leaue to their posteritie some faire and large memoriall within the which they may with more facilitie and pleasure behold the good which accompanied vertue and the euill which vice bringeth with it Now following in this their footsteps for the reasons which I haue before alleadged I doe with an intyre deuotion present to the Common-weale this lamentable historie collected out of the records of Broderic the Chauncellor of Hungarie and out of the memorials of Castalde Lieutenant vnto Ferdinand in the same countrie and of sundrie other writers LEwis the second of that name King of Hungarie and Bohemia the sonne of Vladislaus and of Anne of Candale who came out of France after he had lost his father in his noneage and his mother at his birth was now one and twentie yeares of age in the yeare of our Lord 1526. when Soliman Emperour of the Turkes inuaded Hungarie with a great and puisant armie He a little before his father dyed was betrothed to Marie sister to the Emperour Charles and Ferdinand Archduke of Austria whom he afterward maried being come to yeares of discretion giuing at the same time his sister Anne in mariage to Ferdinand Lewis was a comely young Prince tall and well formed excelling any of his age hauing a singular and naturall bountie and adorned with so many goodly vertues that certainely he had proued a most excellent Prince if he had liued but a longer time He was of a sweete and milde spirite not any thing crooked or wayward easilie drawne to all things which were honest and iust being thereto naturally inclined of himselfe He was greatly delighted in managing of Horses and to beare armes to hunt and all other exercises worthie and commendable in a young man In his words he was true and iust and no way variable or inconstant neither would he disclose any thing which had been imparted to him in secret Notwithstanding all these goodly vertues he was in contempt and dislike among the greatest of his court who abusing his young yeares did pill and spoyle his estate whilest they liued in all excessiue lust and pleasure At that time the dignitie and honour of Counte Palatine which is the chiefe among the seculars next to his royall Maiestie was in the possession of Stephen Battor sonne of Andrew Battor and nephew to Stephen Battor who immediately before him possessed the same dignitie and gouerned Transiluania with his great honour vnder King Mathias Iohn Zapoly Counte of Sepusa who afterward was King of Hungarie gouerned then Transiluania hauing in his possession great store of wealth to be diuided with his brother George which they had gotten by the death and succession of Stephen their father He had in such sort procured the fauour and good will of all the Nobles and States of that countrie that euen from his youth euery one set their eye vpon him as the right inheritour of that kingdome if it so happened that for want of lawfull heyres it should be vacant Stephen commaunded in great Walachia which is named Moldauia and among the Turkes Carabogdania and Raoul gouerned the lesse Walachia otherwise named Transalpina both the one and the other neuerthelesse being subiect to the kingdome of Hungarie Francis Bathian well esteemed of the King in respect of his continuall and faithfull seruice from his youth was Ban of Dalmatia Croatia and Slauonia which three Prouinces were altogether gouerned by this onely dignitie which dignitie we otherwise tearme Admiraltie although now this word Ban may properly be applied to all gouernours established in euery Prouince that is of late added to this kingdome The low Marches and the fortresse of Themeshwar were vnder the defence and gouernement of Peter Peren who with the Counte of Sepusa did keepe the royall Crowne which was left vnto him by Emeric Peren his father Paul Tomoree a gray Friar and Archbishop of Colocense commaunded Sirmia and all that circuite which is betweene the riuers of Sauus Drauus and Danubius This Archbishop was a great personage and of like esteeme and one who before he tooke vpon him the habite of Saint Frauncis had made sufficient proofe of his vertue in many exploits valiantly many times fighting against the enemie The Archbishopricke of Colocense being vacant and the possessions and profits thereof hauing no lesse neede of a good defender then of a Pastor and dispenser of sacred and holy things for the late losse of the towne and fortresse of Belgrade in a publike assemblie of the kingdome it was by euery one importuned that Tomoree should be forced if he would not otherwise out of his Monasterie and by the authoritie and commaunde of the Pope should take the charge of this Church and defend the goods and reuenewes thereof This man resisted along time their perswasions but in the end he was constrained to obey the Kings pleasure with the rest of the kingdome and he behaued himselfe so wisely and valiantly in this charge in euery mans iudgement yea euen of those which hated him as excellent vertue is neuer without enuie that he forgat nothing which appertained to a good and aduised Chiefetaine and executed no more then was seeming the pietie of a religious man and a godly Bishop not any thing changing from the austeritie of his first life neither in person nor in any other thing Counte Christopher of Francapine being certaine moneths before drawne to the seruice of the Realme with faire promises whereupon they had caused him to forsake the Courte of the Archduke Ferdinand in steede of receiuing some preferment according to their promises in the ende was rewarded with a great iniurie and returned againe vnto Ferdinand Stephen Broderic borne in that part of high Panonia which some particularly call Slauonia after he had been Embassadour for the King to the Popes holines and had a few moneths before been created Chauncelor had more affection to a zealous life then to earthly things Alexis Thurson a man greatly abounding in wealth according to common opinion was Treasurer and had in former time executed this office very diligently The Castles of Poson and Buda were in the custodie of Iohn Bornemissa who had so great authoritie with the King that he could incline his will to which side he would because he had the gouernement of him from his cradle He was also very well esteemed of euery one as well for his reuerend olde age as for the seueritie which was seene in him accompanied with great bountie and for the fidelitie which he bare towards his King Beholde here these were they who then managed the greatest places of the kingdome The other Prelates and Barons gaue themselues euery one to their priuate affaires except Lasdilas Salcane Archbishop of Strigonium Metropolitane of the kingdome and great Chaunceler who whether he was not able to execute that office any longer or whether he had a desire to passe the remainder
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
he was to fight against all their armie and as for the rest he needed not to doubt of victorie At this his speeches the King incontinently commanded to sound the alarme and presently all the Trumpets Clarions and Drummes made a marueilous and terrifying noise and al the souldiours following their accustomed manner inuocating the name of Iesus made a confused noise of crying and at the same instant one might perceiue the enemies to descend the hill which was opposite against the Hungars seeming by their rankes an infinite number among whom was Soliman himselfe Then they gaue the King his head-peece who vpon the receipt thereof looked very pale as a presaging of euill fortune at hand And then the signall to fight was giuen to those who were in front who very couragiously charged the enemie and all their artillerie was also made readie and discharged But this first incounter was not greatly offensiue to the enemies neuerthelesse there was more slaine of them then of the Hungars in so much that they were forced to retire being so hardly pressed by the Christians whether it was by the force and courage of the Hungars or the subtiltie of the enemie endeuouring by that meanes to draw them on to the mouth of their Cannon that I know not Then presently Andrew Battor hasted to the King declaring to him that the Turkes had turned their backes that the victorie was now in him that he should not doubt but set forward and that it was needfull presently to second his men who were in chase of the enemie that fled Whereupon the King aduaunced forward in hap hazard but when they came to the place where the first charge was giuen there might you haue seene many bodies of the Hungars dispersed ouer all the field some maimed others halfe aliue yet breathing In the meane while those of the Vandgard pursuing the enemie and valiantly fighting the battaile of the Hungars approached to them with as much speede as armed men could make the left wing began to bend and many quitted themselues and fled being feared which I well beleeue with the enemies Cannon which then began to play among them This did not a little astonish the battaile whilest those who were in it did heare the continuall and horrible whistling of the bullets which passed through their rankes and ouer their heads and then the King was seene no more in the ranke where he was whether it was for that he passed beyond the first rankes which were before him as wee haue noted and as was before determined vpon to the end that he should not bee too much knowne remaining in the same place or whether that he was forced from the daunger by those who were behinde him for both the one and the other might well bee Some said that hauing gone beyond the rankes which were neere him he thrust himselfe into the front of the battaile where hee valiantly fought with the enemie but neither dare I affirme it nor altogether denie it For my part I know this for trueth that he was not found in that place neither in the ranke wherein he was at the beginning after the Cannon of the enemie began to play and when those of the left wing of the Vandgard were seene to flye At the same instant was missing the Archbishop of Strigonium who was side by side by the King and also certaine others who were by his Maiestie I will not impose this fault of the losse of our King vpon those to whom he was committed in custodie nor to those which may be carried him by force or ill hap out of the battile but euen to the hard fortune of the Hungars to the end that together with the losse of their King they might not onely suffer that which they endured of a stranger but also endure the infinite euill which they afterward felt by their factious and domesticall dissentions for the election of a new King in place of him whom they had lost their sinnes no doubt being more worthie of a greater scourge and punishment For wee know that both the one and the other who had the charge to respect the Kings safetie were most faithfull vnto his Maiestie and very desirous to preserue his life And concerning those three who ought to haue had a watchfull eye vpon him it is most certaine they could not returne from the enemie against whom they had been sent before our armie was put to flight yea one of them was taken and suddenly deliuered That which causeth mee to discourse more particularly of this action is through the vehemencie of griefe which I haue by reason of a certaine man who in a praier which he set forth was not afeard falsely to call the Hungars the forsakers of their King But should one esteeme those to haue forsaken and abandoned their King who shewed vnto him all the duties that good and faithfull subiects owe vnto their Prince and who also were well neere all slaine in that field wherein his Maiestie was found dead who also by their death declared how true and faithfull they were to their King what great loue they beare to their countrie But this goodly Oratour who hath couched this in writing and who so greatly iniurieth this nation doth besides so largely write such a discourse of this ouerthrow that I am ashamed of him so impudently dareth he diuulge to the worlds view the historie of a thing which was altogether vnknowne to him But to our purpose The battaile of the Hungars being greatly troubled by this inconuenience as wee haue said and shaken in such manner that it altogether tended to a flight neuerthelesse they fought a long time not in that large plaine but euen before the Cannons mouth of the enemie which was but ten paces from them so that the Hungars as well for the feare which they had thereof as for the smoake which darkened them were forced for the most part to descend into a valley adioyning to those aforesaid marishes the rest notwithstanding continued still fighting before the Cannon In the end those who were retired into this valley being returned againe to the fight and seeing there was no meanes to support the violence of the artillerie and the smoake which still thickened one part of the armie being alreadie put to flight they also were forced to turne their backes Euery man then as his commoditie would serue began to flye drawing for the most part towards that place wherein an houre before they had passed in great mirth and brauings and full of hope to obtaine the victorie trauersing their Camp which was now alreadie sacked and rased by the enemies wherein there was nothing remaining but onely their footsteps and dead bodies The Turkes seeing the flight of the Hungars thinking it to bee but some stratagem or else feeling themselues wearie of the fight continued a long time at a stay in so much that they did not pursue them in respect
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
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
he of Vilne Kioky Samogithia Trocense Vitiliense Polocense and he of Nouograde The Palatins haue many Prouinces vnder them and euery Prouince sendeth thither two messengers The Chauncellor Vicechauncellor Treasurer of the kingdome and he of the Court haue in this assemblie places in the first rank All that which is resolued vpon in this Diet by the greatest part of those that are there is held firme and stable And if therein be treated any matter which belongeth not to the election of a new King it may be resolued in this assemblie although it bee against the Kings will And from thence it commeth that the Kings are lesse warlike in action then in courage because that they cannot vndertake any warre if it bee not graunted to them by such assemblies This Diet whereof we now write for the election of a new King was appointed at Varsouia To it were come many Ambassadours from the greatest Princes of Europe some requesting and suing for their Masters and others soliciting in the behalfe of those whom they would recommend From Charles the King of France there was first come thither the Lord of Lansac well vnderstanding the Slauonian tongue and greatly experienced in these Northerly countries and after there came thither the Bishop of Valence of the house of Monluc a good Oratour as also the Lord of Rambouillet These men by reason of their goodly speech and fayre promises setting out also the great reputation that the Duke of Aniou brother to Charles had alreadie gotten through all the world by the great armies which alreadie he had conducted in those yong yeeres wherein he was did so well that he for whom they spake was chosen King of Poland and the election published presently there was dispatched a Lord of Poland to the said Duke of Aniou who then as Lieutenant generall for King Charles held the towne of Rochell besieged This Prince hauing receiued this gracious newes which tended nothing else but to the encrease of his glorie because he saw that it was extended to the vttermost parts of the world as well by the proper nature thereof which is to flie with renowne from one Region to another by passing the seas as also by reason of so many Northerly Princes against whom contrarie to all mens opinions he carried away the credit and honor to be reputed the most valiant and warlike Prince of all considering that this siege by reason of the strength of the towne and valiantnes of the souldiours who were within was to continue so long a time that it might bring some preiudice to his new estate and also being pricked forward by this Polish Lord who was come to him who had been thereto solicited by them that fauoured the assieged his Highnes praied the King his brother that he would giue him leaue and dismisse his armie after he had made some accord with the Rochellers to the end to aduise vpon his particular affayres and to hasten his voyage into Poland He being come to Paris and by the perswasion of the King hauing accepted this election and sworne betweene the hands of the Ambassadours who were alreadie arriued in this towne appointed by the generall assemblie of the kingdome of Poland to keepe and obserue the conditions with which he had been chosen and the lawes of the kingdome without preiudicing neuerthelesse his successiue right to the Crowne of France if it should so fall out after he had amassed great store of money to the summe of two millions as well to content those who had chosen him as to make his voyage he departed from the Court accompanied with the Queene his mother and with many other Princes and Lords of France whereof some and the greatest part accompanied him vnto Polonia Passing through the countrie of the Count Palatin he there receiued some discourtesie by this Lord in shewing him the picture of the deceased Admirall of France called Coligny otherwise Chastillon slaine with many other Lords of the pretended reformed religion in the towne of Paris the 24. of August the last precedent yeere the which Admirall was alwaies assisted by men of warre and counsell sent by the said Lord to the warres which for the space of tenne or twelue yeeres were maintained in France for Religion As this man thought to braue this Prince on the other side the Duke of Saxonie was astonished at the comming of this new King passing through his countrie seeing neere him the Polonians in armes In the end Henry at the beginning of the yeere entered into his kingdome he being receiued thereinto with great applause and after hauing againe sworne the obseruance of the countrie lawes he receiued the tokens and royall Ensignes according to the ancient custome Almost about the same time yet a little before Stephen otherwise called Iohn sonne of Iohn the Vayuode and King of Transiluania departed this world without any lawfull issue By reason of this decease there began to breake forth new troubles in Transiluania because that the Turke procured that this Prouince which was commodious to him for the passage into Hungarie should maintaine it selfe in league with him and vnder the same confederacie which was betweene him and Iohn On the other side Maximilian aspired to this kingdome as well by the right and inheritance of his deceased mother who had succeeded King Lewis her brother as also by reason of Stephens will and testament who at his death had named him his heire and ordained that this kingdome should bee yeelded to him pricked thereto perhaps by remorse of conscience or else fearing that it should fall into the Turkes hands who made to him great suite therefore which could not happen but to the great damage of all Christendome But the Barons of the countrie did not so presently resolue vpon that which they should haue done because that on the one side they seared the Turkes forces who would not faile to endamage them if they should giue themselues to the Emperour On the other side they feared worse if they should elect a King at his deuotion Vpon such feares many moneths passed without any resolution Certaine men of note fearing the iust anger of the Emperour against them because during the life of King Iohn they banded against his Emperiall Maiestie in manner of hostilitie firmely resisted those who fauoured Maximilians part and who demaunded that the testament of the dead should bee put in execution These feares engendred amongst them great diuersitie which was an occasion long to delay their last resolution But within a few moneths after it was finally concluded amongst them that they should particularly chuse a King of their nation minding thereby to preserue their kingdome and that they might remaine in peace with the Turke they would pay him the accustomed tribute and that he who should be chosen King should maintaine himselfe in peace with the Emperour they all iudging thereby that the Turke would haue occasion to content
would not persist in this election vsing for their excuse the long delay which Maximilian made Thus the Bishop of Cracouia many Polish and Lituanian Lords fearing the Turke and other Princes their neighbours made choise of Stephen Battor for their King hoping by this election to appease the Turke the Muscouite and other Princes who hated the greatnes of the Austrian house and on the other side this Battor was a Prince of great valour To this new election Albert Lasky Palatin would neuer consent nor performe the homage which he ought to this new King and chusing rather to abandon his countrie and goods he retired out of the kingdome with all those who fauoured the Emperiall partie Now Battor knowing that he was chosen went from thence presently into to Polonia and after he was crowned he sent into diuers Prouinces to notifie his election and namely to the Emperour Maximilian sending him word that if in former time he had been to him a friend and fauoured his actions that for the time to come he would yet honour him more and that he would respect him both as a friend and Emperour and that he should not take displeasure that this Crowne was fallen into his hands who had beene alwaies fauourable vnto him desiring that since through the dissentions of the Barons and Electors of Poland and by some wicked solicitations of some Princes who enuied the greatnes of the house of Austria and who by diuers meanes had hindered his election he would bee contented that this kingdome was come to such a person as reuerenced his Maiestie and greatly loued him and specially considering that this last election would bee the cause to quench many troubles which might be an occasion to ouerthrow the Estate of that kingdome Maximilian for all these goodly reasons and kinde offers would not be appeased but entering into choller made sufficient apparance that this election greatly displeased him adding that he would make the Polonians repent it Vpon this displeasure the Muscouit and Denmarke being ioyned together with certaine of the Emperours forces greatly endamaged by sea the riuers of Liuonia and hauing set foote on land at Plescouia ranne very farre into the countrie Battor notwithstanding being receiued and crowned King of Poland caused to be published a Decree by which he permitted all those who were retired forth of the kingdome for fauouring the Emperours part to returne home to the same Estates dignities and prerogatiues which before they had and if in case they would not returne and sweare such oth of fealtie to him as they ought they should be proclaimed rebels to his Maiestie and enemies to the Crowne In this time of the election of Battor the Emperour appointed a Diet at Ratisbone to aduise of meanes by which they might hinder that his people should not be thus daily exposed to the mercie of the common enemie who continually molested Hungarie Afterwards his Maiestie demonstrated to the Princes who were present therein and to the Ambassadours of them who were absent that he was chosen King of Polonia and that by that meanes Liuonia and Russia were fallen vnder the Empire and that the Polonians for feare of the Turke had varied in their election and afterwards chosen another whereof he was exceeding heauie further declaring to them that his intention was not to bee silent therein and for this cause desired them to assist him to the end that by meanes thereof he might preserue these two great countries to the Empire And that he might the better obtaine their forces he exhorted them all to maintaine themselues in peace one with another commaunding them that for the time to come they should not any more suffer their subiects to goe and serue straungers in their wars This Diet was transferred to Ausbourg in which he did so much that the ordinarie succours for warre was continued to him The Bohemians offered him besides the ordinarie 1500. horse and the Hungars 300. Pistoliers and 400. Harquebuziers on horsebacke and the Slesians 600. horse 100. Pistoliers and 800. Harquebuziers on horsebacke To these succours offered themselues the King of Denmarke the Duke of Saxonie Pomerania and of Brandeburg And in the end there was concluded a league betweene the Emperour the Kings of Denmarke and Swethland the Duke of Saxonie the Duke of Muscouia and the Dukes of Brandebourg and Pomerania for defence of the Empire and inuading of Polonia all these complaining for the election of Battor who that he might aspire to the Crowne of Poland against them all had presumed so much vnder the protection of the Turke Besides they feared that he in regarde of the bond which he had to Amurath would take armes against the Emperour who not content with this league sent as well in his name as in the name of the King of Spaine his Ambassadours into Persia to excite the Sophy King of Persia to make war vpon the Turke This word King is called in the Persian language Scach and the Turkes surname it Sophy which we commonly thinke to proceede of this Greeke word Sophia which signifieth wisdome which in the Turkish language signifieth wooll And the Turkes vsed this scoffe against Ismael heretofore King of Persia for that he following his opinion or heresie would teach that he must couer his head with wooll because it was more vile and base then linnen whereof the Turkes make their Turbans Battor hauing discouered the voyage of these Ambassadours caused them to be surprised in their iourney and to be massacred and sent to Amurath their letters of credence and instructions by which there were discouered vnto him the diseignes of his enemies which being reported to the Emperour he was greatly displeased thereat and caused the Ambassadours of Battor to be arested and many other Pollacques who then were in Germanie and at Vienna and sent to all the christian Princes to require ayde of them seeing the Protestants of Germanie denied him such ayde as the imminent perill required for that his Maiestie would not condiscend to the demaunds which they made to him for the affayres of Religion In this Diet notwithstanding the reclamation and hinderance of some Electors of the Empire his Maiestie caused to be declared his sonne Rodolph Emperour after him and caused to be imposed vpon him the title of King of the Romans This was then when the Muscouite Ambassadours arriued at the Court to confirme the league made with his Emperiall Maiestie their master being greatly incensed against the Polonians for that he was by them thus disdained These hauing presented to the Emperour many goodly presents offered in their masters name to his Maiestie all his abilitie to subdue Polonia Maximilian accepting these offers thanked the Ambassadours for the good affection of their Prince reseruing power to vse his ayde vntill time should require it Whilest he was in prouiding for all that which concerned the estate of the next warre his Maiestie
of Bosnia and Belgrade confer with Izabella 273 Sangiach of Alberegalis taken and lead to Vienna 330. set at libertie by ransome 338 Sassebesse fortified 127 Sauus a riuer passed by the Turkish Armie 11. 14 Saxons dwelling in the townes of Ortel a Prouince of Hungarie 13 Saxons and Sicilians naturall enemies 85 Saxons dwelling in Transiluania 100 the Saxons and Sicilians of Transiluania sweare fidelitie to Ferdinand 119 Scach a Persian word what it signifieth 353 Sclauonia part of high Pannonia 12 Sclauonia diuided from Hungarie by Drauus ibid. Seate and office of the Electors of the Empire in publike acts 302 Sebessa a riuer 164 Succours came to Lewis vpon the resolution of battaile 25. 26 Succours of Solyman to Queene Izabella 62 Succours from the Pope to Lewis 18 Succours granted to Ferdinand against the Turk 282 Succours come to the Emperour from forraine Princes 320 Secretarie in an Armie and his charge 92 Segnia a capitall towne of Dalmatia subiect to the Hungars 12 Selim by subteltie and industrie depriued his father of his Empire and life 264 Selim put to death the messenger of Mustaphaes death 272. succeedeth Solyman 331. entereth into Constantinople ibid. made his sacrifices and offerings 331. is saluted Emperour 332. leaueth Cheretsken to the reuenge of those whom he had vsed ill 337. maketh peace with Maximilian 341. sent an Armie against the Muscouite ibid. threatneth King Iohn 342. beginneth warre againe with the Hungars 350. dieth 351. his vices described ibid. Senath besieged by Vicchy 80. is succoured 81. yeelded to the Turk 130 Sepulture of Solyman sumptuous 332 Sepulture of Iob place of sacrifices in Constantinople 331 Sforce Palauicin Marquesse Comissarie generall of Ferdinands armie 128. 152. besiegeth Drigall against the coūsel of Castalde 218. is defeated by Achmet ibid. taken valiantly fighting 219 ransomed for 15000. Duckets 220 Sibinium a principall towne of Transiluania 102 Sibinio fortified 121 Sibinio a towne which was friend to Ferdinand and enemie of George 170 Sicilians and their manner of life 13 Sicilians in pay of George 83. doe mutinie ibid. are appeased ibid. Sicilians or Ceculians what nation 100 Sicilians mutiny for the death of George and are appeased by Chendy 171 the Sicilians would restore Iohn into his kingdome 253 Sighet besieged by Solyman 325. taken at the 13. assault 328 Sigismond King of Polonia confederate with the Turk 10. is in disgrace with his mother and Polonians for his wife 273. enterposeth himselfe betweene the accord of Maximilian and Iohn 287. hindered by the Duke of Muscouia to make this peace 301 death of Sigismond King of Polonia 343 Sigismond Lichtstain Ambassadour for Ferdinand to Solyman 72 Signes of great hap and repose 4. and of a great decaying and ruine ibid. Simon Erdeund Bishop of Zagrabia in succour of Iohn 26 Sirmia a large countrie ruined 9 Sirmia diuideth Hungarie from Slauonia 12 firtilitie of Sirmia 14 Souldiours murmure vpon the message of Lewis 21. demaund battaile 24 Souldiours of Ferdinand retired into a Church are cut in peeces to the number of 3000. 65 Solyman Solyman in Hungarie with a puissant armie 7.9 Solymans forces against Lewis 26 Solyman defeateth the Hungars 35. gaue his censure vpon the heads of the dead Bishops 37. sorroweth for the fortune of King Lewis and of the Queene 37. returneth to Constantinople 38. taketh the defence of Iohn 43. denounceth warre to Ferdinand 44. arriueth in Hungarie with an armie ibid. before Vienna 46. reproueth with choller his Captaines 49. raiseth the siege of Vienna 50. sent succours to Queene Izabella against Ferdinand 61. commeth to Andrionoplis in fauour of Q. Izabella 61. marcheth into Hungary 64. arriueth by Buda 68. sent presents to Stephen and to the Hungarian Lords demaunding they would send to him the said Stephen ibid. sent back Stephen to his mother and retaineth the Hungarian Lords 70. holdeth a Councell vpon the prisoners ibid. releaseth them 72. causeth the great Church of Buda to be consecrated and made sacrifice there 71. returneth to Constantinople 74. writ to Frier George in fauour of Izabella 75 Solyman incensed against George declareth him an enemie and traytor 79 Solyman in fauour of the Queene threatneth the Transiluanians 82 Solyman deceitfully answereth to the letters of Q. Izabella writ in fauour of George 91. sent to the Transiluanians to obey George ibid. Solyman prepareth an Armie against Hungarie by the Belerbey of Greece 125 Solyman sent to the Moldauian and Basha of Buda that they should succour Izabella 27 Solyman resolueth to put to death Mustapha his eldest sonne 266. is in great daunger after he had caused his eldest sonne to be strangled 270. hardly besieged by his armie 271. saueth himselfe amongst the mutinous souldiours ibid. aduanceth Mahomet the sonne of Mustapha in recompence of the innocent death of his father 272 Solyman in trouble and doubt by Baiazet his sonne 284. seeketh againe peace with Ferdinand 285. marcheth into Hungarie with a puissant armie in fauour of K. Iohn 319. arriueth there 325. besiegeth Sighet and Iula ibid. dieth 327. is carried to Constantinople 333 Soliman a Hungarian turned Turke is Gouernour of Buda 74 Solimos defended against the Turk 131 Solimos a Fortresse munitioned for two yeeres cowardly forsaken by the Spaniards 216. who are defeated by the Turk 216 Sophy the surname of the King of Persia by scoffe 353 Sopronia a towne 12 Statues of Brasse carried from Buda to Constantinople 38 Stirian souldiours of Ferdinand put in route by K. Iohn 42 Stratagems of the Turks in Hungarie 17 18. 31. 33. 34. 35. 37. 45. 46. 62. 63. 64. ibid. 65. 66. 67. 68. ibid. 69. 70. 71. 125. 127. 128. 131. 132. 137. 160. 181. 183. 184. 199. ibid. 181. 183. 184 299. ibid. 206. 207. ibid. 214. 216. 218. 219. 220. 224. 225. 233. 234. 289 290. 293. 295. 296. 318. 326. 327. ibid. 328. 329. 330. 334. 335. 249. Stridon the place where S. Hierome was borne 12 Strigonium the Metropolitane citie in Hungarie ibid. Strigonium a rich Archbishoprick 111 the Swisses sent to the Diet of Ausbourg 306 the Starres haue their returne more soone or late the one then the other 2 the great coniunction of Starres happened in these times 3 Subteltie against the conductors of Artillerie 290 Spoyle made in Hungarie by the Turk 34 45. 46 a merrie and earnest Speech of Francis Peren. 25 Skirmishes before the battaile 26 a Slaue sent by George to Oliman besieged at Lippa taken by Castalde 155 Spaniards mutinie spoyle Hungarie 255 two Spaniards reneged are cause of the taking of Themesuar 203 Spyes taken discouer the Turks deseignes 296 a French Spye in Ferdinands armie aduertiseth the Turk of the Transiluanian affayres 112. saueth himselfe by meanes of Vicchy 113 the immortall Spirit not subiect to stars 4 the State of Germanie touching the Diets 397. 398 the three States of Hungarie corrupted 3 a State come to his full perfection presently declineth 4 Stephen the sonne of Iohn King of Hungarie named Iohn by the Turks
remaine sound and perfect and be as a mirrour to those who know not themselues and who being attained with a spirituall leaprousie haue no more feeling in them then as if they had vtterly lost all their vnderstanding not regarding as vnpitifull the teares and sighings of the poore afflicted happened through their occasion not being able to taste the delicate fruites which sage and wise councell bringeth with it not being able to sent the infection and stinke which proceedeth from the imbecillitie of their corrupted braine not being able by their touching to taste what is the blood which themselues drawe from the bottome and deepest of their vaines neither see they the extreame miserie wherein they are plunged drawing with them thereinto the soundest part of their bodies To these doe I present this mirrour that looking into it they may the better know what is their present estate and if they could see as they may if they will their grosse deformities and great defects they ought without doubt to beleeue that they are the same persons which haue made themselues such by the corruption and grossenes of their humors giuing themselues ouer to their desires through a contempt of the Deitie by a priuate ambition and auarice When as therefore you shall see in this Historie the diuision of a people fleshed one against another for soueraigne and regall dignitie when for this effect you shall reade herein of Townes and Castles forced the inhabitants spoyled of their goods and liues the wiues at the mercie of the souldiour the maydes violated many fayre buildings burnt the subiects rebelling against their Lords Peasants against Peasants you would asluredly thinke they are acts committed in a Countrie farre remote But it is you who amongst your selues and vpon your selues haue committed the like enormities when for the like effect you shall finde it strange that these miserable and infortunate people hauing called in amongst them their old and auncient enemies vnder colour for them to be reuenged one of another and which is yet more bestiall submitted themselues both of the one part and on the other to a stranger I know not then what sound iudgement or good opinion you can conceiue of your selues being attainted and notoriously conuinced of the selfe same fault when you shall note the great ruines and desolations of so goodly rich a Countrie you may well perceiue euen at this present yours reduced into the like estate and if the calamitie be not in all poynts answerable yet thinke that you touch it with the very tip of your finger except the acknowledement which you may haue of your selues preserue you not and diuertit from you In examination of your selues you shall finde your selues all kinsmen there being neither race or linage amongst you which is not allyed one to another except it be some stranger newly come in you shall finde your selues all of one nation you shall finde your selues all subiects of one Lord and Prince and you seeing your selues to be all of kindred allied of the same nation and vnder one gouernment and being able to obserue these conditions in your selues you shall certainly iudge that you are culpable of all the disorder which at this present is seene amongst you and that the fault happened not but from your selues without imposing it vpon a stranger who by your losse seeketh his owne aduauncement maintaining his triumphs with heaps of your ruines which serue him for many solemnities This fault once acknowledged you shall imbrace your selues euen one another as kinsmen you shall frequent one another louingly as true countrimen and you shall make your selues wholy obedient to your Prince by a mutuall and friendly agreement remitting all controuersies that may spring amongst your selues to those who are admitted to execute Iustice propounding to your selues the similitude which sometimes Menewnius Agrippa a Romane alleaged to his Citizens who were infected with the same maladie that you your selues are he comparing a common wealth to a humaine bodie which being composed of many members hath neede for the better subsistance of it that all with one accord doe accomplish their naturall functions the one for the other thy a mutuall and reciprocall dutie euen as in our necessitie we doe naturally practise the same euery one by himselfe If the head doth ake and is ill we presently applie to it both our hands to comfort it againe and it receiueth some ease thereby by meanes of the feete it is carried here and there that it may the better diuert the griefe we cherish it because the losse of it doth ouerthrow all the rost and we are not so ill aduised vpon the distemperature thereof to cut it off from the other parts That which nature doth instruct you for the preseruation of this little bodie you ought to thinke it to be an instruction which it hath prepared for you to walke in the entertainement of your likes who are vnited to you by a mutuall frequentation and such as is necessarie amongst your selues which we name societie and from whence commeth this heape and masse of people which we comprehend vnder the name of a common weale the which all those that are borne in the same ought to maintaine and preserue and not seeke the ruine and spoile thereof as being all members of the bodie of it And concerning the default that herein you commit you may cleerely see the calamitie which shall happen to you therefore by the example of this miserable Realme of Hungarie which was in former time no lesse replenished with warlike men then you and which was no lesse enriched with fertilitie riches and all other things necessarie for the maintenance of life then yours In beholding your selues therfore in this presently marke withall that the like misfortune may happen to you that hath ouertaken them seeing the cause thereof is alike and so labour that in the end you may become more wise then they who seeing before them a like accident proceeding from the same cause in the Empire of Constantinople could not make vse of it but haue suffered themselues to fall into the fulnes of euill and miserie In doing of which if the first and second haue committed such a fault as they cannot recouer yet he not you the third which should commit the like There is not any he that is not deceiued the first time being misled because he had not made proofe thereof for the second time a man may be also sometime deceiued vnder a certaine pretence of frindship but there is no excuse to the wise when it happeneth the third time If these first if these second of our age haue been thus deceiued and ouertaken by their owne rage and retchlesnes suffer not your feete to stumble against the same stone after you haue seene two of them to stumble before you with so foule a fall Stay your selues a while and giue eare to the wofull reports which daily are made of losse of ruines of fire of great
