The Tragedies of Tyrants Exercised Upon the Church of God, Chapter 11
Of the 19. Tragical acte or perſecution which was the longeſt, and moſt greeuous of all other vnderunder Machomet, which the Sarracens and Turkes hauehave mantayned agaynſt the Churche of Chriſte. Chapter. xi.
BY meanes of theſe perſecutions, which wée hauehave heatherto declared which are to bée accoumpted as certen Chaſtiſement, and corrections of God, few in the Church were brought to any repentance or amendment, but many became rather the worſe: for ſundry hereſies and ſchiſmes, as namely of the Macedonians, Neſtorians, Pelagians with diuerſe other aroſe, increaſinge more and more, the recitall whereof were now to tedious: by occaſion wherof gréeuous contentions, troubles, and diſagréement fell out not only amongſt the learned: but alſo amongſt the common people and the vnlearned ſort, giuinge occaſion of great and outragious diuiſions in religion ouer all the Eaſt. Béeſides, in the weſt the byſſhop of Rome wickedly aduaunced himſelf and his Church aboue al Churches and miniſters of Churches throughout all Chriſtianitie, and that expreſly againſt the holy doctrine of the Goſpell, and the writinges of Gregory the pope. Wherfore while matters continued in this ſtate, God ſuffred his Churche to bee touched with moſt ſharpe troubles, and oppreſſed with greeuous perſecutions.
For in the yéere of Chriſte. 613. wasThe beginning of the falſe prophet Machomet. firſt knowne, and béecame famous in Arabia the wicked hypocrite, and moſt craftie verlet Machomet, whom ſome terme Muhammat: the ſame from his youth vpward was a merchant, but afterward hée boaſted that he was a prophet ſent from God. There had ioyned themſelues vntounto him certen wicked and ſtubberne Iewes, and alſo one Sergius a munke, an apoſtata and an heretick: …i whoſe aduice and ayd, he deuiſed a new lawe, which hée called Alcoranus, forAlcoran what it ſignifieth. this woord Alcoran ſignifieth a minglemangle of lawes. In whiche hee erred directly from the ſcriptures of both teſtamentes, wherin are ſet downe the true lawes preſcribed by God, béeſide whom wée hauehave no néede of anye other booke of lawes: howbeit Machomet hath ſet foorth a new and peculiar lawe to his Sarracens, Turkes, and all that ſhall hereafter béeléeue in him, which law of his, is in very déede a miſerable feined deuiſe, impure, falſe, and full of filthy fables, that it was great meruell how wiſe men could giuegive credite to ſuch abſurde, and doubtfull trifles. Howbeit therin appeareth the dreadfull wrath of God againſt al ſuch as ar not contented wt the doctrine of Chriſt, & the holy ſcriptures: for it followeth deſeruedly, that al ye are not contented we the truth to beléeueIohn. 9. 2. Theſ. 21. it, afterward they giuegive credit vntounto lies, & ar ſhamefully deceued, & ſeduced.
In this his law, Machomet the diuelliſh and falſe prophet, hath inſtituted,The whole ſumme of the turkiſhe religion. God. and diuiſed a new religion, altogither repugnant to the faith of Chriſt. He acknowledgeth ye ther is one God maker of heauen and earth whom onlie we muſt adore and call vponupon, and that wée muſt not worſhip or honour any other Gods, Idols, or Images, whiche the Sarracens and Turkes doo hate excéedingly. But hée doth not acknowledge according to the effect of the holly ſcriptures, the diffrence of the perſons in one and indiuiſible ſubſtance of Godhoode, the Father, the Sunne and the Hollye ghoſt, but hée impugneth, and raileth atChriſte. the bleſſed Trinitie. Likewiſe, hée confeſſeth that Chriſt was a great prophet borne of the holy and vndefiled virgin, who was taken alſo vp into heauen, but as for that poynct which is peculiar to the true and liuelye faith: hee doth not confeſſe that Ieſus Chriſte is the euerlaſtinge ſunne of God, very God and man, the only mediatour of God and men who being crucified & ſlayne for our ſake, aroſe again from y• dead, & ſitteth on y• right hand of god, being of one power we the father in heauen. Theſe things he blaſphemeth and impugneth deneing y• chriſt was crucified wherefore he teacheth alſo erroniouſly touching remiſſion of ſins, which onli we obtaine by faith in chriſt which was crucified,Remiſſion of ſinnes. ye he is altogether ignorāt of faith & iuſtification by faith in Chriſt, deuiſingFaith and iuſtification ſundrie woorſhippinges and meanes to attayne ſaluation, namely by faſtinge praying, giuinge of almes, ſuſtaininge many & great labours, ſuffring mutch trouble, valientlye fightinge for the Machometan religion, and dyinge in batteill. Hée is alſo of opinion that a man may fulfill the law, and demerite ſaluation by his owne woorkes: héeWorkes. hath his Moonkes & Prieſtes, in whoſe merites hée repoſeth the hope of his ſaluation. Hée confeſſeth the reſurrectionEternall lyfe. of the bodie, but hée ſpeaketh altogether carnally and impurely of felicitie, as though in Paradiſe wée ſhoulde enioye bodely pleaſures, meat, drincke, beutie of the body, as if it were in the bleſſed Ilands called Beatorum inſulae, or elſe in a certein Vtopia.
