the Sword this rendred the rest so desperate that four hundred of them precipitated themselves into the Town-Ditch who were all destroyed by the Horse so that of all the Garrison which was yet twelve hundred at the beginning of the assault scarce two hundred were saved Hassan Bassa the Governour desperately wounded in the head and breast was brought to the General and some ten more of the chief Officers were saved but the Governor dyed two days after of his wounds Is taken by Assault This Hassan was a Renegade Native of Bohemia though a man of extraordinary great parts and resolution There were found in the place eighty Pieces of Ordnance and a great quantity of Ammunition and Provision so that the perpetual noise of their wants was a fable the Governour having always a great Magazin of Victuals as well as Ammunition which he did not think fit to expose before the Siege Of the Christian Slaves there were but forty remaining the Turks having consumed the rest in their works exposing them still where the greatest danger was And although the Besiegers did scarce lose one hundred in the storm yet it is supposed that during the whole Siege the number of their slain did at least equal if not surmount that of their Enemies yet with this difference that the Turks lost all and they but an inconsiderable part of a potent Army excepting the Prince of Wirtemberg greatly lamented by the good and brave and some other considerable Officers The Seraskier not imagining the fate of Newheusel so near having with great industry gathered a considerable Army estimated betwixt fifty and sixty thousand strong resoved to attempt the relief of it in order to which he would try the way of diversion Jul. 30. as less hazardous and upon that account marches to Gran Gran besieged and though that very day of his arrival an additional reinforcement of five hundred men sent thither by the Duke of Lorrain got into the Garrison yet he caused the Trenches to be opened and began to attack the place with his Cannon and Mortars from Batteries raised on St. George and St. Thomas hills They also attackt the lower Town but were repulsed with the loss of two or three hundred men Several other attempts were made upon the Out-works but with loss to the Undertakers who understanding that the Enemy advanced grew more remiss possessing themselves of all the Hills by which the Christians might attack them and thereupon quitted the Siege On the 7th of August the Duke of Lorrain with forty thousand men passed the Danube upon a Bridge near Comorra and arrived the 12th at a Village that was burnt where he found the Turks who had abandoned the Siege of Gran very advantageously posted having Mountains on each side covered with thick Woods and a Morass before them which reached to the Danube Upon the arrival of the Christian Army they skirmished near the Morass where several were killed and hurt on both sides The following Night the Christian Army camped in Battalia and continued so the 13th but the Turks alarm'd them about noon and skirmished all the day with the Christians right Wing where the Hungarians were many being slain and wounded on both sides About noon the Duke commanded some Pieces of Cannon to be planted on a Hill behind his Men from whence they shot and the Turks did the same with two great Pieces from a height where the Janizaries were The 14th the Turks advanced their Camp to the very Morass upon Mountains opposite to our advanced Guards where they made three Batteries with great Cannon shooting into our very Camp. The 15th a Polish Slave escaped out of the Turkish Camp and gave advice that the Seraskier Ibrahim Bassa was perswaded that the Christian Army did not exceed twenty thousand and thought or a retreat so that he might easily rout them if he suddenly fell upon them with his that was sixty thousand strong Upon this advice the Duke and the other Generals resolved to feign a Retreat and then by drawing the Enemy beyond the Morass find a place to fight with them in a pitch'd Battel The same day the Turks advanced towards a place in the Morass where they might pass with the Horse and took Post also in another where they might make a Bridge for the Foot. As the Christians had already resolved to march the day following very early towards the Bridge of Boats at Vyfali they let flie some Guns only to amuse the Enemy In the mean time the Orders for the march of the Army were given in the following manner First that the Baggage should part that evening The left Wing having the Avaunt-Guard followed by that of the right Secondly that the Army should be ranged in Battalia before day and march as the place would permit the two Wings each in two Lines but if the way would oblige them to file that then they should begin by the left Wing and enlarge themselves as the ground did permit into their first order of Battel That the second line should have the Avaunt-Guard commanded by Count Dunewalt which was to be followed by the first line in the same manner At the right of the first line Count Styrum was to march upon the Mountains which he had viewed the day before with his Regiment the Dragoons of Luneburg and all the Hussars except those of Zoborra with some Field-pieces That the Fauconets should march before the first line and every Regiment with its Field-pieces as usual And finally that the Squadrons and the Battalions posted on the little Mountain on this side the Morass as also those on the Mountain to the right commanded by Major General Tungen should march at the sound of the Tymbals About ten at Night they had News that the Turks were passing the Morass The Battel of Gran. Aug. 15. whereupon all the Generals took Horse Lorrain in the right and the Elector of Bavaria in the left and all being in order they began to march at the sound of their Trumpets Tymbals and Drums which was continued till the Turks by Favour of the Night charged their left Wing whereupon the whole Army facing about they marched to succour their engaged Troops which done they continued advancing notwithstanding the cries and howlings of the Turks and their continual Skirmishing till it was break of day when a great Mist covered the whole Field that nothing could be discerned Both sides made use of this accident ranging their Armies to their uttermost Advantage After seven in the Morning the Sun having dispell'd the Mist the Turks advanced upon the Christians with the noise of their Drums and horrible Cries discharging some Cannon upon their right Wing charged it with great fury but they were repulsed the same happended on the Mountain where Tungen commanded who was hurt there At the same time the Turks attacked with their greatest force and principally their Foot the heights on the Christians right where Count
who together with the Tartars made perpetual Incursions into the Vkrain and the confining Provinces burning and ravaging the Villages and Countrey carrying the alarm to the very Gates of Leopol Nor were the Poles forward in their Proparations moving but very slowly to their general Rendezvous so that the King not going to the Field in Person it was very late in the year before they were come together however entertained in the mean time with a very sad account from Podolia Volinia and the lesser Russia of the miserable Devastations of those Countries by the continued Incursions of the Infidels The Grand Seignior had appointed Solyman Bassa now Seraskier to command his Army against the Poles which he endeavoured to raise and form with all imaginable Industry being sollicitous for Caminiec which he took care by reiterated Convoys though some sometimes miscarried to provide for He hearing of the Christians advance towards the Niester the Cham of Tartary being joyned with him and both near forty thousand strong posted himself near the River to hinder the Poles from passing it And now the Armies drawing near it was supposed they would not separate without a Battel The Poles passed the Niester with theirs consisting of betwixt twenty and thirty thousand men on a Bridge they had made for that purpose advanced into Moldavia where they encamped and now the whole Army being come up the Crown General having summoned a Council of War it was determined to go and find the Enemy and force him to fight The Army marched accordingly and were three days passing the Woods and Streights of Boucovisia without any Intelligence of the Enemy Being come into a Plain their Van-Guard was presently charged by a Body of Tartars Ten Troops of Horse were sent to support the Christians but being over-power'd were forced to give way The Prince of Courland advancing with three Battalions and some Field-pieces gave the Christians Opportunity to rally and returning to the charge obliged the Tartars to retire to the Hill from whence they came The next Morning the two Armies stood in view of each other only some slight Skirmishes passing betwixt them The third the Seraskier designing to fall upon the Enemies right Wing with his main force charged it briskly but finding it strengthned from the main body retired and fell upon the main body it self but with the like success The Poles left Wing was charged by the Tartars with some advantage at first but in the Conclusion were forced to retire That day the Turks had been incommoded by the opposite Artillery composed of thirty pieces of Ordnance and the following day having received Cannon from Camineck they repayed them in kind The Christians continued encamped the two following days securing themselves with Trenches and Redoubts On the ninth day the Christian General being informed that a great Detachment was sent to fall in the rear of the Army and shut up the Passages of the Forrest he resolved to retire and that he might do it with less trouble he caused all their Waggons that were not absolutely necessary to be burnt It was next Morning before the Turks were aware of their march when descending into the Plain they charged three Battalions of foot which had not yet entered the Wood but they being well covered with turn Pikes and each two Field-pieces they received the Enemy with so great a Fire that they forced them to retire And yet they escaped by their Courage and Resolution the danger that threatned them forcing their Passage back to the Niester by a very orderly retreat which they likewise passed tho' the Turks were much stronger than they and so were dispersed into their Winter Quarters Nor were the Turks very unsuccesful in Dalmatia The Christians had besieged Singn but were forced to retire by the joynt Forces of the Turks in those quarters with loss of some hundreds of their men two pieces of Cannon and most of their Baggage But the Wars being rather defensive in those parts on both sides than otherwise nothing of any very great Consequence besides Incursions and mutual Ravages worthy of Memory did happen The traverses at Sea were of more noise and consequence The Turkish Fleet was affirmed to consist of sixty Gallies and twenty men of War who were at Sea though supposed not well manned On the other side the Venetian Fleet was stronger full of Sea-men besides thirteen thousand Land-Forces of several Nations all commanded by their General Morosini who sailing for the Levant landed his Forces in the Morea at the Fortress of Calamata which he took and afterwards sate down before Coron where having made large Breaches and extremely annoyed the place with their Bombs the Bassa hung out a white Flag but all Conditions except surrendring upon discretion being refused him he put out a black Colours intimating he would defend it to extremity which he also did The Bassa of Petrasso marched with eight thousand Men to his relief but upon consideration of the strength of the Christians he durst not attempt it but contenting himself to re-inforce the Garrison of Modon and with falling upon the Greeks that avoured the Venetians he made a great slaughter of them The Visier of Morea Kalil Bassa having got together a competent Army of near ten thousand would re-attempt the relief of Coron in order to which he sent a Party to attack a Redoubt somewhat distant from the Line of the Besiegers but were repulsed but assaulting it again they took it at the second storm Hereupon the Chevalier de la Tour a Knight of Malta hastening thither with twelve hundred Men recovered it from the Turks with the loss of his own life and many of his Men. A while after the Visier made an attempt upon the main Camp but was beaten off with mutual loss In the mean time the Christian General finding the neighbourhood of the Turks troublesome and foreseeing that his Troops would not be able to subsist unless they had the Country open resolved to attempt their removal in order to which drawing ten Men out of a Company to which were joyned fifteen hundred Voluntiers with one of the Regiments of Brunswick and that of Malta they marching before day surprised and fell upon the Enemy on all sides the action was so sudden that the Turks before they could recollect themselves were driven out of their several Posts pursued and quite dispersed Of the Enemy there were near a thousand killed in the action and pursuit of which number was the Visier Kalil and Mehemet Bassa All their Cannon and Baggage were taken with nine pieces of brass Cannon seventeen Colours and the great Standard with three Horse-tayles hanging at it This Victory was some days after completed by the taking of Coron where the Christians forcing the way into the Town through their very large Breaches Aug. 11. put all they met to the Sword. There were above three thousand of the Turks slain in this storm and four or five hundred of
particularly in the Spurs This morning a Bomb from the Town falling unhappily into a reserve of Granado's fired them killing 3 and wounding 13. This evening some Turks did again appear upon an eminence to the right behind the Bavarian Camp towards which two Squadrons of them did move in good order to brave the Besiegers but some Voluntiers riding out to pickeer with them they retired with the loss only of one man slain Aug. 10. The Imperialists continued the finishing of their Mine the two others of the two other Attacks being ready The Duke caused the Hungarian Foot to be posted along the Wall of the lower Town from the Water Rondel to the very quarters of the Germans where they intrenched themselves with a Ditch and a good Parapet to secure them against surprises and as the Danube is deep there they sunk two Barks full of stones and made several Spurs of Palisado's along the brink of the River to take away all hopes of the Turks relieving of the Town that way This morning the Infidels gave another alarm on the Bavarian quarters whereupon all the Cavalry was commanded to Horse but the Enemy retired at the same time It seems that their design was to make a passage that way but the Bavarians were sufficiently intrenched to hinder them The Prince of Croy being recovered of his wounds did reassume the exercise of his charge in the approaches Four Hussars very well mounted advancing against some Turkish Horse of the place made as if they would charge them but being come up with them they discoursed them and shook hands together which being observed by the Musketiers of a neighbouring Redoubt they sallied out and gave fire upon the Husssars who ran away hurt one which they took as also another of them the third got away and the fourth entered into the City The Prisoners were examined who said they did nothing but enquire of the Turks if they would not yet surrender the place but they were to be interrogated more strictly Aug. 11. Some Turkish Troops did again shew themselves upon the Mountains on the Bavarian side towards the way of Alb-Royal The precise number of the Turks is not yet known some Spies certifie that there are 40000 Ottomans and 20000 Tartars In the mean time every necessary prevention is put in practice to receive them if they will attempt to force the Camp. Preparations are made for a vigorous assault upon the second wall if the Mines will answer expectation Aug. 12. All things being ready for the assault the three Mines on the Lorrain attack were fired which had no other success than the turning up of a few Palisades the Miners not having pierced deep enough under the Wall of the second Rampart which made it evident that they did not well understand their trade although they had been sent for from all quarters to have good ones for they were the Mines that contributed the most to the reducing of this important place The assault that was designed if the Mines had taken was deferred and new ones were gone in hand with in hopes of more favourable success In the skirmishes of this day there was an Officer of the Turks killed who doubtless had engaged himself to enter into the place being they found Letters about him to the Bassa of Buda marking the order the Turks were to observe to relieve the besieged by which it appeared that the Grand Visier's design was to force a quarter and so put in a Supply into the place without hazarding a battel and that 8000 Tartars should harass the Country as far as Gran to cut off provisions from the Besiegers and infest them with continual courses Upon this advice the Duke called a Council of War where it was resolved to leave part of the Army in guard against the Town and to march with the rest of the Imperial and Auxiliary Forces against the Enemy who according to the said Letters were above 60000 strong although they had it from good hands that they did not exceed 40000 Combatants Aug. 13. The whole Army marched out of the Lines the night past except 20000 left there for the Guard of the Works and to hinder the Enemy from putting Supplies into the Place Oats and Forage were distributed for three days for the Horse and the Volunteers were formed into a fine Body under good Officers The Duke of Lorrain posted himself out of the Camp in sight of the Enemies 4000 Hussars and Heyducks having the Avantguard This night the Spies and some Deserters assured them that the following night they would be attacked in Battel-array upon break of day which obliged the Christians to dispose of all things for the Battel Aug. 14. The Turks before Sun-rising formed a Body of more than 8000 Janizaries and Spahi's the most brave and most resolute of the Army who being divided into divers Troops marched from 6 in the Morning till 8 a clock curvetting behind the Mountains on the side of Alba Regalis and entered into a Plain the better to approach the Camp by the favour of a Valley The Duke of Lorrain having observed the Enemies countenance commanded Count Dunewald General of the Horse to take possession of the ground to the left with nine Imperial Regiments Cuirasiers Dragoons and Croats to which he added some Companies of Hussars and General Heusler had order to post himself with his Detachment upon the height on the right The Hussars who were with General Dunewald charg'd first and tho' they fought with all imaginable bravery they were notwithstanding forced to give way but seeing themselves supported by the Germans they took heart and returned to the Charge again The Turks seeing they had routed the Hussars thought to have had the others as good cheap upon these hopes they advanced with great fury and horrible cries against the Christians who received them without moving Heusler who had placed himself upon the height mentioned charged them smartly so that the fight was rude and bloudy and however the Turks saw themselves charged in their Flanks and Front they did not desist to make use of several efforts to break through the Enemy and have room to execute their design but all was in vain being every time repulsed until they were at length broke and forced to fly The execution was bloudy The Janizaries being abandoned by the Spahi's and environed by their Enemies throwing away their Arms sought to save themselves by flight but were most of them slain The Turks had above 3000 dead most of them Janizaries all chosen men who had undertaken to force a quarter and enter into the City or perish The Grand Visier had promised 20 Ducats to every one that should enter into the City whereof he gave each undertaker 5 in hand every one carried besides his ordinary arms 3 Hand-Granado's a Mattock and Spade to break the Retrenchments and fill the Ditches The Prisoners were 500 there being also taken 30 Ensigns and Standards 11 Pieces of Cannon
Galleasses and many Saiks but meeting in his Passage with a hard storm of Northerly Winds he lost seven of his Gallies and several other Vessels so that he resolved to divide his Fleet and send part of them to Scio and himself with the other part to make for Negropont This Fleet was followed by some other Vessels under the Command of Mahomet Celebee Brother of the Pasha of Algier who being as far in his way as the narrow Streights of Andra he was there stopped by the Fury of the Northern Winds which are the Master-Winds of those Seas and by the impetuous rage thereof was carried to the Island of Zia where having given Licence to the greatest part of his Souldiery to Land they carelesly strayed abroad and without suspicion of Surprize merrily passed their time in eating and drinking In the interim advice hereof being carried to Tomaso Morosini then with some Ships in the Port of Milo he immediately without loss of time applied himself to assault the Turks and being followed by the Proveditor Grimani he took two of their Ships whilst Mehmet Celebee with about two hundred of his Men betook themselves to the weak shelter of an old demolished Fort and afterwards surrendred themselves to the discretion of the Conqueror Morosini and Grimani encouraged with this Success resolved to pursue the Enemies Fleet in order unto which Morosini first putting out to Sea was instantly carried away by a fierce gale of Wind towards Ambro and separated from the rest of his Fleet and thence again was tossed by the impetuosity of the Storms unto Rafti of which Mustapha Pasha having Intelligence made haste to attack this single Vessel with forty Gallies giving order to the Bey of Rhodes to lay him aboard with fifteen Gallies the strongest and best armed of all their Squadron Morosini nothing dismayed bearing the same constancy of Mind in the midst of his Enemies as at a distance boldly shewed himself on the Quarter Deck encouraging his Men with his words and by his Example to Actions worthy their Religion Faith and Country for which they contended The Turks continued for some time to batter the Ship at a distance with their Cannon but with little dammage to the Christians who returned their Shot to better advantage Hereby the Turks perceiving that Blows given so far off did little Execution resolved to Board the Vessel and subdue Her by force of Arms and being come to the side of the Ship the Souldiers were fearful to enter suspecting some trains of Powder to blow them up until Emurat one of the Captains struck off the Head of one or two of his own Men whom he perceived backward in the Assault which affrighted the rest into the greater danger and forced them to enter the Ship who were soon followed by the Gallies of the Bey of Rhodes of Milo of Mehmet Bey and others so that now two hundred of the Enemy were Combating with Swords and Half Pikes upon the Deck Morosini flair in which storm Morosini fighting amongst the thickest was shot through the Head with a Musket Bullet and so gloriously finished his Days in the Service and Defence of his Country gaining to himself a Laurel and an Immortal Name of Glory and Renown The Christian Souldiers little regarding all this time the fall of their General stoutly maintained their Fight in which they received encouragement from the prospect they had of two Galleasses making haste to their Succour at whose nearer approach the Turks desisted from their farther Attempt being unwilling to purchase a Victory at the dear rate it would cost them The Body of Morosini was transported to Venice and his Obsepuies Celebrated in a manner more Triumphant than Funebrous the Proveditor Grimani was likewise declared Captain General in the place of Capello who having as it were Besieged the Castles at the Mouth of the Dardanelli taken several places in the Archipelago and put the Enemies Fleet often unto flight he thereby and by other Acts of Valour rendred him justly renowned through all Chrstendom These were the chief and most memorable actions by Sea performed this Year Those by Land were acted chiefly in Dalmatia where the Turks poured in their Forces on the Venetian Dominions but were bravely repulsed by Leonardo Foscolo who took Ali Bey Prisoner the Commander in Chief of the Sangiac of Licca and slew his Son besides which he took Saccovar Polissano Islan and other Fortresses and Castles full of Arms and Ammunition which were the Magazines of the Country he also recovered Novegrade out of the hands of the Turks which was afterwards demolished by Order from the Senate which Victories were followed with other Successes nothing being able to oppose the Valiant and Prosperous Arms of Foscolo for besides the taking and sacking of several other Forts and Castles in Dalmatia Obraozzo Carino Ottissian Velino Nadino Vrana Tino and Salona in the Confines of Croatia and Bosna became a Prey to the Venetian Arms. But to this successful Progress of the War a stop was given for some time by the sickness of Foscolo in which interim the new Pasha of Bosna called Mahomet Techli a Circassian born a Person both Generous and Valiant with an Army of forty thousand Men besieged the strong Fortress of Sebenico Sebenico besieged but was bravely repulsed by the Valour of the Inhabitants the very Women exceeding the imbecillity of their Sex and Children and old Men with the weakness of their Age strengthened themselves with Resolution against their Enemies and so valiantly behaved themselves in defence of their City that the Turk was forced to raise his Siege having gained nothing but the loss and slaughter of many of his People and the best of his Souldiery whereby he gained an assurance of the Invincible Strength of that place and the Valour of the Inhabitants Foscolo in like manner recovering his Health continued the un-interrupted course of his Victories and thereunto added the taking of Scardona so that in Dalmatia the Venetian Affairs ran so prosperously that nothing could be desired to render them more happy and glorious For the Turks not only were expelled from the Confines of Dalmatia but likewise that Province became more quiet and secure than ever it had been in the Times of Peace But the joy of these Successes was very much allayed by the unhappy Fate of a great part of the Venetian Fleet at the Island of Psara which being lanched from Candia with intention to assault the Turks within the Dardanelli The ruin of the Venetian Armata at Psara unfortunately were driven by contrary Winds to that unsecure shore where contending with a most furious Storm a great part of the Fleet was cast away and the General Grimani himself drowned About which time the Turks for the greater Terror of the Christians laid close Siege to the City of Candia and made many and various Attempts thereupon carrying on their Assaults with the height of bravery and Resolution the
and to disappoint the designs of his Predecessor and his party The Turks being satisfied with this Submission with the Subjection of several places of Importance with deposing of Ragotzki and establishment of a new Prince began to disband a great part of their Forces and the Great Vizier with the remainder returned towards Constantinople supposing the Fire of this War to be totally extinguished In this condition of Repose matters continued for about the space of two Years when Ragotzki impatient of his losses and of the exchange of his publick State to a private Condition inveterate in his hate towards his Rival and Competitor resolved to tempt Fortune once more and make his ultimate Assay either to establish himself in his Principality or at least to render himself equal with other mortal Princes in the Grave and so relying with much Confidence on the zealous Affection of his Subjects and the promise of powerful Adherents Ragotki makes new Troubles he once again justled himself into the Government by the Expulsion of his Rival whom he could not behold with other than with an emulous and unpleasing Eye Berclay perceiving himself thus ensnared neglected and persecuted by all Parties represented these Innovations to the Ottoman Port with the most aggravating Circumstances imaginable beseeching them to afford him aid and vindicate their own Honour in maintenance of him whom they had constituted a Prince and was a Creature formed by their own favour The Turks immediately touched with the Sense hereof Issued out Orders to Ciddi Ahmet the new Pasha of Buda Commanded him without delay to gather what Forces he could to interrupt the designs of Transilvania and to put matters unto a stand until a greater Army could second him under the Command of Ali Pasha appointed General for this Expedition The Pasha of Buda readily obeyed and assembling what Forces he could in Hungary and joining with the Pasha of Temiswar passed the Danube and with a very considerable Army entered Transivania Ragotzki undaunted at the near approach of his Enemy boldly entered the Field with his Forces and joined Battel with them in the Month of May 1660. between the Cities of Clausenburg and Giulia Alba. At first the Christians endeavoured to have intercepted the Enemies passage by some Ambuscado or Stratagem of War but the Turks still advancing were at length met by the Van-guard of the Christians to assistance of which several Bodies following one after the other it became a general Engagement of both Armies in which Battel Ragotzki gave his usual proofs of Valour declaring by his Actions that he was resolved to dye or to Triumph But being at length wounded in four parts of his Body and his Army over-powered with Numbers he was forced to yield the Fortune of the Day to the Turks leaving 8. pieces of Cannon and his Standard in their hands and the greatest part of his Army being either killed or taken he himself with a few of his Attendants recovered Varadin where after 18. The death of Ragotzki Days distemper of his Wounds he expired his unquiet and troubled Soul. This was the end of that vain Icarus who attempted to fly with feigned Wings and borrowed Feathers this is the fate of ambitious Spirits whom Pride elevates and exhales like a Vapour unto that height until it dissolves them into Showers or precipitates them into the abyss of all Confusion His Character This George Ragotzki was of a tall and well proportioned Stature black Hair and a frisled Beard his Eyes quick and lively of an active Body and healthy Constitution his Spirit was high and great which betrayed him to Extravagancies his Comportment was generous and courteous towards all which rendered him exceedingly beloved and esteemed by his Nobility he was free in his Speech and eloquent in his Expressions prudent in his Counsels and Enterprizes had not the quickness and vivacity of his Soul made him something rash and violent in his Attempts he was of the Protestant Religion leaving behind him a Widow and a Son of hopeful and happy endowments After the Death of Ragotzki it might well be expected that these Storms of War should be dispersed and that Transilvania should at length enjoy the Sun-shine and calmer Weather of Peace and Repose But Ali Pasha General of the Turkish Camp being by this time arrived the Confines with his powerful Army resolved not to return empty or in vain without advantaging the Ottoman Interest and making some Satisfaction towards the Expence and Trouble of so great an Army Wherefore taking pretence against Varadin for receiving Ragotzki after his Defeat abetting his party and following his Interest designed to summon that important Fortress to surrender which is fituated at the foot of those Mountains which open a Passage into Transilvania The Inhabitants of Varadin terrified at the approach of this formidable Enemy The People of Varadin crave aid of the Emperor dispatched a Messenger to the Emperor imploring with most effectual Arguments his Sacred Protection and powerful Assistance against the common Enemy to Christendom representing to his Cesarean Majesty how that the Turks in their Capitulations with him had agreed to Build or Erect no new Fort on those Frontiers and whereas it was the same thing to force and usurp a Fortress already made as to form a new one the taking of Varadin was to be esteemed a real Violation of the Articles of Peace That his Majesty would be pleased to reflect on the fatal Consequences which the loses of Varadin might prove to Hungary as well as Transilvania being that Gate which obstructed cuts off all Intercourse between them and Germany These Considerations with several others were exceeding prevalent in the Imperial Council so that it was resolved that General Souches should prepare his Army and put all things in readiness to afford the Assistance which was desired supposing that with the German Regiments and Hungarian Forces might be formed an Army of about 25. thousand fighting men But in regard in those Instructions given to Souches there was a Clause that he should be careful not to engage his Forces in any attempt where the event might be doubtful he assembled the principal Persons of that Country and the Militia to consult whether succor and relief might be given to Varadin without hazarding the Army in a doubtful and a dangerous Adventure in consideration of which point a true Computation being made of all the Imperial Forces they were found much inferior to that calculate which was made of them at Vienna For that since Tockai Zatmar Kalo and other places belonging to the State of Ragotzki had been Garisoned by German Soldiers there remained not of them above 4000. effective Men the Hungarian Forces which were supposed to have consisted of 2000. Men could not form 600. the Haiducks which were computed to be 6000. Men did not appear in the Person of one being all dispersed and retired to their own homes The difficulty of making War
with the Turks The additional Forces from the Princes of the Empire were as uncertain as the Expectation of them long and tedious for tho the Imperial Forces united are of puissance sufficient to bid Battel and Defiance to the numerous Troops of the Ottoman Power yet in regard the Union of that Body depends on the Assembly of Diets Treaties and long Debates which are subject to time and delays caused by different Factions which are impossible to be avoided amongst different States whose Disunions Competitions Emulations and Pretences always in such meetings abound and prejudice the common cause and benefit of the Empire the raising of such a formidable Army becomes a matter always of time and difficulty Howsoever the Emperor whose Hereditary and Elective Possessions bordering on the Confines of the Enemy is necessarily engaged to be the standing Bulwark of the rest and a Bank against the Inundation of barbarous Nations whilst other Princes whose Dominions are more Remote and Secure apprehend not the Premures and Storms that the Emperor sustains and is enforced to expel with the loss and diminution of his own People and impoverishment of his peculiar Treasure To these Considerations which rendered these pious Intentions towards Varadin almost impossible there wanted Money which is the Sinews of War and the Soul of all Enterprizes And that which farther retarded those Succors and Prosecution of the design in hand was the departure o His Cesarean Majesty from his Court at Vienna on occasion of a Progress as far as Trieste to take Homage of his Provinces of Stiria Carinthia and Cragno which was an Action much against the Counsel and Advice of the Arch-Duke Leopold his Uncle who foresaw how great disorders would ensue by the Emperors absence in this Conjuncture from his Imperial Court. Upon which Considerations Count Souches sent a true List of all his Forces with an account of the strength of his Enemy remonstrating that it was impossible to convey Forces into Varadin without hazarding a Battel with Ali Pasha which would prove an absolute Breach of the Peace which in this Conjuncture and want of Preparation was neither honourable nor safe for the Empire In the mean time Ali Pasha proceeded and encamped with his Army before Varadin Varadin besieged breaking first Ground the 4th of July 1660. and beginning a formal Siege he soon begirt the Town and continually labouring in making Trenches Batteries and Approaches they arrived in a few days to the Counterscrap of the Wall. But the better to describe the Siege and Assaults on this famous City it will be necessary first to explain the Condition and Scituation of the place Varadin therefore is seated in a Plain on the Banks of the River Chryse to the East it is environed with such craggy and rough Mountains as render it almost on that side unaccessible to the South the Town extended it self most to the North it is washed with the River over which some small yet fruitful Hills raise themselves it is encompassed with a Wall filled with Earth after the fashion of Modern Fortifications and strengthened with five main Bulwarks and a very deep Ditch filled with the River Water It was well provided both of Victuals and Ammunition and armed with Ordnance both great and small as was sufficient to have repulsed a puissant Enemy have sustain'd a long strait Siege But the Garison within consisted only of 850 Soldiers an inconsiderable number both in respect of the Circuit of the Fortress of that gross Army which encompass'd it The Enemy being now as it is said before under the Counterscarp of the Wall they perceived that the Ditch was so deep and filled with Water that though their great Guns had made open Breaches in the Walls yet there was no possibility to storm them or bring the Soldiery to scaling Ladders or handy blows The besieged also made such continued Sallies with success and slaughter of the Enemy that after Three and Twenty days of vain labour to few the Ditch Ali Pasha was at length almost resolved to have raised his Siege and given over the Enterprize upon which whilst he considered and ruminated as ill Fortune would have it a certain Maid which formerly had been a servant to the Governour of the Garison then a Captive in the Turkish Camp having observed how on occasion the Citizens used to empty and drain the Ditch revealed the secret to the Turks hoping thereby not only to purchase her Liberty Two ill accidents to the Garison but with that also a Sum of Money for price of her Treachery so that discovering where another Ditch was to be opened the course of the Water was soon diverted and the Walls of the Town laid dry and open to the Assailants As this happened without so another accident within equally dangerous befel the Besieged for one day an Officer of the Ammunition going into the Stores with a lighted Candle by chance dropped a spark of fire from his Lanthorn into the Powder which taking fire blew up the Powder Granadoes Fire-works and all other military Stores with the neighbouring houses and above a hundred men which loss alone was sufficient to have dejected the minds of frail men yet they so valiantly bore up their courages that they seemed not in the least abated but rather animated with the height of anger and despair The Turks having now free access to the Walls undermined some small Forts which they blew up and thereby made so great a Breach that with facility hoping to gain the Town if they made use of the occasion they poured in such multitudes of People as the Besieged were scarce able to withstand and the Turkish Soldiery being also weary of their sufferings and irksomness of their tedious leagure resolved now or never to put an end to their labours so that advancing with their open Breasts to the top of the Battlements without fear either of Cannon or Musket-shot they entered within the Walls and planted the Turkish Banners on the Works but being afterwards received by a resolute Company of the Defendants they were again thrown from the Walls and tumbled back into the Ditch with an incredible Slaughter It is impossible here to describe the anger the courage the despair which was apparent in the faces of the Besieged enflamed by the love of their own country and hatred of the Turks so that three or four sustained sometimes the Assault of a Troop and a small number united opposed a whole Sangiack of the Enemy The Women also forgetting the imbecillity of their Sex renewing in themselves the Courage and Vigour of the Ancient Amazons exposed themselves without fear upon the Walls throwing scalding Water Stones burning Pitch and whatsoever came next to hand upon the Assailants whom they so valiantly repulsed from the rising of the Sun till twelve at Noon that after much slaughter on both sides the Turks growing faint retreated and took breath a while within their Trenches And now
search was made for him day and night but not found for in reality he as gone on his designed Journey only it was the misfortune of his Kahya or Steward as before it was of Mortaza's Emaum to fall into the Viziers hands who being beaten to confess where his Master was died afterwards of the blows But notwithstanding that Mortaza was fled yet the Vizier laid not aside his fears and thoughts concerning him not knowing how soon he might be recalled home and seated in his place of which various Examples are extant in Turkish History and therefore he sent orders to Mahomet Pasha his late Kahya now Pasha of Darbiquier as General with the knowledge and consent of the Grand Signior and to the Pashaws of Aleppo Erzirum and others near adjacent to prepare and assemble what Force was necessary to constrain the King of the Curdi to surrender Mortaza into their hands But whilst these matters were in agitation some unexpected troubles in Georgia diverted their Arms and held them for some time in suspense not knowing what the issue might be The Original and Ground thereof was this The Provinces of Georgia in disturbance After Sultan Solyman had taken Erzirum it was agreed in the Capitulations between the Turks and Persians that of the seven Provinces of Georgia anciently called Iberia but now as supposed to have received the Denomination from St. George the Cappadocian Martyr there had in great esteem and reverence three should be tributaries to the Turk and three to the Persian all govern'd by Achic-bash as head and supream Prince to whom the Seventh should also be subjested without acknowledgment to either in payment of which Tribute they continued most willingly lest for default thereof the importation of Salt of which their Provinces afford none should I be hindred either from the Turkish or Persian Dominion And now it happened that Achic-bash dying his Wife married again who to gratifie her new Lover was contented to have the eyes of her Son put out who was the lawful Heir to the Government This Fact was so hainously received by the Princes of the three Provinces under the Persian that with common consent they elected one to succeed Achic-bash and extorted the power out of the hands of the Amorous Traitor The Princes of the three Provinces under the Turk alarm'd hereat made insurrection resolving rather than any Foreigner to set up one of the Kindred of Achic-bash which the Persian Provinces better understanding approved likewise and for confirmation and maintenance of their choice assembled an Army of Threescore thousand men The Pashaws tending towards Curdi were surprized in their March with the news of these disturbances in Georgia and not rightly apprehending the causes of these sudden commotions gave an arrest to the progress of their Arms inclining towards the parts of Georgia to be in a readiness to suppress all designs against the Ottoman Dominions so that the thoughts of War against the Curdi was for some time laid aside The news of these troubles did also alarm the Port with which also came a report That six hundred Tents of the Kuzilbashees which are the best sort of Persian Horsemen were pitched nigh the Confines of the Grand Signiors Territories so that Orders were dispatched to the aforesaid Pashaws to watch the motion and issue of those Affairs but those storms blowing over by the establishment of Achic-bash the Turkish Forces proceeded on their first design against Mortaza marching to the pass of the Country of the Curdi which is very steep asperous and rough The whole Kingdom being as it were one Mountain of dangerous and difficult access hath hitherto preserved the Inhabitants from the Ottomon Subjection The entrance thereunto being strong by Nature is also fortified with several Castles the chief of which possessed by Mortaza is called Zizri and the People there abouts Zezidi The Turkish Army being arrived at this pass Mahomet the Pasha of Darbiquier appointed General as we have said before ordered five hundred of his select men to enter within the pass which the Curdi perceiving with little opposition put to flight being so commanded by the General the unadvised Curdi eagerly pursuing the enemy left the pass naked and undefended supposing their whole victory and success to consist in the Rout of those few Whereupon the Turkish Army wisely possessed the pass and got between the Curdi The Turks Stratagem against the Curdi and their place of Retreat and laying the Siege to the Castle required them either to surrender themselves or else Mortaza and his Complices into their hands The Curdi perceiving themselves thus hardly beset and in a manner defrauded their Garison which possessed the pass without the Confines the Enemy gotten possession of the Gate which opened to their Country their Castles besieged and in danger to be gained and an inlet made to an Inundation by their Enemies caused them to request a three days truce for Consultation which being granted they began to consider whether it were better to hazard the welfare of their Country in a dangerous War of which the Turks having already compassed the passage had made half the Conquest or to surrender up Mortaza to his own King one in whom they had no part no interest nor relation The latter Counsel was most generally pleasing wherefore they seized Mortaza promising at first to conduct him through the Mountains to the Persians but afterwards being on Horse-back and about a Mile distant from the Camp they bound his hands behind him and with his Steward the Master of his Horse and a Page delivered him into the hands of the Turks The surrender of Mortaza into the Turks hands and his death who immediately strâ—ck off their heads and sent them to Constantinople where for three or four days they lay before the Door of the Divan with Inscriptions on them whose they were and afterwards were thrown into the Sea. And thus ended this famous Mortaza who had in like cases by order of this Viziers Father been an active Executioner of other Pashaws and now included in the same Fate by means of the Son being proscribed as we have said before by Testament and the most likely of any Pasha in the Empire to stand in competition for the Office of Vizier The Vizier upon this success began to shew a more cheerful Countenance than formerly suspecting less of danger upon removal of so suspicious an Enemy And truly it was now hard to say where in the whole Empire was a generous bold or ambitious spirit remaining who had Reputation and Authority enough to attempt a priority such havock was made by this Viziers Father of all hopeful and daring dispositions and such an Addition made to the slaughter by this man in present Office that whether mens spirits were vanquished and cowed with former Examples or that the Age really afforded not such Heroes it is hard to say None now appearing other than obsequious to this Vizier and to fear
mend the actions and outvie the prowess of the most magnificent and most successful of their Sultans But the Ambition of this grand design giving way to necessity and to those other impediments which obstructed it Newhausel after due and mature Consultation Newhausel called by the Hungariaus Oywar was fixed upon as the place to be first attempted and held up to the eye of the Souldiery as the reward and prize of their valour and hazard Wherefore Boats were provided and Planks and Timbers for a Bridge to pass the Danube which the Turks in a few days according to their usual expeditions had raised so that the Army both Horse and Foot began to transport themselves as fast as was possible to the other side but the multitudes crouded over in that disorder and haste that Three or four Thousand men had scarce passed the River before the Bridge was so broken and shattered that some time was necessarily required to repair it before the rest of the Army durst adventure to follow their Companions The Approach of the Turkish Army alarmed all that side of Hungary but especially the Inhabitants of Newhausel who observing the Turks to bend their Course that way plainly fore-saw the Storm of VVar to be breaking on them The News also of the fall of the Bridge and thereby the Separation of about Four thousand Turks from the Body of the Army Forcatz the Governour of Newhausel ill advises a Sally was brought in by the Countrey people who forsaking their Villages fled for succour to the stronger Fortress of Newhausel Hereupon Forcatz the Governour of Newhausel a valiant and experienced Souldier though esteemed by the Turks unfortunate taking this Alarm judged that this occasion of cutting off that part of the Turkish Army which had past the River was in no wise to be omitted and therefore assembled a Council of VVar which consisted of all the principal Officers and Commanders of the Garison amongst which was Colonel Volter that commanded the Four thousand men lately sent to reinforce the Town he declared that his Opinion was immediately to make a Sally on that part of the Turkish Army which had already passed the River before the Bridge was repaired for Transportation of the others which endeavours by God's Assistance succeeding well might not only discourage the Enemy but be a means to divert them from their present design upon their City This Advice thought he pressed with heat of Argument and violence of Speech yet could it not prevail with the rest of the Council which seemed wholly averse thereunto especially Volter who declared That his Commission was not to fight in the Field but to conserve himself within the Walls for maintenance of his Garison Some days passed in this Dispute whilst Forcatz growing more eager and hot on this design used opprobrious Terms and expressions of infamy towards the other Officers accusing all such of Cowardice and Treason who refused to concur with him in this Enterprize and advantage on the Enemy which Heaven seemed to reach out to them for their Deliverance if their wisdom and courage afforded them only will and grace to lay hold on the opportunity These sharp words and resolution of the Governour provoked the minds of the Officers to a condescention and thereupon about Eight thousand men of Choice and approved Souldiers well armed with strout hearts and hard Jron not suffering themselves to be upbraided with such reproach in the silence of the Night under the Conduct of Forcatz their own Commander Volter remaining in the Town took their way towards the Turkish Camp and being armed with Firelocks marched with all privacy without lighted Matches or sound of Drum or Trumpet But whilst the forgoing Dispute lasted the Turks had transported the gross of their Army over the River and then lay on her Banks Fortcatz surprises the Turkish Camp. resting securely undre their Pavillions The Christians approaching near the Turkish Camp with the first twilight and dawnign of the Morning perceiving the Enemy unprovided but not discovering their Force dealt at first on-set their shot most plentifully amongst them and proceeding amidst the thickest cutting shooting killing and making havock of all before them The amazed Turks having many of their Companions brought to their last sleep before themselves were throughly awake and some flying before they discovered the reason or the danger an Alarm was given by the confused murmur of Allah Allah and that the Christians were upon them reached the farthest Quarters of the Turkish Army which immediately put themselves into Battalia and order of fighting whilst this handful of Germans proceeded forwards dealing their blows amongst their Enemies cutting the Cords of the Tents and destroying all before them But by this time the Turks having put themselves into a posture of Defence the Horse and Foot came marching in a Body extending their Wings in the from of a half Moon so as to enclose this small number The Germans are routed and fly and on all sides to assail them The Germans seeing this formidable sight approach and no safety in flight encouraged each other to sell their Lives at as dear a rate as they could all hopes of escape seeming desperate they sought with that courage and obstinacy as amazed the Turks and yielded not until their Spirits fainted with labour and their Swords were blunted by the Bodies of their Enemies The Count Forcatz hardly escaped but by the help of his Horse with some few others fled to Newhausel which unwillingly received him wishing that the rashness of his Counsels had only proved his own destruction and not involved so many brave and innocent Souldieres who were only unfortunate for being over-powered by his command and perswasions The rest overwhelmed with multitudes yielded for though they behaved themselves beyong the power and courage of men yet the numbers of the Enemy prevailed at length over these Christian Champions whose Gallantry was more eminent and conspicuous in being subdued than the Glory of their Enemies in the Victory In this Skirmish few escaped amongst which Four hundred Gentlemen were slain and about eighteen hundred Prisoners reported to be taken a bad Omen at the beginning of this War. This Rout being given the Turks triumphed in Blood The Vizier deals not like a Soâ—â—dier with his Prisoners of War. and success and returned with their Captives and Trophies back to Strigonioum where the Vizier mounting a Throne of State and Majesty treated these valiant Souldiers not like men of War or Captives takrn in open Field but as a Judge condemned them to dye by the hand of the Hangman or Executioner passing a formal Sentence of Death upon them as if they had been Thieves or Assassinates arrested by the hand of Justice The Sentence being passed and the Turkish Army drawn up these valiant Christian were ranked in order and file to dye who had so lately with Swords in their hands ranged themselves in Battel against their Enemy and so
together wherefore taking opportunity of the hard Winter when the Marsh was frozen and a strong Wind to carry the Flame he sent before him 2000. Dragoons and 3000. Croats which encountring 6000. Turks at the foot of the Bridg set for Guard of that place were so ill treated by them that they had been wholly cut off had not a considerable Force of Horse and Dragoons come in to their assistance by whose Resolution they not only routed the Turk but took the Palancha which was the Defence of the Bridg and having gained it in hot Blood put all to Fire and Sword after which Fire being set to the Bridg in divers places in a short time it was consumed and remained in Ashes The news of this Exploit was received at Vienna with great Joy believing that for the following Year they had disappointed the Turks of a Passage but by the sequel it will appear how much they erred in the account made of the Diligence of the Turks who in forty days repaired that which they esteemed a work of some Years and as I observed it was all built of new Timber and on another Foundation different from the old From this place Serini marched to Quinque Ecclesiae Quinq Ecclesiae taken by Serini or Five Kirk at whose near approach the Turks set out a white Flag on one of the Towers signifying a desire of Parly as if they had had intentions to surrender on Terms and Articles of Agreement the Christians with this Confidence marched near the Walls where the Turks espying their Advantage on their Enemies now under command of their Guns fired upon them and did severe Execution killing amongst others several principal Officers of which were General Hammerling and Count Harberstein which perfidious Action so transported Serini that he resolved on a furious Assault and performed it with that Gallantry that on the 5th of February he took the Town by Storm and Force of Arms and in Recompence of their treacherous Stratagem put all the Inhabitants to the Sword and gave up the Town to the Pillage and Plunder of the Souldiery and aftewards setting it on Fire rendred it the most horrid Spectacle of Fire and Sword that had as yet been seen or known in this present War. These Successes of Serini gained him the Reputation of a valiant and fortunate Prince and his liberal hand in frankly bestowing the Booty and Pillages amongst the Soldiery invited great numbers to follow his Banner His active Spirit and Vigilance gained him likewise a Reputation amongst the Turks that their principal Fear and Dread was of Serin-Ogli as of a watchful and politick Enemy for in every place he made great Havock and Spoil being reported to have laden two thousand five hundred Carts with Slaves Goods and Ammunition and to carry with him an hundred fifty five Pieces of Cannon taken out of small Forts and Palancha's and to have laid waste all the Country between the Dravus and the Danube In these Incursions and victorious and dreadful Travels through the Enemies Country the valiant Serini at length arrived at Sigeth Sigeth Besieged a Fortress consisting of a new and old Town conjoyned by a Bridg which crosses a famous Marsh or Fen ennobled by the Attempt made thereon by Solyman the Magnificent in the year 1565. with an Army of six hundred thousand Men in defence of which Nicholas Serini the great Grandfather of the present Count immortalized his Fame and Memory with the loss of his Life and renowned the Place it self by his Feats at Arms. At this place Serini was resolved to revenge the Blood of his Ancestors and sacrifice great numbers to the Ghost of his Grandfather to which end he sent the Count Olack before him with part of his Army to Summon the Enemy and prepare the way to his own more effectual Force Olack had ordered all things accordingly when Serini full of Glory and Spoils arrived him in his Leagure and joyning together appointed a day for a general Storm but whilst these things were meditating and that Sigeth was reduced almost to the last Extremity advice came of the near approach of a Body of twelve thousand Turks and Tartars The Siege raised to encounter which the Attempt was accounted difficult considering the loss and diminution of the Christian Forces which by continual Actions and the bitter Sufferings of the Winter Season were reduced to a number inferior to that of their Enemies and wanting all sorts of Provision and Ammunition it was resolved as most expedient to raise the Siege which was the next day performed and the Soldâ—ery taken into Garisons to Repose and Recruit themselves But whilst by the active and zealous Spirit of this great Champion most matters proceeded succesfully on the side of Croatia the Christian Affairs on the other side by the negligence of some Ministers ran into evident Ruin and Disorder For Claudiopolis Claudiopolis yields it self to Apafi which not many years past had defended it self so valiantly against the Turks under the Command of the Governor Retani did now wanting pay the Sinew and Life of the Soldiery follow the late Example of Zechelhyd and surrendred it self into the hands of Apafi and tho the Complaints and Murmurings of the Soldiers gave a sufficient time of warning to make due Provisions against a Misfortune so imminent and plainly appearing yet the want of Expedition at Vienna and the unprofitable Application only of empty Words and Air to feed the penury and satisfie the Appetite of starving Men was a Remedy so little available that the Garison submitted to Apafi and yielded to Conditions whereby they might Eat and Live the Story of which Place compared with that of Zechelhyd was so shameful and pungent to Men capable of any impressions of Honour or Duty that at length it awakened the Germans and admonished them to provide better for Zacmar and Tockey and other Frontier Garisons lest they also should incur the like Fate and Misfortune with the two former By this time the Actions of Serini were rumoured in the Grand Signiors Seraglio and the report of them became common in the mouths of the Vulgar wherefore full of Anger and Disdain the Sultan wrote severely to his Vizier reproving him of negligence for suffering Serini so freely to Range his Countries without controul to the great Dishonour of his Empire and Damage of his People whereupon the Vizier not as yet having received his Recruits nor prepared so early for the March of the gross of his Army dispatched notwithstanding a considerable Force to precede him with Orders either by stealth to surprize Serinswar or else to lay Siege unto it This Army marching by the way of Bosna the news thereof was brought to Count Peter Serini appointed by his Brother to stand Centinal on the Guard of his Country Count Peter Serini defeats the Turks in the Streights of Morlac whilst he in Person was busied in Hungary who immediately thereupon with what