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
elsewhere vsed the like crueltie Amongst such miseries there happened one extreame and vnnaturallaccident the like whereof was neuer heard before and this it was that the poore and wretched mothers buried aliue their sucking Infants for feare themselues should be discouered by their crying and they poore babes dyed whilst their mothers being in no better saftie dispersed themselues heare and there to auoyde the tyrannie of the Infidels The enemie proceeded euen vnto the lake of Balator and in passing by they fired the citie of the fiue Churches which was all burnt onely the Castell and the faire Temple reserued Whilest the execution of this vnfortunate Battaile and of all those which we haue recited was in doing the Vayuode was almost at Segedin with all the forces of Transiluania who not being able with all his troupes to march with that expedition as he would and desiring notwithstanding to be at this battaile which as he vnderstood could not in any sort be deferred he being in a swift and light Coach and followed with few men in the like wagons went in the greatest haste he could to seeke the King Counte Christopher was also arriued at Zagrabia One part of the Bohemians which came to succour the King were about Iauerine and the rest were not farre from Alberegalis George Marquese of Brandenburg and the Chauncellor of Bohemia named Adam Newhuis were about the same quarter The Queene vnderstanding this vntimely newes of such an vnfortunate ouerthrow suddenly retired her selfe with the Bishop of Vesprimia Alexis Thurson and the Popes Nuntio to Poson which the Hungars name Presburge and transported the best and richest of her mouables by Danubius not yet knowing any thing of the death of the King her husband These moueables and other goods which appertained to the citizens of Buda were rifled and some of them staied by Andrew Orbancz who commaunded the Castle of Strigonium which at this day is called Gran. Neuerthelesse he that writeth this historie and reciteth this vile and infamous outrage doth greatly erre when he added to it that certaine of his light horsemen who are commonly called Vssarons behaued themselues towards the Queenes maides otherwise then their honours required for that in a meriment they put off their shooes to daunce with them The Emperour Soliman soiourning there a certaine time where the battaile was fought and after hauing reunited together all his companies the which he had sent here and there to ruinate and spoyle the countrie set forward towards Buda and there within sixe or seuen nights hee arriued himselfe marching along the shore of Danubius fiering all the townes boroughes and villages by the which he passed He found this towne forsaken of all the garrison and caused it to bee fired not any thing being exempted from the violence therof but the Castle and the Kings stables and the house of wilde beasts From thence the Turke sent many horsemen to spoyle and rob the countrie on this side the riuer They put all to fire and sword whom they met betweene Danubius and the Lake of Balator euen vnto Iauarine The Castle notwithstanding of Strigonium was cowardly left by Andrew Orbancz of whom wee haue spoken before neuerthelesse it was valiantly defended and preserued by a man of base and seruile condition and who a little before lead to the warre the footmen of the Chapter of the great Church of the towne called Mathieu Nagh he being retired thither with a few men The Fortresse of Vissegrade wherein the royall Crowne was alwaies kept was also saued by the Peasants and Friers it being forsaken of the souldiours so greatly was euery man amazed at the Turkes comming vnto Buda These strong places which we haue noted together with those of Thata Comora and Alberegalis were not forced of the enemie for that he I know not by what counsell did content himselfe onely to spoyle the countrie and little respected to assaile the Castles and strong holds As these Barbarians did exercise their enormious cruelties in euery corner so there was no place in Hungarie where they had more resistance then at Maroth by Strigonium This was a fine place of retyre and pleasantly seated belonging to the Archbishop of Strigonium situated in the midst of those Forrests which we name Wiertesies with which it is compassed about Into the said place certaine thousands of Hungars retired themselues with their wiues and children trusting vpon the straight and narrow passages which were strongly shut vp With those the enemie often came to handy strokes and alwaies they receiued the worst and were put to the foile In the end the Turks seeing by no meanes they could force the barracado which the Hungars had made with their wagons they were constrained to bring thither their artillerie by meanes wherof al those wagons other such defences were broken ouerthwrone to the ground and almost all the people put to the sword The great heapes of bones which is to be seene at this day in that place doth sufficiently witnes the greatnes of the massacre the which as those few reporte that escaped was 25000. persons one and other And he who would account the whole number of those which had bin slaine violently put to death retained prisoners or that remained in captiuitie I dare well affirme according to that which I haue vnderstood they were wel neere 200000. That part of Hungarie on this side the riuer from the mouth of Drauus vnto Iauerine being thus spoyled and harried with the Infidels as wee haue said not without the great astonishment of the neighbour countries adioyning others further remote and euen of those of Vienna Soliman also causing a bridge to be made ouer Danubius which reached to Pesthe the 14. day after hee was arriued at Buda transported his men to the other side of Hungarie where he made the like waste as he made on this side The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE AFter that the Hungarians were thus ouerthrowne Solyman inuesteth Iohn Zapoly who was Vayuode of Transiluania in the kingdome of Hungarie and then he returned to Constantinople whereupon Ferdinand of Austria pretending title to that kingdome and seeing he could not obtaine it by peace entreth thereinto with a great armie and Iohn forsaketh Buda and retireth into Transiluania is pursued by Ferdinandoes forces and ouerthrowne who then flyeth into Polonia and Ferdinand is crowned King of Hungarie Iohn seeketh aide of Solyman who vndertaketh his defence whereupon Ferdinand sendeth to Solyman for peace but he denounceth warre against him and entreth into Hungarie with a puissant armie who taketh Buda and Altenburg and besiegeth Vienna from whence he is repulsed and discouraged by the gallant exploytes and resolution of the assieged and in the end retireth from thence Many hostilities passe betweene Ferdinand and Iohn and after an agreement made betweene them Iohn dyeth and left a sonne named
Stephen to whom was gouernour Izabella his mother and one Frier George After Iohns death Ferdinand sent to the Queene for the yeelding vp of the kingdome of Hungarie which now he pretended title vnto but is denied by George who to withstand him demaundeth aide of the Turke Ferdinand sendeth forces into Hungarie besiegeth Buda and is there ouerthrowne by Solymans armie who taketh Pesthe Mustafa warreth in Transiluania against Malliat Ferdinandoes Lieutenant there Malliat is betrayed taken and sent with other prisoners to Constantinople who there dyed and the Transiluanians sweare homage to young Stephen whom Solyman greatly desireth to see who is sent accompanied with many of the Nobilitie and are all detained prisoners but onely Stephen whom he returneth againe to his mother at Buda which treacherously is taken by the Turkes and Queene Izabella dispossessed thereof and sent into Transiluania to gouerne there Ferdinand againe sendeth to Solyman to demaund peace and to be inuested King of Hungarie by him who returneth him a most scornefull answer The Queene being receiued into Transiluania George manageth all things and little esteemeth the Queene AFter that the Hungarians had receiued this cruell ouerthrow at Mohacz wherein were slaine about 30000. men with many of the chiefest Lords and gentlemen of the countrie and after that Lewis their last King was thus stifled in this Quagmire or Marish of the aforesaid place Solyman not fearing any who could oppose themselues against his forces being now with his victorious armie arriued in the towne of Buda which with the Fortresse without any resistance was presently reduced vnder his subiection that he might the better obserue the ancient custome of the Ottomans which is that the Prince ought rather to repose himselfe in his armie then to be inclosed within a wall would not therefore rest himselfe therein one night but presently retired himselfe into his Pauilions in the middest of his Campe which was hard adioyning to the towne whither being come there was presented to him seuen Bishops heads and the heads of other Hungars being of the number of those who were left dead in the field where the Battaile was fought among which was that of Ladislas Salcane Archbishop of Strigonium who for his extreame couetousnes was greatly blamed of Solyman in respect he would neither aide the King nor himselfe with his treasure which was found about him to be very great There was also much fault imputed to George Sepusa brother to Iohn Vayuode of Transiluania for his riches and also to Paul Tomoree Bishop of Colocense for his riches who further was condemned for his imprudencie and rashnes hauing so foolishly and without reason counselled Lewis to fight with so little an armie against one who was eight times as great and mightie But on the other side Peter Peren Bishop of Varadin was greatly commended and esteemed for that contradicting the opinion of Tomoree he aduised in any case not to giue battaile but to temporise and strengthen his holds and to put his people therein for safetie and to fortifie the towne of Buda with a strong and sufficient garrison because in thus doing he might the better resist his enemie And after that Solyman had seene viewed all those had giuen his souldiours leaue to spoyle and massacre who failed not presently to cut mangle and cruelly teare them in peeces they presented vnto him the pictures of Lewis and Marie his wife vpon which casting his eyes and considering their young yeeres he lamented their sinister fortune greatly blaming all their Councellors who rashly aduised them to fall into such extreame miserie affirming with an oth that he was not come to expell him out of his kingdome but onely to reuenge his men of the iniuries which the Hungars had done them greatly complaining for the death of Lewis the which had taken from him all meanes wherby in effect he might shew the truth of his words the which were that he would haue placed him againe in his fathers kingdome vnder certaine good conditions of an honest and reasonable tribute But he now seeing this Realme to bee vnprouided of a King and that there was not any of the blood to whom it ought of right to be giuen it seemed that he was willingly enclined to inuest Iohn the Vayuode therein alwaies prouided that he were found to be of the blood of Lewis or at the least to be dissended of his race by some collaterall line one or other Whilest he retayned his Campe about Buda he sent into diuers quarters the greatest part of his Armie to pill and wast the champian Countrie and neighboring places leading with them an infinit number of prisoners and an inestimable bootie giuing to all the Prouinces thereabouts an incredible amazement there being by so cruell and suddaine a surprise taken and put to death more then 250000. soules After which he minding to retire into Thrace he caused to be taken away from the Castle of Buda those three faire brazen Statues of Apollo Diana and Hercules which with marueilous art and iudgement were made by King Mathias Coruin for an ornament of that place And besides those he caused to be caried away certaine brazen Colombes with some great peeces of Artillerie which in times past were belonging to the King of Bosnia and caused them in token of victorie to be transported to Constantinople and he willed they should be erected in the market place to the ende they should publikely be seene and admired and not long after himselfe arriued in the same Citie in great triumph In this time Iohn Sepusa the Vayuode conducting the Souldiours of Transiluania to the ayde of the King and being arriued too late euen at the time they were defeated and brought into the extremitie of miserie seeing now there was none left of the bloud royall who might succeed in the Kingdome began then in himselfe to aspire to that high degree and this did he so much the rather for that he found himselfe amongst these people in great esteeme and conceiued no small hope of it by reason of the victorie which he a little before had against the Peasants who did rise against the gentlemen in respect whereof the principall of the land bore him some fauour thus taking heart and courage to him vsing notwithstanding wise and prouident counsell he hoped in the ende thereby to obtaine that kingdome and be crowned King further endeauouring himselfe by all meanes to win the good liking of the Nobilitie as he did and to draw them to his intention perswading them they should neuer tollerate that such degree and dignitie which aunciently had been maintayned by the Hungars should now come vnder the gouernment of a stranger and that they should not obey any other commaund then that which should be appointed by their owne proper nation With such good perswasions and friendly admonitions he gayned the hearts almost of all and so aptly did he manage all things that
Francis Ryuall his friend who was in the Campe of Roccandölph that if he liked thereof he would in the night deliuer into their hands the Port which was by the Church of the Germanes called S. Marie Roccandolph vnderstanding of this complot by Ryuall well allowed thereof and hauing concluded betweene themselues touching the manner that should be obserued therein the same night vpon which they had agreed of amongst themselues Bornemisse failed not to open a posterne which was in the wall by which the enemie entered into the towne But the watch walking the round perceiuing this surprise began to make an alarme so that euery man had speedie notice thereof At this bruite and tumult Vrbain Batian and Peter Vicchy who for that night were Captaines of the watch ran presently to the place where the one part and the other were fighting with great obstinacie but in the end the Germanes were forced to turne their backes and saue themselues by the same port wherein they entered In the throng there was taken certaine prisoners among whom were knowne some of familiar acquaintance with Bornemisse Those after due examination discouered the treason of Bornemisse who was presently attached and all his goods seazed and confiscate who after by diuers torments confessed all the fact and was by the commaund of Frier George cruelly tormented and executed as a Traytor to his countrie Roccandolph seeing all his purposes came to no effect and that fortune hourely did chaunge from prosperitie to aduersitie determined with his Captaines to auoyde the occasions of handy strokes and onely by a long siege to attempt that which by force of armes he could not performe In the meane time Solyman vnderstanding the euill entreatie which was vsed to the Queene and how greatly Ferdinand forced himselfe to take that kingdome from him which he had giuen to her husband after setting his affayres in order which he had against the Persians leauing Archane an Eunuch in Mesopotamia to make head against them if they attempted any thing sent Mahomet Basha to ayde the Queene with all his Europian souldiours who among the Turkes are commonly called Rumilar or Rumiler and vulgarly Vrumilar of this word Romania which they call all Greece Izabella not being assured of any such succors was brought into great feare and extremitie not knowing well what might betide her in this behalfe knowing also all their doings would but badly succeed and neuer come to good issue if they were intangled by armes and especially seeing that Ferdinand for former matters was grieuously offended and that he conceiued of this matter at the heart against her which also did not a little trouble her because she knew that she maintained an vniust cause in not obseruing the conditions made with him during her husbands life Vpon these considerations she was often incited to render the towne and especially knowing Ferdinand to be a Prince so meeke and curteous that he would commit no act which should be any thing derogating from her honour she determined to yeeld her selfe into his hands But Frier George would by no meanes consent thereto for that he daily expected succours from the Turke who at last hauing notice of their comming he then thought that these matters were not so slightly built but that his affayres would be well ordered as they had been alreadie begun Thus during the siege Solyman came to Andrionopolis to be more neere if need required it retaining with him Rostan Basha and he sent Mustafa into Transiluania against Maillat and commaunded Peter Vayuode of Moldauia that he should ayde him with all such succours as Mustafa should haue neede of Peter with all expedition after he had receiued this commaund failed not in his fauour to furnish him with 30000. horse Mahomet whilest Solyman came to Andrionopolis and Mustafa drawing towards Transiluania hasting on his voyage with the greatest expedition he could got to Belgrade in which place he ioyned with the Sangiac of that prouince who also was called Mahomet Among them hee found sufficient men of warre of Bosnia of whom Oliman a Persian was Sangiac This name of Sangiac or Sanzac doth properly signifie an Ensigne of warre made of a round peece of copper guilt ouer and fixed vpon the top of a staffe from which there hangeth downe in great tresses of long haires or horse tailes vpon the top of that round peece of copper there is sometimes fastned a halfe Moone Mahomet being together with all his troupes made a good armie marched in great iourneys towards Buda Vpon his comming the Germanes of Roccandolph being therof certified began amōg themselues to take aduice what was best to do Some counselled to forsake the siege and others to incounter and giue battaile to the Turks After such and like opinions that of Roccandolphs was followed which was that it was more expedient to preserue the armie whole and safe then so rashly to aduenture it and to doe an act which might afterward be found dishonourable to them all According to this opinion he remoued his Campe from the other side of the towne to the foote of S. Gerrards hill hauing the riuer Danubius on the one side and on the other side towards the East a great plaine where he was well intrenched being first possest of the top of the said hill where he well furnished himselfe with Artillerie And in this manner he attended his enemies with this determination that if they should assaile him he would fight with them and molest them with his Artillerie from the top of that hill and if hee should be the weaker or in any perill he would retire himselfe to the riuer where he had many boates for that purpose to goe and come to Pesthe from whence with more men he might reenforce his Campe and entertaine the Turkes with little skirmishes and in the meane time by a long siege to annoy the towne Roccandolph being thus busied the Turkes began to approach and Mahomet had sent to view the situation of his Campe and what courage his people were of Roccandolph performed the like by Mahomet who approched so neere him that his Tents were no further from the Germanes then halfe a mile causing all his Campe to bee enuironed by the Asapes with a trench and certaine rampiers The other Mahomet of Belgrade was lodged vpon the next hils which compassed that plaine where Roccandolph was incamped and lodged himselfe right ouer against S. Gerrards hill neere vnto the Hungars of Ferdinand who were lodged in that quarter After that the enemies were thus seated the two Mahomets sent their Ambassadours to salute the Queene and presented her with a great quantitie of Sheepe and Lambes which they had brought along with them out of the countrie These Ambassadours entering into Buda greatly admired at the diligent preparations and defences which they saw made in the towne for the defence thereof greatly commending the force and constancie of the
of his Empire towards the East And the rather to perswade him vnto it they declared to him how Iohn acknowledging to possesse that kingdome vniustly had in the time of his life of his owne accord compacted with their Master that after his death it should be rendered to him allotting to his sonne such a reuenew as should be conuenient to maintaine his estate he knowing himselfe to be chosen King rather by the fauour of fortune then by his owne demerits Therefore they besought Solyman to accept into that kingdome rather their Master for his friend and Vassall then for his neighbour and enemie considering he was alreadie created King of Bohemia and elected by the Germanes King of the Romanes and that he was by the Hungers themselues rather desired to be their King then any other Solyman hauing well vnderstood their demaunds and greatly commending their presents aunswered them that within three dayes they shuld know further of his pleasure When two dayes were expired he caused Rostan Basha to impart vnto them his whole intention who tolde them that Ferdinand should render all the townes which had been in the possession of King Lewis which he did enioy and that he should vtterly renounce the kingdom of Hungarie and that Solyman for the iniuries which he had receiued of him by reason whereof he was often forced to take armes was content notwithstanding to pardon him with a light penaltie to wit in paying tribute for the Countrie of Austria for the time to come Vpon such conditions Rostan said that Solyman was content to entertaine peace and friendship with their Master or else if he would not accept thereof that then he would not cease to make continuall warre vpon him and would presently send to destroy and wholly to ruinate all the Countrie of Austria The Ambassadours seeing they could not obtaine any thing worthie their comming and that all these their proceedings would dissolue into winde demaunded respite to answer this so vnworthie answer so farre out of peaceable tearmes and withall to send vnto Ferdinand which was not granted to them They thought verely that the Turkes in denying all that they demaunded would easily notwithstanding entertaine truce considering that the winter approached and that to auoyde the inconuenience thereof he should bee forced to take his iourney towards Constantinople But these Ambassadours made shew as though they vnderstoode it not and in stead of propounding other matters they tooke occasion to demaund Balthasar Taish who was taken at the ouerthrow of Roccandolph and put in chaines among other slaues Rostan answered them that he should be restored without any ransome when the premised conditions of peace should be entertained or if warre happened that then occasion would bee offered to exchange him for some of their owne Thus they being excluded from all agreement and depriued of all hope of concluding peace they in this sort returned to Ferdinand Whilest those were in their way to Vienna Solyman after he had fortified all the frontiers dislodged from Buda with his armie taking the way towards Constandinople leauing within the towne of Buda a strong garrison vnder the commaund of a Hungar named Solyman who was turned Turke and who for martiall affayres should defend and gouerne the towne appointing besides for the executing of iustice willing thereby to gratifie the Budians Stephen Verbetz whom they all knew to bee a man of sincere life As these affayres were dispatched at Buda by Solyman the Queene trauailed continually vntill she approached neere vnto Transiluania when she was aduertised by all the principall of the kingdome that they would not suffer her to enter thereinto least by the like deceit it should happen to them as it fortuned to those of Buda whereupon she was constrained after so long a iourney to repose her selfe at Lippa where being arriued with her sonne she presently sent to seeke Frier George that by the friendship and fauour of certaine of the chiefest who were specially affected to his part and many other of his friends she might by their good liking enter peaceably into the kingdome George by the helpe of his friends effected so much that the Transiluanians were content to receiue her as their Queene and vse obedience to her sonne with no lesse dutie then if he had been Iohn his father allowing him as their King his mother as his gouernesse Besides the Frier managed the affayres so well that he was againe elected and confirmed by the countrie great Treasure and generall gouernour of that prouince and within a while he returned to the Queene who presently after his arriuall ceased not to iourney vntill she came to Transiluania leauing to Peter Vicchy the gouernment of the Countie of Lippa and Themesuar in respect of the confidence she reposed in him to the end that he receiuing so large a commaund of her she might haue more confidence that he would hold and defend it in her sonnes name and to his vse But this gouernment did together with the time so puffe vp his heart with pride that he durst aduenture to possesse those places as his owne inheritance and not as things moueable or depending vpon the Crowne of that kingdome and yet notwithstanding he did not this but by some secret consent of the Queene She being arriued in this countrie began now to take the rule and administration of the kingdome in such manner that she had onely but the name and title thereof all the puissance and authoritie being in the hands of the Frier who vnder the colour of his estate of Treasurership receiued into his custodie all the reuenewes of the kingdome and so little did he distribute and allow to the Queene that much adoe she had wherewithall to suffice her owne wants And hee determining to rule all things ayded himselfe by all the suttlest meanes which he thought could any way profit him to commaund ouer the mightiest of the kingdome endeuouring himselfe in the beginning by infinit curtesies to draw all the gentlemen to his part and make his faction great who after hee had wonne and intised them to his dispose then vsed them like slaues and if it happened that they at any time complained thereof presently he excused and cleered himselfe saying that it was not needfull to vse such curtesies and ceremonies with those who were his familiar and kinde friends but rather to such who were not in any sort bound to him by so strict and faithfull a league And if he had notice of any one who would not be allured and wonne to his faction but rather was enclined to the seruice of the Queene he straight pursued them with all violence euen vnto death All this behauiour of the Friers was well knowne to the Queene in regard whereof she deeply maliced him and although she could hardly support the griefe and discontent of such a burdensome yoke yet neuerthelesse she endured all his arrogancie and peremptorie behauiour with incomparable patience
thereby this being manifest that Transiluania is the Port that giueth large enterance to annoy it which being vnder the hands of so puissant an enemie Ferdinand might then with griefe easily discerne what preparation and meane this would bee to enter into his countrie of Austria and Germanie which he could by no meanes hinder considering the weakenes of his forces and his brother the Emperour Charles greatly incombred by the dissentions of Germanie in regard whereof he could by no meanes send such succour as was needfull for him and that for his part he saw him alreadie to be old and sickly and without meanes to defend this countrie against the mightie puissance of such an enemy who not onely by force but also by deceit and subtiltie would not cease vntill he had reduced it vnder his gouernment And that vpon this occasion before he would see such an indignitie and receiue so great a losse and especially not being able by reason of the great bonds wherein he was obliged to King Iohn to doe otherwise then procure that this kingdome might remaine free and peaceable to his sonne Stephen hee had aduised and determined with himselfe to haue recourse to the maiestie and princely regalitie of Ferdinand desiring his helpe to frustrate dissolue such enterprises importuning the Counte to recite amply this waightie matter to him praying him hee would not faile to fauour a deede so holy and iust the issue whereof would not onely bee profitable to the seruice of God and to the good of all Christendome but also a speciall profit and commoditie to his Maiestie in whose royall fauour he offered to doe him all possible seruice to the end that that which hee alreadie had negotiated with the Queene might take effect to wit in perswading her to relinquish that State according to that which King Iohn had by his last will and Testament decreed excusing and acquiting himselfe by such like offers of al dislikes which before had passed promising to doe him faithfull seruice in time to come and to obserue and entertaine inuiolably whatsoeuer it would please his Maiestie to commaund him Counte Salms made him answer that he would very willingly vndertake to aduertise Ferdinand of all which had passed betweene them two And to animate and confirme him the more in this his good purpose he promised him to performe it both by word and deede assuring him that Ferdinand would not faile but condiscend to all that which he had demaunded neuerthelesse with this condition that he should still perseuer in his faith and promise and effectually obserue all which he had promised him With this conclusion they both departed the Frier taking his iourney towards Transiluania and the Counte towards Vienna to impart vnto Ferdinand the whole discourse which had passed betweene them This conference was not so priuate but the Queene had present notice thereof and well knowing that the Frier sounded all the meanes to doe her the greatest mischiefe and spite he could she vnderstood that he secretly practised to accomplish fully his thoughts and put her to all trauaile and paine which hee thought good and meete to chase her out of her kingdome she well knowing that for this end and not to doe him seruice nor for any other occasion then that which he falsely and wickedly pretended practised to ioyne with Ferdinand and take part with him and knowing her selfe to be a Queene of weake force and a woman without the ayde of any Christian Prince and euen of Ferdinand himselfe by the friendship and fauour of whom she hoped to preuaile in her necessities being depriued therof by the subtilties and crafts of the Frier she was constrained that she might not behold a man to whom she wished so much ill to triumph ouer her and her sonne rather to serue her present neede with the promise and offer of the Turke esteeming it better for her to endure all that which should happen to her by the violence of this great disaster then the euill although it would proue but little which might betide her by the Friers wicked policies and practises Vpon this resolution she presently dispatched Iohn Solanze a man of good esteeme and greatly renowned in those countries and who was very much deuoted to her to goe to Constantinople and acquaint Solyman with the practises that Frier George wrought against her He trauailing with good expedition arriued in short time before the Turke to whom he imparted all the effect of his Ambassage Solyman who by his owne people had beene alreadie aduertised of all the affayres which were done in Transiluania and namely of the Friers proceedings was at this new information prouoked and incensed the more and sent presently one of his Chiauses to the Basha of Buda with expresse commaund that he should either take the Frier aliue or dead he also writing to the Transiluanians that they should fauour and assist his Chiauss in all things which he might neede from them and charged him that if he did see that they could not execute that which he would that then he should shew them other Letters Patents by which he depriued the Frier of all his degree dignitie and state and commanded them all no longer to obey him but to oppose themselues against him and according to the manner of that countrie that they should endeuour to kill him as a traytor and theefe and if any refused to execute this commaund he should threaten them all with death and ruinate and quite subuert the whole countrie He writ in like sort to the Vayuodes of Moldauia and Transalpina and to the Basha of Buda that as often as the Queene required them they should presently take armes and ayde her against the Frier with the greatest force they could The Chiauss was scarcely departed from Constantinople and these commaunds dispatched by Solyman but Frier George had presently secret and particular notice thereof by many his friends Vpon which occasion being well aduised he retired himselfe from the Queenes Court to a towne of good strength called Sassebesse which he presently caused to be well victualled and fortified putting therein a good strong garrison clensing and deepning the ditches heightning the rampiers repayring the wals where they were decayed and furnishing it with Artillerie sufficiently to sustaine the brunt of a siege in the meane while he forgot not by the best meanes that he could deuise and particularly by good words to cleere himselfe to the Turke During this time whilest hee was carefull with expedition to effect this matter yet neuerthelesse as being very vigilant he omitted not to practise on the other side what was fitting for him that he might not be surprised Therefore he called together all his friends and especially the Sicilians who are the warlikest people in that kingdome and from amongst them he tooke into his pay 4000. first causing them to sweare that they should bee faithfull to him By these and others he so encreased
