The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 1 · Biography 6
HVNIADES
The Life of Huniades, Prince of Transilvania, who dyed Anno Christi. 1450.
Huniades was borne in Ʋalachia, of noble Parentage, and endowed with all those vertues which adorne a Prince, and therfore was Anno Christi 1443 made Prince of Transilvania, which at that time was much infested with the incursions of the Turks: He was a politick, pious, valiant, and famous Captaine: his victories so great, that the like were never obtained by any Christian Prince against the Turks, and his name became so dreadfull to them, that they used to stil their crying children with it: At his first coming to his soveraignty, he began to keep the Turks short by cuting them off, whensoever they presumed to enter into his country: He shut up also the passages whereby they used to enter, and so having made Transilvania safe, he went into Moldovia, and never rested till he had quite won it out of the Turks hands: Then he passed over Danubius into their dominions, making havock of all, and carrying back a great booty, and many Captives: At this time Isa Bassa, a great favourite of Amuraths, was governour of Temeswar, and an excellent souldier, he to please the Sultan his uncle, In Hungary.continually forraged the Countrey about Belgrade, burning the villages, driving away the cattel, & taking the people captives: sometimes also he brake into Huniades countrey, laying in everie place as he went strong Ambushes, hoping to entrap that wary Captaine; But Huniades purposing revenge, raised a strong army both of horse and foot; and passed over Danubius, encamping neere to Belgrade: which Isa hearing of, presently set forward with a great army to meet him: And coming on in good order, he found Huniades A great Battell.as ready for the battell as himselfe. The signall of battell being given, there began a great & cruell fight: At the first encounter the wings of Huniades Army were forced to retire, but his men at armes charged with such fury, that many fell on both sides, but most of the Turkes, who were not able long to endure the shock, but were overthrowne by heapes, Turkes beaten.and at last betook themselves to flight, and Isa Beg: with them; Huniades & his Hungarians fiercely pursued to the very suburbs of Sinderovia, so that most of the Turks were slaine, and a rich prey and many prisoners fell to the Christians, which they carried into Belgrade: the fame of this victory coming to Buda to Vladislaus King of Hungary: he caused publick Thankesgiving.thanksgivings in every church, and sent rich presents to Huniades, for his encouragement: Amurath much grieved with this loss, repaired his forces, sending Mesites Bassa (a man of great experience, and valour) with a puissant Army to invade Transilvania, Turkish-crueltie.where he burned all that came in his way, killing man, woman, and child, without respect of age, or sex: Huniades having noe Army to oppose so potent an enemie, was much greived for the spoile of his countrey, and therefore went to Alba Iulia, to the Bishop therof: the Turks came on within sight of the City, laying all wast before them, which so grieved Huniades and the Bishop: that with a tumultuary Army raised in hast, they marched out, either to represse the rage of the Turks, or die honourably: but they quickly fell into ambushments laid by the crafty Bassa to entrap them, and were forced to fly back into the City with some losse: and the Bishop taking a river with his horse was there Huniades in danger flies.slaine by the Turks: Huniades with wonderfull celerity went into the borders of his countrey, perswading all to take Armes, and so having raised some forces, he marched back after the Bassa, who was returning back, loaden with the spoiles of the countrey: Mesites hearing of Huniades approach, proudly answered, Pride.Let him come, and with the spoile of himselfe enrich our victory: yet withall he appointed certaine companies of his best souldiers in the fight to set upon Huniades, knowing that if he were slaine, the rest would easily be put to flight, withall giving them tokens whereby they might know him and his horse: This, Huniades being informed of by a Spie, he changed horse and armour with a valiant gentleman that was like him, appointing him a strong troope of horsmen to attend him, & watching his opportunity, like a violent tempest he fell on the Turkes, and finding them out of order, he slew many of them; but the Troops before appointed, spying the counterfeit Huniades, made towards him as they were ordered, A great battell.where began a cruell fight, but at last the Turkes prevailing, slew him and his guard, though with great losse to themselves: But Huniades himselfe rode up and down in the Army, encouraging his men, and relieving them where was most need; the Transilvanian prisoners in the Turks Camp, choosing rather to die, then to goe into Captivity, in the heat of the fight brake their bonds, and tooke such weapons as