which not being unknown to Serini his daring spirit was once resolved to give him Battel in which opinion was also Count Strozzi but Olach dissenting and refusing to ingage his Forces the Siege was raised and all the Forces with good order retreated to Serinswar The Siege of Kmisia raised where they arrived the day following leaving to the Enemy a great quantity of Powder Match Shovels 20 Carts of Meal and Two Iron Guns broken No Pilgrim ever followed his way with more devotion to the sacred Shrine The Turks pursue the Christian Army than the Vizier was willingly led in pursuit of his Enemy to the Walls of Serinswar being the place to which his intentions inclined as the beginning and consummation of the War. Over against this envied Fort there is a little Hill strong by Nature incompassed with a narrow Ditch yet not so narrow as that a Horse can leap over it nor yet so shallow as to â—e forded This Hill Serini proposed to the rest of his Collegues or Coadjutors viz. Olach and Spaar as a place commodious to incamp their Army because lying open to the River could easily be relieved and would serve as a Redoubt or Out-word to the Fort in which upon all extremities they might find Sanctuary and resuge But the apprehension of the Viziers Numbers and his near approach had made that impression of fear in their minds that no safety seemed to remain unless they could see the River Mura between them and their Enemy Nor was Serini more sucessful in his perswasions to assault the Enemy whilst they were wearied with their March and busied in extending their Tents the other Generals being of opinion that it was too great a hazard for them alone to venture their Forces in so unequal a Combat by they ought rather to expect Montecuculi by the addition of whose Forces the lot of War would be less hazardous if not wholly certain In this manner great Enterprises have been disappointed which have wanted only resolution to make them successful Fortune being commonly favourable if not a Servant to bold and daring Spirits the disunion also of Generals hath been the overthrow of the wisest Counsels and Wars have been ovserved never to have thrived where the Heads of Armies have been of dissenting humors or different interests This timidity on the Christian part raised in that manner the spirits of the Turks The Turks intrâ—heh 〈◊〉 Serinswar that without stop or opposition passing the River Muer they arrived at Serinswar where they immediately fell to their Mattock and Spade breaking ground for their Trenches which by continued labour they so diligently attended that in Seventeen days they arrived at the very Ditch of the Fort Only whilst the Turks were transporting their Numbers over the River the generous spirit of Strozzi not enduring to see their passage so easie and open valiantly opposed himself and his small Force against the greater power of the Enemy and so resolutely performed the Action that he killed Five hundred upon the place Count Strozzi slain till at length being unfortunately shot by a Musket-bullet in the Forehead he gloriously together with one Chisfareas a renowned Croatian Captain ended his days in defence of his Countrey and the Christian Cause In this interim General Montecuculi arrived with his Army and was received by Count Serini with all evidences and demonstrations of respect and hearty welcome and between both passed an appearance at least of friendly correspondence But as to the present Engagement Montecuculi was of opinion That the opportunity was over slipt which should at first have been performed rather by way of surprize than open Battel before the Ottoman Army had arrived to its full numbers consisting now of an hundred thousand fighting men To which reasons Serini replied That the Christian Cause Serini's Reasons to fight with the Turks and the States and Confines of the Empire were not to be maintained by men that carry their thumbs at their girdles or by Armies made resty with ease and wanton with luxury That those Armies were raise not to consume and exhaust the Revenues of their Princes and Exchequers of their States without making satisfactory amends by a valiant defence of that Interest which they owned That the Enemy had not been before that time attempted was no fault or neglect of his who under the very Walls of Kanisia resolved to give them Battel but that the other Generals supposed it more prudence and caution to protract the Engagement till his Arrival who being now happily conjoyned with them nothing ought to deter them from a glorious Attempt on the Turks who not consisting of above Thirty thousand men ill disciplined and worse armed were not able to withstand the prowess of their Veterane Army which far exceeded them in number discipline and courage These or such like expressions Serini used and to prove what he averred he dispatched a confident Person of his own who spake naturally the Turkish Language with a Letter to the German Resident then entertained under custody in the Turkish Camp to know of him the true state and number of the Turks which Messenger soon after returned with this short account Nisi memortuum velis amplius non rescribas hic vix sunt triginta millia nec illa satis electa The German Residents Letter to Count Serini quid vos a pugna deterret Tormenta Arcis nimis in altum exploduntur Which in English is thus Unless you desire my death write not back to me again here are scarce Thirty thousand men and these ill provided what then should deter you from an Engagement The Cannon in the Castle are too high mounted or shoot over Serini gave this Letter to Montecuculi who replied That so soon as General Sporch came up with his Forces Montecuculi contrary to the opinion of Serini declines the Battel with the Turks he would immediately draw up the Army into Batalia Sporch being arrived he then resolved to expect Marquess Baden and so deferred the Battel from time to time until the Turks advantaging themselves by these delays had worked themselves under ground to the very Walls of the Castle At length Montecuculi entring into Serini's Fort it is not known upon what reasons of jealousie or discontent cleared Serini's Forces of the Garison and dispossessed the Governour which when Serini perceived full of anger and displeasure he quitted the Camp and retired himself to his Residence at Chiacaturno Serini retires from the Wars with intent to make his just Appeal and Complaint to the Emperor's Court. The Turks availing themselves of these delays and discontents proceeded forward in their work so that having Mined to very Walls on the 9th of June they blew up one of the half Moons at which the Defendants were so terrified that with amazement they left open one of their Sally Ports at which the Turks entring put the whole Garison into disorder consisting of 1900 fighting men
opposite to the Christians and having there reinforced themselves with additional Recruits returned again to give them Battel and in three places with extremity of Fury and Despair assaulted the Christian Camp Fortune for a long time remained doubtful on both sides till at length the admirable Resolution of the Christians overcame leaving a thousand Turks extended on the place many were drowned and the rest fled leaving a rich Booty for reward to the Conqâ—â—rors The Christans in this manner being successful resolved not to check the current of their Fortune but without delay Lewa taken proceeded to Lewa which having been for some time battered with great Guns surrendred it self to the merev of the Conqueror in which was found a considerable quantity of Meal and twenty great pieces of Artillery In the mean time the difference between the King of France and the Pope on occasion of the insult offered at Rome by the Corsi to the Embassadors House and Person being this Year composed those Forces of the French being in all about 3000. Horse sent first into Italy to avenge this Affront under the Command of the Count Coligni were ordered to pass into Hungary by way of Venice to the Assistance of the Emperor to which several Gentlemen Voluntiers of the same Nation joining themselves formed a Body of 4000. Horse well appointed Valiant and desirous of Action The Pope also whose words expressed and breathed out nothing but holy Zeal against the common Enemy promised a supply of 10000. Foot and 3000. Horse which were to pass by way of Trieste into Croatia according to the Promise and Assurance of the Nuntio at Vienna for acknowledgment of which religious and considerable Succour Count Leisle was dispatched from the Imperial Court in a private Character to pass those Offices of grateful Acceptance as were due to so high a Merit and Sense of the Christian Cause But scarce was Leisle arrived at Venice before he understood to his great Admiration that the holy Army was by Order of the Pope disbanded The Pope recals his Forces from assistance of the Emperor for which no other Cause was assigned than only that at Rome it was seriously debated and in the end it was concluded that the Expence was to great to be charged on the Ecclesiastical State and that the Soldâ—ery also were themselves unwilling to be so far separated from their own Country all which at Vienna were understood to be frivolous Pretences and the causes thereof attributed to the sinister Offices of a Person ill affected to the Emperors Interest by which the Pope and Don Mario his General falling from their Resolutions and Promises Count Leisle was revoked from his Employment and the Imperial Interest and hopes disappointed of so considerable a Succour Howsoever that the Pastoral care might not seem to be altogether dormant and careless of the Universal Flock the Pope having disbanded his Army The Pope supplies the Emperor with Money but not with men could not do less than to supply the defect thereof with Money for raising of which he charged the Ecclesiastical State through all Italy the Dominions of Venice only excepted whose Wars already with the Turks exempted them from farther Taxes with an Imposition of 6 per Cent. of their yearly Revenue under the notion of Tenths or Tithes which in all amounted to the sum of 700. thousand Dollars which by Bills of Exchange was remitted by way of Venice to the Imperial Court. In the mean time the French Troops were arrived in Hungary under the Command of the Count Coligni which joining themselves with the General Montecuculi followed the motion of the Viziers Army The Turks designed to pass the Danube for recovery of Lewa or Leventz and in their way to destroy and lay desolate the Country of Count Badian and in virtue and strength of that and former Successes to pass forward to the Subjection of Possonium and Vienna But God who disposes the Affairs of this World and gives Laws and â—ounds to the Licentiousness and unlimited Pride and Avarice of Mankind took off the Wheels of the Turkish Chariots and caused them to move slowly and warily having an Eye always barckwards to the Forces of Montecuculi who attended them along the Banks of the River Muer of Mura But whilst these two great Armies marched in view of each other the Walachian and Moldavian Forces joining with a considerable number of Turks and Tartars under the Command of Chusaein Pasha resolved to assault and again to recover Leventz which tho scarce setled being so lately taken by the Christians yet valiantly repulsed two fierce Assaults of the Enemy with that Courage and Bravery that 2000 were Slain under the very Walls By which time Count Soise marches to raise the Siege of Leventz it being the 5 / 15 of July Count Soise passed the Nitra with his Horse and Foot and thence hastning his March with all Expedition he first Encamped at the Foot of a Hill called St. Bâ—net from whence he discovered the Enemies Body from the Top of a Mountain and thence approaching nearer threw up some Earth and Works by the Banks of the River Grava the next day having found a fordable place of the Water Soise in less than two hours passed the gross of his Army which the Enemy observing left their Siege abandoned their Trenches and displaid their Army in open Field which consisting of 25. or 30. thousand fighting Men appeared much more numerous than the Christians For to these Forces under the Conduct of Husaein Pasha of Buda were joined the Pasha of Anatolia and Cidizade the Pasha of Temeswar four Boluchees of Spahees and a good Force of Tartars together with the Militia of Moldavia and Valachia The Turks before Lewa under their respective Princes which composed an Army as was computed of above 25000. Men. Upon approach of Husaein pasha the Christians gave way and retreated intending to receive their Enemies in a larger Field and afford an occasion to theâ— of greater Confidence in Execution of the Design they came to Act. The Turks supposing the Christians to be fled for fear with more boldness marched forward And believing this Retreat to proceed rather of Fear than Policy continued to contemn the Pusillanimity of the Christians and lest it should argue too much regard and esteem of their Force vouchsafed not to send Scouts abroad either to view their Camp or to prevent surprisal but some of their Officers wisely considering that a Soldier ought never to despise his Enemy they were perswaded to send a considerable Body of Horse to view and discover the Enemies Force who in the way meeting with a party of the Christians after a small Skirmish put them to Flight and taking some Prisoners brought them before the General the Prisoners upon Examination confessed that Count Susa was fully resolved the next Morning to give them Battel and declared the number and courage of his Army to be such as altered
the Opinion Husaein had conceived of the Cowardice and Weakness of the Christians power so that that whole Night the Turks past with watchful and vigilant Guards their Arms ready and the whole Camp in a posture of Defence The next Morning being the 9th of July The Christian Army put themselves into Battalia the day breaking discovered the Christian Army at so near a distance as that their several Motions might be discerned and putting themselves in Array for the Battel made two Wings of Horse each Wing consisting of 3000. Horse the most armed Cap-a-pe and well provided the Foot marched in the Body of the Army well appointed and fitted with all sorts of Ammunition and Arms and so raised with chearful Courages as rendered them in appearance to the Turks a Warlike and formidable Army The Turks likewise drew themselves into Battalia desirous to try the fortune of the day the right Wing was Commanded by the Prince of Valachia and the left by the Prince of Moldavia The Body of the Army was composed of Turks and Tartars almost all Horse except 2 or 3000. Janizaries sent as an Auxiliary Force from Newhausel and Strigonium These two Armies thus ranged in a Posture of Defiance stood in view each of other until Husaein Commanded his Men to pass the Marsh or Fen which was between them and the Christians but several would have perswaded him the contrary lest the success of the day not proving to Expectation the Marsh should be a disadvantage to their Flight and an occasion of greater Slaughter in the pursuit to which Husaein Couragiously answered That Men who would Conquer were to look forward and not behind them those that would save their Lives by flight were fit to perish in it and that for his part he was resolved to cut off all hopes of safety from his Army but what consisted in their Swords and Victory over their Enemies The Turks having thus passed the Marsh made a halt and faced the Christians until Noon who moved not a foot from their ground that so they might obtain the advantage of the Sun which in the Morning being in their Faces would upon declining be an offence unto the Turks In the mean time no question but both Generals made their Orations to their Soldiers encouraging them to Fight in Defence of their Faith and Religion of their Countries Glory and Sasety suggested with those Arguments and Rhetorick as was agreeable to the Principles and Condition of both Parties and which we may well suppose according to the Licence of Historians to have been in these words or to this effect The Speech of Count Susa to his Army WHen I see and consider before us Fellow Soldiers those Enemies who are the object of our Fury and Rage I conceive words more necessary to moderate the heat of your Anger so as to Fight with Discretion rather than to raise your Spirits to that height of Warlike Courage in which consists the safety and glory of this days Fortune For these are they who lately in cool Blood against the Laws of Arms and Nations unhumanely butchered our Countrymen and Kindred and made no difference between Captives of War and Malefactors but like Thieves and Murderers sentenced brave Men to Death who had no other crime than that they unhappily fought in defence of their Country These are they who in the very times of Peace consume your Borders and rob your Markets and whose Capitulations of Peace make yet all acts of hostolity lawful These are the grand Enemies and Despisers of the Cross of Christ against whom whosoever dies is both a Conqueror and a Martyr This Army before your Eyes consists in part of Moldavian and Valachian Christians forced to this War by compulsion not of choice the rest are either Turks educated in the softness of Asia or Tartars who never made advantage by Battel but by flight these are they with whom you have this day to contend before the Walls of Lewa where many of your Wives and Children and Friends are immured and are Spectators of your Virtue and Courage Let us therefore valiantly address our selves to this Battel on the success of which the fortune of Hungary and Germany depends The Speech of Husaein Pasha to his Soldiers WHilst our General the Grand Vizier is so successful in his Arms abroad having subdued the strong Fortresses of Oywar and Serinswar and struck a Terror and Amazement to all the Enemies of our formidable Emperor let not us be unactive or want our share in the renown and same of Triumph and Victory I shall not need to put you in mind of the glorious Exploits of your Ancestors whose Valour and Virtue which formed this vast Empire round about us you ought now to imitate and give the World new proofs how emulous you are to exceed the Courage and Bravery of former times The other Divisions of the Ottoman Power have contended hitherto with their Enemies on unequal terms and droven them forth from their shelters of Trenches and Bulwarks but here you have an open Field to fight nothing between you and the naked Breasts of your Enemies we stand in equal unmbers and terms with them nothing can win the day but only Valour and nothing lose it but meer Cowardice These are the shattered Companies we have expelled last Year from Oywar and the Companions of those whose Bodies and Heads we have heaped before Strigonium should we submit to be subdued by these whom our Osmanlees have so often Conquered we should not only stain our selves with the highest infamy and shame but give a turn to the Vniversal Fortune of the Ottoman Arms. By this time it was Noon and the Sun turning it self from the Christian to the Turkish Army a warning Piece was fired from the Christian Camp at which sign their whole Army began to advance and with chearfulness to approach the Turks who stood ready to receive them Husaein Pasha â— routed and fled At the first onset the Christians poured a plentiful Volly of shot on the Turks and Tartars which composed the main Body at which immediately they put themselves to Flight leaving the two Wings to an unequal Battel who resisted not long before they followed the Example of their Companions leaving their Baggage and Cannon with the Honour of the day unto the Christians who in the pursuit slew the Turks without Compassion or Resistance filling the Fields with dead Bodies and the Rivers with Blood until Night which is the shelter of the distressed gave a stop to their farther Slaughter Refuge denied them at Strigonium such as escaped betook themselves to Strigonium where they were refused either passage over the Water or Provisions or any other Refuge or Entertainment after their wearisome Flight for Strigonium it self was judged now in Danger and the next attempt after the foregoing Victory and therefore there was no Reason or Policy to unfurnish themselves of necessary provisions to supply or relieve a discouraged
should be the day of sally both with Horse and Foot and that the Fleet not to lose their part in this action should play with their great Guns on that side of the Turkish-Army which lay incamped on the Quarters of St. Andrea The order of the Christian Army to make their Sally All the Forces were landed on the 26th and the whole night following was spent in preparations for the next days sally the Army being drawn up made four Batalions the first called the Admirals commanded by the Sieurs Martel Vandre and Gravier the second was the Vice-Admirals commanded by the Sieurs de la Monthe and Planta the third was the Rere-Admirals under Command of Chevalier de Bouillion Garbaret and the Chevalier Dailly the fourth was the Batalion of the Sieur d' Almeras commanded under him by the Sieurs Panetier de la Rogue Fontier Bitault and the Chevalier de Nemond and on the left hand of these aforesaid Batalions the Guards of the Duke of Beaufort were disposed The Duke of Beaufort unwilling to be a Spectator in this glorious Action without bearing a part in his own person after he had given order to the Fleet to accost the shore on the side of St. Andrea as near as consisted with their security and from thence with their great Guns to annoy the Enemies Camp as much as was possible came that night on shore resolving to fight in the Head of the Forlorn Hope from which hazardous adventure no intreaties or counsel of his friends could prevail to disswade him The Forlorn consisted of 400 men on the head of which marched fifty men with hand Granadoes flanked with three Troops of Horse Commanded by Count Dampire the Regiments of Guards with four Troops of Horse for their Wings flanked also with three Regiments of Foot followed the Forlorn The Reserve consisted of the Regiments of Harcourt Conti Lignieres Rosan Montpesat and Vendosme flanked with four Troops of Horse under Command of the Count Choiseul which placed themselves on a rising ground to hinder all Communication between the Vizier whose Camp was before St. Andrea and the Janizar Aga who lay before Sabionera Between the first and second line were placed fifty Musketiers of the King to be assistant on occasion and the other Troops of Horse were to take the left hand along the Trench leading to the Sabionera the Regiment of Montpeyroux was to mount the Guard on the Fort of St. Demetrius to secure the Retreat if occasion should require In like manner five hundred Pioniers were ordered to level the Trenches of the Enemy on the Quarter of St. Andrea whilst the Body of the Turks Army was imployed in repulsing the violence of the Sally Things being disposed in this manner and the morn approaching the Forces marched out by the Gate of St. George with all silence possible covering their Matches that the fire might not alarm the Enemy the Onset was to begin with the dawning of the day and the Signal was to be given by firing of the chief Mine Royal which being large The Christians sally at the Gate St. George and furnished with a great quantity of Powder might as was supposed make way to the slaughter of the Turks whom the Christians might find terrified and disordered by such an unexpected accident This Mine was reserved for the last extremity but being low was full of water so that the Powder was stowed on floats and rafts to support it but yet received so great a damp and moisture that when they came to spring it the Powder took not fire which was the first disappointment of this Enterprise Though some are of opinion that the Mine was so vast and contained such a quantity of Powder that the Engineers were timorous to spring it lest it should reverse on the Besieged as well as take effect on the Enemies Camp. But be it how it will a quarter of an hour before day the Generals expecting no longer the Forlorn Hope which lay within half a Musket-shot of the Enemy assaulted two Redoubts took them The Christians fall upon the Turks and put them all to the Sword with the like courage the other Regiments entred the Line and making themselves Masters of the Trenches after much blood and slaughter and storming a Fort on which was the Battery directed against St. Demetrio possessed themselves of it and therewith of a great Magazine of Powder belonging to the Enemy spiking all the Cannon that were found therein The day by this time being clearly broken out discovered the action so that the Turks with all expedition put themselves into a Body on the Hill near New Candy from whence observing and contemning the small number of the Christians came thundring down in great numbers to regain their Trenches The Duke of Navailles perceiving his Forlorn hardly beset came in to their assistance with two Regiments of Foot and two Troops of Horse which behaved themselves with that gallantry as ingaged the Turks again to quit their Trenches But whilst success seemed thus to smile on the Christians the Magazine of Powder which was newly won containing an hundred thirty four Kintals of Powder by what accident is not known took fire and blew up all into the air by which many were destroyed and wounded especially of the Battallion of the Guards with many Officers This fatal blow quite turned the Scale of Fortune For the Souldiers hearing the dreadful clap and feeling as it were the Earth to tremble under them supposed it to be the eruption of some Mine near them The Christian Army in confusion with which they were so amazed that they began with confusion to disperse to the right and left and put themselves into shameful flight In like manner the Forces near the Sea sensible of the blow began to retreat and abandon their design which no perswasions of their Officers or other incouragement could animate them to prosecute but that the faintness of a second Attempt an infirmity accorded of ancient Times to be incident to the nature of the French Nation prevailed upon their spirits beyond any possibility of arrest so that in a disorderly manner they fled into the Body of the first Battalion where being now united with the Reserve they for some time sustained the shock of the Enemy until other Bodies of the Turks from New Candia and St. Andrea over-powered them with greater multitudes so that then they wholly abandoned the field and every one as well as he could sought his Sanctuary and refuge within the Precincts of the Fortifications Howsoever Choiseul and Lebret each of which had a Horse killed under him incouraging their Troops disputed the case yet longer and still with other Officers made head upon the Enemy but at length with the Duke of Navailles and several other Gentlemen who made their way through the Enemy with their Swords they were forced to retreat honourably into the Town The Duke of Beaufort was said to have laboured much
first Posts and Parapets were thrown down which afterwards contributed much to the defence of the Place The Turks advanced their Works on the Court and Lebel Bastions side carrying them on within thirty paces of the Counterscharp notwithstanding the continued fire of the Besieged They also discharged their Cannon and Mortars without ceasing and intirely ruined the Emperour's Palace the Houses and neighbouring Churches Count Starenberg who neglecting the danger visited every moment the Posts to see if his orders were faithfully executed upon his going out of the Court-Bulwark was hurt in the Head with a Brick-bat which a Cannon bullet had forced He was immediately carried to his Lodging and so happily cured that in three days he found himself able to quit his Bed and his Chamber during his hurt the Count of Daun was also incapable of acting being dangerously sick of a violent Fever which reduced him to extremity so that he was not out of danger before the fourteenth Day of his Malady But the Counts Serin Souches and Schaffenberg Brigadiers of the Garrison applied themselves with so much care for the defence of the Place that the Enemy drew no advantage from this misfortune In the mean time the Duke of Lorrain finding himself obliged to remove farther from the City his first care was to molest the Enemy Count Dunewald Lieut. Marshal of the Field was sent to Krembs with his Regiment the two Rements of Lodron and Keri Cravats Kemgsegs Regiment of Polish Dragoons were likewise dispatched thither not only to keep the Bridge which was of great Importance but to hinder the Enemies Forragers and oppose the Parties of Tartars which ravaged about And here we may wonder at the Politicks of these Miscreants who burn and ruine all the Forrages and all the Victuals which should make them subsist and which would have very much accommoded their Army in the distresses they afterwards found themselves Lorrain likewise sent Orders to Count Hermestein who was in Styria to advance to the Frontiers on the side of the Mountains to attempt the Enemies He gave also the same Orders to the Garrisons of Raab and Comorra and to Castel's Dragoons who were at Newstat He sent likewise to survey Closterneubourg which is an Abbey upon the Danube The Turkish Camp was but two Leagues off and according to the report made to him of the Place he judged it necessary to conserve this Post which he did by putting Foot into it the which might descend the Danube upon occasion if the Enemy came to attack them with Cannon He dispatch'd an Officer to Raab July 17. for the Regiments of Grana and Baden which the Duke of Croy brought him with so much diligence that parting from Raab at Mid-night they came in 24 hours to Presburg and the next day to the Camp. Count Lesley was sent to Krembs to conduct the Artillery thither and to expect the Bavarians Auxiliaries those of Saxony and Franconia and some other loose Regiments in the Empire After these first Dispositions which depended on the Duke's care his thoughts more nearly regarded the Court and the relief of Vienna He judged the safety of this Place of such Importance that he thought it not fit it should be pressed and reduced to Extremity to search the means of saving it He knew that the tediousness of Negotiations and the distance from whence he was to expect things necessary for this grand Enterprise would make him lose much time whence he concluded that he could not begin too soon He was not of the Sentiment of others who imagined that the Garrison of Vienna was capable of defending it self against such extraordinary Troops and cause the Grand Visier's Army to perish without any Succour But he knew that the want of Necessaries do sometimes produce great Changes in the best Resolutions that no body could answer for the Governour 's Life nor for the principal Officers nor for the constancy of the People accustomed to an easie Life and who had never seen the Wars but in paint He knew that the Maladies inevitable in Sieges might occasion untoward Accidents He saw the Desolation of the Emperour 's Hereditary Countries which did daily augment He heard no other Discourse but of Places sacked and People carried into slavery In this Continuation of Cruelties and Violences he judged it reasonable to use all means to stop the Rapidity of this Torrent He perswaded himself that being at the head of the Army he ought not to deferr representing all these Particulars to the Emperour by some Person of Merit and Trust He gave this Commission to Count Taff whom he dispatch'd to Hassau and he continued the same Offices during the Siege for all the Obstacles and Oppositions which he Encountred whether by the Difficulties of Passages or the slender success of his Negotiations The Besiegers who had drawn two parallel Lines the one on the Court Bastion and the other on the Lebel side joyned them with another of Communication and placed above thirty pieces of Battery against them And though Vienna was environed with eleven Bastions the Enemy attack'd and battered but three during the whole Siege which obliged the Governour to use all his care for their defence The Grand Visier took his Post on that side that regarded the Ravelin above-mentioned with the Aga of the Janizaries called as he was Cara Mustapha his Kiaia and the Bassa of Romelia this last was slain with a Cannon bullet The Attack on the right side towards the Court Bulwark was committed to Hussan the Bassa of Damas who though brave had been beaten by Prince Ragotzki in Transilvania by Count Souches at Lewentz and by the King of Poland at Cocczin This Bassa was seconded by the Serasquier Janisary Aga or Collonel of all the Foot. Achmet Bassa of Temiswar commanded the left Attack towards the Lebel Bulwark He had been Tefterdar and died the Third of September of a Dyssentery Hussan Bassa who had also been his Highnesses Treasurer was put in his Place I shall designedly pretermit the particulars of this Siege as to the Approaches Trenches Batteries Minings Counterminings Attacks Sallies and Contests though carried on with admirable Valour and Constancy on both sides as being particularised in the Journals of that Siege in all Languages and of little or no use to my Country-men And yet I shall omit no great Action nor any thing that may be required of a just Historian Great was the firing on both sides and a Granado falling on the Spanish Ambassadors Palace reversed all his Stables It would have done yet more harm without the Governours Precaution who had commanded 250 men under their particular Officers to march incessantly through the Streets to quench the artificial Fires occasioned from their Bombs or otherwise Being as we mentioned close shut up Count Starenberg was the more desirous to communicate Councils with the Duke of Lorrain for which end he offered 100 Duckets to any that would but carry him a Letter without
the hazard of a return but no man presented himself upon this occasion and yet a Spy sent by the Duke arrived happily in the City having traversed the four Branches of the Danube with his Letters hanged in a Bladder about his Neck by these the Governour was informed that he should certainly be relieved and that the Troops of the Circles of the Empire and the Hereditary Countries with which the King of Poland who was at Olmitz was to joyn did daily arrive In the mean time some Deserters brought News and it was seen from the top of St. Stevens Steeple that the Infidels were making a Bridge of Boats over the Danube a League off to the end they might pass when they pleased into the Isle of Prater Leopolstat They knew also that this Commission was given to the Vayvods of Wallachia and Moldavia who employed 6000 of their Nation in the Work but being the Turks suspected them as being Christians and that they were forced the Visier ordered Achmet Bassa of Magnesia a City in Natolia who was camped in this Isle and Chider Bassa of Bosna who had been Kiaia to the Sultana Asseki to attend their Actions and second them with six thousand Egyptians The Baron of Kunitz who was the Emperours Resident with the Port being then in the Camp sent one of his Domesticks with a Letter to Count Starenberg which was not very hard to do though the Turks kept a very strict Guard by reason that the Officers and Servants of all the Ministers which resided with the Grand Seignior are habited as Turks and speak the Language of the Country The business was kept so little secret that the News became the next day the subject of every Conversation This Indiscretion was the cause that they could no more profit by this Advantage the Turks being advertised of this Commerce by their Spies Kunitz's Servant being seised upon in his return was brought to the Visier and seen no more but without his Letters which being wrap'd in wax he prudently let slip into a Ditch when he saw the Turks come towards him An Order was published by sound of Trumpet July 25. commanding all Proprietors of Houses to keep every one a Man in his Cellar to hearken if they could not discern any thumping or removing of Earth because it had been noised abroad that some Traitors had promised to bring the Enemy through Subterranean Passages into the City The same day the Turks passing some great Pieces into Leopolstat upon Boats and Flotes were discovered by the besieged who play'd upon them with their Cannon from the Ramparts so lukily that they sunk two of their largest with a Mortarpiece which yet did not hinder the rest to arrive at Neudorf and Erdorf The Cannon on both sides together with the Mortars play'd without ceasing and though they ruined the prime Buildings in the Town they hurt or killed but very few The 24th Nitiski one of the Engineers came in great haste to the Governour to tell him that he had seen in one of the Shores of the City somewhat that had the Figure of a Man and that it was to be feared that the Turks had found a Passage and were entered through this Vault which disgorges it self in the Danube and that they designed to surprise the City that way The Governour not being yet well recovered of his hurt sent Nitski back with the Baron of Wels his Son-in-Law and Collonel Rumblingen who was present to examine the matter with care but being they stayed somewhat long the Governour weak as he was mounted on Horseback Being come to the place he alighted and entered himself notwithstanding the infectious smells into the hole having searched all about with Torches he found that they were Carkasses that the Executioners men had flead He very sharply reproved the Authors of this Inhumanity having accidentally met some of them and returned to his Palace pleasantly rallying this Pannick fear with those that accompanied him The Duke of Lorrain had continued in his Camp by the Bridges of Vienna to refresh his harassed Cavalry from the 16th to the 25th of July He had there News of the defeat of 800 Tartars by a party of a Detachment which Count Dunewald Commanded which render'd these Barbarians more reserved The Count de la Tour the Emperours Envoy in Poland came to the same Post to him to assure him that that Prince promised to come to the relief of Vienna but that he could not be there before the beginning of September At the same time the Duke of Lorrain was advertised that Tekely having assembled his Troops near Tirnau designed to march to Presburg that the Governour of that Castle wavered and that the City was much sollicited to receive a Garrison of the discontented Hungarians which obliged him to march along the Marck to oppose this design and in the interim he sent 200 men with Major Okelby to endeavour to put them into the said Castle with a Convoy of 300 Horse for his Security The Duke discamp'd from the Bridges of Vienna having burnt them leaving notwithstanding the Regiments of Savoy and Ricardi to preserve the Forts Being arrived at the Mark he was informed that Okelby with his Convoy were beaten by a party of the Malecontents that the City had received a Garrison that they were by order of the Grand Visier preparing a Bridge for the Communication of both Armies that Tekely had 20000 Hungarians and 8000 Turks commanded by the Bassa of Waradin and Pest and that he prepared to come and besiege the Castle of Presburg This design appeared to the Duke of that consequence that he believed himself obliged to march thither notwithstanding all the Obstacles that seemed to oppose him This resolve was however a great while contested He considered the difficulty of the ways the Enemies Forces much superior to his the danger of receiving a check in a time when the Emperours Forces were to be preserved for relief of Vienna On the other side he foresaw that the Communication of the two Armies at Presburg did put the Enemies in a Condition to joyn their Forces to pass where they pleased and to hinder the Conjunction of the Arms of Poland or oblige them to tedious Circuits These Considerations made him determine to oppose the Designs of Tekely He traversed the Marck the 28th of July with his Horse and Dragoons being in all eight thousand Horse and two thousand Poles commanded by Lubomirsky A party that appeared a League from the River was forced back the Imperialists continuing their march to the Lanes that descended to Presburg Night being come on Prince Lewis of Baden and the Baron Mercy were detached with all the Dragoons to force the narrow Passages and gain the tops of the Vineyards which they did without any Opposition having a sight of the Enemy in the plain below The General upon notice came speedily there from whence he observed two Camps posted at some distance from each
for nothing unless Succours were great and quick The Duke who was careful in informing the Emperour the King of Poland and the Elector of Saxony of all he could learn of the state of the besieged failed not to quicken the Auxiliaries to communicate his Intelligence and Letters to them He dispatch'd Count Caraffa to the King of Poland with them and hasten'd the march of General Sinariski who was come into Silesia six days since This Count had also in charge to pray his Majesty of Poland to come with the first Troops as well for the esteem he had of his Merits as because he believed that upon the Kings advance the gross of his Army would follow with more diligence After he had dispatched C. Caraffa he sent the Count Schaffenberg to the Elector of Saxony to provide Waggons and Carriages for the Auxiliary Troops by the way as they should pass As he did not doubt but that these pressing Letters would quicken th advance of the Troops he thought he was obliged to provide also for the passage of the Danube and in order to it resolved to go to Krembs whereof he advertised the Emperour by an Express About the same time C. Starenberg had News from his Highness of the defeat of C. Tekely near Presburg as also of the taking of a great Convoy that was going to the Ottoman Army and that the King of Poland was upon his march to succour the Place This good News infused Joy into the whole City and was welcomed with all the Artillery and the ringing of all their Bells As every little Success encourages Souldiers at least to hope so it far'd here A Scholar having killed a Janizary and ripped open his Stomach found ten Duckats in Gold in it and a Souldier having after a stiff Combat disarmed a Janizary cut off his Head with his own Sable Searching him afterwards he found a Girdle about him full of Moneys which he hid so well that his Comrades did not discover it Being returned into the City having unstitch'd his purchase he found an 100 Sequins of Gold. He was so transported at the sight with Joy that he ran like a Mad-man through the Strees clapping his Hands and shewing his Gold to every body making it appear by his Extravagancies that he thought himself happier than the Emperour His good Fortune gave Courage to his Companions upon hopes of the like Adventure making them good Anatomists and diligent Waiters The Duke of Lorrain left Anneren encampt at Volgerdorp He there received Letters from the Count Caplier and Starenberg The first pressed strongly for Relief by reason of the Diminution of the Garrison and the Ammunitions of War. The Style of the second Letter was upon the brave and seemed of a Person not greatly concerned but in the three last Lines being in Cypher he besought the Duke for speedy Succours because the Retrenchments and cuttings off in the Lebel Bastion were very slight that his Ammunitions and Officers failed him and that he every day lost many of his Men. His Highness return'd him answers full of comfort advertising him of the state of the advance of the Auxiliaries and the certitude of his Relief In order to it be quits Volgerdorp and marched to Stokerau the better from thence to discover the Isles of the Danube and chuse a place for making a Bridge for his Passage Some of the great ones were of Opinion that Vienna ought to be relieved by the Plain passing the Danube at Presburg this Opinion found many partisans their reason was that the Army posting it self above the City would cut off the Communication of the Besiegers with those Countries from whence they drew their Provisions which being done they judged the Turks would retire without the Christians hazarding of a Battel This reasoning did not want appearance if it could be done before the Besieged were too much pressed but the Enemies main force consisting in Horse that of the Imperialists in Foot the Duke thought Inclosures preferrable to the Plains besides the Allies not being able to meet at Krembs before the Month of September many days would be spent in marching thence to Presburg and laying a Bridge over the River there in a time when the condition of the Siege demanded all their haste Moreover the Construction of a Bridge in that place was difficult especially if the Enemy detached any strong Parties to oppose them as they might easily do insomuch that the Duke who had in the beginning of the Siege looked upon the Mountains of Kalemberg as the surest way for the Relief of Vienna without any farther amusing himself resolved to pass the Army at Tuln and Krembs disposing all things accordingly for the Execution of this Design He did not believe the Enemy would come thither to oppose him not only because part of his Army and of that of the Bavarians was already on the other side of the Danube and maintained themselves there without attempts of the Turks to dislodge them but also because it would be dangerous for these Infidels to engage themselves with a great Body of Horse beyond the Streights or narrow Passages of the Forest of Vienna Many were the Messengers and Spies which past betwixt the Duke and Besieged his Highness being careful to encourage and inform them He now again assures them that the Army composed of Bavarians Saxons Poles and the Imperial Troops approach'd Krembs That the King of Poland Commanded it in Person and that he was accompanied by the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony That the Emperour was removed from Passaw to Lintz to be nearer Vienna so that now there was nothing more required for the saving of Christendom but a little more resistance being all the Troops were ready to march He added that he himself was going to Krembs to prepare the Bridges and every other necessary thing to the end that nothing should retard the Succour of the Place assuring moreover the Governour that he would expose himself to all dangers to force the Enemy from the Siege Fortune did begin now to favour them being Tekely had been defeated at Presburg and by the River of Marcka with great loss This News caused a sensible Joy in all the Inhabitants and particularly the Ecclesiasticks whereof many were troubled with bloody Fluxes and very many considerable Persons had been dead of it The cause of this Disease may well be attributed to the ill Diet the richest sort being forced to eat salt meats differing from the Delicacies of their former feeding besides the Meal they made their Bread of was neither clean nor well ground The Duke in the mean time caused some Troops of the Regiments of Grana and Baden to secure Tuln Aug. 22. where there was a stone Wall and a Ditch for he designed to preserve that Town and make it one of the heads of his Bridge the next day he went to discover the Ilets of the Danube and having found them useful for his Design he commanded ways to
the Christians in the heat of the Battel as being habited after the Turkish fashion By day there was not a Turk left though they were traced during the obscurity of the Night by the Villages on fire the Infidels having marked their retreat with this last cruelty after they had first burnt their Camp as far as the precipitation of their flight and the fear which obliged them to be gone would permit them They retired also out of the Isle by favour of their lower Bridge the upper Bridge which they had layed being possessed by the Christians upon their arrival The same evening many Cavaliers and Souldiers entered the City with great Droves of Cattel which they found in the Camp and near it which continuing the following days Beef became so cheap that they were sold for five and six Florins each The Duke of Lorrain being now assured that he had no more Enemies to combat dispatcht the Count of Aversberg Son to the Prince of that name to the Emperor to inform him with the happy success of that day On the morrow of the fight being the 13th the fire took in the Powder which the Turks had left a League from the City and confumed an infinite number of Bombs Granadoes and other artificial fire-works This accident was attributed to the negligence of some Christian Souldiers and yet there were prodigious quantities of Powder Bullets c. left behind It was observable that many of the Cannon which the Turks had abandoned were marked with the Arms of the Emperours Ferdinand the first and Rodolf the second After the Souldiery had pillaged the immense Riches of the Camp which amounted to many Millions the King of Poland entered into the City accompanied with Count Starenberg the Governour many Commanders and a great number of the Polish Nobility where Te Deum being sung he the Duke of Bavaria and several Grandees were sumptuously treated by the Governour the People by their joyful acclamations eechoing the praises of their Deliverers In the mean time the Duke of Lorraine was employed in giving the necessary Orders for the Army part of it beginning to discamp and all together with the Poles designing to go in pursuit of the Enemy which favourable conjuncture was omitted in expectation of the Emperour who also arrived that evening at Vienna where he was received coming out of his Boat by the two Electors and the principal Officers of War and Justice Having taken a view of the Enemies works He caused Te Deum to be sung with all the solemnity possible in the Church of St. Stephen That done he caused the Crescent and Star the Ottoman Arms to be taken down from the Spire of that Steeple placed there since the time of Solyman being these last Turks did not cease shooting at it and raised the Cross in their place Wednesday being the 15th the King of Poland sent his Grand Chancellor to the Emperor with a numerous Train to complement him and offer him a part of the booty which he had found in the Grand Visier's Tent and amongst other things the Standard which was always carried before him when he marched It was made of Horse-hair work'd with the Needle and embroidered with flowers the staff of it was guilt as also the Apple which was of brass They call it Tugh in their Language which is to say Horse Tayle The Chancellor made a very elegant Latin Speech and the Emperour answered it with Sentiments of esteem and acknowledgment for his Majesty of Poland After a quarter of an hours conversation with this Envoy and hearing Mass in our Lady of Loretto's Chappel he took Horse to ride to the Camp where he was to visit the King of Poland There was some difficulty about the upper hand This Prince pretended it and there were examples contrary to this pretension In the mean time what he had done deserved particular consideration To conclude it was resolved for the removing of these obstacles that the Emperor should go see the Troops that they should be ranged in Battalia and that these two Sovereigns should advance within twenty steps of each other which was performed in the manner following The Emperour having seen the Bavarians in Battalia continued his way to Ebersdorff where the first Squadrons of the left Wing were drawn up and thence he went to Swech where the right Wing was posted and where the King of Poland expected him Being within Pistol-shot of each other the King with the Prince his Son upon a little gallop moved forwards and then both Princes uncovered at once saluted and covered again in a moment The Emperor spoke first and told the King That he was extremely obliged to him for leaving his Country and undertaking a long and painful voyage to come and combat his Enemies and deliver Vienna that all Christendom shar'd in the obligation and that he had covered himself with glory by so generous an action The King of Poland answered him that it was to God alone that we ought to render our thanks for this Victory that he had done nothing but what every Christian Prince was obliged to do upon the like occasion and that he would endeavour for the future to do yet more for the Interest of Religion that all his displeasure was that he was not in a condition to pursue the Enemy upon their defeat but that his Troops after a march of three days required some rest especially his Cavalry the Horse being extremely tired Prince Alexander who by order of his Father was clothed that day after the German fashion kissed the Emperour's hand who thereupon returned into the City and the King further into his Camp. His Imperial Majesty in his return observed that all the Villages and Palaces were burnt around except the place where Solyman had formerly camped when he besieg'd Vienna in memory whereof the Emperour Rodolf had caused a house of pleasure to be built in that place with Towers which were covered with guilt Copper in the same symmetry or figure that the Sultans Tents were so that the Turks being informed that this building had been made after the Model of Solymans Camp would not ruine it during the Siege but had made a Magazin of it where was also found a great quantity of Bread and Bisquet The Emperour employed the rest of the time that he stayed at Vienna in visiting the Retrenchments and Fortifications with Count Starenberg had made behind the Bastions and the Walls to defend the Ground foot by foot The Prince Elector of Saxony parted the fifteenth with all his Troops His retreat seemed precipitated and supposed to be upon account of the Protestants of Hungary thinking perhaps he had done enough in saving of Vienna whereto he nobly contributed The Emperour willing to recompence Count Starenberg's Services made him Marshal General of the Field and of his Privy Council he gave him 100000 Florins and writ to the King of Spain to send him the Order of the Golden Fleece He
also conferred the same Employments and Honours upon Count Capliers and having presented Prince Alexander the King of Polands Son with a Sword richly adorned with Jewels of great value He returned back to Lintz The greatest part of those who fled upon the approach of the Turks returned to the City when they knew the Siege was raised They began to rebuild the Houses that were ruined and amongst others the Emperours Palace and Scots Church During these Triumphs at Vienna the Grand Visier sensible of his misfortune and the malice of his Enemies and knowing that the Bassa of Buda would render him no good Offices at Court upon the raising of the Siege of Vienna resolved to prevent him and informed the Grand Seignior by an express he dispatch'd to him to Belgrade that he had disposed all things to check the first onset of the Christians and engage them in Battel which would undoubtedly have been accompanied with Success but that he was forced to change design because the Bassa retired with his Army the Walachians the Moldavians and the Hungarians which did so mainly abate the Courage of his Troops that it was afterward impossible for him to bring them to fight that so he had been obliged to retire to conserve the rest of the Army and not to hazard the Person of his Highness Nevertheless the Grand Visier having well examined the Consequences which the ill Success of his Enterprise might have did scarce believe himself secure by this precaution and he perswaded himself that he must immolate the Bassa of Buda's Life to preserve his own He caused him immediately to be arrested together with the Bassaes of Erseck and Poslega who he knew were of Intelligence with the former and caused them all three to be strangled These proceedings furnished his Enemies with Pretexts to destroy him chiefly the Kisler-Agasi a Creature of the Sultana Valide to whom she had recommended upon her Death-bed to revenge her upon this chief Minister which he also did After the Death of these three Bassaes the Grand Visier continued his march but in his Passage by Raab that Garrison fell upon his Rear-Guard and kill'd near 600 of them At Gran he was joyned by a body of 15000 Turks who were going to Belgrade The remains of the Ottoman Army were dispersed some at Gran some at Newhausel at Buda some and the rest entrenched near Altemburg On the other side the Christians discoursed of the rest of the Campania but as part of the Allies did think they had done enough in contributing to the relief of Vienna thought of returning home many Councils were held to examine by what means they might be stayed The Duke of Saxony continued inflexible in his Resolution adn was marched for his Country The Elector of Bavaria consented to leave his Troops with the Emperours but the Prince of Waldeck gave them to understand that he should want new orders for the undertaking of new Enterprises with the Troops of Franconia which he commanded But the Duke of Lorrain perswaded himself that these Difficulties had not hapned if by a quick engagement they had hurried the Allies to pursue the Victory and this was one of the chief reasons that moved the Duke to press the King in it Several Projects were made to divide the Army for different Occasions many Conferences were had with the Allyes and all the time was consumed in Councils In the mean time the Duke who thought of nothing but improving the rest of the Summer proposed every thing that he thought favourable either for the Reduction of Hungary for the Siege of Newhausel or that of Gran or to take the Posts of Barcam and that of Pest for the setling of their Winter Quarters and made it appear that nothing of all this could be done without great Forces the Army of the Turks not being wholly deseated however routed and that the Rebels Army was still entire He determined nothing because he knew not what measures the Turk would take He only affirmed that they ought to march forthwith into Hungary with all the Dispositions necessary to act as the Enemies should direct The Emperour having approved his Propositions and the King of Poland conforming to them they marched the 18th towards Presburg and they encamped the same day with all the Imperial Troops near Fichen from thence they went to Heinburg and the 20th they approached Presburg where the Duke expected the Boats from the Bridge of Tuln according to orders However the Bridge could not be finished till the 25th by reason of the great Winds and the Difficulty of getting Boats in a desolate Country The Franconians continued camped near Vienna and the Bavarians came the 19th to Fichen The 22th news came that Count Budiani who upon the arrival of the Turks had abandoned the passages which he kept upon the Raab and embraced the party of the Malecontents after having warred against the Emperour's Troops with a Body of Turks and Hungarians of his Generality burnt and pillaged a great number of Villages upon the frontier of Styria had surprised and cut in pieces those same Turks to which he was united and had afterwards joyned with the Count of Aspremont to endeavour to incommode them of the great Army in their retreat towards Buda The Bridge upon the Danube to pass into the Isle of Schuts being finished the 25th the Poles began to file over the same day and being followed by the Emperour's Army they encamped the 27th at Gersdorff The Marquis of Barch who in the Prince of Waldeck's absence now sick at Vienna commanded the Troops of Franconia advertised the Duke that he could not follow him with the Troops of his Circle and sent him the copy of an Order from Prince Waldeck dated the 26th He received at the same time another Letter from the Elector of Bavaria dated the day following from his Camp at Ort two Leagues from Vienna which gave him notice that the Franconians would not leave their Camp before they had received Orders from the Princes of their Circle which he judged would be rather to recall than cause them to advance He added that his Infantry being extremely weaken'd and diminished by bloudy Fluxes and his Cavalry ruined his Troops could not so soon follow the Army of the Emperour And yet if they would undertake any great action where they should be necessary he would cause such as were in condition to serve immediately to march The Duke apprehending that this separation might put him out of condition of undertaking any thing considerable sent Prince Lewis of Baden to the Elector who was gone to Bin to change Ayr by reason of some indisposition of health he was charged to perswade him to let his Troops follow remonstrating to him that it would be a great matter now that the Forces of the Christians were diminished to hinder the Turks to take heart to oblige part of Hungary to submit themselves to take Post for Winter Quarters in the Enemies
burnt Barcam and all the Pallisado's that enclosed it because the Turks had placed the Heads of the Poles slain in the late Engagement upon the tops of them Count Tekely who had orders from the Grand Visier to joyn with the Bassa of Buda at Barkam was advanced upon the Mountains within two miles of it but being informed by those he sent to discover what the Christians did of what was passed he retired with much diligence By Letters from Gran as also by the relation of Prisoners there were not 3000 men of all this detachment of 14000 Horse and 1200 Janisaries saved They were the Hower of their Army commanded by the Bassa of Buda Haly Bassa of Aleppo the Bassa of Silistria and some Aga's The booty was great above six thousand Horses being taken and the Tymbals and the Baggage which the Poles had left were recovered This Victoty did not only re-assure the Poles but put the Male-contents into a despondency and did so strongly increase the disorders in the Turkish Army that the Grand Visier unable to master them was obliged to retire The next thing the Christians undertook was the Siege of Gran though the Duke had need of all his Reasons and elocution to perswade the King of Poland to it but having at length consented and the Bavarian Forces being come up three Batteries were forthwith raised and ten great Guns were by force of men as also eight Mortars drawn up the Mountains of Martin and Thomas deserted by the Enemy The Castle was strongly battered on the Gate on the Buda side great quantity of Bombs were thrown in and the shooting lasted all day The Imperialists advanced to the Ditch and lodged there on the side of the Bavarian approaches They advanced to the foot of the Wall which lookt towards Barcam and about five in the evening some commanded Battalions of the Imperialists attack'd the City on the other extremity and carried it without resistance for as much as the Enemy having retired contented themselves to defend it by their great firing from the Castle from whence the very sills of the Houses are discovered The Imperialists being masters of the City the Bavarians in the Night gained the foot of the Castle where they fell to Mining whilst the Imperialists leaped into the Mote and lodged there Several men were lost there by the defendants Bombs Granadoes Stones c. which they continually threw amongst them whilst they were covering themselves The Cannon beginning to make a breach about Ten Clock and the Miner at work a Summons was sent in by a Turkish Prisoner with offer of goods and life if they would surrender the place before the day was ended The besieged demanded till the morrow which being refused the firing of the Artillery Musquets and Bombs were re-doubled They passed the Moat made two Lodgments by favour whereof they attacked the Miner in a second place on the Martinberg side This advantage obliged the Turks to send an Officer about Eleven at Night to declare that they accepted the offer which had been made them demanding Hostages whilst the Capitulations were a making and offering theirs The 27th the Hostages being delivered it was agreed that the Garrison should march out with Arms and Baggage and that it should be conducted in safety to Buda and Vicegrade that the Artillery and Munitions of War and Victuals should remain in the place and that the Turks should deliver up their Christian Prisoners The impression that the battel of Barcam had made the vigor and readiness wherewith they had gained the foot of the Walls the Grand Visier's retreat the Bombs which were thrown without ceasing into a place so full of People as this had caused so much terror and so much confusion that though there were above 4000 effective men in the Garrison commanded by two Bassa's a Bey and many Officers we have seen a place reduced in five days which in the two former Sieges had held out several Months with weaker Garrisons against more numerous Armies The season being too far advanced for further action the Allies returned home and the Poles together with the Imperialists marched into their Winter-Quarters In the mean time the Grand Visier being come to Court told the Grand Seignior the same things he had writ to him against the Bassa of Buda and perswaded him to approve of the rigor wherewith he had treated him He also accused Count Tekely of having ill seconded him and finally he knew so well to justifie his conduct with his Master that he hindered the Widdow of that Bassa who was his Highness's Sister to complain against him for so barbarous an action and procured an Order to be sent her from the Sultan to go immediately to Adrianople without seeing him When this Princess arrived there she found the Sultana Valide dead which caused her a sensible displeasure because she had relied much upon the credit of this Princess who having a great aversion for Cara Mustafa would not have been wanting in countenancing the vengeance she would take of this Minister but she learn'd from Kisler Agasi or the chief of the black Eunukes that Sultana Valide had charged him upon her Death-bed to tell the Grand Seignior upon his return to Adrianople that Cara Mustapha had a design to make himself Emperour of the West grounded upon a Prediction told him that he should one day be Master of one of the greatest Empires of the World. But whether this Prediction were true or that the Sultana Valide had invented it to destroy the Visier the news of it did extremely comfort the Bassa of Buda's Widdow who waited the return of the Sultan with impatience to execute the design which she had against this Minister and revenge the loss of her Husband by his death The season being far advanced the Grand Seignior leaving Kara Mustapha at Belgrade to take care of his Army and the places in Hungary during the Winter quarter returned to Adrianople As the Christians got every day some new advantages over the Turks and that the Grand Visier did nothing to repell them his secret Enemies and principally the Kisler Agasi and the Kaimacan who was jealous of his greatness took ocasion hence to decry the conduct of the Grand Visier unto their Master At this time Count Tekely who was accustomed to receive great Subsidies from the Port and who had his Spies near his Highness by whom he was faithfully advertised of all that happened knowing that he had been rendered suspect to his Highness and that there was no more mention of sending him Supplies as usual did by his Letters omit nothing for his justification but to no purpose His Letters did not disabuse the Grand Seignior who entirely believing what he had received from Kara Mustapha at Belgrade was perswaded that this Count was of Intelligence with the Imperialists Tekely seeing no middle betwixt his ruine and his justification took the most dangerous Party He went Incognito to
