Acts and Monuments Volume 1

An other vauntage also the Turks had in besieging of Belgrade: For the Christian princes at that time were in civil dissention and variance amongst themselves: and the Pope with his Churchmen also were so busy in suppressing of Luther, and of the Gospel then newly springing, that they minded nothing else, except it were to maintain the wealth of their own bellies. Which pope if he had set his care (as his duty was) so much in stirring up Princes against the common enemy, as he was bent to deface y ^• gospel, & to persecute the true professors thereof: soon might he have brought to pass, not only that Belgrade might have been defended against the Turk, but also y ^• to be recovered again which was lost before: and moreover might have stopped the great dangers and perils which now are like to fall upon the religion and church of Christ: which the Lord of his great mercy avert and turn away.

Certesse what so ever the Pope then did, this had been his duty, setting all other things apart, to have had an earnest compassiō of so many miserable & lost captives, which were fallen from their faith & religion, unto the misery and slavery of the Turk, & thralldom of the devil, and to have sought all means possible to have reduced thē, as lost sheep into the fold again: which then might sone have ben done if prelates & princes joining together in Christian concord, had loved so well the public glory of Christ and souls of Christians, as they tendered their own private, worldly, & frivolous quarrels. And admit that the Pope had conceived never so much malice against Luther, his quarrel also being good: yet the public church standing in such danger, as it then did by the invasion of the Turk, reason would nature led, religion taught, time required that a good Prelate forgetting lighter matters, should rather have laid his shoulder to the excluding of so great a danger, as then was imminent both to himself, and the universal Church of Christ: But now his quarrel being unjust, and the cause of Luther being moste just and godly, what is to be said or thought of such a Prelate, who for bearing the Turk, whom in a time so dangerous, he ought chiefly to have resisted, persecuted the truth, which he should specially have maintained? But Christ for his mercy stand for his Church, and stir up zealous Princes and Prelates, if not to recover that is lost, yet at least to retain that little which is left.

Suleiman therefore taking his occasion, and using the commodity of time, while our princes were thus at variance betwixt themselves, without any resistance or interruption, brought his army unto Belgrade, in y ^e yere of our Lord. 1521. Which Citye being but slenderly defensed, the Turk through his underminers, guns and other engines of war, without great difficulty, & with little loss of his soldiers, soon subdued and overcame.

After this victory, Suleiman resting himself a whole year, and casting in his mind howe to make all sure behind him, for fear of enemies to come upon his back, thought it expedient for his purpose if he might obtain the Ilande of Rhodes: for that only remained yet Christian betwixt him and Asia: wherefor the next year following, he brought his army of 450. ships, and 300. M. men to the besieging thereof. This Rhodes was a mighty and strong Island, w ^t in the sea called Mare mediterraneum. The inhabitants whereof at y ^e first did manfully resist y ^e turke, sparyng no labor nor pains for the defense of thenselves & of all Christendom: But afterward being brought to extremity, and pinched w ^t penury, seeing also no aid to come from y ^e Christians: somewhat began to languish in thenselves. The Turks in the mean time casting up two great mountains with strength of hand, 2. miles of frō the city, like rolling trenches carried them defore thē near unto the city, in the tops whereof they planted their ordinance & artillery, to batter the city. The master of the knights of the Rhodes was then one Philippus Villadamus a Frenchman, in whom no diligence was lacking y ^t appertained to the defense of the city. The Rhodians likewise so valiantly behaved themselves upon the walls, that w ^t their shot all the ditches about the city, were filled w ^t the carcases of dead Turks.

Besides this, such a disease of the bloody flixe reigned in the Turks campe, that 30. M. of them died thereof: and yet for all this, Suleiman would not cease from his siege begun: who at length by underminers casting down the vamures and uttermost partes of the city, wan ground still more and more upon the Rhodians, and with mortary pieces so battered the houses, y ^t there was no free place almost standing in all the City. And thus continued the siege for the space of five or six months, and yet all this while came no help unto them from the Christians. Wherefore they being out of all hope, thorough the advise of Ualladamus, yielded themselves unto the Turk upon condition that he would spare them with life and goods, which conuention the Turk kept with them faithfully and truly.

Thus Suleiman with his great glory and utter shame to all Christian princes, and also ruin of all Christendom, got the noble I will of Rhodes, although not without great loss and detriment of his army: in so much that at one assault 20. thousand Turks about the walls, were slain with fire, sword, stones, and other engines. Whereby it may be conjectured what these Rhodians might or would have done, if succor had come to them from other Christian princes as they looked for. This city was won upon Christmas day. An. 1522.

Thys conquest of Rhodes obtained, Suleiman the 4. year after, bringeth back his army again into Hungary, where he found none to resist him but only Ludouike the young king: who being accompanied with a small army, and nothing able to match with the Turk, yet of a hasty rashness and vain hope of victory, would needs set upon him: who if he had staide but a little, had prospered the better. For Johannes Uainoda being a Capitaine well exercised in Turkish wars before, was not far off, coming with a sufficient power of able soldiers. But Paulus the Archbishop Coloss. a Franciscane Frier, a man more bold then wise, with his temerity and rashness troubled all their doings: For the whole sum of the army of the Hungarians, contained in all but only 24. M. horsemen and footmen, who at length coming unto the battle, and being compassed about with a great multitude of the Turks army, were brought into great distress. The Turks twice short of their pieces against the Christian army: yet scarce was any Christian touched with the stroke thereof: which was thought to be done of purpose, because they were Christians which had the ordering of the gunnes, for then the special gunners of the Turks were Christians, whom for the same cause they spared. Then the Turks horsemen coming upon the back of the Christian army, compassed them about, and by reason of their multitude, overcharged their horsemen. Amongst whom was slain the same time the Archb. Frier aforesaid, with the Bishops of Strigone and Uaradine & many other nobles besides. Also the king himself being destitute of his necessary aide and succor, was compelled to fly into a marish, where he falling from his horse, being heavy loden with his harneis, was not able to rise again, but there miserably perished.

Suleiman the Turk marveled at the foolyshnesse of Ludouike the King, who with so small an army would presume to encounter with such a great host of two hundredth thousand. This battle in Hungary was fought, Anno. 1526.

After the deceasse of Ludouicke, Ferdinandus succeeded in the kingdom, being Duke of Austria and king of Hungary. Then Suleiman setting contention betwixt Johannes Uaiuoda and Ferdinandus for the kingdom of Hungary, spedde his viage to the City of Buda, which also in short time he made to be yielded unto him upon condition that they should escape with their lives and goods: which condition some say he kept, and some say he did not. Besides Buda diverse places and munitiōs the said Turk, contrary to his league made before, did spoil and waste, as Varadinum, Quinque Ecclesias, and other fortes and munitions moe, bordering about the coasts of Hungary.

In the year of our Lord 1529. Ferdinandus king of Hungary aforesaid, recovered diverse holds gotten of the Turk before, and also warring against Johannes Uaiuoda his enemy, with whom he had variance (as ye heard before) expulsed him out of his kingdom. Wherupon Uaiuoda flying to the Turk, desired his aid. The Turk glad to take that occasion, with great preparatiō addressed himself to return into Hungary, where he recovering again the City of Buda, which Ferdinandus had gotten from him a little before, removed his army into Austria, spoiling and destroying by the way all that came to his hands, showing many examples of great cruelty & tyranny most lamentable to here and understand. For of some he put out their eyes, of some he cut of their hands, of some their ears and noses, and of their children he cut of their privy members. The maidens he corrupted, the matroues had their breasts cut of, and such as were with child, were ripped and their childrē cast into the fire. And these examples of horrible and barbarous tyranny, this wretched Turk perpetrated by the way coming toward Vienna a noble City in Austria, besides the captives which he took by the way, and led into servitude moste miserable, mounting to the number of 30. thousand.

Among other holds by the way as the Turk came, there was a castle called Altenburch strongly by nature situated, and by art defensed, which castle the Turk intending not to overpass because he would make all things sure behind him, began to make his assault, and lay his ordinance against it. The warders and kepers of the Castle, so soon as the Turks began to lay siege against them, making no resistance, of a womanly cowardnes sent their messengers to the Turk to yield themselves, ready to do his commandment, and further him with their vitaile. Amongest whom were three hundredth Bohemians, who were commanded to follow the host, that the Turk by them might learn what strength was in the city of Vienna: also where the king was, and what was to be done for the winning thereof.

Of whom when the Turk had understanding howe all things stood, and how that there was but 20. thousand men in Vienna able to bear armor, and that other cities of Austria would soon yield if that were gotten, and that Vienna was vitailed but for 2. months, and that the king was of late in Boheme, thus the Turk of all things being certified, having no doubt in his mind of victory, made speed toward Vienna: and first coming to Neapolis a city but 8. miles distant from Vienna, he required them to yield themselves: who notwithstanding withstood them, and repulsed them valiantly. Then the Turks assigned a place for the pitching of their tents, which because it seemed something too little for such a great multitude, they took in more ground to the compass of 7. miles circuit. The multitude of his army, which he there planted, is accounted of some to extend to 250. M. soldiers. The Turk thus being planted, made daily excourses over all the country of Austria, specially about the city of Vienna, wasting and spoiling with great cruelty & murder amongst the poor Christians.

