XXV.
NEWES FROM ROME.
Illustration: _Newes from Rome._ Printed by I. R. for Henry Gosson, and are to be sold in Pater
_From a rare tract lent by Mr. Israel Solomons._
Of two mightie Armies, aswell footemen as horsmen: The first of the great Sophy, the other of an Hebrew people, till this time not discouered, comming from the Mountaines of Caspij, who pretend their warre is to recouer the Land of Promise, & expell the Turks out of Christendome. With their multitude of Souldiers, & new invention of weapons.
Also certaine prophecies of a Iew seruing to that Armie, _Caleb Shilocke_, prognosticating many strange accidents, which shall happen the following yeere, 1607.
Translated out of Italian into English, by W. W.
Illustration: (‡ decoration)
❧ TO THE RENOWNED
Lord, _Don Mathias de Rensie_, of Venice.
AFTER the particuler thinges alleaged in my former writings vnto your Lordshippe, I thought it good and conuenient by this my Letter, to aduertise your Lordship, of certaine great, horrible, and fearefull things that hapned in this quarter.
Purposing to certifie your Lordship of the pompe and great triumph at the presenting of the Captaines of the Sea, vnto the great Turke: the miserie and vnhappines of the poore prisoners: the discorde & contention that came by the sonne of the Vice Roy of Naples, being prisoner: the threatnings made to the Christians: the receiuing of the Ambassadors of the Soffy: the pompes, tryumphes, and entertainments made vnto them, and yet dissembled enough, with mocking one the other at their departing: the presents giuen: the going of the great Turke a hunting and all other thinges written at large, as your Lordship shall vnderstand.
But now your Lordship shall vnderstand at thys time, the greatest, the most wonderfull, and most strange thing that euer was heard of. The which partly hath so troubled the great Turke, and all the rest, that they haue left of all other affayres, to prouide for the perrill and danger that at this time hangeth ouer theyr heads.
Your Lordships to vse,
Signior Valesco.
_Newes from Rome_ ⁂
The newes are come that the king of _Hungarie_ maketh a great Army, which shall haue for his ayde the gallies of _Buda_, and of many other Princes of Christendome. And they say moreouer, that the king of _Bohemia_ will helpe therein, and that the most part of Christian Princes will come and ayde him in this enterprise against the Turke, except the Signorie of _Venice_, which medleth nothing at all in it. These reporters of newes affirme, that there shal come aboue a hundred gallies, besides other Barks, ships, & Hulkes without number, which is occasion that they hasten the warre the more. Notwithstanding, men esteeme not so much hereof, as of the war that is made beyond the Mountaines, as you shall understand not without wondering at it. The _Tartars_ make friendes upon the greater Sea, & haue made a league & friendship with the great Turke, requiring ayde, for they are molested with war by the great Emperour of _Muscouia_, & prince of _Sagodie_, of _Pogore_, of _Smelengie_, of _Drossy_, of _Gazam_, of _Virgolosam_, of _Tartarie_, of _Cham_, and of diuers other people and regions lying toward the South: they say that this Emperor or Duke hath two Armies, and is called _Iohn Dwatillo_, a young man, of the age of xxiiii. yeeres, noble and valiant, and a Christian, after the institution of the Greekes, and presumeth that by reason of his blood, the Empire of _Constantinople_ doth belong to him, And these two Armies are about two hundred thousand horse.
They were not wont in time past to be so strong, nor so feared of the Turks, for they had not the use of artillarie in the warre: but nowe they haue meruailous great preparation in theyr warre. Hee hath in wages certaine Dutch Captaines, and about tenne thousand Maister gunners, and is meruailously well furnished with harquebushes, and artillery, and because men understand that hee hath so vanquisht the Tartarians, and brought thē to such a state, that they cannot much more resist him, and that if the saide Muscouite should be maisters ouer the Tartars, they should consequently be Rulers of the great sea, & the way should bee open and easie for them to come, not onely to Constantinople, but also to driue the Turke out of Europe: and because that the saide great Turke is assured of this enterprise and commotion of the Greekes: he hath cōcluded and determined, to send to the said Tartars a good assistance of fifteene thousand fighting men, and also for this purpose, hee hath sent to the sea ten Gallies to passe them ouer.
Men make mention and doubt of _Mondaccio_ which is a great Prince and Ruler, and able to make foure score, or a hundred thousand horse: and yet men are uncertaine whose part he will take, because hee is tributarie unto the great Turke.