evacuated for them The Baron replied That he had no Commission to discourse of conditions but only to know from the Bassa himself whether he would surrender or no. That he might please to consider that the Christians were already Masters of the Walls of the City that it would be too late to capitulate if he stayed till another assault that it would not be in the power of the Generals to restrain the fury of the Souldiers or prevent this Siege from being as Tragical as that of Newheusel At this discourse the Bassa only lift up his shoulders but the Baron being upon the point to take his leave he desired him to enter with him into his Cabinet where calling the Mufti and three other Turks of the first rank he remonstrated to him again That he could not upon any consideration do so great a prejudice to the Grand Seignior as to surrender a place upon which depended two hundred Leagues of Country and which is the Key of Turky but offered again any Town in Hungary with its Appendances and Dependencies Yet declaring finally That if they would give him assurances of a general peace with the Port he would yet resolve to surrender Buda The Baron having no Orders to treat took leave of the Bassa telling him he would make report to the Elector and Duke of Lorrain of the Declaration he had communicated to him but that he could not assure him that things would be so concluded The Bassa desired this Declaration might be published in Writing through the Camp and invited him to stay all Night in the City But the Baron excused the later desiring to be reconducted to the place from whence he came which was done with great ceremony he being accompanied with many Turkish Officers to the Gate Nor the Baron nor his Interpreter could sufficiently demonstrate the ruines occasioned in the City by the Bombs and Carkasses which had beaten down the greatest part of the Buildings The Cessation which had been observed during this Parley was broke towards Evening the Cannon beginning to fire with more fury than formerly The Besieged sprang a Counter-mine in the Lorrain attack to ruine the Christians Mine made under their Battery opposite to the great Rondel but without success A while after two of the Besiegers Mines which were designed to fill the Ditch were fired with execution Count Starenberg looking betwixt two Gabions was hurt with a Musket-shot but without danger 20 or 30 more were hurt and killed in this and the Brandenburg attack Aug. 1. A Battery was finished in the Lorrain attack upon the Rondel upon which two pieces of Cannon were planted A Mine was sprung in the Morning near this Rondel and though it succeeded well there was no other attempt made because the Moat was not sufficiently filled and so it was resolved to fill it with Faggots with Sacks of Earth and the like Materials which were carried in abundance upon the place The Workmen perceived so great a stink in this Mine that they could scarce endure it two of them who were suffocated with it being carried out of it About Noon intelligence came that 7000 Turks were posted at Sexaritwan thirteen Leagues from Buda and that the Grand Visier had begun to pass the Bridge of Esseck with the Army that he had formed out of the Garrisons of Hungary and the Neighbouring places and with other Troops which he had got together amongst which there were 7000 men drawn out of Bossina It was further assured that the defection amongst the Turks was very great and that of 8000 Janizaries which the Grand Visier had brought from the middle of Turky 3000 had deserted upon the march and yet he pretended his Army consisted of 50000 Combatants resolving to attempt the relief of Budâ— General Dunewald returned this afternoon to the Camp with the Regiments of Horse with which he had been on the side of the Bridge of Esseck to inform himself of the march of the Enemy The Generals Caraffa and Heusler arrived also from Zolnock in two days with 5000 Horse and some Hungarians All things were disposed for to assault the second Wall. The Bavarians had thrown down a great part of the Wall with their Cannon and a Mine rendering themselves Masters of the second Zwinger where they at the same time seised upon the Enemies Cannon and Mortars which they turned against the City Aug. 2d They continued to fill the Ditch every thing was ready for the assault which was deferred because of the continual rains Upon the reiterated news brought in by Scouts of the Grand Visier having passed the Bridge at Esseck all necessary preparations were made to receive him well in case he attempted to relieve the Town Aug. 3. A Run-away who pretended to be a Domestick of one of the most considerable Officers in the Town declared that the Besieged had prepared a Mine and begun a second in the Brandenburg attack That they expected with great impatience their Succours and that of all those which the Bassa had sent out not one had returned which rendered him very uneasie and chagrin and that the number of serviceable Soldiers exceeded not 2000 besides the Inhabitants The Besiegers could not finish their great Mine because of a Rock they met Some small Banks and Parapets were made upon the Breach to secure the Souldiers firing during the assault which was ordered in the manner following At noon the Trenches were relieved and those that went off were appointed for reserves The first attack was to the right of the Rondel Fifty Granadeers with a Captain and Lieutenant and a Serjeant followed by 20 men preceded these were followed by 50 Fuseliers Officer'd as the first and 50 men which followed them with Hatchets The same method was held by the Brandenburgers on the left and the Hungarians fell upon the Curtain in the middle preceded by 30 Germans and followed by 60 with their necessary Officers The assault began betwixt 5 and 6 a clock in presence of all the Generals the Great Master of the Teutonick Order commanding the Trenches The design by reason the Mine had not the desired effect was but feigned but the Duke of Lorrain being advertised by an Adjoutant that the Elector of Bavaria had already effectively began the assault did also command the false attack to be converted into a real one The Fight lasted two hours There were 1000 Troopers on foot 300 whereof were employed in the assault who behaved themselves well as the Hungarians also did but the Breach being of difficult ascent the Besieged very well covered with Palisado's and defending themselves like desperate men the Duke would not risque more of his people contenting himself to make a Lodgment at the right of the angular Rondel where 40 men immediately intrenched themselves There were not many killed by the Besieged's fire but about 200 wounded by Stones and Arrows which were shot in such abundance that it resembled a shower of Hail Count Leopold
of Bombs Granado's Stones Sacks with Powder Stink-Pots and other arts which courage and despair are capable of inventing to break the measures of the Agressors and obstruct their violence and as they have made divers holes and caverns under the places in possession of the Christians by which they play these sorts of inventions the other were constrained to fill them with earth stones and the very ruines of the Castle to damp and hinder their operation without which they could not maintain themselves but with great difficulty Aug. 26. The Prisoners brought in the Camp by Parties and the Deserters which ran away reported that one of those which was sent to the Grand Visier by the Bassa of Buda with Dispatches in which he gave him an account of the state of the place which he can no more defend at present that the Castle is well-nigh all in the hands of the Christians who on the first assault cannot fail to carry the place That in the last assault of the Castle he had lost more than 100 of his best Soldiers that the Recruits that were sent him were but little considerable not mounting to 200 men amongst which more than half were wounded and consequently unserviceable That for his part he had acquitted himself of his duty by letting the Christians see that after a defence so obstinate during so long a Siege pushed on with so much fury and bravery both on the one side and the other that the Musselmen knew well how to support the cause of their Sultan in doing whereof he pretended to his share of glory professing finally that the Grand Visier ought to give an account of the ill success of the Siege and be responsible for a loss so considerable which he could not avoid if the Imperialists attempted another assault no more than the bloud of his valorous Soldiers and his own if he delayed their relief any longer The Bassa did further mark the places in his Letter which appear'd to him the most proper to attempt the relief by and if he took his measures well that he would succeed in his enterprise Upon this advice the Duke visited in person the place marked to the Grand Visier and gave orders for every thing to hinder the introducing of supplies The Spies which were sent to the Enemies Camp reported that the Grand Visier had again promised 40 Crowns a man to all them who would undertake to put themselves into the place promising moreover that they should be exempt from the War during their lives and enjoy their ordinary pay without the obligation of any service At noon advice was given that the Turks advanced with 12 great pieces of Cannon and a while after they were perceived in sight of the Camp ranged in order of Battel but as the Duke of Lorrain disposed his Army to fight they retired Aug. 27. The Lorrainers having finished their work in form of a Bridg it was extended to the adverse Palisades to be made use of in the assault It was covered with earth to secure it from the fire as had been done the day before in the Bavarian attack which had obliged the said Bavarians to retire but this morning they recovered their Post again and to secure them from the fire they made use of Planks covered with Tin and yet when they thought themselves safe from this devouring Element the Besieged who want no industry to their valour threw towards evening an immense quantity of artificial and combustible matters with that success that they pierced even to the said Planks and reduced them to ashes they also flung such a vast quantity of Granado's Stones and Arrows upon the Bavarians that they forced them to abandon this Post with the loss of twenty Souldiers Aug. 28. In the Lorrain attack they thundred with extreme violence from their Cannon upon the Flanks of the great Breach as did also the Brandenburgers to overthrow the Besieged's defences The Bavarians regained their Post and covered themselves so well in it that the Enemy would be much troubled to dislodg them Major Staben who commanded the Assailants was killed there the slain and wounded not otherwise exceeding 20. Upon the Report of some Renegado's that the Grand Visier was resolved to come this Night with all his Forces the Duke ordered all things for his reception and all the Army stood in Battalia but to no purpose for no Enemy did appear Aug. 29. Being the Decollation of St. John Baptist and a day which the Turks have always superstitiously observ'd as fortunate to their Empire 1000 Spahi's and 2000 Janizaries commanded by two Bassa's and seconded by 1500 Tartars came at break of day to make another trial on the Water side but seeing the Post too well provided on that quarter having received a discharge from the Musketeers that kept the Walls they retreated and judged it easier to try the passage by the same way that the last Supplies entred they went by the Valley of St. Paul and charged fiercely with their accustomed shouts upon the Regiments of Mercy Heusler and Newburg who received them with so much bravery that they killed a great number of them whereof some of the most determined were rash enough to push through to the very Lines where they were all slain except 4 who were lucky enough to get into the City The number of the dead in this action amounted to 600 besides the Prisoners which were not many and there were taken 25 Standards and Colours which were red intimating thereby that they would enter the City or perish On the other side some 30 were killed and wounded Mercy was of the number of the last but without danger and his Adjoutant of the first During this Tentative the Besieged made a sally upon the Bavarians but the Heyducks attacking them in Flank they had much a-do to retire leaving 17 dead upon the place The Grand Visier shewed himself with his Army all day on the Bavarian side ready to engage but seeing 3 Regiments of Cuirasiers and two of Dragoons being the Avant-Guard of General Scherfenberg's Army he quickly retreated back to his Camp. Aug. 30. Scherfenberg arrived this day with the rest of his Body proper men who seem'd eager to signalize themselvs The Deserters reported that the want was great in the Grand Visier's Army and that the famished Soldiers had plundered some Barks which had brought Provisions the Officers not being able to hinder them Aug. 31. The Lorrainers took a new Post in the Ditch before the Breach in the inner Wall but 3 fadom distant from the Pallisade and the place being very deep the Turks could not much hurt them where they had but 2 Soldiers wounded This Morning the Duke of Lorrain went accompanied with most of the Generals to the Elector's quarters where they held a Council of War and having dined there the Duke returned to his Quarters after which the Works were ordered to be enlarged and deepned for the easier ascent to the
most generous of all my Slaves I command thee to revenge my Death with the Blood of sixty thousand Janisaries and Spahees good Forture shall accompany thy Arms and Victory shall crown thy Labours During these Intrigues and Difficulties of Reconciliation Abassa spoiled the Lesser Asia and the Persian King conquered the City and Province of Bagdan or Babylon took Kur Asan Pasha an old Souldier Prisoner possessed himself of Mosul and Leska on the Persian Sea and meeting no considerable opposition he divided his Army into four parts The first was dispatched into Mesopotamia commanded by the King himself The second made Incursions into Palestine The third infested the Coast of the Black Sea and the fourth marched towards Mecha with hope and design of sharing all the parts of the Eastern Empire Ali Pasha who opposed the King in Mesopotamia was slain and his Army wholly defeated so that the Province became a Prey to the Enemy the success in Palestine was equally fortunate by the revolt of Damascus a place of great Riches and Importance the Coast of the Black Sea was greviously infested and a Port taken near to Trapezond and little opposition being made at Balsora the Town was taken by that Army in their March towards Mecha and the parts of the Red Sea where they rendered themselves Masters of Medina the City of their Prophet Mahomet To repair these losses and to encounter numbers so strong and valiant in all parts the Vizier was dispeeded with a powerful FOrce to the Town of Bagdat but by reason of Mutinies and Tumults amongst the Souldiery Matters found not the success expected and the Garison making valiant and vigorous Sallies against the imbecility of the Turkish Souldiery which were always most obstinate and stout to oppose their own Commanders obtained an advantage in every Attempt by which discouragement many forsaking their Colours The Siege raised at Bagdat the Turks overthrown the Siege was raised with dishonour and the Interest of the Turk impaired and almost irreparably lost in those Provinces This News arrived at Constantinople that the Camp was risen and fled by Night that they were forced to burn their Tents and Provisions and to break their great Artillery and cast them into the Euphrates that the Miseries in the Army had been such by Famine and Pestilence and want of all Provisions and Ammunition that the like was never known that the Vizier had beheaded three of his Pasha's that so he might cast the whole blame upon them and that now retreating with his Army into the Turkish Dominions the Persians pursued them in the Rear and for ten days did execution on them making the best use they could of their Victory which Relation filled the Hearts of all People with sadness and disordered the Counsels with confusion The Cause of which will Success according to custom being imputed to the General he was deprived of his Office and sacrificed to the Fury of the Janisaries These Troubles were increased at Constantinople by the Addresses which the Prince of Transylvania made unto the Port by his Kapi-Kahya or Agent representing to the Grand Signior That he wanting Heirs Male to succeed him in his Principality the States at a Diet had with common consent elected his Lady for his Successor and therefore desired confirmation from the Port. In excuse of her Sex he alledged the urgent Necessity of the present Times which perswaded rather to admit of the Government of a Woman than that his Principality should for want of an Heir fall into the Hands of the powerful Family of Austria To make good this Demand Duke John of Weymar and Count Mansfelt Duke of Weymar and Count Mansfelt join with the Prince of Transylvania arrived in Silistria to whom the Prince of Transylvania joined his Troops and Morteza Pasha of Buda wrote to the Port that he was marching towards Vatz to meet the Prince and confer with him concerning these Designs The Emperor 's Resident at Constantinople greatly exclaimed against these Proceedings which something troubled the Counsels of the Turks who in that Conjuncture were unwilling to give beginnings to a new War so that besides fair Words they promised to write such Letters to the Pasha of Buda as should give a stop to the Investiture of the Princes But to say truly the Instructions given were in such ambiguous terms that they in effect left the whole Matter to the Discretion of Morteza to act as he judged most agreeable to the State of Affairs on the Frontiers and security of the present Peace Thus did the Turkish Court seek to ward off the blow of a War with Germany and yet secretly nourished and encouraged it by giving Orders to the Pasha of Buda to take up his Winter-quarters with the Prince of Transylvania and to follow his Directions but yet so to govern Matters with Caution as not to engage too far on uncertain Grounds or doubtful Hazard but to embrace Propositions of Peace if offered with Honour and Security In prosecution of these Rules Morteza observing that Weymar and Mansfelt having united their Forces with Gabor had formed a considerable Army and were able to fight with Wallestein General of the Imperialists joined also his Forces to theirs judging it a prudent and politick Design to wage a War at the Blood and Expence of others With these Encouragements and with the favour of a good Opportunity The Emperor's Army defeated the Confederates fell upon the Army of Wallestein near the River Gran who not being able to withstand their Force and Fury was put to flight and pursued in the Rear with great slaughter and endeavouring to pass the River on two Bridges of Boats were closely followed by the Prince's Forces who gaining the Pass put the whole Army into great amazement and resolved to pursue them to the Gates of Presburg or Vienna Notwithstanding this Success the Prince of Transylvania observing the backwardness of his Allies to contribute the Succours of Men and Mony which they had promised and fearing that the unfortunate Estate of the Turkish Affairs should cause the Sultan to disown the War dispeeded a Messenger to the Emperor in the Winter-season to excuse the Constraint upon him of taking up Arms and to offer Terms of Accommodation and Peace But the Emperor refused all Treaties until such time as Gabor had separated himself from his Allies and from association with the Turk Upon which Answer Gabor retired to Cassovia and Morteza to Pesth This Compliance gave beginning to a Treaty at Komara where the Commissioners on part of the Emperor of the Grand Signior and Prince of Transylvania assembled All Parties seemed inclinable to War and yet with occult Intentions to make Peace being necessitated thereunto by the urgency of their distinct Interests The Emperor was urged by his Wars with the Protestants of Germany and apprehension of Forces from England in favour of the Elector Palatine then King of Bohemia The Grand Signior was encumbred by
the unfortunate condition of his Wars in Asia And Bethlem Gabor jealous of being disowned by the Port deserted by his Allies and exposed to fight and contend singly with the Emperor In short Gabor concluded a Peace with the Emperor apart Peace concluded between the Emperor and Gabor which gave some Jealousies and displeasure to the Grand Signior Howsoever he dissembled his Discontent and willingly interessed Gabor with Morteza as Commissioner for him who being variously disposed yet moved with the considerations of their common Advantage work'd all Differences into a Composition of Peace the Articles of which being brought to Constantinople by an Internuncio from the Emperor and delivered in presence of the two Ambassadors of Gabor they were accepted by the Chimacam and ratified by the Grand Signior Articles of Peace concluded between the Emperor of Germany Ferdinand the Second and Bethlem Gabor in the Month of December 1626. I. THE Prince of Transylvania doth promise by the Faith of a Christian never to move Arms or use any Hostility against the Majesty of the Emperor or the House of Austria or their Successors much less to enter into their Dominions with an Army nor to aid his Enemies or keep a Correspondence with them Not to plot any Innovation in the Kingdom of Hungary or other Christian Countries Nor to stir up or provoke the Turks Tartars or others to invade them Not to entertain or assist in any evil Counsel against his Majesty nor to give ear to the Request and Desires of his Enemies but rather to reveal all their Conspiracies and Wickednesses which shall be made known unto him and by all means to demonstrate and shew a sincere mind truly desirous of Peace and sollicitous of the Common Good. II. That the Prince shall instantly depart with his whole Army out of the Territories and Cities of the Emperor and that he shall restore as well all Goods belonging to the Imperial Treasure as those of his faithful Subjects III. That he shall remove from him the Rebel Mansfelt and all other his Followers and Adherents desirous to invade the Dominions of the Emperor And that he shall not aid any Stranger whatsoever who at his Instance hath entered into the Territories of his Mejesty with Count Mansfelt to whom Letters of Publick Safety shall be given that they may return by twenty or thirty in a Troop conditionally that in no place of their Retreat they shall joyn with the Enemies of the Emperor IV. That seeing it is fit for Establishment of the Peace that the Inhabitants of Countries and Cities belonging to the Prince by consent of the Emperor should remain during his Life in Obedience and Fidelity to him and that those Inhabitants should do Homage to the Emperor saving their corporal Oath to the Prince to keep inviolate these Articles That they should have leave by Letters of full Authority and Power granted them by the Prince in their first Assemblies and Conventions to make such Oath of Homage V. That at the same time of performing the Homage and Oath besides the Oath before the last War they shall take a new Oath according to the Agreement between the Prince and the Commissioners of the Emperor VI. The Prince shall procure that all Places upon the Confines which were taken by the Turks in the last War be restored and that all Captives taken Prisoners shall be set at liberty And that the Prince shall procure the freedom of all such the Emperor's Subjects as shall be in the Turkish Captivity VII That all the Subjects of the Emperor lately incited and drawn to the Service of the Prince shall be free from their Oath and if the Prince hath any of their Writings Obligatory in his Hands that he shall restore them And that these Conditions being confirmed all other things formerly treated shall remain in their former State and Vigour VIII That if any other Difficulties arise they shall be accommodated with Fidelity and Quietness by Commissioners on both Parts And that all those who in the last Commotions have served the Prince shall be absolved according to the Treaty and Agreement at Vienna IX That all the Inhabitants of Cities and Countries which have served the Prince shall be absolved only those excepted who have voluntarily taken up Arms against the Emperor for whom the Prince only shall intercede excusing always private Men who have done private Wrongs for they shall according to Law and Custom seek their Restitution by Civil Action X. That all other Articles of Peace concluded at Nichilsburg and Vienna shall remain in their former Vigour and Force And that all Goods of the Emperor's Clergy possessed by the Prince from the Year 1619 to this present Day shall be restored except the Abbies of Replana belonging to the Seminaries of Strigonium for which the Prince shall pay yearly to the Emperor five hundred Florens These Articles being thus agreed and signed and approved by the Sultan in the Month of September following 1627 the Articles between the Emperor and the Grand Signior were also agreed at Komara the which are as follow translated out of the Turkish word for word THAT seeing the Peace established formerly at Zitwar Vienna Komara and Chiarman hath remained in the same State and in the same Articles without any alteration it shall not be violated by any new occasion of Contention That the Differences of Vatz whereof is made mention at the present shall rest in the same State that the Commissioners on both sides shall agree That the new Forts built upon the Confines of Croatia contrary to the Peace shall be demolished To which purpose our said Deputy Mehmet and our Visier Mortesa Pasha shall meet upon the Frontiers of Buda with your Deputies at the Time appointed by the Treaty and thereupon the places on both sides shall cause to be demolished the Forts built contrary to the Peace Wherein if they find any Impediment they shall chuse able and valiant Men to perform and execute the said Service That after the Approbation of this happy Peace your great Ambassador shall come to Komara and ours shall repair with our Imperial Letters to Strigonium and there one of them advising the other yours shall set forward to our happy Port and ours shall advance to you For so it is agreed by our Imperial Order both carrying with them the new Imperial Capitulations That all Complaints of Villages subject to both parts shall be laid aside and no Violences Taxes or Contribution contrary to our former Convention shall be exacted And all Forts built in the common Confines shall be raised And reciprocally it shall be made known according to the ancient Treaty what great Men do dwell amongst our Tributaries And for the execution of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Articles of the Peace of Zitwa the Tenth of Vienna and the Fourth of Komara and Chiarman for such was then the Agreement two Capigi-Pasha's of our high Port shall be deputed and dispatched the one to
covering the inward sentiments of Regret and Anger which the Sultan conceived for the late Disgrace seemed to wonder at the Cause and Reason of the last Engagement as if it had been acted without the knowledg or order of the Grand Signior and thus with gentle Terms insinuating that the Surrender of Caffa would be very acceptable to the Port and that which would atone for all miscarriages and be such an offering of Pacification as would reconcile all past Differences and restore a perfect Correspondence between the Sultan and them the Tartars readily assented to the Demand upon condition that the Turks should impose no other King upon them than him whom by general consent they had elected for their Prince Though Differences were thus concluded with the Tartars yet the Cossacks continued still their Enmities entring the Black Sea with eighty Saicks which they so infested that the Turks could for that Year avail themselves little of their Navigation in those Seas so that the Turks to curb these Insolencies gave Orders to build two Forts at the Mouth of the Black Sea the Polish Ambassador made Complaint hereof and protested against it as an Act contrary to the Capitulations of Peace but the Turks esteem little of the Air of Bravadoes whilst they are not accompanied with something else more solid than their own Levity But the grand Concernments which busied the Thoughts of the Turks was the Rebellion of Abassa and the War in Persia the management of which was the charge and care of the Selictar Aga lately made Vizier called Serches Pasha His Head-quarters were at the beginning of this Year taken up at Iconium called by the Turks Conie and Abassa was encamped at Kaisaria against whom the Vizier marched and being nearly approached the Janisaries earnestly urged that Battel might be given the Enemy but the Vizier having received Instructions not to engage if possible but rather to enter into a Treaty and to propose Terms of Accommodation delayed the Time and with various Excuses eluded the present premures of the Janisaries at which they became so angry that they flew into an open Mutiny The Janisaries mutiny cutting the Cords of his Tents stoning him and wounding him in the Head by which open Violence the Vizier being compelled to make known his Orders he assembled the chief Commanders of the Spahees and Janisaries giving them to understand that the Grand Signior's Pleasure was to make up the Difference with Abassa as the only means to conclude an intestine and unnatural War and to be able to withstand the Persians and regain the Country and Reputation which the Turks had lost This Proposition seemed plausible to the Commanders at the General Assembly and more especially because it was the Pleasure and Injunction of the Grand Signior but more difficult it was to incline the rough and obstinate minds of the Janisaries to a resolutian so different to their Natures and so contrary to that Revenge which they had deeply rooted in their Hearts and sworn to execute howsoever the perswasions which the Officers used to their inferiour Souldiers putting them in memory of the Blood of their Companions and how destructive the continuance of such a War must necessarily prove for the future by those large effusions of Blood which they must expect farther to make were so prevalent upon them that at length they condescended to a Treaty They consent to treat with Abassa and to receive Abassa for a Friend and a Fellow-Souldier Abassa at first suspecting some Treachery refused to give a private meeting to the Vizier but the Vizier giving his Brother the Beglerbegh of Caramania and the Pasha of Anatolia for Hostages the Day and Place for a Conference was appointed where both Parties meeting Articles were agreed That Abassa should still continue to be Pasha of Erzirum his Son Pasha of Bosra his Cahya or Lieutenant to be Pasha of Marasch all which were Places on the Confines of Persia a general Act of Pardon and Amnestie was to be given to Abassa and his whole Army and the Articles sworn unto in the most solemn manner by the Vizier and confirmed in the publick Camp of the Janisaries who also promised to maintain this Word and Promise of the Vizier to all which the Grand Signior gave his Hand and affixed his Royal Signature Abassa reconciled to the Grand Signior A Reconciliation being in this manner compleated the City of Erzirum resigned it self to the Obedience of the Grand Signior and the Army of Abassa was employed on the Confines of Persia and converted against the Enemy The Vizier also was appointed to proceed on the same Enterprise but his Army was so ill provided of all Necessaries that he made his Excuse and refused to march forward But on the contrary he returned to Constantinople in company with Abassa where with many demonstrations of Friendship and Respect he was conducted to the presence of the Grand Signior to receive Honour and the Reward of his Penitence and return to Obedience The approach of these two great Personages near to Constantinople made much noise and rumor in the City some blamed the weakness of the Government for accepting an Enemy unto Favour and that the crowning of his Rebellion with Rewards was to encourage others in the like Practices The Vizier was also murmured against for leaving the Army and the War The Vizier and Abassa make their Entry into Constantinople contrary to the Royal Command by such as were emulous of his Greatness But as Envy is converted into Veneration and ceases as Smoke doth when it is blown up by the Flame of Success and Glory so those who were emulous of these Persons submitted to all obsequious Offices towards them and dissembling their Malice went to meet them as far as Scutari that they might add to their Train and Equipage and help at the Solemnity of their Entrance All People now cast their Eyes on the Vizier and Abassa as the two great Men of this Age the first was esteemed for his dexterous and successful management in bringing over Abassa to his Submission and Obedience for though he was not famed much for his great Feats of Arms yet this Reconciliation of Abassa was accounted a Master-piece of Policy and better Service than a Victory Abassa also drew the Eyes of the People who crowded to see so great a Captain that could contend with the Port and put all Asia into Disturbance and in conclusion could make the same Arms serve his Master which had lately before given a check and stop to all the Ottoman Force The Vizier was the first introduced to the Royal Presence where being graciously received he was presented with a Vest of Sables and a Cemiter set with Jewels Abassa was afterwards admitted and having performed his Obeisance by touching the Ground with his Forehead after their fashion he declared That he never was other than a faithful Vassal to the Sultan and that he had taken up Arms
for his sake that he might subjugate the insolence of the Janisaries and with their Blood revenge the Death and sacrifice to the Ghost of his murdered Brother Osman that they might learn to reverence their Princes for the future learn to know how sacred the Blood is of their Soveraign The Grand Signior seemed kindly to accept this Apology and as a Token thereof bestowed three Vests upon him which was a treble Honour of that kind and made him Pasha of Bosna on which employment he immediately entred And though when such offices are bestowed it is commonly the custom for that Person who is invested in the Employment given to kiss the Sleeve of the Grand Signior publickly by way of Thanks Yet lest such Demonstration of Honour should ill affect the Eyes of the Janisaries and cause murmuring and repinings amongst the most envious of the Souldiery his last Audience was designed privately and his Dispatch procured in more secret and familiar manner and therefore more obliging than was usual To yield some assistance to the present growing Charges of the Empire the Vizier imposed a heavy Tax on the Christians and Jews on the first it was levied with all severity The Jews at Constantinople how treated but the Jews found more favour by their Arts and secret management of Affairs for they are a People of some Authority and Power in Turkie they are cursed by particular Persons but caressed by the generality they are Slaves in all Countries and yet acquire somewhat of Mastership and Propriety they are Vagabonds and yet every Country is their own they cannot buy lands and yet daily increase their Fortunes they multiply in abundance because they all marry and are not destroyed by Wars they are great Confidents of the Turks and Enemies to the Christians In short Covetousness in Constantinople is like a publick Courtisan to whom the Jews are the Panders and Ruffians The Grand Signior passing one day through the Streets unhappily met with the Ambassador of the Prince of Transylvania who because he did not immediately descend from his Horse in token of Reverence he caused him and his whole Family to be imprisoned but being afterwards excused by the Chimacam to have only been a matter of inadvertency his Omission was pardoned and so released from his Restraint The Souldiery having for a long time been governed by a loose and gentle hand continued their licentious way of living committing many outrages on the Merchants and Inhabitants of Constantinople against which many Decrees having been published and Proclamations made without any effect or notice of the Souldiery the Vizier was unwilling to dally longer and therefore taking a Spahee and a Janisary hanged them up and cut off their Heads and with such course and method of Severity he so abated the haughty Stomachs of the Souldiers already mortified by the assumption of Abassa into favour that they began to yield unto Command and to behold their Rulers with an eye of Respect as those which were seated in some degree above themselves for till now there was scarce a common Janisary but who thought himself to be the Creator or Elector of his General and therefore to be little inferior to him in Power and Dignity And as this Vizier was severe towards the Souldiery so he demeaned himself with equal rigour towards the Pasha's and Grandees of the Court which though it was an Humor in the Vizier at that conjuncture laudable and necessary yet it procured him such enmity as removed him at a distance and caused him to be sent into Persia to command the Army and by that means to expose him to the hazard and difficulties of doubtful Success in a dangerous War. The Vizier being departed the Grand Signior appeared in publick on Horse-back together with his Brother by his side an unusual sight amongst the Turks But the Queen-Mother who in absence of the Vizier ruled much commanded that it should be so The Grand Signior had this Year a Son born which caused great rejoycing at Constantinople because there were few Males at that time surviving of the Ottoman Line but scarce was the Festival ended before the Child died But let us now for a while withdraw our Discourse from the Wars of Persia and look to the Actions in Poland and Transylvania Mehmet the late King of Tartary who was so displeasing to the Port as we have already related was now dead to whom succeeded a Kinsman of his called Jembeg Gheray universally pleasing and acceptable to that People This new King to demonstrate his Prowess and to act something acceptable to the Port dispatched forty thousand Horse into Podolia and Russia to sack and ravage the Country which dividing themselves into several Parties made their Incursions as far as Socal But in the mean time the Polonians and Cossacks having formed a strong Body of Horse under the Command of Stephen Chmieleskie met them at their return near to Burstinow The Tartars overthrown by the Polanders where they gave them a total overthrow And in like manner Stanislaus Lubomiskie encountred another Party and overthrew them leaving thirty thousand slain on the plaee and taking two thousand Prisoners amongst which was the younger Brother of the Tartar King. This Defeat as it was the greatest that ever was given to the Tartars so it is probable that had it been well prosecuted at that time by the Polonians they might have entred the Chersonesus Tauricus and without much opposition have put an end to that Kingdom But Sigismond King of Poland had other Designs in hand such mixed Monarchies as that being better able to defend their own Dominions than to acquire or conquer others To this News ill received at Constantinople supervened the unexpected Death of Bethlem Gabor The Death of Bethlem Gabor unexpected I say because that though he had been long labouring under the Diseases of Dropsy and Asthma yet the greatness of his Soul and activeness of his Spirit mastered for a long time his Indisposition so that he seldom or never omitted his Counsels and Business and to the very time of his Death was meditating and contriving Designs whereby to preserve his Dominions and enlarge them And indeed the Government of Transylvania required no less than such a stirring Spirit for being seated between two such powerful Monarchs as the Emperor and the Turk there was need of dexterity and courage to steer between the Rocks of such opposite Interests Sometimes it was necessary to join with one and anon with the other So Sigismond Battori Prince of Transylvania uniting his Forces with the Emperor's in several Conflicts overthrew the Turk and kept the Scale in an equal Ballance Gabor on the contrary inclined to the Turks and supported his Interest with the Ottoman Power following such Maxims as had been more ruinous to Christendom had he transferred them to a Son to imitate and pursue but dying without Issue the Government devolved to his Princess by Vote of
dispensed freely his Mony unto divers who before being Enemies were now reconciled and become his Friends and Admirers Liberality in a Prince is the most resplendent Gemm in all his Crown and is a Light so forcible that it dazles Envy it self and puts out all the Eyes of Suspicion and Jealousy By this time the Great Vizier was far advanced with his Army into Persia having been encouraged to proceed by the feigned Flight or rather Retreat of the Enemy who burned destroyed and laid waste all round them as they retired which put the Turks to such inextricable Difficulties that in two months March they had all the Inconveniencies and Miseries to contend with which commonly attend Armies in strange Countries the Plains through which they travelled were abandoned by the Inhabitants and void of Provisions the Mountains were covered with Snow and comfortless and what was worst the Persians kept all the narrow Passages so strongly guarded that the Vizier was now more in danger of Famine than of the Sword but being a Person of great Sense and Experience in Military Affairs he prudently disingaged himself from the intricacy of these Dangers and encamping his Army in the Plain of Amedan he so provoked the hot Spirits of the Persians that they resolve to assault him on that side of his Camp which they judged to be the most weakly defended of which having some advertisement he secretly laid an Ambuscado in the way which so happily succeeded that he killed eight thousand Persians on the place A Victory gained by the Turks over the Persians but howsoever the Victory cost so dear and was so bloody by the loss of the stoutest Janisaries and the bravest of the Souldiery that the News thereof made little noise or rejoycing at Constantinople With this Intelligence the Vizier demanded new Recruits for that besides the abatement of his Numbers by the last Engagement the Multitudes of the Enemy increased and his own Souldiers fled from their Colours of which many being observed to enter Constantinople notwithstanding the severe Decrees of Martial Law published against them put the Grand Signior into a high Cholor and Indignation The difficulty of sending Men into Persia And being desirous to reinforce the Vizier's Army with all the Recruits that he was able Proclamations were made that all the Militia at Constantinople should immediately pass over unto Scutari under their respective Commanders and that whosover received one Asper of Pay from the Grand Signior in quality of a Souldier should immediately pass the Chanel into Asia and follow their Leaders to the War. But so great was the abhorrency which the Souldiers had to this March into Persia calling it the Sepulchre and Cemetery of the Turks that few or none would obey every one flying hiding and shifting for himself as well as he could During which Fears and Troubles the Ways from Persia were so obstructed by the Curdes that in the space of three or four Months no News arrived at Constantinople from the Army which caused as great apprehensions and affrightments there as if the Empire had been reduced to the utmost extremity Nor did the Sultan want Jealousses and Fears of receiving Affronts from the Emperor and King of Poland the first of which had a fair opportunity presented of regaining all Transylvania especially at a time when that Country was divided by two several Factions but more pressing and troublesom were the Cossacks The Cossacks trouble the Turks who daily infested the Black sea and to the great reproach of the Imperial City perpetually disturbed it with Alarms passing up almost in sight of constantinople Of which Complaints being made to the Polonian Ambassador he answered with some indignation That the Cossacks had reason for what they acted for that since the Tartars had by Orders from the Grand Signior made their late irruption into that Country as they could well prove from the Commission taken amongst the Baggage of the Prince of Tartary in the last Defeat the Cossacks might with all justice assume to themselves a method of Revenge But the Grand Signior not being able to support this Affront or to see himself braved on the very Banks of his Imperial Seat and his Villages and Towns round about burnt and pillaged by a crew of Free-booters and Pirats cast all the blame on the Chimacham to whom in his rage he gave such a blow with his Fist on the Face that Blood issued from his Nose and had not the Queen-Mother interceded for him he had been delivered into the Hand of the Executioner to take away his Life Nor was the Captain-Pasha in less danger at his return because that upon his assurance that the Cossaks would not for that Year make any attempt in the Chanel of Constantinople the Grand Signior had assented that the Fleet of Gallies should that Summer make a Voyage into the Archipelago Which Mistake having been the cause of all this Affront the Captain-Pasha was to share in the blame and had likewise in the punishment had not good Friends interposed between him and Danger Nor were the Cossacks satisfied with their late Plunder but speedily made another return with two hundred Boats and though the whole Fleet of Gallies were then in Port yet they had the boldness to proceed as far as Pompey's Pillar and thereby to hinder all Provisions from passing to Constantinople by way of the Black-Sea And what gave greater fear than all this was the News which came at the same time that the Poles were on the Frontiers with thirty thousand Horse to whom immediatly a Chaous or Envoy was dispatched with Propositions very advantagious to the Crown of Poland conditionally that the continual Irruptions made by the Cossacks should be stopped and they restrained within the due Terms of Peace and Moderation The Chaous found a civil Reception from the Poles and promises of Compliance in regard that the King had some Intentions of making War upon the Muscovite But whilst these things were in agitation and that the Chaous was ready to return behold on a sudden News came that ten thousand Tartars were broken into Podolia which put all things back again and so changed the stile of Affairs that instead of Articles of Peace the Chaous was again returned with the Menaces of War and with Reproaches for the last perfidious Action Notwithstanding all these Troubles abroad the puissance of the Ottoman Empire might have been able to have struggled with greater Difficulties had not its own Intestine Distractions rendred all things dangerous and of a malevolent Aspect The Government was at that time chiefly in the hands of the four Brothers-in-Law The Disorders in the Ottoman State. who had married four Sisters of the Grand Signior's and for that reason were powerful and employed in the principal Offices of State and commonly drew contrary to the Opinions of the Mufti and Chimacham which two last were not well accorded between themselves for that the latter encroached
on the Office of the Mufti to the great scandal and discontent of all the Religious and Literate Men in the whole City howsoever they both joined in consultation by what means they might best secure themselves and the Government from the Lusts and evil Designs of this quadruple Fraternity but their Wisdom and Interests were too weak to contrive Remedies against such high Oppressions for besides the Violences daily practised by the Brothers the extravagant Humors in the Sultan himself added to the Disorders of State and increased the Discontent and Dissatisfactions of the People For though Morat was naturally endowed with a good Wit and Parts was stout and of a good Courage yet as his perpetual Debauchery in Wine rendred him in appearance but of a weak Understanding mixed with much Levity so it caused his Accessions of the Falling-sickness to which he was subject to return often whereby the strength of his Brain was daily â—â—akened and impaired He was negligent also in the performance of those Ceremonies which his Ancestors were accustomed to observe nor did he live with that gravity and regular Course which is agreeable to the Grandeur of so great a Prince for sometimes he would go out of his Seraglio with no other Attendance than of three or four Men which were for the most part Buffoons players upon the Gittern and Eunuchs and with no better an Equipage would he sometimes be seen on Horse-back or in his Boat rowed on the Bosphorus with six Oars only by which Actions and other sallies of Youth he created such a contempt towards his Person that evil Men grew factious and weary and entred into Conspiracies against his Life whilst the good Men feared and presaged the ruin and downfal of the Empire for neither Justice nor Order nor Obedience prevailed no Offices were conferred for Merit but by Mony or some other unlawful Means there remained no Counsellors of true Faith and Integrity nor Souldiers almost either of experience for Sea or Land-adventures The People being burdened by double Taxes and Imposts were mutinous and ready to take the least Fire of Rebellion the Souldiery were disorderly for want of Discipline and their constant Pay the Pasha's of remote Provinces grew insolent taking upon themselves rather an absolute than a depending Soveraignty In short all things looked with that black appearance that nothing seemed to keep the Frame of Empire together but only the expectation of good Success to the Army in Persia the which as it depended on uncertain Events so the Ottoman Monarchy was then shaking and stood tottering on its deepest Foundation Wherefore all People being intent to hear of good News from Persia were much pleased to understand that the Vizier having by advantage in the last Engagement laden his Army with Plunder and Spoils The Vizier prepares to besiege Bagdat was now preparing to besiege Bagdat for whose good Success Prayers were daily made in the Moschs and the Schoolmasters surrounded the Streets with their young Scholars singing out Prayers with the Amen at every Period according to the Custom of that Country The Vizier marched towards Bagdat and began to besiege it about the 10th of September In order whereunto he amassed great abundance of all sorts of Provisions and made his Magazine of them at Mosul two thousand Camels each laden with two Sacks of Cotton every Sack being of about ten foot long were carried to the Siege for shelter of the Souldiery and to fill the Ditches The Vizier having passed part of his Army over the River Tigris the rest with the Cannon remaining on the hither side he dispatched Nasuf Pasha of Aleppo with six thousand Spahees to take a view of the Place and to discover the Avenues unto it In his way thither he met with eight thousand Persian Horse sent to reinforce the Garison which he valiantly engaged but being dangerously wounded was forced to retreat with the loss of almost half of his Men part killed and part taken those which were carried Prisoners to Bagdat were treated with all civility by the Governor who gave them a view of the Garison which consisted of twenty thousand effective Men shewed them their Stores and Provisions and that there was scarce an unuseful Mouth in all the City to devour them Notwithstanding this Disaster at the beginning The Siege the Vizier nothing dismayed proceeded on his Design spending the whole Month of September in making his Approaches In the Mouth of October he mounted eighteen Pieces of great Cannon which for the space of twenty five days bettered continually the Curtain between the two Bastions on which were four Pieces of Cannon not perceived by the Turks there was also a deep and large Ditch not discovered by them for that it was planked over with Boards and covered with a green Turf so that it appeared like plain and firm Ground the Breach being made and seemingly undefended the Turks resolved to make an Assault wherefore the Vizier on the 20th of November commanded the Spahees under the Conduct of the Beglerbei of Anatolia accompanied with Pasha's Sangiacks and other Persons of Note as also with Janisaries to the number of thirty thousand to enter the Breach which being performed and great numbers crowding on the Turf the weight of them pressed down the Planks and therewith the whole Engine giving way five or six thousand were in a moment taken as it were in a Pit-fall and swallowed up without any possibility of Succour to be yielded from their Companions After which on an instant there appeared fifteen thousand Men on the Breach and on the Bastions which with their Cannon and continual Vollies of Musket shot so galled the Spahees that they broke their main Body and killed the Beglerbei of Anatolia with other Peasons of Note and Quality and made the whole Army to retreat Two days after this Disgrace The Siege raised the Vizier raised the Siege and marched towards Mosul and the Persians encouraged with this Success pursued the Turks with eight thousand Horse assailed the Rear-guard of the Enemy and though the Conduct and Care thereof was committed to the charge of the Pasha's of Aleppo and Damascus yet the Persians killed three thousand Turks and had defeated the whole Rear of the Army had not the Spahees turned their Horses and withstood the shock with great Valour Notwithstanding this dishonourable Retreat the Vizier lost not his Courage or hopes of taking the Town in order unto which he appointed all things necessary to renew the Siege again in the Months of September and October following for that the foregoing Months are either too rainy or too hot in those Countries to undertake a Design or Enterprize of that Nature He fortified all the small Places in those parts round and quartered his Souldiers in them so that having all conveniencies of living they might be induced to continue and not abandon their Colours especially he took care to fortify Illay a place of about two
in Alms to the Poor and Korban to be made of three hundred Sheep and the Friday following he solemnly went to the Mosch to render Thanks unto God for having so prodigiously preserved him from the Executioner of his Vengeance During all this time the Great Vizier wanting Succours and Supplies of Men and Mony had great difficulty to contain his People in their due Obedience or within the Bounds of their Quarters for they were apt to leave their Colours and would really have disbanded had not their Spirits been daily held up with the hopes and amusements of Pay and Recruits The four Brethren-in-Law which greatly apprehended lest their Power and Authority should be abated by the return of the Vizier exercised all the diligence they were able to make new Levie◠the reinforcement of which might instil new Courage into the Souldiery and be a means to continue the Vizier in those parts but the Mufti obstructed all Levies on the side of Greece and the Frontiers of Christendom alledging That the best Souldiers being sent from those parts would hazard the Empire by exposing and laying it open to the Incursions of the Christians by which contrary Opinions and Delays the Vizier wanting the Assistance expected the Persians recovered all the little Fortresses which they had lost the Year before with the considerable place of Illay Illay retaken from the Turks which being taken by Assault and by an absolute force of Sword and Arms the greatest part of the Garrision consisting of eight thousand Men commanded by the three Pasha's before-mentioned where cut off which was an important loss to the Turks not only for the slaughter of so many brave Souldiers but also for the quantities of Provisions being the Granary and Magazine for the whole Army Therein were likewise taken forty Field-pieces carrying eight pounds Bullet with a great Chain of Iron which usually encompasses the Treasury which is carried into the Field With this ill success the Vizier retreated from Mosul as far as Mirdin from whence he redoubled his Instances for Supplies for Men and Mony. At length it was agreed that an Army of thirty thousand Tartars should be sent thither but Ragotskie advising that he was upon the point of breaking with the Emperor it was ordered that their number should be reduced to ten thousand the which taking their Journey into Persia by the way of Circassia were there encountred by Han Gherey the Prince of Tartary whom we formerly mentioned to have been deposed by that People and by him obstructed in their passage the Van-guard of their Army being cut off by him so that they were forced again to retreat and to embark their Men and Horse at Caffa to be transported by Sea to Trapezond which as it was a matter of great trouble so it was a course unpractised by the Tartars The Grand Signior being unable to render a more considerable Succour than this unto his Army which was now reduced to the weak number of two thousand Janisaries and three thousand Spahees he resolved to condescend to Terms and Articles as the only means to save his Honour and the remainder of his Forces In order unto which he released a Persian Lord from his Imprisonment in the Seven Towers and qualified him with the Title of Ambassador bestowing upon him an Equipage of Men and Horse agreeable to his Character with four thosand Dollars to defray his Expence And that the King of Persia might be assured of the Sultan's real Intentions and desires of Peace he recalled his Army in the Spring whereby all Acts of Hostility ceased And thus the Vizier being returned to Constantinople that Pride and Rigour which he exercised towards all in the time of his prosperity laid him low by Misfortunes tunes in the esteem of his Enemies who gladly embracing the opportunity to disgrace him with all the terms of Obloquy and Detraction The Vizier deprived of his Office. deprived him at length of his Office. One of the four Brothers-in-law married to one of the Grand Signior's Sisters and Prime of the Cabal being constituted Vizier in his stead Nor did the late Vizier easily escape with his Life until he had repreived it with an Atonement of an hundred thousand Zechius of Gold and some choice Horse which he presented to the Sultan the like Example other Pasha's his Compainions followed in proportion to their Estates and Employments by which Presents the empty Treasury was in a manner recruited and the present Necessities of the Sultan relieved But this new Vizier enjoyed not long either his Honours or his Life for the first Act he performed was to mitigate the Valedé Sultana or Queen-Mother to obtain a Hattesheriff or Writing under the Grand Signior's Hand for cutting off the Head of Casref Pasha the Spaheeler Agasi or General of the Spahees which being executed by Mortesa the Commander in Chief in Persia his Head was brought and thrown at the Gates of the Divan The Spahees astonished at this Spectacle and enraged to see that Head on the Ground which they so much esteemed and loved forgot all the Terms of Duty and Obedience to their Superiors and without regard to the Place wherein they were even within the Walls of the Grand Signior's Court Mutiny of the Spahees joined with the Janisaries they threw Stones at the Vizier and beat him from his Horse which though the Grand Signior and all the Viziers highly resented as the most scandalous Indignity that could be offered to the Majesty of a Supreme Ruler and to all Government yet their Counsels rather sought Remedies to suppress the Mutiny than to make Proposals of executing Justice on the Offenders for the Spahees seconded by the Janisaries who were glad of any cause to make a Commotion assembled in the Hippodromo from whence they sent an Arz to the Sultan requiring the Heads of the Great Vizer and of divers others as well within as without the Seraglio The Grand Signior denying positively to assent hereunto the Souldiery as plainly threatned to depose him and place his Brother in the Throne at which barbarous Resolution the Grand Signior being affrighted his youthful constancy was so shaken that he wrote to his Mother to desire her excuse in case he assented to the death of her Son-in-law the Great Vizier for that the Storm of the Military Fury was so great that he could not endeavour to protect him without the loss of his Life and Crown wherefore the Vizier being turned out of the Gates of the Seraglio he was immediately butchered in the presence of the Sultan Nor did the impetuous Rage of the Souldiery end here but they proceeded farther to demand the Head of the Janisar-Aga or General of the Janisaries who was reputed the chief Instrument of the Death of Casref because he was a principal Favourite to the Grand Signior but he wisely taking divers off with Mony and Presents sowed division between the Janisaries and Spahees so that some Difficulty arising
was a faint Refreshment in respect to that terrible Storm of sixty thousand Men composed of Turks Tartars Moldavians and Valachians which under the Command of Abassa had already passed the Danube Konispolzki the Polish General having not sufficient Force to oppose them in open Field nor time to assemble a greater Army gathered what Supplies he could from the Cossacks and Lords of that Country and therewith encamped himself upon a Hill between the River Tyr and the Town of Chocin that he might be the better able to succour Kemenitz which the Enemy designed to assault Abassa who contemned this weak Force of the Poles resolved without farther consideration A Fight between the Turks and the Poles to attack them in their own Camp and force them to fight of which the Poles being well advised placed several Pieces of Artillery and lined all the Hedges and Ditches with Musquetiers where the Turks were necessarily to pass drawing out their whole Army into Batalia the Turks who hastened the nearest way to charge the Enemy fell into the Ambush where having lost about five hundred Men they began to make a stand and to consider of some more advantageous way to their Design Wherefore Abassa taking another Course which he judged to be free from all concealed Dangers ordered the Tartars to charge the Right Wing and the Moldavians and Valachians the left of the Enemy and he with his Turks would fight the main Body The Tartars with great Resolution performed their part and had wholly defeated that Wing had not Wisnovitzki with some Troops and a Train of small Artillery come in seasonably to their Succour The Moldavians and Valachians fought to faintly against the Enemy whom they considered to be Christians Brothers and Neighbours that they soon turned their Backs and fled but were not far pursued by the Poles Abassa receiving this Repulse sounded a Retreat and immediately repassed the River Tyr and marched with all the haste he was able stopping no where until he arrived at Rinzur about thirty English miles from the place of the Fight and arriving at length on the Banks of the Danube he gave License to his Souldiers to disperse into their Winter-Quarters in the mean time Abassa dispatched Advice to the Grand Signior of the Particulars of the Fight and of his great Victory by an entire defeat of the Polish Army The Grand Signior believed the Report which none durst to contradict and which was confirmed by the Rumour of an Ambassador coming from Poland An Ambassador sent to the G. Signior srom Poland For the Poles being at that time engaged in a War with Muscovy and apprehensive of another with Sweden judged it not seasonable to provoke the Turk but rather by way of Accommodation dispatched an Ambassador with a Train of three hundred Men to make Complaints against the late Acts of Hostility committed by Abassa as if he had moved his Arms without the Orders or Knowledg of the Sultan About that time that the Ambassador approached near to Constantinople the Grand Signior had another Son born but of a weakly and sickly Temperament howsoever great Joy was expressed and all the City was enlightned with Torches Bonefires and Fire-works and that the Grand-Signior might evidence his Greatness and Magnificence to the Ambassador he took this Occasion of the Birth of a Son to make a solemn Entrance into the City and to make the greater Show he armed all the Citizens and Inhabitans Before the Grand Signior would grant Audience to the Ambassador he ordered that Abassa should treat with him and understand his Business and Desires Abassa carried himself high in the Negotiation he pretended the Damages and Charges of the War the Demolishment of certain Palancas which were the Places of Refuge for the Cossacks and the Tribute of ten Years past with Security of paiment for the Time to come The Ambassador positively refused to hearken unto any Terms about Tribute and that for other Matters the Presents which he had brought to the Grand Signior would reasonably answer His Presents were A Coach lined with Velvet with six very fine Horses A Bason and Candlesticks of Silver richly gilt Four Clocks ten Vests of Sables six Quivers of Arrows with some Hunting-Dogs Being at length admitted to Audience and thereunto conducted by the Aga of the Spahees and the Chaous Bashee The Grand Signior asked the Ambassador which was not usual For what Reason he was come thither To which he answered That he was come to bring his Majesty Advice of the Coronation of his King and to establish a Peace is his Majesty should judg fit to accept thereof To which the Sultan replied That all Christian Kings ought either to receive the Ottoman Laws or pay him Tribute or try the sharpness of his Sword. And taking a Cemiter in his hand which hung by him he drew it half out and said With this I will subdue my Enemies and though take another in Poland To which the Ambassador returning a modest Answer was dismissed of the Royal Presence And now the Grand Signior to put a good face on the Business and to make the World believe that he designed what he spake he proclaimed a War with Poland and ordered his Tents to be carried abroad supposing hereby to draw the Poles to his own Terms of Agreement And in pursuance hereof he mounted on Horseback and rode in state through the City his upper Vest was made after the Hungarian Fashion lined with Sables in his right hand he carried a Quiver of Arrows in his left two drawn Swords on his Turbant he wore a large Plume of Feathers encompassed with a Circle of Diamonds and in this manner entring his Tents he proceeded to Adrianople But before his departure the Count Puchen Ambassador from the Emperor arrived with other sumptuous Presents offering Incense and Gifts of Peace at the Throne of this Greatness But before we relate the Transactions at Adrianople and the Success of Affairs at that Place let us recount several dismal Accidents at Constantinople The Grand Signior returning by Sea from a place called Stravosta in the Bay of Ismit anciently the Bay of Nicomedia where he had for some time held his Court and great Divan he was followed by several Vessels appointed to transport the People The several Mischiefs by Water and Fire in one whereof were ninety five Persons embarked all of them Pasha's Aga's and chief Officers of the Court the Vessel was over-set by a sudden gust of Wind and all the People drowned excepting three Sea-men which saved themselves by swimming More considerable were the Mischiefs by Fire For on occasion of some Fire-works made in one of the Grand Siguior's Chiosks or Houses of Pleasure the Fire took so fiercely on the Tavan A terrible Fire at Constantinople or wooden Works of the Sieling that it endangered the whole Palace and had consumed all but that many Hands and active Men gave a stop to the farther
