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 Third Booke.

The Argument.

The Turkish Armie departeth for Teflis. and commeth to Archichelech.

A reuiew of the Armie, and the nomber of those that wanted in the Army.

It commeth to Triala. It winneth a Castell.

It taketh Teflis, and fortifieth it, and then departeth for Seruan.

The Sorians forsake the Armie of Mustaffa, and in their returne home to Aleppo they are assayled and discomfited by the Georgians.

The Ambassadours of Leuentogli entertayned by Mustaffa.

Leuentogli himselfe also entertained.

Seclis a Cittie vnder Seruania, yeelded to Mustaffa.

A Dearth in the Turkish Armie.

Victuallers go out for prouision of Corne and Victualles, but they are discomfited and vtterly destroyed by the Persians.

Mustaffa with all his Armie goeth to fight with his enimies, and foyleth them miserably.

Diuers disturbances and losses in the Turkish Armie, by passing ouer the Riuer Canac.

A wonderful kind of ••oorde found out.

The Turkes being refreshed frō diuers annoyances, arriue at Eres in Ser••••••.

Mustaffa fortifieth Eres, and leaueth Caitas Bassa in it.

Mustaffa departeth, and leaueth Osman Bassa, as Generall and Visier in Sumachia.

The people of Derbent yeeld themselues to Osman Bassa.

Mustaffa returneth home: is in the countrey of Leuent, commeth to Teflis, and there leaueth succours and a ga••••ison.

Mustaffa departeth thence, in his iourney he endu••eth great cold, and losses in his Armie, through the cunning stratagemes of the Geor∣giani, and namely Hassain Bey discomfited.

Mustaffa at Altunchala receiueth the Widow and her other Sonne Ales∣sandro.

He goeth to Clisca, and so to Erzirum.

He sendeth both the Sonnes of the Widow to Constantinople.

Abdilcherai the Tartarian Captaine commeth to succour Osman Bassa.

Ares-Chan withdraweth himselfe to the Riuer Canac, and is discomfited by Abdilcherai.

Genge sacked.

The Tartarians pitche their Tentes in certaine champeines and there take their ease.

Caitas Bassa and his people vtterly destroyed by the Persian Prince.

The Tartarians also destroyed by the same Prince.

Abdilcherai taken aliue and sent to Casbin.

Osman Bassa flyeth from Sumachia to Demir-Capi.

Sumachia destroyed by the Persian Prince, and the people of Sechi also chastised.

Abdilcherai at Casbin falleth in loue with the Queene: he is discouered, and both he and the Queene slaine by the Sultans.

Osman Bassa taketh to wise the daughter of Sahamal the Georgian. He discouereth the treacheries of his Father in Law: hee putteth him to death, and causeth his countrey to be destroyed.

Aly-Vechiali returneth from Mengrellia to Constantinople, and reporteth what he hath done in his Nauigation.

THE THIRDE BOOKE.

AFter the solemne entertaynment of the Georgian Manucchiar, Generall Mustaffa had geuen order ouer all his Campe, that the next morning they should remoue from those mountaynes. And now was euery man bucklinge himselfe to accom∣plish the Captaines commandement, when as there hap∣pened very obscure and darke stormes that couered the heauens (as it were) with night and terrour, and being turned into raine and wind, casting out flashing fyres, & scouring the aire with terrible lightnings, did freshly af∣flict the Turkish armie. Which raine continued so vehe∣ment for the space of foure daies together, that it seemed the heauens were melted into waters: by meanes where∣of it came to passe that out of the dead carcasses, & heads before mentioned, there issued a most horrible stinke, so that partely thereby, and partely by the myre, and other filth of the Cammells, Mules, and horses, they spoyled their armour, their apparrell, their deuises, their plumes, their pauillions, and all things els that was of any worth, yea all their brauery and beautie, and in the bodies of the people there arose dyuers diseases and infirmities, though not very pestilent, but breeding rather annoyance then death to the Turkes. But at last the heauens hauing cea∣sed the raine, the lightning, the blustring and the stormes, and the Sunne hauing cleered all the ayre, Mustaffa raysed his campe to passe towardes Teflis: & because the ground was still very moyst and slabby, with the raine that had

fallen in such aboundance, the Camells, that carried the heauiest burdens could not go onwardes, and the horses that drew the artillery, were subiect to the same difficulty, & so the army could not that daye passe any further then the plaines where the lake called Chielder Giol standeth, which (if the distance of places, & the nouelty of names do not deceiue vs) may wel be thought to be that, whēce Euphrates taketh his beginning. And there they stayed to drye and trim their apparrell, their weapons, and their harnesse, and to yeeld to their sick and wounded souldi∣ers their due and deserued refreshing.

The Turkes remouing from thence the next day a∣bout noone arriued at a Castell called Archichelec, some∣tymes belonging to the Georgiani, but conquered by So∣liman in his late warres against Tamas, and euer sithence possessed by the Turkes. Heere Mustaffa taking fit occasi∣on of this frendly castell, and hauing commodity of pas∣ture and opportunity of faire wether, (by reason of the losse which happened vnto him in the last battell, & the necessity of continuall trauelling through his enemyes cuntry) resolued to take a surueigh of all his army, where∣in hauing ranged them in due order, & marshalled them with exquisite diligence, he found his nomber dimini∣shed, aswel by meanes of his late battel, as also of the fore∣named infirmities, by forty thousand persons or there a∣boutes. Of which nomber, there was not a few that fled away from the hoast, and being wearie with following so rough and perrillous a iourney, closely and by night departed from the Campe, and returned into their owne citties, to take their ease at home. From hence the Army departed, and lodged the next night neere to a vile & fil∣thy marish, called by the Turkes Peruana-Giol, which wee

may well call, The Lake of Slaues: and the next day at Triala, where there are to be seene at this day the ruines of a great Citty and of many churches, whereof some being repayred and restored by godly men, are still maintained and kept by catholike priestes according to the holy cus∣tomes of Rome. The reliques of those happy and religi∣ous forces, that with so great and faithfull zeale passed the seas and mountaines, and with the Sacred signe of the tri∣umphant crosse, (being displaied in the winds vpon their victorious Ensignes,) perced through these barbarous na∣tions, euen to the borders of the Leuant. Blessed & hap∣py soules, that prepared for your selues so fruytefull deathes, and with so great glory purchased at one tyme both kingdomes vpon earth, and the kingdom of heauen. Very well worthie are you, that as in the heauens you are entertained and praised by those soules that are Cittizens thereof, so here vpon earth you should bee commended and celebrated by the hautie verses of so graue & worthie a wryter. Reioice and liue in Gods name eternally, and pray vnto that soueraigne bounty, that into the hartes of his mighty champions he would inspire that enterprise, that is so greatly desyred of all men, & the longer it is de∣layed and slowed, the more difficult and perrillous it will proue.

The next day the Turkes ascended the high and crag∣gy mountaine, that standeth vpon Teflis, from the toppe whereof descending the day following, the seised vpon a Castel of the Georgiani, called by the Turks Giurgi-Chala, & by vs the Georgian Castell: & departing from thence, & making their next abode in certaine plaines, the day fol∣lowing they came in good time nere to the riuer that run∣neth by Teflis. But in this iourny, frō the place, where the

surueigh of the Campe was made, euen to this Riuer, there happened diuers and sundry slaughters of certaine souldiers, that separating themselues from the army, be∣ing dryuen thereuntoo by hunger, went to get some vic∣tualls, for themselues and their beastes: for that dyuers Captaines of Georgia, as Giusuf, Daut, and (as some saye) Alessandro the eldest sonne of the widdow, hauing gathe∣red together a nomber of their owne countrey souldiers, had secretly followed the Turkish army, and as men that wer acquainted with al the waies of that regiō, they stood watching in such places as the victuallers should passe∣through, and suddenly setting vpon them, spoyled them at once both of their goodes and lyfe. And this happe∣ned as often as there were either footemen or horsemen, (without any notice giuen thereof to their generall, who had graunted them certain sure souldiers to guide them,) that being perswaded thereuntoo by hunger, diuyded them selues from the custody and safe keeping of the rest of the hoast.

