easely preserue the sayd Spaniardes for his Turckyshe warres: For the Spaniardes are accustomed, when Themperour doth aske eny moneye of theim, to excuse theim selues by the neyghboured of the saide Affricanes their enemyes. So that, by this meanes, and suche lyke reasons, the B. of Rome was persuaded, and allowed the wyl and mynde of Themperour, and, praysynge his wisdome, did departe.

All these thinges then beyng readye, as is aforesayde, Themperour commaunded that the gallyes, whiche were laden with vytayles and instrumentes of warre, shulde departe from Naples and Gene, and go to the ysles of Baleares, the whiche nowe is called the Ysle of Maiorque and Minorque, and that there they shulde tary; and he him selfe within short tyme after departed from the hauen of Ueneri, beynge accompaignyed with xxxvi. great shippes, takynge his course to the Y'sle of Corphou; and after he had sayled a lytle while, without any trouble, there dyd sodaynlye aryse a meruelous greate tempeste, whiche deuyded the whole nauye, in suche wise, that with great pein and strength of owers, the barque, that Themperour was in, with vii, other shippes onlye, myght skace recouer the land of the sayd Ysle of Corphou; so that all the other were dryued by the great violence and vehemency of the tempeste vnto dyuerse places ferre asonder, in suche wise, that they arryued not with the other vii. shippes, before two dayes were expired, duryng whiche tyme Themperour was constreigned to remayne at the foresayde hauen to abide the sayde shippes. And, after the arryuynge of the sayde shippes, he passed with all his nauye vntyl he came to a towne of Boniface, the which towne is so situate vpon a rocke, that iii, quarters therof no man maye come nygh, hauynge but onelye one place to entre at, which is thorough the caue and holowe parte of the foote of a mountayne standyng in the stead of a dytche, for the same towne, so that the sayde towne is not praysed for eny other thynge, but for the hauen beyng so verye nere vnto it; in the whiche towne, after Themperour had a lytle tyme rested him selfe, and seyng the wether well dysposed, he departed from thence, with all his armye, and without any trouble he arryued in the Ysle of Sardague nere to the see of Affrique, and in the same place he refresshed hym selfe in the towne of Lahorgera; in whiche place, the same daye that they arryued, there chaunced a woondrefull, straunge, and meruelous thynge, for, in the nyght folowyng, ther was a kowe that calfed a calfe with two heades, the which was brought to Themperour to behold. Two days after, Themperour parted from that place, and, for the space of two dayes folowyng, had a mei◄ uelous good wynde, and approched nere the Baleare of Minorque, into the whiche, thynkynge to entre, they were dryuen backe with a wondrefull, sodayne, and sore tempest, so sharpely, that skase, with verye greate pein, was it possible for them euer to haue recouered the hauen; which neuerthelesse came to passe, and that throughe force and strengthe of oers in spight of bothe wynde and wether; and the tempest was so great, that for the space of vii. dayes contynuallye, dooyng our vttermoost, we had not ben hable to haue made iiii. legges. So that for the, contynuance of the great storme and wynde we were dryuen to abyde at ancres, without the bauen, the reste of the nyghte, and the morowe after; seinge the porte of Mahon to be harde by vs, we arriued into the

same, not without greate and excedynge peine and labour. This hauen (of al that I haue seen) is the fayrest and best, were it not that it is very harde entreinge into the same, whiche commeth of the nature of the place; for al the border of this ysle is compassed about, with veraye high mountaignes and hilles; and the place, by which they enter into the same porte, is so streyght and narrowe, that it is vereye ieoperdious and daungerous to auenture to entre into the same, without a smal and softe wynde; but to the rest, it is veray propre and handsome to herbour and kepe safe a great nombre of shyppes, aswell for the length, whiche is ii. legges, as also for the corners, wholes, and turnyng places, whiche let that no tempeste of the see maye once vexe, greue, or trouble enye ship that is therin. And harde by are manye mountaignes, couered with forestes and great woodes, whiche is a necessarye thinge, and profitable for theim, that shall arryue there. And, at the ende of the saide hauen, is situate and buylded a veraye fayre towne, vppon the toppe of the mountaignes; the whiche, if yt were buylded and furnysshed with menne, as it is stronge by nature of the place, it shulde be more hard for the barbarousse to wynne and take, then to assayle it, as he hathe done.

