of the Pashas of Waradin and Pest and designed to Besiege the Castle of Presburg Debates about the Relief of Presbourg which being a Place of considerable Consequence was a Matter of long Debate whether in that Conjuncture it was to be relieved in despight of all the Difficulties and Obstacles which appeared to the contrary For in the first place it was alledged that the Ways thither were rocky woody and inclosed that the Forces of the Enemy were much superior to theirs in number and that the Army ought not to be put into any hazard of being Defeated at a time when the Relief of Vienna was the main and ultimate Design To these Arguments it was urged that in case the Castle of Presburg was surrendred to the Enemy it would facilitate a Communication between their two Armies and hinder the conjunction of the Polish Army with the Imperial unless they took a large compass about which would both harrass the Men by a long March and defer the Relief of Vienna the Extremities of which required nothing more than Hast and a speedy Succour These last Reasons prevailed above the former it being esteemed of absolute necessity to conserve the Castle of Presbourg the which was wavering and ready with the other Towns to accept and embrace the Protection of Tekeli In pursuance of this Resolution The Duke of Loraine secures Presbourg the Duke of Loraine passed the Danube with his Horse and Dragoons namely the Regiments of Palsi Caprara Rabata Gondola Taff Merci Hallewiel Montecuculi Veterani and Gots which were all Horse to the number of eight Thousand and of Dragoons those of Stirum Schultz and Herberviller making in all an Hundred thirty six Troops and Companies besides the Poles under Lubomiski which made about two Thousand Men more In the Night Prince Lewis of Baden and the Baron of Merci were Commanded in the Van to secure the narrow Ways and Passages and being come upon certain Hills where they see round about they discovered the Enemies Fires and Lights below in the Plains and two Camps at some little distance one from the other of which Advice being given to the General Prince Lewis of Baden was ordered to Attack the Suburbs of Presbourg where some of the Malecontents were quartered upon this Surprise the Malecontents flying into the Town made way for the Imperialists to enter without much Resistance The City being in a suddain consternation upon sight of the Imperial Army at their Gates surrendred upon Summons as did also the Castle the Garrison whereof whilst the Town was in Treaty escaped out to seek for Refuge in the Camp but many of them were intercepted in their Passage and cut to pieces This happy success in sight of the Enemy was an evidence of their Weakness and want of Courage and animated the Christians to give them Battle The Prince Lewis of Baden with his Dragoons was hereupon as ordered drew up in the Vineyards and Gardens adjoyning to the Suburbs and extended his whole Body to the right and left along the Danube to the foot of the Hill the better to secure C. Caprara whilst he with his Horse descended down by the Vineyards and had drawn up in Batalia The Enemy made a show as if they intended to fight and detached some Parties to begin a Skirmish but the Duke of Loraine would not Engage until all his Forces were drawn up upon appearance whereof the Malecontents changed their Minds The Malecontents are put to 〈◊〉 and instead of advancing the Imperialists perceived by a great Dust rising on one side and the other that the Enemy retired The advanced Parties of the Enemy which were to begin the Battle finding themselves abandoned by the main Body turned their backs and fled and were hardly pursu'd by the Imperialists and Poles with much loss and slaughter until they came to a great Wood with a stream of Water running by it where they made a Stand but a detached party of Poles with some Squadrons of Germans and some of the Regiment of Palsi charged them with such Vigour and Bravery as put them to a Rout so that they killed about five or six Hundred of them and took about twelve Hundred Waggons of Baggage and pursued them so hotly towards Tirnau that many of them saved themselves in the Woods and others threw themselves into the Danube the Affrightment and Disorder was so great through the whole Army that they recovered not themselves until they had passed the Waagh Discontent between the Turks and Tekeli Tekeli having Intelligence of the March of the Imperialists by the Party which had been beaten the Evening before he retired in the Night-time with a great Body of his own Horse and Foot leaving very few of his Men with the Turks and resolved to attend the Duke of Loraine's coming and to fall upon him which occasioned that Quarrel and Misunderstanding between the Malecontents and the Turks that they separated each from other and acted apart until they were reconciled and again united by Mediation of the Vizier as appeared by certain Letters which were intercepted But to return again to the Siege In the mean time whilst these things were acting abroad there was continual firing and shooting on both sides and on the 26th the Turks designing to make a furious Assault caused all their warlike Musick such as Flutes Cymbals and brass Trumpets which give a shrill Sound to play with their highest Notes to encourage their Soldiers to make the On-set but just as they were beginning the Besieged gave Fire to a Mine A Mine sprang by the Besieged which made many of the Turks to take capers and frisks in the Air according to the Measures of their Musick But the Turks not dismayed hereat prest hard to gain that Ground which the Mine had laid open but were valiantly repulsed by those who had the Guard of that Place Howsoever the Matter was long in dispute until Count Serini and St. Croix Lieutenant Colonel of Dupigni's Regiment of Horse came in with some Granadiers to their Relief and forced the Assailants back again into their Trenches leaving many of their Companions dead upon the place whose Heads the Christians afterwards fixed upon Poles and exposed 'em to the View of the Turkish Camp Howsoever this Action was not performed without some loss and hurt to the Besieged for Count Guy of Staremberg and Count Souches were wounded George Misnier General of the Artillery Several of the Christians killed had his Arm broken by a Shot of which he died in a few days afterwards to the great Sorrow of the whole City which could not but miss a Person so excellent in his Art having been Ingenier at the Siege of Philipsbourg in the Troops of the Marquess of Baden In this Action also were killed Baron Walter Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Wirtemberg and William Schemnitz a Captain in the Regiment of Staremberg as also Baron Dubski who was shot through both
relief of Agria of which as we have said there had been a long want and such a scarcity as might reasonably be termed a Famine To intercept this Relief Count Ziacchi with Two thousand Hungarians and Count Veterani with five Regiments of Horse were commanded to pass the Danube and draw towards Agria It was resolved also to fortify Mohatz and put a Garrison into it of Four thousand Men but upon News brought to the Generals that the Turks one the 29th of July had begun to pass the Drave near Esseck all the Councils and Measures were changed A Field Battle designed the Detachments were recalled back to the main Body the Bridges broken the Boats laden with Provisions order'd to a certain Island there to remain for better security and in fine all things were disposed for a Field Battle which the Christian Soldiers had long desired and to see their Enemy in the open Plain rather than fortified in the Trenches of a Camp or within the Walls of a City The Turks having passed the River advanced towards Darda and entrenched themselves very strongly between certain Morasses or Marshes in that Country near Baranwar about a League from the Imperial Camp where they much troubled and infested the Foragers belonging to the Christian Army The Duke of Loraine being very desirous to intice the Turks to a Battle retreated towards Mohatz August 1687. which the Vizier interpreting as a kind of Flight caused many Thousands of Turks and Tartars to advance which being discover'd by the German Out-guards gave an Allarum to the whole Army and put them all into form of Battle but nothing thereupon happened A Skirmish but only a Skirmish between the Christian Volontiers and the advanced Body the first of which being supported by some Regiments of Horse that party of the Enemy was forced to Retire and pass the Bridge The Duke of Mantoua at the Camp About this time Ferdinand Charles the third Duke of Mantoua being desirous to see and learn the Art of War mannaged by the first and bravest Captains of the World left the Air and pleasant Places and Gardens of Italy to observe the Martial exploits acted in the more gross Air of Hungary and being attended with an Equipage agreeable he enter'd the Christian Camp about the beginning of the Month of August where he was received by the Duke of Loraine the Elector of Bavaria and the other Generals with all the marks and demonstrations of Respect and Honour due to a Prince of such Sublime Birth and Dignity As the Christian Army retreated the Turks advanced supposing that the Retreat was an assured evidence of their weakness The Duke of Loraine was amazed and glad to observe this confidence in the Turk whom he had for a long time endeavoured to allure and decoy into a Battle of which there was a kind of a necessity at present A necessity to Fight for the gross Air of that Season became very pernicious to Bodies not accustomed to that Climate so that the Army began to grow Sickly and wanting Forage which was necessary to be supplied it was procured with a daily loss of Men taken or killed by the Enemy by which an Army worthy of higher Enterprises was in danger of being destroyed without Fighting or Action It was therefore concluded necessary to Fight of which there appear'd great hopes from the forwardness of the Enemy who animated with the March of the Christian Army pursued after them The Duke of Lorain intending to draw the Enemy after him carried away all the Provisions in Boats up the Stream to Sertio and set Fire to the Town of Mohatz destroying all the subsistence round the Country and intending to do the like by Siklos and Quinque Ecclesiae Letters were dispatched by a certain Captain to the Governours of those places to convey away all the Provision and Ammunition they were able from those parts and afterward to consume the Towns and remaining Goods with Fire But by the Providence and direction of God Almighty it so happened that this Captain being taken and his Letters intercepted he was brought to be examined before the Grand Vizier and his Papers being read and considered at a Council of War called for that purpose It was unanimously concluded that this Resolution to burn those Towns was a certain evidence of the weakness of the Christian Army and therefore that not to omit The