There is newes also from _Affrica_, that the king of _Bugien_, the king _Tramece_, the king of _Tunis_, the children of _Serif_. The Lord of _Murocho_, and of _Gran_, with the _Arabians_ and other, haue taken in hand to driue and expulse the turke wholy out of _Affrica_, & to endomage him as much as they may. Men know not yet in what place they will war, but we shall know it shortly. The newes also is, that the _Soffie_ is in Campe with a great Armie, and hath the _Medes_ to helpe him, which border upon the Caspian Sea, and of one side neighbour to the _Hircans_, called at this day _Correxans_ and _Zecatans_, with whom he hath made a league and peace. There are on his side also the _Ibeians_ and _Albians_, and also the people of _Melibar_, which harbor upō the _Indians_, and likewise with the king of _Bosphorus_, all beeing people meruailous swift and nimble. In this so mightie an host and armie, is also _Bascet_ the sonne of the great Turke, by meanes whereof, all in those parts is in great trouble, as well as heere. It seemeth that the _Ienissaries_ bring him the lot of _Turkie_, as _Baduget_, _Zermonia_, _Alepo_, and all the Regions lying neere to the _Soffi_ is reuolted, all the which particularities shall be understoode more at large.
This newes is great, and hath made the great turke to muse enough upon it, but aboue all these meruelous and dreadfull newes which are hapned, there is yet chaunced another, which hath greatly feared & abashed all men, which although it seemeth to be incredible, yet upon my credit it is most true, and that is, that a people heretofore unknowne, mighty, swift, and meruelous nimble, hath taken weapon in hand, to the disaduantage and losse of the house of _Ottoman_. They say that _Alexander_ the great did in time past driue beyond the mountaine _Caspe_ nine tribes and a halfe of the _Hebrewes_ which worshipped the Calfe & Serpent of gold, and draue them away, that neuer since there was no newes of them, neither knewe any man if they were in the worlde or not: because the Sea of sand, or the sandie sea, by a certaine inconuenience of sand Grauel or Beche, swelled & rose so high, that it utterly tooke from them the way into this our Region. But now by the meane of the newe Nauigation that yᵉ Hollanders haue made, they are arriued in their country, and haue espied out all their dooings: and after yᵗ the said Hollanders had instructed and taught them in the science and knowledge of artillery, and gun=pouder for Harquebushes and dags, whereunto they are meruelous apt and ready, they are become in all thinges perfit. After this they egged them forward to take weapon in hand, and passe the saide mountaine by Land. And because the sandy sea did hinder their passage, it appeareth yᵗ some Duchman or Italian, which yet men knowe not, but notwithstanding some great Astrologian or Cosmographer taught them the way, making some hill plaine with fire, whereby they might easilie passe, which is a thing of great wonder.
These people haue two mighty great armies, and infinite store of victualls, by reason of the fruitfulnesse of theyr country, they are also well prouided of all manner of preparation for war, & cunning in the practise of theyr weapons. They say they will come & recouer the land of Promise, towards the which the first army is already very neere, to the great terror and dread of euery man which hath either seene or heard of them. The spyes which haue been sent out by the great turke to discry them, doe affirme, that beside a hundred and two armies, there followe an infinite number of people, as well footmen as horsemen, and theyr first armie is already arriued upon the limmits of Turkie, putting all to fire and sword. Theyr language is bastard Hebrew: & because men speake much of it heere, I will not forget to speake also something thereof woorthy to be noted, and well understoode: The Hebrewes of Constantinople say, that they haue certaine prophesies, among the which one maketh mention, that from the foure parts of the world, shall rise a people, and come into Gog and Magog, and then shall appeare (as they perswade themselues) their _Messias_ in might and power, and then they shall haue dominion and rule in the world, whereof they secretly reioyce, & are wonderous glad. They say moreouer, that there is a prophecie grauen in a piller set at _Podromo_ which saith thus: A mightie Prince shall rise, whose beginning shall be of small reputation, who by his Issue shal war of such force and strength (with the helpe of God) that he shall bring to nothing, the empire and rule of _Ottoman_, and shal be the right possessour and inheritor of the Empire of _Constantinople_, & they beleeue all that it shall be this Emperor and duke of _Muscouia_, which is alreadie in great estimation among the Greeks.
The Turks haue a prophecie, which they sing often, and weepe bitterlie the while, for it betokeneth and denounceth unto them, their utter ruine and destruction. And although it seeme strange, to say that the Turkes haue prophecies, it is no meruaile: for _Balam_ was a false Prophet: the _Sybilles_ also prophecied and were Pagans. For all these causes the great Turke hath forbidden wine & will that all men goe fiue times in a day to the _Moschea_, and pray to God for theyr health and saftie. And so hee prepareth three great armies, one against the _Muscouites_ another against the _Soffie_, and the third for to goe against the _Hebrewes_ of the Mountaines of _Caspij_. Within these fewe dayes you shall haue other newes, wherefore thus making an end, I commend me unto your good Lordship: from _Rome_, the first day of June, 1606. Your faithfull and trustie seruant, _Signior Valesco_.