his forces that he began to be feared neere and farre off The Queene vnderstanding of all these preparations and certainly knowing by such intelligence as was brought her that the Frier made full account to possesse all and that then for the present she had no other meanes but take him by force and fearing withall that she should bee chased out of her kingdome before any succours could come to her ayde writ with all speede to the Basha of Buda and to the two Vayuodes that according vnto the ordinance which they had receiued from the grand Seigniour they should send her present ayde she speedily aduertising them in what estate the Friers affayres were They not omitting any time caused their people to be in a readines and in the meane time while they were in comming the Queene leauied 7000. men and sent them to besiege the Castles of Brancich and Vincky which Frier George had built from the ground vpon the riuer side of Marosse Peter Vicchy vnderstanding of all that passed as well on the Queenes part as on the Friers assembled as many men as he could in his gouernment of Lippa and Themesuar and through his perswasions drew to his partie Serpietre Vicchy who was a Ratian and one of the greatest of his country who before time expected to haue been King he brought with him 8000. Ratians and ioyned himselfe and his forces with Peter Vicchy and they went to besiege the Castle of Senath which was belonging to the Bishop of Varadine situated in the lower Transiluania which was kept for the Frier Bishop of Varadine by Iasper Perusicchy a Captaine of his who failed not valiantly to defend it vntill he was relieued by Thomas Varcocce although Serpietre vsed all his skill to winne it by batterie This man being particularly certified of the estate and manner of this siege was sent with all expedition by the Frier into the Bishopricke of Varadine to make a present leauie of as many persons as could bee found able to beare armes to relieue Senath Varcocce hauing diligently ordered all things and hauing gathered a sufficient number of foote and horse as well hirelings as others bound to performe that seruice and seeing himselfe no lesse gallant and forward to fight then his emies as a valiant and prudent Captaine that would not through his negligence let passe any fauourable occasion of fortune after a thousand deliberations and as many premeditations resolued vpon the sudden to set vpon the Ratians in many places and by the vertue and dexteritie of himselfe and fauour of the assieged to make a direct and quicke dispatch to the victorie Vpon this resolution he sent in the night certaine Spies diligently to view and consider the order and martialing of his enemies Campe the guards watch and number and in conclusion their qualitie and condition whether they were hirelings or of the number of those who were to performe such a dutie and whether they were more of foote or horse and in what place and how they were lodged to the end that as occasion serued he might more commodiously fight with them without preiudice of his owne people These Spies in the night entering into the Campe of the Ratians perceiued nothing else amongst them but disorder and that aboue all very great carelesnes in so much that they were of present opinion that Varcocce might with great facilitie ouerthrow and defeate them They hauing with good vigilancie suruaied this drowsie leager returned againe to Varcocce acquainting him with all that they had seene and knowne This increased his courage and redoubled his desire to giue them battaile and in the meane time giuing notice to those of Senath of that which he determined to doe martialed his squadrons in three parts placing in the first good store of Caualarie with many Infantrie and in the other which was towards a little hill making a left wing thereof he placed the rest of his Infantrie which were flanked with a good troupe of horse to the end that as the first squadron should charge vpon the flankes of the enemie this should spread it selfe in forme of a Cressant and with one of the hornes thereof to beare in vpon the taile of the enemie and with the other to force the left flanke and as for himselfe with the best horse and foote he had was placed in the middest and purposed to assaile the enemie before Disposing of his people in this manner one morning two houres before day he marched with so great silence that his arriuall was sooner felt then they had any inckling of his comming and arriued euen by day breake among the Ratians who thought themselues secure and charged them at one instant in three sundrie places with such courage and furie and with so great a noyse of Trumpets Drummes Phifes and cryes that it seemed the world would haue turned topsie turuie The Ratians seeing themselues contrary to their expectation to be assailed in three places and furiously charged they could not so soone as necessitie required put themselues in battaile for their defence but began wholly to bee discomforted and sought their priuate safetie by an ignominious flight which they bought deere at Varcocces hand who thereupon made a great butcherie and slaughter of them pursuing them euen to their homes and ranging the countrie as victorious and in his retraict led with him 4000. prisoners with great and rich spoyles of his enemies of whom he put to the sword 2500. Hauing by this ouerthrow reduced the countrie to his true and ancient obedience and hauing assured it from the assaults of warre and infranchised this Castle from such an extremitie he victoriously returned to Varadine Nicholas Serpietre chiefe leader of these Ratians escaping halfe naked from this tempest retired himselfe safe and sound into a Castle of his owne where his wife was remaining to whom almost with teares he sorrowfully recounted all the successe of his disgrace vnfortunately happened to him imputing to fortune the losse of his people which indeede happened by his euill and negligent gouernment His wife hearing this discourse in stead of condoling and comforting his hard disaster began not as a woman but as a man of courage resolute to vpbraide and reprehend his womanish spirit saying to him that he should for shame returne and recouer the honour of his blood and house which chiesly he had lost otherwise that she would neuer consent to bee called the wife of him that was worse then the basest and cowardliest woman whosoeuer and that he deserued not to haue an heire of his linage since so basely he shewed himselfe in such an act The husband would willingly haue replied and alleadged some excuse for himselfe whereupon she more inflamed with ire then before added presently I would to God said she that thou hadst rather beene brought to me in a thousand peeces if thou hadst dyed in glorie and renowne rather then to liue in health as I now
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
among themselues before their retraict to enter into Transiluania The Queene imagining nothing lesse then of the euill which might ensue of their proceeding forward and fearing that it would happen to her during the peace which had not chanced to her during the time of warre to wit to bee absolutely depriued of her kingdome sent with all expedition to the Frier to informe him that he should vse some present meanes to preuent this inconuenience and to endeuour himselfe with all expedition that these forces might returne into their countries and that she might not neede to send them any presents whereby they would the willinger retire The Frier little respecting her request did not greatly busie himselfe about it but answered coldly that they should cause them to returne who were the cause of their comming and as for presents he was not accustomed to send any to the Turkes but onely to Christians And although he made so seuere and obstinate an answere to the Queene to vexe her the more shewing his peruerse nature yet neuerthelesse did he not omit although it was in vaine to attempt that which the Queene had commaunded him But neither the Basha nor the Vayuodes made no great account of his words nor gifts but still came marching on desirous with their armies to enuiron and subdue the kingdome Vpon such obstinacie of theirs Frier George seeing it was not behoouefull for him to omit any time presently leauied his people at Torde and Egneth which are two great townes of Transiluania and instantly thervpon gaue commaund to all the prouinces of the countrie that euery one should betake himselfe to armes for the common good and defence of the countrie for that the Basha of Buda the Moldauian the Transalpinian would euery one enter vpon that side next adioynant to him and spoile and ruinate the countrie He so diligently applied this busines that within few daies he had gathered together 50000. men with whō he went to Sassebesse that from thence he might march against the Basha of Buda of whom by reason he was a good souldiour and experimented in the warre although he had fewer men he had more dread then of both the other who were not reputed to be so expert souldiours This Basha arriued with his Campe almost at Deua a Castle of good strength situated vpon the riuer of Marosse which is one of the principallest riuers of that countrie When the Frier dislodging from Sassebesse began to march against him he dispatched vpon the way Iohn Chendy a man of good regarde and of a noble house among the Hungars with a good troupe of horse and foote against the Transalpinian to defend and stop the passages whereby he must of necessitie passe if hee would enter into Transiluania and also to hinder him that he should not ioyne with the Basha Chendy diligently proceeding on his iourney and gathering together of the next townes besides the number which he brought with him almost 4000. men arriued priuately with them hard adioyning to the enemie where they were as they thought securely incamped without any feare and being assured by certaine Spies what forme and order they held he appointed his companies to bee stretched forth at large and so gallant was the shew that they appeared to bee infinit and about day breaking he began to assaile the Transalpinians with great noyse of Trumpets and Drummes that with the number of men whereof they were greatly afeard and the long troupes of their enemies which descended from certaine hils ranging themselues in battaile they seemed thrice as great as they were they verely thinking the Frier had been there in person with his whole armie whereupon their hearts presently fainted and they by no meanes would attend the issue of the battaile but disbanding themselues they began to flye and with such disorder that Chendies souldiours taking courage and following the victorie pursued them so nigh that in this confusion of slight they killed more then 5000. and tooke as many prisoners bringing with them from their chase 3000. horse and many Ensignes By this victorie Chendy so terrified the Transalpinian that flying from this ouerthrow through the cowardlines of his people he drust not in a lōg time after take armes against the Transiluanians The enemie being thus chased on this side the countrie he incontinently returned backe to Frier George inriched with many prisoners and so great spoyle as it was a woonder to see The Frier after he had dispatched Chendy against the Transalpinian at the same instant commaunded the Sicilians with all expedition they should repayre to defend their most important townes which they thought the Moldauian would assaile that they should fortifie the passages which naturally by the fauour of the steepy mountaines were very inaccessible and such that they might well defend with few men The Sicilians who naturally are ancient enemies to the Saxons being continually catching the one from the other seeing they must passe by Sassebesse a principall towne of the said Saxons and from thence with violence to proceede through their countrie leauing that honest regard which they ought to haue had for the defence of their countrie they proceeded on to a reuenge in such sort that as soone as they arriued at Robet they began to ransacke all the houses which belonged to the Saxons burning and ruinating the townes they passed by insomuch that they did not a little waste and endamage that people carrying with them all the bootie which they got Whilest they were thus occupied in such enormious cruelties they gaue leisure to the Moldauian to enter into their countrie and without any impediment to ruinate and pill their townes and in destroying and burning all their villages to turne all topsie turuie which thing to say trueth was iustly permitted of God to the end that in reason they might endure from their enemies the same calamities and miseries which so vniustly they had caused those to suffer who in consideration of common safetie ought then at the least to haue been reputed their friends Whilest the Sicilians and Moldauians practised these cruell exploites Frier George with tedious iourneys aduanced his Campe against the Basha of Buda hauing sent before Thomas Varcocce into the County of Varadine to gather what force he could as well Infantrie as horse with intent that if the Basha would perhaps attempt to passe the riuer of Marosse being receiued at the halfe passage he should assaile and fight with him before and behinde or else that hee should bee forced to retire halfe broken and ouerthrowne But the Basha also distrusting the same and being aduertised that the Frier came in person to fight with him and fearing that if he proceeded any further he imagined he might be as he well considered thereof surprised in the middest and charged in the rereward by the companies that were vnder the conduct of Varcocce assuring himsefe that he was deceiued by the Queene whereupon
in the greatest haste he could passing a little arme of Marosse he retired and iournied as farre in one day as he marched before in sixe and went againe to Buda not without the losse of 300. horse who were defeated by Turchy Iohn the which before his Vauntgard dislodged he had sent into the countrie of Deue to range as well for victuals as also to discouer if there were no ambushments to hinder or annoy his retraict This Turchy was sent by the Frier to preuent him of the passage and to annoy him in his rereward but the quicknes of the Basha caused that hee arriued too late and tooke away from him all occasion of being able to ioyne with Varcocce much lesse to endamage his rereward which might easily haue been broken and defeated if these two had been vnited The Frier being now assured by these two that the Basha was retired in the greatest expedition he could turned his Campe against the Moldauian who as we haue said spoyled and burned the countrie and townes of the Sicilians and went forward with a vehement resolution cruelly to bee reuenged of the iniurie which he esteemed more intolerable then any that euer he receiued But the Moldauian hauing notice of the Friers intent and knowing besides what had happened to the Transalpinian found it good by the aduice of his Councell not to attend his comming whereupon after great spoyle made in the countrie he speedily retired himselfe with his people as well horse as foote who were about 30000. leading with them a great bootie of moueables and beasts with more then a thousand prisoners who were taken by a Chiauss of the Turkes that in respect of the loue and kindnes he bore to him came thither with certaine troupes of Turkish Caualarie After that Frier George had thus chased all the enemies out of Transiluania he retired towards the Queene where with consent of all in respect of his valour and prowesse which vndoubtedly was very great the peace was againe confirmed betweene them two with such conditions which should like them both among which he importuned that the Queene would write to the Turke and acquite and cleere him of all such matters whereof before he had been accused Which request though it was contrarie to her disposition for women like not to countermaund their owne proceedings yet notwithstanding she presently did it But the Turke being well informed of the veritie of the cause and of all that which passed and withall seeing how mightie and puissant the Frier was and that the greatest part of the kingdome was fauourably addicted to his part he smoothly dissembling the matter reserued the chasticement thereof vntill better oportunitie and made shew to the Frier as though he held himselfe satisfied with his fidelitie and that he very well knew he of his part was not faultie in any of the late broyles Whereupon hee sent another Chiauss with Letters Patents directed to all the kingdome by which he commaunded that euery one should obey and reuerence him as being againe confirmed in all his former honours and degrees But yet the peace lasted not long for the Queene in the end seeing the Frier respected not any thing which he had promised by the last agreement omitted no time but by the occasion of his absence being then in his Bishopricke of Varadine to recreate and solace himselfe she began priuately and vnder hand to raise and incense the greatest Lords of the kindome with intent to assist her to chase the Frier out of that prouince and especially those whom she reputed most faithfull and affectionate to her and most opposite against the Friers proceedings manifesting to them how his naturall disposition was inconstant and cruell and how he vsed her badly not willing to keepe nor obserue any lawes couenants promises nor faith but aspiring to the vniuersall tyrannie of that countrie he did thus wickedly demeane and behaue himselfe towards her with this intent to chase both her and her sonne out of the kingdome and to remaine sole and absolute Lord himselfe assuring her selfe that for the loue and fidelitie which they in former time vsed to King Iohn her husband and alwaies maintained the same notwithstanding all sinister fortune in the behalfe of Stephen her sonne and her selfe in regard whereof they would neuer endure this iniurie nor tolerate such a crueltie farre surmounting all other practised against her person in falling from so high and eminent dignitie of a Queene to become an ordinarie and poore Ladie and their King of Transiluania to become a seruant esteeming it of greater moment that they should rather desire to haue the sonne of him and their naturall Prince for their Lord and Patrone then a Frier voyde of all faith and honestie and onely gorged with ambition By such like demonstrations she so awakened the spirits of euery one that all in generall not willing to submit themselues to any other Lord then to King Stephen and her selfe concluded to take armes against the Frier with intent to expell him the kingdome George hauing notice of this and of all their other proceedings which was practised against him and seeing himselfe weakened of men and depriued of such forces which were necessarie to resist the scourges and assaults of such vnlooked for fortune after he hauing long pondered vpon these affayres determined vpon this resolution to accorde and linke himselfe with Ferdinand and to conclude with him the practises which oftentimes without effecting he before had acquainted him with he being induced and in a manner constrained thereunto by his extreame ambition and troublesome minde the enemie of quiet repose it being tolde him that if by that meanes he could expell the Queene he might easily compasse his intention which was to see himselfe absolute Lord of Transiluania which he so much esteemed that he would often say he cared neither to be Pope nor Emperour and that he would neuer goe out of it By these deuises one might manifestly discerne the insatiable desire of his ambitious nature which tended to no other end then to the sole gouernment of this kingdome Now Counte Salm being dead with whom hee had alreadie begun to treate of this affayre and knowing not how to effect his determination finding himself now neerely driuen resolued to negotiate this busines by Ambassadours sending secretly to Ferdinand one of his gentlemen by whom he gaue him to vnderstand that he greatly desired that either one way or other they would put in practise that which he before time had giuen him notice of by Counte Salm instantly praying him againe that he would not faile to send speedie succours and that it would please him to commit this charge to such a one that was sufficient and able to withstand the Queene who had againe begun to bandie against him And further he shewed him that if he did not allow ratifie of his former motions he should in short time see all
not knowne my braue and valiant souldiours that your spirit and courage desireth rather the glorie and renowne of God then your own proper safeties I would neuer haue ventured my selfe thus farre vnder your affiance and valour And for that I well know the renowne and fame of your predecessors who haue obtained in this countrie so many victories will stirre vp in you my louing companions courage to follow their steps and honourable endeuours and that the memorie of their exploites and glorious acts may be as preuailent in you as they haue been in your predecessors in cōsidering the things which may now eternise you I doubt not at any hand but you will cause your valiantnes and vertues to appeare through the world and specially in these quarters where we may see more store of enemies then friends and where in respect of the common enemie we must with the edge of the sworde make our passage being now in a Prouince which wee haue neuer seene nor sought after where is no great suretie to repose any confidence where it is a noueltie to see a new kingdome erected and where infinit daungers doe abound necessitie forceth and the warres which now alreadie are prepared against the Infidels threatneth vs which are motiues albeit they seeme very fearfull of which wee ought to make our benefit to cause our prudence wisedome and dexteritie of spirit to bee knowne which are vertues more desired then any other in that thereby men shall see the boldnes and courage of you my louing souldiours and the faith and end of that inuiolable oth which we all haue made to our King Behold we are here vpon Tibiscus the passage whereof should cause vs all to reioyce wee our selues being now out of Italic you out of Spaine and the other forth of Germanie not to follow corporall and effeminate pleasures which make a man weake sickly effeminate tender and bleakish but to aspire to honour riches and victorie and to haue the reward of our honourable deedes such as shall bee yeelded to vs by prosperous fortune which I doubt not but it will bee such towards vs that ofterrestriall men it will make vs celestiall and sound in the ayre so honourable a bruite of our worthie names that neither time nor death shall obscure nor rake it vp in obliuion but wee shall liue time out of memorie yea eternally And for that wee are now to deale with people who are diuerse from our customes and manner of liuing of whom it behoueth vs to winne their loue and liking by policie and discretion and to whom to the end our manner of life and estate ought to bee an example and myrrour it seemeth to me not to be vnfitting or vnworthie but rather necessarie and commendable discoursing of this with you and reducing the whole to the first glorie of true Militarie discipline to aduertise you that after we haue passed this riuer and begun to enter into the countrie which by vs in the name of our King ought to be defended and conquered to draw the hearts of the inhabitants which are diuided into three Prouinces namely the Sicilians Saxons and Subalpinians to our deuotion will and friendship we must bee with all of them very modest temperate and quiet and must banish auarice despise voluptuousnes and contemne the pleasures of the body and aboue all must flye all idlenes which how hurtfull it is to an armie and how many euils it bringeth with it you sufficiently conceiue Besides we must auoide robberies preserue the honour of women respect ancient persons haue care of poore children to liue amongst your selues as obseruers of true religion to fauour the friends thereof and pursue the enemies and thinke that wee being in a strange countrie and in another mans house to doe but that which you would doe at home wee seeing by experience that euery beast though neuer so little being in his denne becommeth as a Lyon in defending himselfe from the iniurie and oppression which is offered him and iudging thereby how much more they ought and will become couragious and hardie in their owne houses if they see or feele themselues outraged by vs. Besides ye ought in all your actions to haue God alwaies before your eyes for the loue and honour of whom we ought to expose our bodies and liues and thereby manifesting our selues meeke and curteous one to another and towards our enemies fierce bold horrible fearfull prompt and hardie to cause others to know that wee are couragious without feare wise and full of vnderstanding that by such meanes you may alwaies haue together with health a high way to vertue set open before you and that euery one of you may with me carrie into his countrie renowne and eternall memorie not refusing any paine or trauaile for that no wearines nor any incommodities or crosses can or ought euer to enter into such vigilant or heroicall spirits whereby to darken or deface the desire and earnest affection which proceedeth from true honour and glorie and specially I being with you not as a Commaunder amongst you but as a father brother and companion as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie And to the end you may assure your selues that it is true which I haue said my selfe will be the first that will passe ouer this water and will not refuse the first danger that may befall me to the end that by this example euery one of you may learne rather to esteeme honour and reputation then his owne proper life and preferre an honourable death before a vile and dishonest life Hauing thus ended his speech he presently passed to the other side of the riuer causing also the rest of his armie to follow which was eight daies in passing in respect of the largenes of the riuer After they were all beyond the water they continually marched in battaile vntill they came to Debrezen a small towne of no great strength where they found Andrew Battor and Thomas Nadasdy who were the greatest and richest Lords of Hungarie and such who alreadie had obtained great reputation through the whole countrie One of them was Generall of the Hungarish Caualarie and great Comissarie and the other was Lieutenant generall These two were in this towne with 500. horse to receiue Castalde and to conduct him into Transiluania according to the meanes and experiences which they had in that kingdome Castalde knowing that they would at their entrance into the towne obserue and note what number his armie might be of commaunded the Sergeant Maior and Campe master that they should presently cause the armie to march in the best order and forme they could and so that it might seeme hee had more men then in trueth hee had This presently was done with such dexteritie and iudgement that those Lords esteemed the armie to be of farre greater number then indeed it was and seeing all the souldiours well ordered and marching with a graue and settled countenance they
by the Saxons who euer since the time that Charlemaine ouerthrew them by meane of that great battaile which hee obtained against them nigh the mountaine of Ouege haue alwaies remained there For Charlemaine defeating them caused a good number of them to be led into Gaule and forced the other who would not obserue and obey the lawes which he would haue established to goe seeke some other habitations Of these a great part entered into Transiluania to conquer it and making themselues masters thereof by force of armes they there set vp their abode and built seuen townes or Castles whereof for a long time that Prouince tooke the name which continueth vntil this day and in respect whereof it is called in their language Sibemburgen These liue after the Germane manner and obserue their customes speaking the ancient Saxon language they are affable people and of great trueth and fidelitie They are not alwaies in league with the Hungarians neither will they suffer them to build in their townes Their mountaines are inhabited by the Walachians to whom the Saxons who are of the greatest authoritie and rule in that kingdome would not permit them to build any of their houses with chalke and stones nor haue nor possesse much about them And therefore they dwelt in little houses and cottages which they made themselues without any Mason or Carpenter and are but thatched with straw and rushes They labour not nor till the fields in hope of any gaine but onely to gather together so much as is necessarie to nourish and sustaine their familie and the Slaues which they get This kingdome greatly aboundeth in corne wine flesh venison and all manner of fruites and breedeth very many strong and goodly horses There is found in many of those mountaines mynes of gold siluer iron and salt is fetched from thence in so great abundance that most part of Hungarie and Polonia are serued therewith which is an exceeding rich commoditie and bringeth great profit to the King These mynes are not farre from Isembergh Clausemburgh and Saltzburgh Victuals are there sold ordinarily at so cheape a rate that it is a thing incredible The Marchants of this Prouince during the peace and truce might trafficke with their marchandise through all the Turkes dominions and continually haue entercourse with Germanie Hungarie Pololonia and Italie The ayre is many times intemperate by the extreame cold and excessiue heate which often is felt there the cold though neuerthelesse it bee terrible and sharpe yet it dureth not long and happeneth not but at certaine times which being past the heate preuaileth more then the cold All the countrie is vneuen or hillie and the greatest part is like to Tuscane or hillie Spayne and is full of great forrests which yeelde store of wood as well to build as for other priuate commodities There be two great riuers which be nauigable the one runneth through the middest of the kingdome and is called Marosse which springeth from the mountaines of Moldauia towards the North and runneth from one side to another of that countrie vntill it entereth into Tibiscus neere the frontier townes of Lippa and Themesuar which are two strong holds and so named for that they are situated beyond the mountaines towards the West The other is named Alto and at this day the inhabitants call it Cheres which springeth at the foote of Mount Carpatus about the place where it ioyneth with the other hils of Moldauia There is also other small riuers wherein are found amongst the grauell many graines of gold of great value and price Towards the South dwelleth certaine people named Rhatians which were relikes of the ancient Rascians who remaine vntill this day since the time they were chased foorth of their natiue countrie of Macedonia by Lysimachus They are to bee hired of any who will giue most one while they take part with Ferdinand and then againe they are in the Turkes pay They are vnconstant people and of little faith they are Christians and liue after the Greeke Church they are poore hauing no townes peculiar to themselues and they are in great dislike with all other nations for their inconstancie and perfidiousnes They dwell among the Bulgarians and Seruians in two places of the kingdome and on the other side among the mountaines by the Transiluanians which stretch themselues towards Walachia This kingdome of Transiluania after it was reduced to the faith of Iesus Christ was subiect to the Crowne of Hungarie for the gouernment and rule whereof one of the principallest of the Court was deputed and nominated with the title of Vayuode The capitall towne is called Sibinium taking that name of a riuer which passeth by it This towne is named by the Germanes Hermenstat others call it Pressouia alias Cronenstat and it is of great trafficke Thither is brought great store of marchandise from Greece which from thence is dispersed throughout Hungarie There are many other townes as Corone Torde Cassouia and Albe-iula which was built by the Romanes and established for one of their Colonies This Prouince had no absolute King but Iohn who raigned after the death of Lewis King of Hungarie and after that Stephen possessed it who for the present is King who also was called Iohn in memorie of his father and by the Turkes fauour and assistance enioyeth it peaceably and from hence forward wee will call him Iohn and not Stephen Castalde as a little before hath been said being arriued in Transiluania sent Andrew Battor and Thomas Nadasdy before to foresee and suruay the passages of the mountaines by which hee must of necessitie passe giuing them a good troupe of horses with other souldiours Which being well foreseene by the Queene she sent the Marquesse of Balasse a great Lord of Hungarie who a little before was entertained into her seruice through some disgrace offered by Ferdinand for that hee had thrust him out of certaine Castles situated in Hungarie vnder the colour of rebellion which was said to haue been pretended against his Maiestie to possesse those passages with 700. horse and a good troupe of souldiours Castalde being assuredly informed of this was by the aduice of two although it was a thing very tedious and difficult constrained to seeke other passages and waies which being in the end found he commaunded them to bee repayred the best they could which assuredly was a worke long and tedious but neuerthelesse they laboured so diligently and commodiously that by the same way all the Artillerie might passe without any great labour Whilest the Marquesse kept the most frequent passages Castalde by that new vnaccustomed way entered with all his armie into Transiluania without any disturbance and the day following marched in battaile and was forced to passe by a Castle of the Queenes named Dalmas seated in the way vpon the top of a mountaine from when he was saluted with the force of the Cannon hee being not willing to tolerate
disposition and humour of the he Queene to bring that to better effect which he desired should happen would neuer consent to any conclusion but deferring it from day to day busied his braine about no other things then trifeling delayes And that his purpose might not bee frustrate and to the end also that he might not bee thought he pressed so much for his owne particular commoditie as for the good of the Queene and her sonne he would that before any other thing they should begin to treate of that which concerned them that so he might at the length perceiue what conclusiō he might make minding also that before any act of renouncing the kingdome to Ferdinand should passe his Maiestie should be first bound to giue and performe to Iohn the Queenes sonne a yeerely reuenew of 25000. crownes to him his heires and successors euen as had been alreadie promised him and that out of such estates which were free peaceable and sure Which was presently accepted of by Castalde and promised notwithstanding that when such offers were made Buda was not then lost nor other principall places of the kingdome for the losse of which the Crowne was shrodely weakened there should bee giuen and assigned the Dutchie of Oppolia and Rhatibor which are two pleasant and fertile countries abounding in all things which can bee desired and are within the Prouince of Slecia The Frier thinking himselfe satisfied for that point instantly propounded another motion which was besides the agreement offered and decreed vpon for the good of King Iohn he should pay to the Queene the 150000. crownes which for her dowrie was imposed vpon King Iohn her husband and vntill she was fully satisfied and payed it Ferdinand should be bound to giue her some towne in pawne whither she might retire with her sonne and remaine there vntil such time they had performed all and put them in possession of the aforesaid States and discharged the said summe with reasonable interest therefore and in like sort the reuenew of 25000. crownes which was promised This demaund was also agreed vpon and immediatly she was appointed the towne of Cassouia which is one of the greatest and richest in that countrie wherein she might for her owne commoditie remaine vntill an absolute accomplishment should bee of all that which had been promised After they had concluded and decreed in this manner of all which appertained to the Queene and her sonne the Frier began to negotiate and practise for himselfe and demaunded that they would bestow vpon him the Vayuodship of Transiluania with the same condition that King Iohn was wont to giue it which was 15000. crownes by the yeere which request was graunted him neuerthelesse with this condition that he should haue for his copartner and companion Andrew Battor But by no meanes he would admit thereof alleadging that he had alwaies been accustomed to commaund and rule alone and not accompanied neither would he receiue into his gouernment an equall in respect it would rather be a charge and burthen to him then an honour In the end not to discontent him in any thing he had his full asking He hauing obtained this dignitie he yet demaunded the Treasurership which in former time he executed with the ordinarie wages of 4000. crownes yeerely and besides that his demaund was that they should allow him aswell in peace as in warre 1500. horse for his guard and the countries and further he desired to haue the Salt pits at Torde which were exceeding profitable and he at that time was in possession of them He motioned this last demaund with such craft and subtiltie that he thought thereby to finde some iust cause to frustrate the former conference assuredly thinking they would neuer agree vnto it But herein his expectation failed him and discretion would he should haue credited the contrarie in respect himselfe was often wont to say That it was requisite for him who would raigne and gouerne although he had not the gift to accomplish them yet to giue fayre words and promises to euery one and to performe but a little thereof which well hee might imagine to be practised vpon him by Ferdinand since hee saw that so readily they condiscended to all that he demaunded He hauing now obtained all which he desired yet could he not thus suppresse the great thirst of his couetous and greedie minde but altering euery houre from the purpose he often repented himselfe euen in a moment of that which hee had done not supposing that his inconstancy was any shame or discredit to him Castalde being one day with him marueiled greatly at his vncertaintie and that he was so changeable in his proceedings telling him that he was greatly astonished at this his mutabilitie for that hee saw his nature was to speake of one particular matter at one time this and another time that by this meanes causing euery one to bee doubtfull and without any resolution he deferred the time vntill he found the occasion such as hee desired and seemed fauourable for his affayres Whilest these affayres were thus trauersed betweene them one day hee acquainted Castalde that hee greatly desired to be a Cardinall and desiring him greatly for that purpose hee would solicite Ferdinand to write to the Pope concerning it Castalde promising him his best endeuour speedily aduertised his Maiestie thereof giuing direct intelligence of the Friers ambition and of the speciall desire he had of the Cardinals hat Ferdinand hauing notice hereof lost no time but presently dispatched a messenger writing to Pope Iuly the third that it would please his holines to receiue Frier George into the Colledge of Cardinals amply reciting to him his vertue and prowesse and how for many yeeres with his owne forces and industrie hee had defended and maintained the kingdome of Transiluania against the puissance of the Turke whom he had often foyled greatly praising him that from an vncredible pouertie although hee was dissended of a noble house he had by his vertue and wisedome attained to these high degrees of honour wherein he was now installed in opposing himselfe for the generall good of Christendome against the Infidels as appeared to all the world as a prouident and valiant Captaine shewing thereby to his holines that in consideration of such commendable acts he well deserued to be admitted to that dignitie He also writ to his Ambassadours who were at Rome to vse the best meanes they could to further this suite and to haue answer of the Pope according to his desire Whilest this matter was negotiated at Rome the Archbishop of Strigonium died by whose death the Bishopricke was voyde which was yeerely worth 150000. crownes The Frier omitted no time but presently made suite for it which was as readily graunted by Castalde in Ferdinands name to whom hee writ with all speede praying him that with like diligence hee would send him the confirmation thereof seeing they had to deale with so variable and inconstant