Turks resolve to Fight and pass by so favourable an opportunity of gaining an entire Victory it was resolved to come to a Battle with the Christians and to that end the whole Turkish Army marched towards Siklos and pitched in an open Country not far distant from the Town through which the Imperial Army was of necessity to pass and there they opened some new Trenches and raised Works of some considerable defence After that Mohatz was burnt the Imperialists in order of Battle took their March towards Siklos not without some loss sustained by the Foragers who wander'd at too far a distance without due caution or regard had to the near encampment of the Enemy The Imperialists likewise continued their March The day following Count Stirum advanced before with his Guards and Scouts as did all the Quarter-masters and Foragers between whom and some Troops of Tartars a furious Skirmish happened within Trees and Boscage which continued a long time with mutual loss on both sides which fell most severly on the Regiment of Lodron The Duke of Loraine finding himself to draw near to the Enemy caused the right Wing commanded by himself to make a Halt under the Mount of Arschan and the left Wing commanded by the Elector of Bavaria to make a stand on a rising Ground near Baraniovar not more than an hour's March from the Enemy Several Skirmishes where Six thousand of the Enemies Horse made an attack on some of the Imperial Troops as others of them did on the Rear-guard commanded by the Elector of Bavaria which Skirmishes took up some hours time The same day the Prince of Comercy with Twelve hundred Horse was commanded out to cover the Foragers but he was not far advanced before he returned with advice that the Enemy with the gross of their Army both of Horse and Foot had raised their Camp and had posted themselves in a nearer and more advantagious place This News was confirmed by a Grecian youth of Retimo taken Captive by the Turks in Candia August who having made his escape reported That the Turkish Army consisted of Eighty thousand fighting Men The Turkish Army appears of which there were Twenty five thousand Janisaries and with the Attendants and Servants they might make up in all the Number of One hundred and twenty thousand persons And accordingly that Evening three Encampments appear'd consisting of three very great Bodies The next day being the 12th of August the Duke of Lorain having disposed his Affairs in a Military posture against all accidents and
refreshed themselves after a long Battle tedious and tiresome Marches in great Want and Scarcity of all Necessaries for Support and sustenance of an Army After which great and signal Victory August 1687. Te Deum was on the 13th of August Sung in the Tent of the Grand Vizier and Triumphs made by exposing the Horse-tails Te Deum Sung in the Vizier's Tent. and great Numbers of Banners and Ensigns before the Door of the Tent with Vollies of small Shot and Discharge of Four hundred Pieces of Cannon giving Thanks to God for this so remarkable a Success which was the more observable because this Victory was obtained in that very Ground where Lodowick the last of the Hungarian Kings was Slain and his Army Routed by Sultan Soliman the Magnificent who in Memory thereof caused a Mosch of Wood to be Erected and Endowed it with Eight hundred Crowns Yearly Rent that Dervises who are a sort of Turkish Friers might solemnize their daily Devotions and Prayers in that place The Turkish Army being thus totally Routed and Dispersed some in the Woods and others in the Marshes where many of them dyed of their Wounds or fainted for want of Food or Refreshments others of them or as many as could Travelling a Day and a Night came at length faint and weary to lodge themselves under the Walls and Cannon of Esseck without Provision to comfort them or Tents to cover them where being sad and disconsolate had the Mortification to hear the Triumphs which the Christians were making in their Camp for their Victorious Successes This News affected the Inhabitants of Agria to the last extremity of Despair Agria surrenders They had lived for a long time in hope of Relief and feeding on that and on Horse-Flesh and Dogs and Herbs growing under the Walls and by making sometimes Excursions near hand to gain a little sustenance but now by this last blow being put beyond all hopes the People had thoughts privately to abandon the Town and fly to other Quarters but the Town being closely blocked up by Marquess Doria was forced soon afterwards to surrender at discretion without any farther Effusion of Blood The Suceess of this Battle near Harscham happened very seasonable to the Christian Cause and of great Comfort and Joy to the Court of Vienna where they had lately received no very good News in reference to the State of their Army which as Reported Fears at Vienna was very much weakened by late Skirmishes Sicknesses and want of Provisions and much harassed by long Marches bad Weather and dirty deep Ways Of which the Enemy being sensible was grown bold and daring and often pressed them to a Battle The Emperor being informed hereof was very doubtful and anxious for the Success and Prayers Supplications and Penance were ordered to be made in all Churches to implore the Divine Assistance and Blessing when the Prince Eugene of Savoy arrived at Vienna with the News of the Battle and the Particulars of the Victory which filled all the Court and City with Joy and Triumph Joy at the News of Victory To render which the more compleat and full Advices were come the Night before from the Senate of Venice to give an Account to his Imperial Majesty of the Defeat which the Arms of St. Mark had given the Turks in the Morea which had produced such a Terror and Consternation amongst them that in little more than Four and twenty Hours time Four places had surrendered to the Venetians With these happy Advices Expresses being dispatched to all Courts of Christian Princes were the Cause and Subject of common Joy and Jubilee in the Courts of all the most Christian Kings only excepted The Grand Vizier with his scattered Troops rallied near Esseck where taking an account of the Numbers lost he found his Army diminished about Twenty thousand men for besides those which were killed taken and drown'd many had deserted and withdrawn from the Field The Face of the whole Camp was sad and disconsolate and thô the Vizier did all he could to comfort and chear them yet they being not only melancholy but angry and ashamed of their dishonourable Flight began to blame and cast the fault on each other The Janisaries with good reason upbraided the Spahees Dissentions amongst the Turkish Militia as the Authors of their Rout for that they cowardly retiring broke in upon their Ranks and put them into disorder which the Enemy observing pressed so hard upon them that they were forced to give way and with them the whole Army was laid open and exposed to the Enemy The Dispute grew so hot between the Two Ranks and Orders of Soldiers who were always emulous of each other that at length they came to Blows and to a Civil War in which about Seven hundred were killed upon the place The Grand Vizier and Officers had no sooner with much pain and labour parted the Fray but the tumultuous Soldiery joyned together to accuse the Vizier himself and to cry out that the loss of the day was to be charged on him and the Myrmidons about him who were the most forward to show an Example to the Soldiery of a base and fearful Flight the which Clamour caused such a Mutiny in the Camp as had put the Life of the Vizier Appeased with Mony and many great Officers into extreme danger had not the Vizier with Money and fair words mollified their Anger But this accommodation continued not long before the Grand Vizier was forced to give way to the irresistible fury and sedition of the Soldiery as we shall presently have occasion to declare In the mean time the Duke of Loraine not to lose the benefit and advantage of so glorious a Victory designed a farther Conquest and to conclude the Campaigne with some other memorable Enterprize It was the common Talk at Vienna amongst the Courtiers at the Emperor's Palaces and amongst the Religious men in their Convents and Monasteries that the Duke of Loraine was to prosecute his Victory without delay as far as Belgrade and thence to pass to Adrianople and make that City his Head Quarters for this Winter but these men who had reposed themselves quietly at home had not the Thoughts nor Consideration of the great Generals to know the Sufferings and Hardship which the Cavalry had sustained this Summer in passing Boggs and Marshes by want of Forage and long Marches nor the difficulty of passing the River of Drave defended by the strong Fortress of Esseck nor the Season of the Year too far spent to undertake any great Enterprize All which being considered by the Two Great Captains the Duke of Loraine and the Elector of Bavaria Forces sent under Dunewalt they resolved only to send a detachment of Ten thousand men under Command of General Dunewalt to pass the Drave at Turanovitz and there to undertake such designs as should be thought most facile and feasible without over-much hazard to be put in
August over the same August with design to pursue the Enemy and either force them to a Battel or to abandon all their Magazines at Nissa The Turkish Army under the Command of the Seraskier did not then consist of above 40000 good fighting Men and disciplin'd Soldiers the rest were raw and unexperienced Fellows fit rather to follow the Plough or Plunder than to fight a Battle The Army of Prince Lewis consisted of about 12000 Germans The force of both Armies and 6000 Hungarians and Hussars besides some of the Country People who were got into a Body in hopes of Booty and Plunder being animated thereunto by the Success of the Caesarean Arms. Notwithstanding this great disadvantage in Numbers the Germans being Spirited with Desires of farther Glory and the meaner sort of them with hopes of Prey and Booty The Germans contemn their Enemies and all confiding in a continual Course and Run of Fortune boldly proceeded on their March having the Turks in Contempt whom they had so often overthrown and defeated The truth is the Turks were in a bad Condition both at Home and Abroad The Grand Vizier goes not to the War the Grand Vizier himself durst not appear in Person in the Field least his Enemies at home should suggest Matters to the Sultan in his Absence which might cost him his Head or the Loss of his Office And indeed the Army was so inconsiderable this Year that it seemed beneath the Dignity of a Grand Vizier to appear in the Field with other than a Royal Army which was ever reckoned at 100000 Men to which it was much inferior and scarce did arise to half the Number For the Tartar Chan excused his joyning with the Turkish Army this Year by reason of the Alarms given them by the Muscovites who in vast Numbers threatned their Country and were on the Frontiers ready to enter with Fire and Sword The Militia also of