committed to the Bostangi-bashee who was made Chimacam of Constantinople and so with a fierce Spirit and aspect full of Indignation and Anger he mounted his Horse at the Head of an Army of an hundred thousand he departed from Constantinople about the end of April But before we recount the particulars of what succeeded in Persia it is requisite to cast our Thoughts back to the Troubles of Transylvania occasioned by the competition of Stephen Bethlem and George Ragotski for that Principality Bethlem as we have said before being grieved and discontented at his hard Fortune in being put by the Government Bethlem renews his Complaints to the Grand Signior and resenting the Punishment which Ragotski inflicted on his Son for the Crime of Manslaughter he went to Buda and there renewing his old Complaints to the Pasha he was with Recommendations from him accompanied to the Port where being introduced to the Presence of the chief Ministers he at large declared the Merits and good Services of his Family towards the Sultan His Reasons to be re-instated That for this Reason only in dishonour and despight to the Ottoman Empire he was excluded from the Government and therefore challenged its Assistance to re-establish him therein in consideration of which he promised the same Faithfulness and Devotion to the Sultan which was professed and maintained by his Ancestors and was natural to the Family of Gabor That as to Ragotski it was apparent that he entertained different Principles that he was a Person of elated Thoughts and a Turbulent Spirit and was ever united in Combination with the Emperor Germans and other Enemies to the Ottoman State. The Turks moved with these Reasons resolved to favour Stephen and to discountenance Ragotski and though the Conjuncture of Affairs was such as that any other Engagement in War besides that of Persia did not square with the present Designs yet at all times it was judged convenient to sow the Tares of Discord and promote Differences amongst Christians which have ever produced Advantages to the Mahometan Cause And likewise the Pasha of Buda was commanded to enter Transylvania with a Force sufficient to contend with Ragotski and lest the Emperor should be allarm'd with this Commotion a Chiaus was dispatched to give him a perfect understanding of the Reasons why an Army marched into Transylvania The Turks send an Army into Transylvania the Design of which was not intended in the least manner to impeach the Articles of Peace between him and the Grand Signior but only to displace a Man of a furious and turbulent Spirit and to ordain another in his stead of a more lober and quiet Temper by whose Moderation and Prudence the Peace between the two Empires may be improved and continued Ragotski startled at this Design intended against him Ragotski implores Aid from the Emperor assembled the States of his Country to determine and consult concerning a Remedy and immediately dispatched a Messenger to the Emperor to desire and implore his Imperial Succour and Protection and though Ragotski was sensible of the disparity of his Strength in comparison of that of the Turks yet neither did his Counsels nor Behaviour betray Fear or want of Constancy The Hungarians seconded those Instances which Ragotski had made at the Imperial Court and the Party which he had made at Vienna brought the matter to a debate in Council which was argued on both sides with solid and convincing Reasons Those who spake in disfavour of Ragotski alledged That all Assistance contributed to him would be a just Cause and Pretence to the Grand Signior to make War with the Emperor That Ragotski himself was of an unquiet Temper It is debated in Council not unlike to Gabor his Predecessor who had often bid Defiance to the Emperor and over-running all Hungary and Austria had often erected his Standard in the sight of Vienna To protect and cherish a Person of this Disposition was no other than to nourish a Serpent or Viper in their Bosom who being elevated at the expence of the Empire in successes against the Turk would convert that Power which he had gained to the damage of the House of Austria combining with the Faction of other Princes to procure its destruction Let us therefore said they stand at a gaze and as Men on the Shore or in a good Port behold the agitation of Ships in the Ocean perhaps the change of a Prince in Transylvania may turn to our Benefit and one may succeed into the place of such a mild Temper and serene Disposition as may better agree with the Maxims of this Court and may cultivate that Peace which can only render these Countries happy Howsoever there were other Opinions to the contrary amongst which it is said that D. Annibal Gonzaga a Person acquainted with the State of Transylvania and of the Turks and Director of the Imperial Army delivered himself in this manner May it please Your Sacred Imperial Majesty IF Ragotski had been the Lawful Son and Hereditary Successor of Gabor who was an Enemy to your Majesty we might then apprehend the evil Consequences of a Son that traces the same Path and Footsteps of his Father But here is another Person another Prince in Emulation different and by Enmity hating the House of Gabor wherefore I cannot imagine how this Prince can possibly entertain Maxims of like Nature with the other For my part I believe that it behoves your Majesty to maintain a good Correspondence with the Princes of Transylvania by a close Vnion against the Turk your adjoining Countries being like contiguous Buildings which are strengthned by a mutual Support Let us therefore support it for if it depends not on us it will be over-run and remain oppressed without us To aggravate the Faults of Gabor to the disparagement of Ragotski is no Logical Consequence unless you will argue That the Faults of the Guilty are to be punished on the Innocent Let us therefore consider which agrees best with the Security of the Empire that Transylvania should remain in the Hands of Ragotski or of the Turk or that we had better strike against the Rock of Jealousie which we conceive against this Transylvanian or on that ruinous Rock of the Turkish Power The Ottoman Councils commonly look asquint they cast their Eye on the Prince when their sight aims at the Principality and threaten the Person when they design to vent their Fury to the subjection of his Country The true Intent of the Turk is to reduce Transylvania to the same Condition with Moldavia and Walachia and to incorporate this with infinite other Provinces into the gross Body of his Empire It is notorious to all the World that the Emperors your Predecessors have lost a large Tract of Land by the Turks and your Losses will every day be greater as their Conquests increase And when their Dominions in Europe are so enlarged that they are able to quarter their Asiatick Cavalry in these Countries
your Dangers must necessarily be inevitable and full of Terror For I compute that when the Turk designs to make War upon us he marches with an hundred thousand Men and perhaps ten thousand Camels besides other Beasts of Burden so numerous a Body as this cannot be maintained until the Grass be fully grown which is not until the middle or end of June and from that time they have more than a month or six weeks March before they arrive upon our Confines the which consumption of Time prolongs their Enterprises and protracts the time of our Damages But if once they become Masters of Transylvania and that that Country be laid to Moldavia Walachia and other parts of Hungary they may then commodiously winter amongst us and begin their Wars and Attempts upon us early in the Year and pursue them until the last season of the Autumn and in this manner whilst we are debating and taking our Measures in our Diet they will fatten themselves and satiate their Appetites with our Spoils It is good therefore for us to defend Austria in Transylvania keeping the Fever as far from the Heart as we are able Let us suppose that Ragotski is the most ungrateful Man in the World and that after we have supported and succoured him that he will reverse his Arms upon us Howsoever he is not so strong and considerable as to do us much hurt and therefore it were better to have him our Neighbour and our Enemy than the Turk though our Friend the first can only administer some little cause of Jealousie but the other may destroy and supplant us the first is but like a putrid Fever which is cured with every small Evacuation but the latter is a Pestilence which dilates and diffuses it self and is deadly and irrecoverable Let not the Scruple neither of breaking with the Turk trouble us for we may administer Assistance under-hand and without noise effect our Business without arriving at the extremity of a Rupture It is folly and weakness in us to be charmed by the Flatteries of the Turks and the fair words of this Chaous or to imagine that when they have over-run all Transylvania they will stop in the midst of their Career before they arrive at the Gates of Vienna no their Intentions are to lull us asleep and to destroy our Neighbour first and then us they cannot devour us both at once but husband their Diet and reserve us for another Meal The Turk is like a Serpent who lies quiet and coiled up all the Winter not because he wants either a Sting or Poison but being benummed with cold wants warmth and heat to give it Motion and Operation This is my Sense and Opinion which I most humbly tender before the greater Wisdom of Your Sacred Majesty Notwithstanding these convining Arguments The Emperor refuses Succour to Ragotski the Result of the Council determined otherwise and Ragotski was left to shift for himself and to stand upon his own Legs which was a pernicious Resolution and that which was afterwards the cause of the subjection of Transylvania to the Turk and the Original of many Mischiefs to the Empire but thus was the Fortune of the Turks more favourable to them than â—o the Christian State. Ragotski being thus abandoned by the Imperialists and exposed to the Mercy of an insatiable Enemy though his Courage was good and resolute yet he began to despond of his Force unable to deal with such an unequal Match as that of the Turks And his Subjects being fearful of the Event perswaded him to give way and resign his Rule to the hands of Gabor his Competitor Ragotski that he might not seem to neglect the Counsel of his Subjects and Friends and to gain Time pretended to hearken to their Advice Ragotski obtains Succours underhand and accordingly entred into a Treaty with Gabor During which Debate he secretly obtained some Forces from Poland by connivance of that Government and the Hungarians being his Friends privately favoured him knowing that the Conquest of Transylvania would be a step to their Destruction and being at length well fortified and recruited he began to declare openly that he found no security to himself in this Surrender for that a Place was denied him wherein he put his chief hopes of Defence and therefore that he was resolved to support and maintain his State and Cause in the best manner that he was able The Turks enter Transylvania Hereupon the Turks entred Transylvania with an Army of twenty five thousand Men under the Command of the Pasha of Buda Ragotski to obstruct their March dispatched his General Cornis with seven thousand Men to prepossess an advantageous Ground with Order to entertain but not fight the Enemy until he could come up to him with the gross of his Army The Turks perceiving their advantage in number resolved to engage the Enemy before they were reinforced with new Succours to perform which they made a Detachment of twelve thousand Horse and two thousand Janisaries and some Field Pieces commanded by the Pasha himself and Stephen Gabor Cornis not being able to disingage himself or avoid fighting made a Vertue of Necessity and put his Forces into form of Battel and exhorting his Men to follow his Example assured them that Victory was sooner acquired by Valour than Numbers and that Fortune was always more favourable to the Valiant and Brave than to the Cowardly and pusillanimous Cornis unsheathing his Sword They sight with Cornis sought in the Head of his Men and led them through the thickest of his Enemies the first rank of which not being able to sustain the furious Charge of the Christians gave way and being disordered the first Squadrons ran foul of the secood and at length all of them betook themselves to a shameful flight Are overthrown The Transylvanians took all their Canon and Baggage with ten Ensigns and killed three thousand Turks The Pasha of Agria was wounded and Olac Bei of Temiswar was taken Prisoner and the whole Army had that day been defeated had not the Janisaries who fortified themselves in a thick Wood given a stop to a farther pursuit Ragotski likewise in divers succeeding Skirmishes overthrew the Turks killing many Pasha's and Souldiers of Quality and at length remained sole Master of the Field The Turks retired to Lippa and Stephen to Temiswar whilst Ragotski made his Incursions into the Country of the Turks burning and spoiling two thousand Villages Peace is made with which being terrified and beaten into terms of Reason they agreed to suffer Ragotski to injoy his Government conditionally that the Goods and Estate of Gabor in Transylvania should be restored unto him and thus Ragotski established himself in the Government and obtained a Confirmation thereof from Constantinople to his Son accompanied with Presents and Ornaments of a Prince And this Example shews us in what manner we are to deal with Turks Resolution and Rigour are better Arms against
while a swelling and fluctuation in the Waters so there still remained on the Spirits of the Souldiery Discontents and unquietness of Mind Wherefore the Vizier fearing lest the Enemy taking advantage of the present Seditions should charge them at a time of Disorder he retired at a distance from them into the Plains of Erzrum But he was not able to continue long in those Parts for want of Fuel and of Wood and Planks to secure them against the Rains and Snow for it being Winter which is rigorous and cold in that Country their Tents were not sufficient proof to defend them against the Extremity of the Weather Whilst the Turkish Army remained at this Place advice came Van besieged by the Persians that the Persians had Besieged Van which is a strong Fortress situate on an inaccessible Rock on the Frontiers of the Province of Diarbequir And though the Persians were not able to take this Place neither by Storm nor Famine yet during this Siege they made use of their time to ruin all the Country of Diarbequir which they left so desolate that the Turkish Army could not quarter there nor extract the least Provision or Subsistence from thence To all these Misfortunes a greater was added by the Treachery of a certain Curd one who pretending to be ill-satisfied with the Persian Party voluntarily offered himself to the Service of the Turks and having done them some little Services by being their Guide through certain difficult Passages he gained a confidence so far with them as that designing to surprise a quarter of the Enemy they committed themselves to his Guidance and Conduct who having brought them into a narrow Passage Fifteen thousand Turks killed in an Ambush where an Ambush of the Enemy lay he then turned his Coat and fought against the Turks of whom 15000 were killed and taken in this Snare In short all Matters of this War proceeded cross and unfortunate for the Turks for besides their unlucky Fights with the Enemy their own Seditions in the Camp were greater Mischiefs Mutiny of the Souldiers for now enduring no longer these pungent Miseries under the pretence of wanting Pay they cut in pieces the Treasurer of the Army two Aga's of the Spahees and the Chaousbashee of the Janisaries This News arriving at Constantinople when Morat was afflicted with a grievous accession of the Gout served to redouble his Pains in which raving against the Conduct of his Officers he immediately deprived the Vizier of his Charge and ordained Biram Pasha late Chimacam to succeed him in his Employment The new Vizier immediately set forth the Horses Tail A new Vizier sent to the Army which is a signal of departure with sound of Drums and Trumpets making Corban which is a distribution of Mutton to the Poor in divers Places His Retinue was speedily equipped with such sumptuous Magnificence that it looked rather like the Train of an Ambassador which intended to make Peace than to the Troops of a General whose Business was nothing but Blood and Destruction And indeed Matters seemed to be inclining that way the Persians having far advanced in this Negotiation for they wisely pondering the immense Force of the Ottoman Empire with which they were now contending judged it the most politick course to make Peace under the auspicious Planet of their good Fortune for not knowing how long that might remain constant they might so soon as the Wheel turns on the other side be forced to accept Terms of less Advantage than at present they might promise to themselves under their happy Stars Wherefore a Proposition being made of sending an Ambassador to the Grand Signior A Persian Ambassador sent to the G. Signior he accepted of it and accordingly arrived at Constantinople in the Month of August when the Vizier was scarce in the middle of his Journey The Grand Signior entertaining some real Inclinations to Peace laid aside something of his usual Grandeur and State giving the Ambassador Audience in a few days after his arrival and as nothing mollisies the hard Mettle of a Turk's Spirit like a gentle Shower of Gold and the emulgent softness of Rich Presents so Morat understanding of Gifts with which he came accompanied afforded to the Ambassador an easy Ear and a pleasing Countenance The Presents for the Grand Signior besides those for the Court were â—â—ese that follow Eight Indian Horses of great Price Forty Dromedaries An hundred and fifty Meticals of Musk. As much Ambergriese made up in several Bags all sealed up with the King 's own Seal Thirty bundles of the best black Sables Eight large Carpets mixed with Gold and Silver with divers others of Silk very rare and precious Many Pieces of the finest Linnen to make Turbants A great number of the rarest Girdles Porceline to a great value Divers Pieces of Satin and Velvet with Golden Flowers Fifty Pieces of Silken Stuffs Eight Bows of excellent Work. These Presents so well disposed and prepared the Mind of the Grand Signior towards an Accommodation that he bestowed a kind Aspect and gentle Words on the Ambassador so that all the World expected that a Peace would have ensued And indeed one might well have believed his Reality in this Intention since the ardent Passion he had to be revenged of Ragotski availed more with him than all other Considerations in the World. His Honour also called him to give a stop to the Progress of the Moscovites who had taken Asac and the Tartars and Cossacks gave some ground of Jealousy that before long they designed some Action on the Turkish Territories the Reasons whereof we shall discourse in this following Year We have already related some Years past on what Terms the Tartars stood with the Turk how they refused to accept that King which the Port recommended to them though the eldest and first of the true Line how they fought and overthrew the Forces which the Grand Signior sent to compel them to the Election he desired and this last Year upon pretence of a War with Cantemir Troubles in the lesser Tartary they refused to send their Army against the Persian as had always been accustomary to do against the Enemies of the Sultan whensoever required The Pasha Muftee and Kadi of Caffa which is the Grand Signior's Town in Tartary urged the Tartar Han to prepare and forward his Forces according to the Duty and Obligation which was incumbent on him and enlivening their Arguments with Reproaches of Cowardise and Ingratitude so far provoked the Han that he caused them all three to be strangled Notwithstanding this high Provocation the Grand Signior dissembled the Injury lest a due Resentment should raise them into an open Rebellion and dissembling an approbation of the Fact as done with Reason and Justice sent to the Tartar Han a Sword and a Vest as Signals of his Favour And farther suspecting lest in prosecution of so sensible a Blow the Tartar joining in League with the Cossacks and
and fighting in a Body at the Gate of Alexandria three hundred of them were flain the rest leaped into a Gally which though without Oars had yet her Sails to the Yard and having the fortune of a favourable Wind arrived safe at Candia in like manner they became free taking convenient passage from thence to divers parts of Christendom These Slaves were all redemanded by the Grand Signior from the Venetians in which no Satisfaction being given was one Cause and Original of that War which afterwards ensued And now the Year 1644 being begun Ragotski who was never contented but in Combustions and never at ease but when he was proving new Projects made Demands of certain Places on the Confines of Moravia scituated within the Mountains which he challenged as the Inheritance of his Son besides other Pretences which he made in right of Bethlem Gabor To forward which Designs moved with an inveterate Enmity to the Austrian Family he endeavoured to win the Hearts of the Commonalty with a plausible Declaration for Liberty and to throw off the Yoke which had so long gauled the Neck of Hungary whereby having raised an Army of twenty thousand Horse and thirty thousand Foot he entred and spoiled the Country of his old Enemy and Neighbour the Count of Humanay an Hungarian took Solnock by force and besieged Fileck and Cassovia For suppression of which Insurrection and Rebellion of Ragotski the Emperor was forced to a War and having Rendezvoused his Army at Presbourg the Conduct thereof was committed to the Charge of Cout Puceain The Turks having intelligence of these Preparations for War commanded twenty thousand Men to march into those Parts to oppose these Combustions on the Frontiers with six-thousand of which the Count Puecaim encountering furiously assaulted and routed them And in the mean time Ragotski laying aside all care for the War in Hungary applied himself to relieve Olimz in Moravia but in his March thither he was recalled by the Inhabitants of Sendar which is a Castle erected on a Hill near Cassovia offering to surrender unto him but the Governor Forgatz of the People a Civil War began amongst themselves but at length the advantage falling unto Ragotski the Gates were opened unto the Transylvanians with which Success their Spirits being raised to higher Matters they proceeded forward until General Getz with a strong Body gave a stop unto their Progress And thus was the Fire of sar rekindled again in Hungary by means of Ragotski to whom notwithstanding the Turks would never adhere being well acquainted with his turbulent and unsteady Humour In the mean time the Emperor dispatched his Ambassador with rich Presents to the Sultan desiring him to forbear giving farther Assistance unto Ragotski but what between Skirmishes Propositions and Treaties Matters were not complsed until the 14th of August 1645 at which time all Articles were concluded and signed between the Emperor and Ragotski But to return now to the Affairs of Constantinople Sultan Ibrahim having the Fortune of Active and Prudent Ministers attended entirely to his Pastimes and Pleasures without Prejudice to his Interest and the State of his Empire for the first Vizier being Faithful and Vigilant immediately cut off those Members with the Sword which he suspected in the least manner inclinable to Sedition amongst which were the Pashaws of Aleppo and Caffa For by this kind of seasonable and speedy Remedies the Plethory of the Ottoman Empire is commonly evacuated and the Body Politick thereof restored to its pristine state of Health and Safety In like manner the Valede Sultana being a Woman of great Courage and Abilities attended carefully to the Welfare of her Son whom she sometimes decked up and set forth as a Property of Majestick Gravity to the People whilst she her self assumed the Authority and carried allthings with a high and imperious Spirit and being ambitious to be feared as well as honoured she laid Viloent Hands on the first Vizier called Mustapha and strangled him for though he was an Active and Faithful Minister yet because he passed something on her which she imagined did favour of neglect and because she apprehended his Power which was greatly confirmed by the Interest and Favour he had with the Janisaries and their Favourers she resolved to make him an Example as well of her Revenge as her Power after whose Death the Charge of first Vizier was conferred on Mahomet the Pasha of Damascus The fame Fate befel the Captain-Pasha who was likewise strangled for having over-boldly or peremptorily made answer to some Impertinencies of the Grand Signior and his Office was afterwards conferred on Beker Pasha of Rhodes With such Rigour as this do the Sultans govern who resolve to be obeyed and to have their Commands executed without delay or contradiction Whilst these Matters were in agitation The Tartars make Incursions into Poland notwithstanding the Peace the Tartars forgetful of their Peace made another Incursion with thirty thousand Men into Russia against whom Konispolski having made Head with twenty thousand Men only overthrew them and killed twelve thousand and took three thousand Prisoners pursuing the rest to the Borders of Walachia In like manner Wisnowick a noble Polander happily encountred another Party of Tartars as they were on their return from spoiling the Countries of Moscovia of whom having killed 10000 Men he recovered their Booty and sent the rest Home naked and empty This was the true and most effectual Means for the Polanders to avenge and right their Injuries and more prevalent then Ambassies and Messages of Complaint unto the Port which we have experienced since and in the present Reign of the Son of Ibrahim to have been so far from producing Matter worthy so much as the Charge of the Ambassador that they have been retorted with lgnominy and affronts But here Ibrahim perceiving how the Poles had avenged themselves with their own Sword would seem to approve of the Action which he could not hinder and to appear a sincere Observer of the Peace he deposed the Tartar Han for his unlawful Incursions which was such a satisfaction to the Crown of Poland as they never could obtain by force of Justice Complaints and Vertue of passive Valour until their active Fortitude cook their Cause in Hand and pleaded for them On the 19th of March of this Year a fourth Son was born to Sultan Ibrahim and on the 19th of February following being in the Year 1645 notwithstanding all the Reports of his Impotency was born a fifth Son named Solyman to the great contentment of his People The Turks Gallies this Year under the Command of Beker their new Captain-Pasha made an Attempt on the Coast of Calabria bringing from thence two hundred Slaves and attempting the like near Corton paid for their former Booty with the loss of five hundred Men. How soever the Gallies of Malta being six in number had better Success as to themselves though the Consequences thereof proved fatal to the Venetians having given the
first occasion of that long War which afterwards ensued between the Turk and them The truth of which Story is this The Story of Kuzlir Aga his Slave and Son taken by the Malteses free of all Romance or Fable which the Knights of St. John or Malta would mix therewith It happened that the Kuzlir Aga or chief Eunuch which governs the Women in the Signior's Seraglio having cast his Eye on a fair Slave then set to sale by a Persian Merchant became so enamoured of her that he purchased her for himself under the Notion of a virgin at the price of four hundred and fifty Dollars But the Eunuch had not long entertained this Lady in his Service before she proved with Child not by him you may conceive if you understand how the Eunuchs of this Country are disarm'd of their Virility At which he was so greatly offended that he banished her from his Society and confined her to the House of his Steward The time being come for her to be delivered of her great Belly it proved a Son and some Months after the Aga being desirous to see the Babe was so pleased with the aspect of it that he resolved to adopt it for his own ordering it Cloaths and other Necessaries agreeable to its Condition It happened that about that time Sultan Mahomet which now reigns was then born and there wanting a Nurse for the Child this beautiful Slave was preferred to the Honour so that she was entertained near two Years in the Seraglio During which time Sultan Ibrahim took such an affection to the Nurse's Boy that he loved him better than his own eldest Son who was of a bad Complexion and of no better Air in his Face than his Father and took great delight to play and sport with him at which the Mother of Sultan Mahomet was so displeased that she could not longer endure either Nurse or her Boy and for her sake took so much displeasure against the Kuzlir Aga who preferred her that neither his presence nor Service were acceptable and so violent she was in her Passion that one day when Sultan Ibrahim was playing with his Women and Children in the Garden according to his usual Custom throwing them one on the other into the Water the Queen grew so furious that she could not contain longer from venting her Anger in unhansome Terms and jealousy against the Nurse and her Son. At which the Sultan being much displeased and being ill-natured if we may speak boldly of an Emperor took her Son which is now Sultan Mahomet out of her Arms and with some few Curses swung him into a Cistern where he had been certainly drowned had not every one in that instance applied themselves to save him at which time he received the Mark or Scar he wears at this day in his Forehead All these Matters served for farther Fuel to nourish the implacable Spirit of the Queen which the Kuzlir Aga well observing judged it prudence to give way to her Fury and so begged his Dismission from the Court together with his Slave and Son and that having wisited Mecha according to his Law he might enjoy a Retirement in Egypt which is the Portion of banished Eunuchs The Queen easily consented hereunto nor was it difficult to procure the Licence of the Sultan who was as easily perswaded to any by those who were about him wherefore the Eunuch having provided to be gone shipped himself with his great Treasure on the Fleet which was now designed and ready to depart for Alexandria which consisted of three Ships one a great Gallion and two others of lesser Burthen and seven Saiks these having at the beginning of their Voyage found contrary Winds The Engagement of the Turkish with the Malta Gallies put into Rhodes from whence loosing with more favourable Weather they unfortunately met with six Malta Gallies excellently well manned and provided The Admiral Gally immediately Boarded one of the Saiks and took her manned only by Greeks by whom they were informed of the Condition Quality and Cargo of the greater Ship which gave Heat and Resolution to the Souldiery In like manner with little Oppsition the Gallies called the St. John and Joseph possessed themselves of one of the lesser Ships which being laden only with Timber brought from the Black Sea to build Ships at Alexandria was of little value having forty Turks aboard eight Women and a Child which sucked at the Mother's Breast In the mean time the three other Gallies called the St. Mary St. Lorenzo and Victory attacked the great Gallion and having cast their Iron Graples into the Ship with the Motion of the Ship the Irons gave way and broke only that of the St. Lorenzo held fast so that the whole force of the Ship both of small and great Shot was poured in upon the Gally to their damage and loss of Men. In the mean time the Admiral Gally came in to their Assistance and Assaulting the Ship on the other Quarter made a Diversion of their Men and having thrown in their Graples they scaled the sides of the Gallion as if it had been a Fortress where being entred they remained for some time at handy-blows with the Turks but at length all the Gallies coming to their help having made an end of subduing the other Ships the Turks were forced to retire under Covert of their Decks which they defended still with singular Valour wounding the Christians with their half Pikes through the Gratings But in fine the Captains of the Gallies perceiving that this was not the way to compel them to a speedy Surrender ordered several Musquetiers out of every Gally to sire in at the Windows and loop-holes of the Ship by which having killed their Commander in Chief their Valour and Constancy began to fail and desirous to save their lives with loss of Liberty and Estates they cast down their Arms and begged Mercy In this Engagement were killed the Captain of the St. Mary and seven Cavaliers of which five were French one Italian and one German the Admiral himself and the Captain of his Gally were both wounded seventy nine Souldiers and Mariners killed and an hundred thirty two wounded Of the Turks it is not certain how many fell in regard as they were killed according to Custom they cast them over-board the Eunuch himself though always educated in the softness of the Seraglio and in the Conversation of the Female Court yet in the end concluded his days like one of the Masculine Sex fighting valiantly with his Sword until overwhelmed by his Enemies by which it is observable that those Persons lose not their Courage with their virile Parts for it hath been known in former days how that Eunuchs have been Generals in the Turkish and other Armies and conducted their Affairs with admirable Courage and Success The Prize which the Christians had gained in this manner was very considerable for besides the Gold Silver and Jawels which were the Treasure this Eunuch
Particulars of which require a distinct History but by the invincible Fortitude and Courage of the Christians they were repulsed with that slaughter and with the loss of so many Men by Sallies and other Stratagems of War that the Turks were at length constrained to raise their Siege with dishonour and confusion during which time many of the Nobility and Persons of Quality lost their Lives amongst which the principal were Vicenzo della Marra Governour General of the Arms of Candia and Count Remorantino natural Son of the Duke of Loraine Commander in Chief of the Forces that came from beyond the Alpes General Foscolo encouraged by the many glorioes Enterprises that he had obtained resolved to consummate all by taking the strong and famous Fortress of Clissa Clissa taken scituate in the Consines of Dalmatia and Borders of Bosna on the top of a sharp and craggy Mountain invironed with Rocks and unaccessible Passages the difficulty of the attempt rather inflamed than abated the Courage of Foscolo so that he Valiantly Besieged and Assaulted that Place during which time the Priest D. Stephano Sorich Captain of the Morlachs intercepted the Succours which were sent thither and Georgio the Proveditor overthrew Teccbeli Pasha in a Field Battel so that the Inhabitants desparing of Relief surrendered up themselves to the mercy of the Venetians and thus Clissa being taken the Senate Commanded that it should be more regularly Fortified And here the Christian Arms met some interruption For the Morlachs desirous to cast off the Turkish Yoke and return to the protection of the Venetians designed to surprize Scutari and at the same time the Arch-bishop of Durazzo with seven thousand Albanians was to seize upon Croia and Alessio but the Design being discovered by the traiterous practices of some false Brethren before Matters were maturely grown or the time of Execution it had certainly cost the Life of all the Morlachs and seven hundred Venetian Souldiers joined with them had not the increase of the Waters hindered the speedy March of the Turks who resolved to cut them all off without mercy who regard to any so that having time to disperse themselves and take refuge in the Mountains the most of them preserved their Lives from the Cruelty of their Enemies only some certain Ecclesiastical Persons falling into their Hands they imputed unto them the cause of the Rebellion and in a barbarous manner impaled them on Stakes The Turks enraged for the loss of Clissa dispatched Dervis Pasha into the parts of Bosna with a potent Army threatning to Assault Spalatro whom to divert Foscolo together with Priest Sorich Captain of the Morlachs entered into the Enemies Country spoiling burning and destroying wheresoever they came The Morlachs more greedy of Prey than ambitious of Glory divided themselves into small Parties to rob and pillage in which interim they were assaulted by the Turks but being scattered were so far from making a stout resistance that they committed themselves to a shameful flight in which great numbers of them were miserably Butchered nor could the valour of Sorich nor of the Governour Possidaria reduce them by their Examples into any Order whilst together with some few valiant Dalmatians and Morlach Captains they endured the shock of all the Enemies Fury in which Skirmish the Turks lost seven Agas and about seventy Souldiers On the Christians side were killed four hundred some few Slaves and about seventy Ensigns taken amongst the rest the good Priest Sorich scorning to turn his back had the misfortune to fall into the Enemies hands whom they flead alive and afterwards impaled and though they subdued his Body yet he was still master of his mind bearing the same constancy in his Torments as he had shewed Magnanimity and Courage in the Face of his Enemy Whilst these Martial Affairs were transacting with the Blood and Life of many thousands on both sides Sultan Ibrahim like a stout Souldier of Venus waged another War in the Elysiums of Cupid and casting aside all thoughts of Candia remitted the sole care and management thereof to the Vizier and Pashas of the Divan following a Life so lascivious and sensual as can neither be imagined with a chast Fancy or described by a modest Pen. A principal Instrument of his Delights and Engine to compass his Amorous Designs was a certain cast Wench of his which he named Shechir Para which signifies a little piece of Sugar for it seems she was so complaisant and dulcid in her Humour and discourse as merited that apt Name to express the sweetness of her Conversation this Woman having the convenience to visit all the Baths in Town took notice of every Woman which she saw of more than ordinary Features and Proportion and having enquired her Condition and Dwelling presently reported the same with all advantage to her Sultan who having heard the Beauty described be came passionately Enamoured and could find no repose in his Fancy until his Instruments either by fair words or violence had seduced her or forced her to his Bed. But growing now extravagant and over-wanton in his Amours he fell in love with the Sultana or Widow of his Brother Sultan Morat To win her Affections he had recourse to his Dear Shechir Para who used all her Arts in this Service but her pretty wheedling Terms could prevail nothing on this Lady who answered her in short That at the Death of her Lord Sultan Morat she had resolved upon a perpetual Widowhood for that the memory of him was still so lively in her that she could not entertain the thoughts of admitting any new Embraces This repugnancy and opposition inflamed the heat of Ibrahim like a Feaver so that he resolved to assault her himself one day by force and took his time just as she came out of the Bath but she being a bold Woman and disdaining the wandring loves of Ibrahim laid her hand upon her Dagger which Sultana's and great Ladies usually wear threatning to wound him in her own defence the noise and brawling hereof being over-heard by the Queen-Mother called her from her Retirements and concerned her in the Quarrel who whilst she reproved her Son for the rape he intended on his Brother's Wife gave opportunity to the Sultana to escape and so delivered her out of the hands of this Satyr But Ibrahim mad with love and fuming with disdain to be checked and opposed by his Mother Commanded her immediately to the old Seraglio where he confined her to several days Imprisonment during which time he understood in what manner she had treated his large-siz'd Armenian of whom we have already spoken whereof the Queen-Mother being conscious submitted her self with all humility to her Son begging his Favour and Pardon and so well acted her part by those who carried her Addresses that she over came quickly his easy Nature and was again restored to his Grace and her Lodgings in the new Seraglio In the mean time Shecher Para travelling over all the Baths in
Being arrived near unto Constantinople he received from the Great Signior several Messages of Kindness and a good welcome and was accordingly received into the City and invested in the Office with all the Circumstances of Favour and Honour imaginable Having thus taken possession of his Charge he promised the Grand Signior that he would employ all his Endeavours to restore the decayed Estate of Affairs and reform the Government And as an earnest thereof he began to remove such Ministers from the Court which were suspected by him and to render himself the more Absolute he cut off several others whom he imagined might in any wise disturb or controul him in the management of his Affairs After which he dispatched his Orders to all Maritime Towns of the Empire to fit and make ready what Gallies and Ships were possible to be provided intending thereby to set out the greatest Fleet that ever was seen in the Levant but to compleat this Work two great Difficulties arose The first was to find a wise and well experienced Commander and the next was in what manner to perswade the Spahees and Janisaries to embark for they having heard and seen in what manner their Companions had perished in this miserable War absolutely refused to go and though the Animosities of these two orders of Souldiers were irreconcileable one to the other yet in this common Cause being united they raised so horrible a Sedition that they assaulted the Mufti in his very House and pursued him within the Gates of the Seraglio with a thousand reproaches and injuries as an Author of evil Counsels and a Disturber of the common Peace and Quiet of the Empire Nor was it possible to appease this Tumult but by anticipating to them four months Pay with which their Minds being made more pliable they gently yielded to Obedience and suffered themselves to be embarked for Candia Zarnozau Mustapha was made Captain-Pasha or General of the Fleet which was very numerous and well equipped consisting of sixty Gallies eight Mahones thirty great Ship of War and sixty one Gallies belonging to the Beys After having remained three days at the mouth of the Dardanelles near the Castles they went out in this Order The Bey's Gallies were the first then followed the Ships next the Mahones and the Rear consisted wholly of the Grand Signior's Gallies The Van of the Fleet being the Bey's Gallies which are always the best manned and provided were ordered to attack the main Body of the Christian Fleet for that being seconded with the Ships they would be able to sustain the Shock until the Mahones could come up which were directed against the Starboard Wing of the Enemy composed of Galleasses The Venetians though much inferior in Number yet as great in Courage gave evident Signs of their desire to fight with hopes by God's Blessing to obtain a Victory The Venetians whilst the Turks passed remained still with their Anchors apique which the Turks interpreting as a token of their Courage and Boldness were so daunted that they began to ply toward the Coast of Greece but being forced to pass 〈◊〉 the Guns of the Venetian Admiral they 〈◊〉 so ill treated by his Broadsides that they were discouraged from making a second Charge The Ships and other Vessels fared little better being forced to pass under the Guns of the Enemies Fleet. The Captain-Pasha attempted to pas◠〈◊〉 Coast of Anatolia with his lighter Gallies but being hindred by a strong party of the Enemy he was forced to follow the rest of the Fleet taking his Course with them by the Coast of Greece In this Charge one of the Turks Mahones was sunk and two disabled But the greatest Fight happened between a Squadron of the Turks Ships and four of the Venetians which had been hard put to it had not the Captain Mocenigo come in to their Assistance howsoever the Venetian Captain of the Ship called the Crown was slain by a Musket shot In short the Christians boarded the Turks with so much Vigour and Resolution that they took several of their Ships and mixing with the thickest of their other Vessels they put many Ashore and others escaping in their Boats left their Slaves and Gallies to the disposal of the Enemy so that the Venetians obtained that day a hundred brass Guns with a signal Victory having had no other important Loss unless the Ship called the David and Goliah which being overpowered was burnt by the Turks The People of the Turks who were in daily expectation to receive intelligence of a Success agreeable to so great Preparations were much troubled to hear the News of the Defeat given to their Naval Forces of which Miscarriage the World dividing it self into different Conjectures the most part especially those of Constantinople attributed the Misfortune of all to the ill Government and want of Experience in the General Wherefore to appease the People especially the Merchants who were weary of this Marine War from whence they reaped nothing but Losses of their Ships and Goods It was thought fit to enter into a Treaty with Signior Capello the Venetian Bailo concerning a Peace but he having his Commission taken from him for the Reason before related his Secretary Ballarino supplyed his Office and in Order to an Accommodation had two Audiences with the Great Vizier to whom and to others of the Divan he made Presents of rich Pieces of Cloth of Gold in the Name of the Republick Howsoever the Turks thinking it dishonourable to accord unto other Terms than the intire Resignation of Candia proceeded in their Preparations as formerly at which the Merchants and Tradesmen at Constantinople received such matter of Discontentment that in Tumults they cryed out for Peace at the Gates of the very Seraglio and behaved themselves with that Insolence that the Janisaries were called to drive them from thence by force of Arms howsoever this Tumult and Riot of the People ended not without the Life of the Great Vizier to whose fury he was made a Sacrifice And though his Son appeared at the Gates of the City with forty thousand Men to demand Justice on the Murderers of his Father yet the People were so far from being dismayed thereat that their Fury and Rage encreased to a greater height and required the Authority of the Divan to keep things from running into the Inconveniences of a Civil War. ANNO 1656. THese Disorders induced the chief Ministers to enter into another Treaty with Ballarino proposing to withdraw their Forces from Candia and make a Peace upon the paiment of ten Millions for the Charge of the War And to incline the Venetians hereunto the Turks gave severe Orders to their People living about Corfou to molest the Inhabitants of that Island with all Acts of Hostility imaginable and farther published That their Intentions were to set out a more numerous and stronger Fleet than any which from the beginning of this War had sailed on the Seas and in order thereinto great Numbers of
thereunto he received a Recruit of five and twenty thousand Men from the Morea But the daily increase of the Pasha's Forces and his approach towards Constantinople as it was a Matter of the highest Consequence so it required the most prudence and caution in the management In the first place therefore by Fetfa or Resolve from the Mufti the Pasha was declared a Rebel and guilty of High Treason against the Sultan notwithstanding which a Chaous was dispatched with Letters of Pardon if now repenting of his Fault he would disband his Army and return to his former Obedience he should be received into Grace and Favour The Pasha received the Chaous with the same Ceremony and Honour as if he had been an Ambassador being willing to consider him under that Character rather than under the Notion of a Pursuivant or Officer sent to affright him into his Duty and in Answer to the Message replied That it was not in his power to condescend to any Conditions for that since he had assumed the Cause of this Youth who was the Son of Sultan Morat concealed to that Age by his Mother for fear of the Power of his Uncle he could not assent to any Terms or Conditions less than the Exaltation of him to the Ottoman Throne And so carrying this Young Man with him as a Property whereby to cover his Rebellion with the Guise of Justice and Duty he maintained a Court for him after the Ottoman Fashion and causing the Tagho or Standards to be carried before him he permitted him to give Audiences send Dispatches and to take on him all the Royal Marks of Empire The Army of the Pasha was by this time encreased to seventy thousand Men one part of which he sent towards Scutari and another towards Smyrna which alarm'd all the Countries round about and gave the Grand Signior such cause of Apprehension that he tried divers Means and made many Propositions of Honours and Benefits to the Pasha whereby to allure him to Obedience One while he offered to him the Government of Grand Cairo but that being rejected he endeavoured to raise Men in Asia to oppose the progress of his Arms of which some numbers being got into a Body and perceiving the formidable Force of the Pasha revolted and joined themselves to his Party This Extremity of Affairs caused the Grand Signior not only again to proclaim the Pasha a Rebel but to give liberty to his People to destroy him and his Souldiers in any parts where they should encounter them In pursuance of which License a Village in Asia having killed twenty five or thirty of the Pasha's Men which came thither to refresh themselves the Pasha was so enraged thereat that he caused his Souldiers to put Man Woman and Child to the Sword throughout the Village And in this manner the Affairs of the Turks remained in the greatest Confusion imaginable through the whole course of this Year 1658. ANNO 1659. NOR did this Year begin with better Omens of Success for to the other Dangers was added a Report that the Persian had taken the Field with two hundred thousand Men for recovery of Bagdat or Babylon which was the ancient Patrimony of his Forefathers so that the Grand Signior being rendred thereby more willing to agree and accommodate Affairs with the Pasha proffered to him the Government of the Province of Soria for ever paying only a yearly Homage of an hundred thousand Sultanees in lieu of three hundred thousand which that Country always yielded But the Pride of the Pasha scorned a Proffer of so mean a Consideration having nothing less in his Thoughts than the entire enjoyment of the Empire or at least to partake an equal share thereof with the Sultan For the Hopes of the Pasha encreasing with his Army which was now grown to eighty thousand Men he took up for some days his Head-quarters near the Fortress of Tocacaia within the days march of Smyrna and thence approaching towards Constantinople the chief Ministers concluded that there was no other Safety but in their Arms and that the Pasha was not to be reduced to any terms of Gentleness or Moderation Accordingly the Great Vizier passed into Asia with a numerous Army and speedily joined Battel with the Pasha which continued for some Hours with great slaughter on one side and the other but at length the fortune of the Day turned in favour of the Pasha and the Vizier's Army being routed he lost all his Cannon and Baggage and he himself was forced to save himself in the Neighbouring Countries where not being pursued by the Pasha he had time again to collect his torn and scattered Troops The News hereof multiplied the Disorders and Confusions at Constantinople to which being added the Motion of the Persians and that they were to join with the Pasha as also some Troubles in Transylvania caused by the unquiet Spirit of Ragotski together with the ill Humour of the Male-contents in the City made all things appear with equal or greater Danger at Home than Abroad Wherefore as the ultimate Remedy of these imminent Dangers it was resolved that the Grand Signior should go in Person to the War on supposition that Reverence to his Royal Person would produce that awe on the Spirits of his Subjects which was not to be effected by Violence or force of Arms. According to this Resolution the Grand Signior passed into Asia and joining his Forces with those of the Vizier composed an Army of seventy thousand Foot and thirty thousand Horse with which marching boldly towards the Enemy the Heart of the Pasha began to fail him so that calling a Council of his Officers he proposed his Inclinations towards Terms of Agreement rather than to hazard all on the Uncertainties of a Battel the Spirits of the Souldiery being now become tractable by the appearance of so great a Force assented to the Proposition and thereupon Articles being speedily drawn up were sent to the Grand Signior for his Approbation who though he would not seem to refuse any thing therein contained yet declined a personal Treaty as being a Matter too mean for his Imperial Person to capitulate with his Vassals and therefore ordered that Mortaza Pasha should Treat in his behalf promising to confirm whatsoever Act Mortaza Pasha should conclude in this Matter Mortaza being thus made Plenipotentiary refused to treat with the Pasha until such time as he had retreated with his Army at a distance of some days March from the Grand Signior's Camp which being performed near a Town called Alexandria he foolishly suffered himself to be separated in a private Place from his Army on pretence that Peace was more aptly concluded in a free Retirement than under the constraint and force of the Souldiery Here Mortaza meeting the Pasha forcibly strangled him with seventeen of his Complices whom he had brought with him for Witnesses to his Capitulations with the Grand Signior With the news hereof the Army of the Pasha soon disbanded every
that the Series of this History may be continud with an even Thread The history of Prince Rogotzki and clear light to the Reader we must cast back our Eyes to the Year 1657. when the Ambition of George Ragotzki Prince of Transilvania began New troubles in his own Principality and laid the Foundation of a future War between the Emperor and the Turks For now Poland was so wearied with the incessant Wars of Muscovy the inveterate Enemy of the that Crown with the frequent Rebellions of the Cossacks and the invasion of the Swedes whom the traiterous Vice-Chancellour and his Adherents had invited to the spoils of their own Countrey that King Casimirus was reduced to the ultimate extremity of his Affairs the publick Exchequer and private Treasuries were exhausted the Villages dispeopled the Fields uncultivated Traffick and Commerce ceased nothing but Wars Robberies and Confusion filled the Diurnals with News and the hearts of the Inhabitants with Sorrow and Calamities Wherefore Casimer King of Poland vexed on all sides and not knowing where or how to apply a remedy dispatched his Great Chancellor Albertus Pravesmoski in Quality of Embassador to demand assistance from Ragotzki promising in recompence thereof to adopt his Son to succeed him in that Kingdom No Message could arrive more grateful to ambitious Ragotzki who by so desired a proffer seemed to arrive to the Zenith of his Proseperity which like the Land of Promise being only shewed to his Father in a long Prospective seemed now as it were by Inheritance to devolve upon his Son in order unto which many days of Treaty and Conferences were held between Ragotzki and the Polish Ministers Ragotzki joins with the Swedes against Poland but Ragotzki insisting on certain particulars which were not in the Power of the King or his Commissioners to grant without the approbation of a Diet the Treaty was dissolved and Ragotzki remained displeased and angry pretending himself to have been deluded and slighted resolved to avenge the Affront and by his Arms gain to himself the Crown of that Kingdom so that raising a strong Army and joining himself in a Confederate League with Sweden he invaded Poland wasting all the Frontiers with Fire and Sword. The Ottoman Port growing jealous of the successes of these Affairs and not so much of the Advance of Ragotzki as of the growing greatness of the Swedes with whom unwillingly they would be Borderers issued an express Command That without contradiction or delay he should immediately give stop to his March and return with his Army into Transilvania And though the Emperor of Germany and the Krim Tartar declared their dislike of his proceedings threatning to invade his Principality at home unless he retracted himself and desisted from this enterprize yet Ragotski having his understanding blinded with Ambition and the lust of Rule and Government stopped his ears to the menaces of his Enemies and the counsel of his Friends This Ragotski enjoyed a State most happy large fertile and populous in Power inferior to few superior to many so that he might have passed peaceably and honourably with all could his great spirit have bowed to and complied with his Potent Neighbours The difficulty of Ragotski's Affairs For on the one side the Puissant power of the Turk threatned him to whom the least Ombrages of displeasure administer occasion of War On the side of Hungary the Emperour over-awed him On the side of Valachia and Moldavia he lay open to the incursion of the Tartars So that a man might rationally expect That this Prince should have esteemed it honour enough to have conserved his own without rendring himself obnoxious to the jealousie and suspicion of his Neighbours But his great spirit was so enamoured of a Crown and so bewitched with the hopes of obtaining it that nothing seemed difficult or improbable to the acquisition of his longing desires which were the occasion of all those calamities and miseries in Hungary which afterwards ensued In contemplation of all which foreseen evils his Caesarean Majesty sent a Message to the Ottoman Port declaring against the temerity and audaciousness of Ragotski who in the mean time subdued the Fort of Bristia invaded with Fire and Sword the Province of Russia plundered Podolia and advanced as far as Camonitz a Fortress strong by Art and Nature and joining afterwards with the Swedes assisted them in the subjection of Cracovia About this time the Emperour Ferdinand the third began to send succours into Poland and to protest against the proceedings of Ragotski but being surprized by sickness soon after passed to a better life which for some time giving a stop to the assistance of Poland was interpreted by Ragotski as a happy Omen of his good Fortune But how vain and deceitful are humane hopes whose foundations are Ambition and Violence For Leopold succeeding in the place of his Father to Hungary and the Empire immediately prosecuted the design in favour of Poland and in the first place besieging Turone one of the chief Cities of Prussia taken by the Swedes forced it to a Surrender The King of Denmark also growing jealous of the encreasing greatness of the Swedes nourished by ancient grudges and National Emulations took up Arms in defence of Poland and being at first flush of Money gave constant pay and large donatives to mercenary Soldiers which encreased his Army drawing great numbers from the Swedish Colours so that being stoutly recruited he entered into the Enemies Countries possessed himself of the important Fort of Olme in Norway overthrew the Swedish Army at Vorgast and obtained a victory over their Fleet in the Baltick Sea. The Poles also themselves who at first revolted from their Prince and favoured the Swedish proceedings perceiving the Wind change and become contrary to that Party began to abandon the interest they professed and by degrees to return to the due obedience of their King. Zerneski also the General and Lubomiski the Great Chancellour of Poland met the Swedish Forces near Cracovia where giving them Battel discomfited the whole Army killed fourteen thousand upon the place took all the Cannon and Baggage and won that day a most signal Victory Ragotski perceiving the face of things thus changed and being by Command of the Ottoman Port abandoned by his Moldavian and Walachian Forces began to turn his face towards Transilvania where now he wished himself and Army lodged in safety But being overtaken by General Zerneski near the Mountains of Transilvania he was tho unwillingly engaged to sight and was with that fury assaulted by the Polish Horse that tho according to his usual Bravery he charged in Person at the head of his Troops yet he was not able to withstand a violence so disadvantageous in number but that his men being 〈◊〉 put into disorder then to a Retreat and then to open flight his whole Army was deseated many of them perished by the Sword others flying through the Woods and Mountains died with samine Ragotski overthrown
