These drew vnto him so great an increase of im|perie, such amplification of tribute and reuenue, and remoouing the impediments of so mightie enimies, and of so great reputation, that with great reason hée was to be feared of the christians. A feare which tooke his degrees of increasing by this consideration, that to so great a power and valour was ioined a settled impression of ambition to beare rule, & by manie vic|tories, to make glorious his name to all posterities: wherein reading oftentimes the legends and actions of the great Alexander, and Iulius Cesar,The Turks ambition hath no bounds o [...] circumscrip|tion. he séemed to suffer griefe and perplexitie of mind, that his ac|tions & exploits of warre could in no wise hold com|parison with so manie great triumphs and victories. In which humour, refurnishing continuallie his ar|mies, and building of new a great number of ships, and leuieng all prouisions necessarie for the warre, it was fered when his preparations were accompli|shed, that he would inuade Rhodes, the bulworke of the christians in the east parts, or else the kingdome of Hungaria, made fearefull by the valour of the in|habitants to the nation of the Turks, which at that time was in diuision amongst themselues, and made weake by the minoritie of their king, who was go|uerned by the priests and barons of the realme.

Others were of opinion, that he had addressed all his thoughts to the inuasion of Italie, taking his in|couragement vpon the discord of the potentates and naturall princes, whome he knew to be much shaken with the long warres of those regions. To this was ioined the memorie of Mahomet his grandfather, who with a power farre lesse than his, and with a small name sent vpon the coasts of the realme of Naples, had woone by assault the citie of O [...]ronto: and (sauing he was preuented by death) had both o|pened EEBO page image 847 the way, and established the meane to perse|cute the regions of Italie with continuall vexati|ons:The pope put of feare that [...] Turke [...] ouerrun [...] territories [...] Italie. so that the pope togither with the whole court of Rome being made astonished with so great suc|cesse, and no lesse prouident to eschew so great a dan|ger, making their first recourse vnto the aid and succour of God, caused to be celebrated through Rome most deuout inuocations, which he did assist in presence bare-footed.

And afterwards calling vpon the helpe of m [...]n he wrote letters to all christian princes, both admo|nishing them of the perill, and persuading them to lay aside all ciuill discords and contentions, and at|tend spéedilie to the defense of religion & their com|mon safetie, which he affirmed would more and more take increase of most grieuous danger, if with the vnitie of minds, and concordances of forces, they sought not to transferre the warre into the empire of the Turks, & inuade the enimie in his owne coun|trie. Upon this aduise and admonition, was taken the examination and opinion of men of warre,The pope [...] him [...] his securi| [...] [...] tuition. and persons skilfull in the discouerie of countries, the dis|posing of prouinces, and of the nature and vsage of the forces and weapons of that kingdome, and there|vpon a resolution was set downe to make great le|uies of monie by voluntarie contributions of prin|ces, and vniuersall imposts of all people of christen|dome.