Aleppo Damascus Arbekier and others of the more Eastern Countries of Asia which always compose a great Nerve of the Ottoman Arms began to mutiny for want of Money not being able longer to support and maintain themselves Upon their Remonstrance of which to the Grand Vizier Answer being returned That the Royal Treasuries were empty and exhausted and that they were obliged by the Constitutions of the Empire to maintain themselves out of their Timarlucks or Lands given them for that Service The Reply was so displeasing that great Disorder would have followed had not the Torrent of the Soldiers Anger been seasonable stopped by paying the Spahee's or Timars five Dollars apiece which qualified and appeased the Mutiny and Sollevation which was ready to break forth into an open Rebellion A Mutinâ— prevented in the Turkish Camp Heisler demolishes Orsoua Whilst Prince Lewis was on his March News was brought to him that Heisler had demolished Orsoua and retired to some other Quarters of which the Turks having received Advice they entered into it and having strengthned it with some Palisadoes they put a Garrison into it At which Prince Lewis was so displeased that he sent immediate Orders to that General that he should forthwith return thither and endeavour again to recover the place and with all possible speed repair the Fortifications and conserve that Post as the most convenient Situation whereby to transport Victuals and Ammunition and cut off all the Succours and Correspondences on that side by which the Turks might bring in Succours and Relief to Temeswaer and other places Countermanded by Pr. Lewis which had been for some time streightned by Blockades But in regard that General Heisler was much indisposed by Sickness Heisler sick and forced to retire to Hermanstadt for recovery of his Health Orders were given to the General Count Herbeville Herbeville ordered to recover the place to execute that part which was to be acted by Heisler and accordingly having dispatched Sempsai with his Hussars in the Van it was his Fortune to encounter a Party of Turks from whom he carried 30 Heads made 25 Prisoners and took three Colours The General following with the rest of the Army and being come near to Orsoua another Party of Turks appeared which had newly passed from the other side of the Danube in small Boats and these being Attacked by Herbeville between the Fortress and the River the whole Body was in a moment either cut to pieces or Drowned He defeats a Party of Turks or made Prisoners of which 50 Horse were taken and one Standard After which the gross Body of the Imperial Army being advanced under the Fortress the place was observed to be well fortified and on the other side of the River they discovered an Army in their Trenches well defended and guarded with Cannon and on the Shoar side many well armed Gallies and 100 Vessels laden with all sorts of Ammunition and Provisions the which according to Report was said to be the Army of Tekely joyned to the Forces of the Pasha of Silistria and another Pasha Howsoever the General being desirous to make trial of his Fortune advanced with his Forces near the place and having posted themselves under shelter of Banks and Sacks of Earth to take a view of the Enemies State and Condition And Petires from Orsoua they were so warmly receiv'd by their Cannon and Granadoes that they were forced to retire towards Caransebes and at the same time News came that Tekely had killed 100 Rascians and taken some Boats with the Hussars which were in them and advanced with resolution to carry Succours and Relief into Temeswaer In the mean time Prince Lewis was on his March towards Nissa but finding the way very bad and difficult by reason of the thick Woods and Marshy Grounds and much Rain so that it was almost impossible to draw their Cannon and Waggons laden with Provisions which began already to be wanting it was resolved to retire to Semendria And here it was that Prince Lewis altered the Course of his March and being come into the Parts of Ressava August 27th and 28th the Foot advanced a Day before and the Horse following them the next they joyned at Gabrovitz where a Survey being taken of the Situation of the Place along the Banks of Morava by several Engeniers and particularly by Count Marsigli A Bridge made over the Morava they fixed on a place the most commodious for casting a Bridge over the River which was effected in a few Hours and the same secured with 16 pieces of Cannon mounted on a Redoubt which they newly raised and defended by 500 Men. The Germans having passed all their Forces over the River a strong Detachment of the Enemy appeared and surprized the Centinels and Out-guards of which the Tartars killed some and pursued the others until the Imperial Troops who were always ready upon the first Alarm gave a stop to the Career of the Tartars of which they killed some and took two Prisoners from whom they
of Negropont Now whilst Mustapha Aga was ready to depart with these Articles the unhappy News was brought to the Grand Visier The News of a defeat given the Turks hinders the Peace That the Turks had received a total defeat before Nissa with the slaughter of many thousands of Turks and with the loss of all their Cannon and Ammunition together with the City of Nissa it self And that the Vizier Kaja or Deputy with the Treasurer of the Army had made his Escape out of the Battle to Sophia with great difficulty and that the remainder of the scattered Army went wandring through the Woods and Mountains it not being known as yet who was killed or taken or alive So soon as this Report was made known to the Grand Vizier he immediately posted the same by the Messenger who brought it to the Grand Seignior then at Adrianople and all the way he Rode he gave Orders in all Places to raise the Nefiran or the Trained-Bands of the Countries by which all things were in such Consternation as if the Germans had been at the very Gates of Sophia This Change of Affairs gave a stop to the Expedition of Mustapha Aga until new Resolutions should be taken by another Divan or some other Assembly of Council the which being again met they confirmed the former Resolution and dispatched away Mustapha Aga with the former Propositions of Peace The Ambassador proceeds to Vienna And an Express was dispatched before him from Sophia to obtain from Prince Lewis a Passport and Safe-Conduct unto Vienna The Prince readily granted and ordered him a Party of 25 Horse to Convoy him safely so far as Pyroth And here Prince Lewis gave a period to the Proceedings of this year 's Campagne The Campagne ended For considering that the Season was entirely spent the distance far from the Danube the Difficulties of so long a Communication and the uncertainty of subsisting the Army in the Enemies Country already wasted and ruinous he thereupon judged it most secure to return back to the Danube and accordingly marched away on the 4th of October having committed the Government of Nissa and of the Conquered Countries to the Care and Conduct of Count Piccolomini with some Regiments of Horse and Foot and some Rascians under Paul Dioâ—h placing a good guard on the Mountain Hemus But because the Prince was very desirous to defeat Count Tekeli Designs to surprize Tekeli the great Partisan of France who was encamped near to Widin he judged it of great importance to fall into his Quarters on his way to the Danube and accordingly on the 6th of October he encamped near the Castle Saverlick and the next day he Quartered at the foot of the Mountain of Temach which he passed on the 8th through so narrow a streight that a single Cart could scarce pass and moreover the ways were so very rocky and incommodious that the Baggage was greatly retarded wherefore the Prince commanded some German and Hungarian Troops to advance towards Widin and on the way by such Prisoners as they should take to inform themselves of the State of Widin and of the Enemies Camp These Troops had not been on their way above two hours before they returned with two Turkish Prisoners who informed them That Orsoua and Fetislau had been burnt on the first of this Month Orsoua and Fetislau burnt and abandoned by the Enemy And because they feared that some sudden Attack would be made upon them by the Germans they had carried away from Widin all the Provisions of that place and were gone farther by Water into the more distant Places of their Country And that about 2000 Turks and others of Tekeli's Troops were encamped near the River to cover the Boats on which their Baggage was to be laden and that their Camp consisted of about 200 Tents So Prince Lewis lodged that Night in the Country and Plains of Bergfelt Upon these Advices next Morning by break of Day being the 13th of October the Army then with the Prince consisting but of some few Regiments proceeded on their march towards Widin designing to arrive at the place early next day and because the Hungarians returned with the News that the Enemy quartered near the City with all security not suspecting the approach of the Germans having refreshed their Horse for some few Hours near Drenoua they marched all that Night and came about 11 a Clock in the Morning within sight of Widin Pr. Lewis marches to Widin where they first discovered the Camp of the Enemy and having taken a view of the situation of the place and the several Avenues thereunto they found that they must necessarily pass Three Bridges or take a round through some marshy Grounds which perhaps were unpassable at least very hazardous The Horse pass the Bridges and enter the Enemies Camp without a faithful Guide or Pilot Wherefore taking the opportunity when the Janizaries and People were in the Mosch at Prayers they caused the Horse to pass the Bridges which having done without any Opposition they trotted directly to the Enemies Tents and entered into them about Three a Clock in the Afternoon This unexpected Enterprize so alarm'd the Turks that part of them with affrighted Precipitation betook themselves to the Boats and others mounting on Horseback drew out with the Janizaries to the number of 12000 ranging themselves in posture of Battle Prince Lewis advancing with some of his light Cannon in the Front committed the Conduct of the Right Wing to Count Veterani and Trautmansdorf The Turks make a stand bâ—fore Widin and the Left he commanded in Person with which some Countermarches were made to spend time until the Infantry could come up gaining still some ground upon the Enemy Howsoever the Turks made a stand and fought with such Resolution that the Victory seemed dubious for a while but the Dragoons of Veterani dismounting which were used to do Miracles threw themselves with their Swords drawn into the Ditch of the Town killing and slaying all that came in their way which when the Turkish Infantry observed part of them came to their assistance but the Right Wing Commanded by the Prince soon relieved them and came thundring on them with such furious Resolution The Turkish Cavalry put to flight and the Army defeated and Widin taken that they put all to the Sword excepting those who were retired into the Castle or made their escape by Water The greatest part of the Turkish Cavalry unless those belonging to the Baggage fled by the way of the Moor or Marshy Ground with which they were acquainted towards Sophia and Nicopolis leaving the Mountains on the Right Hand and the three Bridges on the Left and all their Camp with their Tents and Baggage both within and without the City for a Prey and Booty to the Victorious Christians Many Colours four Horse-Tails some thousands of Horses and other Beasts were taken with great quantities of Forage Above a thousand