Hée deſpiſeth the Euangelicall and apoſtolicallCongregations, rites, and Sacramentes. doctrine, as hée doth alſo our holly aſſembles and congregations, cō maundynge all that béeléeue in him to bee circumciſed after the Iewiſh maner, nothyng regarding our Baptiſme: hée raueth and rayleth at the ſacrament of the body and bloud of Chriſt, and al ye fourme and ordre of the Lordes ſupper which was inſtituted and appointed by Chriſte: hée contemneth all chriſtian vſedges, and hath inſtituted peculiar congregations, temples, rightes, and ceremonies: hée commandeth the ſixt day of the wéeke, which we cal Friday, to béeHolydayes. kept holiday: he apointed faſting daies & purging with water: hée commaunded them to pray fiue times in a day: he forbidPrayers to pray vntounto ſaincts & creatures, but vntounto God only, which is trueth in déed: but hée teacheth to pray vntounto others beſide Chriſte. Sutch praiers are not acceptable vntounto God, bicauſe they are not made through Chriſte, through whom wée pray vntounto God our father in heauen,1. Iohn. 2. wherat hée mocketh. But S. Iohn ſaith: Who ſo hath not the Sun, hath Matrymony, and deuorcement.not the Father: Hée altogether prophaneth holly matrimonie: for vntounto men hée giueth licence to marie as many wiues as they liſte, and that which is iniurious and diſhoneſt, to forſake them wt out cauſe at their pleaſure, and diſcretiō. Hée forbiddeth them after the Iewiſh maner to eate ſwynes fleaſh, hée debarreth them alſo from wine, howbeit the ritcher ſort hauehave deuiſed certen coſtlye kinds of drinks, wherby they becōe noleſſe drunk then wt wine. And this is ye doctrine of ye diuell, wherof Paul intreateth in the firſt of Timothy, the. 4. chapter. And whatſoeuer I hauehave ſayd of the Machometan faith: the ſame ar al to be vnderſtood of the Turkiſhe religion or ſuperſticion, which at this day is vſuall among the Turkes. And as for theſe thinges, I hauehave reported them verye bréeflye, that thoſe that knowe not the Turkiſh religion: may hauehave a brief extract, not of the whole relygion: but of the chiefeſt poynts, and opinions therof.The wrath of God. Now through indifferent view of theſe things which we hauehave recited: who doth not vnderſtande that through the moſte gréeuous yet moſt iuſte wrath of God, the world is by him moſt ſharply puniſhed, ſince y• he hath ſuffred ſo abſurde, filthy, & wicked relygion to take place? and here withall, let vsus alſo beholde and weigh, what a cruell and continuall perſecution which indureth alſo to this day, this impiou… ▪ and Machometan faith hath raiſed againſte the holly Church of Chriſte, and the true faith.
Machomet that falſe prophet andWhat the Sarracens were. murdrous ſeductour of the worlde, had perſuaded his Sarracens, that they are the true children & heiers of sarra wife to Abraham, and that in reſpect therof: béelonged vntounto them all the promiſes made vntounto Abraham, namely that his ſéede ſhould rule all the world, and therfore hée exhorted the Sarracens that takyng weapon in hand, they ſhould valyently aſſay to poſſeſſe al the kingdoms of the world as their owne inheritaunce.
The Sarracens were a barbarus and rough people of Arabia, whiche before that time were called Agareni, the ſame receauinge ſtipende of the Romanes, fought vnderunder them in the warre againſt the Perſians. But when hée which bare the name of generall, & had the charge of the army in geuing them their pay, had reprochefully called them dogs, ſaying: who ſhal giuegive mony enough to this cōpany of dogs: thei reuoulted frō y• Romās, and beinge perſwaded by Homer their cheifteine: they choſe Machomet to beMachomet is made King. their prince, ſpeciallye ſince he had perſwaded them that they ſhoulde not bée called Agareni of Agar the handmaide, but rather Sarraceni of Sarra the lawful wyfe, by reaſon whereof, as it is ſayde, they were the Lordes, and heirs of all kingdomes. Theſe things were done in the yéere of Chriſte. 623. But this ſeditious, murderous, and wicked villaine Machomet, ſo ſoone as hée had obtayned the Empire: began to enlarge and ſet foorth his abhominable religion with the ſword, and to enforce men to receaue it, perſecutyng alſo and oppr…ſſing the true Chriſtian faith. And for the better ratefiyng hereof, hée continued in this trauaile the ſpace of. 9. yéeres vntounto the yéere of our Lorde. 