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inconvenience to the country-men, by reason of the advantage the enemy made thereof. Moreover, having with very little regard to the eminency of the danger dismist the meaner sort, he in great haste, and confusion, sent for them back, before they were got to their own homes, and did at the same time list new sonldiers in the country, as the occasion and necessity did best dictate ; whilst our men opprest thns by many mischiefs, spent their time in ordering their affairs, and in advising how they might hinder or disturb the enemies' proceedings; all resolutions being the longer in taking, for want of any Chieftaiue, who might decide the diversity of opinions : the Turks had leasure and opportunity given them, to set up their Pavillions, plant their Artillery, and fortifie their Quarters, not meeting with any disturbance, save by shot from the town. For though the Stradiotti did often sally out with some companies of Harchebugiers to skirmish, yet not daring by reason of their small numbers, to go further from the walls than they were sheltred by shot from the town, nor the enemy approaching so near, as that they might be thereby prejudiced, nothing of moment insiied. And Andrea Cortese, Captain of the Stradiotti, a bold and adventurous man, being one day advanced a good way before his own men, he was iuviron'd by a great many of the enemy, and after having valiantly defended himself for a long while, was slain. The Turkish Army incampt themselves from Santa Marina to Aglangia, possessing the whole space of ground which was opposite to four Bui works: and on the other side of the Fort, whither the Campe reached not, each Bashaw sent out 100 Horse, and as many Foot, so as the City being inviron'd on all sides, could neither receive in, nor send out any men. Nicossia stands in the midst of the Island, almost equally distant from the Northern and Southern shore, and from the two utmost parts of the 1 sland, Baffo, and Cai-passo : It abounds in fresh water, is of an indifferent wholsonie air, being breath'd on by the pleasant South-west wind, which inlivens and refresheth the inhabitants when they are wearied, and swelter'd with the immoderate heat of that climate, wherefore it was more inhabited than any ether City of the Kingdom ; and this was the cause why the Island being to be secured by a Fort, the Cyprians, not valuing any other situation, concur'd all of them readily and liberally in contributing towards this, so as this City was reduced into a Fort Royall, by the means of Francesco Barbaro, Commissary of the Island, and of Julio Savorgnano, the Governor, to whom the Senate had committed the particular care thereof. The Fort was of a circular form, with eleven bulwarks whose front was 75 paces, and their shoulders thirty ; so as each of them was capable of 2000 foot, and of four pieces of Cannon, and they were so built, us there being ont-lets on every side, the sonldiers might go sheltered on all sides to the connterscarpe ; but they were chiefly secured to the platforms, which were above 30 paces bread, so as it was held by such as were possessors of military discipline one of the fairest and best fortifications that was in the world, for as much as conld be contributed by art. But as there was plenty of these things, so was there scarcity of defendants; for when Astore Baglione went from thence, Colonel! Koncone remained there, with charge of the Commonalty of the Island, and of all the Italian Militia, and some other captains, who though they had some experience in war, and were ambitions of honour; yet having but small authority, their advice profited but a little: for they were either not listened to, through the indiscretion of such as stood at the helm of government ; or else accepted of with much dispute and difficulty, and therefore but slowly, and badly executed. It wits therefore resolved, to send to Famagosta, to desire Baglione, that he himself would come to Nicossia, and bring some souldiers along with him : but the Magistrates of that City thinking that they had not men enough to defend it, and not being certain but that the enemy might alter their minds, so as they might have occasion to use them themselves ; they positively refused 100 EXCERPTA CYPKIA.

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