some few Days they marched to Salankement and there encamped and in the mean time the Turks blew up Titul making their Escape by Water to Belgrade The Turks hearing of this Advance of the Christian Army sent 4000 Spahee's under the Command of Kathana Pasha to recognize or take a view of them in their March but a Party of Hussars commanded by Raab and Badiani being sent out against them the Turks withdrawing they retreated back to the Army and with them a Christian who having been a Slave made his Escape and reported That the whole Turkish Army had already passed the Save so that the Prince resolving now to meet them continued his March to Semblin a Place near to Belgrade between which two Places nothing but the River intervenes The Turks being much stronger in Shipping than were the Christians they were always passing up and down the River so that all the Ships attending the Imperial Camp were forced to remain at Peter Waradin from whence The Turks strong in Ships hinder the Provisions of the Army with great inconvenience all Provisions and Ammunition were brought by Land to the Camp until such time as General Dunewaldt being come to the Army had dispatched 300 Germans and 200 Hungarians back to Salankement to cover and secure 300 of the Christian Vessels which were arrived at that place laden with Provisions which was of great Relief to the whole Army The two Armies being now very near to each other Parties were daily detached on both sides to make Discoveries and bring Intelligence one of which from Prince Lewis on the 8th of this Month Skirmishes in Parties had an Encounter with some advanced Guards of the Turks near Semblin which upon appearance of the Christians immediately retreated and a Fog covering the whole Turkish Camp on a sudden that Party returned without being able to give other Informations In like manner the Grand Vizier on the 10th of this Month came in Person with all his Horse to take a view of the Christian Camp upon which the whole Army was drawn out into Battalia and some Volunteers and other Troops advanced so far on the Turks that being attacked by great Numbers of them they were repulsed and droven back with some loss until the left Wing of the Army in which Prince Lewis was in Person came in to their Succour howsoever 20 of them were killed and the rest were pursued to the very Camp but in revenge the Turks were also beaten back several of them being killed in their Retreat The same Day the Imperial Army advanced two Leagues farther towards Semblin where they posted themselves in such a manner that the Danube was on their Backs and the left Wing guarded with Chevaux de Frize which are a kind of Turn-pikes to keep off the Horse from breaking into the Foot On the 12th the Army advanced in order of Battle within Cannon-shot of the Turks Retrenchments The Armies near near to Semblin being attacked on all sides by many Hundreds of the Enemies Horse which never stood any Ground but retreated to their Camp which was so posted on a rising Hill or Eminence that the Generals judged it not to be attacked without great disadvantage On the 13th whilst the Army rested a certain Page to the Major of the Regiment of Piccolomini who had been taken Prisoner formerly by the Turks made his Escape and informed Prince Lewis that the Turks had certainly made an Attack on the Christian Army had they not been disswaded by the French who advised them not to lose the advantage of their Trenches but to remain in them in expectation of being assaulted therein by the Enemy or at least until they could draw out into a more advantageous Ground or until the arrival of the Tartars which were hourly expected During this time the Officers and Soldiers of the Imperial Army kept themselves in a readiness to receive the Enemy not stripping themselves of their Cloaths for several Nights That Evening it was concluded at a Council of War not to engage the Enemy on that Ground but to return back to Salankement because that there being a necessity to bring all the Provision from thence for the Army the Convoys could not easily be defended from the Enemies Horse which in great and strong Parties lay in continual wait for them So that on the 14th in the Morning by Break of Day Pr. Lewis marches back to Salankement the Trumpets and Drums were ordered to give warning to the Army to prepare for a March the Baggage being sent before and in the mean time until nine a Clock in the Morning the Army stood in view of the Enemy who moved not out of their Trenches sending only a Party of Tekeli's Men to observe their motion On the 15th the Army lay still and so did the Turks and the next Day Prince Lewis marched an Hour nearer towards Salankement And on the 17th proceeding one Hour farther the Turks imagined that this Motion was a Flight little thinking that it was only in design to Encamp about Salankement where they remained near to their Ships laden with Provisions and where they could choose the most advantageous Ground for a Battle The Turks encouraged with this Imagination marched after the Christian Army and fell in the Rear of them with several Thousands of Horse but Count Stirum General and Count Hoffkirken Major-General of the Horse The Turks repulsed charged them so briskly bestowing some Shot amongst them from their Field-Pieces as caused them to retire with loss and to remain more quiet for a while Howsoever about Midnight a great Number of the Enemies Horse Camels and Mules having been stung by a sort of Venomous Fly had broke their Halters and Bridles and with their Sadles and Harnesses An Aâ—arm given came running into the Christian Camp which gave an Alarm to the whole Army But that being over it was expected that the next Day a Battle would ensue which both the Imperial Officers and Soldiers did heartily desire But the Grand Vizier following the Advice of the French who were about him in great Numbers would not adventure that Day to attack the Army but instead thereof that they might cut off all Communication between the Germans and Peter Waradin they marched half a League beyond them and there posted themselves with such haste and diligence that in 24 Hours they had fortified their Camp with Regular Walls of a Man's heighth and Bastions on which Cannon was planted leaving only a narrow Passage for coming in and going out from the Camp The Germans in danger By these means the Turks had almost cut off all Correspondence between the Imperial Army and Peter Waradin and so hindered the passage of all Provisions that the Germans had infallibly perished in this unfortunate occasion had not God Almighty visibly assisted them by His Omnipotent Hand To this another Misfortune happened the News whereof was brought by a French Deserter from the
they Attacked and Repulsed several times with considerable loss to the Turks And on the 22d some Parties of the Christians brought several Prisoners into the Camp amongst which was a Chiaus who reported That the Janisaries were very advantageously posted on the right side of a Morass confined and reaching to the Banks of the River Temes and another Body of them Encamped to the Left along the Banks of the Brook Begl their Cannon being pointed upon that Place where was the only Avenue or Access where the Enemy could come upon them and their Camp on all sides so fortified that the Christians could not Attack them without much Difficulty and Danger wherefore to give the Enemy room to advance and invite them to a Battle the Turks on the 24th Sallied out from their Retrenchments which was done only with Design to make other Lines which were finished in two Hours time or less and having there planted their Cannon they began to play one upon the other on both sides and as the Prisoners who had been made in several Skirmishes assured the Christian Army their Artillery was well served and had killed many of their Soldiers and several of their best Gunners tho' the loss on the Christian side had been but very indifferent On the 25th nothing very considerable was acted But On the 26th the Christians advanced Guards acquainted the Generals That the Body of the Enemies Army was in motion and marched in posture of Battle under Covert of Bushes Shrubs and some Trees and that they had already posted themselves between Temeswaer and the Christian Army the Generals of which sending to take a view of the Countenance of the Enemy they were of Opinion and saw evidently that the Body which they discovered consisted of the whole Turkish Army and not a Detachment upon which the Christian Army marched directly upon them to Attack and Engage them but before they could come so near as to Engage them they had covered and fortified themselves under the Bushes and Ditches that it was difficult to come at them and having also a Bog behind them and a Marsh on their left Hand with three Ranks of Waggons fastned to each other with Chains of Iron in the Front made the Attack almost impossible to be made Howsoever the Generals resolved whatsoever Difficulties might offer to Attack the Enemy The Battle of Olasch and accordingly about five a Clock in the Evening six Battalions of Foot sustained by two Regiments of Dragoons Charged the Enemy in the Flank under the Command of General Heusler and commanded them to march into the Wood which they performed with great Bravery and much galled the Turks with their Fire The Enemies Horse hereupon advanced and finding that the Christians had formed their Line charged them with great Fury when 1200 of their best Horse broke through the two Saxon Battalions notwithstanding the latter made a very brave Resistance but Lieutenant-General Zuizendorf with some Regiments of Horse of the same Line beat back the Enemy and again closed the Line with some Saxon Battalions and Attacked the Janisaries in their Intrenchments and beat them from their Post but the Enemies Foot being reinforced and their Horse taking our Men in the Flank they were obliged to retire only two Regiments of our Dragoons Commanded by the Young Prince of Vaudemont advanced to sustain them and repulsed the Turkish Horse but the Janisaries returning and Charging them again the Dragoons suffered very much by their Fire and many Soldiers and Officers were killed and wounded but General Heusler bringing up another Regiment to their Assistance beat back the Enemy to their Intrenchments but was himself dangerously wounded Whilst