The History of the Turks describing the rise and ruin of their first empire in Persia, the original of their second : containing the lives and reigns of their several kings and emperors from Ottoman its first founder to this present year, 1683, being a succinct series of history, of all their wars (forreign and domestick) policies, customs, religion and manners, with what else is worthy of note in that great empire.

CHAP. VIII. The Life and Actions of Amurath the first of that Name, and third King of the Turks.

OChanes and Solyman his eldest Son being dead, Amurath succeeded in the Kingdom, as the younger Son to the deceased King; who at his first Entrance upon his Government, had great Con∣tests with the Turkish Princes of the lesser Asia, who Envying his aspiring, as supposing in the Currant of his Victories, he might as well overthrow them, as the Christians; but having Vanquished their Forces, and brought them Terms of Agreement, he turned his Arms upon Europe with a great host; passing the Hel∣lespont he seized upon the Castle of Benutum, when passing on the Greeks now roused out of their security, opposed him with such Forces as they could draw to∣gether, but were soon overthrown: After which he won the Town of Trurulus, taking likewise all the Castles and small Towns adjoyning, as Mesine, Burgos, Hebrus, and soon after Didimotichum; and staying there sent one of his Captains named Lala-Schakin, to besiege Hadrianople, now called Adrianople with whom the Christians fought a great and mortal Battle, but such was their ill steered Fate that Victory declared for the Infidels. So that that great City being out of all hopes of Relief, opened her Gates to the Enemy, Anno 1362. The City of Hadrianople being taken, or, as their own Histories relate, taken by Treachery in time of Peace; Amuratis made it the chief Seat of the Turkish Kings

in Europe, as a place from whence he might best annoy Christendom, and then sending for his Captains, he Commanded to invade the Countries of Philipopolis, Zo∣gora, and Ipsala; the which in a snort time they brought under Subjection.

The Turkish Kingdom in a small time being spread wide, Cura Rustemes the Doctor of the Mahometan Law, and Zinderlu Chelil the Chief Justice devised the Order or Constitution of the Janizaries (which have ever since been available to Turks in all their Wars) after this manner, that seeing there were great multitudes of Christian Captives frequently taken, the Youths above fifteen years of Age should every fifth be the Kings, and if there wanted of five, then he who had them shoud pay twenty five Aspers a Head, and that those which appertained to the Kind should for three of four years be put to hard Labour, the better to inure 'um to Hardship; and then being brought to Court to serve in the Wars, as the Kings Life-Guard being alway near his Person. Which advice was so well approved of, that it has continued accep∣table to the Othoman Kings and Emperors ever since.

Amurath having settled his Conquests in Europe, leaving a sufficient Power with his great Captains: The Winter coming on, the passed over into Asia; but early in the Spring, upon view tha the Christi∣ans were in Arms he returned, and by the way took the Town of Boge, putting the chief Inhabitants to the Sword, and carrying away the rest Captives, but held it not long e'r it was recovered and rased by the Christians, who served the Turks in like manner.

In the mean time the Christian Army in Servia and Bulgaria consisting of 50000 Horse and Foot, advanced in Order to their besieging Adrianople, which obliged him for his better security, to haste over the Hellespont, giving Order for a great number of Asians

to follow him, but by reason of the Christians dis∣cord amongst themselves, and refusing to joyn their Forces, they were set upon at advantage, and over∣thrown with the loss of half the Army, e'r the Forces arrived from Asia. The News of which fatal over∣throw spreading wide, Anairath's Fame spread wi∣der; Insomuch that German-Ogly Reigning in the lesser Asia, and being chief of the Zelzuccian Family, sent his Ambassadors to intreat a Marriage between his Daughter Hatun, and young Bajazet, in lieu of which he promised a great part of his Territory, and that his Son-in-Law at his Death should succeed him in his Kingdom, by that means joyning both Families into one, the which in short time was accorded; at the Ce∣lebration of which Nuptials, the Ambassadors of al∣most all the Princes of the East were present, who in the Names of their Lords presented the Bride∣groom and Bride with exceeding rich Gifts; but A∣murath to outdo them all, caused Euronoses to bring out of Europe 100 beautiful Boys, with as many Vir∣gins; all Christian Captives clad in rich Garments, im∣broidered with Gold and Pearl, each of them holding a Cup of Gold in the one hand, and a Cup of Silver in the other, filled with Jewels, Pearls, Amber, and the like; which he caused in requital of their Kind∣ness given to the Ambassador to be.

At this Marriage Chusun-Beg Prince of Amisum in Galatia, sold by his Ambassador his Territories of A∣misum to Amurath, as doubting to keep them; the Turks Power being now so near him.

