Changes

==Enemy Fleet Will Not go Any More North Past the Bay of Cattaro or Past Ragusa ==

==Enemy Fleet Will Not go Any More North Past the Bay of Cattaro or Past Ragusa ==

I believe that enemy fleet will not go any more north past the bay of Kotor or past Dubrovnik (Ragusa), since they left behind them large number of Venetian soldiers with their ships and galleys, larger and smaller, we expect that they will be joined to assist them, by Spanish and Papal fleets. I do have to admit that it can happen, that with the excuse of being our friends we get attacked by naval pirates, Narentines (Neretljani), Herzegovinians (pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo) or Karakozije, or even some other bandits and robbers, especially if they find out that we left our city. Because of all of what I said above, I am begging all of you, especially those who haven’t lost their heads, to stay here with me, and defend our place of birth, our parents and the bones of our ancestors, same like defending God’s temples, as long as we can.; so that we don’t let it happen that a handful of bandits clean out our abandoned city, where they could even set it on fire, this would be to our greatest shame. I am a witness that this altar to God and Virgin Mary and to Saint Bartul and Mark the evangelist, was blessed, as our fathers some time ago stood up to Aragonian ships, and inside the city walls, voluntarily closed the walls and repelled enemies attacks. Are we going to abandon that which we have received from our Grandfathers? It is far from us to be given this much of shame. But, from where are we going to find that many ships, so that all of us can be boarded? Let the crazy ones go because they will face greater dangers, than us, who are remaining here. We have nothing to fear but Gods hand from above. Even you, great ladies and mothers, I am asking you not to hold back your husbands, and talk bravely to your children. God the Creator loves you, he loves your children and this love is surpassing your motherly love, Give yourself to the Almighty, and dear God. Pray to the merciful Mother, she will ask her son for mercy, and son will show his wounds to his father, and because of these gifts that they gave, God will hear our prayers and save us from this danger. Fall down on your knees in front of our heavenly protectors Bartul and Marko. With their protection these fortified walls are standing. Humbly pray and you will be heard. Prayer will open up the heaven, is calling God, it is disbanding armies, the mean ones are made smaller, but the modest and good ones are made stronger and more brave. After these words we continued with our services, and we brought it to the ending. The public started to whisper and talk to one another.

I believe that enemy fleet will not go any more north past the bay of Kotor [Cattaro] or past Dubrovnik [Ragusa], since they left behind them large number of Venetian soldiers with their ships and galleys, larger and smaller, we expect that they will be joined to assist them, by Spanish and Papal fleets. I do have to admit that it can happen, that with the excuse of being our friends we get attacked by naval pirates, Neretljani [Narentines] , Herzegovinians [pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo] or Karakozije, or even some other bandits and robbers, especially if they find out that we left our city. Because of all of what I said above, I am begging all of you, especially those who haven’t lost their heads, to stay here with me, and defend our place of birth, our parents and the bones of our ancestors, same like defending God’s temples, as long as we can.; so that we don’t let it happen that a handful of bandits clean out our abandoned city, where they could even set it on fire, this would be to our greatest shame. I am a witness that this altar to God and Virgin Mary and to Saint Bartul and Mark the evangelist, was blessed, as our fathers some time ago stood up to Aragonian ships, and inside the city walls, voluntarily closed the walls and repelled enemies attacks. Are we going to abandon that which we have received from our Grandfathers? It is far from us to be given this much of shame. But, from where are we going to find that many ships, so that all of us can be boarded? Let the crazy ones go because they will face greater dangers, than us, who are remaining here. We have nothing to fear but Gods hand from above. Even you, great ladies and mothers, I am asking you not to hold back your husbands, and talk bravely to your children. God the Creator loves you, he loves your children and this love is surpassing your motherly love, Give yourself to the Almighty, and dear God. Pray to the merciful Mother, she will ask her son for mercy, and son will show his wounds to his father, and because of these gifts that they gave, God will hear our prayers and save us from this danger. Fall down on your knees in front of our heavenly protectors Bartul and Marko. With their protection these fortified walls are standing. Humbly pray and you will be heard. Prayer will open up the heaven, is calling God, it is disbanding armies, the mean ones are made smaller, but the modest and good ones are made stronger and more brave. After these words we continued with our services, and we brought it to the ending. The public started to whisper and talk to one another.

