Louis XIV. ceeded rather from a wrong Maxim of State; for, after arriving in Syria, France. he was soe farr from soliciting any Succors from thence to support the Warr in Cyprus, that he told Antiochus all the Island was lost, and the Ireland. People in noe Condition to be relieved: and, indeed, some ran-away Syrians, who fled out of Cyprus along with Amasis, to palliat their own French. Ireland. Flight, gave out very confidently that the Cyprians, in the Day of Battle, James II. forsook theire King, and the auxiliary Syrian Forces, who were all cutt French. in Pieces. And it is likely they might beleive it was soe, for they did not stay to be Witnesses of the honourable Retreat, which the Syrian Foot French. and the Cyprian Cavalry made along to Salamis. The few Cilician Cour- Irish. Dublin. tiers who stayed with the Queen in Syria, to justifye the Flight of their English. King, did not spare calumniateing the Cyprians, whom they trumpeted Irish. about to be the greatest Villains and Traytors in the World, haveing midine, ex acie diffugisse; sed consulto ac de industria, ob causas, quas supra memoravimus, tam indecorum generi regioque nomini, facinus admisisse; posteaquam enim in Syriam advectus est, non modo nulla, ad sustentandum in Cypro bellum, auxilia poposcit, verum universam Insulam penitus amissam Antiocho narravit, nec eum esse rerum in illa gente statum, ut ullo suppetiarum adminiculo aut imposito jam jugo eripi, aut in pristinam felicitatem redintegrari possint. Et vero Syrorum fugacissimi, qui Amasim Cypro excedentem comitati sunt, quo alienis probris suæ timiditatis infamiam occulerent, summâ impudentiâ vulgare ausi sunt, Cyprios Regem et auxiliarias Syrorum cohortes in ipso prælio deseruisse, easque ad internecionem funditus deletas trucidatasque fuisse. Nec eos ita suspicatos a vero abhorret, quippe qui inito statim certamine, non expectato pugnæ eventu, lymphatis similes profugerant; nec egregium illum decorumque copiarum sensim recedentium ordinem, oculis subjecerant, quo Syrorum pedes, Cypriusque eques pugnam inter iterque Salamina retrogressi sunt. Pauci illi ex Cilicibus Aulicis, qui cum Regina in Syria commorante remanserant, tum ut præcipitem Regis fugam speciosis nominibus excusarent; tum ut inveterata in Cyprios odia liberius effutirent, tum denique ut proditionis Socios suæ genti adsiscerent, et scelerum communione minus sontes viderentur; non cessabant universam nationem fœde traducere, et ingestis insuper convitiis lacerare, pavidos et malefidos proditores, ac mortalium consceleratissimos publice appellando; ut qui non Principem modo tela inter France. William III. O. Cromwell. nell. not only abandoned theire Prince, and left him exposed to the Enemy, but also imediately submitted to Theodore, owning his Authority. 47. This Calumny, soe artificially spred abroad, made such a Noise France. Irish. in Syria, that the Cyprian Merchants, who lived there since the Conquest of Attilas, durst not walk abroad, or appear in the Streets, the People were soe exasperated against them, and noe other Relation comeIreland. Tircon- ing out of Cyprus to contradict it (for Coridon, who was not a Stranger to the Plott, putt an Embargue uppon all Ships, to hinder any Accounts from thence into Syria, that might gainsay what was told there uppon Jas. II. Ls. XIV. the Arrivall of Amasis), Antiochus himself, who never hitherto wanted true Intelligence, finding noe Account of the Cyprian Officers contrary to these Relations, confidently averred by Persons of unquestionable Credit, had noe Reason to misbelieve it, and consequently giveing all France. Irish. hostesque reliquissent, sed confestim sese Theodoro dedidissent, et naturæ pariter, ac sacramenti quo se obstrinxerant, obliti, ei, ut legitimo Regi, paruis sent. 47. Tanta infamia tam operoso artificio, et subtili commento in vulgus sparsa, tam constantibus de Cypriorum perfidia atque opprobrio rumoribus, totam, qua lata est, Syriam ita pervasit, ut Mercatores Cyprii, qui oppressæ patriæ mala ac domesticas calamitates subterfugientes, et religionis simul ac libertatis avidi, natale solum exilio verterant, et certas sibi sedes apud exteros fixerant, jam inde ex quo crudelis Attilas everso regni jure, et Rege per scelus exacto, Tyrannidem occupavit, propter inustum genti dedecus