The Conduct and Character of Count Nicholas Serini.

IT is not a more general observation of the What He­roes were always ra [...] ­sed to op­pose the Turksinva­sions, and [...]ow they did it. Physician, that in eve­ry Country Poysons grow up with their Antidote [...], and Di­stempers with their Remedies▪ than it is an approved Maxime of the Di­vine and Politician, that in eve [...]y Age the disturbers of the Church are poyzed with its Champions; and no sooner appear the Boutefeus [...]nd incendiaries of an Age, than they are matched with its Worthies an [...] Heroes: for when the Turkes (the poor remains of the Ten T [...]bes le [...] Captive under Salmanass [...], an [...] lost in the Barbarism and desolation of Scythia) forced by their wants, [...]. The Turkes original and growth▪ and encouraged by their hopes, broke out of that sheath (as they call [Page 2] it) or indeed Sword of Nations, up­on the pleasure and plenty of Asia (as these cold Countries, as fruitful in inhabitants, as they are barren in Provision, every Age send forth some superfluous thousands to seek their Bread) and after some vagaries under Tangrolipix his conduct, e­rected to themselves a Government, both upon the Persians estate, whom they pretend to assist, and his ene­mies, whom they over [...]hrew, to the [...]error of weaker Princes, and the disturbance of the most Potent Cut­lum [...]ses, that noble Persian checked the encroachments, and secured Their ch [...]k and opposi­tion. their Government, by altering their Religion, dividing their opinions, in­jealousing their Chieftains, betray­ing their weakness, Debauching their Spirits, and buying off their Leaders, Anno 1121. the Barbaro [...]s multitude being reduced by some Rules of Re­ligion and Policy, to that Order and Discipline that threa [...]ed the neigh­bour-Powers, awaked the brave Em­peror Diogenes, and the resolute Pa­ [...]riarch Simon, to engage the Chri­stian [Page 3] world, the one by sole [...]ne Em­bassies, the other by devour Letters, against this common enemy, which in a General Council at Claremont, Voted an unanimous assistance (up­on Peter the Hermits suggestions, and Pope Gregories injunctions) for an Holy War, under Robert Duke of Normandy, Baldwy [...] Earle of Flan­ders, Henry King of England, God­frey Duke of Bulloyn (a War mana­ged by five Kings of France, six We­stern Emperors, eight Earles of Flan­ders and Brabant, six Knights of Rhodes and Malta, five Kings of Eng­land; with an Oath, not to desist untill Christendom were delivered, to the loss of 36000 English, 45000 French, 32000 Italians, and as many more of other Nations, for the space of two hundred years, viz. from the year 1090. to the year 1290.) to relieve the Greek Church, recover the Land of Promise, rescue the Holy S [...]pul­chre, punish the Saracen Blasphemies, and propagate the Christian truth; a design that stopped the growing Pow­er of those Barbarians, though it [Page 4] could not suppress it; because, neither their sins, nor our repentance were yet ready for vengeance or relief, be­cause our Armies were debauched, our Leaders were unskilful, our Councils divided, our Commanders unequal, our friends were false, our designes particular, our Emperors and Popes [...]ealous, the Clymate un­suitable, and the people perfidious, provoking at once the wrath of hea­ven and the malice of enemies.

Neither had these wild invaders of mankind sooner tri [...]mpned over this Christian opposition, than they were The settle­ment of the Ottomon Family. stopped in their career by the revolu­tions of Egypt, the Revolts of Alepp [...] and Damas [...]us, the invasions of Tar­tary; and their own Mutinies, which trans [...]erred the usurpation from the Zelz [...]ccian family, and Tangrolipix his line, to the Oguzian and Ottoman, 1300. who though allied to the Em­peror, famous for his Victories, be­loved by his people, and as capable of laying the foundation of an Au­gust Empire, as any that sat upon that Throne, being invited by one [Page 5] party of Christians to suppress ano­ther (for he was the first that was in­vited Their first invasion o [...] Europe stopped by M. Paleo­logus, and how. to Europe, and that by the Ca­talonians) yet was matched by Mi­chael Cos, and Paleologus, who bought him before Nice, surprized him before Neapolis, diverted him by Rebellion in his own Family, overcame him by Prayer and Devotion, stopped up his correspondencies and supplies, per­plexed him with Innovations in Re­ligion, with envy and fear, suggesti­on and distrust; tolled him on to great streights, and softned his hard­ned people with the Luxury and De­licacy of Europe.

Anno 1349. His rich Brother Or­chades The second stopped by Asa [...], and how. succeedeth him, who first strangled his relations, took Nice, Nicomedia, Corusinia, Calliopolis, by his Silver, rather than his Steel, (for those places were rather bought than Conquered) yet was matched by the Graecians Discipline and Order, the Thracians wiles and Stratagems, Asans yeildings and Retreats, untill the short-sighted Barbarian was toyled further then he could fairly retreat.

[Page 6] Anno 1364. Fierce Amurath sur­prized Their third att [...]mpt stopped by [...] [...] how. Rh [...]destium by three hundred souldiers, that got in under the noti­on of Workmen; took in Adria­nople, reduce [...] Servia, threa [...]ed Bul­gar [...]a and M [...]avia; when by the Christian Practices, A [...]adi [...] revolts, Asia is divided, and the fierce man himself charmed by the Despots Daughter of By [...]anti [...]m.

Anno 1390. Wa [...]like Bajazet pro­ceeds [...] undertak­ing blasted by Tamer­lain. in his Conquest of Servia with­out controul, when it pleased God to raise Tamerlain the great Chams Son-in-Law, who with 600000 Foot, and 300000 Horse (that wrath of God, as he called himself, and not man) shook the Tu [...]kish Empire, [...]. Out-doing them in his Discipline (for he was the most compleat Soul­dier, for the Practical part of ranging and Disciplining an Army, in the World.) 2. Shutting out of his Camp all their Spies, by building houses His method. out of it for all strangers, and keep­ing his men to their Quarters upon pain of Death. 3. By unwearied Inrodes upon the enemies, whom he [Page 7] ty [...]ed with surprizes. 4. By gaining time to observe their methods and weaknesses. 5. By delaying the War untill the Tu [...]ks men and Treasure was spent. And 6. By his tender­ness towards those that yielded, and his cruelty towards those that with­stood him (for he would the first day of any Siege, hang out a White Flag, to denote mercy to all upon [...]urren­der: The second, hang out a Red one, to intimate favor towards all but the Chief: And the third, hang out his black one, to signifie the dismall condition of all.

Anno 1405. Resolute Mahomet made Wallachia Tributary, threatned Their fifth exploit di­verted by Musa, and how. Transylvania; when loe, Musa mar­rieth the King of Wallachia's Daugh­ter, revolteth from his Master, em­broyleth the Army, keeps correspon­dence with the Christian Princes, be­trayeth his Lords interest, and indan­gereth the Ottoman Empire, putting Mahomet upon beginning a War, which he lived not to finish.

[Page 8] Anno 1422. Cruel Amurath set­leth himself in the Empire of Greece, Their sixth enterprize spoiled by brave Hu­ [...]iades, and [...]ow. and prepares for that of the whole world, when Mustapha Rebels in Adrianople, and Servi [...]s in Caramania, and Ʋladislaus King of Hungary, with other Christians, watchful upon these advantages, spoil Servia: Hu­ [...]iades, that brave Souldier, defends Transylvania, drills on the enemy to a toyle, where he fought them three days with equal success, untill his Reserves and the Christian Cap­tives turned the Scales, and he over­threw Abadin, Basta, Mesites, and Amurath himself at Castron, leaving 79000 Turks dead upon the place, and at last is made Governor of Hun­gary, with the unanimous consent of all the Estates (a way now neglected) where by his moderation, and that perswasion he had that every one might be saved in his own Religion, and that as God had made many peo­ple, so he appointed, or at least al­lowed of many Religions, he ce­mented their divided Interests, closed their great distances, raised their [Page 9] dismantled Fortifications, maintain­ed their just Priviledges, and kept out their numerous enemies, untill Con­stantinople was taken, May 29. 1450. Peloponnesus was undermined, Bel­grade yeil'ed, and Trapezond sub­mitted to the Musulmens successes, which yet were poized by the irrup­tions of the 320000 Persians, by the Confederacies of the Papacy and the Empire, the Apostasie of Ʋlados, the attempts of the Veneti­ans, the courage and resolution of the Great Master of the Rhodes and the Empero [...] Mathias, and the most dangerous Mutiny that ever was a­mong the Janizaries, who its expect­ed will at last pull down this Em­pire.

Anno 1481. Bajazet the second Their irrup­tion [...]inder­ed by the famous Scander­beg, and what parti­cular way. was left Master of the Eastern Em­pire, and fair for the Western; but E­gypt and Caramania revolt under Se­limus, the Turkish Court differ about succession, and the Emperor Ferdi­nand layeth hold of these occasions to recover Podolia, and strengthen Christendom, by a General Dyet a [...] [Page 10] Vienna, a General Council at Con­stance, a General correspondence with Persia.

Anno 1520. Honest Selimus would have been contented with his An­cestors Acquists and Dominions, but Ishmael di [...]urbeth him at home, and [...]aurus in Egypt; and the C [...]i [...]ians held Intelligence with both, to im­prove those defeats which B [...]ave Scanderbeg had given, 1. By his vigi­lancy, who slept not two hours in a night. 2. By his activity, being always upon the enemy before they expected, till he reduced Epirus. 3. By his vehemency, who fought al­always till the blood gushed out at his Nostril [...]. 4. By his Interest, be­ing made the Head of the Christian League. 4. By his Intelligence, keeping many Turkish Officers in Pay. 5. By his resolution against all over [...]ures of Peace, twice given Mustapha, th [...]ice Amurath, and four times to Mahomet the second.

But Solyman the M [...]gnificent, Anno 1520 [...]ppears in [...]he greatest [...] and Power of any [...] since Otto­man: [Page 11] And with him, riseth one Ga­zelles, Governor of Syria, that was The great invasion of Solyman the Magni­ficent, checked by the u [...]ted forces of Christendom born to humble him by a Revolt: [...]allerius, Master of the Rhodes, that was made to weaken him by a [...]lout resistance, whom yet he overcomes; and called in by Lewis of Hungary, and Ferdinand of Bohemia, who quar­relled about the Crown of Hungary, l [...]yeth Siege to Vienna, but in vain; while the Lord Will. Rogandorff, and Charles the Emperor, with the united forces of Christendom, amounting to 150000 men, chasti [...]e his insolency by Land, and De Auria corrects his Barbarous ou [...]ages by Sea, and the Persian diverts him in his own Coun­ [...]ry, as all the Princes of Christen­dom, under the Marquess of Bran­denburgh (notwithstanding the French treachery, for which their Embassa­dor was murdered at Alba Regalis) conspire against him, and that with success, while Bajazet is by them hired to Rebel, and the Janizaries to Mutiny: And Don John of Austria gives him that [...]errible blow at Le­panto, as the Venetians did at Cyp [...]u [...]: [Page 12] Of the first whereof he would say, i [...] was but the findging of his Beard; of the second, he confesled it was the cutting off of a Limb.

Anno 1566. Selimus was bounded and limited by the unquiet Persian; and upon the peace wit [...] him, though the French favoured him, Czarneckic was corrupted by him, and his way by his means opened into Europe; yet the Palatine withstands him, the Marquess of Breda way-layeth him, the Ordnance and Guns of Europ [...] galled him, spoil and plunder ruined him, and so great preparations for Europe weakened him.

Anno 1574. Simple Amurath the third was disturbed by the Persians; perplexed by his Janizaries, invaded by the Cossacks, Tartarians, and Per­sians; distracted with Egypt and Da­mascus, both faln off; Confederated against by Venice, the Empire, Italy, Poland, Denmark, France, Spain, who And their [...]ast adven­tures de­seated by the family of [...]erin [...]. maintain 223000 men under Aver­spergh, Sizeg, Teuffenbach, who ty­red him out with a wary War, till he had lost three hundred thousand men [Page 13] in two years upon the Borders of Christendom.

Anno 1603. Proud Mahomet the third of that name, makes a League with the Wallachians and Moldavi­ans, ove [...]throweth the Lords Palfi and Swartzenburgh, takes Strigonium and Buda, passeth the Danow; yet Mansfield meets him in the Field, Retez divides his Council, a Count of the Empire disposet [...] his Janiza­ries to a Tumult, and Serinus, the noble Ancestor and Grandfather o [...] Count Peter Serini, whose Character we now offer to the world, forbideth his growing greatness: for on the sixth of August 1567. the successful Infidel besieged the Fort Sigeth, wherein this great Captain Serini was Governor, who made many bold Sallies upon the enemy, took many Prisoners, and at one time caused three hundred Turks to be beheaded; which so far enraged the Infidel, that he placed his Batteries, and attempts with greater fury then before, where­upon Serini burnt the Suburbs called the New-Town, and Retired to the [Page 14] Old; which the Turks assaulted, and were so bravely received, that in on [...] Storm they lost two thousand men; yet the second time they carried it, forced Serini to the Castle, again [...]t which the enemy planted a Battery, and gave one furious A [...]taque, but were beaten off with great loss.

Whi [...]e this passed, S [...]lyman d [...]ed of a Bloody-Flux ( [...]ept. 4.) but Maho­met Easha labou [...]ing as much as might [...]e to keep his death conce [...]led from the Turks, caused the Corps (E [...]bal­med, and Gloriously clo [...]thed) to be exposed in a d [...]rk place to the Peo­ple, as sitting on his Thron [...], and the Basha himself with all the usual Cere­monies & Reverence, signifying some matter of Privacy with him. At length the Basha went out of the Ten [...], wi­ping his eyes as if he had been crying; which gave the Officers occasion to enquire, why he wept? To whom he replyed, That, It gri [...]ved his heart to think how many brave Souldiers would be suddenly put to the Sword: for (says he) Solyman has made a deep and de­s [...]erate Oath, that if this place be no [...] [Page 15] taken in two days, every Colonel that bears any charge in the attempt shall [...]ertainly be put to death. Hereupon t [...]e Janizaries fell into a direct Rage, and gave a fu [...]ious Assaul [...], but were [...]epulsed with exceeding great loss: they had however [...] f [...]e to the Ca­stle; and now the Noble Defender o [...] [...] [...]eeing his fate [...]efo [...]e his eyes, cal­led the [...]all remainder of his [...] a­bou [...] hi [...] and exho [...]te [...] them to [...]nd by him, and resolve to dye with him. Whereupon, he clothed h [...]self [...]n a Violet-coloured Velvet Suit, took [...]he Key of the Castle, and [...]ome Gold in his Pocket, caused the [...]ates to be opened, and the great Guns to be drawn thither, and discharged among the enemy; and in a Cloud of Smoak he issued forth with his men among the Turks, and fought till he was shot in the head. This was the end of the Valiant Serini. It was reckoned that 20000 Turks were slain before this Fort. No sooner was Serin [...] faln, [...]ut the [...] thronging a­bout the Cor [...], [...] [...]ff his head, and [...] one day after [Page 16] which, they sent it with a scoff to Maximilian the Emperour.

Anno 1612. Achmet succeeded to the pleasures and delights, rather then the honour or improvement of the Empire, which was then thought at its heighth, and ready to fall with its own weight: for its distractions were many, its old establishments were neglected, the brethren were preser­ved alive, and the Government was [...]umultua [...]ily transferred from Mu­stapha to Osman, and from him, be­ing strangled, to the renowned Mo­rat, who died before Babylon 1640, much lamented, where he designed the extirpation of the unruly Janiza­ries, and being asked who should be his Successour, said suddenly, Will there be any more worlds when I am dead? and from Morat to his brother Ibrahim, who observed the peace The great Turks eye upon Chri­stendome these 20 [...]ears. made with Europe 1612. inviolably, had not his dear Sultaness and son been taken by the Gallies of Malta, and he thereby provoked to threaten Christendom, and attaque Candia and Da [...]matia with success, until the Ja­nizaries [Page 17] discontent depose him, anno 1648. and set up He changed his Name at his Co­ronation, to gain reverence, and to engage fortune and suc­cess, complying with a Prophecie of one named Mahomet's great Victories. Ali Solyman, o­therwise called Mahomet the fourth, the present Sultan in his stead.

Who being according to the usual custome saluted by the Janizaries and the Basha's, and applauded by the people, and crowned 1656. was guided and instructed by his brave Mother, and able Visier, a person of as great conduct and success, as of good age and experience, who instil­led to him those noble Principles and Maximes that not onely bear up the declining grandeur of Turkie, but threaten Christendome, as he promised by his active Disposition, and Mascu­line Genius to bear up the decaying spirits of that Empire, to awake their former Valour and Prudence, so (not­withstanding he was severely exerci­sed with two dismal overthrows, the one at Foggia, the other at the The straigh [...] of Hellespont joyning Eu­rope to A­sia, famous for Hero & Leander, Sestos and Abydos, if not more for the two Ca­stles built there, with the Grand S [...]igniors own discre­tion, who laid the me­thod of them, and was present when the [...] were begun and finished. Dar­da [...]e [...]oes) [Page 18] [...]e surp [...]ized Vesp [...]in, made inroads to the Empire suppressed the great [...]u [...]ult in the year—56. (that made away 16 B [...]shaw's, one Vs [...]er, forcing the Sul [...]ana and Mu [...]ti to the Seraglio) prosecuteth the War a­gainst the Ven [...]tians in Dalmatia and Candia, reduceth the revolt at D [...] ­mas [...]us, and pitching upon the able Bashaw of Damascus for his prime Visier at 24 years of age, who now commands in Hungary, allayed and awed the mutinous Janizaries by his severity and munificence, obliged the people by an impartial justice; and though he was twice defeated by Moccenigo at He him­self looking on. the Port, and de­prived by him of Lemnos and Tenedos, yet training his men up to European services, he regained Tenedos while the Venetians were fetching fresh wa­ter, reformed the sloth Epicutism and bribery that had debauched his Court (denying himself the great example the ordinary use of those pleasures, for whose excesses his Predecessors are so infamous) restored their lost Discipline, frighted the Persian to a [Page 19] peace, made way to his present En­terprizes by inroads into Transy [...]va­nia, (against R [...]g [...]tski, who without his pri [...]ity had engaged in the Polish War) which the [...]mper [...]ur neither assi [...]ing effectually, nor yet deserting The f [...]st occasion of this last d [...]eadful designe up­on Chri­stendome. the Turk, observing his unde [...]hand­dealing, having setled A [...]afti in that Principality, takes that occasion to prosecute his old designe upon Hun­gary and Austria, which (when he had suppressed) the Bashaw of Alep­po, and his pretended Sultan, by the courage and prudence of the present Visier, at whose presence the Rebels submitted to mercy, made use of that success to work the Persian to a firm peace, deseated Almeri [...] d' Este, the Venetian General of Candia, disguised his preparations for War under pre­tences of peace, and leagued himself to the Hollanders and the English, whose late Revolutions he so much admired, that he said, if fame belye him not, That if he were to chuse ei­ther his God or his Religion, [...]e would chuse the King of Englands; he having as clear an apprehension of [Page 20] the affairs of Europe by his ancient league with France, as we our selves, and observing the animosities and in­terest since the last Emperours electi­on at Frankford, and the last Popes at Rome, in compliance with the a­musing designes of France, begins at Adrianople under the pretence of re­tiring from the toyl to the pleasures of Government: embodying his A­sian forces at Belgrade, and setling Moravia and Wallachia, he pursues (with 250000 men, besides his Tar­tarian hirelings) to Hungary, where exceeding the bounds set them by the old League, they first caressed the Inhabitants with wonderful civility, and then fomented their animosities against the Germans, (which upon the account of Religion, Inclination, Customes and Government, hath been ancient, but now improved by Montecuculi's Commission to be Ge­neralissimo over their forces) allow­ing liberty of conscience, and a ge­neral fair usage in point of Taxes, (his common bait to discontented and debauched Estates) until upon an in­considerate [Page 21] Engagement of Count Forga [...]z, (who with a party of 7000 was onely to observe their motion, and relieve such places as the Infidel should att [...]q [...]e) the Infidel at once provoked and encouraged with a Vi­ctory in passing the Dano [...], defieth the Emperor by catching off 800 pri­soners heads before the Emperours Embassador and Christe [...]ome it self, by this Letter.

