Bohemia King John by the means aforesaid thrust of his Kingdom grew extreme impatient and often consulted with Sigismond King of Polonia to re-in-throne him in his Kingdom offering to bear the Charge of the War but the Pole being already in League with Ferdinand would not seem unless underhand to favour John but wished him to take counsel with Hieronymus Lascus a great Politician what was best to be done in his Affairs the which Lascus advised him to crave Aid of Solyman now at Leasure to assist him and urged so many Reasons for it that he was content to send him his Ambassador to Constantinople who there with Treasure and fair Speeches so allured the Bassas of the Court to second him in his Request that Solyman promised again to enter Hungaria with a puissant Army and by the Insinuation of this sly Councellor that when King Ferdinand sent Ambassadors to him to make out his Title by which he laid Claim to the Kingdom he would scarcely give them Audience and when he did instead of an Answer to their Ambassy he Herauld-like denounced against their King all the Calamities that attend on War and so commanded speedily to depart the City all which upon their Arrival at Vienna they made known to the Kings Lieutenant who was so far from believing them that he looked upon them as vain and idle Tale-bearers which they perceiving hasted to the King at Spires who then was Labouring to get himself chosen King of the Romans and declared to him all they had in Charge Whereupon he well knowing that the Turk desirous of Glory and the inlarging of his Dominions seldom broke his Word on such occasions he put all his Forces in a readiness earnestly both in Person and by his Ambassadours craved Aid of the German Princes for the Defence of his Kingdom of Hungary against the common Enemy but his Brother Charles having his hands full of his Wars in Italy and he wanting Money to raise a sufficient Army to fight so powerful an Enemy was forced to suffer him without Controul to enter Hungaria for fear of whom the Citizens of Buda mostly fled to Strigonium Alba-Regalis and Possonium So that marching from Belgrade where King John came to wait upon him and received a Confirmation of the Promise he had made to Lascus of restoring him to the Kingdom of Hungary he came before it and had it yeilded with little or no Resistance as likewise the strong Castle though contrary to the Will of the Captain yet contrary to his Promise he caused all that were found in the latter to be put to the Sword except the Captain whom the Soldiers had cast in Bonds for refusing to joyn with them in their treacherous delivery of that strong Piece Buda taken most of the other Cities of Hungary surrendred whereupon he resolved to invade Austria a part of King Ferdinands other Dominions in Order to which he sent Achometes Bassa with the voluntary Horsemen who running through the Heart of Hungary entring into Austria with Fire and Sword passed by Vienna miserably burning and destroying the Country before them even as far as Lyntz driving the Country People like Sheep deflowring Vigins riping up Women alive dashing Infants against the Rocks with all other imaginable Cruelties after whom Solyman followed with the gross of his Army consisting of 500000 Horse and Foot as many Writers affirm who by the way having taken the Castle of Altenbury and in vain assaulted Neapolis he came before the great City of Vienna and incamped about it in five places covering the Ground with his Tents and the multitude of his People 8 miles in Circumference So that Fredrick Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria General of King Ferdinand's Forces not being able to get into the City with his Army sent for that purpose was forced to stay at Chremse yet was his Nephew Philip the Palsgrave a little before the coming of Solyman to the great joy of the Citizens entered with several Troops of valiant Horsemen as likewise Nicholas Count of Salma the Lord William Regendorf Steward of the Kings houshold Johannes Cazzianer Nicholaus Turianus Johannes Hardecus Leonardus Velsâ—â—s Hector Ramsack with divers others all men of great Experience and Valour and daring Resolution yet was the City but badly defended with a Brick Wall without Grafts or Flankers the Ditch altogether dry and although at that time there were found 400 Pieces of Ordnance yet they could find means to mount no more then a 100 notwithstanding the Citizens and Soldiers used all diligence in raising Rampires and Barocading the Gates unless those they reserved to Sally at and by the Command of the Governour every man was assigned his Quarter keeping strict Watch upon the Walls to prevent the Enemies approach for that the Bulwarks were not of Considerable strength The Count of Salma and the Lord Regendorf walking hourly from one place to another to see all things put in a posture of defence the Citizens laboured continually in strengthening the Fortifications and raising Batteries whereon to plant such Pieces as lay useless for want of where to mount them they made likewise divers Fire-works and continually kept Coppers of Tar Pitch Rosin Oyl and scalding Water