by the Poles and he himself obliged to buy a shameful Peace engaging by Word and Oath to the payment of a great summ of Money was permitted with a mean Retinue to return into his own Country Nor did these misfortunes end here but the Tartars commanded by the Turks in revenge and chastisement of Ragotski's Enterprize without their consent entered into his Principality with considerable Bodies of Horse against whose sudden Invasion an Army under the Conduct of his General Kemenius could not be so soon collected and disciplined as to be able to resist that fury of Tartars who at their pleasure burned the Towns and Villages and carried away multitudes of people of both Sexes and all Ages for Captives into their own Country amongst which some were of Quality and Condition Amidst which troubles came Letters from the Ottoman Port directed to the Nobles of Transilvania The Turks threaten Ragotski declaring Ragotski a Rebel and commanding that according to the Laws and Priviledges of that Principality they should proceed to the Election of a new Prince and in case of refusal all the ruins and calamities were threatned which they might justly expect in punishment of their disobedience from a severe and angry Emperor Ragotski being well informed what was designing against him at the Ottoman Port and knowing that his power was not able to oppose so much puissance resolved to give way to necessity He deposes himself and voluntarily depose himself before he should be engaged thereunto by the Imperial Decree so that he calmly receded from his Principality hoping that his humility and submission might procure his pardon at the Court. The Nobility of Transilvania being as well desirous to evidence their affection to their old Prince as their obedience to the Grand Signior did immediately appoint a day for Election but with Proviso that a general Petition should be made in behalf of Ragotski that he might be again restored unto ancient Grace and Favour with the Port who in the mean time swore to live peaceably in a quiet and private condition without making disturbance or innovation in the Government and that when this Grace should accordingly be obtained then that the new Prince should recede and suffer things to return to their former and pristine Estate For which purpose there was choice made of one Francis Redeius Redeius made Prince of Transilvania a Person of a peaceable and gentle temper who would easily condescend to the terms agreed and as willingly resign up his Government again as he unwillingly received it But though Ragotski had renounced promised swore and in appearance seemed to recede from his Government and surrender all at the irresistible Decree of a superior power yet his high Spirit and working Brain could not dislodg that Ambition of his Heart which at first privately countermined and enervated the Power of the new elected Prince but afterwards his towering Thoughts swelled too big to be suppressed under the cover of Dissimulation yielded just Reason to the Ottoman Port to suspect his designs who not being ignorant of what was past dispatched Orders to the Pasha of Buda to demand the strong Fort of Jancua for Caution and Security of the good Behaviour of the Transilvanians Ragotzki seeing himself thus discovered Ragotzki again declares himself Prince unmasked himself openly and threw away his Vizard and with a vigorous Force and Courage reassumed the Rights and Standard of his Principality forcing Redeius not only to relinquish his Power but to swear never again to usurp it tho enforced upon him by the Authority of the Turks These Extravagancies so exasperated the minds of the Turks that whereas before they began to entertain tender thoughts towards Transilvania they now meditated its entire Ruin and Conquest and so laying aside Arguments and Treaties they made Levies of Horse and Foot both in Europe and Asia Ragotzki foreseeing how unable he was to resist a Force so unequal as the puissance of the Ottoman Empire without the succor of Foreign Force resolved like the Prodigal Son to throw himself into the compassionate Arms of the Emperor as his Father earnestly supplicating That whereas before his disorderly and disobedient Life had rather merited Punishment than Favour yet in this Cause wherein the Interest of Christendom was concerned he would compassionate the common Good of the Christian Church rather than chastise his particular Misdemeanours With this message Michel Mesces his Chancellor being dispatched was graciously received by the Emperor and readily assured of powerful Aid and Protection Ragotzki elevated with this courteous Treatment and Promises had his whole mind enflamed with hopes and desire of Revenge so that assembling such Forces as he could he entered boldly into the Field against the Pasha of Buda who with a considerable Army was ordered to March before and enter the Confines of Transilvania and there unite with the Pasha of Temiswar In the Transaction of all these Passages July was well entered when both Armies met in open Field and tho the Forces of the Transilvanians were much inferior to those of the Turk yet Ragotzki full of his wonted Courage and Heat so vigorously assailed the Enemy that he quickly broke and disordered their Ranks put them to flight and killed three thousand upon the place But little did this advantage benefit poor Transilvania for the Great Vizier soon after following with the gross of his Army consisting of little less than an 100. thousand Men provided accordingly with Artillery and all other Military Ammunition seconded by the Tartars and assisted by the Moldavians and Valachians and a Rout of other barbarous Nations laid Seige to the strong Fortress of Janoua The Vizier besieges Janoua of which and of several others in a short time he rendered himself Master laying waste and desolate all the Countries round with Fire and Sword. The Nobles of Transilvania sensible of these imminent and approaching Mischiefs dispeeded three Persons of considerable Quality amongst them in an Embassy to the Vizier viz. Francis Daniel John Lues and Acatius Berclay who greatly laboured by their Oratory to perswade the Vizier that they were in no wise consenting to the disobedience of their Prince but did always readily submit to the Ottoman Servitude imploring his Clemency and Commiseration of their distressed and ruined State. The Vizier inclining his Ear to their Petition stopped the Progress of his Arms but increased their Tribute to such an excessive rate that the burden of it became insupportable and appointed Berclay one of the Embassadors Berclay made Prince of Transilvania to be Prince taking thereby from the People the free Priviledg of Election Commanding them to accept him without farther Dispute or Repugnancy It is uncertain whether Berclay designed the Principality to himself by any instance he made to the Turks or whether his Election proceeded meerly from the Vizier himself yet this is certain that returning home Berclay applied himself to establish his own Dominion
the Air and from the Town the shot were often so fortunately placed that daily besides great numbers of ordinary Soldiers many Persons of Note and Quality amongst the Turks were slain But the Turks having before this Town a greater number of Soldiers than either could come to fight or what was thought necessary to subdue it the Vizier selected from his Army a very considerable Force to enter and spoil Moravia and Austria The Turks enter Moravia and Austria of these were Six hundred Tartars joined to a strong Force of Turks who by the guidance of the Natives passing the River Waegh spoiled and destroyed all the Country round about carrying men women and children into slavery leaving what was not conveniently portable in ashes But in passing the River they incountred a considerable Body of Germaâ—s both Horse and Foot and being opposed by them were at first forced to retreat again over the River with the loss of about Eight hundred Janisaries but the next Day renewing the Fâ—ght with better courage and success passed the River in despight of the Imperialists whom they pursued almost as far as Presburg â—hese Turks were seconded by a greater Body of Tartars every one after the manner of his Country leading one or two spare Horses made Inroads within five miles of Vienna destroying and laying in ashes all places before them things there resembling Dooms-day consumed with fire and not so much almost lest as marks or appearance of habitation These Troubles and Confusions in Hungary were the talk and amazement of all Christendom The confusion of the German Councils and indeed little more they were than talk for the Christian Princes farther distant as less concerned stood at a gaze expecting the issue of that Treaty which was between the King of France and the Pope and the Princes of Germany whatsoever was resolved at the Diet like men surprized knew not what Succours to afford Some thought it now time to treat with the Emperor and recover the Rights and Priviledges they thought their due and to condescend to no Terms of confedera e assistance against the common Enemy unless with advantageous considerations to their State and all in general acted with that negligence and coldness as if only the State of Austria and not the common Cause of Germany had been concerned The Election of a General for the Imperial Army admitting long debate was another retardment to the Preparations for the War the Duke of Brandenburg was nominated and sollicited to accept the supream Command but the Title of being General of the Empire or the Imperial Army was a dispute undeterminable and a difficulty not to be overcome And though the Enemy had passed their Frontiers and triumphed in their Possessions and threatned the subveâ—sion of all Christendom Vet Jealousies Niceties and aery Formalities took up all the time so that at length their Councils had no other reasult than an increase of Animosities and Difficulties amongst themselves The Emperor removes to Lintz The Emperor also terrified with the Siege of Newhausel and the near Incursions of the Turks abandoned his City of Vienna carrying with him the Records and greatest oâ— his Richess to Lintz to the greater apprehension discouragement and fear of the whole Country in general and was an act which might have produced very fatal effects had not the Winter approached and the progress of the Infidels been interrupted by the Valour Vigilance good Fortune and Conduct of Count Serini who in requital of those Incursions the Turks made into the Christian Territories enâ—â—ed the Turkish Borders near Komorra and there with Fire and Sword destroyed all before him defeated a Party of about Three thousan Janisaries taking from them a good Booty of money and Provisions designed lor Relief of the Leagure before Newhausel During these varieties of success the Turks still continued the Siege and having now made a breach and almost filled the graft with rubbish Faggots and other implements attempted a second storm on the 28th and 29th of August but were repulsed with an extraordinary loss by the couragious Gallantry of the Defendants The Turks make another assault on the Town On the 9th of September was given another more furious Assault every Pasha leading his men in the Front so that the Action this Day was so violently and couragiously performed that the Turkish Ensign was advanced to the top of the Rampire of the Fort Frederick where both sides coming to handy blows the dispute continued a long time but the courage of the Defendants at length prevailing the Turks were driven headlong rom the Walls and their Colours wrested from them with the loss of about Five thousand men and Four hundred Christians Though the Turks were much abated in their courage by this days work yet the Vizier obstinately continued the Siege preparing speedily for another storm in which he hoped to force the Christians to a Surrender In the mean time to facilitate the design of the Tuâ—ks on the 15th of September the chief Magazin of Powder none knows how took fiâ—e and blew into the Air by which blow fifty Soldiers and several Officers were slain but the worst was that the besieged were deprived of all their Powder unless what remained in private houses which so dismayed the Inhabitants that immediately with one voice they demanded a parly The Women also began a confused tumult crying out for a Surrender in which they were so impeâ—uous and violent that they threw stones â—rom their windows on the Souldiers Amidst of this confusion the Turks disposing their Companies to make another storm the Officers resolved upon a Treaty which concluded with these following Conditions First Newhausel yielded That the Commanders and Garison should march out on the Seventeenth of September with bag and Baggage and have safe conduct as far as Komorra And that for a convenience of the Sick and Wounded the Vizier should be obliged to provide Four hundred Carts and more if there should be occasion Secondly That as such as desire to abandon their dwellings may have liberty to depart so such as desire to abide may continue their habitations And that the Religious and Ecclesiastical persons may perform their Functions as in former times Thirdly That upon the Surrender of the principal Works no Turk shall enter within the Town until all such as intend to depart have quitted their stations Fourthly That for performance of Articles two Aga's should be given for Hostages and that until the foregoing Articles were fully accomplished all acts of Hostility should cease Fifthly That the Garison might not be necessitated to march through the Turkish Camp the Turks themselves were obliged to make them a new Bridge or repair the old to pass the Niter These Articles though punctually observed by the Turks yet the Tartars who are of a faithless and barbarous nature upon certain pretences assaulted the Garison as they marched out and had doubtless moved the rest of the Camp
but it was almost a miracle that he should not make a Visit to Possonium before which had he only displaid his dreadful Arms it had surrendred at his first Summons and Apearance Instead whereof he attempted Schinta The Vizier assaults Schinta but beaten off the Magazine of the Emperors Arms and Artillery but found not the same easy entrance as he did with the Governour of Nitra but instead thereof being stoutly repulsed after several Assaults concluded the enterprize too difficult and requiring more time and blood than could be countervailed by the acquisition of that place Wherefore raising his Camp he employed a considerable Party to take Novigrade a Castle scituated on a high Rock encompassed with a Ditch of 34 Foot deep Novigrade taken by the Turks Garisoned with Six hundred Soldiers and provided sufficiently with Victuals and Ammunition howsoever by ill fortune and worse Conduct this place also was resigned into the hands of the Turks By this time the Winter approaching The Vizier retreats to his Winter Quarters and the season of the Year beginning to be unfit for action the Great Vizier retreated as far as Belgrade to take up his Winter Quarters with the gross of his Army Where remaining with full satisfaction and glory contemplating the successes of the past Year and promising to himself greater renown and exaltation of his mighty acts for that insuing he so contemned the Force of his Enemies that he Licensed great numbers of the Asian Spahees who came as far as from Baylon and Grand Cairo to return home to their own possessions Howsoever to vex the Christians with continual Alarms the Vizier ordered a flying Body of Turks and Tartars to the number of 30000. under the Command of Pasha of Temiswar Chengiogli to pass into Stiria and Craotin the Country of Count Serini and there to burn lay waste and depopulate all before them Count Serini was now newly returned from Hungary and supposing the season for action finished had lodged the greatest part of his Forces within their Winter Quarters and securely laid himself to repose when an Alarm came of the approach of Thirty thousand Horse the Count rowsing his great Spirit from its ease collected as many of his People into a Body as the shortness of time would permit which were not above 480 men and with these he betook himself to the River Muer to give a stop if possible to the passage of the Enemy placing Centinels in all places where the River was fordable On the Seventeenth of November the Christians espyed the Turks Encamped on the other side and at the same time discovered Two thousand of them to have passed the River on which Count Serini overthrows a Party of Turks and Tartars Serini immediately made that furious Assault assisted with the Courage of Captain Chirfaleas a Person who had oftentimes given glorious proofs of his valour against the Turks that he soon put them to open flight and they seeking to pass the River and missing the place where the River was fordable threw themselves headlong into the Water where the most part of those perished who escaped the Sword. The Turks on the other side were so amazed at this stupendious Valour of Serini that their Courages failing them they desisted from their farther attempt upon Croatia so that this poor Country seemed as it were for the present to be reprieved by Miracle from a total destruction THE HISTORY OF Sultan Mahomet IV. THE XIII EMPEROUR OF THE TURKS The Third BOOK Anno Christi 1664. Hegeira 1075. THE Month of January was now well entred with its rigid Frosts when Apafi Prince of Transilvania beholding his Souldiers in their Winter Quarters and all things quiet and still about him judged it seasonable for his establishment to discover himself with some lustre to the World seated in the usual Throne of the Transilvanian Princes which sight appeared so universally grateful to the People that they began to be enamoured of their Prince and to applaud his Person his Prowess and Vertues and to cast an ill and envious Eye on those Cities which were Garrison'd with German Souldiers About which time the Fortress of Zechelhyd revolted from Obedience of the Emperor unto Apafi the Prince Zechlhyd revolts to Apafi For the Souldiery of that Garrison having long Arrears of pay due to them made a Mutiny and expelled their Collonel Dempenbal from his Office and pillaged his House placing the Quarter-Master of Strozzi's Regiment in his stead The news of this Sedition flew quickly to Vienna from whence immediately a Messenger was dispatched with an Act of Pardon from the Emperor upon submission and proffers of full satisfaction of all Arrears but the Souldiery finding themselves only paid with words hearkened to the more effectual Propositions of Apafi who taking hold of this opportunity sent every Souldier ten Dollars with a Suit of Cloaths promising larger and more constant Pay than they received from the Emperor with which the Garrison being satisfied surrendred up their City on the 20th of January But whilst other Armies remained in their Quarters and other Commanders gave themselves up to ease and drowned themselves in Wine and Banquets and whilst Jealousies Envies and Ceremonies disturbed and confused the resolves of Diets and private Councils the generous and vigilant Serini having received advices from Adrianople that the Turks design in the next Campagna was to convert the whole heat and fury of the War upon Croatia and through that Country to open a passage unto Friuli his active spirit conceived that heat and flame that the Winters cold could not chill his hot and eager desires from entring into the open Field and commencing some attempt and enterprize on his Enemy Wherefore on the 16th of January he began his march from Serinswar with an Army of about 25000 men and in the first place marching along the Banks of the Dravus shewed himself before Berzenche which upon conditions of marching away with Arms Bag and Baggage was surrendered to him Bakockza was likewise yielded and a Palancha on the River quitted upon report of the Counts approach leaving behind them Eight brass Guns in the Fort. From hence he marched towards Esseck otherwise called Oseck which is the only pass from the upper to the lower Hungary having a Bridge of Wood over a Moor or Fen about six or seven miles in length which once I remember with my Horse I was an Hour and three quarters in passing as I observed by my Watch and reported to have been six years in building This Bridg Serini resolved to burn Oseck which cost the Turks 300000. Dollars and six years time to build imagining that to rebuild it again was a Work of that time as could not be repaired in one Summer and that by this means the Turks would be disappointed of all Action the following Year The Bridge burned and the Empire have time to breathe and assemble the utmost of their Strength and Force
General in behalf of the League the Marquess of Durlach and the Bishop of Munster his Councellours and Director of the War The strength of the Christian Army and Count Francis Fucher General of the Ordnance But in the Levies of their Forces they concurred more freely and willingly for besides the Imperial Forces which consisted of 41600 Foot and 13900 Horse the Allies and Confederates furnished 13850 Foot and 3350 Horse the Auxiliaries of the Empire made up a Body of 16991 Foot and 4037 Horse besides the Forces of Saxony and Brandenburgh and the Succours of France so that by Gods Providence the Christian Army was this year esteemed equal if not more numerous than the multitudes of their Enemies The next matter under consideration was the nomination of Ministers to be sent abroad to implore assistance from Christian Princes more remote Italy the Count Piccolomini was to negotiate in the Courts of Italy but having taken a Distemper in his Journeys died after a short sickness at Milan Also the Count Colalto England sent to his Majesty of Great Britain died in his Journey before he arrived at London notwithstanding which the generous Piety of His Majesty was not wanting with a liberal Hand to contribute towards the Promotion of the Christian Interest From Poland nothing more could be obtained than Terms of Courtesy Poland and Demonstrations of Good Will and â—esires for that their Forces being employed against the Moscovite to recover the lost Countries of Lituania could not possibly attend the Service and Command of his Imperial Majesty tho they could not but at the same time reflect on their Premures and Necessities with Shame and Confusion which disabled them from answering with like returns the grateful Memory they still retained of the assistance against Sweden To his Most Christian Majesty Count Strozzi was employed France before whose Arrival at Paris the common Report and Vogue was That that King resolved to contribute an effectual Assistance to the Christian Cause in that present Conjuncture which pious Disposition Strozzi so happily improved that he obtained from his Majesty a Grant and Promise of four thousand Foot and two thousand Horse raised and payed at his own Charge to be united with the Troops of the Rhinish League And farther His Majesty was so gracious herein that he published a Declaration That what Person soever would serve the Emperor against the Turk his Resolution and Action therein should be accepted by him in the same manner as if the Service were immediately tendered to himself Upon which many Persons of Quality resolved upon this Expedition amongst which was the Duke of Buglion the Marquis de Villeroy the Abbot of Richelieu and mâ—ny other Heroes and Persons of Bravery who ventured their Lives with no other Consideration than that of Honour and Religion But before I pass from this Embâ—ssy give me leave to report a Complement which Count Strozzi passed upon this King which some say did savour a little too much of Flattery and Affectation The matter was this Count Strozzi being admitted to his Audience Count Strozzi's Speech to the French King. so soon as he entered into the Chamber I know not whether it was feigned or real he seemed to be struck with such an Amazement and Fear that for a while he was not able to pronounce a word Articulate or Intelligible but at length recollecting himself he began with a trembling Voice to excuse this Hesitation of his Speech having his Senses dissipated and his Eyes dazled with the Rays and Splendor of so much Majesty and with that as in a Rapture or Ecstasie broke out into an Admiration of the French Monarchy the report of whose Greatness and Glory tho arrived to the utmost Confines of the Universe came yet far short of that real Majesty which he saw and admired whose dreadful and mysterious Throne was sufficient to revive the dead Ashes of the Sabean Queen to prostrare her self before this new Solomon much excelling the Wisdom the Richess the Virtue and Happiness of the former And thence descending with the like sagacious Obsequiousness to confute the malicious Reports of malignant Tongues who envious of the harmony of Christian Spirits represented His Majesty as ill-affected to the Austrian Family whereas to the contrary he could testifie to have found that excess of Affection and admirable Disposition in His Majesty towards the Emperor his Ally as rendred his Embassy abundantly happy and successful which joined to the Zeal His Majesty had towards the Christian Cause was like Friendship united to Charity and moral Virtues made perfect by spiritual Qualifications In fine he compared his Christian Majesty to that Glorious Sun which communicating his light to the Christian World affords the most benign Influence to the Catholick Climate with much better reason therefore ought Germany to participate so great a Circle of those Rays as may serve wholly to obscure and darken the dim and barbarous Light of the Ottoman Moon In sum Strozzi knew so well how to manage his Discourse and play the Orator that he obtained considerable Assistances and returned to his Master the Emperor with full Demonstrations of all obliging Terms and courteous Treâ—â—ments And having thus understood what Preparations are making in Christendom let us pass over into the Turks Quarters and see what is in the mean time trâ—nsacting in those Dominions At this time the Rumour of a Rebellion and Mutiny amongst the Great Beghs at Grand Cairo in Egypt Rebellion of the Beghs in Egypt afforded matter for Trouble and Consultation at the Ottoman Court for that those Beghs who have great Possessions and Power in that Country made Seizure of Ibrahim Pasha and imprisoned him being about the Expiration of his three years commonly allotted to that Government and therefore near upon departure The demands they had upon him was for no less than three thousand Purses of Money which according to the Cairo Account are reckoned seven hundred and fifty Dollars a Purse and pretended to be taken from them against Law and Justice and that without Restitution thereof they resolved not to restore him his Liberty This Insolence against so â—minent a Pasha qualified with such absolute Power in his Government and one related to the Grand Signior by Marriage of his Sister compared with the late neglects and disobedience of that People who for some years had failed in the full payment of their Tribute were interpreted as evident Symptoms of Disaffection and Malignancy which that People entertained against the Ottoman Subjection Wherefore the Sultan immediately dispatched away the Master of his Horse to Cairo with full Power to apease this Rebellion and with Lenitives to moderate the Fury of the People who seemed to be too Licentious and Unbridled to be governed by a Musselim or Deputy Wherefore the Selictar Aga was elected Pasha and to depart with all Expedition In the mean time this Messenger to make greater haste took post through
comfort can I have there Hath not that place been fatal to my Father What benefit had my Uncle from thence or any of my Race Have not all my Princes Ancestors been subject to a thousand mutinies and Rebellions in that place I shall sooner than return thither set fire to it with my own hands and rejoyce to see that City with my Seraglio brought to ashes And that we may farther discover the strange aversion the Sultan had to Constantinople and his resolution to change the Seat of his Empire it is observable that he built a small Seraglio not far from Adrianople in imitation of that near Constantinople A small Seraglio by that name near Constantinople called Odout Pasha the place to which he most frequently resorted after that City fell under his dislike and hatred The Village where his Pallace was built was called Chiomlichoi or the Village of Pots where earthen Vessels were made but the Grand Signior changed the name and called it Odout Pasha with which name before the People were well acquainted and that it was accustomed to their mouths two poor silly Country men mistaking and calling it simply by the former name were apprehended by some of the Bostangees and brought before the Grand Signior as contemners of the Imperial Command and by his immediate Sentence were put to death About the end of May the Grand Signior had a Son born to him of one of his Women A Son born to the Grand Signior for joy of which seven days of Dunalma or rejoycing were appointed through all the Ottoman Dominions but especially at Adrianople the Solemnity was greatest all sorts of Artisans endeavouring to outvy each other in their Shows and Pastimes to entertain the City At the Gate of the Seraglio was erected a magnificent Pavilion for the Grand Signior before whom were shown rare artificial Fire-works invented by the most ingenious Masters thereof amongst the Jews one of which firing a Rocket which not ascending with usual strength unhappily fell on the Vest of the Grand Signiors Favourite standing at the door of the â—ent at which the young Man being surprized sent to find out him who fired it which happening to be a poor Jew was condemned immediately by the Grand Signiors Sentence to receive eighty Blows on the Soals of his Feet but as report went this young Favorite not appeased with this slender Punishment obtain'd the Sultans command to put him to Death But to return to the Turkish Camp. The Vizier was astonished to understand that Kanisia was besieged and wondred much at the rashness of Serini in attempting a Work so difficult without probability of success The Siege of Kanisia howsoever being advised that the Garison was ill provided of Victuals and Ammunition he gave order for its supply In order to which eighty Carts laden with Provisions convoyed by a considerable number of Turks were conducted by way of Sigeth but being interrupted in their passage by Serini's Soldiers were routed put to flight and their Provisions taken In the mean time the Besieged made many vigorous Sallies and some not without loss to the Christians and to defend themselves the better uncovered the tops of their Houses and made their Lodgings under ground secure from Granadoes or shot of the Enemies Batteries On the other side the Ammunition and Artiâ—â—ery â—rom the Emperour came not so timely as was expected nor were the Bomâ—oes and Granadoes so artificially made but that many of them spent themselves in vain the Succours likewise of men fell very short of the numbers promised and Souldiery being drawn from their Winter Quarters before the colds were past or the pasture grown began to murmur but nothing discontented them so much as want of Pay the just complaint of Souldiers which discouraged them more than the difficulty of their adventure against all which Serini provided as much as he was able out of his own Purse continuing the Siege more out of reputation than probable hopes of success for his Army was at least diminished two thousand in its number of which four hundred Hungars and two hundred Germans were lost in the first Assaults made upon the Suburbs and he rest perished by sickness and the vigorous and frequent Sallies of the Enemy Howsoever Serini seemed not to doubt of the success if he could but be for some time secured from the advance of the Vizier who now began to draw his gross and numerous Army out of their Winter Quarters into the open field and therefore with the other Officers before Kanisia signified their advice to the Emperour and General Council of War That it was necessary that the Imperial Army should be as early in the Field as the Ottoman and for the more methodical government of Affairs that the Army should be divided into three Bodies one to recruit the Forces before the Town a second to march to Osek and hinder the Enemies passage over the Dravus and a third to take the Field and apply assistance where it was judged most useful This counsel being well accepted by the Emperour Orders were immediately issued forth to General Montecuculi to begin his March with design to obstruct the Turks passage over the Dravus for that the success against Kanisia was of that high importance as might justly require the imployment of all the Christian Forces in its concernment Wherefore one Post was dispatched after the other to Montecuculi to sollicite his speedy March and to give a stop to the Viziers Progress But he answered That he attended General Sporch whom he every day expected to joyn with him but this Answer proving by the effect to be nothing more than a present excuse gave occasion of suspicion and produced that discontent in the minds of the most zealous as spread a rumour through all Germany much to the disreputation of Montecuculi Time thus being protracted and no Forces appearing to recruit the Leagure at length advice came to the Generals when they were just going to dinner that the Vizier with a most numerous Army was within * Fifteen English Miles three Leagues of the Town For the Bridge of Osek was against the common opinion again rebuilt planked and compleated with new Timbers in the space of forty days many hands making light work which when first founded was the work of six years which Expedition was the more remarkable in regard that this Bridge was not formed out of the Ruines of the old nor founded on the same ground but new framed out of the Woods with as much comliness and order as befits a Bridge of that nature and length passing over a wild Marsh or Fen. The news of the Viziers so near approach was strange to Serini who by the calculation made of his March did not yet expect him for several days but the Vizier apprehending the straitness in which Kanisia might be leaving the gross of his Army made more expidite Journeys with a Body of twenty thousand Horse
first discomfited the forlorn hope of the Christians which consisted of a thousand men dispatched immediately Messengers to acquaint the Grand Signior of his success and passage which News he knew would be the more grateful because the Grand Signior by daily Letters and Commands urged him to proceed in his March and not to suffer the impediment of a narrow Ditch to be an interruption to the whole Ottoman Force which in former times was not restrained by the depth or breadth of the Ocean The Grand Signior having received this Intelligence as if the intire Victory and Triumph over the World consisted in the passage over the Rab was transported with such an extraordinary joy and assurance of Victory that to anticipate the good News a solemn Festival was ordained for the space of seven days and seven nights called by the Turks Dunalma in which time the whole nights were made light with Lamps and Candles The Turks vain joy and made chearful with great Guns Vollies of Muskets Sound of Drums and Trumpets revellings and what other Solemnities might testifie joy and triumph But scarce three Nights of this vain Dream had passed before the Grand Signior awaked by intelligence contrary to his assured expectation of the Defeat and Destruction of a considerable part of the Viziers Army shamefully commanded the Lights to be extinguished and the remaining four Nights designed for Joy to be converted to Melancholly and Darkness And though the rashness and vain sancy of the Governours was the sole cause of this precipitate mirth yet as great men love always to charge their errours and follies on the shoulders of others so the Sultan accused the Chimacham through false Information to have been the Author of this shameful Decree and in that fury calling the Executioner had certainly taken off his head had not his young Minion or Favourite now called Kul Ogli promoted to the Perferment of Asan Signisies the Son of a Kul or Slave before mentioned with much earnestness and Prayers interceded for his Life And indeed this Joy and Triumph was somuch more ridiculous and shameful by how much more fatal and destructive was the ensuing Event For the Turks being now got over the River had not at first time enough given them to cast up Earth but were sorced by the Christians to an Engagement for the Christian Army was drawn into Batalia to receive them The right Wing consisted of the Austrian Forces commanded by Montecuculi himself the Left was formed of the Confederates of the Rhine commanded by Count Olac to which was adjoined Forty Troops of the French Cavalry conducted by Monsieur Coligni and the main Body was commanded by the Marshal General Marquis Bada which composed a very formidably Body and assailed the Turks with extraordinary Valour the Fight was very furious and began about Nine a Clock in the morning on the third of August and continued till Four in the Afternoon with variable fortune during which time the Waters being abated the Spahees passed over in several places and charged the left Wing of the Christians and in other places they made attempts only to divert the Army whilst the Janisaries threw up Earth to secure a passage for the rest which when the Christians espied they at first resolved to sound a Retreat but afterwards perceiving that the Trench was but newly begun Montecuculi drawing up the Body of the Army into a half Moon attacked the Janisaries on all sides with that fury ordering the Bodies of Horse to contend with the Spahees that the Turks now faintly fighting began to give ground to their Enemies at which instant turn of Fortune an outcry was heard That Serini on the other side had set on the Viziers Camp which so animated the Christians and terrified the Turks that the latter began to give back and put themselves to shameful flight leaving dead upon the Place Eight thousand of their Companions and the Glory of the Day to the Christians The Turks who always fly disorderly not knowing the Art of a handsome Retreat The defeat given the Turkish Army by the River Rab. crouded in heaps to pass the River the Horse trampling over the Foot and the Foot throwing themselves headlong into the Water without consideration of the depth or choice of Places fordable those sinking catching hold on others who could swim sunk down and perished together others were carried away by the rapidness of the Stream and both Men and Horse were carried down the River and swallowed up in deeper places The Water was died with Blood and the whole face of the River was covered with Men Horse Garments all swimming promiscuously together no difference was here between the valiant and the Cowardly the Foolish and the Wise Counsel and Chance all being involved in the same violence of Calamity Tac. lib. 1. Non vox mutui hortatus juvabant adversante unda nihil strcnuus ab ignavo sapiens a prudenti consilia a casu differre cuncta pari violentia involvebantur so that the Waters devoured a far greater number than the Sword whilst the Vizier standing on the other side of the River was able to afford no kind of help or relief but as one void of Counsel and Reason knew not how nor where to apply a remedy This defeat though in Christendom not greatly boasted by reason that the destruction of the Turks which was most considerable by the Water was partly concealed to them yet the Turks acknowledg that Ruine and Slaughter to have been of a far greater number than what the Christian Diaries relate confessing that since the time that the Ottoman Empire arriv'd to this greatness no Stories make mention of any Slaughter or Disgrace it hath suffered to be equal unto the calamity and dishonour of this On the Turks side were slain that day Ishmael the late Pasha of Buda and Kimacham of Constantinople by a shot from the Enemy passing the Water the Spaheelar Agasee or General of the Spahees the Janisar Aga the younger Son of the Tartar Han and several othes Pashaws Alibegh The slain on the Turks side General of Bosna Thirty Capugibashees Five and thirty Pages of the Vizier's and Three hundred of his Guard Five thousand Janisaries Three thousand Spahees Fifteen hundred Bosnacks Eight hundred Albanians Six hundred Croats and Hungarians of the Turks Subjects Two hundred and fifty Valachians and Moldavians Six hundred Tartars of Anatolia fifteen hundred and about Four thousand other Asiaticks from the farthest parts of the Turks Dominions Eastward so that in all we may account Seventeen thousand slain on the Turks side besides which were taken Sixteen pieces of Cannon a Hundred and twenty six Colours with the Standard of the Viziers Guard Five thousand Cemiters most of which were embossed with Silver and some beset with Jewels with many Horses of which six were sent as a Present to the Vizier Of the Christians were slain near Three thousand Men those of note were
proper loss and that Newhausel was given for a price of the common quiet which none but themselves paid and yet all Germany enjoyed the benefit That that Town was an appendage to the Kingdom of Hungary and to which the Emperour having only the claim as they pretended of an Elective Prince could not dismember any part without consent of the States thereof and this position they maintained with that heat and fury that they declared themselves disobliged from observation of the Articles resolving to vindicate their own right in despight of all opposition whatsoever and that since the Emperour had undertaken their Protection he was bound to assert their freedom and defend their Cities even with the expence of his own Treasury and at the hazard of his own hereditary Possessions But to these exorbitant Demands the Emperours Council replyed with these following reasons and moderation That they themselves were the first Beginners and Promoters of this War That His Majesty at their instance and request condescended to protect them as Subjects not only with draining of his own Exchequer and Blood of his Patrimonial Dominions but with the charge of hired and mercenary Strangers In the mean time what assistance had the Hungarians brought to this War or to their own defence What Contributions did they ever make What Forces did they ever unite in the Field by a general assent of their whole Kingdom Notwithstanding his Majesty was ready to continue the War could they themselves propose either a safe way for the maintenance of it or that the present Conjuncture did not offer honourable Conditions of a happy Composure Moreover The Emperors Reasons for a Peace That the King of Spain his Uncle and Father in Law being aged and decrepit leaving no other Heir than an infirm and sickly Child to support the charge and weight of all his Kingdoms it was requisite that at such a time as this he should be free from all incumbrances either to assist the Infant in Administration of the Government or to assert his own Rights if so it should please God in the Succession And that now since a Treaty was on foot for Election of a Successor to the Kingdom of Poland it was necessary for his Imperial Majesty to bear his part in that Transaction but above all it was considerable That the common Enemy being Rich and Powerful God had seemed to put his Victory into their Hands to no other end than to improve it unto a Peace which being at this time neglected the best that could ensue would be the miseries of War which turning on the inconstant Wheel of Fortune with variety of successes is always attended with Slaughter Captivity Fire Sword and a thousand other Calamities These and such like reasons moderated and mollified the exasperate spirits of the Hungarians so that they seemed to aquiesce and be satisfied and making a Vertue of Necessity had patience where there was no other remedy The sudden News of this unexpected Peace did in like manner affect the French King and the States of the Empire judging it unreasonable for them to be interessed in the War and yet unconcerned in the Conclusion of the Peace Howsoever things being well represented and as well received and understood his Most Christian Majesty accepted of the Reasons as just and satisfactory In the mean time the French had a free liberty to make choice of their Winter Quarters The French Army march homeward which they fixed upon in Bohemia but their King being unwilling to burden the Country with his Souldiers for a longer time than they were serviceable to them he ordered them to march and quarter in Alsatia but before their departure the Emperour honoured Monsieur de Coligni with his Picture incircled with Diamonds and the other Officers with Gold Chains and Medals ordering the Troops not to march above ten miles a day and every Third to be a Day of repose and to be entertained all the way at sree Quarter so as to return into France jocund and healthy as they departed thence But before they would bid adieu to those Countries the General and Officers paid their Visit to Count Nicholas Serini presenting him with a Horse Furniture and Pistols as a small Tribute to that Great Captain whose Fame was celebrated through the whole World ingenuously confessing That the rumour of his name struck more amazement and terrour in the Enemy than the Armies that actually faced them and was more instrumental in obtaining the Victory on the Banks of Rab than their weapons or courage which fought against them But not long after this worthy Heroe Serini hunting one day separated from the rest of his Attendants in the Thickets of a Wood behold on a sudden was surprized by the rushing forth of a wild Boar which raging and made furious by some Wounds he had received first struck him in the Knee with which falling to the ground the fierce Beast not giving him leisure to recover himself ganched him again in the head with his broad Tusk Serini's Death which proved so mortal that in a short time he expired in the Arms of one of his Pages This was the end of this valiant Captain who unconquered in many and redoubled Conflicts of his Enemies was made the prey of an ignoble Beast Such are the secret and occult Providences of Heaven which men interpret or reflect on as they are governed by prejudice or interest And so did the Turks attribute the Fall of this their Grand Adversary to the righteousness of their Religion and justness of their Cause as if he had been a Person unworthy to dye by the hand of a man was condemned to be executed by that Beast which is most abominated and detested by the Turkish Rites The Character of Sirini He was a Person as mortal an Enemy to the Turks as ever Hannibal was to the Romans in Dangers most couragious in War valiant and patient of labour in Peace courteous and moderate in his pleasures his Diet was natural rather than artificial in Banquets or Drinking Meetings after the fashion of that Country was sparing in Wine and rather abstemious than intemperate Musick and Dances were the Entertainment of the softer and effeminate part of his Court rather than his own Pastimes whose Recreations were chiefly in the Woods and in such Huntings as had something in them of similitude with Martial Exercises his Judgment was profound and deep and yet his familiar Discourse facetious his Conversation obliging his humour affable and yet severe and majestick he spake much and yet well his disposition was liberal and generous especially to his Soldiers whom he never restrained or defrauded of their Booty and Prey but contented every one with a just and exact Division In short he was one of those zealous Champions of the Christian Cause who in the Chronicles of past Ages ought to be placed and numbred amongst the worthiest Heroes The Winter now approaching and a conclusion
they presented themselves on their Knees with their Faces on the Ground according to the Custom of the Eastern Courts with which occasion the Heer Reningen who had for sixteen or seventeen years been Resident for the Emperor The German Ambassadors last Audience with the Grand Signior a person grown infirm with Age and the Gout and his Knees not so active and pliable as the younger sort coming also to take his turn in this prostrate manner of Worship was so rudely handled by the kapugibashees who assisted on each Arm at the Ceremony that he not being able to bow his head so easily as others was thrust down by them with so little consideration or respect that his Brows and Forehead were broken on the Flour which mischance so disordered him as put him besides that Speech which he had premediated in Turkish to address to the Grand Signior and though he curbed what was possible his passion whilst he remained in the Royal Presence yet in vain afterwards he vented his Choler with words against those unmannerly Officers without other remedy or satisfaction The Demands of the Ambassadour were in writing read before the Grand Signior according to the custom of the Court and principally concerned the freedom of the Slaves some of which were then in the Gallies and Banniard and others of the most principal in the seven Towers Other Demands there were in relation to the State of Transylvania that for the future it might be free from Incursions in which particular the Turks had already violated the Peace and that a more orderly Government of Affairs might be observed on the Frontiers than usually had passed as agreed by the last Capitulations To which the Grand Signior gave no Answer referring all to the Vizier only told the Ambassadour in short That he should counsel his Master to beware of invading the Ottoman Dominions or acting any thing in prejudice of the Peace The Articles of Peace made between the Two Emperors were for the most part a confirmation of the ancient Agreement only it was provided as a new Addition That the Armies should depart from the Confines of Transilvania Secondly That the Castles and Forts garisoned with German Soldiers in that Countrey should be resigned into the hands of the Prince And Thirdly There were other particulars added in reference to Newhausel and the Countries adjacent lately conquered and the Limits of both Emperors as before declared But whilst these things were in agitation and Ambassadours interchangeably at either Court the Turks of Varadin and Janoua made frequent incursions into Transilvania destroying the Villages and carrying away great numbers of Captives and so lately as about the beginning of August last those of Varadin conveyed themselves privately under the Castle Cseh and robbed the Horses belonging to that Garison killed some and carried others into slavery at which time also Two thousand Turks besieged the Castle Valko which they took and razed to the ground which Complaints of their Countries Aggrievances the Transilvanians intimated to the German Ambassadour as matters already acted contrary to the late Articles of Peace requesting farther to interpose for a moderation and abatement of their Tribute which Kuperlee had contrary to Oath and reason unjustly augmented But the Ambassadour seemed so coldly to interpose in this behalf as taught the Turks to deny his Requests acquiescing with this Answer That it was no breach of Peace then to make incursions on the Frontiers as also without Cannon to rob and spoil and skirmish not exceeding Five thousand men in number For it appeared that the Ambssadour was most desirous to secure the main points of the Peace The Reasons why the German Ambassadour interposed not in behalf of Transylvania which concerned most the Interest of the Empire and not hazard it for such like Concernments of Transilvania for though it seemed strange to the World to see a Peace hastily clapt up with disadvantageous Terms on the Emperors side whilst he was victorious and fortunate in several Enterprizes yet they that penetrated farther into the State and Condition of the Empire report That there was a necessity of making a moderate use of these successes by a fair accommodation rather than to tempt Providence by a too eager and continued prosecution of the War. For it was observed that the Designs of making the Duke of Anguien Son to the Prince of Conde King of Poland proceeded forward and that there was a Combination of a dangerous League amongst the Princes of the Rhine The Divisions between the Germans and the Hungarians encreased the latter of which are known to be an obstinate sort of People The Army also of the French was feared in the Bowels of the Empire under the Command of Monsieur la Feuvillade who under pretence of applying themselves to the assistance of Christendom were suspected to come with intentions to advance the interest of their King and force the next Diet to elect him King of the Romans in order whereunto and in consideration of farther assistance they demanded several Towns in Hungary to be delivered into their hands and made extravagant Propositions for Winter Quarters all which considered made the German Ambassadour more tender how he entred into Disputes with the Turk which might prejudice the essential points of the Peace or occasion a new War more destructive to Germany through the dangers before intimated than by the Arms and Hostility of the common Enemy The German Ambassador's Audience with the Vizier These Considerations made the Ambassador less zealous in the matter of Transilvania and in all others which were not really conducing to his Masters immediate service so that having no other difficulty remaining than the liberty of the Captives on the day of his last Audience with the Vizier being the 8th of November he urged with more earnestness their Release which was in part granted those of the Gallies were delivered from their Chains and Oars but such as were of greater Quality in the seven Towers were detained until the Emperor had on his part released the Turks of Quality in like manner and though it was agreed in the Article That Captives should on both sides be released yet the Vizier interpreted it to be in respect to Number and Quality of which I remember to have heard often Complaints and especially of those poor Gentlemen then under Irons and restraint who though afterwards received their freedom yet for the present endured more torment in their minds than if they had never been put in expectation to enjoy their hopes At the end of the Audience the Ambassadour proposed something in behalf of the Religious of Jerusalem That certain places of Devotion might be restored them which were injuriously taken from them by the Greeks and also that License might be granted for re-edification of some Churches and Monasteries destroyed in Galata by the late Fire To the first of which the Vizier answered That the Franks with the Greeks of Jerusalem
this time arrived at Standi the Captain-General Francesco Morosini who after some Consultation disarming his Fleet of about a thousand men The Captain-General disarms is Gallies entred with that Succour into the Town and yet fitted out a convenient Squadron of Gallies and Galleasses to rove in the Archipelago to hinder the Enemies Succours and Recruits which were designed for Candia In this interim the Turks repaired the old Battery against the Lazaretto Five Mines the Christians sprang and laboured continually in their Galleries and subterranean Works so that by that time that the Christians had sprang five Fornelli upon them towards the point of the Half-moon of Mocenigo the Turks had advanced so well towards the Borders of Panigra that they sprang two Mines but these being but the first proofs or essays of this kind of invention reverted on themselves with the loss of two hundred of their men and again fired a third with little success which the Christians answered to better purpose blowing up sixty or seventy Turks Wherefore the Turks made a farther tryal of two Mines by the Half-moon rather to their own loss than to the damage of their Enemy In all the month of July passed not a day without some considerable action sometimes to good sometimes with bad success to both Parties every day Mines were sprank on both sides destroying the Lines and overthrowing the Galleries Attempts of the Turks on the side of Panigra but the main force and heat of the War as it were concentring it self towards the Quarters of Panigra in defence thereof the Engineer Castellan as freely as couragiously proffered the use of his Art and the hazard of his Person In which whilst he imployed himself and endeavoured to cleanse the Galleries of their rubbish which the Enemies Mines had thrown down the Turks threw such quantities of Bomboes and Stink-pots into those Caverns as made the stench thereof so suffocating and noisom that two Officers were choaked or smothered that went to view the place and Lieutenant-Colonel Cavalli and the Engineer Castellan himself were brought away half dead poysoned with Sulphur and pestiferous smoke to purifie which Grota nothing could render the air more wholesom in expulsion of the preceding vapour than the smoke of Juniper and burnt Aqua vitae which being made use of with good success the Christians fired two Mines which opened so dreadful an abyss as served for the grave of great numbers of Infidels Arrival of Gallies from the Pope and Malta During this time daily rencounters arrived the Auxiliary Gallies from the Pope and Malta commanded by Prior Bichi and Bali del Bene as also the Gallies of Naples and Sicily commanded by Gianettino Doria and the Duke of Ferrandina of whom the Captain-General would have borrowed some Forces to have served at Land but their Commissions it seems or their courages were too strait to afford any such Supplies being designed to cruise in the Archipelago only the generous Chevalier d'Harcourt with ten other Camerades that were imbarked on the Gallies of Malta agreed to enter the Garrison Chevalier d'Harcourt having come with no other design from France than to offer themselves in defence of the Christian cause and in a time of Peace when their Prince had no need of their assistance and service to give the World true evidences and proofs of the value and greatness of their souls In all Enterprises this Person worthily descended of the House of Lorrain was a Companion to Marquess Villa and one day venturing on a design to disturb the Enemies approaches was shot in the face with a Musket-bullet of which wound recovering some time after he with his Companions returned to France having like Cavaliers Passant acted the parts of true Chivalry But neither did the Prior Bichi Commander of the Popes Gallies nor Doria Admiral of those of Naples act agreeable to the bravery of those French Gentlemen for they not only denied as we have said to land a small number of their men but as if they came only to make them a visit sent this short Letter of Advice dated the 24th of August in these words The Auxiliary Gallies are obliged to depart this night and to return to Suda where they are to remain until the expiration of that time which is appointed for them in these Seas Prior Bichi likewise sent word to Marquess Villa That he judged it fit to depart by reason that no action presented for them to undertake to which the Marquess replied That he who seeks may find and that such opportunities never offer to those who endeavour to avoid them Doria also to colour his excuses said That his Orders were not to land men unless the Town were in the extremity of danger of being taken to which Villa replyed That he could not well be assured in what condition the Town was since he never vouchsafed to set his foot ashore or conceived a curiosity of seeing the greatest and the most famous Siege that ever was in the World. In short these Holy and Catholick Squadrons departed without contributing any assistance to the Christians incurring thereby the severe censure of the Commanders in chief with the anger and disdain of of the Souldiery The Venetians have always thought it Policy to maintain an Agent in the Ottoman Quarters perhaps with design to afford them Intelligence or to be ready to apply Terms of Peace in times of most urgent necessities An Agent arrives at Candia to treat with the Vizier According to which Rule Signior Giavarina was sent to Candia upon the Venetian Armata now governed at Sea by one Pasqualino with Instructions to treat with the Vizier and perhaps to grant him any thing besides Candia though without this nothing could come either welcome or satisfactory to the Turks Howsoever to introduce him into the Camp a white Flag was displayed on the side of the Lazaretto which when the Turks perceived they flocked in great numbers to know the mystery of this Signal of Pacification And though nothing appeared besides a Letter directed to the Great Vizier yet they hoped it might portend something of Treaty which in the end would produce a Peace and a conclusion of their labours before the Winter surprised them in their colder Lodgings The Vizier having read the Letter had his thoughts raised as high as was possible in hopes of a Surrender and therefore most freely ordered That Signior Giavarina should the Sunday following come to the Valley of Gioffiro with what Attendance and Followers he judged fit proffering at the same time a cessation of Arms and all acts of Hostility but the Christians who were not reduced to that extremity as to crave Peace or a respite from action kindly refused his gentle proffer which so inraged the Vizier that in a fury he gave fire to a Mine on the left side of Panigra The Turks assault Panigra which was seconded with that furious assault that Panigra had been