Mahomet, Son of the Emperour, The great Turks defi­ance to Christen­dome. Son of God, thrice heavenly, and thrice known by the re­nowned Emperour of the Turks, King of Greece, Mace­donia and Moldavia; King in Sama [...]ia and Hungary; King of Great and Lesser Egypt; King of all the Inhabitants of the Earth, and the Earthly Para­dise; Guardian of the Sepul­chre of thy God; Lord of the Tree of Life; Lord of all the Emperours of the world, from [Page 22] the East, even to the West: King of all Kings, Grand Persecutor of the Christians, and all the Wicked, the Joy of the Flourishing Tree, the Chieftain and Guardian of thy Crucified God, Lord of the hope of thy Nation:

WE send Greeting to thee, Em­perour Leopold: If thou wil [...] be our Friend, and submit to our Domination, then we will that thy Greatness be Ample.

Since these times, thou hast viola­ted and shun [...]ed our friendship, without having ever been offended either by War, or the fighting of God: thou hast taken secret Designes with other Kings, and other Confederates, in envy to shake off our Yoke, in which thou hast done imprudently. This is it for which thou and thy peo­ple ought to live in fear, and to have no other hope but death; for which [Page 23] cause thou hast prepared thy self. But we tell thee, that we will go forth and be thy Conqueror, and we will pur­sue thee from the East even to the West, and will make thee know our Majesty; even to the utmost Confines of the Earth, thou shalt know our effects to thy great damage: of which we assure thee, and will have thee to expect our Greatness; thy hope shall melt away, which thou hast in thy Cities and Fortresses. We resolve absolutely to beat down, and raz [...] all that appeareth any thing considerable to thine eyes: and thou shouldest not expect any other thing or friendship, and shouldest not put confidence in thy strong Walls; for we have set up a resolution to destroy thee with­out remedy. It pleaseth us to for­rage Germany, and to leave it be­hind us, to the memory of our Bloody Sword, to the end all these things may be manifest to all. It pleaseth us to establish our Religion, and root [Page 24] out thy Crucified God; and we fear no colours, neither can there be any succour for thee, that thou mayest escape our hands. I [...] pleaseth us al­so to condemn to the Chain thy holy Priests, and to deliver to the Dogs, and other savage Beasts, the D [...]gs of thy Women: Therefore thou shalt do very wisely if thou renounce thy Re­ligion, otherways we do order and ap­point that all be delivered to the fire. This which is said, may sa [...]isfie thee; and thou mayst comprehend by this if thou wilt, what our Will is, and the things concerning which we have dis­covered the disposition of our suspi­tion towards thee.

And as was foreseen by Monte [...]u­ [...]uli, (who clapped 1000 Germans, and proportionable provision into that place) besieged Newhause, or New­hausel, (a frontier fortification built very regularly upon a level in a mo­rass, consisting of six great Bulwarks with Flankers, well stored with Can­non, [Page 25] and two Gates within a stones cast of the River Neutre, and eight miles off Waeg) entrenching himself a little below the lower Gate, moun­ting 100 Cannons, raising two great Batteries; and after this Summons, (Viz.

I that through the Grace of God, and through the Miracles of our Pro­phet, who is a son of both Worlds, and by whom there is happiness and Glo­ry; I that am the first of the Council, and General of the most mighty Em­perour of the Turks, that is the King of all Kings upon Earth. To you Adam Forgatz, that are the chief among the Nobility of Hungary, do make known, that through the Command of my Gracious Lord, I am come with his Forces before Newhausel, to reduce it to his obe­dience; Wherefore if you shall deli­ver up the place to us, you shall have liberty to march out with what be­longs to you from the Highest to the [Page 26] Lowest, and to what place you please; and he that will rather s [...]ay, shall keep his Goods and Estate: but if you will not yeild, we will take it by force, and every man of ye from the High­est to the Lowest shall be put to the Sword. If the Hungarian [...] did but know the good I [...]tentio [...]s of the Mighty Emper [...]ur, the [...] and their [...]hildren would [...]less God for the [...]. Peace be to the Obed [...]ent.) with three fierce assaults, (wherein he fills the trenches wit [...] men) on the 9th of August, the 9th and 19th of September, in t [...]e dead of night, his men crying, Alla, Alla, and the Bas [...]a's themselves leading, wherein he lost 40000 men, he carried the Town upon very fair terms offered, viz. That the Garison should march out with Colours flying, Drums beat­ing, Match lighted, and [...]ullets in their mouth, Bag and Baggage, with a Con­voy nine miles off to Comorra, and the inhabitants have Indempnity and liber­ty of Conscience, with the frank addition of [Page 27] thirty Duckats a man to buy off the Hungarians.

And is there not an Hero prepared by Providence to att [...]que these i [...]so­lent proceedings? Is there not a Champion in s [...]ore to check this in­solent Invader? Yes: for now that Great Ser [...] ­n [...] under­taking, [...]aring [...]u [...]per hath enlarged his Ty­ranny in Europe from Buda to Con­stantinop [...]e; in Affrica, from Velex to the Red sea; and in Asia, from the Straights of Hellespont to Taurica Cherso [...]esus, and from Dernow he hath tyed up the Persians, Tartarians, the E [...]hi [...]ans, and all his Eastern Neigh­bours: Now he expects Christendome should either submit to his power, o [...] [...]e chea [...]ed by his allurements of li­berty of Conscience, the free exercise [...] all Religions, no Taxes for six years, and then but fi [...] shillings yearly upon [...]ach house; with secu [...]ity of their [...]ws, Rights, Claims, Titles and Properties. Now the Germane Em­ [...]ire yeild [...] to him, France and other Counties are amuzed, Si [...]esia is wast­ed, Mora [...]ia is made desolate, Vien­ [...]a is deserted, the whole Country o­ver-run [Page 28] with fire and sword; and in a word, the prosperous Infidel over­beareth all in his way without resi­stance: It's now that Fate balanceth his interests, and Count Serini makes His first di­version to [...]rky. an inroad into the Turkish Territo­ries, (sparing nothing he could de­stroy, and leaving nothing he could carry away) takes 300000 Rixdol­lers, defeats 3000 Turks, and cuts off the supplies designed for the League. This Count Serini born for these [...]mes, rallied the German and Hun­garian forces to some considera­ble appearance for order and service; bestowed the Hus [...]ars in an advantage­ous place to attaque the Moldavians and Wallachians; drew with Mon­tecuculi towards Newhausel, joyned with Budiani and the Palatine of Hungary; is made Generalissimo of the Hungarians and Croatians; mu­stereth 50000 Hungarians and Croats at Nath for the relief of Newhausel; conferreth with Prince Gonzaga, the Counts Rothal and Balfi, fell upon the Turks Vanguard, pursuing them to their Leaguer, relieves Newhausel, [Page 29] and prepares to second the blow gi­ven to the Turks before it, but that in the interim it was delivered up, and betrayed either for money or fear. The active Count Garisoneth Silesia, guards the pass of Jalunca that leads thither, consulteth with Mon­tecuculi about Presburg; he recon­ciles and unites the Germans and Hungarians, and with Count Budiani cuts off 1500 Turks near Caristad on His thir [...] at Carl­stad. the frontiers of Styria by an Ambus­cado, laying a bridge over the River Waeg near Zulta, to cut off those ene­mies at Gran. Whence he went to Vienna, to the Council of War held there by General Hohenlo; and being honoured with the Seigniory of New­hausel, cast himself into eminent and signal attempts upon the enemy; whereof the first was some stratagems and surprizes upon the common ene­my; the next day was a bridge of Boats over the Danube and Waeg, His fourth upon the Danube. which he passed over with a considera­ble strength, and laid them in a place of advantage near the Turks Camp, sending out a party of 700 horse to His fifth by a stratage [...] [Page 30] alarm the enemies main body. Whereupon the Infidels drew out, pursued the party till they fell upon the flank, kided 400, wounded ma­ny, and took Prisoner one Bassa, and a Counsellor to the grand Visier, with great booty. After which, the Count finding himself in danger to be op­pressed with number, made his re­ [...]reat under favour of his Cannon, and repassed the bridge with his boo­ty in safety.

His third undertaking was against His sixth a­ction in Croatia. the Infidel upon the borders of Croa­tia, where having done great execu­tion upon them, he presented the Emperour with 35 Ensignes of War, and a Bass [...]' [...] son, who offereth either 100000 Rixdollers, or 500 Chris [...]i­ans for his ransome; disapp [...]inted the enemies designe upon Schut, se­cured Schinta, and [...]ut off one of their Convoys of Janizaries, taking 50 Waggons, five whereof laden with Christians. The Janizaries seeing the General coming up, fired upon them under the protection of their Waggons; which the Count obser­ving, [Page 31] made a little retreat; and find­ing there was no good to be done on horse-back, he commanded his men to alight, and attaque them on foot▪ which they did; and after a sharp encounter, they made themselves masters of the booty, released the Christians, and put the Turks to the sword.

After which defeat, Count Serini His [...] in Croatia joyning with the Earls Cochory and Tekelly, disposed of their 15000 men and his own, so that they might nei­ther want fodder, nor burden the Country.

In the fourth place, the brave Count observing Abafti's designe upon the Mine-Towns, (whence the Hungarians have their Gold) and o­ther frontier strong holds, and hear­ing of Lewents and Novigrads surren­dry on the 12 of November, took in a Moo [...]ish place between Raab and Comorra, ten Camels, and as many Mules laden with Trunks full of gold and silver, together with the Con [...]oy bound for Constantinople: and on the 16 of October, the noble Count with [Page 32] a party of 4000 fell upon Zentgitsch Basha as he was marching in great se­curity with a body of 7000 men, de­signing to lay waste these frontiers without any controul. This encoun­ter fell out not far from Borlocks near Nadazitsch: above a 1000 of the enemies were put to the sword, 150 Prisoners taken, and eight Standards, and secured the passage for correspon­dence with Transylvania, cutting off designes [...] the [...]arians [...]isions Con­ [...]. all provision about the Mine-Towns, Dotis and [...]aab, that the enemy may of necessity withdraw: and withal, he observes the Infidels designe upon the Bergstedts, and attends their moti­ons, having lately surprized forty or fifty Waggons of Provision and Tim­ber bound for Newhausel, and put all the Conductors to the sword; as did his brother Nicholas Serini, who upon the 15 of November defeated a Tur­kish Convoy, slew 2000 of them up­on the place, and took a very rich booty, little inferiour to that which our noble Count took at Lewents, which his Heydukes surprised in their way to the Bergstedts and at Croatia, [Page 33] where he set upon the invaders, and slew two thousand upon the place, ta­king many persons of quality prison­ers: But the most remarkable exploit of the Counts, is, that whereof you His own ac­count to the Emperor of a great V [...] ­ctory. have an account in this express of November 16, to the Emperor.

Yesterday the enemy came to­ward us in a great Body, and in the open day brought with them a Ship-Bridge to lay over the River Mur, near to Scotor [...]to, appointing 3000 Tartars for the fitting of it. The little strength I had, I disposed of here and there as I thought most for my Advantage, and kept Guard my self with 300 Horse. About break of day, Notice was given me by a Warning-Piece (according to di­rection) that 2000 of the Enemy were already over the water; Where­upon I marched immediately to the Place, where I had the enemy before [...]e, and no Possibility of a Retreat. [Page 34] In this Strait [...]e cha [...]g [...]d them, and (by Go [...]s Assi [...]a [...]ce) p [...]t them to a Rout. The first O [...]se▪ [...] hazar­dous; but presently, a Co [...]r [...]a­tion seized them all, and they [...]o [...]k their flight to the River Mur; where encountring their Fell [...] ▪ that were coming over to joyn with them, they fell into such an Amazement and Confusion, that they could neither get back no [...] swim, no [...] defend them­selves by Resisting: and in fine, The Face of the River was quite covered with Men and Horse: Of this Op­portunity I made what use I could, taking not so much as One Prisoner, so that betwixt Killing and Drown­ing, not many of them escaped: Near one thousand of their Horse we took coming out of the water. Upon this they s [...]nt for their Foot (being Quar­tered not far off) and when they came [...]ear, three hundred of my own Foot with two Field-Pieces came up to me, [Page 35] with which we maintained our Ground till all my Troups came up likewise from other parts; and when we had fought that whole day, and in­to night, the enemy at last retreated, i [...] great i [...]d [...]g [...]ation; but the Turks [...] in a great Body so near as Ca­nisia, will hardly let the Designe fall thus. If Providence had not Miraculously taken away their or­dinary Resolution, they had laid this Island in Bloud, and entred S [...]ier­mark, even as far as Gratz, with­out any Opposition. They were re­ported to be fourty thousand strong; but to my Judgement, they appeared not to be above ten thousand.

It is my humble Request to your Imperial Majesty that you will be pleased to Order some further Pro­vision of Men, Artillery, Ammuni­tion, and other Necessaries for these parts, or we must yet be ruined at last.

[Page 36] After which Remarkable Action, he met the enemy in Stiria, and in [...]s next [...]ction in Stiria. conjunction with the Earle Hohenlo, rescued the Captives, and slew 5000 upon the place; observing upon St. Nicholas his day, a solemn thanks­giving for Gods Providence towards him in his last deliverance, and ever since disposing of his Heyducks and Hussars for surprizes, ambushments, and other exploits, whereof [...]hey give good account, particularly at [...]eutra, whither they stole in Tur­kish habits, and put hundreds to the Sword before the enemy could come up against them; and in their way carried 20000 Rix-Dollars worth of Ammunition and Cattle, from before His strata­gem upon [...]eutra. Newhausel. The Noble Count not long after treating Hohenlo, and pre­senting him with a rich Sable taken from a Basha, and both taking a so­lemn Oath to stand it out untill the last, and directing General Souches to enquarter himself in the Mine-Towns, from whom he no sooner pa [...]red, then he took care to satisfie the Nobility of Croatia about Quarters, and o­ther [Page 37] depending controversies; and to burn the Straw and Hay that be­longed to the Boors who submitted to the Turks in twelve miles com­pass; whence he is gone to Hohenlo, and Souch, who kept close for a great design, entertains none to his Camp, but they who swear to li [...]e and dye with him, with which reso­lute persons he hath lately toyled 25000 Tartars into an Ambush, rou­ting and following them to a conside­rable His snare laid for the Tartars, execution, and by the way way-laying 130 Waggons and their Con­voy, which they have brought to their own Quarters; as his Hey­ducks surprised the Governour of Newhausels Lady in her rich Attire of Cloath of Gold, her Face patched with black Moons and Stars, and her Nails Guilt, for whom her Husband offereth eight thousand Rix-dollars, i. e. Twenty thousand pounds; toge­ther with all the Prisoners he hath in his custody. The Noble Counts main work is to burn up and destroy the Provisions round about Turkish Quarters, thereby keeping them [Page 38] from settling in Croatia; a work that strikes such terror into the In [...]idel, that he sends his goods into Turk [...], for he subdues and Garisons the Fo [...]ts as he goeth, particularly Breniza, within The sev [...]ral [...] is he hath ta­ [...]. [...]ix Leagues of Canisia, whence he intends to [...]ut off a Bridge of theirs that cost [...]00000 Rix-dollars the Buil [...]ing▪ [...]nd in [...]ercep [...] [...] p [...]ssage between G [...]eek- [...]ssenbergh and Of­fen; in t [...]e mean ti [...]e he flesheth his men with Victory and Booty. And although Clause [...]burghs revolt and Mutiny be of very [...]ad consequence (the Souldiers discharging their Of­ficers for want of Pay, and particu­larly the Commis [...]ary, notwithstand­ing the Officers made a stock to give them a Rix-dollar a man) and the Noble Count was lately like to be surprized, venturing abroad with six­teen Cavaliers, to discover a Pass; yet Fame Fame speaks him still victo­rious How he was like to be taken. and resolute: for though six Renegadoes promised to bring him prisoner to the Visier, and to that pur­pose surprized him and his sixteen And how since esca­ped. with him, but an hundred Croates [Page 39] coming in, rescued the Noble Gene­ral, put the Infidels to the Sword, and took one upon whom neither Sword no [...] Pi [...]ol would do exe [...]ti­on; with [...] in his Pocker, The [...] action. designed, is it was thought, for S [...]ri­ni, who [...] of Christ [...]n [...] that danger, and we hear from Presburgh▪ by letters dated Feb. 3.

And since from Raab, Feb. 2.

Count Serini 's Birth and E­ducation.