in a readiness to pour upon the Enemy by that means to prevent their Scaling the Walls every one from the greatest to the least expressing a Cheerfulness for the defence of this place the Metropolis of Austria and chief Hope of the German Empire which the Turks conceived so Considerable that they doubted not but it won all Austria Stiria and Corinthia would be soon at their Devotion The City by this time strengthened and provided of many necessary for a strenuous Defence Messengeres were sent to Count Fredrick to draw near with his Army the more to terrifie and amaze the Enemy whose numerous Camp could not long subsist if supplies of Provision were cut off upon the Arrival of the Messenger the Count highly approved of the Resolution of the besieged and declared he would be always at hand and omit no Indeavours to succour them admonishing the Messenger to remember him to his fellow Soldiers and in his Name intreat them to play the Men for the defence of the Christian Religion and Glory of the German Nation whose Ruin the Infidels sought and so with several presents he dismissed the Messenger who returning related what he had in Charge Whereupon the Lord Regendorf assembled all the chief Commanders and principal Citizens and with an undaunted Courage made this short Oration Christians and fellow Soldiers the time is now come wherein we are to fight under the Banner of our Lord Jesus Christ whom these barbarous Nations have defied let us then shew forth our Courage to the utmost even in the Mouth of Slaughter let not Death nor Danger terrifie us since we fight in a good Cause even for our Religion our Lives our Wives Children and all that we hold dear for what it can
in German with their Successful Entrance into the Bowels of Hungaria Together with a Table to the whole Book LONDON Printed by Ralph Holt and John Richardson for Thomas Passinger upon London Bridge William Thackery in Duck-Lane and Thomas Sawbridge in Little-Britain 1684. THE Turkish History EPITOMIZED CHAP. I. The Original of the Turks according to the Opinion of sundry Learned Authors with the Means by which they acquired their first Monarchy in Persia Together with the Reign and Death of Tangrolipix their first King IT has and at this day does cause sundry Disputes amongst the Learned from what Nation or People the Turks now so formidable by extending their Empire o're a third part of the known World are sprung or derived some being of opinion that they are descended of the Remnant of the Trojans that scaped the Sword at the Destructiou of the City of Troy and strengthen their Argument with this Reason viz. That the Word Turcii signifying a Trojan is corruptly called Turci or Turk and that on all hands it is affirmed that they originally inhabited the lesser Asia where the City so much Renowned in Story for its holding out a ten years Siege against the Power of the then Grecian Empire stood others affirm they sprung from the ten Tribes carried away captive by Salmanaser the Assyrian King and that from them likewise sprung the Tartars inhabiting the Northern Climes and their Reasons are for as much as the great Lords of Tartary derive their Pedigree from Tribes calling themselves Danists Zebulonians and Napthalists and that the Word Turk in the Hebrew signifies a banished man or one in disgrace and further that they still retain many Ceremonies of the Jewish Nation as Circumcision and the like as also frequently to repeat to themselves Lamentations though corruptly for the fall of Jerusalem and Damascus the chief Cities of Judea and Syria affirming they know not the meaning of such their Lamentations but that they have been taught of their Ancestors so to do Others are of Opinion that they were Scythians who left their Country by reason of the Scarcity thereof and Coldness of the Clime and falling on Armenia grasped it with so hard a hand that all the Power of the Roman Empire then flourishing could not rescue it but as a Token of their first Success in their issuing out of the Caspian Straits they named it Turcomania which name remains to this day And that there were such a People long before their aspiring to Empire in Asia Pomponius Mella Pliny and Ptolomy do aver but about the time of their Eruption Blondus Platina and Segonius disagree the two former declaring it to be in the year of our Lord 755 and the latter in 844. yet conclude upon the reason of their coming forth as aforesaid Their Rise and aspiring to Greatness was after this manner Mahomet the persian Sultan wresting the Government from the Caliph or Successor of Mahomet the Impostor or as they falsly called him their Great Prophet whose Erroneous Doctrine had infected all Asia Affrick and part of Europe to provide against the worst strengthned himself and the better to do it sent to the Turkish Chief in Armenia to furnish him with a competent number of Men of War who in compliance to the Sultans Command caused 3000 to March under the Leading of one of his chief Captains named Tangrolipix by the help of which he overthrew the Caliph of Babylon with an incredible Slaughter of his Army and being further minded to make an