A note touching the miserable persecution, slaughter, and captivity of the Christians, under the Turks.
The beastly tyranny of the Turks,1 above all the rest incomparably, surmounteth all the afflictions, and cruel slaughters that ever were in any age, or read in any history: especially by the space of these latter 300. years. Whose cruelty hath been such, that there is no place almost where they vanquished, that they did not, either slay all the inhabitants thereof, or lead away the most part into such captivity, that they continued not long alive: or else so lived, that death had been unto them more tolerable.
And as in the time of the first persecutions of the Roman Emperors, the saying was, that no man could steppe with his foot in Rome, but should tread upon a Martyr: so it may be said, that almost there is not a Town, City, or village, in all Asia, Grecia, and also in a great part of Europa, and Africa, whose streets have not flowed with blood of the Christians, whom the cruel Turks have murdered. Of whom are to be seen in histories, heaps of Soldiers slain: of men and women, cut in pieces: of children, sticked upon poles, and stakes: whom these detestable Turks most spitefully (and that in the sight of their parents) use to gore to death. Some they drag at horse tails, & famish to death: some they tear in pieces, tying their arms and legs to four horses: other some they make marks to shoot at: upon some they try their swords, how deep they can cut and flash: the aged, and feeble they tread under their horses: women with child, they rip their bodies, and cast the infants into the fire, or otherwise destroy them. In their promises there is no trueth.
⟨p. 398⟩After the Citizens of Croya had yielded, and were promised their lives, yet were they destroyed, & that horrible. In Mosia, after thee king had given himself to the Turks hand, having promise of life, Mahumet slue him with his own hands. The Princes of Rasia had both their eyes put out, with basins read hot set before them. Theodosia, otherwise called Caphum, having had promise of safety, being surrendered, was likewise destroyed. At the yielding of Lesbos, a number of young men and children, were put upon sharp stakes, and poles.
A note touching the miserable persecution, slaughter, and captiuitie of the Christians, vnder the Turkes.
THe beastly tirannie of the Turkes,1 aboue al the rest incomparablie, surmounteth all the afflictions, and cruell slaughters that euer were in any age, or read in any historie: especiallie by ye space of these latter 300. yeres. Whose crueltie hath béene such, that there is no place almost where they vanquished, that they did not, either slay all the inhabitants thereof, or leade away the most part into such captiuitie, that they continued not long aliue: or els so liued, that death had béene vnto them more tollerable.
And as in the time of the first pesecutions of the Roman Emperours, the saying was, that no man could steppe with his foote in Rome, but should treade vpon a Martyr: so it may be said, that almost there is not a Towne, Citie, or village, in all Asia, Grecia, and also in a great part of Europa, and Affrica, whose stréetes haue not flowed with bloud of the Christians, whom the cruell Turkes haue murthered. Of whom are to be séene in histories, heapes of Souldiers slaine: of men and women, cut in péeces: of children, sticked vpon poles, and stakes: whom these detestable Turkes most spitefullie (and that in the sight of their parents) vse to gore to death. Some they drag at horse tailes, & famish to death: some they teare in péeces, tying their armes and legges to foure horses: other some they make markes to shoote at: vpon some they trie their swordes, how déepe they can cut and flash: the aged, and féeble they tread vnder their horses: women with childe, they rip their bodies, and cast the infantes into the fire, or otherwise destroy them. In their promises there is no trueth.
⟨p. 398⟩After the Citizens of Croya had yeelded, and were promised their liues, yet were they destroyed, & that horrible. In Mosia, after thee king had geuen himselfe to the Turkes hand, hauing promise of life, Mahumet slue him with his owne handes. The Princes of Rasia had both their eyes put out, with basins redde hote set before them. Theodosia, otherwise called Caphum, hauing had promise of safetie, being surrendred, was likewise destroyed. At the yelding of Lesbos, a number of young men and children, were put vpon sharpe stakes, and poles.
- 1Persecution under the TurkPersecution vnder ye Turke
