The history of the vvarres betvveene the Turkes and the Persians. Written in Italian by Iohn-Thomas Minadoi, and translated into English by Abraham Hartvvell. Containing the description of all such matters, as pertaine to the religion, to the forces to the gouernement, and to the countries of the kingdome of the Persians. Together with the argument of euery booke, & a new geographicall mappe of all those territories. A table contayning a declaration aswell of diuerse new and barbarous names and termes vsed in this history, as also how they were called in auncient times. And last of all, a letter of the authors, wherein is discoursed, what cittie it was in the old time, which is now called Tauris, and is so often mentioned in this history

The Sixt Booke. (Book 6)

The Argument.

The Persian King resolueth to ride to Heri, against his sonne Abas.

Emir-Chan promiseth the King to defend his Territories from the Turks

The Gouernour of Sasuar beheaded.

The King attempteth to get his Sonne Abas into his handes.

Abas writeth to his Father, and the Tenor of his Letters.

The two Persian Princes reconcile themselues one to the other.

Salmas accused and beheaded.

The Persian King, and the Prince his Sonne returne to Casbin.

Ferat chosen Generall of the Turkish Armie.

Ferat repaireth Aggia Chalasi, and Reiuan.

Tocomac seeketh meanes to bee reuenged of the iniuries of the Turkes.

Ferat returneth to Chars, and causeth a Sangiacco of the Curdi to be beheaded

Manucchiar the Georgian beheadeth the Messengers and Gentlemen-vshers of Amurath and deuideth the Treasure betweene himselfe, and his cosin Si∣mon.

Hassan goeth to succour Teflis.

Ferat is at Erzirum, and dismisseth his Armie.

The Persian King is affraide of newe stirres, and commeth to Tauris with a great Armie.

Generall Ferat gathereth a newe Armie at Chars▪ he goeth to Lory: he pas∣seth to the streites of Tomanis and cut••eth down the woods.

Daut Chan yeeldeth himselfe to the Turkes.

Simon goeth to assault Resuan the Bassa: he hath his horse slaine vnder him and is strangelie deliuered from extreame daunger.

Tomanis de••ended by Hassan.

A great dearth in the army of Ferat.

Ferat is threatened by his Souldiers.

Ferat goeth to Clisca, and meaneth to fortifie it.

Resuan is hardly entreated by the Souldiers, who also threaten their Gene∣ral againe.

The Generalls life is saued by Amurath the Bassa of Caramania.

A most confused tumult in the Armie, and Ferat the Generall is enforced shamefully to yeeld to his Souldiers, and returneth to Erzirum.

The Originall occasion and manner of the escape of Alyculi-Chan.

The Persian king dismisseth all his Souldiers, that he had gathered together.

Emir-Chan is imprisoned, and hauing his eies put out, by the kings appoin∣ment, he dieth miserablie in prison.

New displeasures arise among the Turcomannes for the death of Emir-Chan.

Amurath conceiueth great hope of the valour of Osman the Bassa.

Sciaus writeth to the Tartarian of the comming of Osman to Constantino∣ple.

Osman with foure thousand souldiers putteth himselfe in the way to Con∣stantinople.

Osman is assaulted by the Tartarians, but Osman ouer commeth them.

Osman putteth the Tartarian king to death, and appointeth his brother to be his successor.

Osman departeth from Caffa by Gallies, and arriueth at Constantinople.

Osman is chosen chiefe Visier in the rowme of Sciaus, and Generall in the rowme of Ferat.

Osman departeth from Constantinople, and goeth to Erzirum.

Osman gathereth a greater armie, then all those that haue beene hitherto gathered in these warres, besides the Souldiers of Egypt and Damasco, who did not goe with Osman.

(Book 6)

The sixt Booke. (Book 6)

AFter that these victorious Warriers, loa∣den with spoiles and diuerse of their E∣nemies * 1.1 ensignes, were with great ioy re∣ceiued at home in Persia, at the last to the greater comfort of the Persians, the dis∣cord also that fell out between Maha∣met Bassa, & Mustaffa the Georgian was declared vnto thē, whereat they did no lesse reioyce, then they did before fortheir obtayned victories. And euerie man thought with himselfe that this newes might greatly further the matter of peace, or at least if that came not to the wished ende, yet it might hinder the Turkes from passing to anie place that was neere vnto them, & might also keepe them occupied, is Teflis had hitherto done, in such places as are farre distant from their Royall Cities. Which coniecture of theirs might verie well be grounded vpon a reasonable foundation, aswell because the iniurie was verie great, that Mustaffa had done to Mahamet the Generall of the Tur∣kish Campe, as also for that the Territories of the saide Mustaffa were no lesse replenished with places most fit for treacheries and ambushes, then the Territories of Si∣nion. In these and such like good hopes remayned the Persians; when by the way of Georgia there came tydinges to them that Sinan was displaced from his Office of Gene∣ralshippe, and therefore the Turkes must of necessitie send foorth some newe Captaine, if they were minded still to * 1.2 continue this warre. With great griefe of minde did the Persians receiue this aduertisement, knowingful well howe much Sinan was inclined to peace, & how deadly he hated

the continuance of these long and troublesome conten∣tions. * 1.3 But much more greiuous was it vnto them, when they vnderstoode withall, how their treaties of peace were all in vayne, and howe besides those indignities that so dis∣honestlie were offered to the Persian Nation at Constantino∣ple, their Embassador was also at the last sent prisoner to Erzirum. And yet notwithstanding all these sorie newes the Persians chaunged not their former hopes, but verilie perswaded themselues that these discords, & the outrages committed vpon the Turkes by Manucchiar, might happe∣lie * 1.4 hinder their enterprise, which this yeare they minded to attempt to the great preiudise of Nassiuan, and Tauris: For they imagined, that seeing their newe Generall must needes be sent as farre as from Constantinople, the new yere could not serue their turne to any other purpoce, but one∣ly to succour Teflis, and to reuenge the shame receyued by the outragious furie of Manucchiar. In which poynt they discoursed also with themselues, that euen in that re∣spect Manucchiar and Simon would make a league together, aswell because they were neighbors in Territorie, and were likely both of them to run one and the selfe same course of fortune, as also (yea & so much the rather) because Manuc∣chiar hauing taken to wife a sister of Simons, they could dono lesse in these innouations but ioyne themselues together, & one of them be a protector and defender of the other, and so vniting their forces together they shuld be able to annoy al such, as should be sent to conueigh new succors to Teflis.

Vpon these occasions the Persian King, perceyuing that * 1.5 he could not haue a fitter oportunitie to employe himselfe against Abas Mirize his some, determined with himselfe to leaue the matters of this side of his kingdome in their pre∣sent state, and to march towards Heri, whereunto hee was

earnestly solicited by his elder son Emirhamze Mirize, but principally by Mirize Salmas his Visier, whom his said son in lawe did likewise dayly animate to this resolution, and could not well brooke that anie other thing shoulde bee in speech, but onely this, And therefore seeing there was no other remedie, but that the king must needs satisfie the re∣quest of these mightte entercessers, and also establish all thinges in as good securitie as possibly hee might (besides the great confidence and trust which he reposed as we told you, in his cosins the Georgiās) he called vnto him Emir-Chan being at that time the Gouernour of Tauris, and opened * 1.6 vnto him the resolution which he had to ride into Heri,

de∣claring vnto him withall, that he meant not to take this vi∣age vpon him, and quite to leaue at randon all these his Ci∣ties that were so neere and commodious for the fury of the Turkes, but he would set a trustie garde to keepe them, and make choice of such a person to attende them, as shoulde be able to yeelde him a good account of them, whensoe∣uer the Turks should aduenture to endammage those coū∣tries. And forsomuch as Emanguli-Chan had taken vpon him the charge to defend Siruan, & not to suffer that Osman Bas∣sa should proceed anie further in his conquestes there, but to keepe him straite and to restraine him within the narrow boūds & holds of Demir-Capi, he had foūd out also another person that had promised him, whensoeuer occasiō requi∣red to gather an armie together, and to vse all other good meanes to resist the Turkes, if they should at any time seeke to annoy these borders of Tauris, Nassiuan, Reiuan, & such lik. And further signified vnto him, That he was minded to dis∣charge him of the Office that hee had, namely the Gouer∣nourshippe of Tauris, and would substitute in his place the mā that had so readily offred himself to this seruice, bestow∣ing vpon him the name and title of the Gouernour ouer

Reiuan and Nassiuan, and ouer all the other places and Cap∣taines in those quarters. But if Emir-Chan himselfe woulde promise the like, and besides other helpes, would vse also the seruice of the mightie Turcoman Nation when neede should so require, he would not onely suffer him stil to in∣ioic his charge, but also, not harkening to the promises of the other man, he would honour him further, with the dignitie of Captaine Generall against the Turkish Armie.

A long time did Emir-Chan remaine in suspence hereat, not knowing wherupon to resolue himself. For on the one * 1.7 side, he knew that he had many aduersaries & cōpetitors, who no doubt would very boldly haue made the like offer to the king, of purpose to oppresse him, and to hoist him out of his possessed dignitie: & on the other side he saw the promise was verie difficult, for he vnderstood ful wel what great power the Turkish Armie had, against which he coulde not promise to make any resistance, no nor to looke them in the face, with so slender and weake prouisi∣ons as he had. Neuerthelesse, he being deceiued as wel as the rest with those common hopes, that whiles the King himselfe might be busied about the winning of Heri, the Turkes neither could nor would attende any other thing, but onely to reuenge the iniuries of the Georgians, to cha∣stise those troublesome and treacherous people, and to succor Teflis: couragiouslie at last promised the King that he woulde not suffer the Turkes, no not so much as to approch, either to Reiuan or Nassiuan, but would maintaine * 1.8 and keepe him and his landes safe and vntouched from any of their forces. And if it shoulde fall out that through some extra-vagant or extraordinary resolu∣tion of the Turkish Captaines, the enemies should come into those borders, hee woulde then gather together the

Turcomans and all their confederates, and so imploy his whole power and forces against them, to the ende, that such iniuries should not bee attempted, at the least with∣out reuenge.

This resolution beeing concluded, King Mahamet sette * 1.9 himselfe forwardes towards Casbin, with an Armie of twentie thousande persons, and leauing on his left hande Gheilan and the Caspian sea, and on his right hande Siras and Cassan, and beyond all that, euen vppon the coast of the saide Sea Massandran, Saru, Pangiazar, and Cul••at, by the way of Terrachan, Imamadulasis, Cur, Sembran, Bestan, & Dagman, he arriued at the Citie of Sasuar, being on that sid the chiefe of all the Cities that are subiect to the iurisdi∣ction * 1.10 of Heri. Nowe the gouernour of this Citie had fortified himselfe, by keeping the gates locked, and main∣taining a vigilant guarde about it, hoping that delaying the King and so auoiding his first assaulte, hee might also peraduenture persuade him, that this his comming was not necessarie, and purge himselfe before him of any ac∣cusation or fault, wherewith all he might be charged. But this his designement, though indeed both iust and reaso∣nable could not fall out according to his desire. For Mi∣rize Salmas, who in the delay of this their besieging, had continuallie among other surmises, entermingled also some feare and suspition of Nouelties, did still sollicite and hasten the enterprise, and himselfe encouraging the Souldiers thereunto, with ladders, with ropes, with * 1.11 timber, and with other engines did so much, that in a shorte time the Guarde of the Citie was taken, and the Gates opened to the King, who swarming in with all his Armie, lefte no leasure for Chan the Gouernor to escape, but presently caused him to bee beheaded,

although he alledged a thousand excuses for himselfe, and obiected a thousand accusations against the seditious * 1.12 Visier. The King after this departed from Sasuar, and ioyn∣ing vnto him all the strength of the cities of Nisaur, Mas∣siat, Tursis, Turbat, Giem, Malan, and Coran, hauing also put to death certaine captaines and Sultans, that were ac∣cused by the Visier to be Confederates in the rebellion of his Sonne, hee arriued atlast at the desired Citie of Heri. Ve∣ry strong is this Citie by situation, compassed about with a good wal, and watered with deepe channells of running springes, conueighed into it by Tamerlane their Founder or Restorer: so that the winning thereof coulde not but * 1.13 prooue very long and difficult: especiallye because there were in it many valiaunt Captaines, all enuious enemies to Mirize-Salmas, and readye to attempt any notable enterprise, for the defence of themselues and of their Lord. Assoone as the King had discouered * 1.14 the saide Citie, hee felte a rising in his minde the diuerse affections of griefe, and of pietie: and indeede greater was the griefe which hee conceiued, in respect of the businesse that hee wente about, then his pietie was. For hee greeued woonderfullye at his owne vnhappinesse and miserye, that hee shoulde cause such a one to bee borne into the lighte of the worlde, as in steede of maintaining his Fathers ho∣nour, and ioyning his forces with the forces of his Father to the destruction of his Enemies, shoulde rather bee a meanes for his arrant enemies to enter * 1.15 into his confederate Countreyes, and hee himselfe prooue the verye ouerthrowe of him, from whom he receiued his beeing, and present dignitye. It gree∣ued him likewise and that with affectionate passions,

to remember the bloud of his subiectes, that had heere∣tofore beene spilt vppon so straunge an occasion: yea and scarcelye durste hee enter into cogitation with himselfe, thence forwarde to shedde any more of the bloude of his peoples. Neuerthelesse, with all these his conceites and vnhappye fortune, beeing more and more sollicited by the Visier, hee attempted to vnder∣stande (if hee coulde) the minde of his Sonne, and * 1.16 (if it might bee possible) to gette him into his handes.

But the Citie of Heri was well fenced, (as we haue said) and therefore it must needes require the spending of ma∣ny daies, before it could be obtained: which Abas-Mirize knowing full well, thought it good in the meane time to write diuers letters to his Father and his Brother, wherein hee besought them, that they would make knowen vnto him the occasions of this their stirre. For if desire of rule had mooued them to desire the depriuation of him bee∣ing their Sonne and Brother, from the honour which hee lawfully possessed, and which his Father himselfe had procured for him, they ought to abandon that i∣magination, and not to seeke the disturbance of their peace, for that hee was alwaies to spende his wealth, and his bloude together with his estate, in their seruice, and acknowledged his Father to bee his good Father and King, who rather then hee: shoulde pursue this resolution, shoulde bee encouraged to encrease his Dominion ouer his neighbours the Indians and Bactri∣aus, which woulde bee more honourable and profitable for that Empire, and much more commodious for all Persia: And if they were not induced heereunto for this cause, but by a desire to reuenge some trespasse that

hee had committed in preiudice either of the Crowne of Persia, or his Fathers honour,

hee was most readie to sub∣mit himselfe to any amendes, and with all reason to yelde vnto them the kingdome, yea the worlde, and euen his owne life also, the rather to satisfie their mindes with a more full contentation.

With twise and thrise reading ouer, were these affecti∣onate and reuerent letters considered and digested, and at last both the Brother and the father, perceyuing in thē such liberalitie of wordes, and beeing ouer come with pit∣tie, or (if not with pittie yet) with great admiration and contentment, they determined to put the matter in pra∣ctise, and moderating their wicked desires of bloud, ruine and death, to attempt the reducing of the young mans minde to some good passe.

