Quarrels a

of Marc Cornaro, a noble Venetian, which Prince dying, he left his Confort great with Child, which Child by his last Will he declared fhould fucceed him in the Throne under the Guardianship of the Republick. The Infant dying within a Year after his Father, bout Cyprus. Charlotte, the Sifter of James, laid claim to the Crown, and created great Disturbances in the Ifland, which were at length entirely quelled by the Prudence and good Conduct of Mocenigo, who expelled the factious Party, and fettled the Kingdom in Peace. James Marcelli being then appointed to fucceed him in the Administration of this new Province, Mocenigo was ordered by the Senate to look to the Defence of Scutari, and guard the Coaft of Albania, against the Attempts of the Turks; pursuant whereto he repaired thither, and placed strong Garrifons in Durazzo, Budoa, Antivari, and Dulcigno, appointing a Gally to attend the Service of each.

A Peace be-
tween the

Turks and
Venetians.

About this time deceased in Nixia John Crifpus, Lord of that Ifland, and of Phermene, Scyro, and Melo, three other of the ancient Cyclades, the Inhabitants of which Iflands having been very weary of his Government, and Nicolas Capello happening accidentally to be at that time in the Port of Nixia, with fix Venetian Ships, which he commanded against the Pirates, they made their Application to him to receive their Submiflion to the Republick, which he readily accepted, and left with them a Citizen of Venice to adminifter their Government.

The Turks now preffing the Venetians very hard, they were obliged to come to a Peace, whereby they gave up Scutari, the Caftle of Maina, near Cape Matapan, and the Ifland of Stalimine, and agreed to pay eight thousand Ducats a Year for Freedom of Trade in their Seas: However there were after this feveral flight Skirmishes between them, the Islanders under the Venetian Government creating fome Disturbances, as did alfo the Pirates who were fecretly countenanced by the Turks. Aloife Giorgi came to an En The Venetians gagement with the Pirate Arige off Cape Matapan, where, after an overcome the obftinate Difpute, they both feparated with equal Lofs. On the Coast of Africa Bernard Cicogna, the Venetian Admiral, fought Peruca, another Pirate, defeated and took him Prifoner: And off Cotrone Andrew Loredano killed Peter de Biscay, with feveral of his Affociates.

Pirates.

A War rekindled between the Turks and Venetians.

And now the War breaking out again with the Turks, a Fleet was fent against them under the Command of Anthony Grimani, who obferving with how much Difficulty the People contributed toward the late War they had in Italy by Land with the French and Florentines, lent the Republick eighty Pounds of Gold to pay the Wages of the Seamen, engaging to raise fo many in Corfu and other Places as would man the Fleet. Off Modon he came to a BatThe Venetians tel with the Turks, but was defeated, and forced to retreat to Probeaten by the deno, a neighbouring Ifland; where hearing the French Fleet was at Zante, he failed thither to join them, after which he had feve ral flight Skirmishes with the Enemy, but meeting with little or no Succefs, he again feparated from the French. The Troops on board the Flect having entertained a Notion, that if he had attacked the

Turks.

Enemy

Enemy with his whole Force, he might have entirely destroyed them, drew up and fent their Opinion to Venice, where a Refolution was taken to remove Grimani from his Command, which was accordingly done: And becaufe Thomas Zeni, whom they pitched upon to fucceed him, was indebted to the Exchequer, and that, by an ancient Law, none who were fo, could enjoy any Place of Trust, they made an Act that this Law fhould not take place with refpect to him, whom they put at the head of the Fleet. But he met with no better Success than his Predeceffor, the Turks taking Navarino, Are again Modon, and Coron, with the Islands of Engia and Metelino. How- beaten, and ever, after the Departure of the Turkish Fleet, Engia was prefently taken; recovered by Benedict Pefaro, who having alfo ravaged Metelino but foon after and Tenedo, fell on the Rear of the Turkith Fleet, then entering the have Success. Gulph of Negroponte, and took feveral Ships, the Companies whereof he nailed to Croffes along the Sea-fhore. After this he reduced the Island Samandrachi, plundered Carifta, recovered Cephalonia, and in the Gulph of Larta feized twelve of the Enemy's Ships loaden with Stores of War, carrying them all to Corfu.

feveral Places

CHAP. V.

Of the Naval Wars of the Venetians, from the Conclufion of the League of Cambray, to the prefent Times.

A

The Princes of
Europe unite

against Ve

nice.