COunt Serini, who hath promi­sed and performed wonders, was born at Serini-mark, Novem. 14. 1612. Son to that great Serini who promoted the thirty years League; and Grandchild to a greater, who maintained as many years War against him. Elaborated and pure blood fills those heroick Veins, habi­tuated for noble undertakings, and maturated for glory by a constant exercise and practice of Prowess and Valour this 200 years. The busie Astrologer, who seeth nothing remar­kable on earth, but he expects some­thing corresponding with it in hea­ven, observes, That at his birth, cir [...]a horam octavam pom. Mars and ju­piter were lodged in the same quar­ter; and thence concludes this No­ble [Page 42] [...] [Page 43] [...] [Page 44] persons warlike disposition and success, that he was born to save an Empire, and enjoy a Kingdom: the first prediction (enough to credit a Stargazer) is made as probable by his Conduct and Resolution, as the o­ther will be rendred ridiculous by his Integrity and Modesty. His father dying (they say) in his minority, left him to a noble Uncles tuition, with his brother Count Peter, who bred him to all ingenious and manlike ac­complishments, improving and po­lishing his great Nature by greater Arts, under the care of Barlini, for Grammar, Rhetorique, and Moral Philosophy; under Skookius for Na­tural Philosophy and Divinity; un­der Van Skinderlen for Mathema­tiques, especially the most Practical Part, of Fortifications, Encamping, Navigation, wherein he excels; En­dowments that furnish and adorn him, that abate the roughness of his spirit to an amiable complaisance, and limit the activeness of it to useful un­dertakings. His Retirements did not threaten him more perverse, then [Page 45] his first appearance abroad promised him noble and manlike: for as Gu­stavus Adolphus privately stole a­br [...] [...] [...]er other Princes to [...]it him­self [...] own Kingdome; so he in Gustavus his service against the Em­pire injured himself to do noble En­terprises for it.

This Heroes Temper is as renown­ed His Dispo­sition. as his Actions, his Constitution as high as his Performances; his Under­standing clear, distinct and solid; his Memory methodical, tenacious, and ready; his Passions stirring, but regu­lated; quickning, but not disturbing his Soul, raising him to the utmost of Vertue, but not beyond it. His san­guine Complexion is allayed with a due temperament of Northern Me­lancholy, which makes his wary Conduct as eminent as his great Spi­rit; the first temper rendring him re­solved, but not rash; the second cau­tious, but not useless: his severe Nature complying rather with the strictness of his Vertues, then the freedome and licenses of his Fortune, would be never tempted to the soft [Page 46] di [...]ersions and enjoyments that youth allied to greatness is born to, from the direct courses of Manhood and Ver­tue that an hero [...]ck Nature advanced by honourable imp [...]ovements in­clines to. His stature raised him to a just height [...], handsome rather then tall, neither me [...]g [...] nor co [...]pulent, but every way [...]oportionable. His Countenance is rather grave then grim; at once a [...]ing and pleasing those that speak with him. His Eye is quick and discerning; his Hair brown and lovely; his Gesture and G [...]te majestick, not out of affectati­on, but Nature. His Body habitua­ted to Labours, and a s [...]ranger to the Effeminate Dalliances of a great For­tune, that soften those No [...]le Souls to Luxury and excess, that are born for severer toyls and exercises. In­deed, this excellent person seems to be made for greatness, though [...]e were not born to it; to deserve a Command, if he had not inherited it: for his Prudence is as great as his His Pru­ [...]ence. Power, and his Contrivances as well [...]aid as they are successively executed; [Page 47] his acu [...]e and happy apprehension reaching as for a [...] is Au [...]ho [...]ity, and he commanding not more different Nations in the field, then [...]e doth excellent Notions in his cl [...]er. None [...]eeth the d [...]k Int [...]i [...]ues of States more perspi [...]u [...]: none hath weigh­ed the [...] of Europe more seri­ously; none manageth the different humours of men to an accommodati­on and temper more happily; in­vents and disposeth means more ad­vantagiously; finds out expe [...]ients more [...]appily; ass [...]yls emergent dif­ficulties more p [...]o [...]p [...]usly; looks through the di [...]nces of Actions and Agents unto events [...]o [...]e throughly. He keeps twel [...]e Pensioners in the Turkish Court and Camp, and fore­told this invasion a year before the Emperour could believe it. He said at Vienna that there would be no Wars in Italy t [...]is year; he hath pro­posed the proportion of forces the respective States and Kingdomes can spare, and the Empire admit, together with the most secure way of their ad­mittance, viz. The Protestant assi­stance [Page 48] to be disposed among the Pa­pists, and the Papists among the Pro­testants, to avoid jealousie, and secure the Austrian Interests. And it was he who had the chief hand in these Rix-Constitutions following, first fra­med at the Council of War at Vienna, and then confirmed at the Diet of Re­genspurg, Viz.

1. That the Forces appertaining to the Ricks-Constitutions, shall as well in as out of action stand subject, and engaged to every respective State which levied and raised them; being nevertheless subject to his Im­perial Ma [...]esty, according to the Co­py of Articles.

2. That the Ricks Army shall be under the Direction of his Imperial Majesty, to be ordered and appoint­ed by the Generalship, and Council of War.

3. This Ricks-Constitution now made against the Common Ene­my, shall continue so long, as the [Page 49] S [...]ates shall finde it requisite, and after that time to revert.

4. To the maintaining of the said Army, every State is to see its own forces being levied, and brought into the field, to be provided for in this Expedition, according to the di­re [...]ion agreed upon.

5. Officers shall be appointed for provision for man and horse, and for setling other requisite Injunctions and Orders.

6. For preventing contention a­mong the Officers and Commanders about their competency, provisional care shall be taken according to cu­stome of War, and certain particular agreements to be made.

7. The Artillery, and what be­longs to it, shall be committed to such as are experimentally skilled there­in; and his Imperial Majesties ad­vice to be desired thereupon.

8. All care and diligence shall [Page 50] be used for the [...] of a strict and frequent intelligence upon all occasions of imminent danger; and for the speed [...]er advance of the Pub­lique Work, all matters shall be han­dled by Deputies, except such as [...]re of extraordinary import, and th [...]se shall be referred to the Higher Col­ledges, by them to be m [...]naged accor­ding to Justice and Equity.

La [...]ly, it is resolved tha [...] his Im­perial Majesty be subma [...]ly requeste in the name of the Electoral Princes, and other Princes and States, that the Dispatches to Forraign Kings, Potentates and Republiques, may with all speed be expedited for assi­stance: and to remove all obstructi­ons to the perfection of the work, it is judged requisite that every State a [...] Circuit take care forthwith to pro­vide all necessaries of Men, Mo­neys, Ammunition, &c. And to this end that Meetings be appointed [Page 51] of the respective Circuits, to hasten the business all that is possible; and that the proportion of the imposed Triple be timely notified to every State and Circuit; and that they bring in their Horse and Foot, an­swerable to the Rule of the Old Regi­ster, to be in the Field at the end of March, if possible, or at furthest by the middle of April. And in case any shall be ready to march sooner, they are at liberty so to do, and suffi­cient caution is taken, by the directi­on of the Ri [...]ks Constitution, that [...]orn, and other necessaries shall be [...]ocured, and carried from Country to Country through the respective Territories where they march, with­out paying of Custome. And his Im­perial Majesty is to be farther reque­sted, that the heavy Artillery with the Trayn may be with all speed advan­ced. And it is also ordered how eve­ry State shall contribute to the main­taining of the Generalship, and what [Page 52] course shall be taken concerning Re­fractories.

There is not a Nook, Corner, Pass, Bridge, or Avenue of Hungary, Croa­tia, Silesia, Austria, or Stiria, &c. but he hath observed: wherefore there is not a week passeth over his head, but the brave Count ensnares some Infidels, drawing them who are strangers to the Countries into his toyls and ambushes; cuts off their Convoys, attaques their Rear or Front, and makes them weary of their lives. By this means he takes in the little towns that they neglect, and fortifieth them to very great advan­tages: he layeth waste their provisi­ons, cuts off their correspondence, way-layeth their Intelligences, and with 20000 men holds 250000 in play for six months together.

He hath done wonders to accom­modate the jealousies between his Country and his Master: he admits few or no Germans to his service, to satisfie the Hungarians; he admits no Hungarians without Oath, to se­cure the Empire. None more obser­vant [Page 53] of the Emperors commands, none more careful of his Countries inte­rest; no Commander obligeth the people more, none jealouseth the Emperor less then the brave Serini, at once a wonder, the peoples dar­ling, and their Princes Favourite; great in their respect that are below him, greater in their affection that are above him; none more sensible than he of those particulars wherein con­sists the strength of the Infidels, and the weakness of the Christians; as first, he hath proved one day at Table with Montecuculi, that the Turk could not have pitched upon a more advantagious season for the Invasion of Christendom, then these three years, these three hundred years; the greatest Politicians now extant, as he observed, being more imployed in balancing the Interest of Europe upon the several late great alterati­ons, than in raising such banks that might stop this general inundation upon the face of the Western world; decrepid Spain bestowing all its cares to save it self from France, now [Page 54] rich and potent; France amuzing all the European Princes, that he may seize on Spain; England and Den­mark having much ado to keep its own peace; the Emperor and all his Dominions being mortally engaged in fears, jealousies, and suspi [...]ions; Poland and Muscovy irreconcileably at enmity, and the Paramount Pow­er of Rome, since the last Election in Frankford, and there much ingaged by the discontents of Italy, the facti­on of Portugal, and the revenge of France. And after this discoursed, he advised the accommodation of these States, as the first expedient against the common enemy. He said one day that a total abstinence from Wine, though looked upon vulgarly as a less pertinent peice of P [...]udence then really it is, is the most material instance of their Policy, now extant; for as he observed, Order preserves their Disc [...]pline among a numberless rabble, when the want of it dis [...]ereth our most civil and well-trained Regi­ [...]ents: Wine enervates our Bodies, and effe [...]inates our Sou [...]s, while the [Page 55] want of it strengthneth and knitteth both theirs; besides that men are transported by it beyond their own natures, to those researches and un­dertakings that endanger a good Go­vernment, and will overth [...]ow a bad one. Wine discovers secrets, unset­leth resolutions, disordereth M [...]rches, is unsuitable to heats and labors; wherefore it's forbid likewise in his Camp.

It escaped not his Observation one day as he was marching towards Croatia, that the Turks having no­thing Hereditary, all honor, profit, and advantage being bestowed on de­sert, and determining with life, with­out the least partiality shewed to Greatness of birth, or place, or poli­cy considerable, not only for restrain­ing the Ambition of the unworthy that aspire to undeserved honor and trust, but for encouraging all men to some useful imployment, wherein they may advance themselves and the Publike, and be ready to appear one day in the Field, and the other in the Shop; whereupon he hath ever [Page 56] since encouraged Souldiers of For­tune with his own countenance, and the Plunder of his Victories, main­taining an Impartial parity through­out his Army, in relation to every thing but desert, none appearing higher or lower than the rest, but by the services they perform, and the places they fill up and discharge, guiding his resolved handful with the two reins of Fear and Hope; Fear restraining the careless, and Hope quickning the industrious; two reins, which whosoever hath the Art to handle, may guide the world whi­ther he pleaseth: his Cowards dying with reproach and damnation, while his Valiant followers live and see all Offices and Commands in the Van of their brave Actions, and the joys of heaven attending them in the Rear; so obliging the Covetous, the Am [...]i­tious, and the Superstitious, where the meanest may be desert attain the highest happiness which the greatest misseth without it.

[Page 57] One day a Kinsman of mine Fre­derick Van Holden, discoursing before him why Eunuchs are chosen Com­manders in chief by the Grand Seig­nio [...], he said that that might be thought a defect in that Government, by such as do not watily observe that caution and circumspection are no less, if not more necessary in a Com­mander, than a daring and an un­daunted resolution in a Souldier; it being one thing to execute, and ano­ther thing to direct; more Armies perishing by want of Moderation and Prudence in the General, then of Va­lour in the Souldiers; besides, as one observed standing by, ‘That their unconcernment in reference to Posterity, which they expect not, is a sure pledge of their Faithfulness, they having no hopes beyond their own life, now famous by great Commands: whence the Noble Count admits few married men to his Camp, that are shackled with relations, and as one saith, like fond Apes, chained to their own homes and interests, but loose Re­formades [Page 58] that fancy each place to [...]e their own habitation, because no place can afford courser meat, harder lodging, or worse usage than they have at home: in a word, [...]e hath brought his Voluntiers to this great resolve, either to live bravely, or to dye honorably.’

It was debated once at a Council of War, whether they should give Quarter or no: where Serini was for giving Quarter, and inu [...]ing the Turks to a Commerce and familia [...]i [...]y with more civil and knowing people, who might infect them with some in­genuity and humanity; besides that they were under such daring appre­hensions of fate and death, that they could better dispense with the danger of a slaughter than an Imprisonment. And despair in one case rendred them resolute, while fear of their own hard usage in the other, made them faint, and (as one observes) he that con [...]idereth that the Turk is not of so poor an allay, as some Princes, who are undo [...]e by a Victory, if it cost too dear, may see his design in a [Page 59] great part satisfied by the slaughter and loss of his Souldiers; the too great increase of such Spirits, being all he hath reason to fear.

That g [...]eat particular the Noble Serini in [...] upon, is, to give the [...]n­fidel a Battle, who (as he and others have observed) having suffered the [...] check, [...]eth not on the same ground to receive another, but re­tu [...]neth home, as unwilling to tempt his Fortune fu [...]ther that expedition; concluding wisely (says my Author) that it is very unlikely for a discon­tended Army to perform what she could not bring about when the Sol­diery was in full plight; and that the cause of the overthrow is to be sear­ched into before an attempt [...] a se­cond Battle, though the Comman­der appear never so confident of [...] ­cess; it suiting with their intere [...]t both in honor and safety, to venture all rather then come out of the Field with so great a reproach. Con [...]de­ration (saith he) below a Supream power, to whom security ought be more dear then any thing that carri­eth [Page 60] the countenance of a greater or lesser advantage.

The Infidels strength consisting in his Cavalry, the vigilant Count cuts off their forrage and Hay in all Quar­ters; and knowing the fewd be­tween these and the Infantry, bred either by Custom, Nature, or Art, for fear of combinations, he increaseth it (by forcing them to encroach upon each others Quarters) to a tumult ve­ry often, particularly upon the Bor­ders of Croati [...], where they drew up the one against the other for the Lit­ter, which the one claimed for their Horses accommodation, and the other for their own.

It was one day discoursed at his Table, that it was to be feared Eng­land could yeild no [...]uccor in this common distress of Christendom, be­cause of its discontents and divisi­ons. Where, said a Noble person, is there more discontent then in Turky? And yet where more numerous sup­plies and levies? For, said he, those who at home breed Sedition and tu­mults, being sent abroad, propagate [Page 61] Honor and Dominion: the Pleurisie of a turbulent State, and the Spirits of Rebellion cannot be better eva­porated, then by opening the peoples [...]eins in some Foraign parts. He said, one day to one that related the King of Fra [...]ce his unconcernedness in the present distress of Europe, that if the Grand Seignior once Di [...]ed at Vienna, he would Sup at Paris; and another time the Pope coming in his way for whom he hath no great kind­ness, he said, That Christianity had long ere this obtained an universal Empire, had not the Pope a [...]pited to one in Christendom; for his Holi­ness shall with ease make a com [...]ina­tion against a Christian Prince that he fears at hand, which all Europe can­not make against the Mahumetan, whom he neglects at distance.

Although he hath not, as Mithri­dates His Policy in enter­taining se­veral peo­ple into his service▪ and others had, an exact ac­count of each Souldier that served him; yet he observed most, taking good notice what Countreys they were of; for he entertains several people, who composed of several [Page 62] ayres, cannot associate with that ease as Armies made up of one Language (which like the Swisse, do not seldom cry out Gelt, Gelt, when they have the Enemy in view) for w [...]ich rea­son he trusts very [...]ew with strong Holds, (places he [...]o [...]i [...]eth on [...]ly up­on the Frontiers) which may be sold by a Comm [...]nder, who can make no­thing of a Battle. Yet although the Turk never makes Religion the c [...]use Eng [...]ging fo [...] R [...]l [...]gion of his War, for fea [...] of an universal Engagement: the pru [...]ent Coun [...] u­nites all his Forces by that obliging name, which awakens the assistance and service of all that professe it: the poorest man, saith one, taking him­self so far interested in the vindicati­on of his Faith, that if he hath no­thing else to venture, he will think it sacriledge to deny himself and all; laying aside the pre [...]udice and ha [...]ed they [...]ear their neighbours, for this general conce [...]nment equally com­prehending their neighbours and themselves.

It's looked on in that Countrey as the peculiar opinion of that brave [Page 63] person, that there should never be I [...]m king [...] le [...]gue with the [...], or t [...]eaty. any league with that barbarous Ene­my, who is as devoid of faithfulness, as he is of faith; and never tyeth himself up so streight by promise, or o [...]ligation, but that he hath [...]ill a [...]use to [...]reep [...]ut at: and in this ( [...]aith my friend) he is not a li [...]le [...]e­h [...]l [...]ing to the manner of his [...], always fuller of hyperbolical civili­ties, than real as [...]rances; and to his Ministers of State, whose he [...]ds must compound for his treachery: And [...]o carry on a p [...]p [...]tual War, the [...]e­ [...]etian But carry­ing [...] [...] [...] War, and sending the Jesuites a­mo [...]g the T [...]s to divide them, should be assisted, who fights the Turk upon the greatest advanta­ges imaginable; and the Jesuites, with other active Priests, should turn the tide of their policy (which hath engaged Europe in so many Troubles and Controversies) towards the In­ [...]dels, and weaken them with as ma­ny Divisions as we perish with, espe­cially considering (as the smart Saty­rist [...]aith) ‘that the Musselmans profes­sion is grown up to as high an earthly felicity, universality, and consent, as the Papacy. Neither [Page 64] do they want as great antiquity for some of their Tenets, the which if they once come to be washed o­ver by the varnish of Learning, the Musti may, assisted with his Ma­sters force, turn his Holinesse out of Rome, as that Bishop did the Emperour.’ Much might be done, if a Jesuite did but personate the grand Impo [...]or, now [...]i [...]en from his grave, according to his wor [...]; for he might possibly work so far upon the multitude, as to make them fall soul among themselves; a breach in Re­ligion being found the readiest way The policy of enter­taining the grand Seig­niors young­er brothers. to let in that Ocean of C [...]lami [...]ies we see overfloweth the Kingdoms of the Earth: and as much, if the young­er brothers who are sure to be made a sacrifice to the elder, were shewed the way to secure themselves in Eu­rope, whence they might appear with an Army in Asia, at any time, to let loose those discontents that are kept in onely by force and power, watch­ing The policy of an offen­sive War. all opportunities to break out to tumults and rebellion, to which may be added an offensive War; it having [Page 65] been the great defect of Christandome hitherto, to stand upon the defensive: whereas the great Turk seldom trou­bles himself with Embassies, treaties, but appears always the first in the Field, enjoying this advantage, that he makes other Countries the stage of War; and meeting with all hu­mours, divides those at home with certain hopes or fears attending the great alteration he brings along with him, who would be united abroad in their engagements against him: Be­sides that the Christian Princes spend more in watching one another in time of peace, than would carry on a War against this Infidel.

