NEWS FROM ROME, Venice, and Vienna, touching the present proceedings of the Turks against the Christians in Austria, Hungary, and Helvetia, otherwise called Sevenbergh.  
Also the true Copy of a Lamentable Petition exhibited in the names of the afflicted Christians in those parts, to the Christian Kingdoms in the West.   depiction of an armoured knight with feathered helmet, lance, and spurs, on a horse with plumes 
Printed at London by john Danter, for Thomas Gosson, and are to be sold at his shop adjoining to London Bridge Gate. 1595.   

NEWS FROM ROME, Venice, & Vienna, touching the present proceedings of the Turks against the Christians in Austria, Hungary, and Helvetia, otherwise called Sevenbergh. Also the true Copy of a Lamentable Petition exhibited in the names of the afflicted Christians in those parts, to the Christian Kingdoms in the West.  
men's unbelieving hearts hasten too late repentance, and the unwillingness of Christians either to assist other, gives way for Infidels to insult over all.  
Christ's Prophecy is now performed, the days wax worse and worse, & charity is grown cold: For if mercy had had any government among Christian men, so many beauteous. Towns, goodly Cities, glorious Kingdoms had not (as now they are) either been utterly made waste, or suffered the woeful bondage of Turkish tyranny. The flourishing Churches to which Christ's Apostles writ, and in which they and the first Fathers of the Church laboured, are now the receptacles of unhallowed multitudes, and only a small corner of the earth professeth Christ. One Christian suffering another to be as easily consumed, as an idle or envious townsman his neighbour helplessly to be rob or burned: Else had not all Asia, some of Africa, and so much of Europe, suffered so great and irrecoverable slavish bondage. How many goodly Nations the unbelieving offspring of Ottoman, have subjecteth, sufficiently too late experience expresseth, and the purpose of the common enemy to subject the rest, immediate proof explaineth.  
Amurath now Emperor of Turkey, glorying in the usurped seat of the Greekish Emperre, not long since subjecteth by Mahomet the son of Amurath his predecessor, ambitiously by his tyrannous Bassas incited, hath attempted the affliction of Austria, the unconquered part of Hungary, Poland, Helvetia, and other kingdoms neighbouring Greece, whose proceed since the 25. of December last, till the middle of januarie, this small Pamphlet handleth.  
Rab is a town near Donow in Hungary, which in the end of the last Harvest, the Turks violently after long siege entered, sparing neither age nor sex, but making the Infant's days equal with the aged Elders, both young and old by their cruelty at once perished. The winning of which place hath not smally weakened the other Forts of Hungaria, in the Christians power. After they had tyrannously insulted over Rab, they immediately bent their forces against Comar, the people of which City assisted by the hand of God, and resolved rather to die than subject themselves to the slavery of Infidels, valiantly defended themselves, and violently compelled, the huge multitude of the Turks to raise their siege and retire to Rab which they had lately taken. From sundry parts of Christendom since the 25. of December these certain and unreprovable intelligences have been sent: videlicet, it is certified from Rome the last of januarie.  
The emperors majesties Legates had audience before the Pope, who desired a subsidy should be levied on the Clergy, for the cutting off of an Arm of the River of Donow, that falls in by Comar, thereby not only to defend the said town and the parts thereabouts, but also to hinder the Turks from intercourse to Ooven: and besides it would be a mean to spare many Soldiers that must be employed in these parts. To this the Pope condescended; with promise to aid the Emperor with all he might. justiniano is appointed the Collector.  
The same time also it was certified that the great Master of Malta was reconciled, being authorized from the Pope to be accountable to no Estate.  
It is also concluded, that the Prince of Sevenbergh, otherwise called Helvetia, upon whose burden the first war between the Turks and Christians must needs lie, shall have 20000. Crowns monthly to maintain the war, and if (which God forbidden) he be expulsed Helvetia, he shall have some dominion allotted him in the Empery and 200000. crowns yearly.  
Moreover at Rome the same day arrived this news, that the Archbishop of Toledo in Spain, being ninety four years of age deceased, and left behind him a Million of ready money, half a Million in debts, and six hundred thousand Crowns in Plate, Robes, costly apparel and other jewels: Making five Executors; of which the King of Spain is principal, who hath obtained that his money should be employed to the Church's use, seeing the said Archbishop had bequeathed nothing to his kindred, whom belike he provided for in his life time.  
Alberto the Cardinal succeeding in the Bishopric and possessing these goods, hath granted half of them to be employed against the Turks.  