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
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
the next plaine he pitched his Campe and from thence gaue aduertisement to all the neighbour Prouinces which were subiect to the Turke that they should not faile but presently send him men and horses such as they are bound to send in the like affayres Whilest the Belerbey busied himselfe to gather the rest of his Campe Castalde commaunded Aldene the Master of the Campe who then was in the low countries for the defence and assurance thereof that Stephen Lozonse a famous Knight among the Hungars should with George Sotede enter into Themesuar with 600. horse for the guard and defence thereof And further for the better assurance of the same he commaunded that Aldene himselfe should enter thereinto with all the Spanyards which he had making Lozonse Gouernour of those countries and Generall ouer all the warlike affayres He with Aldene caused Themesuar and other places to be fortified with the best defences they could and knowing that the enemie was alreadie in the field they daily laboured to fortifie the towne with Rampiers and Bulwarkes of good sufficient strength giuing aduertisement of all things which he heard or they did to Andrew Battor who was then at Lippa Battor seeing the necessitie of the time that vrgently pressed euery one began to leauie as many men as he could instantly soliciting all the people of his Prouince and admonishing them that euery one should ayde him against the common enemie He also drew to him the principall Lords of the Rhatians not in respect to assist him with their powers but for that they should not bee inuited to the seruice of the Belerbey knowing their inconstancie to bee such that they would affect and take part with the strongest And hauing thus by all good meanes drawne them to him and causing them to sweare fealtie to Ferdinand that he might yet winne their good likings the more he entertained 4000. of them into pay with many Captaines who voluntarily offered to be also entertained into Ferdināds seruice as the others were And hauing with great diligence leauied 15000. men who were most horsemen he presently with these troupes put himselfe into the field and went and lodged beneath Lippa expecting there what the enemie was determined to doe who also was incamped betweene the two aforesaid riuers Castalde at the same time diligently suruaied and munitioned the fortifications and specially the frontier townes of Transiluania as he saw was most needfull And being acertained that the Belerbey would come to Themesuar he sent another companie of Spanyards thither and money to pay the Rhatians whom hee knew were variable and inconstant and such as were needfull to be entertained with many and often payes which happely would procure them from reuolting On the other side he vsed his best labour to prouoke Frier George that instantly as being Vayuode hee should assemble all the souldiours of the kingdome to march with them and relieue Themesuar commaunding Andrew Battor that he should send to Lozonse as many men as he could wherby he might hinder and withstand the Belerbey from the passage of Tibiscus The Frier was very slow and fearefull to leauie the inhabitants of the countrie hauing before commaunded that none should stirre without his appointment expresse command assuring them that the Belerbey would not passe Tibiscus and that it was not needful of such an assemblie which he the rather assured himselfe of in regard of the letters which he had alreadie sent to the Turk and Bashaes But after hauing certaine notice that hee prepared two bridges vpon Tibiscus hee went presently to Deua leauying thereabouts 3000. horse and with those hee incamped in the field and presently writ to all the townes that they should with all expedition send such men as they were bound by their custome to furnish which was willingly executed with great celeritie Now when they would by the authoritie of the superiour Lords raise amongst them such Infantrie and Caualarie as euery towne is bound to furnish and that specially for generall defence the custome of this Prouince is to send one Launce and a Sword stained with blood and borne on horsebacke by one of the principallest officers of euery towne or place and carrying them on high in token of great and present necessitie sheweth them to all thereabout with another man on foote who goeth crying The common enemie commeth against vs all let euery house prepare a man for generall good and send him speedily to that place which is appointed you At this crie euery one causeth speedily to depart all those who are apt and able to beare armes and sendeth them to the rende vous And thus within a short time they assembled a great number of men as well foote as horse the care that Castalde had thereof greatly assisting them in that busines who specially hastened the men which hee caused to bee leauied through the kingdome and so much the rather because hee had vehement suspition of the Frier who continually ceased not to his vttermost to driue him out of those countries whereof he was well aduertised by meanes of one who was very familiar with the Frier and acquainted him with all such occurrants Yet Castalde dissembling the matter vsed Frier George in the greatest kindnes as was possible and indeuoured himselfe by al meanes to gaine his good liking and the rather for that hee knew him to bee fickle and inconstant and stood in much awe of the Turke hauing continuall distrust that for his inconstancie he would exchaunge the fauour of his friends to follow the ambitious wiles of his enemies In respect whereof he confirmed him generall Treasurer with 4000. Florins by the yeere and also Vaynode of the kingdome with 15000. Florins by the yeere as he had requested and with authoritie in time of necessitie to haue 800. horse and 500. foote for his guard and besides 200. other horse which he should maintaine at Deua and at Gherghe two strong Castles and places which was giuen him to keepe Being by such bountifulnes wonne to a dissembled fidelitie he came to the Diet at Sibinio which a little before was appointed where euery one being arriued they required all the Prouinces of the kingdome to wit the Sicilians Saxons and Transalpinians to contribute some money to maintaine the charges of the warre which was agreed vnto by the most And whilest the Frier by all good outward offices shewed himselfe seruiceable to Ferdinand yet hee omitted not secretly to practise with the Turke to accord with him and in recompence of the good which was done him he still caused such souldiours whom hee most trusted to resort to him with whom vnder the colour to chase and expell the Turke hee endeuoured to thrust out of the kingdome Ferdinands people About that time came newes how Maximilian King of Bohemia was returned out of Spaine with Mary daughter of Charles the Emperour that hauing passed through Italie he arriued at Vienna where
to them inestimable honour and great astonishment to the enemie The Frier answered him that the occasion which moued him to come vnto that place with the armie was for that hee thought the Belerbey would intirely retire himselfe but sith hee vnderstood that he had not yet passed Tibiscus it gaue him to suspect some further matter seeing that Oliman bouged not from Lippa but resolued to withstand all the inconueniences and hazards of a siege not beleeuing that such a resolution did proceede from any other thing but onely of the confidence which the said Oliman reposed in the neere assistance of the Belerbey and that if it were so he could see no assurance to proceede any further for that heretofore he neuer incountered with so great an armie composed of so many warlike souldiours as that of the Turkes was and that for this occasion and also for the regard and care which they should haue of those souldiours which were vnder his commaund hee was very confident that hee was not able to resist them nor to reconquer the half of that which the Turks had inuaded and gotten and that therefore hee would not so inconsiderately aduenture his person and the kingdome together and that he thought it more expedient to make some truce with the enemie without remouing from the place where they were considering it was to their more aduantage and that it could not chuse but bee greatly to the honour and reputation of them all Castalde tolde him that specially they were to consider the foule offence which would be greatly imputed to them if they retired without some iust cause it being reported through the world that they two were in the field with so puissant an armie as that was which they had conducted to this place with a resolution to expulse the Turks out of that kingdom and that in retyring and leauing Lippa in the enemies possession it might be iustly said to bee done not without some secret practise and conspiracie which wee should haue with them and specially the same being a towne of great esteeme and knowne to be the most important key of all Hungarie and Transiluania and consequently of all Christendome which being in the Turkes commaund he might continually make incursions from thence with returne of great spoyles and robbings and by many inconueniences endamage all the whole countries and subiects of Ferdinand Therefore to auoyd that staine of dishonour hee most instantly prayed him that at the least he would goe to Lippa and by Gods assistance he would promise him to deliuer it into his hands within sixe daies In the end he pursued his perswasions so effectually that he was content to goe as farre as Lippa although he often alleadged the great inconuenience which might befall them for want of Artillerie which by good fortune and by the diligence of the Spanish Captaines arriued that day at the Campe to the great admiration of the Frier who assuredly thought they could not bee there in eight daies This animated Castalde presently to troupe on with 3000. Hungarish horse and 400. men of armes to view Lippa which of one side is square and of the other keepeth the circuite of an ouall forme so that it is more long then broad The length thereof is 720. paces and the bredth 380. being of one part for that the riuer Marosse watereth it very strong and of the other it seemeth very weake by reason of a mountaine which doth greatly commaund and annoy the defences thereof It is altogether mured with a wall after the ancient manner without any defences and few turrets There is in the lower part of the towne a little square Castle garnished in euery corner with a tower and is compassed about with a deepe Ditch full of water Presently vpon Castaldes approaching he lighted from his horse and walked on foote and passing through certaine gardens accompanied with Iulian Carleuall and two other Spanish Captaines he went to peruse the Ditch hauing first sent a good troupe of those which he had brought to dare the Turks to skirmish who by no meanes would aduenture forth to fight imploying themselues from the wall wholly to annoy our men with the harquebuze and hinder that none should haue a view of the towne Castalde hauing well and diligently viewed all and after he had caused his men to retire the same night he returned againe to the Campe where he found the Captaines Roderic Vigliandrando and Francis Henry Tescieda who were come forth of Themesuar to bee at the assault of this towne He fully learned of them the aduentures which had passed in that place and the manner of the Belerbeys retraict hauing not before vnderstood any thing for certaine Vpon this newes the 2. of Nouember they all marched to Lippa where all the Campe being arriued Castalde martialled all his battalions and Artillerie before the Turks with a marueilous crie and confused noise of all those barbarous nations and continuing there a certaine time in such apparance they tooke possession of the Mountaine and the Frier incamped with his people on the otherside towards the Castle Castalde possessing all the hill which commaunded in manner of a Caualier quartered those highest who were entertained by Ferdinand namely the Spanyards Germanes and Hungars and caused his Tent to be erected in the middest of them Whilest the Campe lodged there the Turkes came forth to fire one of the Suburbes which was well prouided of victuals and specially of wine which groweth in that quarter as good as could be desired Castalde vnderstanding hereof commaunded Captaine Iohn Vilioa that presently he should take 100. Spanish Harquebuziers and so force the enemie to retire and that after hee had quenched the fire which alreadie began violently to burne to spread it selfe vpon the houses he should endeuour as much as he could to saue the victuals for the better reliefe and prouision of the Camp and that he should hinder that they might not bee spoyled by those nations But they could not so well bee kept neither take so good order but that the Friers Aiduchs came and tooke their pleasure and fill of the wine in such sort as the superfluitie thereof so chafed and stirred vp their courages that 500. of them being pricked with that Bacchinall furie they ranne instantly to assaile the towne without ladders or any order thinking by their brauing tearmes to subuert and ouerthrow the walles By this sudden attempt happened an alarme to the whole Campe euery man thinking that the Turkes had made some sallie forth to skirmish with our men On the other side the Turkes also assuring themselues by this horrible bruite and noyse to be assailed both with scallado and batterie they presently stood vpon their defence couering the walles with men and with their harquebuzes they made a great slaughter of these Aiduchs who like beasts were easily discouered and grasping the wall attempted to leape vp vttering to the Turkes many iniurious speeches as
one death receiued two because that venturing into the riuer to saue themselues by swimming to the otherside the Hungarians Germanes and Bohemians setting themselues against them pearced both them and their horses with their Launces on euery side insomuch that he who died not by dint of the sword was forced pitifully to end his life in the water and to drowne himselfe a long time stayning the water with their blood The other seeing their companions thus badly intreated and returning vpon the spurre to the towne with hope to saue themselues in the Castle were by our men in all parts so cut off and slaine that not a man could saue himselfe Oliman who also had forsaken the towne with a good troupe of horse with intent to saue himselfe seeing what was done to others tooke for the last refuge which fortune that day alotted to him to saue his life wherein most of his people lost their liues a resolution to saue himselfe in the Castle Flying thither a pace he found there a great throng of his people that as yet remained safe from this furious and bloodie tempest who for the great prease to saue themselues from slaughter endeuoured to enter in many falling from the railes of the bridge into the Ditch sorely brused and crusht in peeces and by this time there was more then fiftie horse and men ouerthrowne therein who with their masters there perished Oliman being also arriued at that time mixt himselfe with this throng although he often saw himselfe almost troden downe by this multitude and entered into the Castle vpon the bridge whereon there was also some of our people mingled among them and if then they had bin well aduised to haue throughly charged thē on that side they might easily that day which was the 6. of Nouember haue taken the Castle and Oliman had neuer been saued But the desire and couetousnes of gaine which too vsually happeneth in such cases so blinded euery one as it was omitted and not any thing thought of Now all the towne being sacked wherein was gotten great spoyle and the night come Castalde caused all the Castle to bee enuironed and placed about it good and strong guards for feare least the enemie by the obscuritie and fauour of the night occasion to bee incensed against this countrie onely contenting themselues with this that they had alreadie done against him in taking this towne by force and hauing killed therein so many valiant souldiours of his and forcing the Belerbey to retire with shame and on the contrarie it was now more expedient to sweeten and temper his crueltie by milde courses to effect which he thought it good to let all those freely and in safetie passe who were retired into that little Castle Castalde replying said vnto him that by no meanes he would suffer such a stearne enemie as Oliman was to scape seeing they now had him in their hands and that none but God should free him thence and that vsing such rigour and seueritie in his proceedings he should begin to abate the pride and boldnes of the Turk and by no meanes he would suffer such fauourable occasions to slip away which of a long time they found not so happy and fortunate to them as now and that they should not haue it might bee in time to come so prosperous successe as this which was now offered by this good occasion The Frier neuerthelesse still contradicting him and maintaining that it was needfull to saue Oliman and the end at which he aymed being manifest to all the Campe as that also which the Slauonian had confessed who a little before was taken he was in the end forced to discouer his wicked intent and plainly to tell Castalde that for no mans pleasure hee would not become enemie to the Turke but that hee meant to set Oliman at libertie and permit him freely to depart with his armes horse and all his people who were with him and that if this could not be done he must be forced to defend him against any who would withstand it Castalde answered him that since he had determined to doe so this was his aduice that before hee would conclude any other thing hee would cause all the principall Lords and Captaines of Ferdinands armie and them of Transiluania to bee called together in a publike assemblie to the end that euery one might speake his opinion thereof and that by this meanes they should haue no occasion to complaine that they were depriued of that honour and profit which they had dearly purchased with their owne blood and with extreame paine without giuing them to vnderstand some good matter therefore and that they should not haue any occasion to complaine of them two The Frier liked very well of this motion assuring himselfe that none neither would nor durst contradict his will And thus being in his Tent accompanied with Castalde Andrew Battor Thomas Nadasdy who not long before was made Palatine of Hungarie Perein Peter Iohn Turky the Marquesse of Balasse and other Lords and Captaines as well Hungarians and Bohemians as Spanyards and Germanes and with them all the Deputies of townes and prouinces of the kingdome Frier George in the presence of them all began thus to speake in Latin My louing Lords and friends I perswade my selfe you are not ignorant how much the force and terrour of the Grand Seigniour is to be redoubted and Feared in respect of his imperiall rule and command which I know hath been by experience too soone proued by you to your vnspeakeable detriment by the ruinating of your townes and death of your deare friends and kindred and in like manner you know of the enormious cruelties which at his pleasure and in his furie he knoweth iustly or iniustly to vse against men and women sparing neither children nor virgins vsing fire and sword not onely against you but also against your Temples houses and lastly the very trees plants and beasts themselues are not any thing warranted from the furie of his barbarous ire For this cause I esteeme it to be more then necessarie that wee wilfully draw not more hatefull indignation vpon our selues then that which alreadie his people naturally are possest withall against our Religion and former iniuries but on the contrarie that wee endeuour our selues by all meanes and manners to appease him and to make him mild and mercifull that in time to come he contenting himselfe with the accustomed tribute he may suffer vs to liue in peace quietly possesse our goods without any dread of warre To accomplish which I am of this minde to imploy therein this Oliman Bech now straightned by you in this Castle of Lippa to whom and to his people giuing libertie safely to depart shall recite to the Grand Seigniour our good and friendly intention who in respect of so friendly a deliuerance will rake vp in obliuion the reuenge which otherwise he would violently vse against vs for the wrongs which he hath receiued
by vs in this warre and no doubt he will let vs possesse this tranquiltie and peace which is so vehemently desired of euery one Therefore I earnestly desire you that well considering of my words you would follow my counsell and imbrace this my good intention which is sincerely spoken for the publike good and that you would not through any ambition seeke to put Oliman and his people to death or retaine them prisoners because that when you haue put them all to the sword yet can you not cleere your selues neither of hate nor further trauaile considering that the Grand Seigniour hath no want of other men and forces hauing fifteene miles from hence more then 40000. men readie to reuenge their deaths and as I am certainly informed by a friend which euen at this time is come to me from their Campe that the Belerbey and Basha of Buda will within a short time come to assaile vs which if it proueth to be so what then shall become of vs what hope of kindnes can we expect hauing not vsed any curtesie towards their people Therefore we iudge it better for vs not to bee found besieging of them knowing this that besides all kinde of horrible and cruell death they will reuenge vpon our heads and deare friends their mens blood which we haue shed We may auoyde and suppresse these cruelties by our clemencie and milde proceedings and may thereby make him of an enemie to become gentle tractable and gratious there being not in this world any glorie more extolled and recommended then that which is gotten in hauing compassion of an enemie who feeleth himselfe reduced to the extreamitie of his honour and life neither is there any magnanimitie more illustrious then to pardon those whose liues are in the victors power to dispose of At these speeches of the Frier Gastalde as the chiefe and principall man among them made this effectuall replie It was not needfull that you most reuerend Sir should haue sent not few moneths since to the Emperour Charles the 5. to promise him vpon your faith that you would alwaies be as well fauourable to the Christians as on the other side a cruell and mortall enemie to the Turkes neither was it in like sort necessarie that you should desire Ferdinand King of the Romanes to send you succours and deliuer this kingdome of Transiluania from the tyrannicall oppression of the common enemie if you would haue vsed these courses which now with a dishonourable reputation I see you practise And although that Ferdinand did not any thing doubt of your inconstancie hauing before too truly had experience thereof yet neuerthelesse not taking regard to this your sudden alteration he was willing to assemble this armie together and against the opinion counsell of many to send it to your ayd And this force hath been such that not onely it hath holpen this kingdome and you your selues from the tyrannie of Infidels but also it hath recouered a great part of the countrie which by force and treacherie was vsurped by them Now what occasion moueth you being victorious and hauing put your enemies to flight wittingly to bring your selues into thraldome and with shame procure that wee and all you the rest should bee subiect to those which wee now detaine prisoners and are constrained to yeeld themselues to our discretion and to intreate vs that we should recommend our selues to him who is the capitall enemie not onely of our libertie but also of our holy and inuiolable faith and to manifest so great cowardlines by fearefull words to those who to our great glorie manifesting our couragious hearts we haue ouercome and tamed and especially at this time who as it were quite cast away betake themselues to such infamous compositions that they shew themselues vnworthie of life as assuredly they would esteeme of you if you had bin vanquished by them manifesting thereby that they are not worthie to be heard of so noble and honourable personages as these Lords here present and all these nations which are about vs who not long since for their countrie honour life libertie and freedome from so horrible captiuitie haue shed so much blood that Marosse ranne coloured of another hew What should auaile this famous reputation which with so many trauailes so many hazards and with the death of so many valiant persons hath been atchieued if now by a cowardly composition you would let it be lost Doe you not see that in yeelding to those who are you prisoners you will wholly lose your boldnes hereafter to dare the enemie to the fight neither shall you bee able at any time to make warre vpon them for that they will alwaies presume to hold you in so great subiection and little esteeme that tenne of them will not feare to assaile an hundred of you in which you will the rather assure them in respect of your fearfulnes and so the conclusion will be that of vanquishers you are like to become vanquished I would gladly know what doth incite and incourage souldiours if it be not glorie and reputation and to gaine therewith by their trauaile and industrie honour renowne and recompence And now that with great admiration you haue atchieued it and brought to happie end this warre would you with your great shame and losse leaue to the enemie this triumphant victorie and reputed fame which in euery place will raise you vp to the heape of all honour and praise What will the Christians mutter among themselues if not but that you haue been fearefull to see the Turkes in your power and that you rather haue fled away then had the courage to detaine them prisoners Doe you not thinke you Hungarians Saxons and Sicilians that the palme of victorie shall be giuen to the Spanyards Germanes and Bohemians and that in stead hereof you shall be noted of infamie suffering so shamefully the enemie to depart and to haue accepted of so cowardly a composition which they demaund of you cleerely thereby manifesting to euery one the feare which you conceiue of him Alas my Lords remember your fathers children brothers and kindred who haue been miserably slaine or fastned in chaines by these Turkes and thinke vpon your wiues which not without your great dishonor haue been violently carried away and rauished by those whom you now hold in your seruitude and if for the premised causes you will not vse to them the rigour of iustice eitherin killing or detaining them prisoners as at this present they hold your children brothers and friends yet at the least make them acknowledge that their liues liberties their armes horses and Ensignes are at your mercie and dispose which if you will needes graunt them these things yet let them acknowledge by speciall grace and fauour to haue receiued them of you and not by a forced constraint or by some certaine feare And neuer respect any false or fained aduertisements nor threats which are bruted of the Bashaes and Belerbeys comming for that he
vpon the frontiers of the enemie rather then to place them in Transiluania where Ferdinand had not so much to doe as in the foresaid places Castalde seeing this speech did greatly discouer him and being needfull for him to manage these affayres with more policie then before he had done said to the Frier that he thought it good and conuenient that they should send backe the Artillerie into the kingdome from whence it was brought and that with so good a guard as belonged to a matter of such moment The Frier was well content therewith but with this condition that there should bee no more then one hundred Germanes to conduct it which Castalde agreed vnto and presently sent word to his Captaines that they should cause the Artillerie to march before the Frier knew thereof and that therewith should goe fiue Ensignes of Germanes hauing charge to put one part within Albe-iula and the other in neighbouring places by And in the meane time he with his best skill declared to Frier George that it was very necessarie to leade the souldiours into the kingdome not so much for the assurance thereof as to recreate them in recompence of their trauailes which they had endured and for their exceeding valour which they had manifested at the assaults of Lippa as he himselfe had seene and also to the end that they should shew them some signe that they had good regard of them and were also mindfull of them The Frier at these speeches was content to yeeld thereto perswading himselfe that they being so small a number they should not bee able to disturbe that which he had secretly plotted in his minde Whilest the Artillerie was thus on the way the Frier and Castalde began to giue directions for the affayres of Lippa causing the dead bodies of the Turks to be conuaied away which were thickly spread in the towne streetes within the Ditches and at the breaches and specially at the Castle commanding that the walles should bee repayred the best they could And because in this towne were many persons who willingly or by compulsion of the Turkes had taken armes for their defence against Ferdinands Campe the Frier depriued them all of their goods and bestowed them in recompence vpon many his Captaines and souldiours Among which was in like sort bestowed the goods of a certaine Marchant who was slaine at the taking of Lippa a man of good sufficient wealth and one who had a wife who besides her beautie and youth was also vertuous and of good reputation as any was in that countrie This woman seeing she had lost by the sacke and spoyle of the towne her whole substance and that nothing was left her but her apparell which she then did weare and that also they had taken all her possessions from her and that the Frier had distributed them betweene two of his Hungarian Captaines who vnkindly had expulsed her out of her owne house seeing her selfe very poore and beggerly and not knowing what course to take was counselled to make her complaint to Castalde Vpon this she went and being come to his Tent and pressing to goe in and speake with him was stayed and enquired by the Guard what her busines was She answered that she would no other thing but speake with the Lieutenant generall The Guard seeing her very faire and seemely both of face and bodie thought that she came for no other thing but to make shew of her beautie and sale of her honestie and the rather considering the season which was somewhat late and approaching towards night whereupon they suffered her not to waite any longer but let her presently goe in who approaching the presence of Castalde she heauily explained the cause of her comming humbly intreating that hee would not suffer that shee should seeke her reliefe among charitable people sorrowfully telling him that although her husband was found with an ill wil to be at the wall of Lippa against him he had alreadie payd dearely for it euen the price of his life and that therefore she being a woman and a Christian she could not in any sort be found culpable thereof neither beare the offences of another being of her selfe cleerely innocent of that fault and that therefore it would please his Excellencie to haue respect vnto her condition and honour and that he would not permit that for the inriching of two who had no neede of her goods she should bee vtterly spoyled and bee forced to passe the remnant of her mournefull daies in perpetuall miserie whereof he should receiue but small honour She vttered these speeches with so good a grace and seemely behauiour well fitting the subiect of her discourse that she manifested to be no lesse adorned with an inward vertue then outwardly appeared in her countenance and bodie Vpon which her pitifull complaint Castalde caused presently these two Captaines to bee called for to whom giuing as much and more of that which belonged to Ferdinands part in recompence of this womans goods he commaunded them that instantly they should restore al that which they had of hers which they willingly did and one of the two who had offered her the greatest wrong within a while after tooke her to his wife in respect of her singular beautie and vertue which he saw that naturally she was inriched with In this time the Campe-master Aldene required Castalde to bestow the gouernment of Lippa vpon him with such conditions as he had in charge to bestow it vpō any other which was presently granted him left there with his companie to gouerne it he was commanded to fortifie it and repayre the Castle he recommending that place to him as a thing of great importance to all the countrie and especially because it was the only Bulwarke and Key of that kingdome and therefore that for this cause he was to repayre it into such state and as strong as it was before and that he should giue order that the inhabitants who were fled from thence should returne thither againe and that he should haue a speciall care to vse all his neighbours friendly vsing the like to those about the Castle of Solimos within which he was to place his Ensigne vntill the Castle of Lippa was well repayred and fortified and leauing him good prouision of victuals yea such as by it he might maintaine himselfe for many moneths Castalde on the other side to prouide for Themesuar sent thither Don Iasper Castelluio with his companie of Spanyards raised of those who at the assault of Lippa had lost their Captaines as aboue is said whereof Ferdinand not long before had prouided him and gaue him speciall charge to fortifie this towne and to take such order that it might not want any thing that might bee necessarie for any occasion Hauing sufficiently prouided for these two townes he lodged his whole armie within the precinct of Varadin and hauing well accommodated them he caused the Spanish and Germane companies to march on
