by him slaine or taken prisoners, increased his strength and credit with his subjects, should not haue been sent against him: a thing which I haue of∣tentimes thought vpon, but could scarce haue beleeued, that euer I should haue thereby receiued such disgrace, together with the ignominious renting of my kingdome; if I had not been taught the same by mine owne experience, to my great losse and hearts greefe. We entred into EPIRVS, and here encam∣ped an hundred and threescore thousand men strong: now if leisure serue you, take view of them, exa∣mine the matter, you shall find a great want of that number. The fields could not contain our regiments [ M] and the multitude of our men: but now, how many tents stand emptie? how many horses want riders? You shall go to HADRIANOPLE with our forces much impaired. As for me, the destinies haue vowed my spirits to this country of EPIRVS, as vnto me fatall. But wherfore do I impute vnto my selfe these impediments and chances of Fortune? for then first began this seed of mischiefe in EPIRVS, when the

Hungarians with other the Christian princes, rose vp in armes against vs: at which time we fought not with them for soueraigntie, but for the whole state of our kingdome; as the bloudie battailes of VARNA and COSSOVA still witnesse vnto the world. So whilest I had neither leisure nor sufficient power to take order for all my important affaires at once; in the meane time this enemy grew as you see. But how, or in what order you are hereafter to wage warre against him, you may not looke for any direction from me, which haue in all these matters so euill directed my selfe: Fortune neuer deceiued my ende∣uors more, than in this. But happely thou Mahomet my sonne, maiest prooue a more fortunat warri∣our against him: and for so many honors alreadie giuen vnto me, the destinies haue reserued the tri∣umph of EPIRVS for thee. Wherfore my sonne, thou shalt receiue from me this scepter, and these roial ensigns: but aboue all things, I leaue vnto thee this enemie; charging thee not to leaue my death vnre∣uenged. It is all I charge thee with, for so great and stately a patrimonie as thou art to receiue from me: it is the only sacrifice that my old departing ghost desireth of thee.

Shortly after he became speechlesse,* 5.58 and striuing with the pangs of death halfe a day, he then breathed out his gastly ghost, to the great joy and contentment of the poore oppressed Christi∣ans. He died about the middle of Autumne, in the yeare of our Lord 1450, when he had liued 85 yeares, as most write: and thereof raigned 28 (or as some others report 30;) about fiue months after the siege laid before CROIA.

Thus lieth great Amurath,* 5.59 erst not inferiour vnto the greatest monarchs of that age, dead almost in despaire: a worthy mirror of honours frailtie; yeelding vnto the worldly man in the end, neither comfort nor reliefe. Who had fought greater battails? who had gained greater vi∣ctories, or obtained more glorious triumphs than had Amurath? Who by the spoils of so many mightie kings and princes, and by the conquest of so many prowd and warlike nations, againe restored and established the Turkes kingdome, before by Tamerlan and the Tartars in a manner clean defaced. He it was that burst the hart of the prowd Grecians, establishing his empire at HA∣DRIANOPLE, euen in the center of their bowels: from whence haue proceeded so many miseries and calamities into the greatest part of Christendome, as no tongue is able to expresse. He it was that first brake downe the Hexamile or wal of separation on the strait of CORINTH, & conque∣red the greatest part of PELOPONESVS. He it was that subdued vnto the Turks so many great countries and prouinces in ASIA; that in plaine field and set battaile ouerthrew many puissant kings and princes, and brought them vnder his subiection: who hauing slaine Vladislaus the king of POLONIA and HVNGARIE, and more than once chased out of the field Huniades that fa∣mous & redoubted warriour; had in his prowd and ambitious heart, promised vnto himselfe the conquest of a great part of Christendome. But O how farre was he now changed from the man he then was! how farre did these his last speeches differ from the course of his forepassed life! full of such base passionat complaints and lamentations, as beseemed not a man of his place and spirit; but some vile wretch ouertaken with dispaire, and yet afraid to die. Where were now those haughtie thoughts, those loftie lookes, those thundring and commaunding speeches; whereat so many great commaunders, so many troups and legions, so many thousands of armed souldiours were woont to tremble and quake? Where is that head, before adorned with so ma∣nie trophies and triumphs? where is that victorious hand that swaied so many scepters? where is the majestie of his power and strength, that commanded ouer so many nations and kingdoms? O how is the case now altred! he lieth now dead, a gastly filthy stinking carkas▪ a clod of clay vnregarded, his hands closed, his eyes shut, and his feet stretched out, which erst prowdly tra∣ced the countries by him subdued and conquered. And now of such infinit riches, such vnmea∣surable wealth, such hugie treasures, such stately honors and vainglorious praises as he in his life time enjoyed; his fraile bodie enjoyeth nothing, but left all behind it. O the weake condition of mans nature! O the vaine glorie of mortall creatures! O the blind and peruerse thoughts of foolish men! Why do we so magnifie our selues? why are we so puffed vp with pride? why do we so much set our minds vpon riches, authoritie, and other vanities of this life? whereof neuer man had yet one daies assurance, and at our most need and when we least thinke, quite forsake vs; leauing euen them that most sought after them, and most abounded in them, shrowded oft times in the sheet of dishonor and shame.