Mustaffa found the rocke or castell of Teflis empty, & without any inhabitant at all, for that Daut (of whome euen now we made mention) running away assone as he heard of the comming of the Turkes, and betaking him∣selfe to the fields, sought means to prouide better for him∣selfe that way, then he could haue doone, if he had stay∣ed still in the Forte, & so should haue beene constrayned of necessitye to haue remayned prisoner. Whereupon Mustaffa, rather then he would vtrerly raze it, resolued to restore the old and weake walles thereof, and to make them stronger, that they might endure the sounde & sha∣king of the Artillary, wherewithall hee ment to strength∣en it: which resolution he put in execution, and placed 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

so pleased him, was ready to doo him reuerence, and by worde of mouth to promisse him that deuotion, which he had alwaies borne in his mind to the Ottoman kinges. With merry countenaunce did Mustaffa behould these Embassadors, and most cheerfully heard their offred o∣bedience: and thereupon presently sent them backe & willed thē to cause Leuentogli to come, for that his frend∣ship should be deere and acceptable to him. The Chris∣tian embassadours went to fetch their Lord, for whose welcome the Turkish Generall tooke order with all the Captaines of his army, that they should shew the greatest signes of ioy that might be: which was with all solemnity accordingly performed, & his coming celebrated with all tokens of fauour and kindnes. And after he had presented those precious & rare guifts that he brought with him, he offred his obedience to Capitaine Mustaffa, with the most earnest and liuely speeches that he could possibly deuise, calling Amurat his Lorde, and shewing that hee tooke it in ill parte, that Mustaffa passed not through his territory, where he might haue enioied all maner of commodities, abundance of corne, and other helps necessary for his ar∣my: yet for his better satisfaction, hee would looke for him at his returne from Siruan, being in the meane tyme most ready to bestow all that he had for the seruice of the Ottomans: telling him moreouer, that forsomuch as in many iust and lawfull respectes he could not possibly wait on him into Siruan, yet hee would accompany him al∣waies in mind, & would pray to the creator of all things for his prosperity and all happy successe. And so eftsoons praying him to returne by his Citties, he tooke his leaue. Mustaffa receaued his presents curteously, & in exchange thereof bestowed vpon him a Battell-Axe, a Targat, and

some apparell of cloth of gold, and gaue him his answeare in very magnificall and graue termes, and in the end pro∣mised the Christian Duke, that in his returne hee would passe through his countrey, and so dismissed him: with speciall commaundement, that his departure should bee honoured in the same sorte, as hee was entertained at his comming.

The Turkish Armie followed-on their begonne iour∣ney towardes Siruan: and in the space of twelue dayes, after their departure from Teflis, traueiling allwayes tho∣rough low and moorish wayes, that were intricate by rea∣son of reedes and myre, they arriued in the confines of the Medians, otherwise called the Siruanians, neere to the ri∣uer of Canac, where of in the desoription of Georgia, Ar∣menia, and Atropatia, we made but a short, & yet a plaine & manifest mention. Somewhat on this side of the same riuer, the Turkes ascended a little higher, being very wea∣ry with the long iourney that they had made, and rested themselues one whole day, in which time the Subiectes of the Cittie of Sechi bordering vppon the Siruanians and the Georgiani, foure dayes iourney distant from Sumachia, came to offer themselues to Mustaffa, as vassalles and sub∣iectes to the Turke: All which were gladly entertayned, and some of the chiefe of them apparelled in silkes and gold, and honoured with great magnificence, and in the end had all protection promised vnto them.

The Turkish Armie, as I haue told yee, was all fore∣weatied with the continuall iourney of twelue dayes to∣gether: but yet farre more afflicted with hunger, hauing not found in those parts so much as one wild beast, wher∣by they might quench their desire of meate; so that there was not a man among them, but sought meanes to get

some store of victuaile, especially when they vnderstood, that Mustaffa was resolued to passe ouer Canac, and enter into a new countrey, vnknowne to them all, and where they knew not what hope to conceaue of finding any sub∣stance fitte for them. And whiles they were enquiring a∣mong themselues, who was able to conduct them into a∣ny place where they might finde reliefe, behold, there were certaine Persians taken, (whether they were there by chaunce, or brought thither for some Stratageme, I know not,) who beeing demaunded where they might haue corne and meate to slake the hunger of the Armie, after much resistaunce, and at the last told them, that not farre from the Campe, after they had passed certaine ma∣rishes, where Canac dischargeth it selfe, and runneth into Araxis, they should finde many fieldes, full of ryse and corne in the blade, and a little farther, certaine fat heardes of cattell feeding, that would bee sufficient to satisfie the appetites of all their people. Of this newes was Mustaffa certified, and although hee greatly doubted the treache∣ries of his enimies, and the subtleties of the Persians, yet to gratifie his souldiers, and to make them the more wil∣ling to follow him in his passage to Siruan, hee licensed e∣uery man, that had any desire thereunto, to goe and pro∣uide them selues of victuails, & so suffered all that would, to goe freely. When the Captaine had graunted them this licence, many Spahini, many Zaini, and some San∣giacchi also, sent diuers mē to fetch this prouision of corne and cattell. And there went for that purpose about tenne thousand seruile persons, with many Camels, horses, and mules to carry the pray.

But the successe fel out quite contrary to their designe∣mentes: for Tocomac, Alyculi-Chan, Emanguli-Chan, Serap-Chan,

and all the rest of the Souldiers, that escaped out of the ouerthrow giuen them by Mustaffa in the plaines of Chielder, (after they had with all diligence made report to their king at Casbin of the issue of this battel in those cham∣paines) hauing gathered together so many of their peo∣ple, as were left them, able to endure the difficulties of warfare, & hauing recouered such places as they thought safe and frendly for them, did alwayes lie in awaite to know the marching and passing of the Turkish Armie. And at last, beeing certainely infourmed by the inhabi∣tantes of Reiuan and Georgia, what way they kept, and that of necessitie they must needes arriue at the bankes of Ca∣nac, they beganne to deuise some notable Stratageme, whereby they might reuenge the great boldnesse of their enimies, and make this their entrie into Siruan very daun∣gerous and dammageable to them. And yet hauing ney∣ther courage nor force sufficient to assault the whole Ar∣mie, they resolued with themselues, (as men that had sto∣macke inough to attempt great matters,) to stay in priuie ambush at some fit place, till some bande of the Turkish Armie should arriue, where the pray of corne and cattell might allure some of them to descend into those fieldes to relieue their common necessities: and so they sent out di∣uers men, who fayning that they went about their owne businesses, made shew as though they had suddeinly and at vnwares lighted vpon the Turkish Campe, and reuealed vnto them, as a great secrete, what a good pray was hard∣by them. And so withdrawing themselues out of the way, they stayed priuily to watch, when the Turks would send their victuailers to fetch away the corne & cattell: when as, within the space of three onely dayes, it so fell out that the foresaide ten thousand seruile persons arriued at the

place, where they had no sooner begun to charge them∣selues with their pray, but they were surprized by the Persians, and sauing a very few, that were nimble at flight, they were all slaine, and left both their pray and their liues behind them. The noise of their crie, and the thunder of their Gunnes was heard in the Turkish hoast, which made Mustaffa to imagine, that the matter was fallen out, euen as in deede it was, & therefore presently mounting on horse∣backe, and raysing his whole Armie, euery man desirous of reuenge, ranne with bridle on the horse-necke to suc∣cour the poore people that were already slaine. And al∣though the Turkes came not in so good time, as to yeeld them any aide, yet came they very fitly to surprise the Per∣sians, who beyond all honesty and duetie were ouer-busie in loading themselues, and carrying away the pray that they had recouered.

The place, where the corne was gathered, was as it were almost an Islande, watered with two riuers, Araxis, and Canac, which with a little compasse fetched-about, dis∣chargeth it selfe with a very deepe channell into Araxis. On the side of Araxis, which was the left side of the Tur∣kish hoast, Dreuis Bassa kept one wing: on the side of Ca∣nac, being the right side, did Beyran Bassa holde another wing: and Mustaffa himselfe led the middle of the battell. which if the Persians would not haue encountred, then should they haue beene constrayned to haue runne and drowned themselues either in Canac, or in Araxis. Assone then as the Persian Captaines had descried Mustaffa with all his forces making hast towardes them, and saw such a multitude of souldiers, of ensignes, of speares, and of fyre∣workes, and with all remembred the late ouerthrow in the Champaines of Chielder, then beganne they to beethinke

themselues how much better it had beene for them to haue vsed more speede in departing out of that Demy-Island, and so with suddaine dispatch avoiding their eni∣mies forces to haue contented themselues with the late slaughter of those sclauish and seruile people, and not to haue stayed for so vnequall and importunate assault. And being excited therevnto by a certaine intrinsicall and na∣tiue vertue, they discoursed among themselues, whether it were better for them to flie, or with so great disaduaun∣tage to ioyne battell with them, and rather to die with an honorable death, then to liue with reproache of a shame∣full flight. At the last, whiles euery man was thus tossed with the tempestes of thoughtes, they resolued vtterly to preserue themselues for the state of Persia, and to continue their liues for the great and waighty affaires of that king∣dome: deeming it rather to be a point of high wisedome, then of shame, not to lay open their security and the ho∣nour of their publike and priuate causes, to most certaine and vndoubted losses, and miserable issues.

But in taking their prepensed flight they discouered new difficulties: for that they were in such sort straighte∣ned within the saide Demy-Island, as they had none o∣ther ground left, but onely that, which beyond their ex∣pectations the Turkes had already possessed, and so being greatly perplexed with these troubles, euery man began to betake themselues to their owne priuate conceites. To∣comac and Emir-Chan, with other Capitanes of the army were the first that tourned their backes, and some by wa∣ding, and some by swimming passed ouer Canac, beinge greatly holpen by the valour and agilitie of their aduen∣turous and gallant horses. The example of these Capi∣taines moued many other to doo the lyke, though with

a contrary fortune: for that their horses being out of breath and windlesse, there remained a great nomber of them drowned in the waters. At which fearefull specta∣cle, others being amased, euen as it were in a headlong rage & fury, perceiuing that if they should fly, vnavoydea∣ble death was present before their eies, setled all their trust in resisting, and reposing all their hope euen in despaire, they shewed vnspeakeable actes of valor in fighting. But what can one doo against a hundred? For they also with∣out any great adoo were all destroyed, though with lucke and fame farre vnlike their fellowes. But what helpeth Fame in such a medley, where the names of those are not knowne, that either fight manfully or flie effeminately? Others at last resolued to yeeld thēselues without draw∣ing sword or bending bowe, imagining that by so doing they might recouer themselues, together with such spoiles and riches, as they had, whatsoeuer they were. But what benefite can gold and precious stones be to a few in the tumult and confusion of many conquerours, who be∣ing geuen rather to vniust rauening then to vpright piety, doo but hardly make accompt of their promises, much lesse to be liberall of that which they haue not promised? In this sort did the Persian armie rest discomfited and de∣stroied: & so this Demy-Island being first stayned with the bloud of the enemy, & afterward with the slaughter of the neighbour and proper inhabitant, was the perpe∣tuall sepulcher of a couragious and warlike people.