Moreover, to make all things more sure toward y ^e preparation of the siege, scoutes were sent abroad, and bushments were laid about the river side of Danubius, to provide that no aid nor victual should be brought to Vienna. So it pleased the providence of the Lord (who disposeth all things) that 3. days before the coming of the Turk, Fridericus the Earl Palatine, which was then assigned by y ^t Empire to take the charge of Vienna, was come down by the river of Danubius with 14. M. and with a certain troupe of horsemen well appointed and picked for the purpose. After the coming of this Fridericke, provision also of victual was appointed to follow shortly after, by the said river of Danubius.

In the mean time, they which had the carriage & trāsporting thereof, hearing how the ways were laid, & all the passages 10. miles about Vienna, stopped by the Turks although they knew y ^e city to stand in great need of vitail, yet seeing there was no other remedy, rather then it should come to the enemies hand, thought it best to sink their boats w ^t their carriage, and so they did. Whereby, all be it the Christians wanted their relief, yet were the Turks disappointed of their pray & purpose. The captains which had the keeping of the City, which were chiefly Fridericus the Earl Palatine, Gulielmus Rogendorffius, and Nicolaus erle of Salme, seeing themselves so straightened contrary to their expectation, although they had great causes to be discouraged, yet calling their courage unto them, they consulted together for the best way to be taken: and seeing that the little city Neapolis (above mentioned) being 8. miles distaunt from them, so valiantly withstood the Turks, that in one day they sustained 7. grievous assaults against all the main force of the Turkish army: by their example and manfull standing, being the more animated and encouraged, thought to abide the uttermost before they would give over, and first plucking down all the suburbs, and buildings without the walls, whereby the enemy might have any succor, they willed all the farmers & inhabitants about the Citye to save themselves, and to bring in their goods w ^t in the walls. Such places as were weak within the walls, they made strong. About the towers & munition of the walls, they provided rampires & bulwarks distant 80. foot one from another, to keep of the shot: and every man had his place and standing awarded to him upon the wall, and his office appointed what to do: but especially that side of the City which lieth to the river of Danubius, they fortified after the best wise: for that way only now remained for vitail to be transported from the Bohemians unto them. Wherefore 8. en • ignes were assigned to the keeping of the bridge, and in the plain, which was like an Island enclosed within the river, a sufficient garrison of horsemen were placed, lying within the gunshot of the city, to the intent that if any grain or vitail were sent from the Bohemians, they might provide y ^e same safely to be brought into the City.

These things thus being disposed and set in order, L. William Rogendorffe, to assay the strength of the Turks, made diverse rodes out with his horsemen, albeit much against y ^e minds of the Austrians: who knowing the manner of the Turks, thought it better to suffer them, while either with time they might be ouerweried, or for lack of victuals consumed. Among many and sundry skirmishes which the Christians had with the Turks, one especially was to our men unprosperous: in which certain of the horsemen espying a small troupe of the Turks scattering abroad from their company, made out after them, who suddenly & guilefully were enclosed and circumvented by the Turks, before they could recover the gates of the city, and so were all taken alive: Of whom 3. were sent from the Turks into the Citye, to declare to the Uiennians what strength they had seen in the campe of their adversaries, and to solicit them to yield their city for fear of punishment which would follow: The residue they reserved to torments and punishment, whom in the sight of the whole army, and of the Christians (which should tell the same to the Citizens) they caused every man to be drawn with 4. horses a piece, and so to be dismēbred and plucked a sonder.

After this done, the barbarous Turk immediately sent his Herold to talk with the Captains of the City, whether they would yield the City upon honest conditions, or else would abide the arbitrement of war. If they would gently submit them selves, they should have all gentleness to them shown: If they would be stubborn, and stand to their defense, he would also stand to his siege begun, so that he neither would spare man, woman nor child. To this the captains answered again, that they were contented Suleiman to stand to his siege begun, and to do his uttermost, what he would, or what he could. As for them, they were at a point to defend them selves and their City so long as they might: the event & fall of victory to be doubtful, and many times so to happen, that they which begin the war, are wearied sooner then they which be provoked: neither again that they were so unmindful either of themselves, or of their country, but that they did remember well what they are, and what they be called, named to be Germans: who use always first to assay the adversary, what he is able to do, and not rashly to committee themselves into their enemies hands.

Solymannus not a little disdaining at this answer, first burning and consuming all the villages, houses, and places round about the city, infecting also the springs and fountains which gave water into the Citye, and so stopping all passages, that no relief should have way unto thē, began w ^t angry mood to approach more near to the City, with 3. great camps, sending them word in scorn and contumely, by one of his captives, that if they stood in need of help of soldiors, he would send unto them the 300. Bohemians (mentioned a little before) to aid them in their defense. To whom the Palatine directed answer again, that they had moe soldiers in the City then they needed. As for the Bohemians which had yielded themselves, he might do with them, what he would, for Vienna stood in no great need of them.

In the mean time a messenger coming from Ferdinandus, was privily let in by night into the City, which brought word that they should play the men in keeping out the enemy a while: for it would not be long but both Ferdinandus and Carolus his brother, with the strength of all Germany, would be ready to rescue them. At which message the hearts of the soldiers began somewhat to be cheered, and to contemn the huge multitude of the adversaries, being so great as they never did behold, nor did ever almost hear of before. The largeness of whose army, extended to no less in compass (as is above said) then of 7. miles round about the City walls.

Long it were to recite the whole order of this terrible siege, with all the partes and circumstances thereof. Briefly to touch so much as shall suffice for this history, with fewer words then were stripes given at the siege thereof: this is to be judged and confessed: whosoever beholdeth the noneber and fierceness of the Turks, the absence of the king Ferdinandus, the lack of provision and vitaile within the city, the noise of the gunnes, the violence of the shot, the terror of the sight, and yet no succor sent unto them: that the custody of that city was no man's doing, but the arm only of the Lord God of hosts, according to the true saying of the Psalm: Unless the Lord do keep the City, the watchmen watch in vain, which watch to save it: Unles the Lord do build the house, the builder striveth in vain, which taketh upon him to build it. Experience whereof in keeping this city may well appear.

First Solymannus bending his shot and ordinance against the City, beat down to the ground the vāmures with all the uttermost suburbs of the city, and that in such a short moment of time, that the hearts of the Uiennians a little before refreshed, were now as much appaled again with fear, misdoubting with themselves, least the Turk with the same celerity and violence would have prevailed against the inward walls, as he did in beating down the outward vamures. And no doubt the same time the Turk had put the city in great hazard, had not night coming on, broken of the siege for that day.

In the mean time the Citizens labored all night in repairing and refreshing the walls, to make all things sure against the next assault. The next day early in y ^• morning, the Turks approaching the city again with a new assault, thinking to scale the walls, were so repulsed & manfully resisted by the Germans, that vnneth any ditches about the walls could be seen for the bodies of the dead Turks, wherewith they were replenished: so that the Turks were fain to fight standing upon the bodies of them which wer slain. By the which calamity the force of the enemy was not a little abated,

It happened the same time, that a company of the Turks being spied out of the City wandering out of order, the Captain Rogendorffius with two legions of horsemenne issuing out of the City gate called Salmaria, and so passing closely under the hills side, did so set upon them, that they slew a great number of them: the rest being driven to take the river, whom with stones and shot likewise they destroyed, and so retired back into the City again. By this victory the Captain Rogendorffius began to be terrible to the Turks. For in the same skirmish (as after was known) was slain of them so many, that of 5000. and 300. horsemen and footmen, scarce 140. escaped alive.

Suleiman disdaining at this repulse, thought to prove another way, & so bringing his power toward y ^e gate called y ^e kings gate, there making his trenches & bulwarks, planted his ordinance, w ^t the violence whereof y ^e walls were so battered & shaken, that no man was able there to stand. Wherefore the Turk seeing 2. great breaches made in the wall commanded his soldiers covertly in the darck smoke of gunnepouder to press into the City. The like also was done at y ^e scottish to wer, whereby y ^e city was invaded in 2. sundry places at one time. The Uiēnians at y ^e first, freshly began to withstand thē, new soldiers still coming in the place of them that were slain and hurt: and so this assault continuing more thē 6. hours together, our mē began at length to languish & faint, not only in strength but also in courage: whereby the City had been in great danger of loosing, had not y ^e two foresaid Capitaines Rogendorffius in the one place, and the Earl of Salme in the other place, manfully encouraged the soldiers to abide y ^e brunt, and to bear out a while the violence of the Turks, promising that immediately they should have aid from Ferdinandus.

In the mean time the Turks came so thick for gredines of the victory, scaling, climbing, and fighting vpō the walls, that had it not been for the press and throng of the great multitude of the Turks coming so thick that one of them could not fight for another, Vienna that same day had been taken and utterly lost: But by the policy of y ^e captains giving a sign within the city, as though new soldiers were called for, our men began to be encouraged, & the Turks hearts to be discomfited.