Wherevpon they wrote backe * 1.17 vnto him, That no greedie desire to vsurpe his gouerne∣ment (An affection that was onely raysed in the g••utt••no•••• minde of prophane Salmas) had induced them to make so great a voyage, to trouble so much the people, and to shed such aboundaunce of bloud. For rather then they would de∣priue him of that gouernement, they would bee readie to bestowe vpon him newe benefites and honours of greater esteeme. But onely his disobedience and impudenci••, in that hee caused himselfe to bee called the King of all * 1.18 Persia, and woulde not sende somuch as one Captayne to ayde them against the Turkes, these were the causes, why they proceeded to these great inconueniences: because they thought it their duetie to roote vp such wicked and obstinate desires out of their kingdome, and in Persia to preserue an vniuersall obedience and common tranquili∣••ie among their subiectes.

The youngman, when hee vnderstood the accusations

that were laied against him, was greatly comforted, & ho∣ped to make it manifest before al men, how the king & his * 1.19 brother were misinformed in these particularities & ther∣fore incontinently did write back againe vnto them, That if they would inuiolably promise, not to put to death, nor doe any outrage:

to any his embassadors, he would sendvn to thē such euident matter, & so cleere informatiō touch∣ing those his accusations, as they should not onely plainly perceiue there was neuer any such kind of thought in him, but also that he had alwaies desired & laboured the cōtra∣rie: & peraduenture he should open vnto thē such a mat∣ter, as in respect of other men and not of himselfe, would cause their comming to proue profitable and commodi∣ous to all the kingdome of Persia.

Whereupon they both * 1.20 promised all good entertainment, and were now become very desirous to vnderstand, what those straunge nouel∣ties should be:

and so when they had yeelded their con∣sent, and with solemne oath had offered to receiue the said embassadours with all friendly curtesie and regarde: Abas sent vnto them two of his chiefe counsellours, men of good accompt and reuerence both for their yeares and wisedome, with commaundement, That they should de∣clare, how all these stirres did arise from none other man, but onelie from the Visier Mirize-Salmas: who as he had alreadie laboured this daungerous plot against Abas-Mi∣rize the kings own son, so (if this his designment should bee brought to passe) he would not sticke to doe the like against the King himselfe, to satisfie the greedy and ambi∣tious desire which hee had to place his Sonne in lawe E∣mir-hamze in the soueraigne seate, and himselfe to bee the man, that (as Lieutenant to the King) shoulde com∣maunde the whole Empire. Which notwithstanding

they were to reueale without any blame or accusation of Emir-Hamze, and to make it knowen to his old father, that neuer any such conceits or affections were kindled in the Prince, but that he was also vnwares induced thereunto by the crafte and suttlety of malignant Salmas.

The two Embassadours came accordingly, and * 1.21 after many speeches, in the ende, swearing (according to their custome) by the Creator that spread out the Aire, that founded the earth vppon the deepes, that adorned the heauen with starres, that powred abroade the water, that made the fire, and briefely of nothing brought foorth all thinges: swearing by the heade of their vaine Master Aly, and by the false religion of their impious Prophet Mahamet: swearing by their children, by their wiues, by their own souls, That such peruers thoughts neuer entred * 1.22 into the head of Abas-Mirize:

They alledged many testi∣monies and euident proofes, that most loyally and faith∣fully, in all due time, aswell when hee was aduanced to the soueraigne degree of a king, as also in his battels a∣gainst the Turkes, his Sonne had alwaies caused deuout prayers and supplications to bee made to God for his pro∣speritye, neither euer desired to heare any other but hap∣pie and fortunate successe of him. They brought with them a thousande and a thousand Precepts and Royall Letters, which the younge man had caused to be writ∣ten, as occasions required, to the Gouernours that were his Subiectes for the gouernement of the state, wherein hee neuer named himselfe the King of Persia, but onelye your King and Gouernour of Heri.

They prayed the King also that hee woulde cause a dili∣gent processe (which the Turkes call a Teftis) to be framed against his Sonne, and if there shoulde bee

founde in him any signe or shadowe of so wicked a suspicion, that then hee woulde take from him his e∣state and libertie.For they woulde remaine as ho∣stages * 1.23 for him.

But when all this shoulde be done, and Abas-Mirize shoulde bee founde altogether free from these vniust and impious calumniations, then (falling euen to the earth and kissing it,) they be∣sought him and coniured him, that hee woulde not leaue the matter thus imperfect, to the preiudice of his bloude: but returning to his counsellor, he would likewise take information, vppon what minde or con∣sideration it was well knowen that he had aduised the King to take vpon him this vnorderly and daungerous vi∣age. For without doubt hee shoulde finde nothing in him but malignant, ambitious, and wicked affections, and such as euen deserued, that with his bloud there should be reuenged all the bloud of those, which till that houre had beene brought to their vnworthie and vndeserued death. And forasmuch as there remained one onely diffi∣culty to be cancelled & cleared, wherof the Visier had infor∣med the king, touching a commaundement that was gi∣uen by Abas-Mirize to the gouernors that were vnder him, as namely to the gouernour of Sasuar and of other places, that they should not goe to the warre against the Turkes: they confessed in trueth, that such an order was taken in∣deede, but not to that vniust and slanderous end, as it was related to the king by the Visier, but onely in respect of the warres, that were reported to be begun in those quarters by the Tartarian Iesselbas, who by diuers into ades hauing robbed the Cities, the Townes, and the Fieldes of Heri, had put such a feare in younge Abas-Mirize and all his Counsellours, that they durste not emptye their

Cities of their guardes and forces, and thereupon (as they should finde it true, if they woulde enquire thereof) the saide Gouernours were commanded that they should not goe to the war against the Turks, but that they should expect further direction, whereof they shoulde haue no∣tice, if they should be called for.

And that all this was signified by writing to the Visier himselfe, but that hee of a malignant minde had concealed the same: onely to try, if in these common troubles hee coulde bring it to passe, that Abas-Mirize and the king might bee bereaued of their liues, and Emir-hamze succeed in their place, and so hee himselfe remaine the Super-intendent of his sonne in law, and Moderator of rather the Tyrant of that hap∣pie and famous kingdome. Which (they saide) they made knowen vnto him, not because they thought Emir-hamze to bee acquainted with so treacheious a traine, (for they knewe very well, how greatly in imitation of his Fathers pietie, hee hated dissension among kinsefolkes, & shedding of bloude) but onely because it was throughlye discouered to bee the most vnlawful and vnreasonable desire of the wicked traitor Mirize-Salmas.

Verie graue and strange cogitations did these auncient Orators raise in the mindes of the two Princes: and Ma∣hamet the Father, beeing by nature credulous and incon∣stant beyond measure, began to make great construction of their speeches, and deepely to consider of their so ear∣nest and important requestes, whose offers also seemed * 1.24 vnto him so vpright and equall, that he could not choose but accept thereof. And therefore calling vnto him the Gouernours, the Captaines, the Iudges and Treasurers of all the Cities that were subiecte to Heri, hee de∣maunded of them, how and in what sorte they esteemed

of Abas-Mirize, and how & in what degree of honour he desired to be esteemed of them. And of them all he recei∣ued an vniforme aunswere, that they helde him for their Lord, as the Lieutenant to the king of Cas-bin, and that he himselfe did alwais desire so to be taken & thoughtof. And euerie of them brought in diuers Letters, Precepts, and Orders, wherein hee neuer caused himselfe to bee honoured with any other title, but onely, your king of Heri. Hee demaunded further, whether those tu∣mults of warres were indeede attempted by the Tarta∣rian Iesselbas or no: whereof hee receiued also a large and solemne information, that so it was, to the greate detriment of all those territories. And thus the king was throughly persuaded of the innocencie of his son, * 1.25 who before was noted vnto him by his Visier to bee an obstinate rebell. Vpon which occasion onely, although hee might iustly haue put his Visier to death, as one that had beene the cause of the slaughters that happened, and of the bloud of so many valorous Captaines that was shed so iniuriouslie: yet because he would be better informed of the trueth of the accusations laid againste him by the Embassadours of Heri, the rather to ridd himselfe from so important and so iust a feare: and be∣cause he doubted also peraduenture, least there had beene some conspiracie plotted against him betwene the Visier and Emir-hamze: hee resolued to make a curious and di∣ligent inquisition thereof. And therefore first of all, in great secrecie, calling vnto him Emir-hamze, and de∣maunding of him by all faire meanes, howe and where∣fore * 1.26 hee had aduised and procured this iourney against Abas-Mirize, Son to himselfe & Brother to him, where∣as indeede he had founde him innocent of al those crimes

that were layde to his charge: he receaued aunswere from the Prince that hee had no other certeyntie of the pretended ill behauiour of his brother, but one∣ly that which proceeded from the greate credite that hee alwayes bare towardes his Father in Lawe Mirize Salmas, to whome, as to a Visier, and as to his Father in Lawe, and as to a Protectour of * 1.27 the Kingdome, and finally as to a person that had beene tryed in a thousande matters to bee true and trustie, hee had alwayes yeelded assured credence, in all such matters, as daylye were in speech be∣tweene them. Insomuch that hee discharged the whole Tempest of all these mischiefes vppon the Vi∣sier, Touching whome the King made diligent in∣quisition aswell among those of the Courte as of the Armie, and thereby founde verye straunge and vnexpected Nouelties. For there was not a man al∣most, that did not accuse him, for a seditious man, * 1.28 for a Cruell man, for an vniust man, and for a Ty∣rant, and to bee briefe that did not make him guiltie of very haynous crimes, and in particular for the ac∣cusation layd against him by the Embassadours of He∣ri, they all declared, that in trueth hee was alwayes made acquaynted with the true occasions, which did restrayne the Gouernours subiecte to Abas Mi∣rize (from going to the Warre against the Turkes,) but that hee most malioiously had concealed the same, of purpose onely to hatch such a straunge and dange∣rous stirre; in hope to aduance his owne estate by the destruction of others. And so at last Mirize Salmas was detected for guiltie, & rewarded with that punish∣ment, which he desired vniustly to conuert vpō others.

For the King, who had nowe founde such impietie in him, as besides that hee had caused manie Sultans of accompt to bee vniustly and vnworthely put to death, he also went about to procure, that the Father shoulde defyle himselfe with the bloude of his owne Sonne, (a thing so odious both to the King himselfe and all his kingdome, as euer anie cruell Action coulde possiblie bee,) the King (I saye) coulde not suffer this impietie, but acknowledging a fresh the innocencie of the one, and the guylte of the other, the one hee deliuered and embraced as his Sonne, the other he auaunted out of his presence, and punishing him as an impious person, hee caused his heade to bee cutte from his Carcase. In this * 1.29 manner, the ambitious Visier, as though hee had vo∣luntarily gone to his owne death, tourned all these an∣gers and tumultes against himselfe, and with his owne destruction pacified the dissentions and hatredes that were fostered in the two Princes mindes. And Emir∣hamze, when hee had nowe discouered the wickednesse of his Father in Lawe, tooke it also in verie good parte that hee was depriued both of his state and life. And so the two brethren beeing reconcyled together, and * 1.30 the Sonne to the Father, after that Abas Mirize had agayne promised his wished obedience (which hee af∣terwarde willinglie performed,) Kinge Mahamet re∣turned with the Prince towardes Casbin, where by rea∣son of sodayne and vnexpected newes hee had nowe a∣long time beene looked for and desired.

Amurath, through the roughe speeches, and vnluckie prognostications of Sinan, was more and more settled in his purpose to continue this Warre, hopinge that hee woulde cause all the threatteninge

of Sinan to bee but vaine, and to reape so much the more glorie by his happie successe in such an enterprise, as it should fall out contrarie to the common opinion of all men. And thereupon began to bethinke himselfe whome he might choose for his Generall, and to him not onelie to commit such a charge, but also to communicate all his deuises. Till that time, Osman Bassa was appoynted bee the man, but Amurath thinking that Osman might prooue more seruiceable in Siruan, and thereby the better assure and establish the conquest of that Region, durste not so soone remoue him from thence. Among the Bas∣saes of the Court there was one Ferat, a man of ripe yeares, but yet fierce of courage, tough in opinion, in counsell as hardie as might beseeeme his age, ready for all sodeine and strange aduentures, but aboue all a vassall most deuoted to the King, and happely he had performed some good office, why he was the rather now called forth by Amurath to this seruice. Of this man at the last hee * 1.31 was resolued to make choyce to bee the Captaine of his Armie. And therefore hee called him to him, and com∣municated with him all his priuie dessignements and se∣crete deuises necessarie for this warre, encouraging him to take paynes, to fight battels, to obtayne victories, and to doe all thinges else agreeable to so worthie an enter∣prise. Verie willingly did Ferat accept of this newe Of∣fice, * 1.32 and thought himselfe to bee highly fauoured by the King, and so disposed himselfe to performe the same, so farre as he coulde employ his strength, his wit and his di∣ligence therein▪ and thereupon made him a large promise, that hee woulde put in execution, whatsoeuer shoulde be offered vnto him either by occasion, or by his Royall com∣maundement. Which although the King should not haue

vrged any further, but onely to assure the passage to Teflis, and all Georgia, and principally to destroye the countrie of Mustaffa the Georgian, who had so audaciouslie iniured the Lieutenant of Amurath and set his whole Armie in con∣fusion, yet beeing certified by Maxut-Chan the Rebell of Persia, and being aduertised by his subiecte Bassaes that re∣mained neere to Tauris, howe King Mahamet was depar∣ted, or atleast was vpon the poynt of departing to Heri, to * 1.33 trie his Sonnes minde, hee chaunged his purpose, and deli∣berating the matter with himselfe, hee commaunded Ferat to employ all his Force and diligence to erect a Fabrike at Reiuan, a place belonging to Tocomac, and to assure the pas∣sage that leadeth from Chars to Raiuan. For so they shoulde be reuenged of manie treacheries and dammages which they had receyued by Tocomac, and the way to the Citie of Tauris shoulde bee made open, to the great glory of Amu∣rath. Hee aduised Ferat also, that although hee knew ve∣rie well, it were his duetie to chastize Mustaffa the Georgi∣an for his rash attempt against Mahamet Bassa, being then his Generall: yet he thought it better, that hee should dis∣semble and conceale his ill opinion of him, and (if it might bee possible) to worke so, as hee might conueigh the treasure and succours to Teflis. For by this meanes, the passage beeing made safe and secure, without anye moe Fortresses or Fabrikes, all Georgia woulde bee subdued, and the next yeare they might attempt the enterprise of Tauris.