the enuie and wickednes of Ferdinands Captaines who doubting that he meant to reestablish in the kingdome King Iohns sonne and not being able to tolerate that he was so plausible and popular and that they were in so little esteeme with him and that hee disposed of all things as absolute Lord of the countrie without conferring with them of the particularities to thrust him out from among them and to vsurpe his possessions that absolutely they might haue the commaund they accused him to Ferdinand of treason who too lightly reposing credit in them consented that hee should be thus cruelly slaine it being afterward very apparant that this treason was not inuented but only to spoyle him of his treasure and moueables there neuer yet falling out any matter which could in any thing blemish or obscure his honour Whilest vpon these particularities many assemblies were in the Deanes house and that the Comissaries went to Vienna to inquire the manner of this said fact Andrew Battor was created Vayuode of Transiluania and Stephen Losonze Counte of Themesuar who would not haue taken the charge of that towne except Ferdinand would graunt him a sufficient companie of Spanish souldiours to remaine there with him which was presently graunted And for that they were not in the kingdome but in the confines and frontiers of the enemie they were presently sent for and they being arriued Losonze went from thence with them to Themesuar to repayre the fortification of that towne and the Vayuode tooke regard to the affayres of the kingdome Now it was alreadie diuulged in all parts that Solyman had made Mahomet Basha his Lieutenant generall to come and besiege the townes of Themesuar and Lippa and that he was onward on his way at Belgrade where he amassed together a great armie to inuade that countrie It was also euery where certainly bruited that the Vayuode of Moldauia prepared the like to enter into the kingdome about Brassouia About the same time arriued in Transiluania the Counte of Helfestaine with 4000. old Germane souldiours bringing with him tenne peeces of Artillerie By him Ferdinand writ to Castalde that very shortly he would send him 1500. men of armes and 7. companies more of Germanes and that the Marquesse Sforce Palauicin should also within a short time bee with him with 3000. Italians and 2000. Hungarian souldiours and with as many Caualarie as possible he could send him Whilest these preparations were directing on the one partie Castalde and the Vayuode on the other made a decree by which it was commaunded that all the gentlemen of the countrie should assemble at the towne of Torde and there to aduise and determine for the defence of the countrie vnderstanding that Mahomet determined to enter at the same time in diuers places with two armies to wit with his owne armie by the low Marches and with the Moldauian armie by Brassouia All the Nobilitie being according to this commaundement assembled order was giuen for necessaries for the preseruation of the publike weale and it was concluded that the townes of Lippa and Themesuar should be well furnished with men and victuals and that the fortification should with all expedition be presently reared for that the enemie might finde it well defended and that the greatest force of the kingdome should be assembled together as the ancient custome was in such necessitie and that they should be mingled with those who were in Ferdinands pay and that of all they should make but one armie with which they were to march directly against the Moldauian to hinder him from entering into that quarter where there was not any strong place to withstand him but only Seghesuar which neuerthelesse was not of that force that it could resist nor hinder him but that at the first vollic of the Cannon he must needes also be master of Brassouia which was a towne of as great importance as any other in Transiluania and that likewise he should not burne the Prouince of Seculia possessed by the Sicilians and in the middest of the kingdome This bruite and feare although it had not brought with it any other inconuenience then a fabulous report yet was it sufficient to infuse a dreadful amazement into the minds of the inhabitants insomuch that euery one with great losse did alreadie begin to retire to some other aboades and abandon their owne homes and goods And for that Torde was a place strongly situated commodious and abounding in all manner of victuals it was concluded that there should bee the Rende vous for the armie and that thither should come the Vayuode to receiue the souldiours according as they came thither The gentlemen of the countrie being speedily departed with charge and commission to bring as many men as euery one was rated at and being now arriued amongst their people with great expedition obseruing their commission they performed their charge and began to march with their people to be there at the prefixed time and place Whilest they were thus assembling there happened a memorable accident which I would not omit to speake of There was at Torde an ancient custome and which yet continueth and that is that if the husband findeth his wife in adulterie he may cause her there to bee publikely executed in manner as I will speake of and also on the contrarie if the wife finde her husband in the same fault she may pursue that against him which he would doe against her It happened then at that time that a certaine Tayler who was of Varadin named Paul found his wife in bed with one of his companions and pursuing the custome of the said towne he accused her of adulterie and hauing proued the offence it was permitted him to haue the course of law to cut off her head with a Sable in the middest of the market place She being brought thither by her husband and by the course of Iustice and the appointed houre being come for this execution she with teares and sighs kneeling downe before him began pitifully to desire that hee would pardon her notorious fault faithfully promising him that from that time Forward she would hold his honour most deare and that he should neuer hereafter haue any occasion to bee offended against her and that it would please him to giue her her life in regard of the kinde affection which he alwaies bore her during the time she liued in good reputation and that she would euer after serue him not as a husband but as her Lord and master Good Paul being surprised by these her wofull speeches and moued by a natural kindnes to pitie was content to pardon her exhorting and perswading her to become a dutifull and louing wife whereupon he absolutely remitting all her hainous offence tooke her to him againe When within a while after it happened that this dutifull wife found her said husband Paul in adulterie with a young wench whereupon she accused him to the Iustice who causing
made no account of the fowle and fish which he esteemed one of the greatest reuenewes in the whole countrie for that they were wont to bee yeerely farmed at tenne or twelue thousand Dollers the said summe amounting to tenne thousand crownes or there abouts As for her dowrie he assured her it should be satisfied in giuing him some respite and that in the meane time hee would allow her sufficient consideration for it as vpright men should thinke meete and that besides he would esteeme her as his sister and would account of her sonne as of his owne begotten perswading her with good and friendly speeches to liue contentedly With this answer Lobosky returned more inriched by a future hope then a present effect In the meane time the King and Queene of Polonia ceased not to endeuour themselues for her satisfaction and secretly in her behalfe practised that she should remaine a Ladie and Queene as before It was then that the bruite greatly increased of the Turkes huge preparation for feare of which Castalde considering the small force which was in the countrie to resist this common and tyrannicall enemie gaue notice to Ferdinand of the present necessitie he was in desiring him he would not faile to send him the 50000. men which hee promised and to cause Palauicin to hasten himselfe that he should with all speede come vnto him with the people and Artillerie which he could gather Ferdinand returned him answer that for that time he could not send him the succours which hee had promised in respect of diuers lets which of late he had in Germanie but that hee would solicite Palauicin that hee would bring his people into Transiuania and would also send others as the commoditie and necessitie of the time would permit him and that he hoped that Duke Mauris would very shortly come himselfe in person to this warre with 12000. Launsquenets and 3000. horse according to the tenour of his Obligation and in the meane time he exhorted him to doe his best endeuour to redresse the difficulties of that Prouince which he wholly recommended to him and that relying vpon his care and wisedome he assured himselfe that he would giue order when and where neede should require and that he would prouide for all necessaries as was fitting for a prouident and expert Captaine such an one as he esteemed him to bee commaunding him that he should assist himselfe with the reuenewes of the Churches of that kingdome which were vacant and without Pastors and for the notice whereof he had deputed the Bishop of Vesprimia and George Veruery who should make a role of their values and send the same to his Maiestie to make an equall deuision thereof and further commaunding him to render to all the officers and seruants of Frier George their moueables and specially those which were found at Zaluoch and that of the other he should cause to be made an Inuentorie and further that hee should pay the 400. Vssarons who are light horsemen mounted and armed a la Hungresque who were in the Friers seruice while he liued for feare they should goe and serue the enemie and that they should be vnder the commaund of Operstolph who was the principall Captaine of the Caualarie in Transiluania and who not long since was entertained on his Maiesties part all which was presently performed Losonze being at Themesuar with 600. horse and hauing with him Don Gasper the companie of Diego Velez which was 300. men ouer whom the Ensigne commaunded and 300. Bohemians and two companies of Germanes they in all making 1600. men besides the inhabitants who were apt and able to beare armes who might amount vnto nine hundred men Castalde sent him one moneths pay for all the souldiours and two hundred other Germane Harquebuziers sending him word by a Spanyard that he should not faile to get into the towne the greatest store of victuals he could to maintaine a longer time all the sieges which vpon a sudden might happen to him and besides he sent him so much Artillerie and munition as was sufficient for him to withstand all the assaults the Turkes should offer him In like sort he did aduertise him by Don Gasper that he could not then succour him any more in respect of the few men himselfe had with whom he could not goe into the field against so puissant an armie as Mahomets was for that he was disappoynted of the ayd he expected frō Ferdinand by reason of the late troubles happened in Germanie and that he had no other Infantric vpō whom he might trust but a few Spanyards who remained vnto him with 4000. Germanes which lately were come to him and 1000. men of armes therefore he willed him that he should rampier and fortifie himselfe the best he could and prepare himselfe for the defence of that towne which in the end would be the onely fountaine and cause of all his glorie and reputation and that he should not expect to bee relieued by those of the countrie who should presently be assembled for that they were not esteemed such that any trust was to be reposed in them and therefore he sent him word that it was requisite that in any case hee should make of necessitie a vertue and that so much the rather because he saw himselfe constrained to march with those few men which he had against the Vayuode of Moldauia who would enter into Transiluania by Brassouia where he had not any Fortresse to stay him those of the countrie supposing that the damage which they should receiue on that side would bee greater then that which Mahomet could bring vnto him about Themesuar by reason of the strong places which were in that quarter and for the commoditie which was there to resist him for which considerations he was forced to march against the Moldauian to withstand him from entering into the countrie and from the possession of that towne and to goe into the field with as great force as he could and that besides he was constrained to doe this except he would see the kingdome vtterly lost and because of the little content which he perceiued in the hearts of euery one whom he saw more inclined to a reuolt then a defence and also because he knew that this quarter was more commodious and fit for aduantages to keepe the field with a few men by reason of woods mountaines and other hard passages then was that about Lippa or Themesuar for which difficulties and aduantages he not any thing feared the Moldauian much lesse his Caualarie which he doubted not but with his Infantrie to defeate and force them recoyle And whereas he could not come to relieue him without a like armie to that of Mahomets that he and Don Gasper should doe their vttermost deuoyre to defend themselues and valiantly to resist the enemie in that quarter whilest he of his part should make resistance against the Moldauian assuring him that if his enterprise did fortunately succeede as
by any commaund but moued onely by a true compassion for such an vnspeakeable calamitie and suddaine ruine began in the best sort hee could to giue order to cause to be retyred that Artillerie which remained whole from the violence of the fire seeing he could not remedie any other thing for that all was fallen to a marueilous ruine He remained within Lippa three dayes and vntill he had seene all the Artillerie which was dispersed in the towne that remained whole to the number of fifteene peeces conducted in safetie of which there were some sound and many broken and crakt and with those and all his people he retyred to Iula first causing fire to be set in euery place of the towne that remained vnburnt to the end that the enemy might not in any sort reliue himselfe tierewith Which being done he presently gaue aduertisement thereof to Castalde who alreadie vnderstood of this miserable ruine which was exceeding displeasant to the armie and to all Transiluania and specially to the Spanyards whose reputation it touched more then any other considering that he was a Spanyard which committed so infamous and dishonourable a thing in regard whereof they were alwaies held in contempt and derided by all the nations of that Prouince they being not able to alleadge any colourable reason for their excuse which procured great discontent and irksomenes to Castalde for that he reposed all his hope vpon this Fortresse thinking that in well defending it all the Bashaes force would not haue been sufficient to haue wonne thereof one thumbes bredth of ground And although he esteemed the kingdome together with his armie and reputation to bee in a manner lost yet was he not troubled nor made any semblance of feare in his heart of so great a losse and although the cowardise of another had thus euerted his deseignes and that sudden and rash attempts commonly bring more trouble and amaze then those which are foreseene by an aduised consideration yet neuerthelesse hee did not omit to aduertise Ferdinand of all these accidents and present daunger wherein he was for that the Port of the countrie being by the carelesnes of another opened to the enemie to enter into that countrie he being not able to withstand him without another armie answerable to that of Mahomets or at the least halfe as strong In like sort he gaue aduertisement to Roderic Vigliandrando and to Andrew Lopez that they should march no further because as is aboue said they were sent who by some meanes or other they might enter into Themesuar and he commaunded Captaine Lopez to enter with his companie into the Castle of Deua which next vnto Lippa was the strongest Fortresse in that quarter and of the most importance for the enterance into the kingdome commaunding in like manner Aldene that he should remaine in that towne with the companies which he brought from Lippa and that vntill he knew further of his pleasure The towne of Deua is very fayre and rich and situated in a place which participateth of a plaine and hill hauing a Castle of good defence neere vnto which a few yeeres past was found by such meanes as we shall speake of great store of treasure by the peasants of the countrie vnder an old ancient Castle or Palace all ruinated and decaied The raine continuing a long time and the water running in great abundance with a forcible currant by violence thereof there was discouered an infinit companie of golden Meddals vpon one side of which was coyned the image of Lysimachus and on the other side a victorie euery one weighing two or three crownes The storme and rage of the water being past and the Sunne shining vpon these they made a marueilous glistering which being perceiued by certaine peasants of the countrie and they running to see what it might bee they remained rauished with ioy considering so great a quantitie of the golden Meddals and offering to take them vp they also found a golden Serpent which afterward Castalde sent to Ferdinand hauing had it at the death of Frier George with a part of these ancient Meddals this being an ancient custome amongst those who buried their treasure to place Serpents there in token of a faithfull keeper And after that these peasants had taken no man knew what others tooke from thence more then twentie thousand Duckets and the report was that they might haue taken more then 100000. for that this place had sometimes been Lysimachus aboade whereof Ferdinand had as wee haue said 1000. and Castalde about 300. which coyne remained in this place from Lysimachus his time Among other notable antiquities that was found there were two Meddals of gold the one was of Ninus and the other of Queene Semiramis which two were sent to the Emperour Charles the 5. And there was not any man in all that Prouince of what authoritie or reputation soeuer which had not some of these Meddals so infinit was found this summe to be Now Castalde hauing taken order for the most important affayres of the kingdome he went from thence with the Vayuode of Transiluania to Seghesuar from whence afterwards he went to Sassebessa And being there arriued he lodged in the best manner he could within the towne it being seated in the midst of the countrie where he hastened the fortifications of those townes which were alreadie begun to be fortified and into which places he determined to place garrisons to defend them against the Basha knowing he had not the force to incounter him in the field and writ againe to all the townes that they should send him more souldiours certifying them of the bad fortune which was lately happened to the low countries and although they ceased not to send vnto him yet could they neuer leauie but 16000. men In this time arriued 1500. men of armes which Ferdinand had promised to Castalde 1000. whereof were vnder the conduct of Fabian Schinach and the other 500. remained with the Marquesse Sforce Palauicin who brought with him 3000. Germanes and as many Italians with certaine troupes of Hungarish horsemen and some Artillerie to succour Castalde and marched with great iourneys hauing alreadie passed Papau which is a Fortresse vpon the confines of Hungarie neere to Vesprimia and he marched very speedily There is found vpon the way which is neerest out of Hungarie into Transiluania a Castle named Drigal situated iust in the way which then was kept by the Turkes so that they could not conueniently passe that way which was farre better and the surest to conduct an armie into the countrie Whereupon to finde some meanes to winne this Fort Ferdinand commanded the Marquesse Sforce that arriuing neere vnto the said Castle he should with all his power make some stay there and endeuour himselfe by all meanes possible to get it Which Castalde vnderstanding and knowing by many reports the strength of that place by reason of the few men the Marquesse had with him he
hee would gladly consort with them and especially knowing betweene them how the other had most iniuriously wronged them and with what crueltie hee had much persecuted them euen to death discouering to them that it was farre more conuenient to make him away by some deuice then to looke for this that he should take away their liues These two greatly ioyed at this vnexpected offer and determined to performe that vpon him which vniustly he had imposed vpon them and to reuenge themselues of the honours which were taken from them and of the shame and obloquie which vndeseruedly they had receiued against all right and reason Many of their friends and kinsemen who thought not wel of that which was done against them conspired with them as also many others who were kinsemen to him who lawfully should haue been Vayuode These altogether complotted with the Bugeron concerning the meanes that should be vsed to put their conspiracie in execution which was that they should suddenly assaile their enemie and kill him as within short time they performed it entering furiously one day into the Vayuods Tent who was laid vpon his bed to repose himselfe imagining that neuer any durst haue the face to offend or disturbe him they gaue him so many stabs with a poynard that they caused him presently to giue vp the ghost and afterwards by the meanes of them that followed them they set vpon 2000. Turks and Tartars which he continually had for his guard cutting and hewing them all in peeces electing him for Vayuode who indeed should be he which being performed they conuerted their furie against the Tyrants kindred killing his mother children and friends as the manner is in that countrie not leauing aliue any of the contrarie faction from whom afterwards they might haue any occasion of mistrust This death seemed to all very profitable and specially to the Transiluanians who by meanes thereof saw themselues deliuered from very great dread and feare of being at any other time assailed by him and on the contrarie they saw this new Vayuode to make some shew to imbrace the amitie and friendship of Ferdinand which possessed them with a speciall hope of a long and quiet repose But all these vaine hopes in the end proued contrary as wee shall more commodiously in another place speake of for that this new Vayuode of Moldauia did not long continue in this league which he brake within a short time after that he might bee in the Turkes grace and fauour Also this death was the speciall cause which hindered the conspiracie that was wrought in Transiluania against Castalde and also because that at that time it came to be discouered insomuch that euery one knew all them that were actors therein and who had promised him to enter thereinto which made Peter Vicchy and Chendy to be greatly doubted as all those likewise who were compacted in this conspiracie of which number Castalde would not punish any therefore knowing it was then no time being on the one side withheld in regard of the feare and suspition of the future warre and on the other side seeing himselfe more troubled then euer he was by the vexations and discontents which his owne people hourely gaue him which farre exceeded those that he receiued by the enemie For the Germanes in respect they were not payed committed the greatest outrages that were possible ranging and spoyling all the plaine countrie killing the inhabitants of villages and doing incredible things without any regard committing vnworthie excesses and such as are vnfit for a Christian who is bound rather to yeeld a rule and forme of an exemplarie and modest life then of wicked or infamous liuers seeing that by the one they might gaine much and by the other lose infinitly From these so execrable extortions proceeded the speciall cause that afterward incensed all the inhabitants of the kingdome to reuolt and specially the Nobilitie who seeing that their first enterprise taken in hand vnder pretext of doing good yet came to no effect propounded one day before Castalde that it was expedient seeing they were all then in the field to goe with all their people to besiege Lippa and vse some stratagem or force to take it it being reported that Cassombassa had few men within it hauing sent from thence the greatest part of the garrison to Mahomet to the siege of Agria importuning him that he would not omit this occasion and commoditie whilest it shewed it selfe fauourable fearing that neuer after the time would bee so conuenient for such an enterprise all of them very willingly offering themselues to this warre They spake this with a dissembling heart to deuise some meanes to worke Ferdinands armie out of the kingdome with an intent they being once out not to suffer them to reenter againe But Castalde who well vnderstood these deuises which they shadowed with a pretence of good and which in effect had an outward appearance of trueth would by no meanes consent to their perswasions but dissembling and possessing them with hope to graunt their requests deferred as much as he could their demaunds and that so much the rather for that he knew how greatly it imported him to remaine in that place where he was then resident from whence he might with good aduantages prouide for all distressed parts and specially for the necessities which daily might happen as also to consider the end to which Mahomets affayres against Agria might tend In this time there arriued at Vienna the Popes Nuntio and Comissaries with articles drawne and propounded by Cardinals deputed thereto touching the information of Frier George his death vpon which they were to examine witnesses and to bee informed by them if it were true that hee practised treason against Ferdinand in fauour of the Turkes and namely to cause him to lose and be depriued of the Realme and so accordingly to censure if the death of Frier George was iust or no. Hereupon Ferdinand and King Maximilian writ to Castalde that he should send them the examination of the witnesses which he had caused to be heard and examined as well in Transiluania as elsewhere to the end that thereby they might censure of the offence as the qualitie and condition of the fact required Castalde receiuing this message caused to be examined one Emeric the Friers Secretarie and an other that was his Chancellor named Adam who deposed certaine things which might giue some shadow and colour of suspition but in their examinations they were quite different the one from the other and the said Emeric vpon some displeasure which he conceiued against the Frier was not accounted an vnblameable witnes Castalde was greatly troubled to finde any who could verefie that which was imputed against the Frier yet within certaine moneths after there were sent to Vienna certaine proceedings which they had passed touching that point and afterwards they were presented to the Comissaries who with speede carried them to Rome As these persons departed
those of the Castle that if they would yeeld to him he would then vse them curteously and with fayre warres suffer them to depart in all securitie with their baggage and he would yeeld them such recompence that they should haue good occasion to thinke well of him and if they stood out and performed the contrarie he assured them he would put them all to death and pitch them vpon stakes if they fell into his hands But those within would giue no eare to this summons neither would they make any answer but onely by signe causing a beare or coffin couered with blacke to be fastned vpon two Launces and in this sort to be shewed ouer the wall to the Trumpetter who spake to them they not speaking any one word to him thereby giuing him to vnderstand that that Castle should bee their sepulcher rather then they would yeeld it to them it being then a custome to vse such a ceremonie when they would not accept of any conditions of yeelding but rather die in libertie then liue vnder the commaund of their enemies Mahomet vnderstanding of this their determination and seeing in vaine he sought composition with them sent that night to view the Castle and afterward appointed two batteries the one towards the Church and the other towards the hill and in each batterie he planted 25. peeces which continually played the space of 40. daies All the top and heigth of the Castle was wholly ruinated and so open that the assieged could not any longer bee in safetie in respect the Artillerie did greatly endamage them and specially that which was vpon the hill which to warrant themselues from the violence thereof they within made a large and deepe Trench along the walles where they rampierd themselues and in the night kept good watch without being farre from it neither to eate nor sleepe vntill the others were come thither to relieue them which euery sixe houres they carefully performed Presently after Basha Achmeth and Mahomet caused in one day to be giuen three assaults in diuers places in which they lost 8000. Turkes who were climed vp to the top of the walles and mounted vpon the breach with many of their principall Commanders for whose deaths the Turkes were more inraged and incensed then before and yet they ceased not without intermission to trie the assieged with new assaults and reenforcing of Cannons and one day they gaue in foure places one of the horriblest assaults that euer was heard of to which ranne all the men and women of the towne who with no lesse courage then the men themselues desperatly fought like Lionesses with weapon stones and skalding water making so great a massacre of the enemies that it was a dreadfull and most horrible thing and worthie of commiseration to beholde During these assaults they performed many notable acts and worthie to bee registred in all volumes of which the first was that the mother the daughter and sonne in law fighting vpon the wall the husband of the said daughter was killed and the mother with compassion saying to her daughter that she should goe and burie him she replied that it was now no time to vse obsequies nor to attend vpon funerals but rather to performe some cruell reuenge whereupon taking her husbands sword and his target vpon her arme she thrust her selfe into the place of the dead where she shewed incredible valour and by no meanes she would depart from thence before she had reuenged the death of her husband by the defeate of three Turkes which being done she withdrew herselfe and tooke the bodie of her dead husband in her armes and carried it to the Church causing him to be buried according to his degree It happened also in another place that a woman carying a great stone vppon her head with intent to throw it downe from the wall vpon the Turkes a Cannon bullet strooke off her head and falling dead at her daughters feet who taking that stone vpon her head all bloodie as it was without omitting any time to bewaile the death of her mother saying that her death ought not to bee vnreuenged and that it was not fitting for her being her daughter to liue without reuenging her death vpon another and thus being inflamed and as it were inraged she ranne thence with great furie where the greatest throng and prease of Turks were and killed two of them and wounded many other imitating a true Amazon or woman of Lacedemonia and bestirring her selfe from one place to another she exhorted euery one to performe their vttermost valour putting them in minde of the oth which they had taken and the glorious reputation which before God and the world they should obtaine and by this meanes she preuailed so farre that the enemies were shamefully repulsed and forced maugre their brauerie to retire forsake their Artillerie in such sort that there was two of their greatest peeces lipped The courages now of the assieged was marueilous great and specially of the women who with their husbands fathers children and brothers fought so couragiously that they feared not any danger how great so euer it was And as one day the Turkes gaue an assault to the towne they being as commonly they were wont to be vpon the wall armed with dead mens armour it happened that a shot of Artillerie brought three or foure of those to the ground who were the formost and most readie to throw stones vpon the enemie and although the blood and peeces of those did much hinder the trauailes of them that were their companions yet notwithstanding they made not any semblance or token of feare but rather in stead of hiding themselues they more inraged then before presented themselues to the fight to reuenge their companions and taking the same stones all besprinkled with their blood they mounted vpon the top of the wall performing incredible valour By these heroicall acts we may easily conceiue how great is the loue of our natiue countrie and what commaund it hath ouer vs since it incourageth for the defence thereof a thing so feeble and weake as is a woman appertly manifesting to euery one that there is not any thing in the world more deare or pretious then our natiue countrie for the good and preseruation of which we are bound with our goods honours and liues to defend and preserue Those of Agria remained in this sort so constant in their defence not willing at any time to speake or lend their eare to any Turke notwithstanding they were greatly importuned thereto that in the end they put Mahomet and the Basha of Buda in despayre for euer getting them vnder their puissance And thus these two Commaunders of the Turkish armie seeing the assieged would by no meanes yeeld and that by strength they could not subdue them nor force the towne by reason of the losse which they had made of their people at the former assaults and that the time now was against them for that the cold
parts and how he came to seeke him and with what intention Which being duly considered of he presently caused by the meanes and assistance of his friends to leauie as many men as he could making an armie of 24000. men with whom and with 36. peeces of Artillerie he went into the field lodging about Tergouista with resolution there to attend his enemie for that the place was most commodious to dispose and range his people in battaile Raoul on the other side notwithstanding all his attempts and diligence could leauy no more euen with Castaldes people then 12000. men although he had many friends and was generally the best liked of among all the Transalpinians For none durst shew him any fauour seeing he was of so weake a force and his enemie so braue and gallant euery one fearing that the issue of this enterprise would not succeede to his honour and to fall into the danger of Mirces displeasure whose horrible and execrable crueltie euery one greatly feared With these few men neuerthelesse he desisted not from marching to incounter his enemie who had for his Vauntgard 600. Turkes on horsebacke and being resolued to giue him battaile and not to bee amazed at any hand with the great preparation of his enemie he being one morning by dawning of the day arriued vpon certaine hils was discouered by the Sentinels of Mirce who then suddenly caused his people to bee ranged and ordered seeing he could by no meanes refuse the battaile and knowing that his enemies were resolutely determined to fight and although it was so that he might haue auoyded it yet would he not retire although he had some doubt and suspition to fight being aduertised that Raoul brought with him both Spaniards and Germanes which Castalde had giuen him assuring himselfe that those few souldiours which were with him were most valiant and expert and not easie to bee ouercome yea and hee did also distrust of some other succours While such thoughts were in hammering Raoul in the end made two squadrons of his armie each squadron being of 5000. foote and 1000. horse the most part of which were Harquebuziers and causing thē to march within harquebuze shot they made a stand vpon a hill causing them in such sort to be stretched out that they made shew of 14. or 15000. men Which being perceiued by Mirce and esteeming that number to bee greater then they shewed themselues before he began to distrust himselfe of some deceit and that he had not at the first certaine intelligence commaunding his people to stand more close then ordinary when the Harquebuziers of Raoul more confusedly then disciplinarily without expecting any other commaund or signall to fight were resolued as before they promised either to ouercome or die and gaue so furious a charge vpon one of Mirces squadrons as wolues vsually doe amongst a thousand flocke of sheepe and breaking the first rankes and quashing many a Turke who as the most resolute men were in the fore rankes and vpon whom Mirce reposed his greatest confidence the others began presently to recoyle and in flying they committed such disorder that there was none amongst them who thought not flying to be his best safetie Raoul on the other side at the same instant with his Infantrie and Caualarie most fiercely entered into another squadron of his enemies horse with no lesse courage then the said Harquebuziers did and breaking the first rankes he forced the other to turne their backes being on all sides gaulled and pearced with the thicke haile of the Harquebuziers who made not any shot in vaine This flight was of so great efficacie for Raouls good that Mirces squadron seeing these two thus quite defeated being possest with feare without further expectance of the enemie bequeathed themselues so to flight confusion that happie was he that could best flie and he esteemed himselfe most fortunate who supposed that he should be saued rather then others this ouerthrow thus happening because that the greatest part of this armie was composed of men sent by the townes and Lords of the countrie who are rather fit to make a number and shadow then to winne a victorie Thus wee often see that multitudes of such who are thus rawly sent are for the most part ouercome and subdued by a lesser number of souldiours well disciplined and practised in warre who to obtaine honour refuse neither perill of sword fire nor yet death it selfe and by this wee may iudge how dangerous and pestilent feare and cowardise is in an armie and how much on the contrarie vertue and valour and the prowesse of a noble and generous courage ioyned with the force and dexteritie of the bodie are extolled by which commendable qualities wee may auoyde the detraction and infamie of this world and purchase this true glorie which beautifieth and adorneth euery one and which raised Raoul to the type of honour winning so easily thereby this victorie that it seemed it was a true miracle of Iesus Christ who to punish this tyrant an enemie of his faith iustly permitted this ruine to befall him The souldiours of Raoul seeing then that Mirces armie was quite ouerthrowne and that there were not now any who opposed themselues against them forbearing the execution and slaughter of their enemies they began to search and ransacke those who fell into their hands and they performed so much for their owne profit that euery one of them became very rich thereby All those of Mirces faction who were aliue presently ranged themselues vnder the Victors Ensigne as it is alwaies the custome of the vulgar sort to follow new fortunes and daily desire new Lords And making together a great army they determined to pursue Mirce who saued himselfe with the rest of the 500. Turkes which before is spoken of and had now passed Danubius There died in this battaile about 7. or 8000. men of Mirces part and Raoul lost about some 700. Raoul thus achieuing this notable victorie he presently got possession of all the moueables of his enemie which were said to be more worth then 200000. Duckets with which he bettered his former necessitie and recouered all his kingdome the principall Peeres thereof with all his kindred and friends came to receiue and acknowledge him for their true and liege Lord and after that they conducted him with pompe to Tergouista where friendly and willingly they all swore fidelitie to him and did him all the honours as was fitting for them Behold here the mutations and changes of fortune with which she exalteth and abaseth whom it pleaseth her and giueth example to Potentates of the world after what sort they are to dispose of their actions and how little they ought to trust in her because that throwing them to the ground they cannot esteeme any thing firme and stable A Bugeron followed Mirce and incountring with another Bugeron who was well apparelled and richly armed he killed him verely beleeuing it had been Mirce himselfe and reporting
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
