Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

Solymannus the 12. after Ottomannus.

* 1.1SOlymannus the onely sonne of Zelymus succeded after hys fathers death, who in the first beginning seemed to some to be simple and shepish, and not mete for the turkish gouernmēt. Wherfore certain of his nobles cōsulting how to depose him, entended to set vp an other Emperour. In which conspiracy, especially are named Caierbeius & Ga∣zelles. This Caierbeius was he y^t betraied before Camp∣son the Sultane of Egypt to Zelymus,* 1.2 as is aforesayde: who nowe also being in consultation w^t Gazelles & other about this matter, detected thē also vnto Solyman. Wher∣fore the sayd Gazelles and his fellowes being thus detec∣ted, were put to death by Solyman, declaring thereby that he was not so shepish as he was thought of them to be, & as also by his acts afterward did more appeare.

Solymannus after thys execution done vpon the con∣spiratours, taking his voiage into Europe,* 1.3 first besieged Belgradum: which being a Citye in Hungarie, was the strongest forte of all the Romaine Empire, and the chiefe defence at that time, of al christendom, which also being as∣saulted before time by Amurathes the 2. was valiantly de∣fended by Ioannes Huniades as is aboue specified.* 1.4 But here nowe lacked suche a one as Huniades was: For the kingdome of Hungary at that time, was vnder y^• gouern∣ment of Ludouicus a yong king, vnexpert and of a simple wit. Whom other Princes, & specially the couetous church men did so pil and pol, that they left hym nothing but only the bare name and title of his kingdom: Wherby he being vnfurnished both of men and mony, was vnable to match with such an enemie.

An other vauntage also the Turkes had in besieging of Belgrade:* 1.5 For the Christian princes at that time were in ciuill dissention and variance amongst themselues: and the Pope with his Churchmen also were so busye in suppres∣sing of Luther, and of the Gospell then newly springing, that they minded nothing els, except it were to maintaine the welth of their own bellies. Which pope if he had set his care (as his duety was) so muche in stirring vp Princes a∣gainst the common enemy, as he was bent to deface y^• gos∣pel, & to persecute the true professors therof: soone might he haue brought to passe, not only that Belgrade might haue bene defended against the Turk, but also y^• to be recouered againe which was lost before: and moreouer myght haue stopped the great dangers and perils which nowe are like to fall vpon the religion and church of Christ: whyche the Lord of his great mercy auert and turne away.

Certesse what so euer the Pope then did,* 1.6 this had bene his duty, setting al other things apart, to haue had an ear∣nest compassiō of so many miserable & lost captiues, which were fallen from their faith & religion, vnto the misery and slauery of the Turke, & thraldome of the deuil, and to haue sought all means possible to haue reduced thē, as lost shepe into the fold againe: which then might sone haue ben done if prelates & princes ioyning together in christian concord, had loued so well the publike glory of Christ and soules of Christians, as they tendered their owne priuate, worldly, & friuolous quarels.* 1.7 And admit that the Pope had concei∣ued neuer so much malice against Luther, hys quarell also being good: yet the publike church standing in such danger, as it then did by the inuasion of the Turke, reason woulde nature led, religion taught, time required that a good Pre∣late forgetting lighter matters, shuld rather haue laid hys shoulder to the excluding of so great a dāger, as then was imminent both to himselfe, and the vniuersall Churche of Christ: But nowe his quarel being vniust, and the cause of Luther being moste iust and godly, what is to be sayde or thought of suche a Prelate, who for bearyng the Turke, whome in a time so daungerous, hee ought chiefly to haue resisted, persecuted the trueth, whych hee shoulde specially haue mainteined? But Christ for his mercy stande for hys Churche, and stirre vp zealous Princes and Prelates, if not to recouer that is lost, yet at least to retaine that little which is left.

Solyman therefore taking hys occasion, and vsing the commoditie of time, while our princes were thus at vari∣ance betwixt themselues, wythout any resistance or inter∣ruption, brought his army vnto Belgrade, in y^e yere of our Lorde.* 1.8 1521. Which Citye being but slenderly defenced, the Turke through his vnderminers, guns and other engins of warre, without great difficultie, & with little losse of hys souldiours, soone subdued and ouercame.

After thys victorye, Solyman resting himselfe a whole yeare, and casting in his mynde howe to make all sure be∣hinde him, for feare of ennemies to come vppon his backe, thought it expedient for his purpose if he might obtain the Ilande of Rhodes: for that onely remained yet Christian betwixt him and Asia: wherfore the next yeare following, he brought hys army of 450. ships, and 300. M. men to the besieging thereof. This Rhodes was a mighty and strong Iland,* 1.9 w^tin the sea called Mare mediterraneum. The inhabi∣tants wherof at y^e first did manfully resist y^e turke, sparyng no labor nor paines for the defence of thēselues & of al chri∣stendome: But afterward being brought to extremity, and pinched w^t penury, seing also no aid to come from y^e christi∣ans: somwhat began to languish in thēselues. The turkes in the meane time casting vp two great mountaines wyth strength of hand, 2. miles of frō the citye, like rolling tren∣ches caried them defore thē neare vnto the city, in the tops wherof they plāted their ordinance & artillery, to batter the city. The maister of the knightes of the Rhodes was then one Philippus Villadamus a Frenchman, in whome no diligence was lacking y^t appertained to the defence of the city. The Rhodians likewise so valiantly behaued them∣selues vpon the walles, that w^t their shot all the ditches a∣bout the city, were filled w^t the carcases of dead Turkes.

Besides thys, suche a disease of the bloudy flixe raigned

in the Turkes campe, that 30. M. of them died thereof: and yet for all thys, Solyman woulde not cease from hys siege begonne: who at length by vnderminers casting downe the vamures and vttermost partes of the citie, wan groūd still more and more vpon the Rhodians, and with morta∣ry pieces so battered the houses, y^t there was no free place almost standing in all the Citie. And thus continued the siege for the space of fiue or sixe monethes, and yet all thys while came no help vnto them from the christians. Wher∣fore they being out of all hope, thorough the aduise of Ual∣ladamus, yelded themselues vnto the Turke vppon con∣dition that hee woulde spare them wyth life and goodes, which conuention the Turke kepte wyth them faithfully and truely.

Thus Solyman with his great glory and vtter shame to all christian princes,* 1.10 and also ruine of all Christendome, got the noble Ile of Rhodes, although not wythout great losse and detriment of hys army: in so much that at one as∣sault 20. thousande Turkes about the walles, were slayne with fire, sword, stones, and other engines. Wherby it may be coniectured what these Rhodians might or would haue done,* 1.11 if succor had come to them from other christian prin∣ces as they looked for. This city was wonne vpon Christ∣mas day. An. 1522.

Thys conquest of Rhodes obtained, Solyman the 4. yeare after, bringeth backe his army againe into Hunga∣ry, where he founde none to resist him but onely Ludouike the yong king: who being accompanied with a smal army, and nothing able to matche wyth the Turke, yet of a hasty rashnes and vaine hope of victory, would needes set vpon him: who if he had staide but a little, had prospered the bet∣ter. For Ioannes Uainoda being a Capitaine well exerci∣sed in Turkish warres before, was not farre off, comming with a sufficient power of able souldiors.* 1.12 But Paulus the Archbishop Coloss. a Franciscane Frier, a man more bold then wise, with his temerity and rashnes troubled al their doings: For the whole summe of the army of the Hunga∣rians, contained in all but only 24. M. horsmen and foote∣men, who at length comming vnto the battaile, and being compassed about wyth a great multitude of the Turkes army, were brought into great distres. The Turks twise shorte of their pieces against the Christian army: yet scarce was any Christian touched with the stroke therof: whych was thought to be done of purpose, bicause they were chri∣stians whych had the ordering of the gunnes, for then the speciall gunners of the Turkes were Christians,* 1.13 whome for the same cause they spared. Then the Turkes horsmen comming vpon the backe of the christian armie, compassed them about, and by reason of their multitude, ouercharged their horsemen. Amongst whom was slaine the same tyme the Archb. Frier aforesayd, wyth the Bishops of Strigone and Uaradine & many other nobles besides.* 1.14 Also the kyng himselfe being destitute of hys necessary aide and succour, was compelled to flie into a marish, where he falling from his horse, being heauy loden with his harneis, was not a∣ble to rise againe,* 1.15 but there miserably perished.

Solyman the Turke marueiled at the foolyshnesse of Ludouike the King, who wyth so small an armye woulde presume to encounter wyth such a great hoste of two hun∣dreth thousande. This battaile in Hungarie was fought, Anno. 1526.

After the deceasse of Ludouicke, Ferdinandus succeded in the kingdome,* 1.16 being Duke of Austria and king of Hun∣garie. Then Solyman setting contention betwixt Ioan∣nes Uaiuoda and Ferdinandus for the kingdom of Hun∣garie, spedde his viage to the Citie of Buda, whych also in short time he made to be yelded vnto hym vpon condition that they should escape with their liues and goodes: whych cōdition some say he kept, and some say he did not. Besides Buda diuers places and munitiōs the sayd Turk,* 1.17 contra∣ry to his league made before, did spoile and waste, as Vara∣dinum, Quinque Ecclesias, and other fortes and munitions moe, bordering about the coastes of Hungary.

In the yeare of our Lorde 1529. Ferdinandus king of Hungarie aforesaid, recouered diuers holdes gotten of the Turke before, and also warring againste Ioannes Uai∣uoda his enemy,* 1.18 with whom he had variance (as ye heard before) expulsed him out of his kingdom. Wherupon Uai∣uoda flying to the Turke, desired his ayde. The Turke glad to take that occasion, wyth great preparatiō addressed himselfe to returne into Hungary, where he recouering a∣gaine the Citie of Buda, which Ferdinandus had gotten from him a little before, remooued his armye into Austria, spoyling and destroying by the way all that came to hys handes, shewing many examples of great cruelty & tyran∣ny most lamentable to here and vnderstand. For of some he put out their eies, of some he cutte of their handes, of some their eares and noses,* 1.19 and of their children he cut of theyr priuy members. The maidens he corrupted, the matroues had their brestes cut of, and such as were with childe, were ript and their childrē cast into the fire. And these examples of horrible and barbarous tyranny, thys wretched Turke perpetrated by the way comming toward Uienna a noble City in Austria, besides the captiues which he tooke by the way, and led into seruitude moste miserable, mounting to the number of 30. thousand.

Among other holdes by the waye as the Turke came, there was a castle called Altenburch strongly by nature si∣tuated, and by art defenced,* 1.20 which castle the Turke enten∣ding not to ouerpasse because he woulde make all thynges sure behinde him, began to make hys assault, and lay hys ordinance against it. The warders and kepers of the Ca∣stle, so soone as the Turks began to lay siege against them, making no resistance, of a womanly cowardnes sent their messengers to the Turke to yelde themselues,* 1.21 ready to doe his commaundement, and further him with their vitaile. Amongest whome were three hundreth Bohemians, who were commaunded to followe the hoste, that the Turke by them might learne what strength was in the city of Uien∣na: also where the king was, and what was to be done for the winning therof.

Of whom when the Turke had vnderstanding howe all things stoode, and how that there was but 20. thousand men in Uienna able to beare armour, and that other cities of Austria would soone yeelde if that were gotten, and that Uienna was vitailed but for 2. monthes, and that the king was of late in Boheme, thus the Turk of all things being certified, hauing no doubt in hys minde of victorie, made speede toward Uienna: and first comming to Neapolis a city but 8. miles distant from Uienna, he required them to yelde themselues:* 1.22 who notwithstanding withstoode them, and repulsed them valiantly. Then the Turkes assigned a place for the pitching of their tents, whych because it semed some thing too litle for such a great multitude, they tooke in more ground to the compasse of 7. miles circuit. The mul∣titude of his armye, which hee there planted, is accompted of some to extend to 250. M. souldiours. The Turke thus being planted, made daily excourses ouer all the countrey of Austria, specially about the citie of Uienna, wasting and spoyling with great crueltye & murther amongst the poore Christians.

