lost his whole army, of whom a great part was destroyed, and many of his ensigns taken. Shortly afterwards he sent Ahmet with one hundred ships into Italy, and he, passing along by the coast, spoiled and wasted several places, till at length he came to Hydruntium (Otranto) a city in Calabria in Italy, which after a long siege he overcame and subdued, and brought such a terror into all Italy, that the pope, forgetting all other things, yet mindful of himself, with all haste fled out of Rome. After the city of Hydruntium was taken, which was A. D. 1481, Matthias Corvinus, Huniades's son, was sent for by the Italians, to set upon the city, for its rescue, when Ahmet was about to make his return with five-and-twenty thousand Turks, in the meantime news came that Mahomet the great Turk was dead; the siege brake up, and the city was delivered to the Italians again, and so Italy was delivered at that time out of peril and danger. This Mahomet won from the christians two hundred cities, and twelve kingdoms, and two empires, which he joined both together. He died A. D. 1481, after having reigned fifty years.

X. BAJAZET the Second.-Mahomet had three sons; of which Mustapha, the eldest, through voluptuousness, died before his father. The other two were Bajazet and Demes; about whom great controversy arose amongst the Turks, which of them should succeed in their father's kingdom. For neither of them was present at Constantinople when Mahomet died; Bajazet being in Cappadocia, and Demes, in Lycaonia, when great dissension was among the nobles for the succession, and great strife and bloodshed for the matter, the janizaries, who were the Turk's guard, proclaimed Bajazet emperor. Bajazet coming at length from Cappadocia, partly through yielding, partly by corrupting with money, got the wills of the janizaries, and was made emperor. Demes, the other brother, being in Lycaonia more near, although he made no less speed in his coming, yet was prevented by Bajazet, and excluded out of Constantinople. Wherefore, he being put back from all hope of his kingdom, incited by some of his friends, moved war against his brother; but being overcome in three battles by Ahmet, Bajazet's captain, fled to the great master of Rhodes, leaving in a place called Carræ, his mother and two young children, whom Bajazet slew.

This Demes being with the master of the knights of Rhodes, was sent to the bishop of Rome, where being kept, and afterwards sent to Charles VIII., for an hostage of Pope Alexander VI. was poisoned by the way by Pope Alexander, as is before declared. After whose death, Bajazet, to requite Ahmet for his good service, put him to the halter, partly suspecting his power, partly for lucre sake, to have his treasure: his death was of great profit to the christians, as he was ever an utter enemy to the religion and name of Christ.

Bajazet thus being confirmed in his tyranny, made his expedition against Wallachia, where he subdued two great forts. From thence he removed his power, taking his voyage into Asia, thinking to be revenged of the sultan of Egypt, where he lost two great battles, the one fought at Adena, the other at Tarsus; but especially at Tarsus, the army of the Turk was so overthrown, that of an hundred thousand brought into the field, scarce the third part remained unslain.

Thus Bajazet being overthrown and terrified with evil luck, fighting against the sultan of Egypt, removed from Asia, and directed his army into Europe. Leading his army against the Venetians, he had with them many and doubtful conflicts, where the Turk was sometimes put to the worse, and sometimes again prevailed; out of Jadra and other cities about Dalmatia, he carried away great multitudes of christians into captivity, about

A. D. 1498.

Two years after this, which was A. D. 1500, Bajazet with one hundred and fifty thousand armed men, entered into Peloponnesus; which although Mahomet had overrun before, yet the Venetians had defended Methone, or Modon, all this while against the Turks. The Turk besieged this city with three armies, having about the walls five hundred great brazen cannons, wherewith he bat

tered the city both day and night: but the citizens, who were within the city committing themselves to God, defended their city as well as they could, rather choosing to die than to yield unto the Turk's tyranny. But the Turk prevailing, and they not able to withstand the siege, the christians assembled together into a certain house prepared for the purpose, both men, women, and children; where they setting the house on fire, gave themselves rather to be burned than to come into the tyrant's hands. Certain women also, with their children, cast themselves headlong into the sea, by that means to avoid the Turkish captivity. Some writers affirm that the Methonians, seeing five great ships of the Venetians coming with men and provisions toward them, issued down from the walls to the sea side to receive them; but were all taken captives, being above the number of a thousand: and all being tied with long ropes, were brought before the tyrant, and in his sight were cruelly slain, except certain nobles, whom Cherseogles, son-in-law to Bajazet, got pardoned, amongst whom was Andreas Gritto.