punishments which they haue merited For wee haue sworne to God almightie that there shall not remaine in Transiluania one stone vpon another that all the men shall be put to the sword the women and children shall bee led captiue and wee will that all be throwne downe and leauied with the ground whereof wee thought it fitting first to aduertise you as it belongeth to a most inuincible and victorious Emperour to the end that the losse of so many soules should not bee imputed to vs. We haue before times sent you the like Edicts which you haue neglected But if to this last Mandate you are not tractable and obedient attribute to your selues and not to vs the crueltie and ruine which in short time shall be inflicted vpon you Aduisedly then consider in time on all things for wee leaue the rest to bee duly examined by your wisedomes Giuen at Constantinople the 7. day of the Moone of October This Letter did so much daunt the mindes of euery one that it little wanted there followed not a generall reuolt as well for that Vayuode Battor was not there in person he being absent in respect of sicknes as also by reason that there was a speech of the returne of King Iohns sonne and of his mother Castalde who was yet at Albe-iula where he was lodged the better to passe a good part of the winter hauing receiued letters by which he was certified of all this matter and aduised to come with all speede to take order therefore further intimating vnto him that the Transiluanians did no longer affect him and that the most part of them would adherre to the Turke and recall Iohn to bee their King he presently departed from Albe-iula the 2. of December not respecting the rage and violence of the winter which then was extreame and with great iourneys came to Wasrael arriuing the same morning that the Diet should haue been concluded and that euery man should haue deliuered his opinion His arriuall greatly troubled the minds of the principallest amōg them and stayed them a little for that time hindering that the conclusion was not so presently performed which neuerthelesse was alreadie wholly resolued among them and counselled them to thinke further thereon The day following the better to expell from them this feare and to reassure and confirme them in the deuotion and amitie of Ferdinand he reproued the pride and vanitie of this said letter causing them all to be called to the Diet and he spake to them in this sort I know not O you Lords and Peeres of Hungarie Saxonie and Sicilia vpon what occasion you are so suddenly astonished and so much amazed that I cannot but extreamely maruaile thereat seeing that if for such vaine boasting words you are so discouraged and in a manner halfe dead what I should thinke of you if it happened to come to deedes for dread of which you can doe no worse and for feare of the mischiefe which the Turk denounceth to you you should with such cowardlines yeeld your neckes subiect vnder the yoke of his tyrannicall Empire minding vpon so light an occasion to defraud your selues of this glorie which partly hath been seene to bee achieued by you vntill this present and which in many armies hath shined euery where not considering that some will boldly say that your feare hath been in part the cause that such iniurious writings and horrible menacies should haue the force with you to kill you and cause you to dye as men without seeing any sword But if it be your minde that men should not so thinke of you and that indeede you would not giue any occasion thereof why like women or children doe you suffer your selues to bee so amazed Are you not men like vnto them Haue you not the like equall courage force and vigour which they haue Or what I pray haue they more then you What maketh you thus so suddenly to feare you whom in times past haue so many times beaten and ouerthrowne them Doe you not manage and beare the same armes and ride you not on the same horses with which you haue often forst them to many labours and toyles so that they haue more occasion to feare you then you thus to lose your courage in respect of them What blame and disgrace will this be to you I say who so many times haue been victorious and often haue defeated and chased the Turke out of this kingdome to agree now to him by reason of the brauado of a simple vaine letter which by force of armes you would neuer heretofore haue condiscended vnto and thus sillily like simple lambes to throw your selues into the wolues mouth Shall not this trow you bee a perpetuall dishonor to you all It behoueth you therefore to haue this constant opinion that before you fall into this great indignitie and calamitie that you expose your owne liues for your religion countrie children brothers wiues sisters and kinsefolkes rather then remaining aliue you should become a laughing stocke to all the world For those shall alwaies be esteemed glorious and worthie of all praise who fighting for the libertie of their countrie and common good shall not refuse an honourable death to auoyd a miserable and dishonest life It is apparant to you that the Turke hath alreadie sounded all violent meanes and not being able to ouercome you by force he now goeth about by these his other subtelties to subdue and bring you vnder to the end that you might proue by this his horrible crueltie that which his owne naturall children are fallen into And beleeue me he that is cruell against his owne flesh and blood cannot bee milde and mercifull to others as assuredly he will not be towards you at any hand but he will carrie himselfe so seeing the dissentions of you all not very well accorded amongst your selues as he and his predecessours behaued themselues then when they saw the dissentions betweene the Christian Princes which haue thus increased this Empire vnto them as with griefe too apparantly is seene at this day And assure your selues he will doe with you as he hath done in Greece which for her last refuge took a like resolution to this of yours the end of which ought to be more manifest and euident then euer heretofore by reason of the experience you haue had of former miserie And on the contrarie if you will consorte in a good and friendly vnion these loftie and furious speeches cannot any way hurt you For a generall vnion and setled concord doth alwaies feare and terrifie the enemie and on the contrarie discord and dissention giueth him hope to ouercome whereas by the meanes of a mutuall vnderstanding and amitie among your selues you may bee assured he shall not haue the power to flesh himselfe in your blood nor glut himselfe amongst you with all kinde of incontinencie as his predecessors haue done in the principall houses of Greece Now seeing it is naturally giuen to all to be more
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
daily came to him hee meant to march directly to Deua to reuenge himselfe of the losses which he had receiued of our people and withall to make himselfe master of that place to the end that so he might not haue any impeachment that might crosse his proceedings Hereupon Castalde caused the Diet to be solicited and earnestly to perswade all those that should be present thereat to giue order that euery one should take armes and ayde this towne and others and specially to march to the frontiers which diuide Polonia from Transiluania where it was said that there were 12000. Pollacques well armed whose enterprise was knowne to be no other but onely that they were there for the ayde of Queene Izabella The appointed day then for the Diet being come Castalde was present at Colosuar where he found al those who were called thither except the Vayuode who in respect of his sicknes was excused and there by the expresse commaund of Ferdinand hee demaunded of the Transiluanians ayde of men to suppresse all these tumults which couertly were dispersed in euery place and to defend Deua and other places he also demaunded money and victuals to make at the least a reasonable armie and such that with his people which then he had he might bee able in many places to resist his enemies Besides he demaunded of them Pioners to finish the fortifications of Sibinio Albe-iula and Sassebesse admonishing them to attempt it whilest the meanes were on foote to obtaine some truce of the Turke Vpon which demaunds he was thus answered that because the kingdome was by a long warre sorely afflicted and distressed and euery man reduced to extreame miserie they could not succour him with money nor victuals because that in the last winter they were all spent and consumed by the souldiours and as for the ayde of men they would assist him therewith as farre as they could notwithstanding it being necessarie that Ferdinand should send some other succours from Germanie or Hungarie to resist the Turke for that this Prouince was not of it selfe sufficient to withstand so great an assault which on euery side would be giuen and specially towards Lippa Brassouia and Hungarie where in euery place it was very requisit to haue a great armie infinit heapes of money and great store of victuals to entertaine them which by no meanes could not be found in this countrie by reason of the extreame pouertie thereof and specially of labourers which in regard of the continuall warres were either dead or fled And as concerning that which they were able to do he well knew that all was in his power to commaund they besides not iudging it vnfit to giue some repose to this discontented people to imbrace truce with the Turkes whereto they willingly offered themselues and they promised on their parts to chuse Ambassadours to treate thereof with the Grand Seigniour by the meanes of the Vayuode of Transalpinia who for the same effect had many times offered himselfe to them And as for the fortifications of those places alreadie begun they would speake thereof to the Burgomasters of those townes that they would do so much that they should send so many Pioners as was needfull for the finishing of them With this resolution this Diet ended when the Spaniards for two payes which they should haue receiued were more moued and mutinous then before and that in so strange a manner as the like was neuer heard of For refusing the payment and not minding to stay that they might bee satisfied in that kingdome for all that which was due to them they tooke by force the Ensignes from those who bore them and with them took their way towards Vienna passing through Hungarie where they performed infinit euils committing the greatest riot in the world And although that Castalde that he might haue brought this warre to an end was daily vpon his departure out of Transiluania yet he neuer could neither by entreaties nor by offers or perswsions so farre preuaile with them as that they would attend him but twentie daies to the end that he might not leaue the kingdome vnprouided and that for the time to come he might giue order to those places which had neede of garrisons and generally to doe before his departure all whatsoeuer appertained to the preseruation of that countrie But without respect to their Generall they dislodged and passed by Colosuar threatning to sacke this towne who were greatly afeard thereof although that Castalde was within it And being arriued at the riuer of Marque Ferdinand was exceedingly offended thereat and meant to send the Marquesse Sforce Palauicin who was alreadie redeemed from the Turkes for 15000. Duckets with all his people to haue cut them in peeces and seuerely to chastise the authors of this so great a sedition But he being appeased by by some sent to tell these Spaniards that they should repayre to Papau where they should bee satisfied of all their pay as within a while after they were A little before that Aldene was conducted to Vienna and was imprisoned in a tower Ferdinand minding that his condemnation should not be executed vntill Castaldes comming to whom he had giuen license to depart out of this Prouince and to come from thence to Vienna or to Sopronio Whereto he was very willing leauing this kingdome in the moneth of Aprill and arriued at Vienna in the end of May where he was ioyfully receiued by Ferdinand and K. Maximilian to whom afterward he made a large recitall of all what was passed to their great content And because vertue and glorie haue alwaies enuie attending on them some persons bruited amongst the greatest of Ferdinands Court that Castalde had heaped together a great quantitie of gold and siluer and that he was not a little inriched by Frier Georges treasure and by the presents which the Transiluanians had bestowed on him and that he had sent great store thereof from him This bruite did greatly grieue him for that it was come to Ferdinands eares and yet further for this that some said that he had detained and kept backe pensions and wages which his Maiestie had granted to certaine that were his trustie seruants and who had faithfully serued him during this warre Vpon this bad and false suggestion there was added many other vile and infamous things By writing and speeches he endeuoured to expell these false suggestiōs from Ferdinands conceit and from all the principall of his Court who in respect of such an obiect deferred the recompence which was iustly duly to him for the paine and labour which he had taken in discharge of his office yet so it was that in the end he was rewarded with 3000. Florins of gold of yeerely reuenew to him and his heires with certaine conditions to call them backe vpon some reasonable summes Presently after the departure of Castalde out of Transiluania they had newes that one Clement Athanase had with a good troupe of men
assotiated with him by night taken the Castle of Tocchay which by the situation thereof and art is very strong and that he durst attempt with ladders to surprise the towne of Agria from whence he was repulsed by the inhabitants in such manner that he could not enterprise any thing vpon it this being attempted by the commaund of Queene Izabella and her sonne Iohn They had also newes how Peter Vicchy was accorded with the Turkes and how he being accompanied with all his adherents he tooke the way towards Lippa with intention in the Queenes name to surprise the towne of Deua and Iula and doe his vttermost endeuour in this that it might returne to her and that she might reenter into the kingdome This man had great meanes and vnder his colour many great matters were practised which gaue sufficient occasion to Ferdinand to thinke deeply thereof who was sufficiently informed how all the Realme inclined to the Queenes part The Saxons to haue some shadow to remoue their household caused to bee demaunded of his Maiestie the Castle of Aluins which they said did according to their priuiledges belong to them and they requested that it might be confirmed to them by him That he might not discontent them in this their demaund but rather to hold them assured to him in some sound fidelitie and that hee might not giue them occasion to mutinie he yeelded to their demaund and presently they of Iula Agria and other places were commaunded that they should be vigilant and carefull and not sleepie or slothfull for feare of being suddenly surprised by the Queenes partie who ceased not to performe her vttermost endeuour that euery one should take armes against the Officers Gouernours and Lieutenants of Ferdinand During these proceedings it was ordained that the processe of Aldene should be renued and that the sentence should haue his full and entire effect if the accusations were found true This reuiuing being at a certaine day ended the first sentence was by this second confirmed and by consequence Aldene condemned to haue his head cut off The prescribed day being come to end his life he was in the sight of all Vienna led chained betweene two Friers who did comfort him to the place of iustice hauing the executioner by and was there vpon a scaffold to be beheaded Mary Queene of Bohemia and daughter of the Emperour Charles the 5. because he was a Spaniard and subiect to her father preuailed so much with the King her husband that he requested pardon of Ferdinand for him with this condition neuerthelesse that he should alwaies remaine prisoner This fauour being thus granted Aldene had his life saued and within a while after by the same meanes was wholly set at libertie against Castaldes liking who to the end he might giue example to others and to cause them learne by the negligence and cowardlines of Aldene how they should be hardie resolute and couragious imitating Torquatus solicited that he should be publikely punished Now whilest Castalde recreated himselfe with Ferdinand sometimes being with him in hunting sometimes pursuing the Harts along Danubius which to saue themselues from the dogges tooke soyle therein letters came to him from the Emperour Charles by which he commaunded him that seeing the Transiluanian warres were ended he should presently depart from Vienna and iourney into Flanders where he was greatly troubled by the people of King Henry of France that so he might vse him in this warre The Emperour also writ to Ferdinand how he had taken Hedin from the French King which is a place situate vpon the confines of Artois in the Low Countries against which he had brought a puissant armie and had enuironed it with his Campe and battered it on all sides and that in the end he had taken it notwithstanding the marueilous defence of the assieged making a great myne wherein was buried Horatius Farnese Duke of Castres and that he had caused it to bee ruinated and defaced euen to the foundations there being prisoners with him the Duke of Bouillon Marshall of France Lieutenant in the same for the King the Lord of Riou Gouernour the Counte of Villars the Lord of Prye the Baron of Culan and many others there being besides slaine the Lord of Magny the Vicount of Martigues the Lord of Moninuille the Lord of Cizieux the Lord of Dampierre the Seneshal of Castres and many others For this newes and the taking of Terouanne which a little before was besieged were great fires of solemnitie made at Vienna and many such-like exhilerations at the end whereof Castalde to obey the Emperour tooke leaue of Ferdinand and after being greatly honoured by him with many priuiledges and inriched with many gifts for the great valour which he had shewen in Transiluania against the Turkes he trauailed towards Germanie at the time that the warre of Sienna began to cease by meanes of Pope Iulius the 3. In the Easterne parts Solyman was no lesse inflamed to the warre then was Charles the 5. against France He as wee haue said in the yeere 1552. caused euery where to be published to get Mustapha his eldest sonne into his hands that the Persians were entered into Amasia and Syria and had sacked many townes and spoyled a great circuite of the plaine countrie leading with them prisoners the poore inhabitants and ruinating al which they incountred Vpon these newes he caused to be diuulged that he should be forced to goe in person into Amasia and to send Rostan Basha with a strong armie into Syria to force them to retire But this deuice was to no other end but speedily to haue the said Mustapha into his commaund and to assure himselfe of his Empire and life by putting him to death But before wee come to this narration it is necessarie that I recite some things of time past that I may the more orderly descent to that which commeth now to be treated of and to cause men better to vnderstand the cause that moued Solyman so cruelly to hate so vertuous and magnanimious a sonne Solyman then hauing had this Mustapha his eldest sonne by a slaue of Circassia he gaue him the gouernment of the Prouince of Amasia the better to maintaine himselfe and his mother This yong Prince daily increasing with corporall abilitie and with vertues of the minde gaue of himselfe great expectation to all those who saw him assuring themselues that one day he would proue a most valiant Captaine and couragious Lord. This infant being departed from Constantinople and arriued in this Prouince the Grand Seigniour began to be enamoured of another of his Slaues named Rossa so hotly that with the daily conuersation he had with her he saw by her foure children the one named Mahomet who had the Prouince of Carmania the other Baiazet to whom was giuen Mechoresia the third Selim who after the death of Mahomet had Carmania and the fourth Zeangir otherwise called crookbacke by reason of
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
office of the Electors in publike assemblies The Pope and Princes of the Empire send to the ayde of the Emperour Maximilian The manner and forme of the Spanish Inquisition THe Emperour Ferdinand brother to the deceased Emperour about the very time the death of his brother had aduertisement that the Basha of Buda and the Moldauian beyond all expectation would come into the field whilest his Maiestie held the Diet in the towne of Ausbourg in which were present all the Electors and almost all the Princes of the Empire as well for his own affayres as to giue audience to an Ambassage sent from the King of France of which were chiefe the Bishop of Vienna named Marrillac and the Lord of Bourdillon which was vpon the 28. of March the Emperour being in the great hall of Ausbourg in his Emperiall throne vnder the cloth of Estate hauing on his right hand the Bishop of Mentz the Ambassadour of the Bishop of Coullin the Archduke Charles the Bishop of Saltzbourg the Grand Master of Prussia with many other great Lords Vpon his left hand was the Bishop of Treuers the Duke of Saxonies Ambassadour the Ambassadour of the Counte Palatin of Rhein the Marquesse of Brandebourg the Duke of Bauier the Counte Palatin not the Elector the Duke of Michelbourg the Duke of Wirtemberg and the three Marquesses of Baden with other Lords Before this great and renowned companie were honourably placed the Ambassadours of France They offered in the name of their King all his abilitie and friendship for the seruie of the Empire and they sought a perpetuall confederacie with him and the Electors Answer was made them that when they saw effects correspondent to his words by restitution of the towne of Mets they would then assuredly thinke that their Master would bee their friend and also that then they would be all readie to confirme good amitie him This Diet ended the Emperour for feare of the daunger which might happen in his kingdome of Hungarie vpon the said aduertisement had present recourse to the ayde of his estates and of the Empire Bohemia Morauia Stiria and Carinthia offered vpon euery thousand crownes of value twelue crownes to succour his Maiestie And the Empire offered him men horses and money if in case the warre should further proceede and in the meane time while they could see what way these rumours would take they yeelded to his Maiestie 600000. Dollors for three moneths to be employed where his Maiestie thought good These rumours were not in vaine For the warre betweene Ferdinand and King Iohn otherwise called Stephen was greatly inflamed King Iohn hauing alreadie taken from the Emperour the strong Castle of Tocchay and many other minding continually to assay the recouerie of the surplusage of his kingdome and to reuenge himselfe of the wrong which he thought he had receiued in this that the Emperour held not promise with him touching the Infanta Ioane whom he had promised vnto for spouse with a dowrie conuenient to her greatnes and with such reasons being fauoured of the Hungars who complained themselues to bee sorely oppressed by the Emperour and hauing by the ayde of the Turke amassed a great armie he possessed a large countrie and had become master of all Hungarie if the Emperour had not before sent a sufficient Campe to resist and hinder them from further proceeding notwithstanding the forces of the Basha of Buda who was come into the field on his behalfe But at the instance of the King of Polonia other Princes who offered themselues to be mediatours of some good accord for the desire which they had to quēch that fire for feare that the Turke vnder this occasion should not fasten himselfe further in this quarter hee caused his armie to retire as also King Iohn did who by the aduice perswasion of the said mediatours was reduced to this point that he would send Ambassadours to the Emperiall Maiestie to effect their accord and to demaund one of his daughters in mariage which he did and his Ambassadours being arriued at Vienna and audience being graunted them being about to say that Iohn King of Hungarie and Transiluania had sent them vnto him the Emperour would heare them no further saying that his Vayuode ought not to call himselfe King of Hungarie that kingdome being his inheritance not vsurped as it had been by the father of him who sent them and that if they would haue audience they should no more call Iohn King of Hungarie nor Transiluania but onely Vayuode of that Prouince The Ambassadours not minding to accept of these conditions presently dispatched Couriers into Poland and into Transiluania to giue the King notice of all this Vpon this difficultie the K. of Poland was of opinion that the King of Transiluania his nephew shuld not for that time name himselfe K. of Hungarie but only of that which he possessed seeing it was not likely that he could iustly denie him the title of K. of Transiluania he being thereunto called by the consent of all the people and reinstalled by force of his armes after that he had not kept nor obserued the couenants and promises made as on his behalfe betweene the Queene his mother and the Emperour in the time that Castalde was there The Ambassadours following this aduice alleadging the reasons of the King of Poland and speaking of Castalde they complained greatly of him saying that the Queene had been more deceiued by his perswasions and vaine speeches then had been the dead King her husband by those who had crowned him K. of Hungarie and those who were reuolted against him The Emperour not minding to agree to this title of K. of Transiluania but only of Vayuod receiued notwithstanding those Ambassadours who treating of their charge were not much content They demaunded that the Emperour should relinquish all that which he pretended in Transiluania and that he should make peace with their King in giuing him his daughter in marriage with 100000. crownes and vpon this condition that all that which is situated beyond Tibiscus should bee his and that which was on this side should remaine to his Maiestie and that in the warres which might be betweene him and the Turke he should be reputed neuter not willing in this case to forsake the amitie of the Grand Seigniour not to faile in the fidelitie and homage which he had done vnto him neither was he willing to be bound to ioyne with his Maiestie whensoeuer the Turke would make warre in Hungarie They also further demaunded that concerning that which the Emperour possessed of the rest of Hungarie he should satisfie the dowrie and debts of Queene Izabella which she pretended from the time of the death of King Iohn her husband To these demaunds the Emperour consented in part and in part also meant not to consent to those which most imported him and specially concerning the alliance that he might not seeme thereby willing to yeeld vp his pretended
especially towards religion whereof he became protector in such sort that laying aside all his other particular interest he had speciall regard to the people which were committed to him endeuouring himselfe to preserue them against heresies and indeede not omitting any occasion or meanes to reduce those to the true knowledge who were strayed from the ancient Religion his good disposition was so great towards all the Princes of the Empire that with a reciprocall amitie he was so well affected of them that euen those who had important busines to negotiate with the Emperour Charles his brother feared not to take him to arbitrate betweene his brother and them so greatly did diuine iustice shine in him which comprehendeth in it selfe all other vertues Also not without cause of his good deedes as well in generall as towards particular Princes the Electors of the Empire continued their election in his familie from the father to the sonne almost making by this doing this succession not as election but as it were hereditarie It is not to be doubted but that his decease brought great griefe to the hearts of euery one as it very euidently appeared by the bewailing which vniuersally was made for his death His sonne Maximilian who alreadie was chosen King of the Romanes succeeded him in the Empire This man after he had taken the Crowne the Mantle and other Emperiall ornaments was confirmed Emperour by Pope Pius and seeing himselfe aduanced by this goodly and great dignitie with augmentation of goods and meanes hauing of a long time nourished in himselfe a mortall hatred against King Iohn of Transiluania he meant suddenly to vndertake the reuenge of many wrongs and losses receiued from him and to doe this he resolued to assaile him on a sudden And for this purpose hauing amassed a great number of footmen vnder the conduct of Melchior Ballassi and causing them speedily to march towards Transiluania he suddenly possessed certaine Fortresses Iohn mightily prouoked at this that against the compositions made with Ferdinand he was so wronged by a new King caused also his people very quickly to come into the field and without delay tooke the direct way against Sachmar a strong place belonging to Ballassi who had not well prouided for it mistrusting rather any other enterprise then this This place was taken by a stratagem Iohn hauing ranged all his people nigh to it about night in an Ambuscado so couert that without being perceiued they had commoditie to place themselues at the Port as they opened it to receiue in the Heardsmen who from the fieldes brought their heards of beasts into this towne Ballassi vexed at such a losse went from thence and put himselfe into a great towne yet not very strong named Debrezen in which ordinarily assembled many Marchants of diuers countries and thereunto hauing put fire he spoyled all there about In the meane time the King of Transiluania hauing reenforced his army with 4000. Turkes that the Basha of Buda sent him by the commaund of Solyman came to force the towne of Hadao and by composition he also made himselfe master of Atauiar and leading about many prisoners went and besieged the place of Vngar The Emperour not ignorant of this that his enemie was suddenly fortified with the ayde which was sent him from Buda had also dispatched a great number of Lansquenets and some Caualarie vnder the charge of Purchastaler Captaine and Gouernour of Vngar A good part of these troupes were alreadie entered into this place when Iohn arriued there with his armie and this succour came thither in so happie a time that the enemie notwithstanding all his endeuour was forced to raise his siege hauing lost there 4000. men at one charge which Purchastaler came and gaue him while he was not attentiue to any thing but to the besieged this Captaine hauing vsed this policie that planting his Cannon vpon the flanke of the enemy couering it with his people because he would not haue it discouered when they came to hand-strokes at the first signall his people as it were flying retired themselues from before their Artillerie which then being fitly discharged made a great butcherie of his enemies and put them into such disorder that the Germanes had a great hand of those who were come out of the trenches of the Campe to fight with them All this serued to no other end but the more to kindle the fire betweene these two Princes both the one and the other being willing to reuenge themselues whilest Iohn being succoured by the Turkes who liked it better to haue a weake neighbour for their friend then a neighbour who was strong and puissant Maximilian also thinking that thereby he lost much of his honour at the beginning of his Empire did daily make new leauies of souldiours and seeing he had to doe with a partie more strong then he thought for made Lazare Schuendy an ancient and very expert Captaine his Lieutenant in this warre and one who had attained great experience by the passed warres vnder the Emperour Ferdinand in the same countrie of Hungarie as wee before haue written For the rest of the yeere Schuendy could not enterprise any thing vpon Transiluania because that he was come too late into this armie winter being alreadie come vpon them so that the cold constrained him to lodge his people in garrisons vntill the Spring time furnishing himselfe in the meane while with necessarie things for the next warre Sigismond King of Polonia vncle to Iohn by reason of his sister considering that such preparations would bring but a desolation to Christendome and desiring for the auoyding of this euill to pacifie these two Princes enterposed himselfe to treate of an accord betweene them two and for this effect sending his Ambassadours both to the one and other he laboured his best to reduce them to a peace but they being both greatly moued he could effect nothing Therefore the Spring approaching Schuendy Lieutenant generall for the Emperour drew his people out of garrison and came into the field with an army drawing towards Transiluania to the end to assay the taking of the Castle of Tocchay which is a Fortresse very renowned situated vpon the frontire of Hungarie betweene the riuers Thissa and Wodrog which could not bee very easily besieged except these two riuers were frozen as then they were This place was before taken by Cazzianet for the Emperour Ferdinand who at the perswasion of some had giuen it then to a Hungarian Baron of the familie of Scheredy for recompence of certaine good and great seruices which he had done his Maiestie This Lord being deceased left one sonne who for that he was of yong yeeres was kept in this Castle vnder the gouernment of Francis Nemethy who of a Tutor became a Tyrant and vsurping the place for himselfe forsooke Maximilians part and adhered to Iohn This man being well ascertained that they would come and besiege it before the enemie presented
himselfe he caused to bee transported all his moueables his wife and pupil giuing order to that which belonged for the defence of this Fortresse This is built after the manner of the greatest number of those of Hungarie not hauing for all the Courtaines but one long rampier of earth flanked with certaine towers with a good and large Ditch full of water which then and for the ruine of the place was all frozen and with so thicke an ice that vpon it they might march to the assault as vpon plaine ground and winter being not altogether passed but hauing then his course yet very vehement by reason that this countrie is of cold temperature and when Schuendy made his approaches it was the 4. of Februarie He had such store of Cannon that therewith he so made his batterie that on all sides the towne was battered But this furie had not any force against the ground so that he was forced vpon the ice to come to the sap Whilest this continued the assieged sallied forth and they so couragiously charged their enemies that they laid 100. of them dead vpon the ground But the great number surpassing their courage they were constrained to retire and seeing their rampiers broken the feare to lose them caused them to parley promise to yeeld themselues vpon some conditions which for that they were too much profitable for them Schuendy would not agree vnto but caused to reare the ladders by meanes whereof the rampier was wonne and the towne forced and with great celeritie the Castle was assailed Nemethy not forgetting any thing which might bee for the defence of the place as he was a braue souldiour and a valiant and couragious Captaine by his valour maintained a long time the violence of his enemies vntill that going and comming here and there to incourage his people he was shot with a Harquebuze which threw him dead to the ground This death caused presently his souldiours to lose their courage who yeelded vpon this agreement that euery one of them should haue his sword and one suite of apparell The Emperials being entered into this place inriched themselues with good bootie and there they found a quantitie of good and delicate wine Schuendy sent the bodie of Nemethy to his wife who was retired to a Castle of his named Serentschin which without any stroke giuen became vnder the Emperours puissance Within a while after the Emperials of the garrison of Agria being aduertised that the Turks were gone out of Zolnok which was not farre from the Campe prepared for them a baite and an Ambuscado which came so well to effect that 300. Turkes remained there prisoners On the other side the garrison of Iauerin being abroad cut as many in peeces Iohn seeing how all succeeded to the aduancement of his enemie and that not any profit or commoditie could come to him in retaining the Castle of Sachmar which alreadie had been taken and retaken twice commaunded those within to fire it and to retire themselues by priuate and secret waies while Schuendy passed Thissa otherwise Tibiscus with his armie This passage did so much astonish those who kept the Fortresse of Eiden that being only besieged by the space of one day they yeelded without any defence Ferdinand hauing in former time vsed al his force to get it by reason of the great reuenewes and profits which come thereof This good fortune of the Emperour was greatly fauoured by the inundations and ouerflowings of Danubius and of other riuers of Hungarie and by the rigour of the winter which in that yeere was so vehement that the birds were found dead vpon the ground through cold and the peasants were taken lying vpon dunghils in great number halfe dead who being brought to the fire recouered their naturall spirits And at the end the raines were so abundant that the ice melting all the countrie was in a manner drowned in such sort that on all sides except the hils one could see nothing but water and the earth seemed to be conuerted to the great Ocean sea These marueilous accidents were greatly incommodious for the enterprises of Iohn because that the succours which on all sides were readie vpon the borders of the Turkes prouinces and of those of his tributaries in the towne of Buda for him were greatly slackened by these inconueniences Solyman who was determined to succour and ayde Iohn both with men and money and euen with his owne person neuerthelesse vpon these discommodities willing to entertaine Maximilian sent to him an Ambassadour named Marc Libiniesa a Transiluanian reneged Christian who before time had been at Vienna in the same dignitie His charge was openly to exhort the Emperour to preserue the pactions and agreements of the peace sworne by his father He had also there with him for the same effect George Bathor Ambassadour of Iohn and for the same occasion the King of Polonia had also sent thither his Ambassadour In the meane time Schuendy vpon these Ambassages more then once aduertised the Emperor that he should well aduise with himselfe before he made any conclusion tending to an agreement for feare of being deceiued by the Turkes vnder a pretence of an accord Maximilian himselfe doubted the sleights of the Turke knowing that it was but some policie to deceiue him Neuerthelesse that he might not seeme to haue a minde to disturbe this treatie of peace he commanded that the frontier garrisons of Hungarie should not molest the Turkes although that of their part such patience were not vsed as it was not For whilest that at Vienna they treated of pacifying the differences and assaied to grow to some reasonable agreement the Turkes greatly endamaged Slauonia and in Hungarie towards Iula they made many incursions being in the field with the Gouernour of Themesuar who had with him 6000. men two great peeces of Altillerie and eight Faulcons he spoyling all the countrie thereabouts With these peeces this Gouernour battered and tooke the Castle of Pancor also making himselfe master of two other named Seua and Deonec situated by Iula minding by those to further the siege with which he pretended to enuiron the said place of Iula towards which were marched 8000. Turkes by another way During these treaties at Vienna it happened that the souldiours of the garrison of Sighet went foorth vpon 200. Rhatians which they put to the sword and tooke two Agaes their Captaines and as they returned to their garrison with their prisoners there set vpon them 200. horse who enuironed and charged them in such sort that they brake them and pursued them so fiercely that of 600. which they were there was no more but 200. saued This happened in the absence of Captaine Nicholas Esdrim Counte of Serin who then was gone to the Court about some vrgent affayres of his own and it is to be thought that his presence would haue hindered such distaster As for Sachmar which was halfe burned and
