A TRUE RELATION OF taking of ALBA-REGALIS, in the Germane Tongue, called Sfullweissenburgh, the chief City in Nether-Hungarie, which was taken by the Christian Army, the twentieth of September last passed. 1601.  
Truly Translated out of the Germane Tongue.  
¶ LONDON, Printed by Ralph Blower, for C. B. 1601:   

¶ The cruel Actions of the Turkish Emperors from time to time, against the Christians, with the winning of the great Cirtie of ALBA-REGALIS, from the Turks, etc.  
Courteous and well-beloved, before that we proceed to the Treatise of the taking of this City, we will first rehearse some particular Actions & proceed of Soliman the Turkish Emperor, and of the situation and importance of the said City. We do read in the Turkish Histories, that after the decease of Selimus, the Eleventh Emperor, succeeded his son Soliman, who in the beginning of his Reign, showed himself to be of a very meek and tractable Disposition, and governing his Empire in quiet and peaceable estate, resembling a Lamb in nature, as being then but young and un-experienced: but after that he grow to ripe years, and that with th'increasing of his age, the old Turkish Ambition and tryanny began to creep in his heart: his loving lamblike Disposition was converted to a most furious Lion-like rage; and an unquencheable bloud-thyrst, insomuch that all men were deceived in their former hopes and expectations of him, for there was never any Turkish Emperor since the first springing of their Mahometan Religion until this day, that ever did so much annoy and vex Christendom as this Soliman hath done.  
First in the year of our Saviour Christ 1521. he 〈◊〉 up his forces, and besieged the Greekish Weisseaburgh, which in short time he took. Next went he to Rhodes, and there he shot down the Walls, the Turrets and Houses: holding and continnuing his violent assaults for half a day together, insomuch that at one assault he lost 2000 of his men.  
On the other side, the Christian Knights be-haved themselves so valiantly that they repulsed him with small loss on their side: but at length, by reason they could not receive any aid or succour which they expected, and further by reason of a great scarcity of Men▪ Munition and Uictuals (he having continnued his siege for the space of nine Months) they were constrained to yield him the Fort, together with great gifts and presents, conditionally, they should enjoy their Lives and Goods: so that every one with his Wife, Children and goods departed thence into Italy.  
Shortly after he surprised the City of Mongacum. scitated on the Danubie, between Ofen and Greekish Weissenburgh, in the year 1526. the 26 of August.  
Next he Rapayred to Ofen, besieging the same with a huge and invincible Army, whereat the Christians who kept the same, despairing of any Rescue or succour, rendered it up unto him, upon Condition of their lives safety; but he having possession thereof, kept not his agreement with them, but murdered the most part of them, and made the Residue of them Captives.  
After this the King FERDINANDO went into Hungary accompanied with CASSIMIRUS Marquis of Brandenburg, being his General under him. He took and regained many Cities and Castles from the Turks again, but the Marques died in that journey.  
When Soliman understood thereof, he Returned again to Ofen, molesting them with a violent siege, and lost eight assaults, but he continuing the same still without intermission, insomuch that the Soldiers of the City being overwearied, and quite tired, they yielded the City to the Tyrant again, who most miserably murdered them all.  
From thence he went to Pest, and Gran, & Reduced them all to his will, and in this his fortunate uncontrolde vain, no Fort nor Castle was almost able to resist him. He also came unto the City of Vienna in Austria, thinking to obtain the same as easily as the others, and begirt the same in 16. places round about with a strong siege. The Soldiers of the City themselves fired three of the Subburbes, to th'end they might not advantage the Tyrants, nor endamage themselves, They also avoided the City of many thousands of unnecessary persons, as, Spiritual men, women and Children: whereof the women and Children forth most part of them, fell into the Bloudhoundes Claws.  
In the City of Vienna remained only 2000 men, who making continual sallies upon the Enemy in their very Camp, took away 8. Barrels of Powder, whibh they had laid and appointed to undermine the City, & blowing up the Walls in many places: but perceiving he could not prevail, he was forced (God be praised) with shame to depart thence,  
There was a speech given out of a thousand persons which the Tyrant notwithstanding should have taken and carried out of the neighbour country and villages.  
This done, he departed towards Constantinople, to circumcise his three sons, to wit, MUSTAPHA, MAHOMET and SELIM, which was done with great Triumph and solemnity.  
Also, in An. 1541. the said Soliman took in the province of Morea, divers Cities belonging to the Venetians.  
This Soliman bring thus fully bend to spill the Christian blood, which to do, he neither spareth Labour nor charges, not only in Hungary and Austria, but also resolved (upon confident hope of his continuing victories, tending altogether to the utter extirpation of the Christian Faith) to bend his course also towards Germany, and to that end, with a huge and mighty Host, he took his journey up the Danubie again towards Alba-Regalis, in the Germane Tongue called Stulweissenburgh, where he determined to make his seat in that kingdom, the same being the chiefest and principallest City both for strength and Riches in all Nether- Hungary, wherein also heretofore the Kings have kept their Courts. Likewise, if at any time, their Kings desiring to hold their Courts in any other City or Castle, and that in the same they chanced to die, their Bodies were always conveyed thither again, where their Funerals were in most Royal sort celebrated, and were interred in a most stately & worthy Cathedral Church, which in former time was founded and built by Stephanus, Father unto Emericus King of Hungary, to the Honour of the blessed Virgin Mary: which said Church is so endowed with such abundance of Treasure and Privileges, as it is accounted far to exceed all others near unto it.  
This City is situated on a Boggy place, seeming altogether in men's judgements invincible, for it is fortified and begirt with mighty strong Walls and Bulwarks, & hath also great Suburbs thereunto, with particular and private entrances, likewise there are strong Gates which are also fortified with Bulwarks and Walls against any sudden incurtion or invasion of the Enemy insomuch that it can not possibly be entered, neither is there any ordinary access but upon the Banks & Walls of Earth cast up in the Moorish ground to travel on. Moreover, it is guarded & strengthened with very deep ditches. Also through the City floweth a strong running River named the Sarwits'.  
This invincible City was by composition taken by the said Soliman the 2 of November, in An. 1543. and ever since hath been possessed by those Infidels.  
Also, together with this City, he took many other places, and was even at the same time when Fraunois King of France would have invaded Germany, surprising divers Cities in the province of Elsash, whereof many of their Governors met him with the keys in their hands: whereby those Cities were not spoiled nor destroyed, by reason whereof, the Emperor Charles (of worthy memory) was constrained to leave the defence of Hungary to resist the French, and besieged the I'll of Malta: but he was forced to leave the same to his great Damage.  
Soliman likewise took jula and Sigeth, wherein that most worthy Captain, Earl N●cholas von Serin behaved himself most valiantly, but at last was with all his people most pitifully slaughtared.  
The Tyrant then perceiving that with his Tyranny, he could no further prevail against Christendom, he caused his first borne son called Sultan Mustapha through false accusations▪ to be murdered in 1553.  
And after that he had long time tyranized, and grievously molested Christendom, he ended his life at Funfkirchen in Hungary.  