From Venice the 13. of januarie.  
Letter's came from Syria, certifiying, the Sycalla or Admiral with the Galleys are come to Constantinople, and that a great Armatho is providing against Hungary by Sea.  
It is likewise certified to that state of Venice from hallow, by reason of the great frost and snow, the Citrons, Lemons, Oranges, and such fruit were all spoiled, that would be great impeachment to the Turks provision.  
Also the eleventh of januarie there came a Post from Paris to Venice, that certified them of the French Kings hurt: and the same Post said, that as he passed on his way by Lions, he heard of some commotion at Marsilles, whence sundry Noble men are fled.   

From Vienna the 11. of januarie.  
AT five of the Clock that day in the morning, came these ill news: that eight hundred Turks some on foot but most part horse, came from Rab to saint Georgen, and that the fift day of this said month the Turks had taken Prûg near Leyten, and burned the Cities and Country of the Lord Herryth, making excursions within eight miles of Vienna, murdering the people, or making them slaves, robbing, spoiling and burning the whole Country, and threatening within few days to gather head against Vienna.  
Likewise the said 11. of januarie, a Governor of horsemen (being in a Hold hard by) required to have aid: and the Magistrates of Vienna have taken order that every Citizen (according to his ability) should keep a proportion of horse and footmen, till other preparation may be made.  
The Grave Hardigh being taken prisoner by the Turks, sought to break prison, his brother having provided a ladder of ropes for his escape, and forty horse for his rescue: but it was discovered, and they all slain or taken.  
Three sudden fires have been lately in Vienna, yet by God's great mercy but one house at a time burnt: nevertheless the fearful multitude construe it to be an ominous presage of sad misfortune.   

From Prage the 10. of januarie.  
THis day the emperors Ambassadors returned to prague, from the King of Poland, with this answer: That the Polonians would willingly assist the Emperor, upon condition the Emperor would do as much for him, if the Turk should move war upon Polonia: of which to be resolved, he requireth the Prince's Electors, to send their Ambassadors to his Parliament holden in Polonia.  
Maximilian Archduke of Austria, intends to be General against the Turks. Charles of Mansfield will come with 3000. horsemen, one thousand of them being bard, and two Regiments of foot of 6000, are promised out of the lower Germany to be sent into Hungary with all speed.  
This tenth of januarie a Legate came to the Emperor at prague, with four demands from Charles the Duke: first for necessaries concerning his marriage, and relief for three years, till the wars were somewhat quieted in Hungary. Secondly, that he be taken as a Sessor or Prince in the Empery, & incorporated in the Kingdom of Hungary, conditioning, that if he died without issue male, his lands being Moldau, Walachia, and Bulgaria, shall come to the succeeding Kings of Hungary. Thirdly, that the Emperor would send him four thousand horsemen at his proper charge. Fourthly, that the Emperor should not enter into peace with the Turk, without his knowledge. But what the Emperor resolves to answer is not yet known.   

From Vienna the 6. of januarie.  
THe last night in the evening Syfrid van Colneyt sent his servant to Vienna, certifying the State that the Turks and Tartars in great numbers were come over the passage at Altenbergh, and fired a town called saint Peter, and remained that night at saint john's. But the day before they were at saint Nicholas, Sturne, Cabastain, Somerain, Zuidenbergh, and other neighbouring places between Altenbergh and Prage, and he feared, they had taken some of those places, spoiled the people, and hazarded Altenbergh, by reason there was but two hundred men at Arms therein, the enemy being twenty thousand strong, and very well furnished with all munition.  
Presently the same day came another messenger, certifying that the enemy is come to prague and Men eshoffen, firing many towns, killing multitudes of people, and taking divers prisoners, so that Altenbergh is in great danger to be taken away, as Rab.   