came next to hand, with which they killed their keepers, and so issued forth to help their Turkes beaten.friends, laying about them like desperate men, so that the Turks began to waver, and afterwards to fly, whom the Hungarians pursued with a most terrible execution: Mesites and his son were both slaine in their flight, with twentie thousand Turks, and of the Christians were lost about three thousand. All the prey was hereby recovered, the tents and baggage of the Turks taken: and the poore prisoners released, who falling downe at Huniades feete, gaue God thanks for their deliverance by him: and hee with teares in his eies curteously embraced them, rejoicing at the publick good; himselfe giving most hearty thanks to God, and enjoining the like to be done in all the Churches of his Province: part of the spoiles Thankesgiving.he gaue to pious uses, the rest he divided amongst his souldiers, and sent the Turks ensignes, and the heads of the principall of them to King Ʋladislaus. Amurath was so enraged at this newes, that he commanded a great Army to be raised against the next spring, which he commited to Abedin Bassa, commanding him to enter into Ʋalachia, and having laid it wast by fire and sword, to goe thence into Moldovia, and having done the like there, to goe into Transilvania &c. The Bassa according to his order marched into Ʋalachia with eightie thousand fighting men: Huniades willed the people to retire into the strong holds, till he came to help them. The Bassa dividing his army into two parts, laid all wast before him, spared none that fell into his hands of any age, sex, or condition, but most of the people were in Turks cruelty.the fortresses, or mountaines out of his reach: Having thus raged there, he marched into Transilvania, to have done the like in that place, but Huniades attended his coming with fifteene thousand braue men, which the Bassa hearing of by his scouts, presently encamped himselfe, as being somewhat afraid of Huniades: yet hearing that he had not a fourth part of his number, he advanced forwards towards him: The Armies being within halfe a mile one of the other, they made an Alt, resolving to use their best policy as well as valour: yet the next morning they drew forth both their Armies, warily ordering of them for the best advantage: Huniades sought by provident foresight, and policy to match the huge multitude of his enemies, which when he had done, calling his captaines together, he with a cheerefull countenance said unto them. Noe courage (companions, and fellows in Armes) could have induced me to encounter so great a multitude, did not necessity enforce, your approved Huniades Speech to his Captaines.valour perswade, and the assured hope I have in Christ Iesus aboue all things confirme me; Christ hath chosen us to fight this sacred battell, and with our right hands to revenge the dishonour of his holy name &c. And so with a most holy and Christian speech he inflamed their hearts with a resolution of adventuring their lives in so good a cause: the Bassa also in the best manner he could, encouraged his souldiers, telling them of their victories, their valour, their number, and the contemptible forces of the Christians: but aboue all things he willed them in the battell to seek out Huniades to kill him, and thereby they might secure the victory, and of him should receive honourable rewards: and so marching forward, the signall of Battell was on both sides given, and they A terrible bat…ell.encountered together with such fury and out cries, as never was any thing more terrible: the Turkish horsmen being more, and more expert, forced the Christians to retire to their men at Armes, but they charging the Turks home, slew most of them: In the maine battell of foot, was a most cruell fight betweene the Christians and Janizaries, and such a slaughter was made on both sides that the blood ran like rivers, and so the fight continued foure hours: at which time the Bassa brought on his rereward, comanding them to compasse the Christians, and slay their weary enemies, wherby they might obtaine an easie victory; Huniades prepared for this storme, and encountred afresh with them: though the slaughter of the Turks was great, yet because of their number they felt it not, and so fought it out desperatly, yet at last they began to faint, and by The Turks beaten.degrees to shrink back, whereby the Hungarians, cheered up with hope of victory, eagerly pressed on, til they put them to open flight: The Bassa seeing that all things were desperate, fled also with some of his Janizaries, but the Christians fiercely following, slew so many of them, that of that great Army not one halfe returned over Danubius: Huniades wonderfully enriched himselfe and his souldiers with the spoile of the Turks Campe: he tooke fiue thousand prisoners, and one hundred ensignes, besides their tents and rich pavilions: Then he caused generall prayer and thanksgiving to God for three daies in all the Churches of his