The confederates in Hungary have by common advice, wherein our Stopping Printing & Controver­sies. Count was not the least concerned, put a stop upon Printing and [...]ice controversies; this brave Souldier ha­ving as little kindnesse for curious Co [...] web-spinners, as the Heroick Gustav [...]s had for subtile Metaphy [...]iti­ans; observing, that the Barbarian finding Printing and over-fine learn­ing the chief [...]omenters of Divisions [Page 66] in Christendom, hath hitherto exclu­ded them his Territories; and whilest we loose our choisest years in uselesse disquisitions, these rude people ap­pear more adapted to State-employ­ments, and sooner furnished with clear and solid reason drawn from prudent and lesse-er [...]ing experience, and were never yet out-reached by the most politick and knowing Prin­ces or States of Christendom; the great Sultan suffering none to attain any perfection but what he hath use for. Idle valour being the Tool (saith my friend) as Learning and Knowledge are the operations of all civil Dissen­tions.

To say no more of State-prudence, our great Commanders Field-discre­tion His Field-prudence. is admirable: Not a man of his Souldiers knoweth where they go upon a Design or Surprize, until they are upon the very place and enter­prize: he hovers like old Fabius up­on hills, mountains, and narrow pla­ces, His surpri­zes. lest in place he might be swal­lowed up by the number, or tyred with the Importunities of the Turk, [Page 67] with whom he skirmishes, but dares not [...]ght; trepans sometimes into corners, but never engageth in open field. He marcheth alwayes with his men not above [...]ix deep, that they may all be serviceable, and come to His d [...]sci­pline. play in their Tu [...]ns; inu [...]ing them likewise to long & hard Expeditions, whereby he out goeth and surprizeth the flow and great Body of the Infi­dels; yet always refreshing and quickning them with abundant pro­vision, and a great example. He im­boldneth His march­es. & preserveth his ablest men, by providing for them a compleat Ar­mour which he weareth himself, and so makes that which otherwise would be a burthen, an honour to his pat­tern: To this he annexeth another excellent piece of Policy, that he never chargeth the Enemy until they come within Pistol-shot, when he gives order for the effectual discharge of that shot at hand, which would have been lost at distance, directing his Souldiers always to aim at the leggs.

[Page 68] He hath moreover, as the great Gu­stavus before him, restored the neg­lected His encam­ping. way of encamping; whereby he is so secure, that being well in­trenched, in spig [...]t of his vast Ene­mies, he will fight for no mans plea­sure but his own: No seeming slight disorder of the Enemies shall deceive him, neither shall any violence force him from his hold and resolution, to take all, and to give no advantage: Neither is he lesse careful to dislodge the Enemies, whose round and Half-Moon way the provident General often incommodates, by forcing them to narrow and close retirements, or charging in several places, and amu­sing the [...] with distracted fears, and confused allarms, whereby the out­side of their circle falls foul upon the inside, and their first guards retreat back upon the second, who can nei­ther assist them, nor save themselves. Their Scaladoes are as observable as His way of scaling and assaulting. their Entrenchment, wherein it's a question whether he [...]e more prudent in designing, o [...] his Souldiers prompt in executing; who climb as if they [Page 69] had Ayry bodies, and strike as if they had Iron hands. At his approach be­fore His sum­mons. a Town, as that of Sigeth, &c. he hangs out a white Fl [...]g the first day, to intimate f [...]ir terms upon pre­sent surrendry: he hangs out a green Flag the second, and a black the third, signif [...]ing that they lie at his mercy: and [...] [...]n [...]er a Running blind he draweth before the place, giving orders immediately for batte­ries, assaults, and storming, deem­ing di [...]atory wars of a use not suitable to his little strength, and lesse suc­cour, being not without some corre­spondence His corre­spondence. in every place he sets be­fore; to which I add an excellent in­vention he hath found to secure his Artillery before any place by running ramparts of wall set alwayes before them: He never sate before any place above a week, and never missed any he sate before.

He hath been much distressed by the Emperours neglect, or the Em­pires His way of composing mutinies. necessities, to the danger of Mutinies among his Souldiers, and revolts: but as soon as the men of [Page 70] Fortune complain [...], he had a [...] design upon a [...]own o [...] C [...]n [...]ey in hand▪ that w [...]uld make all whole, and satisfie all expectations.

Having observed many Spies got into his Camp, as they who discover­ed How he prevents Spies. his adventure abroad with the 16 Cavaliers, he took this course to dis­cover them: He built a house upon wheels without the Camp, for all strangers that arrived, who are there lodged, and treated, if they have any businesse to communicate to him, whereby he prevents their sneaking into his Camp, and discove [...]ing what is done there: Every evening the Watch-word is given, and every man repairs to his Quarters▪ and if any is found out of [...]is Rank, or gadding out of his Quarters, he dieth with­out mercy: so that there is no safety or shelter for Spies or Intelligencers about him: And if any strange per­sons offer their service, he disposeth of them so, that they may neither be­tray his designs, nor hold intelligence with his Enemies; although he hath those Pensioners in the Turkish Court [Page 71] that give him copies of all their de­signs, orders, decrees, together with His Cou [...] ­t [...]fei [...]i [...]g the [...]z [...]ers seal. an ingen [...]ou [...] Counterfeit, that can write his Secretaries hand as exactly as himself.

Our wary General observing the most rash Commanders of [...] Turks, always attempts th [...]; and one time taking notice of a distance between his Enemies full of b [...]ia [...]s and thorns, he placed his brother Peter there in His ambush, ambush with a choice B [...]igade, and then commande [...] his Croatian Horse to charge a young Bashaw; who draws out all his Souldiers in battel-array, and marches through the Thickets securely, untill Count Ni­cholas charging him in the Van, his B [...]other sell upon his Rear and Flank out of the Ambush.

One day the noble General was His way of paying his Souldiers. pressed for money by his Souldiers; when pretending he had lost a rich Plate, he searched all their Tents, and brought out all their money, which was thrice more than they de­manded, saying, what they had was enough to live upon, and more than [Page 72] they had was too much to loose : And when it was given out that Abafti would spare his Land; to enjealous His dissem­bling of treason. him and his, the provident Heroe re­signed his whole estate into the Em­perours hands, to stand or fall with his Interest. As careful was he not to take, as not to give offence: For there being one day a list of Traytors presented to him by a Renegado, he seeing through the Plot to divide him and his chief Officers, burned the list, neither reading it himself, nor suffering others to do so; and remo­ved the Informer out of the way, lest by his fraudulent discoveries he might give new occasion of sedition.

Count Peter Serini, whom we may [...]oyn to his Brother, being complain­ed to, as he was in the Council of War, of a Souldier that had taken a­way 500 Rixdollars from a Country­man; Count Nicholas asked him for his Evidence: he said he would take his oath of it, but he had no witnes­ses of it; the Count bids him retire, and sends for the company where­in that Souldier was, and bids them [Page 73] lay down their Arms, and withdraw, His disco­very of the [...]. for he had a design to put them upon, which they did cheerfully; whereup­no informing himself where his Soul­diers Quarters was, he sent his Mus­ket to his Landlady, and upon that token required her to send him the money, which the woman did; the General chargeth the Souldier with the money, who denyeth it, until the Emperour produceth the bag; whereat the appaled wretch fell at his feet, and begged, and had mercy.

Being brought by the mistake of His strat [...] ­gem. his Guides into a place of great dis­advantage, wherein he was in dan­ger to be beset by Abafti on the one hand, and the Bassa of Buda on the other, which caused great fear and astonishment among his Souldiers; he stood upon his guard untill night, and then setting light matches in the hedges, he ranged his men in Batta­lia, and caused them to march fair and softly (while the young Bashaw drew towards the hedges, which he thought were drawn up in Battle-ar­ [...]ay) bringing them off without the [...]osse of one man.

[Page 74] Having defeated a party of Turks, he clad 200 of his men one day in Turkish habits, and gave them order to seize Neutra, where they got through all the Guards till they came to the Castle, returning with spoyl, and Prisoners. To conclude, he hath contrived many suspitious Letters to withdraw Abafti from the Visier, and the Visier from him: He hath drawn the Infidels by misunderstand­ing from one part of the Country to another: He hath pretended to treat with them till he finishes his designes; he hath fortified himself before their eyes.

Being advanced in power and com­mand, His dis­ [...]reet mo­desty. it may be expected by some, that he should no longer retain the modesty which the shades of his pri­vacy had accustomed him to, but now appear the great Atlas of the Empire, and the Champion of Chri­stendome: But though all things are changed without him, yet is he not changed within; for he avoids all grandeur to remove the Emperours jealousies, which may be provoked [Page 75] by his forwardness, to his own and the publique ruine, to enjoy the safety of privacy, and to witnesse his prudent modesty, which enclined to learn the methods of Commanding by the pra­ctice of obedience; for being of a well-composed temper, he affects not to embroyl the Camp, and thence the Empire in Factions, the pro­ducts of impotent minds, which he knoweth would overthrow himself and the whole State; he chooseth to expect a sure, though delayd great­nesse, rather than by a compendious way of Rivalry to attain a precocious power that groweth up with envy training about it, and ends in ruine.

Finding the Countrey abused by Malecontents, with incredible dili­gence His way of obliging the Countrey. he moves from place to place, and by excellent courage and conduct appears not only worthy of their re­spect and love, but of their lives and fortunes; in all places exciting the fearful by his example, encouraging the faithful with his Countenance, o­penly owning the good service of the people, and dissembling their fai­lures. [Page 76] He so far prevails upon all that are not wholly debauched to Infide­lity, that he hath got an Army that may protect his friend, though it can­not meet the enemy, which is every day encreased by such knowing per­sons as refuse to be polluted any long­er with the cheats & delusions of those men that design the most horrid sla­very, under the pretence of the lar­gest freedom: many Noblemen im­pove [...]ish themselves to supply him; & others more private, break through innumerable dangers to fight under [...]is Colours: Many great Ladies part with the ornaments of their Sex to relieve him, and with their Hus­bands to serve him: so general is the influence of his great name, his pow­erful eloquence, his indefatigable industry, and his most obliging Con­verse.

But his prudence is no abatement of his courage and resolution; which His courage and resolu­tion. is as much above dangers, as his wis­dom is above snares; as he never provokes dangers, so he never fears them: and though he cannot come [Page 77] off with conquest, yet he terreats with honour: When fortune fails him in successe, his own soul never fails him in renown and glory; for to at­tempt a victory against an incensed Enemy that had more companies than he had men, that threatned Christen­dome, when all men were amazed, is an argument of such courage as would have made that Senate of gallant persons, who were the most competent Judges of valour, and never censured vertue by the suc­cesse, but thanked their imprudent Consul for not despairing of the Common-wealth, when he gathered up those broken legions which his rashnesse had obtruded to an over­throw, to have ordered a triumph for Serini's retreats, had his person been one of the ornaments of that age, or could those generations have reckoned him for their example. His Christianity inclines him always to Peace, his fortitude may force his Adversaries to it; he may be betray­ed, he can never be overcome. The Empires fate may yield to the Infi­del, [Page 78] his fears never; he wants not re­solution when he wants power, his great mind being his constitution: that a General should adventure a­broad with sixteen men, in a place thronged with his enemies, was noble; but that he should defeat three hun­dred enemies, is admirable; being to cut off the Infidels passage over the Danow, his men shrunk at the at­tempt, till the renowned Chieftain with a Pike in his hand, taught the souldiers that he could equally en­dure labors and despise dangers, and by a communication of toiles encou­raged them to resolutions beyond themselves: for he was the first man that came on in that design, and the last that drew off.

His Spirit was above dangers, and His pati­ence. his patience equal with them; he durst do great things, but not greater than he could suffer; the fate of Chri­stendom affords him difficulties to exercise his patience, and the God of Christendom gives him patience to weather out those difficulties in the middest of the distractions and busi­ness [Page 79] of the Camp; he enjoyeth a calm Serenity, and a solid mind full of its own greatness; this vertue not usual with great personages, who are above the hardships of it, makes him forget, what his own condition alloweth him to enjoy, while he is wholly intent upon what the present exigences oblige him to endure: no Trials of vertue greater than his, and none better born; he may lose his life, but not his patience: he stands whole His dili­gence in viewing his works. days by his Workmen in fortifying either Castles or Passes; he expects a whole night his several Intelligencers and Spies; he sleeps not above four hours in the night, disposing most of his time to Counsels, Debates, Ex­presses; & replies so unweariedly, that it looks like an Improbability now, and will be a very impossibility hereaf­ter—he can have the patience to fol­low a Country-Fellow afoot five or six miles to observe a Passage, and to return home without it: he hath as much Passion as may quicken, but not transport his Soul: he acts no­thing when provoked, cooling his [Page 80] greatest passion in a private enter­tainment, apart from all affairs: he never doth that by a substitute, which he can do himself, having observed that never was Empire gained but by a mans self, and never lost but by another; he can still gain skill by a tedious experience, and look on a daring and proud enemy, and yet not stir out of his own resolution, untill he hath tried the strength, and skir­mished with a Forlorn of his enemies: he and his C [...]oates, as Gustavus and his Swedes, fight best when they see their own Breath: His Harvest of Victory, is in a sharp Snow and Frost, and hi [...] followers have most life in the dead of Winter; he would do nothing i [...]revocable in haste, neither express what he cannot recall, nor attempt what he cannot amend (he saith) he will never do in an instant, what an age cannot recompence—His Fears were little, his hopes were less; he disposed of means, and trusted the end to Providence; and proportioned his design, not to his expectation, but his enjoyments; and [Page 81] when his hope breaks, his patience holds.

His mercy and tenderness were as eminent as his patience: that Valou [...] His mercy an [...] tender­ness which is in others Leavened to vi­gor, was in him softened with Cle­mency; none ever perished that he could save, he is sparing even of Infi­dels blood, and prodigal of none; he gives li [...]e to the Barbarians sooner t [...]an they desire it; while he enga­geth them as Enemies, he forgets not they are men: He was never so much concerned, as when the poor people who submitted to the Turk, for fear to those that fall off for fear▪ they should be proceeded against as Traytors; he admonisheth often, corrects seldom, but never revengeth; none being lost, that he hath eithe [...] skill or power to save, but always with an eye to the common interest, never allowing private Indulgence to increase the Publike misery: i [...] men are doubtful, he satisfieth them; if they waver, he confirmeth them; [...]f they are false, he winketh at them, and attempts all the methods of obliging, before he commenceth that of de­stroying: [Page 82] Fire and Sword are his last Arguments. The first whereof, like Vespasian, the del [...]ght of mankind, he would quench with his tears, the second peirceth his own breast deep­er than the bowels of any: His mer­cy is like that of the most High, in­circled His mercy. with power, not the weakness of a low spirit, but the Debonaire of an Heroick one. He never invi­roneth the enemy to a necessity of fighting, if he can give them way to escape; a Golden Bridge was judged not too chargeable to be bestowed upon a flying enemy: when men are obstinate, none more severe; when yeilding, none more compassionate: whence thousands surrender them­selves to his mercy, when ten fall not by his Prowess; and he hath well weighed those Maximes, That they who are forced beyond their intenti­on, fight beyond expectation, where­as he that opens an enemy the way of escape, shuts that of his cour­age.

[Page 83] Neither was he more merciful then he was obliging; his command His oblig­ing converts was not more awful then his converse indearing: as the Prince of Au­range never moved his H [...]t, but the King of Spain lost a Subject; so Se­rini never Nods, but the Infidel lo­seth a confident: his conduct wins Fortresses for his Imperial Majesty, and his courage gains hearts; al­though it be the fate of Heroes ne­ver to be understood, and of great men of a middle merit onely to be feared, this man hath the honor to be equally loved and admired, and though he be a man of that solid Vir­tue, of that real Worth, that he neg­lects an over-officious compliance with the less beneficial humors of the rude multitude, yet as there is not a Nobleman in Hungary but would serve him, so there is not a Peasant but would die with him: When he was missing but the other day, upon a private enterprize, What general amazement was upon the face of Hungary and Croatia! what moans! what suspicions! what fears! what [Page 84] despondencies! as if the Genius of the Empire was withdrawn: what prayers, what wishes, what Impreca­tions on Fates and Stars! But when returned with Victory and Honor at­tending him, How all met him as the support of Christendom! What Bone-fires lengthen out the day! What acclamations disturb the rest of night, to the terror of the amazed Infidel, and the spreading joy of the drooping Empire! So much hath he obliged his followers, that every man have taken an Oath to live and dye with him.

1. So prevalent is his fair and con­descending language to them, being [...] wry of reducing the discon­tented. informed that a Noble and Valiant Person in his service upon some dis­content, practised with his complices to betray him, he gave him no ill words, but called him to him one day in his Pavilion, and said (as Fabius be­fore him to the discontented Morsi­an) Sir, I must confess there is not that notice taken of you that your service doth deserve; and hitherto I blame my Officers, who be [...]ow my [Page 85] Favours by adventure not desert: But hereafter it shall be your own fault if you do not declare your mind to me, and let me freely understand your occasion and requests; so sham­ing rather then provoking the male-content humors, he keeps together twenty thousand men in spight of the rich baites and temptations of the Turkish Empire, and the necess [...]ies of the German.

2. So powerful is his condescen­tion to share with the common Sol­diers in their wants and in their dan­gers, in their distresses, and in their toiles, in the worst as well as in the best fortune, who would not rather perish with this General, than tri­umph with others! whose bed is as hard, Diet as course, Duties as fre­quent, industry as indefatigable, sleep as short, as the meanest Footman; the brave man so consecrating hard­ships, endearing necessities, hallow­ing miseries, and making men in love with distresses.

3. So advantageous to his own and the publike service, is his strict ob­servation [Page 86] of each mans desert and service : the Masters eye makes a fat Horse, & the General's a good soldier: it was thought a competent reward for the Gamesters paines at Olympus: that the Conqueror should have the honor to fight before the Kings face; and it is judged now a competent en­couragement for hard services, that the deserving souldier ventures be­fore Serini's countenance, who ne­ver disinherits merit, knowing that neglect destroyeth more than the Sword; and where there is one killed by the one, there are hundreds dead by the other. In a word, never was any General more loving to his soul­diers, never any more beloved by them.