The Turk had to maintain war in Asia against Ismail Sophi or king of Persia. Which Sophi was stirred up by God's providence to war with this Bajazet, whereby the christian churches in Europe might have some breathing time, and freedom from the Turk's cruel tyranny and bloodshed. This Sophi was a valiant Turk, who with great power and victories had overrun a great compass of the eastern parts of Asia; and defeated many of the generals of Bajazet.

Thus, through the admirable example of God's justice and providence, were these Turks kept occupied, and so came it to pass, that these barbarians being blasphemous against the Son of God, should thus horribly run on to the destruction one of another, being worthily punished with mutual slaughter and bloodshed for their impiety and blasphemy against Christ and his religion, whereby in the meantime some rest was given to the christians.

Bajazet, partly by these victories discouraged, partly diseased and languishing of the gout, and partly also broken with age, finding himself unequal to the government of that tumultuous kingdom, began to talk with his nobles about the choosing of one to succeed him. The occasion whereof ministered much matter of inward wars among the Turks. This Bajazet had in all six sons, whereof three died before him, and three were yet left alive; to wit, Ahmet, Korkud, and Selim. Bajazet himself had most mind to Ahmet, but the chief of his nobles rather favoured Selim; and provoked him to stir up war against his father and though that he was overcome in war, yet through intercession he was reconciled to his father, and is afterwards proclaimed emperor again against his father's will, through the help and favour of the soldiers, entering the first beginning of his kingdom, with the murdering of his own father. The story in some authors is thus declared.

After the janizaries had persuaded Bajazet that as he himself was unwieldly, he should therefore do well to constitute some successor, and having assigned Ahmet to succeed him; the janizaries being offended with Ahmet, because he would not enlarge their stipends, and bribe them, compassing about the king's palace with their privy swords which they had under their garments, with a mighty cry, required Selim to be appointed for their emperor. When Bajazet had answered, that he had assigned Ahmet, they refused him, because he was fat, gross, and unable thereto; but needs would have Selim, who was stout and warlike, as their emperor: and withal they drew out their swords, crying Selim, Selim! Then Bajazet, giving place to their fury, shewed himself content to give them Selim; whom the janizaries receiving, brought into the palace: Bajazet his father giving place to him, desires him not to be so hasty and furious in his doings, but to be modest and take heed what he did, and not to follow his fury, but to give place to time, which reveals all things, and think himself to be a man subject to dangers and jeopardies as other men are: and thus speak

Who

ing, he resigned his imperial throne and seat to him, and went away all heavy, entering into a certain order of their religion. Whereupon followed great acclamations of the people, saluting Selim as emperor. then taking the rule upon him, began to govern with great cruelty, destroying many of his nobles, such as had stood against him, some with poison, some by other cruel means, and advancing his own side, with great honours and promotions.

Not long after Selim was thus settled in his kingdom, Bajazet his father, intending to see and prove how he behaved himself in his government, first entered into his treasure-house, where he found all his riches to be scattered and gone. Afterward he came into his armory, where all the spoils gotten by war were likewise wasted; then he entered into the jewel-house, where all his plate and gifts sent from kings and princes were kept, which likewise were dispersed and given away. At length he came into the stable, where also he seeing his principal horses to be wanting, sighing with himself, and crying vengeance upon him, he prepared himself, with the rest of the treasure which was remaining, to sail over into Natolia to his eldest son; and passing by an orchard near the sea-side, where he had appointed to take ship, he sat down under a tree, and began to curse his son, and to ask vengeance upon him, for that he had so despised his father, and was become so impious a wretch.