put into great danger had not the courage of the Defendants been supereminent and repulsed the Enemy with so great a slaughter that the earth round about was covered with dead bodies which action was seconded by a brisk Sally performed by some Knights of Malta as la Maison Neufve de Langeron de Clement de Monrosier de Charboniere and de Blanbuisson though against the advice and counsel of Marquess Villa of which the two first were slain and the rest returned with honour and success At the end of this month of July the Garrison received a Supply of six hundred Foot under Command of Ottavio Abia a noble Venetian who likewise made his entry more acceptable by twenty thousand Ducats which he brought with him At the time of his arrival the Christians fired a Mine with good success but the Enemy had prepared another in revenge which took such effect on the right Angle of Panigra as broke the Counterscarp ten paces and filled the Ditch with Earth on advantage of which the Turks came to an Assault but through the courage of Luca Grandis Serjeant Major and other gallant Officers a stop was given to the Enemies fury and they beaten off with considerable loss And now for the present all Sallies ceased whilst both sides carried on their designs under ground thwarthing and crossing the Mines each of other in which subterranean Travels and Passages the Miners often met and had frequent and bloody Encounters those that were strongest robbed the Powder and Utensils of the weaker so that the Scene of War seemed to be transferred ad inferos and to be carried on with more fury and violence in the Grave or the other world than it was in the open Air of the Cydonian Fields The Turks fire a dreadful Mine The Turks becoming now as expert as the Christiaâ— in their secret and hidden Traverses had penetrated so far that on the 8th of August they fired a most dreadful Mine on the side of the half Moon which made so great a Breach in that work that eight men could march a breast which so animated the Enemy with the advantage that immediately in great numbers they mounted the breach to give an Assault but supplies being timely afforded in assistance of the Guard the Enemy was precipitated headlong and overwhelmed with such showers of Musket shot that the Retreat into their works was not only disorderly but the number of those who survived so few and diminished as gave proof how hazardous it was to attempt other more difficult and better fortified Bastions Nor was the success of the Turks less on the side of Panigra where having made a Breach they endeavoured to make good their ground under shelter of Sacks of earth which the Christians drew away from them with long iron hooks which was such a piece of sport to the besieged to see their Enemies dismantled of their shelter and lye open to their shot that a young Page of Marquess Villa called du Clos venturing in this action beyond his years was shot with a Musket Bullet in the head and so hastned to the other World covered with glory and renown There was scarce now a day which passed that was not signalized with the springing of several Mines both on one side and the other most of those made by the Christians were seconded with Sallies and those of the Turks with Assaults and Stormings of one Fort or other On the 10th of September Signior da Riva a noble Venetian arrived with a Recruit of five hundred Souldiers and a great number of Pioneers and the same day was celebrated after the usual manner by springing of Mines one of which threw a Turk on the Fort of Panigra and ruined the Galleries of the Enemy the next day likewise several Fornelli were fired by the Enginier Lubatiers from the parts of the half Moon and of Panigra which filled up the Line and spoiled the Redoubts of the Turks On the 15th the Christians vigorously sallied out with seventy Foot under the Command of Colonel Vechia and two other Captains from the Revelin of Panigra who after a valiant skirmish orderly retreated under the rampart of the Revelin to which place the Turks eagerly pursuing them were entertained with a Mine and tossed into the Air which being done the Venetians returned again and were in the same manner encountred by the Turks whereby a very hot fight began during which time the Captain General who stood on the Bastion of Betlem to observe the motions of the Enemy saluted them with a plentiful shower of Musket shot In short after the Venetians had for the space of an hour resisted the Force of the Enemy with much slaughter they retired with good order into the Ditch of the City On the 18th Captain Fedeli with a hundred Souldiers made another Sally but being wounded he retreated with some loss which was retured again on the Enemy by a Mine which the Enginier Quadruplani sprang with happy success on the Quarter of Panigra and on the same day the Captain of the Galleasses called Gioseppe Morosini arriving with five hundred men and two hundred thousand Ducats together with good quantities of Ammunition and Victuals gave encouragement and relief to all the City with whom also came the Cavalier Gonges and his Brother in quality of Adventurers for Honour and Religion There was not one day in all this Month but divers Fornelli and Mines were fired on one side and the other and though the Christians exercised as much military Art Industry and Valour as men were capable to perform yet the Turks still gained ground and daily advanced their works upon the Christians wherefore the Captain General ordered that a Mine and three Fornelli shouâ—d be fired by which a small Fort of the Turks near the Counterscarp was overthrown with divers other works lately raised The Turks had such good success with their last Mines that a Week after they fired another which was calculated so well that it ruined the Gallery of Communication between Panigra and its Out-works and threw the Counterscarp into the Ditch of the Town The Turks spring ansther Mine For the necessary repair of which Breach and clearing of the Ditch the Governors gave immediate Order and appointed a strong Guard for defence and protection of those that laboured and to make better dispatch a most ingenious Engine was contrived to remove and rid the Ditch of Earth which whilst it worked with admirable success the Turks by help of a Mine blew it into the Air and shattered it into a thousand pieces Howsoever the Christians desisted not from their intended work but still laboured with Baskets Sacks and Wheelbarrows to carry away the Earth which that they might do quietly and undisturbed the Savoyards and Sclavonians made a furious and desperate Sally which continued for the space of two hours and though in that time the Enemy had opportunity to collect their greater Force into a Body yet
reporting perhaps and it was related in the parts of Christendom That this was a place where blood was spilt day and night where Gallant Men had forgot to sleep living in perpetual labours enured to intolerable sufferings and hourly dangers there being none secure either in the Church in the house or in the street for Granadoes rained Cannons thundred Arrows flew with stones like a Tempest so that there was none in that place but who quartered on the Brink of the Grave It now grew towards Winter and yet the Vizier thought of no other Quarters than his Trenches judging that if he should quit his station the labours and progress of the former Summer would be lost and the Work to be again begun in the Spring Wherefore resolving to keep his Works provided all conveyances to carry away the Water and sheds to cast off the Rain and warmer Tents for the Soldiery which yet could not so artificially be contrived but that the Camp was full of mire and dirt tedious and troublesome to Man and Beast and the Quarters of the Souldiery so damp between their Banks of Earth as caused Catarrhs Fluxes Feavers and other Camp Diseases with much mortality It was now the dead of Winter The Winter causes all Action to cease and yet Martial Exploits were as frequent as they had been in Summer and though the great rains and flouds of water extinguished the fires and made as it were a cessation of Arms and of all acts of hostility yet this interval of calmness and tranquillity the Christians made use of to repair the Palisade of St. Andrea and the Lines of Communication within the Ditch And because the main Bulwark was also shaken and in some danger all the Chiorma or Slaves of the Gallies were commanded a shore to labour in the reparation and to make an inward retrenchment which in short time with admirable diligence was persected and on all sides compleated The Turks in the mean time carried their Traverses forward as much as they could for they were now entered into the very Ditch of the Town and because there was no possibility to work in the Mines by reason that the Galleries were filled with water they attended wholly to employ their great Guns and fire Granadoes so that they raised a new Eattery near the Work of Mocenigo which began to batter the lower parts of St. Andrea and raised another Battery on the ruines of the Revelin of Panigra which being lower ground could not much prejudice the main Bulwark The Sultan satisfied with the Relation given by his Messenger concerning the progress his Vizier had made upon the Town and of the hopes there was in time to gain it encouraged him with a Letter of Praise accompanied with a Sword and Vest of Sables the magnificent Signal of the Sultans favour And now besides the Force of Fire-Arms the Turks made use of Arrows slot into the Town carrying papers written in Italian and French perswading the Souldiers to fly to their Camp where they should receive civil treatment and a secure refuge which gave that encouragement to those wearied with the labours of the Siege and hard usage that many of them made Tryal of the Turks entertainment and escaping out of the Works fled to the Enemies Camp where they were cloathed received Conduct Mony and were permitted Licence to embark themselves for what place they pleased About this time the Proveditor General Barbaro and the Lieutenant General of the Artillery Vvertmiller having obtained licence from the Senate returned to Venice the first was displeased General Barbaro and Uvertmiller departed from the Army that Marquess Villa should take the precedence of him and the other because his opinion of making a general Sally of all the Garrison on the Enemy was not followed but rejected by the Council of War as a design pernicious and over-hazardous for that the fighting with an Enemy more numerous than themselves fortified in their Redoubts and Works and hidden under ground in inextricable Labyrinths was an Enterprise so rash that no man wishing well to the Garrison and of sound judgment ought to advise The Turks having in this Campagne fixed themselves well in a formal Siege and gained ground and many advantages on the Christians of which the destruction of the Work of Panigra was none of the least the Vizier supposed it a seasonable time to enter into a Treaty by the hand of the Secretary Giavarina who was there entertained for that purpose but he falling sick of the Camp-distemper dyed in a short time The deaths of Secretary Giavarina and Padavino whose death was soon after followed by that of Signior Padavino who finished his days at Canea the Plate Money and Houshold-stuff of both were carefully inventored and by the justice of the Vizier duly accounted for and administred to the Venetians The Instruments of Treaty being thus taken away the Captain-Pasha was dispatched to Constantinople carrying with him four thousand wounded and sick men and a Letter to the Grand Signior and Divan signifying his resolutions to win the place or dye under the Walls of it and to that end desired them to send him such Recruits of men and supply of Provisions as were requisite He complained of the cowardise of those to whom they had incharged the Convoys that he wanted both Powder and Bullet for default of which they could neither ply their great Guns nor go forward in their Mines that bread was so dear that no price could be set to it that his Souldiers by slaughter and sickness did daily diminish so that his Army was reduced to twenty three thousand Foot seven hundred Horse and two thousand Pioniers and in fine concluded with urgent instances to have Recruits of all dispeeded to him without which it was impossible to gain the Town or save himself Hereupon Recruits came from all parts both of Men Ammunition and Provisions especially from the Frontiers or adjacent places which by such vast evacuations were almost dispeopled more particularly in Albania and Castelnuovo extraordinary Preparations were making both of Men Horse and Camels and a report was spread that the Grand Signior intended to pass over in Person to Candia but this was soon disproved by his residence at Larissa where he remained to render assistance more easily and receive advices more speedily than could be performed at Adrianople Great quantities of Corn were also sent from divers places particularly from Smyrna where English French and Dutch Ships were taken up for that service to the prejudice of the Trade and damage of the concerned some of which Vessels were taken in their passage to Candia whilst others arrived in safety through the negligence as was supposed of the Commanders at Sea. And indeed the Turks plyed their business with that industry and diligence that notwithstanding the Force which the Venetians â—ad at Sea their Recruits for the most part arrived safe and Corn began to be so plentiful that the Vizier
the Camp could all the time behold the flashes of the small and great shot and by help of the Venetian Lights perceive the success of his own Fleet not answerable to his expectation What loss the Turks sustained with Slaves and Souldiers is incertain only an hundred Christian Slaves were released and four hundred Turks captivated and amongst the slain was Durach Bey himself a stout Sea-man and a known Pirate who from a small Brigantine had raised himself to be Begh of the Morea and to command four or five Gallies of his own In like manner and not long after a Squadron of Venetian Ships were forced by storm in the night to anchor under Cape Spada where accidentally six Turkish Gallies were riding The Sky being very dark and close the first Ship ran foul of a Galley and so shattered and crushed her sides that being ready to sink the Turks forsook her and run aboard the Ship to save a life which was to be afterwards miserable and slavish The others affrighted at the arrival of these unexpected guests flipt their Cables to seek harbour in a tempestuous Sea but the weather being too boisterous for Gallies one of them was cast away and about an hundred and seventy men lost the news hereof being brought to Venice by Colonel Vecthia with the Ensigns and Spoils taken from the Enemy the Senate bestowed the honour of Knighthood on the Captain-General comforting the families of the slain and wounded with signal marks of Honour and Glory The Captain Pasha put this year to Sea more early than was usual designing to make as many Voyages to Candia as was possible with Succours both of Men and Ammunition his design and work was wholly to avoid the Venetians and to steal ashore his Recruits to which end he made such expedition in every Voyage The success of the Turks at Sea. that scarce could the Christians have advice of his arrival in any part of the Isle of Candia before he was well forwarded in his return yet his haste was not so great but one time having fifty three Gallies in his Company he adventured to look into the Port of Nio where he met four Corsaires or Free-booters under Mastese Colours commanded by two Brothers Themericort and by the Knights Verva and Bremant two of the Ships were on the Careen washing and tallowing their Vessels whilst the other two viz. the Themericort Brothers were on the Guard being at anchor in the narrowest entrance to the Harbour The Turks supposed at first that so formidable an appearance of their Fleet would affright the Christians to a Surrender rather than to contend on those unequal terms But it seems the Corsaires were more resolute than was imagined for no sooner did the Turks approach than the Christians discharged their Cannon and Vollies of small shot so plentifully as caused the Gallies to dispute at a farther distance where shooting as it were at rovers with their long Cashee Pieces not adventuring to come to a nearer Fight for the space of eight hours made as reported about eight thousand shot with little or no execution so that the Captain-Pasha made his sign of Retreat and forsook the Engagement as being too dangereous and difficult an Enterprise But better success had the Turks the next month at Sea against Captain Georgio an old and subtle Pirate who for many years had vexed and pillaged not only the Turks but Christians on all Isles of the Archipelago great fortune he had in taking Turkish Saiks and Vessels and some of them considerably rich and when that prey failed him or was scarce he pursued his game on the shore from whence he often carried men women and children into slavery and oft-times had the fortune of considerable Booty The Islands which lay open and ungarded were his common Rendezvous where the men attended his service and the women his lust In this manner the Pirate passed for several years have obtained unto himself a fame and terror with the Turks and riches at home the place which he commonly chose to wash and tallow his Vessels was amongst certain small Isles in the Bay of Edremit anciently Adrimetum opposite unto Mytilene from whence he had as from a Thicket or Wood a view of such Vessels as passed the great Road towards Constantinople these frequent successes rendred him so confident and secure that he still continued his station notwithstanding the Turkish Naval Forces which in the Summer season made their Rendezvous at Scio. But at length the Captain-Pasha with the whole Turkish Armata being at Scio and with him three Ships of Tripoli advice came that Captain Georgio had not forsaken his little Isles but was there careening his small Fleet which consisted of two Ships and a Brigantine hereupon the Tripoleses were commanded out to encounter the Enemy whom the next day they found so secure and negligent that he discovered not his Foes before they were ready to attaque him The Captain Pasha also fearing that the Tripoleses were not of sufficient Force to encounter so valiant and experienced a Commander both to make the Enterprize the more easie and certain and to gain the reputation of that business to himself went out in person with all his Gallies The Tripoleses had began to fire on Captain Georgio before the Pasha came in to their assistance but it falling calm and the Ships not able to joyn in a nearer fight gave way for the Gallies which being above fifty in number overpowered the Christians on all sides howsoever the two Ships defended themselves against all this Force until the Captain himself being killed his own Ship surrendred but so shattered that she was scarce able to swim above water Captain Georgio taken by the Turks This Ship being oversome the Turks boarded the other commanded by Captain de Lescases who seeing no remedy to avoid being taken he leaped into his Boat and blew up his Ship howsoever could not escape his destiny for having his Arm broke he became a prey and a slave to his Enemy The News of this Victory was celebrated with so much the more joy by how much this person was feared and hated and was not only a subject of rejoycing to the Turks but also to the Christians whose Parents and Relations this Corsaire had pillaged and enslaved so that the Inhabitants of the Archipelago for the most part were pleased with the revenge and promised more security and quietness to their open Coasts With no less triumph was this News posted to the Grand Signior who rewarded the Messenger with two thousand Dollars gratuity and caused demonstrations of joy to be made through the whole Court so dreadful was grown the Name of so inconsiderable a person in respect of the greatness of the Ottoman Empire But the success of this advantage did not heighten the courage of the Captain Pasha to that pitch as to make him more bold with the Venetian Armata for in the month of July having great
And therefore in the first place having visited all the Forts Out-works and Retrenchments of the Town ordered what was necessary for repair of the breaches and amended what was deficient in the most distressed Fortifications And though the Turks fired a Mine the 22th of August at the point of the Fort St. Andrea which made a most dangerous breach yet it was so valiantly defended and so speedily repaired that the Enemy gained little or no advantage and all by the extraordinary diligence of this Marquess St. Andrea who passed whole months without uncloathing himself and as his nights were without sleep so his days consumed without repose applying himself personally to all places where was most of danger especially at the Fort of St. Andrea where he took up his constant Quarters The Turksnow daily pressing the Town more nearly than before Skirmishes and Sallies were more frequent and more bloody so that about this time the Proveditor General Bernardo Nani applying himself with all earnestness in the performance of his Charge was slain by a Musket-shot in his head his death was much lamented by all being a Gentleman who was born as may be said in the Fleet having had his Education there and passed his youth in Wars and dangers for the safety and honour of his Country Girolamo Bataglia was elected by the Republick to succeed him in the Office whose death was also seconded by that of Francesco Bataglia 〈…〉 Brother of the Duke of Candia being shot in the breast with a Musket-bullet and though he was sent thither to administer Justice to the People yet his zeal and courage carrying him to Martial Acts beyond his duty made a grave for him amongst the other Heroes and Worthies of that place The Turk approaching daily nearer with their Works infested very much the passage of Vessels to the Town and shot so directly into the Port that no Ship Galley or Bark could remain in any security from their Cannon to remedy which a small Redoubt was raised at Tramata which being well and strongly fortified served for a small Port under the shelter of which the lesser Vessels found some protection and was of great relief to the distressed City About this time the Popes Gallies with those of Malta arrived commanded by Fra. Vincenzo Rospigliosi the Popes Nephew who having not brought a greater number of people than what served to man their Gallies they were not able to spare many for defence of the Town The long continuance of this Siege and the same thereof noised through the whole World moved the heroick and gallant Spirits of our Age to descend into this Campus Martius this Field of War and give proofs of their Prowess and Valour in defence of the Christan Cause some being moved by a principle of vain-glory proceeding from the briskness of a youthful and aery Spirit and others from the sense of Devotion and fervour towards Religion amongst which none were more forward than some Gentleman of the French Nation as namely Monsieur La Fueillade alià s Duke of Roanez with the Count St. Paul Some French Gentlemen Adventurers for honour arâ—ive at Candia a young Cavalier to forward which design taking first the Licence and Benediction of their King they appointed their Rendezvous at Tolon where they listed two hundred Gentleman Cadets or younger Brothers who went in quest of Honour and not of Pay with four hundred ordinary Souldiers who expected their maintenance from the bounty of their Leaders The chief of whom was Monsieur La Fueillade and his Lieutenant the Chevalier De Tresmes Their whole Body was divided into four Bridgades The first commanded by Count St. Paul. The second by the Duke De Carderousse The third by the Count De Villa Maur. And the fourth by the Duke De Cheateau Tiery When these Persons of Honour and Courage arrived at Candia they found the City hardly beset and reduced to a strait and difficult condition for the Turks were advanced so near to the Fort of St. Andrea that the Souldiers within and without could cross their Muskets and reach Tobaco one to the other howsoever this breach was so well repaired with a good Palissado fortified with several Bonnets and a double Retrenchment on the Bastion it self and a third Retrenchment of squared stone withal that the courage of the Besieged being nothing abated by the many and furious assaults of the Enemy the Town still remained in a defensible posture and still capable with good Succours and Supplies to yield matter of imployment for several years to the Ottoman Forces These worthy Champions as I said being arrived moved with the sense of Religion and desire of glory to themselves challenged the priviledge of mounting the Guard of St. Andrea but that being already prepossessed by the Knights of Malta and other Officers of the place was refused to them Howsoever the Captain-General Morosini was pleased to gratifie them with the Guard of a small Chapel over that Bastion on the right hand of the breach a place of no less danger and therefore of no less honour than the other with which the Cavaliers being satisfied Monsieur St. Paul mounted the Guard one day at six a clock in the morning and continued there until the same hour of the day following during which time he lost his Major Dupre and Monsieur De Marenval the latter of which had his brains knocked out with so violent a blow of a great shot that some pieces of his skull dangerously wounded the Sieurs De Chamilly and De Lare who were near to him and more maliciously did the Turks ply the stations of these new-come Guests than any others throwing Bomboes Granadoes Stink-pots and other sorts of artificial Fire without cessation into their Quarters notwithstanding which this young Prince and Monsieur La Fueillade exposed themselves like common Souldiers animating their men more with their example than their words And now by this time by so many Works and removals of Earth by so many Traverses and Mines under ground and throwing up the caverns and bowels of the Earth into the Air the soil became so brittle crumbling and as it were sandy and like ashes that it seemed not capable longer enduring of the Pick-ax or the Shovel and was so porous that the light of some Mines glimmering into the others Traverses easily discovered each others Mines whereby it became equally a trade and custom to steal Powder The Christians overthrow a battery of the Turks Howsoever the Venetians so closely worked with those Props and Arts that they formed a considerable Mine which on the first of December they sprang with so much success that they wholly overthrew a Battery of the Turks directed against St. Andrea and buried all their Cannon But these French Gallants intended not from the first of their design to make this War their Trade or the Town of Candia their place of habitation but as Passengers or Pilgrims whose souls are active and hate
strongly as the besieged had within heaving like Moles with their numerous Army of Pioneers whose lives being not valued they were wholly intent unto Mines blowing up all before them in that manner that every day they gained a pace of ground within the City So that in effect as will be seen by the Sequel this most impregnable Fort of the World was forced and taken by the Spade and Shovel and by a Crew of unarmed Labourers who understood nothing more than the Plough and Harrow So that now this Town seemed to be reduced to its utmost Crisis either of being taken or for ever freed of this malignant Enemy And indeed the Turks had so far advanced upon the Bulwark of St. Andrea that now nothing remained of it more than ruines and undigested heaps of Earth and stone in defence of which the chief Commanders applying themselves in person with all diligence the Marquess St. Andrea Montbrun was wounded by a stone in the face the Cavalier de Bret was buried in the ruines to the very Neck and with difficulty drawn out of the Earth by Assistants about him two other Cavaliers were wounded with Granadoes and the Cavalier Fuillere who carried the Standard of Malta was shot into the Eye with a Musket The Proveditor General Carnaro serving at the repair of the Breach was so wounded in the Belly by a Granado that his Bowels burst of which he died in three hours and with a piece of the same Granado the Count Vignole a French Gentleman of great Valour was likewise slain And so hotly the Turks plyed this Breach that from the 28th of May to the 2d of June they sprang five Mines which brake all the Palisades of the Christians the which the Turks seconded with that fury and mettle as if they intended to win the place and make an end of their work before the arrival of the Forces expected from Christendom And this Post was now grown so dangerous and weak that the Captain-General the Marquess of Montbrun and all the chief Officers took up their Quarters at this place where his Excellency kept an open Table and the Marquess took up his Lodgings at Night that so the other Officers might have no excuse on account of attendances or orders to abandon these Quarters The Princes of Christendom all this time forgot not their besieged Brethren in Candia Pope Clement the IX pressed the most Christian King to make ready his succours in due time Succours sent out of Christendom who had already himself prepared all things and elected the Duke of Beaufort his General of all the Forces by Sea whether of French or other Nations This Duke like a couragious and brave Prince thinking it little glory to command at Sea where the Enemy was of an inferiour and unable Force to encounter him did therefore desire Licence from his King to make tryal of his Fortune in the Field where he might evidence his Valour in the face of the Infidels and signalize his Fame either by Death or Victory The King unwilling to hazard so worthy a person of his bloud out of his due Command in the rank of an ordinary Souldier at first denied his requests but the Pope interceding for him whose General he was with holy Arguments and devout Contemplations of Martyrdom and glory of dying for the Christian Cause at length obtained a concession from the King who of himself was flexible to so pious a request esteeming it unholy to deprive his Kinsman either of the Palm of a Martyr or the Lawrel of a Conqueror The Summer being come and all things provided The French Fleet loose from Tolon the Duke ascended his Ship at Tolon a City in Provence the 6th of June New-style with about seven thousand Land Souldiers commanded by the Duke of Navailles with the Marshals Lebret and Colbert and several other Worthies and Heroes of undaunted Courage and arrived before the Town of Candia the 19th of the same Month having casually encountred together in the Seas on the 17th with fourteen Sail of Venetian Ships laden with Horse and Ammunition to mount the Troops and relieve the Town which happy encounter and speedy passage seemed a happy Omen of the future success The appearance of this succour seemed to the Besieged as sent from Heaven and administred unto them new hopes and courage and the salutes passed between the Town and the Fleet with the usual Ceremonies and all the imaginable testimonies of joy and triumph No sooner were they arrived than the two Generals with other principal Officers They arrive at Candia immediately in their Shallops took the best view and survey they could of the Enemies Camp and the Condition of the Besieged in which whilst they entertained themselves they espied a small Vessel making towards them with St. Mark 's Colours in which was the famous Engineer Signior Castellano dispatched by the Captain General Morosini with an axact plat of the Town and disposition of the Turkish Camp which being particularly viewed and considered it was evident That if the Turks should make some very forcible Attempt before the new Forces could be landed as it was very probable they might they would put all in hazard of being lost wherefore the Captain General pressed to have some succours immediately supplied to be assistant in that case of extremity To which the Duke of Navailles immediately consented and landed himself that Night in person with sufficient Force to mount the Guard on the Breach of St. Andrea whose first Rettenchment was continually battered by the Turks and though there was a second Retrenchment in hand yet time being required for compleating thereof that part of the Town would be reduced to its ultimate hazard for should the Enemy spring a Mine which they feared was already formed under the present Work it would lay all open and naked without other Fortification The Duke being ashoar was received by Morosini with all demonstrations of Civility and Respect due to a personage of his Quality and Employment and with a welcome suitable to the present extremity of his Affairs all Ceremonies and Complements were soon passed over the urgency of matters not permitting them time to be long impertinent The French Forces landed so that falling into the Discourse of the common safety it was resolved that the succours should be immediately landed which was performed with that diligence and expedition that in two days the whole Army came safe on shore excepting only some few cut short by shot from the Enemies Camp. On the 23d the Generals and other Officers held a Council of War A Council of War held in Candia amongst whom was also the Marquess of St. Andrea and did unanimously conclude that the Town was no longer tenable or to be maintained unless by some extraordinary enterprize attempted on the Enemy and by some furious Sally performed with resolution and stratagems of War in order unto which it was resolved That the 27th
in resisting the shameful flight of his men and venturing his Person into danger from whence he resolved never to retreat was overwhelmed with unequal numbers and so fell amongst the common heaps but his body though much sought after being not found it was believed rather that he perished by that fatal Magazine of Powder which blowing up affrighted and disordered the whole Christian Army But not only did misfortunes attend the Land-Forces but the Fleet at Sea shared in the disasters For some few days after the wind blowing hard from the Sea caused the Ships to ride at a distance from the shore The whole Fleet consisted of eighty Ships small and great fifty Gallies and six Galleasses being the whole Force of that Year from France Italy and Malta All which being at Anchor in due order as near the shore as was safe or convenient made many shot into the Turks Camp but with little execution during which Action the Santa Teresa a French Ship of seventy Brass Guns blew up and her whole Company lost being about three hundred men of which seven only were saved the Admiral of France being near to this Ship received five shot from her which passed through her and by the Splinters and fall of Timbers the Vessel called La Reale had six Cavaliers killed and forty Souldiers Slaves were killed and wounded After this it was proposed in Council That another Sally should be made of ten thousand French to which the Duke De Navailles assented on condition that they might be preceded in the Van by four thousand Venetians who were well acquainted and versed in the nature of the place and knew the several Redoubts Galleries and Trenches of the Enemy But the Captain General being desirous to reserve his own experienced Souldiers to the ultimate and last occasion of emergency refused to assent thereunto The loss the Turks sustained that day was uncertain of the French were only an hundred thirty five heads brought in by tale as I was informed from one who was present when they were counted amongst which were many principal Officers French Officers slain For besides the Duke of Beaufort were slain the Count Rosan the Chevalier di Villarceaux the Chevalier de Quelas the Sieur de Guene-gaud Marquis de Fabert Major of the Regiment of Lorrain the Sieurs de Montreuil Captain of the Guards de Beauvais and Do Garnier La Paneterie Touvenin Lanson Bellebrune Hautefage d'Avenne Maran de S. Jean de Chauveniere Goindreville Captain of the Regiment of Bretagne Forcan du Boulet Captains of the Regiment of Harcourt Chaselet Martinval de Bossemoat de la Haye de Bourneuf de Vandre Martel Captain of a Ship the Chevalier Lodevé with nine Captains and eight Lieutenants Reformades of the Brigade of Picardy Navarre and Normandy The Sieur Lebret was shot through the Buttocks with a Musket-bullet besides whom were wounded the Sieurs de Montagne Colonel of a Regiment de Castelan Major of the Guards de Cavison Croiselles de Montigny and de Moissac by the Battery which blew up the Chevalier d'Ailleurs was hurt with an Arrow through the Arm De la Marliere Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment of Lorrain with five or six Officers of that Body and Villiers Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment Jonzac were all wounded The Marquess of Lignieres had his Thigh broken and a Finger shot off and his Lieutenant-Colonel had his Arm broken The Marquess of St. Vallier Collonel with five or six of his Officers the Chevalier de Novion Colonel with several Officers of the Regiments of Bretagnie Montpezat Harcourt and Conti were all wounded with four other Captains of Horse and four Lieutenants also the Marquess of Vxelles the Chevalier de la Haugette the Count de Losse Captain of the Guards to the Duke of Navailles the Count de Montbrun Commander of the Kings Musquetiers and the Sieur de Tagni Quarter-master-General were wounded who being Persons of great Quality as well as Courage that left their Country and exposed themselves to dangers with no other motive than their own gallantry or defence of the Christian Cause ought be numbred amongst the Heroes and Champions of our Age. Of Prisoners there were not above seven or eight taken amongst which were the Sieur de Bois-Dauphin a Norman and Son of a Marshal of France and the Sieur de Chateau Neuf the first for his Youth Beauty and Courage greatly esteemed by the Turks and both entertained by the Vizier with more generosity than usually possesses the Nature of Turks who after this success having gathered and thrown the heads of the slain according to their manner into a heap did one day in merriment pitch them upon the points of their Lances and ranking them in file and order with Hats and Feathers on them beat the French March amongst them with shouts and Vollies of Muskets Matters succeeding in this manner unhappily and the Enemy already almost in the midst of the Town being come to the last Retrenchment beyond which could be raised no more inward Fortifications the Officers as in like cases of misfortune began to throw the blame upon each other and the contest between the French and Italians grew as hot within the Town as the War was without so that the Duke of Navailles appearing discontented The French leave the Town though in reality he might well be discouraged and might be apprehensive with due reason that the Town was in a desperate condition howsoever he pretended that the time was almost expired which the King had prefixed for the continuance of his Forces in Candia and that therefore he could not think of any other design for them than that which was in order to their imbarking The Captain-General being greatly surprised at this resolution endeavoured to perswade him to the contrary and being accompanied with the General of Candia and the Proveditor General waited on the Duke at his own Quarters where he represented to him in the most efficacious terms possible the present dangerous condition to which the City was reduced until which time under the Providence of God they acknowleged the preservation thereof to the magnanimous Arms of their religious King and therefore in such a conjuncture of misfortunes and extremity they knew not unto whom they might have recourse for assistance but to the Generosity of his Excellency and of those Gentlemen who for no other end but that of Religion and Honour had undertaken so great a Voyage and had volluntarily cast themselves into the hourly dangers of this Siege That the Succour they demanded was really great and most important for defence of the place in regard that thereon their whole safety depended Howsoever it might have cost some labour though not much blood to the French Forces if they would have worked on a new Retrenchment with the same celerity and diligence as they formerly used whereby the Siege might be prolonged until the the Winter or till the Christian Princes might take new measures and
against the Pasha and his Castle which being straitly besieged the Defendants who were for the most part Servants and Slaves failing in their courage resolved to make Conditions for themselves to the best advantage wherefore conspiring against their Master entred his Chamber and strangled him in the night and the next morning opening the Castle-gates received the Enemy within the Walls making manifest the death of their Master and their own Treachery Osman Pasha being dead every one acted for a time what the wildness of an unruly multitude could suggest till such time as the Heads of the Rebellion could frame themselves into some form of Government which for the present was resolved to be by a Dei as most convenient for commanding of the Souldiery intending for the future to take the Algier Government by a Divan for their Pattern and Model of Rule under which the people of that place had found and experienced the sweetness of liberty riches and success These matters being agreed upon some of their Men of War were sent to give advice unto the Grand Signior of the revolutions of their City supplicating him to pardon the violence used against their Pasha Osman whose Covetousness and Tyranny forced them for self-preservation to precipitate that Authority which they knew on their complaints his Majesty would have granted them and that he would be pleased to receive them into his protection and favour as his faithful and humble Subjects and Slaves and as an evidence thereof would grant them a Pasha confirmed by his Royal Signature The Sultan though at first shewed himself much displeased with this manner of proceeding against Osman Pasha yet seeing that there was no remedy suffered himself to be mollified by their Presents and submission granting them a Pasha for their Governour whose power proved as unsignificant as his doth who bears that Title at Algier Matters being thus reduced to some tolerable condition amongst them they concluded That the most beneficial course of life to render them considerable as well as to amuse and divert the minds of their rude people from innovations against their Governours was to grant free liberty to whomsoever pleased to arm out Ships of War which Priviledge Osman Pasha reserved to himself and his Confidents and finding at present that they were able to set out six Sail from forty to fifty Guns and four more from twelve to thirty intending to accomplish in all the full number of fifteen Sail those who traded in the Levant Seas began to apprehend that this faithless and heady people would at a time when they found their advantage and the temptation of a rich Prize break their Peace with his Majesty our King the which Osman Pasha had notwithstanding conserved for several years without violation moved perhaps thereunto out of an apprehension that in such troubles which a War with England might bring upon them he might lose or impair his riches and bring the like confusion on his people as he had lately heard of in Algier on the like occasion but how and in what manner these matters succeeded and how at length this people broke their Peace and Faith we reserve to be recounted at the end of the Year 1674. Towards the end of the month of August it pleased God to take out of this life unto a better Sir Daniel Harvey his Majesties Ambassadour at Constantinople a man whose person being comely was extremely grateful to the Turks and for the experience he had at the Ottoman Court was equal in the happy management of Affairs to any of his Predecessours Anno 1673. Hegeira 1084. BUT it seems the Turks had made too much haste in their return to digest a Conquest of so large Extent so that they were scarce well warmed by their Winter-fires before they were alarmed again with Jealousies of Poland and the Seditions amongst the Cossacks whom Dorosenzko wrote he could not keep in subjection unless he had some Succours sent him from the Port. The rumors likewise that the Muscovite armed and was resolved to Assist the Poles in recovery of their lost Country increased the apprehensions of the Turks who too late perceived the errour they had committed in so soon disbanding their Army which before some were scarce got home they were forced to recal But now the year was well begun and no grand preparations made so that it was impossible to collect an Army in so short a time considerable enough to be honoured with the Conduct of the Sultan wherefore it was resolved that all things this year should be disposed in a readiness against the next But the Grand Signior had a project of his own to depart speedily with his Court and to pass the heats of the Summer in the Mountains of Zegna about five or six days Journey on his way towards Poland which being reported to be a place well planted with Trees watered with cool and fresh Springs and abounding with all sorts of Game made him impatient to take up his Summer-quarters in a Country so agreeable to his humor and that he might cover the design of pleasure with that of profit and policy he pretended that the report of his proceeding so far would both hasten the Army and give a terrour to the Enemy But the Great Vizier and his Council who weighed all things better were of another opinion judging it neither honourable for the Court to be retired into Woods and Mountains nor the advantage of such a surmise able to countervail the expence and inconveniences of that Journy and therefore it was concluded to stand unto the first resolution That the Grand Signior with the main Body of his Army should not move until the following year but that in this interim all preparations should be made for Provisions and Ammunition in order unto which three thousand Janisaries were already sent away to Keminiecz under the Command of the Sampsongibashee and six thousand more under the Zagargibashee were to be landed on that Isthumus which joyns the Crim Tartar unto the Main from whence they had a short March to the assistance of Dorhsenzko Chasaein Pasha lately come from Damascus was nominated for General to be sent into Silistria and there to command in Chief over the Militia of Dobriza Bosna and Rumelia in case of any alteration and disturbance in Poland this Person was always accounted a stout and valiant Souldier though seldom fortunate and was the same that lost the Battel before Lewa in the last German Wars as we have before intimated he was about this time grown infirm by a hepatical Dysentery which reduced him to a weak condition of body with little hopes of recovery In the mean time arrived at Adrianople an Ambassadour from the great Czar of Muscovy bringing Letters dated in April of the preceding year which was before the time that the Turks had entred Poland the contents of which were That the Grand Signior would do well to desist from his design against that Country
The unseasonable Address of the Moscovite Ambassadour for that if he did proceed and invade those Dominions he should find himself obliged to make War upon him and with his mighty and puissant Power to drive him back to his own Jurisdiction This Message appeared very unseasonable and caused much laughter at first for that the Turk had since the Date of that Letter invaded Poland and possessed himself of vast Countries and yet neither encountred any opposition from the Muscovite nor so much as heard any rumor of his Motion Wherefore the Turks with scorn forbad the Ambassadour any farther Addresses and commanded him to be gone speedily saying That his Master had neither courage nor force to maintain his word of War nor wisdom to manage a Treaty of Peace The Reports now from the parts of Poland spake matters to be in a quiet posture and not likely to concern the Turks much for this year wherefore the Grand Signior began again to renew his purposes of pastime and pleasure in the Mountains of Zegna but because no true or perfect account could be given of the delights refreshments and situation of that place the Olack Celebi or chief Postmaster was sent to furvey the Country and to return with a relation of all matters but in the interim the design was altered for the Grand Signior having begun a Fabrick in which he had expended about eighty thousand Dollars at a small Village about nine or ten miles from Adrianople the place and novelty of the Building so well pleased him that he found in himself an inclination to pass the whole Summer there and becoming likewise enamoured of a young Lady in his Seraglio notwithstanding his former tenderness to his Queen and late aversion to all other Women he judged it was possible to divertise his time well in those parts and more to his contentment than in wild woods and uninhabited mountains Whereupon the intentions of Zegna were laid aside and nothing thought of but the rest and quietness of the Court for this year But because it was reported That the Czar of Muscovy made great Preparations for War it was judged necessary to command the Crim Tartar to be watchful of his motion by Land though the natural slothfulness of that people gave them no apprehension of their Arms for this year howsoever it being probable that they might prove more active and forward in the Black Sea than they were capable to do by Land by sending forth their small Boats down the Volga to take and pillage the Saiks and Vessels belonging to Constantinople and other parts the Captain-Pasha was ordered to pass into that Sea with thirty five or forty Sail of Gallies for defence of the Coast and for fortifying and repairing Asac and the Fortresses thereabouts but whilst these Preparations were making for the Euxine or Black Sea the other Seas were neglected and undefended for the Alexandrian Fleet consisting in all of eight Sail The Alexandrian Fleet taken by the Malteses were encountred not far from Rhodes by some Maltese and Ligornese Corsaires the Ships of the Turks were most of them very great and potent Ships one of them was at least fifteen hundred Tuns and was capable to carry an hundred Guns the others of eight hundred or a thousand Tuns able to have resisted and overcome had they been well armed double the force that assaulted them but being now engaged with an Enemy though not so strong yet better experienced in marine Affairs than themselves they fought with them stoutly the first day but the next day six Gallies coming to the Christians assistance which had been harboured in some Port not far distant and led thither by the noise of the Cannon to which also a calm giving the greater advantage the Turks began to faint in their courage so that four Gallions and two Saiks yielded to mercy which was a Prize of so great value that it was supposed never to have been equalled since the time of Sultan Ibrahim when the loss of the grand Sultana and other Ships gave the first occasion of War with Venice This great Ship which was reported by those who saw her to be both longer and broader than the Soveraign carried only sixty Guns and was manned accordingly only with about an hundred Seamen and about two hundred more which were Land-men wholly unacquainted with the Sea or with Naval Fights the biggest Ship amongst the rest was belonging to the Queen-Mother and the others to the Grand Signior being freighted principally with Sugar Coffee Rice and other Provisions for the proper maintenance of their Courts which we may suppose will highly inflame these grand Personages with anger and disdain when they reflect on their own proper losses which touch them so nearly as their peculiar Goods and the Furniture of their Kitchins The Turkish Court now angered with this loss was more moved in the midst of May when a Messenger from Poland arrived with Letters from the Grand Chancellour declaring with modest-terms The Poles refuse to pay their promised Tribute That their Kingdom was unable or unwilling for many respects to pay the promised Tribute so that if they did not judge fit to wave or lay aside those pretensions they should be forced to take up Arms in defence of their Honour Safety and Priviledge of their Dominions The Turks surprised with this unexpected Message too late perceived the errour of the last years proceedings which were carried on with a clemency and confidence not agreeable to the disposition and humor of such an Enemy as is unacquainred with servitude and so far from being able to support a Foreign Yoke that they cannot endure subjection to their own Civil Government every Nobleman of which there are many in Poland being ambitious to be a Prince judges himself better than his elected King. Hence proceeded all those dissentions which laid them open to the late invasion of their powerful Enemy the apprehension of whom having obducted for a while those sores of Faction which festered amongst them and that principle of self-conservation which by a forcible nature inclined them to Union at length armed them with a resolution to avenge the Liberties of their Country and assured them of the Truth of that Saying That a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand The Turks now wished that they had either made a true use of their Victory and the opportune Conjuncture of the last years Affairs to have setled and secured their Conquests or that they had never begun the War for now finding themselves engaged in it The Rebels in Hungary renew their Petition to the Turks for assistance they were in honour obliged to proceed and lose the fair opportunity which presented to make their advantage in Hungary to which place they had been and were still invited by the Rebles of that Country who to revenge the Cause of Serini Nadasti and some other Discontents and Aggrievances of which they complained and to defend the
Protestant Religion in which by the zeal of some Churchmen they were disturbed resolved to abandon their Allegiance to their natural Prince and rather seek a protection for their Estates and allowance for their Religion under the Turks than remain beholding for either to a prevailing party at the Imperial Court. The chief Authours of this Rebellion were Petrozy Sepesi Tende Gabor Sutrey and other principal persons amongst the Hungarians who having on their own strength opposed themselves against the Emperour the last year were defeated in divers engagements and at length reduced to a very low and miserable condition Wherefore they renew again their Petitions and Presents to the Sultan sent by their Agents about the beginning of this Month of April begging his assistance and protection representing the easiness of the Conquest and how large a Gate they were able to open to his Armies and make a plain way for him into the most fertile and opulent Countries of the World of which he seemed already half possessed by reason of those Discontents and Factions that were amongst them The Turks though well satisfied of the reasonableness of the design yet being engaged in honour against Poland knew not how to retract and therefore dispatched away the Messengers for the present with fair hopes and secret promises well treated in private though they received rather a Denial than Encouragement in publick For the expedition against Poland was that which employed solely the wisest heads of the Empire who as it were in fury issued out immediate Orders The rage of the Turks against Poland That all those who eat the Grand Signior's Bread should without farther delay prepare themselves for the Wars against Poland and that Provisions and Ammunition should be supplyed in all places according to the usual proportions The Tugh or Horse-Tail the Signal for departure was set forth the Tents ordered to be carried into the Field and such haste made in all parts as if the raising of an Army were the business but of one day resolving immediately to proceed against their Enemies to whom the Sultan returned a most dreadful and menacing Letter full of expressions agreeable to the Turkish Style which threatned Confusion Sword Famine Fire Destruction and a thousand other more direful Judgments but the Collection of this great Army and the appendages belonging thereunto were not so suddenly provided as to admit of such a dispatch as the Sultan's fury pretended wherefore in cooler blood it was concluded That for this Summer they should not pass much beyond the other side of the Danube that the Winter Quarters should be designed in Silistria from whence they might more effectually threaten and affright their Enemies with their near approach About this time the French found an opportune season to accommodate all their Affairs with the Port and to put a period to the several Articles and particulars they had for many years demanded For now the French King not only appeared very formidable by reason of his success against Holland but likewise instrumental to promote the designs of the Port whilst he kept the Brandenburghers employed and diverted the whole Armies of the Empire and now also that they might engage him not to contribute assistance to the Poles they judged it reasonable policy to evidence to that Ambassadour more external demonstrations of kindness and strain their courtesie beyond the terms which they could cordially and in reality afford them Wherefore at length the Capitulations were renewed and some Articles and Priviledges superadded which are these that follow FIrst That all religious Persons and Bishops of the French Church shall remain and continue quiet and unmolested in their respective Habitations and Dwellings with liberty to perform all their Ecclesiastical Rites and Ceremonies Secondly That the Religious of Jerusalem and of Bethlem shall conserve those religious places which they have anciently possessed and there may continue to celebrate their Worship of God and all their Devotions without any disturbance Thirdly That if these Religious of Jerusalem or Bethlem have any difference or dispute with the Officers thereof it shall be remitted to the decision of the Port. Fourthly All Frenchmen and all under their Banner shall safely at all times go to Jerusalem and return without molestation Fifthly The two Churches in Galata belonging to the Jesuits and Capuchins and anciently possessed by them are now again confirmed by these Presents one of which belonging to the Capuchins having been burnt free liberty is given for the rebuilding thereof and to remain as formerly in the hands of the French and in the Hospital in Galata if they will read the Gospel after their fashion none shall give them disturbance or hinder them Sixthly Whereas the French Nation formerly paid 5 per. Cent. Custom now in regard they have been ancient friends to the Port and that they have renewed their Capitulations they shall pay no more than 3 per Cent. and accordingly let no more be demanded Seventhly All Portugueses Sicilians Catelans Messineses of Ancona c. that have no Ambassadors at the Port if they come under the French Banner shall pay no more than 3 per Cent. according as the French pay Eighthly In payment of their Customs they shall pay the Currant Mony such as passes in our Treasury and the Farmers of the Customs shall not refuse the same Ninthly The Mesteria they shall pay according to what the English Merchants pay and no more Tenthly All the Merchandise they bring or shall bring shall be valued according to the present estimation and no more pretended of them and if the Customers will notwithstanding raise the esteem of the Goods above the value then if the Merchant will pay his Custom in specie it shall not be refused Eleventhly The Custom of Silk being paid a new Custom ought not to be demanded Twelfthly The Custom being once paid the Customer shall not refuse to give his Teschare and the Merchant being willing to transport his Goods to another Scale another Custom shall not be demanded Thirteenthly The Officers and Customers at Sidon Birut Aleppo or Cairo shall not compel the Merchants to take Goods by Eorce not under any pretence whatsoever take one Asper from them nor demand mony to be lent unto them Fourteenthly The French Vessels may bring Goods from the Indies by way of the Red Sea unto the Port Suucis and having paid their Custom once there whatsoever Goods they cannot sell in that Country they may have liberty to transport over land to Alexandria and there relade them again on their own Vessels without paying another Custom or receiving molestation from any person Howsoever this Capitulation is to be understood with this condition that this point shall be signified to the chief Officers of Cairo who having called a Council of the most knowing and experienced persons to consider hereof and they concluding that this point is in no wise prejudicial to that Country nor to the Interest of the Believers then this
he went before the Kadi and there in presence of divers Officers of the City turned Turk hoping by the Priviledge of the Mahometan Law whereby no Christian testimony can pass against a Turk to appropriate unto himself that whole Estate which he had thus treacherously got into his sole custody And it being impossible for Turks to attest the Marks Numbers or know the Estates of Persons being in England he judged himself out of the reach of any Power or Art to dispossess him of his unjust and wicked acquests Howsoever the Consul did so closely pursue him both at Smyrna and at the Turkish Court that in the space of seven months he regained all the Cloth and the best part of the Mony and Jewels out of his hands and in fine reduced this Renegado to so low a condition that he humbly supplicated the Consul to contrive a way for his passage into England at which time His Majesties Frigate the Centurion being then in Port he was imbarked thereupon and so returned into his own Country The Particulars of all which having been amply related in Writing and Letters to private Friends I purposely omit the same in this place that so I might cast a veil over the nakedness and shame of our Nation in that City Howsoever I judge it requisite to recount this Story in brief and in general heads That men may know there is a God who rules above who rejects impious and licentious persons confounding the designs of those who betraying their Trust deviate from the common Rules of Morality and Honesty Anno 1647. Hegeira 1085. THis Year began at Smyrna with the happy Arrival of Sir John Finch sent by His Majesty for Ambassador to the Grand Signior in the place of Sir Daniel Harvey who dyed in August 1672. at his Country-house not far from Constantinople His Excellency entred the City on the first day of January 1673 / 4 rejoycing the English Factory with the sight of their new Ambassador that Office having been now void for the space of sixteen months who was welcome also to people of the Country judging him fortunate for arriving at the Feast of their great Biram nor less pleasing was the News thereof to the Court especially to the late Pasha of Tunis whose Goods and Monies taken by one Dominico Franceschi out of an English Ship called the Mediterranean in her passage from Tunis to Tripoli this Ambassador had recovered from Ligorne and Malta which being an action without example was greatly admired and applauded by the Turks and esteemed an evident demonstration of that great Interest and Power which the Glory of our King hath acquired in Foreign parts and of the singular dexterity of such a Minister About the 18th of March Sir John Finch arrived at Constantinople being transported to the Dardanelli on his Majesties Fregat the Centurion and thence on a Gally hired at Smyrna for that purpose Some few days after his arrival the Grand Signior and Vizier being at Adrianople the Lord Ambassador had audience of the Chimacam whom he saluted with this speech I am come Ambassadour from Charles the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland sole Lord and Soveraign of all the Seas that environ his Kingdoms Lord and Soveraign of vast territories and possessions in the East and West-Indies Defender of the Christian Faith against all those that Worship Idols or Images To the most Powerful and mighty Emperor of the East to maintain that peace which hath been so useful and that commerce which hath been so profitable to this Empire For the continuance and encrease whereof I promise you in my station to contribute what I can and I promise to my self that you in your will do the like But to proceed to the Wars The Polanders being thus prosperous made use of their success and the sharp cold of the Winter-season to make their Incursions and Winter-quarters through all the Principalities of Moldavia for they being born in cold Countries and accustomed to the Snows and Frosts were more patient and enduring of extremity of weather than were the Turks who were brought forth from more mild and moderate Climates so that neither could the Poles be driven out from those Countries nor Keminitz be relieved by them until such time that the Sun getting high and thawing the Snows and warming the Earth prepared a season fit for return of the Turks who marching according to their custom with an Army composed of great multitudes quickly compelled the Poles to retire For the Grand Signior and Vizier having both seated their Winter-quarters on the Banks of the Danube were ready at the first opening of the Summer to enter their Arms into the Enemies Countries and having called the Tartars to their assistance did according to the usual custom make Incursions for depredation of Slaves Cattel and whatsoever else was portable in a running March. The Chan or King of this People was at that time greatly indisposed in his health of which he advised the Great Vizier as if he intended thereby to obtain a release from his personal attendance that year in the War But the Vizier who either supposed this excuse to be only a pretence or that he had a kindness for his Person immediately dispatched away his own Physician called Signior Masselini an Italian born a worthy Learned man a good Christian and my intimate Friend with whom maintaining a constant correspondence by Letters he wrote me A Journy into Tartary That from the Grand Signiors Quarters which were at Batadog near the Banks of the Danube he arrived after seventeen days Journey in Chrim where he said he was received with singular honour and kindness by the Great Chan whom he found to be a Prince of admirable prudence gentleness and generosity but greatly afflicted with a Hypochondriacal Melancholy which being an infirmity of some years standing was with the more difficulty removed howsoever he was so far from being uncapable to follow his Army that he advised him to divert his mind with the thoughts of War which counsel having taken after thirty days abode in the Camp he found himself much more chearful than before and greatly relieved of that pressure of Melancholy and caliginous Vapours which offended his Brain We are now said he at Vssia at the Mouth of the Boristhenes which we have passed from the other side unto this where the River is nine miles broad from hence we are marching towards Bender upon the Niester to pass into Moldavia and there to joyn with the Ottoman Army The Poles have sent to demand Peace but with condition that Kemenitz be restored to them which Proposition was with great disdain rejected and will never be granted whilst this Emperour reigns These people greatly desired a Peace with Poland which the Election of Sobieski for King may probably facilitate for not only they but the Turks also dread a March into Poland and are so inveterately bent to take revenge on the Muscovites and Cosacks