Moreouer, to make al things more sure toward y^e pre∣paration of the siege, scoutes were sent abroade, and bush∣ments were laid about the riuer side of Danubius, to pro∣uide that no aid nor victual should be brought to Uienna.* 1.23 So it pleased the prouidence of the Lord (who disposeth all things) that 3. daies before the comming of the Turk, Fri∣dericus the Earle Palatine, which was then assigned by y^t Empire to take the charge of Uienna, was come downe by the riuer of Danubius with 14. M. and with a certaine troupe of horsemen well apoynted and picked for the pur∣pose.* 1.24After the comming of thys Fridericke, prouision also of victuall was appoynted to followe shortly after, by the sayd riuer of Danubius.

In the meane time, they which had the cariage & trās∣porting therof, hearing how the waies were laid, & all the passages 10. miles about Uienna, stopped by the Turkes although they knew y^e city to stand in great nede of vitail, yet seing there was no other remedy, rather then it should come to the ennemies hande, thought it best to sincke theyr boats w^t their cariage, and so they did. Wherby, all be it the christians wanted their reliefe, yet were the Turks disap∣poynted of their pray & purpose.* 1.25 The captains whych had the keeping of the City, which were chiefly Fridericus the Earle Palatine, Gulielmus Rogendorffius, and Nicola∣us erle of Salme, seing themselues so straightned contrary to their expectation, although they had great causes to be discouraged, yet calling their courage vnto them, they con∣sulted together for the best way to be taken: and seing that the little city Neapolis (aboue mentioned) being 8. miles distaunt from them, so valiauntly withstoode the Turkes, that in one day they sustained 7. greuous assaultes against all the maine force of the Turkish armye: by their example and manfull stāding, being the more animated and encou∣raged, thought to abide the vttermoste before they woulde geue ouer, and first plucking downe all the suburbes, and buildings wythout the walles, wherby the enemy myght haue any succor,* 1.26 they willed all the farmers & inhabitantes about the Citye to saue themselues, and to bryng in theyr goods w^tin the walles. Such places as were weake wyth∣in the walles, they made strong. About the towers & mu∣nition of the walles, they prouided rampires & bulwarks distant 80. foote one from another, to kepe of the shot: and euery man hadde hys place and standing awarded to hym

vpon the wal, and his office appoynted what to do: but es∣pecially that side of the City which lyeth to the riuer of Da∣nubius, they fortified after the best wise: for that way only now remained for vitail to be transported from the Bohe∣mians vnto them. Wherefore 8. en••ignes were assigned to the keping of the bridge,* 1.27 and in the plaine, which was lyke an Iland inclosed wythin the riuer, a sufficient garrison of horsmen were placed, lying within the gunshot of the city, to the entent that if any graine or vitail were sent from the Bohemians, they myght prouide y^e same safely to be brou∣ght into the Citie.

These things thus being disposed and set in order, L. William Rogendorffe, to assay the strength of the Turks, made diuers rodes out wyth his horsemen, albeit much a∣gainst y^e mindes of the Austrians: who knowing the ma∣ner of the Turkes, thought it better to suffer them, while either wyth time they myght be ouerweried, or for lacke of victuals consumed.* 1.28 Among many and sondry skirmishes which the Christians had with the Turkes, one especially was to our men vnprosperous: in whych certaine of the horsemen espying a small troupe of the Turkes scattering abroad from theyr company, made out after them, who so∣denly & guilefully were inclosed and circumuented by the Turks, before they could recouer the gates of the citie, and so were all taken aliue:* 1.29 Of whome 3. were sent from the Turkes into the Citye, to declare to the Uiennians what strength they had seene in the campe of their aduersaries, and to sollicite them to yelde their city for feare of punish∣ment which would followe: The residue they reserued to torments and punishment, whom in the sight of the whole army, and of the Christians (whych should tell the same to the Citizens) they caused euery man to be drawne with 4. horses a piece, and so to be dismēbred and pluckt a sonder.

After thys done, the barbarous Turk immediatly sent his Herold to talke wyth the Captaines of the City, whe∣ther they would yelde the City vpon honest conditions,* 1.30 or els would abide the arbitrement of warre. If they would gently submit them selues, they should haue all gentlenes to them shewed: If they would be stubburne, and stand to their defence, he wold also stand to hys siege begon, so that he neither woulde spare man, woman nor childe. To thys the captaines aunswered againe, that they were contented Solyman to stand to his siege begon,* 1.31 and to do his vtter∣most, what he would, or what he coulde. As for them, they were at a poynte to defende them selues and their Citie so long as they might: the euent & fall of victory to be doubt∣full, and many times so to happen, that they whych begin the warre, are wearied sooner then they which be prouo∣ked: neither againe that they were so vnmindfull eyther of themselues, or of their country, but that they did remember well what they are, and what they be called, named to be Germaines: who vse alwayes first to assay the aduersary, what he is able to doe, and not rashly to committe them∣selues into their enemies handes.

Solymannus not a little disdaining at thys aunswer, first burning and consuming all the villages,* 1.32 houses, and places round about the city, infecting also the springs and fountaines whych gaue water into the Citye, and so stop∣ping al passages, that no reliefe should haue way vnto thē, began w^t angry moode to approche more neare to the Citie, with 3. great campes, sending them worde in skorne and contumely, by one of his captiues, that if they stood in nede of helpe of soldiors, he would send vnto them the 300. Bo∣hemians (mentioned a little before) to aid them in theyr de∣fence. To whom the Palatine directed answer again, that they had moe soldiours in the City then they neded. As for the Bohemians which had yelded themselues, he might do wyth them, what he would, for Uienna stoode in no great neede of them.

In the meane time a messenger comming from Ferdi∣nandus, was priuily let in by night into the Citie,* 1.33 which brought word that they should play the men in keping out the enemy a while: for it would not be long but both Fer∣dinandus and Carolus his brother, with the strēgth of all Germanie, would be ready to rescue them. At whych mes∣sage the hearts of the soldiours began somwhat to be chea∣red, and to contemne the huge multitude of the aduersa∣ries, being so great as they neuer did beholde, nor did euer almoste heare of before. The largenesse of whose army, ex∣tended to no lesse in compasse (as is aboue sayde) then of 7. miles round about the Citie walles.

* 1.34Long it were to recite the whole order of thys terrible siege, with all the partes and circumstances therof. Briefly to touch so much as shal suffice for this history, with fewer words then were stripes geuen at the siege thereof: thys is to be iudged and confessed: whosoeuer beholdeth the nōber and fiercenesse of the Turkes, the absence of the king Fer∣dinandus, the lacke of prouision and vitaile within the ci∣ty, the noise of the gunnes, the violence of the shot, the ter∣ror of the sight, and yet no succour sent vnto them: that the custody of that city was no mans doing, but the arme on∣ly of the Lord God of hostes, according to the true saying of the Psalme: Unlesse the Lorde doe keepe the Citie, the watchmen watch in vaine,* 1.35 which watch to saue it: Unles the Lord doe build the house, the builder striueth in vayne, whych taketh vpon hym to builde it. Experience whereof in keping thys citie may well appeare.

First Solymannus bending hys shotte and ordinance against the City, beate downe to the ground the vāmures with all the vttermost suburbs of the city, and that in suche a short moment of time, that the hearts of the Uiennians a little before refreshed, were now as much appaled agayne with feare, misdoubting wyth themselues, least the Turke with the same celerity and violence woulde haue preuailed against the inwarde walles, 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 commynge on, broken of the siege for that day.

In the meane time the Citizens laboured all night in repairing and refreshing the wals, to make all things sure against the next assault.* 1.36 The next day early in y^• morning, the Turks approching the city againe with a new assault, thinking to scale the walles, were so repulsed & manfully resisted by the Germaines, that vnneth any ditches aboute the walles could be sene for the bodies of the dead Turkes, wherwith they were replenished: so that the Turks were faine to fight standing vpon the bodies of them which wer slaine. By the which calamitie the force of the enemye was not a little abated,* 1.37

It happened the same time, that a companye of the Turkes being spied oute of the Citie wandering oute of order, the Captaine Rogendorffius wyth two legions of horsemenne issuing out of the Citie gate called Salmaria, and so passing closely vnder the hilles side, did so set vpon them, that they slew a great number of them: the rest being driuen to take the riuer, whome with stones and shot like∣wise they destroyed, and so retired backe into the Citie a∣gaine. By thys victorie the Captaine Rogendorffius be∣gan to be terrible to the Turkes. For in the same skirmish (as after was knowen) was slayne of them so many, that of 5000. and 300. horsemen and footemen, scarse 140. es∣caped aliue.

Solyman disdayning at this repulse,* 1.38 thought to proue an other way, & so bringing his power toward y^e gate cal∣led y^e kings gate, there making his trenches & bulwarkes, plāted his ordināce, w^t the violence wherof y^e walles were so battered & shaken, that no man was able there to stand. Wherefore the Turke seeing 2. great breaches made in the wal cōmaunded his souldiors couertly in the darck smoke of gunnepouder to prease into the City. The like also was done at y^e scottish to wer, whereby y^e city was inuaded in 2. sundry places at one time. The Uiēnians at y^e first, freshly began to withstand thē, new souldiors still cōming in the place of them that were slaine and hurt: and so this assault continuing more thē 6. houres together, our mē beganne at length to languish & faint, not onely in strength but al∣so in courage: wherby the Citie had bene in great daunger of loosing, had not y^e two foresaid Capitaines Rogendorf∣fius in the one place, and the Earle of Salme in the other place, manfully encouraged the souldiors to abide y^e brunt, and to beare out a while the violence of the Turkes, pro∣mising that immediately they should haue ayde from Fer∣dinandus.

In the meane time the Turkes came so thicke for gre∣dines of the victory, scaling, climing, and fighting vpō the walles, that had it not bene for the prease and throng of the great multitude of the Turkes comming so thicke that one of them could not fight for an other,* 1.39 Uienna that same day had bene taken and vtterly lost: But by the pollicy of y^e cap¦taines geuing a signe within the city, as though new soul∣diors were called for, our men began to be encouraged, & the Turkes hartes to be discomfited.

When Solymannus saw his army the second time, re∣pulsed, he began to attempt a new way, purposing by vn∣dermining to ouerthrow the city: in the which work speci∣ally he vsed the helpe of the Illyrians, of whome he had a great number in his campe, expert in that kinde of feare. These Illyrians beginning to breake the earth at the gate Carinthia and comming neare to the foundations of the Tower,* 1.40 which they by strength of hand attēpted to break, could not worke so closely vnder the groūd, but they were perceiued by certayne men aboue, which were skilfull & ex∣pert in y^t kind of matter: who cōtrariwise vndermining a∣gainst thē, & filling their trēches as they wēt, w^t gūpouder,

conueyed their traine, that when fire should be set vnto it, the violence thereof should brast out by the trenches of the enemies: which done, sodenly the ground beneath made a great shaking, so that the tower did cleane asunder, and all the vnderminers of the Turks woorking in their trēches, were smothered and destroyed, which came to the number (as it was supposed afterwarde) of 8000. persones: in so much that yet till thys day a great number of deade mens skuls are found in the ground.

* 1.41When Solyman saw y^t this way also would not serue and had priuy intelligence that the walles about the gates of Stubarium were negligently kept, and that hee might haue there more easy entrance: secretly he conueyeth about 10. garrisons of fresh soldiours, in such sort as the townes men should not perceiue them: who came so sodenly vpon them, that they had filled the ditches, and were vpon y^e top of the fortresses and munitions, before that our men were aware of them, or coulde make themselues ready to resist them. For although there was no lacke of soldiors wythin the Citie, yet for somuch as the whole brunt of the siege did lye, specially at the 2. gates aforesaide, from whence the sol∣diors which were there warding, could not be wel remoo∣ued, for a shifte the rescuers (which wythin the Citie were ready for all sodaine aduentures) were sent to the walles: by whose comming, those fewe whych kept the enemies of before,* 1.42 being sore hurted and woūded, were succoured and sent to surgery: and thus the sayed assault continued terri∣ble and doubtfull vntill (the darcke night commyng vpon them) they could not wel know the one from the other. In thys vickering were counted of the Turkes to be slayne, more then 5000.

