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.
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_.