provinces: and carried the Thankesgiving.ensignes and part of the spoile to King Vladislaus at Buda. Against the next spring Amurath raised a great Army to be revenged on the Christians; Vladislaus, by Huniades perswasion expecting no lesse, did the like, with which he marched towards Bulgary, and and coming neere the Turks; Huniades with ten thousand choice horsemen in the dead of the night, went to fall upon the Turks in their Camp: and the moone shining at that time, he discerned them to be buried in sleepe and security, and having viewed the fittest place to assault them in, with a most hideous outcrie he entred their Camp, encouraging his men valiantly Huniade… bea…es he Turkes.to assail their sleepy, naked, & fearfull enemies: the Turks astonished with the noise, at first rather made a stirr, then fought, but hearing that Huniades was there, as men dismaied with his name, they turned their backs, and fled. In that night by Huniades with ten-thousand men, there were thirtie thousand of the Turks slaine: all the spoile of a rich Camp taken, their ensignes and foure thousand prisoners, and all with the losse of fivehundred men, and so he returned loaden with booty to the King, who received him with much joy, and honoured him exceedingly: and then through all the Camp they joyned in prayers, and thanksgivings unto God for so great a victory: After wards the Christians marching forward, tooke all such townes in Bulgary as stood in their way: but being come to the great Thankesgiving.mountaine Hemus, through which they should passe into Thracia, the depth of winter was come upon them, the passages of the mountaine were strongly shut up, and guarded with a great Army commanded by Carambey Bassa, and the Army began to suffer greate extremitie for want of provision, so that at length they were forced to march backwards: which Carambey hearing of, presuming of a glorious & easie victory (contrary to the speciall cōmand of his master) pursued them with his Army: Ʋladislaus was gone before, and Huniades was with the rereward a daies journey behind. When newes was brought of the approach of the Turks, his souldiers much rejoyced at it, as deeming it much more honor to die in fight, then to starue with hunger and cold: Eight times did Huniades encounter with the Turkish Troops, and as often put them to flight: But when Carambey Turkes beaten.came on with his whole Army, Huniades was sorry that the King was so farr before him; but making a vertue of necessity, he put his men in the best order that he could, and perswaded them not rashly, and furiously to run upon their enemies, as men prodigall of their lives, but to keep their ranks, and to fight like valiant men, intending to carry away the victory, or to leave unto their enemies a bloody remembrance thereof: Immediately the battell began, and the Armies met together with great fury, many were slaine on both sides: Huniades his horsmen fought so, as if they fought for nothing but an honourable death. The Turks stood to it a long time, but finding that they fought against desperate men, at last they began to give ground: but Carambey coming on with fresh supplies, restored the battell almost before quite lost: Huniades seeing the fainting of the Turks, cryed out Victory, Victory, encouraging his men as fighting under the protection of the Almighty: Carambey performed all the offices of a prudent commander, and valiant souldier, so that he stayed the battell for a while, but at last seeing the case desperate, he fled amongst the rest, and his horse falling into a bog, he was taken by a private souldier: Huniades seeing so brave a man in the hands of a common souldier, asked him if he would sell A great victory.his prisoner: and he asking ten Ducats for him, Huniades presently gave him foure hundred Ducats: the Despot of Servia coming afterwards into Huniades tent, asked him how he would ransom his prisoner, who answered that he valewed him at fortie thousand Ducats, which the Despot gave him. O the Mutability of earthly glory.mutability of all wordly things! Carambey allyed to the great Turke, and immediately before so great a commander, was now twice in one day prized, and valewed by his enemies. Shortly after Huniades consulting with Ʋladislaus after so great a victory, attempted the opening of the streites, but finding the difficulties, and dangers great, the winter cold, and raging, and the wants in the Army daily encreasing, they resolved to returne the same way they came: which the Turks beholding from the mountaines, and having fresh supplies come to them, they followed them at the heeles, and often skirmished with them, but at last the King came to Belgrade, where he was joyfully entertained by his subjects; and after some few daies stay there, he went to Buda, and in the Cathedrall Church returned humble, Thankesgiving.and hearty thanks for his good successe, hanging up in the same Church many of the enemies ensignes in remembrance of so notable a victory.