Then the Captaine Rogendorffius commendyng the valiant standing of his souldiours, misdoubting with him selfe (as it happened in dede) that the Turks would not so geue ouer, but would set vppon him the next day w^t a fresh assault, prouiding wyth all diligence for the purpose, made vp the breaches of the walles, & prepared all things neces∣sary for resistaunce: The next morning following, whych was some thing darke and mistie,* 1.43 the Turkes thinking to preuent our men with their sodain comming, began again busily to bicker vpon the toppe of the walles.

It would require a longe tractation heere to describe the great distres and danger that the city, those 3. daies fol∣lowing, was in. During all the whych time, there was no rest, no intermission, nor diligēce lacking, either in the ene∣mies, fighting against the City, either in our men in defen∣ding the same. For the Turkes besides the multitude of the great ordinance, wherwith (as wyth a great tempest of gunshot) they neuer ceased, still battering the walles and beating the munitions of the Citie, sent also such heapes & multitudes of the Turkes, to the scaling and climing the walles, that vnneth wyth all the ordinance and shot of the city, either y^e violence of them could be broken, or the num∣ber of them diminished: til at last the soldiors of y^e Turkes perceiuing themselues able by no meanes to preuaile, but onely to runne in daunger of life, and to do no good, began to wrangle among themselues,* 1.44 grudging and repining a∣gainst their dukes and captaines, imputing y^e whole cause onely to them: that the City was yet vntaken, 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 hym selfe, with his last and strongest siege, to try against the ci∣ty the vttermost that he was able to doe, and had encoura∣ged hys soldiers to prepare thēselues in most forcible wise therunto: the soldyers shewed thē selues much vnwilling to returne againe from whence they were so often repul∣sed before:* 1.45 by reason wherof great commotion begā to rise in the Turkes campe. The rumour wherof when it came to Solymans eares, he sendeth his grand captaine to kepe all the souldiers in order and obedience, or if they would be stubborne,* 1.46 to compell them whether they would or not, to accomplish his commandement. Who comming to the sol∣diers, shewed to them the great Turkes message, and to a∣nimate & encourage them, declared that the oportunitie of the time presēt was not to be neglected, neither could they now w^tout great shame geue ouer, after so many assaultes attempted: Who if they would sustein but one brunt more, y^e victory were in their owne handes. The townesmen, he saide, were wasted and their victualles spent: and the more to enflame their mindes, he promised them not onely great thanks and reward of their Emperour, but also the whole spoyle of the Citie, in recompence of their trauaile.

But when all thys could not stir vp y^e sturdy stomacks of the tired Turkes, vsing compulsion where perswasion would not serue, he appoynted a number of horsmen to be set at their backs, wherby to enforce them, either to go for∣warde, or if they denied, w^t gunnes and speares to destroy them. The Turkes seeing themselues in such a strait, that whether they went or taried,* 1.47 it was to them like perill, yet woulde they not set forwarde, except the Captaine woulde take the vēture before them. Who warding forward in his array, thus spake vnto his felows, saying: Do you forsake your faith & allegeance, and betray the Emperor of Con∣stantinople vnto the Christians, if you wil: but I will dis∣charge my duety towardes the commune wealth and my Emperour, and with that worde auaunced his ensigne, making toward the city walles. Whō when other folowed & stil mo and mo pressed after,* 1.48 so it came to pas that whole routs of them were ouerthrowen & slain of our men vpon the wals, before it was knowne what they meant. Other terrified by their example, gaue backe and left their array, and wineding them selues by bie wayes and vnder couert of hilles, retourned againe into their tentes, and so came it to passe that the strength of the ennemies daily more and more decreasing, they had lesse hope euery day more then other of obtaining the Citie. For besides the innumerable slaughter of Turkes vpon the walles, the townesmen also watching the forragers and purueyers of the Turkes, as they raunged about for victual for the campe, euer as occa∣sion serued them, did compasse them about, and so encoun∣tered with them by the way, that of a whole Legion, scar∣ly the tenth part returned again to their felowes aliue, by meanes wherof the courage of the enemies began greatly to faint. Wherby such a maruelous alteration hapned, that as our mē began to receiue more hope and courage,* 1.49 so the Turkes began still more to droupe and to languish wyth dispaire, so that at length skarce durst they appeare wyth∣out the bounds, where they were entrenched, but onely in light skirmishes, when they were prouoked by our men to come out, and to shew them selues.

Solymannus perceiuing his soldiers thus daily to go to wracke,* 1.50 of whome he had lost already more then 80. W. and that wyth long tarying he could do no good, being al∣so in lacke of forrage, for that the countrey about hym was wasted: beginneth to consult with hys captaines & coun∣sailors, what remained best to be done. Of whom the most parte aduised hym to raise his siege, and betime to prouide for hymselfe. Which to doe, many causes there were that mooued hym.

First the losse of his men, which daily were cut frō him by great numbers, besides them which lay in hys campe wounded, or sicke, or famished. Secondly, lacke of peruey∣ance. Thirdly, y^e approching nere of winter. But y^e chiefest cause was, for that he heard Friderike Palatine aboue mē∣tioned cōming with a great army at Ratisbone towardes Uienna, and there had done great molestation to a greate number of the Turks forragers, whom by the way he pre∣uented and so enclosed in the woods, y^t he slew them. Wher∣of when Solyman had intelligence, thinking it not best to abide the comming of the Palatine,* 1.51 made hast wyth bagge and baggage to remooue hys campe and to retire: and first sending away his cariage before him, made speede hymself with his army, to follow shortly after.

The Uiennians, when they heard of the remoouing a∣way of the Turkes, although at the first they scarsly belee∣ued it to be true, being afterwarde certified out of doubt, both of their remouing, and also of the order therof, how it was in a maner of a flight or chase, were greatly desirous to make out of the City after them. Wherein, albeit the pre∣sence of the Palatine wyth his armie, if hee had bene there present, might haue stand them in great stead, yet notwith∣standing they tooke the oportunitie of the time present, and issuing out of the Citie, in moste speedy wise, set after them w^t their horsemen: and first ouerpassing the tentes (where y^e Turkes had pitched their stations or pauillions) for hast of the way,* 1.52 they made such pursute after them, that wythin litle time, they ouertooke the rereward or latter ende of the armie, whereof they made suche hauocke and destruction, that (as the author reporteth) there was neuer a shotte of the pursuers, nor weapon drawen, nor stroke strucken, which light in vain. Which was no hard thing for our men to doe: For as the Turkes in their flight went scattered out of order & aray, neither woulde they in the fore rancke (being so farre off from ieopardy) retourne backe to helpe their felowes, it was easie for our men, without resistance, to come vpon their backes as they would.

Yet notwythstanding in long pursute, when our men could not see the cariage of the Turkes, which was woont in armies to come away behinde after the hoast,* 1.53 and sus∣pecting (as trueth was) some ambush to be left in priuie wayte behinde them, to come betwixt them and home: cal∣led themselues to retraite, and consulted vpon the matter, thinking good, first to sende out certaine scoures, to espie

and bring them word, where the enemies lay, & what was the number of them. Wherof when intelligence was geuē them, that the remnaunt of the Turkes army was remay¦ning in the tentes behind, word was sent to their fellowes in Uienna, to issue out, and to ioyn also with them against the tayle of the turkes, whiche had entrenched themselues within the campe. Other were appoynted to followe the chase, least peraduenture y^e turks seeing our men to recule backe might returne again vpon thē, & help their felowes. Which thinges being thus ordered and appoynted, in the meane time, while part of the Uienians were houering af¦ter the mayne armye, the rest encountered with them that were left in the campe. Who seeing themselues ouermat∣ched, first defenced theyr campe with a deepe ditch & Bul∣warke, to delay the time, vntill some helpe might come to them from the army. Secondly they directed messengers to the Christians, to entreate for peace. Thirdly they conuei∣ed their priuy letters vnto Solyman for speedy ayde and rescue. But all the wayes and passages being stopped by the Christians, there letters were intercepted, and so the miserable Turkes being destitute of all hope & sucour, se∣ing no other remedy, made out of theyr campe, to hassarde and proue the vttermost for theyr defence:* 1.54 but in conclusiō, in their desperate venture they were enclosed about by our men on euery side, and there put to the sword and slayne, a few only excepted, who escaping out very hardly by secret passages, shifted after the rest of their fellowes, as well as they could. Their carriage and other furniture lefte behind them in their tentes, was distributed amongst y^e souldiers onely such thinges reserued as might serue for the publike vse and commoditie of the Cittie.

Thus through the mercifull protection and benefite of almighty God, Austria was deliuered from the fierce and barbarous hostilitie of the cruell Turkes: notwithstāding that neither Ferdinandus the king,* 1.55 nor the Emperour his brother were there present, but only y^e power of God, tho∣rough the valiauntnes of the worthy Germaines, defēded that cittie, in defence wherof consisted y^e safety & deliuerāce, (no doubt) of all these west partes of Christendome. For the which immortall prayse and thankes be vnto our im∣mortall God in Christ our Lord, according as he hath of vs most graciously and worthely deserued.* 1.56 Wherin by the way take this for a note (gentle reader) how & after what maner Gods blessing goeth with the true reformers of his religion, and so much the more is it to be noted, for that the Turkes in so many battailes & sieges heretofore, were ne¦uer so repulsed & foyled, as at this present time in incoun∣tring w^t the protestantes & defenders of sincere Religion. This citty of Uienna was besieged & deliuered y^e yeare of our Lord. 1529. The assaultes of the Turke against y^• City are numbred to be 20. and his repulses as many. The nū∣ber of his army which he first brought, was 25000. Wherof were reckened to be slayne 80. thousand and aboue. Du∣ring the time of his siege, he led away out of the country a∣bout many captiues; virgins and Matrones he quelled & cast them out naked: the children hee stucke vpon stakes.

Solymannus thus put from y^e hope of victorye of Ui∣enna after he had breathed himselfe a while at home, the se∣cond yere after, which was an. 1531. repayring his host, re∣turned agayne into Hungarye, with no lesse multitude, then before: where first he got the towne called Gunza be∣ing but slenderly kept with a small garrison. By reason whereof the townsmen and souldiours yelding thēselues vnto the Turke, were constrayned to agree vpon vnrea∣sonable conditions. Ex Ioan. Ramo.

* 1.57Melchior Soiterus in his second booke writing De bel∣lo Pannonico, touching the foresaid Towne of Gunza, or Gunzium, differeth herein something from Ramus, de∣claring how this Gunza being a small town in Hungary and hauing in it but onely a 100. souldiours (or as Wolfe∣gangus Drechslerus in his chronicle reporteth,* 1.58 at the most but 200. souldiours) vnder the valiaunt captayne Nicho∣las Iureschitz, defended themselues so manfully and won¦derfully, through the notable power of God, against the whole puissance of 200. thousand Turkes, that they beyng notwithstanding distressed with lacke and penury of pur∣ueiance and sodenly of the Turkes inuaded, yet with pure courage and promptnes of hart, susteined the vttermost force and violence of xiij. assaultes of that great multitude, for the space of 25. dayes together.