Verie highlie did Ferat commende the deuises of Amu∣rath, and shewed himselfe readie for anie attempt. And nowe was the time come, wherein it behooued them to set on foote these their important dessignements: and there∣fore in the beginning of the yeare 1583. commaunde∣dements

were sent out of all the Cities of the Empire, * 1.34 which were wont to make their appearance at these wars, that vpon fresh summons they should be readie to re∣turne against the Persians, and to put in execution, that which should be enioyned thē by their new captain: the Fame whereof flew as far as to Tripoli in Soria, to Damas∣co, to Aleppo, to all Iurie, to Palestina, to Mesopotamia, to Babylonia, to Balsara, to Siuas, to Maras, to all Bithynia, to Cappadocia, to Cilicia, to Armenia, and to all the San∣giacchi and Curdi of them, yea and beyond Constantino∣ple, to the borders of Hungarie, and of Greece, and to bee briefe to all their subiecte Regions, that were wont to come to this Warre. All which sent their * 1.35 Captaynes and Souldiers accordingly, all readie and willing to performe the pleasure of their Lorde. And so at the last, Generall Ferat departing from Constanti∣nople, and passing to Chalcedon by the way of Amasia, and of Siuas, hee came to Erzirum, where hee tooke a veiw of all his Souldiers, all his Pioners, his Buylders, his * 1.36 Treasure, his prouision of Corne, his Munitions of Warre, and leading with him the ordinarie Number of Artillarie, hee gathered altogether vnder his Stan∣derd. Afterwardes in due time hee remooued from Erzirum, and in the space of eight dayes arryued at Chars: (in which his iourney hee vsed the seruice of the rebell Maxut-Chan, as his Guide, who in the Turkish language is called a Calaus:) and from Chars hee sette * 1.37 himselfe on his waye towardes Reiuan. Three dayes before hee came to Reiuan, of certayne ruines of an olde and sleepe Castle, which the Turkes called Ag∣gia-Chalasi, hee erected a newe Fortresse, and left in it * 1.38 a Garrison of fower hundred Souldiers, together

with a Sangiaccho and certaine peeces of Ordinance, and then went to Reiuan.

This Countrey lyeth neere to a Mountaine, whose toppe reaching aboue the clouldes, seemeth to touch * 1.39 the heauens, and is continually charged with snowe and y••e. At the foote of this heigh and starke moun∣tayne there lie fayre fieldes abounding with Corne and Cattell, and watered with diuers brookes, that fal∣ling downe from a lofte discharged themselues into A∣raxis. It is distant from Tauris, eight or nine dayes iourney: betweene which two places are situate Nas∣siuan, Chiulfall, Marant, and Soffian, all enriched with goodly Gardens and pleasaunt Greenes: but in the way many craggie mountaynes to bee clymed, and sundrie harde passages either for Armie or Traueller. * 1.40 It hath vppon the coast towardes the North, Teflis, vppon the South the playnes of Caldaran: and a little higher towardes the Tropike of Capricorne, Van and the Marciana Marish.

Heere then did Ferat Bassa encampe himselfe with all his Armie, and taking the aduise of his chiefe Captaynes, where hee shoulde builde the Forte, they all with one consent aduised him to seaze vppon the houses and Gardens of T••comao, and to enuiron them with Ditches, with Walles, and with Ordinaunce for defense, and in the middest as it were in a Center within the Walles to erecte a highe Castle, which on euerie side rounde about might discouer both the hilles and the playnes, and beeing well fensed with store of good Ordenance might threaten destruction and ruine to all those that durst attempt to endam∣mage them. And so they enclosed the gardens with

walles accordingly, and hauing digged ditches rounde a∣bout * 1.41 them, they conueyed water into them from a cer∣tayne riuer, that came downe from the hilles and ranne into Araxis, and in this manner within the space of fifteene dayes they finished the Fort.

It was a great affliction to Tocomac thus to loose his own Countrie, yea and so much the more greeuous it was vn∣to him, because it happened so sodenly and as it were vn∣looked for: he himselfe, presently assoone as he vnderstood that the Turkish Armie was comming towardes that coast, hauing withdrawne himselfe and his men of war out of the Citie, and leauing the impotent to the mercie of the Con∣querors, seeking by all meanes to bee reuenged, if not al∣together, yet at the least in some part of this great iniurie. And therefore hee wrote to the King in Corazan, he wrote * 1.42 to Emir-Chan in Tauris, hee wrote to Simon in Georgia, hee gathered souldiers out of the villages, and vsed all his pos∣sible indeuour to make himselfe meete and able to annoy the enemies Armie. But neither from Georgia coulde hee receaue anie helpe, because they were too-much trou∣bled with hindering any succours to bee brought for the reliefe of the beseeged in Teflis, (as in due place it shall be declared:) Neither from Tauris was hee releeued with so much as one Souldier: either because Emir-Chan woulde not, or coulde not stirre, or else because hee had some secrete intelligence with Generall Ferat, not to disturbe him in this his Fabrike. And so Tocomac could not haue the lucke to be fauoured with any poore ayde, that might at the least haue mittigated the bitternesse of his griefe. And therefore being not able to doe anie thing, but onely with those few Souldiers which he had, to lay some priuie * 1.43 ambushes for the Turkes, hee neuer ceased to sley some∣times

a hundred of them, sometimes a hundreth and fiftie, and sometimes moe, and in that manner to coole the heat of his heart, which swelled with the burning desires of reuenge. And the better to ease his stomacke, which was infected with the poyson of hatred against Emir-Chan, * 1.44 who sitting still as it were to beholde his miseries, woulde not so much as shake a sworde to annoye these spoyling Turkes, and thereby performe his promise made to the Kinge, hee spared not to dispatch certayne horse men to the saide King in Corazan, and by ••loquent letters to am∣plifie the vilenesse and cowardize of Emir-Chan, discou••∣ring vnto him some shadowe of suspicion, and interming∣ling with all some causes of iealousie to be conceiued in his * 1.45 minde, that Emir-Chan had some secrete intelligence with the Turkish Generall. And to be short he omitted no oc∣casion, whereby hee might anie way qualifie the griefe that he had taken for the losse of his Citie.

The Turkish Captaine at last departed from his newe Forte, and returned to Chars, and for the custodie of the said * 1.46 Fortresse he appointed there as Captaine Sinan Bassa, sonne to that Cicala, who by misfortune was lately taken priso∣ner, whiles with great fame hee scowred and wasted the * 1.47 Tyrrhene Sea. And therefore this his Sonne (who was af∣terwarde cured and healed by mee of a certaine disease that hee had at Aleppo) partly for the goodlinesse of his person, and partly for the hope that hee raysed of his valour, was * 1.48 so greatly fauoured by Selim the late Tyraunt of Constantino∣ple, and the arrant Enemie of the Italian name, that hauing scarce passed the flowre of his youth, in which age he was deerely beloued of him, hee, was created the Aga or Cap∣tayne of the Giamizaries, and after this his first degree of honour sent to bee gouernour of certayne Cities, and in

the ende hauing beene imployed in diuers tumults, and perible of warress, hee was nowe appointed Captaine and * 1.49 Keeper of this Forte, together with Ossan Bey, Sonne to the late famous Eliambu••at, afore mentioned. With these two Captaines; but yet vnder the sole gouernement of Bassa Elicabi onely, and with the companye of eight thou∣sand Souldiers; partlye 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and partlye, Naturall Subjects, and with the Munition aboue rehe••rsed this Forte was stir engthened and this Garrison of Souldiers, without expecting any yeerely succours to bee brought them by and Armye to euen of themselues, in seuerall troupes of three hundred together in a companie, were alwaies 〈…〉〈…〉 appointed times to go & fetch their pay at the Citie of Enzr•••••• and afterwardes at A∣loppo, and other Cities of S••ria. A which they also conti∣nue to doe euen to this daye. And so with these saide Souldiers, and with good store of Art••haries artifici∣ally distributed vpon the new wall, Fora•• left the Forte, hand ••as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue ••ased withdrewe, himselfe to Chars, passing by the waye of Aggia-Ghalasi, and performing his iourney 〈◊〉〈◊〉 daies space.

Where when he was arriued, there arose very great and straunge newes. For there was fodainely brought * 1.50 before the said Generall, •• Sangiaedo Cutdo, with his hands, bounde behinde him all pale and astonished with foare whose beade without any more a doo hee caused to bee cutte from him car••ase publishing to the rest that hee was a ••ole and a rebell. Which whether it were so or no •••••• whether this sodaine and ynexpected death light∣ed vpon him in respecte of some other displeasure, they knowe best, (if it bee lawfull at the least to know it) that

are the curious searchers of such particularities.

At the execution wherof there was a rumour raised of a far greater importance. For by many reporters there was brought to the eares of the General a great faine of a won∣derfull noueltie, namely, that Mustaffa the Georgian, to * 1.51 whom 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had sent thirty thousand Duckates from Constantinople by two of his Capigi and two Ch••aus or N••n••io••s, to the end that with a T••io••spe of his (Subiectes he shoulde carrie them to Teflis for the reliefe of those in the Porue, was ••••••dde, and beeing nowe become a rebell to the Turkish King, had lefte the Fortresse in manifeste 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to yeelde, if by some other meanes it were not relieued. Great was the mar••el, the griefe, and the anger, that For•••• conceiued vpon * 1.52 these newes, and minding to haue a full certaintye thereo••, hee called vnto him all suche as were the Messengers of this misfortune, and of them receiued a cleere and an expresse information of euery parti∣cular: so that in briefe hee was generallye certified that Mustaffa, the two Capigi and the Chiaus hauing put themselues on their iourneye towardes Teflis with the treasure, assisted with the company of fiue hun∣dred of his Souldiers, in the midway had met with his Co∣sin Simon, by whom, after hee had setled himselfe to make some long discourse with him, he was sharpely reproued, that so prophanely hee had abandoned the sacred name of Christ that he was not onely content to liue in Turkish impiety but also that he d••••st impugne the champions & * 1.53 desendor of the Christian faith, and that hee woulde be∣come a s••aue to another for a filthie superstition and impietie, raised and sowen with venerous and pestilent doctrine by a Prophane and heathen Pro∣phet,

that is dead,

abandoning and forsaking the religi∣on of that God, which is the onelie true and one God, in Trinitye.

And that with these and such like speeches, which very eloquently and with great zeale flowed from the mouth of Simon, he was persuaded to relinquish that infamous and wicked slauerie, and in any fitte occasion that God, (who is most mercifull towardes sinners and offendors) should minister vnto him, to reuenge the op∣pression, that Amurath had vsed towards him, and open∣lie to declare to the whole world, that he scorned and re∣nounced the Diabolicall pompes and infernall riches of the Tyrant, thereby disclosing himselfe to bee indeede of greate courage and a true Christian.

His cosin not cea∣sing in the meane time to repeate often vnto him, That God would not faile in peculiar and familiar manner to take knowledge of his Actions, and to fauour them, yea and at all times to sende vnto him all happie and wished successe: whereas on the contrarie side, if he would not resolue with himselfe so to doe, hee might well bee assu∣red, that after manye labours and trauels, which hee should indure for the seruice of Amurath, he should ob∣taine none other recompence, but a harde and infamous captiuitle and in the endesome fraudulent and treache∣rous death.

Vpon which woordes Mustaffa beeing * 1.54 throughly moued, he caused the two Capigi and the Chi∣aus to be apprehended, and presentlie beheaded and so Simon and hee, besides the bande of their kindred hauing solemnely vowed a perpetuall confederacie & strict frind∣ship to bee inuiolablie kept betweene them▪ deuided the treasure, and withdrowe themselues to their wonted pas∣sages, there to annoy and endomage, whosoeuer shoulde be sent for the soccouring of Teflis.

These and such other particularities when Ferat vnder∣stoode, being all in a furye, and inflamed with rage, he did * 1.55 sweare that he would not returne to Erzirum, vntill all the Country of Mustaffa were put to fire and sworde: but yet in the meane time he bechought himselfe that vrgent ne∣cessity did shrewdly vrge him to send conuenient strength to the place that was in daunger: and for that purpose made choyse of Hassan Bassa, who alreadie in the last yeere of the Generall-shippe of Mustaffa had very couragious∣ly conueighed the sayde succours and taken Alyculi-Chan prisoner. To him therefore did the Generall assigne four∣tye thousande Duckates, with other prouision necessa∣rye for that enterprise, and for suretie appointed him fif∣teene thousand persons of the best choyce and valour in all the Armye. In tenne daies space Hassan Bassa wente and came from Teflis: In whose iourneye too and fro, * 1.56 the Georgians made manye skitmishes with them, where∣in there were slaine of the Turkes sometimes tenne, and sometimes twenty, and sometimes their mules and some∣times their horses were taken from them, but no matter at all of any great moment.

After this, the Generall elected one Resuan Bassa to bee Captaine of six thousand Souldiers to goe to Altu••••hala, Carachala, and other places and villages of Mustaffa the late rinegato, nowe become a rebel to the Turkes, and re∣lapsed to the obstinate religion of the Greekes. Which R••suan, witho•• any long stay, ouerr anne all his Territorye, but an his townes and his lands, and committed vncouth outrages, euen vpon the poore insensible trees. Resuan brought home with him manye Captiue soules, with much Corne and Cattell, and to bee breefe whereso∣euer hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hee wasted and destroyed like a Tempest,

whatsoeuer was before him: and if in any place he seemed to be any thing fauourable, and his fury pacified, it was be∣cause * 1.57 there was no resistance made by any vpon whom he might exercise his forces. The Generall was nowe also retyred to Ardachan, and thither came Resuan to meete him with his foresaide booty. But because there remained nothing else to bee done in those quarters, and the winter persuaded their returne, they remoued from Ardachan, and by the way of Olti retyred to Erzirum: from whence * 1.58 all the souldiers were licensed to departe to their seuerall places of aboade: and an Arz or Memoriall sente to the King of all the Actions that had beene performed, & prin∣cipally of the good enterprise of Hassan Bassa, who for the same was nowe also once againe honoured by the King with cloath of gold, and a battell axe and Target al guilt. And this end had the troubles of the yeere 1583. of mans saluation, beeing the seauenth yeere of this warre.

All the rest of the yeere 1583. the Generall wintered at Erzirum, and afterward sent out his ordenary comman∣dementes ouer all his accustomed Cities, to summon the souldiers against the next spring of the yeere 1584. ap∣pointing the taxes and tenthes to bee somewhat greater then they were woont to bee, and gathering together a greater number of pi••ners & enginers thē euer had been gathered heeretofore, and withall published a rumor a∣broade that they shoulde goe to Nassiuan, and there doe great matters. At the reporte whereof the Persians were * 1.59 much mooued, and began to cast many thinges in their heades about in. Glad they were for the vnion and ami∣tye lately concluded betweeen the two Cos••••s Simon and Manucchiar: (for nowe being againe reclaimed and become a Champion of his former saith, we may cal him

no longer Mustaffa, the name that he had giuen him by Amurath at his Circumcision, but Manucchiar, where∣by hee was Christened by the Priestes at his Baptisme.) * 1.60 And they wel hoped, that by the diligence of them both, the way of Tomanis would be sufficiently kept & guarded, or at the leaste that which they were not able to doe, the rest of the Persian Captaines woulde performe for their partes.

