willing to giue him any occasion to complaine of him hee liberally gaue him the third part thereof All Transiluania being reduced vnder the obedience of Ferdinand and the Marquesse of Balasse and Francis Chendy men of speciall authoritie and credit in their countrie being also entered into amitie with him Bernard Aldene Campe-master of the Spanyards desired Castalde that since hee would send other Captaines for the defence of Themesuar and Lippa that it would please him to send him thither being the rather desirous to goe for that he vnderstood he would send Spanyards thither Castalde was therewith well content and presently dispatching him he gaue vnto him 300. Spanyards and sent with him Captaine Rodrigo Vigliandrando who then was come to the seruice of Ferdinand during this expedition and who was by the same Aldene earnestly desired to haue him in his companie and that to the end that he might assist him both by his vertue and good aduice in any Martiall affayres for that he was a man of trust experienced and very desirous of honour Being thus dispatched hauing with them two peeces of Artillerie they set forward on the way from Colosuar drawing towards Themesuar which according to the iudgement of all was of greatest importance taking with them diuers Ingenors to fortifie and repayre the other places which were of least strength On the other side they caused to fortifie and strengthen Sibinio Albe-iula and Sassebesse which are townes situated vpon little hils in the middest of great plaines and which with little cost would bee made impregnable Castalde caused these fortifications to bee repayred to no other end but onely to stop the Turkes incursions in case he would enter into the kingdome and that in the meane time he might make other prouision and haue commoditie to expect the succours which Ferdinand should send him if need so required And for that in the late Diet of Colosuar the Transiluanians being for that particular cause required to ayde Ferdinand with certaine summes of money they had excused themselues in respect of the great pouertie of the countrie which was an occasion they could not contribute thereunto therefore by the commaund of the King it was ordained that all the reuenewes of the Bishoprickes in Transiluania with the Bishopricke of Agria should bee employed for the charges of such fortifications Whilest these things were thus in doing the Frier made semblance as though he had been very glad thereof but especially because he had thrust out the Queene before him and thinking that his purposes had at the beginning taken good effect hee hoped as it many times chaunceth to men who often deceiue themselues in their owne affayres that also the middest and the end would succeede fortunately as his owne conceits had alreadie promised him Now the Frier knowing that hee had greatly offended the Turke in bringing Ferdinand into this Prouince hee endeuoured by all meanes to cleere himselfe thereof and againe to creep into his former grace and fauour Thus by his subtilties thinking to hold Ferdinand in one sleeue and the Turk in another and to content them both he meant now to kindle that which afterward in the end hee could not extinguish And to execute this his intention he departed from Colosuar to go to a Castle of his owne which he had built from the ground named Wiuar He had giuen order that there he would meete the Chiauss which the Turke sent to receiue the tribute which that Prouince yeerely payed him to the end they might liue in peace The Chiauss was alreadie arriued at this Castle whilest they negotiated all the premised affayres And the Frier caused him to be so priuately yet well entertained that none could speake with him which he did in this respect for feare that any should aduertise him of what had passed For this cause he appointed him to bee lodged and friendly vsed in this place as the most commodious being more solitarie and lesse frequented of waies then any other in the kingdome The Frier being arriued at this place presently caused many sports and rich presents to bee shewed and giuen to this Chiauss with sumptuous entertainment and after he sent for Castalde who presently came thither and by their generall agreement and consent he payed the tribute to the Turke the time being almost expired in which the said tribute should be payed and the truce yet continued during which it seemed not good to Castalde and specially at that time to giue the Turke any other occasion to infringe or breake it then that he had alreadie done which was in lifting him out of Transiluania which he meant not to doe for many respects and specially because he had a purpose with speede to prouide for the fortifications of the places before mentioned and because that in the meane while hee meant to gaine the good wils of the ablest and mightiest men in the countrie and to increase himselfe both with men and money to maintaine and keepe it but fortune would not suffer that he should long enioy his desire For being one night at supper with the Frier newes was brought him that by the commaund of Achmeth Basha there was gone out of Buda 3000. horse to assay to take the Queene her sonne and the Crowne of the kingdome which was sent to Ferdinand assuredly thinking that she would carrie it with her as a precious Iewell But she as good fortune was tooke the way towards Cassouia going in the poorest habite and painfullest trauaile that could bee imagined not any thing dissembling the extreame griefe which still heauily opprest her To her vttermost abilitie she manifested this her immeasurable affliction which hourely gnawed and sorely distempered her minde Insomuch that one day passing a mountaine which separateth Transiluania from Hungarie and going downe the side thereof which was very rough and tedious by which ragged way her Coach could not passe shee was constrained during a great shewer to goe on foote and downe that side with her children and Ladies and that not without great labour Walking in this sort she greatly complained her selfe of her aduerse fortune who not contenting to be contrarie and opposite to her in great and waightie things would yet afflict her in small and meane matters And attributing this sorrow and discontent of minde which vntimely happened to her to the wickednes of her destinie she tooke a knife and with the point thereof to ease a little her vntolerable griefe writ in the barke of a great tree vnder which she was retired to repose and shrowd her selfe from the raine which powred downe amaine these Latin words Sic fata volunt and vnderneath it Izabella Regina which is as much to say Ainsi le veulent les Destinées Izabella Royne After she had engrauen these words she againe presently tooke her Coach and proceeded on her iourney and arriued in safetie at Cassouia making by that meanes the Turkes
right of Transiluania and hoping that himselfe or his childrē one day should be able to recouer it and he preuailed so farre that the enterprise of the Polish Ambassadours and of other Princes came to nothing and by that meanes the Ambassadours of Transiluania returned without any resolution Which was a cause within a while after of great warre betweene him and the King of Transiluania vnder the fauour of the Turke vpon which occasion he well knew what losse and damage it was to him for that he would not then agree A certaine time after the Vayuode of Valachia was aduertised that another Vayuode went about to dispossesse him of his estate being assured of succours from Ferdinand and of the fauour of the nephew of that Lasky who laboured the friendship which was betweene Solyman and King Iohn This nephew was also named Lasky He for sundrie matters whereof he was attainted was before constrained to forsake the kingdome of Polonia vpon which occasion he was retired vnder the protection of his vncle to the Turk of whom he was so well receiued that he was made a Colonell of certaine Turkish troupes of horse and foote But sometimes after forgetting all these honours and fauours he forsooke that part and tooke that of the Emperour Ferdinands in whose seruice he then was when he practised this subteltie and enterprised without the knowledge of Ferdinand against the Vayuode of Valachia for the profit and commoditie of another in whose fauour he had alreadie amassed 2000. horse which he ioyned with the armie of the other Vayuode which was of 8000. footmen and 4000. horse These altogether marched with great speede thinking to take the Vayuode vnprouided and were alreadie arriued very neere him attending the night which was fit to massacre them and to seaze vpon his estate in a pleasant weake village wherein for the present he then was But the Vayuode being alreadie vpon his guard according to the first aduertisements hauing assembled very secretly to the number of 40000. men foote and horse attending the issue of this enterprise being aduertised of the place where his enemies were lodged he caused that night all his people to march with speede and in such manner so surprised his enemie that he had neither leisure nor commoditie to range himselfe in battaile seeing himselfe assailed on all sides so suddenly and furiously that he was constrained with his friend Lasky to flie to the confines of Polonia and to leaue the victorie to the Valachians who with little losse of theirs and great of their enemies inriched themselus with the spoyle bootie of this man Lasky afterwards remaining dispossessed of many townes and Castles which he had by Cassouia being depriued of those by meanes of the said Vayuode And by this ill fortune so inconsideratiuely happened to him falling into the indignation of Ferdinand who dismissed him from his seruice he retired into Moldauia for that he would not fall into the hands of the King of Polonia the Emperour or of the Valachian these Princes not minding by the suffering of such an act to draw vpon them any more the forces of Solyman who neuerthelesse on his side was not to demaund of them therefore any greater satisfaction he hauing then a great distrust of the Gouernour of Egypt against whom he had sent a great number of Ianisaries and other souldiours of his Port fearing some commotion in that Prouince and from other places he had some aduertisements of the enterprises of Baiazet his second sonne who some said meant to inuade Syria with the succours and ayde of the Sophy so that Solyman was againe constrained to send new garrisons into that quarter Vpon the occasion of these troubles he himselfe had great desire to seeke peace and truce with Ferdinand although that his Lieutenants of Buda and of Bossina with the Vayuodes of Valachia Moldauia and of Transalpina in fauour of King Iohn brought great damage to the Emperour harrying and spoyling Hungarie bringing into their hands many places thereof his Maiestie not being able to draw any succours from the Lords of that countrie neither for the fortifications of the places nor for the entertainment of his souldiours and if it had not been for the new garrisons which he put in better places by the ayde of his subiects of Austria the losse had been farre greater in that countrie Solyman notwithstanding the gaine which his people had in Hungarie considering the perill whereinto he might fall if he at one time had to doe against so puissant enemies as the Emperour and the Sophy were resolued rather to seeke peace with the Christians then with his subiects To this end while they were at a Diet which was held at Franckfort there was celebrated the solemnitie of the election that the Electors had made of the person of Maximilian King of Bohemia the eldest sonne of Ferdinand to bee King of the Romanes and of his Coronation after the accustomed promises by him made to be an obedient childe to the holy Church according to the vse of his predecessors an Ambassadour sent from Solyman was presented in this great assemblie who offered a present to Ferdinand of certaine rich habiliments and of straunge beasts and after hauing ended some differences with his Maiestie which imported Hungarie the truce was concluded betweene them and in consideration thereof this Ambassadour caused to bee released and set at libertie many prisoners taken in warre who by no meanes before could be redeemed for any money nor exchaunge of others who were vnder the power of Ferdinand After this truce Ferdinand perceiuing himselfe to grow old and vnweildy of his bodie yeelded the kingdome of Hungarie to his sonne Maximilian with consent of all the Barons and Lords of the countrie in acknowledging of which all the Lords were gratified by Maximilian in all that which hee could doe Whereupon some little while after Ferdinand surprised with a great sicknes ended his daies hauing been a Prince of singular bountie and valour and had not his example and wisedome been Germanie which was greatly estranged from the Catholike Church had been wholly diuided from the vnion of the faithfull and Ecclesiasticall ceremonies This man although he was the sonne of Philip Duke of Burgongne Counte of Flanders and Archduke of Austria and of Ioane Queene of Spaine and of other kingdomes of al his fathers inheritance he had no more then the Archdukedome of Austria with the Estates which are situated in Germanie which was the ancient patrimonie of his house the lawes of Spaine being of such qualitie that the eldest haue onely the entire succession Neuerthelesse by meanes of his vertue he increased the inheritance of his house adding thereto the kingdomes of Hungarie and Bohemia augmenting by the addition of them the greatnes of it farre more then it fell vnto him by his predecessors By these actions he alwaies made it apparant that he was endued with great constancie
although there were many inclined to obey him yet they would not for all that cease from giuing him to vnderstand that they determined to remaine and defend it that so they might shunne and auoyde the shame which without all doubt they should condignely receiue in dislodging so vily whereupon Paul of Zaraz reenforcing the guards tooke charge of the towne through which walking in the night season he saw many souldiours who by Aldenes oppointment were with their horses sadled readie to troupe on with their armes and baggage to whom giuing incouragement and perswading them not to bouge hee went from thence to Aldenes lodging whom hee found vpon his bed and conferring with him he desired to know why he had commaunded that the Spanyards should be in such readines For that said he he had receiued newes that the enemies were alreadie approached within two miles of Lippa with fifteene peeces of Artillerie and that vpon this occasion he was resolued that he would not at any hand attend them because the place was not strong enough he hauing before hand concluded presently to depart To which Paul replied that he would stay but vntill he had sent to know the certaintie thereof And he did so much that three houres before day hee presently dispatched two horsemen towards Themesuar to discouer whether the Vauntgard of Mahomet approached or not These souldiours posting with good speede arriued at the place where were lodged Iohn Turky and Bartholmew Coruatte and seeing them to be at quiet and not fearing any trouble of the enemies they returned backe againe with great speede to declare vnto Aldene that there was not any bruite or newes that the Bashaes Campe was risen from about Themesuar During the time that these two horsemen made this discouerie Aldene caused all the Canoniers to come to him commaunding them to charge the Cannons euen to the mouth with intent to breake them and that they should put the rest of the powder into the vautes and sellers of the towers and Bulwarkes to blow them vp when neede should require and being afterwards to expect the returne of these two souldiours who should bring certaine newes of all a Sentinell which was in the top of one of the towers at Sunne rising discouered two horsemen who came spurring on amaine These were the two souldiours which we haue before spoken of who rode in great post thinking that if they deferred any time Aldene would set fire on the Castle before they returned againe and on the contrarie the certaine newes which they should bring would expell this wicked determination out of his cowardly mind and this was the cause of their speed Another Sentinell at the same instant being not farre from the other discouered a farre off a great dust in the ayre which was raised by a number of Cowes which ranne wildly together in the fields without any keeper and these two souldiours were neere the towne crying with a loude voyce although they could not perfectly be vnderstood and said that they should make stay and not fire the munition nor Castle The other souldiours crying by the aduertisement of the Sentinell that this dust was raised by some great battalion of the enemies and that these two souldiours came posting before to giue notice thereof they went presently to aduertise Aldene who was the first that mounted vpon a good horse and sent to Captaine Paul of Zaraz that he should open the towne-gate and let the waggons forth that were full of his moueables and of certaine Marchants It being opened the Spaniards began softly to march euery man ranging himselfe vnder his Colours and presently vpon it he commaunded the Canoniers to giue fire to the Castle and to all the Artillerie wherein they vsed such haste that giuing fire to the vaults of the towers two among them blinded with feare and smoke remained vnder it burnt and consumed By the violence of this fire two great towers which were at the enterance of the Castle were blowne vp into the ayre and there were fiue or sixe peeces of Artillerie which were discharged against the walles being laden euen to the mouth and the Castle began to burne on all parts and in like sort the towne which caused a mournfull pitie among all those nations who not without iust cause cōplained for such a losse worthily blaming so vile an act inueighing with great bitternes against the Spanyards and Germanes deeply cursing Castalde that had placed them there not knowing now where to dispose or turne themselues or what might betide them by this lamentable inconuenience they being with great cries and laments dis-vnited and seuered from thence and with the greatest confusion and discontent that could be they began to lode their waggons with their wiues and children and of those commodities which they had then with them and to proceede on their iourney whither Fortune would guide them and endeuouring to saue themselues some went to one place and others to another and Aldene leauing Lippa behinde him which miserably burned like a second Troy tooke his way with his souldiours towards Transiluania marching with so great speede that not any taried to expect his companion euery one speedily labouring for his owne safetie and amongst them he was esteemed to be most valiant and sure who better then the other could nimbly vse his legges and their iourney was no lesse disordered then their departure was inconsideratiue and in such sort it was performed that the peasants who inhabited among the mountaines for the dispight which they had of so foule and execrable a fault tooke courage to assaile and kill many of them and to rob many Marchants of Lippa so that they were in a manner all lost and perished some remaining dead others wounded and sore hurt and this happened to them in reuenge of the ruine and losse of Lippa Bortholmew Gornatte who as we haue said was foure miles from Lippa seeing the great fire which as he thought proceeded from this towne was greatly astonished at the sight thereof not being able to imagine what it could be rather suspecting some other casualtie then that which happened to be true and presently mounting on horsebacke spurred on to the place from whence this flame came and arriuing neere to Lippa hee could not conceiue what the occasion should be of the burning thereof and not able to thinke who should be he that had caused so great a losse nor by what peruerse accident it should happen he vehemently mistrusted some treason by meanes whereof he thought Aldene with all his souldiours might haue been consumed in that fire And demaunding of some that went wandring about the towne who had comitted so vile an acte they presently made relation to him of the whole matter as it was done which he vnderstanding and not minding as a wise and prouident Captaine to neglect any thing which should concerne the seruice of his Prince and the noblenes of his owne minde without being constrained