That his death is otherwise by some reported, I am not ignorant: the Turkes saying, that he died miraculously forewarned of his death at HADRIANOPLE: and some others, that he died

in ASIA, strucken with an Apolexie proceeding of a surfet taken of the immoderat drinking of [ G] wine. But Marinus Barlesius, who liued in his time in SCODRA fast by EPIRVS, whose autho∣ritie, in report of the warres betwixt him and Scanderbeg we follow, setteth it downe in such ma∣ner as is aforesaid.

Presently after his death, Mahomet his sonne, for feare of some innouation to be made at home, raised the siege, and returned to HADRIANOPLE: and afterward with great solemnitie buried his dead bodie at the West side of PRVSA, in the suburbs of the citie, where he now lieth in a chappell without any roofe,* 5.60 his graue nothing differing from the manner of the common Turks: which (they say) he so commaunded to be done in his last will; that the mercie and bles∣sing of God (as he termed it) might come vnto him by the shining of the Sunne and Moone, and falling of the raine and dew of heauen vpon his graue. [ H]

He whilest he liued mightily enlarged the Turkish kingdome, and with greater wisedome and pollicie than his predecessours, established the same: insomuch that some attribute vnto him the first institution of the Ianizaries, and other souldiours of the court (the greatest strength of the Turkish empire) before indeed begun in the time of Amurath the first, his great grandfather, (as is before declared) but by him greatly augmented, and the pollicie of that state, whereby it hath euer since in his posteritie flourished, euen by himselfe plotted. For the better establishing whereof in his owne hous•• and to cut off all occasions of feare; as also to leaue all such as might haue the heart to arise against him, all naked and bare of forces to resist; but especially the other ancient and noble families of the Turks, still secretly repining at the great honour of the Otho∣man kings: he as a man of great wisedome and judgement, to keepe them vnder, in the beginning of his raigne, by manifold fauours began to bind vnto himselfe men of strange and forraine coun∣treys, his seruants; and by ordering of his most waightie affaires by their authoritie, so by little and little to cast off the seruice of his naturall Turks: they in the meane time little or nothing at all looking into this his practise. And whereas the Othoman kings his predecessours had for the most part, or rather all together raised their Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court, of such children of the Christians as were taken in the warres; he, seeing by experience how seruiceable those new kind of souldiors were, began forthwith to plot in his head, how to make himselfe an armie all together of such able persons, his owne creatures, and so to bring in a new kind of war∣fare, wholly depending of himselfe. And to that end, by his officers appointed for that purpose, tooke from the Christians throughout his dominions, euerie fift child: the fairest and aptest of [ K] whom, he placed in his owne Seraglio at HADRIANOPLE, and the rest in other like places by him built for such purpose: where they were by sufficient teachers, first instructed in the princi∣ples of the Mahometan religion, and then in all manner of actiuitie and feats of armes. Of these, when they were grown to mans state, he made horsemen, gaue them great pensions, and sorting them into diuers orders appointed them also to guard his person; honouring the better sort of them with the name of Spahi-Oglani, that is to say, His sonnes the knights. And of these he began to make his Bas••aes, his Generals of his armies, and the Gouernours of his prouinces and cities, with all the great offices of the state. The rest and farre the greatest part of these tribute children taken from their Christian parents, and not brought vp in these Seraglioes, hee caused to bee dispierced into euerie citie and countrey of his dominion in ASIA, there for certaine yeares to [ L] be brought vp in all hardnesse and painfull labour, neuer tasting of ease or pleasure: out of which hard brood so enured to paines, he made choise of so many of the most lustie and able bodies fittest for seruice, as he thought good; who kept in continuall exercise, and by skilfull men taught to handle all maner of weapons, but especially the bow, the peece, and the Scimitar, were by him as occasion serued added to the other Ianizaries, and appointed for the guarding of his person: calling them commonly by the names of his sonnes. The remainder of these tribute children, as vnfit for the warres, hee put vnto other base occupations and ministeries. But vnto those martiall men of all sorts so by him ordained, hee appointed a continuall pay, according to their degrees and places: and by great benefits and liberties bestowed vpon them, bound them so fast vnto him, as that he might now account himselfe to haue of them so many sonnes, as hee [ M] had souldiours: For they together with the Christian religion, hauing forgot their parents and countrey, and knowing no other lord and master but him, and acknowledging all that they had to come and proceed of his free grace onely, remained euer bound and faithfull vnto him; and so kept others also, as well the naturall Turks themselues, as the other oppressed Christians with∣in

