Good News from Florence: OF A FAMOUS VICTORY OBTAINED against the Turks in May last 1613. both by Sea and Land:  
By the great Duke of FLORENCE, the Earl of CANDALE, and divers French Commanders and Gentlemen hereafter named.  
Translated faithfully into English out of the French copy, printed with privilege at Paris and taken out of the Italian discourse printed at Florence.   printer's device? 
VERITAS FILIA TEMPORIS  
LONDON, Printed by Edward Griffin for Nathaniel Butter at Saint Augustine's gate, 1614   

A RELATION OF the taking of the Haven and fortress of SELEUCIA called AGLIMAN in CARAMANIA, and of two General Galleys and other ships of the TURKS.  
THe great Duke Cosmo the second, heir of the valour and glory of his most princely Ancestors as well as of their fair and flourishing States in Tuscanie, knowing in himself he had as great an inclination and as much obligation towards all high & great attempts in general, and particularly those that were for the sea, as he saw himself left with few occasions and little means for the same, having been prevented therein by the ambitious valour of his father Ferdinando, which seemed to have left after him nothing of any possibility, or such as was full of extreme difficulties: he seeing that (I say) fell not a crying with that Alexander which first got himself the name of Great, but rather the more moved with laudable emulation, endeavoureth himself daily to follow the victories of his father, and if possible be, to raise them up to the top of all perfection.  
For this effect being resolved to give over those flyings on the sea, and utterly transported to the fair enterprises by land, after he had made a most curious fearch and examination of the fairest and hardest among them, the first he judged worthy of himself was this of Agliman, a fortress of Caramania or Cilicia: a Country indeed which in old time hath had two most famous Cities, Tarsus the Metropolitan thereof and S. Paul's country, and Seleucia with the port and haven thereof, now adays called Agliman; from thence sailed out armies for sea the most strange and formidable that ever were heard of. History tells us, that the Pirates which heretofore there assembled, did set out together sometimes more than a thousand great ships, so sumptuously furnished, that many had their sails of purple, the ropes and gables of gold, and the oars set with silver, that by their inroads and scour they had spoiled and ruinated above four hundred towns, and broken and marred all the trading and commerce throughout the Mediterranean sea, so that proud Rome did acknowledge by them she was not unvincible as she thought, and was forced then to set out against them that great Navy whereof Pompeius the great was Admiral. This great Duke then aspired to the same place on the which formerly Pompeius deseigned his great enterprise. And though this noble object was more than sufficient to move his spirit, yet the Christian zeal and piety was his chiefest and most regarded motive. For upon the walls of the same fortress were set up the heads of forty worthy and brave subjects of his, cruelly slain when the ship Prospera was lost by the stubborn ignorance of the Captain, which being drowned in the same did escape the exemplary punishment he deserved. This horrible trophy which the Turks had thus erected to their pride, still kept a flea in the ear (as the proverb is) of this great Duke, more than the victories of Miltiades in the head of Themistocles. And such a pitiful pawn miserably staked up there touched his heart to the quick, more than ever was touched the heart of that famous The bane for the loss of his shield. The Agah of the place did foresee it very well, which many times endeavoured himself so to deal at Constantinople, that these heads might be taken away, assuring that they could avail to no other purpose, but as baits or spurs to the great Duke to enterprise the ruin of that place. Now than such hath been the enterprise which this year amongst many others given in charge (according to the custom) unto the Admiral Ingherrammi did segnalize & ennoble the fame of the great Duke. The Galleys have been these six: the Capitana, the Padrona, the S. Maria Magdalena, S. Francese, S. Stephano, S. Giovanni: the which well furnished with victuals and all kind of munitions for war, manned also with six companies of soldiers, under the command upon land of Sor. julio de Conty, called Montauto, with more than forty Knights, and a good company of Nobles willing to venture with them, amongst the which was reckoned Don Pietro di Medicis. They did set out the last day of March from the port of Ligorn, after they had devoutly called upon the divine favour under the happy guidance and lucky presence of the Duke's most excellent greatness their master. The second day of April they arrived at Civita Vecchia, and there found the Earl of Candale, Duke of Alluyn eldest son to the Duke of Espernon, a young Lord of some two and twenty years of age, which burning with a generous flame in the love of valour, and to be segnalized by the worth of wars and deeds of arms, the only mean worthy of himself, and practised by his ancestors, was exceeding desirous to be one in this enterprise.  