632. VntoUnto al that would follow his relygion he promiſed felycitie, glory, Empire, victori, ritches, and after this life the pleaſure of Paradice. And by this menes he gat vntounto him great multitudes of men, ſpecially when at the beginning things proſpered ſo wel with him, for why, the common people followeth good fortune victory, and ritcheſſe: hatinge as mutch the croſſe, and perſecutions. Hée willed them moreouer to perſecute all ſutch as ſpake agaynſt, and reprehended the Alcoran. Wherfore many reuoulted from the Chriſtian faith, and all vertuous and true Chriſtians were oppreſſed with gréeuous perſecutions: & this was ye begīning of the Sarracens kingdome. After the death of Machomet, the Sarracens called their chief princes Amiras, which as ſome ſaye, ſignifieth as mutch as the name of Emperour. Whoſe names, and moſt famous conqueſtes, are deſcribed in hiſtories vntounto the yéere of Chriſte, 870. They made many great warres: and fought ſundry battailes, and obtayned conqueſtes againſt y• Emperours of Conſtātinople and other kinges and princes. They ſubdued Perſia, Babilon, Syria, the citie of Ieruſalem, and gat ſundry great victoryes in Aſia, and Affrica, in whiche places they terme their Princes Souldans, souldanes.or Sultans, and Caliphas, that is to ſaye chiefe Princes, and Capitaines in battaile. The Sarracens hauehave made irruptions into Italy, Spaine, & France, ſpoiling all y• euer they could, waſting, burning, & bearing away innumerable ſpoiles. But how miſerably y• Church of chriſt was torne in péeces, how much chriſtian blood ſhed in ſo many prouinces duringe the ſpace of ſo many yéeres it is impoſſible to ſet foorth in woordes. For at length y• Sarracens were driuen out of Spayne by Ferdinande y• great, the yere of Chriſt 1487 & out of Affrica they were expulſed the yéere of Chriſte 1517. but the Turkes ſuccéeded in their place, for Selimus emperour of y• turks ſlew, and draue y• Sara. out of Affri.
Hervnto alſo apperteineth that miſerableThe holye warre. ſlaughter, wherin there was an vnſpeakable déele of blood ſheden, which is commonly called the Holly warre, wherin the Chriſtians went about to recouer Ieruſalem, and the holly ſepulcher of the Lorde, out of the Sarracens and Machometans handes, whereby they brought none other thinge to pas but béeinge not able to obtaine the ſepulcher: they haſtned thēſelues to their owne graues and deſtructiō, & through their vnfortunate warre, brought the miſerable Chriſtians of the Eaſt into hatred, great daunger, and perſecution, ſo y• welnigh, they loſt all y• was remaininge. But to the intent that this great gréeuous, longe, and cruell perſecution which the Sarracens hauehave exerciſed againſt the Chriſtians, may bée the better knowen: I mean to declare y• whole diſcourſe of the warre.
In the yéere of Chriſte, 1. 84. thereThe originall of the Sarracens warre. came out of the Eaſt, a certen Anchor, whom hiſtoriographers do call Peter ye Heremite. The ſame filled the eares of princes and men of all other ſortes, declaring vntounto them the miſerable ſtate of the Chriſtians in the Eaſt, whom y• Machometan Sarracens oppreſſed wt wofull tyranie, and verie mutch moleſted: wherfore that it was right néedfull for the Chriſtians in the weſt, to hauehave ſome care ouer them, and gatheringe an armie both to ouercome the Sarracens, and releaſe the Chriſtians. Shortly after vrban y• ii. being Pope, and ſchollar to Gregory the ſeuenth called togither a counſel at Claromōt in France wherin it was decréed, that the chriſtians withClaromont. counſell. all their power ſhould make warre vppon the Sarracens, take Ieruſalem, and the holy Sepulcher, and ſo delyuer the Chriſtians from their tyrrannye. This counſell was pernicyous and hurtfull to the Chriſtian commonwealth, and had the very ſame end with the counſel which is deſcribed in the firſte booke of Kinges, the laſt Chapter. For al things were vnfortunate, and the Chriſtians were not only not releaſed from the tirannie: but moſt part of them ſlayne, & afterward oppreſſed, and afflicted more gréeuouſly then before. And albeit many holy and good men, vponupon a vertuous zeale yéelded themſelues and conſented to the warre: yet lacked it the foundation of Gods worde, whiche ſhoulde hauehave commaunded them to take Ieruſalem and the holy Sepulcher from the Sarracens, and to take in hande ſo great and dangerous a warre. For although they atchiued ſundri noble aduentures, and poſſeſſed manye places: yet was there no conſtant Fortune as to holde that which they had takē, or to eſtabliſh peace for the oppreſſed chriſtians. The byſhops alſo in their counſells touching this warre gaue but euell counſell vntounto Princes, and many other godly chriſtians, as they hauehave done alſo in manye other matters. Other deceits and troubles which wer annexed hereto, for breuytie ſake I omit at this preſent. The Claromont counſell was holden the yéere of Chriſt. 1095.
After the Claromont counſel immediatlyThe. 1. expedition. began Peter y• heremits war, who ledyng foorth wt hym certen thouſandes which voluntarely offred themſelues in this expedition: marched through Hūgary into Aſia, but atchiued ther no noble exploit worthy of memorye. And this was the firſt vnluckie iourney.
Shortly after two raſhe and troubleſomeThe. 2. expedition. prieſtes, whom Hiſtoricians call Volcomar, and Goddeſchar, hauynge gathered an vnfit multitude of the common people: began the ſecond expeditiō into Aſia. But when they were come into Hungarie ſpoylyng althynge, rebyng, and vſing themſelues diſordinatly, ſo y• the Hungariās iudged them worſe then they vnbeléeuyng Sarracens, they gathered an army, and ſlew thoſe lewdeThe 3. expedition. pilfring varlets.