Amurath being at this time engaged in his Warres against Scanderbeg, by the perswasion of his Bassa's, sent Ambassadors to Ʋladislaus, who concluded an honorable Peace concluded.peace with him for ten yeares, and the same was confirmed by the solemne oath of both parties: But many great Kings and Princes were much discontented at it, and endeavoured to perswade the young King to break it: and the King calling a Councell of all the Nobility of Hungary to consult about that Popish perfideousnesse.businesse, Julian the Popes Legat, made a large speech against the peace; & having at last prevailed with the K. he absolved him from his Oath given to the great Turk. Amurath ignorant of these proceedings, according to his agreement withdrew his Garrisons out of Servia restoring it to the Despot, together with his two blind sonnes, and set at liberty a great number of captive Christians, faithfully performing whatsoever he had promised upon his Religion.
But Ʋladislaus in the mean time prepared his Forces, sent to Scanderbeg to come, and to joyne his strength with his (though God prevented it, as is mentioned in the life of Scanderbeg) and being daily pricked forward by the earnest solicitations of the Popes Legat, having assembled a great Army of brave Souldiers, Hungarians and Polonians, he marched into Bulgary, came to Nicopolis the chiefe Citie thereof, Anno 1444.where he burnt the Suburbs, and refreshed his Army three or foure dayes, and then marched towards Thracia, taking in many Townes and Forts by the way. Amurath awakened with the noise hereof, raised a great Army of an hundred thousand men, and so marched with them towards Varna, where the Christian Army lay. Huniades, the Christians Generall, hearing of the approach of so numerous an Enemy, with great prudence and policy disposed of his Forces, guarding one side with a Fen or Marish, and the other side with his Carriages. The Turks approaching, began to skirmish with the Christians, which was maintained with great courage till the ground was covered with the blood of the slain. At length A great battell.the battell being joyned, the victory began to incline to the Christians; Huniades with his Horse having valiantly put to flight both the wings of the Turkish Army, making great slaughter wheresoever he came.
Amurath seeing the great slaughter of his men, and all brought into extream danger, pluckt the Writing out of his bosome, wherein the late League was comprised, and holding it up in his hand, with his eyes cast up to heaven, he said, Behold thou crucified Amurath appeale to Christ.Christ, this is the League that thy Christians in thy Name made with me; which they have without any cause violated. Now if thou be a God, as they say thou art, and as we dreame, revenge the wrong now done unto thy Name, and me, and shew thy power upon thy perjured people, who by their deeds deny thee their God. Immediatly after the Janizaries, which were the greatest strength of the Turkes, began a most cruell fight against the Christians; yet where the King and Huniades fought, the Turks shrunk back: but they prevailed on the other side of the Army, which Huniades (having a vigilant eye to every place) perceiving, presently rode thither, and with his presence restored the battell before almost lost: in the meane time the young King, with greater courage then care of himselfe, brake into the battell of the Ianizaries, where a French Knight of the Roades, wounded Amurath with a pike, and had certainly slaine him with his sword, had he not speedily bin rescued by his guard: Vladislaus having performed all the parts Ʋladislaus slain, the Christjans beaten, and their perjury punished by God.of a valiant souldier, had first his horse slaine under him, and then oppressed with multitude, was himselfe slaine: whose head Amurath caused to be held up upon a launce, and proclamation to be made, that it was the head of the Christian King: which so discouraged the Christians that they betook themselves to flight, and Huniades seeing no hope to restore the battell, with some Ʋalachian horsmen, fled through the woods and got into Ʋalachia: where, by Dracula, the Prince of that countrey, he was taken prisoner: and thus as God punished good Iehosophat for joyning with Ahab: so Huniades escaped narrowly with his life, and afterwards became a prisoner for joyning with the perjured popish King. Of the Christian army scarse a third part escaped, yet was there a greater slaughter of the Turks, who hearing so much silence in the Christian Camp, feared some deceit, staid two daies before they durst adventure to take the spoile. Amurath was very melancholy after Turks last 30000. men.the victory, having lost thirtie thousand men, whereupon he said, that he wished not at so great a price to gaine many victories. This bloody battell was fought at Ʋarna Nov. 10 Anno Christi 1444. Huniades being released out of prison, the Hungarians called a generall assembly of the states, where they chose Ladislaus, the son of Albertus Arch Duke of Austria, for their King: but he being a child of five years old, they unanimously chose Huniades Regent, during the Kings