the bounds of obedience and loyaltie. A great pollicie proceeding from a deepe judgement, first to weaken the Christians by taking from them their best children,* 5.61 and of greatest hope; and then by them depending wholly of himselfe, to keepe in awe and dutifull obedience his na∣turall subjects also: hauing them alwaies as a scourge readie to chastice the rebellious or disloyall. Now the other Othoman kings and emperours, the successors of Amurath, keeping this custome, and also increasing it one after another, haue therby not onely kept the empire still in their house and familie, where it was first gotten: but also so maintained the majestie of their state, as that they are of their subjects feared, obeyed, and honoured, not as kings, but as gods. For the na∣turall Turks their subjects loosing courage continually, and daily growing more base and da∣stardly, by reason they are not suffered to practise the knowledge of armes, and the souldiours in whose power all things are, knowing nothing of their owne, but holding and acknowledging all that they haue to come of their lord, account them as kings and lords of all: ruling much af∣ter the manner of the Pharaohs the antient kinges of AEGYPT; who were absolute lords and masters, both of the publick and priuat wealth of their subjects, whom they kept vnder as slaues and villaines. And hereof cometh it to passe, that the better part of them, whom we call Turks (but are indeed the children of Christians, and seduced by their false instructors) desire to be cal∣led Musulmans (that is to say, right beleeuers) hold it a reproachfull and dishonourble thing to be called Turks, as it were peculiarly and aboue other people: For that they knowing right well, that there is not one naturall Turke among all those that beare authoritie and rule, and are had in greater honour and reputation than the rest (such as are the men of warre and courtlers) [ C] but he is borne a Christian either of father, or at the least of his grandfather: auouch those one∣ly to be Turks which liue in NATOLIA, al of them either marchants, or of base and mechanicall crafts, or poore labourers with the spade and pickaxe, and such like people vnfit for the warres; the rest (as I say) holding it for a title of honour to be discended of Christian parents. Yea the Grand Sign ••or himselfe, although by the fathers side he bee come of progenitors such as were naturall Turks borne, yet many of them had Christian mothers, which they accounted in the greatest part of their nobilitie and honour. Thus by the wisedome of Amurath was the order of the Ianizaries, and other souldiours of the court greatly aduanced, though not by him begun, and the politicke state of the Turks kingdome (to say the truth) quite altered; the naturall Turks (more than the Sultan himselfe) now bearing therein no sway: but onely these new souldiours, all of them discended from Christian parents, and by adoption as it were become the sonnes of the Turkish Sultans, and vnder them commanding all: by whom they haue euer since managed their estate, & by their good seruice wonderfully, euen to the astonishment of the world, encrea∣sed and extended their empire. But of them more shall be said hereafter.