Although the narration of the authour may seeme to some incredible, yet thus he writeth, that what tyme the great ordinance and battering peeces of the Turkes were planted vpon two mountaynes much higher then y^t town whereby they within the towne were oppressed both be∣fore and behinde, in so much that 8 ensignes of the Turks were already within the towne, yet by the reason of wo∣men and children and other impotent persons,* 1.59 who in the middle of the towne were congregate in an house together such a noyse and clamour went vp to heauen praying and crying to God for helpe, that the turkes within the walles supposing a new army of fresh souldiours to be sent into y^e towne for sodayn feare, voyded the towne, & leaped down from the walles agayn (which before they had got) whom no man eyther pursued or resisted: for neuer a souldiour al¦most was left on the walles, which was not eyther slayne or els wounded with the Turks ordinance. At what time through the Lordes prouidence it so happened, that one I∣brahimus Bassa,* 1.60 neare about the Turke, seeing bothe the town to be small, and the great destruction of the Turkes in the siege thereof, and that the captayn in no case woulde yeld, perswaded so the Turke, declaring howe the Towne being so little was not worth the losse of so many men, in y^e winning wherof there was no glory, & if he were repul∣sed, great dishonour might follow: wherby the Turke be∣ing perswaded, did follow hys counsaile, which was thys y^t Nicholaus the Christen captaine beyng called vnto him vnder pledges and safe conduict, should receaue the town as of his hand and gift, with condition, that he shold do no violence to hys souldiours left behinde and wounded, but should procure such meanes as he could, for the recuring of them: and so he raysing his siege departed. An other cause might be also, whiche moued him so sodaynly to rayse hys siege, for that he heard the Palatine not to be far of in pur∣suing after him, and therfore taking his flight by y^t moun∣taines of the Noricians, he returned with muche spoyle of Christian mens goods into Constantinople. Ex Melchiore Soit. lib: 2. de bello Panno.

For so it was prouided the same time in Germany,* 1.61 af∣ter the counsaile or August and of Ratilboon (at what time the controuersie of Religion betweene the Protestantes & the papistes, was differred and set of, to the next generall Councel) that Charles the 5. and Ferdinandus his brother hauing vnderstanding of the Turke thus raunging in Hungary, should collect of the Germanynes, Hungarians, and Spanyards and others, an able army of 80. thousand footmen, and 30000. horsemen, to repulse the inuasious of the Turke. But Solymanus hauing intelligence of thys preparation of the Christian power comming toward him whether for feare,* 1.62 or whether to espy further oportunitie of tyme, for hys more aduauntage and our detriment, refused at that time to tary theyr comming, and so speeding hys re¦turne vnto Constantinople, retired with much spoyle and pray sent before him, as is aboue premised: Whiche was in the yeare of our Lord. 1532.

Not long after,* 1.63 being the yeare of our saluation, 1534. Solymannus intending ij. warres at once, first sent Cor∣radinus Barbarossa the admiral of his nauies into Afrike to war against the kyng of Tunece: Whō the Barbarossa also dispossessed & depriued of his kingdome: but Charles the Emperour, the next yeare following, an. 1535. restored the said king agayne into hys kingdome, and deliuered in the same viage 20. thousand captiues out of seruitude.

The same tyme the Turke also sent an other captayne into Hungary,* 1.64 to warre agaynst Uaiuoda while he hym selfe taking hys course to Persia, planted his siege agaynst the Citty Taurus, which he in short space subdued and ex∣pugned. Albeit he long enioied not the same: for Tahames king of the Persians, sodaynly comming vpon the Turks vnprepared,* 1.65 slue of them 20. thousand, and tooke hys con∣cubines to the great foyle and reproch of the Turke.

Two yeare after this, which was the yere of our Lord 1537. Solymannus, who coulde not be quyet at home nor rest in peace,* 1.66 returning agayne out of Asia into Europe w^t 270. ships, great and little, set vppon Corcyra, an other I∣land belonging to y^e Uenetians, which he besieged x. daies wasting and burning the Townes and fieldes as he went beside the destruction of much people therein, whom part∣ly he slue, partly led away captiues. From thence he sayled to Zacynthus and Cythara,* 1.67 an other Ilande not farre off from Corcyra, bordering neare to the coastes of Epyrus and Grecia. Where he sodaynly by night inuading the hus¦band men in villages and fields, sleeping and mistrusting no harme, drew them out of theyr houses and possessions, men and women, besides children, to the number of ix. hū∣dreth whom he made hys bondslaues: burning moreouer theyr houses, and carying away all the goodes and cattell beyng without the sayd Citties of Zazinthus and Cytha∣ra. Ex. Ioan. Crispo.

From thence these helhoundes turned theyr course to y^t siege and spoyle of Egina,* 1.68 a rich and populous Iland, ly∣ing betweene Grecia and Asia. Where first the Egenians did manfully in battaile resist them, and were like to haue preuayled: but being weryed at length and oppressed with

innumerable thousandes of fresh Turkes, which stil were sent in,* 1.69 to rescue the other whiche were ouercome before, were compelled to flye into the Cittie of Egina. Which ci∣ty the cruell Turkes (or rather Deuils on earth) w^t muche labour, & violence of their great ordinaunce fet out of their shippes, subdued and cast downe to the ground: the Citti∣zens and inhabitauntes whereof, the Turke after he had burned their houses, and ransackt theyr goodes comman∣ded to be slayne and killed euery one.* 1.70 The weomen both noble and vnnoble, with their infantes, were geuen to the mariners to be abused, and from thence being shipped vn¦to Constantinople, were led away to perpetuall misery & slauery, which was in the yeare of our Lord. 1537.

In the same iourny Solyman also tooke the Ile in the sayd sea of Eugeum,* 1.71 called Parum: also the Ile adioyning to the same named Naxus, and made them to him tributa∣ries. The duke wherof was he which wrote the story both of these Ilandes aforesayd, and also of the other Ilandes called Cyclades, and other Dukes. Ex Ioan Crispo, Duce Naxi. &c.

* 1.72Thys done, Solymannus directed his Nauy vnto Apulia, where he set on land. x. thousand footmen, & 2000. horsemen, which spoiled likewise and wasted those parties while the Emperour, the pope and y^e Uenetians were to∣gether in warre and dissension. Furthermore the next yere folowing. an. 1538. great attemptes began in Stiria, but by the resistance of the inhabitantes, the force of the barba∣rous turks was repulsed: notwithstanding great spoyles of men & cattell were caryed from thence, and the country miserable spoyled. In the which yeare also the Turk tur∣ning into Hungary, gaue battaile vnto the Christians in Sauia: where through the fraudulent falshood of the Cap¦tayne Cassianerus (Wolfegangus nameth him Calcianus beyng (as they say) corrupted with money, our men were put to the worse. an. 1538.

* 1.73After that the Turkes had inuaded the Ilande of Cor∣cyra abouesayd, the Uenetians with Solyman the Turke had ioyned truce for a certayne time, for y^e which they gaue the turke 300. thousand crownes, with the city of Neapo∣lis, and Ma••uasia in the borders of Macedonia. But with in 4. or 5. yeares, the Turke to get a newe stipend of the Uenetians, brake hys league, and inuaded theyr domini∣ons: whereby they were enforced to enter new conditions agayn with him.

* 1.74In the yeare of our Lord, 1540. the restles Turke ma∣king hys return toward Hungary, by the way passing by Dalmatia, lay against the towne called Newcastle, beyng defended by the Spanyardes. In the which town because they refused to yeld themselues all the inhabitauntes and souldiours were put to the sword & slain euery one. This Nouum Castellum or Newcastle was a strong fort of y^t Chri∣stians, whiche being nowe in the Turkes power, he had great aduauntage ouer all those quarters of Dalmatia, Stiria, Carinthia, and Hungaria. From thence he procee∣ded further, keeping his course into Hungary, where he planted his power against the City of Buda.

This Buda was a principall city in Hungary, about which great contention had bene (as ye heard before) be∣tweene Ioannes Uaiuoda,* 1.75 and Ferdinandus. By reason wherof the Turke occasioned by Uaiuoda, came into Hū∣gary and deliuered the City to Uaiuoda. This Uaiuoda liuing not long after, left behinde him a sonne, whome be∣ing an infant he committed to the gouernance of one Ge∣orgius Monachus: who being left tutour vnto the infant, reduced all Transiluania, Buda, Pesta, with other parties of Hungary, which belonged to Uaiuoda before, to the sub¦iection of the child. Ferdinandus hearing therof, in a great hast and anger: leuyed an armye to recouer his landes in Hungarie, and so laid siege to Buda. Monachus seing his part weake, first sent his legate to Ferdinandus, desiring him to talke and conferre with him vppon matter, as he pretended,* 1.76 pertaynign to the behoofe of them both. Wher∣upon both the parties being agreed, the place and manner of their conuention was appoynted, and also the day and tyme assigned. Thus the partyes (according to the agree∣ment) conuenting together with their armyes, with dra∣wing a little aside, as they were entred in communication, sodenly among Ferdinandus men, happened a dagg to be heard, which by the heate of the day (as is thought) loosing of hys own accord,* 1.77 gaue a cracke. The sound wherof com∣ming to the eares of Monachus, he supposing the same to haue bene discharged, agaynst him, in great anger drewe out his sworde, bidding Ferdinandus auant w^t his doub∣ling dissimmulation, saying that he would neuer any more trust the promises of Christians, and immediatelye vppe on the same sent to Solymannus the Turke, for ayde a∣gaynst the Christians, promising that he would surrender to him free possession of Hungary,* 1.78 if he woulde come and vanquish the army of Ferdinandus lying about the siege of Buda. The Turke maketh no long tarying, but taketh the occasion, and with a mighty power, flieth into Hunga∣ry, and eftsoones discharging the host of Ferdinandus, and putting them of from the siege of Buda, getteth the Citty into his own handes, commaunding the sonne of Uaiuo∣da with his mother, to follow after his camp.

In the history of Ioannes Ramus it followeth, that when Solyman the Turk had thus preuayled against the Cittie of Buda aforesayd, & agaynst other parties more of Hūgary, by the asset of the Empyre, one Ioachimus duke of Brandeberg, prince Electour was assigned with a puis∣sant army of chosen souldiours of all nations collected, to recouer the City of Buda from the Turke, and to deliuer the other parties of Christendome from the feare of the Turke. an. 1542. Whiche Ioachimus at his first setting foorth, appeared so couragious and valiaunt, as though he would haue conquered the whole world: but this great heate was so slaked in short time by the Turke, that before any great ieoperdy was offered vnto him, he was glad to to be discharged of the viage, and with shame enough, re∣turned home againe. And would God he had left behynde him in the field, no more but his owne shame. For the ene∣mies hauing intelligēce before of his cowardly departure, thinking to worke some poynt of maistry or victory before his goyng, did set vpon the right wing of his army (which chiefly consisted of Dutchmen of low Germany) out of the which they tooke awaye with them aboue 500. strong and valiaunt souldiours,* 1.79 not killing them, but carying them a¦way aliue. For whome it had bene muche better to haue stand to their weapon and to haue dyed manfully vppon the turkes, then by yealding themselues to be disgarni∣shed of weapon and armoure, and so to be lefte to the cursed curtesie of the foule Turkes. To whome what cur∣tesie was sheweed,* 1.80 by the sequele did appeare. For after y^e Turkes had led them out of Hungary into their own do∣miniō, after a most horrible & beastly sort they disfigured & mangled them, & so sent them abroad through all Grecia to be witnessrs of the Turkes victory. Their kind of pu∣nishment was thus: First they had their right arme thrust through with an iron red hot, whereby they should be vn∣able and vnmeet to all labour & warefare. Secondly, theyr heades were shauen to the very sculles, after the maner of our Friers & monks, when they are newly shauen. Third¦ly, they had all their priuy members cut of frō their bodies to the intent to make thē vnfruitful for propagation which wound was so grieuous vnto them, that the greatest part of them died therupon, the few that recouered the torment therof, led a life more bitter & more miserable then death it selfe. And this kinde of cruelty was executed in order vpō them all. In much like sort did cruell Pharao exercise hys tyranny agaynst the people of God in Egipt: who to de∣stroy the generation of them, caused all the male children to be drowned in the riuer. Whereby it is the more to be ho∣ped, that seing the tiranny of this turkish Pharao is come to such an extremetie,* 1.81 the mercifull goodnesse of God will the more shortly send some Moses or other vnto vs for our speedy deliueraunce. This was by the cruell Turkes done. an. 1542. witnessed by Ioannes Ramus, which not one∣ly writeth the story, but by the testimony also of hys owne eyes recordeth the same to be true, beholding with his eies one of the same number in the city of Uienna, who hauing wife and children in Bruxelles, eyther for shame or sorrow had no minde to returne home to his own house.* 1.82 Ex Ioan Ramo.