BOUT this time it was that almost all Europe united, at the A. D. 1508. Inftigation of Pope Julius II, to procure the Deftruction of the Republick of Venice, the Defign whereof was concluded at Cambray, by a Treaty between that Pontiff, the Emperor Maximilian I, the French King Louis XII, Ferdinand King of Spain, and other Princes of lefs Confideration: Which Treaty was carried on with fuch Secrecy, that the Republick never had the leaft notice of it till they were attacked. The Blow was fo fudden, that they immediately loft all they had on the Terra Firma, and were confined to their City, against which the Emperor levelled his great Guns from They are conthe Continent, and were it not for his want of Shipping, had crof- fined to their City, and fubfed over thither, and poffeffed himself of that likewife. Thus was mit to the Emthe Venetian Lion forced to couch to the German Eagle, and that peror. State, which had remained unconquered for above a thousand Years, to become an humble Suppliant to the Emperor. They quitted all their Pretenfions on the Continent, and agreed to pay an annual Tribute; but at length their Artifices prevailed fo far as to break The Alliance the Confederacy, and then having to deal with thofe Princes fingly, the Venetians they recovered all which had been taken from them, and pretty recover themwell fecured themselves against any fuch Disaster for the future. felves.

broken, and

the Venetians

to the Pope.

It was the fame Pope Julius II. who, being unwilling to allow the Republick any thing, demanded of them, by his Nuncio, by what Right, or whofe Donation, they pretended to the Dominion A fubtle An- of the Adriatick; to which they anfwered, that they much wonfwer made by dered his Holiness fhould act in a manner fo difagreeable to his ufual Juftice, by asking them for thofe very Writings which he had at Rome among his own Records; for that if he would pleafe to look for the Donation of Conftantine, he would find on the back of that what he defired: By which facetious Anfwer they wifely gave the Pope to know, that as he did not enjoy fo many Cities and Provinces on fhore, fo they did not hold their Dominion of the Sea, by virtue of any Grant or Donation from any Emperor, either Greek or Roman, nor ground it on the beforemention'd Compliment to them of Pope Alexander III; but on the long Exercife of that Dominion, confirmed by the continued Knowledge and Sufferance (that is the Confent and Authority in this Cafe) of the Parties concerned to oppofe it; and that they would defend by Arms a Right fo lawfully acquired, and fecured by fo long Prefcription, against all who fhould pretend

War betwixt Selim II and the Venetians

The Turks

to attack it.

The next great War the Republick was engaged in was with Selim II, Emperor of the Turks, for the Inland of Cyprus, who preabout Cyprus. tended it was become a Shelter for Pirates, which disturbed the Commerce of the Mediterrancan, and that he being Master of the Countries which lay about it, (to one of which, viz. Egypt, he faid, it did of Right belong) it was incumbent on him to fecure the Navigation to thofe Parts, and therefore demanded they would yield it up to him. The Senate's Anfwer was, that they were so far from entertaining or encouraging Pirates, that they kept conftantly a Number of Gallies at Cyprus to cruise against them; and that if he made thefe Pretences to break with them, they were refolved to defend themselves; whereupon the Turks repaired with a numerous Fleet to the Ifland, and there landing an Army of a hundred thoufand Men, laid Sicge to Nicofia, the capital City, which in a fhort take Nicofia. time was taken by Storm, and Mustapha, who commanded on this Expedition, after he was Mafter of the Town, caufed above twenty thoufand Perfons to be put to the Sword, and as many were made Slaves, cutting off the Head of Dandolo, the Governour, which he fent as a Prefent to the Officer who commanded in Famagusta, the Place he was going next to beficge. Then having felected the richeft of the Spoils, confifting of Plate, and other valuable Effects, with feveral fine Women and beautiful Children of Quality, of both Sexes, gathered from all Parts of the Ifland, he put them on board three of the largest Ships of the Fleet, and committed them to the Charge of four hundred Janizaries, to be conveyed as a Prefent to the Grand Signior, either in token of his Succefs, or to conciliate to himself A hardy Deed the doubtful Favour of his Prince. The Slaves were all put togeof Cyprian ther in one Ship, where a young Lady, reflecting on the Calamity which had already happened to her Country and her Friends, and what farther fhe was to expect when the fhould be in the Power of

a

Lady.

Selim, began to revolve fome uncommon Thoughts in her Mind. They had now weighed Anchor, and were just got under Sail, when there being occafion to fetch up Powder to charge the Guns, this Woman found means to get down with a Light to the Powder-Room, where having an Opportunity of executing her dreadful Purpose, fhe looks alternately towards her Country and Heaven, and, grown bold by having refolved to die, defperately applies the Fire to the Powder, fo that in a Moment all were in Flames, and with a dreadful Blaft the Ship was thrown in pieces into the Air: Nor did the Destruction thus end; for the burning Fragments falling into the two other Ships, fet them alfo on fire, and in few Minutes Space, all the Spoil which had been fo carefully collected through the whole Ifland, with every Soul on board the Ships, except four Seamen, who by great Accident efcaped, and fwam to Land, where confumed, within Sight of the Shore, Mustapha himself looking on at the difmal Spectacle.

magufta.