her sports for a little while he distrusted that this disgrace would be accompanied with another and that so much the rather because he saw so puissant an enemie readie not onely to the ruine and subuersion of Transiluania and Hungarie but also of all Christendome and he supposed that he had done no small matter if he could maintaine himselfe in such estate as then he tooke himselfe to be in hauing but weake force a very smal armie which also then he could not pay and daily seeing the Fortresses to be abandoned most cowardly left in the Turks power and on the other side continually perceiuing war to approach vpon him and that euen by them from whom he hoped to find most fauour and ayd to maintaine Ferdinands part and to assure these countries vnder his obeisance who on the contrarie wrought a dangerous reuolt and secretly practised to depriue King Maximilian of al this prouince to render it to King Iohns son to reinuest the Queene his mother into her first royall dignity they being not able any longer to support the wars other inconueniences which daily afflicted thē labouring with al their skill to effect their purposes In respect of these vehement suspitions Castalde was in great vexation and heauines fearing that that would shortly happen to him which he had alwaies before suspected specially because he knew the nature of the Transiluanians to be much inclined to nouelties and alterations and that more then any neighbour Prouince whatsoeuer and that alreadie oftentimes the principall persons among them vnder the colour of diuers vrgent occasions retired into such places where they gaue more suspition of reuolting then assurance of true amitie all this notwithstanding he omitted not to consult and deliberate with the Vayuode and others touching all that which was necessarie and to prouide for it accordingly not minding that any fault should be attributed to him by his negligence or indiscretion nor to be reproued for that he had not as a skilfull Captaine foreseene euery inconuenience as he very wisely managed matters which thing hereafter we shall more amply treate of in his proper place The end of the fifth Booke THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE SIXTH BOOKE QVeene Izabella complaineth of Ferdinand and she seeketh the Turkes ayde The enterprise to kill the Vayuode of Moldauia The Transiluanians reuolt from Ferdinand Aldenes triall vpon life and death Duke Maurice of Saxonie bringeth with him 15000. men into Hungarie for Ferdinands ayde Mahomet besiegeth Agria the resolution of the Citizens and courage of the women there in the end he is forced to raise his siege and retire from thence with shame and losse The Hungars seeke peace with the Turke and pay him tribute The Popes absolution in fauour of Ferdinand for the murther of George Solymans insolent answer to the Hungars vpon their request of peace and the astonishment of the Transiluanians thereat Castaldes present arriuall at Wasrael and his oration there to the Hungars by which they are reanimated against the Turkes The pursuite against Aldene Queene Izabella practiseth her returne into Transiluania and is assisted by diuers of the nobilitie who in respect of the many wrongs and iniuries offered them by Ferdinands people incline to her WHilest Castalde was busied to redresse these casualties of fortune which alreadie passed through the kingdome and that Mahomet marched with his victorious armie towards Agria Queene Izabella seeing that nothing was performed of that which was promised her in the behalfe of Ferdinand and that she could draw nothing from them but words being greatly offended thereat complained of Ferdinand to the King of Polonia her brother and to Queene Bonna her mother of the wrong which she receiued and how by too credulent a beliefe she was cunningly lifted out of her estate and in this sort deceiued and depriued of all humane helpe and also that they denied for wife to her sonne the Infanta Ioane and the estates which was offered to her and the payment and disbursing of her ioynter and dowrie For which respects she would not that the agreement and resignation compacted about Transiluania should be any further proceeded in saying that she was not bound to obserue any condition with him who performed not any of his promises to her and that it was reasonable for her to breake with him that had so often failed with her With this choller and griefe she practised the meanes to set footing againe into this Prouince and to draw the principallest States thereof to fauour the cause of her sonne minding to assist her selfe with the offers which Mirce Vayuode of the Transalpinians had made her promising to ayde her both with men and money and besides to performe what possibly he could to reinuest King Iohn into his former dignities And before she discouered any the least inckling of her determination she had caused Solyman secretly to bee intreated that it would please him to fauour her cause insinuating to him how great and vnfained had been the amitie and affection which King Iohn her deceased husband bore him and the great confidence that after his death she alwaies had in him and that he would vouchsafe not now to denie her his ayd in so great necessitie which for the present she was in and especially seeing she was spoyled of all her goods because she reposed too great trust in another and that if for her sake he would not doe any thing yet that at the least he would haue a princely regard of pitie to her sonne Iohn who was a child and orphane and expulsed from his owne inheritance whom she committed into his armes knowing that from the bountie of his princely disposition she could not but hope of a remedie worthie of his excellent magnanimitie there being not any thing more commendable among Princes and Monarkes then to defend the iust causes of afflicted widowes and poore orphanes as she and her sonne were in whose defence he should greatly inrich his renowne with perpetuall glorie and adde to those his royall dignities the surname of a pitifull and iust protector of those who vniustly are oppressed by the wickednes and intrusion of others it being more expedient and behoouefull for his affayres to haue them for his neighbours and confederates then Ferdinand from whom he could expect nothing else but continuall warre and perpetuall trouble By these speeches and other like reasons which she caused to be alleadged to him she by the meanes and fauour of Achmeth Basha crept so into the fauour of Solymans liking that presently he writ to the Vayuode of Moldauia named Stephen that at all times and as often as he should bee requested by the Queene of Transiluania to ayde her he should not faile with the greatest force he could make to doe her all possible fauour and the like he also commaunded to the Basha of Buda Castalde during these practises had alreadie
certaine precedent causes and to haue bin practised before in certaine worldly matters These reuolutions sometimes fall out sooner then the naturall course of the starres because that Gods iustice whereof they do depend doth hasten and addresse it selfe to punishment euen as the waight of the misdeedes requireth The two first kindes of these reuolutions may be noted to happen many times naturally in those who are altogether abandoned and forsaken of God and are by him left to the course of their owne lust as we see amongst the Barbarians and in the person of Pharaoh The third kind was inflicted vpon the children of Israell who haue often felt one selfe same iustice and diuine punishment for that their fault was the same equall to the former such being the will pleasure of God to chasten those whō he loueth The calamitie happening to the kingdome of Hungarie whereof I vndertake to write the historie may well bee referred to one of these three punishments For when this countrie at an instant was ouerthrowne there was not in Europe yea it may be not in all the world any place where the people was more proude effeminate cold of courage then in this they giuing themselues ouer to such infamous vices through the great riches and maruelous abundance and wealth of the countrie which is the cause of all wickednes and because they did to say the trueth often make head against the Turks and many times repulsed them from whence proceeded their pride and from the same the despising and contemning of their enemie The seruice of God was not then obserued but in pompe and sumptuous riches The Pastors Prelates of the Church behaued themselues like souldiours vnder colour that it was for defence of it against their enemies Iustice was made an ordinarie sale The Nobilitie peremptorie and vntolerable And the simple people no more simple but hollow perfidious and wicked For these and such like enormous vices it is likely considering that which ensued that God to commence and begin his chasticement sent to this people a yong King according to that wise saying of Salomon who assureth vs That cursed is that countrie whose King is an infant Notwithstanding as yong as he was yet was he soone taken out of the world leauing no certaine heires behinde him but vnfortunate and cankered hatred yea a desire in the hearts of certaine Princes to raigne which continued and perfected the vtter subuersion of this miserable Prouince But discoursing thus freely vpon the euil of another it may be obiected that I haue matter enough at home without borrowing from elsewhere to make the like discourse There is truly enough and more then we should desire but I willingly answer as the wiseman who saith That it is unseemely for a man to be iudge in his owne causes or make his owne accounts For to write and discouer our vices is a vaine foolishnes and to magnifie and extoll our praises is no other but meere flatterie I had rather imitate those who vse the good examples of others to inrich their narration and know so wel to accommodate them to the subiect or matter which is propounded that the auditors are more drawne by them then by their principall and chiefe arguments Nay I will speake boldly as similitudes are not in all respects alike so it seemeth that we are in worse condition then was Hungarie for that the miserie thereof did not happen but by one of these reuolutions and the euill fortune which doth enuiron vs doth depend vpon all the three because it seemeth rather to ouerthrow vs then to correct vs so that we know not which is more true whether we are chasticed for our faults by the pleasure and will of God as if he loued vs or whether he doth vtterly abandon and forsake vs as he did the Barbarians of Peru leauing vs to our owne motiues of lust and by consequence to the naturall course of the starres the great Coniunction of which as hath been obserued by the Astronomers should happen in this miserable time bringing with it nothing but a great alteration of kingdomes and estates with a consequence of a thousand and a thousand miseries At the falling out of such Coniunctions wee reade that the Romane common-weale hath changed the estate vnder Iulius and Augustus as afterward this French Monarchie did vnder Pepin and Charlemaigne and as before that Italie did vnder Romulus and Assyria vnder Merodach and before them the like mutations happened vnder Ianus and vnder Moses The miseries that accompanied the alteration of the Romane state are sufficiently knowne The cruelties were not such vnder Pepin as they were vnder Hugh Capet The reuolution of diuine Iustice did not extend it selfe but vpon the three sonnes of Philip the faire for the punishment of their wicked liues who successiuely were kings of France and dying without issue the kingdome was transferred to those of the house of Valoys Also it is a necessary and vsuall thing that when a good or bad State is come to his complete perfection it presently declineth and reuolueth by reason of this circumuolution commonly called in all ages the wheele of Fortune to which reuolution God hath fastned all humane actions as well actiue as passiue as to a fashion or forme the certainest of all others so that we neither see nor reade of any thing but a continuall returning of good and euill hauing his course or period more short or long according to the varietie of things or disposition of Gods will When we see Religion Iustice or Policie to be in his full force of vertue we may assure our selues to rest in good estate and great content But of the contrarie when superstition and Atheisme when oppression and denying of Iustice when tyrannie and disorder are come to their full points wee ought to expect for no other but great ruine and miserie and yet the same decaying and declining by little and little I will not in particular here recite deuotion turned to hypocrisie the sacred Ministerie and the goods therof committed to Captaines and men of warre and conuerted to the dowries of women vnlawfull bargaines and fowle enormities couered with the vaile of Iustice the execution thereof committed to the ignorant in that the same is valued rather at the price of money then of knowledge the gouernments of Prouinces and Captainships of fiftie men of armes brought to a set price in fine that the royall seate is the onely shop of all ruinous inuentions and the charges and exactions of the simple people without limite or reason The euill which infallibly followeth such like infortunate operations proceedeth not but by diuine prouidence who minding afterward to introduce good must first cast out and purge the euill by punishment and chasticement which bringeth with it such miserie Notwithstanding all these naturall violences and iust chasticements may bee mitigated and asswaged by some other gentle and discreete meanes The first
then to cause the Vayuode of Transiluania to march forward with Transalpina the fidelitie and alleadgance of whom towards the King was most assured either to assaile the enemie behinde of which they nothing mistrusted or else they leauing them to iourney into Thrace which was naked of souldiours whilest the Turkes aduanced themselues against the King For by this meanes the enemie should either bee ouerthrowne and defeated being inclosed betweene two armies or else forced to forsake his enterprise and returne to defend his owne This counsell at the beginning was suspected for certaine causes which would be too long to rehearse but afterward imparted to the Bishop of Strigonium and approued by him the Vayuode of Transiluania was commanded by Vrbine Batian who then was dispatched to go into Moldauia to aduise vpō this what was most expedient and behoofull to be done for the safegard of the kingdome And if he esteemed the counsell good he was commanded to turne his forces and those of Transiluania with Transalpina also towards that quarter and this in part was a speciall cause that the Vayuode could not be present at the day of battaile During these counsels the time of the assemblie and the rende vous appointed to be at Tholne was already expired yet neuerthelesse they were not yet in readines and it seemed that all were not plyable therevnto but only the King neither said they ought they to come to Tholne before they vnderstood of the Kings being there In the meane while the bruite of the Turkes approaching and of his passage of Sauus daily increased in such sort that in the end certaine newes came that after hee passing the riuer and hauing throwne downe certaine Castles hee held on his course towards Varadin Peter and did besiege it both by land and water though it were a towne of no great force In the end the King although not any were come neither from Bohemia nor from any other place and though he had with him but few companies of souldiours yet not willing to be reproued as tardie or negligent concerning this matter of import he departed from Buda called at this day Ofen the 24. of Iuly marching along the shoare of Danubius comming by little and little to Tholne hoping that the other would shortly come to him A little before the King went from Buda Stephen Battor of Somlie was sent to the Vayuode of Transiluania by whom hee was commaunded that leauing the first assignements he should haste himselfe towards his Maiestie with all his Transiluanian forces seeing the sudden ariuall of the enemie did require it When the King departed from Buda he had but 3000. men as well foote as horse counting those that did belong to Queene Marie and the Archbishop of Strigonium The first day that they departed from Buda they made their nights rest at the village of Ambroise Sarkan named Erd distant from Buda two miles In that place the Kings best horse and that which he loued most suddenly dyed whereupon he was much disquieted and many diuined it to presage euill hap The King hauing made his aboade there certaine daies and no aide comming to him proceeded on with those small troupes which he had to the next village named Erchij There hauing spent many daies without effecting any good in the meane time there arriued Andrew Battor one of the principall of that kingdome with a good number of souldiours and they marched along Danubius vnto Pantelee which is a place as we haue said of Ezeck where is to be seene the remaindes of an auncient Romane Colonie There George Basi comming from the Vayuode of Transiluania found the King who imparted vnto his Maiestie that the Vayuode was in great care what he should doe in respect of the diuersitie of messages which hee had sent him hauing first receiued letters from his Maiestie and afterwards by many Curreers and namely by Iaspar Horuuath of Wimgard one of his chiefe gentlemen by which he was commaunded to come to the King and that afterwards there arriued Vrbain Batian who brought him certaine specialties that according to the former he might assaile the enemie behinde with the Transalpinians after him there arriued Stephen Battor of Somlie who brought him the same and first commaund but did not make it openly knowne to him that the King did meane that the aduertisements sent by Batian should come to effect and for that occasion he was vncertaine what to doe in so many alterations not knowing which to follow being neuerthelesse readie and willing to doe what his Maiestie would commaund him And that neuerthelesse he found not any thing of more importance then with all speede to come to the King that it was now too late to assaile the Turkes behinde and in as much as that enterprise was daungerous so was it also more hard now to execute it then at the first for that the Transalpinian with whom he was commaunded to ioyne himselfe was alreadie forced to send his only sonne in hostage to the Turkes Campe. The King vnderstanding the charge of George Basi dislodged and arriued the same morning at the towne of Felduar situated by Danubius and there conferred with his Councell of that which Basi had reported to him At the same instant he also commanded Basi to iourney day and night with as great diligence as he could to the Vayuode and to tell him that the King allowed wel of his counsell and that it was sound and good considering that the enemie had alreadie entered into the kingdome and marched towards him and that therefore he leauing all other determinations he should as well with all all the Transiluanians as those which he met in the way comming towards him make haste and with all expedition come to the Campe bringing with him not onely the Nobilitie and priuate souldiours but also euen the peasants themselues To this effect letters were dispatched vnto the Transiluanians to Iohn Gozthan Chauncellor to the Queene and Bishop of that Prouince and to the Vayuode by the perswasion of George who desired the same according to the aduice that he had receiued of the King his master These letters were of purpose framed sharpe and seuere and sent to the end that the Vayuode should shew them to all whereby to excite and animate euery one He was specially commanded by them vpon paine of disloialtie and treason that he should day and night march to the King To incourage euery one the more there was sent with George Basi Iohn Statile a man of readie and quicke wit and well seene in learning He was by meanes of their sister nephew to Peter Berizlas Bishop of Vesprimie and to Martin Ban a man greatly esteemed both in the affayres of peace and warre These messengers were not yet departed when euen then euill tidings came of the taking of Varadin Peter which the Hungars otherwise call Petrouar after it had been valiantly defended for many daies and all those
Whilest these souldiours did thus vaunt themselues all the armie was lodged almost intirely together euery man in his quarter The King did not yet depart from the towne of Ville-neufue of the Macedonians which is betweene Batha and Mohacz hauing with him but a small troupe being there in great danger if the enemie who was not farre of might haue discouered him But fortune reserued the death of the King vntill some other time wherein he should dye more gloriously for the good of his countrie In the meane while in the night whē the King was asleep there arriued at the same time Michael Podnamisky cōming from the Campe and sent on the behalfe of the Commanders who came to giue aduertisement that the Turk had alreadie passed the riuer of Drauus with the greatest part of his armie and that the rest followed with all expedition that the fight could not be deferred that all the Captaines vrgently importuned his Maiestie to come with all diligence to the Campe and aduise with them concerning the battaile The King vnderstanding this newes by Podnamisky called to councell that small companie that was with him acquainting them with this busines demaunding of them what was to be done in so doubtfull and vrgent a matter His Maiestie then did call to minde the counsell and opinion which the Vayuode and Counte Christopher had sent him by those who were dispatched towards them who certaine daies before were returned by which aduertisement from them both they greatly blamed the counsell of those who had brought the King into that place so neere the enemy before it was time and that it had been better for him to remaine at Buda or to encampe himselfe further frō the enemie vntill all the forces of the kingdome were vnited together They had also by the same messengers exhorted the King not to fight with the enemie at least not before their comming The Vayuode particularly sent him word by Iohn Statile that hee would bring with him from Transiluania great troupes of souldiours who for force and number should be so secure that the King vpon their fidelitie and valour might haue a speciall hope of victorie This came into the Kings minde and he well considered of this counsell and of the other part he well weighed that which the Chiefes of the armie did importune him to whom if he condiscended not the enemie being so nigh and his souldiours hauing so great a desire to fight he well saw that the blame and euill of all that might happen would bee imputed to him and that he should bee found culpable in omitting so good an occasion His minde being disturbed with these difficulties he determined before hee resolued of any thing to proue his Leaders and Chieftaines of the armie if they thought it good to attend the Vayuode of Transiluania and Counte Christopher and that if in the meane time the enemie approached neerer or pressed them whither they should remoue the Campe into some other place of better safetie For this cause he sent to the Campe euen at the same instant that Podnamisky was come the Chauncellor who was then with the King to perswade the principall of the armie yea the Commanders themselues namely the Archbishop of Strigonium and Counte Palatine vpon whose opinion all the others depended that they should find out some good meane to retire and deferre the fight He was commaunded further to let them vnderstand all which was reported to the King concerning the Vayuode and Counte Christopher and to explaine vnto them how cleere and apparant the ruine of the kingdome was if the King with so many Princes and the flower of all the Nobilitie of the realme should expose themselues to so eminent a daunger For if it happened which we ought to be mindfull of considering the multitude of souldiours and the great preparation for warre of the enemies in comparison of the small number of his Maiesties forces which he now hath that the King should bee ouercome who should afterwards hold backe or hinder the enemie but that with little difficultie he might enioy all Hungarie He declared vnto them that it was most expedient the Campe should bee remoued into some other place of better securitie or to retire backe a little if the enemie should inforce them thereto vntill the Vayuode with the Transiluanians the Ban with the Slauonians Counte Christopher with the Croatians Bohemians Morauians Slesians and other succours should come that Hungarie should receiue lesse losse though the enemies should ouerharrie from Mohacz vnto Poson putting all whatsoeuer they did incounter to fire and sword then that such an armie should miscarrie and bee ouerthrowne by one battaile in which the King himselfe and so many great Princes and chiefe persons of the realme should be For they being slaine what hope of reenforcing new succours could rest to the kingdome But the King with so many Lords and such braue souldiours remaining safe and preseruing all things in good estate they may finde singular content and securitie vnder the gouernment of such a King who both for his parentage and alliance is respected throughout all Christendome The Chauncellor hauing the same night made this speech first of all to the chiefest visiting and talking with them apart and after in generall to all the Councell his reasons neuerthelesse were of so small efficacie as if he had said nothing to them such was the haughtie courage of euery one being eager to fight vnder a vaine hope of victorie being notwithstanding otherwise by a certaine feare withheld which did hinder them from disswading the fight although the contrarie was so earnestly desired by the souldiours The King then came by breake of day to his Campe and for that the vessels which did bring by water his Maiesties Tents and Pauilions were not yet come from Buda he retired himself for the present into a Bishops house which was adioyning to the towne there to proue that which as yet he vnderstood not by the Chauncellor They commaunded the Councellors of all estates and nations to assemble before the King which failed not presently to visit him with many expert Captaines and hardie souldiours among whom were certaine Bohemians and Morauians who were alreadie arriued there In this assemblie it was propounded to the Councellors and souldiours what was needfull to be done not any being yet come from Transiluania Slauonia Croatia Bohemia nor Germanie whereof the greater part were presently to arriue as was assuredly expected yet notwithstanding the enemie was very nigh being no more then two miles from the Kings Campe who vpon this occasion as it was thought could not nor would not deferre the battaile vntill another time Vpon this their opinion was asked which of these two seemed most expedient either to remoue the Campe elsewhere and for the present to delay the fight attending those which daily were expected or else to make triall of fortune in giuing the enemie battaile At this councell was present Paul Tomoree