this was doing another Body of the Enemies Horse Charged another Body on the second Line where the Christian Troops received them in such a manner as gave a Check to their Fury and then General Roses advancing with the Horse of the same Line drove them back and pursued them about two Hungarian Miles when the Victory began to declare it self in favour of the Christians and the Turks to put themselves into Flight when Orders came to General Roses to stop the Pursuit and to march back with the Troops howsoever some other Squadrons of Horse followed the Enemies unto their Intrenchments from whence the Turks made so great a Fire both with their Cannon and Small-shot that those Squadrons were forced to retire and being pursued by the Enemies Horse they encountred another of the Christian Regiments which they also put into Disorder which General Roses observing advanced with the Regiment of Caprara and Charging the Enemy in the Flank cut off above 1000 of them Then the whole Christian Line advanced and pushed the Enemy into their Trenches where they were in such a Consternation that the Sultan himself with much difficulty prevailed upon them to keep their Ground and defend their Intrenchments killing several with his own Hand The Turks worsted that would have fled and at length Night coming on it put an end to the Battle Thus the Christians remaining Masters of the Field or Place of Battle intended to Attack again the Enemies Camp by Break of Day in the Morning but they laboured so hard all that Night that they fortified their Camp and made it almost impregnable which hindered the Germans from making another Attempt in the Morning The Christians lost a great many Men in this Fight amongst which were divers Officers of Fame and Renown as Heusler General of the Horse and Major-General Polland besides others who died of their Wounds The Turks lost above 8000 Men as was reported by a Pasha who was taken Prisoner in the Battel The Troops on both sides often mingled and gave no Quarter on either side A great Booty was taken from the Turks amongst which were many fine Horses with several Standards In the heat of this Action the Germans lost some Pieces of Cannon by reason that their Carriages were shot in pieces and the Horses which drew them were killed The 27th of this Month of September Septemb. 27 and 28. the whole Christian Army remained that whole Day in Posture of Battle before their Camp but the Enemy not appearing His Electoral Highness resolved to pass the Beque and to march towards the River Theysse to supply the Army with Provisions of which they began to be in want which was done the 28th when the Turks passed the River in like manner And on the 29th the Christian Army Encamped at Olasch near the Theysse where General Staremberg joyned the rest of the Army with six Regiments of Horse from Titul and Orders were sent to the Brandenburghers and other Troops that were not in the Battle having been posted in several Flying Camps to joyn the Army which being refreshed were ordered to march again to observe the Enemy in their Motion This is the Account which the Turks themselves give of this Battle which being finished as here described both Armies thought it
have recourse showed plainly their intentions to quit the Field The Devotions which the King of Poland used this Morning retarded his March for the space of a full hour during which the whole Christian Army made a Halt near to Neudorf until the Poles were come up into the Line equal to the rest of the Forces The left Wing of the Imperialists without much resistance possessed themselves of the Post which the Turks possessed at Holstadt and the Prince Waldeck caused the Enemy on the other side to give way The appearance of the Poles on the Top and on the side of the Hill looked very formidable to the Turks The King who marched at the Head of his Army detached several Troops of his Hussars to Skirmish with the Front of the Enemy but being over-powred were forced to Retire to a place where Prince Waldeck had very seasonably caused some Batalions of Bavaria and of the Regiment of Merci to advance which gave a stop to the pursuit which the Turks made after them The Poles charge the Turks The King upon this disorder of the Hussars caused the first Line of his Army to advance which charged the Turks with so much Fury as caused the Gross of their Body to Retire unto the Top of a Hill where some of their Foot were drawn up and several Batteries of Cannon planted And now all the Polish Army moved the Enemy opposing them in divers scatter'd places from whence they fired Vollies of Musquets with much damage to the Poles but as yet they were not broken but still advancing gained Ground on the Enemy In the mean time the Duke of Loraine being far advanced with the left Wing towards the Enemy the Turks to avoid the Effort which was making on their Right drew themselves into Batalia before their Line of Circumvallation and fortified themselves with some Pieces of Cannon as if they intended to have made a strong resistence but their Resolution continued not long before they gave way and abandoning that Post opened a way to the Christians into their Camp without any opposition Then it was that the Duke of Loraine commanded all the left Wing to Wheel about unto the Right taking in the whole compass of the Turkish Camp without breaking their Ranks or falling upon the Plunder of the Enemies Baggage or Tents which they had left Standing The King of Poland The King of Poland enters the Turkish Camp and Prince Waldeck with their several Troops enter'd the Turkish Camp about seven a Clock in the Evening And the Duke of Loraine about half an hour after made himself Master of the Counterscarp and Suburbs of the City the Janisaries who were lodged in those Quarters escaping by favour of the Night with much less Slaughter than if it had been Day and indeed they behaved themselves with much more Valour than others of the Turkish Militia The Darkness put an end to the Battail in which the Christians had gained a compleat and an undoubted Victory And now the Duke of Loraine had leisure to send to complement the King upon this fortunate Success a great part of which Glory he attributed to the Valour and good Conduct of his Majesty and his generous Cavaliers The King returned an Answer on the other side with like obliging expressions confessing that thô every Nation and Battalion in the Army did their parts yet much of the Honour of the Success of this Day was due to the Bravery of the Germans who were the first to enter into the Camp and Trenches of the Enemy Thus were the Christians become Masters of the Turkish Camp where they lodged that Night in the same Form and Order as the Turks had done the Night before with Fires and Lights in all the Tents only it was a more grateful Spectacle to the Besieged which they could behold with more Comfort and Security than ever they had done the Nights before for this was of Joy and the others of Terrour In the Night the Turks passed the River at Sweker The hasty Flight of the Turks with so much Fear and Precipitation that they not only left their whole Camp standing but even the Standard of the Empire which is the Sacred Banner of their Religion with the three Horse Tails which are the Ensigns of the Vizier's Authority Moreover they abandoned to their Enemies all their Tents Baggage Ammunition and Provisions with all their Cannon and Artillery being One hundred and eighty Pieces and so speedy were they in their Flight that before the next Day in the Evening the Van of their Army had passed Raab Next day early in the Morning Count Staremberg attended with his Son and several of the principal Commanders of the City went out to return Thanks to his Benefactors for so great deliverance and to Congratulate with them their Fortunate Successes and Triumph which would appear Glorious over all the World But the first thing which the Duke of Loraine did that Morning by break of Day was to Order all his Army to put themselves into a readiness to March whilst he consulted with the King of Poland how and in what manner they might pursue the Enemy and improve the Victory But the King seemed so well satisfied with the advantage already gained and with the Prey and Booty of which he was possessed The Vizier's Tents fall to the lâ—t of the King of Poland sitting Master in the Vizier's Tent with all the Appurtenances and Accommodations thereunto belonging that he excused all farther Proceedings at present saying That his Army was much Harassed and required Repose and not in a Condition to pursue an Enemy whom they beheld at a far distance advanced in their way before them by the Fires and Smoak whith ascended upwards for as the Turks fled they burnt all the Villages through which they passed And now in the Christian Camp and in the City was time for Joy and Triumph Count Staremberg having paid his Respects and made his Complements to the King of Poland and the Duke of Loraine he conducted them into the City with a numerous attendance of Nobility and Gentry who had served in the late Siege all the Forces were drawn up on both sides of the Streets between which they passed with loud Acclamations of Joy unto the Church of the Augustin Fryers where in the first place as was most just Te Deum was Sung and Thanks returned to God with Sincere Devotion Thence they went to the House of the Governour Count Staremberg where he received the Applause and Praises of the King of Poland and the Duke of Loraine which were due to his Conduct and Valour and the like Commendations were bestowed by them upon all the Officers and Souldiers of the Garrison who had every one signalized themselves during this Siege by some Action or piece of Service or other which was Remarkable and worthy of Observation Afterwards these welcome and long-desired Guests were entertained with a sumptuous Feast at
