NEVVES FROM ROME, Venice, and Vienna, touching the present proceedinges of the Turkes against the Christians in Austria, Hungarie, and Heluetia, otherwise called Seuenbergh.
Also the true Copie of a Lamentable Petition exhibited in the names of the afflicted Christians in those parts, to the Christian Kingdomes in the VVest.
Printed at London by Iohn Danter, for Thomas Gosson, and are to be sold at his shop adioyning to London Bridge Gate. 1595.
NEVVES FROM ROME, Venice, & Vienna, touching the present proceedinges of the Turkes against the Christians in Austria, Hungarie, and Heluetia, otherwise called Seuenbergh. Also the true Copie of a Lamentable Petition exhibited in the names of the afflicted Christians in those parts, to the Christian Kingdomes in the VVest.
MEns vnbeléeuing harts hasten too late repentance, and the vnwillingnesse of Christians either to assist other, giues way for Infidels to insult ouer all.
Christs Prophecie is nowe performde, the daies waxe worse and worse, & charitie is growne colde: For if mercie had had any gouernment among Christian men, so many beauteous. Townes, goodly Cities, glorious Kingdomes had not (as nowe they are) either béene vtterly made waste, or suffered the woefull bondage of Turkish [Page] tyrannie. The flourishing Churches to which Christs Apostles writ, and in which they and the first Fathers of the Church laboured, are now the receptacles of vnhallowed multitudes, and onely a small corner of the earth professeth Christ. One Christian suffering another to be as easilie consumed, as an idle or enuious townesman his neighbour helplesly to be robbed or burned: Els had not all Asia, some of Affricke, and so much of Europe, suffred so great and irrecouerable slauish bondage. Howe many goodly Nations the vnbeléeuing offspring of Ottoman, haue subiected, sufficiently too late experience expresseth, and the purpose of the common enemie to subiect the rest, immediate proofe explaineth.
Amurath now Emperour of Turkey, glorying in the vsurped seate of the Greekish Emperre, not long since subiected by Mahomet the sonne of Amurath his predecessour, ambitiously by his tyrannous Bassaes incited, hath attempted the affliction of Austria, the vnconquered part of Hungarie, Poland, Heluetia, and other Kingdomes neighbouring Greece, whose procéedinges since the 25. of December last, till the middle of Ianuarie, this small Pamphlet handleth.
Rab is a towne néere Donow in Hungarie, which in the end of the last Haruest, the Turkes violently after long siege entred, sparing neither age nor sexe, but making the Infants daies equall with the aged Elders, both young and old by their crueltie at once perished. The winning of which place hath not smally weakned the other Forts of Hungaria, in the Christians power. After they had tyrannously insulted ouer Rab, they immediatlie bent their forces against Comar, the people of which Citie assisted by the hand of God, and resolued rather to die than subiect themselues to the slauerie of Infidels, valiantly defended [Page] themselues, and violently compelled, the huge multitude of the Turkes to raise their siege and retire to Rab which they had lately taken. From sundry parts of Christendome since the 25. of December these certaine and vnreprooueable intelligences haue béene sent: videlicet, it is certified from Rome the last of Ianuarie.
The Emperours Maiesties Legates had audience before the Pope, who desired a subsidie should be leuied on the Cleargie, for the cutting off of an Arme of the Riuer of Donow, that falls in by Comar, thereby not only to defend the said towne and the parts thereabouts, but also to hinder the Turkes from entercourse to Oouen: and besides it would bee a meane to spare many Souldiers that must be imployed in these parts. To this the Pope condiscended; with promise to aide the Emperour with all he might. Iustiniano is appointed the Collector.
The same time also it was certified that the great Master of Malta was reconciled, béeing authorised from the Pope to be accountable to no Estate.
It is also concluded, that the Prince of Seuenbergh, otherwise called Heluetia, vpon whose burden the first war betwéene the Turkes and Christians must néedes lye, shall haue 20000. Crownes monthly to maintaine the warre, and if (which God forbid) he be expulsed Heluetia, he shall haue some dominion allotted him in the Emperie and 200000. crownes yearely.