intra domorum septa clausi nusquam prodire auderent: tanto eorum odio populus in universùm exarserat! Cum autem nihil, quod dictorum fidem elevaret, e Cypro referretur, et Coridon omnium quæ agebantur gnarus consciusque edicto inhibuisset, ne qua e portu solveret navis, aut in altum proveheretur, ne scilicet emanare in publicum rerum veritas posset, quo, quæ ab Amasis adventu evaluerant, et credulos multitudinis animos præoccupaverant mendacia, deprehensâ falsitate, in ludibrium comminiscentium verterentur. Quin et Antiocho ipsi his artibus illusum est, quanquam summa in eo, et plane principalis virtus sit, aliorum consilia altius rimari, arcana pervestigare, et totum fere terrarum orbem notitiâ complecti: nec immerito tamen iis, quæ a tantæ dignitatis et existimationis Viris nuntiabantur, nullo præsertim contrarium asserente, haud the Island for lost, he judged it to noe Purpose to send Relief to a People that were not capable of any: he therefore ordered the Admirall of his victorious Fleet to bring out of Cyprus his own Troops, and such of the Ireland. Cyprian Army and Nobility, as had a Mind to retire from Bondage. Irish. 48. To return now to our forlorn Army on the River of Lapithus, Boyne. tho' they were abandoned by their Chief, the Cavalry, however, with the Assistance of 6000 Men, Syrian Foot, made a brave Retreat, fighting French. and marching Day and Night, till they came to Salamis, where, finding Dublin. neither King or Captain Generall, nor indeed any principal Officers, and understanding that Amasis left Orders that every Man should shift for James II. himself, they were in a great Consternation; but the death of Nisias, Schonberg. killed uppon the first Onsett, was the Occasion they were not hotly pursued, haveing now Time to retire leizurely to Paphos: and it is admi- Limerick. rable how every individuall Person, both Officer and Soldier, came thither without any Orders, and without the Conduct of any of theire difficulter assensit. Et proinde cum Insulam hostili penitus jugo oppressum crederet, supervacaneum ratus est, deploratæ jam conditionis populum sero et inutili auxilio juvare. Victricis igitur classis Præfecto mandavit, quotquot Nobilium militumque natalis soli desiderio, duræque servituti libertatem et socialia arma præferrent, continuo infaustæ patriæ ruinis et exitio subduceret. 48. Ut demum ea, unde nos necessaria rerum series abstraxit, repetentes, ad destitutas super Lapithi fluminis ripam copias regrediamur, quanquam Ductoris fugâ derelicti, et selectissimæ equitum turmæ Regem sequerenter, adsistentibus tamen sex Syrorum peditum millibus, dies noctesque non itineri magis quam prælio intenti, Salamina non trepidè aut confusè, sed servatis ubique ordinibus decenter se receperunt, ubi cum nec Amasim comperissent, nec alium ullum copiarum Ducem, qui palantes et sine imperio vagos regeret, ingenti consternatione perculsi obtorpuerunt, cum præsertim abeuntem Regem mandasse inter tumultuantes percrebesceret, quisque sibi, qua tutissime posset consuleret. Nisia vero mors in ipso conflictu inter initia pugnæ interempti, hostem, ne acriori impetu fugientium terga cederet, retardavit, spatiumque Cypris reliquit, sine magna aut præcipiti festinatione Paphum se recipiendi. At enimvero obstupescendum est omnes eodem confluxisse, nullius ductu, et Rectoris egentes, tanquam secreto aliquo naturæ genio et instructu illuc Limerick. Tirconnell. Lauzun. French. Louis XIV. chief Comanders, as if they were guided to Paphos by some secrett Instinct of Nature. In a Week's Time after the Battle, the Appearance De there was soe considerable, that Coridon and Asimo (the Syrian Generall) were equally surprized; the First was concerned least such a sudden Rally might hinder (at least delay) the Execution of the Design which was hatched in the Cabinett; the other was noe less troubled that soe French. France many of the Syrians appeared, after he writt into Syria, and perhaps to Antiochus himself, that they were all, to a very few, cut off; and the Contrary being now made evident (for they did not loose 6 Men that Day) he had Reason to apprehend, that it might bring his Credit and Sincerity in Question at the Court of Syria: soe that these two great Men being of one Resolution, tho' for different Ends, were linked together in a Friendship