into ashes The vessels and ornaments were carried to Tocchay from thence he tooke his way towards Moncat belonging to Iohn About this place the Emperours armie many times was badly intreated the garrison therof boldly seazing vpon the Sutlers of the armie whom they pilled robbed and lead away Schuendy to reuenge himselfe vpon them laid an Ambuscado and after faining a skirmish drew them to the fight and by little and little retiring thence he caused them to fall into the place where he desired they might be and by this meanes he had some reuenge of them the most part of them remaining dead in the field the lesser part being saued by flight Schuendy victorious with the spoyles of his enemies retired to Sachmar In which place by reason of diuers accidens there happened so many maladies among the souldiours and inhabitants that daily increasing they were constrained to goe into the fields and forsake the towne Vpon this occasion Schuendy went and incamped by Tibiscus fortifying himselfe with many Trenches But he was not long in this lodging before he was surprised with a very sore feauer which tormented him many moneths not without great disquietnes to the Emperour who greatly loued him hauing iust cause so to doe reposing himselfe wholly vpon him for the experience which he knew to be in him for the affayres of warre Notwithstanding that in Transiluania the warre proceeded on in this sort the treatie of peace was alwaies managed at Constanstinople But the Emperour well foreseeing that this negotiation was but onely to hold him in suspence while the Grand Seigniour in other places disposed his affayres and being further ascertained by Cornouuicchy who was but come from the Turkes Court that gentleman also assuring that they should not hope for any peace although that after his departure there was giuen him some hope thereof his Maiestie commaunded that his armie might be prepared and appointed that 5. Ensignes of Germane Infantrie should muster at Lepanto and 300. Vallachians at Posson and 300. Hungarish horse about Iauerin All these companies were newly leauied These after muster was taken of them were charged to march into the field to which did also goe Captaine Adam Iula and Romer a Knight of Malta with fiue other Ensignes of foote To these ioyned foure Ensignes of Germane horse and Captaine Derssi with 300. other souldiours With this supplie was furnished all the principal places Within a while after there arriued 600. Germane horse and other 500. vnder the conduct of Hoschirher Also there went to Vienna Counte Gonther Schuartsbourg Counte Otting and Counte Mansfert Christopher Liechtenstain and many other great personages who offered their seruice to his Maiestie to be employed in this warre The sicknes of Schuendy gaue in the meane time commoditie to the Turks more freely to harrie the countrie then before time they had done and they greatly spoyled the countrie about Sachmar and that of Newstat called the Ladies brooke where is seene the mynes of diuers mettals During such courses King Iohn and the Gouernour of Themesuar approaching very neere to Sachmar were almost striken with an Artillerie bullet euen as these two Lords rid side by side The Turkes not yet content to commit such spoyle tooke courage to goe in the night and assaile Schuendy in his Campe. But he hauing notice of this attempt prepared for them an Ambuscado which was lodged so secretly in a forrest by that the Turks not doubting any thing thereof came iust vpon it and being suddenly charged they presently put themselues in route there remaining notwithstanding in the place no lesse then 4000. not without daunger also that all had been lost there if the night had not fauoured the slight of those who were best mounted as also it greatly serued to the Emperials to make their retraict safe and sound into their Campe after such a checke giuen The Turkish Caualarie passed further and presented themselues before the walls of Iauerin and for that it was yet night it was not permitted to those within to goe forth but the day being come and the garrison sallying out of their ports the Turkes presently retired While these skirmishes and enterprises were attempted one against another Grassuen a Captaine of 100. Hungarish horse encountring 1000. Turks and both the one and the other betaking themselues to their hands 200. Turkes lost there their liues among which was the Gouernour of Lippa called in their language Beg. Those who were wounded with the shot of the Harquebuze being conducted to the Campe could not auoyde death for that the bullets were besmeared with larde In the meane while the Saxon souldiours hearing this skirmish were desirous to goe forth but their Generall would not permit them but hindered them with much adoe These were onely arriued at the Campe well armed vnder Colonell Henry Glasenthal who had for his companion Don Sibotendorf both men of valour and incomparable boldnes Betweene them there were 1026. horse which were payed by the Elector of Saxonie for fiue moneths To these were ioyned 350. horse who followed the Camp at their owne charges The two armies were incamped no further one from another then a mile the Emperials being lodged vpon Tibiscus by a village named Kizar situated vpon the shore of the riuer in the houses wherof were lodged the principals of the Campe the whole being fortified with strong Trenches That of the Turkes was planted beneath the said riuer and they had made a bridge vpon the riuer Somos At the same time Charles the Archduke of Austria being in Stiria had his people in the field against the enemie who had committed great spoyle in the countrie if that Prince had not remedied it On the other side the Basha of Bossina the Gouernour of Boschegne and the Berbatberg being one day assembled to ouerrunne Slauonia and to carrie away the countrie people hauing encountred Peter Eborce Ban which signifieth Gouernour the charge was so hot that the Turkes were put to slight with great slaughter of them which was said to haue been 5000. and the Berbatberg was there sore wounded In another place 320. Turkes minding in the night to assaile Thrin the Caualarie of Iaques Sach with certaine Hungarish footmen being gone forth to meete them killed vpon the place 60. of them and tooke 65. others of them prisoners During these rough skirmishes on the other side they treated of peace at Vienna there being yet the foresaid Ambassadours And the Emperour caused to be called thither the gentlemen of Hungarie to consult with them vpon the points of agreement which were propounded And whereas Schuendy could not be rid of his sicknes the Emperour sent to him Paul Veidner a Doctor of Phisicke an excellent man in his profession This man of a Iew became a Christian Schuendy notwithstanding his want of health forgot nothing of that which appertained for the entertainment of his armie seeing that the Turkes desisted not from their courses and to prouoke
were prisoners in the custodie of diuers Hungarish Lords Being all arriued at Buda the Basha receiued them with much honour and great sports and gaue them safe conduct This negotiation of peace was the cause that Augustus the Elector and Duke of Saxonie countermaunded his Caualarie since that vpon the firme hope which was had of the peace he saw that it serued to no purpose in Hungarie In like sort many other Captaines and Germane souldiours were dismissed by his Maiestie thinking that they should not haue any more to doe But within a while after such companies were greatly desired againe the necessitie being come to make new leauies of men for that the Turkes desisted not from their ordinarie courses and greatly to endamage the countrie daily increasing new forces A good part of these came and laid siege before Newstat and inclosed those who were within in such sort that the Captaine named Glesmuner appointed for the guard of this place seeing he could not defend it did yeeld it to the enemie departing foorth with his souldiours with a white staffe in his hand By and by after this place was regained againe by the Emperials and againe lost and finally recouered so that at this day it is in the Emperours commaund The Turks of another part forraging euen to Iauerin led 800. head of cattell which presently was recouered by the garrison Dersfi Gouernour of Nitria seeing the Turks ouerrunning the countrie and to approach nigh him went forth and affronting the enemie on a sudden cut many of them in peeces and led with him in his retraict two Agaes prisoners which are two of the principall Captaines of the Ianisaries A little before was also taken a Turke by Sighet who was come to spie this and other places of the countrie This man being brought before the Archduke Charles among other things assured him that his Lord would come in person into Hungarie and that within a little time Sighet and Iula should be by him bes 〈…〉 d and that his armie would bee of 600000. men without counting those which rowed at the ores Counte Salm had also taken certaine other Spies which assured him the like Another Turke named Scafir Vayda chiefe Councellor of the Basha of Buda and well knowne among all the Hungars to bee a man of singular vertue in the managing of warre was taken and discoursing with Francis Pesthy had confirmed the speech and confession of the others so that he saw not any more hope of peace or truce but all appearance of warre And that which made them the more to beleeue it was that the peasants who are remaining vpon the frontiers betweene the Emperour and the Turk who were wont to pay the tribute both to the one and to the other had expresse commaund vnder grieuous penalties not to pay any thing to the Emperials there being also taken by the Castle of Papa 80. of our souldiours by the Turkes who did no other thing but daily forrage about Iauerin and other places of Hungarie doing infinit mischiefe which was an euident signe that the hate daily increased and that all hope of peace was cut off Maximilian aduertised by diuers waies of all these accidents and of the great preparatiōs which were appointed at Constantinople gaue order that Iauerin should be fortified as being of great importance and in which place he would make head of all his people And through all Austria he caused to be published that not any should sell either wine or corne out of the countrie and that which was alreadie sold and yet not being transported should be retained He sent to Sighet for the defence of that place certaine Bohemians and Hungars with 600. souldiours of whom were Captaines a Vicount of Millan and a Germane Lord. He also dispatched commissions to Captaines to leauie new companies of souldiours And further considering the puissance of Solyman in comparison of which all these preparations of warre could not long stand him in stead if he were not succoured with the forces of the Empire as in such cases his predecessors had been for to remedie so great a danger he published a generall Diet of all the Empire in the towne of Ausbourg to obtaine of all necessarie succour in so imminent a perill The publication hereof was made through all the prouinces of Germanie the more to hasten the conuocation This great region is diuided into three Estates to wit the Ecclesiasticall Lords the Secular Lords and the Lords of townes These onely pay to the Emperour euery yeere a tribute which is of no great value and when necessitie requireth they extraordinarily contribute souldiours weapons and money and these contributions are acc 〈…〉 d in such Diets which ordinarily the Electors come vnto diuided into tw◠orders to wit the Ecclesiasticall and Secular The first of the Ecclesiasticals is the Archbishop of Mentz Chauncellor of the Germane nation and all the registers of the Diets are kept in his Chancerie After him is the Archbishop of Colon Chauncellor of Italie and after this man is he of Treuers also Chancellor of France To these doe ioyne certaine other rich and puissant Archbishops as he of Salzbourg very ancient who by reason of the mynes of salt gold and siluer which he hath in his countrie may dispend 150000. Florins of yeerely reuenew He of Magdebourg is called Primate of Germanie There is also those of Bremen and of Bizonce with about 25. Bishops all rich 〈…〉 eat and anuall reuenewes who are called Princes of the Empire by reason of the Castles townes and Prouinces which they hold As for the Seculars there is in like sort three which haue the first place of honour and authoritie who are named Electors These haue also some particular offices in the Emperours seruice The Palatin is the first of all and carrieth vp meate to the table The Duke of Saxonie is the soueraigne Iudge of the Court and he hath besides the title of Mareshall and the Marquesse of Brandebourg is high Chamberlaine To these doe ioyne many other great Princes who are dissended from the house and race of the Electors as the Duke of Bauier with the other Palatins who are of one familie The Dukes of Saxonie the Marquesses and the Burgraues of Brandebourg and then the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburg very noble and of the most ancient houses of Saxonie with many other Dukes Marquesses Lantgraues Burgraues Countes and Barons Of all these the richest in reuenew is the Elector of Saxonie hauing more then 500000. Dollors of yeerely reuenew and is able to raise in his countrie 6000. horse and 15000. footmen After him the Duke of Bauier is noted hauing a large countrie furnished with goodly townes out of which besides the ordinarie reuenew he draweth 600000. Florins There is yet the Duke of Cleue a very puissant Prince who heretofore made warre vpon the Emperour Charles vncle to Maximilian The free townes of the Empire are as some
for the onely affection to doe him seruice were come to seeke so farre countries without any respect had to the charge and trauaile Many Princes and Common-wealths of Italie sent him succours The Duke of Mantua Gennes and Luca assisted him with money The Duke of Florence sent him 3000. footmen payd The Duke of Ferrara besides that he left vnto him the dowrie and mariage of his wife the Dutchesse his Maiesties sister which was 150000. Florins went himselfe to serue him with a choise companie of 400. Gentlemen 300. Harquebuziers on horsebacke 100. Murrions and 100. armed men and there was not any one of these Gentlemen who brought not with him three or foure good souldiours Alexander Bailon with foure Captaines came to his Maiestie After him arriued Iohn Alphonse Castalde with his troupes A little before also were presented to his Maiestie to doe him seruice and to winne renowne amongst so many nations certaine Lords and English Gentlemen amongst whom was Master Smith Richard Greinuile Henry Champernon Philip Budshall Thomas Cotton and William George a Captaine of singular prowesse From all parts men might see this armie to bee increased by the arriuall of so many Lords and Gentlemen Albert Lasky a Polonian by reason of many Castles which he possessed in Hungarie meant not to be wanting to so fit an occasion He brought with him twelue Coaches and 3000. Pollacques all apparelled a la Hungresque that he might not thereby preiudice the King of Poland who was in league with the Turk if they were knowne in the habit of their owne countrie The Duke of Wolfang Palatin of Nuberg and Richard his kinsman came thither with 600. horse The second sonne of the Duke of Bauier brought thither with him 400. Prosper Colonne Ange Caesis and certaine other Lords of Italie incontinently followed those who were come thither on the behalfe of the Duke of sauoy conducted by the Duke of Camerin as also did Count Nicholas Gambara hauing in his traine twelue Gentlemen On the behalfe of the kingdome of France was Henry of Loraine Duke of Guize Count de Brissac the Lord of Lansac the Lord Strozzy and many other French gentlemen all well armed who were departed from France and were come to Malta in fauour of the Religion for that from many places it was assured that the Turkish armie would returne thither But these bruites being found false these Lords after they had seene Italie tooke their way towards Hungarie that they might bee in this warre and salute his Maiestie who made them great demonstration of the pleasure which he receiued by their comming Maximilian had prepared a nauall armie vpon Danubius of 12. Gallies and 30. Nazadies with other great boates so well accommodated that the souldiours who were within might well warrant themselues from their enemies arrowes In these vessels there was many peeces of great Artillerie with necessarie powder and bullets and 3000. men the most part Italians Blach Allemand a Kight of Malta a valiant man and greatly experienced in sea affayres commaunded this armie The land armie marched along Danubius towards Iauerin in which place the bodie of the whole armie should stay to diuert the Turke from Transiluania and to put him in doubt to lose Strigonium and Buda The Emperour at the same time commaunded all the Nobilitie of Austria to mount on horsebacke and to march to the warre at their owne expences preparing himselfe in the meane time to be in person in his Campe since that Solyman although he was old was in his As this great concourse of men and of all munitions made the Turkes who were in the field towards Alberegalis and Sighet where they expected the Beglerbey of Armenia who should come to besiege this place as afterwards he did ouerran all the countrie Against these went forth Count Salm who commaunded Iauerin and with as many men as he was able to bring into the field he went directly to Pallota and hauing put thereinto victuals and refreshed the garrison he marched with a good troupe of Caualarie towards Vesprimia which is a great towne and not very strong two miles from Pallota making great spoyle all about not staying any whit at all vpon any bootie vntill his Infantrie approached The Turkes who were within minding to prepare and defend themselues and for this effect readily giuing order to many things as they displaced two Cannons to place them elsewhere in a more commodious place a pane of the wall fell to the ground The Count being aduertised thereof taking this for some good signe and as if God should open the passage to him diligently prepared his people These arriued about night and the batterie was deferred vntill the day following In the meane time the Turkes laboured to repayre the happened ruine and presently when day light appeared the Count hotly assailed the towne on all parts putting fire to the ports and ladders against the walls by meanes whereof in repulsing the enemie they threw fire vpon the couerings of houses which for the most part are but of wood according to the common manner of the countrie and some entring by the breach and others boldly leaping from off the ladders forced the enemies and they cut the greatest part of them in peeces the principall amongst them retiring into the Castle but for all that they were no more warranted then the others were For minding to parley they were suddenly forced and slaine At this surprise was taken aliue the Gouernour of Alberegalis who was sent to the Castle of Poson There was also taken about this towne fiue Turkish Spies This being done the Count knowing that within Pallota were entered for the garrison thereof certaine Germane companies left in this to command therein George Tury who had so well defended the other giuing him a sufficient companie of men to keep it and afterwards he retired to Iauerin while the Basha of Buda departed from Alberegalis and retired himselfe to Buda to aduise of his affayres On the other side the souldiours who were in garrison within Leuante situated at the foote of the mountaines going into the field to assaile the Turks were by them badly entreated and there were many amongst them who remained prisoners there and amongst others was Bartholmew Horuatte a man of great valour Fiue miles from Iauerin and two from Comar is the Fortresse of Tata From thence the Emperiall souldiours which were in the neighbouring places daily receiued great losses this place being wel munitioned and kept Count Salm desiring to rase this Fort departed with his people from Iauerin early in the morning the 21. of Iuly and arriued about euening before Tata with a resolution not to depart from this enterprise without conquest thereof Being there arriued he sent for to come before him after faith pledged a Turke whom he knew He by the permission of his Captaine came to him and the Count desirous to perswade him that all
without doubt he had taken him if the armie that was at Sighet had not been so nigh he retyring himselfe to the Castle of Carotua a very strong place which is situated in an Iland which Drauus and Murus maketh All these excursions greatly increased from the time of the taking of Sighet and the Turkes pilled burned and wasted all euen neere vnto Sabar distant two miles from the Emperiall Campe. By these excursions many Captaines experienced in the manner of the Turkish warre beleeued that Solyman would retire to Constantinople and that somuch the more because they vnderstoode that in his armie was a great dearth of victuals and that there was some taken from Buda and Alberegalis to send thither Besides they heard that Solyman was dead and that the Basha giuing this last ruine to the Countrie would depart with his accomplished victorie Neuerthelesse it seemed that is would be a strange thing if there happened not some sedition in this armie knowing that in like cases the Turkes are verie easily moued to mutine But Mahomet entertained and that with great care these courses to stay his owne armie and that of the enemies he daylie expecting the comming of Selim their new Emperour and Solymans sonne to whom he had sent that in the greatest speede he could he should depart from Constantinople When Selim receiued the newes of his fathers death he was in the plaine of Saraissa three dayes iourney from Constantinople in a place called Chiefredy which belonged to Sinan Basha He hauing in this place receiued the letters of Mahomet subscribed with the Captaines Aga and with the principall Phisitians hands departed the 17. of September to goe to Constantinople with all the people which for that time he could haue with him and being arriued at Scutari Bostangy Basha chiefe Gardner who had the keeping of the Kings Pallace went before with a Brigandine ordained for the person of the Grand Seigniour it being verie well and richly trimmed and accompained with many goodly young men sumptuously apparelled Selim had first sent many Ianisaries to Scander Basha Gouernour and Lieutenant of Solyman in Constantinople to aduertise him to prepare all things necessarie for his entrance And being aborde this Brigandine he arriued at Constantinople and descending into the Serrail Bostangy tooke him by the hand and conducted him into the vsuall chamber aunciently deputed for all the Kings and there he being seated in a chayre dedicated to the Ottoman Emperours made proclamation through the towne with the same words which they ordinarely vse in the election of new Emperours sending within a while after in great diligence the same proclamation through all his Empire to the end that the death of his father should no sooner be discouered then his establishment in the Empire Afterward going out of his Pallace he shewed himselfe in the towne to all the people going to the sepulcher of Iob which is a place adioyning to the wals where the Kings and Grand Seigniours are accustomed to make their sacrifices offering sheepe and other beastes which afterward are distributed to the poore in remuneration of the graces receiued of God And hauing offered there a great summe of monie and said his prayers he returneth in great pompe and pleasure to his Palace from whence he departed the 26. of September to goe to his Campe making great iournies and without staying in any place at last he arriued at Belgarde hauing made this voyage in great speed and so secretly that the people marueiling to see him knew not the occasion of his comming but onely after his departure which caused that not any tumult happened whereof euery one greatly marueiled knowing afterwards how all was passed And being departed from Belgrade and alreadie two dayes iourney on his way by the letters of Mehement he retourned backe for that this Basha sent him word that he should come no further for that the Armie was not any whit molested and in auoyding the tediousnes of so long a iourney Mehemet desyred him to attend at Belgrade Thus his Maiestie soiourned in that place attending the Armie which was conducted by a deade bodie carried in a close couered Coach euery one beleeuing that he was liuing because that he being in this his olde age for certaine yeares together subiect to the goute he was accustomed to be carried into the fields in this sorte Vpon the daie that this bodie or corps should enter into Belgrade Selim put vpon his head a verie little Turbant and being decently apparaled with a blacke cloth cloake mounted on horsebacke hee went before the bodie of his father euen to the Porte this bodie being accompayned with displayed Ensignes trumpets and other such signes of a tryumphe The couer of the Coach being lifted vp Selim dismounted and began to mourne ouer the bodie All the Bashaes the Cadilischiers who are the principall persons for Iustice with all the chiefe of the Campe after lighting from their horses tooke also little Turbants and in token of sadnes all the Ensignes through the whole Campe were reuersed the point downeward and there was a wounderfull silence made for the space of a quarter of an hower After this ceremonie a white Turbant being brought enriched with precious stones it was put vpon Selims head and hee being clothed with stately and magnificent habits hee mounted vpon another horse and all the others doing the like the Coach of the dead was againe couered and the Ensignes raysed all the souldiours making great acclamations in the name of their new Emperour In this manner they accompayned him to the Palace and there the deputies of the Empire according to their degrees went and kissed his hands Presently Selim gaue order to the gouernment of Iustice and performed the accustomed larges to the Ianisaries and giuing to euery one two thousand Aspres At the same time it was decreed that the bodie of his deceased father should be conducted to Constantinople to be buried in the Sepulcher which hee caused to bee built in his life time named by the Turkes Marata which is as it were an Hospitall for the poore Some say that this Tombe is the most sumptuous that is to bee found at this day it being in the great Mosquee He gaue the charge of this conduct to Hamant Basha who had married one of his Neeces and to Ferrat Cap Aga commaunding that this corps should besides be accompanied with all the Ianisaries who were then in the Campe with many other persons of note carrying with them the Emperiall Ensigne Selim remained at Belgrade with the rest of the armie to march afterward more commodiously The bodie of Solyman entered into Constantinople the 22. of Nouember there being first gone foorth to receiue him Muphty otherwise called Muplety who is the supreame of their Priests and one who they say was dissended of the line of Mahomet he being followed of all the Doctors of their law that then were in the
towne Scander Basha Gouernour with all the Treasurers and other Lords of qualitie who were remaining at Constantinople with an infinit number of other sorts of people came also before him They were all clad in blacke with little Turbants of wooll on their heads in signe of sorrow These hauing drawne the bodie out of the Coach the principals of them tooke it and lifted it vp vpon the palmes of their hands carying it thus raised on high through the towne in changing it from hand to hand and bearing it by turnes the Doctors of the law marching before and reading with a high voyce euen vnto the Sepulcher wherein he was put with all the ceremonies and accustomed solemnities due to such Princes Vpon the Sepulcher was put a cloath of very fine Chamblet with his Cimetrie to notifie that he had ended his daies in the warre and at the very top of it there was a Turban like to that which he was wont to weare in his life time But now to returne to our discourse the Emperour Maximilian knowing for certaine the death of Solyman and coronation of Selim which was seuen weekes after it being sent to him from Venice by Guy of Noremberg his Ambassadour resident in the Seigniorie of Venice for his Maiestie All the Captaines were greatly astonished thereat considering how and with what prudence these barbarous people were able to keepe so secret such a notable accident in such sort that their owne armie neuer knew any thing thereof Which thing if it had been discouered had without all doubt bin an occasion that the souldiours mutining to sacke the treasure had opened a way to the Emperour to attaine to a most euident and singular victorie But Basha Mehemet in his owne iudgement foreseeing all the disorder and knowing that of his Lords life depended the good of all the armie meant to prouide for it in time and for this cause he concealed the death of Solyman to the end that the armie should not perceiue it selfe depriued of their Lord and that in diuiding it selfe it should not by that meanes open the way of a notable victorie to the enemie After then that the Turkish armie was departed out of Hungarie there happened a new disaster at Iauerin where was the force of the Emperiall Campe there being the last of September fire set on the lodging of a Hungarian Lord by negligence of his Cooke This fire by little and little increased so farre by meanes of a great winde which blew from the West that all the houses being made of wood after the manner of that countrie not any house was exempted from burning except the Palace and Church which were built of stone and about some 17. little houses and it was a great chance that this fire pearced not euen into the Church wherein was all the munition which if it had happened it had brought a great misfortune for that the towne although it be litttle was stored and filled with souldiours and of all other sorts of people who had followed this armie and for feare of this inconuenience the Emperour mounted presently on horsebacke and with great speede retired farre from the towne That which was not consumed by the fire serued as a pray to the souldiours some of whom most wickedly put fire to certaine houses that they might more freely get pillage as they did The Emperour was so sad for this misfortune that he neuer felt any such griefe in all these warres hauing alwaies reserued this place for the suretie of his armies and seeing that therein all the neighbours did vsually retire their goods and persons and specially of all the countrie thereabouts his Maiestie commaunded that this place should bee reestablished by the souldiours and peasants And the winter being come and the enemie retired he dismissed his armie and most affectionatly he thanked all the Lords who so willingly were come to succour him and this done he retired to Vienna leauing at Iauerin a good and strong garrison of the brauest and valiantest souldiours of the armie as well foote as horse vnder the charge of Count Salms He presently caused the place to be repayred by the money which the Emperour had sent him from Vienna The troupes of Austria were sent to Odemburg to resist the ordinarie incursions of the Turkes In Canisa a Fortresse very nigh to Sighet was sent to commaund there Captaine Thay with 1000. horse and as many footmen In the meane time the Emperour called the Estates of Austria into the towne of Vienna to aduise of new preparations for the yeere following as well in Hungarie as in Transiluania where alwaies continued the warre betweene him and King Iohn for whose ayde remained Portau Basha with many Tartars who surpassing ours in multitude and crueltie massacred all those that they encountred not pardoning any sexe and without any distinction of age cutting the infants in the middest whom they afterward rosted and eate The Transiluanian hauing in the former yeere lost Tocchay which Schuendy had taken from him with 30. peeces of Artillerie and great store of munition which he found there and willing to get it againe came with his Tartars to besiege it making a batterie with nine Cannons The assieged valiantly behauing themselues did not any thing faile in their defence Schuendy although then he was very ill willing neuerthelesse not to be slacke in the office of a prudent and discreete Captaine sent for succours to the Emperour not any thing doubting but he would be well able to chase away the enemie The Emperour presently sent him 1000. horse conducted by Henry Stampir with sixe Ensignes of foote and with them he sent his chiefest Phisition to cure Schuendy He also sent 50. waggons laden with victuall and coyne to pay the souldiours Iohn being with his armie before Tocchay where alreadie he had been eight daies and hoping to come to the end of his enterprise he was informed that 10000. Tartars who warred with the Turkes in his fauour being mutined and departed from the Campe were dispersed in his Prouince committing infinite outrages and burning many townes Iohn vpon this newes raised his siege and hauing sent to these mutiners that they should quietly retire themselues he vsed all the meanes not to meddle with them by fight In the end seeing that intreaties and all perswasions serued him to no purpose and that continuing their crueltie they would by no meanes desist moued by a iust choller he assailed them on the sudden and cut in peeces more then 6000. of them Those who remained and the Turks ioyned with them desirous to be reuenged for their companions came and besieged Iohn at Varadin which is a place of small strength and where they might haue taken him aliue if they had had any peeces of Artillerie Neuerthelesse Iohn fearing the worst and not willing to haue the reproach to be besieged by such raskalitie secretly auoyded the towne and retired to an other place of more