Nowe then Themperour rested in this place the space of two dayes, so longe as the storme and rage of the tempest of the sea continued, the whiche as sone as it was alayed, we departed thence, and we bordred upon Maiorque; and, when Themperour was come, he founde ther arryued Ferrande Gonzaga, viceroy of Naples, and an hundred and fyftie shyppes of the Italyans, and with theim beynge accompanyed with seuen galleyes stronge and well trymmed: which, with them that Themperour brought, made the nombre of fyftye galleves, ouer and aboue all the nombre of the forsayde shyppes; and yet Themperour loked for fyftene great shyppes to be sent hym out of Spayne, with a great nombre of other shyppes, all laden, which then were arryued vpon the border of Affrique, and shortly after was shewed vnto Themperour; who, hearynge the sayde newes, commaunded euery man to go aborde, and to hoyse up the sayles, and to take they r course vnto Affrique; and so we lefte behynde us the ysle of Maiorque, the whiche to descrybe vnto you, the nature and kynde therof is farre otherwyse then of Minorque; for the see costes of the same be flat and lowe, without any fruytfull mountaignes, or haboundynge with any good thyng; but the myddle therof is hyllye and stony grounde, vnfruytefull and baren, and that, because it lyeth more nere to the south, then doth Spayne, by reason wherof the wyntre is more temperate, without any sharpe colde, beyng plentyfull of all suche fruyte, as customably doth growe in Affrique. The inhabitauntes therof dooe vse the lawes, customes, and language of the Traconytes, greatly resem→ blynge them in all thynges. They use, in the makynge of theyr morter to buylde with all, to put softe earthe, grauel, small stones, and sande, which is the substance and princypall thynge, wherwith the walles of theyr chefe towne is buylded.

Nowe to retourne to Themperour: when all the gallyes and shyppes were departed from the foresayde ysle of Maiorque in good ordre, he toke hys waye ynto Affrique, towarde the towne of Argiere, and