Expedition against the Indians that bordered his Country and knowing by Experience the great courage of the Turks and their singular dexterity in Archery he resolved to retain them for his further Service so that when they desired to be conducted over the River Araxis he not only refused to permit it but also threatned them if they offered to make any further mention of their departure which Indignity caused them to take the opportunity of withdrawing themselves into the Desart of Caranonitis and there like Out-laws to live upon Spoil the News of which no sooner reached the Sultan's ear but he commanded ten of his Captains to March against Tangrolipix with an Army of 20000 choice Soldiers composed of divers Nations which Incamping by the border of a Forrest wherein the Turkish Captain resided with his Forces they were in the dead of the night set upon and put to flight with great Slaughter so that the Turks furnishing themselves with the Spoyls of the slain appeared more boldly in the Field and were in a short time increased to 50000 fighting men by such Outlaws and other Villains as upon the bruit of their Success resorted to 'um which caused Mahomet now jealous of his other Subjects revolt to raise a great Army and to advance against Taâ—grolipix First having put out the Eyes of those Captains overthrown in the fight and threatned to disgrace the Souldiers that escaped the slaughter by attiring them in Womans Apparel which afterward redounded to his loss by causing them to avoid future punishment to fly to his Enemy In fine both Armies met on the great Plain before the City Ispahan in Persia and began a dreadful Battle which with great Slaughter lasted till Sultan Mahomet fell from his Horse and broak his neck at what time both Armies ceased from fight and by unanimous consent chose Tangrolipix Sultan of Persia and the Dominions appertaining to that large Kingdom who was no sooner seated in his Throne but he caused the Garrisons that kept the Passage over Araxis to be removed and called in the Turks his Country-men then dwelling on the other side and by degrees advanced them to all the chief Places of Trust deposing the Persians and Sarazens the Ancient Inhabitants of those Dominions but long he had not wielded his Scepter e'r he made War upon Pisasiris the Caliph of Babylon and after sundry Battles having slain him annexed his Kingdom to Persia This Success firing him with a desire to extend his Dominions wider he sent Cutlu-Muses his Nephew to war on the Arabians but those People as dexterous in Archery as the Turks soon overthrew him with the slaughter of a great part of his Army and therefore in his Return requested of Stephen the Greek Emperours Lievtenant in Media that he might pass through those Territories into his own Country but he not only denied him passage but opposed him with a powerful Army which was by the Turks defeated and the Lievtenant taken Prisoner After which the Sultan in Person made an Expedition against the Arabians thinking to revenge the late disgrace but procured a greater for himself was likewise overthrown which caused him to bend his Forces to the Conquest of Media to effect which he sent his Brother Asan but in the mean while his Nephew fearing his displeasure for disobeying his Command fled and gathering to him a strong Power seized on Pasar a strong City of Chorasmians yet the Expedition was not thereby obstructed but
have the next day been Married to the Captain of Bilezuga and gave her in Marriage to his Son Orchanes who had Issue by her Amurath the third King of the Turks and Solyman Bassa and immediately thereupon besieged the Castle of Einegiol which he took and put the Garrison to the Sword and now no longer resolving to play small Games he besieged the City of Nice in Bythinia not many years before the Seat of the Greek Emperor to relieve which the Emperor sent such Forces as could upon so short a warning be drawn together which Othoman encountring with overthrew and afterward by Famine constrained the Citizens upon promise of Life to surrender the City with spoils of which he greatly inriched himself sending part thereof to the Sultan who in requital ordered prayers to be put up for his prosperous Success promising that he should succeed him in his Kingdom of which being disappointed at the death of the said Sultan by those that divided it into an Anarchy he nevertheless took upon him the Dignity of a Sultan Coining Money and Causing publick prayers to be put up in his own name and sezing upon Neapolis made it his Regal seat calling it Despotopolis or the City of the Prince and thus Anno 1300 begun the great Empire of the Turks This upstart Turk having so soon advanced his fortune setled his Government with wholesom Laws the lasting Cords of Empire and then drawing all his forces together lay'd Siege to Prusia during which the Christian Princes that bordered upon him drew all their forces together resolving to give him battle but therein his good fortune prevailing they were overthrown whereupon several Towns and Castles fell into his hands some surrendring voluntarily and others by force compelled so to