Which his Excellency understanding, had commanded the Admiral to receive him, and to use him according to the worth of his person and house whence he was descended. Thus that young Lord with fifty others which accompanied him were shipped and taken in, amongst which was Monsr. de Cipierre, Monsr. de Themines, the Barons of Momberault, de la Tour and his brother, of Avennes, Deltour, Du Plessis, De la Motte Magnas, S. Cry, Monplaisir, de Loïeres, de Vick, de la Boissiere, de Verneug, de Villandreco. The tenth of April they were at Messina, and the fourteenth departed thence, having well refreshed themselves and provided all commodities for their voyage. So they went running the Archipelag sea, without any worthy exploit, until the six and twentieth of the month, because they could not bring happily to pass another enterprise they had upon Geronda a little town of Anatolia, which is held to be the Gerunda of the Ancients. They landed there by the favour of the stillness and darkness of the night, but being entered there in due order, the next day morning they returned thence without doing any thing, having found the place abandoned by the inhabitors, which many months afore had retreated themselves in another place for fear of the like surprises. They set on and went forward their journey Eastward for many days, even till the 13. of May, without achieving any deed, but the prize of three Changuis, which are ships as big as Caramussals, and some other shippings of less bigness. The morning of the fourteenth day finding themselves near Namur (a place some other times ruinated by the Galleys) they took it for a lucky sign, and resolved their enterprise upon Agliman, and making on that way about the break of day, they spied a ship some ten miles far off. The Admiral knew full well what difference is betwixt surprising and having in chase. But because that ship was judged to be a Galley for the form of their sail, and for the obscurity which as yet was great, also because they held for certain, if that ship should escape, it would give warning to the whole Coast: again, that the situation of the Coast was such, that by reason thereof and of a little Island not far from thence named Papadula, the ship could be well and easily had in chase, close and from the sight of the fortress, he with the Counsel resolved it should be chased and made on. Thus making towards it and well pursuing it was over reached and taken in less than one hour. The ship was of a reasonable bigness of them which are called Grips, and was coming from the port and fortress of Agliman, and gave intelligence that two days before two Galleys of Cyprus were arrived there, the Captain of Cerrigna of 25. Beys, and the Captain of Paffo of 22. Beys, having brought the tribute which from thence is carried upon Camels backs to Constantinople. The sum could amount to some 200000. crowns. Besides that they said that the same fortress was very well fenced and furnished, and well guarded, and that about it there was more than 400. horses, and that but a little while after them there was to go out one of the two Galleys, even the same way, to come to the Island Papadula to take a Mast for their ship: for this cause the Admiral sets forward with his fleet, and places it close under the Island in a place whence it could not be perceived, having set his scout or guard on ground. Whilst they were thus waiting for the same, the return was suddenly made, and intelligence given, how the Galley had made towards the sea more than twenty miles, and in all haste with her Keeper or Conserua was retreating towards the Port, whence they conceived that they had been discovered in giving their chase. Thereupon was made a great difficulty, whether they should go forward in their enterprise, or else keep themselves for a better occasion; but all contrary opinions set aside, it was resolved to go on and follow their design. To this effect they made towards Port Cavalier, being from Agliman some twelve mile's distance, and arriving there about six a clock in the evening weighed ancour hard by a very commodious lands end, and very secret, with a deliberation to go out in the night in time that might be fit and safe to land. Towards the end of the night they sent out their long boat to spy and discover. About two hours after or little more they return and report that all the Country was up in arms, the walls furnished with armed men, the horsemen about the fortress, and the two galleys with two other ships within the Port. There on again arose a great doubt if they should go on, but notwithstanding the manifest appearance of so great a danger, they had such confidence in their great courage, in the fortune of his princely Excellency, and in the help and favour of God, that they confirmed again their former resolution. They therefore take their way about three a clock in the night in deep silence, and afore six in the morning their landing was made some mile and half from the Port. The Lord julio Montauto did land with the Comte Candale and some other choice men, few in number, to take a view of the Country, and though that they had some mile and half from them spied the cavalry or horse men of the enemy, yet nevertheless in any case he commanded to land, which was made without the disturbance of any of the companies, having left only twenty soldiers for the keeping of each Galley.  
