THE LOSS OF RHODES a.d. 



1522. 

 appointment was made : for if they had come afore, it 

 is to be supposed that the deed had gone otherwise, and 

 there had bene many strokes given : but I beleeve that 

 the ende should have bene pitious for us, but God would 

 not that the Turke should have victory upon us as hee 

 might have had, seeing the great advauntage that he had 

 in all things, but he blinded him and would not that 

 he should know his might. And on the other part it 

 may be said and marveiled how it was possible alway [II. i. 95.] 

 to have overcome our enemies in all assaults & skirmishes, 

 and at the end to loose the towne, it was the will of God 

 that so hath pleased for some cause to us unknowen. 

 It is to bee thought, that lacke of men and gunshot, and 

 the enemies so farre within the towne, and ready to enter 

 at other places, with the treasons, have caused the towne 

 to be lost. Two or three dayes after the comming of 

 the sayd Basha, his Janissaries and other of the campe 

 entred into the Towne, which was on Christmas day, 

 within the time given to us, and then the Turkes word 

 was broken, if it were his will or not, I cannot tell. 

 Neverthelesse there was no sword drawen, and in that 

 respect promise was kept. But they made pillage, and 

 entered by force into the houses of the castle, and tooke 

 all that they might and would. After that they had 

 ransacked the houses, they entered into the churches, and 

 pilled all that they found, and brake the images. And 

 there was no crucifix, nor figure of our lady, nor of other 

 saints, that were left whole. Then with great inhumanitie 

 they went into the hospitall of poore and sicke folke, 

 called the Fermorie, and tooke all the silver vessell that 

 the sicke folke were served with, and raised them out of 

 their beds, and drove them away, some with great strokes 

 and staves, and some were cast downe from the galleries. 

 When these hounds had done that acte, they went to 

 the church of saint John and tooke downe the tombes 

 of the great masters, and sought if there were any 

 treasure hid in them, and they forced certaine women 

 and maidens. And all they that were christened and had 



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