But to returne agayne to the city of Buda, from whēre we haue digressed, here is not to be pretermitted, what fal∣shood and what cruelty the turkes vsed toward the Chri∣stians there, after theyr victory. For after that Solyman y^e Turke vpon the yelding and submission of the men of Bu∣da, had geuen to them his promise of safety and life, within short time, the sayd turke picking a quarrell with them for selling Oxen vnto the Christians, and for barganing with them, slue all the Magistrates of the sayde Citty of Buda: like as in all other Citties, where so euer the Christians yelded vnto him, he neuer, or very rarely kept his promise with them, neyther did euer any christians speed better w^t the turke,* 1.83 then they which most constantly did resist him.

And as hys promise with the Magistrates of Buda was false and wretched: so hys cruelty with the souldiors therof was more much notorious & abhominable. For in y^e expugnation of Buda among y^t rest whiche were slayne ij. cohortes or bands of Christian souldiors came alyue to his hands. To whom, when he seemed at the first to graūt pardon of life, he commaunded to put on their armour a∣gayn, and to dispose themselues in order and battayle ar∣ray

after y^e warlike maner of the christians, whiche when they had accomplished readily, according to his commaun¦dement, & he riding about the ranckes of them, had dilli∣gently vewed and be holden them a certain space, at length he commaunded thē to put of their armour againe, which done, certaine of the tallest and strongest of them he pyked out, the residue he commanded by his souldiors comming behinde them, with swordes to be cut in peeces and slayne. Of the other, whome he had elected and chosen, some he set for markes and buttes to be shot at: some he appointed to his two sonnes, for them to slash with their swordes, & try theyr strength, which of them could geue y^e deper woūd and (as they termed it) the fayrer blowe,* 1.84 whereby moste bloud might follow out of their Christian bodies. Ex Mart. Stella. De successibus Turcarum.

After the winning of Buda, the Turke purposing not so to cease before he had subdued and brought vnder his o∣bedience all Hungary, proceeding further with his armye first brought vnder a strong hold of christians named Pe∣stum or Pesta, where a great number of Christian souldi∣ours partly were slayne, partly were ledde awaye to more cruell affliction.

* 1.85Then he came to an other Castle called Walpo situate in the confines of Bosna, Croatia, and Hungary. Whiche forte or castle he besieged three mōthes, while no rescue nor ayd was sent vnto them, neyther from Ferdinandus king of Hungary, nor from any other christian Prince or Prin∣ces. Whereupon at length the forte was geuen vp to the Turke, but more through the false treachery or cowardly hart of the souldiours, then of the Captaine. Wherein is to be noted an example not vnworthy of memory. For when the cowardly souldiours, eyther for feare or flattery, wold needs surrender themselues & the peece vnto the Turke, contrarye to the minde of the Captaine, whiche in no case would agree to theyr yelding: they thinking to find fauour with the turke, apprehended theyr captaine, and gaue him to Solyman.* 1.86 But see howe the iustice of God sometymes by y^e hands of the enemy, disposeth the end of things to the rewarding of vertue, & punishing of vice. For where they thought to saue themselues by the daunger of the faithfull Captain, the euent turned cleane contrary, so that y^e Turk was to the captayne bountifull and very liberalll: and the souldiours, notwithstanding that they had all yelded thē∣selues, yet were all put to death and commaunded pitiou∣sly to be slayne, Ex Ioan. Martino Stella De Turcarum in Hun∣garia successibus. &c.

There is in Hungary an other towne bearing y^e name of fiue Churches,* 1.87 called Quiquecclesiensis, partly spoy∣led before, as is aboue mentioned, pag. 751. but nowe tho∣rough the losse of Walpo, & by the hugenes of the Turkes armye (conteining in it. 220. thousand fighting men) was so discouraged and put out of hope and hart,* 1.88 that the b. ••h. and chiefe nobles of y^e town fled before y^e ieoperdy: the rest of the cōmons, which were partly preuented by the sodein comming of the turkes, partly for pouerty could not auoid sent theyr messengers to the Turke, to yealde and surren∣der the towne, vppon promise of life, vnto his handes. Whose promise how firme it stood, the story leaueth it vn∣certaine. This is affirmed, that three dayes after the yel∣ding of this Quinquecclesiensis, neuer a Turke durst enter the Cittie. an. 1543. Ex Ioan. Mart. Stella. & alijs.

* 1.89The next fort or holde gotten by the Turkes in Hun∣gary, was Soclosia. The towne at the first inuasion of the Turkes, was wonne, sackte, and fiered. The castle within the towne, did something hold out a tyme, and first requi∣ring truce for 14. dayes, to see what ayd should be sent vn∣to them, and to deliberate vpon the conditions that should be proposed vnto thē, after the 14. daies expired, they (tru∣sting to the situation and munitiō of the place, which was very strong) began for a certayne space stoutly to put back the enemy: But afterward seeing their walles to be batte∣red, theyr foundations to shake (for the Turke had set xij. thousand vnderminers vnder the diches of y^e castle) & their strength to diminishe,* 1.90 and misdoubting themselues not to be able long to hold out, agreed in like maner to yeld them selues, vpon condition to escape with life & goods. Which condition of sauing theyr goodes, was the loosing of theyr lyues, especially of the richer sort. For the Turkes percea∣uing by that condition, that they were of wealth and sub∣staunce, omitting the inferiour or baser sorte,* 1.91 fell vpon the wealthy men for their riches, and slue them euery one, 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 theyr own accord, submitting and yelding themselues vnto the Turke, bringing in (as they were commanded) all kynd of victuall and forage,* 1.92 into the Turkes campe. Which done, Solyman the Turke commaunded all the head men of the pages to appeare before hym, whiche humbly obeyed and came. Then the turke warned them to returne agayne the next day after, euery one bringing with him his inferiour retinue, and houshold seruauntes. Whiche when they had with like dilligence also, according to his commaundemēt accomplished, the turke immediately commaunded them euery one, in the face of hys whole army, to be slayn and so was this theyr reward. Which reward the more that it de∣clareth the bloudy crueltie of the turke: the more encou∣rage it may minister to our men, the more constantly to w^t∣stand him. Ex Martino Stella.

An other strong town there is in Hūgary named Stri¦gonium, distant from Buda aboue sayde,* 1.93 the space of fiue Dutch miles, agaynst the whiche the Turkes made great preparation of ordinaunce, and all other instruments of ar¦tillary necessary for the siege therof. Which cittie in like ma¦ner began also to be compassed and inclosed by y^e turks, be∣fore it could be sufficiently prepared & garnished of our mē but that the archbishop onely of Strigon priuely conueyed vnto them 200. Oxen.* 1.94 Such was then the negligence of Ferdinandus king of Hungary, which so slenderly looked vnto the necessary defence of his townes and cities. More ouer such was the discorde then of christen kinges & Prin∣ces, which in their ciuile dissension and warres were so oc¦cupied and hoate in needeles quarrels, that they had ney∣ther leasure nor remēbraunce, to help in tyme there, where true neede required. Which slender care, and cold zeale of y^e Christian rulers, not in tendering y^e publicke cause, while they contend in priuate trifles, hath caused the Turke to come so farre as hee hath, and yet farther is like, vnlesse the mercy of the Lord doe helpe more, then our dilligence. One of the chiefe captaynes within the Cittye, was Mar∣tinus Lascanus, a Spanyard.

The Turkes in the beginning of the siege began first to attempt the Cittizens with fayre wordes, and accusto∣med promises, to yelde and gently to submit themselues. But they not ignoraunt of the Turks promises wisely re∣fused, and manfully stood so long as they coulde to the de∣fence of their citty, now and then skirmishing with them in out corners, and killing certayne numbers of them: some∣time with their shot disturbing their munitions, & brea∣king the wheeles of their gunnes. &c.

Three speciall meanes the Turkes vse in winning great fortes and cities:* 1.95 great multitude of souldiors: great ordinaunce and mortarie peeces: the third is by vndermy∣ning. All which here in the siege of this Cittie, lacked not. This siege continued vehement a certaine space: in whiche the Strigonians had borne out foure strong assaultes, and slue many thousandes of y^e turkes, till at length the turkes eyther departing away, or els seeming to depart vnto Bu∣da, the people at last being so perswaded and made to be∣leue of some chiefe rulers of the citty (peraduenture not the truest men) the citizens being erected with hope and com∣forte, and singing Te Deum,* 1.96 as though the city had bene free from all daunger, sodenly (by whose counsaile it is vnkno∣wen) conueyed themselues all out of the Citty. 300. horse∣men also passed ouer the riuer and departed. The Italiās which were vnder Frāciscus Salamanca a Spanish cap∣tayne hardly coulde be perswaded by him to abide, whiche were in all scarse. 600.

Within 3. daies after 300. Germaine souldiours, with 2. ships laden with shot, pouder, & artillery, were priuily let into y^e town: So that of our men al there were scarse 1300. souldiors.* 1.97 Who seing the small quantitie of their number, burning and casting downe the towne & suburbes, tooke thē to y^e castle: from whence they beate of the turkes vali∣antly with theyr ordinaunce, a good space, and with wyld fire destroyed great companies of thē, till at last they seyng theyr walles to fayle them, and the whole castle to shake by vndermyning, but especially by the working of a cer∣tayne Italian surnamed Presbyter, they gaue ouer. Thys Italian whether for feare or falshood, secretly vnknowing to the rest of the souldiours, accompanied with two other conueyed himselfe down from the walles, & being brought into the tentes of the next captayne or Bassa of the turkes, there in the name of all hys fellowes, conuented with the turkes,* 1.98 to geue vp to them the Castle: wherupon y^e turkes were bid to cease the shooting. This Italian shortly after with two other turkes was sent backe to Salamanca hys Captayne, with the Turkes message. The goyng out of this Italian being priuy to the residue of hys fellowes, cō¦trary to the lawes and discipline of warre, although it see∣med to come of hys own head: yet for so much as the other souldiours were not sure, but rather suspected lest the other Italians his countreymen had beene in some parte of

consent therein, and would take his part: neither durst of∣fer him any harme for that his doing, nor yet could wel ad¦uise with themselues what was best to do, for feare of pri∣uy confederacie within themselues.

* 1.99Thus while Lascanus the chiefe captaine of the Chri∣stians aforesayd, w^t his fellowe souldiours, were in a mase what to doe or not to do: in the meane time came one run∣ning, who geuing a signe both to the Christians and the Turkes, to hold theyr hands and weapons, for that it was against all lawe of warre to fight after peace and truce ta∣ken: our men, as they were commaunded, went into y^e in∣ward tower. The turkes in the meane time, had got into the Castle, and occupyed all the vtter parties. Then was Salamanca by the consent of the rest, sent out to the Turk, who there being stayde that night, the next morrowe the Turkes bull or warant was sent into the Castle,* 1.100 permit∣ting free libertie to the Christians to depart with bag and baggage. Who now beyng ready to depart, first were cō∣maunded by the turkes compassing them round about, to cast from them theyr dagges, launces, and battaile axes, in¦to the trench. Then comming to the gate to go out, theyr swordes 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 theyr helmettes, their ter¦gattes, currettes, and what soeuer peece of harnes, was a∣bout them. Whereupon great feare came vpon them, least some great cruelty should be shewed vpon them.* 1.101 Solymā after he had long deliberated w^t himself, whether to kil thē or not, at last contrary to all expectatiō, granted theyr liues but before they should be dismissed, he first caused them, in derision of Christianitie, to be bayted with scornes and mockes throughout all the Turkish army, and so the next day commaunded them being stript out of theyr coats and apparell, to be reduced againe into the castle by companies setting ouer them certayne turkes with cudgels, & battes to lay vpon their backes and sides, causing them to bury y^e dead carcases, and to gather vp the rubbish broken downe from y^e castlewalles, and to scoure the ditches. Which done the next day following he demaunded of them by an inter¦preter, whether they would enter wages with hym, & take horse and armour to serue hym in his.* 1.102 Warres, which con∣dition diuers for feare were contented to take, seyng no o∣ther remedy to auoyd present death. Some neyther by ma¦nasing wordes, nor for any feare of death, coulde be com∣pelled thereunto, of whom certayn which stoode stoughtly in refusing thereof, were presently slayne, whome I may worthely recite in the number and catalogue of holy mar∣tyrs.