When Solymannus saw his army the second time, repulsed, he began to attempt a new way, purposing by undermining to overthrow the city: in the which work specially he used the help of the Illyrians, of whom he had a great number in his campe, expert in that kind of fear. These Illyrians beginning to break the earth at the gate Carinthia and coming near to the foundations of the Tower, which they by strength of hand attempted to break, could not work so closely under the ground, but they were perceived by certain men above, which were skillful & expert in y ^t kind of matter: who contrariwise undermining against thē, & filling their treēches as they went, w ^t gūpowder, conveyed their train, that when fire should be set unto it, the violence thereof should brast out by the trenches of the enemies: which done, suddenly the ground beneath made a great shaking, so that the tower did clean asunder, and all the underminers of the Turks working in their treēches, were smothered and destroyed, which came to the number (as it was supposed afterward) of 8000. persons: in so much that yet till this day a great number of dead men's skulls are found in the ground.

When Suleiman saw y ^t this way also would not serve and had privy intelligence that the walls about the gates of Stubarium were negligently kept, and that he might have there more easy entrance: secretly he conveyeth about 10. garrisons of fresh soldiers, in such sort as the towns men should not perceive them: who came so suddenly upon them, that they had filled the ditches, and were upon y ^e top of the fortresses and munitions, before that our men were aware of them, or could make themselves ready to resist them. For although there was no lack of soldiors within the City, yet for so much as the whole brunt of the siege did lie, specially at the 2. gates aforesaid, from whence the soldiors which were there warding, could not be well removed, for a shift the rescuers (which within the City were ready for all sudden adventures) were sent to the walls: by whose coming, those few which kept the enemies of before, being sore hurted and wounded, were succoured and sent to surgery: and thus the said assault continued terrible and doubtful until (the dark night coming upon them) they could not well know the one from the other. In this vickering were counted of the Turks to be slain, more then 5000.

Then the Captain Rogendorffius commendyng the valiant standing of his soldiers, misdoubting with him self (as it happened in deed) that the Turks would not so give over, but would set upon him the next day w ^t a fresh assault, providing with all diligence for the purpose, made up the breaches of the walls, & prepared all things necessary for resistance: The next morning following, which was something dark and misty, the Turks thinking to prevent our men with their sudden coming, began again busily to bicker upon the top of the walls.

It would require a longe tractation here to describe the great distress and danger that the city, those 3. days following, was in. During all the which time, there was no rest, no intermission, nor diligence lacking, either in the enemies, fighting against the City, either in our men in defending the same. For the Turks besides the multitude of the great ordinance, wherewith (as with a great tempest of gunshot) they never ceased, still battering the walls and beating the munitions of the City, sent also such heaps & multitudes of the Turks, to the scaling and climbing the walls, that vnneth with all the ordinance and shot of the city, either y ^e violence of them could be broken, or the number of them diminished: til at last the soldiors of y ^e Turks perceiving themselves able by no means to prevail, but only to run in danger of life, and to do no good, began to wrangle among themselves, grudging and repining against their dukes and captains, imputing y ^e whole cause only to them: that the City was yet untaken, seeing there was in them neither diligence nor good will lacking: and so ceased the siege for that time.

After this, when Solymannus had purposed in him self, with his last and strongest siege, to try against the city the uttermost that he was able to do, and had encouraged his soldiers to prepare thenselves in most forcible wise thereunto: the soldyers shown thē selves much unwilling to return again from whence they were so often repulsed before: by reason whereof great commotion begā to rise in the Turks campe. The rumour whereof when it came to Solymans ears, he sendeth his grand captain to keep all the soldiers in order and obedience, or if they would be stubborn, to compel them whether they would or not, to accomplish his commandment. Who coming to the soldiers, shown to them the great Turks message, and to animate & encourage them, declared that the opportunity of the time present was not to be neglected, neither could they now w ^t out great shame give over, after so many assaults attempted: Who if they would sustain but one brunt more, y ^e victory were in their own hands. The townesmen, he said, were wasted and their victualles spent: and the more to enflame their minds, he promised them not only great thanks and reward of their Emperor, but also the whole spoil of the City, in recompense of their travail.

But when all this could not stir up y ^e sturdy stomachs of the tired Turks, using compulsion where persuasion would not serve, he appointed a number of horsemen to be set at their backs, whereby to enforce them, either to go forward, or if they denied, w ^t gunnes and spears to destroy them. The Turks seeing themselves in such a strait, that whether they went or tarried, it was to them like peril, yet would they not set forward, except the Captain would take the vēture before them. Who warding forward in his array, thus spake unto his felows, saying: Do you forsake your faith & allegiance, and betray the Emperor of Constantinople unto the Christians, if you will: but I will discharge my duty towards the commune wealth and my Emperor, and with that word auaunced his ensign, making toward the city walls. Whō when other followed & still mo and mo pressed after, so it came to pas that whole routs of them were overthrown & slain of our men upon the walls, before it was known what they meant. Other terrified by their example, gave back and left their array, and wineding them selves by by ways and under covert of hills, returned again into their tents, and so came it to pass that the strength of the enemies daily more and more decreasing, they had less hope every day more then other of obtaining the City. For besides the innumerable slaughter of Turks upon the walls, the townesmen also watching the forragers and purueyers of the Turks, as they raunged about for victual for the campe, ever as occasion served them, did compass them about, and so encountered with them by the way, that of a whole Legion, scarly the tenth part returned again to their fellows alive, by means whereof the courage of the enemies began greatly to faint. Whereby such a marvelous alteration happened, that as our mē began to receive more hope and courage, so the Turks began still more to droupe and to languish with despair, so that at length scarce durst they appear without the bounds, where they were entrenched, but only in light skirmishes, when they were provoked by our men to come out, and to show them selves.

Solymannus perceiving his soldiers thus daily to go to wrack, of whom he had lost already more then 80. W. and that with long tarrying he could do no good, being also in lack of forage, for that the country about him was wasted: beginneth to consult with his captains & counsailors, what remained best to be done. Of whom the most parte advised him to raise his siege, and betime to provide for himself. Which to do, many causes there were that moved him.

First the loss of his men, which daily were cut frō him by great numbers, besides them which lay in his campe wounded, or sick, or famished. Secondly, lack of perueyance. Thirdly, y ^e approaching nere of winter. But y ^e chiefest cause was, for that he heard Friderike Palatine above mentioned coming with a great army at Ratisbone towards Vienna, and there had done great molestation to a great number of the Turks forragers, whom by the way he prevented and so enclosed in the woods, y ^t he slew them. Wherof when Suleiman had intelligence, thinking it not best to abide the coming of the Palatine, made hast with bag and baggage to remove his campe and to retire: and first sending away his carriage before him, made speed himself with his army, to follow shortly after.

The Uiennians, when they heard of the removing away of the Turks, although at the first they scarcely believed it to be true, being afterward certified out of doubt, both of their removing, and also of the order thereof, how it was in a manner of a flight or chase, were greatly desirous to make out of the City after them. Wherein, albeit the presence of the Palatine with his army, if he had been there present, might have stand them in great stead, yet notwithstanding they took the opportunity of the time present, and issuing out of the City, in moste speedy wise, set after them w ^t their horsemen: and first ouerpassing the tents (where y ^e Turks had pitched their stations or pauillions) for hast of the way, they made such pursuit after them, that within little time, they overtook the rearward or latter ende of the army, whereof they made such havoc and destruction, that (as the author reporteth) there was never a shot of the pursuers, nor weapon drawn, nor stroke stricken, which light in vain. Which was no hard thing for our men to do: For as the Turks in their flight went scattered out of order & array, neither would they in the fore rank (being so far off from jeopardy) return back to help their fellows, it was easy for our men, without resistance, to come upon their backs as they would.

Yet notwithstanding in long pursuit, when our men could not see the carriage of the Turks, which was wont in armies to come away behind after the host, and suspecting (as truth was) some ambush to be left in privy wait behind them, to come betwixt them and home: called themselves to retraite, and consulted upon the matter, thinking good, first to send out certain scoures, to espy and bring them word, where the enemies lay, & what was the number of them. Wherof when intelligence was givē them, that the remnaunt of the Turks army was remaining in the tents behind, word was sent to their fellows in Vienna, to issue out, and to join also with them against the tail of the Turks, which had entrenched themselves within the campe. Other were appointed to follow the chase, least peradventure y ^e turks seeing our men to recule back might return again upon thē, & help their fellows. Which things being thus ordered and appointed, in the mean time, while part of the Uienians were hovering after the main army, the rest encountered with them that were left in the campe. Who seeing themselves overmatched, first defensed their campe with a deep ditch & Bulwark, to delay the time, until some help might come to them from the army. Secondly they directed messengers to the Christians, to entreat for peace. Thirdly they conveyed their privy letters unto Suleiman for speedy aid and rescue. But all the ways and passages being stopped by the Christians, there letters were intercepted, and so the miserable Turks being destitute of all hope & sucour, seeing no other remedy, made out of their campe, to hassarde and prove the uttermost for their defense: but in conclusiō, in their desperate venture they were enclosed about by our men on every side, and there put to the sword and slain, a few only excepted, who escaping out very hardly by secret passages, shifted after the rest of their fellows, as well as they could. Their carriage and other furniture left behind them in their tents, was distributed amongst y ^e soldiers only such things reserved as might serve for the public use and commodity of the City.