From the Camp at Alba-Regalis, the 17. of September. 1601.  
ALthough that the Suburbs also were outwardly fortified with a strong Wall, and with divers Bulwarks as is already said, likewise guarded on th'inside with a Mighty Ditch: all this notwithstanding (with the help of God) the Christians took the same by in unforce and strength, howbeit that the Turks making a mighty resistance both in shooting and in continual casting of fireworks troubled us greatly, but finally, they▪ perceiving themselves to ha●e the worst▪ setting the houses on fire (w●th small loss on our side) they forsook the Suburbs, and fled into the fort or City.  
The Christians immediately upon the taking thereof fortified the same, and brought some great pieces of Ordinance to batter the city withal.  
In the aforesaid Suburbs were found 20. pieces of Ordinance, which were all cast out of their carriages: also a great quantity of Hay, but th'other goods, were all before carried into the city, by the Turks.  
In this assault were lost 16. of our men, and some others hurt, and amongst the rest, the L. Vabecourth, who was shot in the right foot very dangerously.  
Likewise, there was found great store of new grain & Munition, and there was at that instant above 200. christians released.  
This day we began to batter the city with 9 pieces of Ordinance, with good hope to give an assault unto the Town: Whereunto our Soldiers are very willing and forward, insomuch that we hope shortly of some good.  
Moreover, there is good store of Bavin and Faggots provided for the filling up of the Ditches & ways, which were very full of Water, and muddy withal.  
Notice is also given that the Beeg (a Turkish commander) with all his Horsemen (being 1000 fight men) is in the city, and that they have also 30. great pieces of Ordinance, ready mounted in their carriages, with store of Munition and Uictuals, which Horsemen together with the perjured Null, do daily sally out upon us.   