But aboue all others the king who was nowe arriued at * 1.61 Casbin, and had vnderstoode the confirmation of the vn∣happy successe at Reiuan, and the newe preparations of the Turkes, beganne to thinke vpon further matters, and entred into many discourses with himselfe, all enter∣mingled with a very great feare of some strange altera∣tions. The fabrik erected the last yeere at Reiuan afore∣said, & the repaire of the castle called Aggia-Chalasi, had perswaded him, that the Turkes this yeere would passe to Tauris, or at least as the reporte was to Nassiuan, and build new fortresses in those borders. Which thing the king neither would nor could endure by any meanes, for that it might prooue a shrewd introduction to the ruine of Persia, and to the bringinge downe of so mightye an Empire. And therefore hee retayned still those Forces which hee brought home with him, and out of all the Cities that were Subiecte vnto him hee caused as manye moe to come as hee coulde, com∣maunding * 1.62 withall, that all the Chaus vppon paine of Death shoulde followe him to Tauris, and so not longe after the arriuall of Ferat Bassa at Erzirum, hee also arriued at Tauris, beeing withal obedience accompanied be all his said Armie.

This vnexpected comming of the Persian to Tauris, as it engendred expectation of verye good successe in the * 1.63 mindes of all men, insomuch as the voice went ouer all I∣talye, that the Persian ment to haue meruailous conflicts with the Turke, whereat Christendome did not a little re∣ioyce for the good hope that it bred of some happy euent in preiudice of the Turkes: so Ferat Bassa beeing certified thereof, before he proceeded any further, beeing there∣unto aduised by Maxut-Chan his Guide, (as afterwarde hee confessed at Aleppo) he thought good to aduertise A∣murath of the matter declaring vnto him, That his desire was to goe to Nassiuan, and there to build a fortresse ac∣cording to his commaundement, (a woorke in his opi∣nion verye necessarie, to make the passage for Tauris safe and secure.) But forsomuch as he had receiued intel∣ligence by trustye Souldiers, that the Persian king was remooued to Tauris with a verye huge Army, and was vtterly resolued to come and encounter him, he thought it his duetye not to put in execution his foresaide deter∣mination, * 1.64 without the Kings expresse commandement, Amurath presentlie wrote backe vnto him, that if it were so as he had written, he should imploy himselfe about no∣thing els, but to quiet the passage of Tomanis and Lori, to the ende that the next yeere following there shoulde bee no neede to send any newe Army, to conuey the succors, but some small bande mighte bee sufficient, as trauelling * 1.65 through a country, that were at amity and confederatye with them. Which order Amurath did the more willingly set down, for that he saw the rebellion of Manucchair; and knewe fullwell, that the Fort of Teflis by reason of his Treacheries shoulde haue more neede nowe, then euer it had, to bee sustained and releeued. Yet not with∣standing

Ferat woulde not publish this newe commaun∣dement, but caused the rumour to bee confirmed (more * 1.66 then hee did before) that hee woulde goe to Nassiuan, of purpose to feede the opinion, that the Persians had for∣merly conceaued in their mindes of his going thether, & so eluding them hee might without any disturbance of the enimie attend the building of the Forts, which he had intended for the quieting of the most dangerous passages of Lori and Tomanis.

Ferat hauing concluded vpon this resolution, and ga∣thered together his people with all things bene sla••••e for his purpose, remooued at last with his Armie from ••••oi∣rum * 1.67 towards Chars, where he arriued by the way of Hassan-Chalassi, not meeting with any annoiance or hinder and at al, & there he staied the space of tend ayes, to the end that all his companies of Souldiers and heape of prouision might beenewlie suruey ghed. And then departing from Chars, hee iournied low and Lori, and presently dispatch∣ed * 1.68 Hassan Bassa with fiue thousande valiaunt light horse∣men to scoure the Countrie, and passing euen to Toma∣nis to retourne him newes, of all that hee shoulde see or heare in those quarters, and to bring home his Captiues with him, that hee might the better make diligent ••••••∣tie of the affaires of Georgiās. This commandement of the Generall Hassan performed duetifully, and making haste on his iourney passed to Lori, and from Lori to Tomanis, & speedily scoured ouer all the woodes, opening and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 closing all the passages ••ounde about without any beco∣sion ••••••stred vnto him ed giue assay of his vald•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 * 1.69 at the last hauing me••e with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ss••chi, (which wee may terme Robbers by the high way) he flewe them aland setting their heads on the top pes of their Launces,

he made his returne towards Lori. Where hauing staied 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whole day, they discouered from thence aid he whole Turkish Armie, with a great and fearefull shew comming and approching towardes them. Whereupon Hassan went to meet the Generall, & to reporte vnto him the ex∣cursiō that he had made, declaring withal, that he had not encountered any other but onely certaine Cassachi, whose heades he might beholde vppon their Launces, for that hee thought it not necessarie to bring them aliue, because they were altogether ignoraunt of the Georgian and Persian affaires, and therefore were not able to deliuer any in∣formation thereof at all. And so they arriued alto∣gether * 1.70 at Lori aforesaide, and there encamped them∣selues. This place did sometime belong to Simon, well strengthened with a high Castell, compassed about with verye deepe ditchess and a thicke wall almost a 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, but at this present somewhat weeake∣ned can i•• wasted by time. It is distant from Teflis two dayes iourney of a Cariers place. Generall Ferat selz∣ed vppon it, and hauing restored the walles in such pla∣ces * 1.71 as they had most neede of reparations, and streng∣thened all the breachies, he planted therein seauen or eight thousand persons, of the Sangiacchi, the Gianniza∣ri, the Spahini and the Zaini, and for the guid or Captaine ouer them hee appointed Aly Bassa of Greece, and vpon the Castell and the Walles hee distributed two hun∣dred peeces of small ordenance. All these prouisi∣ons * 1.72 beeing made hee wente to Tomanie, leauing or∣der with the said Aly Bassa, that when hee thought hee ••hight take fine opportunitie, hee shoulde not faile to fortyfie Saitan-Chalasi, about tenne miles distant from Lo∣ri, & to place therein a conuenient garrison of Souldiers

and Artillarie.

Fower daies long were they going to Fomanis for the Generall would needs make it fower daies iourney, being ordinarily but one daies woorke from the one place to the other, to the ende that those fieldes being very riche of Corne, of fruite, and of Cattell should euery where be wasted and burned by his spoiling 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and that the Countrey Inhabitants besides their other losses shoulde also endure the losse of their Rents. Now Tomanis in times * 1.73 past was also a Castell, whither Simon used often times to make his repayre: and when the heate of these Warres beganne, the Georgians themselues were in a consul∣tation to raze it, to the ende that it shoulde not be sur∣prized * 1.74 by the Turkes, and thereby that benefitte shoulde redounde to them, which it could not yeelde vnto the Georgians, for their want of Ordenance. And heere was greate aduise taken, howe and where the Forte shoulde be erected for the defence of the coun∣trey, But after many discourses at laste it was conclu∣ded, that a Castell shoulde bee builte not in that place but a little furthers and that for this reason, because Tomanis standing •••• good long waye on this side the Straite, if they shoulde builde the Forte there, then coulde they not make that passage safe and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and therefore it was needefull for them to proceede fur∣ther euen to the very much of it and there to plant the Fortiesse And so the Armye marched forwarde a certaine fewe Miles, vntill beeing arriued at the ve∣ry issue of the narrowe passage, they found the Ruines * 1.75 of another casted, and neere there unto they stayed them∣selues. This stoepe heade long Castel was compassed round about with a very thick wood of beeches pineaples

& other trees, which hindred all discouerie of anything 〈◊〉〈◊〉 off, so that it was not co••••nien•• to founde such a Castle there from whence their Ordinaunce coulde nei∣ther auayle them to whom the defense thereof should be committed, nor e••dommage those that shoulde come to offende it. And therefore the Generall commaunded, that 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 with vncouth outrage shoulde fell the * 1.76 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and with sha••pe instrumentes ••ewe downe the Pyneapples, the Fy••••es, the Beeches and the Elmes, and making way through thicke and thinne, should laye it out for a broade streete and an open Champayne, that before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for a thousande dangerous treache∣ries. In verie short space 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the trees layd along on the ground, the place made light some and open, and a very commodious situation prepared for the foundation of a Castle. The plot of the olde ruyned Castle was com∣passed * 1.77 about with a wall of a thousande and sea•••• to hun∣dred yard 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a To••re 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a strong keepe fundrie lodginges and than the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and two hundred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Ordinance 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 vpon the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we Walles.

〈…〉〈…〉 * 1.78 〈…〉〈…〉 they did not as yet shewe 〈…〉〈…〉 * 1.79 〈…〉〈…〉

well prouided of Cattell, and other ritch and plentifull booties, which was a great reliefe to all the Souldiers. Afterwardes the Generall sent Resuan, beeing nowe the * 1.80 Bassa of Natolia, and the Bassa of Caraemit to conueigh the succours to Teflis, with tweentie thousande persons in their companie, the most choosen and best armed in all the hoast, who marching all closely together in the di∣recte way, within one dayes space arryued at the sayde Fort, wherein they placed their Garrison, and chaunging the Gouernour thereof, substituted in his rowme one * 1.81 Bagli, beeing then, vppon this occasion onely, called a Bassa.

Whiles Resuan lay thus encamped vnder Teflis, Daut-Chan the brother of Simon, who (as wee tolde you in the beginning of this warre) at the comming of Mustaffa in∣to * 1.82 Georgia, had fledde out of Teflis and abandoned the Ca∣stle, came nowe with all his Familie to offer himselfe for a subiecte and a deuoted vassall to Amurath, promissing that hee would followe the Turkish Armie, and employe all his forces and all his wits in the seruice thereof: and therefore besought him, that he would vouchsafe to cause him to bee receyued with all good entertainement, being nowe come with a trustie and assured hope to finde peace and safetie among their weapons, and vnder their lawe and religion to enioy a quiet and peaceable life. Resuan en∣tertayned them all with great promises, and large assuran∣ces of all good successe, according to their desires and ne∣cessities.

In the meane while newes were brought to Simon, that * 1.83 Generall Ferat, staying at the straytes of Tomanis withall his Armie, had sent Resuan Bassa to succour Teflis, and withall it was tolde him by certayne false and lying Spies

that Resuan was gone, not with twentie thousande per∣sons, * 1.84 but with a far lesse number of people, then indeede hee was. At which good newes hee tooke courage to encounter Resuan, and setting vppon him to ioyne a bloudye and mortall battell with him. Which his resoluti∣on hee caused presentlye to bee put in practise: for without any further delaye, beeing accompanied with fower thousand Georgians, partly Subiectes of his owne, * 1.85 and partly of Manu••chiar, with all speede possible hee w••nte against Resuan. But whiles Simon was going thi∣the••wardes, Generall Ferat (either because he was false∣ly informed that there were a greater number of Georgian Souldiers, or else because without any other aduertise∣ment, he was of himselfe affraide that the Enemies Army * 1.86 was bigger then it was) had alreadie by chaunc•• dispat∣ched away the two Bassaes of Caramania and of Maras with tenne thousande persons, to the end that ioyning them∣selues with the Souldiers of Resuan, they shoulde bee so∣much the safer and stronger at all aduentures. Nowe Simon came vpon Resuan, being encamped with six thou∣sand Souldiers onely at the roote of a certaine Hill, on the backeside whereof were all the rest of his people, neere to a certaine water, and presentlie made an as∣sault vppon him. The Souldiers, behinde the Hill, beeing aware of Simons approch, were readie all at once with their weapons to annoy Simon, who nowe was ex∣ceeding sory for his error in beleeuing the false newes, and repenting himselfe, that hee had assaulted his Enemies, hee perceiued that hee was vndoone. But * 1.87 when hee sawe, that ••y ••light hee coulde not but encrease his griefe, and make the issue more lamen∣••able and miserable, with those fewe Souldiers which hee

had, hee endured the fury of the populous Armye of Resuan, and on both sides there was ioyned a moste cruell Battell: Wherein on the one side you mighte haue seene a straunge and vn-vsuall valour, and on the other a tumultuous super-fluitie of a multitude, that in the encounter were rather sore wounded, then able * 1.88 to carrie away the Victorie: Howbeit in the end the huge number of the Turkish swordes and Speares did ouercome the small number of the Georgians, and the Barbarian fires and Artillarie did bring the Christian forces to an vnhappye estate. But Simon himselfe, whose Horse in the Medley was quite thrust thorough, * 1.89 fell downe headlong to the grounde, and his guilt Tor∣bant with his Golden Horne from his Heade, and in his fall was verie neere to haue been taken pri∣soner. Which misfortune, as it happened to his Lieu∣tenaunt and to his Generall, and to many other his fol∣lowers, so must it needes also haue lighted vppon him, if hee had not beene relieued by an vnexpected and * 1.90 (as it were a meruailous fauor. For whiles the battel was euen at the greate•••• heat betweene them, Resuan discoue∣red the two Bassaes of Caramania and Maras, who (as wee told you) were newly sent by General Ferat to succor him, but both by the said Resuan, and also by the rest of the Tur∣kish armie were indeed thought to be Persians. Wherup∣on they were incontinently surprized with a sodaine feare insomuch that all of them waxing fainte and hanging in suspence, the victory, which before was ••ure their owne, became nowe very doubtfull, and the Turkes themselues feared, that they should bee the loosers. In this sus∣pence & doubtfulnes of minde, the battel also was inter∣mitted, & by those very frinds, which were sent thither to

further this enterprise, it was vnawares disturbed where∣by the Georgians and specially Simon, whose estate was al∣most desperate) tooke the opportunitie & benefite to es∣cape & saue themselues, and to leaue behinde them many infallible signes of their valour among the Turks: of whō manie remained there slaine, many wounded, and manie replenished with verie great maruell and vnexpected feare. Thus escaped Simon, and thus remayned Resuan, who after that hee had discouered his welwilling Bassaes * 1.91 approaching neerer towardes him, and knewe them par∣ticularly to bee his Confederates and Furderers, coulde not bee quiet with himselfe for the escape of Simon, who without all doubt had beene vtterly ouerthrowne and all his people, if as hee feared great harme, by the comming of the two Bassaes, so hee had expected that helpe which hee shoulde haue expected. For without anye further trouble or difficultie, all the Forces of the Georgians had either beene taken prisoners, or miserablie destroyed. But poore Simon saued himself in the places neere therabouts, which hee knewe by their situation to bee verie safe and secure, and there beganne a freshe to bee greeued at the false information that hee had receaued by the lying spies touching his Armies, bewayling the deathes and capti∣uitie * 1.92 of his subiectes, and yeelding thankes to God for the preseruation of his life and libertie.

