Solyman imagining these Promises would prevail upon the harrass’d Rhodians, sent a Letter to the same purpose to be read in publick to them by a Genoese.
When the Letter was read, the Grand Master was of the opinion to hold out the Siege to the last: But a Greek Priest, with Tears running down his Cheeks, begg’d he would prevent the final Destruction of so many innocent People; at the same time praising the Clemency of Solyman to those that yielded to his Arms.
He was constrain’d to comply with their Desires, and surrender’d the City to the Emperor, who enter’d in Triumph on the 25th of December 1522.
In the Year 1526, Solyman turn’d his Arms against Hungary, with an Army of two hundred thousand Men, and advanc’d as far as Sophia[(G)], before the indolent Lewis King of Hungary heard of his March.
At Mohatz[(H)] the young King met Solyman’s Army with twenty-five thousand Men, and by ill Persuasion gave Battle on the 29th of October 1528, and his Army was defeated. Lewis endeavouring to make his Escape, was smother’d in a Ditch where his Horse had plung’d him.
Solyman did nothing extraordinary in the military Way till the Spring 1529, When the Fame of his Arms made the strong City Buda[(I)] an easy Conquest; for the Inhabitants, struck with in universal Terror, abandon’d the Place, and he enter’d the empty City in Triumph. But the Citadel Was bravely defended by the Governor, Thomas Nadasti, till the Garrison was reduc’d to three hundred; who seiz’d the Governor, to deliver him up to Solyman, upon Condition they were to march out with Bag and Baggage. But Solyman despising their Trachery, order’d his Janizaries to put the Soldiers to Death, and dismiss’d the Governor with magnificent Presents, for the Revard of his Valour, and Integrity to his Prince.
After the taking of Buda, Solyman was resolv’d to penetrate into the Heart of Germany, and lay siege to the City of[(K)] Vienna, the capital City of Austria.
In his March he suffer’d his Troops to commit all Sorts of Outrages, destroying all the Country with Fire and Sword, even beyond Vienna, as far as Lintz[(L)]. He encamp’d before the City, September the 26th, 1529, and invested it, that no Succour could be sent into the Town.
He sent word by several Prisoners he had taken, that it was in vain to defend their Walls against the vindictive Force that had conquer’d Rhodes, Belgrade and Buda. But receiving no Answer, but Sallies from the city, he began to plant his Cannon, and batter the Walls, tho’ without Success; for his heavy Cannon, with the Vessels that bore them, were sunk in the Danube by the brave Wolfgang Hoder, Commander of the Grand Duke’s Galleys. This unexpected Misfortune gave Solyman, not only Uneasiness, but Terror, which was augmented by Reports, that all the Powers of Germany were marching to protect Vienna.
In every Assault he seem’d to have the worst; all his Mines were countermined, and blown up, with considerable Bodies of his best Troops.