More from Vienna the 8. of januarie.  
THE second of this month came the Ambassadors from Sevenbergh, the chief man's name being Bapteri Istuan, accompanied with them of Moldau, and were lodged at the Lord of Westernahers, next day they had audience before Maximilian the emperors brother.  
About four a clock in the afternoon they came to john de Medici's, and the fourth day journeyed to Prage to the Emperor.  
Two days after came tidings that fifteen thousand Turks were come to Rab with intention to take Altenbergh, which they may easily do, by reason the rivers are so extremely frozen, and the help so small.  
Presently after came worse news, that four and twenty thousand Turks were entered Austria: wherefore that evening every thirtieth man was chosen in that City, beside the quarter of Vienna Wald, who were mustered the seventh of this month at Brûg under Leyther.  
By the last Parliament, all things stand as before, but the enemy grows very strong, our soldiers for want of pay being unwilling to serve: Certain of the General of Seeneberghs soldiers mutining for want of pay, are gone upward into the Empery, and will make us have a very ill name: The money which they received, they left word should pay for their horses.  
One of my Lord the Duke's servants, that was sent to the Lord Haunce Wererne, General for the Margrave of Bourgan toward Nysadell, brought tidings, that the Turks and Tartars did great harm thereabout, none resisting them, the people only determining of flight.   

From Presbergh, the last of December.  
THe Ambassadors of Sevenbergh yesterday about twelve a clock arrived here, and immediately went toward Fishau.  
The Spies bring certain tidings, that the Turks gather in many thousands about Rab, meaning to spoil the Country about Vienna, for whom they make here great provision.  
The 25. of this month the Turks set forward toward Seinneyt in Hungary, but the people of the Country so fiercely assailed them, that there remained above an hundred dead on the place, beside a number that were drowned in flight. Some Turkish prisoners that were there taken, confessed, that the Bassas purpose immediately after newyear's day to do some great exploit.  
This last of December, one of our Ambassadors came from Sevenbergh, certifying us the Prince of Sevenbergh greatly endamageth the Turk, taking from him one Hold after another. And that he hath three goodly Camps, one lead by Herbart Michael beyond the Donow, to hinder the Turks passage to Ooven: the other by Istuan Ferran in Lucar, near Tamusweer: the third by Cornus jasper from Therneyt: to whom are adjoined of the upper Hungarians and Greekish Soldiers, fifteen hundred men at arms. What their expedition will sort unto, is only in the hands of God: and of their success we look shortly to hear from Cassau.   

From Cassau, December the 28.  
THe Turks and Tartars gather daily in great multitudes about jula, lead by the Bassa of Tamusweer, and the Bassa of Selnicke, desirous to do some service (while the Teysca and other waters are frozen) against Tartasail by Teyny. Against whom the Christians on our side make head, looking for certain knowledge which way they intent to take, and being assured of their march, we will with them of Sevenbergh meet them, committing ourselves to God, in whose quarrel we willingly lay down our lives, hoping he will defend his distressed and afflicted flock.   

More from Cassau the last of December.  
THe Turks and Tartars perreyving our intention to join with the Sevenberghers, are for all their great multitudes, fearfully retired. Nevertheless doubting their sudden return, we keep very careful watch.    