of the night which had alreadie couered all the earth This partly was the cause and also the vehement raine that fell that night for the safegard and preseruation of many The violence of the fight endured at the most but an houre and a halfe and many were swallowed vp and smothered within that marish The bodie of the King who was said to haue ended his daies in that place was afterward found in a great whirle or rift of earth aboue Mohacz halfe a mile on this side a little village which is called Czelie the which medow was then ouerflowed more then it was wont to be with Danubius in that place he was stifled with his horse vnder the water being armed as he was at the battaile And seeing wee shall speake no more of this King I will adde to in this historie one thing of him worthie the noting and that is when he was newly borne he had no skinne that couered his bodie which he neuerthelesse recouered by the helpe of Phisitions who by their art succoured and helped the want and defect of nature We haue heretofore noted a certaine presage of the pittifull end which should happen to him but the same might well haue been told him before as a destenie of that which afterward happened to him during the time he gaue order for his affaires to resist the enemies according to the first newes which he had receiued For he being at Buda when he was at dinner the gates of his Castle being shut as the custome was a certaine Ghost in forme and shape of a man euill fauoured with crookedlegs came haulting and knocked at the gate and with a loude shrill voyce desired to speake with the King to acquainte him with things which neerely concerned both the good of himselfe and of the kingdome His speeches being not at the first heard by the guard who were at the gate as it is the vse in Princes courts hee cried lowder and with a horrible voyce demaunded againe whether they gaue the King notice thereof In the end certaine of the companie being moued by the importunitie of this deformed Ghost they demaunded of him what he would haue but he replying sayd that he would not reueale his secrets to any but to the King This message was presently carried to his Maiestie who vnderstanding thereof sent vnto him one of his seruants in the best and richest apparell and one who was next himselfe faining that he was the King commaunding him to enquire what this fellow would say This messenger comming before this Ghost and asking of him in priuate what secret he would impart vnto him the other denying that he was King whereby he thought to abuse him with a high and loude voyce he sayd that since the King would not heare him he should shortly perish These words being pronounced he vanished away to the great astonishment of all that were present It is a discourse somewhat neere vnto that of Saule but yet different for that which the one required was not offered to him but this of it selfe was presented without seeking for it which one may enterpret diuers waies But let vs returne againe to the subiect of our historie In this place where the Kings bodie was founde many others also lost their liues A little beyond was also found the bodies of Andrew Trepka and Stephen Azel It is said that the Frier ended his life valliantly fighting in the Vauntgard the day following his head being cut off was carryed vpon the top of a launce round about the enemies Campe in token of ioy and some said that it was for a time placed before the Pauilion of Soliman The day after the Battaile 1500. Hungers who were taken prisoners among whom were the chiefest of the Nobilitie being all commaunded to be set in a rounde forme were presently beheaded their bloud seruing in stead of a sacrifice to the Gods of these Infidels Very few prisoners had been saued if it had not been to informe and giue them notice of some speciall matters which Soliman and Abraham Bascha were desirous to knowe Among those was Nicholas surnamed Hertzek which in the Hungarish language signifieth Duke as he was indeede and the Kings Treasorer Iohn Pileczky and Iohn Maczieouusky Polanders were also of that number They were gentelmen of the Kings chamber and being returned vnto the Queene they discouered many matters which for the breuitie of this historie we will omit to write of Michael Fekete and Bartholmew Martine were also saued from death and within a while after were redeemed paying a great ransome Among those which dyed in the fight and flight besides the King were these Ladislas Salcane Archbishop of Strigonium Paul Tomoree Bishop of Colocense and Lieutenaunt generall of the Armie Francis Peren Bishop of Varadine Philip More Bishop of the fiue Churches Blaise Paxy Bishop of Iauerin Francis Gzacholy Bishop of Chenat George of Pauline Bishop of Bosnia George of Zapolia Count of Sepusa the other commaunder of the Armie Iohn Dragfy Prouost of the Kings house Francis Orzag chiefe gentelmen of the Kings chamber Peter Corlathy and Andrew Trepka Captaines of the watch at the gate Simon Horuuath the chiefe taster Thomas Zechy Gabriel Peren Ambriose Zarchan Anthonie Poloczy Mathias Czethingny Counte of Francapin Sigismonde Bransy Francis Hampo Iohn Bathian Stephen Slÿk a Bohemian with certaine other Bohemians and Morauians And these were the principall Barons of Hungarie Among the Nobles and other Lords of the Countrie there are worthie of note Francis Balasse Nicholas Tharza Iohn Paxy Iohn Istuuanfy Emeric Warday Michael Podnamisky George Orlouuchicz Captaine of Segin Stephen Azel Castelane of Poson Sigismonde Pogan Iohn Torualy Iohn and Stephen Kalnay Nicholas Forgach and besides these about 500. other As for the foote men there escaped three or foure thousand and they were in all 12. or 13000. There was remayning of their Captaines no more then Hanibal Cypryan All the peeces of Artillerie as well those which were planted before the Battaile as those which were remayning within the Campe and in the boates were all taken by the enemie the charge thereof was giuen too late being but the night before the fight to Iohn Hadek a man of good courage and well managed in such affaires who had alwaies frequented the Kings court of whom he was so loued that few had the like fauour of his Maiestie The night and day after this vnfortunate Battaile the enemies running all ouer made wonderfull waste and ruine of all the neighbour countries set fire on all not sparing any person hauing no regarde to sexe nor age nor to any religion executing vpon the poore people all cruell and inhumaine acts My wit cannot sufficiently write and bewayle the calamitie of this whole night and the dayes following being so great and intollerable for all this part of Hungarie which we haue named to be on this side the riuer that I cannot be perswaded that euer any barberous enemie hath
personage and receiued him very curteously and did greatly comfort him for the paines and miserie whereinto hee was so deeply fallen and entertained him in such friendly sort that it well appeared he wanted nothing else but onely the dignitie and state of a King did so much honor him as was possible But Lasky being of a haughtie spirit and a man who with deepe iudgement had often managed affayres of great import as well in the warres as in the peaceable gouernment of a kingdome and other publike Estates perswaded Iohn that he saw no other meanes more behoofull to redresse and reduce this present extremitie of his affayres into better order nor none more proper nor conuenient for the recouerie of his kingdome then that which might befall him by the ayde and helpe of Solyman the Turkish Emperour And therefore instantly aduised him not to forsake the meanes and oportunitie but to vse it in his necessitie for that he assured him in respect of the extreame ambition glorie and couetousnes to increase the limits of his Empire and in hope to make himselfe a greater Monarke he would by no meanes faile or omit to giue him ayde and succour so as himselfe would offer and vow to hold his kingdome of him by faith and homage as depending vpon the Ottoman house and to pay him some reasonable tribute such as Solyman himselfe would impose vpon him Which being concluded and determined betweene them Lasky desiring greatly to fauour and ayde the cause of his friend and receiuing of Iohn the summe and charge of an Ambassage he set forward to goe towards Constantinople with a good traine where at the length being arriued he presently endeuoured himselfe by gifts to win the fauour and grace of all the Bashaes and of the Captaines of the grand Seigniours Port and of all other principall persons of his Court who with his presents he in such sort gained that they serued him as a ladder to mount to the top of his desires who being at last admitted to the Turkes presence and after humble reuerence to him made was by him according to the custome sent againe to the Bashaes among whom Luflefy and Abraham had the most authoritie commaund and credit the one being alied to the grand Seigniour because hee had maried his sister and the other being a Visir which is the chiefe of all officers and one that keepeth the Turkes seale and signeth all expeditions or dispatches Lasky gained and that beyond all expectation these mens amitie by meanes of their wiues whom he had possest and corrupted with rich and costly presents with whom also hee discoursed so familiarly in the Slauonian and Turkish languages as if hee had been naturally bred and brought vp among them His fayre and good speeches caused him to be gratious and amiable to all and by such pleasing courses he began with all his endeuour to treate of the affayres of King Iohn specially tending to this purpose that hee might bee restored againe to his kingdome being vniustly chased out of it by the forces of Ferdinand and by the enuie and wickednes of certaine Hungars being before by them iuridically chosen and crowned King for the recouering of which he did offer besides a reasonable tribute to acknowledge and hold it of the grand Seigniour and to be called the subiect of the Ottoman house and in token of true fidelitie and alleageance and for the perpetuall memorie of such a benefit he would yeeld himselfe to bee his subiect Lasky further declaring that it was better for Solyman to haue King Iohn with a weake force for his neighbour and friend then Ferdinand who because he was brother to the Emperour Charles and King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria and Lord of many other countries would make shew rather to be feared and redoubted by his neighbours and he further declared that if he would not listen therevnto it might possible be that one day he would vex and disturbe him more then he now presently thought of And besides that he should doe in this as beseemed a magnanimious and vertuous Emperour in ayding those who by others are wrongfully oppressed and iniured and to fauour the iust cause of him who for euer should remaine his bounden and loyall subiect These reasons being heard by the Bashaes and reported to Solyman who by a secret window had alreadie vnderstood all that passed did so set him on fire with the glorie which hee hoped for by such an expedition that incontinent he resolued to vndertake it with such conditions notwithstanding that King Iohn should obserue from point to point all that which he had caused to be promised him In the meane time Ferdinand not without cause mistrusting the which indeede happened that Iohn might seeke ayde of the Turke against him did deliberate thinking to preuent the deseignes of his enemie to send to the grand Seigneor to demaund of him truce and to confirme the amitie and friendship that Ladislas and Lewis Kings of Hungarie had in former time sworne with the house of Ottoman and the which truce the King of Polonia then enioyed not doubting but he would willingly condiscend to his demaund if he would sufficiently apprehend his reasons For this cause he sent his Embassador Iohn Oberdansch to Solyman to practise and negotiate this confederacie He being dispatched with good expedition arriued at Constantinople and was honorably entertayned as was fitting for an Ambassadour But publishing the occasion of his comming he well perceiued the rigour of Solyman and the little credit he had amongst his people and hee manifestly knew that King Iohn had alreadie preuented his purpose And receiuing his aunswere that the grand Seigniour would not by any meanes accept into friendship them who in former time had been such and so great enemies to his house and by whom his people had receiued infinite outrages and especially considering his Master had so vniustly vsurped that kingdome which he possessed not but onely by force expulsing the true King the iust titles and allegations of whom being before from him concealed by the late victorie which his Master obtayned against him and being afterwardes better acquainted with the cause by the information of credible people he was forced by pittie and Iustice of his sworde to reinueste the sayd Iohn in his true and lawfull possession For these causes Solyman absolutely denyed Ferdinand all his demaundes as vnworthie of his frendship and instead of peace he denounced open war commaunding presently his Ambassadour from Constantinople who with all expedition departed and within a short time came to Vienna imparting to the Kings Counsell what was the issue of his Ambassage The councellours giuing no credit to his words but iudging his reporte to bee false sent vnto Ferdinand who then was at the diet at Spire and when he heard it he was greatly astonished thereat The Spring time approaching Solyman caused to be proclaimed that al his forces
reioyced But when newes was brought how the Turkes lead captiue more then 60000. prisoners that all the villages and houses in the champion were burnt and ouerthrowne their ioy was presently turned into sadnes beholding with great compassion all the fields to bee disfurnished of men â—easts trees and houses not any remayning to till the ground which miserable spectacle gaue occasion to euery one to lament and sigh bitterly The great Turke being arriued at Buda and willing to performe his promise which he had made confirmed Iohn King of Hungarie with priuiledges written in letters of gold and inuested him in his kingdome calling him his friend and vassall of his house leauing with him Lewis Gritty to aduise and ayde him in all necessarie things and to be an assistant to him in his kingdome And after proceeding on his way with tedious iourneys by reason of the vehemencie of the winter which with snow and frosts was alreadie at hand at length he arriued at Constantinople where with great reioycings and triumphs he was as well receiued of his subiects as if he had conquered all Austria Now after that Lewis Gritty had soiourned a certaine time with King Iohn in the administration and gouernment of the kingdome of Hungary he was called home by Solyman He attained to this honour by the meanes of Abraham Basha a speciall friend of the Duke his father through whose friendship he was so conuersant with the grand Seigniour that one day he inuited him to a feast at his house vnto whom the said Seigniour vouchsafed him the fauour to go the rather in respect of the haughtie spirit and deepe iudgement in all things which he knew was naturally grafted in him in regard of which he had oftentimes sent him to execute great enterprises as this was one wherein he vsed such marueilous wisedome and great expedition and carried himselfe so indifferent to all that his greatnes was not enuied of any one Now the cause of his calling to Constantinople was only to discourse with him of many matters which were of no small importance which when they had aduised vpon he was presently dispatched againe into Hungarie to his charge with ample commission and great authoritie being among other things commanded to remaine at Buda and with his vttermost abilitie to maintaine in those quarters the glorie and renowne of the Ottoman house charging him to bee continually present at all the Councels which should bee held as well for warre as for peace the grand Seigniour furthermore not minding that they should alter any thing in that kingdome whilest he was absent in making warre against the Persians Moreouer he was commanded to enquire if the report which was bruited were true namely that Iohn at the instance and request of the Hungars would accord with Ferdinand and haue peace with the Germanes and Bohemians who continually made incursions into his countrie vpon these conditions that as long as he liued he should peaceably enioy all Hungarie and that after his death he should leaue the possession and all such right as he could any way pretend therein to the children of Ferdinand as we shall hereafter more at large treate of At the time when Solyman went into Armenia Gritty arriued in Valachia hauing for his conuoy certaine Turkish horsemen and companies of Ianisaries and those of the grand Seigniours guard sufficiently tried with some of his owne familiar acquaintance and other Italian companies who of their owne accord being well armed followed him and he had also with him two famous Hungarian Captaines namely Vrbain Batian and Iohn Doce with their companies they in all making about 7000. men as well horse as foote He was besides in outward shew for warre well furnished with Camels Mules Horses cattell and other munition for the seruice and reliefe of his Campe. And with this traine which rather seemed an armie he caused great suspition as well among his friends as his enemies and before he departed from Valachia he made peace with Peter Vayuode of Moldauia who before was made Solymans friend he hauing sent vnto him many rich presents to request his fauourable assistance for his going into Hungarie and to ayde him with men and victuals and with all other necessaries which he stood in neede of vntill he had accorded the strife of Ferdinand for the loue of whom he vndertooke this voyage This league being confirmed by oth of either side Gritty thinking himselfe to be sufficiently strong in those parts to manage such affayres at his pleasure entered presently into Transiluania causing open proclamation euery where to bee made through all the prouinces of Hungary belonging to the Emperour Solyman that all the townes Comminalties and Lords of that kingdome should haue recourse to him as an Arbitrator and Lieutenant for all the prouinces of Hungarie for the grand Seigniour and as the sole Iudge of all their debates strifes processe and discords But this did not greatly please King Iohn and it was afterward the cause of Grittys fall At this time liued Emeric Cibacchy Bishop of Varadin and Vayuode of Transiluania a man who for his noblenes puissance and vertue was very famous among his people being in regard of his calling the second person next the King Against him Iohn Doce bore speciall hatred and open malice for receiuing a blow of him with his fist vpon the nose about a certaine question and controuersie moued betweene them He vpon the bruite of the comming of Gritty to Bresouia made no such haste it may bee as Gritty expected he should haue done in respect of the honour he looked for but making slow speede it thereby seemed that he little regarded those whom the grand Seigniour had sent which made him odious and displeasing to Gritty who sought nothing more then to increase the authoritie which he had and to make it appeare how greatly aboue others the Transiluanians had honoured and reuerenced him Vpon this a common opinion went that Emeric vsed this manner as beseemed a good Christian being greatly displeased in his heart to see the Turkes in his countrie where they neuer came before and that he should consent to open to them a passage whereby they might haue more ample knowledge of the store of townes boroughs and villages of the infinite number of horses of the fertilenes of the land and the fat pastures which are therein by the which they might bee inticed in time to make themselues masters thereof But all such opinions were in the end found false for that without any suspition he went as a friend to receiue and visite him When Gritty was alreadie arriued at Bresouia and that from thence he meant to goe to Megest where he was by many messengers informed that Emeric would come to see him and that he marched well accompanied being lodged but fiue miles from him with a great companie and furnished with many troupes of Caualarie all the chiefe of the prouince