Selim hearing of his father's departure came into the orchard where he was, and seeming to be very heavy, and much lamenting that his father would so depart and go away, seeing that he desired not the government of the empire, but was contented only with the title thereof. "O father, (said he) do not thus privily depart away; do not procure this shame to your son, who so tenderly loves you. Let me have but the name only, and be you the emperor indeed. The end of your natural life most patiently I shall expect, which I pray God may long continue." And thus using many fair and flattering words to his father, he commanded a banquet with many dainty delicacies to be brought to him, but tempered and infected with poison. Which as soon as Bajazet had begun to taste, and felt the strength of the poison working in his body, he took his last farewell of his son, and going out of the city accompanied with a great retinue of men, yelling and crying out in the streets, in the middle of his journey he fell down and miserably died, (A. D. 1512.) Here mayest thou see, good reader, a cursed brood of this Turkish generation, where the father dies in cursing the son, and the son reigns by poisoning his father.

XI. SELIM I. After this wretched Selim had exercised his barbarous cruelty upon his father, with like impiety he seeks the destruction of his brethren and their children, first beginning his murder with the five children his nephews, which were the sons of his three brethren who had previously died, then remained his other two brethren yet alive, Ahmet and Korkud with their children, likewise to be destroyed. Of whom the one had three sons, whom the father sent to Selim his brother, and their uncle, with fair and gentle words, to entreat him to be good to their father, offering to him their duty and service in all things, honouring him also as emperor. But cruel Selim commanded forthwith his nephews to be strangled. The father hearing of the cruel murder of his sons, leaving house and home, went and hid himself in the mountains, where he lived for a space with herbs and wild honey; but being betrayed by one of his men, he was brought to Selim, and so was strangled.

The wars and conquests of this Selim were very many in various parts of Asia. From thence triumphing he departed to Constantinople, intending to spend the rest of his time in persecuting the christians; but in that mean space he was stricken with a cankered sore inwardly, and died after he had reigned about eight years (A.D. 1520.)

The reign of this Turk was but short in number of years; but in number of his murders and cruel blood

shed it might seem exceedingly long, which lived more like a beast than a man, for he never spared any of his friends or kindred. His father first he poisoned, his brethren and all his cousins he quelled, leaving none of all his kindred alive. Moreover, his chief and principal captains for small occasions he put to death, as Mustapha, Calogere, Chendeme, Bostang his son-in-law, and Juno Bassa.

It is said that he intended the poisoning of his own son Solyman, sending to him a shirt infected with a poison, because he seemed something freely to speak against the cruel demeanour of his father; but by means of his mother, the gift being suspected, was given to another who was his chamberlain, who putting on the shirt was struck with the poison, and died.

As to this Turk Selim, by the way here may be noted how the secret providence of the Lord kept him occupied with his Turkish wars at home, while the reformation of christian religion here in Europe, begun by Martin Luther, might the more quietly take some root without disturbance or interruption. For so it appears, that in the days of this Selim, Martin Luther first began to write against the pope's indulgences, which was A.D. 1516.

XII. SOLYMAN-the only son of Selim, succeeded after his father's death. In the beginning he seemed to some to be simple and sheepish, and not meet for the Turkish government. Wherefore certain of his nobles, consulting how to depose him, intended to set up another em. peror. In which conspiracy especially are named Cajerbeius and Gazelli. This Cajerbeius was he that betrayed Campson the sultan of Egypt to Selim, who now also being in consultation with Gazelli and others about this matter, detected them also to Solyman. Wherefore Gazelli and his fellows being thus detected, were put to death by Solyman, proving that he was not so sheepish as he was thought of them to be, and as by his acts afterwards more fully appeared.

Solyman, after this execution of the conspirators, taking his voyage into Europe, first besieged Belgrade, which being a city in Hungary, was the strongest fort of all the Roman empire, and the chief defence at that time of all Christendom. The kingdom of Hungary at that time was under the government of Lewis, a young king without experience or knowledge. Whom other princes, and especially the covetous churchmen, so plundered, that they left him nothing but the bare name and title of his kingdom, by which, he being unsupplied both with men and money, was unable to match with such an enemy.