The Confession of a Tartarian Horseman taken amongst other Prisoners.   depiction of an armoured knight with feathered helmet, lance, and spurs, on a horse with plumes 
FIrst he saith, although the Turkish Emperor commanded them to winter in Hungaria, they notwithstanding went forward, hearing their own Country was afflicted, and sending sixteen thousand men before, they were all slain and taken by the Christians of Sevenbergh.  
2 Also he saith, that the King of Tartar's son, with the rest of the Army lie about Tamusweer and Wesenbergh, and that of the Tartars only two thousand shall remain there.  
3 Also he saith, that in the last skirmish three hundred Tartars, and one hundred Turks, all horsemen, were sent to learn if the river of Rabnitz were hard frozen to pass or no, but what they have done he knows not, for by the stumbling of his horse he was taken prisoner: but he thinketh they meant to set upon Capurar.  
4 Fourthly, he knoweth not what number of men were at Cappa, but at Rab there were some fifteen thousand.  
5 Fifthly he saith, that no more Tartars must come down, but those that are there, are commanded to set upon Erlaw.  
6 Sixthly he faith, all those Turks that came last from Sea, being about fifty thousand, are all perished.  
7 Seventhly he saith, the Turk hath made peace with the Persian, but because the soldan's son is dead at Perto, he knoweth not whether the peace will hold.  
8 Eighthly he saith, he knoweth not whether the soldan will hold war against the Georgeani or no.  
9 Ninthly he saith, At Comar the Christians slew nine hundred janissaries: but at Rab he knoweth not how many were slain, only he remembreth that some days three, some days four, and some days five hundred perished.  
10 Lastly he saith, The men of Comar so valiantly resisted, that the Turks were not able to continue their siege, but were forced to retire bark again to Rab.   