In the yere of Chriſt. 1096. Godfree and Baldwine of the famile of Bullein, Dukes of Lorraine tooke in hande the. 3. expeditiō into Aſia. Theſe gathering an army of a hundred thouſande horſemen, & three hundred thouſand footemen: tooke many cities of Aſia, and Ieruſalem alſo. Vrſpurgenfies reporteth, that ther was ſo much blood ſhed there, that in the very temple the bloude was aboue the hooues of the Horſes. The yéere of Chriſt. 1119.Ieruſalem taken the citie of Ieruſalem was taken by the Chriſtians, and made head of the newe kingdome of Chriſtians in the Eaſte, wherof duke Godfree was created king. The ſame reigned one yéere, after whō ſuccéeded ſeauen Kinges in order, which reigned in all about one hundred yéere & in the yéere of Chriſte. 1189. all things were loſt agayne which they had taken.The. 4. expedition.
After that tidings were come out of ye Eaſt, how Ieruſalem was taken, and a new kingdome eſtabliſhed many were pricked forward to take their iourneie thyther hoping for ritches, & kingdomes. Wherfore in the yéere of Chriſte. 1101. William duke of Poicters, wt. 100000. men tooke in hand ye holy warfare. And this was. ye 4. expedition, which was not alſo very proſperous, for there returned home again not many mo then a M. mē. Although Ieruſalē was thus taken by ye chriſtians: notwithſtanding ye Sarracens ceaſed not from war: but vrged them ſo ſharply ye they wer enforced to ſu foraid, whē as S. Bernhard abbot of Clarauallis ioyned himſelf in this vnlucky war, and taking diuers iournies in hand exhortedThe. 5. expedition. ye chriſtian princes to take this war vponupon them, and at length brought to pas ye Conrade the 3. being emperour, Ludouick kinge of France. Friderick duke of Sueuia, VVelphus duke of Bauaria with many other princes moe, with great power béegan this expedition: but theſe alſo profited nothinge, for their armie dyinge in ſundrie places in forrein countreys, the princes ſcarſly returned in ſafety. This great expedition was made in the yéere of our Lorde. 1147.
Afterward Ieruſalē was taken, as we hauehave ſaid béefore, by a very great power of Sarracens, with an vnſpeakable loſſe and ſpillyng of Chriſtian bloud. Which heauie tidinges béeinge arriued in the weſt: forthwith there béetooke them vntounto armour, Friderick Barbaroſſa the emperour, Philippe kinge of France, Rychard kinge of England, and with them many princes moe. Theſe tooke in hand the. 6. expedition into the eaſt,The. 6. expedition. the yéere of Chriſte. 1189. With an excéedinge great power, who notwithſtandinge brought nothing to paſſe but this only, that the noble prince Friderik the emperour fell into a riuer and was drowned, the armie for the moſt part died with ſicknes, the reſidew whereof the numbre was not great, returned home miſerably.
After this ther apoynted again a newThe. 7. expedition. and which was the. 7. expedition, two moſt puiſaunt princes, the kinges of Fraunce, and England, in the yéere of Chriſte. 1191. and came into Aſia, wher léeſinge a great multitude of men: they were conſtrayned to leaue Ieruſalem to the Sarracens.
In the yéere of Chriſte. 1198. Henrie The 8. expedition.ſunne to Friderick Barbarossa, béegan the viii. expedition into Syria: but at the firſt receauinge a foile: hée returned againe without doinge any thinge.
After all theſe expeditions: Pope Innocentius the 3. a craftie & preſumptiousThe Lateran counſell. man, went about afreſh to beegin this warre, caulinge at Rome a great counſell, ſuch as hath not bin ſéene thée like, in the yéere of Chriſt, 1215. but hée died in the midſt of this buſines, after whom ſuccéeded Honorius the 3. who with no leſſe diligence applied the ſame matter, feigninge, like a falſe prophet, that hée had ſeene a viſion, and that it was ſaid vntounto him by Saint Peter that in the time of his reigne: Ieruſalem ſhould bée recouered. Wherfore, the ninth expedition was taken in hand towardes Ancon, whiche once was Ptolomais. Then was taken Damniata, yet with more loſſe then profit vntounto our men, which was taken the yéere of Chriſte. 1222. and loſt the next yéere followinge. To be ſhort, there was almoſt nothinge gotten by the warre, for eueryevery thinge had but litle good ſucceſſe.The. 10. expedition.
In the yéere of Chriſte. 1228. Fridericke the ſeconde Emperour of y• name, a wiſe, noble, and victorious prince, vndertooke the tenth expedition into Syria, where vanquiſhynge his enemies: hee tooke certayne principall Citties among which alſo hée wanne Ieruſalem. ButSee howe the Pope helpeth the Chriſtians. whilſt this good prince maketh warre agaynſt the Infidels: Pope Gregorie the .ix. inuaded Apulia, and tooke his natiue kyngdome and countrey, and therefore contrary to his intent and purpoſe, hée was enforced to take peace with the Soldane, and ſo departe. Which déede of the Pope, Abbas Vrſpurgenſis, in his chronicles doth woorthely blame moſte ſharply.