strength There hauing gathered a greater armie he againe assailed them and hauing made a great butcherie of them to the number of 20000. besides the wounded who were in great number he saued from their hands many thousands of soules who they led into miserable seruitude Among these were many gentlewomen which they had taken from the Castle of Beregras to which they were retired for the greater suretie all that countrie remaining in the meane time which is towards Cassouia so desolate for the great and horrible cruelties which these people had vsed that it was not possible to endure any more During such mutinies 400. Ianisaries passed very neere to Filech a place neighbouring to Sepusa committing where they passed infinit outrages and vsing acts altogether barbarous and cruell and hauing taken out of the mountaines more then 8000. soules they gaue a great amazement to all the neighbour people of Danubius of Vagne and of Arabon The Turkes a little before had taken two Forts such as they were named Comar and Calambach as also those of the garrison of Alberegalis had done the like seazing themselues by forces of Ghestez and Vitan and thus daily increasing there was at Palota Vesprimia and at Tata a great doubt of the enemie The Tartars after the ouerthrow which they had receiued of the Transiluanian ioyning themselues a new with other Turkes among which there was a good companie of Ianisaries and many Valachians who robbed and spoiled through all Rossia and Podolia which are countries belonging to the King of Polonia vsing all acts of hostilitie fiering all the villages and Castles massacring the old and impotent persons and making slaues of more then 100000. soules finally attempting to besiege the Palatin of Rossia in a Castle he making many sallies vpon them with a good number of souldiours he n a manner put them all to the sword and taking from them 12. peeces of Artillerie they were forced to retire The Emperour being at the assemblie of his Estates of Austria whom he caused to bee called thither as wee aboue haue written proposed to all the Prelates and principall of the Nobilitie what neede he had of succours to withstand the violence of the enemies And for this effect he demaunded of them the same succours as was graunted the yeere before which amounted to little lesse then 300000. Florins for the entertainment of 900. horse which they were bound to furnish And besides he demaunded of them that he who had 100. Florins of reuenew should pay for a horse and he who should haue more should also furnish one for euery hundred And because that although his Maiestie would march in person to the warre he would not that the Nobilitie of the countrie should goe thither with him and in stead of such a personall seruice he demaunded of them that they would furnish him with the pay of 1000. horse and 5. companies of foote And besides he would that vntill 6. yeeres were compleate euery one should come to labour at Vienna sixe daies in the yeere To these demaunds as very excessiue the Austrians not willing to condiscend were wilfull in their opinions deferring for many daies to make an answere giuing others openly to vnderstand that first they should permit them the exercise of the Confession of Ausbourg The Emperour not being able to containe himselfe from anger caused to be declared vnto them that he had not proposed any article concerning the faith and religion and that therefore they should answer to his demaunds if they would not incurre his indignation In the end they againe assembling together yeelded to these articles to wit that they were content yeerely to giue him 138000. Florins and 300000. for the fortification of Iauerin that he who had 100. Florins of yeerely reuenew should entertaine at his owne charges for the seruice of the warre one horse for three moneths that he who had a greater reuenew should also furnish more that if his Maiestie would march to the confines of the Prouince for the affayres thereof they should bee bound of fifteene persons to furnish him with one if he departed out of the confines they should giue him one of euery thirtie This last offer was in stead of 1000. horse which he demaunded to serue him in place of the Nobilitie After these accords the Austrians minding to renew againe the article of the Confession of Ausbourg being not content with the deniall which the Emperour had made them thereof meant againe to replie But he gaue them to vnderstand that those who would not liue nor beleeue as himselfe did might sell their goods and depart the countrie and by this conclusion he made them silent In the meane time endeuouring himselfe to assure his countries against the incursions of the Turkes who remained with the Transiluanian from the death of Solyman he laboured nothing else but to make peace with the Turkes knowing that Selim after being come to the Empire had confirmed peace with the Venecians who among so great warres which his father had would neuer take armes against him although they were often required thereunto The Princes of Italie endeuoring themselues to bee well liked of with Maximilian sent him new succours among others Cosine de Medicis establishing the more by this meanes his owne Estate The Pope the Duke of Sauoy and he of Ferrara did also succour him with good store of men His Maiestie had before time sent to the Grand Seigniour for Ambassadour George Hossute thinking by him to negotiate some peace with Solyman whom he thought to be yet liuing But this Ambassadour vnderstanding for certaine vpon the way the decease of the Turke returned towards the new Emperour Selim at the same time that he went to Constantinople after the bodie of his father as wee haue said before At this meeting it was permitted him to see his Maiestie but not to entertaine any talke of peace with him Mehemet Basha shewing to him that he had been sent towards the Maiestie of the deceased Solyman and that seeing that he was dead he was not to treate with his successour and that therefore if his King would any thing with Selim he should send another or else himselfe This Basha did particularly counsel him to demaund peace of Selim and that otherwise there could not but euill happen to Maximilian When that Hossute arriued at Belgrade Cheretsken in times past Captaine and Gouernour of Iula was there with bolts on his heeles This man made great promises to the Turke who conducted Hossute to bee permitted to speake to him but he could neuer obtaine it And not being able to attaine this fauour he writ a long letter by which he sent him word of all that which he endured at Iula and how he had been deceiued by a vaine hope of succours alleadging among other things that he had maintained the siege for 70. daies that one day he had seene 14. Turkish Ensignes vpon
being suddainly taken with a vehement trembling of his members and with a great panting of his heart he ended his dayes He was a Prince who well knew to preserue his Emperiall dignitie and the greatnes of his house Hauing receiued the administration of the Empire his father liuing the care which he alwaies had in his minde was to keepe Germanie in peace and in such sort to effect it that it should not any more feele the former calamities whereinto it was fallen For this cause some seeing Germanie in so great repose had a sinister opinion of him as though he had too much fauored the Protestants But these men did not consider that amongst so many diuisions and hazards as were alreadie in France Flaunders other countries it was not profitable for the Catholike partie to adde Germanie thereto for feare least the rest of the Catholikes might not be in like perill This Prince in his young yeares was very hot of the warre He greatly loued the professours of the liberall arts and especially handicrafts men Hee had a delight to please euery one Hee spoke most familiarly many and diuers sorts of languages so that it seemed he was borne with them and although he had a subtile and fine wit oftentimes hauing an intention contrarie to his actions yet neuerthelesse he was indued with many other vertuous qualities To this man succeeded in the Emperiall dignitie Rodolph second of that name his sonne King of Bohemia and Hungarie a most Catholike and religious Prince He in the same Diet of Ausburg in which he was chosen King of the Romans was receiued for Emperour whilest that the Diet continued Presently his Maiestie commaunded the better to take away all hopes of change from all his subiects in his hereditarie estates that they should liue Catholikely and caused to be made seuere executions against those who would vndertake to preach any other doctrine but Catholike and by his example speeches perswaded all the Princes Catholikes and Protestants carefully to obserue Gods commaundements So soone as he was proclaimed Emperour he caused the Polish Ambassadours to be released and sent to Amurath to demaund truce which without any great difficultie was accorded to him because that the Turke hauing had aduertisement of the war which the King of Persia prepared against him and of the resolution of the Germanes who had made a great leauie of souldiers and money vpon euery estate of the Empire to maintaine warre against him could not any whit assure himselfe to be able to make resistance in so many places his Empire elsewhere being sorely weakened by the iust punishment of God with plague war and famine in regard of which he very easily granted the demaunds of Rodolph At the same time all the Christian Princes sent to his Maiestie to congratulate with him his new promotion in the Emperiall dignitie and amongst others Battor not long before chosen King of Poland also sent his Ambassadours thither for the same effect knowing the release that Rodolph had made of his Ambassadours while he besieged the rich town of Danzit situated at the mouth of Vistula vpon the sea of Prusia being of the demains of Polonia which then held of Maximilians part the inhabitants then knowing nothing of his death but as soone as they were assured thereof they capitulated with their new King and yeelded to him vnder condition that the towne should not be spoyled and that the penaltie should be conuerted into monie They besides gaue him 12. peeces of great Artillerie with other lesser and certaine amongst themselues for hostages to the end the more to assure his Maiestie of their fidellitie towards him This done Battor presently caused his Armie to make head against the Muscouit to recouer the places that the Duke had taken towards Liuonia During this busines he omitted not to send to the Pope to acknowledge him as soueraigne Prelat of the catholike Church and by the same meanes sought through Italie for many Captaines of valour and other men of knowledge offering them great pensions and rich recompences as he manifested to many who both of one and other vocation went to him this Prince being as much giuen to armes as hee was indued with the knowledg of learning and sciences and especially in diuinitie and histories hauing passed his youth in the exercise of armes and learning in Germanie and Italie Within a short time hee recouered all that which the Muscouits and Tartars had vsurped vpon him and tooke many places from them hauing so many times beaten them that he constrayned them in the end to seeke peace of him euen as Demetrius Duke of Muscouia for this effect solicited thereto Pope Gregorie the 13. of that name vsing him as a meane to this Prince to the end that he might obtaine it The Hungars for all this were neuer a whit the more at rest For notwithstanding the truce Amurath as these Princes are barberous proud couetous caused to be stayed at Constantinople the Emperours Ambassadour who at his new arriuall brought not to him the accustomed Present Rodolph willing to reuenge himself of this iniurie commanded his people who were in Hungarie to make incursions vpon the Turkes and to enterprise some thing vpon some of their places in stead of two Forts that these had taken in Croatia The Hungars desirous to attempt somewhat vpon certaine Castles by Alberegalis were in the way intrapped by the Turkes and most of them cut in peeces The Emperour considering that these skirmishes might in the end ingender a greater war caused a Diet to be called in Bohemia soliciting therein the Bohemians that they would succour him against the Turkes who without regard of the truce ran spoyled continually the frontiers of his countries These accorded to him a good summe of monie For the same effect he also called the Hungars to Poson and not being able to be therein for his indisposition he shewed to them by the Prince Ernestus his brother the necessitie which constrayned him to solicite them to haue regard to the common defence against the Turkes by whom daylie they receiued so many oppressions But his Maiestie could then draw nothing from them at that time minding that he himselfe should be in person at the Diet and warre In the end notwithstanding they daylie perceiuing the effects of the violence of their enemies who notwithstanding the warre of Persia in which Amurath was greatly combered ceased not neuerthelesse greatly to molest them and procured them much trouble graunted to the Emperour the greatest part of his demaunds and they all taking courage opposed themselues so valiantly against the Turkes that many times they constrayned them to retire from them and euen to forsake a great part of the Countrie which they vsurped Rodolph notwithstanding so happie successe of his people ceased not to send to Amurath to complaine of the great timeritie of the Turkes who had not any respect to the
within the Castle 153 indureth extreame famine within the said castle of Lippa 155. he would yeeld by composition ibid. he saueth himself by meanes of George 160. pursued by the Marquesse of Balasse ibid. ioyneth with the Belerbey 161 Operstolph principall Captaine of the Transiluanian Caualarie 294 the common Opinion in Hungarie touching the Royall Crowne 116 a reprochfull Orator 31 Ordinance made in Germanie touching the diuersitie of Religion 308 Ordinances made in Austria to draw succours against the Turk 307 Ornaments of the Kings of Hung. 103 emperiall Ornaments sent to Ferdinand by Charles 274 Ortell a Prouince 13 Ottomiall a Hungarian taketh Zegedin from the Turk 177. succoured by Aldene 179. defeated by the Turks 199 Ourestolph succoureth Ottomial at Zegedin 180 P PAllotta well defended against the Turk 319 Pannonia a part of Hungarie 11 Pannodacia anciently so named Transiluania 13 Papau a Fortresse 214 the Pope soliciteth the Emperour to make warre vpon the Turk 342 Paul the 4. refused to ratifie the election of Ferdinand 278 Pappacoda entertaineth Bonna Q. of Polonia and enioyeth all she hath 274 Patocche a Hungarian Lord reenforceth at his proper charges the army of Ferdinand with horse and foote 143 Patocche gouernour of Iula 152 Paul Banchy and his aduice vpon the ordinance of the battaile 27 Paul Banchy Captaine of George his guards 169 Paul Banchy Viceuayuode 253 Paul Tomoree Archbishop of Colocense a gray Frier gouernour of Sirmia and his valour 8. drawne by force out of his Couent ibid. is made chiefe of the Hungarian armie 19. counselleth the fight 24. is slaine in battaile 32 Paul Tomoree blamed by Solyman for his imprudencie and rashnes 37 Paul Veidner a Phisition of a Iew became a Christian 294 Paul of Zaras vndertaketh to keepe Lippa against the Turk 209. 218 Perias a strong Castle 238 Persons appointed to preserue the King in battaile 26. sent to discouer the enemy returne not 31 a great Plague in Transiluania 272 Pesthe taken by the Turks 65 Petrouar otherwise Varadin Peter taken by the Turk 17 Philip Count Palatin entereth into Vienna against the Turk 46 Philip More Bishop of the fiue Churches dyed in battaile 33 Philip went to seek the Emperour Charles his father 277 Philip made a sumptuous funerall for the Emperour Charles his father 278 Peter Chendy excuseth himselfe to Ferdinand vpon the insurrection of Transiluania 272 Peter Peren Gouernour of Themesuar 8 Peter Peren highly esteemed of Solyman 37 Peter Vayuode of Moldauia friend of Solyman and Lewis Gritty 52. goeth into the field in fauour of Q. Izabella 62 Valour of Peter Vicchy repulseth the Germanes entering into Buda by a posterne gate 61 Peter Vicchy Gouernour of Transiluania 71. his ingratitude and pride towards Izabella 74. taketh armes against George 80. is defeated 81. conferreth with Andrew Battor 112. yeeldeth to him the low countries 120. succoureth Ottomiall and Zegedin 180. is cut in peeces by the Turke 181. succoureth Izabella 227. 252. accordeth with the Turke and riseth for Izabella 260 Pyoners in an Armie and their charge 93 Places forsaken by the Captaines and saued by the countrie men 32 Podolia spoyled by the Tartars 335 Policie held in the Diets of Germanie 299 Portau Basha in ayde of Iohn 334 Posegan diuideth Hungarie from Sclauonia 11 Poson a towne of the coronation of the Kings of Hungarie 346 Poson a noted Fortresse for the defeate of the Turkish Nauall armie 47 Poson whither Queene Mary retired vnto 32 Polonians in succour of Lewis 18. for Izabella 258 Parlience of peace betweene K. Iohn and Ferdinand 282. commeth to nothing 283. betweene Maximilian and the Turk 289. turneth to nothing ibid. wicked Practises neuer succeede 57 Presages of the pitifull end of Lewis 29. Presburg a Fortresse whither Q. Mary retireth 32 a Preacher of Agria is the meanes of sustaining thirteene assaults 233 a rich Present giuen to Solyman by Ferdinand 72 Presents of Solyman to Stephen and the Hungarish Lords 68 reciprocall Presents of Mahomet and Q. Izabella 62. 63 Pressouia called Cronenstat 102 Princes of Germanie more rich and puissant some then others 298 the Princes of the Empire arriue at the Diet of Ausbourg 312. 313. offer their succours to the Emperour 306 Protestant Princes in rumour against the Palatin and for what 301 Princes ought rather to trust to the forces of their armie then be inclosed within a wall 37 Prisoners of warre of Roccoandolphs troupes put to death 68 Prisoners lead away by Solyman at his departure from Vienna 50 Prisoners in the custodie of the Turks 32 Prisoners taken at Hedin by Charles the fifth 261 Prisoners taken by the Turk before Drigall 219 Priuiledge of the Barons of Hungarie 18 Prognostication of the death of Mustapha 267 a bad Prognostication of K. Lewis 29. 32 Prognostications foretelling the death of George 165 Prognostication of the death of Solyman 327 Prouinces called Shiers in Hungarie 18 Punishments of three sorts 3 Purchastaler Colonell for Maximilian defeated 4000. Transiluanians 286 Pride and riches causes of all vices 3 R RAdich Bosich opinionated vpon the ordinance of the battaile 27 Reasons perswading the Hungars to the battaile 25. 40. 41 Raoul gouernour of Transalpinia 8. chased from his Vayuodship of the Transalpinians by Mirce he recouereth it and defeateth Mirce 240. 241. reestablished in his kingdome thanketh Castalde and sweareth to him friendship 244 Rascians or Rhatians 100. 102. defeated 289 Rhatians take the Turks part against the faith giuen to Ferdinand 130 Rascia separated from Hungarie by the riuer Sauus 11 the Romane Common-weale changed the the Estate by the great coniunction of starres 4 the notable Resolution of the Agrians 233. 235 the memorable Resolution of Mustapha 266 the notable Resolution of the Castellan of Zaluoch vnto the end 223 Reuenewes of Bishopricks of Transiluania employed to the fortification of the countrie 122 Rhakos what it signifieth 38 Riches and pride causes of all vices 3 Rodolph crowned K. of Hungarie 346. declared King of the Romanes 354. receiued Emperour ibid. confirmeth truce with Amurath 355 Rossa second wife of Solyman causeth him to banish his eldest sonne 69 Rossa a slaue beloued of Solyman conspireth the death of the said eldest sonne 262. 264 Rossa made free 263. is made the spouse of Solyman ibid. Rossia spoyled by the Tartars 335 Rostan Basha son in law of Solyman conspired the death of Mustapha 260. 264. is chased by Solyman 270 a suddē Rout astonisheth the enemies 150 Ruine of an Estate 4 Rumiler men of warre 61 Riuers of note in Hungarie 12. 13 Riuers of Transiluania 101 Raines staying the speed of Solyman 46 Reuenge of God against the murtherers of George 168 S SAbaria a towne the birth place of S. Martin 12 the King Shewed by the Count Palatin to the Hungarian armie 28 Saala Rays the Pyrat 274 Sachmar taken by Iohn 286. burned 288. reestablished 290 Sacrifice made by Solyman in the great Church of Buda 71 Sangiach or Sanzac what it signifieth 62 Sangiach
effusion of bloud of captiuities of violations and of the execrable miseries which are daily committed among the rest of the inhabitants of this miserable Hungarie and euen by those whom they had drawen so vndiscreetly into their countrie vnder the colour of succour and ayde And vpon this report refraine your rage take againe your wonted spirits and indeuour that your follies may be so momentarie that in euery wisemans iudgement they may be esteemed better then heretofore THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE A Philosophicall and Theologicall discourse concerning the reuolution of things Lewis the second of that name King of Hungarie and Bohemia of his descent and qualities The gouernours and Councellors of his estate Solyman prepareth to inuade Hungarie The diligence of Paul Tomoree Lieutenant generall of the Kings armie Lewis soliciteth the Christian Princes for ayde Ecclesiasticall treasure is leuied for the warre The Turkes armie passed the riuer Sauus The description of Hungarie A briefe recitall of the places where happened the greatest force of the warre The riches of Hungarie Aduertisements to the King for the ordering of this warre against the Turkes Lewis goeth into the field Varadin Peter taken by the Turkes Souldiours repayred from all parts to the King lying at Tholne Wylak taken by the Turkes The priuiledges of the Barons of Hungarie The King determined to goe into the field with a small force and the Souldiours importune to fight The description of the towne of Mohaz where the King fought and lost the battaile A disswasion from fight and further consideration thereof Tomoree aduiseth to fight The Christian Armie no more but 25000. men and the Turkes were 300000. The meanes to preserue the King in battaile the order and place of the battaile The King is shewne to the Hungarian Souldiours A deliberation of the enemies purposes and of his appearing in the field Tomoree importuneth to fight the beginning of the battaile the losse of the King and ouerthrow of the Hungars The Kings bodie found dead A certaine Ghost appeared in mans shape The Turkes spoyle and harrie all ouer Hungarie Buda taken by the Turkes 200000. Christians ouerthrowne slaine and taken prisoners in this expedition SEeing the Heauen is such as it representeth it selfe to our sight that is proportioned like vnto a Sphericall or round forme and sith the same Heauen enuironeth besides the meane of this great concauitie which being betweene it and vs is filled with ayre this wonderfull frame which wee name the world little I confesse in respect of that which enuironeth it about and wonderfull great in consideration of the naturall apprehension which we may haue of it it is not without cause that certaine auncient Philosophers esteemed that all things had their reuolutions For sith so it is that the lowest part of a circle is that which is in the middest thereof and that the lower parts or bodies are gouerned by the superiour which thing also is found true by naturall reasons knowne and diligently obserued in all handie workes and engines it is not without reason that some haue inferred of this that this world is subiect to the motion of the Heauens and that we perceiue amongst vs the things passed to returne againe and represent themselues to our viewes For Heauen being round his period or full point is no other but a continuall begininng againe euen as prest and readie as his ende which the Aegyptians by their Hierogyphicall figures meant to represent vnto vs and namely by a serpent holding the end of his tayle with his teeth Now this world being heauie and ponderous of his owne proper nature and yet in the middest of this great soft and light ayre firme stable and immoueable by diuine disposition which is incomprehensible to vs this world I say receiueth by certaine reuolutions in the same place and quarters the same and like passions which it hath once receiued from the influence of Heauen euen as by the ordinarie circumuolution of it it commeth more neere vnto vs with his beames The volubilitie which is in the one and the stabilitie that is in the other is the cause of the effecting bringing forth of such passions these two contraries being so ordained and disposed of to the end that that which is the patient might make the other to become the agent it being not possible that the one should subsist except the other were in essence And as the patient to the end it may suffer ought to stand fast and not shake so the agent on the the other side is alwaies in action being not able to stay it selfe And if they were both alike in soliditie and firmenes or of the same motion their qualities would be without any effect And for this cause God meaning that the world should be gouerned according to the nature of it by Heauen he hath created the world stable for the patient and the Heauen moueable for the agent and all this to the end the world should receiue this benefit of God by the meanes of Heauen through certaine reuolutions of it in as much as this great circumuolution might still remaine and returne againe Whereupon proceedeth this auncient prouerbe which telleth vs That nothing is done nor nothing sayd which hath not been done or sayd before What is there now that hath not been And shall not that at last Which is to be receiue his being From that which once is past That which is made vnmade shall be And eke againe be made And being made againe it shall Be seene to waste and fade And this is that which oftentimes vpholdeth many good spirits which otherwise would be terrified through the innumerable euils wherewith men are often times enuironed For wrestling against such torments they are supported by a certaine hope against such terrors namely this that one day good shall come in steed of euill like as when it raineth we still hope for faire weather These reuolutions neuerthelesse are not alwaies equall or of like perfection by reason of the multiplicitie of meteores and heauenly starres which in their sphericall courses haue euery one their proper motion more soone or later one then the other and that in such wise that thorough many ages we doe not finde two equall situations or aspects of the same starres streaming vpon vs. For this cause the effects of such reuolutions doe not manifest themselues agreeable in euery circumstance to the first There be also some of these reuolutions which haue not their neerest causes from these heauenly influences but they succeede onely by a certaine combining togither or be as a consequence of things fore-happened as for example in time of warre many euils doe infallibly accompanie it and are ingendred thereby Other reuolutions there be which are not natural but proceed from the only and free will of God these we may name supernaturall although we see thē to happen by the sequell of
still hoping that time according to custome would remedie all all Empires estates riches honours pouerties glories triumphs and all prosperous and aduerse things being subiect continually to inconstant alteration and there being nothing vnder the concauitie and cope of heauen which continueth long in one and the same estate but is forced within a short time to chaunge the forme habit and colour and which sheweth not the instabilitie of humane actions to bee conformable to the naturall chaunge of her course The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE THe Queene complaineth to Solyman of George he seeketh the fauour and ayde of Ferdinand of which the Queene hauing notice aduertiseth Solyman thereof whose puissance George fearing he retireth and fortifieth himselfe in Sassebasse and the Queene leauieth forces against him Solyman sendeth a Chiauss into Transiluania in fauour of the Queene the Transiluanians forsake her and incline to George who accordeth with the Queene for feare of the Turkes power marching towards him against whom George taketh armes and forceth them to retire and he still vseth the Queene after his accustomed manner she incenseth the Transiluanians against him whereupon he vniteth himselfe to Ferdinand who maketh Iohn Baptista Castalde his Lieutenant and sendeth him into Hungarie The Queene publisheth a Diet and George interrupteth and dissolueth it Castalde besiegeth the Castle of Dalmas which is yeelded to him The Queene accordeth with George and Albe-iula is yeelded to him Many suspitions passeth betweene Castalde and Frier George and the Queene yeeldeth her selfe to Ferdinand but George seeketh to frustrate that agreement who in the end is made Vayuode of Transiluania and created Cardinall The Queene resigneth all the royall ornaments to Castalde with the Crowne which are sent to Ferdinand vnto whom the Hungars sweare homage The Queene departeth out of Hungarie and George seeketh againe the fauour of the Turkes who lye in waite for the Queene trauailing to Cassouia QVeene Izabella seeing the affayres betweene her selfe and Frier George succeede from worse to worse and also diligently obseruing his bad and euil demeanour which was more then her patience could digest or tolerate and that notwithstanding shee knew not any meanes how to withdraw him from his obstinate wilfull course being highly offended therewith had no other recourse or helpe of redresse but writ to the Turke greatly complaining her selfe of the bad entreatie which he vsed towards her desiring him that since he was content to appoint and leaue her in possession of that kingdome that in like sort he would vouchsafe to assist and ayde her out of such a miserable subiection wherein she was now fallen into specially in suffering the cruell tyrannie of the Frier which was more burdensome to her then the iniurie of her professed enemies and if it were not speedily preuented it might in time bee the cause of some sinister and ominous fortune wherefore wholly relying vpon his fauour and clemencie she effectually prayed him to relieue her against so great a calamitie whereby she might quietly enioy the same peace which many times he had promised her with a faithfull and sincere affection Solyman vnderstanding these complaints made no other shew at that time for the redresse of them but onely writ to the Frier that he should vse the Queene as was fitting and answerable to her calling and that so much the rather for that she was recommended to him and if he did to the contrarie he would teach him how to behaue himself yea it might be he would make him an exāple to others to take better heede for the like presumption These letters in stead of causing him to alter his peremptorie behauiour towards her confirmed him the rather in a more malicious and obstinate will then before He now notwithstanding seeing all his actions were discouered to the Turke and that it was behoofull for him to liue more neere and priuate to himselfe determined perceuering still in his peremptorie resolution to vse the Queene after his accustomed manner to assist himselfe by the fauour of Ferdinand who was alreadie crowned King of the Romanes with an intention to be able by his meanes at euery assay that might be offered to resist and onely defend himselfe against the Turke and the rather being induced thereunto through a continuall vexation which he receiued of Solyman demaunding of him oftentimes besides the yeerely tribute which was payd him sometimes victuall sometime munition and other extraordinarie subsidies which were infinit by reason whereof not being able to satisfie his greedy ambitious minde the treasure was in the end spent and consumed in so much that there remained little or nothing thereof so that he to content his barbarous appetites was constrained to impose vpon the kingdome new taxes and tributes whereby he procured the dislike and hate of euery one In this time was Counte Nicholas Salm Lieutenant generall for Ferdinand in Hungarie who as hath been said was sent vpon an Ambassage to Solyman to treate of a peace with him Long before Frier George desired conference with him in the Castle of Tocchay where King Iohn as wee haue said in the first booke was ouerthrowne by Ferdinands Lieutenant where by the meanes of a riuer Hungarie doth diuide it selfe from Transiluania But there neuer falling out any oportunitie to see one another one day as they both desired it happened they nothing thinking therof but either of them minding to goe some other way that they met in the middest of a way comming from Hungarie to that place the Frier continually soliciting the Counte that he might come to him and speake with him for the Kings seruice and hauing instantly vrged him thereto the Counte would neuer seeme to hearken thereunto as not reposing much trust in him knowing that he was mutable inconstant and a friend not much to bee trusted Notwithstanding setting at that time before his eyes the great and often solicitation which he daily vsed to cause him to come to parley and seeing himselfe well accompanied with sufficient bands of footmen and troupes of Caualarie refused not to hearken to the Frier whereupon he went to lie at Tocchay with George who all the whole night continued together in priuate with long conference concerning his purpose saying that hee had notice that Peter Vicchy Gouernour of Lippa and Themesuar had intelligence with the Turke and vnder colour to giue vp these countries into which he had inuested himselfe as if it had been into his owne inheritance vnder the Crowne of King Iohns sonne and to comfort and ayde the Queene the more he would wholly take away the care administration of the kingdom from him and reduce it into extreame calamitie and transferre it as already he saw some likelihood thereof vnder the gouernment of the Turke which did not much displease him for his owne particular as for the great damage which all Christendome should receiue
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
intelligence how Chendy Ference one of the principall Peeres of the countrie went often to visit Peter Vicchy who made his aboade in one of his Castles situated in the confines of Polonia and that they were accorded and vnited together and that alreadie they had leauied forces with intention to enter into the kingdome and to reduce it vnder the Queenes command alleadging for their reasons that Ferdinand had obserued nothing of that which was promised Which truly they published not so much for the interest fauour of the Queene as to reuenge the death of Frier George the which and the authors thereof Peter Vicchy thought much of and meant to reuenge it vnder the fauour and power of Chendy who after the death of the said Frier was growne puissant in that countrie And being thus vnited together and strengthened with many gentlemen who secretly retired to them they purposed greatly to trouble the affayres of the kingdome by reason of the succours which they assuredly hoped from the Moldauian who as yet had not dismissed his armie and who alwaies by Mahomets commaund entertained it in the field concluding with him that they would at one instant enter into this Prouince further also that they had agreed with the Vayuode that causing all the countrie to reuolt against Castalde he should with al the other souldiours which were then with him assaile those of Ferdinands part and cut them in peeces in the same field where Castalde should be incamped But Castaldes diligent care and vigilancie vanished these deuices into smoake so that this conspiracie could take no effect and specially because of the death of the Vayuode which happened in the wishedest time that could be desired the same being practised many daies before and which was as here followeth Castalde being at Seghesuar then when he went against the Moldauian there came to him at that time a Moldauian gentleman a man of good countenance well graced and full of discretion This man withdrew himselfe from Stephen the Vayuode misdoubting to bee slaine in respect he greatly fauoured him who was the rightfull inheritour of this Prouince which was by the said Vayuode tyrannically vsurped This gentleman brought with him about some twentie horse with which hee offered his seruice to Ferdinand whereupon he was receiued into pay and these which serue in this manner and with such a number of men are called in Moldauia Bugerons Within a while after this Bugeron found the meanes to haue long discourse with Castalde concerning his affayres to whom making an ample recitall of his estate and qualitie said that the Vayuode had not yet wholly dissolued his Campe and that he yet entertained the greatest part thereof vpon opinion once againe to enter into this kingdome vpon any occasion when he should see it most incumbred and oppressed by the necessitie of warre and that if he would promise him his fauour and assistance he would aduenture to kill him with this condition neuerthelesse that if in case he performed it that then he should bee a Captaine of 200. horse in Ferdinands pay Vpon this offer Castalde made him liberall promise thereof and more then he demaunded assuring him that besides his promise he would bestow in reward of him 1000. crownes if he returned hauing performed this enterprise The Bugeron nourishing himselfe with this hope returned into Moldauia where he attempted many times to execute his enterprise but yet could he not at that time attaine to the effect and issue thereof for being discouered hee was constrained to flie into Polonia from whence he writ to Castalde of all what had passed and that if he would that this conspiracie should proceede that then he should write to two of the Vayuodes household seruants who were very familiar with him without whose meanes this enterprise could hardly take any effect and that the contents of the letters which they should write vnto them should bee to request them to hasten and performe that which they promised to him and of which they talked together and that if it succeeded well he promised to giue them all which he had offered and a larger recompence then they expected and that they should assure themselues he would not any thing dissemble or faile in that whereof they should haue need This Bugeron meant that this letter should be sent ioyntly to them both he practising by this policie to bring them in suspition although indeede they were innocent thereof neither were they imbrewed with any spot of this treason and by this deuice to make them enemies to the Vayuode and to incense them against him This counsell was presently practised and that in such sort that the Vayuode was as soone aduertised thereof as Castalde had written to these two familiar friends of his who could not keepe close this letter because it was deliuered to them in the presence of many It also happened that when this letter was brought them they were as fortune would both together and presently opening and reading it together and remaining by reason of the contence and nouelties thereof wonderfully astonished and so much the more because they vnderstood not what the letter meant as men that had not any correspondence with him who wrote vnto them and afterwards thinking with themselues what this might meane and holding this letter still in their hands by chaunce there was by them a young youth alied to the Vayuode who for that he was young they had not any suspition of him This youth hauing neuerthelesse well vnderstood the summe of their conference went presently to the Vayuode and in order recited to him what hee had heard and seene Whereupon these two were presently sent for and the Vayuode commaunding them to shew the letter that Castalde had writ to them he interpreted it according to his owne minde and so tooke them as traytors and caused them presently to bee depriued of all their honors and dignities which they had in his countrie with resolution to behead them and wholly to extirpate their houses and goods that by the horrible example of these it might bee a iust president for others hereafter to bee better aduised from attempting so mischieuous and vile an act As the Vayuode was inquisitiue about these practises the Bugeron came from Polonia and hauing vnderstood that this letter of Castaldes had produced such effect as hee desired and that those to whom it was written were greatly incensed against Stephen the Vayuode because that by him beyond all limits of reason they were very cruelly abused and falsely accused of treason and that they could not tolerate this indignitie and that they secretly conspired a cruell reuenge thereof and so knowing that the things would succeede according to his desire he meant not to omit this occasion which Fortune so fauourably offered to him but willingly imbracing it he speedily writ to these two that if they would ioyne with him to reuēge the wrongs which were done them by the Vayuode