The true Copy of a Lamentable Petition exhibited in the names of the afflicted Christians in the East parts, to the Christian Kingdoms in the West.  
IF either human pity (naturally grafted in man's heart) to compassionate the oppressed, or the sweet bands of Christian Love wherein you & we (members of one head) are mutually bound either to other: have any power to entreat your hearty prayers or speedy help: we humbly beg the one, and beseech the other.  
You happy Princes of peopled Kingdoms, and blessed people of those happy Princes: commiserate (for CHRIST'S cause) our miserable distress, that have no day of happiness, no night of rest: but fear within, and terror without, dims the brightness of our day, and doubles the darkness of our night. We hear, (which addeth heaviness to our grief) that civil wars, private quarrels, and unchristian malice, weakeneth the Arm of Christendom, that should be strengthened among you. Alas, what need ye (like the earthbred brethren) maliciously let cut each others blood? when ye have a whole world of enemies to war against: and we and you in all but a corner of the earth to oppose ourselves against their cruelty.  
We hear how you provoke (as we have done) by the excess of sin, God's wrathful and heavy vengeance. Let our pride, be a precedent for you to learn humbleness: our neglect of God, a warning that you leave such negligence: our wrath, envy, and avarice, a mean to make you mild, loving and liberal: our sloth, wantonness and excess, to increase your diligence, chastity and temperance. Now for our rich array we put on sackcloth, our beauteous Ladies sit with teare-distained faces, our Virgins sing not the Hymns of gladness, but of sorrow, our Old-men faint feebly in the street, and our Youngmen prepare themselves to venture their precious lives in open field,  
Dear Christian Brethren, turn turn your pitying eyes upon our prostrate misery. Remember the willingness of your forefathers in that great Expedition to jerusalem, under the leading of Godfrey Duke of Boulogne. Then Princes, noblemans, and well disposed people, came in person from the utmost Western Kingdoms, even from England, France, netherlands, and Scotland: the women gave the soldiers their bracelets of gold and silver, yea, poor servants offered of their small wages to maintain that holy War. Ah, where is that pity, care, true love and mercy now become? The Turkish & unbelieving Enemies are come by many Kingdoms far nearer your homes, and your commiseration is by many degrees farther off. Let Antioch, the first City wherein the name of Christians began (now made a Synagogue of unbelieving Infidels) move ye to compassion. The Candlesticks are removed from the Churches in Asia as S. john prophesied: the light of Christianity is wholly extinct among them. In Syria Christ's Spouse hath lost her beauty. In the Empery of Greece, Kingdoms of Epyrus, Lystria, Crete, Cyprus, and other the Mediterranean Nations, CHRIST had (& that within these few years) his beloved Vineyard, planted, tended, well dressed, compassed about. But now the Turks (like wild Boars are entered, the Vineyard is wasted. In stead of wine, the earth (in all those and divers other kingdoms) is drunk with Christian blood: and there is no face of Christianity left, no outward Church. Let that part of our Kingdoms already lost, & the rest now hazarding, win ye to some compassion.  
But it may be, because the Turk is far off, you think he never can have power to hurt ye, you and your children shall be safe. Be not so gross conceited. Consider, we had Fathers that gathered for us, so had the Greeks', and other the forenamed Nations: but now their wealth and ours lies open to the Enemy. We had houses, but Turks possess them: Palaces, but they are spoiled: Churches, but they are profaned: Cities, but they are wasted: & some more we have, but how long they shallbe ours, we little know. And yet within these few years, we were thrice farther off from danger than you now are. Neither flatter yourselves that your Countries are populous, your Cities strong, your Kingdoms fenced with the Sea: they and we had peopled Kingdoms, fenced Cities, sea-walled islands, but all was vain, they were singled one by one, their neighbours denied them help, and first they, than those deniers perished. Such will our case be, if we be not aided: such will yours be, if ye do not aid us.  
Besides, there is a rumour spread in some parts of Christendom, how the Turks are just in keeping faith and promise. O fond and idle belief: What faith can they keep that have no faith?  
Such faith as not long since they kept with that noble Christian Prince of Cyprus, the Turkish Emperor himself passing his word unto him. When that most Princely Christian Warrior, had defended Famagosta till all munition and victual failed: he and his small company yet worthily resolving, intended dearly to sell their lives, and stood valiantly to defend the breaches. The Turk seeing their resolution, offered the Prince, that if he would surrender the City, himself and the soldiers, with their Arms, weapons, and colours displayed, the Princess with her children, the other women, people, and children of the City with bag and baggage should pass quietly through the Turks Army, and be transported to what Haven in Christendom they desired. The Prince accepted these conditions, the Turkish Emperor confirmed them with an: oath: but (like a false miscreant) when they were issued, he compelled the Prince and the able men to bear burdens of earth upon their shoulders to repair the breaches: then commanded the Princess, her children, the women and other weak people (after many shameful abuses) to be cruelly tortured to death. Then stripped they the Soldiers and chained them for slaves. Lastly they pulled out the woeful Prince's eyes, punched his warlike body full of holes, and hanged him on the top mast of their Admiral Galley, more to afflict his poor subjects that rowed there as slaves.  
Such faith will they keep as with the last Emperor of Greece they did: whom (after many friendly seeming Ambassades) they suddenly besieged in his chief City Constantinople, and in the chief Gate of that City, he and his children were found mangled with many wounds, and trampled with their horses feet.  
Such faith will they keep as lately they did with us of Hungary: Having taken certain youngmen of noble Families. We laboured for their liberty to the Bassa of Buda. Their ransom was set down, and licence granted for their friends to bring it. The Bassa himself received it: and then tyrannously to several stakes he tied the miserable young Gentlemen naked, and in presence of their friends caused their bodies to be sliced with sharp knives, the flesh cast unto hungry dogs, and the dead carcases delivered their sorrowful friends for the ransom they had paid.  
This is the Turkish faith, this their vow, this their religion: let no Christian State believe them, nor for lucre hold league with them, for they do await time first to destroy us, then to extirpate them.  
What should we say that you cannot conceive, look on your Cities, Palaces, Fields, Meadows, walks, pleasant Gardens, think ours were like yours, but now are nothing but receptacles of sorrow. Look on your wives and beauteous daughters, and remember that we have such (though not so fortunate) yours safe, ours subject to ravishment and spoil. Look on your sons and forget not ours, of whom no small number are already with their woeful fathers chained in Turkish slavery, the rest opposing themselves against their tyranny. And then remember it is in his quarrel we strive, that hath promised to reward a cup of cold water given in his name: much more reward again with ten fold blessings, your Christian mercy and pity toward us.  
To him that is able to help as well by one as many, we commit ourselves: and commend the consideration of our miserable estate to your Christian Charities.  
From prague, the 13, of januarie. Your poor afflicted Christian brethren of Boheme, Hungary, Austria, Polonia, and Helvetia.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London by john Danter, for Thomas Gosson, and are to be sold at his shop adjoining to London Bridge Gate. 1595.