Thus through the merciful protection and benefit of almighty God, Austria was delivered from the fierce and barbarous hostility of the cruel Turks: notwithstanding that neither Ferdinandus the king, nor the Emperor his brother were there present, but only y ^e power of God, thorough the valiauntnes of the worthy Germans, defended that city, in defense whereof consisted y ^e safety & deliverance, (no doubt) of all these west partes of Christendom. For the which immortal praise and thanks be unto our immortal God in Christ our Lord, according as he hath of us most graciously and worthily deserved. Wherein by the way take this for a note (gentle reader) how & after what manner God's blessing goeth with the true reformers of his religion, and so much the more is it to be noted, for that the Turks in so many battles & sieges heretofore, were never so repulsed & foiled, as at this present time in incountring w ^t the protestants & defenders of sincere Religion. This city of Vienna was besieged & delivered y ^e year of our Lord. 1529. The assaults of the Turk against y ^• City are numbered to be 20. and his repulses as many. The mumber of his army which he first brought, was 25000. Wherof were reckoned to be slain 80. thousand and above. During the time of his siege, he led away out of the country about many captives; virgins and Matrones he quelled & cast them out naked: the children he stuck upon stakes.

Solymannus thus put from y ^e hope of victory of Vienna after he had breathed himself a while at home, the second yere after, which was an. 1531. repairing his host, returned again into Hungarye, with no less multitude, then before: where first he got the town called Gunza being but slenderly kept with a small garrison. By reason whereof the townsmen and soldiers yielding thenselves unto the Turk, were constrained to agree upon unreasonable conditions. Ex John. Ramo.

Melchior Soiterus in his second book writing De bello Pannonico, touching the foresaid Town of Gunza, or Gunzium, differeth herein something from Ramus, declaring how this Gunza being a small town in Hungary and having in it but only a 100. soldiers (or as Wolfegangus Drechslerus in his chronicle reporteth, at the most but 200. soldiers) under the valiant captain Nicholas Iureschitz, defended themselves so manfully and wonderfully, through the notable power of God, against the whole puissance of 200. thousand Turks, that they being notwithstanding distressed with lack and penury of purueiance and suddenly of the Turks invaded, yet with pure courage and promptnes of heart, sustained the uttermost force and violence of xiii. assaults of that great multitude, for the space of 25. days together.

Although the narration of the author may seem to some incredible, yet thus he writeth, that what time the great ordinance and battering pieces of the Turks were planted upon two mountains much higher then y ^t town whereby they within the town were oppressed both before and behind, in so much that 8 ensigns of the Turks were already within the town, yet by the reason of women and children and other impotent persons, who in the middle of the town were congregate in an house together such a noise and clamour went up to heaven praying and crying to God for help, that the Turks within the walls supposing a new army of fresh soldiers to be sent into y ^e town for sodayn fear, voided the town, & leaped down from the walls again (which before they had got) whom no man either pursued or resisted: for never a soldier almost was left on the walls, which was not either slain or else wounded with the Turks ordinance. At what time through the Lord's providence it so happened, that one Ibrahimus Bassa, near about the Turk, seeing both the town to be small, and the great destruction of the Turks in the siege thereof, and that the captayn in no case would yield, persuaded so the Turk, declaring howe the Town being so little was not worth the loss of so many men, in y ^e winning whereof there was no glory, & if he were repulsed, great dishonor might follow: whereby the Turk being persuaded, did follow his counsel, which was this y ^t Nicholaus the Christian captain being called unto him under pledges and safe conduict, should receive the town as of his hand and gift, with condition, that he should do no violence to his soldiers left behind and wounded, but should procure such means as he could, for the recuring of them: and so he raising his siege departed. An other cause might be also, which moved him so sodaynly to raise his siege, for that he heard the Palatine not to be far of in pursuing after him, and therefore taking his flight by y ^t mountains of the Noricians, he returned with much spoil of Christian men's goods into Constantinople. Ex Melchiore Soit. lib : 2. de bello Panno.

For so it was provided the same time in Germany, after the counsel or August and of Ratilboon (at what time the controversy of Religion between the Protestants & the papists, was deferred and set of, to the next general Council) that Charles the 5. and Ferdinandus his brother having understanding of the Turk thus raunging in Hungary, should collect of the Germanynes, Hungarians, and Spaniards and others, an able army of 80. thousand footmen, and 30000. horsemen, to repulse the inuasious of the Turk. But Solymanus having intelligence of this preparation of the Christian power coming toward him whether for fear, or whether to espy further opportunity of time, for his more advantage and our detriment, refused at that time to tarry their coming, and so speeding his return unto Constantinople, retired with much spoil and pray sent before him, as is above premised: Which was in the year of our Lord. 1532.

Not long after, being the year of our salvation, 1534. Solymannus intending ii. wars at once, first sent Corradinus Barbarossa the admiral of his nauies into Afric to war against the king of Tunece: Whō the Barbarossa also dispossessed & deprived of his kingdom: but Charles the Emperor, the next year following, an. 1535. restored the said king again into his kingdom, and delivered in the same viage 20. thousand captives out of servitude.

The same time the Turk also sent another captain into Hungary, to war against Uaiuoda while he him self taking his course to Persia, planted his siege against the Citty Taurus, which he in short space subdued and expugned. Albeit he long enjoyed not the same: for Tahames king of the Persians, sodaynly coming upon the Turks unprepared, slue of them 20. thousand, and took his concubines to the great foil and reproach of the Turk.

Two year after this, which was the yere of our Lord 1537. Solymannus, who could not be quiet at home nor rest in peace, returning again out of Asia into Europe w ^t 270. ships, great and little, set upon Corcyra, another Island belonging to y ^e Uenetians, which he besieged x. days wasting and burning the Towns and fields as he went beside the destruction of much people therein, whom partly he slue, partly led away captives. From thence he sailed to Zacynthus and Cythara, another Ilande not far off from Corcyra, bordering near to the coasts of Epirus and Grecia. Where he sodaynly by night invading the husband men in villages and fields, sleeping and mistrusting no harm, drew them out of their houses and possessions, men and women, besides children, to the number of ix. hundred whom he made his bondslaves: burning moreover their houses, and carrying away all the goods and cattle being without the said Cities of Zazinthus and Cythara. Ex. John. Crispo.

From thence these helhoundes turned their course to y ^t siege and spoil of Egina, a rich and populous Island, lying between Grecia and Asia. Where first the Egenians did manfully in battle resist them, and were like to have prevailed: but being weryed at length and oppressed with innumerable thousands of fresh Turks, which still were sent in, to rescue the other which were overcome before, were compelled to fly into the City of Egina. Which city the cruel Turks (or rather Devils on earth) w ^t much labor, & violence of their great ordinance fet out of their ships, subdued and cast down to the ground: the Citizens and inhabitauntes whereof, the Turk after he had burned their houses, and ransacked their goods commanded to be slain and killed everyone. The women both noble and unnoble, with their infantes, were given to the mariners to be abused, and from thence being shipped unto Constantinople, were led away to perpetual misery & slavery, which was in the year of our Lord. 1537.

In the same journey Suleiman also took the I will in the said sea of Eugeum, called Parum: also the I will adjoining to the same named Naxus, and made them to him tributaries. The duke whereof was he which wrote the story both of these Ilandes aforesaid, and also of the other Ilandes called Cyclades, and other Dukes. Ex John Crispo, Duce Naxi. &c.

Thys done, Solymannus directed his Navy unto Apulia, where he set on land. x. thousand footmen, & 2000. horsemen, which spoiled likewise and wasted those parties while the Emperor, the pope and y ^e Uenetians were together in war and dissension. Furthermore the next yere following. an. 1538. great attempts began in Stiria, but by the resistance of the inhabitants, the force of the barbarous turks was repulsed: notwithstanding great spoils of men & cattle were carried from thence, and the country miserable spoiled. In the which year also the Turk turning into Hungary, gave battle unto the Christians in Sauia: where through the fraudulent falsehood of the Captayne Cassianerus (Wolfegangus nameth him Calcianus being (as they say) corrupted with money, our men were put to the worse. an. 1538.

After that the Turks had invaded the Ilande of Corcyra abovesaid, the Uenetians with Suleiman the Turk had joined truce for a certain time, for y ^e which they gave the turke 300. thousand crowns, with the city of Neapolis, and Ma • uasia in the borders of Macedonia. But with in 4. or 5. years, the Turk to get a new stipend of the Uenetians, brake his league, and invaded their dominions: whereby they were enforced to enter new conditions again with him.

In the year of our Lord, 1540. the wrestles Turk making his return toward Hungary, by the way passing by Dalmatia, lay against the town called Newcastle, being defended by the Spaniards. In the which town because they refused to yield themselves all the inhabitauntes and soldiers were put to the sword & slain everyone. This Nouum Castellum or Newcastle was a strong fort of y ^t Christians, which being now in the Turks power, he had great advantage over all those quarters of Dalmatia, Stiria, Carinthia, and Hungaria. From thence he proceeded further, keeping his course into Hungary, where he planted his power against the City of Buda.