The Turkes in this meane time were come to Tomanis, withall iollitie and triumph, drawing the standardes of Si∣mon all along the ground, and bearing manie heades of the Georgians vppon their Launces to the great ioy of Ge∣nerall * 1.93 F••rat, to whome also there were deliuered all the prisoners taken in the battell, and impious Da••t-Chan, likewise presented, who hauing in times past abandoned

his first faith was become a Persian, and now againe despi∣sing the vaine and wicked woorshippe of the Persians, had yeelded himselfe for a pray to the impure filthinesse of the Turkes, and made himselfe a voluntarie slaue to Amurath

The season of the yeere was nowe so farre spente, that * 1.94 euery man beganne to feare the winter approching, and therefore the Generall determined to remoue from those partes, and to withdrawe himselfe into some safer places: and so hauing set in Order all the Garrisons of the newe Forte, in such sorte as we tolde you before, hee appoin∣ted * 1.95 Hassan to bee the Bassa of Tomanis, and lefte with him eight thousand souldiers, which he had chosen out of the rest, for that enterprise.

Very deepely in his minde had Ferat layed-vp the oul∣trage committed by Mustaffa the Georgian, (beeing nowe returned to his old name of Manucchiar,) in taking away the Kings treasure, and killing the two Capigi and the Chi∣aus: neither could hee finde any rest, nor time to ease his stomacke beeing all inflamed and boiling with anger for the same. And therefore hee resolued with himselfe not to returne to Chars or Erzirum, vnlesse he had first passed into the countries of the said Georgian, and by annoying the same in the cruelest manner he coulde, reuenged the intollerable iniuries that were receiued. In three daies he arriued at Triala, where all the Turkish Army encam∣ped themselues, and where they endured a very strange * 1.96 and vnwonted dearth and scarsitie of all thinges, and prin∣cipally the want of ordinary, vittailes grew so excessiue, that after the rate of the Venetian Staio or Bushell, they paied fiue hundred Duckates for euerye fiue Bushels and a halfe (which amounteth to the measure of a Sorian Macuc••) to the vniuersall calamitye of the whole Army, Barley also

was happilie solde at a higher price, as Hala Bey (of whom I made mention before) did for a trueth giue mee to vnderstand, and con∣firmed it by the testimonie of diuers others.

From this place the Generall was minded to goe on forwardes, towardes the countrie of Manucchiar: but whiles hee was vpon the raising of his tentes, one Ueis, beeing then the Bassa of Alepp••, * 1.97 came against him, and aduertised him, that it was not good now to spend the time in wandring about those coūtries, for that there were three verie great enemies, which were confederate together, to make this enterprise very difficult, and almost impossible & despe∣rate.

One was the season of the yeer, beeing now ful of snows, frosts, and tempests, which in those Regions are continually noysome to trauellers. Another was the want & scarsity of all things necessarie for vittaile, without which no doubt the Armie would make an in∣surrection, and abandon all the enterprises that should bee attemp∣ted, & so in the greatest heat of their labors, their designements be∣ing put in practise, should be hindred and interrupted. And the third was the people of Georgia, who peraduenture might find opportu∣nity to procure the ioynt helpe of the Persians in their fauour, and by a common vniting of themselues together, to worke some nota∣ble * 1.98 mischiefe against their armie. But Ferat did most sharply rebuke the Bassa, & reproued him with bitter termes, telling him flatly, that hee wel perceiued he was broughtvp among mountains & villages, & of a villein (as hee was) aduanced to the honor of a Bassa, vpō some od conceit & foolish importunity: and that therfore he should not haue presumed so much as to thinke it lawful for him, so impudent∣ly & shamelesly to come & giue him such aduertisments: but rather it had beene his duety to haue held his peace, and to harken to the commandements of his betters, & superiors, yeelding himselfe obe∣dient & deuoted to performe the same with all his power. With this rebuke the General passed on to Archelech:

in al which passage he destroied & in a manner burnt vp al the plat countrie, though indeed * 1.99 it were in amitie & confederacie with the Turkes. But the inhabi∣tants of Archelech had withdrawen themselues into the mountaine, abandoning the Citie, the Castels, and Villages, and leauing them open to the furie of the armie, to the great astonishment & maruell of al men, who thought that they beeing subiectes, rather then they

should flie into the mountains, should haue run with al ioy & glad∣nes to salute the victorious Captaine, & to admire the armies, the de∣uises, the forces & the ensigns of their good friend the Generall.

In Archelech Ferat encamped & staied the space of fower daies, among the rockie crags, & in a barren soyle, where neither cattel nor * 1.100 men had any store of necessarie sustenance, but rather euery man en dured vnspeakable miseries. Howbeit forfower whole daies the soul∣diers were content to beare this great calamity. But in the end ther∣of, the fal of a huge snow being added to these extremities did so gret ly encrease their griefes, that all the Giannizzaries & Spaoglin•• of Constantinople arose in a tumult, and comming before Ferat, in de∣spiteful & contemptuous manner, with very haughtie and resolute termes they said vnto him. And how long shall we endure this thy * 1.101 tedious and insolent gouernment? where is the due commiseration that thou oughtest to beare towardes the vassels of our soueraigne Lord, thou rustical & vnreasonable captaine?

Doest thou think hap∣pelie, that we keep with our harlots, as thou doest, vnder thy sumptu∣ous pauilions, all fat & in good plight with delicate viandes, whiles others li••e in miserie? Doest thou beleeue, that we haue, as thou hast, our daintie Sugers, spices, and conserues, wherby to restore vs in the common calamities of others? And that we haue at commaund our neate & pretious wines, which thou minglest with thy cleere & ple∣sant waters, partly prouided for thee by the Arte of the cunning Do∣ctors, & partly brought vnto thee from farre places? From this daie foreward, it wil bee no longer endured, that so much people should continue in this famine & cold lying vpon the hard ground, and af∣flicted with nakednes and many other inconueniences: and ther∣fore get thy selfe vp, and returne towards Erzirum: or else we shal be enforced to doo that, which wil breed more displeasure to thee, then to any man else.

The general, being in a great agony & confusiō within himself, pre∣sētly caused a Di••ano to be assēbled, wherin it was cōcluded, that they should all send their strong sumpter horses towards Ardachan, & all * 1.102 folow him into y^e widows coūtr••y, whither he had appointed to go, only to make an Inrode to giue thē occasiō of spoile & bootie, & to refresh the minds of thē al, that were afflicted with the miseries both past & present. At the cōmandement of the general they al readely

obeyd, aswell because he promised them a speedy vioage as also for that euerie man desired the sacke of Altun-Cha∣la, & other the territories of Manucchiar: & therefore they al verie willingly followed the Standerdes of Ferat, who holding on his iourneye through certaine lowe valleyes, betweene the high and difficult mountaines (which could be none other but the Rockes of Periardo) and beeing con∣tinually accompanied with a verie great dearth and scar∣sitie, brought his Army to Clisca, a place belonging to the sayd Manucchiar, but now quite abandoned & forsaken by all the inhabitants, who at the onely voice of the Gene∣ralles comming, hauing gotten together all the best stuffe * 1.103 that they had, together with their wiues, their children, & al their deerest iewels, were departed from thence, & re∣mooued into remote and safe places, till the furye of the victor should be ouerpassed. In the fields neere vnto this * 1.104 place there was good store of Rie, Barley, & other corne wherewith they might quench the hunger of the Cattell, yea and the souldiers themselues through the aboundāce of fruite and flesh were greatly comforted and refreshed. So that the Generall being encouraged by these commo∣dities, and hoping that the whole Armie woulde take it well to stay a while in such good ease, determined with himselfe to erect a newe Forte in the place, and to streng∣then it with Armour and Souldiers: and with this resolu∣tion * 1.105 gaue commandement to Resuan Bassa, that he should goe vp to the towre, and in the top thereof plant a ban∣ner, with a proclamation and publike reporte, that he woulde fence that Fortresse, and in the name of Amurath Fortifie it, as other Fortes were woont to bee. Resuan be∣ing accompanied with the Bassa of Caramania, who was al so called Amurath, executed the commandement of the

Generall, in the toppe of the Towre planted one or two Banners accordingly, whereat assoone as the Souldiers espied them, the forenamed Giannizzaries and the Spaog∣lani, sodainelye tooke great indignation, because they thought themselues to be too much abused by their cap∣taine, and thereupon arising againe all in an vprore, reple∣nished with furie and confused in tumult, with great de∣spite and rage, they ranne vp to take downe the Banners that were planted vpon the Fort, and taking them in their handes, they strooke the saide Resuan Bassa once or twise about the pate withall, discharging a thousand iniurious * 1.106 and reprochful wordes vpon him, and sharpely rebuking him. And then returning to the Generall, who was nowe also come thither himselfe to countenance the Action of Resuan, and from that high place the better to behold the situation thereof, with gestures full of contempt and dis∣daine, reuiling him with many shamefull and scornefull termes, they protested vnto him,

That they were not come to the Warres to exercise the occupation of Ma∣sons * 1.107 and Dawbers, and to bee employed in such vile and dishonourable offices, but onely to Manage their wea∣pons, and thereby to demerite their ordinary wages, and to purchase to themselues glorie and renowme at their Kings handes. And therefore, if hee loued his heade, and woulde not shortly see those Armes turned againste him, which hitherto had beene the Reuengers of the e∣nemies iniuries, hee shoulde resolue with himselfe to leaue these newe Buildinges▪ and these vnseasonable designementes, and giuing place to the contrary sea∣son of the yeere, hee shoulde haue due care of their common desires and necessities.

And whiles they were thus talking vnto him, there was one more bolde

then the rest and beyond his dutie, that did not sticke to assault the Generall, and to threaten him, that he would * 1.108 wreake his fury vpon him, and chastife him with impious hands & cruell blows withall. But the forenamed Bassa of Caramania was readie to lende the Generall his owne Horse, and so rescuing him from the rage and tumulte of the Souldiers to conduct him to his Pauilion. How∣beit Ferat was pursued by the tumultuous Souldiers, and sharpely accused againe for the stay that hee hadde made there, and for not resoluing presently to remooue from thence: yea and after they had often repeated their con∣tumelious speeches, and reprochful villanies against him, they vttered also at the last their manifest & expresse pro∣testations, that if the next morning he did not remooue * 1.109 from those Quarters, without all faile, hee shoulde loose his life for it. Ferat, who could not abide to yeeld to them, that shoulde of duetie haue beene ready and obedient at euery becke that hee should make, seeking by all meanes (notwithstanding all this stirre) to staye there for so long time, as woulde bee sufficiente to builde a Forte, that woulde bee so noysome and in∣iurious to Manucchiar, coulde doe no lesse but aun∣swere * 1.110 these Protestations, telling them,

that he made no accompte of their threatening him with his life, which hee had alwaies offered as readie for any ser∣uice of Amurath his King: But if they had no care to serue their Soueraig••e in this ••ewe Building, they might goe their waies: for as for himselfe, he was vtterlye minded to obey his Lorde, in whatsoeuer hee had commaunded him, for the honour of whome * 1.111 euerye man ought to thinke his life very well bestow∣ed.

Vpon this aunswere there followed diuerse railinges,

and curses against the king, against the General, against them all: and in a most confused tumulte, that was raised, euerie man betooke himselfe to his weapons, * 1.112 and in euerie corner there were heard grommellings, & whisperinges, full o•• wrath and fiercenesse, so that there was great feare of some dangerous conflict, but greater was the suspicion of the Generalls life. For nowe euery man had withdrawen himselfe to the guarding of suche things as he esteemed most deerely, when as sodainelye and in a trice they sawe the pauilions of the Captaines and of all the Bassaes fall downe to the grounde, al the cordes thereof beeing cut by the wrathfull souldiers, and as it were in a Moment all the Muttons and other Cattell, which the Generall and Bassaes led with them * 1.113 for their ordinary vse, were seized vppon, and guarded with all diligence possible. And so farre off was it, that any man durste challenge or reuenge this their rash∣nesse, that they themselues returning a freshe vppon their Captaine, beeing nowe all in a maze and fright∣full feare, they repeated the thirde time the prote∣stations which they had twyse alreadye made vnto him, that if hee woulde not remooue from those Countries, and turne his Iourneye towardes Erzi∣rum, without all faile those Valleyes and Fieldes * 1.114 shoulde become the Sepulchers of the Bassaes, and those Hilles shoulde retayne an eternall memo••ie of so famous a day.

The Generall might haue done with this people what∣soeuer hee had listed, if with a little lib••rallitye hee had bestowed but a small Quantitye of Money amonge them: but beeing loath to shewe, euen the leaste to∣ken of a gratefull minde towards them, he was enforced to

performe their proud and arrogant demaundes, and to his great shame to obey them, whome hee might haue made * 1.115 obedient to him, rather with mildnesse then with rigor. And therefore the Captaine was constrained to yeelde and obey his Soulders, and to auoide theire despitefull and sharpe threates, to his exceeding great reproach, e∣uen as they had commaunded, to remooue from those quarters. The first day hee arriued at Ardachan, with * 1.116 the verie great annoyance and trouble of all the souldiers: for whereas the iourney was wont to bee two daies worke ordinarilie, aswell in respecte of the long waie, as also of the passage ouer a verie rough and difficult mountaine, the Generall woulde needes haue it dispatched in one onely daie, the rather thereby to afflicte and grieue the Souldiers. But for this his reuenge hee receiued euen the selfe same daie his due rewarde, for that the Chariots, wherein his wemen rode were conueyed away, together with their Eunuches that were their keepers: some saie, by the Georgians, that in those woodes and cragges of the * 1.117 mountaine lay in ambushe, waiting for some such occa∣sion: and others say, by the Giannizzaries, who altoge∣ther to dishonour the Captaine, wrought him this iniu∣rie. Great was the reproach which Ferat receiued, not onely in the Armie, but also, yea & farre greater at Con∣stantinople, when these newes were knowen there: so that hee was continually replenished and inflamed with shame: and yet notwithstanding all this his wrath and ardent indignation, hee was compelled to endure the losse of his deerest Iewels, and in case as he was to iourney to∣wards * 1.118 Erzirum.