Among them, some were fond to superstitions, or maybe by nature were hiding the worries of the public, mentioning some yellow birds, the species that was never seen in our parts, (those days in our channel between '''Sabbioncello''', modern: Pelješac Channel) and here were seen in numbers, where they at times swim on the sea surface, and other times fly over the island, where they are damaging the vineyards. Someone said that they came from the Black Sea, and that they are proceeding the Turkish fleet, or that they are signalling Turks in white turbans that will arrive here to destroy us. Some of the richer people already started carrying their boxes to the boats, as some people coming from Dubrovnik (Ragusa) are talking of very bad news, one after another. And so everyone got excited, carrying their belongings to the boats, with such a rush that they were bumping into one another at the city gate.  

Among them, some were fond to superstitions, or maybe by nature were hiding the worries of the public, mentioning some yellow birds, the species that was never seen in our parts, those days in our channel between Orebic ['''Sabbioncello''', modern: Pelješac Channel ''or'' Pelišac] and here were seen in numbers, where they at times swim on the sea surface, and other times fly over the island, where they are damaging the vineyards. Someone said that they came from the Black Sea, and that they are preceeding the Turkish fleet, or that they are signaling turks in white turbans that will arrive here to destroy us. Some of the richer people already started carrying their boxes to the boats, as some people coming from Dubrovnik [Ragusa] are talking of very bad news, one after another. And so everyone got excited, carrying their belongings to the boats, with such a rush that they were bumping into one another at the city gate.

'''City Rector''' was a young man, very inexperienced, and had no trust in experienced elders. It has been only two months since he assumed running of the city and in this short period did not gain any liking among citizenry. Anyway, these last few days he showed to be softer and more understanding. Seeing how everything from the city is being carried out, he gave an order to at once securely shut the city gates. Then many stopped lowering their belongings over the city walls, and some of them in front of the city gate started to pile up things, pushing one another. This was a very sad scene. This is how Troy looked when it fell in hands of the enemy. Rector did not take much of his clothing, because he had left his family back in Venice. But anyway, his servant-lady along with most of his other belongings brought down to the quay and placed in the boat. In addition he secured for him a pirate ship from Perast (Perasto), which was very well maintained. It had six strong rowers, and he rented it out for 120 golden ducats. At dusk we were hearing all kinds of conflicting news reports. Frightened women were running through the city, begging to be let on the ships or to run into the forests. In the evening, Rector agrees to let them go, this he repeated the next day even more, he ordered the city gates to be open, so they can transfer their belongings to the boats that stayed anchored. Finally those who wished to leave, raised their sails and sailed away on 8th of August.  

City Rector was a young man, very inexperienced, and had no trust in experienced elders. It has been only two months since he assumed running of the city and in this short period did not gain any liking among citizenry. Anyway, these last few days he showed to be softer and more understanding. Seeing how everything from the city is being carried out, he gave an order to at once securely shut the city gates. Then many stopped lowering their belongings over the city walls, and some of them in front of the city gate started to pile up things, pushing one another. This was a very sad scene. This is how Troy looked when it fell in hands of the enemy. Rector did not take much of his clothing, because he had left his family back in Venice. But anyway, his servant-lady along with most of his other belongings brought down to the quay and placed in the boat. In addition he secured for him a pirate ship from Perast [Perasto], which was very well maintained. It had six strong rowers, and he rented it out for 120 golden ducats. At dusk we were hearing all kinds of conflicting news reports. Frightened women were running through the city, begging to be let on the ships or to run into the forests. In the evening, Rector agrees to let them go, this he repeated the next day even more, he ordered the city gates to be open, so they can transfer their belongings to the boats that stayed anchored. Finally those who wished to leave, raised their sails and sailed away on 8th of August.  

We must tell you what has happened when the '''Franciscan brothers''' left. Actually both orders, Franciscans and Dominicans, even a few days earlier, before anyone else ran away. They actually, from their monastery at island of '''Badia''' (Scolenum sancti Petri), two miles East of the city, earlier moved their miraculous cross and five paintings of Blessed Virgin. They secured these in Church of All Saints, inside the city walls, than later before their leaving, they pulled a precious picture of Our Lady, with all it’s jewellery and decorations and placed it in the boat with which they intended to leave. The miraculous cross, because of the size of the boat they left in the church. Then all of a sudden a big storm started. The waves were coming up from the bottom of the sea toward the sky, with the wind it seemed as all the water mixed with air were going up to the sky. Later, we found out that during this storm at port of Ulcinj seven Turkish galleys were smashed and sunk. Number of others collided with one another. Worried monks, by being scared, thinking that God sent this storm to punish them, immediately returned the picture of Virgin back to the place from where they removed it. After the storm had passed they left the monastery and bells in the bell-tower, and everything else that they possessed, then ran away leaving those sacral objects in the city’s church. That strong wish for survival and life, made them not care for their spiritual promise. They were so united in leaving that even their servants left with them. We have to be fearful of their example, because some of them lost their lives, other had to be rescued with expensive ransoms paid to Narantani (Neretljani). Next day, after these escapes, two monk impersonators showed up, saying that they came form another Province, and they would like to carry away the paintings of Our Lady. We then chased them away. We told them that they should be ashamed of themselves, if it is possible for them to feel any shame. I am mentioning this along the way, then I am continuing the description of happenings. Our (escapees that were traveling on their own) all of them alive and in good condition arrived at '''Lesina''' (town on the next island some 25 miles to the North West, modern: '''Hvar'''), day after, they made it to '''Zara''' (modern: Zadar), since they were followed by favourable winds.  