Of the foresayde christians, part were caryed ouer the riuer of Danubius, not without great vilany, & contume∣ly most despitefull, For some had theyr wiues taken from them and caryed away, some had theyr wyues rauished be¦fore theyr face: and such as made or shewed any resistance therat, had their wiues before them cast into the riuer and drowned: also theyr infantes and yong children, beyng ap∣poynted by the turkes to the abhominable order of the Ia¦nizarites, mentioned before pag. 736. theyr parentes not consenting thereunto, were precipitate and throwne into the riuer and drowned. All whiche thinges are testified by Iohn Martinus Stella,* 1.103 in hys Epistles in print extant, writ∣ten to his two brethren, William, & Michaell, &c. Whiche Mart Stella moreouer this addeth & affirmeth, that he hym∣selfe being the same time at Uienna, did see one of the fore∣said wiues, who being holden fast by the heare of the head yet notwithstanding hauing her heare pluckt off, cast her selfe into the riuer Danubius, for the singuler loue to her husband, and so swamme to the shippe where he was. And thus this miserable company of Germaynes, Spanyards and Italiās mixt together, macerate with labours, with hunger pyned, with watchinges, dolours, and sorow con∣sumed came at length to Schinda.

When the tidings therof was noysed at Uienna, part∣ly with feare and dread, partly with indignation, all mens hartes were moued & vexed diuersly. Some thought them not worthy to be receiued into their citty,* 1.104 shewing them∣selues so dastardly and cowardly. Other thought agayne that mercy was to be shewed vnto them, and commended their fact for that they being so few, & vnfurnished of ayde neither able to match by any meanes with suche an innu∣merable multitude of the turkes, kept themselues till bet∣ter time might serue thē. But howsoeuer the matter was to be thought of, the captaines brought the poore remnant of that rufull company, vnto possidonium, where the sayd Captayns were layd fast, and their kept in durance, to ren¦der accompt of the whole matter, howe it was wrought and handled. And thus haue ye, the lamentable story of Strigonium.

The Turke proceeding in his victories, conducted his army next vnto Tath,* 1.105 and to the parties lying nere about Comaron. This Tath was also a strong hold in Hunga∣ry wherein were placed certayne garrisons, pertly of the Germaynes, partly of the Italians. The chie••tayne of the Italians was one Anniball Tosso, constitute by Philip∣us Torneilius. This Tasso was a man well experte in prowes of warre:* 1.106 but of a filthy corrupt life, & also a foule swearer: and horrible blasphemer of God and his saintes. To make the story shorte, this forte of Tathe, before anye siege was layde vnto it, was yelded and geuen vp to the Turkes: vpon what conditions, or by whose meanes, the author sheweth not: Thus much he sheweth, that the sayd Anniball shortly vpō the same, returning into Italy, was commaunded by Tornellius aforesaid: to be apprehended and beheaded.

After the turkes had subuerted and destroyed the forte of Tathe,* 1.107 they turned their power against Alba, surnamed Regalis, for that the kinges of Hūgary haue bene always wont there to be crowned, and buryed. This Alba is a li∣tle well compacted citie in Hungary, hauing on y^e one side a marishe somewhat foggishe or fenny, whiche made the town lesse assaultable.* 1.108 But nere to the same was a woode from y^e which y^e turkes euery day with vi. C. cartes, brought such matter of wood and trees felled for the same purpose, into the marish, that within lesse then 12. dayes they made it apte, and harde to their feete, whiche the townes men thought neuer could be gone vppon, but onely in the hard frostes of wynter. At the first beginning of the siege, there stoode a little without the munitions in the front of the ci∣tie, a certayne church or Monastery, whiche the Cittizens pretending to mayntayne and keepe agaynst the turkes, had priuily cōueyed light matter easely to take flame,* 1.109 with pouder, in secret places therof, and had hid also fire withal. Whiche done, they (as agaynst theyr willes being driuen backe, withdrew themselues within the munitions, way∣ting the occasions, when this fire woulde take. Thus the turkes hauing the possession of the churche, sodenly the fire comming to the pouder, raysed vp the Churche, and made a great scatter and slaughter among the barbarous turkes This was not so soone espyed of them within the towne, but they issued out vpon them in this disturbance, and slue of them a great number: Among whom diuers of theyr no¦bles also the same time were slayne, and one Bassa an Eu∣nuch, which was of great estimation with y^e turkes.* 1.110 More∣ouer, in the same skirmish was taken one of those gunners which the french king is sayd to haue sent to the Turke a little before. Whiche if it be true, let the Christian Reader iudge what is to be thought of those Christen princes, which not onely forsaking the common cause of Christes Churche ioyned league with the turke,* 1.111 but also sent hym gunners to set forward hys warres to the destruction of Christes people, and to the shedding of theyr blond, for whom they know the blond of Christ to be shed. If this be not true, I shew myne authour: If it be, then let the Pope see and marke well howe hys title of Christianissimus, can well agree with such doinges.

But to let this matter sleape, although the turkes (as ye heard) had wonne the fenne, with theyr pollicie and in∣dustry, against the Cittie of Alba, yet all this while the Al∣banes were nothing inferiour to theyr enemies, through y^e valiant help & couragious indeuour of Octauianus Scru¦zatus, a captayne of Millane. By whose prudent counsaile and constant standing, the busy enterprises of the turkes did little preuayle a long time, till at length, sodainly arose a thick fog or miste vpon the cittie, where as rounde about besides, the sunne did shine bright. Some sayde it came by Arte Magicall, but rather it may appeare to ryse out of the fenne or marish, beyng so pressed downe with mens feete and other matter layd vpon it.

The turkes vsing the occasion of this misty darckenes in secret wise approching the walles,* 1.112 had got vp to a cer∣tayne fortresse, where the Germaynes were, before our men coulde well perceane them: where they pressed in so thicke, & in such number, that albeit the christian souldiors standing strongly to the defence of theyr lyues, dyd what valiaunt men in cases of such extremetie were able to doe: yet beyng ouermatched with the multitude of the Turks, & the sodennes of their comming, gaue backe, seeking to retyre into the inward walles. Which when theyr other fe∣lowes did see to recule, then was theyr flyeng of all hands euery man striuing to get into the Cittie. There was be∣tweene the outward Wales or vamures,* 1.113 and inward gate of the citty, a straite or narrow passage, cast vp in maner of a bancke or causey, ditched on both sides: which passage or ingresse happened y^e same timeto be barred & stopped. By

reason wherof the poore souldiors were forced to cast them selues into the ditch, thinking to swimme as well as they could, into the cittye: where many of them sticking in the mudde, were drowned: one pressing vpon an other: many were slayne of their enemies comming behinde them, they hauing neither hart, nor power to resist. A fewe whiche could swimme out, were receiued into the Citty: but the chiefe Captaines and warders of the towne were there slayne.

The cittizens being destitute of theyr principall cap∣taines and warriors, were in great perplexitie and doubt among thēselues, what to do, some thinking good to yeld, some counsayling the contrary. This while the mindes of the cittizens were distract in diuers & doubtfull sentences, the Magistrates minding to stand to y^e turkes gentlenes, sent out one of theyr heads vnto the turke, who in y^e name of them all, should surrender to him the citty, and become vnto him tributaries, vpō cōdition they might enioy liber¦ty of life & goods, which being to thē granted, after the tur∣kish faith & assurance, first y^e souldiors which were left w^tin y^e citty, putting of theyr armour, were discharged & sent a∣way. Who being but onely 300. left of 4. ensignes of Ita∣lians, & of a thousand Germaynes,* 1.114 by the way were layd for by the Tartarians, for hope of theyr spoyle: so that they scattering a sunder one one way, an other an other to saue themselues as wel as they could: fled euery one what way he thought best. Of whome some wandering in woodes & marishes faynted for famine: some were taken and slayne by the Hungarians, a few with bare and empty, and wy∣thered bodies, more like ghostes then men, escaped & came to Uienna. And this befell vpon the souldiors.

Now vnderstand what happened to the yelding Citi∣zens. So in story it followeth, that when the turke had en∣tred the towne, and had visited the sepulchre of the kynges for three or 4. dayes he pretented muche clemency toward the cittizens, as though he came not to oppresse them, but to be reuēged of Ferdinādus their king, & to deliuer them from the seruitude of the Germaines. On the fourth day, al y^e chiefe & head men of the citty were cōmaunded to ap∣peare before y^e turke in a playne, not far frō the citty where the condemned persons before, were wont to be executed, as though they should come to sweare vnto the turke.* 1.115 At this commaundement of the turke, when the cittizens in great number, & in their best attyre were assembled, y^e turk contrary to his fayth and promise, commaunded sodenly a generall slaughter to be made of them all. And this was y^e end of the citizens of Alba.

In the meane time, during the siege of Alba, the Hun∣garians meeting sometimes with the horsemen of y^e Tar∣tarians, which were sent out to stop their vitailes from y^e citie,* 1.116 slue of them at one bickering. 3000. Turks. In which story is also reported & mentioned of mine author, an hor∣rible sight and example of misery, concerning a certayne captiue (a Christian belike) who comming into Uienna, was found to haue in his scrip or satchel the halfe of a yong childe of two yeares old, which remayned yet vneaten, the other halfe beyng eaten before. an. 1543. Ibid.

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

The like fidelitie the turkes also kept, with the fort of Wizigradum and the souldiours therof. This Wizigradū is situate in the mid way betweene Buda and Strigoniū. Of the which fort or Castle, the highest tower so mounteth vpon the hil, that vnlesse it be for famine and lack of water they haue not to dread any enemy. Notwithstanding so it happened, that the lower peece being wonne, they in the higher tower abiding foure dayes without drink were cō∣pelled wyth liberty graunted of life and goodes, to yelde themselues. But the deuilish turkes keeping no fayth nor promise, slue them euerye one, onely Petrus Amandus the captaine of the peece, excepted: who priuely was con∣ueyed by the Captayne of the Turkes, out of the slaugh∣ter. an. 1544.

To these moreouer may be added the winning of No∣uum Castellum in Dalmatia, where he slue all that were w^t∣in both soldiors & other,* 1.117 for that they did not yeld themsel∣ues in time. Thus the turke, whether they yelded to hym or not, neuer spared the people and flocke of Christ.

As the false & cruell Turk was thus raging in Hunga∣ry, and intended further to rage without all mercy and pi∣tie of the Christians, and easely might then haue preuayled and gone whether he would for that Charles the Empe∣rour and Franciscus the french king were the same tyme in warre and hostilitie, and also other Christen Princes, as Henry Duke of Brunswike, against Iohn Fredericke Duke of Saxonie, also Princes and rulers were conten∣ding among themselues: beholde the gracious prouidence of our Lord and God toward vs, who seeing the misery & hauing pittie of hys poore Christians, sodeinely as with a snafle reined this raging beast, and brought him out of Eu¦rope into his owne country againe, by occasion of the Per¦sians, who were then in great preparation of war agaynst the turkes,* 1.118 & had inuaded hys dominion. By reason wher¦of the turkes was kept there occupyed, fighting with the Persians a long continuance. Whiche warres at length being atchiued and finished, (wherein the sayd Turke lost great victoryes, with slaughter of many thousandes of his Turkes) he was not onely prouoked by the instigation of certaine euil disposed Hungarians, but also occasioned by the discord of Christian Princes, to returne agayn into Eu¦rope, in hope to subdue all the partes thereof vnto his do∣minion. Whereunto,* 1.119 when he had leuyed an armye incre∣dible of such a multitude of turks, as y^e like hath not light∣ly bene heard of, see agayne the mercifull prouidence & pro¦tection of our God toward his people. And as the Turke was thus intending to set forward with this innumerable multitude against y^e Christians, the hand of the Lorde sent such a pestilence through all the turkes army and domini∣ons, reaching from Bithynia, and from Thracia, to Mace¦donia and also to Hungary, that all the turkes possessions almost seemed nothing els, but as a heape of dead corses, whereby his viage for that time was stopped, and he al∣most compelled to seeke a new army.