behold thee bringing with thee nought but dishonor and ignomie knowing well that thou neuer tookest this reproachfull example of thy forefathers who neuer yet fell into such vnseemely cowardlines whereinto thy selfe art now deeply plunged And who of our time is he that by so base vile a courage hath committed so foule and enormious a fault and who hath euer left vnto his heires so great and infamous an outrage without being reuenged as they selfe Doest thou not thinke that it would rather haue reioyced and contented me if thou hadst with thine owne hands slaine our enemies and that my selfe euen with my mouth might haue sucked their blood then to see them so cruelly murthering ours and to sucke the blood of mine And neuerthelesse thou leauing all thine dead in the place darest now presume to come crying before me as a little girle euen as sound and whole as when thou didst depart from thy house Auoyde infamous man and cause that mine eyes doe neuer behold thee for they shall haue as great shame to see thee to bee my husband as my selfe to behold my selfe to bee thy wife since the condition and noblenes of my blood abhorreth the indignitie of thy person whom if it had pleased God I would in regard of so shameles a fact I had neuer knowne thee and so I would esteeme my selfe more proud and ioyfull then now I am and in stead of life I should not bee so vrged as now I am to desire death She hauing ended these words inflamed with ire and great indignation departed from him being many daies and moneths before she would once vouchsafe to see him againe Whilest fortune in this sort fauoured the affayres of Varcocce the Frier went to Megest not in respect he misdoubted the strength of Sassebesse but onely to be more neere vnto the Sicilians vpon whose forces he greatly reposed himselfe there being the principall of the kingdome ranged on the Queenes part to whō they were very fauourable vntill the Chiauss of whō we haue before spoken being without hope any longer to delude the Frier or obtaine him by any stratagem did diuulge to them the Turkes commaund telling them that if all of them did not presently take armes against the Frier he would procure the Basha of Buda and the two Vayuodes of Moldauia and Transalpina to chastice and handle them as the deserts of disobedient persons merited destroying all their townes and ruinating the whole countrie as they were wont to doe But these threatnings little profited the Queene but to the contrarie so incensed the hearts of those who were adhearing to her part to succour her that seeing the Turke began to take vpon him to ayde her they wholly dismissed themselues from her seruice in respect of the naturall hate which they bore to the Turkes Vpon this occasion the Frier omitted no oportunitie but thereby did the better shadow his ambitious proceedings imparting to those Lords that if they any longer fauoured the Queenes part they might be well assured that it would be the manifest ruine and vtter subuersion of their countrie seeing it was apparant that vnder the colour of ayde she endeuoured to bring the Turkes in among them who once knowing the Fortresses and difficult passages the condition and fertilnes of the countrie and prying by all deuises into their commodities and their other actions they might within short time finde the meanes to patronize themselues of all Transiluania euen as by the like facts they tyrannously haue made themselues masters of all Greece By these and such like perswasions the Lords were drawne vnto his faction absolutely leauing the Queene and they amassed and vnited themselues with the Frier that within few daies he assembled a good armie and incamped before Albe-iula where for the most part the Queene made her abode with such few men as she had of the countrie the chiefe and Captaine generall of whom was Peter Vicchy Both parties being thus certaine daies without performing any memorable act the one against the other the Sicilians began to mutinie saying they would returne home againe and that they would no longer remaine in that place against the Queene The Frier not knowing the cause of this mutinie armed himselfe with his Curasse and being well mounted went into the middest of the mutiners who vnderstanding the cause that did thus moue them to this tumult answered them in this sort that they should not bee astonished at so great a delay the which was not done without speciall aduice and benefit to the whole countrie and that thereof there should proceede great good and quiet to euery one for that now in the meane time an agreement was laboured betweene himselfe and the Queene which was almost well brought to passe And for that cause he prayed them a while to haue patience not doubting but this busines would effect to good end and that afterward they should returne with great content and quiet By such and many other sweete perswasions which he well knew at pleasure how to vse both in time and place he appeased all this tumult yet not without great trauaile and labour But seeing it was no easie matter for him to entertaine them with words but that he must in the end conclude by deedes for that these dissentions were like to continue long and end by warre and battaile which the Sicilians by no meanes would endure he began knowing it greatly imported him in respect the Basha of Buda the Moldauian and the Transalpinian were comming against him with three armies diligently to seeke an agreement betweene himselfe and the Queene who also was greatly inclined to peace for that she doubted no ayde would come from the Turke and she presently accepted of the conditions which the Frier offered her and the rather in regard she was disfurnished of necessaries for the maintenance of warre as of men money fauour and forsaken as she thought of the Turke in whom she reposed but little trust And being a sole woman not hauing any whom she might assure her selfe to relie vpon she thought that the continuance of this peace would be very momentarie notwithstanding of two euils she determined to chuse the least and the rather accepted of this agreement which was concluded betweene them and both willingly dismissed all their forces Whilest Frier George and the Queene were in tearmes of reconciliation the Basha of Buda on the one part and the two Vayuodes on the other being carefully solicited by the Queene were alreadie in their way whilest these broyles were in motion and euery one of them brought a sufficient armie to relieue her and although she was aduertised thereof yet in stead of comming forward she writ vnto them that they should retire because the Frier and her selfe were now accorded and in tearmes of agreement and that their comming would bee little profit or commoditie to her But neither the one nor the other would hearken thereunto for that they determined
highly commended their ordinance The armie being certaine daies refreshed in this towne they all together continued on their iourney vntill they came to Zalnoch which is a Castle enuironed with water where for the guard and safetie thereof before he departed he left 50. Spaniards During the march of this armie and that they hasted to arriue at the place where Frier George was the Queene had published a Diet to bee held at Egneth which is one of the greatest townes of Transiluania there to deliberate and aduise what meanes was best to chase and expell the Frier out of that Prouince He at that time as wee haue said was at his Bishopricke of Varadine and vnderstanding the drift of the Queene and to what purpose she laboured omitting all things which then he was greatly busied about called for his Coach and in the greatest haste he could tooke the way that lead towards Cheresuania Vpon the way passing a little brooke which runneth by a valley it happened that his Coach ouerturned in such dangerous manner that if hee had not instantly been helped by his men he had there been drowned Certaine gentlemen of his traine ill interpreting this accident aduised him to returne from thence but hee smiling made them this answer That such diuinations as were grounded vpon Chariots were exceeding miserable knowing that they had in heauen another Chariot which by his influence would warrant him minding by his pleasant countenance to inferre that the Chariot of Erictonius placed in heauen should among other signes stand him in stead of a guide and so with expedition continuing on his iourney within short time he approached neere to Torde from whence hee wrote to all the Lords who were with the Queene and specially to his friends that if they would see the safegard and defence of their countrie and that the whole kingdome should not bee ouerthrowne and lost and fall into the puissant commaund of the Infidels they would not faile but presently come to the place where hee was and where hee daily expected them that they might speedily prouide for the common good of all Within a while after there came to him certaine bands of souldiours and companies of horse which hee caused to come from Varadine which being come together made a good number of men with whom he determined to goe to this Diet shadowing his intent that they came with him for no other cause but onely to bee a guard for his person Thus against the opinion and liking of all he came from thence to Egneth where being arriued he so throughly dissolued and brake off the Diet that not any so great and mightie was hee durst stay there any longer least the Frier should stomacke and malice them and by this meanes he ouerthrew all the Queenes deseignes which vanished into smoke She vnderstanding the arriuall of the Frier and seeing she could come to no better end of that which to her great charges and trauaile she had alreadie begun suddenly dislodged from that towne with her sonne and retired her selfe to Albe-iula with such force as she had of which Peter Vicchy was Captaine generall who caused the towne to be well fortified But after fearing to be besieged therein by the Frier leauing there as many men as was thought necessary for the defence therof she thought it better to make her retraict to Sassebesse a place for the situation farre stronger then Albe-iula where she determined to stay and expect what would be the issue of her fortune The Frier being aduertised of all this and also vnderstanding certaine newes that the forces which Ferdinand had sent were alreadie on their way and that Castalde came with no small ayde presently determined vpon this occasion to besiege Albe-iula thinking that if he were able to be master thereof he had effected the greatest part of his desires Being there arriued with this resolution he very straightly besieged and battered it in many places with great store of Cannon But those within being nothing possest with feare valiantly defended themselues and more couragiously then the Frier expected He now seeing the constancie and resolution of the besieged to bee such and that Castalde made but slow speede although euery day by letters and Posts vpon Posts he willed him to hasten on his iourney and so much the rather because he besieged this towne which defended it selfe so gallantly that it was greatly needfull for him to haue the helpe of his forces hee againe thought it sitting to seek out meanes once more to accord with the Queene Whilest these matters were treated of Castalde arriued at the confines of Transiluania But since it now very fitly falleth out I will for a while leaue the continuation of this historie and will largely describe the situation the inhabitants the strength the qualitie and fertilitie of that countrie Transiluania is a Prouince of the kingdome of Hungarie making a part thereof enuironed on all sides with high mountaines resembling a well walled towne hauing all his entries and passages very difficill and narrow which maketh me thinke that it tooke his name thereof being anciently named Dacia of King Docus who was Lord and King thereof Towards the North it boundeth vpon Polonia and of one part of Moldauia hauing in the midst the hils Carpates Towards the West it doth confine vpon Hungarie and towards the East it stretcheth it selfe to the shores of Danubius and taketh his ending against Walachia the inhabitants whereof are called Walachians anciently dissended of some Romane Colonie sprung from the familie of the Flacchians who were sent to subdue that countrie of whom that Prouince afterward tooke the name of Flaccia which at this present is corrupted into the name of Walachia which also containeth in it Moldauia being two seuerall Prouinces which now are separated comprised in time past vnder the name of Flacchia Towards the South it neighboureth vpon the Transalpinians and Seruians named Slauons and the Rascians vulgarly called Rhatians who in a manner are as naturall Walachians for that they all liue vnder one law and custome they are Christians and obserue the decrees and ceremonies of the Greeke Church they obey the Patriarke of Constantinople they vse the Italian language but so corrupted that it is hardly vnderstood to be the same they vse armes like to those of the Turks they haue been and are yet a warlike nation cruell and endureth trauaile and wearines of warre more then any other people for that they are naturally very strong Within Transiluania there is a Prouince in a manner linked to a mountaine which separateth it from Moldauia which is named Ceculia and the inhabitants thereof are called Ceculians and at this day they are called Sicilians who are of the Hungarian nation and of the same qualitie and disposition liuing according to the lawes and customes of Hungarie The other part of the kingdome which is the greatest is inhabited
to a perpetuall and quiet repose with a lesse estate and condition and to take thee out from so many troubles amongst the which I doe not yet despayre that for a kingdome which thou doest now leaue it may bee in his power that taketh it from thee to giue thee another and happely of greater commaund Let it not seeme strange to thee to leaue this kingdome wherein thou wert borne and nourished being a thing which happeneth to many but bee assured that by the fauour and dignitie of vertue a noble courage shall neuer be so much reiected of fortune that he shall want any States or kingdoms Therefore for the deliuerie of the poore people which are afflicted and destroyed by our warres for common repose and for the preseruation of our faith thou oughtest not to withstand or gainsay it but confirming all that which for thy good I haue yeelded vnto consent that these princely ornaments bee sent to his Maiestie And although I haue good cause to mourne in giuing ouer this Mantle this Scepter and chiefly this royall Crowne which not long since adorned thy fathers head and which also should haue been set vpon thine yet shall I not for all that faile but greatly comfort my selfe since they fall into the puissantnes of a King who will embrace thee as his owne person and maintaine thee against those enemies who secretly in respect of the alienation of thy estate will now rest satisfied and who it may bee in time to come would notwithstanding thinke themselues but little eased thereby receiuing at the least from God in another world besides iust punishment that chastisement which they receiued not here euen as notwithstanding they had well deserued by their iniquities and wicked trecheries Therefore whilest we are floting in the middest of this turbulent sea it is requisite we saile with aduised patience as fortune will appoint the winde and conforme our selues to Gods omnipotent pleasure since that there is no felicitie durable to mortall men nor any kingdome nor principalitie permanent Hauing ended these penitrating speeches which were of that efficacie to haue mollified a stonie heart and could not be spoken without being interrupted with many deepe and lamentable sighs great comisseration and teares of those who were present and especially of Frier George she gaue the Crowne and the other ornaments to Castalde who kindly and with good words gaue her infinite thankes as well for the good will he perceiued in her as also for the magnanimitie which she had declared and for the bountifull liberalitie by which she did giue vnto Ferdinand this Crowne and the absolute entering into this kingdome And applying comforts to her aduersities he perswaded her not to attribute the renounciation of this kingdome to her misfortune since she could by no meanes properly say that she lost it leauing it to Ferdinand whom she drew and bound to be a continuall friend and father vnto her who would neuer forsake nor leaue her in all her needfull affayres and incouraging her the more hee assured her that he would intirely and religiously keepe it for him and that he would performe to the vttermost all whatsoeuer he had promised her And with this doubtfull hope the poore afflicted Queene departed to goe towards Colosuar Castalde hauing in this manner receiued the Crowne caused it to be carefully kept being aboue all things by the Kings of Hungarie highly esteemed in respect of the vulgar opinion which is held thereof in that countrie the report being that an Angell brought it from heauen to S. Ladislas King of Hungarie and that the King which doth not possesse it cannot bee the true nor lawfull King nor iuridially gouerne the people nor execute iustice to them Men doe yet say further that if by chance this Crowne should by some casualtie be lost and found by any whosoeuer although hee were the poorest in the world presently without any other triall he should be created King and they should sweare fealtie and homage to him as to their lawfull and vndoubted King But whether this be true or no I know not yet vpon this opinion the Turkes haue a speciall desire to get it within the compasse of their custodie as also Frier George had All the Gentlemen and Lords who were present at the deliuerie of this Crowne iudged that which the Queene had done was of no small importance esteeming the validitie of the Crown to be of equall price with the kingdome it selfe For this respect Castalde caused it continually to bee kept in his chamber with great vigilancie vntill with a good conuoy he sent it to Ferdinand by the Lord Iohn Alpohnse Castalde Pescaire his nephew The Queene being arriued at Colosuar Castalde also arriued there within a while after where he remained certaine daies attending those who should be there and that were called to the Diet to know what their affection was to the King of the Romanes and to confirme them in their good deuotion and to satisfie the Queene of that which was promised her to appease all the tumults which was amongst them and to incite them to take armes against the Turke and chase them from those parts vnderstanding they would once againe attempt to enter thereinto And after they were all arriued and assembled together Castalde acquainted them with all the passed proceedings whereof euery one was well contented And if peraduenture there were some yea and of the chiefest to whom it seemed not good what the Queene had done yet durst they not make shew to the contrarie for that Ferdinands part was then the strongest And thus they all with one accord did sweare fealtie to his Maiestie manifesting great ioy to see themselues returned vnder the gouernment of their natural Lord and King to whom of right that kingdome belonged And although Castalde discouered the affections of many who rather inclined to the amitie and league of the Turke then to that of the King yet faining notwithstanding to reduce and bring all to his deuotion and to shew them the inconuenience of the amitie and friendship of the Turke and how hurtfull and preiudiciall it would bee to them with a speech as eloquent as his countenance and cariage was graue hee vsed to them this oration I haue alwaies esteemed it Lords and chiefe Commanders of this kingdome to be a thing very conuenient and necessary not to speake at any time for any grace or friendship which we haue purchased from other men nor for the fauour which wee haue or hope to receiue from them nor for any instinct which we haue towards any but only sincerely to explaine and declare what we take to bee good and praise worthie as well for the particular as publike benefit and not at any time to perswade any thing which is not both reasonable iust and holy as well before God as men which I for mine owne part haue practised as much as hath bin possible for me and by Gods assistance
firmly impresse it what these calamities are and how horrible and grieuous the effects be Awake awake therefore I say your drowsie spirits and waite not vpon a vaine desire vpon a swelled pride so willingly to yeeld your selues vnder so miserable a seruitude yea much worse then death it selfe but valiantly oppose your vttermost abilities against such enterprises and giue not occasion to others to call you tyrants for surely not onely he is a Tyrant who is the cause of another mans seruitude but also he who is able to oppose himselfe against the violence of another and yet maketh no resistance Call together with you all the Sicilians and Transalpinians making a league with your neighbours and with those of whom in time you may hope for succour and ayde and in defending your selues offend the enemie this being no dishonest thing nor worthie of blame for defence of your selues to enter into league with any straunge nation whatsoeuer And resolue and vnite your selues quickly in one considering that in the occurrances and aduentures of warre too long remissenes increaseth more detriment then profit And by such a sudden determination doing that which in reason and courage ought to be done you shall manifest to your King a quicknes of spirit and declare how much your hearts are cleere and cleane as well in prosperitie as in aduersitic those onely meriting to bee reputed truly couragious and of a firme resolution who perfectly discerning troublesome things and things that are pleasant one of them from another not doubting at any hand any perill nor withdrawing themselues from the seruice of their Lord as I assure my selfe you will not doe making full account of this that hauing before your eyes the pregnant experience of euils passed and deeply thinking on the present labours you will rather make choise to lose your liues by a iust and honourable warre then liue with a vile peace and an infamous quiet These speeches animated Frier George with all the rest and chiefest of Transiluania presently to yeeld themselues knowing the veritie of the cause to the Kings seruice and he offered himselfe with them altogether to his deuotion acknowledging him for their true Lord and King The first who did sweare fealtie were the Saxons and Sicilians neuerthelesse with this condition that he would confirme and obserue their priuiledges Their chiefe Commaunder among them named Ladislas Endef was then greatly recommended because hee had induced them to such their acknowledgement And they deliberating together vpon the warre that they meant to take against the Turke who as it was said would come and assaile them it was concluded that they should send as they had alreadie done through all the Prouinces and publish that euery man should be in a readines vpon the first sommons that should be giuen them to march against the common enemie During this time and whilest these things were discoursed of Ferdinands packet of letters arriued by which hee confirmed and ratified all that which Castalde had promised and agreed vpon with the Queene and Frier George And besides gaue thereby further authoritie to Castalde that if possible it could be done by a Proctor or Deputie to celebrate the espousals betweene the Infanta Ioane his daughter and Iohn the Queenes sonne which within a short time euen in the very same place was after performed with great ioy and contentment of all the kingdome being the generall opinion that this new aliance and agreement made betweene these Kings would bring forth among them a perpetuall quiet These affayres being thus decreed and concluded the day following which was the 9. of September the Queene departed from Colosuar with a conuoy of 400. Hungarian horse which Castalde sent with her accompanying her himselfe from that place two miles which maketh foure French The Queene being thus accompanied and in a Coach with her sonne who was very sicke and trauailing on her iourney she that day plainly manifested the great sorrow and extreame discontent which she felt to see herselfe depriued of her kingdome and by agreement to leaue her owne and to search after another mans which was very apparant to euery one by the mournfull plaints and deepe sighs which she powred out together with abundance of teares falling from her eyes true witnesses of her sorrow and distresse They being all come to a way which led on two hands the Queene and her sonne tooke leaue of Castalde not without great redoubling of sorrow and teares the one returning towards Colosuar the other proceeding on their iourney towards Cassouia Scarse was the Queene departed but newes was brought her that Peter Vicchy had agreed with Andrew Battor into whose custodie he had alreadie yeelded Lippa and Themesuar with Becch Becherech and Chinad and all the other Castles which were vnder his gouernment not being willing before to come to this agreement vntill hee was acertained by the Queenes letters of all which had passed vntill then And after he had thus yeelded his whole commaund hee set forward on the way towards the Queene to accompanie her to Cassouia Whilest he was proceeding on his iourney Battor entered into the said townes and taking ample and sure possession of them furnished thē with a garrison of such souldiours as he had drawne out of certain Fortresses and who for that purpose he had brought with him being 800. Aiduchs who are footmen bearing Halberts Curasses Bowes Arrowes Crosbowes and Sables and 300. horse With this warlike companie he greatly assured the countrie specially because the Caransebansses the Lugasiens and the Rathians people very puissant were reduced vnder the obedience of Ferdinand and had declared that they were content to liue vnder his Maiesties deuotion and to serue him in all occasions of warre which should be offered The affayres of Lippa and Themesuar being thus with diligence dispatched Castalde thought then he had fully effected his most important busines because that whilest these two Fortresses were not yet vnder the gouernment of Ferdinand men thought that that which he had negotiated before was to little or no purpose for that those two places were of great importance and specially Lippa which was esteemed and reputed the key and port of all Transiluania The same besides it was of great importance was exceeding profitable and commodious and therefore necessarie to be more carefully maintained and kept in respect of the great reuenewes which come from thence because it is the Port where al the vessels of salt are laden which is transported by the riuer Marosse through all Hungarie and is a marchandise of the best and greatest trafficke dispersed into all those countries Frier George demanded this toll of the King importuning that his Maiestie would giue it him but afterward the King vnderstanding it was yeerely worth 300000. Florins hee would not intirely giue it him but yet hee had it at a reasonable rate although the other would not so accept thereof and because he was not