Afterward, in y• yéere of Chriſt. 124… Ludouick king of Fraūce, with his brothersThe 11. expedition. Robert and Charles, lead foorth an armie paſſing wel appointed into Syria: where hée founde no better fortune then others before him had done. For Robert was ſlayn, & Charles taken by ye Soldan the army diſcomfited, and the kynge Ludouicke hardly eſcaped with a few. And this was the .xi. vnhappie expedition.The. 12 expedition.
In the yéere of Chriſte, 1270. Kynge Ludouicke lead foorth an armie againe into Affrica againſt ye Sarracens, which maketh the xij expedition, but there a ſickneſſe inuadyng the army: the kynge himſelf wt one of his ſunnes died, for hée caried thrée foorth with him into battel, & a few of the people returned home ſalfe.
Although in this warre, which was firſt kindled by Peter the Heremite, afterwarde proclaimed by the Claromont counſell, and ſucceſſiuely mantayned by meanes and prouocation of Popes, there was no conſtant ſucceſſe, ſo that it was manifeſt vntounto all men that God would bleſſe it with no proſperous preueile: and ſéeinge that Ieruſalem was loſt agayne, and the ſtate of Chriſtians in the Eaſt was béecome moſt miſerable from whom by reaſon of the warres, perſecutions were not taken away, but rather augmented: notwithſtandinge theſe vnfortunate Byſſhoppes, with this vnſpeakable effuſion of Chriſtian bloode, were not ſatiſfied, neyther coulde bée broughte to yéelde or relent at theſe perpetuall and great diſcouragementes For Gregorie the x. callinge a great counſell at Lions, in the yéeare of ourCounſell at Lyons. lorde. 1272. went about to renewe the warre, but all in vaine, for ſo mutch as therby manie had ſuſtained ſutch and ſo manie miſeries, and calamities both of body, and goodes. And Matthaeus Palmerius in his Cronacles writeth: How that many thouſandes of Chriſtians being ſlayn in Syria by the Sarracens, the reſidew for feare departed the cuntrey: whiche was doone the yéere of Chriſte 1291. about whiche yéere Paulus Aemilius, and the French Chronacles do report, that this holy or rather vnhappye warre, was ended, which continued in all. 196. yéeres, whereof the like is not heard of in any hiſtory. And this warre vntounto the great damage and oppreſſion of the Chriſtians, was firſt kindled by Peter an vnknowne heremit (of whomvrſpurgēſis. pag. 240. many boaſt verye mutch, others not without cauſe hauehave doubted whether he were a man or any thinge elſe I know not what, many hauehave ſaid that he was a diſſemblinge hypocrite) holpen by the Counſell and prelates, and this mutch is ſufficent to hauehave ſpoken of the Sarracen perſecution, Wherfore let vsus now come to the Turkiſhe.
The perſecution of Turkes, wherewithOriginall of Turkes. they hauehave moleſted the Chriſtians is in ſome reſpect ioyned and coupled with the Sarracen, makinge it more gréeuous and cruell: And the Turkes are a people of Tartaria, whiche in the yeere of Chriſte. 764. brake forth of their owne confines through the gates Caſpiae, & planted themſelues in Aſia who firſt ſeruinge vnderunder the Sarracens for wagies: afterward increaſinge their power by good ſucceſſe in warres, about the yéere of Chriſte. 1051. they created them princes amonge themſelues, who perpetually hauehave afflicted, and perſecuted the poore Chriſtians, for they alſo had then receaued the Machometan religion.
It is not to bée doubted, but that God hath ſent this cruell, and ſuperſtitious nation of Turkes for a ſcourge vntounto the Chriſtians. For like as in the tyme of Salomon, when as he fell from the lawe of God, and ſuffred his wiues to build temples vntounto Idoles: there ſprange vp and increaſed enemies againſt him, and all the kingdome: ſo likewiſe amonge the Chriſtians, when Pope Boniface the. 8. committed many thinges repugnant to the Chriſtian religion, bringing in the Iubilee of the Iewes, which wasThe popes Iubilee. aboliſhed by chriſt, wherby the redemption through Chriſte was no litel déele diminiſhed: at the ſame time in the yéere of our lord, 1300. ſprang foorth that ſharp rodde, namely othomannus prince of the Turkes, who at the béeginninge was but a ſhéepheard. From this ſprange outOriginal of Othoman the firſte Prince of Turkes. all the princes, and emperours of the Turkes which hetherto hauehave obtayned the empire, perſecuting the Chriſtians with vnſpeakable harmes, waſting, and deſtroying whatſoeuer ye Sarracens had left, and hauehave eſtabliſhed ſutch a kingdome: as hath deſended and enlarged it ſelf (alas therwhile) with impregnable force againſt all power. Othomannus hath amplyfied his kingdome large and wyde, wounderfully indamaginge, vanquiſhynge, and murtheringe the Chriſtian Gréekes, which were vnderunder the empire of Conſtantinople.
