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CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 102

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taken up its quarters in the city, the Turkish army left Nicosia, on its way to Famagosta, the only town which remained faithful to the Venetians ; for the other districts of the kingdom, as well as the hill-folk, had quietly accepted the Turkish yoke. PAKUTA. Paolo Parata was born in Venice in 1540, entered public life on the staff of an embassy sent by the Republic in 1562 to the Emperor Maximilian II., and eventually filial all the chief offices of State, short of that of Doge. As Historiographer of the Republic lie took up Iho annals begun by Pietro Bembo, and continned by Luigi Contarmi, and brought them down to March. 1578. His account of the Siege of Nicosia istoriti ileiltt Gitemi dt CiprOy Libri tre, 8vo. Siena, 1827. pp. 93—122) is here given as "made English " by Henry Carey, second Earl of Monmouth, who succeeded his father in 1889, and died «. p. NI. June 18, 1601, This translation was published in folio, London, 1858. I transcribe from l'art π. pp. 46—60. The narrative of the Siege of Famagueta I have translated anew from the original Italian, pp. 122—124 and 285—261. Diedo's account of the same event may be found in his Storia delta Repubblittt di Venezia, Yenice, 1751, volume IL book vil. pp. 263—271. Pariita died in 1598. and his History was published by his sons in 1805. It is prized for its exactness, for the dignity and strength of its style, and the skilful way in which the author makes his full account of the affairs of Venice flow on with the general stream of Italian history. The Siegt- of Nicosia. The Turkish Fleet was diecryed to be nbout Baffo, upon the western Cape of the Island, on the first day of July, which falling lower towards the South, scoured the River which is between Limisso and the Promontory, which is called by many Capo de' Gatti, taking many prisoners, and sacking and pillaging governi country houses, lint making no long stay there they steered the same course, and came the next day to Saline, η place which lies upon the same shore, somewhat more towards the Bast; where not meeting with any to withstand them they landed their artillery, and their souldiers, and secured their quarters by strong lîampiers, from whence they issued ont to plunder the neighbouring parts, endeavouring to inform themselves by the prisoners of the affaire of the island, and advancing as fur as Leucatn, a town nine leagues from Saline, they easily reduced those country people to their obedience, to whom Mustafa Pasha gave many gifts, and promised them much more, thereby to invite others to submit to his devotion, especially the mountaiuers, whom he could not so soon rednce by force. This mean while the Tnrks sent forth 80 gallies, and many bottoms of bnrthen, some to Tripoli, some to the rivers of Caramania, to raise more sonldiers and horse : so as their whole forces being soon after brought together, there were found (as most men affirm) in the Turkish army 50000 Foot, 8000 Pioniers, 2."ι00 Horse for war, besides as niany or more for bnrthen, 30 pieces of artillery, some bearing bullets of 501. weight, some of 1001., and 50 Fanlconets. But there were not garrisons in the island of Cyprus sufficient to resist such forces; for there were not above 2000 Italian Foot in the usuali garrisons, nor were there any more sent afterwards, save 3000 of the common people di Terra Ferma, and the 2000 of Martinengo/s men, which by suffering at sea were rednced to a much lesser number. So as the greatest hope in defending the cities lay in the new Militia, which was mustered of the islanders themselves, from whom, as was affirmed by many Captains and (iovernonrs, excellent 96 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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