This Buda was a principal city in Hungary, about which great contention had been (as ye heard before) between Johannes Uaiuoda, and Ferdinandus. By reason whereof the Turk occasioned by Uaiuoda, came into Hungary and delivered the City to Uaiuoda. This Uaiuoda living not long after, left behind him a son, whom being an infant he committed to the governance of one Georgius Monachus: who being left tutor unto the infant, reduced all Transiluania, Buda, Pesta, with other parties of Hungary, which belonged to Uaiuoda before, to the subjection of the child. Ferdinandus hearing thereof, in a great hast and anger: leuyed an army to recover his lands in Hungary, and so laid siege to Buda. Monachus seeing his part weak, first sent his legate to Ferdinandus, desiring him to talk and confer with him upon matter, as he pretended, pertaynign to the behoove of them both. Wherupon both the parties being agreed, the place and manner of their conuention was appointed, and also the day and time assigned. Thus the parties (according to the agreement) conventing together with their armyes, with drawing a little aside, as they were entered in communication, suddenly among Ferdinandus men, happened a dagg to be heard, which by the heat of the day (as is thought) loosing of his own accord, gave a crack. The sound whereof coming to the ears of Monachus, he supposing the same to have been discharged, against him, in great anger drew out his sword, bidding Ferdinandus auant w ^t his doubling dissimmulation, saying that he would never anymore trust the promises of Christians, and immediatelye up on the same sent to Solymannus the Turk, for aid against the Christians, promising that he would surrender to him free possession of Hungary, if he would come and vanquish the army of Ferdinandus lying about the siege of Buda. The Turk maketh no long tarrying, but taketh the occasion, and with a mighty power, flieth into Hungary, and eftsoons discharging the host of Ferdinandus, and putting them of from the siege of Buda, getteth the Citty into his own hands, commanding the son of Uaiuoda with his mother, to follow after his camp.

In the history of Johannes Ramus it followeth, that when Suleiman the Turk had thus prevailed against the City of Buda aforesaid, & against other parties more of Hungary, by the asset of the Empire, one Ioachimus duke of Brandeberg, prince Electour was assigned with a puissant army of chosen soldiers of all nations collected, to recover the City of Buda from the Turk, and to deliver the other parties of Christendom from the fear of the Turk. an. 1542. Which Ioachimus at his first setting forth, appeared so courageous and valiant, as though he would have conquered the whole world: but this great heat was so slaked in short time by the Turk, that before any great ieoperdy was offered unto him, he was glad to to be discharged of the viage, and with shame enough, returned home again. And would God he had left behind him in the field, no more but his own shame. For the enemies having intelligence before of his cowardly departure, thinking to work some point of maistry or victory before his going, did set upon the right wing of his army (which chiefly consisted of Dutchmen of low Germany) out of the which they took away with them above 500. strong and valiant soldiers, not killing them, but carrying them away alive. For whom it had been much better to have stand to their weapon and to have died manfully upon the Turks, then by yealding themselves to be disgarnished of weapon and armoure, and so to be left to the cursed courtesy of the foul Turks. To whom what courtesy was sheweed, by the sequel did appear. For after y ^e Turks had led them out of Hungary into their own dominiō, after a most horrible & beastly sort they disfigured & mangled them, & so sent them abroad through all Grecia to be witnessrs of the Turks victory. Their kind of punishment was thus: First they had their right arm thrust through with an iron red hot, whereby they should be unable and unmeet to all labor & warfare. Secondly, their heads were shaven to the very sculles, after the manner of our Friers & monks, when they are newly shaven. Thirdly, they had all their privy members cut of frō their bodies to the intent to make thē unfruitful for propagation which wound was so grievous unto them, that the greatest part of them died thereupon, the few that recovered the torment thereof, led a life more bitter & more miserable then death it self. And this kind of cruelty was executed in order vpō them all. In much like sort did cruel Pharaoh exercise his tyranny against the people of God in Egypt: who to destroy the generation of them, caused all the male children to be drowned in the river. Whereby it is the more to be hoped, that seeing the tyranny of this turkish Pharaoh is come to such an extremetie, the merciful goodness of God will the more shortly send some Moses or other unto us for our speedy deliverance. This was by the cruel Turks done. an. 1542. witnessed by Johannes Ramus, which not only writeth the story, but by the testimony also of his own eyes recordeth the same to be true, beholding with his eyes one of the same number in the city of Vienna, who having wife and children in Bruxelles, either for shame or sorrow had no mind to return home to his own house. Ex John Ramo.

But to return again to the city of Buda, from whenre we have digressed, here is not to be pretermitted, what falsehood and what cruelty the Turks used toward the Christians there, after their victory. For after that Suleiman y ^e Turk upon the yielding and submission of the men of Buda, had given to them his promise of safety and life, within short time, the said turke picking a quarrel with them for selling Oxen unto the Christians, and for bargaining with them, slue all the Magistrates of the said Citty of Buda: like as in all other Cities, where so ever the Christians yielded unto him, he never, or very rarely kept his promise with them, neither did ever any Christians speed better w ^t the turke, then they which most constantly did resist him.

And as his promise with the Magistrates of Buda was false and wretched: so his cruelty with the soldiers thereof was more much notorious & abhominable. For in y ^e expugnation of Buda among y ^t rest which were slain ii. cohortes or bands of Christian soldiers came alive to his hands. To whom, when he seemed at the first to grant pardon of life, he commanded to put on their armor again, and to dispose themselves in order and battle array after y ^e warlike manner of the Christians, which when they had accomplished readily, according to his commandment, & he riding about the ranckes of them, had diligently vewed and be holden them a certain space, at length he commanded thē to put of their armor again, which done, certain of the tallest and strongest of them he pyked out, the residue he commanded by his soldiers coming behind them, with swords to be cut in pieces and slain. Of the other, whom he had elected and chosen, some he set for marks and buttes to be shot at: some he appointed to his two sons, for them to slash with their swords, & try their strength, which of them could give y ^e deper wound and (as they termed it) the fairer blow, whereby moste blood might follow out of their Christian bodies. Ex Mart. Stella. De successibus Turcarum.

After the winning of Buda, the Turk purposing not so to cease before he had subdued and brought under his obedience all Hungary, proceeding further with his army first brought under a strong hold of Christians named Pestum or Pesta, where a great number of Christian soldiers partly were slain, partly were led away to more cruel affliction.

Then he came to another Castle called Walpo situate in the confines of Bosna, Croatia, and Hungary. Which forte or castle he besieged three mōthes, while no rescue nor aid was sent unto them, neither from Ferdinandus king of Hungary, nor from any other Christian Prince or Princes. Whereupon at length the forte was given up to the Turk, but more through the false treachery or cowardly heart of the soldiers, then of the Captain. Wherein is to be noted an example not unworthy of memory. For when the cowardly soldiers, either for fear or flattery, would needs surrender themselves & the piece unto the Turk, contrary to the mind of the Captain, which in no case would agree to their yielding: they thinking to find favor with the turke, apprehended their captain, and gave him to Suleiman. But see howe the justice of God sometimes by y ^e hands of the enemy, disposeth the end of things to the rewarding of virtue, & punishing of vice. For where they thought to save themselves by the danger of the faithful Captain, the event turned clean contrary, so that y ^e Turk was to the captain bountiful and very liberalll: and the soldiers, notwithstanding that they had all yielded thenselves, yet were all put to death and commanded pitiously to be slain, Ex John. Martino Stella De Turcarum in Hungaria successibus. &c.

There is in Hungary another town bearing y ^e name of five Churches, called Quiquecclesiensis, partly spoiled before, as is above mentioned, pag. 751. but now thorough the loss of Walpo, & by the hugenes of the Turks army (containing in it. 220. thousand fighting men) was so discouraged and put out of hope and heart, that the b. • h. and chief nobles of y ^e town fled before y ^e ieoperdy: the rest of the commons, which were partly prevented by the sodein coming of the Turks, partly for poverty could not avoid sent their messengers to the Turk, to yealde and surrender the town, upon promise of life, unto his hands. Whose promise how firm it stood, the story leaveth it uncertain. This is affirmed, that three days after the yielding of this Quinquecclesiensis, never a Turk durst enter the City. an. 1543. Ex John. Mart. Stella. & alijs.

The next fort or hold gotten by the Turks in Hungary, was Soclosia. The town at the first invasion of the Turks, was won, sackte, and fired. The castle within the town, did something hold out a time, and first requiring truce for 14. days, to see what aid should be sent unto them, and to deliberate upon the conditions that should be proposed unto thē, after the 14. days expired, they (trusting to the situation and munitiō of the place, which was very strong) began for a certain space stoutly to put back the enemy: But afterward seeing their walls to be battered, their foundations to shake (for the Turk had set xii. thousand underminers under the diches of y ^e castle) & their strength to diminishe, and misdoubting themselves not to be able long to hold out, agreed in like manner to yield them selves, upon condition to escape with life & goods. Which condition of saving their goods, was the loosing of their lives, especially of the richer sort. For the Turks perceiving by that condition, that they were of wealth and substance, omitting the inferior or baser sort, fell upon the wealthy men for their riches, and slue them everyone, an. 1543. Ibid.

In the which his history this is also to be noted, that during the time while the castle of Soclosia was besieged, the villages & pages round about the same, came of their own accord, submitting and yielding themselves unto the Turk, bringing in (as they were commanded) all kind of victual and forage, into the Turks campe. Which done, Suleiman the Turk commanded all the head men of the pages to appear before him, which humbly obeyed and came. Then the turke warned them to return again the next day after, everyone bringing with him his inferior retinue, and household servants. Which when they had with like diligence also, according to his commandment accomplished, the turke immediately commanded them everyone, in the face of his whole army, to be slain and so was this their reward. Which reward the more that it declareth the bloody cruelty of the turke: the more encourage it may minister to our men, the more constantly to w ^t stand him. Ex Martino Stella.