The Persian Capitaines fled away in great sorrow and affliction for their vnexpected ouerthrowe, and knowing now assuredly whether the designementes of the Turkes tended, who were already turned towardes Siruan, they resolued in as ill plight as they were, to retourne home to

their places of aboad, which they had forsaken, and to cer∣tify the king in Casbin therof with all speed, to the end that (if he could) he should send such prouision as might bee sufficient to annoy the enemies army: whereof (as Emir Sultan a Marchant of Azemia, of great traffike, of a very sincere mynd and affection, and a man of free speech; be∣ing my very familiar frend, hath often tymes confessed vnto me in Aleppo) Tocomac fayled not to write vnto his king, that there was slaine of the Turkes a great nomber: and so meaning to excuse his late ouerthrow, & to make his losse to seme more tollerable, he made shew of a great slaughter of the Turks in this second battell also: although in very deed, with the miserable and totall destruction of his owne slender Armye, the losse of the Turkes in this fight did not exceede the nomber of three thousande be∣sides the slaughter of ten thousand victuailers. And when this certificat was made to the King, euery one of the saide Persian Capitaines, with the lycence of Tocomac departed to their seuerall gouernementes, as Emanguli-Chan to Gen∣ge, Serap-Chan to Nassiuan, Tocomac himselfe to Reiuan, & all the rest to other Citties, to the gouernement whereof by the commandement of the king they were before ap∣pointed, & so remayned in expectation of new warrantes from Casbin.

In the meane while the Turkes had retired themselues againe to their Tentes, from whence by occasion of this vnexpected battell they were sodenly raised, & now was Mustaffa with all his troupe arriued at the bankes of the riuer Canac on the same syde, where he must beginne to passe ouer, as before is mentioned. For being mynded to go vp to the Cittie of Eres, which first of all offreth it selfe to your sight, when ye trauell on that syde to Suma∣chia,

there was no remedy but he must needes passe ouer the foresayde water of Canac: a thing very displeasant to the whole Army, and yet could not bee auoyded, if hee would execute the commandementes of his king. And therefore (fall out whatsoeuer could fall) making strayte proclamation ouer all the hoast, that euery man should bee ready the next day to wade ouer the riuer, he prepa∣red himselfe for that passage. At this proclamation soden∣ly all his people arose in a tumult, with great pride ranne beefore the Generall, with iniurious termes reproo∣ued his folly and inhumanity, protested vtter daunger to himselfe, and vniuersall confusion to the whole army, & to be briefe, praied him that he would surcease from pro∣ceeding any furder, vnlesse he would replenish the whole campe with carcasses & spoiles. But neither could their threatnings nor yet their entreaties any thing moue the resolute mynde of the Generall, who gaue them none o∣ther answere but this: That so had Amurat appointed: that if all the rest should shew themselues vnwilling to obey their soue∣raigne, he would not, and in duty thought hee could not doo the lyke, but in truth would be the first man to attempt and performe that which all they so abhorred and reproued: That not in Idle∣nes & ease, but in great paine and difficult enterprises true soul∣diers are discouered, who ought neuer to be afrayde of chaunging brittle lyfe with euerlasting honour, nor to auoide death, if it should happen, for the seruice of their King. And for his owne part he did most earnestly pray them, that after he had attempted the passage of the water, if any thing hapned to him otherwise thē well and to be alyue, then he might bee carried dead to the other syde of the riuer, to the end that if hee could not execute the com∣mandement of his King, whiles he was alyue, yet he might per∣forme the same at least, when he was but a speechlesse and a lyfe∣lesse

carcasse: and for making too great an accompt of his owne lyfe, the desyre of his King might not in any sorte be defrauded. Diuers and sundry murmurs and whisperings followed vpon this speech of the Generall, who notwithstanding the next morning (imitating therein the example of A∣lexander, in making his army to passe ouer Tigris, if wee may beleeue Quintus Curtius,) did first of all wade ouer the deep and swift riuer himselfe, and presently after him waded ouer all the Bassaes of the Campe, and with them all their slaues: by whose example the rest also at the last were induced to doo the lyke, and so continued till by the darkenesse of the night their passage was interrup∣ted: which was the occasion, why more then halfe the army could not get ouer, besydes that their publike trea∣sure & artillary were yet also on this side of the water. But this passage being attempted with very great tumult and disorder, & no regard had to the places that were wade∣able, it came to passe, that about eight thousand persons, being carried away by the violēce of the riuer, were mise∣rably drowned, with the great outcry of all the hoast. The lyke happened also to many mules, cammelles & Sump∣ter-horses, vpon whose backs diuers persons being moun∣ted, because they were desyrous to passe dry ouer the wa∣ter, were likewyse headlong ouerwhelmed therein.

With great complaintes and blasphemous cursinges was the whole night spent on this syde Canac, and euery man being euen desperate knew not what to doo to auoid that dangerous passage, whose feare and griefe the exam∣ple of their vnfortunate fellowes that were drowned did greatly increase: And no doubt some pestilent sedition had ensued thereupon, that would haue bredde much harme to the Turkish affayres, if by the death and ouer∣throw

of those that were drowned, there had not beene discouered a shallow Forde, that assured safe passage to those that were left: wherin they were much more hap∣py then their former fellowes, in that their delay had wrought them great ease. For in the passage, which the people made that followed Mustaffa, the grauel of the bot∣tome of the riuer being raised and remoued by the heauy hooues of the cattell, was driuen downe along the saide water to a place, where by great good hap there was also a Foorde, and there gathering it selfe together in a heape, had in such sort raised the depth of the channell, that it made as it were a shelfe for their commodious passage, so that the remnant of the people, carriages, and artilla∣ry passing ouer the same, there was not so much as one man that perished. And in this manner did the Turkish people passe ouer Canac, and vpon the bankes thereof did they rest themselues that day, and the next, and there made stay till the whole army was mustred and set in order. From thence remouing themselues all toge∣ther, not hauing any meanes at all to fynde victuailes ey∣ther for themselues or for their beastes, they encamped the day following in certaine barren champaines, where there was neyther corne nor cattell, neyther could they learne that in those quarters there were any villages at all. By meanes whereof the hunger of their beasts en∣creasing greatly, (a thing affirmed by dyuers faithfull & credible souldiers that were present in those calamities) they were constrained to geue to their horses and mules the leaues and stalkes of verie drie and withered reedes, & such other like thinges of no sustenaunce at all. And the men themselues were faine to satisfy their hunger with those vttermost reliques, that they went vp and downe

piking & gathering out of those poore victuailles, which now by corruption were abhominable to mans nature. There was not a man in the whole army, but perceaued that it was high tyme to rid himselfe of these inconueni∣ences: howbeit to returne backward was odious to them all, in respect of the present famine, and to go on forward was more terrible vnto them, in respect of the great feare that they had, to continue some longer tyme in these commenced miseries. Notwithstanding needes must they follow the fortune of their captaines: among whom Mustaffa the next morning, before all the rest, set himselfe forward on his determined iourney. Hee had not long marched onward, but there was discouered good store of sundry plantes, & neere vnto them a very large plaine all greene and flourishing, & garnished with many trees: by the onely sight whereof euery man was refreshed for the hope of good harbour, and hastened their paces som∣what more then ordinary, vntill they were entred into those champaines, being abundantly fertile in all kind of corne and fruites, that could be desyred of hungry man and horse. In this place did euery man satisfy his appe∣tite with meat and his body with rest, and forgat in parte the calamities and damages that were ouerpassed: and the next morning with willing mindes they were all rea∣dy to follow Mustaffa, who remouing his campe, and lea∣ding it still through the fruitfull and pleasant fieldes, a∣bounding in all thinges necessary for mans sustentation, arriued at the citty of Eres, beeing (as we haue before de∣clared) the chiefe cittie in that coast of Siruan, as you tra∣uaile from Georgia.

