HOW the Turke at first aspi­red to his greatnesse, and fi­thence hath amplified and maintained it, chiefly by dis­tension of Christian Princes; I hold it needlesse for mee to set foorth in writing, because it is a truth commonly knowne, and generally confessed by all Writers: a matter much to be lamented, that those Weapons which ought to haue been bent against the enemies of Christians and their Religion, haue been so vn­christianly [Page 2] and vnnaturally imployed in the effusion of Christian blood. Herevpon haue been erected those glorious Trophies of many Victories, Where­with the Grand Siguior hath adorned his Dia­dem.

But I will not insist any longer vpon this common place of our Calamities: Let vs see awhile, what fruites Concord hath produced, & to what heighth of Honour she hath aduanced her followers; that so by comparing the great losse and ignominie arysing from the one, with the abundant profit & renowne issuing from the other, we may all ioyne in one hearty prayer to God, That he would at length be pleased, to co-vnite the heartes of Christian Princes in one firme bond of Peace, to the replantation of his Gos­pell in those conquered Countries, and the extirpati­on of all Turcisme and Idolatrie.

This was it, which lost vs those ample and goodly Prouinces in the East, wherein our Religion was at first propagated; and wherein so many Millions of Christians since that time hitherto, haue been, and are reduced to most miserable and insupportable slauerie.

But because I study breuitie, as desirous to draw neere the intended subiect of this Discourse; it shall be sufficient (among many others) to alleadge one or two examples for confirmation of this Truth.

At such time as that warlike Saladine, had by force inuested himselfe in the Kingdome of Syria, and subiected to his dominion Hierusalem, and the [Page 3] Holy Land, the Christian Princes of these Westerne partes, combined in a strong league, and moued with an holy zeale of Gods glory, transported an Armie, vnder the conduct of Godfrey of Bulloine, for the re­couerie of that Countrie.

Against this force of the Christians, the Saladine apposed with all his power; and in many Conflictes, with variable successe, for a long time maintained his partie: Meane while hee forgot not (like a subtile Foxe) by all possible meanes, to corrupt such of the speciall Commanders, as he thought most likely to be wonne to his purpose; if so, by disseuering the Chiefe of their secret Consultations, he might make frustrate all their attempts.

The summe is; his Plots fayled, and nothing suit­eth to his wished purpose. Hee relies therefore on his owne Strength; is fought withall, and defeated, and the Victorie so hotly pursued, that driuen hee is at length, to abandon the Kingdome, & leaue it to the discretion of the victorious Conquerour.

In his roome was that religious Godfrey in­throned: atfter whom, diuers Christian Princes, for many yeares togeather, held the Soueraigntie there­of, to the great aduantage and honour of Christen­dome, and the confusion of their Enemies.

Afterwardes, in the time of Richard the first, King of this Land, the French King then reigning, (excited with the like zeale of propagating our Re­ligion, and freeing that distressed Countrie from their mercilesse Enemies) entred into firme League [Page 4] with the sayd Richard for the same purpose: These Princes therefore with their ioynt forces, inuade the Turkes and winne many Victories, recouer most of their Townes from them, as Ioppe, Acon, and others; and in the end, expelling them from those partes, restore a perfect Libertie to the oppressed Inhabitantes.

By these meanes, haue diuers of our ancient Prin­ces acquired true glorie, whilest our Kingdome (beeing at peace in it selfe) was able and willing to imploy her forces against those damned miscreantes. But of this enough.

It is now time that wee come to the purpose: wherein (according to my poore skill) I will limme out vnto you in a small pourtrait, the true Patterne (some correspondent circumstances considered) of that famous Battaile of Lepanto; wherein the Turkes and Christians, with their greatest forces conten­ded, who should prooue the better men at Sea, and ought to haue the Commaund and Lordship thereof.

In which fight, the most of the Turkish Fleete was either lost, or taken, and their Generall, with many other great Men, made Prisoners; besides a world of ordinarie Souldiers slaine, and captiuated, But to our purpose.

[Page 5]The Duke of Ossuna, Vice-roy of Sicil, kee­ping good Watch vpon the Turkes procee­dings, and knowing how much it behoued to vse all circumspection against so vigilant an enemy, for preuention of danger, and his owne better information, about the beginning of August last, sent forth eight Gallies from Pa­lermo, well manned and prouided vnder com­mand of Don Octauio Taglia Via d' Arr [...]gona, to discouer or attempt somewhat in the Leu [...]t. Hauing all things therefore in a readinesse, Hee happily set saile, and with a good gale came to Carigo: where hee soone vnderstood that the Turkish Fleete some few dayes be­fore had put from Constantinople with thirty Gallies, and were bound for Rhodes, where they were to meete with sixteene more, which as then lay wayting for them in the Negrepont; and that vpon the meeting of these Fleetes they should make saile for So­ria, there to bee imployed against certaine Rebels of that Countrey, that were lately re­uolted from the Turkes obedience.