sallie out of Buda vaine and friuolous who knew not what to doe for that she tooke another way more vnusual and lesse frequented and quite differing from that which they were of opinion she would take but the Queene being exceeding prouident and of good iudgement preuented the Turkish subtilties escaped their ambuscadoes and fell not into their hands And thus by Gods prouidence altering her way she disgraced Achmeths friuolous enterprise and his followers found little contentment of their laborious desires The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE FOVRTH BOOKE SOlyman prepareth an army to inuade Hungary and George Vayuode of Transiluania leauieth forces against him Themesuar summoned by the Turkes and diuers townes with Lippa is yeelded to them Themesuar besieged by the Turk but he raiseth his forces and retireth from thence George is vehemently suspected by Ferdinand who sent aduertisements to Castalde to kill him The towne of Lippa besieged and taken by Castalde but the Castle held out and George endeuoureth to saue Oliman who was Gouernour thereof who in the end vpon composition departed in safetie from thence but was set vpon by our men who were ouerthrowne by him Aldene made Gouernour of Lippa The conspiracie of George his death who was slaine at Buise his buriall and his moueables seized vpon to Ferdinands vse for whose death the Sicilians began to mutine but were appeased by Chendies wisedom AFter that the agreement passed betweene Ferdinand King of the Romanes and Queene Izabella was ended and concluded and that the Queene peaceably leauing the kingdome was wholly freed out thereof the Transiluanians for two causes thought happely to liue a long time in a peaceable tranquilitie and to haue brought to fortunate issue the bitter afflictions which they in former time with many perturbations sorrowfully endured The first whereof was because they saw the sonne of King Iohn in league with the now present King and to haue taken in mariage the Infanta Ioane his daughter which aliance and amitie did indifferently minister to euery one an assured expectation of a perpetuall and quiet repose and that in time by meanes of Ferdinands clemencie and bountie the way should not altogether be taken from Iohn one day to reenter againe into that kingdome The other was that for the late sustentation which by these new agreements happened to them they thought themselues so sufficiently assured in abilitie that the Turk for feare of the puissant authoritie of Ferdinand and of the Emperour Charles his brother durst neuer more or at the least not so often as hee had done molest and spoyle them but on the contrarie in consideration of this he would greatly feare and doubt them so that by this meanes they should haue time and leisure to fortifie and strengthen the passages and furnish the low countrie townes in such warlike manner that they should neuer hereafter stand in dread of the Ottoman violence But fortune not minding to satisfie their expectation vnhappely shuffled all the cardes in their hands and altered that sweete desire of peace into a trembling feare and suspition of warre For this Frenchman of whom wee haue before spoken being arriued at Constantinople declared how he fled from Sassebesse vpon suspition that he was a Spie for the King of France and being retired to the grand Seigniour informed him of all that which had passed betweene Ferdinand and the Queene Solyman now knowing that to bee true which vntill then hee would not beleeue commaunded with expedition to leauie an armie to send into Transiluania vnder the conduct of the Belerbey of Greece to whom hee gaue commaund that with all diligence hee should with 12000. horse repayre vnto Belgrade where the whole armie should bee ioyned and vnited together which should bee sent him by the Sangiacs lying there about and that hee should enter and assaile this Prouince on both sides on the one side by the helpe and assistance of the Vayuode of Moldauia and on the other by the ayde of the Basha of Buda and that he should with his vttermost abilitie endeuour himselfe to conquer it and leauie such a masse of his people and so continually imploy them that Ferdinand should haue no time to preuent it norfortifie himselfe there Castalde hauing notice of this by speciall aduertisement in the greatest haste he could mustered his men of warre and began to perswade with the Frier that he should prepare his forces to incounter the enemie and giue preuention the best he could to the sinister chances which shortly might ensue because that they were not able to prouide for the time The Frier greatly dreading the Turke in respect hee was vehemently incensed against him for his former proceedings answered dissembling his thoughts Castalde that hee would not faile him in any furtherance But on the other side hee cunningly practised his attonement with the enemie to whom faining to write for the good and behalfe of Ferdinand he onely writ for his owne safetie and commoditie and sending certaine presents to Rostan Basha and to him of Buda to draw and allure them to his friendship he assayed as much as he could to shake the blame from himselfe saying that if the Turke should send an armie into Transiluania to conquer it because they had put the King of the Romanes into possession thereof that for that purpose he neede not send thither seeing that all was done by the Queene and not by him who had alreadie maried her sonne Iohn with Ferdinands daughter to whose Lieutenants also she had freely and from the perswasion of her owne opinion intirely relinquished her countrie and crowne and her selfe was retired to Cassouia and that for these reasons it was to no great purpose to send an armie to destroy the kingdome and spoyle the poore inhabitants who were vtterly ignorant and guiltlesse of the said facts and promised that hee would herein so carefully trauaile that he would chase from thence all those souldiours and men of warre which Ferdinand had sent thither and that he would continually pay the ordinarie tribute and that according to such order as before was promised and as they had alreadie begun to pay it and further writing many other reasons for his excuse and also to confirme this his deuice he caused likewise certaine of the principallest of the kingdome priuately to write to the said Bashaes to approue all that which he had said Yet would it not induce the Belerbey to desist from marching on with his troupes which he brought with him from Constantinople He being arriued at Belgrade he began to muster and assemble his Campe and after hauing prepared certaine bridges ouer Danubius he passed to the other side and went to lodge by the riuer Tibiscus vpon which he also caused likewise another bridge to bee made and from thence passing on a long he came neere to a Castle named Becche situated almost vpon the riuers side In
he did not any thing esteeme nor fauour them but on the contrarie held them in disdaine and contempt began to apprehend a suspition of being betraied and in some place or other when occasion serued to be massacred Now while Frier George by his malice in concealing his purposes dissembled one thing Castalde with as great policie and wisedome fained another alwaies shadowing his intention with such discretion that none had any perseuerance of the dislike which he conceiued in his heart against him and hauing before noted the Friers deceitfull proceedings as it was said he reposed no trust in him at all but continually had a vigilant and suspitious eye ouer his actions As these affayres proceeded on in this sort two daies after there arriued with Castalde a gentleman of Ferdinands retinue named Iulius Salazar who was come post from Vienna with letters of credence which imported that if Castalde was not then departed out of Transiluania hee should not now stirre from thence but resolue to keepe and maintaine himselfe there so strongly that the Frier should finde no deuises to expell him out and that he should inuent the best meanes he could presently to haue him slaine for that he perceiued not onely by his owne letters but also he vnderstood for certaine by speciall aduertisements from those who were come from the Turkes Court and from the King of Polonia and some of his Secretaries that he intended to enter league with the Turke and to seeke the destruction of him and of all his armie and thereby to make himselfe absolute Lord of Transiluania and that before he should put in practise his determination he aduertised him to haue a speciall and vigilant eye of his proceedings and that he should in such sort doe it as though there were no such intended practise to intrap him and that hee referred to his wisedome the meanes which hee should vse to effect it skilfully endeuouring to deliuer himselfe from the danger in which he might behold his person and people at that time Castalde then vnderstanding Ferdinands pleasure he thought it no new or straunge thing because that hee alreadie very well perceiued that the Frier vsed but little sinceritie and true dealing in those affaires which concerned the Kings seruice which possest him in a confirmation of the distrust which he not without cause conceiued of him Now to frustrate his iealous braine from suspecting any intended practise against him hee by some new deuises for his better satisfaction dissembled the Kings message and his temporising with him was so discreete and wise that hee neuer gaue him the least occasion to suspect him imparting to him what desire Ferdinand had to see a good ende of this warre and what speciall hope he had of his valour and integritie to obtaine by his meanes some renowned victorie attributing all the glorie which should be gotten thereby to his vertue and prowesse With such colourable fictions he continually entertained him vntill that time which then should present vnto him the meanes to execute his enterprise euen as hee well hoped it would come to effect without any danger or losse and after such manner that by the execution of it he should neither hazard that kingdome nor his armie which he knew so well to conduct and manage and that with such suttletie and secresie and to bring it so to end that the Frier should neuer haue any suspition or coniecture of it which might haue giuen him any trouble in his minde In the meane while the Campe approched very neere to Lippa and then the Frier for that day would needes leade the Vauntgard which Castalde by no meanes would denie but gratified him in any thing he demaunded The Frier being arriued at a place where hee lodged that night found the passage to be exceeding bad for the Artillerie the way being very narrow by reason of the mountaine and riuer which fronted each other but yet not so rough that it should bee any occasion to hinder or slacke that which hee desired to doe yet did the Frier finde it to be a sufficient subiect to execute his wauering intention Thus he now seeing it was time to accomplish that which he had imprinted in his braine hauing suruaied the passage declared to Castalde that he thought it would bee impossible for the great Artillerie to passe that place and that he was of minde that it was good to leaue it there notwithstanding with such a guard of horse and foote as might defend it and that himselfe alone with the field peeces would proceede on the iourney Castalde not liking of that which the Frier aduised him of went himselfe to view the said passage and saw it was not so bad as that it should stay or hinder the Artillerie from passing and thinking the Frier was not so simple but that he knew this passage might easily be fitted iudged in himselfe that he set before them these difficulties to no other end but to slacken the deseignes of Ferdinand Vpon which consideration Castalde caused good store of Pioners to bee set on worke and made them bring many pickaxes who within a short time so repayred and enlarged the way that two horses might goe in front with a wagon and so by little and little they cut so much of the Rocke and made the passage so large that the Artillerie might well passe without any inconuenience Castalde with the other Captaines to bring the worke to an end began themselues to set to their hands and there they laboured so long till it was farre in the night in respect whereof he was forced there to lodge his Battaile and Rereward and commaunded certaine Spanish Captaines who were then with him that although it was not yet day they should march with the Artillerie the rest of the night notwithstanding it was then time rather to repose and rest themselues in respect of the former daies wearines and himselfe not being perceiued of any with his owne guard departed secretly out of the Campe and went from thence priuately to the place where two miles from Lippa the Frier was lodged and being entered into his Tent accompanied with sundrie Spanish and Italian gentlemen among whom was one Iulian de Carleual he said to him that he should not be astonished although they came to him at that time of the night and in that manner as hee sawe to speake with him for it was for no other purpose but to knowe the cause that moued him without any occasion to wish him to leaue the great Artillerie being so nigh the enemie against whom notwithstanding couragiously marching they should be sure to get vncredible honor and making themselues masters of Lippa to obtaine so great and honorable reputation as they might well hope for from all this warre and so much the rather for that the enemie had raised his Campe from before Themesuar vpon the bare bruite of their comming to relieue the besieged which vndoubtedly had alreadie purchased
batterie on that side which Vigliandrando had viewed as it was generally thought to be the weakest and least defencible of any part thereof That being done after the vapouring away of the fogge which towards the morning doth vsually rise vpon the riuer they began vpon the 4. of Nouember to batter the towne with foure double Cannons two small Culuerines with which it was battered al the day long both in the night following and the morrow after Castalde seeing that the Artillerie had sufficiently effected his purpose was determined the same day to giue the assault and not suffer the Turkes to haue so much leisure to fortifie themselues any better and not minding to impart it to all he tolde it notwithstanding to some few in whose friendship he greatly affied for all that which he purposed to doe But vpon this determination they discouered the Fort which the Turks had erected within insomuch as they were forced to alter their opinions and commaunded the Canoniers to increase their batterie and ruinate it saying that he would not lose his people at the furie of an assault but would preserue them for a battaile The batterie being reenforced with two Cannons they began to batter so terribly against these Rampiers that in euery mans iudgement they thought it to be quite ouerthrowne Whilest they continued their batterie and that Castalde was gone to Frier George to giue order for that which should be fitting for an assault fiftie Spanyards who then were out of their quarters within the Trenches for the guard of them and to see what was done by the batterie began to discourse and conferre among themselues of it the breach seeming good commodious to giue the assault these men taking resolution because they onely would haue the glorie to goe thither first were of this minde that first they must view it and that finding it to bee so as they verely beleeued they presently would haue marched to the breach without any other companie to assist them if it had so pleased Castalde that they should haue gone alone to the assault As they discoursed of this enterprise among themselues a priuate souldiour greedie of glorie offered himselfe to goe and view it but he so badly viewed it that he was afterwards the cause of great disorder as wee shall presently declare for he reported that it was very reasonable not any thing perceiuing the Trench which the Turks had made within halfe a pike in heigth and a whole in breadth raised vp with two rankes of baricadoes one vpon the other full of earth and well furnished with necessarie defences vpon the which they had planted two small peeces of Artillerie hoping thereby to warrant themselues from the assault which they hourely expected At the report of this souldiour the fiftie Spanyards being greatly incouraged were attentiue to the signall which should bee giuen for that they would be the first which should shew themselues vpon the breach While Castalde was with the Frier accompanied with all the Colonels Captaines principall Lords and many other souldiours of the armie it was concluded to goe to the assault and generally incouraging euery one and promising to them liberall rewards he spake vnto them after this manner If it bee true as the trueth is so that Gods goodnes neuer faileth those who for the maintenance of infallible faith for iustice and for the good of many imploy their vttermost endeuours I make no doubt my souldiours but that this day fighting for the defence of our Religion the iust cause of the King our master and Lord for the deliuerie of Lippa and for the recouering and preseruation of this kingdome that wee shall not onely receiue of God this present victorie which voluntarily prepareth it selfe fortunate to vs but also after our death an euerlasting felicitie in the world to come And this will be the day although it seemeth somewhat perilous if we fight couragiously which will crowne vs with infinit honour and infuse such a feare and terror into our quailing enemies that increasing our reputation it will cause the other to tremble as well at our very names as at our present warlike exploytes Therefore let euery one of you dispose and prepare himselfe couragiously for the assault and conceiue neither feare or horrour thereof For it is necessarie to all those who are desirous of glorie to oppose and thrust themselues into difficill and daungerous attempts and not to bee daunted by any base repulse O souldiours what a shame would it bee to you hauing in time of peace accustomed your selues to martiall exercises and in time of warre to subdue and conquer to bee now vanquished and ouercome by the force and prowesse of the Turks whom you now see alreadie full of feare through the batterie and ruine of their walles Therefore I promise to those who shall be the first that this day mount vpon the wall or that shall performe a sufficient proofe of their valour to prize and reward them as their commendable acts doe proclaime them worthie Thus you being confirmed in a resolute courage feare not to goe to it for that you see God is on our side and opposite to our enemies who alreadie begin to feele his anger which is manifestly seene to come vpon them by their broken and defaced walles by the fearefull siege which they painfully and with great horrour endure in respect of the famine which they piningly suffer by our warlike squadrons which we cause to march against them and by the death which they within few houres shall receiue to their perpetuall damnation whereas we dying with valour shall liue eternally And whilest wee see the occasion fauourable to vs euery one should assay to ouercome all of vs animating one another it being alwaies a commendable thing that good and valiant souldiours in haughtie enterprises and difficult attempts should exhort and encourage one another valiantly to performe his deuoire to the end that through negligence missing of the victorie it bee not imputed to their dishonour and by this meanes euery one should bee in daunger of blame if at the least once he made not triall of his vertue and prowesse against the enemie And you Hungarian souldiours whom this siege doth more import then any other valiantly endeuour your selues this day to shew your vttermost vertue and courage because that in this day you may in the blood of the Turkes our common enemies reuenge the death of your parents slaine and most horribly murthered by them and take reuenge for the rauishment of your daughters the taking away of your sonnes the ruinating of your Temples and the prophaning of your Monestaries I doubt not but bearing your selues valiantly you will carrie away the victorie and that by the slaughter of your enemies you will secure the liues of your countrimen and reconquer the lost honour of your townes Now then you being all vnited and linked together with one like friendly league of amitie refuse not these