The fortress of Agliman is seated upon a fine hillock right opposite to the south, extending itself from the top of the hillock to the very sea shore, in figure oval, or like an egg, the uppermost end whereof is on the top of the hillock Northward, and the nethermost, at the hills foot Southward. The wall is of very good stone, the mortar lime and sand, a fathom broad and five fathoms high, so that a man may easily walk upon it. In the third part of the inward space there is a crossing wall, which crosses thorough and joineth to the compass of the wall from the East to the West, so that it divides the place in two unequal parts; the less is as it were a reduction and retreat of the biggest. The going in is by one gate only place diust in the midst. In the girt of the walls there are five whole and full towers, and three half ones: the full ones are of a square form five fathoms every face; the half ones have one face of the same bigness, and the other less by half; their height exceedeth not that of the walls, except that which is in the point of the hillock, which is eight foot higher: the first full tower is altogether within the retiring place eastward; the other is also eastward, but half within and half without: within the half which is without fouthward is the first gate; the second is in the inward face turned westward. The third tower is likewise half within and half without of the same side some 200. foot fair from the second: between them both is one of the meave towers situate outwardly. The fourth is at the foresaid top and point of the hill, and makes as it were the corner by itself, being all inward. At the going down of the hill westward the two other half towers equally distant from the fifth tower, which is half without half within, and directly opposite to the gates tower. There be five little stairs to go upon the wall; four of them are of stone within the great place, and the fifth is of wood within the retreat. In this place were more than 300. fight men, the third part whereof had showed out themselves the evening before. There was abundance of victuals and of all munition for war, and many pieces of great ordinance. Without the place about a hundred horses went up & down, and within the port there were two Galleys, a Carramussall and a Greek Brigantin with some hundred and fifty fight men: they had retired within the fortress all rowing people. The order of the fight thus was ordered and contrived by Montauto; For the principal gate and for that of the retiring place he appointed the company of the ship Cappitana, and that of S. Stephano with the petards under the command of the Earl of Candale head of that troup, with order taken that all should obey him. The order being given, my Lord Candale conducting the point, spied a corpse de guard of footmen and horsemen, whereof he gave intelligence to the General, sending word that still he would go on towards the fort, to perform what he was bidden, and that if the Turks should make towards him, he would pass over their bellies, because the country was very favourable and good for the Infantry or footmen. The General praised his resolution, though many gave advice to retreat within the Galleys. So the way was followed on, till they came within six score paces of the place. Then was my Lo. Candales troup saluted with great force of Muskets from the town afore him, and from them of the Galleys behind him, and from them of the hill at his side, and with such outcries and howl of the Turks, that many were astonished at it, and particularly the sea men which carried the petards, so that they let them fall and ran away. They were taken up by the Baron Momberault and le Tiel a soldier of Languedoc. Being fifteen paces near the place, my Lo. Candale met eighteen or twenty Turks salliing out, which he set upon and suddenly put to flight; but in stead of pursuing them, his advice was to turn to the gate, to the which he ran amain, thinking to have found it yet open, but the Turks with all diligence had shut it again. Therefore he commanded the Petart to be applied, which quickly was ready, but not without the hurt and death of many: amongst the which Dom Piedro de Medicis, which had done this honour to my Lo. Candale to rank himself in his troops, was beaten down under such a number of stones fling at him, that he fell down half dead. The Lords the Callonges, de Momberault, de la Tour, d'Auenes, and Deltour, had taken this charge, the one carrying the Petard, the other the hooks, another the Madrer, and all the rest that was necessary to make it go off more readily. But as this sernice was a doing, the Sergeant Maior came and cried out unto my Lo. Candale, that they were all undone, and that there was coming right upon them a troup of 300. Musketers: these were the two Beys, which were sallied out of the Galleys in the port, through the naughty watching and guarding of two companies left by Comte julio, and by him appointed to withstand them, and hinder their coming forth: so that my Lo. Candale was forced to take some part of his own men and make head against that troup, leaving the other part for the Petard. But when the Beys saw him ready coming to receive them, and almost at handy blows, they turned away towards the mountain, yet still shooting and playing with their Muskets upon him. My Lo. Candale would not follow them, and thought it was more fit and convenient to go back to his Petard, which instantly did play on and made such a breach, that three men a breast might easily enter.  
Now for the tower above, the company of horsemen, commanded by Lieutenant Len Your, & the company of the galley of S. Maria Magdalena with two Ladders were appointed.  
For the retreating place towards the fourth, the company of the galley Padrona with a Ladder.  
And to the galleys and ships in the haven, the company of the galley of S. Giovanni.  