Another advantage also which the Turks had in besieging Belgrade, was that the christian princes at that time were in civil dissension and variance among themselves, and the pope with his churchmen also were so busy in suppressing Luther, and the gospel then newly springing, that they minded nothing else, except it were to maintain their wealth: which pope if he had set his care (as his duty was) so much in stirring up princes against the common enemy, as he was bent to deface the gospel, and to persecute the true professors thereof, it might have brought to pass that Belgrade might have been defended against the Turk.

Certainly whatever the pope then did, this had been his duty, setting all other things aside, to have had an earnest compassion of so many miserable and lost captives, who were fallen from their faith and religion into the misery and slavery of the Turk, and thraldom of the devil, and to have sought all means possible to have brought them, as lost sheep, into the fold again; which might have been done, if prelates and princes, joining together in christian concord, had loved so well the public glory of Christ, and souls of christians, as they regarded their own private, worldly, and frivolous quarrels. And even supposing that the pope had conceived never so much malice against Luther, and supposing his quarrel also to be good, yet the public church standing in such danger, as it then did by the invasion of the Turk, reason would, nature led, religion taught, time required, that a good prelate, forgetting lighter matters, should

rather have laid his shoulder to the excluding of so great a danger, as was then imminent to himself and the universal church of Christ; but now his quarrel being unjust, and the cause of Luther being most just and godly, what is to be said or thought of such a prelate, who forbearing the Turk, whom in a time so dangerous he ought chiefly to have resisted, persecuted the truth which he should specially have maintained?

Solyman therefore taking this occasion, while our princes were thus at variance, without any resistance or interruption brought his army to Belgrade (A.D. 1521); which city being but slenderly defended, the Turk through his underminers, guns, and other engines of war, without great difficulty, and with little loss of his soldiers, soon subdued and overcame it.

After this victory Solyman resting himself a whole year, and casting in his mind how to make all sure behind him, thought it expedient for his purpose if he might obtain the island of Rhodes, for that was the only christian place that remained between him and Asia; wherefore the next year he brought his army of four hundred and fifty ships, and three hundred thousand men, to the besieging thereof. This Rhodes was a mighty and strong island. The inhabitants at the first manfully resisted the Turk, sparing no labour nor pains for the defence of themselves and of all Christendom ; but afterwards being brought to extremity, and pinched with penury, seeing also no aid come from the christians, they began to languish in themselves. The Turks in the meantime casting up two great mountains with strength of hand, two miles off from the city, like rolling trenches carried them before them near to the city, in the tops whereof they planted their ordnance and artillery to batter the city. The master of the knights of Rhodes was then one Philip Villadamus, a Frenchman, in whom no diligence was wanted requisite to the defence of the city. The Rhodians likewise so valiantly behaved themselves upon the walls, that with their shot all the ditches about the city were filled with the carcases of dead Turks. Besides this, such a disease reigned in the Turk's camp, that thirty thousand of them died; and yet for all this Solyman would not cease from his siege. At length, by underminers casting down the ramparts, and outermost parts of the city, he won ground still more and more upon the Rhodians, and with mortar-pieces so battered the houses, that there was scarcely a free place standing in all the city. And thus the siege continued for the space of five or six months, and yet all this while no help came to them from the christians. Wherefore they being out of all hope, through the advice of Villadamus, yielded themselves to the Turk, upon condition that he would spare them with life and goods, which convention the Turk kept with them faithfully and truly.

Thus Solyman to his great glory, and to the utter shame of all christian princes, and to the ruin of all Christendom, got the noble Isle of Rhodes, although not without great loss of his army, so that at one assault twenty thousand Turks about the walls were slain with fire, sword, stones, and other engines. Whereby it may be conjectured what these Rhodians might or would have done, if succour had come to them from other christian princes as they looked for. This city was won upon Christmas-day, A.D. 1522.