Moreouer at Rome the same day arriued this newes, that the Archbishop of Toledo in Spaine, being ninetie foure yeares of age deceased, and left behinde him a Million of readie money, halfe a Million in debts, and sixe hundred thousand Crownes in Plate, Roabes, costly apparrell and other Iewels: [Page] Making fiue Executors; of which the King of Spain is principall, who hath obtained that his money should be imployed to the Churches vse, séeing the saide Archbishop had bequeathed nothing to his kindred, whom belike he prouided for in his life time.
Alberto the Cardinall succéeding in the Bishopricke and possessing these goods, hath granted halfe of them to be imployed against the Turkes.
LEtters came from Syria, certifiying, the Sycalla or Admirall with the Gallies are come to Constantinople, and that a great Armatho is prouiding against Hungarie by Sea.
It is likewise certefied to that state of Venice from Halow, by reason of the great frost and snowe, the Cytrons, Lymons, Oringes, and such frute were all spoiled, that woulde bee great impeachment to the Turkes prouision.
Also the eleuenth of Ianuarie there came a Post from Paris to Venice, that certified them of the French Kings hurt: and the same Post saide, that as he passed on his way by Lyons, he heard of some commotion at Marsilles, whence sundrie Noble men are fled.
AT fiue of the Clocke that day in the morning, came these ill newes: that eight hundred Turks some on foote but most part horse, came from Rab to saint Georgen, and that the fift daie of this said month the Turkes had taken Prûg nere Leyten, and burned the Cities and Country of the Lord Herryth, making [Page] excursions within eight myles of Vienna, murdring the people, or making them slaues, robbing, spoiling and burning the whole Countrey, and threatening within few daies to gather head against Vienna.
Likewise the said 11. of Ianuarie, a Gouernour of horsemen (being in a Hold hard by) required to haue aid: and the Magistrates of Vienna haue taken order that euerie Citizen (according to his abilitie) should kéepe a proportion of horse and footmen, till other preparation may be made.
The Graue Hardigh beeing taken prisoner by the Turkes, sought to breake prison, his brother hauing prouided a ladder of roapes for his escape, and fortie horse for his rescue: but it was discouered, and they all slaine or taken.
Thrée sodaine fiers haue béen lately in Vienna, yet by Gods great mercie but one house at a time burnt: neuerthelesse the fearfull multitude conster it to be an ominous presage of sad misfortune.
THis day the Emperours Ambassadours returned to Prage, from the King of Poland, with this answere: That the Polonians would willingly assist the Emperour, vpon condition the Emperour would doo asmuch for him, if the Turke should moue warre vpon Polonia: of which to be resolued, hee requireth the Princes Electors, to send their Ambassadours to his Parliament holden in Polonia.
Maximilian Archduke of Austria, intends to bée Generall against the Turkes. Charles of Mansfield will come with 3000. horsmen, one thousand of thē being bard, and two Regiments of foote of 6000, are promised out of the lower Germanie to bee sent into [Page] Hungarie with all spéede.
This tenth of Ianuarie a Legate came to the Emperour at Prage, with foure demands from Charles the Duke: first for necessaries concerning his marriage, and relief for thrée yeares, till the warres were somewhat quieted in Hungarie. Secondly, that hée be taken as a Sessor or Prince in the Emperie, & incorporated in the Kingdome of Hungarie, conditioning, that if he died without issue male, his lands being Moldau, Walachia, and Bulgaria, shall come to the succéeding Kings of Hungarie. Thirdly, that the Emperour would send him foure thousand horsemen at his proper charge. Fourthly, that the Emperour should not enter into peace with the Turke, without his knowledge. But what the Emperour resolues to answere is not yet knowne.
THe last night in the euening Syfrid van Colneyt sent his seruant to Vienna, certifiyng the State that the Turks and Tartars in great numbers were come ouer the passage at Altenbergh, and fired a towne called saint Peters, and remained that night at saint Iohns. But the day before they were at saint Nicholas, Sturne, Cabastain, Somerain, Zuidenbergh, and other neighbouring places betweene Altenbergh and Prage, and he feared, they had taken some of those places, spoyled the people, and hazarded Altenbergh, by reason there was but two hundred men at Armes therein, the enemie beeing twentie thousand strong, and very well furnished with all munition.
Presently the same day came another messenger, certifiyng that the enemie is come to Prage and [Page] Men eshoffen, firing many townes, killing multitudes of people, and taking diuers prisoners, so that Altenbergh is in great danger to be taken away, as Rab.