Beside this plague of the Turkes aforesayde, whiche was worse to them then any warre, other lets also and do∣mesticall calamities through Gods prouidence happened vnto Solymannus, the great rouer and robber of y^e world which stayd him at home from vexing the christians, espe∣cially touching hys eldest sonne Mustapha.

This Mustapha being hated and partly feared of Ru∣stanus the chiefe counsailour about the Turke, and of Ro∣sa y^e turkes concubine & after his wife, was diuers times complayned of to his father, accused, & at length so brought into suspicion and displeasure of the turke, by them afore∣sayd: that in conclusion hys father caused him to be sent for to hys pauilion,* 1.120 where 6. Turkes with visours were ap∣poynted to put hym to death: Who comming vppon hym, put (after theyr manner) a small corde or bowstring full of knottes about hys necke, & so throwing him downe vpon y^e ground, not suffering hym to speake one word to hys fa∣ther, w^t the switch therof throtcled & strangled him to death his father standing in a secret corner by, and beholding the same. Whiche facte being perpetrate, afterward when the Turke would haue geuen to an other sonne of hys and of Rosa called Bianger, the treasures, horse, armour, orna∣mentes and the prouince of Mustapha his brother: Bian∣ger crying out for sorow of his brothers death: phy of thee, sayth he to hys father, y^u impious and wretched dog, tray∣tour, murderer, I cannot cal thee father, take the treasures the horse and armour of Mustapha to thy selfe: and wyth that taking out hys dagger, thrust it through hys own bo∣dy. And thus was Solyman murderer & parricide of hys owne sonnes: which was in the yeare of our Lord. 1552.

Wherein notwithstanding is to be noted the singular prouidence and loue of the Lord toward his afflicted chri∣stians. For this Mustapha as he was couragious & great¦ly expert and exercised in all practise of warre:* 1.121 so had he a cruell hart, maliciously set to shed the bloud of christians: Wherfore great cause haue we to congratulate,* 1.122 & to geue thanks to god, for y^e happy taking away of this Mustapha And no lesse hope also and good comfort we may conceaue of our louing Lord, hereby ministred vnto vs, to thinke y^• our mercifull God after these sore afflictions of his Chri∣stians vnder these 12. Turks afore recited: now after this Solyman intendeth some gratious good worke to Chri∣stendom, to reduce & release vs out of this so long & misera¦ble turkish captiuitie: as may be hoped now by takyng a∣way these yong impes of this impious generation, before they should come to worke theyr conceaued malice against vs: the Lord therefore be glorified and praysed. Amen.

Moreouer as I was in writing hereof, oportunely came to my handes a certayne writing out of Germanye,* 1.123 certifyeng vs of suche newes & victory of late atchieued a∣gainst the turke, as may not a little increase our hope and comfort vs, touching the decay and ruine of the Turks po∣wer & tyranny against vs. Which newes 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 myles beyond the riuer Danubius, which cittye had, by the space of 6. weekes susteined many grie∣uous assaultes: God through hys great mercy & goodnes so comforted the sayd towne of Iula and the poore Christi∣ans therein, at theyr earnest prayers, that the Turke with

all hys hoste was driuen backe, by the handes of the gene∣rall, called Karetshim Laslaw and his valiaunt company, who not onely defended the said town, but also constray∣ned the Turks to retyre, to the great shame and confusion, with a great slaughter of the turkish rable: For the whiche the euerlasting God be praysed for euer.

The maner of the ouerthrow was this. As the foresaid generall did see his aduauntage w^t Captayne George, and other horsemen of the Sclesians and Hungarians, they set on y^e rereward of the Turkes and killed about 8000. of thē,* 1.124 and tooke also some of their artillery and followed them so fast, y^• the Turkes were constrayned to flye into a marishe ground, and to breake the wheeles of the rest of theyr artil¦lary, to saue themselues, and therwith they got a very rich booty, rescuing besides and taking from the Turks a great number of christian prisoners. Like thankes also are to be geuen to God,* 1.125 for the prosperous successe geuen to Magot¦schie the valiaunt Captaine of Erla, who making toward the Turkes, and recountring with the Tartarians, slue of them about 8. hundreth.

Not long after this, it happened through the like pro∣uidence of our God, a turkish Captayne called Begen, ac∣companyed w^t a thousand freshe horsemen came newly out of Turky,* 1.126 to go toward the citty named Quinque Ecclesiae, or Finffenkyrchen: with whome the Erle of Serin by the way did encounter, and in the right setting vpon hym, kil¦led the captayne and tooke 8. Cammels, and 8. Moyles laden with treasure, and also got two red Guidons, wyth a whole great peece of rich cloth of gold, and with an other fayre and straunge Iewell. The horse of this foresayd tur∣kish captayn, was betrapped and decked most richly. The sadle wherof had the pommell and the backe part couered ouer with plate of fine Arabicke golde, and the rest of the sadle, beside the sitting place, was plated with siluer very fayre gilded. The seate of the sadle was couered with pur∣ple veluet: the trappers and bridle beset with little Tur∣keys, and Rubies: Which horse was sent to Uienna vnto the Emperour Maximilian for a present.

Although the Earle would very fayne haue saued the Captayn, not knowing what he was, yet the Ianizarites labouring to carry away their captayne, so stiffly defended thēselues, that the Earle with his company, was constray¦ned to kill both them and theyr Captayne. From whome the said Erle of Serin y^e same time got, xv. thousand Tur∣kish and Hungarish Ducates: which mony was brought for the payment of the Turkishe souldiours in the towne aforesayd of Finffenkyrchen. &c. All which be good begyn∣ninges of greater goodnes to be hoped for hereafter, tho∣rough the grace of Christ our Lord, especially if our Chri∣stian rulers and potentates, first the churchmen & prelates for theyr partes: then the ciuile powers & princes for their partes, with holding theyr affections a little, will turne their brawles & variance, into brotherly concord and agre¦ment, which the Lord of peace put in theyr mindes to doe. Amen. Or otherwise if it will so please the Lorde, that the turke come further vpon vs, so as he hath begonne, for our punishment & castigation, his grace then geue to the flock of his poore Christians, constancie of fayth, pacience in suf∣fering, and amendmēt of life: For so I vnderstand by pub∣licke fame, although vncertaynly rumored by the voyce of some,* 1.127 that the Turkes power of late, this present yeare of our Lord 1566. hath perced the parties of Apulia within Italy, wasting and burning the space of an. 100. myles to∣ward Naples. Which if it be certaine, it is to be feared, that the Turke hauing thus set in his foote, & feeling the sweet∣nes of Italy, wil not so cease before he get in both head and shoulders also so farre into Italy, that he will display hys banners within the walles of Rome, & do with old Rome the like as Mahumete his great granfather did with newe Rome, the city of Constantinople, and as the Persians did with Babylon.

The causes why we haue so to iudge, he diuers: first y^• the sea of Rome hath bene defended hetherto and mayn∣tayned with much bloud,* 1.128 and therefore it may seeme not vncredible, but that it will not long continue, but be lost w^t bloud agayne, according to the verdict of the Gospell: 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 A∣pocalips: where is written that great Babilon shall fall & be made an habitation of deuils, and a denne of vncleane spirite, and a cage of filthye and vncleane byrdes: the fall wherof shal be like a milstone in the sea, that is, which shal not rise agayne. And this to come before the day of iudge∣ment, the text of y^e sayd chapter doth apertly declare: where the wordes do follow, shewing that the kynges of y^e earth, and the marchantes which had to doe with the whoorishe City, standing a farre of for feare of the heate, and behol∣ding the smoke of the sayd Cittie flaming and burning w^t fire, shall be wayle and rue her destruction and desolacion &c. What citty is this, called great Babilon, whiche like a mylstone shall fall and burne, and be made an habitation of vncleane spirites, and beastes, let the reader construe. This is certayn and playne by these her kinges and mar∣chantes standing a far of for feare, and beholding her bur¦ning, that the destruction of this city (what cittye soeuer it be) shall be seene here in earth before the comming of the Lordes iudgement,* 1.129 as may easely be gathered by these iij. circumstances, that is, by the stāding, the beholding, and be wayling of her marchauntes. By the which marchauntes and kynges of the earth, peraduenture may be signified, y^e Pope, the rich Cardinalles, the great prelates and fat doc∣tours, and other obedienciaries of the Romish sea: who at the comming of the Turkes, will not auenture theyr liues for theyr Church, but will flee the citty (no doubt) and stād a farre of from daunger: and when they shal see with their eyes, and heare with theyr cares the city of Rome to be set on fire and consumed by the cruell Turks, the sight thereof shall seeme to them piteous and lamentable, to behold the great and fayre city of Rome, the tall castle of S. Angell, y^e Popes mighty sea (where they were wont to fishe out such riches dignities, treasures, and pleasures) so to burne be∣fore theyr eyes, and to come to such vtter desolacion, which shal neuer be reedefied agayne, but shall be made an habi∣tation of deuils and vncleane spirites, that is, Turkes and heathen Sultans, and barbarous Saracens. &c. This (I say) peraduenture may be the meaning of that prophetical place of the Apoc. not that I haue here anye thing to pro∣nounce, but onely geue my gesse, what may probably be coniectured. But the end at length will make this and all other thinges more playne and manifest. For mistical pro∣phesies lightly are neuer so well vnderstand, as when the euent of them is past and accomplished.

An other cause concurring with the causes aforesayde may be collected,* 1.130 out of Paulus Iouius, who writing ofy^e sub∣uersion of Rhodes, which was as ye heard. an. 1522. vpon Christmas day, sayth that it chaunced sodenly the same day in Rome, that as Pope Hadrian the vi. was entring into the church to his seruice, sodeinly ouer hys head the vpper frontier or toppe of the chappel dore, which was of marble immediately as the pope was entring, fel downe and slue certayne of hys garde wayting vpon hym. Whereby per∣aduenture may be ment, that the ruine of Rome was not long after to folow the losse of Rhodes.

The fourth cause I borowe out of Ioannes Auentinus,* 1.131 who in his thyrd booke alledging the names, but not the wordes of Hildegardis, Brigitte, and other propheticall men hath these wordes: 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, veli∣mus, Turcarū caput erit,* 1.132 &c. That is, if the sayings and pro∣phesies of Hildegarde, of Brigitte, & of other propheticall persōs be true, which beyng foretold long before, we haue seene now in these our dayes accōplished: y^e town of Colen wil we, nil we, must needes be the head city of y^e turks. &c.

And this I write not as one pronouncing agaynst the City of Rome, what wil happen, but as one fearing what may fall. Which if it come to passe (as I pray God it do not) then shall the Pope well vnderstand, whether hys wrong vnderstanding of the Scriptures, & his false flattering glo¦sers vpon the same, haue brought hym.

Wherefore my counsayle is to the Pope,* 1.133 & all hys Po∣pish mayntayners and vpholders to humble themselues, & to agree with theyr brethren by tyme, letting all conten∣tion fall: lest that while the Byshop of Rome shal striue to be the highest of all other Byshops, it so fall out shortly, y^t the byshop of Rome shalbe found the lowest of all other Byshops, or peraduenture no byshop at all.

Wherevpon also an other cause may be added, taken out of Hieronunns Sauonarola, who prophecieth that one shall come ouer the Alpes lyke vnto Cyrus, & destroy Italy. Wherof see more, pag. 737.

Thys Solimanus, if he be yet aliue, hath now reigned 46. yeares,* 1.134 who began the same yeare, in the which y^e Em∣perour Charles the v, was crowned, which was an. 1520. and so hath continued by Gods permission, for a scourge to the Christians, vnto this yere now present. 1566. This Solyman by one of hys Concubines, had hys eldest sonne called Mustapha. By an other Concubine called Rosa, he had foure sonnes, Mahumete, Baiazates, Zelymus, and Gianger. Of the whiche sonnes, Mustapha and Gianger were slayn (as ye heard before) by the meanes of their own father. And thus much concerning the wretched tyranny of the Turkes out of the authors here vnder written.