This great king was whilest hee liued, of his subjects woonderfully beloued, and no lesse of them after his death lamented. He was more faithfull of his word than any of the Turkish kings either before or after him:* 5.62 by nature melancholie and sad, and accounted rather politicke than valiant, yet was indeed both: a great dissembler, and painefull in trauaile, but wayward and te∣stie aboue measure, which many imputed vnto his great age. He had issue sixe sonnes, Achme∣tes, Aladin,* 5.63 Mahomet, Hasan (otherwise called Chasan) Vrchan, and Achmetes the younger, of some called Calepinus: three of whom died before him; but the two youngest were by their vnnaturall brother Mahomet, who succeeded him in the Tur∣kish kingdome, euen in their infancie, in the beginning of his raigne most cruelly murthered.

FINIS.

Christian prin∣ces of the same time with A∣murath the se∣cond.

• Emperours
  • Of the East
    • Iohn Palaeologus. 1421. 24.
    • Constantinus Palaeologus. 1444. 8.
  • Of the West
    • Sigismund king of Hun∣garie. 1411. 28.
    • Albert the second king of Hungarie and Bohemia. 1438. 2.
    • Frederick the third, Arch∣duke of Austria. 1440. 54.
• Kings
  • Of England
    • Henrie the fift. 1413. 9.
    • Henrie the sixt. 1422. 39.
  • Of Fraunce
    • Charles the sixt. 1381. 42.
    • Charles the seuenth. 1423. 38.
  • Of Scotland
    • Iames the first. 1424. 13.
    • Iames the second. 1436. 29.
• Bishops of Rome
  • Martin the V. 1417. 13.
  • Eugenius the IIII. 1431. 16.
  • Nicholas the V. 1447. 8.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phil. Lonicer. Hist. Turc lib. 1.
• * 1.2

  Murat is the same that we ca•••• Desiderius.
• * 1.3

  Mustapha the supposed sonne of Baiazet rai∣seth rebellion against Amu∣rath.
• * 1.4

  Mustapha ••ly∣et••.
• * 1.5

  Mustapha h••••∣ged.
• * 1.6

  Two Asapi sold by a Ianizarie for a sheepes head.
• * 1.7

  Constantinople in vain besieged by Amurath.
• * 1.8

  Mustapha be∣traied & strang∣led.
• * 1.9

  Eiuases-Bassa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 put out.
• * 1.10

  The king of Ca∣ramania slaine.
• * 1.11

  Thessalonica besieged.
• * 1.12

  Thessalonica ta∣kē by Amurath.
• * 1.13

  Plague among the Turks.
• * 1.14

  Hungarie spoi∣led by Amu∣rath.
• * 1.15

  Amurath con∣trary to his faith inuadeth Seruia and subdueth it.
• * 1.16

  Vladislaus accep∣teth of the king∣dome offered.
• * 1.17

  Belgrade besie∣ged of the Turk••.
• * 1.18

  Belgrade in vain assaulted.
• * 1.19

  The notable speech of Amu∣rath•••• ••ncourage 〈◊〉〈◊〉 souldiors to the assault of Belgrade.
• * 1.20

  Belgrade notably defended by the Christians.
• * 1.21

  Amurath his answer•• to the embassadours.
• * 1.22

  1440
• * 1.23

  Transiluania in∣uaded and spoi∣led by Mesites Bassa.
• * 1.24

  Huniades flieth.
• * 1.25

  Huniades & the bishop of Alba-Iula entrapped by the Turks.
• * 1.26

  A great battell betwixt Mesites and Huniades.
• * 1.27

  Great reioicing for the victorie.
• * 1.28

  The speech of an old Turke, in de∣liuering the pre∣sent vnto the king.
• * 1.29

  Valachia grie∣uousl•• spoiled by the Turks.
• * 1.30

  The most Chri∣stian speech of Huniades to en∣courage his soul∣diours against the Turks.
• * 1.31

  A cruell barrell betwixt Hunia∣des and Abedin Bassa.
• * 1.32

  The Turks ••lie.
• * 1.33

  The effectuall speech of Iulian the Popes legate in the parl••ment to persuade the warre.
• * 1.34

  The pitifull com∣•••••••••• of the De∣s••ot, of t••e cruel∣ti•• of the Turks, persuad•••••• the Hun••••••ians to take the warre against them in hand.
• * 1.35

