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PARITÀ. 105 "admonish them, that duly weighing the state of their affair», which was now reduced to the " utmost of danger, by the death of so many defendants, and for that there Avas no hope of " relief left thein ; for he had had certain intelligence, that the Venetian fleet being opprest "with much sicknesse, and other difficulties, could not stir ont of their havens: it might " suddenly so fall ont, that they might in vain intreat those fair conditions which they now "refused; for he could no longer moderate the souldiers rage, who had made frequent " demands, that they might be permitted to plunder the City, in reward of the labours and " dangers which they had undergone. So as if they should delay surrendring the town, the " mine thereof would be attributed rather to their foolish obstinacy, than to the cruelty of '"' the enemy." Having quickly resolved to give an answer to these words, for the truce was to las« but for two hours, they put an end to the parley, telling them onely, "That the " souldiers and citizens were firmly resolved to defend the City with all their might, to the "very last minute, and to keep loyall to their prince; so that whatsoever the event should "be, nothing could be more desired of them, bnt better fortune, which they hoped they " should not fail of, since they would not be failing to themselves, to their honunr, nor to their "religion, which, together with their safety, they had undertaken to defend." Tims having placed all their hopes in their arms, the govcmonrs thought good to feed the souldiers .and people with hopes of succour, which did chiefly increase in them their resolution, and courage to defend themselves. Wherefore they made it be divulged by a renegade who was fled from the enemies camp to the City; that he had brought letters from Famagosta, which brought certain news of the arrival of the Christian fleet ; which that it might- be the more credibly believed, the captains which were upon the mountains with the Islanders, were ordered to give the sign of ten lires, which every une knew was to give notice to the City, that the Christian navy was arrived. This wrought such impression in some, as imagining that to be true which they did so much desire, they affirmed they saw the Turks begin to remove their artillery, and their pavillions. But the enemy who feared nothing lesse, contmned their batteries, whereof nothing of remarkable issued for some days, save onely that Jacobo di Noras, Count of Tripoli, one of the chief Karons of the kingdom, who had won the name of being vigilant and valiant, was slain in an assault which was given to the bulwork Costanzo, and his brother Francisco Maria was in his place made governour of that bnlwork. Thus did the Turks waste those withiu by little and little, with frequent skirmishes ; but they durst not enter upon the bulworks, for fear of mines; whereof they wore the more cautious, by reason of the loss which they received at the expugning of Zighet. Moreover, Mustafa thought he had too few men to make a great eiforte; for the Janisaries were not very forward to be the first that should fall on; wherefore he span out the time, till such time as having more certain news of the enemies fleet, he might, (as he did afterwards) safely increase his arm}- by those that remained in the gallies : who as soon as they were come to the camp, all fear of the fleet being over and the cawseys being now perfected, and rendred secure, which led from the trenches to the four bnlworks of Podacataro, Constanze, Davila, and Tripoli; he began to place all the commanders and souldiers in their proper imployments, and gave an orderly assault at one and the same time with his whole forces to all the four bnlworks, which the besieged interpreted to be done by the enemy as their last essay, with intention of departing suddenly, if they should not succeed therein. So great an impression had the news of the arrival of the Venetian fleet made in them, which being held by all to be true, they inconraged one another; affirming confidently that the victory, the end of their labours, and their safety from all danger lay in withstanding the fury of that assault.

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