in regard the Country was so wasted and destroyed by the War that it yielded neither Food for Men nor Forage almost for Horses The same Day a Detachment was made of Five hundred Croats under the Command of an Officer to Invest Michalowitz which upon the first Summons Surrender'd before the Body of the Army appeared without making any Terms or Conditions for their Liberty The Guard of this Fort was committed to the defence of Two hundred Foot and One hundred Heyduks and the Prisoners taken both Men Women and Children were secured in a Tower belonging to the Fortress After which the Army marched with all diligence towards Esseck Upon sight hereof the little Forts and Palancas on the way fired their Guns to Alarum the Country round about and passing by Carafina which is a Town fortified with strong Walls and a double Ditch the Turks Sallied forth with Horse and Foot and Skirmished with some of the Troops without any great hurt or damage on either side After three or four Days of hard march Lesly drew up his Forces on the 13th of the Month into order of Battle in the Plains of Esseck expecting to meet the Enemy in those Parts But finding no opposition they pitched their Tents and Hutts so much to advantage and which took up so much Ground as if they had contained an Army of at least 30.000 Men Soon afterwards a Thousand Turkish Horse came and took a view of the Camp with some Infantry marching in their Rear Whereupon the Army Commanded by Siaus Pasha drew out into order of Battle and marched softly against the Enemy who stood firm neither advancing nor retiring The Turks near Esseck defeated until the Christians were come within Musquet-shot and then they began to give Ground which the Croats perceiving fell upon both their Wings and gave them a total Rout and Defeat The Horse fled by the way of Belgrade but being hotly pursued by the Croats several of them were killed but the Foot found a nearer Refuge in the Town and Castle of Esseck The German Horse and Foot advanced still in good Order to the Suburbs of the Town which at the first Assault they took and Plunder'd and thence found an easy entrance into the City it self from whence the Turks had the Day before sent their Wives and Children by Water towards the Danube into which the Drave falls not far from the City Those who remain'd were with their Goods and Moveables retired into the Castle The City of Esseck is not very large but well peopled and well fortified and as I remember after the modern fashion it hath about Five hundred Shops belonging to Tradesmen Esseck and adorned with many Mosques and Caravasaries or Inns built for the Reception of Travellers which are commonly stately Structures It is very strange that this place which was esteemed so strong and well fortified by the Turks that they made it their Granary and Store-House for all sorts of Provisions for supply of those Parts of the Country should so easily be abandoned and opened to the Enemy which was capable of sustaining a Siege of many Months against an Army of far greater Force than that of Count Lesly's Taken by Count Lesly which did not exceed Six thousand Men especially being well provided with quantities of Rice Bread Bisket Salt and powder'd Flesh and with Barly and Oats all which served greatly to refresh and feed the Men and Horse of Count Lesly's Army which were languishing before for want of Victuals the ten Days Provisions which they had taken with them being almost consumed So soon as Lesly became Master of the Town Guards were set to oppose any Sally from the Castle whilst the Soldiers were Ransacking the Houses unto whom all the Plunder and Pillage was given In the mean time Count Lesly went to take a view of the Bridge like which there is none in the World and of which we have already given a Description in the former part of our History The River Drave is not very broad in this place there being only Sixteen Boats to sustain the Bridge which the Turks had broken down the Day before loosing them that they might drive down the Stream the Christians endeavoured to recover them the next day following but could not get aboard for want of smaller Boats nor could they for want of this Bridge pass over the Drave to burn the Bridge of Esseck which on that side is Eight thousand Paces long and all built of Oak 'T is true Money and good Rewards were offer'd to some French Soldiers of the Regiment of Erbeville who with certain Germans and Croats under-took to pass the River and burn a great part of the Bridge but the Boats on which they endeavoured to pass were so small and leaky that they sunk under them and saved themselves only by Swimming Howsoever That part of the Bridge which was on the Town side being Eleven hundred Paces in length was in a very short time reduced to Ashes Whilst these things were acting a Rumour was spread amongst the Soldiers that all the Riches of the Pasha and Moveables of value belonging to the Citizens were conserved within the Castle which so animated the Soldiers to make an Assault up it that Count Lesly could not restrain them from running the utmost hazard of Storming the place with open Force But whilst they were preparing Faggots and other combustible Matter to fix at the Gate which looks towards the City a furious Fite took in divers Houses caused by the Rabble of the Soldiers which burnt so violently by reason that all the Houses are built with Wood and the very Streets Planked with Boards and Timber Esseck burnt the Ground being a Clay and sort of Owsey Earth not capable of a Stony Pavement that there was no possibility to quench it or to Approach near to the Gate of the Castle on that side so that in a few hours the whole Town was utterly consumed Wherefore they fixed some artificial Fire to the other Gate on the Bridge side with which both the Gate and the Bridge burnt together without much offence to the Defendants within the Castle but rather the Fire and the Retrenchment made within served to secure them from an Assault Wherefore General Lesly thought fit not to Attempt any thing further upon the Castle but having left all the Town in Ruins he returned back the next Day to Turanowitz where he had left Two thousand Men to Guard and Secure the Baggage With the good News of this Success Prince Deichtrestein was dispatched to the Emperor and for Confirmation thereof he carried with him five Colours of the Fourteen which were taken from the Turks Whilst these matters were acting to the advancement and Glory of the Christian Arms General Schultz on the 19th of July Schultz before Esperies began to lay Siege to the Town of Esperies and by the 8th of August had formed all his Works Trenches and raised his
amongst the Soldiery as Shaitan Pasha had done who had so bravely Defended the City in the Year 1684 and thô the wise Generals gave little or no credence to such Relations as these coming from affrighted Prisoners and Captives whose business it was to flatter and mollifie the Minds of their Conquerours yet such Reports proceeding from Witnesses that were come from the City served to encourage the Soldiery who were ready to believe what they desire and what may render their Enemies Low and Contemptible Count Staremberg received Orders from the Duke of Loraine to perfect the Bridge with all possible speed Proceedings of the Duke of Bavaria which being finished the Elector of Bavaria with all his Forces except those which were left for the Guard of Pesth passed and encamped his Men at the Foot of the Mount St. Gerard and took possession of the same Posts and Places which he had possessed two Years before and on the side of the Mount he raised two Batteries against the upper Town and made his own Head-quarter at the Baths of hot Waters to be nearer to that Place which his Forces were to Attack and there raising a Battery of six Pieces of Cannon he thence drew two parallel Lines of Communication to which another was added very large and deep extending to the lower Town into which the same day Two thousand Men were entred to attack that Place The Quarters of the Army Next hereunto were the Quarters of Count Staremberg to which were united the Troops of the Prince of Saxony having their Lines in a circular Form Next hereunto the main Body of Horse was lodged being as it were in the middle and in the most commodious place to oppose the Sallies of the Enemies Cavalry on the other side of which Prince Lewis of Baden had made his Allodgement Next hereunto were the Quarters of the Duke of Loraine opposite to the Breach which they were labouring to lay open Next in order were placed the Troops of the Circles which with the Voluntiers reached to the brink of the River making a most formidable Body encompassing the Town And to surround it on all sides Trenches and Lines were made on the side of Pesth guarded and defended by Heydukes and Hungarians Thus was this City again encompassed with the Christian Arms June on the 22d of this Month which about two Years ago was accounted the impregnable Fortress and the Sanctuary and Place of Refuge for the Turks where Fortune had made its Ne plus ultra and set Bounds to the Progress of the Imperial Arms. But these brave Captains and Soldiers being returned again to their old Quarters remembring the Disgrace they had received by being foiled and beholding the Places where their Comrades and Fellow-Soldiers had breathed out their last and where some of them had received such Wounds as were still smarting and scarce healed became more enraged and animated to avenge themselves of which they conceived greater hopes by Experience and Acquaintance with the Situation of the Place and thereby better enabled to amend the Errors of the last Siege having made Provisions of all things in great abundance for want of which Armies commonly suffer more in their Trenches than they do from the Efforts and Violences and Sallies of the Enemy The provident and wise Duke of Loraine being well advised and aware hereof and observing that very little Rain had fallen that Spring so that the Grass and Forage for Horses was very short and that the great Heats and Drought had burnt up the Pasture in all parts round the Leaguer He drew out from every Troop ten Men only to lodge within the Trenches which made a Body of two Regiments The Horse Quarters or Two thousand Horse under the Command of Count Taff which were esteem'd sufficient to repulse any Sallies of Horse which the Enemy could make from the Town But the main and great Body of Horse were ordered to march towards Alba Regalis under Command of the Counts Palfi and Gondola and other Generals and taking their Quarters upon the Banks of the River Saruvitz they might there not only find plenty of Forage for themselves but deprive the Enemy thereof and diminish their Stores besides the Place was commodious both to interrupt the Vizier in his March and all other Succours designed for the Relief of Buda The parallel Lines of Communication being finished by which the Soldiers might pass under shelter to the lower Town and the Batteries raised on the side of the hot Waters where as we said the Duke of Bavaria had his Head Quarters Six Pieces of Cannon of Twenty four pound Ball began first to play on that Wall Batteries raised where two Years before a Battery and Breach had been made and an Assault given the Place was called the Burg of Wasserstadt in English the Water-Town and here it was thought fit to renew the Battery for that the Earth having been lately laid and the Work repaired it could not be so well setled and so firm as the ancient Fortifications the which was manifested by a plain and open Proof for being for one whole Day continually battered so great a Breach was made and so wide as to open a Way to a formidable Assault On the other side the Turks plyed their Cannon very hard upon the Camp which did not much damage thô lodged within Musquet-shot And thô the Breach was made yet it was thought necessary to defer the Assault until the Approaches were perfected June which before Morning were almost finished under the darkness of the Night On the 24th all things being prepared and a Breach open'd of above twenty Paces wide a Signal for an Assault was given by firing three Pieces of Cannon The lower Town assaulted upon which the Troops appointed for that Service advanced with such Bravery and Resolution that the Enemy yielded up that Station with little Resistance and a Party of them descending from the upper Town gave only a single Volly of Shot and so again retired with some Disorder and taken This being the first Action of this Siege there was scarce a Voluntier or Gentleman-Adventurer in the whole Army but who presented himself in this Enterprize being desirous to signalize his Valour in the first beginning The Night following the Turks kept continually firing which did not hinder the Christians from lodging themselves to the right and left on the Breach of the lower Town in the taking of which they lost but Eight Soldiers in that Day and Night's Service which being so cheaply obtained the Generals suspected that the Enemy had abandoned the Place with Design and with Intention to Blow up the Assailants with some Mines prepared for them and for that reason they gave a stop to the Advancement of the Troops but the next Day having searched and examined those Places and finding all secure they proceeded to make a new Lodgment in the Angle of the Wall of the lower Town