dyd arryue nere vnto the same, within ii. dayes after his departyng from the foresayde ysle of Maiorque; and there founde his forefayde gallyes, whiche were harboured fyue legges longe frome the sayde towne of Argiere, that bordereth harde vpon the see coste; who, spying vs a farre of, made towardes vs; but ymmediatly they were commaunded by Themperour to retourne agayne to the same place, where they lay before, to stoppe or let, that no succoure shulde come vnto the towne from that parte. Themperour then, approchynge somwhat nere vnto it, commaunded that, with all dilygence, twelue shyppes, trauersyng before the towne, shulde go on the other parte, to spye and see yf they coulde fynde a more commodyous place to harboure his sayde gallyes in, where they myght lye in lesse daunger of tempestes and stormes of wynde and wether. Which was quickely done; and, perceauing that he had a more sure abyding and commodyous place, Themperour, with the strength of his nauye, passed before the sayde towne, and went to the place aforesayde, where they cast ancres, way tinge in the same place for the shyppes that were ladcu with vytayles and other baggages of warre; and, from the sayde place, one myghte easely see all the proporcyon and sytuacion of the sayde towne, and a great parte of the countrey nygh vnto it. The daye folowynge (perceauyng the see to aryse and swell a lytle and lytle) we wayed oure ancres, and remoued, chosynge another place, where the wynde myght doo vs lesse harme and dammage, the whiche place is called Matasus. And, this thyng done, behold, there came forth two shyppes of the Turcke to spye, the whiche incircumspectly fell into oure handes; and, quyckly perceauing theyr folyshness and ignorance, caste about theyr sayles, and recouered the depth in such wise, that it was not possyble to take one of them; for the one was sonke in the see by oure people, and the other, with swyfte sayling, and strength of ores, saued her selfe: neuerthelesse, it was knowen by them whiche were taken, that they were espyes sent to knowe the state and prouisyon of our army. The rest of the daye was spent in assemblyng together to the sayde place all the gallyes, in the mcane tyme, and whyle the sce dyd asswage. Whyle this was doynge, Theniperour commaunded the Lorde Ferrande Gonzaga and James Bossus, menne of great wytte, and practized in warres, that with a lytel fysher bote they shulde ronne alonge the wynde, espying or searchyng out a mete and conuenyent place where to land his armye. And these, obeyinge the commaundement of Themperour, dyd theyr dilygence, and, when they retorned, shewed the place chosen by theim for this purpose. The daye foloyng, the see was woondreous still and calme. Afterwarde, Themperour, drawyng more nere to the towne, landed all his army without anye maner of resistence of the enemyes; and the ordre and araye of the same armye was as foloeth: the nombre of the footmen were xxii. M. wherof vii. M. were Spanyardes, whiche came aswell from Naples, as also from Sicile. Ther was also vi. M. Allmeignes, vi. M. Italyans, and iii. M. of diuerse other nacyons, whiche, of theyr owne good willes, foloyinge Themperour, sought theyr honoures and aduentures, beside the housholde seruauntes of Themperour, and beside iii. C. of diuerse other nacyons, which were

sent from Malta by the Knyghtes of the Rhodes, the whiche also were of diuerse countryes. The nombre of the horsemen were xi. C. that came oute of Spayne, of the whiche, iiii. C. ordinarily weyted upon Themperour. Then, assone as our menne were landed (for this daye there wer but fewe menne of armes that came alande) couragiously they assembled theim selues together, euery manne accordynge to his owne nacion, purposing euery man with him selfe wisely to set vpon, and assayle our enemies, whiche by diuerse course and skyrmishes sought to hurt vs; but, assone as they approched and came nere to vs, they were dryuen backe by our people, with the artillarye and harquebusshes, that they wer compelled to ronne dispersed and oute of araye, in suche sorte and maner, that we had none hurte by them. Our enemyes then, beinge driuen backe, wer constreigned to kepe theim selfes in the mountaignes.

Our armye then began to drawe nere the towne; the Spanyardes had the forwarde, or vantgard, vnder the gouernaunce of the Lorde Ferrand Gonzaga. Themperour set forwarde in the battayll, accompaignyed with his Allmaignes; in the arriergarde or hinder warde was the Italyans and the Rhodyans, beyng vnder the gouernaunce of the Lorde Camillus Columna. And in this ordre we wente forwarde the same day, almoste halfe a legge, where we passed awaye the night with lytle slepe. For the Numydyans, whiche were creapte vp into the mountaignes, came downe often tymes, and noyed vs euyl with bowe shott, moost chefely that parte which was nearest to Themperour's tentes; against whom there were by Themperour sent iii. compaignyes of Spanyardes, to refreyne and stoppe them, or at the leaste to staye theyr fearcenes and boldnes: but our enemye, knowynge the places and conueighaunces of the countrees, at the commynge and sight of the foresaide menne, they gate them backe into the woodes and mountaignes, places moost sure and safe, lettyng our people from commyng up; whiche they coulde not always do any long tyme, for our people, with great courage and hardynes, went up and made them flye; but at the last, perceauyng the nombre of our enemyes to encreace dayly more and more, and they beynge wery with so often skyrmysshynge, or fightynge with theyr enemyes, were constreigned to come backe agayne to the armye; whiche they dyd not without great losse, seing they contynued in battayle, from the firste settynge of the watche, tyll the dawnynge of the daye, and speciallye for because they were euell prouyded of gonne powder. Then it is to be vnderstande, that the waye of the halfe legge, whiche we went, is a flat and euen grounde, and that ther is none other let therin, but certen wild busshes and shrubbes; and such is the place, tyll ye come to the foote of dyverse lytle hylles, or mottes, whiche contynue from the sayde playne to the towne of Argiers, and are in length almost halfe a legge. And vnder the same playne the see floweth, begynnynge at the rocke, from whence we firste came to searche a more sure place (as is aforesayde) and it is of length, from the sayde towne to the rocke, about v. or vi. legges, measured with a strayte lyne: how beit, they, that shall iorney it, shall fynde nere x. legges; because the mounteignes continue, and come from the sayde rocke to the foresayde lytle hylles, whiche