And indeed he hath all the obli­ging His humili­ty. qualities in the world: for there is not a man more renowned in others esteem, none more humble in his own; he hath the method of raising a Glory out of humility: so familiar­ly would he converse, that he would command men not to speak to his Ex­cellency, but to himself, so encoura­ging [Page 87] them to a freedom of discourse and truth, which great men are sel­dom happy in; he could have pati­ence to hear the meanest in any thing wherein he by intelligence might serve his Interest and design, conniv­ing at the great heap of impertinen­cies, wherein one concerning truth told by a Peasant lieth. He heard all mens opinions he could consult with, though he followed his own; willing to hearken to, and resolved to pursue what is most rational: A Countriman of Stiria is his Guide and Companion, with whom he can bestow a vacant hour with as much satisfaction as with any Count in the Empire; protesting that he is the ho­nestest man he ever met with in the world. Those he finds below, he makes equal to himself by converse and familiarity, not disdaining to teach his meanest followers those things he finds them defective in, honoring and not fearing worth in those that belong to him; he joyns the familiarity of a friend to the port and Parada of a General; shewing [Page 88] himself civil, but not cheap; conde­scending, but not prostistuted: for it's an observation there, that it adds m [...]ch to the Grand Seigniors power, that he never appears abroad but in splendor and majesty, that improves The Policy of a compe­t [...]t gra [...] ­de [...] and State, the former engaged opinion of the vulgar concerning, to something more then humane; ‘Whereas our less Majestick Princes become so cheap in Germany, by their daily figging up and down the streets af­ter their pleasures unattended, whilst this graver Monarch enjoy­eth them all under his own Roof, where none are suffered but those that are dumb from their births, or are rendered so through fear or use; no action or word breathed out of the Seraglio to the Emperors dis­advantage, but grows mortal to the divulger; not possible to be ob­served among Christians, whose meats like Puppet-Plays are made the object of all eyes, and their highest discourses (apt then to break out) the scorn of strangers that blow them over the four cor­ners [Page 89] of the earth with no small ad­dition, whilst their own subjects calculate a crooked nature from the deformities of their bodies, evil gestures, or a too luxurious taking in of their meat or Wine; it not being easie to shew a man at a grea­ter disadvantage, then whilst he is taking his repast, the most certain symbol of mortality.’ He is meek therefore, but reserved; familiar, but grave; debonaire, yet solemn: besides he submits to Montecuculi, gives place to Hohenlo, layeth his Crown and Victories at his Masters feet, as more careful to deserve then to en­joy glory; none ever more magnifi­cent, none more modest; none shall out-go him in service, all may in ho­nor: his Prowess may shake the Ot­toman Empire, his ambition shall ne­ver endanger the German. Thus as his strength terrifieth all places he marcheth through from revolts, so his affability wooeth them to obedi­ence, providing that when nothing but terror possesseth his Camp, yet there should be seen nothing but [Page 90] Love in his words, and Charity in his actions: for where he seeth the poor, His civility in his pro­gress tho­rowout the Countrey. he scattereth his money; where the guilty, his indulgence; where the de­serving, his incouragement; where the weak and helpless, his defence and protection; going about as the Sun, carrying in his looks and actions no less Serenity then splendor in all a­bout him, answering acclamations with blessings, suffering no distaste­ful act to be performed by Souldiers, who must first be masters of their peoples hearts, before they are pos­sessed of their enemies Camp: his souldiers shall not fight with friends and foes too, for he hands all griev­ances to the people by the mediati­on of others who have less occasion to make use of them; and by such amiable gestures, with the high price he seems in publike to set upon the Nations content, so great a love is kindled in the hearts of the people, that all the evils that fall upon them are removed from the principal cause, and attributed to such as are onely instrumental in their promotion; the [Page 91] just General always giving a favour­able hearing to such as complain of grievances (whereby he satisfieth the people, and engageth their persons and Estates) and removes the oppres­sors to some distant employments, where being further from the Camp and the enemy, severity may be more necessary, at least not so dangerous as within hearing of the Infidel that promiseth fairer usage; and by this even and constant procedure, an un­interrupted success hath been entail­ed to his command. Thus by claim­ing nothing, the brave Count enjoy­eth all; and by protecting no in­justice, he secures himself and the cause he hath undertaken.

For his Justice is not the least Virtue His Justi [...]e. that possesseth his great soul; such a habit, that he will suffer the greatest misery before he will do the least wrong; and when he is perswaded to take the liberty of the Field, and not tie himself to the strictness of a Court, Let me, saith he, stand or fall, to mine own Conscience: the Laws are the measures of his War and Peace; [Page 92] the Justice of his Army is as exact as that of his own breast; the people fear his souldiers, and they the Law; he alloweth his followers equity, but not indulgence; freedom, but not li­centiousness; His severe Discipline. security against an ene­my, but not against right: an Egge stollen is as fatall to his Myrmidons as a Turk, a Chicken kills as sure as a Mahumetan; he can contentedly sacrifice a man for the least injury to gain a Country, which fills his Army as fast as his severe Discipline ex­hausts it; no follies follow him, no perishing families curse him, no ra­vished Virgins meditate revenge on him, no children starved for the bread he took out of their mouth; as busie as he is, he sets five hours in the week to redress grievances, at once to indear his Disciplined Army to the people, and make odious the rude Rabble of the Turke, whose Barbarousness is as intollerable as their cause unjust, who provoke the people to oppose them, if not to save Empire, yet to secure themselves: his punishments are more severe than [Page 93] common, and more private than se­vere: it is his usual saying, Advise me not onely what is safe, but what is Just; not onely what is expedient, but what is lawful.

He is as Faithful as he is Just: Leave His faith­fulness. me, saith he to them who perswade him to secure himself, to my Honor and Justice, though I fall by them: he is as true to his Superiors as he would have his inferiors to him; he will never leave his Master untill he leaves himself. A Messenger once came to him from the Grand Visier with an overture of an accommoda­tion, and the Archdukedom of Au­stria to boot; he hangs up the Messen­ger, saying, If he had come to threa­ten me as an enemy he had been safe, but coming to sollicite me to be a Traytor, he hath his own reward.

To Abfti's Message about the Grand Seigniors esteem for him, the His repli [...]s to those that would de­bauch him. honest man replied, That he had ra­ther be a Page under the Christian Emperor, then a Prince under the Barbarous Usurper; and that if it pleased God the Grand Seignior, who [Page 94] was now so prodigal of others, should within a twelve moneth begg his own Dominion; although the Emperor doth not supply him as he may ex­pect, although Hungary deserts him, although Abafti jugleth with him, al­though the Papists envy him, although the jealousies in his Army distract him, although others are set above him, although the Germans are baffled, and France threatneth, the Turk is generally submitted to, and the people as generally indifferent; although he always wants Money, and some­times Provision, and the Infidel be­stoweth Crowns upon his Favorites; yet the faithful Count is resolved to weather out all the difficulties in pursuance of bare duty and Allegi­ance, and to make Germany either his Triumph or his Grave; being the first that undertook the hard service of decaying Germany, he will [...]e the last that leaves it; if he cannot live a Count of the Empire, he will dye a Martyr of it.

[Page 95] Neither is he less careful of others fealty and serviceableness than his His care whom he employeth. own, employing none but such as honor his judgement, and acquit themselves to the world, as men of publike and great spirits, who with himself had an uniform and constant care of the common interest; he be­stoweth not places on relations or parties, but merit, knowing no kins­man but what is allied to him in Ver­tue as well as Birth, owning no pur­chase of trust, but that by great dan­gers and noble services; he bestows his Titles of honor, where God had bestowed the Vertues; enduring not that Command and Authority should be tainted in the base and unworthy: he loved to see a man by a great spi­rit filling a great place; his choice pitched there where the personage was strong and comely, the speech Masculine (for he said, No man did Wonders that could not speak well) the converse unblemished, advice bold, performance quick, course stea­dy, undertakings noble, patience ob­servable, and experience considerable; [Page 96] such as being fixed in their duty to the Emperor, and settled in their sentiments of Religion, may restore Christendom, and enlarge it as wide as the world.

His temperance and sob [...]iety is a great ornament to himself, and an His tempe­rance. happy example to his followers; his Diet is as hard as his employment, his meals for health, not excess; his con­stitution bears a larger diet then his Virtue, and his hard service larger then his constitution, yet he eats but one meal a day, and that as course and plain as can be: for he prevents his souldiers Surfets, and inures them to be contented with the least Pro­vision, and not to exceed with the greatest. He is more sparing of his drink then meat, drinking very mo­derately at meals, and seldom be­tween; and more temperate in his pleasures then either; as severely doth he forbid himself all looseness, as he His strict­ness. punisheth it in others: a woman is not seen in his Camp, nor dallied with in his Chambers; his discourses are grave, chaste, and masculine, and his [Page 97] very Idleness useful; not an hour of his was without its benefit, or de­served not its commendation: His expences were moderate, suited more to the occasions and necessities of his present condition, than the magnifi­cence and grandeur of his former state. These are trivival particulars, but that there can be nothing ordi­nary that hath relation to this extra­ordinary person: the very shavings of Gold are precious, and the most minute passages are considerable that concern this Great Man.

The last and most considerable ob­servable His Religi­on. in him, and that which much imports the State of Christendom, is his Religion, which he useth not as an Artifice of power, but as the Or­nament and comfort of his own Soul; not affecting a gaudy and magnifick Piety, or a pompous shew of Devoti­on, but exercising a real and solid Vertue as eminent as his Fortune: Religion is his not onely by Educati­on but by choice; the issue of his own Reason, rather then the custome of his Fathers; he endeavors that they [Page 98] where he marcheth should under­stand Religion before they fight for it, finding that a multitude that own no vaster understandings than might render them pliable to labor and dis­cipline, are the readiest to yeild all awful obedience to such Worship and Religious observances, as the Infidel is pleased to impress upon their yet unsuborned imaginations, not so ea [...]ly obtained (saith my Author) from knowing people, who have any skill to determine the truth or fal [...]e­hood of that which the Mahumetan Fire and Sword enjoyns for an unque­stionable Creed, especially considering that the Turks offer a law confirmed by Angels, Extasies and Miracles, so suitable to the highest taste of hu­mane sensuality, and obvious to a carnal apprehension.

He deplores much the u [...]e of I­mages in the Christian Churches, not The advan­tages the Turke takes against us in point of Re­ligion, ob­served. onely as a great stumbling-block to the Jews and Turks, but upon a seri­ous consideration, that if a people once attain but an universal Pru­dence, the deceit and weakness of [Page 99] such a carnal adoration must needs grow loathsome and lye obvious to their observation and contempt, ‘That shall (upon the opportunity of­fered by this invasion) make it their full imployment to find fault, and fo [...]ent a change, by discoursing to the people the absurdities in their worship, which is better pre­vented in one directed (as the Turkes is) to the onely invisible and omnipotent Creator, whose Nature and power is so far remote from the weak apprehension of men, as the sharpest reason is not able to batter a faith built solely upon it.’ Moreover, the Turk doth so please t [...]e Christian with his honor to Christ, as he doth the Jew by his re­spect to M [...]ses; that his complying errors in the mean time go down glib through the wide swallow of that ig­norance that part of the world doth now gape withall.

He promotes the observation of the Lords day as strictly as he ob­serves the Turkes, injoyning that of their Friday for the ease of poor peo­ple [Page 100] and servants, whom he hath his eye upon as the supporters of t [...]e Em­pire, for the honor of Christian Re­ligion, for the advancement of love and confidence, by converse with neighbors; for those weekly meet­ings do much civilize a Nation, satis­fying no less the mindes of the zea­lous, then they moderate the facti­ous and disobedient, by the great [...]liay received from the solemn devo­tions, the humble prostrations and Ceremonies, that such are terrified into an obedience to the Law, out of a future fear, that could not el [...]e be restrained by a present secular dan­ger, or after-hope; imagining a number of Possibilities to hide that from men, which nothing can cover from the sight of God.

And therefore he hath a peculia [...] respect for a [...]ober and prudent Cler­gy (looking upon a contempt of them as the preface to the [...]uine of Religi­on) whose Austerity and Reverence in external Worship, makes way for Religion to enter through the eye to the heart; wishing they were more [Page 101] at leisure for the temporal concerns of Chri [...]tendom, to intend those more spiritual in that Country, the same Councils are observed necessary for Princes in relation to Religion, and the guiders of it, as Phaeton had in the conduct of the Suns Horse; the Church being of that nature, that if it soar too high, it choaks Vertue and Piety in the superfluous Ceremo­nies, which like too much Paint in Rome, adulterate the face of Truth; but if she be kept too low, then it wants Decency and Order, allays without which we can have no Uni­formity in a Religious Commerce. Since the mysteries of our Salvation cannot be presented to us, but in Earthen Vessels, from whence if they did not retain some Tincture, we could not so naturally own them in reference to us: Nay (saith my friend) Some Poli­cies that concerne Religion in reference to the Turk. an indiscreet zeal doth so far partici­pate of the qualities of the Air over-heated, that it hatcheth the plague of Rebellion, where ever it is found, pre­tending their Prince negligent in Re­igion, or too Exorbitant in his affecti­on [Page 102] to court Minions, or an in fringer of Law, or obstr [...]cter of [...]ustice; weapons of Sedition easily forged, if not f [...]und to lye ready before the Gates of the best of Kings, which subtile men snatch up, and put into the hands of such as they have formerly intoxicated with a desire of Reformation, who seldom give over till they meet their own ruine or the States.

It is not the least remarakble parti­cular, in reference to Religion, that it were to be wished, that, As the Turkish Alcoran is expounded or read by none but Priests, so the Chri­stian Bible were read and explained with more Caution, Care, and Reve­rence; and that Prayers to God were more frequent amongst us as amongst them, then Sermons or exhortations to the people, [...]cause by the first they are humbled through the constant re­petitions of their sins and wants, and by the other puffed up with ostenta­tion of their good parts; and men may take occasions, as the Orators and Demagogues of old, to hint out of the Pulpit in Gods name, such [Page 103] seeds of Sedition and Rebellion, as may inflame Kingdoms; or if the Christian Ministers will take pains and Preach, it were to be wished that the whole scope of their Ser­mons, as that of the Turkish discour­ses, were Practical Piety, consisting of the honor due to God, obedience to Princes, Justice, mutual Love, re­solution and Patience; together with whatsoever things are g [...]od, what­soever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report, especially pati­ence under all dispensations of Pro­vidence, whereby men might be fix­ed against all temptations to Sediti­on, and kept in a cheerful compli­ance with the severest Government; referring all things below to Provi­dence, as the Tu [...]ks do to Fate; and looking on nothing worth st [...]iving for or against, but the happiness and misery of the other world. He hath enjoyned as great an awfulness of the name of God, as that of the Mahu­metans, which is so great, that they dare not employ the Paper they find [Page 104] it in to any base office, but leave it in a hole to the further disposure of the owners providence: and therefore possibly not so likely as Christians (who observe no such decency) to call it to witnesse an untruth; much to the advantage of Governours there, as it might be here, did Law or Cu­stom skrew the peoples minds up to as high an esteem of it.

It's usually discoursed in those parts, that all the evils that ever happened to Germany, flowed from a defect in thei [...] Ecclesiastical policy, in that the Ministers do not presse Religion with that strictnesse it's ca­pable of upon the people, so that it may lay hold upon their Consciences, and bear them up by serious appre­hensions of the other world, against all the contingencies and emergen­cies of this; although they might re­mit those austerities and severities to the bodies of men (the fond inventi­ons of the melancholy, and the re­served part of the world) now the Turk is at hand with all the compla­cencies [Page 105] and And it is not conve­ment to force nature too much in smal things, lest it break out in grea­ter; for the Turks being allowed lesser vani­ties, are not at leasure for greater. delights, with the great­est freedom humane nature is capable of, where men have an uninterrupted license to attain the farthest extent of their [...]esires, so as they apprehend no felicity beyond the liberty to en­joy [...]is.

We [...]ight learn from the Turk to be more constant to the principles of our Religion than we are, and give [...] way to a refining by the agitati­on of experiences drawn from a con­ [...]uence of different events; it being an observation with him, that the [...] allowance in things of that na­ture, opens a gap to infinite pretenti­ons that can never be satisfied until government be overthrown.

The Turkish Emperour is thought so much happier than the Germane, because the Mufti his circumcised Pope, and Meca his Infidel of Rome are both in his power: The Mufti, though [...] with M [...]homets [...]ind [...]e [...]s co [...]our [...]hi [...]h is g [...]en, and [...]everen [...]d [...] ve­ry much [...] [Page 106] yet is concluded by reason of State, and must comply with the govern­ment otherwise; though he is not publickly punished, he may be pri­vately translated to another world, Of religious influence upon mens spirits. and his faults ‘and he buried in a grave; for it hath been long obser­vable in this Empire, that neither friends, money, sanctity, love of people, former deserts, or any present need of the peoples accu­rate parts, were ever found An­tidotes sufficient to expel the poy­son of the Emperours jealousie,’ who esteems no number of lives e­quivalent with his own safety, or the Nations.

Count Hohenlo usually saith, that it is one defect in his Religion, that it was presented with so much terrour as did amuse and despirit men; whereas the Turks was contrived with such hopes & encouragements as raise them in valour and undertakings beyond the ordinary pitch of men. Whereupon Serini takes him up, and undertakes to demonstrate to him, That no Re­ligion in the world ennobleth and rai­seth [Page 107] mens spirits to an higher pitch than the Christian; fortifying them a­gainst the greatest dangers, and exer­cising them with the severest discipline,

Goes the German Embassador cou­cheth the offences that lie in the Turks way to our Religion in four particulars (as he received them from the Grand Seignior himself:) The first, That we eate our God in the Encharist. 2. That we make our God in the Church. 3. That we divide our God in the Trinity: And 4. That we deny him in our lives. The first two whereof (saith young Kecherman the brave Count's Chaplain) must be re­moved by a recantation: The third must be assoiled by cautious, clear and wary expressions: The last must be reformed by doing nothing unlawful­ly, by speaking nothing improperly, and by wearing nothing undecently. There being but two wayes to keep up the honour of Religion; either to keep over curious men from p [...]ying and questioning the parts, and re­straining reason within it's own bounds; or to clear up the grounds [Page 108] out of it so as might satisfie any rati­onal man. He wisheth there were a clear account extant of the grounds of Christian Religion; for which pur­pose there was printed in Presburgh Ludovicus Vives his Dialogue of the Truth of Christian Religion, Hugo Grotius, and Du-Pless [...]s, all transla­ted into several Languages.