Grand Signior and his Officers had greatly resented the sufferings of Hoffse-bey and that they owned his cause having stopt the four Ships of Tunis at Constantinople and had promised to furnish him with a whole Chamber of Janisaries with a Licence to raise such Voluntiers on the Sea-coast of Asia as would willingly and of their own accord follow his Colours I had not many days given them this intelligence which others confirmed in like manner before Hoffse-bey himself with his four men of War and two other hired Ships arrived in the Port of Smyrna where having stayed some days to taken in provisions and embark those who had listed themselves for his service in those Parts they departed for Tunis touching at Scio Navarine and Tripoly in their Way reinforcing themselves with such as voluntarily followed their Standard The Messengers posted back with all speed on a Vessel hired at Smyrna and arriving some time before Hoffse-bey rendered an account of the treatment which he had found at Constantinople with the particulars of the forces he brought with him The Tunesines being prepared with this intelligence took courage to oppose a handful of men to whom they refused License so much as to one man of them to land only out of respect to the Grand Signior's Commands they were willing to admit Hoffse-bey to a treaty and to receive him ashoar with three or four Servants and COmpanions They sleightly perused his Papers rather to discover his strength and the porgress of his negotiations then with intentions to condescend in the least to his desires which having done and given permission to see his house and visit his wife and children they hastned him again aboard and all the Country being in Arms they threatned to treat him and his People as Enemies if they adventured to make a descent Hoffse-bey being discouraged with this rude Treatment and with the Union and general Confederacy of the people against him contrary to his expectations returned to Navarine where he landed discharged his Ships and Souldiers which lay too heavy upon a Private Purse and retired himself for some time with much melancholy and discontent at length he travelled again to Constantinople where the Turkish Officers attended his coming with open mouths expecting to share once more in the recruits he had brought with him from Tunis But his stock being low he was not able to dispense his mony and presents so generously and plentifully as before which the Turks perceiving fell much in their respects for him and strangly on a suddain lost wholly the zeal and compassion for his cause suffering him to live at Constantinople in the Condition of a private Aga. In the mean time the disturbances and civil dissentions ran high at Tunis the two Brothers waging War with various and interchangeable success caused such agitions in the State that in three months time four Deys were cut off At length the younger Brother Ciddi Ali gaining the Victory and always inclining towards his Uncle consented that he should be recalled from Constantinople whereupon four Ships were fitted at Porto Farina to carry presents of atonement to Constantinople and to bring Hoffse-bey from thence with Title of Pasha whom the people now expected with great impatience as the only Person whose Presence and Authority was able to settle and restore them to their former quietness and union This happened in the year 1677 when the Country was so harrassed with Civil Wars that a miserable Famine ensued so that a Cafficé of Wheat which was ten Bushels was sold for twenty eight Dollars and of Barly for fourteen and the scarcity of this Country which is commonly the Granary of Italy had such influence on those parts and Spain in the years 1677 and 1678 that the Sate of the Grand Duke of Tuscany suffered much thereby and had more had not the State of Luca out of Friendship and on the score of Neighbourhood relieved their necessities Anno 1675. Hegeira 1086. PRopositions of peace not being so earnestly pressed nor so advantageously proffered by the Poles as the pride of the Turks did expect the War still continued but not prosecuted either on the one side or on the other with the same violence with which it began For the Sultan designing this year to circumcise his Son the young Prince now about twelve years of Age and to marry his Daughter of seven to his Mosayp or Favourite Pasha of Magnasia commonly called by the Name of Kul-ogli which signifies the Son of a Slave he resolved todedicate this whole Year to quiet repose mirth and jollity at home only two thousand Janisaries were sent to Ibrahim Pasha to recruit the Souldiers on the Frontiers of Poland and the Tartars were reinforced with some Turkish Troops under Vsuff Pasha to assist Dorosensko against the Poles who were with a considerable Army fallen into Vkrania And the Captain Pasha with twenty eight Sail of Gallies was dispeeded into the Black Sea for carrying of such Provisions and Ammunition for War as was necessary for supply of the Army Besides which no preparations of War were designed these being judged sufficient though not to conquer yet at least to repress the Incursions and amuse or keep the Armes of the Enemy employed For at the Cttoman Court the sace of all things was become serene and calm no Seditinos of great men nor discontents of the people nor balck and cruel designs of State disturbed or clouded the splendour of the Solemnities The happy state of the Ottoman Court. or the brows of the great Statists but all matters ran in an uninterrupted course of Joy and Festivity The Sultan who in his action shewed himself a most benign Prince sparing and compassionate of the blood and misery of his Subjects hath since his arrival to a mature Age exercised a wise manner of Government severe and just and yet void of the cruelty and tyranny of his Ancestors under whom the trading Christian enjoyed the privilege of their Capitulations with more justice and less frequent Avanias The Vizier also and other great Officers being sensible of the benefit which Trade begat treated Merchants with more gentleness and respect than in former times their Ships not being forced on every occasion into the Grand Signior's service but rather perswaded to it by rewards and fair promises otherwise than in the times of former Viziers and it is to be wished also that the like might be said under the Government of those which are to succeed though if we look forward to the years 1678 and 1679 we shall find the Scene of things altered and not only Merchants but even Ambassadors and the Representatives themselves remain under sad discouragements Amongst these joys and gentle ways of Government the manner of this Court was much altered the Divan had not for two months space been opened for business to the great prejudice and interruption of Justice Wine that great abomination to the Turkish Law which four years past was
or Oywar and laid thereunto a considerable part of Hungary which to this day continues subject and pays contribution to the Turk He concluded the War with Venice after twenty seven years continuance by an intire and total subjection of the Island of Candia having subdued that impregnable Fortress which by the rest of the World was esteemed invincible He won Kemenitz the Key of Poland where the Turks had been frequently baffled and laid Vkrania to the Empire reducing the Cosacks those mortal Enemies to subjection and to a desire of taking on them the Ottoman Yoke and finally he imposed a new Tribute on all Poland After all which Glories he dyed in the 47th year of his Age and 15th year and 8th day of his Government a short time if we consider it for such great actions howsoever if we measure his triumphs rather than count his years though he might seem to have lived but little to his Prince and People yet certainly to himself he could not dye more seasonable nor in a greater height and eminency of Glory Vtcunque Principi Reipublicae parum sibi certè satis suaeque Gloriae vixisse videbitur The Great Vizier having in this manner expired his last breath the Seal was immediately carried by his Brother to the Grand Signior who upon Receipt thereof according to common expectation conferred the same on Kara Mustapha Pasha who had for so many years formerly exercised the Office of Chimacam Kara Mustapha made Vizier which is as much as Deputy to the Great Vizier of whom in other places we gave a Character of being a wise and experienced Person of a smooth behaviour and a great Courtier agreeable to which temper of mind so soon as he attained this promotion he sent an obliging and courteous Message to the Servants of the deceased Vizier condoling with them the death of their Master promising to take them and their Concernments into his Care and Protection according whereunto he advanced Solyman Kahya who was the late Vizier's Substitute and for some years had managed all Affairs to the Office of Embrahore which is chief Master of the Grand Signiors horse and is a place not only of honour but of great security He that was his own Kahya he made a Vizier of the Bench and Chimacam in the same manner as he was to Achmet Vizier by which point of policy he seemed to have strengthened himself against all Enemies for having two Creatures of his own so well disposed one near the Person of his Prince who would be able to do him all good Offices and the other whensoever the Wars or other occasions should cause him to be absent from the Royal Presence might supply his place without attempting to supplant him The Kapisler-Kahyasee or Master of the Ceremonies to the late Vizier he made his own Kahya and all the other Agas which depended on that Court he received into his own service so that in effect there seemed by this great chance of Mortality to be little other alteration in the Court than of the single person of the deceased Vizier of whose Memory that the Grand Signior might evidence the love and esteem that he retained he did not intermeddle or appropriate unto himself any part of his Estate or disanulled his Testament but resigned all into the hands of his Relations challenging no share or proportion thereof And whereas the Vizier lest no Children the Estate fell to his Brother and Sisters who to evidence their Devotion to Religion and good will to the Publick and to please the eyes of the envious World conferred on Mecha the Rent of the new Custom house the Besasteen and new Chan built at Smyrna and finished in the year 1677. At this first change there were rumors that the new Vizier had begun his Government in blood having cut off several heads lately in Authority but all was false and only grounded on a displeasure which he was known to have conceived against certain persons Only one act he performed rather of justice than severity having cut off one of the Pay-masters of the Exchequer for false Money The occasion was this Certain Muletiers having received mony from the Exchequer in Venetian Zechins and finding several of them false returned them again but could not previal to have them changed whereupon having made their Memorial thereof they carried them to the Vizier and upon examination the Pay-master declared That he received them from the Great Ibrahim Han-ogli who being for that Cause sent for and accused was put into a fear which proved as dangerous to him as a Disease the apprehensions of Death being worse than the reality but the Great Tefterdar soon cleared him of this Accusation having attested That to his knowledge the mony received from him was good and disposed on other occasions so that the whole blame lying now on the Pay-master and upon farther search more of the same stamp being found in his hands he deservedly suffered the punishment of Death the which had likewise been inflicted on another Officer of the same rank but not being found so culpable as the other he was permitted to redeem his life with forty Purses of Mony or twenty thousand Dollars Thus far we have seen the gentle and smooth behaviour of the present Vizier towards the Friends Relations and Servants of the Deceased Aheratiens with the new Vizier and with what Acts of Justice he began his Government But behold on a sudden the face of the whole Court was changed every Officer thereof putting on a Countenance of fierceness pride and arrogance beyond the manner and custom lately practised For the Great Visier took on himself the State and Grandeur of the Sultan the access being as difficult to him as to his Master his Kahya that of the Visier and so every inferior Officer advanced himself into a fancy of possessing the next and immediate Degree above him This haughty behaviour had a more particular influence on the Ministers and Representatives of Foreign Princes whose Interpreters were not admitted as formerly to private Audiences or Conferences about their Affairs but only at the Publick Divan where their Arzes or Memorials were to be preferred in the same manner as was practised by the Subjects of the Country and those of conquered Nations who petition for Justice The which abasement was not only cast on the Interpreters but on the Persons of the Representatives themselves an example of which we have in the French Ambassador who coming at the time appointed to receive his Audience of the Visier was forced to expect a long time before he could have admittance and then entering into the Chamber of Audience was rudely crouded and rushed upon by a Crew of unmannerly Chaouses who no otherwise regarded the Person of the Ambassador than if he had been one of the Grooms or Lacquies Being come to the Seat of Audience the Ambaslador observed That the Stool for the Great Visier was set upon the Soffrá and
his Majesty's concessions such that the Grand Seignior began to apprehend that Tekeley had some inclinations to return to his Obedience to his Sovereign to prevent which he sent a Bassa to divert him by offering him the Principality of Transilvania after the decease of Abaffi This Bassa had several Conferences with him and with the other Chiefs of the Faction and did so well manage them with the pretended advantages that they would find by putting themselves under the Protection of the Port that eighty of them did promise in the name of all the Kingdom to pay to his Ottoman Highness a Tribute of eighty thousand Crowns provided he would powerfully assist them This Intrigue being made known to the Emperour he received it with much Indignation commanding that none of the contrivers of it should appear at the Diet. In the mean time he ordered the Marquess of Baden and the Count of Staremburg to cause Raab and Vienna whereof they were Governours to be fortified to prevent any Designs of the Turks upon those Places And now his Imperial Majesty did no more question but that the Infidels would transport the War into Hungary especially being informed by his Resident Kaunitz at Constantinople that the Port after many and long Disputes had at length concluded a Cessation with the Muscovites for twenty years upon Condition that besides Kiovia they should enjoy Tripol Staiki and Vasikow which had always been dependants upon Kiovia The Grand Visier received these Propositions with joy and writ to the Czar thereupon with very extraordinary Praises and Titles assuring him in the name of the Grand Seignior that he would ratifie the Conditions agreed upon and that he might send his Ambassadour to finish the Treaty In the mean time the Visier to prevent the Czar's refusal of sending another Minister before his which resided at the Port who had been kept under restraint for some time was returned into Muscovy he forthwith dismissed him with magnificent Presents for his Master The Grand Seignior who seemed resolved to invade Hungary staying his removal to Adrianople but till the return of this Ambassadour did emit a Manifest or Mandate directed to Prince Abaffi in these following terms Forasmuch as those of Hungary who have received the Emperour of the Nazarien Nation to be their Lord have been spoiled of their Country and Castles by the Germans and have therefore had recourse to our Clemency for Protection it is Our pleasure in regard of their long and piteous miseries and being thereunto moved by their reiterated Prayers and Supplications graciously to affranchise them from the Yoke of that Nation 'T is therefore that We communicate this Design to you as Our faithful Minister by the Bassa Caput and the Aga Starra with express Command that you make your self forthwith ready to deliver the Hungarians from the Oppression of their Enemies with all the Forces of Transilvania which shall be immediately reinforced with those of Valachia and of the Bassa of Silistria 13003 Janizaries and 2000 Horse for We have promised them Our Imperial Protection in consideration of the Fidelity which they have manifested to Vs which We have since had experience of And therefore We Command you yet again to neglect nothing that may tend to the Execution of Our Pleasure and good Will to the end that by the Assistance of the most High and most Mighty God this People so cruelly oppressed may be forthwith delivered from the Bondage of the unmerciful Germans In the mean time you shall from time to time inform Our great Ottoman Mightiness with what shall happen and what you shall have done pursuant hereunto And you are farther enjoyned to take heed that you do nothing that may be disadvantageous to Our Incomparable Greatness Abaffi animated with this Mandate and having received the Orders that were necessary drew his Troops together and joyned with Tekeley with the Turks the Valachians and the Moldavians emitting withal a Declaration That he did not Arm against the Interest of Christendom but only to deliver the Protestants of Hungary from the Oppression they laboured under by restoring them in their Possessions and their Churches and re-establishing them in their ancient Priviledges He added that the Grand Seignior had expresly commissioned him for this Expedition which he also undertook with the consent of all the States of Transilvania He had besieged Zatmar and pressed the place vigorously to shew the Defendants that he was in a Condition to force them if they would not voluntarily Surrender A few days after he received a recruit of 8000 Men which the Bassa of Buda sent him who had already assembled an Army of 40000 Men which he incamped near the place of his Government Whilst Abaffi was engaged in the aforesaid Siege 3000 Turks made an Inroad into Styria near Gratz where they took a 1000 Prisoners which they made Slaves and very much Pillage And now the Grand Seignior resolves not only to assist the Malecontents but joyntly with them to force the Places of Hungary until they were in a condition to pay him the Tribute they were engaged to do In the mean time Abaffi having made his Circumvallation about Zatmar divided his Army into four Bodies The first was composed of the Transilvanians the second of the Moldavians the third of Turks and the fourth of the Malecontents and he forced the City but could not take the Citadel which obliged him to raise his Siege Many were the Discourses of this Action and some gave out that Abaffi had no mind to take the Place upon a Surmise that the Grand Seignior pretended it should be delivered into his Hands upon Surrender However it was it is certain that the Bassa which commanded the Ottomans at this Siege sent great Complaints to Constantinople against this Prince which obliged him to return into his own Countrey lest his Enemies should take advantage by his absence Thus this great Army vanished as well by the misintelligence of the Chiefs and the rigour of the Season the Winter approaching as by the Vigilancy of Count Caprara the Imperial General who tho' he was not able to fight the Enemy did notwithstanding perpetually incommode them with Parties and Detachments Tekely hereupon having pillaged and burnt Kalo except the Citadel which he garrisoned put his Troops into their Winter quarters But the Turks to finish their Campania would surprise the Castle of Pettinia upon the Borders of Croatia but their design being discovered the Militia of the Country drawing into a body forced them to retire On the side of the Christians the Winter was spent in fruitless Treaties and Contestations betwixt the Ecclesiasticks and Seculars save that the Empress was crowned Queen of Hungary which was effected with great Magnificence and Pomp. On the other side the Turks having agreed with the Muscovites the Grand Seignior resolved by the Council of his great Visier to carry his Arms into Hungary in order to which vast Magazins were made at Belgrade and other
the Camp about Ten of the Clock preceded by his Guards and riding between the Dukes of Bavaria and Lorrain being followed by many other Princes and Lords and saluted with three Vollies of all the Cannon and Musqueteers of the Army After Mass the Archbishop of Strigonium read with a loud Voice the Bull of Indulgence accorded to such who should fight against Infidels and having given his Benediction to their Imperial Majesties who received it on their Knees and consequently to all the Army this Prince caused 500000 Livers to be distributed amongst the Souldiery which was no less acceptable to them The Command of the Forces being given to the Duke of Lorrain as Generalissimo the Right wing was conducted by the Duke of Sax-Lawenburg the Left by General Caprara and the Infantry and Cannon by the Count of Starenberg With this Army thus composed most of the Emperour 's old and best Souldiery and under so expert a General as the Duke of Lorrain the Court hoped for somewhat extraordinary though as it will appear they were disappointed in their Expectation In the mean time a Council of War was held to see what might be done before the arrival of the Turks and after what manner they should act upon the Defensive when the Enemy did appear All agreed that for the Offensive there was nothing to be attempted but Gran or Newhausel and that as they ought to avoid those Enterprises which would cost much Blood and weaken the Army so they seemed to point at Gran as most easie though others were for Newhausel for several Reasons For the Defensive it was concluded they must endeavour to defend the Passages of the Rivers Raab and Waagh The result of this Council being referred to the Emperour he judged that for the Reputation of his Arms and other important Reasons not to suffer his Army to lye idle the space of two Months time which they had before the Enemy could take the field but left the choice to the Duke whether he would attempt Gran or Newhausel He only recommended to him that when the Turks advanced he should take care for the security of the Garrisons and oppose as much as in him lay the Enemies ravaging of the Hereditary Countries The Army being advanced near Comorra the Duke having no certain Intelligence of the condition of Gran resolved in person to take a view of the Place which he did but being upon the point to resolve its Siege he was advertised that the Turks were forming a Camp at Buda and judging that they might from thence relieve Gran by Water as the Bassa of Newhausel had already done upon the news of the Christians Design to attempt the place and perhaps cut off the Communication betwixt him and Comorra by posting themselves betwixt this Place and Gran he quitted the thoughts of that Enterprise resolving upon the Siege of Newhausel as the only choice left him This Resolution being taken June 3. he sent some Foot towards Gran and armed Boats down the River as designing to burn the Bridge to gain a belief of his intent to besiege that City but wheeling about with his Horse he marched all that Night and invested Newhausel the Day following The Turks seeing this set the Suburbs on fire to prevent the Christians approach who notwithstanding planted their battery and were advanced within an hundred paces of the body of the Place with little loss save that of Count Taxis and might probably have given a good account of the Siege if the Court which disapproved the Enterprise had not sent orders for them to retire This command was immediately obeyed and not without some Precipitation the Army returning to their old Camp betwixt Raab and Comorra The sudden raising of the Siege seemed strange to some being the Turkish Army was not yet ready to appear and that the Christians were so forward in their approaches But the more discerning thought otherwise because this Town being strong and well furnished with all things the obstinacy of the Besieged might have wearied the Imperial Troops and have reduced them to an Inability of being able to oppose the Ottoman Army when they came into Hungary and that therefore it was better chusing the certain than the hazard of that which was not so as was the taking of Newhausel and to keep upon the Defensive the rather being the Polish Army was not ready nor yet raised and therefore the Imperial Army upon whose Valour depended the Preservation of Hungary and Austria was in no wise to be weakned or baffled The Duke of Lorrain having refreshed his Army for some time advanced with all his Forces on the side of Raab having given orders to hasten the Works at Leopolstat and repair the Fortifications of Raab and Comorra In the mean time the Turkish Army composed of all the Nations under their Obedience consisting of 200000 Men advanced into Hungary on the side of Alba-Regalis sending 4000 Pioneers before them to dig Pits and Wells in their passage to furnish all the Army with Water and the Grand Visier himself having passed the Bridge of Essek with the body of his Army moved towards the Christian Camp by Raab with a Resolution to attack it instantly and oblige them to a general Battel his Army was so numerous that they covered the whole Country from Alba even to the Mountains of Raab and being come within a League of the Imperialists he detached a great number of Tartars to spoil and ravage the Country out of which the Christians could receive any Subsistence or Forage which extremely augmented their wants which were already but too great The Grand Seignior arriving at Belgrade the Third of June the Sultan Queen would not stay behind but accompanied his Highness in his Voyage of Hungary At Belgrade he received an Express from the Caimacan of a great fire at Constantinople which had intirely consumed one of the quarters of the City and that the Grand Visier's Seraglio had been quite burnt if the neighbouring Houses had not been pulled down to save that sumptuous Building Takely having taken his measures from the Grand Visier upon whom he had waited and concerted with him concerning the following Campania being returned to Cassovia published a Manifest in the Grand Seignior's and his own Name that all the Hungarians that would embrace his Party should be maintained in their Priviledges Liberties Goods Laws and Religion but that such who refused to submit should have no quarter This Manifest had the desired effect for the Cities of Papa Tot and Vesprin the most remote immediately opened their Gates to the Tekelists The Emperour fearing that Neutra would follow the Example of these three Places commanded Count Schults the Governour to draw forth the great Guns the Arms and Stores and to quit the Place The same Orders were given to the Hilly Cities and to the Officers of the Silver Mines who all obeyed a Conduct so extraordinary alarmed all Hungary The Cities and
Counties declared to the Emperours Commissioners that they would open their Gates to Count Tekely to prevent Fire and Pillage being there was no hopes of Succours To all this the Hungarians under their Palatine Esterhasi's Command who guarded the Passages of the River Waagh about 15000 in number deserted likewise putting themselves under the Protection of Tekeley and the Turks so that this Palatine with scarce a competent Guard was forced to retire to Vienna because he would not violate his Faith sworn to the Emperour Whilst the two Armies did nothing material but observe each other a great Body of Tartars under the Conduct of their Cham who was there in Person animated with the hopes of Pillage having examined the Avenues and Fords of the River Raab by following it towards its source passed over by swimming their Horses and guided by some Hungarians they came to Kerment and St. Godthard a place famous for the memorable Victory which the Christians gained from the Turks nineteen years past far from finding any Obstacles to hinder them every thing seem'd to favour their Passage Count Badiani abandoned his post upon the River joyning with Tekely those Hungarians he commanded so that the Enemy entered the Country like a torrent putting all to Fire and Sword and passing the Rabwitz continued their Devastations The Duke of Lorrain finding the Enemy on both sides and fearing lest they might cut off his way to Vienna and the Hereditary Countries having reinforced the Garisons of Raab and Comorra resolved to retire with the rest not exceeding 24000. And to the end the march of the Horse might not be retarded by the Foot and Artillery they were separated the Infantry and Canon marching along the Isle of Schut the way on the left side of the Danube being exposed to little Danger from thence they came safe to Presburg and Thebes and passing the River Mark arrived happily at Vienna The Duke having passed the Bridge of Raab with the Cavalry marched to Altembourg where he rested some time exposing this little Town to the Pillage of his Souldiers as being loth to let their Cattel and Provisions fall into the Enemies Hands which would infallibly happen The Inhabitants however seemed very dissatisfied to be so used by their Friends though the Cruelty of the Enemy who ravaged all with Fire and Sword effaced the other ill as wholly disproportionable from thence having passed the Streight there they marched towards the Plains of Kitz or Kitzer where two Months before the general review of the Army was made Cara Mustapha the Great Visier attributing this retreat of the Christians to their fear called a Council where it was deliberated whether he should pursue them or undertake the Siege of Raab But judging according to the appearances that their retreat was no better than a runing away it was resolved to pursue them whereupon he presently raised his Camp and followed the way the Christians were gone leaving a body of 12000 near the said Raab to secure his Convoys and Provisions The Duke perceiving their design and not judging himself in affurance in the Plains of Kitz against so formidable a power resolved to march towards Vienna He sent Count Aeneas Caprara General of his Horse to acquaint the Emperour with it and inform him of all things The Duke following had sent his Baggage before but it happened that a Troop of Tartars mingled with Turks and conducted by Hungarians to the number of 3000 in all having swum over the River Leithe and hid themselves in a Wood betwixt the Villages of Petronel and Elend fell suddenly upon them and attacking some Regiments on the left Wing which followed the Baggage with dreadful cryes and howlings did so surprize them with the terrour of so unexpected an irruption that it brought them all into confusion and by reason of the Dust which was so thick that they could not distinguish Friend from Foe not knowing which way to turn they broke their Ranks and communicated their Disorder to the very Regiments that followed In the mean time these Barbarians taking the ordinary Advantages of their impetuousness flew some of them upon the Pedees Carters and Servants which they sacrifice to their Cruelty and Fury whilst the rest plunder the Chariots and Baggage Many Officers lost there their Equipages and amongst others the Duke of Saxon-Lawenburg the Prince of Croy and Aeneas Caprara all General Officers had all their Plate taken away This Accident put the Army into a prodigious Consternation it could not be comprehended that the Duke having left the Enemy behind him this same Enemy should possibly have got before them and by ways nearer and shorter intercept and so boldly attack their Baggage which was thought secure under the Convoy that guarded it As soon as they had recollected themselves and that the Duke had considered the disorder part of his Army was in he sent fresh Troops to second the first and to assist them to repell the Barbarians yet so as to avoid a general Engagement which he greatly apprehended The Tartars seeing the Christians rally began likewise to draw to a head but the fear to see themselves deprived of their Prey obliged them to retire and to run away with no less precipitation and speed than they used in their Onset The Duke caused them to be pursued by his Light-Horse who took some Standards being unwilling to engage with the gross of their Troops as well being this Detachment was supported by the Avant-guard of the Army as not to retard his march to Vienna the which he continned afterwards without any Interruption The Chevalier of Savoy Brother to the Count of Soissons was lost in this Confusion for being too far advanced with his Dragoons that followed him a Tartar knock'd him from his Horse with his Sable and thinking him dead did alight and heaving him cross his Saddle with his Breast upon the Pomel prest him so there that he bruised his Stomach A little after this Prince being relieved and conducted to Vienna and however his Wound in his Head was not mortal his dislocated Stomach could not bere-set so that he died in a few days Prince Thomas of Aremberg and Count Mellini were slain in this scuffle though the common loss of either side was not great The Emperour being informed of the present State of Affairs by Count Caprara was greatly irresolved not knowing what to do upon so important and pressing an Occasion He immediately caused his chief Ministers to be summoned to know their Sentiments and all unanimously counselled his Majesty to retire from Vienna They now only deliberate what road or way he ought to take some advised he should go over the Mountains without passing the Danube and so strait to Campililium being the shortest and easiest way to Lintz but the Enemy being on the same side of the River the other was preferable as less subject to Danger and the violent pursuits of the Enemies Cavalry who would make more way in
a day winged with the hopes of such a purchase than the Court could make in four This last advice being approved was ordered to be put in Execution and all things as far as was possible in such Confusion prepared for the Journey The Noise of this retreat was quickly made publick The Waggons which arrived in Confusion to carry the Baggage sufficiently published it and at the same time filled the City and Neighbourhood with so much Terror that it might be thought no body would stay when the Emperour was gone All the Horses and Carts that could possibly be found were hired to fly away with many Ladies of Quality being forced to put themselves into despicable Carriages little conformable to their Condition Houses stored with rich moveables and furnished with Wine Corn and all sort of Provisions were abandoned nothing but what was precious and most portative being saved The Air was also filled with the Sighs the Tears the Lamentations and the Cryes of the Multitude as if the Enemy had already rendered themselves Masters of the City The same day July 7. being the seventh of July about eight at Night their Imperial Majesties with the whole Court passing through the Pallace Gate went over the Danube and lay that Night at Cronenbourg a pleasant Town two or three miles distant from Vienna being guarded by 200 men who returned to Vienna the next Morning The next day there followed such a prodigious number of Coaches Carts Chariots Horsemen Foot c. as if they had designed to render the City a Desert They were thought to amount to 60000 so pressing they were to avoid the danger that so eminently threatned them And yet it was computed that no fewer stay'd behind fit to bear Arms besides the Garrison the Women and the Children This flight continued several days but those that went last fell for the most part into the danger they would avoid the hands of the Tartars Many others did so overload their Chariots that they had scarce passed the Bridge over the Danube but their Wheels or Axeltrees breaking they were left in the way in the Night not knowing whither to turn themselves Count Aversberg having been dispatched by the Duke of Lorrain to the Emperour to inform him of the success of the Battel of Petronel found him at Cronenbourg and greatly rejoyced the whole Court. Upon the first News of the Regiments that had been baffled they had published at Vienna that the General had been slain the Horse defeated and the Tartars at the Gates of the City Thus all were greatly revived that the Evil was less than they had believed it to be Whilst their Imperial Majesties continued their Journey to Lintz Lorrain entred Vienna where his first care was to pacifie the Disorders and Confusion there July 8. Count Sterenberg arrived there the same day and immediately fell to work with the Counterscharp fortifying the whole Works and to plant Palizadoes As they had not apprehended a Siege the Generals found the more to do Lorrain endeavoured however to provide for all things before the arrival of the Enemy July 11. who began since the 11th to shew their most advanced Troops near the City The same day Starenberg's Regiment arrived as also a thousand commanded Men who advancing swiftly before the rest of the Army entred the City And now they burn the Suburbs July 12. which was continued the day following the Citizens themselves carrying Fire into their own Houses and in the Evening there was a great Skirmish near the Palace called the Favorite where the Turks advanced to discover All the Infantry arrived the 13th July 13. and Lorrain made them all march into the Counterscharp except eight Batallions which he retained in the Tabor the better to defend that Post where he resolved to stay until the Powder and Bullets expected from Lintz were arrived which being effected and the Ammunition conducted into the Arsenal July 14. he caused the rest of the Foot to be removed into the Town together with Dupigni's Regiment of Horse the whole composing a Body of twelve thousand Men. The Tartars had committed infinite Ravages and Cruelties in that vast extent of Countries round Vienna for several Leagues It is their custom to run before the Army armed only with a Javelin and to burn and sack and spread Terror over all where they find no resistance They kill such as fall into their Hands or traffick them away as Slaves with the Turks No place escapes their Inhumanity not the most retired Places of Forrests the impenetrable Dens of wild Beasts or the most obscure retreats of Valleys There is nothing these Barbarians do not discover by means of their Blood-hounds the use whereof is common amonst them But now the gross of the Enemies Army approaching a great number of Waggons some with four Horses and others drawn with Oxen and very many Camels laden with Baggage began to range themselves in form of a Croysent or half Moon about the City extending from the Danube behind St. Mark along the Suburbs of Leopolstat and the neighbouring Villages even to Neudorf At the same time the Turks opened their Trenches on the side of the Imperial Gate and lodged there in spight of the Cannon of the Town that endeavoured to hinder them The Duke of Lorrain having ordered Affairs at Vienna retired with his Horse and Dragoons over the Bridges and camp'd there he would gladly have kept some Foot with him but having considered the greatness of the Enemies Strength the Works that were to be made the distance of Supplies and the diminution which the continuance of a Siege would make in the Garrison he resolved to leave all his Infantry with the Governour who most earnestly desired it The Duke before he left Vienna had designed to continue in the Tabor or Isle of St. Leopold and so conserve the Communication with the City Tabor is an Island of a League and a half long environed with the Danube This Isle is full of Houses of Pleasure Gardens and Groves But upon a true Survey of the Place his Highness could not think it defensible the Waters being so low that the Arm of the River which formed this Isle was almost every where fordable so that whole squadrons might pass at once without breaking their Ranks for this and other Reasons the Isle being likewise exposed to the Enemies Artillery they were obliged to repass the Danube The Turks by this time had pitch'd an infinite number of Tents about the City and making a lodgement in Rottenhoffs Garden where they had first opened their Trenches and raised a great Battery they thundered without ceasing to favour their Works which they continued winding and turning The besieged on their side covered themselves with Gabions and sacks of Earth to hinder the effect of the Enemies Cannon they also raised a good Battery on that side and all the Engineers and most knowing Officers being distributed into the several Posts were
be made in them and Boats to bâ—â—rought thither Upon his return he found Count Palsi arrived from Lintz with orders from the Emperour that it was necessary he should expect the arrival of all the Allies before he approached near the Enemies About this time a noise was spread in the City that the Turks who incessantly mined and moved the Earth had made a Subterranean passage which should open into the Emperours Cellars by which they pretended to surprise the Town The Governour howbeit he believed nothing of it ordered the Emperours Guards which were left for the Guard of the Palace to keep watch and Centinels in the Cellars which they did with no great regret The same day there happened an accident which for the rareness of it may well be recorded Kimpler an able Engineer working in a Countermine under the Castle-Gate encountered deep in the Earth within a walled Vault Estani a Coffin of Tin wherein he thought to have found a dead Corps but opening it he was dazzled with the lustre of a great many pieces of Gold and Silver wherewith this Coffin was filled he saw moreover rich Jewels enriched with precious Stones Having secured this Treasure he found in the bottom a Box of Tin wherein was a Parchment where the following words were traced in ancient Characters GAUDEBIS SI INVENERIS VIDEBIS TACEBIS SED ORABIS PUGNABIS AEDIFICABIS NON HODIE NEC CRAS SED QUIA UNIVERSUS EQUUS TURRIS ERECTA ET ARMATA DIVERSA ORDINATA ARMA SUBSCRIPTIO ROLLANDT HUNN MOG POSUIT Those who would divine the Sentiments of Rowland Hun of Mets who had deposited this Treasure in the Earth pretended he had some Knowledge of the future and that by this Inscription he would manifest that he knew this Treasure would be found during the Siege of Vienna and that the Infidels should be obliged to abandon it Their Sense of the words follows Rowland speaking to Kimpler says to him Si inveneris If thou dost find what I have hid from all others videbis tacebis thou wilt consider these words and discover thy good Fortune to no body sed orabis pugnabis but thou shalt render thanks unto God for reserving these Riches for thee and as obliged in gratitude thou shalt fight against the Enemies of his Name aedificabis non hodie nec cras Thou shalt imploy the Monies I designed for thee to build Churches but it shall not be when thy Native Country is desolated by War it shall not be neither to day nor tomorrow sed quia universus equus thou would'st ill take thy time whilst the Ottoman Cavalry surround the Walls of the City Turris erecta armata but fear nothing the Ramparts raised for the defence of the City and the brave Souldiers that Garrison it will preserve it from the vain attempts of the Enemy Diversa ordinata Arma The Arms of the different Nations that thou seest arrayed in these Plains shall only serve to render the Victories more glorious their Triumph more splendid and the flight of the Turks more infamous Count Starenberg received new assurance by his Spies from the Duke Aug. 24. of being relieved in eight days which caused an universal Joy redoubled the Care and augmented the Courage of all men On the other side the Infidels prepared for a general assault whilst the Governour on the contrary did every day invent new Engines as Freize Horses bearded with Iron turn'd Pikes and the like to oppose in the Breaches Five hundred Horse of the Besiegers passing the River burnt some Villages but they were encountered and defeated by a party of the Imperialists commanded by Collonel Heister who cut in pieces the greatest part of them the rest endeavouring to save themselves by swimming being drowned in the River We lest the Duke of Lorrain marching towards Tuln but upon advice that the Malecontents were designing to make Incursions into Moravia he detach'd Lubomirski and two Regiments of the Emperours Horse to march towards the Frontiers of that Province This Report was grounded upon the Grand Visiers Order who upon the Knowledge he had that the Imperialists and Auxiliaries took the way of Tuln and Krembs had commanded Count Tekely to enter into the Hereditary Countries with Fire and Sword thereby to oblige the Imperialists to return back to their defence But the Malecontents having no mind to engage with the Duke Tekely was contented to encamp upon the Mark however in obedience to the Grand Visiers Order he caused the Tartars and Turks that were with him to enter into Austria having promised to follow and second them with his Army The Duke being advertised that the Infidels were burning the Villages towards Eversdorf changed his march having sent orders to Lubomiski who was in the Avant-guard to hault and instead of marching towards Tuln he went to meet the Turks leaving his Baggage at Stokareau with the Regiment of Rokondi leaving to Count Lesley the Care of the Execution of those things which he had resolved in order to the Passage of the Danube and the Conjunction of the Auxiliary Forces The Duke being come to the height of Pisemberg about two of the Clock he could see the continuing of the Fires he thereupon sent Parties out who made some Prisoners They were questioned and answered that the preceeding Night they had passed the Marck with a Body of twenty five thousand Turks and Tartars that Tekely followed them and their Camp was but half a League from the Bridges of Vienna The Duke hereupon immediately commanded Baron Mercy with some Troops to the top of the height to discover the Enemy Upon his report he put the Army in Battalia extending his right Wing towards the Wood under the command of the Counts Caprara and Rabotta posting the Dragoons there and some small Field-pieces and the left Wing was extended along the Plain under the Conduct of Prince Lewis of Baden He drew the whole into two Lines and a reserve on the right whereof Lubomirski's Poles were placed The Imperial Army was composed of thirteen Regiments of Horse and five of Dragoons besides Lubomirski's two thousand Poles Whilst the Imperialists formed their Squadrons the Turks likewise ranged theirs leaving the gross of their Troops in the bottom of the Plain They began a line upon the heights extending to the left as if designing to gain the flank of the Imperialists As soon as they were approached each other they began to skirmish and as the Armies grew near the Infidels detach'd two great Troops the one of Turks which moved easily and the other of Tartars who advanced towards the left Some Volleys of Cannon which the Emperours Dragoons had on their right did somewhat disorder the Turks whilst they advanced but did not hinder them to charge the Poles with much firmness They immediately routed two squadrons and with a surprising Vigour or rather Temerity passed even to the second Line as well by the way they had made as by the interval which
was finished they sent some Troops very early to hinder the Labourers and posted themselves neat them behind a Curtain and behind Planks which well-nigh shut the descent from the Mountain before the Christians Battery Count Fontaine who commanded the Post was quick in opposing their effort and having called the men from their work and got his two Battalions together he posted them betwixt his Battery and their Barricado yet so as not to be encompassed by them who at the same time began to stretch to the right and left to gain the Christians Flanks The Duke who observed from St. Leopolds Chappel the Turks motion sent some Battalions of the Regiments next hand to the relief of his men These being commanded by the Duke of Croy arriving in time the Imperialists extended their line and took a resolution to attack the Infidels in their Post behind their blind This was executed with so much vigour that the Enemy were forced to give way They abandoned their Post and retired to another where the gross of their Body remained The Duke of Croy having his shoulder pierced with a Musket-shot in this action was obliged to retire leaving the command to C. Fontaine who disposed all things for the defence of the Post which the Enemy seemed forward to attack again but they contented themselves with shooting out of their own station the fire continuing brisk on both sides The Duke perceiving that the Turks made all that Body move which had camped beyond Neudorff to support their advanced Troops he first commanded all the left Wing to march and presently after he gave order to Prince Waldeck and to the Duke of Sax-Lawenburg to rush out of the Woods upon the Enemies who were at the head of their Camp. He sent to advertise the King of Poland of all this and understanding that his Majesty came to St. Leopolds Chappel he went to meet him there and shewing the motions the Armies were in he acquainted him with all the orders that he had given upon this occasion After they had agreed upon all things the King having performed his devotion at the Chappel mounting on Horse-back he went from Rank to Rank exhorting his Officers and Souldiers to do well and spake to them after this manner Generous Polish Cavaliers It is not only to defend the glory which your Ancestors and your courage have acquired to you of being esteemed the invincible Bulwark of Christendom against the Ottoman Power It is not the defence only of your own Country which the loss of Vienna by an infallible consequence will expose to the cruel Invasion of those against whom you are going to fight but it is the cause of God and to save the Empire of the West which does us the honour to have recourse to our Arms an honour which our Ancestors did never presume to hope for and which is reserved for your valour Think then of nothing but conquering or to dye nobly in this occasion to which the glory of Martyrdom is concomitant Think that your King fights in the head of you to partake with you of your perils and your victories and rest assured that the God of Battels whose cause we are going to defend will not fail to fight for us Whilst this Prince endeavoured by his discouses to inspire his Troops with that generous ardour he was himself agitated the Citizens of Vienna who had been advertised of the approach of their relief saw with inexpressible content the Army of the Christians descend from the Mountains of Kalemberg being ascertained by the noise of the Cannon which was shot against the Turks who had parapetted the Passages with earth and stone though to no purpose that their deliverance was near And they would also contribute all they could to it by the discharge of all their Artillery from the Bastions and Curtains of the wall There was also an infinity of small shot discharged on both sides with many Granadoes The Turks had not as yet shot so many Bombs since the beginning of the Siege as they did this day to retard the Christians that descended into the Plain and to annoy those who crowded upon the heights of the City to observe the descent of their friends and the combat Whilst the King of Poland continued his march at the head of his Army the Duke of Lorraine caused Heisters Regiment of Dragoons and another of Saxony which Count Caprara posts to the left at the foot of St. Leopolds Chappel to descend That of Heister received orders at eight of the clock to go and attack the Enemies who had possessed a place to the left from whence they troubled the Imperialists and the Infantry had likewise order to advance upon the Turks who were retired behind their courtains and hollow ways This motion was made on both sides at once The Turks made some resistance at first but not with Vigour enough to hinder the Christians advance who obliged them to retire behind another blind Count Lesley who had brought down some Cannon planted it at the head of the Infantry The Duke of Croy was also returned for having used the first Applications to his hurt he had force enough not to quit the fight the whole day This advantage gave both time and room to extend the front of the left Wing as it descended and issued out of the Streights In the mean time the first Line of Infantry which in their march against the Infidels gave continual fire with their Musquets mingled with that of Field-pieces beat them out of another Post and a Line of Curtain which reach'd from the Danube Hill over against the Carthusians The Duke about ten a Clock made a halt and whilst the rest of the left Wing filled the ground which the first Troops had taken and that Count Caprara extended it to the Banks of the Danube he sent orders to the Prince of Waldeck who began to appear upon th first heights to the right and to the Duke of Saxon-Lawenburg who was also got out of the Wood to continue their march until they were equal with the front of the Troops commanded by the Duke of Croy and to advance extending to the right until they came within shot of the Poles upon their issuing out of their Avenues which were on the right hand of all These orders being given the Duke returned to the head of the left Wing to make the great Body of the Germans move at once The Great Duke of Saxony came and joyned him and continued always near him in the places the most exposed At Noon they saw the King at the Head of his Troops who came and joyned the right Wing of the Imperialists The Duke in the mean time took care that in marching to the Enemy the Subaltern Generals should rally and re-establish any Disorders which might have happened by the Difficulty of the Passages and that all should advance with equality firing continually with their great and small shot The march was in this
order though slowly by reason of the roughness of the way and the opposition of the Enemy the left moving along the Danube as far as the Village of Neudorff carryed it after a considerable resistance To the right upon the same Line there was another Hill guarded by the Turks at the attack whereof a Dutch Batallion being disordered was succoured by Stirums Dragoons ordered by Count Dunewald This Batallion recovered took the Post and continued to advance The justness of this march the Christian Armies order of Battel and the scituation of the Place which made the Imperialists appear as in a kind of Amphitheater presented a great and formidable object to the sight which astonished the Turks and did not a little contribute to the Victory The King of Poland being yet behind the Army halted near Newdorff until he was advanced upon the same Line after which they continued their march The Imperialists carried without very great resistance the Post the Turks had at Helgstat and the Prince of Waldeck obliged those that opposed him to retire In the mean time the Infidels who were in Battalia in their Camp moved as if they had designed upon the left Wing but perceiving the Army of Poland upon the heights they moved that way so that the Poles and Turks faced each other almost in the same order making more depth then front The Poles seemed back'd by the Wood and the Turks by their Camp. The King who was in the head of his Troops detach'd some squadrons of his Hussars who charged the Turks being all Lanciers with great Vigour they bore before them those that opposed them but engaging themselves too far they drew so many Enemies upon them that they were forced to run The Turks followed them to a Place where Prince Waldeck had opportunely posted two Batalions of Bavarians The fire of these Foot cooled the pursuit of the Enemy and gave the King of Poland time to cause his first Line to advance to re-establish the Disorder of his Hussars Count Rabata at the Kings desire joyned the Emperours Dragoons with them But this body of Turks detach'd from their Troops did not dare to stand the shock of the Christians but retired to a height where they had Foot and Cannon with more diligence then they were come After this advantage the King continued to march with all his Army and the Turks endeavoured to obstruct their Passage from the several Posts they had The fire of their Artillery and Musquets did some harm to the Poles but did not break them and so they advanced still gaining Ground insensibly upon the Enemy In the mean time the Duke being far advanced towards the left of the Enemies Camp to divert their Endeavours upon the right the Turks put themselves in battalia upon the Ravine or before their Camp and planting some great Guns against the Christians they made many shot and seemed by their meen to resolve to defend that Post which was the strongest of all and served for a Retrenchment for their Camp but their firmness did not last long The Imperialists being advanced within Musquet shot they abandoned their Station about five in th Evening and left them the convenience of passing it without disorder and entring into their Camp. It was then that the Duke making use of this Advantage wheeled all his left Wing and instead of continuing his way by the Danube he caused it to march to the right to enter into the Enemies Camp no Souldier quitting his rank to pillage their Baggage which they had abandoned and their Tents standing This motion being perceived by the Turks who were engaged against the Poles on the right Wing quite dismayed them and they began to retire for fear of being charged in the Flank The King thereupon passed the Ravine with his Troops notwithstanding the firing of some Janizaries that defended it and pursued the Enemies About seven a Clock he entred their Camp some little time after Prince Waldeck who passed into it with his Bavarians and Franconians Half an hour after the Duke having gained the Suburbs and Counterscharp commanded Prince Lewis of Baden to advance towards the Trenches of the Turks with some Troops that the Baron of Mercy conducted but this Prince could not come there so soon but that the Janizaries that were in guard there had leisure to make their retreat by favour of the Night that came on They had begun it as soon as they saw the Christians approach their Camp. They retired with no great loss having had the bravery before they abandoned their Trenches to attempt another attack against the City and to turn and fire the Cannon of their Batteries against the Army The Night suspended the Victory and obliged the Troops to make halt in that part of the Camp which was betwixt the Danube and the City the Turks being retreated on the other side of the River The Duke of Lorraine sent to complement the King upon the happy success of that day which was owing to his presence This Prince returned his complement confessing that every body had a share in it but that all the honour was due to his Conduct and to the valour of the German Troops who first entred the Camp and the Enemies works During the Night the Turks passed the River at Schunket making their retreat by the Rear of their Front and quitted their Camp with so much precipitation that they left behind them in the great Visier's Quarters the Standard of the Ottoman Empire and the Horse Tayle the ordinary Ensigns of their dignity They left also all their Tents and the greatest part of their Equipage all their Ammunition and Provisions which they had in great abundance all their Artillery amounting to 180 pieces of Cannon and Mortars and they hastened their retreat with so much diligence that their formost Troops had the next day passed the Raâ—b The Christians lost no body of consideration except Prince Thomas of Croy the Count of Transmandorff young Poloski Captain of a Company of Hussars and the wounded besides the Duke of Croy the Counts Fontaine Tilly and Schalemburg were inconsiderable The 13th early the Duke having appointed his Army to be ready went to wait on the King of Poland to regulate their march and the immediate pursuit of the Victory But finding him little disposed to it he omitted no instances to perswade him to it proposing to him to march with all the Army or with all the Horse only or else with a great detachment but the King opposed the weariness of his Troops and the necessity of refreshing them some hours The King thereunto being unwilling the Duke entred into the City The Grand Visier before his flight caused the Heads of five of the Women of his Seraglio to be cut off for fear they should fall into the hands of the Conquerors The Baron of Kaunitz the Emperors Resident at the Port who was at present in the Visier's Quarters was in danger of being killed by