in maner do compasse the towne, so that ther is none other playne, sauynge the valyes of the sayde mounteignes, betwene theim; for the sayde lytle hylles are set in such sort, that they shewe as though they were an hauen: for lyke wise as, wher the see beateth vpon the lande, it maketh it eyther streyte, or compasse lyke a bowe; so, in lyke maner, the mounteignes beyng farther in the lande, or nearer to the hauen, that is to saye, semeth to be nye, wher they lye flat, and, when they be croked, or compassed hauenlyke, shewe much larger then the playne. In this place then (lyke as ye haue hearde) the iii. enseignes or banners beyng returned, Themperour caused the armye to approche neere the towne; whiche to bring to passe, it was conuenient to wynne and obtayne the vpper partes of the sayde lytle mottes, or hylles, that ioyne vnto the playne, and enclose the sayde towne, receauynge all that came from the mounteignes, which we haue declared to come from the former rocke: the which mounteignes also were necessarye to be had, to let our enemyes from stoppinge oure entreprise, for by theim oure aduersaries ceased not to prouoke and assayle vs; and so sore troubled vs, that our people coulde not get up easelye; for they, possessing the top of the hylles, might lyghtly withdrawe theim selfes, when we woulde do oure endeuours to pursue theim. And it was farther thought, that, yf it were possible to obteyne the heigth of the sayde mounteignes, it shoulde be then muche more easye to stoppe and let, that they shoulde haue no succour of vitayles, whych myght haue come to theim of the towne by lande; and therfore it was deuysed, that they shoulde driue awaye, oute of the sayde mounteignes, the Numidoys, that so muche had molested vs; and in the very selfe same place he set his vauntgarde, or forward. And, for so muche as it was very harde to brynge to passe, because of the heigth and vprightnes of the mounteigns, that not withstandinge, by the wisdome and good gouernment of the Lorde Fernande Gonzaga, the Spanyardes had the honour of the gettyng vp. The mounteignes then beyng occupied with the vauntgarde, the campe, or battayle, remained amonge the lytle hylles, of the whyche is spoken before, and a lytle farther, by the hauen of the sec, was set the riergarde; and, the army beynge thus ordred, the towne of Argiers semed to be shut in a triangle; for of the one side it had the see, and on the other two partes laye oure army, in suche wise, that they were enclosed from ayde and succour of anye parte, forasmuche as the townes and countrees there aboute, beyng oure enemyes, myght haue come and done us displeasoure. Neuerthelesse, we, beynge holpen by the commodite and heigth of the sayde mounteignes, wher we wer, feared very lytle their comminge; considering also, that, in the same campe or felde, were many dyches, or caues, and wholes, of the nature of the place, which also serued vs wel in steede of dytches and trenches: so that then, all our enemyes beynge dryuen into the sayde towne, and all thynges beynge in good ordre and staye, beholde, in the euenynge tyde, ther came a sodeyne and piteous calamyte or miserye. vneuitable or vneschuable; for there fell so greate and vehemente haboundaunce of rayne, commynge downe with suche vyolence and force, and contynuyng so longe, that it was not possible eny longer to endure it