{MN-1} The Earl having made many Incursions into the Land of _Zarkan,_ among those Rocky Mountains, where were some _Turks,_ some _Tartars,_ but most _Bandittoes, Rennegadoes,_ and such like, which sometimes he forced into the Plains of _Regall_ where is a City, not only of Men and Fortifications, Strong of it self, but so environed with Mountains, that made the Passages so difficult, that in all these Wars, no attempt had been made upon it to any purpose: Having satisfied himself with the Situation, and the most convenient Passages to bring his Army into it: The Earth no sooner put on her green Habit, than the Earl overspread her with his armed Troops. To possess himself first of the most convenient Passage, which was a narrow Valley betwixt two high Mountains; he sent Colonel _Veltus_ with his Regiment; dispersed in Companies to lie in _Ambuscado,_ as he had directed them, and in the Morning to drive all the Cattel they could find before a Fort in that Passage, whom he supposed would sally, seeing but some small Party to recover their prey; which took such good success, that the Garrison was cut off by the _Ambuscado,_ and _Veltus_ seized on the Skonces, which were abandoned. _Meldritch_ glad of so fortunate a beginning, it was six days ere he could with six thousand Pioneers make passage for his Ordnance: The _Turks_ having such warning, strengthened the Town so with Men and Provision, that they made a scorn of so small a number as _Meldritch_ brought with him before the City, which was but eight thousand. Before they had pitched their Tents, the _Turks_ sallied in such abundance, as for an hour, they had rather a bloody Battel than a Skirmish, but with the loss of near Fifteen hundred on both sides. The Turks were chased till the Cities Ordnance caused the Earl to retire. {M-2} The next day _Zachel Moyses,_ General of the Army, pitched also his Tents with nine thousand Foot and Horse, and six and twenty Pieces of Ordnance; but in regard of the Situation of this strong Fortress, they did neither fear them nor hurt them, being upon the point of a fair Promontory, environed on the one side within half a Mile with an un-useful Mountain, and on the other side with a fair Plain, where the _Christians_ encamped, but so commanded by their Ordnance, they spent near a Month in entrenching themselves, and raising their Mounts to plant their Batteries; which slow proceedings the _Turks_ oft derided, that their Ordnance were at pawn, and how they grew fat for want of Exercise, and fearing lest they should depart ere they could assault their City, sent this Challenge to any Captain in the Army. * * * * * {MN-1} _Earl_ Meldritch _maketh incursions to discover_ Regall. {MN-2} Moyses _Besiegeth_ Regal.