minority, as of all others the most fit for so great and heavie a charge: In which office Huniades chosen vice Roy of Hungary.he spent four yeares in peace, deciding civill controversies, composing quarrells amongst the Nobility: equally administring Iustice to all men: ending controversies, and that without any suspition of His Justice, and other virtues.corruption, using therein such expedition, and never wearied patience, in hearing every mans cause, that sitting, walking, standing, riding, he dispatched many great and weighty matters, alwaies shewing himselfe affable, and courteous as well to the poorer sort, as to others of greater calling that had any suits unto him, so that noe man was to his friends more friendly, and to his enemies more terrible: In times of peace he was alwaies provident for warr, heaping up great treasures without which the warr could not be maintained, and in all things so carrying himselfe, that he was of his subjects both beloved and feared. Ladislaus the young King of Hungary lived as yet at Ʋienna, about whom was Ʋlricus Earle of Cilicia a very potent man, who much envied, and maligned Huniades, and prevailed with the King to send for him in a friendly manner to Ʋienna, and then to make him away privily: But it pleased God that Huniades came to the knowledg of this wicked conspiracy, and thereupon returned answer to the Treachery preven…ed.King: that he was ready to serve his Majesty within Hungary in all his affaires, But that it was neither best for the King, nor safest for himself to goe out of that Kingdome: the wicked Earle being thus disappointed of his hopes, went to the borders of Hungary with diverse other in his traine, intending either cunningly to apprehend, and carrie away Huniades unto Ʋienna, or else to dispatch him upon the place: But Huniades, though he profered in the open field to commune with him, yet by no meanes would he be got into the towne: whereby the treacherous Earles expectation was disappointed. Afterwards an other traine was laid for him, that under pretence of the Kings safe conduct, he should meet the King in the broad fields of Ʋienna: Huniades though he suspected deceit, yet came to the place, but when he neither met there the King: nor had the Earle any safe conduct for him, he told the Earle that it was now in his power to slay him, who thus sought his blood, but for reverence to the King he would spare him, and so let him goe.
In the mean while he was advertized by his Spies, that Amurath was raising great Forces against him; and therefore he, desiring nothing more than to be revenged for their great losses at Varna, accompanied with the greatest part of the Nobility of Hungary, and with the Vayvod of Valachia, he set forward against the Turk, with two and twenty thousand choyce Souldiers; and going into Servia, he sent to the Despot, Techery.desiring him to joyn his forces with them: But the false Despot did not onelyonly refuse it, but gave intelligence to Amurath of their number, and every dayes march: and withall advised him to let them come so far into his Countrey, that he might get behind them with his Army, and so stop their returne. Which advice the Turk followed, and so both the Armies came into a great plain in Bulgary: Huniades daily expecting the coming of Scanderbeg with his Forces, declined the fight, though Amurath daily provoked him: but he still standing upon his guard, Amurath endeavoured to cut him off from water, and forage: so that Huniades was at last forced to fight, and therefore commanded his Souldiers to prepare themselves: and the more to encourage them, he made an excellent and most Christian speech to them, desiring them not to be discouraged for the remembrance of the losse of the battell at Varna, for therein God had justly revenged the Christians breach of faith, and all the authors of that perfidious dealing, were justly cut off: Whereas (said he) we against our Huniades speech to his Souldiers.wils drawn into that wofull warre, through the mercy of God yet live, preserved for the defence of the Christian Common-wealth: Hitherto we have rather fought by the power of God then of Man, and in the Name of Jesus Christ our Saviour have easily overthrown these wicked Infidels. We have fought under the leading and Conduct of the Highest, whose help we have alwayes felt at hand, and therefore we need not feare their great multitude, &c. Neither did Amurath neglect to order his battell, and encourage his men, whose Army filled all the plain from one side to another, to the great astonishment of the Christians. About nine a Clock the signall of battell being given, the fierce and couragious Souldiers began to skirmish; but afterwards The first days fight.they fought Foot to Foot, and Hand to Hand for three houres; at which time the Christians put the right wing of the Turkes to the worst, and also in the left wing they did the like with great slaughter of the Turks. Amurath presently sent in strong supplies, whereupon the Christians light Horsemen, wearied before, retired to their men at Armes, who serring together, easily repulsed the Turkes, and made a great slaughter of them.