that seemed everlasting. Asimo longed soe much to be back in his own Country, that he could not endure to hear of purlonging the Warr in Cyprus; and it is probable that some of his Captains (who longed to breathe the sweet Air of Syria), dispaireing of the Country, believed it impossible to preserve it. Coridon nourished France. De Lauzun. Ireland. Tirconnell. cunctos invitante. Tantus eo mortalium concursus septimum intra diem factus est, ut advolantem multitudinem non sine stupore quodam et admiratione Coridon, Asimoque, auxiliarium Syrorum Præfectus intuerentur. Illum formido incesserat, ne coalescentium indies militum numerus consiliorum, quæ privatos intra parietes structa erant, effectum aut impediret, aut certe moraretur. Vexabatur hic tot Syrorum, qui integri evaserant, conspectu, posteaquam ipse Amicis per literas, et forte etiam Antiocho indicasset, eos adverso prælio ad unum fere omnes cecidisse; cumque jam ipsa veritas scripta evidentissime refelleret, vix sex ex iis in illâ acie occisis, justa de causa metuendum illi erat, ne in aula Syriaca et levioris fidei et dubiæ sinceritatis suspectus haberetur. Quocirca par illud magnorum Virorum, diversas licet ob causas, unius tamen voluntatis, æterno amicitiæ vinculo invicem connexi videbantur. Asimo diuturnam absentiam tam ægre molesteque ferebat, ut bellum in Cypro protrahi continuarique ipso ei auditu acerbissimum esset. Nec incredibile est Ducum in illius exercitu nonnullos (potissimum qui patrii cœli dulcedinem impatientius suspirabant) sibi persuasisse, desperatas Cypri res nullâ humanâ ope defendi sustentarique posse. Ita affectis faces subjiciebat Coridon, et natalis soli desi way. this Humor, because it went along with his Design, not to oppose Theo- William III. dore in the Conquest of Cyprus. For the more speedy Effecting that Ireland. Work, he omitted Nothing that might encourage Theodore to advance, William III. and discourage the Cyprians to resist: he shipt away his Wife, a Cili- Irish. English. cian Lady, with all his own Wealth and the King's Treasure, into Syria, France. where she gave out, (pursuant to her Instructions), that all Cyprus was Ireland. lost, to the Citys of Paphos and Cythera, which could not hold out long; Limerick. Galthat the Cyprians had noe Army, and that the Nation, for the most Part, Irish. submitted to Theodore. All this was done, in order to fortify the King's William III. Relation of the present State of Cyprus, and to keep Antiochus in the Ireland. Dark from the true Knowledge of their Condition; and it was hoped that by this Artifice the Country would be realy lost, before the Syrian French. King should come to know, whether or noe they were capable of being releived? Of the other Side, noe Endeavours were omitted by Coridon Tirconnell. to perswade the Cyprians that it was Folly to expect any Relief from Irish. Antiochus, who had his Hands soe full, that he was not able to assist Louis XIV. derio ardentes stimulabat; quia Syrorum accelerari reditum arcanis consiliis multum conducebat, quibus jam olim statuerat, nullo graviori molimine Theodori conatibus in perdomanda Cypro obviam ire, et ut opus illud diu multumque meditatum tandem ad speratum pertingeret exitum, nihil intentatum reliquit, quo aut Theodorus ad instandum victoriis invitaretur, aut Cyprii a resistendo deterrerentur. Uxorem, Cilicem genere, cum opibus et regiâ gazâ in Syriam navibus præmittit, ubi, prout convenerat, in vulgus spargit universam Cyprum amissum esse, Papho et Cytherâ urbibus exceptis, quæ et ipsæ longioris obsidii moræ pares esse non poterant; nullum Cypriis exercitum superesse; et totam fere gentem in Theodorum cessisse. Fabricata hæc omnia, ut, quæ Rex ante vulgaverat de præsenti rerum in Cypro statu, confirmarentur; utque Antiochum penitus lateret, quo in articulo summa negotiorum staret, et hoc artificioso commento eventurum sperabatur, ut Insula prius hosti funditus traderetur, quam in Syrorum Regis notitiam venisset, eam esse Incolarum conditionem, ut sublevari, et auxilii capaces esse possent. At parte ex alia Coridon omni vi nitebatur Cypriis suadere, vanam esse ab Antiocho suppetiarum expectationem, qui tot simul undique circumfundebatur hostibus, ut vix sua defendendo, nedum alienis calamitatibus allevandis sufficere posset, proinde Louis XIV. |