THE seconde of this month came the Ambassadours from Seuenbergh, the chiefe mans name beeing Bapteri Istuan, accompanied with them of Moldau, and were lodged at the Lorde of Westernahers, next day they had audience before Maximilian the Emperours brother.
About foure a clocke in the afternoone they came to Iohn de Medices, and the fourth day iourneyed to Prage to the Emperour.
Two daies after came tydinges that fiftéene thousand Turkes were come to Rab with intention to take Altenbergh, which they may easily doo, by reason the riuers are so extreamely frozen, and the helpe so small.
Presently after came worse newes, that foure and twenty thousand Turkes were entred Austria: wherfore that euening euery thirtith man was chosen in that Citie, beside the quarter of Vienna Wald, who were mustred the seauenth of this month at Brûg vnder Leyther.
By the last Parlament, all things stand as before, but the enemie growes very strong, our souldiers for want of pay beeing vnwilling to serue: Certaine of the Generall of Seeneberghs souldiers mutening for want of pay, are gone vpward into the Emperie, and will make vs haue a very ill name: The money which they receiued, they left word should pay for their horses.
One of my Lord the Dukes seruaunts, that was sent to the Lord Haunce Wererne, Generall for the Margraue of Bourgan toward Nysadell, brought tidings, that the Turkes and Tartars did great harme thereabout, none resisting them, the people onely determining of flight.
THe Embassadors of Seuenbergh yesterday about twelue a clocke arriued heere, and immediatelye went toward Fishau.
The Spies bring certaine tidings, that the Turks gather in manie thousands about Rab, meaning to spoyle the Countrey about Vienna, for whom they make here great prouision.
The 25. of this month the Turkes set forward toward Seinneyt in Hungarie, but the people of the Country so fiercely assailed them, that there remaind aboue an hundred dead on the place, beside a number that were drowned in flight. Some Turkish prisoners that were there taken, confessed, that the Bassaes purpose immediately after Newyeares day to doo some great exployt.
This last of December, one of our Embassadors came from Seuenbergh, certifying vs the Prince of Seuenbergh greatly endamageth the Turke, taking from him one Hold after another. And that he hath thrée goodly Campes, one lead by Herbart Michael beyond the Donow, to hinder the Turkes passage to Oouen: the other by Istuan Ferran in Lucar, neere Tamusweer: the third by Cornus Iasper from Therneyt: to whom are adioyned of the vpper Hungarians and Gréekish Souldiers, fifteene hundred men at [Page] armes. What their expedition will sort vnto, is onely in the hands of God: and of their successe we looke shortly to heare from Cassau.
THe Turkes and Tartars gather daylie in great multitudes about Iula, lead by the Bassa of Tamusweer, and the Bassa of Selnicke, desirous to doo some seruice (while the Teysca and other waters are frosen) against Tartasail by Teyny. Against whom the Christians on our side make head, looking for certaine knowledge which way they intend to take, and being assured of their march, wee will with them of Seuenbergh méete them, committing our selues to God, in whose quarrell wee willingly lay downe our liues, hoping he will defend his distressed and afflicted flocke.
THe Turkes and Tartars perreyuing our intention to ioyne with the Seuenberghers, are for all theyr great multitudes, fearfully retyred. Neuerthelesse doubting their sodaine returne, wee kéepe verie carefull watch.
The Confession of a Tartarian Horseman taken amongst other Prisoners.
FIrst hee saith, although the Turkish Emperour commaunded them to winter in Hungaria, they notwithstanding went forwarde, hearing their owne Countrey was afflicted, and sending sixtéene [Page] thousand men before, they were all slaine and taken by the Christians of Seuenbergh.
2 Also hee saith, that the King of Tartars sonne, with the rest of the Armie lye about Tamusweer and Wesenbergh, and that of the Tartars onely two thousand shall remaine there.
3 Also he saith, that in the last skirmish thrée hundred Tartars, and one hundred Turkes, all horsemen, were sent to learne if the riuer of Rabnitz were hard frozen to passe or no, but what they haue done hée knowes not, for by the stumbling of his horse he was taken prisoner: but he thinketh they meant to set vppon Capurar.
