Eleventh Emperor of the Turfa.

6o The Reign of
1645. and 7Vw. At the latter of which, belonging to
Ksyrsj the Venetians, they had licence 10 Water, and
** and were refrelhed with fuch provifìons as the
Ifland afforded ; and now after this flurry of
Wind, the Fleet being again united, they were
aß ièen off at Sea from Cerilo, an Wand of the Ve- (
nctians at the Month 01 the Archipehgo, land |
Jailing towards the Channel of Braccio ok Maina;
and the next day 9 Gallics, a Gallion, and a
Brigantine, made towards the Iflc of Cerigo,
, and fent a Letter a fliore by a Boat to the Pro- I
veditor* from the Pallia of Rhodes, demanding
their ufual prefent of Coffee and Sogar, which
was given them, they alluring all Friendfhip,
and real good Intentions towards the People,
and Dominions of Penice,
But in the mean time a Satia laden with Anns
and Ammunition from Fenice-, bound for Retim,
M unhappily falling.into the Turkifh Fleet, was
intercepted by them, and taken, which unmasked
all the Defign, and made the Turks appear
in their true Colours, notwithstanding all
their religious Proteftations, and outwardly fair
M Comportment, the ufual difguife of the Mahometan
Sincerity.
Towards the end of May the Turkilh Fleet
was difcovered from Carabufo, a finali Fortreis
of the Venetians, ionie diftan.ee off at Sea,
Handing to the Wellward, which gave fome
jcaloufie to them at Candid ; and being compared
with fome precedent Acts, as that of (blindai
ing the depth of Water about St. Theodoro with
a Brigantine* ( which is a fmall Rock lying off
of Conen) which pretended to come from Sanaa
Maura, with Turky Merchants, afforded undeniable
grounds of a durance to thofc in Candid,
H that the War was defigned againit them \ howibever,
the Ottoman Fleet rendezvoufing again
at Navarino, a place far diftant from Candid,
altered their Appreheniions at Venice, andclfewhere
of this War, deeming it now certain, that
this Defign had no other aim or mark but that
of Malt*.
But this opinion was no (boner entertain'd,
B than it was confuted by open Acts of Holtility ;
for the Captain-Palha being arrived at Cape Colonna,
by fome called Sanie, immediately dif-
But though tie Venetian Republick was fò
politick as outwardly to demoaitrate a Religious
Confidence of their potent Neighbour, whom
they were confeious not to have provoked by
any breach c>f Capitulations -, yet were «not Ço
fecpre of bis faith, and fò cane to believe his
fair DUQmulations, as not prudently to provide
aeainft the utmoft Effects of his Power and
% Treachery. v.WneVe&re, whilft the Turk pre-
an Ibrahim,
pared, they aimed like \\ ile fecretly, made .con- 1645.
Iiderablc Levies without noifc, ccmnufTocated Ks\r>j
thirty extraordinary Commanders of Gallica,
took up leventten Englifh ar.d Dutch fhips into
their Service, armed out two Galliafies extra­
ordinary *, ar.d when the Turk had unmasked
his Defign, they then imparted their Condition
to all the Chriflian Primes, craving their Succour
and Afliilance to maintain the common Bulwark
of Chrißendom againit the common Enemy«
The Gallcaffes were commanded by Girolam»
Mor ofmi ; the Gallics, of which fifteen
were made ready, and afterwards put to Sea, all
commanded by Noblemen, were under the Conduct
of Antonio Capello. Franccfco Molina was
made Proveditor General, a Perfon of untainted
Juftice and Honour, and extraordinary zealous
and vigilant in the Publick Interefr, whole indefatigable
Labours and Care of his Country, H
promoted him afterwards to be Doge of rtniec.
By his Order and Gonnfel, extraordinary
Proveditors were fent to Candid, Congo, and
Tino, as Places molt feared, and in danger \ and
Orders were di (patched to AndreaCornaro, then
General and Inquifitor in Candid, to arm out
twenty Gallics from the Arfenal of Cant* ; and
to promote this Defign the better, he hired two
Englifli, and one Dutch Ship, then in Port of
Matomocco, to carry unto Candid Timbers fitted,
and already fquared at Venice, for building Gallies;
befides which he font Cannon, Corn, and
all Ammunition of War, with fifty thoufand
Zechins in Gold for encouragement of the Militia,
with a recruit of two and twenty Companies
of Foot, formed and collected out of divers
Nations.
Intelligence being come of the imprifonment
of the Bailo at Conßantinople, che Senate by a
common and unanimous Suffrage* elected Frmcefco
ErUxo, then Doge, General of the Sea;
judging, that their Arms would profper under
his Command, which had formerly been fuccefsrul
under the aufpicious Conduct of his Ance-
Hors j and he, though a Perfon of fèventy four
Years, worn out with Age and Cares of the - .
Publick, did yet chearfully confêcrate the remainder
of bis days to the Service of his Counpatched
a Brigantine to Cpnftantinopje, with adtry. But whilft he prepared to crown the end
vice of his Proceedings and Intentions to pais of bis life with the Glory of this important and
directly &>r Candia v whereupon it was thought generous Enterprize, Death terminated all his In­
ieaipnable to publifh the War again ft Venice^ tentions, leaving him with the honourable me­
which was performed with committing the Ammory of his paie Actions, and with a Lawrcl
baflàdor Stronco to Prifon, and giving Orders hanging over his Head, which had his Life con­
through all the Archipelago to deftroy or enfiavo tinued, had been planted on his Brows. But
all -the Subjects of that Republick. And here that this Accident might not give interruption
the Turk practifèd bis uiùal beginnings of War to the weighty Affairs now in hand, Molino took
with more than ordinary Caution ; lor though his place, and proceeded in his Voyage and De­
H with other Princes, whole Territories border signs, and arrived with the Venetian Fleet at .
on him by Land, he ufually endeavours to ftrike the lfland of Corfu. In the mean time the Tur­
at the fame time when he gives the Salutations of kilh Fleet careened and fined themfclvesat Net-,
Peace -, Yet here being to contend at Sea, where varine with all NecefJaries to afl'ault Candid \. in.
be is confeious his Forces are inferiour co thole which interim advice came to Canea, that the
of Venicex he practifed all thofc feigned Artifices, the Bailo was imprifoned at ConflantinapU, by a,'
confirmed with as many holy Vows and Pro­ Letter from Soraneo hjmfêlf ; which he bad
teftations, as their Religion hallows, and makes dropped from the window of his clofe rcfrraint*. T*t>
lawful, when they can bring advantage and n- and difpatched by one of his Confidents with a
crcafe to the Mahometan Faith.
Velici exprefs; which was notfooncr arrived,,
than it was that Night confirmed by all the Beacons
or Watch-Towers of tie Country \ who
having difcovered the Turkifh Fleet far diilant
at Sea, gave a general Alarm by the Fires they m
made.
The next Morning being the A& of 7*w,
they difcovered the whole Fleet, near Cape
Spada, which being drawn up in the form
of an half Moon, took up a vait tract of •
Sea 1