do but the strong City of Prusia in which was the broken Army of the Christians stood impregnable whereupon he built two Castles to block it up and returned to Neapolis sending his Captains out daily with strong parties to fetch booties out of the Christian Territories and to take in such Castles as by surprize or otherwise might fall into their hands His Power being now greatly increased that he was able to draw into the Field 20 or 30000 Horse and Foot at what time Cossi the Christian Captain revolting turned Turk and stood Othoman in great stead during his Wars nor did the other Turks in the Lesser Asia less indammage the Christians so that the Greek Empire began to Dwindle into a small Circumference occasioned by the divisions amongst themselves about Religion for young Baldwin the Latin Emperor being expelled Constantinople as is aforesaid in flying into Germany lay daily at Charles the Emperor to restore him which Paleologus the Greek Emperor understanding offered unto Pope Gregory the tenth that if he would divert the Emperors forces by intangling him in Domestick troubles he would so order the matter that the Greek Empire in matters of Religion should acknowledge the See of Rome as Supream and from thence take all directions as to Ecclesiastical affairs which Innovation caused divers tumults and many to leave the Empire rather chosing to dwell with the Turks which troubles lasted to the Death of Paleologus nor could he fulfil his promise to the Pope After the Greek Emperors Death Andronicus succeeded in the Empire who was no less troubled with the Incursions of the Turks yet he fought with them several Battles with various with Success but then a difference arising between him and his Brother Constantine all his hopes of prevailing vanish'd though without cause as most believe suspected his Brothers aspiring to Empire who was one of the chiefest Bulwarks a-against the Turks beyond the River Meander giving to them many a fatal overthrow yet was he cast in Prison with many of his followers and one Alexus Philanthropenus made General of the Army in his stead to whom was joyned Libadarius an experienced Captain and grave Councellor the former of which after having obtained many Victories over the Turks and Tartars perswaded by the Cretensians Rebelled against the Emperor taking upon himself the title of Emperor which lasted not long for being overthrown by the latter in a mortal Battle was delivered bound by his Souldiers to the Conqueror who depriving him of his Sight sent him to the Emperor then residing at Constantinople The Rebellion created such Jealousie in the Emperor that he chose rather to trust strangers then his own Subjects so that he having notice of the Massagetes a People dwelling beyond Ister being oppressed by the Tartars he upon their Supplication appointed them part of his Dominions whereupon they came over to him with about 10000 families which caused him to fall into the displeasure of his Subjects these new-come guests being compleatly Armed he sent them with many others against the Turks under one leading of his Son and Partner in the Empire Michael Paleologus who at the first sight of the Turks without so much as striking a stroak fled which gave the Enemy the advantage of conquering the Country as â—ar as Lestos After this as if destiny had so willed it the Emperor called to his aid Ronzerius a Pirate who came with 2000 Catalonians and afterwards increaseâ— his number by sending for more who at first did considerable service but within a while fell to spoiling and plundering the Emperors Dominions in Asia worse then the Turks as likewise by setting out certain Gallies bobbed all the Merchants that passed those Seas till at last their Gallies being destroyed by a Fleet of the Genoways and their Captain slain by the command of the young Emperor they called in the Turks having first seized upon the City of Calipolis against these who with joynt forces harased the Country the young Emperor went in person but was overthrown and most of his Greeks slain upon the revolt of the Massagets and other treacherous Mercenaries who were shortly recompenced according to their deserts for being about to return home with the spoil they had gotten the Catalonians set upon them and put 'um all to the Sword taking from them a rich booty and then passing through many Countries they left the Emperor free till at last coming to the Territories of the Duke of Thebes and he refusing to give them passage they in a set battle overthrew his power and seized on his Country in which they settled themselves where their Posterity to this day remains But this freed not the Emperor of the danger for the Turks coming down in great number and having overthrown the young Emperor spoiled all Thracia to stay whose fury Philes Paleologus a devout man and Kinsman to the Emperor undertook the defence of his bleeding Country and meeting them as they were ranging to and fro burning and destroying all before 'um he in a set battle overthrew 'um and forced 'um into the City of Chersonesus where he so straightly besieged them by Sea and Land that indeavouring to break through the Leaguer they were most