The Authors of the Turkes storyes.

• * 1.135Laonicus Chalcondila.
• Nicolaus Eboicus Episo. Saguntinus.
• Ioan. Ramus.
• Andraeas a Lacuna.
• Wolfgangus Drechslerus.
• Ioan. Crispus.
• Ioan Faber.
• Ludouicus Viues.
• Bernardus de Breyden∣bach.
• Mityleneus Archiepise. Sabellicus.
• Isiodorus Rutherus.
• Marinus Barlerus.
• Henrious Penia de bello Rhodio.
• Melchior Soiterus.
• Paulus Iouius.
• Ioan Martinus Stella.
• Gaspar Peucerus. &c.
• Nicolaus a Moffen Burgundus.
• Sebast Munsterus.
• Baptista Egnatius.
• Barthol Peregrinus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A note of Gods pro∣uidence for the reforma¦tion of reli∣gyon.
• * 1.2

  Solymānus the 12 after Ottomānus Read in the pag. 738.
• * 1.3

  Belgradum againe be∣sieged of the turke.
• * 1.4

  Read before pag 743.
• * 1.5

  Discorde a∣mongest Chris∣tian princes what mischiefe it bringeth.
• * 1.6

  The pope so busie against Luther, that he neglecteth the ruine of Christē dome.
• * 1.7

  True compassiō lacking in the Pope.
• * 1.8

  The city of Bel∣grade wonne of the turke.
• * 1.9

  Rhodes besie∣ged.
• * 1.10

  Christian prin∣ces negligent in helping their felowes.
• * 1.11

  Rhodes wonne of the turke.
• * 1.12

  Christen warres against the turke neuer speede well vnder the guiding of Po∣pishe prelates.
• * 1.13

  Christians were the speciall gun¦ners to the turke
• * 1.14

  The rathe arch∣bishop slaine.
• * 1.15

  king Ludouicke perished in war
• * 1.16

  Ferdinandus K. of Hungary.
• * 1.17

  Buda, Varadi∣num, and the citie called Quinquecclesia taken of the turke.
• * 1.18

  Contention be∣tweene Ferdi∣nandus, and Vaiuoda. Vaiuoda flieth to the turks.
• * 1.19

  Horrible examples of the turkes crueltie.
• * 1.20

  The essemi∣nate cow∣ardlynes of the souldi∣ours in Al∣tenburch.
• * 1.21

  The castell of Alten∣burch yel∣ded to the turke.
• * 1.22

  Neapolis besieged of the turke. The turkes army of 250 thousand souldiours.
• * 1.23

  Vienna be sieged of the turke.
• * 1.24

  Fridericus Earle pala∣latine cap∣taine of Vi∣enna.
• * 1.25

  Fridericus Earle Pala∣tine, Williā Rogen∣dorffius, Nicholaus Earle of Salme, cap∣taines of Vienna.
• * 1.26

  Preparation within the Citie of Vienna, a∣gainst the turke.
• * 1.27

  Prouision made for victualing the citie.
• * 1.28

  Good coū∣saile & ex∣perience re∣fused.
• * 1.29

  Rashe hardi¦nes of our Christians in skirmi∣shing with the turke. The wret∣ched cruelty of the turkes against the Christian captiues.
• * 1.30

  The mes∣sage of the turke to the Viennians.
• * 1.31

  The aun∣swere of the Viēnians to the turke.
• * 1.32

  Solymanus approcheth Vienna with three great armies
• * 1.33

  A messenger sent from Ferdinādus to Vienna.
• * 1.34

  The siege of Vienna be∣ginneth.
• * 1.35

  The Lordes power and pro∣uidence in kee∣ping the Citie of Vienna.
• * 1.36

  The slaughter of the turkes a∣bout the walles of Vienna.
• * 1.37

  The manlynes of Captaine Rogendorffius a¦gainst the turkes
• * 1.38

  An other assault of the turkes a∣gainst Vienna.
• * 1.39

  Another repulse of the turkes.
• * 1.40

  Vienna vnder∣mined by the turkes.
• * 1.41

  An other assault of the turkes a∣gainst Vienna.
• * 1.42

  The turkes a¦gayne repulsed.
• * 1.43

  An other assault of the turkes re∣pelled.
• * 1.44

  The turkes at variance among themselues.
• * 1.45

  The Turke and his souldiours could not agree.
• * 1.46

  The turke en∣treateth his sol∣diours.
• * 1.47

  Compul•••• of men ser∣ueth not where the Lord defen∣deth.
• * 1.48

  The slaugh∣ter of the turkes at Vienna.
• * 1.49

  The turkes slaine.
• * 1.50

  The turke beginneth to take coū∣saile to re∣tire.
• * 1.51

  Solyman remoueth & raiseth his siege from Vienna.
• * 1.52

  The turkes campe pur∣sued in their flight.
• * 1.53

  The priuy purpose of the turkes preuented.
• * 1.54

  The rest of the turkes slaine in the campe.
• * 1.55

  The mercy∣full protecti¦on of God ouer Chris∣tendome.
• * 1.56

  Gods bles∣sing goeth with the mainteyners of his true worship & religion.
• * 1.57

  Ex Melch∣iore Soitero lib. 2. de Bello Pan∣nonico.
• * 1.58

  Nicholaus Iureschitz a valiaunt Captayne.
• * 1.59

  A miraculous example of the Lordes protecti¦on & prouidence
• * 1.60

  The turke fal¦seth his siege from Gunza.
• * 1.61

  The Emperour Charles & Fer∣dinandus begin at length to sturre against the turke.
• * 1.62

  The turke refu∣seth to tarry the Christian army.
• * 1.63

  The turke war∣reth against the king of Tunece. Tunece wonne of the turke. Tunece recoue∣red againe by Charles the Emperour.
• * 1.64

  Taurus a citie of Persia taken of the turkes.
• * 1.65

  20 thousand turkes slaine of the Persian king
• * 1.66

  Corcyra the Iland wasted & spoyled by the turkes.
• * 1.67

  The Ile of Za∣zinthus & Cy∣thara spoiled by the turkes.
• * 1.68

  Captiues of the Christians. Warre betwene the Egyenetes & the turkes.
• * 1.69

  Egina taken of the turke. The citizens of Egina slaine of the turkes.
• * 1.70

  The women of Egina miserably entreated and captiued of the turkes.
• * 1.71

  The Ile Parum and Naxus. Ciclades subdu∣ed of the turke. Ex Ioan. Crispo
• * 1.72

  Note what hurt commeth by the dissention of Christiā princes Stiria is a coun∣trey or prouince neare adioyning to Austria.
• * 1.73

  The falshood of the turke with the Venetians.
• * 1.74

  Nouum Castel∣lū in Dalmatia, ouer thro wen by the turke, & the people slaine.
• * 1.75

  The contention in Hungary be∣tweene Ferdinā¦dus & Vaiuoda & his successors.
• * 1.76

  The communi∣cation betweene Monachus and Ferdinandus.
• * 1.77

  What hurt may come of rashe suspicion.
• * 1.78

  The turke called a∣gayne into Hungary by the dislentiō betweene Monachus and Ferdi∣nandus. The cow∣ardly viage of Ioachi∣mus Duke of Brande∣burg, against the turke.
• * 1.79

  500. Chris∣tian souldi∣ours taken and carried away of the turkes.
• * 1.80

  The horri∣ble punish¦ments prac∣tised of the turkes a∣gainst the Christians.
• * 1.81

  Ex Ioan Ramo, de rebus turci∣cis. lib. 2.
• * 1.82

  The false∣nes of the turke in kee∣ping no pro¦mise with the Christi¦ans.
• * 1.83

  An horrible example of the beastly crueltie of the false turke.
• * 1.84

  Ex epist. Marti. Stel∣lae. de suc∣cessibus tur carum. &c.
• * 1.85

  The castle of Walpo wonne of the turkes.
• * 1.86

  A notable example of Gods iudge¦mentes ligh¦ting vpon themselues, which meane false hoode to∣ward the in¦nocent.
• * 1.87

  The citie of 5. churhes yelded to the turkes.
• * 1.88

  The byshop leaueth his flocke in the bryers.
• * 1.89

  Soclosia a towne in Hungary subdued of the turkes.
• * 1.90

  Couetous∣nes of word¦ly goodes is the destruc∣tiō of many a man.
• * 1.91

  The turke keepeth no promise.
• * 1.92

  Example what commeth by Christen mens yelding to the turke.
• * 1.93

  Strigonium a ci∣tie in Hungary besieged of the turkes.
• * 1.94

  Negligence of Christen princes in publicke de∣fence.
• * 1.95

  Three speciall helpes of the turkes in win∣ning townes & cities.
• * 1.96

  The citizens of Strigonium flie the citie.
• * 1.97

  The towne of Strigonium de∣stroyed after the flying of the ci∣tizens, & the castell defended.
• * 1.98

  An Italian feare in yelding the castle of Strigo∣niū to the turke.
• * 1.99

  A turkishe truce taken with the Christians, they not knowing thereof.
• * 1.100

  The false turkes neuer true in promise.
• * 1.101

  The miserable affliction of our Christen souldi∣ours taken at Strigonium.
• * 1.102

  Holy souldiours & Martius slaine of the turkes for their faithfull religion.
• * 1.103

  Ex Ioan. Mart. Stella in Epist. ad fratros.
• * 1.104

  Diuers opinions of the Viēnians touching these miserable afflic∣ted souldiours.
• * 1.105

  Tath, sub∣dued of the turkes.
• * 1.106

  Victory hath neuer successe vn∣der awicked captaine and swearer.
• * 1.107

  Alba Rega∣lis besieged of the turke.
• * 1.108

  The turkes deuise in filling vpp the marishe
• * 1.109

  A strata∣geme of the Christians against the turkes.
• * 1.110

  A note tou∣ching the French king that then was.
• * 1.111

  Ex epist. Ioan. Marti Stella. ad fratres. De Turcar. in Hungaria successibus.
• * 1.112

  The out∣wardwalles gott by the turkes.
• * 1.113

  A miserable slaughter of Christen souldiours.
• * 1.114

  Let neuer good Chris¦tians stand to the turks gentlenes.
• * 1.115

  The cruelty of the turks against the Christians. What it is to yeld to turke and to sticke to hys promise.
• * 1.116

  The City∣zēs of Alba destroyed of the turkes. Halfe of a young child found in the satchell of a captiue coming frō the turkes. The castell of Pappa wonne of the turkes. Wizigradū gotte and surprised of the turkes. The false dealing and crueltie of the turkes against the Christians. Nouum ca∣stellum in Dalmatia wonne by the turkes.
• * 1.117

  The discord of Christiā princes within themselues. The turke occasioned to returne out of Europe into Asia.
• * 1.118

  The prouidence of God for his Christians.
• * 1.119

  An other exam∣ple of Gods pro¦uidence for his
• * 1.120

  Sylyman the turke murdereth Mustapha his owne sonne.
• * 1.121

  The louing pro∣uidence of our Lord for his Christians.
• * 1.122

  Good hope at Gods hand to be conceaued of Christians.
• * 1.123

  Good newes of the turkes lately repulsed by the Christian.
• * 1.124

  8000. turkes slaine.
• * 1.125

  Christian cap∣tiues rescued & taken from the turkes. 800. turkes slaine.
• * 1.126

  A great captaine of the turkes slaine and his treasure taken.
• * 1.127

  The turke pear∣cing into Italy.
• * 1.128

  Coniectures why it is to be feared that the turke shall gette Rome.
• * 1.129

  The phro∣phesi of the 18. chap. of the Apocca∣lipse•• poun∣ded.
• * 1.130

  The third cause Ex Paulo Iou••o.
• * 1.131

  The fourth cause Ex Ioan. Auentino. Annal. lib. 3. fol. 30.
• * 1.132

  A prophesi.
• * 1.133

  A caucat to the bishop of Rome, if he be wise.
• * 1.134

  Ex Pau••o Ionio.
• * 1.135

  Authours of the turkes stories.