A Famous Victory, Achieved in August last 1613. by the Christian Galleys of Sicilia, against the Turks.  
Wherein were redeemed above a thousand Christian Captives, as many Turks slain, and above six hundred taken.  
Printed for TH: THORP. 1613.   

A Famous Victory, Achieved in August last 1613. by the Christian Galleys of Sicilia, against the Turks.  
HOW the Turk at first aspired to his greatness, and sithence hath amplified and maintained it, chief by distension of Christian Princes; I hold it needless for me to set forth in writing, because it is a truth commonly known, and generally confessed by all Writers: a matter much to be lamented, that those Weapons which ought to have been bend against the enemies of Christians and their Religion, have been so unchristianly and unnaturally employed in the effusion of Christian blood. Hereupon have been erected those glorious Trophies of many Victories, Wherewith the Grand Siguior hath adorned his Diadem.  
But I will not insist any longer upon this common place of our Calamities: Let us see awhile, what fruits Concord hath produced, & to what height of Honour she hath advanced her followers; that so by comparing the great loss and ignominy arising from the one, with the abundant profit & renown issuing from the other, we may all join in one hearty prayer to God, That he would at length be pleased, to counite the hearts of Christian Princes in one firm bond of Peace, to the replantation of his Gospel in those conquered Countries, and the extirpation of all turcism and Idolatry.  
This was it, which lost us those ample and goodly Provinces in the East, wherein our Religion was at first propagated; and wherein so many Millions of Christians since that time hitherto, have been, and are reduced to most miserable and insupportable slavery.  
But because I study brevity, as desirous to draw near the intended subject of this Discourse; it shall be sufficient (among many others) to allege one or two examples for confirmation of this Truth.  
At such time as that warlike Saladine, had by force invested himself in the Kingdom of Syria, and subjecteth to his dominion Jerusalem, and the Holy Land, the Christian Princes of these Western parts, combined in a strong league, and moved with an holy zeal of God's glory, transported an Army, under the conduct of Godfrey of Bulloine, for the recovery of that Country.  
Against this force of the Christians, the Saladine opposed with all his power; and in many Conflicts, with variable success, for a long time maintained his party: Mean while he forgot not (like a subtle Fox) by all possible means, to corrupt such of the special Commanders, as he thought most likely to be won to his purpose; if so, by dissevering the Chief of their secret Consultations, he might make frustrate all their attempts.  
The sum is; his Plots failed, and nothing suiteth to his wished purpose. He relies therefore on his own Strength; is fought withal, and defeated, and the Victory so hotly pursued, that driven he is at length, to abandon the Kingdom, & leave it to the discretion of the victorious Conqueror.  
In his room was that religious Godfrey enthroned: atfter whom, divers Christian Princes, for many years together, held the Sovereignty thereof, to the great advantage and honour of Christendom, and the confusion of their Enemies.  
Afterwards, in the time of Richard the first, King of this Land, the French King then reigning, (excited with the like zeal of propagating our Religion, and freeing that distressed Country from their merciless Enemies) entered into firm League with the said Richard for the same purpose: These Princes therefore with their joint forces, invade the Turks and win many Victories, recover most of their Towns from them, as jop, Acon, and others; and in the end, expelling them from those parts, restore a perfect Liberty to the oppressed Inhabitants.  
By these means, have divers of our ancient Princes acquired true glory, whilst our Kingdom (being at peace in itself) was able and willing to employ her forces against those damned miscreants. But of this enough.  
It is now time that we come to the purpose: wherein (according to my poor skill) I will limb out unto you in a small portrait, the true Pattern (some correspondent circumstances considered) of that famous Battle of Lepanto; wherein the Turks and Christians, with their greatest forces contended, who should prove the better men at Sea, and aught to have the Command and Lordship thereof.  
In which fight, the most of the Turkish Fleet was either lost, or taken, and their General, with many other great Men, made Prisoners; besides a world of ordinary Soldiers slain, and captivated, But to our purpose.  