This cittie of Eres was forsaken by a great number of her inhabitantes, as soone as it was noysed that the Turkes

were come to Canac, and they all followed the Standards of Samir Ghan, Gouernour of the said cittie, beeing allu∣red there vnto by the example of Ares-Chan, (whome al∣so a good while before the Persian king had trusted with the gouernement of the cittie of Sumachia, and assoone as he likewise heard that Mustaffa was come to Canac, hee abandoned his owne cittie, and withdrew himselfe into the mountaine, as a sure and safe place,) There did Sa∣mir Chan remaine with him, and other the Gouernours of Sechi, and other places of the said Prouince, all of them, ioyntly together, attending the end of these great nouel∣ties. So that the entrie of the Turkes into Eres, was not by the enimies sword in any sort disturbed, nor yet with any spoyles, that were found therein, any thing enriched, for that the people had carried away with them all the best thinges they had, and euery man endeuored in the com∣mon losse of his countrey, to keepe and preserue his pri∣uate goods at the least, and his owne proper life. Two & twenty dayes did Mustaffa remayne vnder Eres: in all which time, although somewhat long, there was not one man that felt any inconuenience in any matter of sort, but during those dayes employed himselfe to the erecting of a Fortresse within the said citty: vpon whose walles were placed two hundred peeces of shot, and for the custodie thereof was appointed Caitas Bassa, one of the voluntary Captaines, with fiue thousand souldiers.

In this meane time, for that the cittie of Sumachia, now called Sumachi, stood not farre distant from thence, it be∣ing the Metropoliticall cittie of that Prouince, and of great accompt, because it standeth vpon the way that lea∣deth to the cittie of Derbent, now called Demircapi, but in tymes past Alexandria,) Mustaffa commanded Osman Bas∣sa,

one also of the voluntarie Captaines, as before we haue noted, to possesse that cittie with ten thousand men, vn∣der the tytle of Visier, & Gouernour Generall of Siruan: Giuing him further in charge, that in any case hee should cleere the passage to Derbent abouesaid, and so giue pre∣sent aduertisement to the Tarrarians of his arriuall, who without all doubt hauing passed through Colchis, could not choose but by this time be arriued in those quarters, at the least: for so had they promised to Amurath, with al faith and fidelitie. Osmen departed to Sumachia according∣ly, and had frendly entertainement of those that remay∣ned there, and were determined to commit their liues to the fury of the conquerers: so that he did presently sur∣prise the cittie, entreating all the inhabitantes in frendly maner, without doing or suffring any outrage to be done vpon them. Which vsage being vnderstood by the Ales∣sandrians, (a people that by naturall in clination, in cere∣monies, in worship, and in obseruation of that their reli∣gion, liued not as Persians in deede, but subiect to the Persians, & principally to Mustaffa Sultan, the gouernor of that cittie, & yet for all that being of the Turkish beliefe:) they sent presently to offer themselues to Osman, besee∣ching him to receiue them into his protection, and in all occasions to defend them from the Persians.

Of all these matters Mustaffa had aduertisement before he departed from Eres: from which place, (after hee had finished his Fortresse, his Garrisons, and all his Rampiers, beeing infourmed of these good aduenturds, follioited there vnto by the Giannizzars and the people of Grecia, and somwhat enforced so to do by the season of the yeare which was vnfit for so long a voyage as was yet behind, & perswading himselfe that he should leaue his affairs there

in good and reasonable state) with great confidence hee departed, and turned his course to wardes the country of Leuentogli, otherwise called Alexander the Great, as he had entreated him to do in his late passage to Siruan: and ha∣uing traueiled a long iourney, he lodged at the foote of a certaine mountaine, where hee wanted no kind of good victuailes: And from thence sent Engines and Pioners to make a bridge ouer Canac, that his Armie might passe-o∣uer without any daunger. On the hether side of the riuer they tooke vp their lodginges: and from that place Mu∣staffa sent to giue notice of his arriuall to Sahamal, the in∣habitant and Lord of the mountaine of Brus, (whereof we haue heretofore made often mention:) who present∣ly came to yeeld himselfe as vassall to the Turkes, and be∣ing entertained with his accustomed pompe, and rewar∣ded with apparrell, sword, battell-Axe & Target all guilt, he tooke his leaue and returned to his old withdrawing places of the mountaine.

After that Sahamal was gone, Mustaffa departed also, and trauelled forward by night, because hee would not loose the opportunity of faire wether: but so it happened through ill guiding, that hee lost his way, and knew not whither he went, being conducted through rough waies, and vneasy and difficult passages, whereby he was enfor∣ced to set vp his tentes, & wait for daylight: which rising very cleere did manifest vnto them, that they were nowe entred into the countries of Leuentogli. And therefore he caused proclamation to be made fourthwith ouer all his army, that vpon paine of death no man should be so har∣dy; as to molest or disquiet anie of the subiectes of Aless∣andro, but to haue good respect vnto them, and to entreat them with all curtesy. The day following he still conti∣nued

his iourney in the saide country of Schender, where he wanted no victuailles, and the rather for that the same day there arriued from Zaghen certaine embassadors of A∣lessandro, with great aboundance of cattell, of corne, of fruits, & of other relief, which was sent by him for a presēt to the Generall, with a solemne excuse that he came not himselfe, because the infirmitie of his body would not suffer him. Wherewithall Mustaffa rested satisfyed, and leauing the cittye of Zaghen on the right hand, he caused the messengers of Alessandro to guide him, and so tooke his way toward Teflis: and by them was so directly con∣ducted, that within the space of three daies, without ey∣ther hunger or thirst, or any other inconuenience of his army, they brought him to Teflis, from whence they re∣turned homewards, being wel contented for their paines by Mustaffa.

But those that he had left at Teflis before for the custo∣dy thereof, he found so miserably plagued with famyne, that they were constrained to eat Cattes and Dogges, and Sheepe skinnes, & such like vnwonted & strange thinges. Many of them also he found sicke, and some dead, by rea∣son that they could not obtaine lycence of Mahamet Bassa their captaine to go out of the castle to prouide victuaile, for feare of the enemyes. By whose prouidence such care was taken for their corne, fruit, and cattell, that, al∣though those of Teflis had issued outfor that purpose, yet was it all preserued in very safe and secure places without any daunger. Which thing was credibly certifyed to me not by one alone, but by many of the Georgians, with whom I was familiarly acquainted both in respect of my trafficke with them, and also of my practise in phisicke. But Mustaffa refreshed and relicued them all with words,

with money and with meat, and gaue them plenty of all thinges, And after he had remayned there two daies, he raised his army, and put himselfe in the way towardes the champaines that were subiect to the said citty, to put all to sworde and fyre, as indeede he did. Onely the sepul∣chers (wherein rested the bones and ashes of Simons pro∣genitors, and neere whereunto he tooke vp his first lodg∣ing) were leaft vnhurt and vntouched, by the Turkish fu∣ry. The day following they trauelled ouer rough and ragged mountaines full of a thousand difficulties, which were the more encreased by wonderful great snowes that were fallen, by meanes whereof, together with diuers o∣ther annoyances, many souldiers, horses, cammelles and mules did perish. In this distresse they continued two whole daies, during which tyme all the people were fal∣len into such a disorder, that forgetting the feare of their enemies country, without any regard or respect, euerye man tooke vp his seuerall lodging aparte, and one on this syde, and another on that syde shrowded himselfe, where he might fynde either some thicke bushe, or some small cottage, or some quyet valley to shelter him from the winde, from the snow, and from the stormes.

But certaine Georgian captaines (and peraduenture e∣uen the same, that had before so euill entreated the peo∣ple of Soria,) hauing sent out scouts to watch the Turkish army from time to time, & being throughly certifyed of the disorder wherein it was, did ioine thēselues together, & in the right approched neer vnto it, secreatly, quietly & boldly searching out some opportunity, how they might coole the burning desyres of their enemies bloud. In the end hauing obserued Hossain Bey, my good frend and acquaintance, among many others the sonne of fruitfull

Giambulat, (I terme him fruitfull, for that in one night there were borne vnto him 7. children by diuers women, & he himselfe saw at on time aliue fourescore & six heires of his owne body begotten,) that hee had withdrawen himselfe alone vnder certain mountaines to defend him∣selfe from the storme & the wind: they were perswaded that this was a sit occasion to gaine them some spoyles: and hauing assaulted him, they slew all his slaues, and all his squadrons of souldiers, tooke a great booty of many loades of mony and apparrell, led away with them all his horses, and whatsoeuer els they could fynde, and scarce gaue him any leasure to saue himselfe, by flying into the Tentes of Beiran Bassa. And it may be that he had also re∣mained for a pray to the Georgians, had it not beene for Hala Bey, captaine of the Zaini and Spahini of Aleppo, an old man as any among the Turkes, of an extraordinarie bounty, of a sincere mind, of free speech, and well exer∣cysed in feates of Armes, from whome I liberallie re∣ceaued many particularities of these thinges that I haue written. This man being wakened by the noise, & raising the people of Beyran Bassa, ran out himselfe to meet Hossa∣in Bey, and shewed him the way to escape as afore. And vpon this rising of the Turks, the Georgiani retired them∣selues with their gotten pray, and so the rest had leasure to withdraw themselues together into more sure & safe places.