resolved to make a Retreat and repass the Drave Such an Action as this was now become difficult and the Army not to be secured but by the skill and bravery of such Generals For the Turks observing the Retreat of their Enemies and believing it to be a kind of Flight either out of weakness in Strength or want of Courage made many Assaults and Attacks on the Rear which the Generals with such admirable Art Martial conduct and Discipline defended that in all the attempts they made they were repulsed Five Regiments under the Command of Piccolomini were commanded to March before to Siklos Conduct in the Retreat and the rest of the Army towards Walpo drawn into two Lines often facing the Turks to the Van to the Rear and on each side in such manner that it was almost impossible to break in upon them The Turks Against the A tacks of the Turks who had not for some years seen the backs of their Enemies and seldom a Retreat made by them full of vain Glory and hopes of gaining a Victory pressed very hard on the Rear which being defended by the Valour and excellent Conduct of that magnanimous and generous Prince the Elector of Bavaria with the assistance of Prince Lewis of Baden whose Arms and Conduct were dreaded by the Turks There was little or no advantage obtained that day by the Enemy the Camp being that night pitched near Walpo The day following they proceeded in their March without any considerable opposition from the Enemy and encamped near the Drave between Walpo and Ussona only the Foragers thinking semselves so secure were attacked by the Enemy with the loss of many Men and Horse The Elector of Bavaria having that day the command of his own Wing which was the Van-gard caused almost all his Baggage to pass the Drave which much disappointed the design of the Enemy And the Duke of Loraine gave order that all the Baggage as well that belonging to the Soldiers as to the Commanders which could be transported that night The manner how the Christians repassed the Drave should be passed over And the next day the Cavalry of the right Wing after them the left Wing then the Baggage of the Infantry and the day following all the Infantry it self were passed over all which being performed with most admirable order and conduct the Bridges were broken and the Boats burnt and sunk As the Christian Leaders shewed themselves great and valiant Captains so the Turks gave no less proofs of their Cowardise who might have made use of this advantage to the total destruction of the Christian Army had not the Divine Hand preserved them for more signal Victories The Joy which the Turks make for this Success and for the more severe punishment of the Turks howsoever the Grand Vizier fancying this Retreat to be an entire Victory dispatched Curriers with the News thereof to Constantinople and to all parts of the Empire glorying that he had now recover'd the lost Honour of the Ottoman power not doubting but in a short time to regain Buda and all the conquer'd places and to restore peace and quietness once more with Honour to the Musselmin Dominions This Opinion was celebrated in the Turkish Camp with Joy and Triumph and at the Port and remote parts of the Empire with divers days of Festival all believing that the side of Fortune was now turned under the auspicious Conduct of this Vizier from whom great things and almost Miracles were expected In pursuance of this fancy and belief so soon as the Imperialists had withdrawn from Esseck the Turks detached a Body of Four thousand Horse towards Darda with Orders to proceed thence to Mohatz where they designed if possible to burn all the Boats laden with Ammunition and Provision belonging to the Christian Army Parties sent by the Turks to Darda But this design was prevented by the March of Piccolomini with some Regiments of Hussars and Croats and of Count Cohari who with Two thousand Hungarians was commanded to pass that way July and thence to proceed to joyn with the Marquis Doria and reinforce him in the Blocade of Agria Howsoever the expedition of the Four thousand Turkish Horse was not altogether unsuccessful for it was their fortune to meet with One hundred and fifty Waggons belonging to the Bavarian Troops under the Convoy only of Five hundred Croats commanded by that brave Soldier Count Orlick who notwithstanding the inequality of numbers sustained the Shock and at last orderly retreated by the help of a Morass with the loss of One hundred Men which the Turks at their return to the Camp reported for a signal Victory The main Body of the Christian Army continuing their March on the 28th pitched their Camp about a League distant from Mohatz before which place all the Boats laden with Ammunition and Provisions for sustenance of the Army were then Riding in the River and here it was that Five thousand Foot and One thousand Horse from the Circles of Suabia The Christian Army reinforced and Franconia joyned with the Army under the command of the Marquis Charles Gustavus of Baden Durlach all choise and select Men veterane Soldiers and so well armed and clothed that in their March towards the Camp the Emperor took delight to see them pass through the Streets of Vienna With these came also Count Rabata Commissary General bringing Money with him for the Subsistence and Payment of the Army in which Office he so well acquitted himself for three or four years past that much of the health and convenient subsistence of the Army may well be attributed to his Industry and Mannagment by which all things were provided in such plenty that there was little need of sending Foragers abroad with hazard and danger for relief of the Camp And indeed by the Successes of this year it plainly appeared how great a Service such good Managment was Loss by the Foragers for want of which the Imperialists had not of late suffered in any thing a greater loss than in their Foragers who wandering abroad without care or due circumspection were often surprized by the Enemy with the loss of their Horses and many of their Lives The Grand Vizier finding that the Christian Army had repassed the Drave did believe that they would not sit idle but undertake some Enterprise or other either by the Siege of Sigher or some other place of importance to prevent which by giving encouragement to the several Garrisons the Vizier dispatched Expresses to all parts to let them know that in case of a Siege they should manfully resist assuring them that in a short time he would bring them Relief and such Succour as they should desire On the other side the Duke of Loraine seriously considering what Course the Enemy might in probability follow and effect he imagined that their Design might be by a strong Convoy of Horse to Relieve Agria with Provisions Means to intercept
contingences from the Enemy whatsoever began his March towards Siklos with the right Wing being then about an hour's March distant from Siklos Scarce had he opened the Plain when the Elector of Bavaria with his left Wing was attacked by Eight thousand of the Enemies Horse sustained by Six thousand Janisaries A Battle began at Harscham who had the night before intrenched themselves on the side of a Hill from whence they fired many Vollies of Shot on the three Regiments of Cavalry viz. Arco Magni and Soyer Prince Lewis of Baden having observed that there was a very advantagious place on the side of the Hill near to the Janisaries which if possessed might very much annoy the Turks immediately advertised the Dukes of Loraine and Bavaria thereof who having in the first place reinforced the Rear-guards with four Regiments under the conduct of Piccolomini gave it in charge to Prince Lewis to take the Post he had denoted on the side of the Hill which accordingly he performed with admirable Success for the Janisaries having fired three Vollies and the Spahees having furiously charged the Rear-guard as often the Elector encouraging his Men setled them firm and steddy against the frequent and forcible Shocks and Charges of the Enemy who not being able to endure the Fire and the unshaken order of the Christians betook themselves to a disorderly and precipitate Flight in which the Turkish Horse broke in upon their Foot and trampling down the Janisaries under foot drove them back into their Trenches The Turks routed into which entring at the same time with the Enemy they put the whole Army to the Rout and to a shameful Flight leaving their Camp Tents and all their Baggage for a Prey to the Christians On this memorable day which is to be celebrated to all Posterity the two Dukes who were Generals signalized themselves by their admirable Conduct and undaunted Bravery to all the World The valour of the Christian Commanders Prince Lewis of Baden in like manner with his Sword in his Hand applying himself at all places to direct and encourage the Soldiery by his Presence and Voice demonstrated and evidenced himself to be a great Captain and Champion in imitation of whom and of all other the Commanders the inferiour Officers and Soldiers gave marks to the World of their bravery and zeal in the Successes of that glorious day The Prince Eugenie of Savoy was the first who with the Regiments of his Brigade entred the Trenches of the Enemy The Prince of Savoy carries the News of Victory His bravery and for that reason had the honour to be the first Messenger of this happy News unto the Emperor Count Sinzendorf a Cavalier of great Courage and Hope adventuring his Person amidst the thickest of his Enemies had Two Horses killed under him that day and Two wounded together with his Page who fought on his Left-hand and by a great Shot had his Leg broke Howsoever he pursued the Enemy beyond their Trenches for the space of an hour as did the rest of the Army until the Close of the Evening when it was thought fit to desist from the pursuit and return to