An other strong town there is in Hungary named Strigonium, distant from Buda above said, the space of five Dutch miles, against the which the Turks made great preparation of ordinance, and all other instruments of artillary necessary for the siege thereof. Which city in like manner began also to be compassed and enclosed by y ^e turks, before it could be sufficiently prepared & garnished of our mē but that the archbishop only of Strigon privily conveyed unto them 200. Oxen. Such was then the negligence of Ferdinandus king of Hungary, which so slenderly looked unto the necessary defense of his towns and cities. More over such was the discord then of christen kings & Princes, which in their civil dissension and wars were so occupied and hot in needeles quarrels, that they had neither leisure nor remembrance, to help in time there, where true need required. Which slender care, and cold zeal of y ^e Christian rulers, not in tendering y ^e public cause, while they contend in private trifles, hath caused the Turk to come so far as he hath, and yet farther is like, unless the mercy of the Lord do help more, then our diligence. One of the chief captaynes within the City, was Martinus Lascanus, a Spaniard.

The Turks in the beginning of the siege began first to attempt the Citizens with fair words, and accustomed promises, to yield and gently to submit themselves. But they not ignorant of the Turks promises wisely refused, and manfully stood so long as they could to the defense of their city, now and then skirmishing with them in out corners, and killing certain numbers of them: sometime with their shot disturbing their munitions, & breaking the wheels of their gunnes. &c.

Three special means the Turks use in winning great fortes and cities: great multitude of soldiers: great ordinance and mortarie pieces: the third is by vndermyning. All which here in the siege of this City, lacked not. This siege continued vehement a certain space: in which the Strigonians had borne out four strong assaults, and slue many thousands of y ^e Turks, till at length the Turks either departing away, or else seeming to depart unto Buda, the people at last being so persuaded and made to believe of some chief rulers of the city (peradventure not the truest men) the citizens being erected with hope and comfort, and singing Te Deum, as though the city had been free from all danger, suddenly (by whose counsel it is unknown) conveyed themselves all out of the Citty. 300. horsemen also passed over the river and departed. The Italiās which were under Frāciscus Salamanca a Spanish captain hardly could be persuaded by him to abide, which were in all scarce. 600.

Within 3. days after 300. German soldiers, with 2. ships laden with shot, powder, & artillery, were privily let into y ^e town: So that of our men all there were scarce 1300. soldiers. Who seeing the small quantity of their number, burning and casting down the town & suburbs, took thē to y ^e castle: from whence they beat of the Turks valiantly with their ordinance, a good space, and with wyld fire destroyed great companies of thē, till at last they seeing their walls to fail them, and the whole castle to shake by vndermyning, but especially by the working of a certain Italian surnamed Presbyter, they gave over. Thys Italian whether for fear or falsehood, secretly unknowing to the rest of the soldiers, accompanied with two other conveyed himself down from the walls, & being brought into the tents of the next captain or Bassa of the Turks, there in the name of all his fellows, convented with the Turks, to give up to them the Castle: whereupon y ^e Turks were bid to cease the shooting. This Italian shortly after with two other Turks was sent back to Salamanca his Captayne, with the Turks message. The going out of this Italian being privy to the residue of his fellows, contrary to the laws and discipline of war, although it seemed to come of his own head: yet for so much as the other soldiers were not sure, but rather suspected lest the other Italians his countrymen had been in some parte of consent therein, and would take his part: neither durst offer him any harm for that his doing, nor yet could well advise with themselves what was best to do, for fear of privy confederacy within themselves.

Thus while Lascanus the chief captain of the Christians aforesaid, w ^t his fellow soldiers, were in a mase what to do or not to do: in the mean time came one running, who giving a sign both to the Christians and the Turks, to hold their hands and weapons, for that it was against all law of war to fight after peace and truce taken: our men, as they were commanded, went into y ^e inward tower. The Turks in the mean time, had got into the Castle, and occupied all the utter parties. Then was Salamanca by the consent of the rest, sent out to the Turk, who there being stayde that night, the next morrow the Turks bull or warrant was sent into the Castle, permitting free liberty to the Christians to depart with bag and baggage. Who now being ready to depart, first were commanded by the Turks compassing them round about, to cast from them their dagges, launces, and battle axes, into the trench. Then coming to the gate to go out, their swords were taken from them, looking then for nothing but present death.

At last whē they were come a little further, other were sent to them to discharge them of their helmettes, their tergattes, currettes, and whatsoever piece of harnes, was about them. Whereupon great fear came upon them, least some great cruelty should be shown upon them. Solymā after he had long deliberated w ^t himself, whether to kill thē or not, at last contrary to all expectatiō, granted their lives but before they should be dismissed, he first caused them, in derision of Christianity, to be baited with scorns and mocks throughout all the Turkish army, and so the next day commanded them being stripped out of their coats and apparel, to be reduced again into the castle by companies setting over them certain Turks with cudgels, & bats to lay upon their backs and sides, causing them to bury y ^e dead carcases, and to gather up the rubbish broken down from y ^e castlewalles, and to scour the ditches. Which done the next day following he demanded of them by an interpreter, whether they would enter wages with him, & take horse and armor to serve him in his. Wars, which condition diverse for fear were contented to take, seeing no other remedy to avoid present death. Some neither by manasing words, nor for any fear of death, could be compelled thereunto, of whom certain which stood stoughtly in refusing thereof, were presently slain, whom I may worthily recite in the number and catalogue of holy martyrs.

Of the foresaid Christians, part were carried over the river of Danubius, not without great vilany, & contumely most despiteful, For some had their wives taken from them and carried away, some had their wives ravished before their face: and such as made or shown any resistance thereat, had their wives before them cast into the river and drowned: also their infantes and young children, being appointed by the Turks to the abhominable order of the Ianizarites, mentioned before pag. 736. their parents not consenting thereunto, were precipitate and thrown into the river and drowned. All which things are testified by John Martinus Stella, in his Epistles in print extant, written to his two brethren, William, & Michael, &c. Which Mart Stella moreover this addeth & affirmeth, that he himself being the same time at Vienna, did see one of the foresaid wives, who being holden fast by the hear of the head yet notwithstanding having her hear plucked off, cast her self into the river Danubius, for the singular love to her husband, and so swam to the ship where he was. And thus this miserable company of Germaynes, Spaniards and Italiās mixed together, macerate with labors, with hunger pyned, with watchinges, dolours, and sorrow consumed came at length to Schinda.

When the tidings thereof was noised at Vienna, partly with fear and dread, partly with indignation, all men's hearts were moved & vexed diversely. Some thought them not worthy to be received into their city, showing themselves so dastardly and cowardly. Other thought again that mercy was to be shown unto them, and commended their fact for that they being so few, & unfurnished of aid neither able to match by any means with such an innumerable multitude of the Turks, kept themselves till better time might serve thē. But howsoever the matter was to be thought of, the captains brought the poor remnant of that rueful company, unto possidonium, where the said Captayns were laid fast, and their kept in durance, to render accompt of the whole matter, howe it was wrought and handled. And thus have ye, the lamentable story of Strigonium.

The Turk proceeding in his victories, conducted his army next unto Tath, and to the parties lying nere about Comaron. This Tath was also a strong hold in Hungary wherein were placed certain garrisons, pertly of the Germaynes, partly of the Italians. The chie • tayne of the Italians was one Anniball Tosso, constitute by Philipus Torneilius. This Tasso was a man well experte in prowes of war: but of a filthy corrupt life, & also a foul swearer: and horrible blasphemer of God and his saints. To make the story short, this forte of Tathe, before any siege was laid unto it, was yielded and given up to the Turks: upon what conditions, or by whose means, the author showeth not: Thus much he showeth, that the said Anniball shortly vpō the same, returning into Italy, was commanded by Tornellius aforesaid: to be apprehended and beheaded.

After the Turks had subverted and destroyed the forte of Tathe, they turned their power against Alba, surnamed Regalis, for that the kings of Hungary have been always wont there to be crowned, and buried. This Alba is a little well compacted city in Hungary, having on y ^e one side a marishe somewhat foggishe or fenny, which made the town less assaultable. But nere to the same was a wood from y ^e which y ^e Turks every day with vi. C. cartes, brought such matter of wood and trees felled for the same purpose, into the marish, that within less then 12. days they made it apt, and hard to their feet, which the towns men thought never could be gone upon, but only in the hard frostes of winter. At the first beginning of the siege, there stood a little without the munitions in the front of the city, a certain church or Monastery, which the Citizens pretending to maintain and keep against the Turks, had privily conveyed light matter easily to take flame, with powder, in secret places thereof, and had hid also fire withal. Which done, they (as against their willes being driven back, withdrew themselves within the munitions, waiting the occasions, when this fire would take. Thus the Turks having the possession of the church, suddenly the fire coming to the powder, raised up the Church, and made a great scatter and slaughter among the barbarous Turks This was not so soon espied of them within the town, but they issued out upon them in this disturbance, and slue of them a great number: Among whom diverse of their nobles also the same time were slain, and one Bassa an Eunuch, which was of great estimation with y ^e Turks. Moreover, in the same skirmish was taken one of those gunners which the french king is said to have sent to the Turk a little before. Which if it be true, let the Christian Reader judge what is to be thought of those Christian princes, which not only forsaking the common cause of Christ's Church joined league with the turke, but also sent him gunners to set forward his wars to the destruction of Christ's people, and to the shedding of their blond, for whom they know the blond of Christ to be shed. If this be not true, I show mine author: If it be, then let the Pope see and mark well howe his title of Christianissimus, can well agree with such doings.