4 Fourthly, hee knoweth not what number of men were at Cappa, but at Rab there were some fiftéene thousand.
5 Fifthly hee saith, that no more Tartars must come downe, but those that are there, are commaunded to set vpon Erlaw.
6 Sixthly he faith, all those Turkes that came last from Sea, beeing about fiftie thousand, are all perished.
7 Seuenthly hee saith, the Turke hath made peace with the Persian, but because the Souldans sonne is dead at Perto, he knoweth not whether the peace will holde.
8 Eighthly hee saith, hee knoweth not whether [Page] the Souldan will hold warre against the Georgeani or no.
9 Ninthly hee saith, At Comar the Christians slue nine hundred Ianissaries: but at Rab hee knoweth not how manie were slaine, onely he remembreth that some daies thrée, some dayes foure, and some dayes fiue hundred perished.
10 Lastly hee saith, The men of Comar so valiauntly resisted, that the Turkes were not able to continue their siege, but were forced to retyre barke againe to Rab.
The true Copie of a Lamentable Petition exhibited in the names of the afflicted Christians in the East parts, to the Christian Kingdomes in the VVest.
IF either humane pitie (naturally grafted in mans heart) to compassionate the oppressed, or the sweete bandes of Christian Loue wherein you & we (members of one head) are mutually bound either to other: haue anie power to intreate your hartie praiers or speedie help: we humbly beg the one, and beseech the other.
You happie Princes of peopled Kingdomes, and blessed people of those happie Princes: commiserate (for CHRISTES cause) our miserable distresse, that haue no day of happines, no night of rest: but feare within, and terror without, dimmes the brightnes of our day, and doubles the darknes of our night. We heare, (which addeth heauinesse to our greefe) that ciuill warres, priuate quarrells, and vnchristian malice, weakneth the Arme of Christendome, that should be strengthened among you. Alas, what need yee (like the earth-bred brethren) maliciously let [Page] cut each others blood? when ye haue a whole world of enemies to warre against: and wee and you in all but a corner of the earth to oppose our selues against their crueltie.
VVe heare how you prouoke (as wee haue done) by the excesse of sinne, Gods wrathfull and heauie vengeance. Let our pride, be a president for you to learne humblenes: our neglect of God, a warning that you leaue such negligence: our wrath, enuie, and auarice, a meane to make you milde, louing and liberall: our sloth, wantonnes and excesse, to increase your diligence, chastitie and temperance. Now for our rich array we put on sackcloath, our beauteous Ladies sit with teare-distained faces, our Virgines sing not the Hymnes of gladnes, but of sorrow, our Old-men faint feebly in the streete, and our Yongmen prepare themselues to venture their precious liues in open field,
Dere Christian Brethren, turne turne your pitying eyes vppon our prostrate miserie. Remember the willingnes of your fore-fathers in that great Expedition to Ierusalem, vnder the leading of Godfrey Duke of Bulloigne. Then Princes, Noblemen, and well disposed people, came in person from the vtmost VVesterne Kingdomes, euen from England, France, Netherland, and Scotland: the women gaue the souldiers their bracelets of gold and siluer, yea, poore seruants offred of their small wages to mainetaine that holy VVarre. Ah, where is that pitie, care, true loue and mercie now become? The Turkish & vnbeleeuing Enemies are come by manie Kingdoms farre neerer your homes, and your commiseration is by manie degrees farther off. Let Antioch, the first Citie wherein the name of Christians began (nowe made a Synagogue of vnbeleeuing Infidels) moue [Page] ye to compassion. The Candlestickes are remoued from the Churches in Asia as S. Iohn prophecied: the light of Christianitie is wholly extinct among them. In Syria Christs Spouse hath lost her beautie. In the Emperie of Greece, Kingdomes of Epyrus, Lystria, Crete, Cyprus, and other the Mediterranean Nations, CHRIST had (& that within these few yeres) his beloued Vineyard, planted, tended, wel dressed, compassed about. But now the Turkes (like wilde Boares are entred, the Vineyard is wasted. In stead of wine, the earth (in all those and diuers other kingdomes) is drunke with Christian blood: and there is no face of Christianitie left, no outward Church. Let that part of our Kingdomes alreadie lost, & the rest now hazarding, win ye to some compassion.