that if he had stood out upon the peace concluded between the Sultan and the Polonian the whole stress of War would have rested on him and therefore he desired to be excused adding that he meant not long to conserve the peace therefore desired that he and the Bassa of Buda might have it in joynt Commission to raise such Forces as they thought convenient to invade the Empire when opportunity offered but this request not agreeing with the interest of the Sultan it was rejected About this time the Janizaries in a tumultuary way came to the Court and demanded all the Offices of gain and to be Stewards of the Revenues of the Churches which are great as likewise to take the Farms of Customs wherein they committed many outrages the Visiers not daring to deny them any thing they demanded They drunk Wine in the streets without prohibition contrary to their Law and exacted money of the Christians to purchase it and if denyed took it by force and murthered without being punished and when at any time complaint was made the Magistrates answered they durst not meddle with them that had murthered their King and the Bassa's themselves desired the complainants patience telling them that they would bear a part with the general sufferance About the same time the Janizaries in the Gallies which rid before Smirna commanded by Halil Bassa aslaulted against his will the houses of the Christian Consuls insomuch that the English Consul with all those of that Nation were forced to run naked from their Lodgings and save their lives by swimming to the Admirals Gally upon which the masterless Turks ransacked the lower part of the house there making spoil to the value of Two Thousand Dollars The French sustained more loss and the Venetians at least ten Thousand Dollars the Consul having likewise one of his men cut in pieces nor could the Admiral either by threats or intreaties restrain these outrages but was forced for the prevention of further mischief to put to Sea In Asia there were three Rebellions one at Babylon another at Arzirum upon the borders of Persia and a third at Mesopotamia which threatned the ruine of all Asia yet to prevent the worst several new officers were made and an Army raised in Grecia in order to pass the Hellespont but in the end nothing was done more then assembling to little purpose all the Turkish Forces on Europe side which so impoverished the Treasury that the like had not formerly been known nor were any Exactions and Extortions omitted to raise mony for defraying the necessary charges About this time came to the Court of Poland an Ambassador from the great Duke of Muscovy to intreat a peace which was hardly granted by reason several Letters of the said Ambassadors being intercepted plainly demonstrated that at his first setting out his designs were otherwise upon notice that a Peace was concluded with the Sultan he feigning himself sick upon the Frontiers had sent for new instructions Darut Bassa who had married Sultan Mustapha's Sister falling into the displeasure of the Visier he so dealt with the Spahi that coming to the Court they demanded his Head for the murthering the late Emperour and having gotten him into their hands were about to behead him but whilst he was upon his knees every woman expecting the fatal blow the Janizaries at the instance of the Sultans Mother rescued him and carryed him to their Colledge promising him their protection for which he bestowed amongst them Forty Thousand Chequins But that availed not for soon after he was taken thence and carryed to the prison where he had murthered young Osman and there strangled now the better to please the Polonians and obstruct the cause of War for the future the Ambassador was not only dispatched with several Noblemen of Poland who had since the late War remained Prisoners but it was likewise concluded that Jehan Begh the Tartarian Prince Author of the War should be deposed and Michmet Geheray his Cosen and first of the Blood late Prisoner at the Rhodes should succeed him in that large Kingdom Asia was still in doubt to be lost for that Abassa Bassa Governour of Arzirum with an Army of one hundred thousand Horse and Foot had siezed upon most of the Provinces though without doing any harm to the inhabitants but wheresoever he found any of the Janizaries he sacrificed them to the Ghost of the dead Emperour he as he said being by God appointed the revenger of his Death and for that cause he had taken up arms declaring that he would come to the Port and demand Justice upon the Murtherers and that if he was found a Traytor or guilty he would lay down his head willingly but if those he accused were found guilty he would see execution done nor did the Nobility of Constantinople much disapprove of his march rather esteeming him a friend then an Enemy who came to deliver them from the Tyranny of the Janizaries whose insolencies were insufferable Yet to prevent the worst it was resolved that Mustapha should be deposed the Janizaries not gainsaying it for that they well knew they alone should be exposed to the fury of the Bassa at the rooting out of whose