We must tell you what has happened when the Franciscan brothers left. Actually both orders, Franciscans and Dominicans, even a few days earlier, before anyone else ran away. They actually, from their monastery at island of Badia [Scolenum sancti Petri], two miles East of the city, earlier moved their miraculous cross and five paintings of Blessed Virgin. They secured these in Church of All Saints, inside the city walls, than later before their leaving, they pulled a precious picture of Our Lady, with all it’s jewellery and decorations and placed it in the boat with which they intended to leave. The miraculous cross, because of the size of the boat they left in the church. Then all of a sudden a big storm started. The waves were coming up from the bottom of the sea toward the sky, with the wind it seemed as all the water mixed with air were going up to the sky. Later, we found out that during this storm at port of Ulcinj seven Turkish galleys were smashed and sunk. Number of others collided with one another. Worried monks, by being scared, thinking that God sent this storm to punish them, immediately returned the picture of Virgin back to the place from where they removed it. After the storm had passed they left the monastery and bells in the bell-tower, and everything else that they possessed, then ran away leaving those sacral objects in the city’s church. That strong wish for survival and life, made them not care for their spiritual promise. They were so united in leaving that even their servants left with them. We have to be fearful of their example, because some of them lost their lives, other had to be rescued with expensive ransoms paid to Neretljani [Narantani]. Next day, after these escapes, two monk impersonators showed up, saying that they came form another Province, and they would like to carry away the paintings of Our Lady. We then chased them away. We told them that they should be ashamed of themselves, if it is possible for them to feel any shame. I am mentioning this along the way, then I am continuing the description of happenings. Our (escapees that were traveling on their own) all of them alive and in good condition arrived at Hvar [Lesina] (town on the next island some 25 miles to the North West), day after, they made it to Zadar [Zara], since they were followed by favourable winds.  

[[File:Venetian galley at Curzola-engraving.jpg|thumb|right|575px|A 19th century engraving of a Venetian galley fighting a Genoese fleet at the battle of Curzola in 1298. The Granger Collection-England]]

[[File:Venetian galley at Curzola-engraving.jpg|thumb|right|575px|A 19th century engraving of a Venetian galley fighting a Genoese fleet at the battle of Curzola in 1298. The Granger Collection-England]]

People in Zadar (Zara) being surprised seeing so many of our and Hvar's (Lesina) sails, got also worried that the enemy was coming towards them. Back home, we kept watch by day and by night, we were managing without anyone’s help. Sadly, even our neighbours cut all contacts with us, like if we had some kind of disease spreading, or like a curse was put on us from the sea and fire. This lasted for some twenty days. Only occasionally, from the opposite shore, secretly a small row boat would arrive with some letters and news. Then it was announced on the August 9th in the bay of Zuljana (about 8 miles to the East), that there are seven small galleys, they took prisoner priest Franjo Ordonicich with some other travellers who were heading for Dubrovnik (Ragusa). Zuljana is a small village on the South shore of '''Pelišac''' (Sabbioncello ''or'' modern Croatian: Pelješac) peninsula, opposite island of '''Meleda''' (modern: Mljet). Following night these Herzegovinians (pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo) were sailing close to our island along the Southern shore to the outside.In the quietness of the night they landed close to '''Blatta''' (modern: Blato), in a bay called Grscica (Giči), then early next morning three platoons of pirates coming from the South reached the village of Blato (Blatta), up to that point not being noticed; until a scream of a sentry signified coming of the enemy. Even though the sentries on the whole island were notified of the coming of '''Herzegovinians''' (pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo) to Zuljana on the opposite coast, fell asleep without noticing their coming. When they noticed the enemy coming, they turned their backs and ran away into the darkness of the forest. They were wrong in falling asleep, but were very good at screaming. At this noise, anyone who heard it, ran away in all directions. The bandits set their positions as follows; first one stopped at the hill in three platoons of men arranged their position in the direction from where they came, second one was already at work, stealing and plundering of nearby homes while the third one reached the centre of the village with full battle gear, as a security force to protect the stealers and robbers.