The next morning the Campe remoued, and in the euening came to a castell called Ghiurchala, where it stay∣ed a whole day to make prouision of victuaile, which was attempted by sending many of their slaues abroade into the fieldes, conducted by the men of the said castell. In the meane while, there arriued certain embassadors from

one that was then called the nephew of Simon, signifying to Mustaffa, that (if it would stand with his good pleasure) their lord would come to salute him, & to offer himselfe vnto him as his vassaile. whereof Mustaffa was very glad, and declaring vnto them that his comming should be ve∣ry acceptable vnto him, he sent them backe againe with presentes and curteous wordes. But although hee was expected all that day, yet made he not his apparance, & indeed all those that were sent out into the fieldes for re∣liefe, were miserably hacked in peeces, to the great griefe of Mustaffa, thinking himselfe too much abused by those fained embassadors, who in truth proued to bee cunning and craftie spyes, rather then embassadors.

From this place the army departed with great hunger, ouer diuers vneasy hilles and rough places of the Georgi∣anj, where they were faine oftentimes to rest themselues, & at last came to the confynes of the widdowes territory, vpō the feast day of the Turkes Ramadan. In the entrance whereof they must needes passe through a narrow strait betweene certain mountaines, where the riuer crankleth it selfe with a thousand tourninges and windinges about the low valley: A very difficult place and indeed so nar∣rowe, that no more then one man alone could passe through it. Betweene this straite, and a very thicke and hilly wood, they lodged vpon the banks of the said riuer, and from thence the next morning they remoued, and trauelledouer very steep mountaines, and wooddy For∣restes, ouer ice and snow more harde then marble-paue∣mente, and ouer other hanging rockes, in such miserable sorte that many camelles, mules and horses, aswell for ca∣riage as for saddle, fell downe headlong into the whirle∣pittes of the riuer to their vtter spoyle. Through this rui∣nous

cragges, and dyuers other miseryes they iournyed all the next day, and after that, another day also as mise∣rable and dammageable to the Army as the former: but at last being shrewdly spoiled and ill handled by hunger, foyled and slaughtered by their enemies, & afflicted with the harde season and situation of the place, they arriued within the territories that lay vnder Altunchala, the wid∣dowes Pallace, where they had all manner of desyred re∣liefe, for all the miseries that they had endured since their departure from Chiurchala vntill this place, being the space of sixe daies, which ordinarily, if it had beene a common trauelled way, would haue beene performed in one one∣ly daies iourney.

The Widdow with her elder sonne Alessandro, came downe from the Castel, and went to the pauillion of Mu∣staffa, offering him dyuers presentes, and promising vnto him all faithfull obedience. Mustaffa receaued her curte∣ously, and declared vnto her the good entertaynement, that he gaue to her yonger sonne Manucchiar, that went with him to Siruan, who being there present shewed eui∣dent token thereof to his mother. Mustaffa, (dissembling for the present tyme his priuie displeasure, that hee bare the widdows son Alessandro) embraced him courteously, and praied her that she would bee pleased to leaue him also there with him, for that it should turne to both their contentmentes, signifying furder vnto her, that he would send both her sonnes to Constantinople to Amurath, with letters of credence for their yeelded obedience, for their fauour shewed to his army in giuing them so secure pas∣sage, and so many helpes, & lastly for their good deserts, the rather that by the said Sultan they might be honoura∣bly entertained, and enriched with honours & dignities.

The Widdow, although her mynd was herewithall sore troubled & perplexed, yet outwardly in her countenance shewed her selfe to be pleased, and seemed curteously to yeeld, what she was of necessity constrained to grant: as∣well because Mustaffa had one of her sonnes already in possession, as also for that her selfe & her whole state were now in his power, & as it were at his deuotion: & there∣fore leauing both her sonnes behind her, she returned to her Castell.

Mustaffa, after hee had stayed in that place with his army two whole dayes without feeling the want of any thing departed thence towarde Chars, and so did all the rest, who hauing now no feare of the enemie, as being in a sure and frendly countrey, deuided themselues into seuerall companyes, by fiues, by twenties, by fiftyes in a troupe, as euery man thought it best and conueny∣ent. The first day they lodged at Clisca in the widdowes countrey, where they wanted no manner of necessaries, but had most plentifull aboundance of all thinges. From thence they tooke their next lodging vnder certain rough mountaines by which they trauelled two whole dayes through many difficulties, where some of them also dyed for cold. Then they came to Messeardachan sometimes belonging to the Georgianj, but now to the Turkes: & so to Biucardacan, belonging also to the Turkes, where they kept the feast of Ramadan, which till now they could not celebrate. And from thence to Olti a Castell also of the Turkes, where the Sangiacco, that gouerneth those quarters is resident, a countrey very fertile in all thinges, well situated, and very conuenient for these and greater passages. From Olti by the way of Neneruan in two daies they arryued at Hassanchalasi, a Castell likewyse of the

Turks, called also Passin, and from thence afterward they came to Erzirum, with the great reioicing of the whole army, which was there presently discharged by Mustaffa, without any numbring or mustring at all, and so they re∣turned all home into their owne countries.

But Mustaffa setled himselfe in Erzirum, dispatching Poastes with letters of plentifull aduertysementes to the king touching all thinges that had passed, but yet in such sort that he magnifyed his owne exploites without mea∣sure: and among diuers other newes, that were scarce true, which he wrote, one was, That Teflis, which hee had taken, was in greatnes & beauty equal vnto Damasco, besydes the situation that was exceeding strong. He cer∣tifyed him also of the battelles that he had with the Per∣sians: the obedience that he receaued of the Georgiani, & the Siruanians: the stirres and insurrections of the peo∣ple of Constantinople & of Greece: the Fortresse built at E∣res: the garrisons of souldiers left in that Citty with Caitas Bassa, and in Sumachia with Osman Bassa: the offers of the Alexandrians: and in briefe whatsoeuer els had passed, & whatsoeuer he had taken from the enemy. Neither did he faile to propound to Amurath his opinion, what hee thought conuenient to be attempted the next yeare, for the strengthning of those places that he had already con∣quered, and for preparing the way to newe enterpryses. And principally he put him in mind of a fortify cation to be made at Chars, a place very fit for any passage to Geor∣gia or Armenia, by situation fruitefull and commodious both for men and cattell. And withall he sente vnto the said king, the widdowes two sonnes Manucchiar & Ales∣sandro, signifying that they would bee alwaies ready to performe whatsoeuer it should please him to command

them, and that he had receaued in their country all good entertainemente and frendly welcome not omitting for all that, to declare his opinion, that Manucchiar was a meeter manne for the gouernement then A∣lessandro for that Manucchiar had shewed greater valour, & was more willing and ready to serue him then his bro∣ther: and the rather because it was a generall opinion, that Alessandro had his hand in those treasons and mis∣cheefes which happened to the victuailers and to the So∣rians in Georgia. Greatly did the king commend the dili∣gence and vertue of Mustaffa, and pleased himselfe high∣ly with this conceit, that of these pretty beginnings there might growe mighty conquestes and singular successes to the enlargement of his Empyre, and hoped that by this meanes hee should bee able to su••passe the glory of his predecessors, and the more his thoughtes were occu∣pyed about these warres, the lesse did he trouble himselfe with thinking how to annoy Europe with his forces.

But now it is high time to returne to the narration of the accidentes that happened in Siruan, where (we told you) Caitas Bassa was leaft at Eres, and Osman Bassa at Su∣machia, with expresse order, that Osman should call the Tartarians to his aide: the Tartarians, (I say,) that hauing leaft the Fennes of Meotis, and the vnmountable shores of the Blacke Sea, passed ouer the rockes vpon Colchis, & surueighed the frosen cragges of Caucasus, were now arri∣ued in the confynes of Siruan, and there staied, attending the commandemente of the Turkes, to inuyte them to spoile and victory. Among the Tartarian Precopenses, there was one Abdilcherai, a Capitaine of great valour and fame, a yong man of comely countenaunce and well sett of person, who, according to the faithfull promise of Ta∣tar-Chan

(surnamed Mahamet) geuen to Amurath, brought with him about thirty thousand souldiers, his subiectes, with a full resolution to attempt whatsoeuer any Turkish captaine should command him in the name of Amurath. And therefore Osman called him, and inuited him to suc∣cour the forces of his king, and to furder these beginnings of his glory, & these his conquestes, or rather these mag∣nificall and famous termes of victory. Hee aduised him withall, that assoone as he had arriued in the countrey of Siruan, before he passed any furder, he should send aduer∣tisementes of his arriuall there, by two or three seuerall letters dispatched by two or three seuerall messengers for the more security, to the end that he might be againe en∣formed what course he should take, to make his coming more profitable and more glorious. All which was not onely throughly vnderstood, but also most diligently put in execution by Abdilcherai, and therefore hauing entred the Iron gates, where Derbent standeth, (which by the Turkes at this day is called Demircapi, and signifyeth, The Gates of Iron,) and from thence passing on into the country of Siruan, there he staied, and gaue aduertisement thereof to Osman, as he was appointed.