order he chiefly aimed though he had likewise other designes which were to wrest the Grand Visiership from him that held it and make himself Governour of the young Prince Brother to Osman whom he intended to advance to the Empire yet rather for shew then otherwise the Souldiers were ordered to pass the Hellespont in great numbers but the Janizaries would not stir for two reasons first for that the time of receiving their pay was at hand and secondly fearing alone to be exposed to the fury of the Asian Army greatly doubting that if it came to a Battle their Fellows would revolt and by that means easily bring them to destruction CHAP. XXII The Life and Reign of Morat or Amurath the 4th the 11th Emperour of the Turks IN this distraction of the Ottoman Empire the better to calm the tempest ere it turned all into confusion by Shipwracking the State the Grand Visier going with the Janizaries and Spahi to the Seraglio demanded to speak with Mustapha and that he would answer them a few questions which he being no ways able to do and refusing to appear they entered the Palace and took thence Morat or Amurath Brother to Osman and Son to Achmat then about 14 years of Age and carrying him through the streets in triumph caused him every where to be proclaimed Emperour to the great content of the Constantinopolitans who by this mutation hope for peaceful times and the face of Justice restored which for many months had abandoned the City every man doing in a manner what he pleased Thed ay after this innovation the young Emperor made his publique entry from whose lively countenance and apparent activity every one promised great things during his Reign but at that time such had been the policy of the
promised to made Husseruph a second time Visier and that Regeb Bassa should officiate till his arrival The storm allayed the Grand Signeour began to consider that Husseruph had raised it by the Influence he had upon the Souldiers and therefore least he should attempt any thing further secret order was given to the Bassa of Buda in whose Government he resided to send his head to Court which was done accordingly but not so privately but that the Soldiers getting notice thereof suddenly made up their many headed monster and in a great rage came to the Seraglio demanding the heads of those that had been any way councelling or consenting to the death of Husseruph otherwise they threatned all with ruin but having no answer suitable to their minds they ran to the house of Regeb demanding of him who it was that had councelled so great a wickedness Whereupon to save his Life which was then in no small danger he protested he knew not and that himself was innocent of the matter yet they forced him with them to the Palace and made him their Orator to demand what they desired upon which the Aga Mufti and Teftardar with a private Servant of the Grand Signeours fled but the latter being the next day taken and sent back he was delivered up as a sacrifice to the insolent Souldiers who after their usual manner in such like cases tore him in pieces Yet they were not so contented but upon a rumour that the Grand Signeour had put his three Brethren to death they broke into the Palace and could hardly be quieted although the young Princes were produced and that several officers swore upon the Alcoran that they see the grand Signeour lay his hand upon the book and swore they should have their demands satisfied In these Tumults the goods of Merchants strangers went to wrack and divers affronts and indignities were offered the several Ambassadors residing at the Port nor was this all for about the same time Eleas Bassa Rebelled against the Grand Signeour and siezed upon the City of Amasia about a League from Smirna infesting all the Countrey with divers outrages his Souldiers living altogether upon spoil insomuch that the Merchants and Consuls at Smirna were forced to remove with their goods to Scio but an Army being sent against him he was in a pitched Battle discomfited and had most of his followers slain himself hardly escaping and now the Grand Signeour supposing Regeb Bassa though indeed he was not the Author of the late tumults sent for him into the Seraglio and there caused him to be strangled About this time a fight for the space of four hours was maintained by two English Merchantmen against thirty of the Turks Gallies till at last the English finding themselves too weak for such odds fired their Vessels and cast themselves over board where many of them perished and those that were taken up put to the Oares in this fight a thousand Turks were slain and amongst them several Begs and men of note of this apparent injury done by the Turks His Majesty of Great Brittain by his Letter complained to the Grand Signeour requiring that those that were taken Captives might be restored to their Liberty that so a right understanding might continue but the Turks alledging that the Voyage of the two Ships were unlawful by reason they Traded in the Levant for Corn the Ambassador could little prevail and had much ado to save the lives of the Captives Yet in the end to hinder the dissolution of the Turkish