Country and thereby encourage the Franconians to follow their example In the mean time the Season advanced these Negotiations consuming much time and the Duke could make no stay upon command of the Troops he was not sure of and willing not to lose the season he perswaded the King of Poland to continue the march of the Army towards Komorra without the Allies The King advancing always an hour before the Imperialists they arrived near that City the second of October they camped at Wismar and a Council of the Generals of the Army was held there to know what the Imperialists might undertake independent without the Allies in case of delay or being abandoned Intelligence was brought that Tekely with his Army encamped at Lewentz that the gross of the Turkish Army lay about Buda that the Grand Visier had sent a Detachment towards Gran that he had put 4000 men into Newhausel to fortifie that Garrison but that there were in the Enemies Army a great many discontented Persons at the conduct of the Grand Visier by so much the more dissatisfied because that upon his return near Raab he had caused the Visier of Buda to be strangled as also some other Bassa's and more than fifty Subaltern Officers whom he accused of not having done their duty in the late Battel besides that he had also sacrificed a great number of those Run-aways who had preceded his retreat After the Council held at Wiswar they were not of opinion to attempt the Siege of Newhausel in a season so advanced and in a Country full of Marshes the Garrison being strong and a great Army in the Neighbourhood neither was it thought reasonable to propound the King's going against the Enemy because the Troops of the Empire had not followed and that they should be oblig'd to pass through a Country where Forrage would be wanting The attack of Gran seemed but little feasible before they were Masters of Barcam that the communication might be cut off This inclined the Duke to attempt the Fort of Barcam which is the head of the Bridge of Gran after which they would further deliberate to pass to Pest or besiege Gran according to the countenance of the Enemy The Duke acquainted the King of Poland with what had been resolved whereuto his Majesty assented On the 3d of October the King began to pass that branch of the Danube at Komorra called the Waagh The Emperours Horse followed and all the Cavalry marched to Mose where the Count of Starenberg was to be on the 7th with the Infantry the King having promised to stay for him there The 7th day which should have been a day of repose to give the Infantry time to joyn the rest of the Army the King sent to tell the Duke of Lorrain that he would march towards Barcham desiring him that he would do the same The Duke surprised with the change having thereupon sounded to Horse sent Count Dunewald to his Majesty to represent to him the necessity of expecting the Foot and the danger there was in separating in the neighbourhood of the Armies of the Turks and Rebels and in the middle of their Garrisons The Count found the King already on Horseback who answered him that having advice that the detachment of the Turks towards Barcam was not great he saw no inconvenience to continue his march They seeing the King's resolution followed him leaving but one Company of Crawats to accompany the Infantry which that day were to be at Mose The King being come within a League of Barcam was advertised by his advanced Parties that some Squadrons of the Enemy did appear He ordered a detachment to charge them They did not stand but being relieved by a greater Body the Poles who attacqued them were repelled The King commanded other Squadrons to second them which being engaged he advanced himself with all his Horse The gross of the Turks Cavalry which had continued hitherto covered by a great hill unexpectedly appeared six or 7000 strong and briskly charging the Poles in Flank and Front put them to flight The Turks charged them hotly in the disorder they were and killed above 2000 of them and amongst the rest the Palatine of Pomerania They took Tymbals and Standards and some Baggage which by being intermingled with the march of the Troops did somewhat contribute to their defeat The Count of Dunewald who had marched all day with the King seeing the encounters of the first Squadrons sent to tell the Duke that the Poles and the Enemy were engaged whereupon he marched swiftly and filing through a narrow passage betwixt him and the Plain he saw upon his arrival that the Polish Horse was quite broke and that the Turks were close in their pursuit At this sight his first care was to put the Emperours most advanced Troops into Battalia leaving room for the flying Poles to avoid their running upon him As soon as he had some Squadrons of his first Line formed seeing the Poles still in disorder he advanced upon the Enemy with his first Squadrons leaving Prince Lewis of Baden to embattel the rest This motion stopt the Enemies carreer after which they retired with some speed under Barcam to avoid the Imperialists charge whilst the Duke advanced the Queen of Polands Brother came to him and told him that he believed the King was lost because his Majesty was in the head of all in the places the most exposed to animate his Men by words and inspire courage into them by his example The Duke seeing the Enemy retired advanced towards the Poles He found the King who having advanced with the first would be the last in retiring He told the Duke how affairs had gone and it being near Night they thought of nothing but encamping Fear and Terror had seised upon the Poles as is usual in such Encounters they could scarce be perswaded to keep the Right because of the Neighbourhood of Barcam whither the Enemy was retired insomuch that the King for the greater security of his Troops made them take the Left desiring the Duke to march into the right with the Emperours Troops which these last had always pretended to before they discamped the Duke sent Orders to Count Starenberg to make haste and come and joyn him with the foot The next Morning he was advertised that the Poles continued disquieted that the loss they had suffered was extreamly sensible to them that they would perswade the King not to advance any further but to retire to the Places designed for their Quarters that the principal Officers were much divided and finally that many Difficulties were alledged to the King to hinder the Execution of the Resolutions which had been taken The Duke who knew the Consequence of retaining the Polish Army and in case it separated they should lose the Fruit and Honour of the Campania the which he desired to see finished with some handsome Action and not upon a loss went to the Kings Quarters and having found things as they
had been represented he endeavoured to perswade his Majesty to continue in the Terms they had agreed upon He demonstrated to him and his Generals the unlucky consequences that were to be feared if they changed design how easie it was to force this detachment if they did not delay to attack them the importance of doing it suddenly for fear all the Forces of the Enemy might rejoyn them and he insisted that they should advance and charge them as soon as the Foot were come up The King explained this Discourse to the Senators and Officers of the Army that did not understand the Language and in order to it agreed to march the next Morning irresolute only upon the ordering of the Battel The Duke who had been visiting the Ground made a Description to the King of it and the Condition of Barcam and afterwards discoursed of several forms of embattelling He proposed that which they had held at Vienna offering the right to his Majesty or to march as they were camped and divided the Poles into the two Wings which last proposal was accepted of and the Resolution to march was taken The Army being put into Battalia with the Day Prince Lewis of Baden commanded the right Wing and under him Count Gondola and Baron Mercy Count Dunewald was in the left and with him the Counts Palsi and Taff. Count Starenberg Marshal of the Field conducted the Infantry with the Prince of Croy and Count Serin This done the Duke went to the King for the dividing of his Army His Majesty having been informed that the Enemies detachment had been augmented by several Troops conducted by Haly Bassa of Aleppo and by the Bassaes of Sylistria and Caire and apprehending that these Troops were followed by the rest deliberated a-new upon the Enterprise but the Duke represented to him many motives which made him believe the Army could not yet be come thither He added that if it were he believed the Ground whereon they stood was so advantageous that they ought not to change their Design being the Imperial Army possessed all the Plain the Danube on the right and the Mountains on the left and that the Ground growing narrower towards the Enemies they could not make use of a great body though they had it these reasons being approved the Polish Army was divided The King with a party of his Hussars of his Foot and of his best Horse placed himself in the right betwixt the Emperours Horse and his Dragoons The Great General Jabloriski did the same in the left and the rest of the Polish Army made a third Line they marched for half an hour in this Order About nine a Clock they saw the Turks drawn up in the Plain before them They moved justly and by their firmness their Forces were judged equal with those of the Christians Being come near the Troops that appeared made a motion putting themselves into three Lines leaving only two great squadrons on their right They then came and charged the left of the Christian Army with much fierceness and searching the Poles they attack'd the Hussars which the Great General Commanded At the same time the gross of the Turks who were in the middle of the height advanced towards the adverse Foot as if they would have charged them and being come within half Musquet-shot they declined to the left of the Christians exposing their Flank to relieve their own men The Duke who was gon towards his Infantry seeing this motion ran along the Line of the Horse of the left Wing and with all the party of the first Line which had not yet charged he himself advanced at the head of the Squadrons and charged the Enemy in flank which put them to a general rout incapacitating them to make head again He ordered Dunewald to pursue with the whole first Line and with all the Poles of the same Wing who followed them Pell-Mell to the very Gates of Barkam and the Marshes of Gran where many of them were slain Whilst Count Dunewald chased the Enemy the Duke caused the Army to advance in Battalia towards Barcam The King having seen the flight of the Turks was come from the right Wing to the left to complement the Duke the Generals and Senators who accompanied him did the same Amongst the rest Jablorisky the Grand General of Poland in presence of all avowed that his People refusing to advance to sustain the Hussars the readiness of Count Dunewald to succour him and the Vigour of the Emperours Horse had repaired that fault and could not be sufficiently commended And now in the disorder the Enemy was in they resolve to attack Barcam The King caused some of his Cossacks to advance and the Duke added five Battalions of Starenberg of Grana and Baden all under the conduct of Count Starenberg This detachment was scarce ordered when the Duke who was approached to the Fort to inspect it was advertised that the Bridge upon the Danube was broken by the precipitate flight of the first Run-aways and that the crowding in Barkam and upon the side to the River were so great that they seemed to be packed upon each other He hasted thither and would lose no time upon such an occasion He gave Prince Lewis of Baden orders to dismount the Regiments of Dragoons of Schults Comfettein and Castell and to march to the Fort on that side to make a second Attack The command was instantly executed and having sent some parties of Foot by Water and five pieces of Cannon charged with Cartrages he ordered that the Fort should be assaulted whilst the great and small shot plyed their Vollies upon the Banks of the River The Turks seeing themselves thus pressed on all sides could not withstand the Attack the place being forced the Foot and Dragoons entering at the same time by the ways they attempted it The slaughter was terrible though most of the defendants to save themselves from the fury of the assailants precipitated themselves into the Danube some leap'd in with their Horses others tried to pass by swimming holding by the Mane and tailes of their Horses or some plank or piece of the broken Bridge and there were some who crept over the dead bodies which were held by the cordage and pieces of wood remaining where the breach was This slaughter continuing long the number of the dead was very great all that part of the Danube near the shore not being very rapid being filled with them all the surface of the River where largest being covered with cloaths and the equipage of Men and Horses and there did not escape above seven or 800 of all this multitude who found their preservation in the king of a Redoubt which was at Barcam where they had put themselves and from whence they demanded quarter and had it The Town being garrisoned with Dutch and Poles Count Staremberg seeing these two Nations were ready to murther each other for the booty removed the Imperialists having only the Poles there who awhile after
and the assurance he had given them of speedy relief reassured them to that degree that they promised to hold out with their Lives This Evening the Elector of Bavaria commanded 150 men seconded by a greater number to go and attack the Palizado which was in the Ditch at the foot of the Rondel of the Castle Lieutenant-General Count Fountain was on the right of the Attack and General Count Aspremont at the left They used three of the above mentioned wooden Parapets for the first time with Success and they attack'd this Post so vigorously that they carried it with their Swords in their Hands cutting in pieces all them that defended it but they sold their Lives dearly being the Assailants lost Count Fountaine and 35 Souldiers and Voluntiers Count Aspermont received a Contusion in his Head by the stroke of a Musquet which knock'd off his Steel Cap. The Captains Gottalinsky and Vaubon were dangerously hurt with divers others This Post gave access to the Rondel July 17th Yesterday the Besieged began to fire from a new Battery of four great Guns which they had raised upon the inward Wall but General Starenberg having commanded all the Cannon that could bear to shoot that way they were quickly silenced and disabled About Noon twenty or thirty Janizaries appeared upon the Breach of the Rondel to the right as if they had designed a Sally but those in the Trenches having given them a Volly they quickly retired The Brandenburgers and Bavarians did nothing but compleat their Works besides their continual firing from their Batteries July 18th A new line was advanced to the right the better to cover the Miners and be of use in the subsequent Assault The Brandenburgers augmented their great Battery with three pieces of Cannon Nor were the Bavarians idle their Miners working under the Wall behind the Pallizado Moat of which they were in possession The Besieged did not much appear by day but in the Night time kept continual firing killing a great many of the Besiegers with their Stones and Granadoes which they threw into their Works Jul. 19. The Cannon was mounted upon the new Battery and the Line was strengthned with two small Forts Last night the Besieged sprung a Mine behind our Miners who worked under the Wall which endammaged our Mine into which a new entry was to be made to make it serviceable Some of the Christian Miners were covered with earth most of which were pulled out again except Libert their Captain who could not be found Mr. Kerry a Scotch Gentleman with seven or eight Souldiers were killed in the approaches besides others wounded The Duke of Lorrain assisted by the General persons of his Army held a Council of War this morning but the result was kept secret Some Deserters assured the Duke that the Besieged resolved to make no composition but to expect the Relief which the Grand Visier would bring them Jul. 20. The new Line in the Lorrain attack was compleated There were three false alarms given to harass the Besieged by causing some Granadeers to run up the Breach and throw their Granado's into the place upon which the Turks hastening to the defence they were saluted with Volleys of Cannon Bombs and Carkasses not without execution These kind of attacks were frequently used to keep the Enemy in continual alarms and in ignorance of the time of the real Assault In the mean time the Mines were vigorously carried on and a certain German undertook a new one which he undertook to finish in two or three days In the attacks of Brandenburg and Bavaria the Miners hoped to be the following Night under the Rondels continuing to batter the Walls with great fury and to shoot glowing Bullets Bombs and Carkasses into the City which produced much disorder Upon advice that the Turks disposed themselves to attempt to put relief into the Town the Ditch of the Circumvallation was deepened and fortified with certain Redoubts the better to secure the Besiegers to which purpose 200 Heyducks were added to the number of Pioneers Jul. 21. The principal working was now at the Mines which were made in three several places and would suddenly be ready Captain Libert notwithstanding all the diligence that had been used to dig and remove the earth to seek him had not been found He was a Walloon by Nation and was regretted by all the Generals and such who had skill of his knowledge in conducting of Mines The Miners were now within hearing of each other A Battery was also raised for four Mortars near the three Spanish Pieces which beat upon the Rondel on the right and they resolved to approach all the Cannon and Mortars nearer the Breaches to batter them with more force that they might inlarge them with more ease and ruine the Enemies Defences which were behind the said Breaches There were twenty-seven slain and wounded only at the Lorrain attack amongst the dead were Major Bacneburg a Dane and Captain Lerneux the 5th of Starenberg's Regiment Gonzales's Bombs and Carcasses had the Success expected and by report of a Fugitive one of those Bombs sunck into a House where a hundred Persons of both Sexes were retired who all miserably perished in the Ruines of it The Bavarians finished their Battery near the Rondel and began another on the Water side to canonade the Flancks of the City on that side At present being the three Attacks were advanced as far as the Breaches which were large enough all things were disposed for a general Assault two thousand Ladders being got ready for false and seeming Attacks by scaling the Walls whilst others mounted the Breaches July 22th There hapned nothing at the Lorrain or Brandenburg Attack the Turks sprung two Mines this Morning which did nothing but ruine a part of the Curtain where there was no Breach The new Battery of four Guns upon the brink of the Ditch of the Rondel in the Bavarian Attack being finished the Turks came there at break of day and gave them a bloody Serenade for a strong party of them having slipped out by the Bridge on the right they crept into the Ditch along the Palisade and being come to the Battery before they were discovered by favour of the Darkness they began to howl and make terrible cries nailing up three Cannon and a Mortar and ruining part of the Battery The Saxons of the neighbouring Posts ran to the noise but were disordered The Regiment of Prince Lewis of Baden which was upon the Reserve arrived seasonably and repulsed the Turks with the loss of thirty men which was but a sorry compensation considering the loss on the other side where above one hundred were killed and wounded the most Saxons and Bavarians Amongst the slain Collonel Lebel a Saxon was one besides several Subalternes and Geschwint Collonel of the Artillery was dangerously wounded with a Cymitar The Turks got no great advantage by this Sally for the Nailes being easily drawn they began in a very little time to play again as
of Herbersteyn a Lieutenant Collonel Major Bischophawsen c. were of the number of the hurt The Bavarians were not exempt from the same Artillery of Arrows and Stones besides Bombs which were rolled upon planks out of the windows of the Castle The Prince of Savoy was hurt in the hand with an arrow together with 3 Captains some subaltern Officers 7 or 8 Volunteers and 90 Souldiers as well killed as wounded Prince Lewis of Baden going in the morning to view the approaches was shot with a Musket-bullet which burnt his Coat and made a great contusion upon his Brest but his Arms being of proof saved his life Aug. 4. The firing from the Batteries was redoubled from the three Attacks to enlarge the breaches and ruine the Defences of the Besieged The Line of Circumvallation was strengthened being furnished with many Redoubts and Forts to flank the whole work All the heights and eminences about the place were intrenched and possessed by the Besiegers The Heyducks took their Post along the inner Wall of the lower Town and so the attacks were continued with the same vigour as before The Bavarians raised a Battery of nine Guns of 24 ball upon the Rondel of the Castle wherewith they beat the Flanks and widened the Breach but the Earth being very narrow and streight so that but few could pass a brest the Besieged might the better dispute the access of the Assailants The Scouts brought advice that the Grand Visier had effectively passed the Bridge of Esseck and that he had 20000 men with him which with the Troops by Alba Regalis amounted to 40 or 50000 most old Soldiers taken out of their Garrisons and Fortresses into whose places they had put their new Levies There came also advice that the Bassa of Agria having assembled some thousands of Turks out of the Garrisons of upper Hungary was advanced near Hatwan where he had commanded a great many Charets out of the Neighbourhood to carry Pontoons to the Danube side by means wherof he pretended to put relief into the Town at the same time that the Grand Visier should attack the Lines on the other side This advertisement obliged the Christian Generals to use such necessary precautions which might secure them on Pest side Aug. 5. In the Lorrain attack the approaches were advanced from the great Rondel towards the second Wall where they had posted themselves in the assault of the 3d. instant The Miners were busie at the right of the Breach the better to attack the Enemy in flank as also under the Curtain to blow up the Besieged's Retrenchments behind the Breach A Gallery was begun on the right of the Battery to go into the inward Ditch and the better to assure the attack the Flanks were pallisado'd The besieged spent the whole Night in throwing of Bombs Granado's and Stones to incommode the contrary Workmen but without much harm save the killing of 3 Heyducks and wounding 5 or 6 other Soldiers This afternoon one of their Bombs falling into a Barrel of Powder upon the Besiegers Battery killed five and hurt three Aug. 6. A new Battery of two Demy-Cannon was raised in the Lorrain Attack behind the great Rondel by means whereof the Defence of the little Rondel was ruined which the besieged had hitherto used with great advantage The Christians continued to fill the inward Moat with Fagots Tuns Sacks with earth and the like and made a Redoubt behind the great battery to secure the Workmen The Brandenburgers and Bavarians continued their attacks with vigour nothing else considerable intervening Aug. 7. Last Night several false alarms were given as if the Turks were come to attempt succouring the place The Christians continued to deepen the Ditch about their Lines and to fortifie their Posts to make the Enemy despair of forcing their Camp. The Mines were also carried on with great industry and would in 3 or 4 days be ready for execution The Heyducks undertook to fill the Ditch of the second Wall in 48 hours time upon the assurance of a recompence of 4000 livers which was promised them by the Generals The breach which was made in the second Wall was very spacious and as soon as the Mines were finisht they will again assault the second wall They found much difficulty in the Bavarian attack to render themselves masters of the Castles by reason of the various Walls and Defences which were to be forced and of the obstinacy of the Defendants This obliged the Elector to redouble the fire of his Cannon to throw down these Walls and in effect they did little else besides beating the Castle from their several batteries which plai'd upon the Flanks and Curtains with so much fury that they hop'd in a few days to see them quite down Thirty Hussars meeting with as many of the Turks killed one of them and took 4 Prisoners which they brought with them to the Camp. Amongst these was an Aga who four years since was ransomed out of Raab where he had been Prisoner for 8000 Crowns These reported that the 6th instant the Serasquier should arrive at Alb-Royal with 26000 Horse and was to be followed by the Grand Visier who assembled his Army about Esseck which was not to be inferiour in number to that which was last year imployed at the Siege of Gran. They added that the Seraskier had express Orders not to hazard a battel with the Christians for fear of losing the City and Army at once but to endeavour to put Supplies of Troops in the besieged Town one way or other or to perish in the attempt Aug. 8. Four thousand Turkish and Tartarian Horse appeared upon a Hill near the Bavarian quarter and retired after some light Skirmishes with Count Budiani's Hussars reinforced by some commanded Men and Voluntiers The Prisoners taken there deposed that the Seraskier was camped under the Cannon of Alba-Regalis with 20000 Combatants and that the Grand Visier with the Grand Army was expected there but the Duke by the report of his Spies and Scouts knew that the Grand Visier was uncertain whether he ought to proceed with all the Army or continue about the bridge of Esseck with a great part of his Forces capable to oppose the Croats which might ruine the said bridge if he abandoned it and so cut off his retreat The mines in the Lorrain attack would be ready in two days The fortification of the Camp was continued as also the perpetual discharge of the Cannon and Mortars against the besieged Aug. 9. Some thousands of Turks posted themselves not far from the Camp in an advantageous place as if they designed to prepare themselves there for some attempt but the Generals had taken such good measures they apprehended nothing and the Souldiers seemed full of courage All the retrenchments about the Camp were near finished but being the Turks did frequently alarm them the Duke ordered that all the Foot that were not in the Approaches should be placed in the Lines and
and 10 Waggons loaden with Ammunition This great action cost the Christians but little the slain not exceeding 60 and the wounded but 33. After this fight the Turks made several movements and drew up in a Plain which lookt towards the Bavarian quarter and keeping their Wings upon heights they made meen as if they would come to a decisive battel or relieve the Place with all their Forces Hereupon a Council of War was called where it was resolved to follow the Enemy which was done by the Elector of Bavaria in the head of his Army but the Turks apprehending an Engagement retired The Generals Dunewald and Heusler pursued them beyond the Mountains and the Hussars had another skirmish with a great Party of Turks which stayed behind to amuse the Christians and favour the retreat of their Army The booty the Christians got was considerable for they had all the spoil of the Enemy whereof there was not one that had not the 5 Duckets which the Grand Visier had given him besides his own moneys The Besieged thinking they were already relieved made great fire upon them that kept the Approaches and supposed they might ruine some of the Enemies works but in vain for they were so briskly received that they lost the desire of risking further They however made a very furious sally on the Bavarian attack which was fatal to them for they were not only repelled by the Regiments of Baden and Aspremont but the retreat being cut off there was great slaughter made of them The Turks being retired without coming to a decisive battel the Army returned into their Lines and immediately dispatched young Count Palsi to the Emperour with the news of this great advantage and to lay 28 Colours and Standards at his feet that were taken in the late engagement The rest for some were taken in the pursuit were planted upon the great Rondel to make the Besieged comprehend the defeat of those Succours that they had expected with so much impatience Aug. 15. The Germans and Hussars scouting abroad brought some Prisoners in who all agreed in this that the Grand Visier notwithstanding this check would not desist making other attempts to put relief into the Town tho' with the hazard of his whole Army And in effect however he was retired he did not cease to alarm the Camp every night This Afternoon a signal was made to the Besieged for a Parley to inform them by the Janizaries Prisoners of the rout of their Succours but whether they perceived this within or not they answered by the fire of their great and small shot Aug. 16. The works of the three Attacks were pursued with vigour and in the Morning the Besieged's Palizadoes and Defences of Wood upon the Breach were fired in the Lorrain Attack and partly consumed by the Flames notwithstanding all the diligence of the Turks to extinguish them In this Action they threw a prodigious quantity of Stones Granadoes Sacks with Powder and other combustible matters upon the Assailants insomuch that four of them who fired them were burnt twelve Crowns a man being given to each of those who engaged themselves in this Service as a recompence and yet they could not clear the way for an Assault the Besieged having taken their time in the Night to plant other Palizadoes and repair their Defences In the Bavarian Attack the Castle and the great Tower were incessantly beaten which were as it were overturn'd by the force of the Cannon Aug. 17. All things were ready for the Assault in the Lorrain Attack but the Besieged having repaired their Defences and planted double rows of Palizadoes behind those that were burnt yesterday they were obliged to defer it The Prisoners that the Hussars brought to the Camp reported that the Grand Visier was extreamly in choler against the Commander of the Spahi's for not having done his duty in the fight on the 14th instant by abandoning the Janizaries and added that of the ten thousand men which were appointed for that enterprise but very few returned to the Camp. Aug. 18. The two great Mines in the Lorrain Attack were fired but neither with that Success that the Miners had promised which extremely retarded the Reduction of this important Place The Duke seeing they advanced but little by Mining resolved on Sapping for which end preparation of Faggots and Sacks of Earth were made to fill the Ditch and certain Engines were devised to approach the Enemies with less peril and drive them from their Post A new Battery was raised on the right to beat down the Besiegeds flanks of Palizadoes on the Breach and to do it more effectually they were to shoot from the Battery on the Curtain with chained Bullets A Fugitive from the Turkish Army reported amongst other things that the Grand Visier was encamped at present at Ertschin 4 Leagues from the City but that he would not desist from attempting the relief of the Place being only removed to that distance for want of Forrage The Bavarians seized a Country Fellow who had swum the Danube having Letters from the Governour to the Grand Visier and the Aga of the Janizaries in which he conjures them by the Law of Mahomet to succour him adding he would expect the last extremity Aug. 19. The Besieged defending themselves with obstinate Valour spent this whole day in thundring with their Artillery upon the new Lorrain Battery which had been raised to beat upon the flanks of the Palizadoes and whereon they had mounted 4 great Guns which they so ruined that it was rendred useless for the present The Detachments from the Grand Visiers Army continued to alarm the Christians Camp every Night who to prevent Surprizes were continually upon their Guard. General Scherfenberg was expected in few days with those Troops he commanded in Transilvania As soon as this body was arriv'd they pretended to go and attack the Grand Visier in his Camp who by report of Prisoners and Run-aways did not exceed 46000 men whereof half were new raw Fellows without Discipline or Order Strong parties were every day sent out to observe the Enemies Countenance who often shock with theirs but always with Advantage Aug. 20. The Grand Visier resolved to make another attempt to introduce Supplies into Buda would do it with fewer Troops than before the better to pass undiscover'd and be able to approach the Christian Camp. He chose for this purpose the bravest Officers in his Army who promised to execute his order or perish They began their march in the Night with 2000 Spahis and the like number of Janizaries who were mounted for the greater Expedition and this Morning at break of day they appear'd in the Valley of St. Paul where having been put in order without being perceived rushed as their manner is with great Cryes upon the first Guard which they defeated easie enough and forced upon two squadrons of Horse of Caprara and Heuslers who received them courageously giving others time to hasten to their assistance
Assault which was resolved upon in a day or two Sept. 1. Three thousand Turks appeared before day by Moon-light on the Bavarian side but seeing the Christians in good order and ready to receive them they retired without any Engagement The Great Chancellor Count Straatman being arrived yesterday at the Camp with a secret Commission called a Council of War in which the Duke of Lorrain the Elector of Bavaria and all the Imperial and Auxiliary Generals did meet The Chancellor exposed his Commission which contained his Imperial Majestie 's desires to put an end to this bloody Siege and that they should consult on the means the most proper and expedient for the terminating of it Two points were chiefly deliberated upon whether they should go with the greatest part of the Army leaving a sufficient number to guard the Lines to force the Grand Visier or should make a General assault upon the place and that with more Forces than had hitherto been employed The later was approved by most of the Generals and it was resolved to assault the place the next day for which purpose every thing that was necessary was prepared that the enterprise might not fail and lest the Enemy might know it it was given out that they would the next day go and fight the Grand Visier which caused great joy amongst the Officers and Souldiers desirous of signalizing themselves The Cannon of all the attacks were in the mean time imployed to inlarge the Breaches and cast down the Enemies fences Sept. 2. All the Generals mounted on Horseback and the Troops put themselves in order to quit the Lines and go to their place of Arms and march towards the Grand Visier making as if they would go and attack them in their Camp. The Duke of Lorrain and the Elector of Bavaria visited their Quarters encouragaing the Officers and Souldiers to maintain the cause of God and the Glory of the Emperour The Infantry was ranged into Battalions whilst the firing in the three attacks was redoubled and a vast quantity of Bombs and chained Bullets were shot against the besiegeds defences which were for the most part thrown down and as the Troops were put in order to march towards the Grand Visier the motion of the Vanguard was instantly changed and at three in the Afternoon the Infantry that composed the Rear-guard was commanded to mount to the assault which was done in the three differing attacks of Lorrain Brandenburg and Bavaria besides which there were two false attacks to divert the Enemy And however that all imaginary precautions were put in use to render the assault easie they encountred so brave a defence in the besieged that they had much ado to surmount them they defended themselves for three quarters of an hour with Halbirds Half-Pikes Partizans and threw such a vast number of Stones Arrows and Granades that they repulsed the Assailants more than once until the Christians encouraged by the presence of their Generals returning with greater force rendred themselves at length Masters of the Breach in all the three attacks The Turks defended themselves by retiring from Retrenchment to Retrenchment so that the slaughter was very bloody and to conclude the besieged being beaten from all their fences the Assailants entred by force into the City ran thro' the streets killed all they met with sparing neither Sex nor Age so that all was filled with the dead bodies of these Infidels The Bavarians in pursuit of their point attack'd 1000 Turks who retired into a Redoubt at the foot of the Castle where they defended themselves with extream Obstinacy until despairing of their safety they hungout a white Flag and demanded quarter but as they had slain many of the Aggressors and had resisted two whole hours without submitting the Duke of Lorrain and the Elector of Bavaria were of Opinion they should have no quarter given them but considering their number that they might yet do much harm that the Night was coming on and that the Souldiers were wearied and ought to rest that the Grand Visier was not far off with a formidable Army and that the fire was in several parts of the City reducing all to Ashes it was resolved they should have their Lives given them which being notified to them they miserable Bravos threw down their Arms. There were about 1000 more who being retired into Cellars and Caverns obtained the same grace The number of the slain amounted to 3000 besides the wounded who were but few so that the Garrison was stronger than it had been reported by the fugitives to have been Abdi Bassa died bravely in the Breach where he fought valiantly with his Sable in his hand without giving back or demanding quarter not to degenerate from the glory and heroick Vertue of the antient Ottomans nor falsifie the Oath which he made to the Grand Seignior to preserve him the place or to end his days gloriously in it The Vice Bassa is also an Officer of great reputation he had defended the Castle and seeing that all was lost retired fighting into the already mentioned Redoubt at the foot of the Castle where he thought to hold it out and give the Grand Visier liesure to come and relieve him but seeing that all was desperate he chose rather to implore the Clemency of the Conquerours than suffer himself and those that were with him to be massacred without any advantage to his party and so he was made a Prisoner with those with him by the Bavarians The Aga of the Janizaries and some chief Officers fell to the Duke of Lorrains share so that the number of Prisoners did not exceed 2000 of 13000 brave expert Souldiers and the very Nerves of the Ottoman Empire which were in the place at the beginning of the Siege The Christians loss in this assault was inconsiderable not above 400 slain and half as many wounded in which number were many Voluntiers but few Officers Collonel Spinola an Officer of good merit was killed at the head of the Assailants and Baron Asti who had been twice already hurt during the Siege received now a third which was feared would prove fatal The plunder which the Souldiers got was extraordinary the riches of this City were vastly great which those of the other Cities of Hungary under the domination of the Turks brought thither as to a place of refuge and impregnable There were found Ammunition and Provisions sufficient for two Months longer The Arsenal was full of all sorts of offensive and defensive Arms to arm 30000 men Harnesses Saddles Boots and other equipage for Horses besides 400 pieces of Cannon and Mortars whereof 170 were mounted and no way prejudiced It is impossible to particularize every thing it may suffice to say that a City could not be better furnished to support a Siege vigorously than this was nor defended by a more brave Garrison But if the opposition hath been surprising so much greater is the glory of those brave Officers Voluntiers and Souldiers that
sent thither and furnished them with some Provisions Some Tartars taken by a party reported that the Seraskier had passed the Danube near Axiopolis with 15 or 16000 men that he expected 6000 more which when come up he intended to march towards Bessarabia to joyn the Tartars commanded by Sultan Nuraden reported to be 30000 strong The Armies approaching each other occasioned many encounters The King continued his march on this side the River Prutti as far as Falfyn The Court Marshal who commanded the Vauntguard of the Army encountring with a party of Tartars of 8000 engaged them both fighting with great Courage but the Tartars being stronger pressed hard upon the Poles and had worsted them if they had not been succour'd by some fresh Troops who adding new Vigour to their Companions turned the Scales forcing the Tartars to a disorderly retreat some hundreds of them were killed and amongst others a near Relation of Sultan Nuradons for whose body he offered the liberty of 3 Polish Genlemen some Prisoners were likewise taken and one of the Chams Standards nor was this success bloodless divers of the Polish Officers and Souldiers being killed and wounded The King having caused a Bridge near that Place to be laid over the River passed it with his Army advancing into a great Plain with a Resolution to enter into the Country of Budriac But the Troops suffer'd much by excessive heat which had caused a great drought and burnt up all the Grass so that the Horses were in great want of forrage Chevalier Lubormiski had likewise an advantageous on set against the Tartars but the News of the Moldavians having contrary to their promise joyned the Tartars did not please These were also reinforced with further Detachments of Turks which had passed the Danube at Ken and Smil These Tartars had likewise taken a Convoy of 200 Waggons that were going to the Army and together with the Turks made an attempt upon the Christian Camp it self but finding the Troops in a condition to receive them they made what haste they could to retire tho' not without some loss Octob. 4. The Poles obtained a Victory against the Turks and Tartars of whom some thousands were said to be killed upon the place and 300 taken with several of their principal Officers for which success Te Deum was sung at Lemberg The Poles also had 1500 slain and amongst them divers Persons of Quality After this the King weary of Moldavia most commonly fatal to the Poles repassed the Forrest of Buckovina in order to put his Troops into Winter-Quarters He had not only quitted Jassi which had been in part destroyed by an accidental fire but had also caused the several Forts which he had built to secure the Passages of the Forrest to be demolished from whence People concluded that the King had no design to return in haste that way again but rather attempt Caminiec so ruinous to that side of his Kingdom and into which the Turks had newly put 500 Waggons laden with Provisions the Detachment of Horse that was sent to obstruct their Passage coming too late The Christians being gon to quarters the main body of the Tartars did so too but some parties of them had lately made an incursion into the Vkrain and Podolia where they did much mischief The Turks who served this Campaign against the Poles repassed the Danube and the Hospodar of Moldavia returned to Jassi from whence he had fled The Poles had been highly animated with the League Offensive and Defensive which they had made the beginning of this last Campaign with the Muscovites which though it had been published with great solemnity on both sides the Muscovites have not yet performed any one thing that was stipulated on their side The Great Dukes were obliged by this Treaty to employ their Forces this last Summer against the Tartars to divert them from joyning with the Turks nor did they advance a step in it though they now the Campaign being past send Ambassadors to assure the King of their firm Resolution to observe the Treaty of Confederacy so lately concluded at Moscho and yet they start new points which do so far perplex the Court that they begin to have a great Jealousie that the Czars do not seriously mean to enter into the War. Great were the Preparations the Venetians had made to carry on the War this Summer against the Ottomans The Wars of Venice March 26. which they had been so successful in the last and the fleet being now ready sailed from Corfu under the Command of General Morosini towards the Levant In the mean time the Turks having got an Army together composed of 10000 foot and 1500 Horse sat down before Chielefa a Fortress of importance tho' tamely delivered by them last year to the menaces of the Christians They now batter it with six great Guns and had lain 10 days before it when the Army of the Venetians hastning to its relief landed at Porto Vitulo not far from it and sending a Detachment of 3000 Men with 2000 Maynotes the Garrison which consisted of 1200 having orders at the same time to sally in their favour the Enemy intimidated with the report of their advance raised the Siege and marched silently away in the Night yet not so but that being pursued by the Christians they left their Cannon behind them the 500 men that conducted them being also most slain and taken Prisoners After this Defeat General Morosini reinbarked his Forces at Porto Vitulo and sailed towards the Gulf of Calamata and thence to Porto Clinno where he was to joyn with General Koningsmark Commander of the Land Forces lately arrived there with a great Convoy that went from Venice They had expected the arrival of the Auxiliary Gallies to open the Campaign which being at length come and a review of the Forces taken by General Morosini which were estimated at 25000 men they sailed the 25 of May from Porto Trepana with a fleet of above 100 sail consisting in 80 Ships 14 Galeasses and several Gallies and Galliots taking their course towards Lepanto feigning a design to attack that Fortress near which the General caused 1000 men to be landed to allarm the Country and leaving some Ships there to countenance the feint sailed the Night following towards Modon then ill manned the Turks having drawn most of their Forces towards Lepanto But the Captain General thought fit to attack old Navarin the Pylus of Ptolomy first which he did 12000 foot and 1500 Horse being landed for that purpose This Town is built upon a height at the foot whereof the Haven is capable of any number of Ships The Garrison of this place was weak not exceeding 200 so that affrighted with the Fleet the numbers and the summons of the Christians they immediately surrendred capitulating to march out with their Arms and Baggage which they did leaving behind them 20 pieces of Brass Cannon 23 of Iron and 7 Mortars besides 200 Christian slaves who
was placed in the Seraglio and educated in all the Learning and Customs of it and becoming as well a Proficient in Drinking as in other Vices he was made a Favourite and Companion to Morat And thus did they follow this trade of Drunkenness so constantly that the Health of the Grand Signior began to impair and at length he became so sensible of his Extravagancies that he incharged the Chimacam not to obey him after Dinner and when in the heat of his Wine he took a humor to ride through the Streets the Janisaires and Officers would sometimes run before to advise the People to withdraw and sometimes drive them away with Stones that so they might escape the hazard of this capricious Tyrant As it cannot be expressed in what Dread and Fear the People stood of him so neither in what Veneration he was with his Servants who observed the looks and every cast of his Eyes had learned his Nods and the meaning of every Motion and Gesture of his Body It happened once that a Paper falling casually from his Hand out of a Window the Pages ran in all haste down the Stairs striving who should be the first to take it up but one more desirous than the others to evidence the Zeal of his Service took the nearest way and leaped out of the Window and though with the fall he broke the Bone of his Thigh yet being the first that took up the Paper he came halting to present it with his own Hand this bold readiness in his Service so pleased the Grand Signior that being cured he was afterwards preferred to one of the most considerable Offices of the Empire Thus was Morat revered in his Seraglio as he was feared aboard his Servants having the same awe of him as Bagotes the Eunuch had of Alexander the Great who holding the Pot of Incense and Perfumes whilst his Master slept suffered his Hands to burn to the Bone rather than to awaken him by moving out of his place Q. Curtius But it is time now to leave off farther Discourse of the Extravagancies of Morat and to return to the Wars in Persia howsoever before the departure of the Grand Signior it will be requisite to recount somewhat of the State of Affairs in Europe On the Frontiers of Hungary and Poland Disturbances in Poland and Hungary there wanted not Exercises and Skirmishes to employ and practise the Souldiery and keep them in Breath The Poles heightned with their good Successes would not longer endure the Incursions of the Tartars complaining against the Turk that he had given Orders and secretly abetted them in their Robberies and Invasions against the Articles of the last Peace and therefore to avenge themselves the Poles appeared on the Frontiers with forty or fifty thousand Horse but the Grand Signior not willing in this Conjuncture to break with the Poles absolutely disowned any such Order or Permission given to the Tartars and being willing to continue the League that he might oblige the King of Poland gave liberty to all the People of that Nation The Turks confirm the Peace with Poland and to the Russians who had been taken since the Last Treaty positively prohibiting all People from buying or keeping any of the Subjects of that Country for Slaves during the continuance of this Peace In Hungary though the Ambassador had but lately brought a Confirmation of the Peace from Constantinople yet the Turks pretending that the Articles were not complied with continued to trouble and disturb those Frontiers for four thousand of them being gotten into a Body burnt certain Villages made divers Slaves and battered the Castle of Raab but being repulsed by that Garison and by that of Komorra they again made Head and encamped within three Leagues of Presbourg The which gave great trouble to the Emperor both because he had lately declared a War against France and because he apprehended that those Commotions of the Turks were designed to no other end Send Forces against Ragotski than to engage him to renounce all assistance and succour to be given unto Ragotski We have already recounted in what manner the Turks had espoused the Quarrel of Stephen Gabor and resolved to establish him in the Principality of Transylvania with the Ruin of Ragotski which now being designed to be done by open Force several Troops were sent to the Frontiers of Transylvania which so alarmed the Hungarians that they put themselves on their Guard and obliged the Estates of Austria and Hungary to contribute toward the Succour of the Transylvanian Prince The Emperor remained long in suspense what course to steer until at length the Perswasions of the Confederate Princes the shame of abandoning a Friend and an Ally for a Prey to the Turks and the fear of displeasing his Hereditary Dominions in Hungary who considered Transylvania as the Bulwark of their Country induced him to promise secretly and underhand Assistance to Ragotski As to the Turks themselves the Effects did not correspond with their Menaces for though they had gathered an Army of twenty thousand Men at Buda they not only were disappointed of their Design upon Newhausel but were openly repulsed and shamefully expelled the Frontiers by the palatine of Hungary And Ragotski being recruited by Succours from the Emperor and by an Alliance with Poland defied the Forces of the Turk and contemned the Reports of sixty thousand Men preparing to march against him For indeed the Grand Signior had too great an Incumbrance on his Shoulders by the War in Persia to attend unto a perfect and studied Revenge against Ragotski for Revan being recovered by the Persian as we have already declared was a Matter of high Moment and what distracted all his Counsels and weakened his Hopes When News came first of the Siege of Revan Orders were given to the Vizier to Besiege Bagdat as a means to cause a diversion of Arms Mutiny in the Turkish Army but the Souldiery entertaining an aversion to this Enterprise unanimously refused to March or to proceed farther than Erzrum Jambolat Ogli who commanded the Army before the the Arrival of the Vizier had strangled a Pasha and taken his Estate to supply the Wants of the Army and had likewise put to Death several Spahees and Janisaries for Mutiny and because they had declared an unwillingness to this War. The Souldiery prepared to address themselves to the Vizier for Justice against these violent Proceedings but he not willing to hear them endeavoured to divert their Complaints which caused a greater Commotion and Storm than before And though Jambolat pleaded hid Orders and positive Commission from the Grand Signior for what he had acted yet that Allegation not being accepted by the Multitude as a justifiable Plea the Vizier was forced to condescend to their Desire and strangle Jambolat as he had done the others being the only Means to quiet and compose this Trouble of his Army But as after some great Storm there is always remaining for a
brought up hither not being suffered to return to their own Houses but put a day and a night into an offensive dark place the Doors and Windows not only shut but nailed upon them not suffering either their Friends or Servants to come at them or a Window open till the evening for which also they paid Dollars 100. In this disgraceful manner they were brought hither where they have been since the 22d of the last Month Prisoners in his Lordship's House to the 21st present notwithstanding they had complied in paying the Leviation Monies in less than a Week after their arrivals and by fair Promises put off from day to day for their dispatch to their Business at Smyrna which could not but much suffer by their absence Their magazines and Counting-houses continued sealed from the time of their Attachments the Spips not permitted to lade or depart though empty and no Debts due to them would be paid in this their Absence and time of Distraction The Leviation Monies being satisfied of which Dollars 31000 his Lordship forced into Cancellaria and we of Smyrna expecting no more rubs in the way his Lordship the 16th Instant calls a Court and there declared That of what Monies had been collected there would not remain much on the old Accompt therefore provision must be made for the future growing Charge for so much as upon this pretended Imbargo no Ships would come in haste and he and his must be maintained which he would provied for Hereupon when we could not do otherwise Dollars 25000 was promised half by this Factory for which his Lordship caused us to enter into Bond as he did those of Smyrna for the other half this being effected which we should not neither altogether have been so ready to have complied in but thereby to put a period to all other Demands and enable our selves to proceed in our Business for your Worships better Service The 18th present his Lordship calls another Court and after arguing of some General Matters with a seeming sadness tells us how that he had been wronged by false Information from hence and Smyrna but he was so far from proving it as that he would not discover so much as whom he suspected and thereupon the Levant Company at Home had by means of the Parliament procured Sequestration of his Estate and Lands in England and endeavoured to surprize his Person and therefore according to Religion Reason and common Policy he ought to secure himself and his Hostages and thereupon he departed from us requiring the Nation speedily to resolve of some present Satisfaction that might secure his Estate at Home and person here otherwise he vowed to God he would suddenly do it himself with no little disadvantage to our selves and Principals These strange unreasonable and unexpected Demands filled us with amazement not knowing what Answer to give to such a groundless demand we desired the Secretary Signior Dominico to know his Lordships more particular Desires therein that so we might better understand him and to put his Demands into such a moderate way as he might receive some Satisfaction He returned us Answer that we must resolve to satisfy his aforesaid Demands before we went thence Whereupon the Gates were shut and also Guards set upon us that we should not converse with any or convey so much as a Paper out of Doors Thus we are all surprized made close Prisoners and our Counting-house Ware-house and Chambers sealed up to make sure of our Goods and Estates there also Continuing in this sad Condition all Night and finding no Motion to proceed from his Lordship to declare himself farther four or five of us was appointed by the generality personally to crave his Lordship's particular Desires and Demands of us Whose Answer was That the lowest value he could put upon his Lands the Company had sequestred was 25000 pounds Sterling and for the loss he should sustain by being put out of the Ambassadorship which he saith his Majesty hath granted him for his Life therefore the Strangers Consulage he rates at Dollars 5000 per Annum which for the clear Gain of seven Years to come is Dollars 35000 for which he declared that he would not accept of any Personal Security or Obligation whatsoever but a present disposition of Dollars 160000 in Mony or Goods into his own hands must be made And if to this we would not condescend he told us That he at the last Sacrament had vowed to God as he doth now to sacrifice his Estate Himself Wise and Children for the execution of this his absolute Intent and till then neither our Persons Estates Ships here or at Smyrna should be free We told his Lordship that finding not any of us had heard of any such Things was or intended to be done against him by the Company it would give us great Satisfaction to shew us those Advices he grounded this Pretence upon To this no Answer was then given by himself but dismissed us leaving it to our last and speedy Resolution because he was resolved to strike home Immediately after he sent us word by a second That he could not let his Honour descend so low as to shew his Advices to any This empty Reply gave us too much reason not only to conclude this to be a feigned Pretence but made us sufpect his Intention and Aim was at all the Nation 's Estate in the Country and therefore we returned him this reasonable and defensive Answer as your Worships will particularly perceive by the inclosed Paper whereunto is adjoined his Reply to that our Answer as he pretended tho it appears it was intended before it being dated a day before our Answer Whilst thus we continued it happened that those four of us were fortunately absent from Court that day who hearing of our Conditions wherefore and why we were thus detained and what an ill Period these Proceedings tended unto if not timely and prudently prevented they used their best endeavours to free us and your Livelihoods from the Claws of Tyranny and Covetousness they applied themselves to Signor Illustrissimo Coppes the States of Hollands Agent who as he was ever a Friend and Favourer of the Nation so now he gave us good and great testimony thereof in this our greatest Need and Extremity and chiefly by his means with a Sum of Mony together with the Clamors of the Jews and many other of the Grand Signior's Subjects against this our present Abuse and destruction of future Trade The Vizier whom they had well and sully possessed with the Truth of all Things after three days Imprisonment sent a Chiouz for us to his Lordship's House from whence we were carried before the Vizier who much upbraided his Lordship saying He never gave him Commands for such Proceedings notwithstanding his Lordship's avaneous Allegations against his own Nation by saying an English Ship at Smyrna was laden with Powder Ammunition c. and there resided for assistance of the Turks Enemies and other the like
Abuses and destructive Courses against those here tending not only to the confiscation of Ships and Estates but the risgo of enslaving our Bodies if not the loss of all or some of our Lives had his Hellish Plots taken effect The next day after our general Commitment arrives five more of our fellow Factors from Smyrna there seized upon and made Prisoners and so by his Lordship's Command in that nature brought to his House and put amongst us notwithstanding the advice from their Correspondents hence was at Smyrna before their departure thence that their part of Leviation Mony was all paid in here yet their Leviation with one third more in Monies and Goods was takne again from them by his impudently impious Ministers there and all the rest of their Goods continued sealed up So the Intent as your Worships may plainly perceive was no other than first to get the Monies here paid then to seize upon their Persons and next to take away and secure their Estates thereby to prevent a just reasonable and natural Defence and now it too plainly appears because his Lordship's Imployers had taken course no Messengers should come unto us Horsemen are daily dispatched unto us by our Friends at Smyrna advising us to the 20th Instant of the unnatural and devouring Progressions they had there made which was done by the assistance of the Caddie whom they had well bribed beginning to act there at the same time as we were here all imprisoned so there was no intent of staying for our Answer to his extravagant Demands They first fell upon Mr. Lancelot's House thence proceed all throughout the Nation so that they have not only taken away all the Goods Monies and Effects whatsoever they could find in their Houses at Home or Abroad but broke open and ransack'd all our Chambers Trunks and Counting-houses which mounteth to a far greater value than his demands of Dollars 160000 and by large Promises to Informers endeavour to discover and take what is owing them abroad by People of the Country and have so threatned our Friends and Servants to deliver our Books and declare where 's more of our Estates that they are constrained to leave our naked Houses to the open World and betake themselves to the Ships in Port for Refuge All this it seems contents them not but are contriving Provisions by policy and force of some Rogues of the Country to unlade what Goods the Nation had put on board the Jonas For all which we have not only the advice of our distressed Friends there but such infallible Information as your Worships may perceive by the inclosed authentick Copies of Letters from his Instruments at Smyrna to his Lordship here by which you will too plainly perceive his Lordship did and still doth aim at all the Estate the Nation had in the Country and for that cause he was so much enraged for the departure of the Hercules and William and Thomas whose Goods he esteemed as so much loss to him We have been now seven days out of his Lordship's hands and are endeavouring to free that Estate they have already taken at Smyrna as also to defend our Selves and your Estates in future from him and free the Ships out of Port which no question at last will be proved have been detained by his Lordship to this ill purpose and if possible to procure the return of Dollars 20 in 30000 his Lordship hath unavoidably forced from us in the Leviation Accompt upon strange Pretences All which by the assistance of our obliged and worthy Friend Signior Illustrissimo Coppes together with the expence of Dollars 30 in 40000 to the Vizier and other Turkish Ministers we doubt not but speedily to effect for without this honest defensive Remedy we can expect nothing but ruin to all your Estate in the Country which still he threatneth and endeavours by all his devilish Policy and Means to effect But the Vizier and the two Caddeleskiers who are our Judges are so possest with the Truth and Reason of our Cause as well by the People of the Country as our Selves that they have given us full assurance by Promises Protestations and sound Probabilities that our just Demands shall be accomplished for which we all faithfully and earnestly endeavour Night and Day and so do hourly expect a good determination of it and till there be an Issue or Settlement given to this our confused Condition which we hope will not continue for many days no particular Principal must expect Advice from any Factor here because no private Man can fitly advise any thing till the general Business be better ordered And as we proceed therein we shall by all Ways and Conveyances give your Worships a true and exact Account We do humbly beseech your Worships to acknowledg the good Offices of the State 's Agent to their Ambassador with you and so fully certify him that Illustr Sign Coppes appeared no ways against his Lordship as Ambassador or trenching on the King's Honour but respectfully and modestly for the safety of your Estates To particularize all Passages and Circumstances in this Business would prove more troublesom than needful to your Worships so please to accept of this Relation for this is the present statâ— of yours and our Condition which though not so well as we could wish yet better than we could imagine for the Hand was up the Match lighted and a little more time would have blown up all We need not put your Worships in mind speedily to send us another Protector seeing the Necessity of your Occasions craves it too plainly and in confidence of your speedy Resolution thereof we shall continue hoping our Desires will be satisfied and the Estates in better security by his speedy arrival here which God in Mercy grant His Lordship's Cause is so bad that Signor Dominico your Secretary Signior George and all other Druggermen have not only declined his Lordship but apply themselves to us and especially the former In fine we conceive his Lordship finds his former bad Proceedings have made him uncapable to return into England and also uncertain of his Residence here which together with the improvident use he hath made of his Golden Time that he intended to seize upon all He and his unworthy Instruments could catch hold of for to this purpose he diverted the Golden Fleece's advantagious Design for Venice which at first was approved and caused by his own consent and occasioned her Factor here to whom she was consigned to let her him to fraight that so Himself Family and undue gotten Estate may be conveyed as in supposed into France with whose Ambassador there hath been often a more than ordinary correspondency of late Galata of Constantinople June 28. 1646. Before the sealing up of our Letter we have procured an Imperial Command for the recovering of the Estate into our Hands taken away at Smyrna as also for the attaching the Persons and bringing those good Agents of his Lordships hither to answer