¶ Amurathes the 3. after Ottamannus.
THe Greeke writers doe holde that Orchanes had two sonnes, Solimannus, and Amurathes. Of which two, first Solimannus raigned albeit not long.* 1.1 After him folo∣wed Amurathes, who after that Asia nowe was subdued by his predecessors, sought by all meanes and wayes how to proceede further & to inuade Europe. To whose ambiti∣ous purpose the domestical warres of the Christians gaue vnprosperous occasion:* 1.2 which occasion is thus declared. Certaine discord fell betwene the princes of Greece (whose captayne was Cantaguzenus) and Paleologus Emperor of Constantinople. Wherupō Paleologus, for that he was not able to make his party good with the Grecians, moste vnwisely sent for Amurathes, to helpe him. Who beinge glad to haue such an occasion offered, which he so long had sought, sent to ayde him 12000. Turkes into Thracia: but first vsed all delayes he could, of crafty pollicy to the entent that the Greekes first shoulde waste theyr strength and po∣wer vpon themselues, whereby he might be more able af∣terward to set vpō them, and to accomplish his conceiued desire.
The Turkes thus being called into Europe, by the Christians, whether they tasting the sweetnesse of the soyle incensed Amurathes theyr Emperor to make inuasion,* 1.3 or whether Amurathes of his owne head thought good to vse the time, in the yeare of our Lord 1363. he came himselfe ouer into Europe with 60000. Turkes, falling vpon the Grecians, being wasted and spent with their long warres and battelles before.* 1.4 The pretence of the deuilishe Turke was to ayd and to assist the Emperour Peleologus, whe∣ther he would or no, and to subdue such as had fallen from him. The Christian shippes of the Ligurians for money were hyred to conduct them ouer, taking for euery souldi∣our a peece of gold. Ex Pucer. & alijs.
Thus the Turkes armye being conueyed ouer by the Grecianssea called Hellespōtus, first got Callipolis wyth other townes and Cityes bordering about the sea, & there planting themselues, and preparing shippes of theyr own for transporting theyr munitions out of Asia, aduaunced their power further into Thrasia, and there wanne Philip polis, then gotte Adrianopolis, which was not farre from Constantinople, & there Amurathes made his chiefe seat. Then beganne Paleologus the Emperour at lenth to be∣wayle his offer & couenaunt made with Amurathes.* 1.5 Whē the Turkes had expugned thus a greate part of Thrasia, they extended forth theyr armye vnto Mysia, whiche they soone subdued: from thence proceding and conquering the Bessos and Triballos, they entred into Seruia, and Bul∣garia: where they ioyning battell with Lazarus Despota prince of Seruia, and with other Dukes of Dalmatia, and Epirus, wanne of them the field, & put them to the worse: where Lazarus Despota being taken,* 1.6 and committed to prison, ended his life. This Lazarus had a certayne fayth∣full client or seruaunt, who to reuenge his maisters death, with a bolde courage, although seing death before his eies, yet ventred his life so far, that he came to the tyraūt & thrust him through with his dagger. This Amurathes reigned. 23. yeares, and was slayne in the yeare of our Lord 1372.