This conquest of Rhodes being secured, Solyman the fourth year after brings back his army into Hungary, where he found none to resist him but Lewis the young king, who being accompanied with a small army, and not able to match with the Turk, yet of a hasty rashness and vain hope of victory, would needs set upon him, who if he had staid but a little had prospered the better. For John Vaivoda, a captain well exercised in Turkish wars before, was not far off, coming with a sufficient force of able soldiers; but Paulus the archbishop of Colosse, a Franciscan friar, a man more bold than wise, with his temerity and rashness troubled all their doings. For the whole sum of the army of the Hungarians contained in all but only twenty-four thousand horsemen and footmen, who at length coming to the battle, and being compassed about

with a great multitude of the Turk's army, were brought into great distress. The Turks twice shot off their pieces against the christian army, yet scarce was any christian touched, which was thought to be done on purpose, because they were christians who had the ordering of the guns, for then the special gunners of the Turks were christians, whom for the sake of their gunnery they spared. Then the Turk's horsemen, coming upon the rear of the christian army, compassed them about, and by reason of their multitude overcharged their horsemen. Among whom was slain at the same time the archbishop of Colosse, with the bishops of Strygone and Varadine, and many other nobles beside. Also the king himself was compelled to fly into a marsh, where falling from his horse, being heavy laden with the harness, he was not able to rise again, but there miserably perished.

Solyman the Turk marvelled at the foolishness of Lewis, who with so small an army would presume to encounter with such a great host of two hundred thousand. This battle in Hungary was fought A.D. 1526.

After the decease of Lewis, Ferdinand succeeded in the kingdom, being duke of Austria and king of Hungary. Then Solyman, setting contention between John Vaivoda and Ferdinand for the kingdom of Hungary, marched to the city of Buda, which also in short time he made to surrender upon condition that they should escape with their lives and goods.

In the year 1529, Ferdinand, king of Hungary, recovered several holds, and warring against John Vaivoda his enemy, expelled him out of his kingdom. Whereupon Vaivoda, flying to the Turk, desired his aid. The Turk, glad to take that occasion, with great preparation addressed himself to return into Hungary, where recovering again the city of Buda, which Ferdinand had got from him a little before, he removed his army into Austria, spoiling and destroying by the way all that came to his hands, shewing many examples of great cruelty and tyranny most lamentable to hear and understand. For of some he put out their eyes, of some he cut off their hands, of some their ears and noses. And these examples of horrible and barbarous tyranny this wretched Turk perpetrated by the way coming toward Vienna, a noble city in Austria, besides the captives which he took by the way and led into most miserable slavery, amounting to the number of thirty thousand.

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

Of whom when the Turk had understanding how all things stood, and how there were but twenty thousand men in Vienna able to bear armour, and that other cities of Austria would soon yield if that were taken, and that Vienna was victualled but for two months, and that the king was of late in Bohemia; the Turk being certified of all things, having no doubt in his mind of victory, made speed toward Vienna; and first coming to Neapolis, a city but eight miles distant from Vienna, he required them to yield themselves; who notwithstanding withstood, and repulsed them valiantly. Then the Turks assigned a place for the pitching of their tents. and because it seemed somewhat too little for such a great multitude, they took in more ground to the compass of seven miles circuit. The multitude of his army, which he there planted, is accounted of some to extend to two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers. The Turk thus being planted, made daily excursions over all the country of Austria, especially about the city of Vienna, wasting

and spoiling with great cruelty and murder among the poor christians.

Moreover, to make all things more sure toward the preparation of the siege, scouts were sent abroad and ambushments were laid about the side of the river Danube, to provide that no aid nor provisions should be brought to Vienna. It so pleased the Providence of the Lord (who disposes all things) that three days before the coming of the Turk, Frederick the earl palatine, who was then assigned by the empire to take the charge of Vienna, was come down by the river Danube, with fourteen thousand men, and with a certain troop of horsemen, well appointed and picked for the purpose. After the coming of this Frederick, provision also was appointed to follow shortly after by the river.

