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13« EXCEKITA CYPRIA. could safely mount them; they must come then with all their troops, and the city would certainly fall to the Turks. On the 7th or Stli of September the said naval commanders inarched their men towards Nicosia, a thing they had hitherto been unwilling to do from fear of the Christian fleet. Some Turks told us that they sent twenty-five thousand, others said that a hundred men were selected from each galley. 1 should indeed be much surprised, if Mustafa had a hundred thousand men, that in the twelve or fifteen assaults made after this lie could not subdue us. On Saturday, September 9, at dawn the enemy prepared for a general assault on the Podochatoro, Constanze, Darila and Tripoli bastions. The conquest of the Podochatoro was entrusted to the Ruinelians (that is, Greeks) and Caramaniaus, with their Pasha Carni η an. Mnzaffer Pasha and his troops undertook the attack on the Constanzo, the General Mustafa and Ali Pasha those on the Davila and that called after the Count of Tripoli. All these at the same moment leti a most spirited attack, with a very great crowd of soldiers. The largest force was directed at the Podochatoro as being the most damaged and made easiest of entry. They came on with such fury, such shouts and noise, that many of the country folk, who were ou the front of the bastion outside the shelter, and could not reach their arms, tied ; the rest fought on smartly for a while, but the enemy's numbers kept increasing, our men were cut in pieces, and the little fosses of the shelter were choked with corpses. Now the bell rang out "to arms," everyone fell into the ranks, and leaping down from the approaches and over the walls of the shelter kept up a' brisk fight and drove back the foe. The Turks however outnumbered ns, and began to cany the shelter, but they had to face the mailed breasts of many Italians, nobles and citizens, and for two hours made no way. Tho Coadjutor came with Signor Pisani and others of the chiefs. For a while they were kept at bay, but our soldiers fell apace. I say this for I was on the spot, sent by the Bishop of Baffo, the Proveditore and Signor Pisani to encourage the combatants. The Coadjutor fell killed by a mnsket ball : Messer Bernardo Bollani fell, and lay awhile under the coipses, but was picked up and went down to the gate. Nicolo Sinclitico withdrew at last with a wound on the face, likewise his brother Gieronimo. Thomas Visconti, their brother, died : Colonel Palazzo died on the spot, the Governor Roncone died in his house; and (to be brief) after two hours' continuons fighting nearly all were left dead. Signor Pisani, who fought like a valiant commander, received a mortal wound from a mnsket; we helped to cany him off, together with Signor Artius Zappe, Captain of the nobles, who was furrowed with wounds as he stood, firm as a tower, to drive back the foe; he stayed awhile under the gate to recruit his strength, and then returned boldly to the fight, and died like a brave soldier, after taking the life of many an opponent. Signor Pisani was carried to his house by his eldest son and a servant, and there died. The Lieutenant left lus usual post at the Famagosta Gate, sent as a reinforcement the three hundred soldiers from Lefca, and then retired to the Palace. In such a strait it was his duty to go and encourage his troops. The Bishop of Baffo, who had on a corslet, made me put on him arm pieces and a helmet, and went to join his men. The gunner of the Caraffa bastion came down from his post to the gate where the chiefs were assembled, and spake boldly to them in these words—" Ve dogs, enemies of God, of yourselves and the realm, do ye not see that the enemy is gaining ground? Why have we not powder that we may drive them out? As long as I had powder to batter their flanks they made no way. The devil take you : have we eaten the powder, have we swallowed the balls ? Your saving for S. Mark will, I can see, lose us the day." The chiefs then asked eagerly for me, and sent me to Signor Almorone to bid him be on the alort, and if the enemy proved the victors to set fire to the

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