People in Zadar [Zara] being surprised seeing so many of our and Hvar's [Lesina] sails, got also worried that the enemy was coming towards them. Back home, we kept watch by day and by night, we were managing without anyone’s help. Sadly, even our neighbours cut all contacts with us, like if we had some kind of disease spreading, or like a curse was put on us from the sea and fire. This lasted for some twenty days. Only occasionally, from the opposite shore, secretly a small row boat would arrive with some letters and news. Then it was announced on the August 9th in the bay of Zuljana (about 8 miles to the East), that there are seven small galleys, they took prisoner priest Franjo Ordonicich with some other travellers who were heading for Dubrovnik [Ragusa]. Zuljana is a small village on the South shore of Pelješac [Sabbioncello ''or'' Pelišac] peninsula, opposite island of Mljet [Meleda]. Following night these Herzegovinians [pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo] were sailing close to our island along the Southern shore to the outside.In the quietness of the night they landed close to Blato [Blatta], in a bay called Grscica [Giči], then early next morning three platoons of pirates coming from the South reached the village of Blato [Blatta], up to that point not being noticed; until a scream of a sentry signified coming of the enemy. Even though the sentries on the whole island were notified of the coming of Herzegovinians [pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo] to Zuljana on the opposite coast, fell asleep without noticing their coming. When they noticed the enemy coming, they turned their backs and ran away into the darkness of the forest. They were wrong in falling asleep, but were very good at screaming. At this noise, anyone who heard it, ran away in all directions. The bandits set their positions as follows; first one stopped at the hill in three platoons of men arranged their position in the direction from where they came, second one was already at work, stealing and plundering of nearby homes while the third one reached the centre of the village with full battle gear, as a security force to protect the stealers and robbers.

Blato (Blatta) is the largest village on the island, which can in need produce about 300 selected defensive fighters. One part of that force then was called to Korčula to help with the defence of the city, another group was forced to go in service on Venetian galleys, while the rest was hiding in the forests leaving homes unprotected. As a result, these bandits succeeded in robbing the whole village and taking about 50 people as prisoners. These were all children and women, with the exception of Simon Simonetti and another three old people, with one of them being completely blind. Three ladies, they let go, then they also released three wounded men, another man named '''Pelegrin Krsinich''' hid on top of a tall almond tree, he was wounded with arrows, but anyway survived. Nikola Castropil (modern Croatian: Kastropil), was taken prisoner inside his house, was able to escape swinging the chains where he wounded three of the enemy, himself was lightly wounded. Third man '''Ivan Barčot''', who survived by running away, while running he heard screams from his mother, then looking in the direction of the scream, he could see where the enemy soldier was dragging her by her uncombed hair. Thinking of his motherly love, he charged toward the enemy, then kills four of them, frees his mother from the chains and helps her escape to a nearby forest. And while he was fighting with one enemy, more of them were coming toward him, not being able to free his spear tangled up in enemies clothing, he was then wounded, after two days he died of these wounds. It was with luck what he accomplished, heroically saving his saddened mother. There was a report that enemy accomplished two human deeds. First because they saved life of Peter Petric and his wife, where they laid in the bed In extreme poverty, unable to move. This man was brother of priest Ivan, who was in service of church in Padova, and his father Ivan Petric was employed as a secretary to '''Ferata Gonzaga''' of Milano. Another one of the enemy also showed good deed by taking an 8 days old baby and quietly handed it over to the relatives to take the baby to the mother.  