After the death of Othomannus, thereOrchannes the. 2. ſuccéeded him in the Turkish Empire his ſunne Orchannes, in the yéere of our Lorde, 1328. The ſame enſued his fathers ſteppes, gréeuouſly afflictynge the Chriſtians, hée béeſiedged the Cittie Nicea, whiche when the Emperour of Conſtātinople would hauehave deliuered from ſiedge: the armie of the Chriſtians was miſerably ſlayne, the Cittie yéelded, and the Chriſtians moſt truelly dealt with all.
In the yéere of our Lorde, a thouſand thrée hundred and fiftie, Amurates the firſt of that name, thirde prince of the Turkes, ſuccéeded his father Orchannes. Who ſendyng an armie ouer the Sea: tooke the cities Hadrianopolis, Seruia, and Bulgaria, whom when the ChriſtianAmurates the. 3. princes aſſaide to driue away, were alſo with their armies ſlaine by the Turkes.
Baiazetus the firſt, fourth Prince ofBaiazetus. 4. the Turkes, béegan to reygne in the yéere of our Lorde. 1373. The ſame hath vnſpeakabli in damaged the Chriſtians: and among other things he beſieged Conſtantinople very hardly ye ſpace of eight yeres. And when ye Emperour of Conſtantinople had deſiered help of other chriſtiās: Charles ye. 6. king of France, Sigiſmund of Hungary, Iohn Duke of Burgundy, Rupert Duke of Bauaria with other princes, ſent him aid gathering an army of. 80000. mē. But all theſe vponupon Michaelmas day were by the Turkes ſlayne at Nicopolis, in the yéere of Chriſt 1395.
Machomet the fift prince of Turks,Machomet. 5. in the yéeare of our Lorde 1399. came vntounto the Empire. He vanquiſhed Sigiſmund Kyng of Hungarie in a battle at Columbeciū, & very mucth indamaged the Chriſtians, in the yéere of Chriſte, 1409.
Afterward in the yéere of Chriſt 1416Amurates. 6. Amurates the. 2. was created the ſixte Prince of the Turkes. The ſame made war with Laudiſlaus king of Hungarie and Polande, when Laudiſlaus through the help of God vanquiſhing Amurates, enforced him vntounto conditions of peace, verye neceſſarye and profitable for the Chriſtians. This peace was confirmed by an oth: at whiche time the ſtate of Chriſtians was in good caſe ouer the Turkes, had not Pope Eugenius the 4. vnluckely troubled all. Who ſending Iulianus Caeſarinus in embaſiedge into Hungarie: perſwaded Ladislaus the King that hée was not bound by the othe whiche hée made to kéepe peace with the Turke, for that no man ought to make peace with Infidels or heretickes, and ye othes and promiſes made vntounto them are not to be perfourmed. There were alſo diuers other which prouoked ye king Ladiſlaus that he ſhoulde vſe and employe this happye ſucceſſe whiche God had geuen him againſt the Turkes, vntounto the commodytie of the Chriſtian commonwealth, that the Turke was nowe in great feare, and troubled at that preſent with warre by the Carmani, wherefore that it were an eaſie matter to vanquiſh him. With theſe perſwaſions this yong Prince, this vertuous and well meannyng King, breakinge the peace, violatynge his othe, made warre vppon the Turkes, and pitched his tentes betwen Danubius and Adrianopolis, neare toThe reward of periurie. the Citie Varna. Againſt whome came foorth Amurates, accōpanied with fourſcore thouſande men, greatly blaming the periurie of the Chriſtians, and their breakyng of the peace, where hée ſlewe the young king which had bin deceiued by other, with many moe princes and noble men, and as Platina witneſſeth in the life of Eugenius the. 4. in that battle were ſlayne, 3. C. thouſand Chriſtians. The battle was fought vponupon S. Martins éeuen in the yéeare of Chriſte. 1444. Who ſo deſireth to reade a larger deſcription of that wofull calamitie: let him peruſe the Hungarian hiſtorie of Antonius Bonfinius, ye 6. booke of ye 3. Decade.
But Amurates not being ſatisfied wt this victory: immediatly cōuaighing his army into Greece, ſlew the Emperour of Conſtantinoples brother with all his power, and waſted Peloponeſus with fire and pilledge: and ſutch Chriſtians as were reſerued from the ſlaughter: he lead away into moſt miſerable ſlauery. And this was the great good prouiſion and commoditie, whiche the counſell of the bloody and periured Pope Eugenius purchaſed to the Chriſtians.
After theſe calamities and gréeuousMachomet the. 7. perſecutions: yet were there greater miſcheiues, which by the iuſt iudgment of God oppreſſed the Chriſtians. For in the yéere of Chriſte. 1450. Machomet the ſeconde Sunne to Amurates was made the ſeauenth Prince of the Turkes. The ſame for the valientneſſe of his déedes was ſurnamed the great, and called the firſt Caeſar or Emperour of the Turkes, becauſe hée tooke awaye valiently by force that Empire whicheThe firſte Emperour of Turkes. from the time of Conſtantinus ye great, the ſpace of. 1121. yéeres had continued vnderunder the dominion of ye Chriſtians, and brought it in ſubiection vntounto ye Turkes.