Now in the meane time, that Mustaffa hauing subdued Sumachia and Eres, was departed out of the confynes of Siruaa, Ares-Chan (who after was gouernour of Suma∣chia,) and other Gouernours of that region, of whom we made mention before, hearing the newes of the depar∣ture of the Turkish Generall, were determined to returne to their forsaken country, & to find some meanes, where∣by they might in parte (at the least) reuenge the great in∣iuries, wherewith Ares-Chan was most greeuously offen∣ded and damnifyed, and so with victorie eyther of spoile

or of slaughter vpon Osman Bassa, to gaine honour & com∣mendation with the Persian king, by the publike shame and confusion of his enemyes. For in deed great was his anger and wrath, when hee beheld his owne Citty re∣maine for a pray to the enemy, and was not hable by any outwarde acte, to shew any signe of his greefe. And so hauing passed vnder Sumaohia, (not far from which place he had put to the sworde som fewe victuailers of Osmans, that more boldly then wisely had issued out of the citty,) and being with all his people encamped in certaine freshe fieldes, a little on this syde of the said Sumachia: I knowe not how, but he was so well fauoured by good fortune, that he surprysed certaine spies or messengers, sent from Abdilcherai, who first went to carry the news to Osman, of the arriuall of the Tartarian Captaine, and according to the order taken betweene them, to knowe his pleasure, what should be put in execution. These Tartarians were brought before Ares-Chan, who after much torture dis∣closed the letters that they carried: which the Persian captaine read, and considering the great nomber of the Tartarians that were come, (for the letters made menti∣on of thirtie thousand) he was vtterly resolued not to stay any longer in those quarters, but presently raysed his Campe, & retired towards Canac, meaning from thence to certify the Persian king of all these nouelties, and vpon the bankes of the saide riuer to encampe himselfe, atten∣ding an answere from his said king.

But Abdilcherai, who had now sent out his second, & his third spies, caused Osman Bassa by som other means to vn∣derstand of his arriuall, who then very wel perceaued that the suddaine and vnlooked-for departure of Ares-Chan could not be vpō any other occasiō, but vpon knowledge

of the coming of so great an hoast: but when he saw that the first spies neuer came, which Abdilcherai accused in his second letters, he was more then assured thereof. Howbe∣it the Tartarian captaine was called to Sumachia, where sitting in consultation with Osman, they fell to agreement that Abdilcherai should passe Canac, and so onwardee∣uen vnto Genge the countrey of Emanguli-Chan, to de∣stroy and wast his fields, his townes and his Citties, bring∣ing away with him, men, cattell and corne, and enrich∣ing his arriuall by all the most terrible & strange meanes he could. The Barbarian captaine longed to see the time that he might staine his dartes and sworde in the blood of his enemies entrailes, and to charge himselfe with the expected pray: and therefore presently departed, and with poasting iourneyes passed ouer Canac, where Ares-Chan was as yet encamped, and assaulting him in furious manner, (without allowing him any time of defence,) lyke a rauening and deuouring flame, discomfited all his hoast, and taking him aliue, sent him to Sumachia to the garrisons of Osman, who forthwith caused him to bee hanged by the necke out of a lodging in the same Diuano or Councell house, where he had heretofore sitten as Go∣uernour.

From thence, wading ouer the riuer, and coursing a little aboue Genge, he found Emanguli-Chan, among cer∣taine vallies, with his wife, all his familie and a great parte of the nobilitie of Genge, hunting the wild-boare, & sud∣denly put him to flight, tooke from him his wife, all the Ladies, and many slaues, and slew many of the rest, that vnawares were brought thither to see such disport. And after roade on to Genge, and yeelded it wholy to the furie, licentiousnesse, lust, and wickednesse of his souldiers, who

left no maner of inhumanitie or crueltie vnattempted, but satisfied all their most immoderate and barbarous af∣fections, that naturall fiercenesse, or present occasion could minister vnto them. And so beeing loaden with spoyles, satiated with bloud, and weary with the slaugh∣ter of their enimies, they returned merrily towardes Sir∣uan, and passing againe ouer Canac, they came on the he∣ther side of Eres into certaine low champaines, enuironed about with hilles, and there hauing pitched their tentes, without any feare they setled themselues to sleepe, and with rest to repaire their fore-wearied sences.

In this meane-while, and long before these actions, were the newes come into Persia of the battailes that hap∣pened in the plaines of Chielder, and in the Demi-Islande betweene Canac and Araxis: Whereupon the Persian king, who neither would nor could goe himselfe in per∣son, hauing gathered new forces, had dispatched Emir∣hamze Mirize his eldest sonne with twelue thousand soul∣diers to passe into Siruan, to see what hurtes the enimie had done, to attempt the reuenge of the forepassed iniu∣ries, but especially and aboue all to punish the villanie of those of Sechi, and other Cities of Siruan, that voluntarily, and not induced thereunto by any necessity, had yeelded themselues to follow the Religion of the Turkes. The Persian Prince had now remoued from Casbin, accompa∣nied with his mother Begum, who would needes follow her beloued sonne, and had taken his iourney towardes Siruan, vnder the guiding and gouernement of Mirize Salmas, chiefe of the Sultanes, and had already left behind him the countrey of Ardouil and Caracach: when hee was certified of the aduertisements come from Ares-Chan, touching the arriuall of Abdilcherai with his populous

hoaste of Tartarians, and thereby was stricken in a greate quandarie, & almost without comfort. But yet his feare was not so great, as it could stay his ambitious and bur∣ning desyres of reuenge and glory, but rather enflamed with a fresh anger for the great boldnes of the Tartarians, and set on fire with an vnquencheable thirst of reuenge, hee was encouraged more then euer he was, to prosecute his intended enterpryse: and so came to Siruan, still lea∣ding people with him from such places as he trauelled∣through, & hastening his iourney came to Eres, long be∣fore the king his father did thinke hee would. Very fit & conuenient was this his notable celerity: for that Caitas Bassa had boldly issued out of the Fortresse, & went spoy∣ling all the country about, carrying away with him what pray soeuer he mett withall, and committing such other insolences, as hungry souldiers beyond all honesty, vse to doo in strange and fruitefull countries. But when hee was in the middest of his spoyles, and leaste feared his e∣nemyes forces, he was suddenly encountred and assaulted by the said Prince, without hauing any meanes to escape his furie: so that in this extremity and necessity, which brought Caitas to a sudden death, ther followed a bloudy battell, wherein although the small nomber of the Turks shewed many effectes of valour, yet in the fight they were all destroied with their captaine, who together with his lyfe abandoned the world, the Fortresse, and the spoiles, & left the country free, that was committed to his custo∣dy. Which the Persian Duke hauing once againe gotten into his possession, he tooke away the two hundred pee∣ces of shot, that were left in the Forte by Mustaffa, and presently sent them to Casbin to his father.

Mightely did courage encrease, and hardines quicken

in the Persian Prince by this good successe, and therefore leauing his mother in Eres, he followed on his iourney towardes Sumachia: but in passing by the way where the Tartarians were encamped, and in descending the hilles, that enuironed the plaine, he discouered their tentes that were there pitched: whereupon he stood in great doubt what to attempt, whether by venturing vppon so popu∣lous an hoast to proue the perrill of battaile, or yeelding to so great a danger to returne back into Persia. Too great a shame he thought it to returne, & rather then he would with ignominie refuse so good an occasion offred him, he did choose with honour to endaunger himselfe to the most manifest perrill of his lyfe: and therefore descending the hill, and drawing nigh to the pauilions of the enemy, he perceaued that all the army was laid downe, enioying their quiet rest and sleep, and their horses, some couched & some standing, but all of them void of saddles or horse∣men. Whereupon without any stay, setting spurres to his horse he pricked forward with all his hoast, and in all hast and terrible manner ran to assault the Tartarians, who were now both buried in their spoiles & sleep: & hauing slaine their first watch, and their second, although with some losse, among the tumultuary souldiers hee made an vniuersall confusion, & common slaughter, putting some to flight, killing others, and taking diuers of them Cap∣tiues. Among whome was their Captaine Abdilcherai, who was taken aliue and sent to the king in Casbin, vnder good and sure custodie.

After these victories, the Persian Prince scoured to Su∣machia, and compassed the Cittie round-about, wherein the new Turkish Captaine Osman sate as Gouernour, to the great reproach of Persia: and there encamping him∣selfe,

sent word to Osman, that if he would yeeld himselfe, he would let him goe with his life and goods: but other∣wise if he would stand-out obstinate, and not yeeld vp the cittie, which vniustly he possessed, he should be compel∣led to surrender it by force, and his life withall. Osman, that knew nothing of the Tartarians ouerthrow, but ho∣ped, that entertaining his enimies with faire wordes and goodly promises, the Tartarians might in the meane space returne, and hew them all to peeces, gaue the sayd Prince a most courteous aunsweare, saying that hee was very ready to yeeld vp the Cittie, but withall entreated him that he would make stay but for three onely dayes, & graunt him time to put all his thinges in readinesse, that so he might freely depart, as it pleased the prince in courte∣sy to offer him. The Persian Prince was very glad to re∣ceiue such an aunsweare, & well knowing the ouerthrow which he gaue to the enimy, did verily perswade him∣selfe that Osman frankly, and with a true & constant mind had made this promise: & therefore expected that what the Turke had offred should be performed. But Osman not meaning to commit himselfe to the faith of his ene∣my, though hee was vtterly resolued to withdraw him∣selfe into some stronger place, yet was he very curious to find meanes to escape into those safer refuges, and not to come within the fingers of the prince. And therefore somwhat before the assigned terme of the three daies ap∣pointed, seeing that the Tartarians whom he looked for, did not appeare, he resolued to saue himselfe by secreat flight: because he was sure, that if hee should remaine in Sumachia, hee had good reason to feare the inhabitantes themselues would betray him, and that if he should yeeld himselfe to the Prince, he might be by him also easily de∣ceaued.