Trade and to please the Grand Signeour a Decree passed in the Star Chamber prohibiting the Corn Trade in the Levant upon which several of the Captives were set at Liberty Three dayes after this action a Fire happened in Constantinople which consumed Seventy Thousand Houses The Persian War yet continuing that King with a great Army besieged Van a strong City upon the Confines of Diarbecher the news whereof arriving at the Port great preparations were made to prevent that important place from falling into the hands of the Persians it being Decreed that all the Beghs of Asia should repair thither with such forces as they could leavy and endeavour its releif and to joyn them the Grand Visier passed over with all European Souldiers but ere any thing could be done the City was taken whereupon the Visier marched towards Aleppo exacting great sums of money and the better to furnish himself sent the Cadee a slave to Cyprus and siezed upon all his Treasure Soon after the Turks under pretence of the Christians rising siezed all their Arms making it death to those in whose houses any were found after a time prefixed nor content with this they hanged a Venetian Merchant only for his Money and Imprisoned all the Christian Merchants in Constantinople setting a ransom of two thousand Dollars upon each and that if the money was not payed in four dayes they should be executed The four Ambassadors of England France Holland and Venice were likewise convented before the Bassas in the Arsenal and charged for building a House and Chappel without leave from the Grand Signeour to have done it in contempt of his Imperial Majesty and much ado they had to escape being imprisoned but in the end upon the Chappels being demolished and all the Armes they had in their Houses delivered to an officer appointed to receive them the Grand Signeour was pacified though indeed this was used only as a trick to extort mony from them This being the present state of things in the Imperial Port the English Ambassador in the behalf of his King and Nation made known the just resentments of his Master for the affront offered in the person of him his Ambassador as likewise did the rest exclaiming of injustice insomuch that the Captain Bassa told them that indeed the proceedings were too rigid and that for the future care should be taken to prevent the like as for their Armes taken away he said they had been seen by the Grand Signeour and therefore could not be restored but that they had liberty to buy more and the money exacted of the Merchants could not at that time be restored by reason of the urgent occasion of the state and therefore intreated them to be pacified but the French Ambassador was so far fallen into the Grand Signeours displeasure that his Death was determined the execution whereof was with much danger to the disswaders deferred and upon second thoughts changed into an Imprisonment the cause of which was for that he had siezed upon sixty thousand Dollars sent by the Town of Marseilles to pay his Predecessors Debts contracted in Constantinople which money he converted to his own use thereby defrauding the Creditor and obliging them to clamour for Turkish Justice which in it self is cruelty and oppression These intestine troubles gave the Persians Liberty to make themselves Masters of many strong places which greatly alarumed the Ottoman Empire insomuch that great preparations were every where
be but Ambition and thirst of Christian Blood that drew this Bloody Monster with his numerous Host from such remote Countries Therefore I say rather let us dye like Men fighting it out to the last Drop of Blood then yield our selves to these Barbarous Infidels who know not how to shew Mercy whose Leagues Vows and Solemn Protestations are all but Wind kept no longer then they prove Advantagious to themselves I for my part have fixed my unalterable Resolution to defend this Place to the last Gasp resolving not to survive its loss This Oration spoken with great Earnestness plainly Demonstrating the Zeal of a brave General was seconded with loud shouts every one promising to Live and Dye with him in the defence of the City Whereupon it was resolved that the next Morning a Sally should be made upon the Enemies to give them a Taste of Christian Valour and how little they valued their Lives fighting in so good a Cause whereupon every one being dismissed went to his Quarters to give necessary Orders and take a View how the Turks lay incamped whose multitude covered all the Hills and Plains before the City The Watch being set the General went round the City attended by several Officers Carefully to survey each Quarter and to see that none neglected his Duty so that all things being in good Order about Midnight six Reigments drew up with a Resolution to fall upon the Enemies Camp but whilst Orders were in giving in what manner they should make their approach a Christian Captive having made his escape from the Turks came running almost breathless and begged to be received into the City Whereupon the Soldiers drew him up with a Pike who being questioned about the state of the Turkish Camp declared that