Mustapha advancing to Famagusta, invefted that Place, where Bragadini, a brave and experienced Officer, was Governor, who with a handful of Men made a moft gallant Defence against the Enemy's numerous Army, but at length was obliged to furrender, which he did upon honourable Terms, the Garrifon being not only permitted to march out with flying Colours, Arms and Baggage, but were to be fupplied with Veffels to transport them to Candia, and a Squadron of Gallies for their Convoy: Notwithstanding which, The Cruelty of the perfidious Barbarian treacherously broke the Treaty, feized the the Turks upprincipal Officers, and put them to Death in cold Blood, and made on taking FaSlaves of all the reft of the Garrifon. Bragadini himself was faved from this Slaughter, to be yet more inhumanly treated for having fo bravely done his Duty; for they first cut off his Nofe and Ears, and then threw him, with Irons on his Legs, into a Dungeon, from whence the Executioners drew him out once a Day, to carry Earth in a Basket for repairing the Fortifications, making him bow down with his Burthen, and kifs the Ground every time he past before Muftapha, who came to overfee the Work. He was afterwards put on board the Fleet, where, among other Indignities, they fixed him in a Chair, and hoifted him up to the Yard-Arm of a Ship, that fo the Deformity of his mangled Vifage might be more confpicuous, and be feen by the Chriftians which were yet in the Port. Then bringing him afhore, they carried him to the Market-Place, where after he had been tied up by the Heels and flay'd alive, his Skin was They cruelly stuffed with Straw, and hung up at the Yard-Arm of Mustapha's massacre BraGally, in which manner it was carried about in Triumph on the Coafts of Syria and Egypt. It was afterwards put into the Arfenal of Conftantinople, from whence it was redeemed by the Pofterity of the deceased Hero at a great Price, and is to this Day kept as the most glorious Trophy of their Family.

gadini.

An Alliance between the

At the Beginning of the War, the Venetians had fet on foot a Treaty of Alliance with Pope Pius V, and Philip II, King of Spain, Pope, King of which was at length concluded, and both thofe Princes aided them Spain, and

Venice.

A. D. 1571.
The confede-

rate Fleet
come to Mef-
fina.

Their strength,

pofed.

with Naval Forces. Thofe of the firft were commanded by Marc Anthony Colonna, and of the latter by Don John of Auftria, natural Son to the Emperor Charles V, the Navy of the Republick being conducted by Sebaftian Venier. At length, after tedious Delays on the part of the Spaniards, the confederate Fleet rendezvous'd at Melina, where a Council of War was called to confider of the Operations of the Campaign; and, after feveral Debates, it was refolved, through the earnest Entreaties of Colonna and Venier, to make the best of their way towards the Morea. Every thing being in readiness for failing, the Generals, Officers, and Soldiers repaired on board, and the Wind prefenting fair, they weighed Anchor amidst the Prayers and Bleffings of the neighbouring People of Sicily and Italy, who came down to the Coafts, in infinite Multitudes, to fee the most numerous Navy the Chriftians ever fitted.

out.

It confifted of twelve Gallies of the Pope's, cighty one Gallies, and how dif- and twenty Ships of Burthen of the King of Spain's, and a hundred and eight Gallies, fix large Galeaffes, and two Ships of Burthen of the Venetians, the whole under the Command of Don John of Auftria, who divided his Fleet into four Squadrons, three of which made up the main Body and two Wings, and the fourth what was judged neceffary for a Referve. The Right confifted of fifty three Gallies, commanded by John Andrew Doria, who hoifted a green. Flag on the Main-top-maft Head: The Left, of the like Number, was put under the Command of Auguftine Barbarigo, who carried a yellow Flag, fixed on the Starboard fide of his Main-top; and Don John himfelf, difplaying a blue Flag, conducted the main Body, confifting of fixty one Gallies; the Referve being led by Alvarez Bafano, Marquis of Santa Cruz, who carried a white Flag in the Poop, which Squadron confifted of thirty eight Gallies, and from it eight were detached, under the Command of John de Cardona, to fail about fix Leagues ahead of the Fleet, with Orders to fend Advice by Boats, from time to time, of what he could difcover, and as foon as he defcry'd the Enemy, to retreat to the Fleet, and divide his Ships between the two Wings. The fix great Galcaffes were placed about half a Mile ahead of the Line, two before each Divifion, and diftant from one another about a Mile, but they being unwieldy and heavy Sailers, the General gave Orders that, as there might be occafion, they fhould be towed by others.

He took his Poft in the Centre of the main Body, having Marc Anthony Colonna, admiral of the Pope's Gallies, on his Right, and Sebaftian Venier, the Venetian Admiral, on his Left. Next to Colonna was the Admiral Gally of Genoa, commanded by Hector Spinola, on board of which was the Prince of Parma; and next to Venier was the chief Gally of Savoy, commanded by Leynius, having on board her the Prince of Urbin; and aftern of Don John, Colonna, and Venier, were placed the Patronne Gally of Spain, with that of the great Commander of Caftile. In the right Point of this main Body was the principal Gally of Malta, commanded by

the