friends he was conuaied to the Church of Albe-iula where Castalde at the charges of Ferdinand caused him to bee buried in a Tombe of stone in the middest of the new great Church by King Iohn Huniades Coruin These Aiduchs and other of the Friers people being thus retired Castalde seeing that in these alterations of fortune there would not befall vnto him any great disturbance nor tumult for the death of the Frier came on foote before the Spanish squadrons hauing Francis Chendy by the hand and began with him to set forward to Sassebesse He was not yet farre on his way but a messenger came and told him that the Castle of Binse was rifled by those who were left in custodie thereof and that the Friers Secretarie was taken by Iohn Alphonse Castalde and warranted from death and how that in the Friers chamber there was found a little Cabenet within which was 12000. Hungarish Duckets which Captaine Andrew Lopez with foure other souldiours had taken and broken vp and parted shares according to their qualities reseruing the greatest quantitie for himselfe He vnderstanding this newes presently sent Captaine Diego Velez to pacifie this disorder and take the money againe from them who had thus stollen it and to cause them to restoreal the moueables of the Frier and establish them in the former estate waiting till he should send a Comissarie who should receiue all the Friers treasure to the vse of Ferdinand By this meanes he caused the pillage to cease and recouered againe much money and other things to the value of 80000. Duckets which was all committed to the charge of his Maiesties Treasurers And marching thus along very discontented with those who had rifled the Friers chamber within short time after hee arriued at Sassebesse from whence he presently sent to the Captaines and Gouernours of such Castles and Forts as were at the Friers deuotion that they should yeeld to Ferdinand threatning them that if they would not obey his commaund he would presently send his armie and Artillerie to subdue them Among which places there was one called Wyuar where the Frier had his treasure and there hee also priuately kept an Ambassadour of the Turkes which Castalde presently after the Frier had yeelded vp the ghost sent Captaine Diego Velez to apprehend and bring the said Ambassadour to him wheresoeuer he should be to see if any matter of moment could bee learned out of him touching the Friers proceedings and whether there had been any intelligence and practise betweene them against Ferdinand as was vehemently suspected and specially in respect of the Diet of Wasrael where they looked for the Sicilians and in which as the common bruite and speech amongst our people was they should haue discoursed of the meanes which should be vsed to expulse Castalde out of Transiluania with all the Spanyards Germanes Bohemians and Hungars who should be at that time found in it and were payd by Ferdinand This Ambassadour being vnder Castaldes commaund and diligently examined they could neither know nor finde in him any matter as they desired but onely certaine letters of credit written in the Turkish language directed to Solyman Rostan Basha the Belerbey and to certaine other of speciall credit in the Turkes Court and sealed with the seale which the Frier was wont to vse in all the affayres concerning the kingdome which letters he had dispatched without imparting any thing thereof to Castalde He remained at Sassebesse one whole day that by the meanes of Iulian de Carleual he might aduertise Ferdinand of all that which happened and writ to all the townes to acquaint them with the enterprises and death of the Frier and to pray them to remaine in a loyall deuotion to the King The day following fearing the Sicilians being speciall friends to the Frier would rise against him and that it was not in his power to auoyde the tumult which he alreadie saw stirred vp determined to goe to Sibinio for that it was a towne of good strength and most faithfull to Ferdinand and lesse affected to the Frier among all those which were in that quarter in which he thought to temporise while he might together with his securitie see what end these matters would haue whereupon he left good garrisons of Germanes in Albe-iula and at Sassebesse and he left also at Binse Captaine Diego Velez with his Spanish companie and went himselfe to Sibinio where being arriued he lodged the rest of his armie without the towne but so neere at hand that vpon any necessitie and first signe giuen within foure houres he could bring them into the towne onely retaining with him 50. Harquebuziers for his guard There he was very friendly receiued of the citizens who greatly reioyced with him for that he had deliuered them from the subiection and feare of this stearne and proud Frier promising not to faile him in all prosperous and aduerse accidents whatsoeuer and offering him all that which should be any way necessary for him Castalde gaue them many kind thanks and was exceedingly pleased for that hee found the Sibinians in so good an humour and such assured friends and minding afterwards to depart from thence and go to Seghesuar that so he might be more neere to Wasrael where the Sicilians were assembled expecting the Friers arriuall and also the better to vnderstand and know of them what their purpose might be and whether after they vnderstood of the Friers death they would continue in the friendship and deuotion of Ferdinand The inhabitants of Sibinio would by no meanes permit him that he should goe out of their towne without a good guard telling him that to goe to such a Diet it was very necessarie he should leade with him more men then he had and that by no meanes he should repose any trust in the Sicilians vntill he saw how they would take the Friers death vrgently perswading him not to go to that Diet with lesse then 15000. men Vpon these considerations Castalde sent to seeke the men of armes of Charles Scerettin and certaine Spanyards and Germanes to the number of 1800. and went from thence with this troupe to Seghesuar still hauing in his companie Francis Chendy whom he now had wonne and by offers and kind vsage although it might bee thought it was more by compulsion then loue had drawne to the seruice of Ferdinand They being arriued in this towne they reposed themselues there the first day and the day following Castalde sent Chendy to Wasrael where alreadie were met the principall men of Seculia deuising together of the meanes which should be vsed to reuenge the death of the Frier Chendy being now present before them all in Castaldes name said vnto them that they should louingly and faithfully embrace Ferdinand of whom they should receiue more pay rewards and curtesies in one houre then they had receiued of the Frier in 20. yeeres whose death fell vpon him in regard of his bad demeanour hauing
and although he was glad to see him out of this Prouince yet was he greatly perplexed in his minde fearing that he would march directly towards Agria because that that was a towne of little strength but yet of great importance notwithstanding he had a special hope of this that Mahomet would first before he came to Agria make some stay before Zaluoch for that he would not leaue it behinde him and he thought that this Castle would defend it selfe from his crueltie because it was so well munitioned impregnable so that he assured himselfe that Mahamet should consume the greatest part of his forces during the siege there that if those within it would shew their vttermost deuoire he should be forced rather to retire with shame and losse then remaine there with profit and honour Before that Mahomet approached Zaluoch he sent 2000. horse to scoure and discouer the plaine and gather what victuals they could for his armie which stoode in some distresse for that they had passed ruinated and dispeopled Countries from whence to auoide his tyrannie all the people were fled into diuers places of safetie Some of his Vaun-currers presenting themselues before Zaluoch and being knowne to be such as they were our people sallyed forth to skirmish with them and tooke some of them who were scattered from their companie by whom they vnderstoode that Mahomet would presently come and besiege them with all his armie It happened the same day that the Turkes Vauntgard arriued a certaine Germane brusing in his lodging a little powder fire tooke holde thereof and burnt the house and almost all the Castle because that the flame being carried with the winde which then was very great dispersed it selfe into all parts and suddainely flamed for the greatest part thereof being built of wood and filled with such other things which drew fire to it from a farre and if they had not with great expedition slaked it surely all had been consumed into ashes and euen as the Vauntgard wherein Achmeth Basha was arriued the fire was quenched and then al those within put themselues in battaile and good order about the wals and with the force of Artillerie Harquebuziers they began to salute the enemy with such violence that they brake that squadron insomuch that he was forced to retire from approaching any neerer and forthwith sallying out they made a great murder amōgst the Turks The day following arriued Mahomet himselfe with all the rest of his campe lodging a good distance off and in a place where the Artillerie could not offend him and presently with a strong troupe of horse he went to view the Castle on the two sides that were not enuironed with water but onely with drie Ditches and the day following he caused all his armie to approach before that place quartering them on these two sides and they were so many in number that all the ground within that compasse was couered with them and afterward he sent by some of his people to certifie him who commaunded within that he shuld for certaine vnderstand that that place where the Castle was built appertained to the Grand Seigniour and that Ferdinand erected it in a place which was none of his and for that cause he commaunded them to yeeld it vnto him offering vpon that condition some reasonable rewards and that he would permit him with all his souldiours safely to depart with their armes and baggage further admonishing him not to be obstinate least he should plant the Artillerie for if he expected that he had sworne and protested not to make any accord with him at all but the contrary putting all to fire and sword he would without mercie murther all those who fell into his hands The Castellan made him this answer that being borne Ferdinands subiect and by him placed in this Castle and hauing sworne to him fidelitie and giuen him assurance to keepe and defend it which also he purposed to doe he could not yeeld it to him but if he would be master thereof he should winne it by force and that he should not solicite him any more with the like friuolous messages for that he had no dread nor feare of his words and as little esteemed he of his deedes but that he should doe his vttermost and he for his part would also doe what he could to defend and maintain it desiring rather to die Ferdinands seruant thē liue Solymans friend The Basha vnderstanding of this resolute answer the day following he caused the Trenches to be made hard by the Ditches on those two sides of which we haue spoken and that not without great labour for that the Pyoners were forced to carrie the earth very farre because the place was drie and stonie and very vnfit for such a purpose And after they had finished their worke one morning before day-break he caused his Artillery to be brought into them and planted it against the Castle and began very violently to batter but the Cannon did no great harme for that the Castle was well rampierd and enuironed with earth and faggots which presently did quallifie the force of the bullet About three daies after that the Turks had continued their batterie the Germanes assembled together spake vnto the Captaine of the Spaniards and to certaine other souldiours telling them that the most part of the Hungars were alreadie on horseback and that when they thought least of it they would in the night depart and forsake them and that if they did so euery one might cleerely discerne that they were not of sufficient strength to maintaine and keep it against so great an armie as was that of the Turks and that for that cause this was their counsell that all should dislodge and endeuour to saue themselues perswading this Captaine to speake of this matter vnto him who commanded the place and was the Castellan who for that he was his friend would not refuse to hearken to him and it might be would yeeld to his opinion The Spaniards replied that as yet they saw no occasion that should moue them to depart from thence so vily and they told them that they shuld not vse any more so dishonest and infamous speeches but rather they should haue the courage to die honourably then commit so cowardly an act and that for their parts they would doe that which should seeme good to them not being willing at any time to lend their eares to such vnfitting discourses The Germanes then seeing that the Spaniards respected not their motion went to the Bohemians to acquaint them with their determination and there they caused it to finde such good entertainment that they easily drew them to their opinions whereupon they altogether went to the Castellan to tell him in few words that they would depart for that they saw the Hungars had trussed vp their baggage in their wagons and their horses were readie sadled of which they knew not the meaning except it were to begon and leaue the
from thence Ferdinand being throughly informed of the vile and infamous losse of Lippa and how it happened by Aldenes cowardlines to the end therefore that this ignominious fact should not remaine vnpunished he commaunded Castalde that Aldene should bee committed to prison and that by the consent and aduice of the Vayuode his processe should bee made against him by meanes whereof he meant to make him vnderstand that he would punish him rigorously to the end that others by his example should learne more valiantly to maintaine their owne reputation then hee had done According to this commaund Aldene was examined and demaunded vpon what occasion he fiered the munition and victuals and why without seeing any enemie he so cowardly left this Fortresse and caused it to bee burnt In answer of which demaunds he alleadged for his excuse that he was forced thereunto by reason the most part of the souldiours were fled from thence and that because he had not time commodious to carrie out the victuals Artillerie and munition he commaunded them to be burnt after that manner chusing rather to consume them so then suffer them to be a spoyle to the enemie and that for the same consideration he had performed the like to the Castle and towne thinking that the Turkes seeing such an apparant ruine they would neuer afterwards make account of it nor regard to fortifie it he for his part purposing that after they were departed thence he would returne thither againe and establish it in the former estate and fortifie it stronger then before and that for these reasons he was incited and constrained to doe that which he did But more fully to know the trueth of all these matters and to the end he should not any thing complaine of iniurie that might bee done him certaine Iudges were deputed to know and vnderstand his cause and to examine the souldiours who had been with him in Lippa During all these proceedings which were managed at Vienna concerning Frier George his death and in Transiluania vpon Aldenes fact Mahomet seeing how all things did euen vntill thē prosperously succeed with him and how much Fortune did fauour him in his conquests which he achieued with small labour and how besides she had wonne him that honour and glorie which he neuer expected to haue perceiuing himselfe by such euents to be greatly redoubted and feared did not one mite esteeme the towne of Agria perswading himselfe to haue wonne it easier then he had done the other townes and in the end although he was greatly vrged thervnto he marched thither dismissing a good part of his armie assuring himselfe he should little neede so many men nor such a power of Caualarie as vntill then he had knowing this place to bee of no strength nor such that it could long resist his forces whereupon he sent the Basha of Buda before with certaine troupes of horse to view the countrie and to assure the frontiers thereof hauing had aduertisement that Duke Mauris was arriued at Iauarin where he was lodged with 10000. Lansquenets and 5000. horse according to the promise which he made to Ferdinand to whom he had assured that he would performe in Hungarie some profitable matter for the generall good as it was also accorded at Ispurch betweene the Emperour and him This Duke had alreadie caused a bridge to bee built ouer Danubius bruting it abroad that he would march to besiege Strigonium But although that at the beginning the Turkes had some feare and doubt thereof yet this siege in the end was found to be nothing else but a particular ruine of this prouince and it was the cause of a thousand inconueniences and griefes to Ferdinand and made him to consume and spend all that treasure which he had leauied to pay the armie which he entertained in Transiluania and that was the cause also that neither on the one side nor on the other could any good be done In the end the Basha of Buda presented himselfe before Mauris not with intent to fight for his force was then but weake but onely to discerne his countenance and whither he would march that he might speedily relieue that place and in the meane time somewhat to bridle his proceedings Whilest these two expected each others attempts in such sort as you haue heard Mahomet incamped himselfe about Agria with 60000. men and 50. peeces of Artillerie This towne was in a manner all open with a Castle after the ancient fortification without any defences or Bulwarkes but onely certaine towers and it is commaunded by a hill the descent of which commeth within a stones cast of the wall This default of Rampiers and other weake meanes was supplied by the inuincible courages of those that were within who were Hungars to the number of 2000. of whom there were 500. gentlemen well dissended and no lesse esteemed in the countrie for their vertue and prowesse who were retired thither with their wiues children and moueables hauing no other place of strength in the countrie but that where they could finde any safetie for their goods and liues These with the inhabitants of the towne and other souldiours swore and protested among themselues that not any one vpon their liues should aduenture to speake of any agreement nor yeeld vpon no composition nor yet to make replie to the enemies speeches but onely with Harquebuze and Cannon and in case that by the length and tediousnes of the siege they should bee brought to extremitie of victuals they should first eate one another rather then cowardly to yeeld And that daily after intercession to God and hearing Masse both men and women without intermission should labour the strengthening of the Rampiers and fortifications and to auoyde all treason they did expressely prohibit that none should assemble aboue three or foure in a companie Besides they ordained that all the prouision as well for the munition as for the particular houses should equally bee distributed by weight and so much for a day and that the Doues Hens Capons Pullets and other like victuals should safely bee kept and reserued for the sicke and wounded and that all the spoyles which should be gotten vpon the enemie should be put into a place apart to make equall diuision therof among those who had best defended their countrie comprehending therein the women also who daily were marked and obserued by a certaine Preacher who during that siege shewed himselfe valiant and resolute in fighting and was the speciall cause by his exhortations of this great effect that those of Agria brauely indured thirteene most cruell and bloodie assaults and that they shewed themselues so gallant as they did as presently we shall speake of Being all of this resolution rather to dye then yeeld themselues vnder the faithlesse mercie of the Basha they kept themselues in continuall readines to answer him with like armes to those wherewith he saluted them Mahomet before he enterprised any thing against the towne sent to
nuncios tam ad excelsam Portam nostram quà m ad eum decernatis Quod si mandato nostro huic in obedientes cum inimicis nostris concordes eritis crudelitatem stragem quam Transiluaniae regnum videbit ex demeritis vestris processisse credatis Nam gratia Creatoris omnipotentis Dei speramus Christianis regno Transiluaniae iram potentiam nostram ostendere Etsi ipsi Transiluani ad pristinam obedientiam fidelitatem nobis adiuuantibus reuerti recusabunt nusquam tuti erunt per totum mundum debitas luent poenas Iurauimus enim Omnipotenti Deo quod in Transiluania lapis super lapidem non relinquetur homines omnes in ore gladij dari pueros faeminas in captiuitatem omniaque loca solo aequari faciemus Propter quod vti inuictissimum potentissimum Imperatorem decet ne tantarum animarum exitum super nostram animam fiat vos omnes prius monendos esse sensuimus Iam multoties vobis mandata talia misimus quae neglexistis sed si mandato huic vltimo obedientes non eritis acerbitatem ruinam quam videbitis non nobis sed vobis ipsis attribuite Omnia igitur cum tempore bene consulite nam caetera prudentiae vestrae examinanda relinquimus Datum Constantinopoli septima Lunae Octobris The english of which is this that followeth THE MANDATE OF THE INVINCIBLE EMPErour of the Turks to Lord Andrew Battor Captaine in Transiluania and to all the other Lords and Peeres of that countrie BY the authoritie and expresse commaund of our greatnes and highnes you shall vnderstand you faithfull in the faith of Christ Andrew Battor wise and knightly Lord amongst all the Christians inhabiting in Transiluania and all you the residue of our louing Lords how that many times wee haue made knowne to you since that Frier George our Treasurer was cruelly and by treason murdered before he could chase out the Germanes which you by your dissentions vntimely haue brought into the kingdome that you your selues and all the rest of the Lords of Transiluania should by common consent and mutuall ayd expulse the said Germanes out of your countrie according to the fidelitie which you owe to our Port and statelines Which not being as yet performed by you wee were very carefull now to incite you to doe it pardoning you of all the former offences and faults which vntill now you haue committed against vs and promising to giue it you againe and to preserue all the libertie which heretofore you haue had in that kingdome of Transiluania and you our Lords and subiects shall alwaies be vnder our protection and safegard and we will hold you in such regard as shall be fitting for you And concerning the kingdome of Transiluania as vnder the gouernment of King Iohn and of his sonne our faithfull subiects it was in peace and freedome euen so wee will ordaine that at this present it shall so continue and we assuredly promise you that the said sonne of King Iohn shall raigne and gouerne amongst you For so long as King Iohn our Vassall and subiect serued vs faithfully and sincerely we neuer suffered that any should molest or trouble you but further after his death wee of our singular grace and clemencie gaue to his sonne being yet in minoritie his fathers countrie and that kingdome and then Transiluania was alwaies quiet But after that you had called in the Germanes amongst you great dissentions were stirred vp betweene you in respect whereof and to reestablish King Iohns sonne and his mother and to deliuer Transiluania from her naturall enemies we by the grace of God haue commaunded to leauie a very great and puissant armie It behoueth you therefore in consideration of your loyaltie that your care and diligence bee with force of armes to expulse out of your kingdome the Germanes and whilest that King Iohns sonne bee reestablished in his place and dignitie that you elect a generall Captaine in that kingdome to whom you may all obey and not suffer any longer your naturall enemies to bee amongst you but by a common consent to banish from thence those who are the cause of so many garboyles amongst you and that euery one of you endeuour himselfe according to his abilitie well and diligently to gouerne the kingdome of King Iohns sonne your Lord. And if we receiue from you this marke and token of fidelitie and obedience you shall not onely obtaine of vs your ancient libertie in this your kingdome of Transiluania but also receiue further from our imperiall Maiestie speciall honour and fauour In the meane time wee will entertaine our mightie armie for the affayres of that kingdome and for the ayde and assistance of King Iohns sonne and we haue alreadie commanded that it should presently march for the deliuerie thereof from out of his enemies hands For wee will by no meanes tolerate that his enemies shall raigne and gouerne in this Prouince And being sufficiently ascertained how much King Iohn our Vassall hath been to vs a faithfull seruant and also his sonne wee haue determined to reinstall him into his kingdome and to cause him to raigne in it by our meanes and afford him such ayde that by Gods permission he shall bee able to ouercome and surmount his enemie To this intent by Gods assistance wee haue caused to march the magnificall and puissant our obedient subiect and faithfull seruant to our Highnes the most illustrious Achmeth Basha second Councellor to our excellent Maiestie and many other our subiects and Courtiers with a great number of Ianisaries of the most mightie and inuincible Port of our greatnes and highnes hauing also commaunded all our generall Captaines and Sangiachs to cause to come from Greece and Buda a great armie insomuch that with our said Councellor we shall haue an armie of 200000. men well appointed before wee march in person against our enemie And further wee haue commaunded the most excellent Prince of Tartaria the Vayuodes of Vallachia and Moldauia with all the Sangiachs which are in those countries on this side and beyond Danubius that with all their Infantrie and Caualarie they shall ioyne with our said Vizir And it is also necessarie that you obey according to your fidelitie the said Basha and that you send your Ambassadours as well towards our royall Port as also to him But if you perseuer disobedient to our mandate and that you accord and adherre to our enemies then assuredly thinke that the ruine losse and crueltie which the kingdome of Transiluania shall endure shall not ensue but by your demerits For by the grace of God the almightie Creator wee hope to giue sufficient testimonie to Christians and to the kingdome of Transiluania what our indignation and puissance is And if the Transiluanians we affoording them our ayde will not returne to their ancient obedience and loyaltie they shall neuer be on any side sure or safe but shall endure through the world the iust