These are some of this excellent personage his sentiments of Religion, with reference to the present exigent; but his opinions are not so [...]evere as his practice; neither is he so [...] in that matter to others as he is to him­self. In [...]eed his piety is as [...]p [...]ea [...]ing as his command; and there is no man within the one, but mu [...] p [...]ake of the other: Yet his own [...]epo [...]ment His own [...]emper. is most rema [...]a [...]le; all his [...]nterp [...] ­zes begin with Prayer, and some of them with Psalms, which a [...] once inspire his Souldiers, and bl [...]sse his undertakings. He would gain the love of heaven, before he would [...]e­pell the forces of hell: (Never any man did nobly that conversed not with the gods) B [...]fore the last City he took, [Page 109] as he was observing the situation of the place, and his advantages, a Commander asked what he int [...]n [...]ed to do. To take the place ( [...]aith he) within four hou [...]s, but we must go to prayers first: and now (said [...]e af­terwards) We have a good Cause, God and good mens prayers assist us. He is not more careful of his Christian [...]ties, than of his Christian [...] to all those persons and things th [...]t [...] relation to God; make [...] wa [...], that sp [...]e [...] nothing in its con [...]sed fu­ry, and [...]n [...]stinguis [...]ing [...]olati­on, re [...]ence all sacred persons and places, whe [...]eof he is as tender as he hopes their God is of him and his great and good Cause.

This is that gallant man, that no­ble Gentleman, that zealous Christi­an, that s [...]out Souldier, that able Sates-man, that excellent personage upon whom are the eyes of Europe, as upon the great Champion of Chri­stedome. This is he who fills the wo [...]ld wi [...]h his Name, and Annals with his Actions; that shews the most humble devotion enamelled in [Page 110] Heroick gallantry; the most gene­rous soul in a wel-proportioned bo­dy; that supports the drooping glory of Germany, and checks the growing power of Turkey; that dares do more than all the Kings of the Earth; that was born to relieve distressed Prin­ces, to restore tottering Empires, and hold up falling Crowns. This is he that tramples upon offered King­doms, and looks on Scepters beneath him; that thinks it more Imperial to preserve Monarchies, than to govern them; to die a faithful Subject, than to live a feared King. This is he who put the Grand Seignior to a cold sweat, and the Prime Visier to a fit of an Ague; That shakes the Se­raglio to the demureness of a Mufti, and the Alcoran out of the Mufti's hand; that turns the Turkish Moon to blood, and the heaven of their power to blacknesse and darknesse; that threatneth Mahumetanis [...] to a swound, like that of the Author of it. This is he who hath set bounds to the fears of Europe, and the hopes of As [...]; Who coops that ambition in [Page 111] a Province, that aims at a World: Who fils up the Gap of Christendome with his great self, and singly un­dertakes the despondencies of the West behind him, and the threat­nings of the East before him. This is he who doth wonders, and is one whose actions strein the belief of the present age, and will be impossible among Posterity; whom all admire, and the generous may imitate, as he doth Scanderbeg, if he imitates any, or be not rather his own great [...]ule, his own great example being suffi [...]i­ent to himself.

THE Life and Actions of GEORGE CASTRIOT [...] amed Scanderbeg, [...] o­ther Champion or [...].

WHen the succession of 8 Ottoman Princes, with their several Councels, Enterprizes and successes, had en­larged that growing Empi [...]e beyond the bounds of Asia, so that it a [...]i [...]ed under Amurath the second to a fif [...]h Monarchy, to which it was making it's way th [...]ough the ruin [...] of some p [...]tty neigh [...]ou [...] [...]errit [...]i [...], when it pleased the most high [...] [...]u­leth in the Kingdoms [...] who permitted there [...] punish our sins, [...] [Page 113] there is a God; and yet checketh them, that they may know themselves to be but men) to raise up on [...] George Castriot Prince of Epirus, better known by the name of Scanderbeg, to be at once his Buckler to protect his People, and his Sword to avenge him of his Enemies. This Prince (whose former Actions may be patterns to our present Enterprizes; while what he hath done against that dreadful Infidel, is before our eyes to direct us what we may do) was the valiant son of a weak Father, John Castriot Prince of Epirus, but a vassal of Turky, who in the great invasion His birth and origi­nall. upon Europe, 1422. being not able enough to oppose the Turk in his pas­sage, no [...] honest enough to be trust­ed by him when he had passed him, [...]ought his sad Peace, more miserable than his neighbours honourable war, Bred up un­der the Turk. at the dearest rate of his four Chil­dren, whom he pledged to his barba­rous Master; who (notwithstanding the fairer concitions and usages pro­mised) circumcised the youths, and trought them up in the Musulman [...]s [Page 114] irreligious Religion; and when their fathers death opened his way into the Kingdom, poysoned the eldest three, reserving this youngests beauty for his lust, & his valour for his service; wherein he acquitted himself so ho­nourably, that he gained not onely the foresaid name of Scanderbeg, or Lord Alexander, for his prudence and activity, but the great Trust of a Provincial Governour at 18 years of age, and of General at 21, for his resolution and successe; in which two commands he behaved himself so well, that (which is not ordinary) he was at once great in Amuraths fa­vour, and high in the peoples affe­ction: This brave Prince (this Mo­ses saved by the Pharaoh of Adriano­ple, to overthrow himself) having lived long enough under the Turk for his own honour, for the peoples applause, his Masters service, and too long for his poo [...] C [...]reys [...]i­sery, His revol [...] from the Turk. leaves the d [...]lliances of the most rich Court, the favour of the mo [...]t mighty P [...]ince, the hope of t [...]e greatest Empire, and the command [Page 115] of the most vast Army in the world, and chooseth most heroickly to suffer the hardship, then threatned the peo­ple of God, whom he favoured all along, and assisted with secret intel­ligence to Huniades at the great bat­tle of Moravia; at which battle, or at the next under Canabiza, being not any longer safe among the Turks, nor serviceable in that capacity to the Christians, he sled to them after this manner.

When by his Instructions (as a­foresaid) The manner of his turn­ing to the Christians in the Bat­tle. to Hunniades, the Turks were disordered, he with his Cozen Amesa and other Epirots to whom he had unbosomed himself, to the num­ber of 300, withdrew; and having their eye upon the Bashaws Secretary who Commanded in chief in that Fight, followed him in his Retreat, put all his Turks to the Sword, car­ried him away with them to their Quarters, and there extorted from His inde [...]a­t [...]gab [...]e in­dust [...]y in pur [...]ing his [...]ight, and recov [...]ring his kingdom him an Order in the Bashaw's name to the Governour of Croia chie [...] Ci­ty of Epirus, to deliver up that charge to Scanderbeg, who by vertue of it [Page 116] possessed the Garrison, and sent the Governour with his family to Adria­ [...]ople the night following, making way to 3000 Epirots, w [...]o resolved to live and [...]ie with him for their own and their Countreys liberty in the same place: and putting all the Turkish Souldiers and others to the Sword, except them, who to save their lives, would save their souls too, and be­come Christians.

The Epirots having thus recovered their noble Prince, and he his anci­cient Kingdome, or at lea [...] the most considerable place in it: He no soo­ner invites, than his people come in multitudes, that wanted onely Lead­ers and discipline, to be armed, to at­tend his person, his service, and therein their own safety and liberty; and the muster at Croia amounts to 12000, who with their noble Cap­tain march to subdue such strong Holds held out for the Turks; as first to Petrella, a place well fortified by nature, and as well furnished by the Inha [...]itants, whither Scanderbeg sends by a subtile messenger the di [...] ­mal [Page 117] news of the late defeat in Hun­gary, the weak and perplexed condi­tion of Amurath the Sultan thereup­on, the sa [...] fate of Croia, the un [...] ­nimous re [...]olt of the Epirots, and at last the fair Conditions and Terms they and other Governours might have i [...] they yielded to Scanderbeg; which relation the Governour consi­ders, and finding it confirmed by the sad tydings the Turks that sled brought with them out of all parts (for now all the Turks in Epirus were put to the Sword) he yieldeth up the place upon conditions. Such as would go with him (for most stayed with Scanderbeg) might be conducted with all they had out of Epirus. In like maner did he take Petra, Stellusa, and all the other holds of Epirus in two moneths time (and time was pre­cious with him) save Sfeligrade an impregnable place; to the Governor whereof was offered the choice either of perishing as they of Crioa did, and as the Governour of Stellusa was like to do before his eyes (for Scan­derbeg brought him thither in chains [Page 118] for terrour, to hang him before the gates.) Loath was the Governour to hazard himself, loth to displease the people: he entertains the Princes Messenger civilly, and turns to the people wi [...]ly, and asked them, What shall we an [...]wer these our Enemies? Whereupon an high spi [...]ited So [...]l [...]ier draws his [...]wo [...]d, and tells him that t [...]t w [...] their an [...]wer; that they would not i [...]it [...]e others weaknesses, but their own [...]lour, and die wil­lin [...]ly with them that dyed at Cro [...], With which answer, applauded by all the Souldiers, the Governour dis­missed the Trumpeter. Scanderbeg smiled at the answer of the common Souldier, and said, He is certainly a valiant Souldier, if his actions an­swer his words: but if my force faile me not, I will make him happy a­mong His re [...]ly to the saw [...]y souldier of Stelluza. the happy ghosts of them of Stellusa; and immediately they of Stellusa that did relent were baptized before their faces, and they who per­sisted in their wilfulnesse were hang­ed; but the resolved [...]arrison of Sfeligrade holds out notwithstanding. [Page 119] Wherefore Scanderbeg considering the season of the year, withdrew to Croia, and left 3000 men under Moses Golemus, a most val [...]nt Cap­tain, to keep the Turks in untill he might more conveniently reinforce the Siege. Thus that gallant man re­covered his whole Kingdom of Epi­rus in two mo [...]s time; during which [...] he [...] [...]wo hou [...] [...] he, th [...] [...] his [...] Spoyls [...] S [...]ies: [...]o re [...]olved, that he fought with his Arm ba [...]e, and that with such fier [...]enesse, that the blood oftentimes burst out of his lips.

But it was not enough to secure his own Dominions now rescued from the Turks, who might again in­vade them, therefore he is before-hand with them, and makes an in­cursion into the very heart of Mace­donia, both to terrifie his Enemies, and enrich his Souldiers; for it was observed in those days, that the spoyl of Amurath's Dominions was the re­viving of Scanderbeg.

[Page 120] Being three and thirty years old, he went to the City of Allessia, where he made a League and Assi [...]nce with the Albanian Princes; which City was then under the Dominion of the Venetians, and in it was held a Diet A Diet or Assembly Held at Al­lessia, and assistance given to Scander­beg. of all the principal persons of the Country being assembled there at his request, and among others there was Paul, and Nicholas Ducaginus, Peter Spainus, Lech Dusmanius, Lech Za­charius, Aranith Conyno, afterwards Father-in-law to Scanderberg, An­drew Thopia, and the magnificent Re­ctors of the Venetian State. At which ass [...]m [...]ly, Scanderbeg made an el [...] ­quent speech above an hour in length which was very pleasing to all those which were present, who having highly praised the wise advice of this Prince, every one put himself in a posture to reach out a helping hand to restore him to the possession and enjoyments of those Countries, Ter­ritories and Dominions which were unjustly detained from him by the Turke. And he on his part ceased not to be active every where to be­siege, [Page 121] force, and const [...]ain those, which endeavored to continue their obedi­ence to the Turk. But as he with all eagerness pursued his design of mak­ing himself Lord and Master of all Albania; [...]tel [...]igence was sent him by a [...] he left at Andrip [...]lis with the Turks, th [...]t Alibeg Basha (accom­panied with sixty thousand Janiz [...] ­ries, Archers, and Musquetiers, and fourty thousand Horse) advanced to­wards Alibeg B [...] ­sh [...] marches against Scander­beg. him: where at he was not at all discourage [...], al [...]hough at that time he was but n [...]w [...]y [...] King of Al­bania, and hi [...] Forces fa [...] infe [...]iour in nu [...]ber. But wi [...]h great chee [...]ful­ness of heart, as if he already held the victory assured, being followed by fifteen thousand Albanians, and twelve thousand other Foot, he bent his march towards that place, where he presumed he might encounter the Turks, and made all possible dili­gence to advance his Army so nee [...] that of Alibeg the Turkish General, that they might be necessicated to fight; and charged them with so great [...]ry and violence, as he soon [...]ut [Page 122] them to a miserable rout. Every one wondered how in so short a time so great an execution could be made, in regard the Battle [...]as [...]ed but from Sun-rising untill the third hour. In this Battle were taken Four and Alibeg Ba­sha defeat­ed by Scan­derbeg. twenty colours, two thou and Turks were made prisoners, and two and twenty thousand slain upon the place: of the Christians side a great number were wounded, and about an hundred found dead. Alibeg General of the Tur­kish forces saved himself, and retur­ned into the City of Andrinop [...]is, cal­led by these barbarous people Hedrea Valdom, where Amura [...]h was, who had well-nigh caused him to be put to death, reproaching him that his A [...] ­my was betrayed, as well as that wherein Castriot dealt falsly with him▪ to whom this poor old man with cries and sighs replied in these words, Val­lahe et billahe benea: Verraim hernigui­sterce, which signifies, O Sir! by the Grace of Almighty God, I confess a [...] that thou sayest for the present. As if he meant, I have nourisht and brought up a man, who now takes up Armes [Page 123] against me, and torments my soul. But that which troubled this poor Turk most of all, was, that a peace being concluded between him and the King of Hungary for ten years (by the me­diation and practise of George Despot of Servia and Rascia, which is the up­per Mysia, by the Turks called Se­goria) and though respectively sworn to by them, upon the holy Evange­list, and the Alcoran, yet he much doubted it would not be of any long continuance, as in effect it was soon broken. And moreover he having newly received this [...]ude overthrow; there came suddain news that the King of Caramania or Cilicia was preparing a strong and powerful Ar­my, therewith intending to invade the Turkes of Natolia, called Great Turkie; which perplexed him very much being thereby necessitated to go into Asia with the Reliques of his routed forces to secure that Country. And on the other side the Hungarian threatning the same danger with the Caramanian and Albania [...], it behoved him to look about him. And here­upon [Page 124] he thinks fit to send an Ambas­sador to Scanderbeg, presenting him Scander­beg refuses a truce with Amurath. rich gifts, endeavoring thereby to hinder the Albanians, who were, as yet, but newly flesht as it were (with the Turkish blood) from advancing further, and from irritating the Otto­man fury; desiring his friendship, and that he would abstain from all enter­prises that tended to his preju [...]ice. Amuraths letter being read, [...]ated from Andrinople the fifteenth of [...]u [...]e, in the yeer of our Lord 1444 five days after Airadin the Turks Ambas­sador was returned with an answer bea [...]ing date the twelfth of July of the same year, wherein Scanderbeg utterly refused the truce; which let­ter Airadin brought to the Turke as he was a hunting, and by word of mouth delivered to him all the rest of Castriot's deliberations; wherewith this poor Infidel was so ill sati [...]fied, that he could not contain himself from crying out before his Basha's, in this sort, Senicq guna scythan honuar; as if he would say, I think Scanderbeg is possest by the devil, that he so little [Page 125] regards my power and greatness. But Amurath being a man experienced in affairs, knew well enough in case he should seem to be discouraged, there needed nothing else to make all the rest Cowards; and therefore to express his cheerfulness, he smiled, playing with his Beard, and spake again these words, Thou covetest, O unhappy man! thou covetest some memorable death, believe me thou shalt have it! we will assist, and without thy command will be present at the obsequies of him who was nourisht by us, but now become our ut­ter enemy, and will accompany thy fu­neral-pompe to the grave, for fear thou shouldst complain in hell, that thou camest not thither honorably enough.

And however his countenance was composed, he had sad apprehensions to himself aside, and thought no o­ther matters, which occasioned him a long time to remain in a musing doubtful posture; and at last under­standing that Scanderbeg had disban­ded many of his forces, keeping the field onely with some few light-horse, [Page 126] without any body of an Army, he sends for his Basha Ferise, appointing Ferise Ba­sha sent a­gainst Ca­striot, is by him defeat­ed. nine thousand chosen horse, encoura­ging them with large promises, in case they could conquer the Albani­ans. Ferise discharged his duty with all diligence, approaching secretly to the Frontiers of Macedonia. And though he marched towards the Al­banians, more like a Thief then a Warrior: yet he came not before the news of his approach; Castriot being advertised thereof by a spie who came to him from the Sultans Court, and so possessing himself of a Streight and narrow Vally, calle [...] Mocrea, the onely p [...]ssage for the Turks; It ser­ved for a bu [...]ying place for the most part of Ferises Army, who were so suriously charged by the Albanians, that the Basha himself was forced to [...], leaving the best part of his f [...]rce [...] either dead in the field, or Prisoners. Ottoman finding himself so rudely dealt withall by the Alba­nians, sends Mustapha his Basha with five and twenty thousand men into Epire, expresly charging him to be [Page 127] wary, and not entangle himself in the Ambushes of the Albanians, but Mustaphae Basha sent against Ca­striot into Epire, is de­feated. only pillage and lay waste the Coun­trey. Scanderbeg advertised (by some horse he had sent forth to that pur­pose) of the spoil Mustapha made throughout all Epire, takes horse im­mediately, and being followed with three thousand horse onely, and four thousand other good souldiers, led them as privately as he could be­tween two vallies where the enemy was to pass, who assoon as they came neer the place, separated and dis­persed themselves into several com­panies: the Christians falling upon them in disorder, soon made their way to the Turkes Trenches, instant­ly gained them, and made so grear a slaughter that none escaped, save on­ly a few that followed the flying Mu­stapha, preserving their lives by the sharpeness of their Spurs. So Scan­derbeg recovered not onely the Pil­lage they had taken from him in Epire, but also all the spoils of the Turkes, who had no leisure to save their bag­gage, being so closely pursued by [Page 128] Scanderbeg. But this overthrow did no [...] discourage Amurath, who com­manded Mustapha to raise new Forces, for [...]idding him to spoil the enemies Country, or engage in a Bat [...]le with Castriot, but onely to hinder his advancing towards them, which fell ou [...] happily for this Chri­stian Prince; for soon after he had a War with the State of Venice, by rea­son of the succession of Lech Zacha­ry, which shall be declared hereafter, because I intend not here to make a diversion, and to omit the happy suc­cess which Scanderbeg had against Mustapha the Basha, who seeing the Christians warring among them­selves very furiously, thought du­ring their disorders, to fish in their trou [...]led waters, and obtain the fruit of a Victory, which he earnestly de­sired, and was very much hoped for by him, whereupon he so much im­por [...]unes Amurath, that he obtains order to begin a new war with the Christians, in which he was no great gainer, for Scanderbeg quitting Da­dine, charged that Pagan Army so fu­riously, [Page 129] as that ten thousand of them [...]l upon the place, fourscore and Mustapha defeat [...]d [...]th second ti [...] by Scander­beg. two were made prisoners, and fifteen Standards taken; on the Albanian side scarce three hundred men were lost. If this signal victory much puft up the hea [...]ts of the Albanians, A­muraths (that plodding blade) was Amuraths first voyage into Epire against Ca­striot. the more dejected, who could not so well disgui [...]e his intended enterprise of setting on foot a mighty and pow­erful Army against Castriot, but that it took vent, and was discovered (by his neerest and greatest favorites) to Scanderbeg, who hereupon slept not in secu [...]ity; but gave a general or­der to rai [...]e instantly the forces of his whole Country, and to fortifie and strengthen the Fortresses, Cities and Garrisons throughout all Epire.