And thereupon determined with himselfe, by the help of the darke night, and a difficult way, (though very couert by reason of the high cragges and bushie pla∣ces of the mountains neere to Sumachia) to take his flight, and withdraw himselfe to Demircapi, as hee had already promised to the Alessandrians. And so he iourneyed o∣uer the said mountaines with great secrecie and silence, leading away with him whatsoeuer either in the tyme of peace or of war he hadlaid vp in store, and without any daunger or threate of the enemy he escaped safely to the said Citty of Derbent. On the morning the inhabitants of Sumachia, without any stay opened the gates of the citty to the Persian Duke, who seeing their infidelity, that they were not onely ready to giue entertainement to Os∣man, but also to help him to escape without giuing to the prince any inckling of his departure, did put in execution the effectes of his wrath and indignation which euen in Casbin he had conceaued in his minde against them: and with great cruelty did punish the miserable and infortu∣nate Commons of the Citty, making their houses euen with the ground, destroying both the old and new walls therof, and bringing the whole lande to nought, that sometime was so desired a receit of the Turkes. But when he should depart from thence, he was in a great deliberati∣on with himselfe whether he should passe on to Derbent, or returne into Persia. The citty well fenced, the cold time of winter, and the long voiage that hee should haue had homeward, persuaded the Prince to lay aside the enter∣prise of Demircapi, and so he made choise to returne to Casbin. But first for all that, he determined to make his retyre by the people of Eres and of Sechi, and vpon them as vpon rebelles to inflict deserued punnishment. For

the effecting of which his purpose, he made his present repaire thither, and spared neither sexe, norage, nor any condition, but though the persons were vnequall, yet was the punishment equall to all. And after the execution of this his reuenge and indignation, he with his foresaide mother Begum, and with his armie, though somewhat di∣minished and endamaged, yet victorious and triumphant turned home to Casbin.

Young Abdilcherai the Tartarian, was kept within the kinges Serraglio in good & safe lodgings, neither did he in this his captiuitie find want of any thing, but agree∣ably to his calling he was appointed a very tolerable and easie imprisonment: which day by day was in such sort enlarged, that he seemed to liue not as a prisoner or cap∣tiue, but rather as a companion of those of the court, and as it were in apparant liberty: by which occasion, hauing insinuated himselfe into the loue of Begum the kings wife, he spent his time in courting of her, and she again in cour∣ting of him in all secreat and couert manner. These mu∣tuall affections proceeded in such sorte, and these inter∣chaungeable fauours discouered themselues so openly, that in the Serraglio and ouer all the Citty, there was a rife report, how shameles Begum had participated her bed & herselie with the Tartarian prisoner. Howbeit neither the king nor the prince knew any thing of it: but the king perceauing that the yong gentleman was generally com∣mended to be valiant and curteous, began to thinke of a matter, which might easily fall out to bee a very great commodity and help to himselfe. For the king fauouring these good qualities, being conioined with proportion of body and nobility of birth, (because he noysed himselfe to be the brother of Tatar-Chan) persuaded himselfe veri∣ly,

that it could not but proue a meruellous benefite to him, if in steed of a captiue he should make him his kins∣man, and giue him his daughter to wife. Whereby (hee was in good hope) there might grow such an amity and vnion between the Tartarian Precopenses, & himselfe, as they would not onely refuse from thenceforth to fauour Amurath in these warres, but also that they would bee enemyes vnto him, and in the fauour of Persia turne their armes & affections against him. Very considerate assured∣ly was this cogitation of the king: but yet did it greatly displease the Sultans of Casbin: who either because some of them was a suiter to the said daughter, or because they did naturally hate the Tartarian Nation, or els because they had a mischeeuous conceit of the loues of Begum, did all their endeauours to turne the king from so strange a purpose, and vsed all the arte that possible they could de∣uise, to cancell out of his mind that detestable opinion, as they thought. Howbeit they could nothing preuaile either with their eloquence or other their cunning deui∣ses: but the king was now vpon the point to make a con∣clusion of the marriage, when as the Sultans entring into the Serraglio with a company of their people, and finding there the vnfortunate Tartarian, ran him through the bo∣dy, cutting of first his priuie members, and flapping them vpon his mouth after a most barbarous and filthy maner. It is reported that Queene Begum likewise was then also murdered by them, but (how soeuer it came to passe) it is a cleere case, that the death of the Tartarian Duke was procured in the maner aboue mentioned, and that the poore lady neuer after that day, saw the light of the sonne. Which whether it was put in execution by the appoint∣ment of her husband, who had beene aduertised of all

thinges that had happened, or that the Sultanes wrought it for the publike interest: they know best, that haue had the meanes to insinuate themselues into the innermost places of the Realme: For vnto our knowledge neuer came there any other report touching the particulars thereof.

Vpon the death of this Tartarian there sprung-vp ma∣ny ciuill dissentions in Persia, and so therevpon followed also the banishment of some, the flight of others, and son∣dry miseries, that lighted vppon many. And the great hopes whereby the king was mooued to desire the mar∣riage, were chaunged into most turbulent and trouble∣some passions, and daungerous calamities, that threatned the vtter confusion of the Persian affaires, to the singular benefit & commodity of Amurath. And yet for all these strange accidents, the king ceassed not to prepare new for∣ces for the next yeare, and as much as in him lay to quiet all tumultuous disorders, brideling his owne priuate af∣fections, and the motions of his sonne Emirhamze Mirize, and procuring at last a perfect vnitie, which hee thought most necessary to continue the defence of his kingdome. And these were the stirs that happened in the Persian and Tartarian affaires the first yeare, being the yeare of our sal∣uation, 1578.

But Osman Bassa being in Demir-Capi, after the returne of the Persian Prince to Casbin, continually employed himselfe in laying platfourmes for the enlarging of the conquestes already begon, and for the assuring of those places vnder the gouernement of Amurath. Among o∣ther occasions, that he tooke for the better establishing of his owne matters, one was the friendship that he entred with Sahamal, Lord of the mountaine of Brus, of whome

I haue more then once made mention before. With this man did Osman practise many tokens of good will, and he againe interchangeably towards Osman, wherevpon there arose a faithfull frendship betwene them, if not thorough∣ly and inwardly, yet at the least in outward apparance: wherevnto in short time there was added a straight knot of alliance, for that Osman tooke to wife a daughter of the sayd Sahamal, and hauing celebrated the marriage, hee thought he was sure of all sides, & could not desire grea∣ter signes of the sinceritie of his loue. But soone after, grounding himselfe vpon reasonable coniectures, he toke a suspicion that Sahamal, for all his inward and outward practises of frendship towards him, might notwithstan∣ding receiue some secrete order from the Persian king to betray him, and to deliuer the Cittie from the Turkish oppression, and so reduce all the Prouince, as before it was, to his auncient deuotion. Among other occasions, whereby Osman was moued and induced to suspect it, (al being of great force and importance,) the speeches of his wife (being Sahamals daughter) gaue him greatest cause. For she being rauished with the valour, riches, and mag∣nanimitie of her husband, would not conceale any thing from him, that she knew was deuised against his life, but freely vttered by word of mouth vnto him, that her father hauing reconciled himselfe to the Persian king, did con∣tinue his confederacy and frendship with him, and that letters went betwene them of great matters, and particu∣larly of the affaires of Siruan. By this discouery Osman Bassa grew into a great suspicion, that Sahamal should de∣ceitfully practise his death, and perswaded himselfe veri∣ly, that the frendship, the mutuall offices of loue betwene them, and the marriage that was made, were wholy dire∣rected

to that end. This aduertisement Osman kept secreat to himselfe, and made shew to his wife that hee kept no such reckoning of it, as in deede he did, & ought to doo, being a matter of so great importance: But yet in his hart resolued to keep it in store to his benefite: in such sorte, that not onely the deuise which Sahamal had imagined against him was quite frustrated and auoyded, but also Sahamal himselfe was punnished with deserued death. And therefore Osman caused Sahamal to come to him, & thereby feasting him, courting him, & entertaining him, as it became him to vse his beloued father in lawe, and by many other apparant and confident behauiours, he made Sahamal strongly presume, that he might take oportunity to put in execution those designementes, for effecting whereof he had thus procured the frendship and alliance of Osman. But Osman preuented the intent of Sahamal. For hauing inuited him (according to the custome) to come and celebrate with him certain of their solemne feastes, he made the most valorous and trustie of his esquadrons ac∣quainted with his determination, and enioyned them, that assoone as Sahamal was entred into his court, euen in the very dismounting from his horse, they should all fall vpon him, cut of his head, and put all his retinue to the edge of the sword. Old Sahamal failed not to come accordingly, being inuited by his son in-law and daugh∣ter to the solemne feastes, & in his lighting from his horse all was performed that Osman had commanded: & forth∣with there were dispatched two thousand horsemen to spoile & sacke all the lands, & country of the said Georgian Lord, to the great maruell & astonishment both of farre & neere. The newes thereof came to Casbin, euen to the kinges eares, who tooke the matter very greeuously, and

beganne to foresee, that the conquering of that countrey would proue very difficult, and so feared greatly that the Prouince of Siruan would remaine still in the Turkes handes. And this was the end of the stirres in Siruan the first yeare: & so the winter comming-on very sharpely e∣uery man ceased from battell and forraging, forsaking the forrestes and the fieldes, and attended wholly to the con∣seruation of such things, as they had already conquered.