every night since they came forty thousand men were driven up in Battalia to Guard the Camp which was not as yet well intrenched upon notice of which the General changed his Resolution as to the Sally During the preparation within Solyman was not idle having sworn to carry the City by force e're he departed if he could not have it otherwise but appointed to every man his station dividing his Army under Ibrahim the Great Bassa Michael Ogli and Becrambeius so that all things being in a readiness many salleys were made by the Christians with great slaughter of the Enemies though the Asapi and Janizaries from their Trenches poured showers of Arrows into the City for as yet the Turks great Artillery were not come up the Danubius but were dayly expected of which Wolfgangus Hoder a Valiant Captain understanding by several Turkish Prisoners sailed out of the Bay of Possonium and meeting with the Turks Galleys sunk those in which the Ordinance were taking a great Booty of which Solyman having notice was greatly inraged and finding that his small pieces did little other damage than beat down the battlements and over-jets made of wood in stead of Flankers he caused the Miners to be set to the Wall but this their chief hope which with wonderful labour attempted in thirteen places at once was not so secretly done but that it was by Drums layed upon the Ground Basons filled with Water and deep sounds perceived by the defendants who with Countermines not only defeated many of them but destroyed in them by Wild-fire and other Combustible matter Eight Thousand Turks when to prevent such discovery Solyman commanded continual Alarums should be given that so the Christians being imployed in defending the Walls might not regard the Miners which succeeded so to his wish that a great part of the Wall near the Gate that leadeth towards Carinthia was thrown down by the springing of a Mine at which the Turks in great numbers indeavouring to enter were miserably cut off with the Murthering shot bent against the breach for the purpose which no sooner ceased but they were furiously charged by the Germans and in despite of all resistance beaten back with incredible slaughter Not long after the Wall being blown up in two other places they again attempted to enter but were repulsed as before leaving heaps of slain in the Breaches and Ditch nor was their third Assault any more successful so that after three hours withstanding the fury of the resolute Defendants they retired to the Camp Ten Thousand less than they came A while after the Lord Regendorfe perceiving the Turks by parties scatter from their Camp came with a Company of German Horse set upon a Party of Five Thousand Three Hundred with such slaughter that not above One Hundred and Forty of them returned to tell the News Nor did other Commanders of the besieged less indamage the Enemies by frequent Salleys which so inraged the Tyrant that he animated to a fourth Assault promising them great rewards if they prevailed which so far prevailed with them that they resolved amongst themselves either to win the City or dye in the undertaking but when they felt the shot from the besieged like a tempest fall on them they were of a different opinion so that leaving many Thousands of the slain and wounded behind them they retire to the Camp which Solyman perceiving and fretting that his Honour had so much suffered by so great a loss of his Men and so many Repulses dissembled the matter as well as he could and that the Germans should not suppose he raised his siege because he despaired of winning it he caused several Prisoners to be richly cloathed and giving them store of Money sent them into the City to inform the Commanders that he came not to take the City of Vienna but to fight King Ferdinand and restore the Kingdom of Hungaria to King John therefore since he could not draw his Enemy into the Field to give him Battle he would remove thence to seek him wherefore they should do well to yield themselves the which if they would he promised not to enter into the City but to receive both the Citizens and Souldiers into his protection reserving unto 'um their Lives and Goods with perpetual freedom which offer coming to the knowledge of the Princes and great Captains of the Christians scornfully refused whereupon the Imperious Turk perceiving his desires not answered as he expected having caused all the Prisoners to be murthered in a great heat raised his siege and departed not staying till he came to Buda where having restored the Kingdom to John in consideration of his becoming his Tributary he returned to Constantinople yet plotting in his mind to disturb the Christians and revenge the disgrace he had received before at Vienna the next year viz 1530 he leavyed an Army greater than the former purposing with himself to over-run Austria Carinthia Styria and most part of the German Empire to effect which he allowed three years but was altogether deceived in his expectation for Charles the Emperor having ended his Wars in Italy was now at leisure to attend upon the Insolent Turk who calling together his Valiant Captains sent them into Spain