In that order they marched, conducted by Sor. julio Montauto, and by Captain Alexander di Taranta Sergeant Mayor, the cavalry of the enemy being still aside of them on the top of the hill. They were no sooner within a caliver shot of the walls, but they were saluted from thence with pellets and arrows lively and thick: being come nearer, there flew a shower of huge stones upon their heads. But all this notwithstanding, their Petard played on very happily, as we have said, and the second gate being opened, the Earl of Candale with his troup entered the first with a marvelous fury: and no sooner were they in, but that they ran to the retreating place to apply there another Petard; which was done, and the effect thereof very brave and serviceable. The Turks as well at the first as at the second Petard were so abashed and astonished, that they knew not what to do, but run away and fly to the walls, towers, and fortifications or barricadoes which they had made in the streets: our men pursue them lively and press upon them on all sides. The two ladders below were planted at the same time that the first Petard played on them. But one which was of the south side being broken, not without some hurt to those that were upon it, all of them ran to help the other of the south side, where the cavalry of the enemy was charging them very fiercely; by the means of which succour, they forced the horsemen to break away, and took their flag or Cornet, and having planted the ladder against the walls, a great many of our men got up, and then divided themselves into two companies to charge both the one and the other side, opening by force of arms that narrow way, and went directly to the towers, where they gave many furious assaults. The squadron of horsemen and the company of S. Maria Magdalena having had a longer and harder way to make, could not arrive before the effect of the Petards; at the noise and terror of the which the Turks having retired into the higher place, they of the squadron found a marvelous resistance afore, and were laid on behind very fiercely by the cavalry or horsemen of the enemy, and by the foot which sallied from the Galleys in the port: by reason whereof the Lieutenant after he had done as much as a worthy honest man could do, with his brave Cavalieroes, seeing that he could advance nothing, by the advice of the wisest, he resolved to go thence and make towards the place where it should be more necessary. But as he was staying the last in that retreat (like a valiant Captain, as also he had been the first at the coming on) he was shot thorough with two musket shots, and fell dead on the place.  
The company of S. Giovanni mastered at an instant the two Galleys in the port, and our Admiral at the sign given came with his Galleys to take possession of them in the port without any difficulty, and touched not the two other ships, because they were of Greece. The fight and skirmishing did continue still with all the towers and barricadoes of the place, and the combat grew more and more eager from both sides, ours being kindled with a brave courage and held up with a wonderful constancy of resolution, and the Turks having the advantage both of the stronger place and of their despair. Finally, God the giver of victories, was willing to favour his own cause: and the Turks by little and little begun either to yield or to offer themselves to the slaughter, and so the hoped-for victory was fully obtained, to the honour and glory of God, and of his Excellence. The fight lasted above four hours, very dangerous and bloody, a good number of ours having been lost there in the place, besides fifty five which were hurt. The combat being finished, and our dead brought aboard one of the Galleys, amongst the which were found Monsr. de Vernueil and the young la Boissiere, very much lamented for the great hope of his noble valour: the place was disfurnished of all the ordinance, artillery, munitions and commodities, and all carried away; and the houses having been fired, every one retired into the Galleys, whose heads were presently turned towards Europe with the two Captives Galleys, all very rich, and with huge booties, as well for having taken eight other ships with a great deal of ordinance, munitions, and merchandises, as also for having brought with them 350. Turk's for slaves, and slain above 200. furthermore for having ruinated that famous Fortress, and pulled down that horrible trophy of 40. heads of his good subjects, and freed from captivity some 240. Christian slaves; It was a thing above all which greatly rejoiced the great Duke. The day after, they met with a big Caramousall, the which though it was manned but with fourscore Turks, yet stood for the eight Galleys, and never would yield, so that the Captain of the Padrona at the request of Monsr. Candale was feign to make towards them; which did so well defend themselves, that they killed and hurt above four score of our men, three of the which were slain hard by Monsr. Candale, which alone of all the French had permission to fight at the fore deck, and shot three or four shots within six paces of the enemy, two of the which were slain thereby. Finally, as the seamen of ours began to get in, the ship was split, and as many as were within both ours and enemies sunk and drowned. Some other ships were taken with less combat. Then they arrived at Messina, where all the people with admiration beheld Monsr. de Candale after the rehearsal which the Admiral and Comte julio di Montauto made of his valour.  
FINIS.   

Brief of the King's privilege.  
BY special grace and privilege of the King it is granted unto Peter Porter Merchant Stationer of Paris, to print or cause to be printed, sell, and expose the Relation of the prize of the fortress and port of Seleucia or Agliman made upon the Turks, with the map thereof, all translated out of Italian into French: with most express inhibitions in his majesties name unto all Stationers and Printers of this kingdom to print or have printed, sell or distribute the said book or Card, but by the will and consent of the said Porter, during the time of three years, upon penalty of confiscation of the books, as the Privilege contains at large. Given at Paris the 26. of julie 1613. Signed by the Counsel Brigard and sealed.  
The said Porter hath granted and consented, that Lague hay shall enjoy the same privilege. Done the 30. of julie 1613.   
FINIS.