And now by this time all these aduertisementes were arriued at Constantinople, & Amurath had receaued all the particular intelligences of all thinges that had happened. Also Ali-Vcchiali, who in the port of Trebizonda had dis∣charged his appointed carriage, was now returned to Constantinople, & made relation of his sayling into Colchis, declaring how hee had built a Castell in the Territorie of Tatiano, in the confines of Iurello, and that he had streng∣thened and enlarged those borders in Georgia on that side also: insomuch as these beginnings seemed to Amurath, to bee of great importance: the successe whereof in the continuance of the history, we will describe vnto you in the bookes that follow.

The end of the third booke.

Notes

• A notable raine.
• The Turkish army remo∣ueth towards Teflis.
• The Lake called Chiel∣der-Giol.
• The Turkes at Archi∣chelec.
• A surueigh of the army.
• 40000, per∣sons wanting in the Tur∣kish Army.
• The Turkes at the lake called Perua∣na Giol.

  The Turkes at Triala.
• The praises of those Christi∣an forces that tooke the ho∣ly Citty.
• The praise of Torquato.

  Tasso.
• Giurgi Chala possessed by the Turkes.
• The ambush of the Geor∣giani.
• Mustaffa at Teflis.
• Mustaffa for∣tifieth the walles of Teflis.
• Mustaffa cheerefully entertaineth the embassa dors.
• Leuentogli to Mustaffa.
• Mustaffa re∣ceaueth Le∣uentogli, and promiseth to passe through his territories at his returne.
• Mustaffa and his host at the riuer Canac.
• The subiectes of Sechi come to offer themselues to the captaine.
• The hunger of the Tur∣kish Army.
• The Persian spyes taken.
• The intelli∣gence that the spyes gaue for vittaile.
• Mustaffa ly∣cenceth euery man that would go for corne and o∣ther necessa∣ries.
• Ten thou∣sand seruile persons go for victuaile.
• The Persian Captaines take counsell how to an∣noy the Turkes.
• The strata∣geme of the Persians.
• The ten thou∣sand victuai∣lers shame by the Persians.
• Mustaffa run∣neth with all his hoast to succour the victuailers.
• The order of Mustaffa his battaile.
• The Persians repent their long aboade.
• Great thoughtes that troubled the Persians.

  The Persians resolue to a∣bandon the fight, and to flye.
• Difficulties in taking their flight.
• The Persian Capitaines saue them∣selues by pas∣sing the tiues.
• The Persians drowned in the Riuer.
• The Persians in fight shew great signes of valour.
• Conquerours doo but little regard their promises, be∣ing geuen to spoile.

  The Demye Island made the perpetual graue of a couragious & warlike people.
• The losse of the Turkes in this battell.
• The Persians withdraw themselues to their seuerall gouerne∣mentes.
• Mustaffa commandeth all his hoast to passe ouer the Riuer Canac.
• The souldiers in a tumult threaten Ge∣nerall Mu∣staffa.
• The answere of Mustaffa to his soldiers
• Lib. 4.

  Mustaffa first of all wadeth ouer the deep Riuer Canac.
• Nighti was the occasion that more then half the hoast went not ouer.
• 8000. Turkes drowned in wading ouer the riuer of Canac.
• A meruelous kind of Foord.
• The calami∣ties of the Turkish hoast,
• The Turkes refreshed with victu∣aile, & other commodities.
• The Turkes at Eres in Siruan.
• Eres abande∣ned by the Persians.
• Samir-Chan: & Ares Chan Persian Go∣uernours withdraw themselues into the mountaines.
• The entry of the Turkes in∣to Eres not disturbed by the enemy, nor enriched by spoile and victory.
• Mustaffa re∣maineth in Eres 22. daies.
• Eres fortifyed & fenced by Mustaffa.
• Mustaffa ap∣pointeth Os∣man bassa to keepe Suma∣chia & Der∣bent.
• Osman Bassa frendly ent••∣tayned at Sumachia.
• The Alexan∣drians yeeld themselues to the Turkes.
• Mustaffa de∣parteth from Eres.
• A bridge built vpon Canac to passe ouer.
• Sahamal yeeldeth him∣selfe to Mustaffa.
• Mustaffa by night looseth his way.
• Mustaffa in the countrey of Leuent.
• The embassa∣dors of Le∣uentogli with reliefe & presentes receaued by Generall Mustaffa.
• Mustaffa at Teflis.
• The famine of the sould••∣ers left in the Castle of Teflis.
• Mustaffa re∣leeueth them with meate, money and wordes.
• Great snowes breed many annoiances to the Turks.
• The Turkes dispersed by cold weather.
• The Georgi∣ansly in wait for the Turks.
• Hossain Bey the authours frend.
• Fruitfull G••∣ambulat that saw 86. chil∣dren aliue at once that were his heires.
• Hossain Bey assaulted by the Georgi∣ans, & great∣ly discomfi∣ted.
• Hala Bey the authours frend.
• Hossain Bey escapeth to the tentes of Beyran Bassa.
• The nephewe of Simon veeldeth him∣selfe faynedly to Mustaffa.
• Hunger a∣mong the Turkes.
• The straite of the moun∣taines of Ge∣orgia, watred by Araxis.
• Misery of the Turkes.
• Their mise∣ry continued.
• The Turkes releeued at Altunchala.
• The widdow and her sonne Alessandro come to Mustaffa.
• The Widdow leaueth both her sonnes in Mustaffaes handes.
• The Turkes at Clisca
• Some dye for cold.
• The Turkes at Olti.
• The Turkes at Hassancha∣lasi.
• The Turkes in their re∣turne at Er∣zirum.

  The army discharged by Mustaffa to winter them∣selues.
• Mustaffa magnifyeth his owne ex∣ploites to A∣murath.
• A fortification to be at Chars.
• The widdows sonne sent to K. Amurath.
• Caitas Bassa at Eres, and Osman Bassa at Sumachia in garrison.
• 1 The Tartaiās neere vnto Siruan atten∣ding the com∣mandement of the Turks.
• Abdilcherai the Tartarian Captaine a faire young man, and of noble bloud.
• Osman cal∣leth Abdilche∣rai and adu•• seth him what to doo.
• The Tartari∣ans at Demir∣capi.
• Ares-Chan the Persian & other captatus seeke to an∣noy the Turkes.
• The spyes or messengers of the Tartan ans taken by the encamped Persians.
• The Tartariā spyes disclose their letters to Ares-Chan.
• Ares-Chan retireth to Canac sea∣ring the com∣ming of the Tartarians.
• The Tartari∣ans at Suma∣chia, in con∣sultation with Osman.
• All the Persi∣an army of Ares-Chan discomfited by the Tarta∣rians & Ares-Chan him∣selfe hanged.
• Genge sacked
• The Tartari∣ans encamp∣ed in certaine fieldes on the hether side of Canac, fall to sleepe.
• Emirhamze the Persian Kinges eldest sonne, at Sir∣uan.
• Begum the Persian Prin ces mother followeth him in his Army to Sir∣uan.
• The Persian Prince sud∣denly arriued at Eres.
• Caitas Bassa assaulted by the Persian Prince.

  A bloody battell.

  Caitas Bassa & all his peo∣ple slaine.
• Eres recoue∣red by the Persians.
• Begum left at Eres.
• The Persian prince disco∣nereth the en∣camped Tar∣tarians.
• The Tartari∣ans destroyed & Abdilche∣rai taken aliue by the Persian Prince.
• The Persian Prince vnder Sumachia threateneth Osman.
• Osman an∣swereth the threates of the Prince.
• Osman deter∣mineth to slie se••reathe by a coue••t way o∣uer the mountains,
• Osman fly∣ing from Su∣machia, seapeth to Demircapi.
• The Persian Prince pun∣nisheth the inhabitantes of Sumachia with diuers kindes of tor∣tures & deathes.

  The Persian Prince delibe∣rateth whether he should re∣turne home or go forward to Derbent.
• The people of Sechi & Eres punnished.
• Abdilcherai prisoner in Casbin well entertained.
• Abdilcherai the prisoner enamored, & beloued of Queene Be∣gum.
• The report of the loose life of Begum the Persian kings wife.
• The deep consideration of Mahamet the Persian King.
• The Kinges purpose doth not please the Sultans of Casbin.
• Abdilcherai slaine in the Serraglio of Casbin, by the Sultans.
• Vpon these murders there arose many calamities in Persia.
• Osman practiseth frendship with Sahamal the Georgian.
• Osman mar∣rieth a daugh∣ter of Saha∣mals.
• Sahamal be∣headed by the appoint∣ment of Os∣man at De∣mir-Capi.

  The country of Sahamal wasted by Osmans peo∣ple.

  The Persian king beway∣leth the deatls of old Sa∣hamal.
• Ali-Vcchiali buildeth a Castell in Colchis.