In Ardachan hee tooke a surueigh of his Armie, and * 1.119 before hee commaunded any remooue, hee gaue them

all leaue to departe, himselfe afterward arriuing at Erzi∣rum, hated of all his Souldiers, enuyed by Veis Bassa and * 1.120 others the Captaines of the hoast, defamed for the losse of his wemen, and fallen into the disgrace of euery man. But no lesse then the rest, was the Turkish king discontented with him, for two verie mightie and weightie considera∣tions. First, for that he was notable to make anie vaunt of * 1.121 any action that hee had doone in reuenge of the excee∣ding great iniurie of the Georgian: neither was it possible for him to learne the way how to behaue himselfe towards the souldiers, that they might become obedient & friend∣ly vnto him. Secondly for that without any care, he had suf∣fered Alyculi-Chan to escape away: about whose flight he could not choose but haue some intelligence and confe∣rence, as beeing the onely man, that in all the strange haps which happened in the former yeers of this warre had continually celebrated & renewed the fresh memory of his seruiceable actions. For Ferar, who (as we told you before) by the new order, which he receiued from the Court, was to diuert his iourney from Nassiuan, to the straites and nar∣rowe passages of Georgia, beeing desirous to bee through∣ly enformed in all those waies, that with most ease might leade him into those places, and withall to bee acquainted with al those difficult & perilous corners, where the Geor∣gians were wont to hide themselues in ambushes, and pre∣pare their treacheries, resolued with himselfe (in the se∣cond yeare when hee remoued from Erzirum) to take A∣lyculi-Chan * 1.122 out of prison, who was apprehended by Hassan Bassa, and caused to bee imprisoned by General Mustaffa, (as it is aboue written in the fourth book.) This Alycul Chan did Ferat purpose to vse as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 guid & counseller in this voi∣age, & to ••ake his addise in such difficult resolutiōs, as might

happen vnto him in those narrow straites, and thereby to auoid the perils, that are ordinarily found in euery cornet of those Regions. And therefore he caried him with him, vnder a certain guard (whatsoeuer it was afterwards) of his most faithfull vassels, & caused him to be wel intreated, by yelding vnto him the benefit & enioying of whatsoeuer he needed. At the last they arriued in Georgia, at the streits of Tomanis, where we told you the forenamed Castell was e∣rected, and from thence hee escaped secretly into Parsia. The manner of his escape is diuersly reported. For some say, that Ferat vpon this condition brought him from Erzi∣rum, * 1.123 to set him at libertie whensoeuer hee should yeeld him any good aduise in this voyage: and that when he had so doone, for the discharge of his promise (which notwith∣standing is a hard matter to beleeue in a Turkish Infidel:) hee gratified him with his libertie. Others say, that Ferat for the exceeding great bribes, which hee had taken of A∣lyouli, granted him opportunitie to escape. But what bribs or rewards could a poore prisoner giue, that was spoiled of al his substance in the battel, and left scareable to sustaine himselfe. And to bee briefe, others some say, that this escape was made neither for reward of money, nor dis∣charge of promise, but by the onely vigilance of Alyouli himselfe, and the sleepines of his keepers, and that watch∣ing the opportunitie of the night, which is a friende to all scapes, hee started away. But whether this or that were the manner of his escape, in fine hee was then deliuered from the Turkish captiuitie, and returned into Persia, to * 1.124 the performing of those enterprises, which shall bee told you, when wee shall come to their fit times in this our Historie, for that nowe it is not amisse to declare a cer∣taine particularitie, that happened before some of these

actions that wee haue alreadie described, and that indeed may not be passed ouer in silence, and that is, the executi∣on of the commaundementes that Ferat gaue to Aly Bassa, before hee departed from Georgia.

This Aly, who (as wee tolde you) remained in the Fort at Lory, founde his opportunitie to issue out of the Fortresse, and descending downe a certaine hill, at the foote whereof there was a Castell called Saitan-Chalasi, * 1.125 (which in our language may bee interpreted the Castell of the Diuel:) with great diligence hee fortified the same: Hee left therein fiftie peeces of Artillerie, and a thousand men, vnder the charge of a Sangiacco, and so quieted the passages from forte to forte▪ in such sorte, as all the waies * 1.126 from Reiuan to Chars, and from Chars to Teflis were made easie and safe, and so all the enemies treacheries were dis∣couered, and all their meanes taken away, whereby they might be able to plot any newe.

In this meane time, the King of Persia, who (as wee told you before) was arriued at Tauris with althose his for∣ces, perceiuing that the Turkes had changed their purpose * 1.127 from Nassiuan to Georgia, so that there was no further need to employ his Armie against them in defense of Tauris or Nassiuā, at the last resolued with himself to licence his soul diers to depart, which he had brought thither with him for the repressing of those publike stirs: and to apply himselfe to more priuate reuenges. For calling Emir-Chan vnto him, whom he had lately left for gouernour of Tauris, & Gene∣ral * 1.128 ouer al the Cities & Captains aboue named he enqui∣red of him the occasion, why he performed not the great promises which he had made vnto him before his depa••tur to Heri, & did not his endeuor to hinder the Turkish fabrik at Reiuā, or atleast why he went not out with other souldiers

appointed for that purpose, and namely with the Turco∣mannes (as hee had promised) to reuenge so great an in∣iurie, and in the best manner hee coulde to endomage the Turkish forces. For if there had beene none other promise to binde him, yet that had beene the duetie of e∣uerie Persian Captaine, much more had it beene his parte, who had tyed himselfe thereunto by a solemne promise. Sundrie excuses did Emir-Chan alledge for his manifest defaulte, and principallye the speedie departure of the Turkish Armie for that in so short a time, as the enemies Armie staied vnder Reiuan, hee had not leasure enough * 1.129 to call together either the Turcomannes, or the other Soul∣diers for that seruice: but for himselfe, hee was alwaies most readie to employ all his power and his life therein. These and other like excuses Emir-Chan alleadged to dis∣charge himselfe from the burthen of the Crime, which the King and the Sultans had layed vpon him. But the king perceiuing too manifestlie, that there was no ex∣cuse sufficient to acquite Emir-Chan from so grieuous a faulte, and adding also peraduenture to these indignities, some auncient hatred, which hee had taken of old, and re∣tained against Emir-Chan, euer since the death of Ismahel, determined with himself to bereaue him of his sight, & so cōmaunded, that with a hot burning Iron, applied to the eies of the wicked Chan, all the humor that maintained his sight should be dried vp, and afterwardes being thus blin∣ded * 1.130 and despoiled of all his goods hee shoulde be shut vp in close prison: which accordinglye without any further delay was put in execution, and was the occasion, that within the space of a fewe moneths hee died miserably in prisone.

Thus was Persia depriued of a famous and couragious

man, and amonge other her losses shee felte this also to be of that moment, as although it were of it selfe of some importance, yet in respecte of the circumstances it was exceeding great. For the Turcoman Nation, who among other Captaines, (from whence Persia receiued her pro∣tection and dignities) made great accompt of Emir-Chan, and by him was greatly honoured, at this death of his be∣came * 1.131 highly offended, and were notably discontended, yea, & their indignatiō encreased so at the last that being become rebellious and an vtter enemie to that Crowne, they did absolutely denie their forces to the publike de∣fence thereof. This their wrath and anger was also much more aggrauated, when they hearde that the King had bestowed the rowme of Emir-Chan, vpon Alyculi the fugi∣tiue, * 1.132 who was escaped out of prison from Ferat, as is a∣boue shewed. Which Alyculi, although in respect of the great perilles, wherein he had beene, deserued all prefer∣ment, yet for that he was an auncient Enemie to certaine Tur∣coman Captaines, they coulde not in any wise endure that hee should be exalted to so great an honour. And there∣fore they waxed more disdainefull & ill affected towardes the king, and thereby the Persians forces became the more * 1.133 weakened and deuided. And these were the euents of this season of the yeare. 1584. An end whereof wee made, at the returne of Ferat Bassa the Generall to Erzirum, whose successes also doe nowe call vppon vs, after we haue thus briefely described the nouelties of Persia.

From Erziram hee sente a large aduertisement to Amu∣rath of all things that had happened, and besoughte him to commaund what shoulde bee attempted at the nexte * 1.134 Springe. But besides the information of Ferat, there wanted not many other that did the like also, although in

another manner. For the King was aduertised, and that in an odious sorte, of all the whole proceedings of Ferat, the escape of Alyculi-Chan, the shamefull losse of his we∣men, his quarrels with the Giannizzaries, the disorders * 1.135 that fell out, through his want of wisedome, amonge all the Bassaes of the whole Campe, especially his enimity with Veis Bassa, who by the king himselfe was thought to be a man of valour and prudence, and to bee shorte all the particulars of the actions, that had not altogether so honorably beene performed in that yeere: which in truth of themselues onely were causes sufficiente to induce the king to remooue the saide Ferat from the Office that he exercised. To these occasions there were also ad∣ded sundry other priuate respectes. For euer sithens the departure of Ferat out of Erzirum to builde the Fortres∣ses * 1.136 at Lory and Tomanis, Amurath had it still in his heade the next yeer following to attempt the enterprise of Tau∣ris, and therein to make triall of the most famous Cap∣taines that hee had: thinking with himselfe, that the e∣state of Reiuan and Chars being so safely setled, there was no reason any longer to delaye or slacke the passage to Tauris and thereby to stirre vppe through all the worlde a famous reporte of greate exploytes, and a glorie correspondent to so daungerous an attempte. Nowe among the Captaines, whom Amurath esteemed to be worthy men, to whom he might with trust commit this enterprise, he bethought himselfe of Osman Bassa who (wee tolde you) was lefte at Sumachia in Siruan by Gene∣rall Mustaffa, the first yeere of this warre, and whose iourney to Demir-Capi we described afterwards, together with suche other matters as hee performed againste Ares-Chan and Sahamal, in assuring the Conquest of that

Citie. The good opinion, that Amurath had thus con∣ceiued of Osman, did springe & arise in his head, not on∣ly for the exploits done by him, which wee haue suffi∣ciently aboue declared, but also, yea and much the ra∣ther, for that hee maintained so greate an Armie, in a Countrey so farre distant, without any expences at al to the king, hauing nowe a good while leauied the Soul∣diers Stipendes vppon the landes and territories of that Region, and still exercised a kinde of gouernement and soueraigntie ouer those places. Of all which his good proceedings, Osman caused intelligence to be sent to the Court sundrie times in the yeare, discoursing vppon the State of all thinges, and howe without any helpe of the Tartarians, who since the death of Adilcherai neuer came to assist him, hee had assured and confir∣med the Conquest for euer. By these meanes, and by o∣ther * 1.137 fauours which Osman had about the king, there was fostered in the minde of Amurath a wonderfull good opinion of him, but although (as wee haue sayed) e∣uer since the departure of Ferat out of Erzirum the se∣cond yeere, hee was throughly perswaded of the vertue of Osman, yet was he not resolued (as then) to call vp∣on him, for that hee was hindered by the Nouelties that arose in Georgia, and stayed by a kinde of hope, that hee had conceiued of some better establishmente in the affaiers of Siruan. And nowe hauing settled all those borders, in such sorte as wee haue described, and opened the passage in manner aforesaide, he thought it good to stay no longer, but resolued with himselfe to cut of al further delay, & to cause him to come to him, to Constantinople: & for that purpose, before, that Ferat was ariued at Erzirū, the king had disparched certen Capigi &

Chiaus to call this famous warriour vnto him: and thereu∣pon, * 1.138 in the next spring, they began to make prouision of new attempts and new Captaines.

But there wanted not some, that went about to hinder both his comming & also these dissignements that were of great importance. At that time by reason of the death of the three Visiers before named, and the banishment of Sinan aboue also declared, there had succeeded in the place of the chiefe Visier, Sciaus Bassa, son in law to Amurath, next vnto whom it was Osmans course to sit in the order of those Bassaes, that were aduanced to that honor. But Sciaus, who rather for the comelinesse of his person, and alliance with the king, then for anie other thing was mounted to those highe rowmes, did greatly feare, least partely for his ex∣perience in matters of warre, and particularly for the good affection and trust which the king did beare to Osman, at this his cōming to Constantinople he might perswade the king to what hee listed: and so peraduenture it might fall out, that he would take from him the chiefest office, and get the vniuersal gouernment of the whole Empyre, wher by so great wealth was to bee gained and purchased. And * 1.139 therefore hee had euerie date new stinges arising in his mind, and sundrie cogitations how hee might ridde him∣selfe of these feares, and finde meanes to auoide his com∣ming to the Court. And because it was a verie dangerous matter openly to attempt the same, and might peraduen∣ture be an easie meanes to make him forgoe his life, hee thought it better to make triall of a more commodious & trustie meane. This Sciaus, in consideration of many gifts and rewards, which the Cuman Tartarian had often bestow∣ed vpon him, had continually endeuored to cleere him be∣fore the king of diuers accusations, which Osman by his let∣ters

was wont to lay to his charge, & for all his ouersights to alledge such reasons in his behalf, as if they did not per∣swade Amurath to bee altogether kinde and courteous to∣wards him, yet at the least not to carrie a malitious & en∣uious conceit against him. And so farre had hee procee∣ded in countenancing and fauouring the Tartarian, that * 1.140 there was established and confirmed an enterchaungea∣ble amitie and mutuall confederacie betweene them: but besids this their reciprocall friendship, there quickened in the heart of Sciaus a certaine assured imagination, that the said Tartarian king would vse al the waies and meanes pos∣sible, to hinder the comming of Osman to Constantinople, yf hee were but made acquainted with his comming. And therefore Sciaus, assoone as hee vnderstoode the cer∣taine resolution of Amurath, to call Osman to the Court, before he saw the Chiaus and the Capigi dispatched, which went with the Kinges commaundement to fetch him, se∣cretly wrote to the Cuman Tartar, who lay encamped neere to the hauen of Caffa vpon the Moore of Moeotis, certi∣fying him that Osman was to come to the Courte: and * 1.141 that therefore hee woulde call to minde how great an e∣nemie hee had beene to him, and how much hee had en∣deuored by letters to Amurath, to turne all his hatred and displeasure against him:

and withall, that if hee was able to doo so much by letters, as if Sciaus had not defended him with verie reasonable excuses, the king had execu∣ted his wrathfall minde vpon him to his greate losse and detrimente, hee shoulde then imagine with himselfe, what Osman woulde bee able to doe, when hee shoulde come in person to the presence of Amurath, and without anie mediatour determine betweene themselues of all matters, whatsoeuer they shoulde thinke to bee conue∣nient

for the common quiet.

These & peraduentur worse were the letters, which Sciaus wrote to the Tartar, which ministred matter enough vnto him, to encourage him to his barbarous and cruell designement: and hauing fully resolued with himselfe, not to suffer so pernicious an ene∣mie of his owne to arriue at Constantinople, and also to rid his mind of so great a feare, and especially perceiuing that Sciaus, in whose breast he reposed all his hope and all his protection, did so greatly feare his comming, he com∣maunded, that twelue thousand souldiers, chaungnig their weapons and apparrell, should goe and lie in await for Osman, in the borders betweene Colchis and Iberia, to∣wards * 1.142 the Tartarian Nomades, and so making an assault vpon him, to bereeue him of his life, hoping that such an out∣rage either could not or would not bee imputed to his pro∣curement, but rather either to the Tartar Nomades, or to the Mengrellians, or to the Georgians, or to the Moscouites, or to the Theeues by the high way: and to bee short, rather to any bodie else then to him. The commaundementes of the Tartar king were put in practise by them according∣ly, * 1.143 and without any further stay they ioyned themselues all together, and so rode towards the place appointed.

The, Volacchi, and the Capigi, which were sent from the king, were now come to Osman, who readily had put him∣selfe on his way towardes Constantinople, hauing left be∣hind * 1.144 him at Derbent, and at Sumachia two Bassaes, which he thought to bee the most sufficient men and the best of all those that were in Siruania: hauing also appointed verie good orders in the same, and an assured establishment of all those Countries and places, which Mustaffa first had subdued▪ and hee himselfe afterward had mainteined and kept vnder the obedience of Amurath. Hee had also made

good prouision for the naughtie and dangerous passages, through which hee was to iourney, by chosing out fower * 1.145 thousand souldiers, which hee had tried in diuers battels, and brought vp (as a man may say) vnder his owne custody and militarie discipline: by meanes of whose valour hee was in good hope he might passe safely through the trea∣cheries of the Albanians, and the populous Squadrons as∣well of the Tartarians as of the Mengrellians: so that hee perswaded himselfe to bee safe and sure from all daunger and feare. And to bee short, hee was not troubled with a∣ny other care (as those which were neerest of counsel with him, had told me a thousand times) but onely the exceding desire, wherein hee liued, that he might be able to reuenge the wrong, which the Cuman Tartar had doone to Amurath * 1.146 and to him, by failing in his promises that he had made vn∣to them, and omitting to sende any more souldiers into Media for these appointed enterprises.