For in the yéere of our Lord. 1453. heConſtantinople taken. beſiedged coſtātinople ye head of ye empire, we a great power. And whē he had beſiedged it ye ſpace of 50 continual dais, & aſſaulted it we munition, at lēgth ye 29 day of May, he increaſed the aſſault we al his force frō ye morning vntill moſt part of ye dai were ſpent, & at ye length took it. Héere nowe it cannot bée recited, with what ſauadge crueltie, wantoneſſe, pride and diſdayne the barbarous Turkes vſed the miſerable Chriſtians without al mercy. Conſtantinus ye Emperour who was preſſed and troden to death by the multitude of men, béeing ſought out and haled from the reſidew of the dead carcaſes: had his head ſtrocken off, which béeyng ſet vppon the point of a ſpeare, was carried about in deſpight & deriſion of y• chriſtiās. Some report alſo y• ther were 40000. Chriſtians ſlayne, CLM. carryed away into captiuytie and ſould. The exact diſcription of this moſt miſerable calamiti, and vnſpeakable perſecution: is to be found in Nauclerus hiſtori.
Alſo Ioannes Auentinus a writer ofMachomets great victories. hiſtories, reporteth that this wicked Machomet ſurnamed the great, beſides the two Empires of Trapezunce and Conſtantinople, tooke away moreouer from the Chriſtians. xii. famous Kingdomes, and 200 famous Cities. Alſo in the yéere of Chriſte 1469. hée made an irruption into Styria, and béeſiedged the citie Graecium: whereby ſuch feare inuaded y• chriſtians, y• from Saltzbrough which ſome ſuppoſe of olde to bee called Iuuania, vntounto Monachum, in Bauaria, they fled in ſuch haſt: that they regarded not their Children whiche fell out of the wagons and Chariots by the waye. The ſame at that time they called the Turkiſh flight.
In the yéere of our Lord God. 1481Baiazet. 2. ſecond emperour of Turkes. Baiazetes was created ſeconde Emperour of the Turkes, and the eight prince from Othomānus. Theſame perſecuted alſo the chriſtians cruelly, and brake into Wallachia, & Hungarie, where néere to the riuer Morana vanquiſhyng the Chriſtians: in reproch and diſpight cut of the noſes of all the priſoners which he had taken: He made warre alſo againſt the Venetians, ſendynge foorth againſte them Scender a Baſsa into Frioll, who ſacking and ſpoylyng farre aboute carried away many Chriſtians captiue, of whome thrée hundred thouſande were moſt pitifully ſlayne at the ſhoare of the riuer Tiliauentum. Many thinges alſo moe hauehave bin commited cruelly againſt the Chriſtians by this moſt barbarous, and Turkiſhe Tyraunt Baiazete.
In the yéere of our Lorde. 1512. the. 9Selimus. 3. Emperour. prince of the Othomanni, and the third in order of the Turkiſh emperours Selimus, began to reigne. The ſame quite deſtroid the Sarracens & Mammaluces cōmaundyng that their laſt Sultan Tomombeius moſt ignominiouſly ſhoulde bée hanged, which was done the. 13. day of Aprill, in the yéere of our Lorde. 1517. when hee had taken Alcharyus or Memphis the greateſt and moſt famous Citie of Egipt. And by this meanes the Turkiſh Princes obtayned thrée excéedyng great Empires, to wit, of Trapezunce, Conſtantinople, and Egypt: and ſo continuallye the Rodde or Sworde which God hath prepared againſte the Chriſtians is fortified and increaſed.
Solimannus ſuccéeded his Father Selimus in the Empire in the yéere ofSoliman. 4. Emperour. Chriſte. MDXIX. béeinge the tenth Prince, and fourth Emperour of the Turkes. The ſame tooke Bellogradum or Alba Graeca, a paſſing ſtronge Citie and the key of all Hungary, which was in the yéere of Chriſte. MDXXI.
After this in the yéere of our Lord. 1523 hée béeſiedged the Ile of Rhodes, andRhodes. compelled it to yéeld. Then afterwarde in the yéere of Chriſte, 1526▪ hée diſcomfited and ſlew Ludouick kinge of Hungarie with all his armie. Againe, in the yéere of our lorde. 1529. hée brought an army into Auſtria, & béeſiedged vienna Vienna.the head of the cuntrey, which although hée obtayned not yet hée woundrouſlye indamaged the Region, with fier, ſpoylinges, murther, and captiuity of many thouſand Chriſtians, whom hée caryed thence. Beeſides this, in the yéere of Chriſte. 1537. hée ouercame the Chriſtians againe in Hungarie, and did them verie mutch harme. After whiche in the yéere of our Lorde. 1541. hée tookeBuda. Buda the Metropolitan Cittie of all Hungarie, and alſo the whole countrey. But bicauſe all theſe thinges are freſſh in the memories of men, whiche were done within fiftie yéeres, I thought it ſufficient only to touch them and repete them: For it is not vnknowne what greate harme hée did, and what autragies hée committed in Hungarie duplicate page duplicate page about the time that he dyed, which was in the yeere of oure Lorde M. D. lxvi. when he tooke Ligethum, where either hee ſlew or caried awaye as priſonersLige… moſt part of the Chriſtians, whiche in deede were verie manie.
