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Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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GIOVANNI MARITI
Travels in the Island of Cyprus
page 167

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" Others to a city strong Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale and mine Assaulting: others from the wall defend — With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire ; On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds." Gio. PIETRO CONTARINI wrote a general history of the whole war, from the first move made by Sultan Selim to the Turkish defeat off Lepanto, October 7, 1572, which was printed at Venice in that year. He does not mention his authorities, but gives a connected account of the movements of the fleet and armies of both Turks and Christians, including naturally episodes, such as were the sieges of Nicosia and Famagusta. He gives very fully the numbers and disposition of the opposing forces, with the names of the officers, and exact dates. COUNT NESTOR MARTINENGO, an officer who came to Famagusta in the train of Hieronimo Martinengo (who died on the voyage), succeeded during the siege to the command of a company, was twice wounded, enslaved at the fall of the city, escaped thence, and returned to Venice to make his report to the Doge. This Relatione di tutto il Sticcesso di Famagosta, a little pamphlet of τ6 pages (5-I χ 4 in.), bears the imprint "Venetia, Appresso Giorgio Angelieri, MD. LXXII." Within a year it was translated into English, French and German ; and borrowed almost verbatim, but without acknowledgment, by Calepio, Bizarri, Sereno, Foglietta and Graziani. As the Report of all the Successes of Famagosta it was "Englished out of Italian" by William Malim, and "Imprinted at London by John Daye, an. 1572." Malim's version, a rare volume (7^ χ 5|· in.) comprises, besides (5) "The true Report &c," pp. 24—77, (1) a title and epistle dedicatory to the Earl of Leicester, Baron of Denbigh, 164 Prefatory Note

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