But it may be, because the Turke is farre off, you thinke he neuer can haue power to hurt ye, you and your children shall be safe. Be not so grose conceipted. Consider, wee had Fathers that gathered for vs, so had the Greekes, and other the forenamed Nations: but now their welth and ours lies open to the Enemie. VVe had houses, but Turkes posses them: Pallaces, but they are spoyled: Churches, but they are prophaned: Cities, but they are wasted: & some more we haue, but how long they shalbe ours, we litle know. And yet within these few yeres, wee were thrice farther off from daunger than you now are. Neither flatter your selues that your Countryes are populous, your Cities strong, your Kingdomes fenced with the Sea: they and we had peopled Kingdomes, fenced Cities, sea-walled Ilands, but all was vaine, they were singled one by one, their neighbors denied them helpe, and first they, then those deniers perished. Such will our case be, if we be not aided: such will yours be, if ye doo not aid vs.
Besides, there is a rumour spred in some partes of Christendome, how the Turkes are iust in keeping faith and promise. O fond and idle beliefe: What faith can they keepe that haue no faith?
Such faith as not long since they kept with that noble Christian Prince of Cyprus, the Turkish Emperour himselfe passing his word vnto him. When that most Princely Christian VVarriour, had defended Famagosta till all munition and vittaile failed: hee and his small companie yet worthely resoluing, intended deerely to sel their liues, and stood valiantly to defend the breaches. The Turke seeing their resolution, offred the Prince, that if hee would surrender the Citie, himselfe and the souldiers, wyth theyr Armes, weapons, and colours displaied, the Princesse with her children, the other women, people, and children of the Citie with bag and baggage should passe quietly through the Turkes Armie, and bee transported to what Hauen in Christendome they desired. The Prince accepted these conditions, the Turkish Emperor confirmed them with an: oath: but (like a false miscreaunt) when they were issued, hee compelled the Prince and the able men to beare burthens of earth vppon their shoulders to repayre the breaches: then commaunded the Princesse, her children, the women and other weake people (after manie shamefull abuses) to be cruelly tortured to death. Then stripped they the Souldiers and chayned them for slaues. Lastly they puld out the wofull Princes eyes, punched his warlike bodie full of hoales, and hangd him on the top mast of their Admirall Galley, more to afflict his poore subiects that rowed there as slaues.
Such faith will they keepe as with the last Emperour of Greece they did: whom (after many frendly [Page] seeming Ambassades) they sodainly besieged in his chiefe Citie Constantinople, and in the chiefe Gate of that Citie, he and his children were found mangled wyth manie wounds, and trampled with their horses feete.
Such faith will they keepe as lately they did wyth vs of Hungarie: Hauing taken certaine yongmen of noble Families. Wee laboured for their libertie to the Bassa of Buda. Their ransome was set downe, and license granted for their frends to bring it. The Bassa himselfe receiued it: and then tyrannouslie to seuerall stakes he tyed the miserable yong Gentlemen naked, and in presence of their friends caused their bodies to be sliced with sharpe kniues, the flesh cast vnto hungrie dogs, and the dead carcasses deliuered their sorrowfull friends for the raunsome they had paid.
This is the Turkish faith, this their vow, this their religion: let no Christian State beleeue them, nor for lucre hold league with them, for they doo await time first to destroy vs, then to extirpate them.
What should wee say that you cannot conceiue, looke on your Cities, Pallaces, Fieldes, Meadowes, walkes, pleasant Gardens, thinke ours were like yours, but nowe are nothing but receptacles of sorrow. Looke on your wiues and beauteous daughters, and remember that we haue such (though not so fortunate) yours safe, ours subiect to rauishment and spoile. Looke on your sonnes and forget not ours, of whom no small number are alreadie with their wofull fathers chained in Turkish slauerie, the rest opposing themselues against their tyrannie. And then remember it is in his quarrell wee striue, that hath promised to reward a cup of colde water giuen in his name: much more reward againe with tenne [Page] folde blessings, your Christian mercie and pittie toward vs.
To him that is able to helpe as well by one as manie, we commit ourselues: and commend the consideration of our miserable estate to your Christian Charities.
Printed at London by Iohn Danter, for Thomas Gosson, and are to be sold at his shop adioyning to London Bridge Gate. 1595.