In the mean time the Great Turke transports all his Army into Europe by long marches, computed by some to be an hundred and fifty thousand fighting men (to wit) fourscore and ten thousand horse, and threescore thousand foot; other reckon them but an hundred and twenty thousand [Page 130] in all, deducting twenty thousand horse, and ten thousand foot.

In this Equipage he comes to be­siege Alba and other Cities, upon which he gained nothing but the [...]i­minishing of his forces, which though daily recruited by the new supplies which came to them, yet so mouldred away, that the poor old Ottoman ashamed of the loss of so many of his men, was constrained to retreat, quit Epire, and in all haste mar [...]h away; whilst Scanderbeg with all might and main pu [...]sued them, and gle [...]ned [...]p and destroyed such a multitude, as the shame thereof made the Great Turk at last so impatient, that he com­manded the Basha of Romania to stay Amurath forced to re­treat, Ca­striot be­ [...]ieges Feti­grade. behind with thirty thousand horse to secure the safe retreat of the resi [...]ue of the Army. But Amurath had scarce taken up his Quarters in his own Country, when news was brought him that Scanderbeg had laid Amuraths second voy­age unto E­pire, and siege of Croye in [...]ain. siege to Sfetigrade, whereupon he determines to return by the same way he came, and sends Sebalias to be­siege Cr [...]y, and he and his Son Maho­met [Page 131] invaded Epire about the end of April, and came himself in person before Croy, and held it besieged above four moneths; in which time a very great number of his Forces were lo [...]t. He endeavoured to bat­ter it with thirty peeces of Cannon, and other warlike instruments & En­gines, but could do little execution, the place being very strong on all parts, and replenished with a lively fountain of water within, and ano­t [...]er in the side of the hill behind a Rock. Nor must I forget to tell yo [...] that at the end of four moneths, a general assault was given by the ene­mies, and maintained so furiously on each p [...]rt, that lasting but five hours, four thousand men remained dead upon the place, although the Turks powe, strength, and cunning, could not gain the place (as I have said) but after all this, the said City rather lifted up her head against the Ottoman fury as Victrix.

Nor will I not derogate from Ʋra­nocontes, but allow him all the honor due to his great deserts; and as this [Page 132] Governor appointed by Scanderbeg to command [...]roye, was [...]igil [...]nt and dexterous to oppose Amurath; so his Prince was not asleep in creating other imployment for his Forces else­where; for as Ott [...]man had given him a very hot Al [...]rm, Scan [...]erbeg with a party of his choice [...]o [...]e falls so desperately upon the Enemies Tents at the said [...]iege, as that Amu­rath could not at that time compass his designes, no [...] take the place, al­though he dispatcht away Seremet with four thousand [...]o [...]se to repulse Scanderbeg; and Mahomet likewise though in vain, pu [...]ed him with all possible speed, conceiving so great a hatred against him, as that after the death of his fat [...]er, he abated nothing of his pernicious and evil affection towards him.

And though death prevented the malicious designes of Amurath, yet it could not make any alteration in the heart of his Son Mahomet the second (and not the first, as by a mi­stake it slipped in this work) who took Constantinople, and was thereby [Page 133] the more enraged against the Christi­ans, then before. However, the state of affairs at this time so di [...]ct­ed him, that he was constrai [...]e [...] to send Amb [...]ssadors to desire a [...]ruce, Mahomet [...] s [...]cond [...] a [...] with Castriot, is [...]. which was refu [...]ed him, and [...]n [...]n­swer was returned to Sang [...]as th [...] De­puty, who was sent to conclude the peace, that he shoul [...] be gone pre­ [...]n [...]y: as fo [...] Castriot, [...]e would not make any peace or agreement with the I [...]f [...]el, unless he [...] him those Ci [...]ies which Amurath h [...]d un­justly [...]surped. In th [...] [...]ean [...] Mahomet retires, and was a long while be [...]o [...]e he could [...]e [...]tle himself in his Fathers D [...]minions, an [...] there­fore could not for that time [...]o Ca­striot any great harm. And Scander­beg being willing to have an heir to George Ca­striots mar­riage. succeed him (and being thereunto re­quested by his subjects) took to his lawful Wi [...]e the most vertuous and fair daughter of Prince Aramth Co­nyno, called Doneca; with whom he could not live long in quiet. For so soon as this new Turke was setled in his Fathers Throne, he began to [Page 134] threaten Castriot our Christian Prince, being not able to endu [...]e he should have such Dominion over Cro [...]e and the rest of Epire. Nor did I here intend to have set down the undertaking of Scanderbeg to assist Ferdinand the Son of Alphonso King of Naples, had not the several Castriot r [...]l [...]ev [...]s Al­phonso King of Naples so [...]. Historians who have written there­on, omitted how he did redeem this poor King, w [...]o was reduced to that misery and non plus, as that [...]e was imprisoned in the Town of Bar [...], by the [...]ege w [...]ich the Count Picevin had [...]i [...] to it, who made as sure of him, as if he had been already intangled in his Net. But as soon as the arrival of Scanderbeg was known, Duke John of Sore, and the Count Picevin packed up their baggage, raised their siege, and in great haste marched thirty miles from thence to avoid the fury of that Fleet, and those which accompanied Scanderbeg, who had so good success in repul [...]ng Ferdinands enemies, that to him alone [...]elongs the hono [...] of recovering of that Kings Crown. But the aff [...]s of hi [...] [...] [Page 135] Kingdom wanting his direction, he was constrained to quit all, and to re­turn to Croye, neer unto which place the Christians had erected an inex­pugnable Fort [...]ess (sufficient to hin­der the passages of the Infidels) upon an exceeding high Mountain, called Modrica, and having furnished it with Victuals, Artillery, and Muni­tion, made such opposition against the attempts of the enemy, that it secu­red the Pass; whereupon M [...]homet [...]inting under so many attempts Sinaim Sa­ [...]a [...] s [...]nt by Maho­met against Castriot, is de [...]ated. made upon him, dispatches away a famous Captain call [...]d Sinam, wi [...]h five and twenty thousand Turkish Horse against Scanderbeg, to su [...] ­p [...]ise him on a sudd [...]in, thinking the War of Naples from whence he was but lately returned, had made him secure and careless. But Scanderbeg who always slept with his eyes open, had opportunely, since his arrival, sent his Spies abroad, and renewed his Intelligence with those neer the Sul­tan, whereby he had timely notice to prepare and to get the first into the field: But kept himself pri [...]ate [Page 136] and close, expecting the advance of the San [...]jac Sinam, and then march­ed the whole night towards him, du­ring the ob [...]urity whereof, and con­trary to the knowledge of his Ad­versary, with eight thousand fighting men Horse and Foor; [...]e possessed himself of the Mountain M [...]crea, and there resolutely expected Sinam, that being the Avenue t [...]rough which he was of necessity to p [...]ss; and falling upon him un [...]wares, de­feated him with all his Army, where the slaughter was so great, that two parts of three fell upon the place, and Ass [...]mb [...]g invading E­pire, is al­so discom­sited. all the Ensigns and Baggage became a Prey to the Christians: and all the General could do was to s [...]ve himself in this desperate fight, by avoiding it with extraordinary speed. And al­ready Assambeg, or according to o­thers, Anusabeg was advanced alrea­dy on this side of Ocride, accompani­ed with thirty thousand fighting men; but Scanderbeg being accompanied onely with four thousand, encoun­tered him in so opportune a place, that he soon vanquish't them: the [Page 137] Guards on each side of this Turkish General were s [...]tten down to the g [...]ou [...]d, his Horse hurt, and himself wounded in the right Arme with an Arrow, knew no better way at last to [...] [...]im [...]elf, then to make tryal of a Christian Clemency, as well as of the Mar [...]ia [...] sury of [...]n enemy. Be­ [...]o [...]e whom being brought, together with [...]ivers other Captains, the tears standing in his eyes, and his hands lifted up to heaven, he spake in this manner to Scanderbeg, That being in the service of the great Turkish Emperor, his honor obliged him to serve him faithfully, and therefore im­plored his mercy, favor and clemency; whose speech took so well with Scan­derbeg, that he pardoned them all, and gave them their lievs, paying ten thousand Ducats for his own, and four thousand Ducats for the ransom of the rest, which was performed accordingly. I know many have ac­cused Scanderbeg for being so easily perswaded by the Turke, and blame him that he knew not how to use his advantage against the Sfetigradians, [Page 138] who indeed surprised him at that time.

But here we are not upon the same terms, the Victory was already in Scanderbeg's hands, whose humanity becomes so much the more to be ad­mired, as being exercised against a Capital enemy, whom we can seldom spare when he is once intrapped. But he shewed a far greater mildness to­wards the Venetians, with whom (to his great regret) he had a sharpe and hard War. But in regard it would have been accounted a folly, and have proved a great disparagement A difference between Castr [...]ot and the Ve­netians, ap­peared. to lose a mans right for want of look­ing after it, he would not therefore seem easily to quit the succession of that, which he pretended was faln unto him by the death of Lech Za­chary, and wherein the Venetians op­posed him, by reason of an agree­ment made between them and the Lady Bosse, the mother of the decea­sed party. Notwithstanding which, Scanderbeg claimed that there being no Will, he ought to succeed Za­chary (who was murthered by Lech [Page 139] Dulagin, the Son of the Lord of Saint Paul) and seemed to have the best title as lawful heir to the Estate. But after a great contestation, they re­solved the sword should decide the qu [...]rrel on both sides, wherewith he pressed them so hard (although he a­bated very much of the rigor he ex­e [...]cised towards the Infidels and Turks) that the Venetians had no other expedient, but to desire a Peace with him, which yet they would not con­clude but upon their own conditi­ons, though they were reduced to such extremity, as that if Scanderbeg had not condescended, they had in all likelihood been destroyed: but he considering, That the vertue, valour, and magnanimity of a valiant warrior, appears not in being cruel to an enemy, chose rather to mitigate the appetite of revenge, by mildness and kind usage; and therefore yeilded freely to forgo that which of right belong­ed unto him, although it was never his custom to quit any thing to I [...]fidels, as appeared clea [...]ly in the encounter with the Tyrant Sebalie, who besieg­ed [Page 140] Bellegrade, where he defeated four an [...] twenty thousand Turkes, Several o­ther of Ca­striot's p [...]ow [...]ss [...]s against the [...]. took six thousand prisoners, and set at liberty four thousand Christians, who were detained by t [...]e Bashaws, M [...]se [...], Assambeg, Isaac, and Sinam­beg, and put to death more than fifty thousand of his enemies: and almost as many more two years after, under the command of the Bashaw Balla­bam.

These and the like valorous ex­ploits, pleased so well the most part of the Christian Princes, that they were thereby provoked to take up Arms against Mahomet; and Pope Pius piously moved, seeing the affe­ctions of this noble Captain, to the utter extirpation of the Infidels, stir­red up all Christian Kings, Princes, and Potentates to Arm themselves against the Turk; and knowing that there could not be an abler Captain Geo: Ca­striot crea­ted chief of the Christian League a­gainst the Turk. chosen to that purpose, then Scan­derbeg, to curb and tame the Barba­rians, elected and named him the Captain of the League, with promise to make him King, not onely of all [Page 141] Albania or Epire, but also of Ma­cedoni [...]: which ho [...]y un [...]er [...]ing was interrupted by the death of [...]ius, and Pope Paul the second; although our Albanian King travelled since to Rome, to summon the Pope to joyn in a design so profitable for the safe­ty and enlargement of Christendome. Finally, finding himself f [...]u [...]rate of the succors he expected f [...]m the Kings and Princes on this [...]e, he went to L [...]ssa upon the River of Cliro, to con [...]ult of the Occurrences of the war with the Deputy Prove [...]dor of Ve [...]ice, where he was seized on by a deadly Feaver; and feeling himself strucken by death, he made his will, and re­commended his little son John, his Geo : Ca­st [...]iot crea­ted Citizen of Venice. wealth and Country, to the care of the State of Venice, who in remembrance and gratitude for the advantagious peace he had freely granted them, created him and his posterity (after they had casted lots) with an univer­sal consent to be Citizens of Venice. A few dayes after he departed hence to the other world in the 63 d. year of his age, and four and twentieth of his [Page 142] Reign (for he began his Reign the eight and twentieth day of Novemb. in the year 1443. an [...] dyed in the year 1467.) his body was interred in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Lissa, with great Pomp and Magnificence, Castriot's death and bu [...]ial. whose bones rested enclosed in this place in peace, until Mahomet came into Epire some four years after, to assault Scutari. So great a reverence (saith Paulus [...]ovins) had the Turks themselves of this Heroick persons valour and conduct, that after his death, having made themselves ma­sters of all Epire, at last seized upon his Sepulchre at Alesha; which having found, they worshipped and adored it, pulling out his dead [...]ones, which they carried about them, thinking themselves invincible, & safe in bat­tle, Several no­table ex­ploits done by Castriot. if at their going to fight they had the least piece of a relique of this invincible Captain hung at their neck in gold or silver; and indeed his acti­ons are incredible. As that wild Sa­vage Bull of an extraordinary fury and greatness, committing a thou­sand spoyls and murthers in the [Page 143] Country of his Sister Mamiza, whose ne [...]k he quite cut through with one [...]low of his S [...]imiter on horseback. That monstrous Boar of Apoville, which had wounded [...]o many of King Ferd [...]nana's Courtiers, which bea [...] he ass [...]ulted in the same manner, and with like dexte [...]i [...]y he cut off his head in the open Field before the King, as they were a hunting. And it is also reported of him, that after the en­camping of Ballaban before Cr [...]ye, there being brought to him chained and fast bound together, Jonima and Heder, the brother and Nephew of Ballaban, their sight (putting him in remembrance of the cruelties acted through Ballaban's occasion, upon the person of Moyses and his compa­nions) put him in such a vehement passion of anger against them, that he had no patience to suffer others to fall on them, but in great fury fell on them himself, and at one blow hewed them both through the body with his Scimiter; which was a Da­masked one, of an excellent good­nesse, two of which he always wore [Page 144] in one Scabbard, both which were often broken or spoiled in one B [...]ttel. And Mahomet having heard of the excellency of such a sword which would cut asunder Ganders, Hel­mets, and other strong Armour) as they were once in a T [...]eaty, sent to desire it for a present; an [...] the Sultan causing tryal to be made thereof by the best Arms of the Court, and the strongest, and no such miracles pro­ceeding from it as was boasted of, he thereupon caused it to be retu [...]n [...] to Scanderbeg, saying, That [...]e g [...]ve him no thanks for such a present, when he could buy as good and a better for his money; and that he would no longer believe that which was reported of it. Put Scanderbeg having made more extraordinary proofs thereof in the presence of t [...]e Messenger, sent him word, That the vertue was not altogether in the Sword, but in the Arm, which he re­served to himself, which he employed against his enemies.

And though I do not much value the Prodigies and observations, which [Page 145] many men as it were adore at some Nativities; yet will I not conceal A prodigie which hap­pened at Castriot 's birth. what was prognosticated of the glory that should accompany this famous person; his Mother dreaming, as soon as he was conceived, that she had brought fo [...]th a Serpent of that big­ness, that it covered almost all E­pire; and stretching out its head up­on the Dominions of the Turk, it swallowed them up with its bloody throat, dipping his Tail in the Sea that looks towards the Christians, and especially towards the confines of Venice. I know many will be apt to be encouraged upon this relation, to slatter themselves with hopes up­on the like predictions; and others too superstitious, will endeavour to unfold the secrets that lye hidden un­der the shadow of such a Dream: for my part, I shall acknowledge, that by the effects, the advertisement which nature here gave, was not al­together frivolous, whereby every one might know that this George Ca­striot should be eminent in Arms and Warlike exploirs; a scourge to the [Page 146] Turks, a successeful Captain, and a true Defender of the Christian Faith, ever retaining an honourable esteem of the Venetian State. In a word, the experience and progress of his whole life do manifestly verifie this superna­tural Prophesie. From his youth he applyed himself so much to the Bow, with other military exercises, and acts of valour, that no Historian makes mention of his equal; neither could any famous Captain ever compare with him in Warlike exploits.

TAMBERLAIN, the great Scourge of the TURKS.