Huniades in the mean time with his Artillery from the Hill, did the Turks great harm; which Amurath perceiving, drew up his men close under the Hill, whereby that was prevented: Huniades encouraged his men, sometimes with cheerfull speech, sometimes with his own most valiant hand: to the weary he sent reliefe, the fearfull he animated, those that were flying he staid, and where the enemies came fastest on, there was he present himselfe to meet them, performing all the offices of a good Generall, and worthy souldier, whereby the battell grew so fierce and terrible, that every place was soiled with the blood of the slaine: but the Turks came on so fast with fresh suppiles, that one battalion of the Christians was oft times enforced to weary foure or fiue of the Turks before they could be relieved. The cruell fight maintained all the day, was by the comming of the night ended, both Armies retiring to their trenches, and with little rest was that night spent: It was scarse faire day, when both the Armies orderly ranged, began the battell againe: but the Christians had The second battell.almost spent their strength the day before, whereas there were fortie thousand Turks that had not fought at all: yet Huniades wonderfully encouraged his men by many arguments beseeching them for the love of God and man, with their wonted valour that day for ever to set at liberty themselves, their countrey, their wives, and children, and whatsoever else they held deare unto them.
So that both the Armies being fully joyned, the battell was fought with no lesse force and fury then the day before: yea many of the wounded Christians came again into the battell, there either by speedy death, or speedy victory, to cure their wounds, and did excellent service. Thus the battell continued all day long, yet the Turkes had the better, and so both Armies, throughly wearied, returned to their tents: The next morning by the dawning of the day, the battell was again begun, where for certaine houres, it The third days fight.was fought with like hope on both sides, and a great slaughter made: many of the Hungarian nobility there lost their lives, valiantly fighting against their enemies, whereupon Amurath commanded forth all his reserues at once with their number to overwhelme the wearied Christians, which accordingly succeeded, for the Christians weake and wounded, The Christians overthrownwere hereby wholly overthrowne, which Huniades seeing, saved himselfe by flight, the like did many of the Christians, whom the Turks eagerly pursued Huniades escaped.till they might stop them; then the Turks Army compassing in the Hungarian Camp to rifle it, were by the wounded souldiers, wagoners and other drudges of the Army, kept out so long as they had any shot left, who at length were all slaine, yet not altogether unrevenged. In this battell the Turks lost foure and thirtie thousand men for eight-thousand of the Christians. Huniades all alone by uncouth wayes travelled three daies and nights without meat, or drink, and the fourth day tyred his horse, and cast him off: and afterwards being himselfe on foot disarmed, he fell into the hands of two notable thieves, who dispoiled him of his apparell, but falling Huniades in great danger.at strife in parting the prey, he tooke occasion to lay hand on one of their swords, with which he slew one of them, and put the other to flight, so travelling on almost spent with hunger and thirst, the next day Almost famished.he light upon a shephard, a sturdy knaue, who hearing of the Hungarians overthrow, was roaming abroad in hope of prey: at his first sight of Huniades he stood at gaze, stricken with his majesty: Huniades also being so extreame weake desired not to have to doe with him: at last the shepheard bluntly asked him of his fortune, and he for Gods sake craved something to eat, the shepherd moved with the promise of reward, brought him to a poore coate hard by, and He is relieved by a Shepheard.caused bread and water with a few onions to be set before him, who after wards at his bankets would pleasantly say, that he never in his life fared better, nor more daintily, then when he supped with this shepherd. Hunger the best sauce.Thus refreshed, he went to Synderovia, which the Despot having intelligence of, caused him He is imprisoned by the Despot.to be apprehended and imprisoned, yet at last released him upon certaine conditions: but shortly after the Despots countrey being invaded by the Turks, he sent to Huniades craving pardon for his offence, and humbly intreating aid of him, which Huniades readily granted, going himselfe with his forces, and joining with the despot, he marched He forgives the wrong.speedily against the Turks, who spying Huniades Ensigne in the Christians Army, as men wholly discouraged, betook themselves to speedy flight, after whom followed the Christians with most bloody execution, pursuing them all that day, and had not the night come on, few of them had escaped: the Generall and most of the Turks chiefe commanders were taken