In the mean time, they who had the carriage and transport, hearing how the ways were laid, and all the passages ten miles about Vienna stopped by the Turks, although they knew the city to stand in great need of provisions, yet seeing there was no other remedy, rather than it should come to the enemy's hand, thought it best to sink their boats with their carriage, and so they did. Whereby although the christians wanted their relief, yet were the Turks disappointed of their prey and purpose.

The captains who had the keeping of the city, were chiefly Frederick the earl palatine, William Rogendorf, and Nicolas earl of Salme, they seeing themselves so straightened contrary to their expectation, although they had great causes to be discouraged, yet calling their courage to them, they consulted together for the best way to be taken; and seeing that the little city of Neapolis (above mentioned) being eight miles distant from them, so valiantly withstood the Turks, that in one day they sustained seven assaults against all the main force of the Turkish army; by their example and manful standing being the more animated and encouraged, they determined to abide the utmost before they would give over; and first plucking down all the suburbs and buildings without the walls whereby the enemy might have any succour, they commanded all the farmers and inhabitants about the city to save themselves, and to bring in their goods within the walls. Such places as were weak within the walls, they made strong. About the towers and munition of the walls they provided ramparts and bulwarks distant eighty feet one from another, to keep off the shot; and every man had his place and standing awarded to him upon the wall, and his office appointed what to do; but especially that side of the city which lies to the river Danube, they fortified after the best manner; for that way only now remained for victuals to be transported from the Bohemians to them. Wherefore eight ensigns were assigned to the keeping of the bridge, and in the plain, which was like an island enclosed within the river, a sufficient garrison of horsemen were placed, lying within the gunshot of the city, that if any grain or victuals were sent from the Bohemians, they might provide the same safely to be brought into the city.

These things thus being disposed and set in order, Lord William Rogendorff, to try the strength of the Turks, made divers sallies out with his horsemen, although much against the minds of the Austrians; who, knowing the manner of the Turks, thought it better to suffer them, while either they might be wearied with time, or consumed for lack of victuals. Among many skirmishes which the christians had with the Turks, one especially was unfortunate to our men; in which certain of the horsemen spying a small troop of the Turks scattering abroad from their company, made out after them, who suddenly and guilefully were enclosed by the Turks, before they could recover the gates of the city, and so were all taken alive; of whom three were sent from the Turks into the city, to declare to the Viennians what strength they had seen in the camp of their adversaries, and to solicit them to yield their city for fear of punishment which would follow. The rest they reserved to torments and punishment, whom in the sight of the whole army, and of the christians (who should tell the same to the citizens) they caused every man to be drawn

with four horses a-pieces, and so to be dismembered and plucked asunder.

After this was done, the barbarous Turk immediately sent his herald to talk with the captains of the city, whether they would yield the city upon honest conditions, or else would abide the arbitrement of war. If they would gently submit themselves, they should have all gentleness shewed to them. If they would be stubborn, and stand to their defence, he would also stand to his siege, so that he would spare neither man, woman, or child. To this the captains answered again, that they were contented that Solyman should stand to his siege, and do his utmost, what he would, or what he could. As for them, they were resolved to defend themselves and their city so long as they could; the event and issue of victory, they said, was doubtful, and many times it happens, that they who begin the war, are wearied sooner than they who are challenged.

Solyman, disdaining this answer, first burning and consuming all the villages, houses and places round about the city, poisoning the springs and fountains which gave water to the city, and so stopping all passages that no relief should have way to them, began to approach the city, with three great camps; sending word in scorn and contumely by one of his captains, that if they stood in need of soldiers, he would send to them the three hundred Bohemians (mentioned a little before) to aid them in their defence. To whom the palatine directed answer again, that they had more soldiers in the city than they needed. As for the Bohemians who had yielded, he might do with them what he would, for Vienna stood in no great need of them.