But to let this matter sleape, although the Turks (as ye heard) had won the fen, with their policy and industry, against the City of Alba, yet all this while the Albanes were nothing inferior to their enemies, through y ^e valiant help & courageous endeavor of Octauianus Scruzatus, a captain of Millane. By whose prudent counsel and constant standing, the busy enterprises of the Turks did little prevail a long time, till at length, suddenly arose a thick fog or miste upon the city, where as round about besides, the sun did shine bright. Some said it came by Art Magicall, but rather it may appear to rise out of the fen or marish, being so pressed down with men's feet and other matter laid upon it.

The Turks using the occasion of this misty darkness in secret wise approaching the walls, had got up to a certain fortress, where the Germaynes were, before our men could well perceane them: where they pressed in so thick, & in such number, that albeit the Christian soldiers standing strongly to the defense of their lives, did what valiant men in cases of such extremetie were able to do: yet being overmatched with the multitude of the Turks, & the sodennes of their coming, gave back, seeking to retire into the inward walls. Which when their other fellows did see to recule, then was their flyeng of all hands every man striving to get into the City. There was between the outward Wales or vamures, and inward gate of the city, a strait or narrow passage, cast up in manner of a bancke or causey, ditched on both sides: which passage or ingress happened y ^e same timeto be barred & stopped. By reason whereof the poor soldiers were forced to cast them selves into the ditch, thinking to swim as well as they could, into the cittye: where many of them sticking in the mud, were drowned: one pressing upon another: many were slain of their enemies coming behind them, they having neither heart, nor power to resist. A few which could swim out, were received into the Citty: but the chief Captains and warders of the town were there slain.

The cittizens being destitute of their principal captains and warriors, were in great perplexity and doubt among thenselves, what to do, some thinking good to yield, some counsayling the contrary. This while the minds of the cittizens were distract in diverse & doubtful sentences, the Magistrates minding to stand to y ^e Turks gentleness, sent out one of their heads unto the turke, who in y ^e name of them all, should surrender to him the city, and become unto him tributaries, vpō condition they might enjoy liberty of life & goods, which being to thē granted, after the turkish faith & assurance, first y ^e soldiers which were left w ^t in y ^e city, putting of their armor, were discharged & sent away. Who being but only 300. left of 4. ensigns of Italians, & of a thousand Germaynes, by the way were laid for by the Tartarians, for hope of their spoil: so that they scattering a sunder one one way, another another to save themselves as well as they could: fled everyone what way he thought best. Of whom some wandering in woods & marishes faynted for famine: some were taken and slain by the Hungarians, a few with bare and empty, and wythered bodies, more like ghostes then men, escaped & came to Vienna. And this befell upon the soldiers.

Now understand what happened to the yielding Citizens. So in story it followeth, that when the turke had entered the town, and had visited the sepulcher of the kings for three or 4. days he pretended much clemency toward the cittizens, as though he came not to oppress them, but to be revenged of Ferdinādus their king, & to deliver them from the servitude of the Germans. On the fourth day, all y ^e chief & head men of the city were commanded to appear before y ^e turke in a plain, not far frō the city where the condemned persons before, were wont to be executed, as though they should come to swear unto the turke. At this commandment of the turke, when the cittizens in great number, & in their best attire were assembled, y ^e turk contrary to his faith and promise, commanded suddenly a general slaughter to be made of them all. And this was y ^e end of the citizens of Alba.

In the mean time, during the siege of Alba, the Hungarians meeting sometimes with the horsemen of y ^e Tartarians, which were sent out to stop their vitailes from y ^e city, slue of them at one bickering. 3000. Turks. In which story is also reported & mentioned of mine author, an horrible sight and example of misery, concerning a certain captive (a Christian belike) who coming into Vienna, was found to have in his scrip or satchel the half of a young child of two years old, which remained yet vneaten, the other half being eaten before. an. 1543. Ibid.

Next after this was expugned the castle of Pappa, by y ^e Turks. Let the castle now of Papa take heed, least one day it follow after.

The like fidelity the Turks also kept, with the fort of Wizigradum and the soldiers thereof. This Wizigradū is situate in the mid way between Buda and Strigoniū. Of the which fort or Castle, the highest tower so mounteth upon the hill, that unless it be for famine and lack of water they have not to dread any enemy. Notwithstanding so it happened, that the lower piece being won, they in the higher tower abiding four days without drink were compelled with liberty granted of life and goods, to yield themselves. But the devilish Turks keeping no faith nor promise, slue them everyone, only Petrus Amandus the captain of the piece, excepted: who privily was conveyed by the Captayne of the Turks, out of the slaughter. an. 1544.

To these moreover may be added the winning of Nouum Castellum in Dalmatia, where he slue all that were w ^t in both soldiors & other, for that they did not yield themselves in time. Thus the turke, whether they yielded to him or not, never spared the people and flock of Christ.

As the false & cruel Turk was thus raging in Hungary, and intended further to rage without all mercy and pity of the Christians, and easily might then have prevailed and gone whether he would for that Charles the Emperor and Franciscus the french king were the same time in war and hostility, and also other Christian Princes, as Henry Duke of Brunswike, against John Frederick Duke of Saxony, also Princes and rulers were contending among themselves: behold the gracious providence of our Lord and God toward us, who seeing the misery & having pity of his poor Christians, sodeinely as with a snafle reined this raging beast, and brought him out of Europe into his own country again, by occasion of the Persians, who were then in great preparation of war against the Turks, & had invaded his dominion. By reason whereof the Turks was kept there occupied, fighting with the Persians a long continuance. Which wars at length being achieved and finished, (wherein the said Turk lost great victoryes, with slaughter of many thousands of his Turks) he was not only provoked by the instigation of certain evil disposed Hungarians, but also occasioned by the discord of Christian Princes, to return again into Europe, in hope to subdue all the partes thereof unto his dominion. Whereunto, when he had leuyed an army incredible of such a multitude of turks, as y ^e like hath not lightly been heard of, see again the merciful providence & protection of our God toward his people. And as the Turk was thus intending to set forward with this innumerable multitude against y ^e Christians, the hand of the Lord sent such a pestilence through all the Turks army and dominions, reaching from Bithynia, and from Thracia, to Macedonia and also to Hungary, that all the Turks possessions almost seemed nothing else, but as a heap of dead corses, whereby his viage for that time was stopped, and he almost compelled to seek a new army.

Beside this plague of the Turks aforesaid, which was worse to them then any war, other lets also and domestical calamities through God's providence happened unto Solymannus, the great rouer and robber of y ^e world which stayed him at home from vexing the Christians, especially touching his eldest son Mustapha.

This Mustapha being hated and partly feared of Rustanus the chief counsailour about the Turk, and of Rosa y ^e Turks concubine & after his wife, was diverse times complained of to his father, accused, & at length so brought into suspicion and displeasure of the turke, by them aforesaid: that in conclusion his father caused him to be sent for to his pauilion, where 6. Turks with visours were appointed to put him to death: Who coming upon him, put (after their manner) a small cord or bowstring full of knottes about his neck, & so throwing him down upon y ^e ground, not suffering him to speak one word to his father, w ^t the switch thereof throtcled & strangled him to death his father standing in a secret corner by, and beholding the same. Which fact being perpetrate, afterward when the Turk would have given to another son of his and of Rosa called Bianger, the treasures, horse, armor, ornaments and the province of Mustapha his brother: Bianger crying out for sorrow of his brothers death: phy of thee, saith he to his father, y ^u impious and wretched dog, traitor, murderer, I cannot cal thee father, take the treasures the horse and armor of Mustapha to thyself: and with that taking out his dagger, thrust it through his own body. And thus was Suleiman murderer & parricide of his own sons: which was in the year of our Lord. 1552.

Wherein notwithstanding is to be noted the singular providence and love of the Lord toward his afflicted Christians. For this Mustapha as he was courageous & greatly expert and exercised in all practice of war: so had he a cruel heart, maliciously set to shed the blood of Christians: Wherefore great cause have we to congratulate, & to give thanks to god, for y ^e happy taking away of this Mustapha And no less hope also and good comfort we may conceive of our loving Lord, hereby ministered unto us, to think y ^• our merciful God after these sore afflictions of his Christians under these 12. Turks afore recited: now after this Suleiman intendeth some gracious good work to Christendom, to reduce & release us out of this so long & miserable turkish captivity: as may be hoped now by taking away these young imps of this impious generation, before they should come to work their conceived malice against us: the Lord therefore be glorified and praised. Amen.