And now laſt of all, what the Chriſtians hauehave to looke for at the handes of Selimus the .ii. ſonne to Solimannus theselimus. 5. Emperour. xi. Prince of the diſcent of Othomannus and the fift Emperour of the Turkes, who bega to reigne in y• yeere of Chriſt M. D. LXVI. the experience it ſelfe hath taught in the yéere of our Lorde, M. D. LXX. in which he tooke the noble Kingdome of Cypres, ſlaying manye thouſand Chriſtians, whom he had tormented and then ſlaine: or carying thē awaye into perpetuall, and moſt cruell ſeruilitie.
I ſuppoſe that in this place, manieNote. will marueile at this reherſall of ye Sarracenicall, and Turkish perſecutions, which are not of opiniō themſelues that they ſhould be accompted among perſecutions: but rather amōg warres, wherof the reaſon and nature is farre otherwiſe ſions are not excuſed that were infected with errours: Semblably in theſe Sarracenicall and Turkiſh warres, I hauehave applied the name of y• Chriſtian churche (like as I admoniſhed in y• béeginning of this booke) vntounto all thoſe that are called Chriſtians, whom the Turks for y• names ſake do perſecute by reaſon of an hatred which they beare to the chriſtian faith: although many do much want of y• ſimplicitie, and puritie of the Chriſtian religion: neither by any meanes therby are the errours of the Romiſh Churche excuſed.
The thinges which firſt incenſed theMotions vntounto theſe perſecutions. Sarracens and Turkes, to commit theſe furious cruell tyranycall Tragedies, theſe warres, & perſecutions: was cheifly the Diuell himſelfe, who is excéedingely delyghted with ſheadynge of mans blood: ſecondly the hatred of the trew Chriſtian faith, and a gréedye deſier to rule farre and wide: couetouſnes to hea…e vp ritches, and to liue ſumptuſhoppes theretelye: alſo a zeale and Rome, Pope, Cache wicked and falſe which be now at th… met, with other cauſes which her after ſhalbée declared.
And this mutch I thought bréefly to ſet downe, concerninge the Sarracenical and Turkiſh perſecutions. And it is to bée wiſſhed, that all thoſe which are Chriſtians and would ſo bée named: woulde ſoundly & ſurely acknowledge, that this gréeuous tyrany of ye Turkes, is a very true perſecution, laid vponupon vsus from aboue, to ſée if haply men would bée brought vntounto wiſdome, wherby to embrace erneſtlye the pure doctrine of Chriſte, ſtudeinge more to lead a Chriſtian life then hetherto they hauehave doone: for ſurely vnleſſe wée do ſoe: wée muſt néedes looke for farre woorſe.
But now in theſe Sarracenicall and Turkiſh perſecutions, to returne vntounto that whiche wée hauehave often admoniſhed béefore: I aſke this queſtion, if ther bée any man of ſo ſmall or froward diſcretion, that dareth avouche that the Machometan religion is true, and the Chriſtian falſe: bycauſe y• followers of machomet in euerie place hauehave … among per… oppreſſinge the Chriſmōg warres, whermouſly railinge at nature is farre otherwiſe And who dareth deney, that all theſe religions, and Churches which Saynt Paule the Apoſtle conuerted to the faith of Chriſte, are now ouerturned, and deſtroyed by that filthie, and horrible Machometan beaſt, and that the moſt impious, & froward faith of Machomet, yea rather that lotheſome abhomination is there eſtabliſhed: And who is ſo preſumptious, and deuoyde of all religion, that bicauſe God of his iuſt iudgement permitteth the Turkes to commit ſo manie thynges, which hée coulde eaſely prohibite: will therefore diſpute with God, and demaunde of him, wherfore hée ſuffreth ſo mutch bloud to bée ſhedde, ſo many thouſande Chriſtians to bée ſlayne? How hee can abyde ſo manie vnſpeakable calamities, miſeries, and afflictions of the godly, and that ſo many hundred yéeres? And why rather hee diſtroyeth not with Thundre and lightdiffe… from Heauen, the impure, and Churche of …ire of the Turkes, or ca… ſhoppes thereo… ▪ to gape and ſwallow Rome, Pope, Car… abhomination? But which be now at this …e and great cauſes why God, who is true, holy, and righteous, ſuffereth and permitteth all theſe thinges. Furthermore, long ſithens héeDan. 2. Mat. 24. Luk. 21. foretolde by Daniell the Prophete, and Chriſte himſelfe prophiſeth in the Goſpell, that the laſt perſecution before the later Iudgmente, ſhoulde bée ſo ſharpe and great: that there was neuer the like vponupon the earth ether heard, or ſene. And I am of opinion, that the final iudgment and the redemption of all the faithfull, & glorious clarification, and bleſſed rewarding, is not far of from vsus. Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, take pittie vponupon thine aflicted Church, and vouchſaue to comforte and helpe it in this latter cruell, and moſte rare kinde of perſecution.