AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1522. 



goe his way. To this I answere : Notwithstanding that 

 the great Turke was advertised by some traitours, and 

 by other that fled into the campe, that the powder almost 

 failed, and that there were but fewe men of warre within 

 the towne, yet he beleeved not, nor gave credence of all 

 that was reported to him, but thought verily that wee 

 had ynough for a great while, and considered that hee 

 must tary till they were wasted and spent, whereto be- 

 hooved time. And seeing all his estate entered into 

 strange places, and into the lands of his enemies, and 

 had bene there alreadie sixe moneths, (and not without 

 great danger of his owne person) thinking on the other 

 side, that taking the towne by assault, he should lose 

 many of his folke ; and yet when hee had overcome and 

 wonne the towne, they should fall each upon other in 

 departing of the bootie or pillage, doubting finally the 

 hazard of warre. For these reasons and other that may 

 be alleaged, the great Turke had much rather to have 

 the towne by composition and treatie, then otherwise. 

 And it suffised him to drive his olde enemies out of 

 the countreys of Levant, and set the subjects of his 

 [II. i. 94.] countreys in rest and suretie. And we of the towne that 

 knew our weaknesse, & that we might do no more, it 

 seemed better to save so much small people, then we 

 and they to fall into the furie of our enemies, for other- 

 wise could we not have done, but tempt God, and died 

 as in dispaire. 



How the citie of Rhodes w^as yeelded to the great 

 Turke, and of the evil behaviour of certaine 

 Turkes. 



BUt to returne to our principall : After that the 

 reverend great master had given his voyce to the 

 yeelding of the towne, he sent the said Passin againe for 

 to beare it to the great Turke. And with him went the 

 two men that were chosen of the Commons, and they 

 went all three together to the tent of Acmek Basha. To 

 whom the sayd Passin first made this pitious answere 



56 