In the meane while Queene Izabella was not any thing idle but practised all the meanes she could to reenter againe with her sonne greatly assisting her selfe by the meanes and fauour of Peter Vicchy and Chendy Ference and other principall men who secretly affected her cause And although Ferdinand writ to her that he was readie at all times to performe that which he promised her and besides to giue her the Dutchie of Monsterberg yet she would by no meanes accept any whit thereof saying that since within the presixed time the premised bargaines and agreements were not of his part performed she for her part meant no lesse to obserue and keepe them and that she was determined againe to haue her owne Vpon which there was newes that the Sicilians intended some treacheries with the Turks in her fauour and that they had sent some priuately to her to restore Iohn into his kingdome By occasion of these tumults there was a Diet assigned at Possouia wherein the people of the kingdome of Transiluania greatly cōplained of the griefes and wrongs which they daily endured as wel by the warre and fortifications as also for the insolencies which they receiued by Ferdinands souldiours importuning to haue redresse thereof and not to taske them with such impositions promising if he did so not to faile his Maiestie but willingly to take armes against the Turkes and valiantly to defend themselues against them and sincerely to maintaine the dutie and homage which they had sworne to his Maiestie Vpon these complaints and demaunds Ferdinand caused them to bee answered that he would not faile as much as he could to ease them of that burthen and that he would cause it to appeare vnto them that his pleasure was no other but alwaies to ayde and defend them against the violence of the common enemie against whom they should not for all that faile to take armes as he for his part would not bee wanting to send them forces and to come in his owne person if necessitie did so require it for their deliuerie or else to send them the King of Bohemia his sonne that presently he would giue order to all those inconueniences of which they complained and that in the meane time they should not omit to persist in the faith and deuotion wherein they had vntill then continued and that there should be no fault in him but that he would vse them as most loyall and faithfull subiects Whereupon euery one held himselfe well contented with these promises Yet for all that these humours slided not out of their braines but increased more and more specially because it was manifest that Bartholmew Coruatte who had the guard of Iula with two Germane companies badly behaued himselfe in this towne spoyling murthering and killing the poore inhabitants thereof preaching to them the Lutheran religion with which opinion he was infected To remedie which Castalde was constrained to depute Paul Banchy in that quarter for Vice Vayuode and commaund Coruatte to depart out of Iula and sent him farre off leauing the charge of this towne to Francis Patocchy who bore himselfe so familiarly amongst the inhabitants that they found themselues greatly reioyced and comforted therewith If on this side Ferdinands souldiours did minister exceeding griefe and disquiet to Castalde they yet on the other side gaue him daily more and more for want of pay he being greatly tormented by Duke Mauris for the payment of his souldiours that was due to them from the time that the siege was raised from before Agria he neuer hauing receiued any seruice from them but rather great damage and infinit ruine through the whole Realme For the redresse and dispatch of which although the winter was come he meant indeede fully to content him and to dissolue his armie which was dismissed from Iauerin and there was put therein another garrison This was the cause that he being desirous to keepe his word with this Duke he could not then satisfie with pay his owne Campe which he had in Transiluania of which for that it was composed of the vassals and subiects of his king and that countrie he had more assurance in their patience then in the other which were straungers and not subiect to him who at their departure although they were well payed yet for all that they desisted not from committing great inormities And although Castalde did what possibly he could to keepe his souldiours in peace prouiding them of good lodgings and causing to bee distributed through the countrie ordinarie victuall more then was sufficient yet could he not so farre preuaile with them as to cause them to desist from or giue ouer their mutinies conspiracies or other horrible mischiefes which did not onely hurt in particular but also in generall because that the inhabitants of the countrie receiuing such iniuries hated and abhorred them greatly and they spake of nothing else but that occasion would offer it self for them to take armes and giue them cause to vnderstand their fault by the massacring which in time they hoped to execute vpon them all of them earnestly desiring that they might the better wade out of such calamities the returning of Iohn into his kingdome By reason of such mischiefes many Captaines and principals of the countrie who in former time had been Ferdinands friends became secretly his deadly enemies and raunged themselues on Queene Izabellaes partie not a little increasing her forces and faction which procured to Castalde infinit discontent Now as Fortune in this quarter managed the actions of mortall men she in better manner then men could think for disposed of them about Deua because that those who were in garrison in this towne hauing intelligence that by the commaund of Cassombech two companies of Turkish horse were departed out of Lippa to enter harrie and spoyle in Transiluania they put themselues in order for an ambuscado and to fight with them as they should passe through difficult places And hauing thus disposed of their people the Caualarie of Cassombech presented themselues with a greedie desire to pill and burne some neighbour places and being now arriued at the passage where they were expected it was suddenly charged on all sides and they all fighting a certaine time not knowing who should haue the best in the end the Turkes finding themselues in the middest of the other souldiours who vntill then kept themselues close began to retire themselues and to leaue the victory to those of Deua who omitted not to pursue them euen within sight of Lippa and slew of them 300. and tooke many prisoners Our people being incouraged at this good fortune and not satisfying themselues with that which they so happely achieued passed further with incurtions into the enemies countrie sacking some villages pilling all which came to their hands performing such warlike exploits that besides the conquest of the prisoners and bootie which was not small they put all that quarter in such a dread that the Turkes a long
he had receiued such letters gaue them to Rossa to the end that according to the oportunitie and occasion of the time she might shew them to the Turke She in shewing them these letters as a subtell and malicious woman made great shew to be exceedingly contented at the generositie and valiantnes of Mustapha and to be very respectiue of his life and health and then on the other side as being carefull of the preseruation and puissance of her Lord and spouse by wilie and subtell meanes she propounded to him the example of Selim who by the like craft and industrie depriued his father both of his Empire and life desiring him to finde the meanes to discouer the deseignes of Mustapha But for this time her deuices tooke no great effect in Solyman and she seeing that they came to nothing thought to make him away by poyson and sending him in his fathers name certaine presents gaue charge to some to carrie them to him But for that the houre of his death was not yet come he would at no hand taste thereof vntill the bringer had first made an assay who presently fell downe stone dead for which cause he made them to bee cast away and so escaped the death This treacherie falling out contrarie to the desire of Rossa yet for all that she lost no courage but inuented another desiring her Lord that he would doe her this fauour that sometimes one and sometimes another of his children might come to the Court to see him and after that returne againe into their gouernment thereby the rather to continue a reciprocall amitie betweene him and his children This deuice tended to this end that Mustapha comming thither should with better commoditie bee dispatched by some maner of meanes whatsoeuer and not comming thither he should be sent for For the eldest sonnes of the Turkish Emperours are not accustomed to depart out of their Prouinces to come to Constantinople except they bee sent for to bee made Emperours with a strong and puissant armie which they are not wont to doe so long as the father liueth Neuerthelesse she obtained that two of his children should come thither and thus alwaies was one or two with Solyman either in the towne or in the armie or in some other place where hee was Zeangir the crookbacke was oftner there then any of them for that he was pleasant and merrie and one that could fit all humours well whereat the Grand Seigniour tooke great pleasure Now certaine yeeres after Fortune enuious of Mustaphaes magnanimitie and fauouring the wickednes of this woman caused a letter to bee brought from the Basha the gouernour of Mustapha and of Amasia it being the custome that when a sonne of the Grand Seigniour goeth into any gouernment to giue him a Basha to instruct him in Militarie discipline and a Doctor to teach him the liberall Arts and other good erudiments It was imported by this letter that a mariage should bee treated of betweene the said Mustapha and the daughter of the King of Persia whereof this Basha did diligently aduertise the Court and the Grand Seigniour to the end that not any thing should be imputed to him as if he had participated in this affayre This letter being come into the hands of Rostan esteeming that this was a subiect very fit for him to ouerthrow Mustapha withall acquainted Rossa with all the matter with whom he hauing conferred of that which they should doe they went both together to the Turke shewing him the ambition of Mustapha and that he had a purpose to inuest himselfe in the Empire and by the affinitie contained in this letter to ioyne the Persian armies with his that so he might the better expulse him from Constantinople adding at the end the little faith which was to be hoped of the Ianisaries because they were corrupted by his great bountie These so euident reasons were with words full of such great efficacie pronounced by them that they so moued Solyman that to assure his kingdome and life he determined to put his sonne to death and according to this resolution he caused Rostan Basha to march before with a great armie towards Syria with commaund and expresse charge vnder the colour to driue away the Persians to seaze vpon the person of Mustapha by some subtell dexteritie and to conduct him to him Rostan being come to the enterance of this Prouince and Mustapha hauing vnderstood of his comming presently marched towards him with 7000. of the valiantest souldiours that he had Rostan seeing that then his enterprise could take no good issue bruiting it abroad that he found all things in good tranquilitie returned without any further expecting the comming of Mustapha or without seeing the dust of his souldiours and returned from thence to Constantinople with more then ordinarie speede where being arriued he recited to the Grand Seigniour all that which was happened to him and giuing colour to that which hee had alreadie practised with Rossa he caused him to redouble his feare telling him that hauing found the armie which he led with him into Syria most readie and willing and at the deuotion of Mustapha and they desired no other thing but only that he were absolute Lord he by this occasion meant not to trust them to giue him any battaile nor hazard any thing by reason of the incredible good will which all the Ianisaries bore him but that he thought it more expedient to returne from thence and submit all vnder the aduice and iudgement of his Maiestie as he did These speeches ingendered in Solymans heart a most great indignation and were the cause to bring to end that treason thus wrought against this innocent yong man This then being the yeere 1553. he commaunded that all the souldiours should assemble and that Achmeth Basha of Buda with all the prouision of Hungarie should march towards Amasia to bring to end the Persian warre it being expressely euery where bruited abroad that the Persians were afresh entered into Syria with many great troupes Solyman set himselfe onward on his iourney with all his armie and being there arriued he presently caused letters to be writ to Mustapha that he should come to him at Aleppo and endeuouring to conceale the hate which through others malignitie he bore to his sonne yet could he not so well dissemble it but that Achmeth Basha as of better iudgement then the other Bashaes were did perceiue it and conceiuing great displeasure that the father should be thus incensed against his sonne because he was too generous secretly aduertised Mustapha that he should looke well to himselfe and his life and not be too secure This did greatly astonish the poore yong man and the rather considering the comming of his father with so puissant an armie into that countrie without any reasonable occasion the Persians being then with them quiet and in peace and he entering into great suspition was many daies greatly tormented in the end although he was
thereof and chased from thence Ferdinands people there increasing at the same time so horrible a plague in this Prouince that it continued vntill the yeere 1555. whereof died so many men horses and other beasts that it was an incredible thing Vpon the occasion of this losse the Turks being incouraged tooke armes against Ferdinand and entring into that countrie besieged Albe-iula against which they built a Fort and the assieged being at the end of their victuals were constrained to yeeld to the Queene who in sauing them she was by that meanes made Ladie of that towne and within a while after in her sons name of all the rest of Transiluania and there rested no more for her to conquer but certaine Castles situated in the confines of the Bishopricke of Varadin and that of Tocchay which is very strong And expecting a commodious time to goe and besiege them she did no other thing in the meane while but assure the minds of the principals of the kingdome in the deuotion of her selfe and her sonne causing for this purpose to be published a generall Diet at Sibinio for all the nations of the countrie wherein she shewed the wrong which she had receiued by the officers of the Emperour because they had not kept with her the conditions and capitulations accorded betweene them and the losse and ruine which had happened vnto them because they would take part with him and on the contrarie the good and profit which they should receiue in being retired to her she assured in such sort her forces in this Prouince that all wholly refusing the amitie of Ferdinand and imbracing that of Iohns as of their naturall Lord all neuer ceased vntill they had cleansed Transiluania of the remainders of the Emperials the Queene being for this purpose fauoured of the King of Polonia and of the Queene Bonna her mother who secretly besides the Turke who feared that Ferdinand should set footing in this countrie and that in time he might greatly annoy him in that quarter would not faile to assist her with all counsels and succours which they should thinke necessarie and profitable for her according to the condition of the time She recompenced those who had not abandoned her part and as a sage and prudent woman she reserued to another time the commoditie to reuenge her selfe of the iniuries which she had receiued of those who so many times rebelled against her and had been the occasion of all these inconueniences And being confederate with the Vayuodes of Moldauia and Valachia and by the expresse commaund of the Turke hauing made a perfect alliance and friendship with the Basha of Buda the Sangiach of Bossina and Belgrade she began to giue order to the affayres of the kingdome and to receiue the accounts of the reuenew thereof to acquit her selfe and pay those who had assisted her to enter thereinto and also to giue presents to those who for diuers causes did merit recompence making her selfe by this meanes delightfull to euery one About this time her brother Sigismond King of Polonia hauing refused for wife one of the daughters of the King of the Romanes being inamoured of a gentlewoman his subiect who was yong and indowed with singular beautie he tooke her to wife and spouse and married her against the will of the Queene his mother and of all the principals of his kingdome for which occasion it happened that the mother was long time incensed against him vntill the death of this new Queene who suddenly died not without suspition of being poysoned and by her death all the dissentions of the kingdome were appeased and the King was reconciled to Queene Bonna his mother who hauing before greatly laboured to haue leaue to retire out of Polonia and goe and repose her selfe in Italie and to finish the remainder of her daies in her Dutchie of Barry situated in the kingdome of Naples she was in the end by meanes of the Emperour Charles and of Ferdinand King of the Romanes licensed by her sonne and in iourneying into Italie she passed by Venice where by this Common-weale she was receiued within the Bucentaure with great pompe and honoured by all the gentlewomen of the towne who gorgiously attired and dressed with stones and Iewels presented themselues to her and conducted her to the Palace of the Duke of Ferrara vsing to her the greatest curtesies which could be imagined she being further continually visited by euery one And after being accompanied with certaine armed Gallies which were giuen to her by the State of Venice to conduct her in suretie for feare of Saala Rays the Pyrat who then skoured those seas and with a good winde she arriued at the Port of Barry where she liued not long not being held in any good reputation nor gaining a good name by reason of one Pappacoda to whom forgetting her sonne and daughter so great is the fleshly desire of this world she left all the good things that she had remaining infinitly blamed for this act and little commended among the liuing This happened then when betweene the Emperour Charles and Henry King of France there was accorded after many disputes and controuersies betweene the Commissioners a truce for fiue yeeres which was published in France in Italie and Flanders And that they might the better reioyce and congratulate vpon the occasion thereof with these two great Princes the Pope sent to the one of them for Legate the Cardinall Mottola and to the other the Cardinall Caraffa The Emperour laying aside armes by occasion of this truce with hope that it in the end would ingender a good peace was resolued wholly to renounce all the affayres and pompes of this world insomuch that according to this resolution whilest he was at Gaunt he dispatched certaine Lords to the Electors of the Empire and to Ferdinand his brother by whom he declared to them his determination sending by them to Ferdinand the Crowne Scepter and the other Emperiall ornaments By these he writ to the Cardinall of Mentz an Elector the letter which followeth My Lord Cardinall seeing it hath pleased God to shew me so much grace at the end of my daies as to graunt me rest by the truce which I haue made with the King of France the fruite whereof I hope for a good peace betweene the subiects both of the one part and other I am resolute to end the remainder of my yeeres with a life more sweete and fuller of tranquilitie by meane of which I may applie my self to the contemplation of diuine things from which to my great sorrow I haue been more distracted then I would haue bin by the affayres which I haue had vpon me euen from my youth in so great abundance that if diuine clemencie had not assisted and comforted me I know it had been impossible for me to vnfold my selfe therefrom The acknowledgement which I haue thereof besides other benefits receiued frōaboue hath more excited me to
know to be necessarie for you whereof I desire you not to feare to aduertise and solicite me In the meane time I recommend my selfe to your good fauour and prayers and humbly desire God to keepe you my Lord Cardinall in long health and happie life From Gaunt the 2. of September 1556. According to the contence of this letter Philip the only sonne of the Emperour came to his father at Scuebourg in Zeland whither from Gaunt he was come to imbark himselfe to sea There the father instructed him how he should gouerne the affayres of his States and how he should carrie himselfe to his subiects and his confederates after he had giuen him his blessing and imbraced him for the last time and dismissed all the Princes Ambassadours Gentlemen and Captaines who were there present his Maiestie the 14. of September a little before the sunne rising went aboord vnto a vessell prepared for him together with the two Queenes Elinor and Mary his sisters and being accompanied with 60. saile directed his course towards Biscay where with a fauourable winde he arriued within few daies hauing before passed the sea sixe other times He disimbarked at Larede a Port of that Prouince and there he was receiued with great honour by the Lords and Spanish gentlemen Some say that as soone as he set foote on land he kneeled downe thanking God for that in these last daies of his life he had shewed him this fauour to conduct him into this countrie which aboue all others he held alwaies most deare and by meanes whereof he was come to that high degree of the Empire attributing to it next to God in a manneral his victories and honours vsing these words As naked I came out of my mothers wombe so naked doe I returne to thee my second mother and in recompence of many merits which thou hast vsed to me I not being able for the present to bestow any other thing on thee I giue thee this my sicke bodie and these my feeble and weake bones After he had vsed these words notwithout shedding some teares he very kindly saluted all those Lords which were come thither to doe him that honour which they owed to him and after being put into his Litter he was conducted to the towne of Valladolid where was the Prince Charles his yong sonne In this towne which next to that of Tolledo is the principall towne of Spaine his Maiestie was resident a while during the which he exhorted this yong Prince to imitate the footsteps of his predecessors and charily to obserue and keepe the Christian and Catholike religion After that he went from thence into the Prouince of Estremadure to a Monestarie of S. Hieromes called the Heremite Friers situated in a very solitarie place and commodious to leade a holy life Hauing in this place giuen leaue to the two Queenes his sisters to depart and sent them backe to Valladolid this great Emperour chused there his last aboade and there ending the rest of his daies with few domestike officers giuing himselfe ouer to continuall contemplation of diuine things and forsaking all the affayres of this world he passed the rest of his time in prayer almes deedes and other charitable workes In the meane time Ferdinand King of the Romanes after he had receiued by the hands of the Prince of Orange the patents of the Emperour by which in his fauour he renounced the dignitie of the Empire the Scepter and Crowne with the Emperiall Mantle he went to the Diet of Franckfort accompanied with the said Prince with George Sigismond Sille Vice-chancellor and Wolfang Haller Secretarie of the Empire about the moneth of March. At this Diet were all the Electors and the ceremonies accustomed in such solemne acts being accomplished his Maiestie with all his Princes went to Aix where he was crowned Emperour notwithstanding the refusall which Pope Paul the 4. made to ratifie this election alleadging that it was not lawfull for that the Heretike Electors as he so called them intermedled therewithall But this no otherwise proceeded not from his Holines but by an occasion of a certaine deuice betweene him the King of France and others altogether against the house of Austria according vnto which the Duke of Albe was euen now come to blowes with the Captaines of his Holines and within a while after followed the breach of the foresaid truce vpon which occasion happened to the French this great losse which they sustained vpon S. Laurence his day in the moneth of August by the towne of Saint Quintins About this time the Grand Seigniour declared to the Queene of Transiluania that he vnderstood that certaine sects were crept into the religion which she held which by no meanes he would she should tolerate if she would remaine in his fauour knowing that such nouelties would bring nothing to her but tumult and losse of her kingdome and to him much trauaile and for this cause he commaunded her vtterly to extirpite them who were authors thereof and in such manner to extinguish them that there should not be any mention of them This command was not without cause For the Heretikes were alreadie nesled in this kingdome and by their preachings had sowed their darnell and withdrawne many from the vniuersall Church and if this commaund had not put them in great feare all the kingdome had been replenished with them But according to the will of the Turke and obeying thereto they were presently banished and chased from thence By which wee may see how much a sudden and readie foresight which is vsed with wisedome in things stirred vp besides and against ancient custome may infinitly profit in general at no hand preiudice in particular If this had been obserued in Germanie when the heresies there budded out this Prouince had not so much bin giuen to troubles as it was with the losse and damage of all Christendome In this same time Charles King of Spaine and not long since Emperour being fallen sicke in the Monestarie of the Hieronimite Friers after he had receiued all the Sacraments of the Church by the hands of the Archbishop of Tolledo named Bartholmew Miranda and not without the teares of those who were there present the 21. of September he yeelded his soule to God putting by his death an end to his great triumphs and victories and leauing this perpetuall memorie of him that of long time before him there was not any Emperour more valiant couragious wise and fortunate then himselfe His bodie was intombed in the towne of Granado in the place where ordinarily are buried all the Kings of Spayne His sonne Philip onely heire of all his kingdomes and seigniories after he vnderstood of his death he made a sumptuous preparation for his funerals in the Church of S. Iula at Bruxels And among other magnificences there was a great Ship which was made to goe through the streetes by art which was round about filled with goodly
