_ 181 _ Because it did not have very strong walls it was taken, with great gain to the Turks. When the Sophy received news of this he determined that with subtlety he could deceive his enemies in the following manner. You will know that lands of Persia are very barren, with many mountains. Making a great display of fear the Sophy consulted [Isai Castelo], a man of much authority and they agreed to take flight. The Turks believed this and flight, and they thought they would follow up their victory and go forward boldly although the land was bare and the roads difficult, desiring to make an end of their enemies. They tried to fortify the city of Tabriz as well as they could, and they left in it all the treasure and ammunition and artillery and ladies they brought from Constantinople, and the Turk’s own horses and a large number of camels. The city of Tabriz was left in charge of two Greek captains, cavalrymen, natives of a city of Natha, who were under Ibrahim Pasha, with three thousand lancers to guard the city under the captains. After leaving the city with the said forces, the Turk left with the rest of the army, and some artillery which was more familiar. They crossed a great river called the Euphrates by three wooden bridges which he ordered to be made, and pursued the Persians,
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