From Prage the 24. of September. 1601.  
THis Day his Imperial Majesty, (by his own Messenger) hath received news that the City and Fort of ALBA-REGALIS (God be praised) was taken in Order and manner hereafter following. First, when our men took the forestréetes and Suburbs, the L. Rues examined the prisoners and other ●oores jahabitants: which place in the citiy the Turks held for their strongest or weakest, and by their answer they gathered, the Turks held the Marish side for most strongest, and as impossible for to be entered that way: Whereupon the L. Rues without delay, sent immediately 2. of his servants to espy & discover the same, whether it were so or no: who at their return, confirmed the same to be true, discoursing then unto him the situation of the place, & that it was impossible to bring any men that way: But the L. Reus making little account of their speeches, followed his first determination, and presently took 1000 brave, stout & courageous footmen, commanding each of them to take his faggot or Bavin under his Arm, and so went to the place prefixed, and as every man passed on, according as need required, threw down his faggot or Bavin to pass thereon over the Bog: In which brave exploit, himsealfe with an hundred chosen men, marched foremost, to the notable example of all Christian Generals and Leaders: my sealfe have seen th'experience of many valiant and adventurous exploits, but surely [my Lords) in all my life I never saw the like gallant enterprise of Soldiers performed, for we stood almost for the space of 9 hours continually up to the waste or middle in Water, with every soldiers bundle of Bavin at his back, or under his Arm: but truly we found it more difficult then at first we deemed it, for whosoever he were that mistook his footing, and miss of the right way, fell over Head and Ears into the water, and in such sort as that his fellows were fain to help him out again. Yet all this notwithstanding being so perilous an enterprise, the Soldiers were never once perceived to abate their courage, nor to seem unwilling to accomplish their Resolved enterprise: but perceiving me with an 100 men before, and that I fared no better than the worst of them, they with their wonted courage & forwardenes, followed all together, and (with the special help of God) in the Morning an hour before day, we gave the assault upon the strongest place. In this enterprise we lost 6. men, & some 7. or 8. were drowned & smothered in the Mud (th'almighty God grant us his berayed and strength. Amen.  
When the Turkish Centinel espied us, with a great striking and noise, seconded our Alarm, and we also after the like sort fell upon them, and put them to flight.  
Likewise, the Duke of Mercury (as he was appointed) hearing the outcries and the noise of the Alarms▪ assaulted the City in an other place, so amazing the Turks, that they could not tell which way for to turn themselves, nor where to save themself, and in that sort (God be praised) they were overcome. All the men, women and Children, that came in the way in the first fury, were every one put to the sword.  
Thus was this invincible place won with main force and violent Arms, now again reduced into the Christians power: after that it had so long time been possessed by those Infidels, to the great prejudice and hurt of all that part of Christendom.   

¶ From Vienna the 24. of September. 1601.  
WHen the Turks perceived that (by the help of God) we had obtained the Victory, many of them (both men, women and Children) leapt over the Walls into the Bogs, thinking for to escape, but as well those which were not drowned or smothered in the mud, as also the residue which were not then slain in the City, were all taken prisoners and brought into the Christians camp.  
In the City was great store of powder (as some do report 30000. weight) which the Turks had dispersed in sundry places and churches.  
But when as now our men in the assault were Running to and fro at un-awares, or any of the Turks witting of it, have set the same on fire, and have blown up all the houses and churches about their ears: so that it should seem, that little more than the bare Walls are left standing.  
All the Riches and Treasure of the Turks is consumed by fire, or else the poor Soldiers had gotten-good pillage, (the city being very Rich) but there was nothing at all saved except 300. imprisoned christians.  
By the fire also, we lost 300. of our men, as also many pieces of Ordinance were molten.  
We hope very shortly to hear good news from Canisa, Th'omnipotent God grant his people power and strength To whom, be all praise, Honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.   

BY Letters from Italy to London, Received the fowertéenth of this present Month of November, the taking of the aforenamed City of Canisa: together with other places by the christian Army. Also, that the Turkish Army understanding of the loss of Alba-Regalis coming with a strong Host to surprise the same, before that the christians should fortify it: were discomfited and put to flight, in 2. several pitched Battles, wherein many thousands of the Turks have been put to the sword: together with the death of two Bassa's, Generals of the Army.  
The truth of all, will with the next News be made manifest. I beseech the Almighty God of his infinite goodness and mercy, to continue his large benefits towards us, against the Enemies of his Faith, To the Honour and Glory of his most holy and blessed name, and the maintenance of his most glorious Gospel. Amen.   
FINIS.