Moreover as I was in writing hereof, oportunely came to my hands a certain writing out of Germany, certifyeng us of such news & victory of late achieved against the turke, as may not a little increase our hope and comfort us, touching the decay and ruin of the Turks power & tyranny against us. Which news are these: y ^t after y ^• turkish tyrant had besieged with an army of 30000. men, the famous & strong town and castle of Iula in Hungary lyeng 40. dutch miles beyond the river Danubius, which cittye had, by the space of 6. weeks sustained many grievous assaults: God through his great mercy & goodness so comforted the said town of Iula and the poor Christians therein, at their earnest prayers, that the Turk with all his host was driven back, by the hands of the general, called Karetshim Laslaw and his valiant company, who not only defended the said town, but also constrained the Turks to retire, to the great shame and confusion, with a great slaughter of the turkish rabble: For the which the everlasting God be praised forever.

The manner of the overthrow was this. As the foresaid general did see his advantage w ^t Captayne George, and other horsemen of the Sclesians and Hungarians, they set on y ^e rearward of the Turks and killed about 8000. of thē, and took also some of their artillery and followed them so fast, y ^• the Turks were constrained to fly into a marishe ground, and to break the wheels of the rest of their artillary, to save themselves, and therewith they got a very rich booty, rescuing besides and taking from the Turks a great number of Christian prisoners. Like thanks also are to be given to God, for the prosperous success given to Magotschie the valiant Captain of Erla, who making toward the Turks, and recountring with the Tartarians, slue of them about 8. hundredth.

Not long after this, it happened through the like providence of our God, a turkish Captayne called Begen, accompanied w ^t a thousand fresh horsemen came newly out of Turkey, to go toward the city named Quinque Ecclesiae, or Finffenkyrchen: with whom the Earl of Serin by the way did encounter, and in the right setting upon him, killed the captain and took 8. Cammels, and 8. Moyles laden with treasure, and also got two red Guidons, with a whole great piece of rich cloth of gold, and with another fair and strange Jewel. The horse of this foresaid turkish captayn, was betrapped and decked most richly. The sadle whereof had the pommell and the back part covered over with plate of fine Arabic gold, and the rest of the sadle, beside the sitting place, was plated with silver very fair gilded. The seat of the sadle was covered with purple velvet: the trappers and bridle beset with little Turkeys, and Rubies: Which horse was sent to Vienna unto the Emperor Maximilian for a present.

Although the Earl would very fain have saved the Captayn, not knowing what he was, yet the Ianizarites laboring to carry away their captain, so stiffly defended thenselves, that the Earl with his company, was constrained to kill both them and their Captayne. From whom the said Earl of Serin y ^e same time got, xv. thousand Turkish and Hungarish Ducates: which money was brought for the payment of the Turkishe soldiers in the town aforesaid of Finffenkyrchen. &c. All which be good begynninges of greater goodness to be hoped for hereafter, thorough the grace of Christ our Lord, especially if our Christian rulers and potentates, first the churchmen & prelates for their partes: then the civil powers & princes for their partes, with holding their affections a little, will turn their brawls & variance, into brotherly concord and agrement, which the Lord of peace put in their minds to do. Amen. Or otherwise if it will so please the Lord, that the turke come further upon us, so as he hath begun, for our punishment & castigation, his grace then give to the flock of his poor Christians, constancy of faith, patience in suffering, and amend̄t of life: For so I understand by public fame, although vncertaynly rumored by the voice of some, that the Turks power of late, this present year of our Lord 1566. hath perced the parties of Apulia within Italy, wasting and burning the space of an. 100. miles toward Naples. Which if it be certain, it is to be feared, that the Turk having thus set in his foot, & feeling the sweetness of Italy, will not so cease before he get in both head and shoulders also so far into Italy, that he will display his banners within the walls of Rome, & do with old Rome the like as Mahumete his great granfather did with new Rome, the city of Constantinople, and as the Persians did with Babylon.

The causes why we have so to judge, he diverse: first y ^• the sea of Rome hath been defended hitherto and maintained with much blood, and therefore it may seem not incredible, but that it will not long continue, but be lost w ^t blood again, according to the verdict of the Gospel: He that striketh with the sword, shall perish with y ^e sword. &c. An other cause is, the fulfilling of the 18. chapter of the Apocalypse: where is written that great Babylon shall fall & be made an habitation of devils, and a den of unclean spirit, and a cage of filthy and unclean birds: the fall whereof shall be like a millstone in the sea, that is, which shall not rise again. And this to come before the day of judgment, the text of y ^e said chapter doth apertly declare: where the words do follow, showing that the kings of y ^e earth, and the merchants which had to do with the whoorishe City, standing a far of for fear of the heat, and beholding the smoke of the said City flaming and burning w ^t fire, shall be wayle and rue her destruction and desolacion &c. What city is this, called great Babylon, which like a mylstone shall fall and burn, and be made an habitation of unclean spirits, and beasts, let the reader construe. This is certain and plain by these her kings and merchants standing a far of for fear, and beholding her burning, that the destruction of this city (what cittye soever it be) shall be seen here in earth before the coming of the Lord's judgment, as may easily be gathered by these iii. circumstances, that is, by the standing, the beholding, and be wailing of her merchants. By the which merchants and kings of the earth, peradventure may be signified, y ^e Pope, the rich Cardinals, the great prelates and fat doctors, and other obedienciaries of the Romish sea: who at the coming of the Turks, will not auenture their lives for their Church, but will flee the city (no doubt) and stand a far of from danger: and when they shall see with their eyes, and hear with their cares the city of Rome to be set on fire and consumed by the cruel Turks, the sight thereof shall seem to them piteous and lamentable, to behold the great and fair city of Rome, the tall castle of S. Angel, y ^e Popes mighty sea (where they were wont to fish out such riches dignities, treasures, and pleasures) so to burn before their eyes, and to come to such utter desolacion, which shall never be reedefied again, but shall be made an habitation of devils and unclean spirits, that is, Turks and heathen Sultans, and barbarous Saracens. &c. This (I say) peradventure may be the meaning of that prophetical place of the Apoc. not that I have here any thing to pronounce, but only give my guess, what may probably be conjectured. But the end at length will make this and all other things more plain and manifest. For mystical prophesies lightly are never so well understand, as when the event of them is past and accomplished.

An other cause concurring with the causes aforesaid may be collected, out of Paulus Iouius, who writing ofy ^e subversion of Rhodes, which was as ye heard. an. 1522. upon Christmas day, saith that it chanced suddenly the same day in Rome, that as Pope Hadrian the vi. was entering into the church to his service, sodeinly over his head the upper frontier or top of the chapel door, which was of marble immediately as the pope was entering, fell down and slue certain of his garde waiting upon him. Whereby peradventure may be meant, that the ruin of Rome was not long after to follow the loss of Rhodes.

The fourth cause I borowe out of Johannes Auentinus, who in his third book alleging the names, but not the words of Hildegardis, Brigitte, and other prophetical men hath these words: Si vera sint carmina & vaticinia D. Hildegardae, & Brigittae. Sybillanum Germaniae, & Bardorum fatidicorū, qui ea quae nostro aeuo completa vidimus, longo ante tempore nobis cecinerunt: A grippinensis Colonia, nolimus, velimus, Turcarū caput erit, &c. That is, if the sayings and prophesies of Hildegarde, of Brigitte, & of other prophetical persons be true, which being foretold long before, we have seen now in these our days accomplished: y ^e town of Colen will we, nil we, must needs be the head city of y ^e turks. &c.

And this I write not as one pronouncing against the City of Rome, what will happen, but as one fearing what may fall. Which if it come to pass (as I pray God it do not) then shall the Pope well understand, whether his wrong understanding of the Scriptures, & his false flattering glosers upon the same, have brought him.

Wherefore my counsel is to the Pope, & all his Popish mayntayners and upholders to humble themselves, & to agree with their brethren by time, letting all contention fall: lest that while the Bishop of Rome shall strive to be the highest of all other Bishops, it so fall out shortly, y ^t the bishop of Rome shall be found the lowest of all other Bishops, or peradventure no bishop at all.

Wherevpon also another cause may be added, taken out of Hieronunns Sauonarola, who prophecieth that one shall come over the Alps like unto Cyrus, & destroy Italy. Wherof see more, pag. 737.

Thys Solimanus, if he be yet alive, hath now reigned 46. years, who began the same year, in the which y ^e Emperor Charles the v, was crowned, which was an. 1520. and so hath continued by God's permission, for a scourge to the Christians, unto this yere now present. 1566. This Suleiman by one of his Concubines, had his eldest son called Mustapha. By another Concubine called Rosa, he had four sons, Mahumete, Baiazates, Zelymus, and Gianger. Of the which sons, Mustapha and Gianger were slain (as ye heard before) by the means of their own father. And thus much concerning the wretched tyranny of the Turks out of the authors here under written.

The Authors of the Turks stories.
• Laonicus Chalcondila.
• Nicolaus Eboicus Episo. Saguntinus.
• John. Ramus.
• Andraeas a Lacuna.
• Wolfgangus Drechslerus.
• John. Crispus.
• John Faber.
• Ludouicus Viues.
• Bernardus de Breydenbach.
• Mityleneus Archiepise. Sabellicus.
• Isiodorus Rutherus.
• Marinus Barlerus.
• Henrious Penia de bello Rhodio.
• Melchior Soiterus.
• Paulus Iouius.
• John Martinus Stella.
• Gaspar Peucerus. &c.
• Nicolaus a Moffen Burgundus.
• Sebast Munsterus.
• Baptista Egnatius.
• Barthol Peregrinus.