Thus departed he from Derbent or Demircapi, as we may call it, and coasting along the rockes of Caucasus, (Caucasus I say, that in all seasons of the yeare is all white and hoarie * 1.147 with continuall snowes,) Leauing on his left hand Me∣dia, Iberia, and Colchis, and on his right hand the two fa∣mous riuers of Tanais, and Volga, euen as his entrance into the first shores of the Euxine sea, hee was by the aboue∣named twelue thousand Tartarians, being apparrelled like * 1.148 the Cassachi or Theeues that kept by the high waies, sodenly assailed and fought withall. But, like a huge rocke lying open to tempestes and waues, standing fast & vnmoouea∣ble in it selfe, resisteth the thundrings and rushings of the vaste and fearefull billowes, so stoode Osman sounde and firme and couragiouslie sustained this treache∣rous assaulte, neither was there anie in all his bande,

that to auoide this vnexpected onset, resolued to fly vpon it: but al of them, turning their bold countenances against the rebellious multitude of those Traiterous Squadrons, * 1.149 endured the shock of the Assailants, who (as indeede it is their custome in the beginning to vse great force, but af∣terwardes lightly to languish and withdrawe themselues) finding so stoute a resistaunce in those fewe, which they thought with their onely lookes and shoutinges to haue put to flight, became verie sorrowfull and fowlye discon∣tented. Howbeit forsomuch as they were the Assailants * 1.150 themselues, they could not resolue to flie, and shameful∣ly to abandon their dueties, in pursuing so vnequal a bat∣taile: Whereunto the Souldiers of Osman were alreadye in such sort inflamed, and he himselfe also so enkindled, * 1.151 that with a verie small losse of his owne, and in a verye shorte space of time, hee sawe the great discomfiture of them. Whereby taking fresh force as it were at this conflicte, and sweetned in the taste of victorie and bloud, they were also encouraged and reuiued, that the battaile * 1.152 was not abandoned by them, vntill partely by taking a number of the Tartarians as prisoners, partely hewing o∣thers in peeces, and partely driuing a many of them to shamefull flight, they had obtained a most happy victory, and found themselues not onely free from this deepe dan∣ger, but also Conquerors and Reuengers of an iniurie so fraudulently contriued against them. By the Prisoners that were taken in sundry sortes, and by meanes of diuers tormentes which he put them too, he was informed that * 1.153 for the feare which their king had cōceiued, least when he came to constantinople he would procure his destructi∣on from Amurath, he was come downe with this Army to seeke his death. Assoone as Osman had receiued certaine

intelligence of this treason of the Tartar, hauing cau∣sed a perfect processe to bee made of it, together with the dispositions of the saide Tartariaen prisoners, he sent * 1.154 the same by the shortest, safest, and easiest wayes that hee coulde deuise to Amurath at Constantinople. Which processe accompanied also with his Letters, wherein he gaue aduertisement of the treacheries most vniustly con∣triued against him, and of the battaile that ensued there∣upon, prouoking and inflaming him to reuenge so grie∣uous an iniurie, and so wicked a rebellion. Amurath hauing receiued these reportes, according as the neces∣sitie of the matter required, secretely and resolutly tooke order, that certaine Galleyes should bee sente to the ha∣uen of Caffa, to fetch Osman Bassa, and with all that there * 1.155 shoulde bee conueighed thither a brother of the saide Tartar, commaunding Osman by Letters that he should put to death the Cuman Traitor, and substitute this his Brother in his place, to the ende hee might serue for an example to all men, that such wicked and mischie∣uous offences doe neuer passe without due punish∣ment.

But that wee may the better vnderstand, why this Cu∣man Brother was at this time so readye for this businesse, it shal be wel in briefe to set down some of the particulars that may open the light of this truth. Among other potēt Princes, that cowardly & basely yeelding to the Ottoman power doe lead a very vile & troublesome life vnder them, the Kings of the Cuman Tartarians called Precopensi did also submit themselues, and gouerned those peoples that were subiecte vnto them, according to the wick∣ed and damnable pleasures of the Ottomans whom they serued. Amonge the rest of these Cuman Kings this

present King, who beeing wholly deuoted vnto them, was placed in this kingdome, besides the slaughter of his pa∣rents had himselfe also indured diuers & sundry afflictiōs, so that he greatly feared to be remoued from that gouern∣ement and committed to prison. And therfore this his * 1.156 brother, who as we told you was now so ready for this acti∣on, as one that for the constitution of his bodie, and for the guiftes of his minde, beeing adorned with the know∣ledge of Astrologye and Philosophie, was better estee∣med by the Subiects, then his brother nowe raining was, (for that by reason of his excessiue tributes, and besides his tributs, of his Ordinarie bribes that he often bestowed at the Court, he was become most odious to his Subiects, from whome he sucked those Reuenues and presents) this his brother (I say) beeing rauished with the conceite of himselfe, and perswaded by the comfortable woordes of his best friendes, resolued to passe to Constantinople: and although hee were younger in yeares, and naked and bare of money and wealth, whereby he might haue obtained that, which hee hoped for, ouer his Brother: yet trust∣ing vpon the common voice and reporte of the people, from whome hee had carried with him verie earnest sup∣plications and intercessions to the Ottoman king, and also relying greatly vpon his owne eloquence, and other ver∣tues whereby he thought he was able to purchase the fa∣uour of the king, hee imagined it to be a reasonable suit and easie to bee graunted, to require that thing of Amu∣rath which age and riches had denyed him: that is to say, that hee woulde driue his Brother out of the kingdome, and to substitute him in his place. And thus wente the good young man to the courte, where hauing bestowed a fewe small presentes, he did not sticke to shew himselfe

to bee a suiter for the nowme of his Brother: who hauing had intelligence before, of his going to Constantinople, had presentlye written to his Embassadours there, that they * 1.157 should not regarde any expences, they should not omit any duety or intreatie, they should not forget any Art or diligence, to retain him stil established in his possessed dig nitye, & to procure his foolish & audatious Brother to be clapt vp in some place, where he might not disturb him in his kingdom. And so whiles the one labored with the po∣wer * 1.158 of his toung, and by meanes thereof conioyned with the other ornamentes of his mind hoped to haue become his Brothers superiour, the Agentes of the other did not cease to imploy also the force of their guiftes and Strata∣gems: and in the end it fell out, that neither learning nor beauty of person, nor good reporte, coulde preuaile so∣much for the one as rich presentes and crafty deceites le∣gitimated by gold, could doe for the other, notwithstand∣ing a number of filthy vices that were in him. (And what is it, that money cannot doe amonge couetous peo∣ple at this day, if it bee bestowed in measure and in time, and distributed in fitte occasions? The young man was committed prisoner, & sent by safe watch to Gogna, some∣times called Iconium a City of Licaonia, and his Brother stil confirmed in his possessed kingdome. With great pa∣tience did the vnhappy young man remaine at Gogna, ap∣parelled like an Eremit, and in that his captiuity liued a life altogether conformable to his miserye, and (as al men iustified it vnto me, at my passage through that Cytye, * 1.159 when I went to Constantinople) by his continuall and trea∣cherous execrations, and a kinde of externall inno∣cencye, hee made shewe that hee was voide of all hope or ambitious desire to be brought to a kingdome, 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

thought, the matter was nowe no longer to bee fore∣slowed but that it was verie expediente to attempt the * 1.160 famous enterprize of Tauris, and by erecting a Forte in that Citie to raise a terrour ouer al Persia, and a glori∣rous renowme of their mightie conquestes, amonge the Nations of Europe. For it was alreadie well knowen what the Georgians were able to doo, the people wherof had already partly of their owne voluntary motion, and partly enforced by necessity & feare, yeelded their dutiful obediēce: & although Mustaffa had rebelled & returned to his former libertie & natiue Religion, yet he might per∣aduenture by this time repent himselfe thereof: neither was there any cause at all to feare the treacheries of one, that beeing without any traine to followe him, and of himselfe verie poore: woulde rather seeke to saue himselfe in his obscure and base villages, and to keep his pittifull holdes within the mountaines: neither could bee able to endure the sounde of their victors, much lesse bee so hardie as to assault the victoreis. So that all thinges now were open, neither was there any feare of any noueltie arising, but that the iourney to Tauris might resolutely bee performed: for the accomplishment wher∣of hee thought that either the same Armie, or at the most a verie little greater would suffize, so that it were of the choisest souldiers.

By reason of one of the letters, which Sciaus Bassa had * 1.161 written to the Cuman Tartar, and was founde I know not howe, Amurath had depriued the saide Sciaus from the office of the chiefe Visier, and banished him from the Courte, so that hee liued afterwardes about Cal∣cedone, vpon the borders of Asia towardes Constantinople, in a certaine Serraglio or close Palace, that yee had

there builte for his owne pleasure and recreation. And in the rowme of this his son in law, he had appointed Os∣man to bee chiefe Visier in the ranke of the Bassaes of the * 1.162 Court: and not contented to haue committed so great a trust vnto him, hee nominated him also the Generall and Soueraigne Captaine in the enterprise of Tauris.

Such power and force hath vertue, that euen from the verie skomme of the rascall sorte, and out of the rustical route of Mountaine Peasauntes (which notwith∣standing cannot bee truely iustified of this Osman) it doth oftentimes in this variable worlde drawe diuerse men in∣to Princes Courtes, and aduaunce them to the highest dignities. This Osmans father was a Circassian borne, who in the common losse and conquest of his countrey, was one of those, that to escape the slaughtering sworde * 1.163 of Selim, submitted themselues to the Turkish yoke, and afterwardes fighting in defense thereof, hee ouercame the Aethtopians, and thereby obtained immortall re∣nowme. Of these his vertues hee lefte the saide Osman his heire, who beeing broughte vppe in aboundance of all thinges, and trayned vp in the Arte of warrefare, became verie couragious and skilfull therein: and at last, from a priuate Souldier was called to the high∣est dignities of so greate an Empyre, and from thence to the chiefest place of authoritie in the Armie of the Easte, and to bee shorte, was at one instante crea∣ted a Counseller and Generall of Ottoman. Greate was the ioye that Osman conceiued hereat, and greate * 1.164 was the desire that hee had to make himselfe woorthie of so honourable fauours: and the greater confidence that hee perceiued Amarath had reposed in him, the more eagerly was he spurred on to doe any thing possible

whereby hee might shewe himselfe to haue deserued the same. And therefore aduising with himselfe, that foras∣much as there must bee a greater Armie nowe Leuied, then there was in the former years, & so sent into very far Countreyes, it was also necessarie for him the sooner to send out his aduertisementes into all his subiect Prouin∣ces, and he himselfe by his owne example to prouoke the other Captaines and Souldiers therunto, he determined euen in winter (thought it were as yet somewhat trouble∣some,) to passe to Chalcedon, and from thence to Angori, to Amasia, to Siuas, and in those territories to driue out the * 1.165 time, vntill hee might vnderstand, that all his souldiers, which were summoned were gathered together. But be∣cause vpon this his great speed, it might fal out peraduen∣ture, that his enemies also woulde beginne to prepare a greater number of Souldiers, if they should vnderstande for certaine, that Osman had appointed all these prepara∣tions for Tauris: he thought it a better pollicie (for so it pleased Amurath also: to spreade a rumour abroade, that * 1.166 they must goe for Nassiuan, whither Ferat Bassa had giuen out speech that he should haue gone the last yeere before: to the end that the Persians, beeing so beguiled, shoulde not regard the gathering of so mighty an Armye, as they woulde haue done, if they should haue heard of their pas∣sage to Tauris.

And so this Generall cosening Rumour touching Nas∣siuan, was published abroad, not onely through all the Ci∣ties subiect to the Turk, but the fame therof flew also euen * 1.167 into the Countries of the Persians, who notwithstanding beeing very iealous of the Citie of Tauris, and fearing that the matter would fall out, as indeed afterwardes it did, ceased not to make curious & diligent enquiry about

it. And although the indignitie and disgrace, that was offered to his Embassadour, dissuaded him from sending any other for treaty of peace, yet to spie out the secretes of the Turkes, and to vnderstande certainely whether their intent were to passe to Nassiuan or to Tauris, hee coulde doe no lesse but dispatch diuers Chiaus or Messen∣gers to Osman, and by making a shewe that he ment in ve∣ry deed to feele his minde touching conditions of peace, to try whether he could learne and discouer the trueth or * 1.168 no. But by all the meanes, and by all the cunning that he could possibly vse, he could neuer find out any certaine knowledge thereof: so that there still remained in him many doubtfull and confused cogitations, which were en∣gendered and fostered by some carelesse and simple re∣porters, that Osman had giuen out speeche for the enter∣prize of Nassiuan.

And nowe according to the commandement gone out through all the Cities of the Empire, the Souldiers of all sortes beganne to flocke together: and all those that ei∣ther were desirous to be established in their former char∣ges and gouernementes of Cities, or sought ambitiously to bee honoured with some Office and dignitie, made re∣paire * 1.169 vnto him as vnto a king and Soueraigne moderator of the Ottoman Empire, presenting him with very large & liberal guiftes. Wherby his estate was so greatly enrich∣ed, that through these meanes he had gathered together a huge heape of infinite treasure. And so entertaining them with all affable curtesie, and also with promising both re∣wardes and honours to all that woulde followe him in his purposed voiage, he leauied a wonderful great num∣ber of Men and Moneyes. But nowe was the time come, that called him away to goe towardes Erzirum,

where hee was greatlye expected by his huge armie there assembled together, & notwithstanding the great dearth * 1.170 of all things belonging to vittel, that commonly raigneth in those quarters, yet he was enforced to make his iourny to that citie, where he arriued about the latter end of the Moneth of Iuly, and there, with all possible speed taking a viewe of his whole Army, and of all the prouision neces∣sary for so important and famous an enterprize, he dailye laboured to hasten his departure. In the saide citie of Erzirum were mette together all the souldiers of the Pro∣uinces that were woont to send helpe, but yet in a greater number, then euer was gathered by any Generall before, for that euerie man forsooke and abandoned his own pri∣uate busines, & vpon assured hopes of new rewards & vn∣wonted honors, they were al induced to follow the fame of, their newe Visier. Onelie the people of Aegypt and Da∣masco were busied with other more priuate Quarels, wher of because they are both of great importance, and also fel out at this verie instant, it wil not be amisse to make some briefe rehearsal, for a manifest, and euident example heer∣after, how great harme and mischiefe the diuersitie of o∣pinions, and dissension of neighbours doth breed among all sortes of men.

