This ill Success so provok’d Solyman, that he gave Orders that Mustapha Bassa should immediately be put to death, tho’ he had done all in the Assault a wise and brave General could do.
Pyrrhus Bassa hearing of this severe Command, notwithstanding Solyman’s Rage, went to intercede for him; but his Rage continuing, he order’d Pyrrhus to undergo the same Fate.
The rest of his Council fell at his Feet to hinder so cruel a Command, some begging to suffer with them, vowing never to rise till their honest Suit was granted.
The Emperor’s Passion at last subsiding, he pardon’d Mustapha and Pyrrhus.
However, his Admiral, because he could not prevent the Relief that came by Sea into the Town, did not fare quite so well. He was order’d to receive the Bastinado (or Scourging) as a common Slave, on board his own Galley, and had been put to death, but for the Persuasion of Achmetes Bassa, who had a great Influence over Solyman.
The Emperor’s ill Success began to make him turn his Thoughts from the Siege, tho’ with the utmost Reluctance; to see the Course of his victorious Arms stopp’d by a handful of Men, was what his ambitious Soul could not bear.
He summon’d another Council of War of all his grand Officers, where, after many Debates, he was persuaded to continue the Siege, and by the Strength of their Vows and Promises to conquer, he began to build him a Palace on the Brow of Mount Philermus, where from the Battlements he could take a View of what was done in the City of Rhodes. But the Gross of the Turkish Army murmur’d at the Continuance of the Siege, shot Letters upon the Heads of Arrows frequently into the Town discovering every thing that was done in Council, with Promise of the Revolt of Mustapha Bassa for the ill Usage he had receiv’d from the Emperor Solyman.
But notwithstanding the Valour of the Rhodians, (who twice more repuls’d the Othomans with great Slaughter) they began to want every thing that was necessary: And by eager Persuasions of the Inhabitants that had Families in the City, he was prevail’d upon to send an Embassy to Solyman, tho’ not before the Turks had gain’d two hundred Paces in Breadth, and a hundred and fifty in Length, within the outward Wall.
When the Ambassador came before Solyman, he demanded the immediate Surrender of the City; and if the Rhodians would trust his Clemency, now, without farther Hostilities, their Lives, Estates and Freedoms should be safe.