In the mean time a messenger coming from Ferdinand was privately let in by night into the city, he brought word that they should occupy the men in keeping out the enemy awhile; for it would not be long, but both Ferdinand and Charles his brother, with the strength of all Germany, would be ready to rescue them. At this message the hearts of the soldiers began somewhat to be cheered, and to contemn the multitude of the adversaries, whose army extended in compass seven miles round the city walls.

In the meantime Solyman beat down to the ground the ramparts, with all the suburbs of the city, and in such a short time, that the hearts of the inhabitants were appalled with fear, lest the Turk with celerity and violence should prevail against the walls, as he did in beating down the ramparts. And no doubt the Turk had put the city in great hazard, had not night coming on broken off the siege for that day.

In the mean time the citizens laboured all night in repairing and refreshing the walls, to make all things sure against the next assault. The next day early in the morning, the Turks approaching the city again for a new assault, thinking to scale the walls, were so repulsed and manfully resisted by the Germans, that the ditches about the walls could not be seen for the bodies of the dead Turks that filled them; so that the Turks were obliged to fight standing upon the bodies of the

slain.

It happened at the same time, that a company of the Turks being seen wandering out of order, the Captain Rogendorff with two legions of horsemen issuing out of the city gate called Salmaria, and passing closely under the hill's side, so set upon them, that they slew a great number of them; the rest driven to take the river, they destroyed, and so retired back to the city again. By this victory the Captain Rogendorff began to be terrible to the Turks. For in the skirmish (as afterwards was known) were slain so many, that of five thousand and three hundred horsemen and footmen, scarce one hundred and forty escaped alive.

Solyman thought to try this matter another way, and so bringing his forces toward the gate called the King's Gate, there making his trenches and bulwarks, planted his ordnance, with the violence whereof the walls were so battered and shaken, that no man was able to stand there. The Turk, seeing two great breaches made in the wall, commanded his soldiers in the dark smoke of the gunpowder, to press into the city. The same also

was done at the Scottish Tower, by which the city was invaded in two places at one time. The inhabitants at first began to withstand them, new soldiers still coming in the place of them that were slain; and so this assault continuing more than six hours together, our men began at length to languish and faint, not only in strength but also in courage, by which the city was in great danger, had not the two captains, Rogendorff in one place, and the earl of Salme in the other, manfully encouraged the soldiers to abide the brunt, and to bear out awhile the violence of the Turks, promising that immediately they should have aid from Ferdinand.

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

When Solyman saw his army the second time repulsed, he began to attempt a new way, purposing by undermining to overthrow the city; in which work especially, he used the help of the Illyrians, of whom he had a great number in his camp, expert in that kind of feat. These Illyrians beginning to break the earth at the gate Carinthia, and coming near the foundations of the tower, which they had attempted to burst into, could not work so closely under the ground, but that they were perceived by certain men above; who, countermining against them, and filling their trenches as they went with gunpowder, so conveyed their train, that when fire should be set to it, the violence should burst out by the trenches of the enemies; which done, suddenly the ground beneath made a great shaking, so that the tower did cleave asunder, and all the underminers of the Turks, working in their trenches, were smothered and destroyed, which came to the number (as it was supposed afterward) of eight thousand persons.

When Solyman saw that this way also would not serve, and had private intelligence that the walls about the gates of Stubarium were negligently kept, and that he might have there more easy entrance; he secretly moved about ten garrisons of fresh soldiers, so as the townsmen should not perceive them: who came so suddenly upon them, that they had filled their ditches, and were upon the top of the fortresses, before our men were aware of them, or could make themselves ready to resist them. For although there was no lack of soldiers within the city, yet the whole brunt of the siege lay especially at the two gates, from whence the soldiers could not be well removed; men however were sent to the spot now attacked. And thus the assault continued terrible and doubtful until (the dark night coming upon them) they could not well know the one from the other. In this affair there were counted of the Turks to be slain more than five thousand.