TO raise the drooping thoughts of Christendom, with sea­sonable discourses of those several Champions who have in eve­ry age checkt the growing power of the Turk, though as threatning & ter­rible as at this time, we have at large expressed the admired Carriage and Conduct of Count Serini, and in brief recounted the known actions of Scanderbeg: and to make the num­ber compleat, added here the exact account of great Tamberlain, who weakned the Grand Seignior as much Eastward, as those brave persons have done Northward: a Triumviri these, that are not to be parallel'd, [Page 148] three Heroes that have out gone An­tiquity, and out-reached Pos [...]erity. The first an Heathen born, to punish Infidelity; the second a papist, born to vindicate Christianity; The third a Protestant, born as some think to reform the World. The first informs us how Turkie may be perplexed by Divisions and Invasions: The other two have taught us how it may be les­sened by resolved Defeats and Op­positions. Here we may see what may be done in Asia; there what may be done in Europe. Serini hath in­structed the world what resolution and prudence; Scanderbeg, what correspondences and activity; and Tamberlain, what number and cruelty may be exercised against that over­flowing power and people. Concer­ning which Tamberlain, whether we consider the commencements which gave life to the Soveraign Empire of this same furious rage of Tamberlain; or whether we delight our selves by observing the means whereby he s [...]rued himself up unto the height of Glory; We must needs confesse, (al­though [Page 149] we were never so void of rea­son and judgement) that it is scarce possible, lesse credible, that so de­spicable a vessel should contain so great a stock of admirable Actions, and that thence a branch should have sprung, which did subvert the Turk­ish Monarchy, and several other Po­tentates, as the sequel of this present discourse will manifest. As to his off-spring, Historiographers do much vary about the truth of it. Some say Tamber­lains origi­nal where. he came from the midst of the Par­thians, a people very much redoub­ted in the Romanes times, though but s [...]enderly famous. Others say he was a Turke, a S [...]ythian, a Zagatean, a Tartarian, because it is apparent he was born at Samercand, which is adjacent unto the River Taxartes hard by the Country of Zagatai. And as there is some difference con­cerning the place of his off-spring; so we shall meet with a far greater concerning his qualities and extracti­on. Some deriving his descent from Cixges Cham, and make him to be Zain Cham, the third Emperour, who [Page 150] usually is called Bachti. Others sup­pose him to have been an inconside­rate person, of a base extraction, but who afterwards caused himself to be reputed to be the greatest and most powerful Prince of all the East, in so Tamb. ap­pellation of hims [...]lf. high a degree, as that he termed himself to be the wrath of God, and not a man; in regard whereof, some do compare him to Hannibal, taking it for granted, that the earth never bore a more fierce, o [...]stinate, and self-willed man, than this same Tam­berlain; and that none ever punished thefts and plunders in such a manner as he did, although himself was the greatest thief and robber, and the What Tam­berl. was as to his a­ctions and intellects. most detestablest (as to his Actions) which ever any History did set forth or could produce. And on the con­trary, he was again so excellent a personage (as to his Intellects) that by his audacity and assurance, he fa­cilitated those things which all others judged to be impossible. Morover he was so highly be friended by For­tune, that he never at tempted any thing, but he came off with credit: [Page 151] Nor did he ever wage War, but he remained Conquerour. However some do scruple the meanness of his birth, not judging it possible that so inconsiderable a man, as he is said to have been, should attain to such a pitch of greatnesse, as to shake the Turkish Empire which was so long a setling. But since I finde, that the generality is of that opinion, it will not be unbeseeming my joyning with them therein; and to say that he was the Son of one called Sangali, a man Tamb. Fa­ther & off­spring. who was none of the wealthiest in the world, insomuch as that Tamberlain was constrained (in relation to his Fathers profession) to keep Cattel and Herds in the Fields: but he had not long followed that Vocation, when as entring into a certain Trea­ty Tamberl. from a shep­herd becom [...] a King. and League with the rest of the shepherds of that Countrey, they chose him to be their King, and did in [...]oll and list themselves under his command. Finally, some others do conceive him to have been a poor Souldier, but a subtle and circum­spect m [...]n, who wanted no wit, being [Page 152] of a lively and quick spirit. To which they add, that being got up on the top of a Stable-wall, whence he had a minde to have stolen some horses, and perceiving that the owner had discovered him, he flung himself down the wall, and in the fall hurt his thigh, by reason whereof he ever since remained lame. However he performed gallant Actions; and he was mightily praised for the equity, policy, and good discipline wherewith he maintained his Army. So that had he not a little too much slackned the reines of his Cruelty and Ambition, he doubtlesse had excelled all the Warriors that ever were in the world; for no Chieftain had ever attained to the practical part of ranging and dis­ciplining an Army so exquisitely as he Tamberlin ranged and disciplined his Army very well. did. And should I relate the several good orders which he caused his soul­diery to observe, it would be an end­less work; I shall onely tell you in what manner he prevented the com­ing No spies could ge [...] i [...]o Tam­berl Camp undisco­vered. of any Spies into his Camp, and how they were presently discovered; for which cause he [...]uilt a house with­out [Page 153] his Camp for all strangers that ar­rived, who were there lodged and treated, having any business to com­municate unto him: whereby he pre­vented their sneaking into his Camp, and their prying into, and discovering what was done there. Every evening the Watch-word was distributed, and each man was to repair to his Quar­ters: And if any one was found out of his Rank, or gadding abroad out of his Quarters, he died without mer­cy; so that there was no shelter or safety for Spies.

I shall omit the several manners of repartitions of his Quarters, & un­der what penalties he caused his Mi­litary orders to be observed, since the reader may be better satisfied therein by several other Pens who have most amply written concerning this famous Captains deeds, and shall proceed more particularly to describe his life. Now by his robbings and thieveries he had so well thrived on all sides, that at last he was not a lit­tle troubled, how to preserve that which he had unjustly acquired. And [Page 154] therefore he took two Puissant men among the Massagethians to be his Tamberl. associates. Associates, viz. Chaidaren & Mirx­eus, who being gained by the pre­sents which he gave them, came un­to his relief with their Forces, and with this support, he fell upon the Tartars, overcame them, and de­feated Tamberlin defeats the Tartars. their Cavalry, which gained him such a repu [...]e, as that the inha­bitants of Samercand furnished him with Gold and Silver, and Forces to go through with his undertakings. So likewise the King of the Massagethans made Tamberlain General of all his Tamberlin General of the Massa­getans. Forces to his own ruine; for at the taking of Pogdatus a City in Tartary, Tamberlain (on purpose to usurp his Kingdom) did cause a Fig to be given him, and after his death married his widow. And immediately after made himself King of Samercand, and of the Massagets; Harbouring a design at that very time to conquer the Em­pire of Asia; whereunto he was much sollicited and egged on by Chaidarus, who brought Myrxeus in disgrace with Tamberlain, to whom he had [Page 155] reported some words which Myrxeus had too freely and unadvisedly spo­ken Mirxeus disgraced and his death. of Tamberlain, whilst he was only General of the Massagets, which cost Myrxeus his life. Afterwards he began a War against the Hircanians The Hirca­nians and Caducians conquered by Tamb. as also the Arabians. and Caducians, whom he conquered. And because the Arabians did ravage the neighbouring parts, and gave re­lief unto the Caducians, he thereup­on took an occasion to invade all the Nations which were subject to the Sultan of Persia, of Baldacia, Dama­tia, and of Egypt. However, though he could not conquer them, after he had well-nigh tyred them out, he a­greed a Peace with them, conditio­nally, that they should furnish him with Forces to serve him in his wars, and to pay him an Annual Tribute as a sign of their submission.

But whilest he was busied thus, tormenting some, and undermining others, flattering himself with the vain hopes of the great Conquest he should make, he was called home again by the troubles which were a­risen in his own Countrey. For the [Page 156] great King of Catay, who is one of The King of Catay wars upon Tamberl. the nine Indian Hordes, and the So­veraign of all the Tartars, had made a pretty spoil through all Tamber­lain's Countrey, who in the begin­ning thought to have thundered him out again: but finding with whom he had to deal, apprehen [...]ing lest if he should exasperate the great Cham of Catay too much, it might endan­ger his possessions, was constrained to come to a Treaty, and to demand a Peace, which was granted him, conditionally that Tamberlain should do him homage, and should pay a Tamberl. makes a peace with the King of Ca [...]ay. yearly Tribute for the Messagetes Country which he held. N [...]r need we to doubt but that Tamberlain might have withstood the great Tar­tar, but that he was loth to diminish his Forces, with which he was resol­ved to wage War against the Ottoman Family; being spurred on there unto by the great Ambition he had always to undertake some considerable expe­dition or other against his Neigh­bours. Wherefore being entred Cap­padocia, he besieged the City of Se­basta, [Page 157] and fought against it with so much dexterity, as that the Turks be­ing Tamberl. wars a­gainst the Tu [...]ks, t [...]kes Sebasta. discouraged, and having lost all hopes of being relieved, had not the heart to defend themselves against the Scythians, Persia [...] [...]d B [...]ctrians; who having t [...]ken the Town, put all to the sword [...] they found in the place, [...]o that it is s [...]i [...] there dyed that day above 120 [...]00 souls, besides some persons of qu [...]lity which were taken, and among [...] the rest the son of Baja­zet, the first of that Name, who by his Father had been put in the City of Sebasta, the better to provide for Bajazet 's Soa [...]taken in Sebasta, and put to death. the defence of it; but he had not long kept it, before Tamberlain made him pass under the merciless cruelty of his most impious rage. After which he sent Ambassadors unto Bajazet, com­manding him to render unto all those whom he had dispossessed, whatsoe­ver he most unjustly detained from them (which was but a meer pretence in Tamberlain to pick a quarrel with Tamberl. pretence to war upon Bajazet. Bajazet) as also to pay unto him vast and excessive Tributes. Nor will I here venture to contest whether [Page 158] Tamberlain had just cause to war a­gainst Bajazet, as being a Tyrant; for all the world knows this Tartar made use onely of [...]his cloak or pretence the better to colour and disguise his design against this poor Turke; who Arrogant titles appro­priated to Tamberl. and Baja­zets names. although he was called Temis Cuthlu, which in the Tartarian Language sig­nifies a Fortunate Iron, because he was not onely happy in his enterpri­ses, but as vali [...]nt as his Sword; in­somuch as that he made a great part of the world to tremble: So on the other part Bajazet was [...]irnamed Le­lapa, which signifies a Furious Wave, and Hiidin, which signifies Boisterous & Impetuous. Notwithstanding Tam­berlain did make him know, that his Fortunate sword did not apprehend the being shaken or b [...]oken by the Turkish Waves and Thunder bolts; but that to the contrary his name Lelapa was rather to be stiled a Whirl-winde, not by reason of Bajazet's vertue and A great de­f [...]ct in Ba­jazet. valour, but because of his passion and hastiness, whereby those fortunate enterprises were dissipated an con­founded, which he might have carried [Page 159] on gloriously, had he suffered reason to have been his guide. And it even fell out so; for Bajazet returned a ve­ry smart answer unto Tamberlain, and unadvisedly tainted the Tartars wives honour; which words cost him Tamberl. c [...]asperated against Ba­jazets an­swer by his wife. dear. For as Tamberlain did not ear any good will to Bajazet at all, so his Wife being en [...]aged at the indig­nities which were put upon her by the Turk, did [...]o highly incense her Hu [...]b [...]nd, as that he was not to expect any Peace with his Wife, unle [...]s he pursued the Turk wi [...]h Fire & Sword.

Wherefore Tamberlain assembled A war be­tween Tamberl. and Baja­zet. a formidable Army of Tartarians, Seythia [...]s, Persians, Armenians, and Bactrians, amoun [...]ing unto the num­ber of 800000 fighting men, and passed through the Provinces of Ly­dia and Phrygia, which ca [...]sed Ba­jazet to raise the siege of Constantino­ple, and to march unto Asia, to hinder the M [...]ssagetan from coming into his Country; resolving before Tamberlain should have time to pro­ceed, he would encounter him, and fight him in Armenia, or upon the [Page 160] banks of Euphrates, and although they [...]ought each other, yet they could not meet a long while, Bajazets Council in the interim were of opini­on, that he should do well to treat with Tamberlain, seeing he was not strong enough to resist him, and would not dispend his T [...]easury to raise new Forces. After which the Turk having intelligence that Tam­berlain marched into Bithynia, to be­siege Pruse (heretofore called Bruse) Tam [...]erl fights Ba­jazer, and kils a great [...]mber of the Turks. the chief City of the Country, and the Royal Seat, he resolved to fight him in that place. And both Armies joyned Battle in the Mount Stella (where Pompey fought wi [...]h Mithri­dates in the year one thousand three hundred ninety and seven) and the Turk chancing to be worried, there were above two hundred thousand of them slain in the place, and an infi­nite number taken. Now Bajazet perceiving the day was lost, began to acknowledge his errour, when it was too late; wherefore he resolved to repair the faults the best he could, and save himself by flight, be [...]ng [Page 161] mounted on a Mare, which was as swift as the wind. But the misfortune of his disaster following him, he was pu [...]sued by the Tamberlanists, who overtook him, by the fault which Bajazeth committed in letting his Bajazeth taken pri­soner. Mare drink, who thereby became so heavy and replenished, as that she could not make so much way as she did before; besides all which, this poor King was troubled with the Gout, which had disabled his hands and his feet.

The Tamberlainists having seazed on so rich a booty, as also on all the Basha's, Beglerbegs, Aga's, and San­gea's of the King of Turkie; he was brought unto Tamberlain, who taking him by the shoulders, said these words, Thou disloyal Coward, thou art now my Slave, and thou shalt receive the reward of thy deserts. Ba­jazet being full of amazement, an­swered him, I pray you Sir, kill me: but the Conqueror replied, Lets go, lets go, there is no man can save thee. Whenas this miserable captive for­getting the miserable estate wherein [Page 162] he was, returned harsh language un­to his Conqueror, and with injurious Bajazeths indiscretion in reproach­ing of [...] Tamber­lain. terms began to inveigh against Tam­berlain, reproaching him with his base extraction, and with his former profession of theevery. So that it was a wonder this Zagathean did not cause him immediately to be slain; for on a less occasion he caused his great friend Mirxe to be put to death, be­cause he onely had adventured to say that the principality of Samercand was too well settled, to fall into the hands of so inferior a fellow, and so inconsiderate a robber as Tamberlain was; although these words were not spoken in his presence, nor after he had attained to that dignity. But it seems he reserved the venting of his choller upon Bajazet, because he would not put him to death before he had observed all the formalities of Justice. And truely the Captive King had little reason to rail at him, for immediately he caused him to be set upon a M [...]le, and in a way of de­rision to be led through all the ene­mies Camp, and afterwards caused [Page 163] him to tyed in Golden Chains, and to [...]e put in a Cage, carry [...]ng him up The indigni­ti [...]s and mi­s [...]ries of Ba­jazet. and down wheresoever he went; and when he got upon Ho [...]se­back, he caused him to kneel down, setting his feet upon his neck and shoulders, making him his footstool (as former­ly Sophorus the King of the Persians did [...]nto Valerinus the Emperor of Rome) and fed him onely with crums of bread and broken morsels, which he fl [...]ng unto him just as if he had been a Dog. However Bajazets courage could not hereby be abashed, as it appeared when Tamberlain caused that Sultaness which the Turk loved The Sultan­ess Baja­zeths wife serveth Tamber­lain at ta­ble. best (and who was taken with the Kings children and all Bajazets Con­cubines in the Seraglio of Pruse or Bruse) and made her serve him at table. At which sight, the miserable Captive flew out into howlings and roarings, reproaching the Con­querors baseness and p [...]ide, in ma­king so lit [...]le esteem of the Kingly race, for t [...]is Lady was the d [...]ughter of Eleazor King of Servia. More­over these conquests so pu [...]fed u [...] this [Page 164] Tartars heart, as being not able to contain himself within any compass, Tamber­lains de­signs to con­quer Eu­rope, pre­vented by his death. he had designed to pass into Europe to Conquer it; but his death put a period to all his ambitious enter­prises, in the year of our Lord four­teen hundred and three.

He died as he lived, with thoughts full of Conquests and victories; his ambition is as wide as Europe, while his body is confined to a Grave-pit; his success was great, and his mind greater; he attained much, he aimed at more; he was born a beggar, but with a King in his belly; his temper was as rude as his Country, his edu­cation as little as his hopes, and his Manners rough and unhewn as his Calling. He was the most ambitious man that ever was heard of, and who would by no means be rendred civil nor familiar. Whereof a certain Genua Gentleman, who was one of his great favorites can give a testimo­ny, who essaying to break him of his rudeness and inhumanity wherewith­all he treated those which he had o­vercome, he answered him, How now [Page 165] thou Dog? dost thou think I am a man? I am the wrath of God, and the Tamber­lains sence of himself. ruine of mankinde; nor have [...]ca [...]ce any exceeded him in cruelty. Two examples whereof I shall set before you: The first was when he caused The inhu­mane [...]u [...]l­ty of [...]am­b [...]lain. that most barbarous inhumanity to be exe [...]cised at Damas on the maidens and young children, who came ou [...] of the said City to meet him, clad in white, and bearing Oli [...]e-branches in their hands for a token of Peace and submission; this unworthy and cruel Tyrant set his Cavalry to Mas­sacre and trample underfoot all that flower of youth, and taking the City, he put all the inhabitants thereof to the swo [...]. The second was the im­piety which he committed against the Spittle of Lepers which was joyning unto the City of Sebasta; where by reason of their not communicating with the rest of the people, and so consequently were not in a capacity to prejudice the Tartar, and where­by Tamber­lains im­piety against the spittle of Lepers. they might have promised them­selves a priviledge of security, yet he caused them to be inhumanely Mas­sacred, [Page 166] alledging, That they infected the Air. But for all this I must not rob him of that honor which he ac­quired for his strict observance of Justice, even against his own Soul­diers, Tamber­lain a great observer of Justice. who as soon as they were ta­ken in any offence, were most severe­ly punished; which we may observe by the sentence which he caused to be inflicted upon one of his Captains, who walking on the Coast of the Cas­pian Sea, three leagues from Tamber­lains Camp, and espying a very fair Maiden who went to draw water, he ravished her, whereupon the said Maiden, together with her Father, complaining to Tamberlain that she had been violated as she was going to fetch water, by a disloyal and perfi­dious Tartar, and desiring him to do her Justice; he returned her a most Kingly and gracious answer, that he would most severely punish him: and so he did, for as the Tartarian Histo­ries relate, he caused him to be impa­led, or spitted on a stake alive. Finally lest the Reader might be mistaken, and might conceive, that in my de­scription [Page 167] of this Tartarian Emperors life, I was ignorant that he was cal­led by another name besides Tamber­lain; I would therefore desire him to take notice, that I have called him Tamber­lains right name. so, to follow the general denomi­nation of him in this manner, that so all men might know, of whom we do write these p [...]aises. For accord­ing to the Tartarian appellation, he was called the great Tamirrham, al­though others baptize him Timir Langue; and these latter, as far as I can conjecture (by the several com­parisons which I have observed) do come the nearest to the Truth; at least do approach very nigh to the de­finition of the con [...]ition and quali­ties of the said Tartar, whose true name was doubtless Tamir; and by reason he was lame, they added the quality of Langue thereunto, which in the Tartarian language signifies no other thing save a lameness; and so called him Tamir Langue.

Lame he was in his body, and croo­ked in his mind; weak in his Limbs, but strong in his Spirit: Limping as [Page 168] he was he would have over- [...]un Eu­rope, if he had lived one year longer. The Turke was not a greater scourge to Christe [...]dom, then he was to the Turk, whom when he had whipped sufficiently, Go [...] dealt with as he will wi [...] all the Instruments of his wrath, When the Child mends, burn the Rod.