Vpon this Aduertisement hee put to Sea againe, and touched at some Islands of the Archipelago, where the same newes of the Turkish Fleete were againe confirmed. Hee made no long stay, but thrust out againe, and some fewe houres after descried a Saile [Page 6] Whereunto making with all speede possible, hee found her to bee of the Isle Macaria, demanding if they knewe any newes of the Turkes; They answered, that the day before, (at Zant) two Turkish Gallish had taken from them fiue Barrels of Pitch; and that they reported for a truth, that the Gouer­nour of Rhodes, the day before that Pitch ta­ken, had sent out twelue Gallies to tow cer­taine Caramusals, or great Vessels, ouer the Channell of Samos, that they might bee the sooner ready to take their Freight from the Carauan of Alexandria, and that for a more likely-hood that this was true, they them­selues (besides those two Gallies with whom they had Conference) had seene eight o­ther Gallies, towing the Caramusals afore­said.

DON OCTAVIO hauing gotten this in­telligence, presently made to Sea-wards, and plying with strength of Oares, and furthe­red with a faire gale, held his course that day, and the next night for the other side to­wards the firme Land of Natolia. Thither hee came about the dawning, and at the Cape of Coruo met with all his Gallies, which were in safety.

At day-breake hee set saile againe, and had not long coasted, when hee might ken a farre [Page 7] off, ten saile of Gallies, beeing part of those twelue that had towed the Caramusals: the o­ther two, as was afterwards reported, being sent by the Turkish Generall to Scio. Hee had no sooner got sight of them, then hee pre­pared for their welcome, hauing a firme reso­lution to ouercome or bee taken. Distributing therefore in fit places, all weapons and mu­nition necessary, hee incouraged his Soul­diers, and furiously made forth against them.

At the first hee had thought to haue in­compassed them: but three of their Gallies keeping aloofe to sea, made his purpose fru­stra [...]e.

When the Fleetes were now come within reach of each other, the Ordinance on either side began to thunder, and the small shot (like haile) flew aboord the Gallies.

The two Generall Gallies made a furious en­counter, and for the space of halfe an houre, and vpwards, maintained a bloudy fight: du­ring which time, Sinan the Beg of Cypras, Ge­nerall of the Turkish Fleete, stood aduanced in the poope of his Gally, to behold the man­ner thereof, and to giue directions as necessity required.

In the end, after a sharpe and terrible con­flict, Don Octauio boorded the Turkish Admi­rall in the Prow, and afterwards in the Poope, [Page 8] wherein the Sicillians made a wonderfull slaughter.

In the meane while the other Gallies were not Idle, but with like violence assaulted each other.

The victory fell to the Sicillians, with great execution done vpon the Turkes, and small losse of their owne. Seuen of the Turkes Gal­lies were presently taken; two of them ranne a shore, and the Turkes leaping forth, saued themselues in the mountaines: the other three fled to sea-wards, and escaped.

Don Octauio hauing assured the victory, gaue thankes to God the Author thereof; and then gaue order to repaire his Gallies, which were no sooner in a readinesse, but with his owne Gallies, and those that were taken, he ioyfully set forth, and made for Sicill.

In this fight, (besides the seuen great Admi­rall Gallies which were taken) these men of quality were made prisoners; Sinan the Gene­rall, a man of great account with the Turke: and Piali Bassa the Beg of Alexandria, beeing sonne to the same Haly Bassa that was Generall at Lepanto: in whom I obserue, that his Family and Name is (as it were) predestinated to in­crease the honor of Christians with their ruine and captiuity.

Many other men of great note were likewise [Page 9] taken, who are not likely to bee redeemed for a little: sixe or seuen hundred Turkes slaine, as many taken, and aboue a thousand poore Chri­stians freed from slauery.

Thus haue I briefly related vnto you the summe of the victory; wherein if the phrase be distastfull, let the truth of the matter supply that defect; And let the common ioy which wee ought all to receiue at the ouer-throw of our common ene­my, make some excuse for my rudenesse, not affected with curiosity.