  Sophia taken.
• * 1.36

  Huniades with ten thousand horsemen assa••∣leth the Turks by night.
• * 1.37

  The meeting of Vladislaus and Huniades after the victorie.
• * 1.38

  The Hungarian•• inforced with the diff••cultie of the passage of the mountaine He∣mus, retire.
• * 1.39

  A great battell betwixt Hunia∣des & the Bassa Carambey.
• * 1.40

  The Turks ouer∣throwne, and Ca∣rambry taken prisoner.
• * 1.41

  Scanderbeg re∣u••lteth from the Turks.
• * 1.42

  Vladislaus se••∣keth in value to open the passage of the mountain•• Hemus.
• * 1.43

  The Hungarians much troubled in passi••g a thicke ••ood.
• * 1.44

  Vladislaus hono∣rably receiued at Buda.
• * 1.45

  Scanderbeg wise∣ly dissembleth his desire for the de∣liuerse of him∣selfe and his countrey.
• * 1.46

  Scanderbeg com∣meth with his ar∣m•••• to Petrel••a.
• * 1.47

  Petrella yeelded vnto Scanderbeg.
• * 1.48

  Petra-Alba yeelded.
• * 1.49

  Stellusa yeelded by the garrison.
• * 1.50

  A notable speech of a common sol∣dior to the rest of his f••llowes for the holding out of the citie a∣gainst Scander∣beg.
• * 1.51

  Scanderbeg his short answere to the souldiors speech.
• * 1.52

  Desdrot gouer∣nour of Stellusa, executed.
• * 1.53

  Macedonia spot∣••ed by Scander∣beg.
• * 1.54

  Alis Bassa with an armie of for∣ty thousand sent against Scander∣beg.
• * 1.55

  The battell be∣twixt Alis Bassa and Scanderbeg.
• * 1.56

  A great slaugh∣ter of the Turks.
• * 1.57

  Amurath in disp••••e.
• * 1.58

  Amurath by th•• persuasion of Ca∣li Bassa seeketh for peace of king Vladislaus.
• * 1.59

  The capitulat••∣ons of the ten yeares peace con∣cluded betwixt Vladislaus and Amurath.
• * 1.60

  Amurath inu••∣deth Caramania.
• * 1.61

  The ••unning speech wherwith Iulian the Car∣dinal per••••adeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vladislaus to breake the leagu•• ••e had before made with Amurath.
• * 1.62

  Iulian the Car∣dinall absolueth king Vladislaus and the ••ect from their oath before giuen to Amurath.
• * 2.1

  The letters of king Vladislaus to Scanderbeg.
• * 3.1

  Scanderbeg his answere by let∣ters vnto king Vladislaus.
• * 3.2

  King Vladislaus setteth forward against the Turks.
• * 3.3

  Dracula a••••eth V••ad••slaus with his sonne and 4000 horse.
• * 3.4

  His last farewell vnto the king.
• * 3.5

  The great battell of Varna fought betweene king Vladislaus and Amurath.
• * 3.6

  Amurath pray∣eth vnto Christ.
• * 3.7

  A cruell fight.
• * 3.8

  Amurath in danger.
• * 3.9

  King Vladislaus slaine.
• * 3.10

  Huniades flyeth.
• * 3.11

  Amurath to perform his vow resigneth his kingdome to his sonne Mahomet; which he in short time after taketh again vpon him▪
• * 3.12

  The comparison betwixt Hunia∣des and Scander∣beg.
• * 4.1

  The sullen and craftie letters of Amurath to Scanderbeg.
• * 5.1

  The resolute an∣swere of Scan∣derbeg to Amu∣rath his letters.
• * 5.2

  Amurath 〈…〉〈…〉 S••ander∣beg.
• * 5.3

  Scanderbeg his valiant resoluti∣on for the assaul∣ting of Musta∣pha in his camp.
• * 5.4

  Peloponnesus made tributarie vnto the Turke.
• * 5.5

  1446
• * 5.6

  Baiazet borne.
• * 5.7

  Huniades in the minoritie of the king, chosen Go∣uernor of all the kingdome of Hungarie.
• * 5.8

  1448
• * 5.9

  Huniades goeth against the Turks.
• * 5.10

  The false Despot giueth Amurath knowledge both of Huniades his comming, and of his strength.
• * 5.11