Then the Captain Rogendorff, commending the valiant standing of his soldiers, providing with all diligence against another assault, made up the breaches of the walls, and prepared all things necessary for resistance. The next morning, which was dark and misty, the Turks thinking to anticipate our men with their sudden coming, began again busily to mount upon the top of the walls.

It would require a long treatise here to describe the great distress and danger that the city was in those three days following. During all which time there was no rest, no intermission, nor diligence wanting either in the enemy's fighting against the city, or in our men in defending the same. For the Turks, besides the great ordnance, wherewith (as with a great tempest of gunst) they never ceased battering the walls, and beating the fortifications of the city, sent also such heaps and multitudes of the Turks, to the scaling and climbing of the walls, that notwithstanding all the defeats, the number of them never seemed diminished; till at last the soldiers of the Turks, perceiving themselves able by no means to prevail, but only run in danger of life, and to do no good, began to wrangle amongst themselves, repining

against their dukes and captains, imputing the whole cause to them, that the city was yet untaken, and so the siege ceased for that time.

After this, when Solyman had purposed with his last and strongest siege to try the city the utmost that he was able to do, and had encouraged his soldiers to prepare themselves: the soldiers shewed themselves very unwilling to return again from whence they were so often repulsed before; so that a great commotion began to rise in the Turk's camp. When the rumor came to Solyman's ears, he sends his grand captain to keep all the soldiers in order and obedience, or if they would be stubborn, to compel them, whether they would or not, to accomplish his commandment, who coming to the soldiers shewed to them the great Turk's message, and to animate and encourage them, declared that the opportunity was not to be neglected, neither could they now without great shame give over, after so many assaults, who, if they would sustain but one brunt more, the vic tory were in their own hands. The townsmen, he said, were wasted, and their victuals spent; and the more to inflame their minds, he promised them not only great thanks and reward of their emperor, but also the whole spoil of the city.

But when all this could not stir up the tired Turks, using compulsion where persuasion would not serve, he appointed a number of horsemen to be set at their backs to force them either to go forward, or if they refused to destroy them with guns and spears. The Turks seeing themselves in such a straight, that whether they went or tarried it was to them the same peril, yet they would not set forward except the captain would take the lead before them, who thus spake: "Forsake your faith and allegiance, and betray the emperor of Constantinople to the christians if you will; but I will discharge my duty towards the commonwealth and my emperor;" and with that word advanced his ensign, making toward the city walls. When others followed him, and still more and more pressed after him, it came to pass that whole bodies of them were overthrown and slain by our men upon the walls, before it was known what they meant. Others terrified by their example gave back and left their array, and winding themselves by by-ways and under covert of the hills, returned again to their tents, and so came it to pass, that the strength of the enemies daily more and more decreasing, they had less hope every day of obtaining the city. For besides the innumerable slaughter of Turks upon the walls, the townsmen also watching the forages and purveyors of the Turks, as they ranged about for victuals for the camp, as occasion served them encompassed them, and encountered with them, so that of a whole legion scarcely the tenth part returned alive, by which the courage of the enemy began greatly to faint. As our men began to receive more hope and courage, so the Turks began still more to droop and to languish with despair, so that at length they scarce durst appear without the bounds where they were entrenched, but only in light skirmishes, when they were challenged by our men to come out and to shew themselves.

Solyman perceiving his soldiers thus daily to go to wreck, of whom he had lost already more than eighty thousand, and that with long tarrying he could do no good, being also in lack of forage, for the country about him was wasted, he began to consult with his captains and counsellors, what remained best to be done. The most part advised him to raise his siege, and provide for himself. The chief motive was, that he heard Frederick, the Palatine, was coming with a great army at Ratisbon towards Vienna. When Solyman had intelligence of this, thinking it not best to wait the coming of the Palatine, made haste with bag and baggage to remove his camp, and to retire; and first sending his carriage before him, he made speed himself with his army to follow shortly after.

The Viennians, when they heard of the departure of the Turks, although at the first they scarcely believed it to be true, being afterward certified of their removing, and how it was in a manner of a flight, were greatly desirous to make out of the city after them. In which, although the

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