The Nuptials Celebrated, Amurath making his Son Ba∣jazer Governour of his Countries in Anatolia, gathered what Forces he could for the Invasion of Servia, tak∣ing by the way the strong City of Pherae; and entering Servia the Despot no ways able to oppose him, he took Nissa the Metropolis of that Province; and soon

after Apolonia with many other places of strength, so in fourteen days over-run nigh all the Provinces, but receiving News out of Asia, that Aladine King of Caramania, who a little before had Married his Daughter, wasted his Countries in Asia with Fire and Sword, which so inraged Amurath, that making Peace with the Despot of Servia, he passed over with an Army of 70000 Horse and Foot, to whom in num∣ber Aladine was not inferior, as having Confederated hmself with all the Petty Princes of Asia, when after several overtures of Peace proposed and none ac∣cepted; both Armies joyned on the great Plains of Car∣ramania, where after a dreadful Battle Aladin's Army was overthrown, he was forced to fly into Iconium his chief City, and was there straightly besieged, but at the humble Supplication of his Queen, who would have no denyal at her Fathers hands; he upon his Sub∣mission was restored again to his Dignity and King∣dom, as likewise were all the Princes, his Confede∣rates upon Condition of acknowledging him their su∣pream Lord.

Whilst these things passed, the Despot of Servia grieving that he had made such a dishonourable League with the Turks, and being told by his General, sent with Forces to assist Amurath against the Caramanian King, how despightfully he had used him and his Soldiers, therewithal stirring him up to break the League, and cast off the servile Yoak, he sent secretly to the King of Bozan, to request him to joyn with him against the Turkish Tyrant, who willingly ac∣corded; and at an interview between the said King, and the Despot all things were agreed, upon Notice of which Amurath was not a little perplexed, but yet re∣solving to take revenge, he gathered great Forces to invade both Princes; the which whilst he was doing, the Captain of Alexandria took a Castle in the Con∣fines

of Bosan, came privately to his Tent and offered to deliver to him most part of the Country, if he would follow his directions, strengthening his Promise with many specious Arguments; insomuch that the Greedy Turk giving Credit to what he had said, sent twenty thousand Men under the leading of his great Captain and Tutor Lala-Schalin, who plundering part of the Country, and at last by the said Captains de∣vice, who had by Amurath been highly honoured, e∣specially with a rich Cloak, which signifies the Per∣son so invested to be highly in the Favour of the Turkish King; but having drawn them within the Danger of the Ambush, he sent to the King of Bosan, who coming upon them with 30000 Greeks, as they were stragling cut of 50000 of them, the other 5000 with Schakin hardly escaping to tell the News.

With this overthrow of his Men, Amurath was greatly inraged, and gathering all his Power marched into Servia (which before he had Relinquished upon the Despots becoming his Tributary) where he found the Christians with a formidable Army ready to receive him; when after some Towns and Castles taken, on either side, both Armies met upon the great Plains of Cossovia, where when the Captains on either side had put their Men in Order; exhorting them to do their best for obtaining the Victory, they joyned with such Fury that the Earth trembled under their Feet, and such was the horrid noise of Clashing Arms, shouts of the Conquerors Cries, of the Vanquished and Weeing of Horses, that wild Beasts in the Mountains trembled; and those that beheld the Fight supposed that showers of Arrows descended from the Clouds. At first the Turks gave back, being assailed by the Christians in great number, and the Right Wing rout∣ed, but Bajazet coming in with a fresh Power renewed the Battle, which having continued eight hours with

great slaughter: Insomuch that all the Plains were co∣vered with the Bodies of the slain, most of the Chri∣stian Captains killed Valiantly fighting, and amongst the rest, Lazerus the Despot, the Victory fell to the Turks; those that fell in the Battle, not being accoun∣ted less then 50000.

After the Battle was over, Amurath greatly Re∣joycing in his huge Conquest, in a Vain-glorious Hu∣mour would needs take a view of the heaps of the dead Carcasses, which made the Plain Mountainous, when as a half dead Soldier, named Cobelits faint with loss of Blood and Wounds, rising as it were from the Grave, came towards him staggering and falling three or four times in twenty paces, when those that were about him, would have hindered his approach; but Amu∣rath (Destiny so ordering) Commanded he should have access, supposing he would have Petitioned for his Life; when on the contrary without a Word speak∣ing, Cobelits drawing forth a Dagger, stabbed him in∣to the Belly, for which he was presently hewn in pieces; nor did Amurath long survive him, but with∣in three days after dyed of his Wound, and was bu∣ryed in Prusia, Anno 1390. of his Age 68 years, and of his Reign 31 years. To whom succeeded Bajazet his eldest Son, who was no sooner Crowned, but he caused his Brother Jacup to be strangled in his Presence with a Bow-string, which wicked Precedent has ever since been put in Practice by the Othoman Kings and Emperors.