The ende of the Sixt Booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Persians reioyce & are full of good hopes.
• * 1.2

  The Persians are sorie for displacing of Sinan.
• * 1.3

  The Persians greeued at the indignitie done to their Embassador.
• * 1.4

  The Persians are still in good hope.
• * 1.5

  Mahamet the Persian King resolueth to ride to Heri against his sonne Abas Mirize.
• * 1.6

  The speech of the Persian king to Emir-Chan.
• * 1.7

  Emir-Chan wondereth at the speech of his King.
• * 1.8

  Emir-Cham promiseth the king to garde his Frontirs from the Turkes furie.
• * 1.9

  King Maha∣met with an armie of 20000 per∣sons rideth towards Heri.
• * 1.10

  Mahamet at Sasuar.
• * 1.11

  The gouer∣nour of Sas••••∣ar beheaded by the Kings commande∣ment.
• * 1.12

  The Gouernor of Sasuar be∣headed by the kings com∣mandement.
• * 1.13

  King Maha∣met at Heri.

  The Situation of Heri.
• * 1.14

  The winning of Heri diffi∣cult.
• * 1.15

  King Maha∣met soroweth his vnhappy and euill for∣tune.
• * 1.16

  Mahamet seeketh to get his Sonne A∣bas into his handes.

  Abas writeth to the king his father.

  The tenor of the letters of Abas Mirize.
• * 1.17

  King Maha∣met the father & Emirhamze the Prince writ backe to Abas.
• * 1.18

  The accusati∣ons against Abas Mirize.
• * 1.19

  Abas hopeth wel, and wri∣teth backe to his father and his brother.
• * 1.20

  The promises that paised friendly be∣tweene the Princes.
• * 1.21

  The excuses of the embas∣sadors in the behalfe of A∣bas Mirize.
• * 1.22

  The Embassa∣dors of the King and the Prince are re∣ceiued.
• * 1.23

  The Embassa∣dors accusati∣ons against Mirize Salma.
• * 1.24

  The offers of the Embassa∣dors accep∣ted by the King and the Prince.
• * 1.25

  King Maha∣met persua∣ded of the in∣nocencie of his Sonne.
• * 1.26

  King Maha∣met trieth the Princes mind.
• * 1.27

  All the mis∣chiefes light vpon Salmas the Visier.
• * 1.28

  Mirize Sal∣mas accused by all.
• * 1.29

  Mirize Salmas beheaded by the Kings or∣der.
• * 1.30

  K. Mahamer with the Prince retur∣neth to Cas∣bin.
• * 1.31

  Ferat a Bassa of the Court.
• * 1.32

  Ferat Bassa e∣lected gene∣rall of the Ar∣mie in Sinans place.
• * 1.33

  Amurath de∣liberateth what should be done to∣wards this ex∣pedition of Ferat.
• * 1.34

  Commande∣ment sent out for the expe∣dition of Ge∣nerall Ferat.
• * 1.35

  The Prouin∣ces sent their souldiers and prouision this yeere.
• * 1.36

  Ferat depar∣teth from Constantino∣ple, and by Calcedon & Ciuas cōmeth to Erzirum.
• * 1.37

  Ferat being guided by the rebell Maxut-Chā arriueth at Chars.
• * 1.38

  Ferat repay∣reth Aggia-Chala.
• * 1.39

  Ferat at Rei∣uan, and the description of the situation thereof.
• * 1.40

  A Consultati∣on touching the principall place where the Fort should bee erected.
• * 1.41

  The forte of Reiuan 750. yardes about Within the space of 15. dayes the works at Rei∣uan, the di∣ches and all were finished.
• * 1.42

  Tocomac see∣keth meanes to reuenge the losse of his owne citie by annoying of Ferat.
• * 1.43

  Tocomac ne∣uerceaseth to annoy the Turkes.
• * 1.44

  Tocomac ha teth Emir-Chan.
• * 1.45

  Tocomac ac cuseth Emir-Chan to the King.
• * 1.46

  Ferat depar∣teth from Rei∣uan.
• * 1.47

  Bassa Cicala lest for the custodie of Reiuan.
• * 1.48

  Bassa Cicala cured by the author at A∣leppo.
• * 1.49

  Famous Gi∣ambulat, 8000. Souldi∣ers at Reiuan.
• * 1.50

  F••rat by the way of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chalasi in ten daues retur∣neth to Chars A Sangiacco Curdo be∣headed as a Rebell by Fe∣rat.
• * 1.51

  A woonderful strange nouel∣tie brought to the eares of Ferat.
• * 1.52

  Mustaffa seck∣eth meanes to be enfor∣med cleerelie of the misfor∣tune.
• * 1.53

  Simon the Ge∣orgian exhor∣teth his Cosin Manucchiar to returne to his former saith.
• * 1.54

  The Capigi and the Chi∣aus beheaded by Manuc∣chiar.

  Manuc chiar & Simon de∣uide the trea∣sure be∣tweene them & confederat themselues together.
• * 1.55

  Ferat sw••••∣reth that hee will destroy al the country of Manucchi∣ar.

  Hassan Bassa chosen to car∣ry the suc∣cours to Tef∣lis.

  15000. Soul∣diers assigned to Hassan. with the re∣liefe.
• * 1.56

  In 10. daies Hassan goeth & commeth with the suc∣cours.

  The Georgi∣ans annoy the people of Has∣san Bassa.

  Resuan Bassa chosen Cap∣taine to en domwage the country of Manucchiar: The harmes done by R••∣suan.
• * 1.57

  Ferat at Arda-Chan.
• * 1.58

  Ferat by the way of Olti returneth to Erzirum, and dismisseth his Armie.

  Hassan Bassa rewarded by the king.
• * 1.59

  Ferat sprea∣deth a rumor that he would goe to Nassi∣uan.
• * 1.60

  The estate & expectations of the Persi∣ans, vpon oc∣casions that fell out.
• * 1.61

  King Maha∣met feareth some newe matter.
• * 1.62

  Mahamet the Persian king gathereth a great army.

  The Persian king at Tauris.
• * 1.63

  The comming of the Persiā king to Tauris breedeth great conceits
• * 1.64

  Ferat writeth to Amurath.
• * 1.65

  Amurath wri∣teth againe to Ferat, not o goe to Nas∣siuan but to Lori & Toma∣nis in Geor∣gia.
• * 1.66

  A stratagenic wrought by the Turkes v∣pon a false rumor.
• * 1.67

  General Ferat at Chars, where he stai∣eth for his Ar∣mie ten daie.
• * 1.68

  Ferat depar∣teth from Chars, sen∣deth out Hassan Bassa as a forerun∣ner before him.
• * 1.69

  Co•••••••• theeues slane by Hassan.
• * 1.70

  Generall Fe∣rat at Lori. The Situation of Lori.
• * 1.71

  The walles of Lori repaired. 7000 souldi∣ers in Lori. Aly Bassa of Greece cap∣taine of Lori.
• * 1.72

  200. peeces of ordinance in Lori.

  Feratgoeth to Tomanis. Order to for∣tifie Saitan-Chalasi neer adioining
• * 1.73

  The state of Tomanis.
• * 1.74

  Consultati∣ons about the erecting of a fort at Toma∣nis.
• * 1.75

  A Ca••tell an mor••g the woo••••.
• * 1.76

  The thicke woods cut downe and made open
• * 1.77

  The compasse of the walles of Tomanis.
• * 1.78

  Certaine vit∣tellers sent a∣broad but not heard of a∣gaine.
• * 1.79

  Hassan Bassa goeth out to assure the way for the returne of the vittelers.
• * 1.80

  Re••uan Bassa goeth to Te∣flis with suc∣cours with twentie thou∣sand persons.
• * 1.81

  Bagli Bassa left for gouer∣nour at Teflis.
• * 1.82

  Daut-Chan. yeeldeth him selfe to the Turkes.
• * 1.83

  Simon aduer∣tised of the going of R••∣suan to Teflis
• * 1.84

  Simon delu∣ded by the li∣ing spies mea∣neth to assaile Resuan.
• * 1.85

  Simon with 4000. Soul∣diers goeth to encounter Resuan Bassa.
• * 1.86

  The Bassaes of Caramania & Maras di••∣patched for aide.
• * 1.87

  Simon repen∣teth that hee went to set vpon Resuan.
• * 1.88

  A cruel battel betweene the Turkes and the Georgiās.
• * 1.89

  Simons horse thrust though
• * 1.90

  An vnexpect∣ed chaunce deliuereth Si∣mon from present de∣struction.
• * 1.91

  Simon esca∣peth out of the Turkes handes.
• * 1.92

  Simon than∣keth God for preseruation of his life.
• * 1.93

  Resuan at To∣manis againe.
• * 1.94

  Feare of win∣ter approch∣ing.
• * 1.95

  Hassan le••t as Bassa at Tomanis with 8000.
• * 1.96

  Ferat arriueth at Triala.

  A dearth such as was neuer hearde of among the Army.
• * 1.97

  Bassa Veis commeth be∣fore General Ferat, and speaketh to him.
• * 1.98

  Ferat reproo∣ueth Veis the Bassa.
• * 1.99

  Ferat at Ar∣chelech.
• * 1.100

  The miseries of the Tu••kish Armi••.
• * 1.101

  The souldiers being in a tu∣mult speake despitefully to the general.
• * 1.102

  Ferat promi∣seth the spoile of Manucchi∣ar his coun∣tries.
• * 1.103

  General Fe∣rat at Clisca.
• * 1.104

  The armie re∣freshed with plenty of vit∣tailes.
• * 1.105

  The Generall commandeth that Clisca should bee fortified.
• * 1.106

  Resuan Bassa ill handled by the souldiers.
• * 1.107

  The souldiers reuile Gene∣rall Ferat.
• * 1.108

  The souldiers in a tumult threaten the General.

  Amurath the Bassa of Cara∣mania saueth the Generalls li••e.
• * 1.109

  The expresse protestations of the Souldi∣ers against the General.
• * 1.110

  The answere of General•• Ferat to the Souldiers.
• * 1.111

  A reply to the answere.
• * 1.112

  A most con∣fused vprore, & manifest cōmon feare.
• * 1.113

  All the cordes of the tents sodainely cut.
• * 1.114

  The last pro∣testations to the Generall.
• * 1.115

  Generall Fe∣rat shameful∣ly obeieth his souldiers.
• * 1.116

  Ferat at Arda∣chan.
• * 1.117

  Generall Fe∣rat his wemen stolen away from him.
• * 1.118

  The shame of General Ferat
• * 1.119

  A muster at Ardachan.
• * 1.120

  Ferat at Erzi∣rum.
• * 1.121

  King Amu∣rath discon∣tented with Ferat.
• * 1.122

  The Original, of the escape of Alyculi-Chan, late prisoner in Erzirum.
• * 1.123

  The manner of the escape of Alyculi-Chanthe Per∣sian.
• * 1.124

  Alyculi Chan flieth againe into Persia.
• * 1.125

  The Castel of Satan f••••in∣ed.
• * 1.126

  The waies of Reiuan, To∣manis, Lory and Teflis made secure.
• * 1.127

  King Maha∣met licenseth all his souldi∣ers of Tauris to depart home.
• * 1.128

  King Maha∣met quarrel∣leth with E∣mir-Chan the Gouernour of Tauris.
• * 1.129

  Excuses al∣ledged by E∣mirChan.
• * 1.130

  King Maha∣met com∣mandeth that EmirChan should haue his eyes put out.

  EmirChan be∣ing blinded dieth misera∣bly in prison.
• * 1.131

  The Turcomā Nation great∣ly offended for the death of EmirChan their captaine
• * 1.132

  Newe discon∣tentments of of the Turco∣mannes.
• * 1.133

  The Persian forces weake∣ned.
• * 1.134

  Ferat infor∣meth the king of that which had happened this yeere.
• * 1.135

  Others in∣forme the king more Particularly of the ouer∣sightes of Fe∣rat.
• * 1.136

  Osman Bassa thought by Amurath to be a worthy Captaine.
• * 1.137

  Amurath hath great hope of the valour of Os∣man Bassa.
• * 1.138

  Certaine mes∣sengers and gentlemen vshers dis∣patched to call Osman to Constantino∣ple.
• * 1.139

  Sciaus endea∣uoreth to hin∣der the com∣ming of Os∣man Bassa to the Court in his place.
• * 1.140

  Freindship betweene Sci∣aus the Visier, & the Cuman Tartarian.
• * 1.141

  Sciaus wri∣teth to the Tartar of Os∣mans com∣ming to the Court.
• * 1.142

  The order, which the Tartarian ta∣keth to pro∣hibite Osmās comming to Constantino∣ple.
• * 1.143

  The Tartari∣an Souldiers ride to the en∣terprise a∣gainst Osman
• * 1.144

  Osman depar∣teth from Derbent, and leaueth two Bassaes in it and at Suma∣chia.
• * 1.145

  Osman se••∣teth forwarde with 4000. souldiers.
• * 1.146

  Osman desi∣reth to bee reuenged on the Cuman Tartarian.
• * 1.147

  The iourney of Osman Bassa.
• * 1.148

  Osman assaul∣ted & fought withall by the 12000. Tarta∣rians appar∣relled like Cassachi.
• * 1.149

  The Tartariās at first shewe great valour, but afterward withdrawe themselues.
• * 1.150

  The Tartariās discontented.
• * 1.151

  Great losse of the Tartari∣ans.
• * 1.152

  The Tartari∣ans destroyed and put to slight.
• * 1.153

  The prisoners reueale the treacherie plotted a∣gainst Osman.
• * 1.154

  Osman aduer∣tiseth Amu∣rath of euerie particular.
• * 1.155

  Amurath tak∣eth order that gallies should be sent to Caffa.

  Amurath writeth to Osman to flay the Tarta∣rian King and to substitute his Brother in his rowme.
• * 1.156

  The purpose of the Tartars brother, to be∣reaue him of his state.
• * 1.157

  The remedie that the Tar∣tar king vsed against his brother.
• * 1.158

  Mony among corupt people can doe all thinges.
• * 1.159

  The authour in Gogna had intelligence of the Tarta∣rian youngmā
• * 1.160

  Osman adui∣seth the enter prise of Tau∣ris, and shew∣eth the man∣ner how.
• * 1.161

  A letter of Sciaus that was found is the cause why hee was dis∣missed from his chiefe Vi∣siership.
• * 1.162

  Osman Bassa chiefe Visier,
• * 1.163

  The ofspring of Osman Bassa.
• * 1.164

  Osman cho∣sen General of the Armie to goe to Tauris.
• * 1.165

  The diligence of Osman Bassa.
• * 1.166

  A fained ru∣mour of go∣ing to Nassi∣uan.
• * 1.167

  The Persian iealous of Tauris.
• * 1.168

  The Persian cannot come to any certen knowledge of the designe∣ment of Os∣man Bassa.
• * 1.169

  Osman ga∣thereth toge∣ther a huge treasure by presents.
• * 1.170

  Great dearth in Erzirum. The greatest Army that e∣uer was ga∣thered was this.

  The souldiers of Aegypt & Damasco went not with Osman.