Blato [Blatta] is the largest village on the island, which can in need produce about 300 selected defensive fighters. One part of that force then was called to Korčula to help with the defence of the city, another group was forced to go in service on Venetian galleys, while the rest was hiding in the forests leaving homes unprotected. As a result, these bandits succeeded in robbing the whole village and taking about 50 people as prisoners. These were all children and women, with the exception of Simon Simonetti and another three old people, with one of them being completely blind. Three ladies, they let go, then they also released three wounded men, another man named Pelegrin Krsinich hid on top of a tall almond tree, he was wounded with arrows, but anyway survived. Nikola Kastropil [Castropil], was taken prisoner inside his house, was able to escape swinging the chains where he wounded three of the enemy, himself was lightly wounded. Third man Ivan Barcot , who survived by running away, while running he heard screams from his mother, then looking in the direction of the scream, he could see where the enemy soldier was dragging her by her uncombed hair. Thinking of his motherly love, he charged toward the enemy, then kills four of them, frees his mother from the chains and helps her escape to a nearby forest. And while he was fighting with one enemy, more of them were coming toward him, not being able to free his spear tangled up in enemies clothing, he was then wounded, after two days he died of these wounds. It was with luck what he accomplished, heroically saving his saddened mother. There was a report that enemy accomplished two human deeds. First because they saved life of Peter Petric and his wife, where they laid in the bed In extreme poverty, unable to move. This man was brother of priest Ivan, who was in service of church in Padova, and his father Ivan Petric was employed as a secretary to Ferata Gonzaga of Milano. Another one of the enemy also showed good deed by taking an 8 days old baby and quietly handed it over to the relatives to take the baby to the mother.  

When the word spread in Korčula of what has happened in Blato (Blatta), people were taken by general sadness. Then they were all confused, namely all of the people from villages decided to leave with the excuse to check on their families left behind, and to find out what if anything was left saved after the enemy departed. Then appeared some holy man who was supposed to foresee the future, he was carrying a gun, had a sword and a spear, he definitely seemed not to be all there mentally, saying that his only calling was to criticise the public.

When the word spread in Korčula [Curzola] of what has happened in Blato [Blatta], people were taken by general sadness. Then they were all confused, namely all of the people from villages decided to leave with the excuse to check on their families left behind, and to find out what if anything was left saved after the enemy departed. Then appeared some holy man who was supposed to foresee the future, he was carrying a gun, had a sword and a spear, he definitely seemed not to be all there mentally, saying that his only calling was to criticise the public.

[[File:85px-Coat of arms of Dalmatia crowned.svg.png|thumb|right|155px|Dalmatia's Coat of arms]]

[[File:85px-Coat of arms of Dalmatia crowned.svg.png|thumb|right|155px|Dalmatia's Coat of arms]]

That same night as well as the next one those that were manning guard-posts alarmed the city, because they thought that they were seeing through heavy rain and rising sea waves how from the direction of Orsan in easterly direction there appeared a large ship, heading in this direction. We, thinking that these maybe are the ships belonging to those that devastated Blato (Blatta), where they were joining those galleys from the bay of Zuljana, we opened fire from our cannons in their direction. Later we found out that these were Herzegovinian (pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo) boats moving during the night along the opposite shore of Pelišac, and that they stole anchors and ropes than let these boats loose, where waves carried these closer to our shore. This was why we got scared, for no reason. That same night two unpleasant things happened. First that the guards of the fortress called Ravelin, left their posts because of the rain. When called to explain, they said ''“How could we remain there, when water was reaching up to our knees”''. On that Archdeacon stepped in the water, and by moving one stone that was blocking the drain, whole area in a moment became dry. Other unpleasant thing was that, firing only one cannonball from behind the church of All Saints, wooden horse supporting the cannon broke, than at the asking of the Archdeacon ship-carpenters Nikola Misulic and '''Franjo Paulis''' (DePolo) fixed it in four hours of work, while Archdeacon provided the light by holding a candle.

That same night as well as the next one those that were manning guard-posts alarmed the city, because they thought that they were seeing through heavy rain and rising sea waves how from the direction of Orsan in easterly direction there appeared a large ship, heading in this direction. We, thinking that these maybe are the ships belonging to those that devastated Blato [Blatta], where they were joining those galleys from the bay of Zuljana, we opened fire from our cannons in their direction. Later we found out that these were Herzegovinian [pirates from Herceg Novi-Castelnuovo] boats moving during the night along the opposite shore of Pelješac [Pelišac], and that they stole anchors and ropes than let these boats loose, where waves carried these closer to our shore. This was why we got scared, for no reason. That same night two unpleasant things happened. First that the guards of the fortress called Ravelin, left their posts because of the rain. When called to explain, they said ''“How could we remain there, when water was reaching up to our knees”''. On that Archdeacon stepped in the water, and by moving one stone that was blocking the drain, whole area in a moment became dry. Other unpleasant thing was that, firing only one cannonball from behind the church of All Saints, wooden horse supporting the cannon broke, than at the asking of the Archdeacon ship-carpenters Nikola Misulic and Franjo Paulis (DePolo) fixed it in four hours of work, while Archdeacon provided the light by holding a candle.

== News From Ragusa ==

== News From Ragusa ==