_The description of the first Armie, conducted_ by _Zoroam_ a Iew, Captaine generall of the Armies.
First of all a Jew, of verie great stature, of a fleshlie colour, more red then otherwise, with broad eyes, called _Zoroam_, is Captaine generall of all the Armies, hee leadeth under his Ensigne twelue thousand horse, and twenty thousand footmen. The horsemen are armed after a light sort, but very good Harnes, almost after our fashion: they carrie Launces of long Reedes, very hard and light, yet so sharpe pointed, that they passe thorowe a thing with incredible lightnesse: they carrie also shields or targets of bone, and in steede of swords, they use certaine Courtilaxes.
They are apparrelled with the colour of their Ensigne, and all clothed with silke: the foote-men carrie Pikes of the same sort, with Helmet and Habergin: their Ensigne is of blacke silke and blew, with a dog following a Hart, or Bucke, and a saying written in it, which is in our language thus: _Either quick or dead_.
2. _Of the Armie of Don Phares._
There is one called _Phares_, which is an Earle, yong and valiant, not regarding this present life: this man hath under his commaund fifteene hundred horsemen armed lightly, onely on the fore-part and head-peece: yet this Armour is so well tempered and wrought, that it keepeth out a Launce and Harquebush shot.
This manner of arming themselues, is to the intent they may neuer turne their backe to runne awaie: they have also fierce and light horses: there are eighteene thousand footemen, apparrelled with a kinde of sodden leather, made of the skinne of a certaine beast, so that no pike nor harquebush can pearse it. These men are beastlie people, & will neuer flie for any thing, they are very obedient and subiect unto their Prince, and their ordinarie apparell is silke. The Ensigne that they beare, is a falcon pecking or billing with another bird, with a sentence that saith, _Either thine or mine shall breake_.
3. _Of the Marquesse of Galair._
There is a Marquesse of _Galair_ called _Goes_, this man leadeth fifteen hūdred men of armes, which be all exceeding well armed & stout, strong, and rebust men: their horses are moriskes, the greatest, the strongest, the fairest, and the best that bee in the world: there are also seuenteene thousand souldiers, very wel appointed with Launce and harquebush: theyr Ensigne or armes is a redde field, with a maid clothed in greene, holding a Lion in her hand, with these words _I hope to subdue a greater thing_.
4. _Of the Duke of Falach._
There is a Duke of _Falach_, called _Obeth_, who hath under his conduct xx. thousand footemen, armed with a certaine mettall like yron, but it is light and hard, they have many good swords, launces, and other force, harquebushes, and wiflers: their Ensigne or armes, is a mermaid in a blacke field, and the deuise thus, _My singing shall not cease untill the end_.
_The description of the Armie conducted by Captaine Nauison._
There is a captaine called _Nauison_, which hath under him xx. thousand men, appointed and armed with the skin of a serpent, most hard & stiffe, they haue Axes, pollaxes, pikes, harquebushes, and other kind of weapons: their Ensigne or armes, is a white snaile in a blacke fielde, with a deuise about it, _By little and little, men goe very farre_.
Of the tribe of _Simeon_ there is a Prince of _Arsay_, whose name is not yet knowne, but they say he is a deuill, great, grosse, & thicke beyond measure, with a flat nose, and both he and his men are of the stature of Giants: he leadeth with him xx. thousand footemen, almost all _Alfiers_, which are also so swift & nimble that they will take horses running: they make a meruailous noise, such as no people use: their Ensigne is an Lute in a blacke field, and haue for their posy, _Such is my government_.
6. _Of the Duke of Barsalda._
There is a duke of _Barsalda_, and he is the conducter of xiii. thousand footmen, which are all Harquebushers, & carry no fire matches, but strike it with a stone: they are apparrelled & armed with such a hard kind of leather, and so enchaunted, that no yron weapon in the world is able to perse it thorow. They bee also very swift and light: their Ensigne or armes, is a dry tree in a blew field, and their deuise thus, _I hope to spread, and be greene againe_.
7. _Of the Armie of the Duke Passill._
There is a duke of _Passill_ called _Abia_, he hath under his conduct a thousand footmen, very cruell, hauing all kind of weapons to push or pricke far off, and to strike nigh, but farre different from ours, they are very expert in artificiall fire, and make the greatest and most dreadfull thinges withall yᵗ a man can imagin: they do it either by arte or enchauntment, so that it seemeth that it raigneth fire upon their enemies, and yet notwithstanding hurteth not themselves at all, by reason they are apparalled with a certaine Serpents skin which preserueth them. Their Ensigne is a Cat holding a Rat in her paw in a blacke fielde, and theyr posie thus, _Euen so hapneth it to him that is not gouerned_.