The Duke of Ossuna, Viceroy of Sicil, keeping good Watch upon the Turks proceed, and knowing how much it behoved to use all circumspection against so vigilant an enemy, for prevention of danger, and his own better information, about the beginning of August last, sent forth eight Galleys from Palermo, well manned and provided under command of Don Octavio Taglia Via d' Arr●gona, to discover or attempt somewhat in the Leu●●t. Having all things therefore in a readiness, He happily set sail, and with a good gale came to Carigo: where he soon understood that the Turkish Fleet some few days before had put from Constantinople with thirty Galleys, and were bound for Rhodes, where they were to meet with sixteen more, which as then lay waiting for them in the Negrepont; and that upon the meeting of these Fleets they should make sail for Soria, there to be employed against certain Rebels of that Country, that were lately revolted from the Turks obedience.  
Upon this Advertisement he put to Sea again, and touched at some Islands of the Archipelago, where the same news of the Turkish Fleet were again confirmed. He made no long stay, but thrust out again, and some few hours after descried a Sail Whereunto making with all speed possible, he found her to be of the Isle Macaria, demanding if they knew any news of the Turks; They answered, that the day before, (at Zant) two Turkish Gallish had taken from them five Barrels of Pitch; and that they reported for a truth, that the Governor of Rhodes, the day before that Pitch taken, had sent out twelve Galleys to tow certain Caramusals, or great Vessels, over the Channel of Samos, that they might be the sooner ready to take their Freight from the Caravan of Alexandria, and that for a more likelihood that this was true, they themselves (besides those two Galleys with whom they had Conference) had seen eight other Galleys, towing the Caramusals aforesaid.  
DON OCTAVIO having gotten this intelligence, presently made to Sea-wards, and plying with strength of Oars, and furthered with a fair gale, held his course that day, and the next night for the other side towards the firm Land of Anatolia. Thither he came about the dawning, and at the Cape of Coruo met with all his Galleys, which were in safety.  
At day-break he set sail again, and had not long coasted, when he might ken a far off, ten sail of Galleys, being part of those twelve that had towed the Caramusals: the other two, as was afterwards reported, being sent by the Turkish General to Scio. He had no sooner got sight of them, than he prepared for their welcome, having a firm resolution to overcome or be taken. Distributing therefore in fit places, all weapons and munition necessary, he encouraged his Soldiers, and furiously made forth against them.  
At the first he had thought to have encompassed them: but three of their Galleys keeping aloof to sea, made his purpose frustrate.  
When the Fleets were now come within reach of each other, the Ordinance on either side began to thunder, and the small shot (like hail) flew aboard the Galleys.  
The two General Galleys made a furious encounter, and for the space of half an hour, and upwards, maintained a bloody fight: during which time, Sinan the Beg of Cypras, General of the Turkish Fleet, stood advanced in the poop of his Galley, to behold the manner thereof, and to give directions as necessity required.  
In the end, after a sharp and terrible conflict, Don Octavio boarded the Turkish Admiral in the Prow, and afterwards in the Poop, wherein the Sicillians made a wonderful slaughter.  
In the mean while the other Galleys were not Idle, but with like violence assaulted each other.  
The victory fell to the Sicillians, with great execution done upon the Turks, and small loss of their own. Seven of the Turks Galleys were presently taken; two of them ran a shore, and the Turks leaping forth, saved themselves in the mountains: the other three fled to sea-wards, and escaped.  
Don Octavio having assured the victory, gave thanks to God the Author thereof; and then gave order to repair his Galleys, which were no sooner in a readiness, but with his own Galleys, and those that were taken, he joyfully set forth, and made for Sicill.  
In this fight, (besides the seven great Admiral Galleys which were taken) these men of quality were made prisoners; Sinan the General, a man of great account with the Turk: and Piali Bassa the Beg of Alexandria, being son to the same Haly Bassa that was General at Lepanto: in whom I observe, that his Family and Name is (as it were) predestinated to increase the honour of Christians with their ruin and captivity.  
Many other men of great note were likewise taken, who are not likely to be redeemed for a little: six or seven hundred Turks slain, as many taken, and above a thousand poor Christians freed from slavery.  
Thus have I briefly related unto you the sum of the victory; wherein if the phrase be distasteful, let the truth of the matter supply that defect; And let the common joy which we ought all to receive at the overthrow of our common enemy, make some excuse for my rudeness, not affected with curiosity.  
FINIS.