  The omynous speech of an old woman.
• * 5.12

  The notable speech of Huni∣ad••s to 〈…〉〈…〉 against the Tu••ks.
• * 5.13

  The great ba••∣••aile of Cosso•••• fought betwixt Amurath and Huniades three daies together▪
• * 5.14

  The battaile be∣gun againe the second day.
• * 5.15

  Huniades en∣courageth his souldiors.
• * 5.16

  The battaile a∣gaine beg••n the third day.
• * 5.17

  Huniades flieth.
• * 5.18

  The number of the Turks and Christians slain in the battaile of Cossoua.
• * 5.19

  Huniades taken pris••ner no•• by the D••spot.
• * 5.20

  1449
• * 5.21

  The Despot in∣uaded by Amu∣rath, craueth aid of Huniades.
• * 5.22

  Amurath his graue letters of aduertisement to Mustapha, con∣cerning his go∣ing againe into Epirus.
• * 5.23

  The s••eech of Caragusa the Tu••ke, to Ma∣nessi.
• * 5.24

  Manessi his stout answere to Caragusa.
• * 5.25

  The battaile be∣twixt Scander∣beg and Musta∣pha.
• * 5.26

  Mustapha ran••somed.
• * 5.27

  Th•• lamentable 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the ••••••ke ci••izen•• out of Croia.
• * 5.28

  Scanderbeg com∣meth to Sfeti∣grade.
• * 5.29

  The effectuall speech of Scan∣derbeg vnto the souldiors and ci∣tizens of Sfeti∣grade, to encou∣rage thē against the comming of Amurath.
• * 5.30

  A notable ••tra∣tageme of Scan∣derbeg for the intrapping of his enemies.
• * 5.31

  1449
• * 5.32

  Amurath com∣meth to Sfeti∣grade with his armie.
• * 5.33

  The resolute answere of Perlat the Go∣uernor, vnto the Bassa.
• * 5.34

  Sfetigrade as∣saulted.
• * 5.35

  The Turkes 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 5.36

  The Ianizaries desperatly at∣tempt to surprise the citie.
• * 5.37

  The Ianizaries repulsed.
• * 5.38

  Scanderbeg com∣meth to trouble the assault, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 met with by Feri-Bassa▪
• * 5.39

  Amurath by gre•••• p••••mise•• seeketh to cor∣rupt the garrison of Sfetigrade.
• * 5.40

  A traitor ••or∣rupted with A∣murath his L••••ge p••omises, conspi∣reth to betray the citie.
• * 5.41

  The carkas of a dead dog cast by the traitor into the common 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that serued the citie.
• * 5.42

  The Gouernor in vaine seeketh to pe••sua••e the gar∣rison s••uldiors to drin••e of the wa∣ter of the well▪
• * 5.43

  A traito•• ••or∣th••ly rewarded according to his treason.
• * 5.44

  1450
• * 5.45

  Amurath as∣sembleth againe his army at Ha∣drianople.
• * 5.46

  Croia ba••••red.
• * 5.47

  The cheerefull speech of Vra∣nacontes the Go∣uernour to en∣courage his sol∣diours.
• * 5.48

  Croia assaulted.
• * 5.49

  Scanderbeg in danger.
• * 5.50

  Mahomet thin∣king to deceiue Scanderbeg, is himselfe by him deceiued.
• * 5.51

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉.
• * 5.52

  The Turkes retire.
• * 5.53

  Amurath see∣keth to vnder∣mine Croia.
• * 5.54

  The craftie speech of the Bassa sent from Amurath to cor∣rupt the Gouer∣nour, and to per∣suade the ••••••hers to yeeld vp the cittie.
• * 5.55

  Vranacontes re∣iecteth Amurath his presents, and threaten••th the Bassa.
• * 5.56

  Croia againe in vaine assaulte••••▪
• * 5.57

  The last speech and admonition of Amurath vn∣to his sonne Ma∣homet vpon his death bed.
• * 5.58

  Amurath his death.
• * 5.59

  Amurath an example of the va••itie of world∣ly honour.
• * 5.60

  Amurath buri∣ed at Prusa.
• * 5.61

  A great poli••••••▪
• * 5.62

  Amurath his disposition.
• * 5.63

  The sonnes of Amura••h.