for certaine strong places which were in the gouernment of the eldest sonne with euident losse of the yonger for that of three brothers the last being dead the other two which were Iohn Frederic William being accorded now the eldest hauing begun to manage the estate of him that was dead one whole yeere together one after another and gouerned by the space of the limited time would not neuerthelesse yeeld to his brother being moued with the sweetnes of commaund The Elector Palatin was greatly busied to accord them as also was the Elector of Saxonie who had been requested thereunto by the Palatin and to accomplish it they did meete together at Lipsia where the younger brother was present And for that in their allegations there were shewed many difficulties which could not easily be resolued the whole was remitted to the Diet. On the otherside Philip Lantgraue of Hesse excused himselfe that he could not be at this assemblie because of the nuptials of one of his sonnes with the Duke of Wirtembergs daughter This very subiect hindered 13. other Protestant Princes from being there insomuch that for this occasion the beginning of this Diet was proroged They celebrated these nuptials at Maspurg and by reason of the assembly of so many Princes the Emperour was greatly troubled to know what discourse they would vse therein fearing least such a resort would bring some alteration in the affayres of religion which would hinder his proceedings against the Turke That which made his Maiestie most of all to distrust was that euery one knew wel enough that all these Princes had done their best endeuour to reduce the Count Palatin who leauing the Confession of Ausbourg had taken the religion of Geneua not preuailing any thing with him thereby These Princes were Philip Lantgraue of Hesse with William and Lewis his children Philip Duke of Hulst Hernest Duke of Brunswick Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg father of the married and two of his children and two of the Count Palatin Wolfang Palatin Duke of Bipont with his sonne and Iohn George sonne of the Marquesse of Brandeburg who for the indisposition and sicknes of his father returned presently to him These affayres held the Emperours minde in great suspence in vaine expecting these Princes at Ausbourg hauing none with him but the Empresse the Duke of Bauier with the Dutches and Ferdinand her sonne and so much the more did it torment him for that he daily heard the bruites to increase of Solymans preparation and also he had certaine notice that the Transiluanian leauied men in such sort that he was out of all doubt but that the next yeere he should haue all the warre vpon his shoulders The Princes of Germanie vnderstanding this newes and seeing they could not be at the Diet so soone as their dutie required sent their Deligates to the Emperour with entire authoritie to negotiate in their name vntill they could finde the meanes to come themselues in person to the Diet. But the Emperour would not begin any thing desiring the presence of their persons in such important affayres For this cause he often sent to them messenger vpon messenger They negotiated at the same time with his Maiestie an alliance with the King of France and for the prosecuting of this there came to the Court the Bishop of Remes who hauing left there his Agent and Secretarie he returned into France with determination to returne very quickly As the Emperour searched all the meanes to defend himselfe from the enemie Sigismond King of Polonia on the other side endeuoured to make an accord betweene him and King Iohn his nephew But this good worke was disswaded and drawne backe to the great damage of Christendome this Prince being constrained to employ all his thoughts for the defence of his countrie against the Duke of Muscouia who notwithstanding the peace made betweene them had taken away a part of Liuonia The Bohemians and Hungars in the meane while by their King solicited the Emperour offering to ayde him in this warre according to the necessitie and their abilities As much also did the Kings of Denmarke and Sweden promise him who had referred all their differences into his hands By these practises his Maiestie alwaies dispatched something tending to the end of his intention expecting the execution of this Diet which he desired to be confirmed by the presence of all the Orders and States of the Empire for which neuerthelesse there was not any thing done of a long time during which Shrofetide was come Many Lords of the Court to make it appeare that they were not amazed for the newes which ranne of the Turks menaces forgot not to solemnize this day after the accustomed manner with mummeries and pleasant sports In the end the Lords began to set forward to the Diet and the first that came thither was the Marquesse of Brandebourg but he againe falling sicke by the way was constrained to returne and sent thither his sonne George and his nephewes with 300. horse with commission not to stirre from the Court vntill some new commandement There also arriued the Elector of Mentz whom the Emperour went to meet halfe a mile out of the towne and very curteously accompanied him euen to his lodging At the same time came thither Cardinall Commendon he being come thither in post sent from the Pope but in the state of a priuate man at the first vntill such time as within a while after there came thither Iohn Andrew Calligny his Auditor with the Crosse and authoritie of Legate This man was very well receiued and entertained by the Emperour there being no other in the Popes name of such qualitie although two other Cardinals were there present to wit he of Ausbourg and he of Altemps who were there as Princes of the Empire In the meane time the Emperour considering the importance of this warre besides the succours which he hoped from the Empire meant also to haue obtained some other of the Pope and to accomplish it he gaue commission therefore to Rumiler his Chamberlaine whom he sent to Rome to congratulate with the Pope who was newly come to the Pontificall dignitie and in like manner to require ayde and succours for the warre of Hungarie The Pope very willingly promised him all fauour assigning him 50000. crownes by yeere and then sending him two payes whereof the last was carried by the Lord of Billy who went towards his Maiestie in the place of a Nuncio During this Lent Maximilian often going to Sermons and Masse according to the example of his predecessors gaue proofe that he was very Catholike Going to these deuotions the Protestants forebore not to accompanie him but at his entrie they retired apart attending vntill Masse was said to conduct him againe in his Palace in which he often feasted them with royall banquets there being assembled the Ecclesiasticall and Secular Princes and being there together they were set euery one at the table
truce concluded betweene them two Amurath seeing himselfe to be greatly combered with the Persian accorded with Rodolph that of the one and other partie should be deputed sundrie persons to take counsell how they might pacifie those differences which might arise betweene them vpon their frontiers touching the extention of their bounds FINIS A TABLE OF THE NOTABLEST THINGS AND MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS PRESENT HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE A ABraham Basha and his deseignes 56. strangled 57 Absolution of the Pope for Ferdinand and the murtherers of George 240 Accanges aduenturers 45 Accord betweene the Emperour Charles and Duke Mauris of Saxonie 192 Accord betweene Ferdinand and Iohn King of Hungarie 57 Accord betweene Izabella and Ferdidinand 109. 112 Achmeth Basha sent 3000. horse from Buda to take Queene Izabella 122. succoureth Drigall besieged by the Palauicin 218. ioyneth with Mahomet 220. flyeth before Duke Mauris 233. aduertiseth Mustapha of the treason which was prepared against him 266. appeaseth the Turks mutinie for the death of Mustapha 269. confederate with Izabella 273 A valerous act of George Tury 330 memorable acts of the women of Agria during their siege 234. 235. siege of Agria raised 236 Aduice of Leonard Gnomsky for ordering of the battaile 26 Aduice of Radich Bosich for the ordering of the battaile 27 diuerse Aduices for the preseruation of the King in the battaile 26 Aga Captaines of Ianisaries taken by Dersfy 296 Agria fortified by Castalde 96. assieged by Mahomet 225. 232 Agrians resolued to sustaine the siege 233. 235 Aiduchs Hungarian foote 96. 120 Aiduchs defeated by the Turk 183. 199 Aiduchs being druken assaile Lippa and there they are slaine in great number 143 Ainachschen taken by the Turkes 318 An Abbot prognosticating the death of George 168 Albe-grecque a Fortresse anciently called Taurinum 14 Albe-iula a capitall towne of Ortel 13 Albe-iula the seate of Queene Izabella inuested by Frier George 83 Albe-iula fortified by Izabella 99. assieged by George 100. rendered to him 103 Albe-iula yeelded to Izabella 272 Alberegalis the place of Coronation and buriall of the Kings of Hungarie 12 fortie Burgesses of Albe-regalis spitted by the Turks 296 Albert Lasky wherefore he fled out of Polonia 284. and also chased by Ferdinand ibid. Albert Lasky Palatin chose rather to abandon his countrie then to consent to the election of Battor King of Polonia 352 Albert Rosemberg a seditious man 305 Aldene master of the Campe succoureth Ottomiall at Zegedin 179. is therfore reproued by Castalde 180. saueth himselfe by great flight 184. not carefull and of great cowardlines 195. 196. he determineth to forsake Lippa and to burne it with the Castle 208 could not be diuerted from his enterprise by any perswasion 209. 210. 211. forsaketh Lippa and burneth it with the Castle and munition 212. flying into Transiluania the most part of his people are defeated by the peasants 212 his processe made against him 232. 252. lead to Vienna 259. condemned to death and after by fauour saued 260 Alexis Thurzon Treasurer 9 A marueilous act of Alphonse Perez 206 Alteburg taken by the Turks 45 Aly Chiauss sent by Solyman to pacifie the Transalpinians 237. he trauaileth the peace of the Hung. with the Turk 245 Ambassadours of France continuing in Polonia the election of Henry Duke of Aniou 344 Ambassadour of Maximilian wherefore he was staied at Constantinople 355 Ambassadour of Polonia to Henry the 3. returning into France 350 Ambassadours of Maximilian to Selim 339 Ambassadours of Maximilian to the Sophy massacred by Battor 353 Ambassadours of Ferdinand to Solyman for peace 72. excluded from their demaund 73 Ambassadours of France at the Diet at Ausbourg 281 Ambassadours of Lewis to Christian Princes 10 Ambassadour of Maximilian to the Turke 296 Ambassadour of the Turkes kept secretly at Wyuar by George taken by Castalde 170 Ambassadours of Sigismond to Maximilian and Iohn 287 Ambassadour of Solyman sent to the Diet at Franckfort 294 Ambassadours ought not to be detained in place of prisoners taken in war 295 Ambassadours to Maximilian in fauour of Iohn 287 Ambust Otting a Colonell slaine at the assault of Vienna 49 Amitie containeth in it all vertues 6 Amurath sonne and successor of Selim. 351. soliciteth the Polonians to choose Stephen Battor for their King 351. caused to bee staied at Constantinople Maximilians Ambassadour and wherefore 255. confirmeth the truce with Rodolph 356 Andrew Battor leadeth forces to Lewis 16. ioyneth with Castalde against Izabella 98 Andrew Battor and Peter Vichy parley together 112 Andrew Battor entereth into possession of the low countries of Transiluania for Ferdinand 120. forsaketh Lippa in great confusion 130. is created Vayuode of Transiluania 187. demaundeth to be discharged of the estate of Vayuodship 252. is defeated by the Turke 257 Andrew Branday sent by Ferdinand to Castalde with succours 128 Andrew Orbancz Captaine of the Castle of Strigonium and his cowardlines 32 Andrionopolis the Rende-vous of the Turkish armie going into Hungarie 44 Anthonie Baron of Bourg Nuncio from the Pope to Lewis 11 Armie of Ferdinands in Hungarie 62. defeated by Solyman 59 Armie of Mahomet Basha in Hungarie 196 Armie of Mustapha in Transiluania 65 Armie of Pollacques for Izabella 258 Armie of Hungars ranged in battaile 26 Armie of the Turkes in Hungarie for the succour of Q. Izabella 44. 62. 125. Armie of King Iohn defeated 42 An Nauall armie of the Turkes defeated vpon Danubius 47 An Nauall armie vpon Danubius for the Emperour 321 Armies of Lewis and Solyman 26 Artillerie arriued at thè Hungarian Campe. 25 Artillerie of Roccandolph lost 65 Artillerie of the Turkes choked by the Agrians 235 Artillerie of the Turkes sunke in Danubius 47 Artillerie of the Hungars taken by the Turks 33 Artillerie carried from Buda to Constantinople 38 Artillerie of the armie and the carriage thereof 92 Artillerie lost at Sighet in number 100. peeces 329 Asapes Turkish archers 46 A generall assault giuen to Vienna 49 Assaults of the Germanes at Buda valiantly withstood 60 Assaults giuen to Vienna by the Turk 48 Assiria chaunged the Estate by the great Coniunction of the starres 4 Atauiar taken by Iohn 286 Ausbourg a rich towne 369 Austrians demaunded the exercise of the Confession of Ausbourg 336. which is denied them ibid. B BAchie the Metropolitane towne of Hungarie 14 Baiazet sonne of Solyman and Rossa 262 Baiazet suspected of Solyman his father 284 Balator a Lake 12 Bullets anointed with fat cause death 293 Balthasar Taish a Germane Lord put in chaines with other slaues by the Turk 74 Ban what dignitie it is in Hungarie 8 Ban of Croatia brought succours to King Lewis 25 Banmonostia the Episcopall seate of Sirmia 14 Barons of Hungarie and their priuiledge 18 Barons dead in the battaile against the Turke 33 Bartholmew Coruatte dismissed by Castalde from his gouernment 253 Basha of Buda in succour of Izabella 83. retireth from George 86. he succoureth Zegedin 181. 182 Bashaes practised by Lasky in fauour of King Iohn 43 Battaile resolued and
and knee betweene both hindered that the groome could not shut it The Marquesse keeping himselfe firmely there the Secretarie in the meane time approached Frier George who was in his shirt and night-gowne he vsing no other circumstances to apparell him but onely came presently out of his bed and leaning then on the table vpon which he had a little Clocke a Breuiarie and a booke of his notes with an Inkehorne by The Secretarie told him that the Marquesse Sforce was to goe to the Court of Ferdinand and before his departure he was come to kisse his hands and would know his pleasure if he would commaund him any seruice that being said he put into his hands the letters and patents aforesaid to seale them After that the Frier had perused them and taking penne and inke to subscribe his name the Secretarie not omitting any time with a poynard which secretly he had he gaue him a stab betweene the throate and the breast but not so deepe that it was mortall The Frier being greatly amazed herewith and comming to himselfe againe and saying Virgo Maria he pulled the dagger out of his breast and for that he was a man of great strength and of a bolde resolution he made the Secretarie retire to the end of the table The Marquesse being very attentiue hearing this bruite entered presently into the chamber and laying hand vpon his sword gaue him so great a blow vpon the head that he cleaued it Whereupon all the rest entering with Captaine Lopez discharged their Harquebuzes vpon him which the Frier seeing said no other thing but these words in Latin What meaneth this my friends and saying Iesus Maria he fell dead to the ground Behold now the end of the proudest and insolentest man in the world and the greatest and closest Tyrant that euer liued God permitting that he should in that very place end his daies which he had caused to be built vpon the foundations of an ancient Church and Monestarie of religious persons which for that occasion he caused to be defaced and pulled down for the ruine whereof his death was foretold vnto him by the Abbot of that place And neither could his authoritie wisedome nor great wealth protect him from the action of so miserable an end whereinto his daies being almost come to a period he suddenly fell The bruite ranne that this death inflicted on him was rather by the enuie and malice of those who hated him then by any act which he was culpable in for that the defence which he vndertooke for Olimans protection and safetie tended to no other end as was afterward perceiued and as wee shall hereafter more at large treate of but that by such curtesie vsed to Oliman and his people he might pacifie the Turkes furie and cause them to abstaine from further oppression of Transiluania and suffer euery one to liue peaceably This wee are sure on that all those which were actors of his death in time fell into great misfortunes The Marquesse Sforce within a while after was ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by the Turkes who inflicted great torments vpon him Captaine Monin was beheaded at S. Germanes in Piemont Marc Anthonie Ferraro in anno 1557. was also beheaded in Alexandria by the Cardinall of Trent his commaund Another was quartered by the Frenchmen in Prouence Cheualier Campeggio in anno 1562. was in the presence of the Emperour Ferdinand mortally wounded with a Bore in Bohemia And the conclusion was that in the end Transiluania remained not long vnder the obeysance of his Maiestie but returned vnder the gouernment of yong King Iohn so that the death of Frier George was more offensiue and preiudicial to the Christians then profitable as we will hereafter in his due place mention Returning then to the pursuite of our historie whilest these were busied about their execution Castalde was walking vpon the Castle wall to giue colour to their proceedings and there to expect the issue of this bloodie enterprise Being now assured that the Frier was dead he presently came downe and went to the Castle gate where suddenly with his souldiours which were entered into it and other gentlemen which he had with him he caused all the Aiduchs who then were appointed for the guard of it to goe foorth who hearing the bruite which was within and seeing the Spanyards in battaile without and that the Frier their Lord was dead they so suddenly were amazed that without betaking themselues to armes they most willingly fled and departing in this manner aduertised the Friers guards who were at the bridge on the other side of the Castle of what had happened This exploite being now finished Castalde doubting that many of the Friers friends would depart whereupon he presently went forth to finde Francis Chendy Ference who was alreadie in his Coach to bee gone and taking him by the hand he desired him to stay And surely if hee had not then at that instant staied him he would haue fallen into a great daunger for that he was one of the greatest friends Frier George had and hee was of that might within the Realme as he could stirre them vp against the souldiours of Ferdinand to be reuenged of the Friers death Hee hauing thus staied him brought him to the place where the Spanyards and Germanes were among whom he placed him to see what would become of this tumult that the gentlemen and seruants of the Friers would make and specially his guard who mounted all on horsebacke and gathered together in the field hauing for their Captaine Paul Bancchy who at the siege of Lippa was the Friers Lieutenant They being thus all ranged in battaile in a plaine began among themselues to deliberate what was best to bee done and being acertained of the Friers death made no other semblance against Castalde doubting they could not make their partie good in respect he had an infinit companie of men with him and that this murther was not done without great intelligence for which cause esteeming they could not greatly preuaile but rather receiue more losse and damage they resolued for the present to obscure this reuenge in silence and reserue the chastisement thereof vntill a more conuenienter time And so this assemblie was discomfited euery man taking his neerest and safest way leauing their masters dead bodie to bee a pray and spoyle and vnburied It remained there many daies aboue ground all naked and without light there being not any who respected to couer or burie him being so stiffe with cold that he seemed as a man made out of Marble hauing in the head breast and armes many wounds vpon which was yet remaining the blood all frozen which to say truly was an obiect worthie of compassion and on the other side it was very execrable and enormious to see so great a personage so vily left without buriall by those who God knoweth for what cause had practised his death In the end by some of his