8. _Of the Army conducted by the Earle of Albary._
There is an Erle of _Albary_ called _Orut_, which hath under his gouernaunce a thousand horse-men with Crosse-bowes, some of them weare certaine light armour of a kind of hard mettall, with Rapyers and daggers after theyr manner, they fight alwayes running and their horses are so swift that it is wonderfull. This man also hath xx. thousand horses barbed with very fine leather. Some carry pikes & Partisans, & such like weapons. Their Ensigne or armes is a man in chaines, in a field parted halfe with greene and purple, and this deuise withall, _My chaines shall bind another man_.
9. _Of the Marquesse of Vorio._
There is a Marques of _Vorio_ called _Manasses_, who hath under his conduct xvii. thousand footemen, armed with a very hard & strong leather, which men beleeue to be enchaunted, because that no weapon nor harquebush is able to perse it thorowe, yet it is as light as Linnen cloth, and a thing very fayre to see to. These now haue all sorts of weapons that an Armie may haue: and they are deuided and set in a very faire, comely, and decent order: their Ensigne is an old man in a chariot, in a blacke field, saying thus, _After a long iourney, I shall be happy_.
_Caleb Shilock_ his prophesie, for the yeere, _1607_.
Be it knowne unto all men, that in the yeere _1607_, when as the Moone is in the watrie signe, the world is like to bee in great danger: for a learned Jew, named _Caleb Shilock_, doth write, that in the foresaid yeere, the Sun shall be couered with the Dragon in the morning, from fiue of the clocke untill nine, and will appeare like fire: therefore it is not good that any man doe behold the same, for by beholding thereof he may lose his sight.
Secondly, there shall come in the same yeere a meruailous great flood of water, to the great terror and amasement of many people.
Thirdly, there shall arise a meruailous great wind, and for feare thereof many people shall be consumed, or distraughted of their wits.
Fourthlie the same yeere, about the month of May, will arise another wonderfull great flood, and so great as no man hath seene since _Noyes_ flood, which wil continue three daies and three nights, whereby many Citties and Townes which standeth uppon sandie ground will be in great danger.
Fiftly, Infidels and Hereticks, through great feare and dread, will flie, and gather together, and asmuch as in them lies, make war against Christian princes.
Sixtlie, in the same yeere after the great waters be past, about the end of the yeere will be very great and fearefull Sicknesses: so that many people are like to die by the infection of strange diseases.
Seauenthly, there will be throughout the Worlde great trouble and contention about matters of Religion, and wonderfull strange newes unto all people, as concerning the same.
Eightly, the Turke with his God Mahomet shall be in danger to lose his Septer, through the great change and alteration in his Regiment, by reason of famine and warres, so that the most part of his people will rather seeke reliefe from the Christian, then from him.
Ninthlie, there will also arise great Earth=quakes, whereby diuers goodly buildings & high houses, are like to be ouerthrowne and ruinated.
Lastlie, there will be great remoouings of the earth in diuers places, so that for feare thereof, many people will be in a strange amazement and terror.
These punishments are prognosticated by this learned Jew, to fall uppon the whole world by reason of sinne, wherefore it behooueth all Christian to amend their euill liues, and to pray earnestly unto God to with=hold these calamities from us, and to conuart our harts wholy to him, whereby we may find fauour in our time of neede, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FINIS.
COLLATION
A‒B in fours; Black letter, with the exception of title-page and introductory leaf: Lowndes, p. 2749 notes “Valesco, S. Jewes Prophecy, &c. Halliwell, May, 1856, imprint cut into £10‒5‒0: No other copy known.” This is now in the British Museum, the fore edge of which is badly cropped, the name “_Shilocke_” on the title-page being cut down to “_Shilo_.” As in this copy, the imprint is cut off after “Pater,” but there is just visible the top edge of the next line, which may be “noster rowe at the signe of the Sunne,” but no indication of a date. These are the only two copies known of this remarkable tract. To students of Shakespeare, it is of considerable interest. James Orchard Halliwell-Phillips, _formerly_ Halliwell (1820‒1889), the great Shakespearean scholar, in his introduction to the Merchant of Venice (Halliwell’s Shakespeare, vol. v., p. 277: London, 1853) maintains that the name of the predominant character of the play suggested itself to the author, from this tract. [Notes and Queries, 10s. ix. 269. April 4, 1908.]