prisoners: then Huniades entred far into The Turks beaten.Bulgary, burnt the chiefe City, and having well revenged himselfe of the Turks, he returned with triumph to Buda: Amurath being dead, and Mahomet succeeding him, having taken the great City of Constantinople, Mahomet prepares no besiege Belgrade.his next designe was against Belgrade, which stands upon the great river of Danubius, and was the key of Hungary, which being taken would let him into the heart of the countrey, and for that end, he raised an army of an hundred & fifty thousand of his best souldiers, and sent before him two hundred ships and gallies up the river, to prevent the victualling of the City by water, and presently after came himselfe with all his Army, and sate downe before it, and with the fury of his Artillery overthrew a great part of the wall, which the defendants with great industry speedily repaired. Huniades His Navy beaten.also sent a fleet of ships, which encountring with the Turks fleet, tooke twentie saile of them, and so terrified the rest, that they were glad to run themselves a ground neere to the Turkes Camp: all which were presently set on fire that they should not come Huniades goeth into Belgrade.into the hands of the Christians: Huniades being thus master of the river, himselfe with fiue thousand valiant souldiers entred into the City: Mahomet resolved to gaine the City, and having made a great breach, appointed the next day to give a generall assault, but whilst he was preparing for it, Carazias Bassa his lieutenant Generall was slaine with a great shot from the towne, with which the proud. Tyrant was exceedingly troubled, yet went on with his purpose, and the Ianizaries his best souldiers, without any great resistance entred the breach, the like did others in many parts of the City, whereupon they The Turkes beaten out of the City.reckoned that it was their own: but the valiant Huniades issuing out on every side with his most resolute souldiers, so oppressed the Turks, that few of them that were entred the City escaped, but either were slaine or taken prisoners, and the rest with exceeding slaughter were beaten from the walls: Presently also in this confusion, Huniades sallied out of the towne, set upon the Turks that guarded their great Ordnance, Huniades surprizeth the great Ordnancewhom with great slaughter he draue from their charge, and enforced them to leave them to their enemies: Mahomet seeing this, couragiously charged the Hungarians afresh to have recovered his Ordnance, but was so valiantly repulsed by Huniades, and beaten with murthering shot from the town, that he was glad when he was got into his trenches: Huniades also turned their owne Ordnance against their Camp, with which he did them noe small harme: and being strengthened with a new supply of Christians, he assailed the Turks trenches, at which the proud Tyrant never before so braved, issued out, valiantly encountering him, beat him back againe to the great Ordnance, from whence he he was againe by the Christians Beaten to his trenches; In these hot skirmishes the Captaine of the Ianizaries, with many other valiant men, were slaine, and Mahomet also himselfe was so sore wounded Mahomet wounded.under the left pap, that he was carried into his pavillion for dead: but coming againe to himselfe, considering that he had lost his whole fleet, his great Ordnance, and fortie thousand of his best Officers, and souldiers, secretly in the night he arose with his Army, and in great silence shamefully departed, Flieth shamefullystill looking behind when the Hungarians should have pursued him, which for want of horse they could not doe.
Shortly after, this most valiant and renowned Captaine Huniades, worthy of immortall praise, grew mortally sick of a wound received in those fights, who feeling himselfe in danger of death, desired to receive the Sacrament, and would in any case (sick as he was) be carried to the church to receive it, saying, It is not fit that the Lord should come to the Humility.house of his servant, but that the servant should rather goe to the house of his Lord and master, and shortly after he resigned up his spirit to God, Anno Christi Huniades death.1456.
He was much lamented, and honoruably buried at Alba Iulia in Saint Stevens Church.
He was prudent of witt, discreet in counsel, expert His Character.and politick in warr, prompt of hand, very circumspect and wary before he attempted any thing, but very quick and expeditious when once resolved. He maintained war against two mighty and puissant Emperours of the Turks, Amurath and Mahomet the great: and through the Lords might, he defended all Panonia against them, and was as a mighty wall, or bulwark to all Europe against the cruell Turks, the enemies of Christ and his Christians, and therefore he was called the thunderbolt and terror of the Turks: Neither was there ever any Christian King or Prince, that gat so many victories, and so profitable for Christendom, as he did.
Collected out of the Turkish History and the booke of Martyrs.