Sea-Wolves of the Mediterranean: The grand period of the Moslem corsairsCurrey, E. Hamilton (Edward Hamilton)
History
Sea-Wolves of the Mediterranean: The grand period of the Moslem corsairs
Currey, E. Hamilton (Edward Hamilton)
Africa, North -- History; Pirates
That which the fighting Pontiff, Pius V., said when he heard of the
victory is in character with everything which history has told us of
this remarkable occupant of the chair of Saint Peter. It was short but
very much to the point, consisting of the one sentence, “Fuit homo
misus a Deo cui nomen erat Joannes.”
In a collection of epitaphs printed in Colonia in 1623 (and edited by
one Franciscus Swertius) is one in Spanish by an anonymous author on
Don John of Austria. In this, which takes the form of question and
answer, it is asked of him “who with so much real glory lies so humbly
’neath this stone,” what it is that Spain can do for him, what temple
or what statue can she raise to his honour. To this the hero is made
to reply that “My temple is found in my works, my statue has been my
fame.” This is not only a pretty conceit, but it is very substantially
true when we think of the place in history which this man attained.
It remains to speak of the future career of Ali Basha after his
experiences at Lepanto. He now returned to Constantinople, where he
found that the bitter complaints of the Janissaries concerning their
lack of pay had preceded him; this must have been annoying, as by this
time so insignificant a circumstance had probably escaped his memory.
His old friend and patron Piali Basha was still in power; the Basha
used his influence, and the corsair laid at the feet of the Sultan the
great Standard of Saint John captured by him from the Knights—which
was the only trophy which came to Constantinople from that disastrous
battle; and in consequence we are told that “instead of reprimands he
was loaded with caresses and applauses.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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