the Camp that they might give Refreshment both to Man and Horse who had for two days greatly suffered for want both of Victuals and Forage The Prince of Commercy who Commanded the Troops of Volontiers deserved also his due Praise being one of the most forward to attack the Enemy of which he gave undeniable Proofs the Sargeant Major of his Regiment and One hundred and Sixty of his Soldiers being slain at the beginning of the Battle The whole Number killed and wounded on the Christian side The Numbers killed and wounded were not much above One thousand Three Captains Twelve subaltern Officers and Four Trumpeters which indeed was very strange and almost miraculous if we consider the great loss which the Turks sustained for there were Eight thousand Janisaries with their Aga or General killed on the place all choice and select Soldiers Two thousand were made Prisoners and about Three thousand Drowned and the whole Army scattered and dispersed in the Woods Marshes and Boggs of that Country Strange and wonderful indeed was the Success of this day and ought wholly to be ascribed to the Almighty Hand of the God of Hosts For the Turkish Army was much more numerous than the Christian consisting in all of One hundred and twenty thousand of which Eighty thousand were Fighting men encouraged by late Successes and grown proud and confident of their Strength by the Retreat which the Christians made But what is still more strange is that this formidable Army was Defeated and put to Flight by Ten thousand men only of the Left-wing of the Rear-Guard Commanded by the Elector of Bavaria for the Right-wing under the Duke of Loraine and Led by Count Caprara had not time to come up before the Turks were put to a Rout and a Hasty Flight which had they delayed and stood until the other Forces had come up it might in all probability have proved so bloody a loss to the Turks as could never more have been recovered and which might have proved the total Ruin and Downfal of the Ottoman Empire Thus since it was the Fortune of the Elector of Bavaria to Fight that day with Victorious Success The Vizier's Tent allotted to the Elector of Bavaria the Magnificent Tent of the Grand Vizier like opima spolia were by Lot the just Reward of his Labour and Valou It is said That that Tent was the most sumptuous and rich of any that had during this whole War been brought by any preceeding General into the Field therein was taken all the Cash or Ready-Money brought for the Use of the Army all the Books and Accounts belonging to the Militia the Horse-tails or Tugh carried before the Vizier The spoils taken besides Fifty thousand Crowns which some principal Officers as is said appropriated to their own Use Besides this stately Tent there were great Numbers of other Tents taken in which the Turks show most of their Grandeur making more Ostentation by their Tents in the Camp than they do by their Houses and Edifices in the City Moreover there were taken Sixty seven Pieces of Canon Four of which were of an extraordinary bigness of Powder there was a Thousand Kintals of Match Four hundred about Eight thousand Cannon-Bullets Three thousand Bombs and Carcasses Ten thousand Granadoes Arms of all sorts in great Numbers Two thousand Oxen Five hundred Horse Mules Asses and Camels about Two hundred Buffoloes Four hundred which were appointed and fitted to the Yoke for drawing Carriages and Cannon Sheep and other Cattle innumerable Besides all this there were found great quantities of Coffee Chocolate Sugar Sherbet and Honey with Carpets and Beds of Wool and Cotton Also Oats Rice Barley Flower Oyl Bread and Salt in short all things necessary and convenient for Man and Beast with which the Christian Soldiers
an Army of 10.000 Foot and 4000 Horse and that a Reserve of 5000 Foot more and 1000 Horse lay quartered about five Italian Miles from thence The Gallies within the Gulf made great Triumph with their Flags and Streamers and made themselves Masters of Fourteen Galiots or Brigantines which had long served for Capers or Picaroons to Rob and Plunder in those Seas This Success enlivening the Spirits of the Christians it was resolved at a Council of War to March by the side of the Hill to attempt the Seraskier's Camp as a way the least incommoded by the Enemy's Cannon and where was place sufficient to draw up the Battalions in good order In pursuance of this Resolution on the 24th of July by break of day General Konismark drew up the Army and disposed them in order of Battle and advanced boldly on the Enemy who consisted of Ten thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse And in the mean time the Captain General with some light Vessels directed the Galeasses Konismark draws up the Army to destroy a Battery of the Enemy erected near the Sea-side and to drive out of a Trench two Troops of Turkish Horse a Marine Regiment was landed under Command of Captain Negro who in a short time made themselves Masters of the Battery on which were divers Pieces of Cannon two whereof were of Brass The Seraskier enraged at the loss of these places and seeing the Enemies Troops advance upon him feared to be assaulted in the Rear or surprized in their Trenches to prevent which he made a Detachment of some of his best Troops to meet the Enemy and Skirmish with them in which Action thô the Turks seemingly shewed Resolution yet they did it in that loose manner running at first as it were on the Face of the Enemy and then turning their Backs as if they designed thereby to disturb the good Order of the Christians who still maintained and kept their Ranks with a Regular steddiness and still advanced forward to come unto their desired Engagement At length about three a Clock in the After-noon the Turks began to Skirmish with a Battalion Commanded by Colonel Ceclina A Fight who so well behaved themselves that they put the Enemy to Flight Which when the Seraskier observed he gave out the Signal for the whole Army to Engage and to Charge the Christians both in the Front and in the Flank trusting to his Troops which were much Superiour in number to their Enemies Their first attack was with the usual Cry of Alah Alah accompanied with the Vollies of all their Small-shot after which they fell furiously on with their Scemyters in their Hands The first Fire was received and sustained by the Germans flanked by the Croatian Cavalry of the left Wing without moving the least Step backwards and particularly by the old Veterane Regiments of Brunswick who according to their usual Bravery repulsed the Enemy with continued Vollies of Shot and the Cavalry under Command of that renowned Captain the Marquis of Corbon so vigorously seconded the Foot that the Turks began to give Way and Retreat and soon afterwards to betake themselves to a shameful Flight The Christians were very eager to pursue the flying Enemy The Turks defeated but the General Konismark suspecting some treacherous Ambuscade gave a stop to the Valiant Heat of his Army At the same time the Captain General took this opportunity to Command Captain Negro with his Battalions to advance to the bottom of the Gulf of Lepanto from whence all the Forces both of the Fleet and the Land Soldiers giving a loud Shout put the Turks into such a Consternation that they abandoned all their Works raised at the bottom of the Gulf and giving Fire first to their Magazine of Powder and Ammunition they followed the Example of their flying Seraskier or General In this manner by the Blessing of the Divine Providence this strong Fortress of Patras fell into the Hands of the Venetians Patras taken which in former times had withstood numerous Armies of the Turks In ancient days Emanuel Emperor of the Greeks finding himself not in a Condition to defend this place against the prosperous and the then successful Arms of the Turks resigned it into the Hands of the Venetians to be defended by them who so well fortified the place with such Works and Cannon that the Turks laying Siege thereunto in the year 1465 were able to avail nothing but afterwards returning with a more powerful and invincible Army in the year 1496 and laying Siege to the place after a long and valorous defence was forced to yield it self to the power of the Turk in whose Hands it hath ever remained until this year of 1687 when it yielded it self to the Victorious Arms of the Evangelist St. Mark So soon as the News hereof came to the knowledge of the Captain General he immediately weighed Anchor and by break of Day in the Morning Sailed with his whole Fleet under the Castle of Rumelia where he found Mahomet Pasha Encamped with Six thousand Men. This Surprize was so sudden that the Turks having no time to consult or send for other Succours or Auxiliaries with great Precipitation betook themselves to a shameful Flight giving Fire in the first place to all their Magazine of Powder Mahoment Pasha put to Flight the force of which shook down a great part of that Wall which looks towards the Sea Upon these Successes the Captain General following the Air of his good Fortune Commanded all the Fleet to bring their Chase-guns on the Head of their Ships and Gallies to bear on the Fortress of Lepanto which was a most admirable Structure and so strong that in ancient times it had ruined those Armies and Fleets which had made Attacks upon it The Fort of Lepanto battered But now the Fortune of the Turks being changed and therewith their Spirits sunk and grown low they were not able to sustain the shot of the Venetians but taking whatsoever with them that they could carry on their Backs and Shoulders they abandoned the place leaving a free access and entrance thereinto at the pleasure and will of their Enemies Thus did the Venetians in less than Twenty four hours time erect their Flag on four several strong Fortresses with little damage on their side The Seraskier Flies to Corinth but with considerable slaughter of the Turks and loss of the greatest part of the Baggage Ammunition and Tents in their Camp from whence the Seraskier marched with great fear and hast to Corinth In these four places the Venetians took Sixty Pieces of Cannon most of them of Brass with eight Pieces in the Camp of the Seraskier and other six from the Camp of Mustapha Pasha with great Stores of Provisions of all sorts The News of this happy Success was dispatched to Venice with all diligence by Sergeant Major Nicolo Rossi who embarked on a Feluca belonging to the State and happily arrived at that City on a
temperate Commander interpreted for a bad Omen of Success in the following Campaign The Court took little Notice of all this Matter but still continued to encourage Yeghen with Promises of Additional Forces and new Supplies ordering him to oppose all the Designs and Attempts of the Christians to the utmost of his Power giving him also a Commission to enter into a Treaty of Peace with the Christian General in case any Overture should fairly offer its self But Yeghen not having with these Commands received the Prophet's Standard Yeghen in Mutiny nor the Imperial Seal which are the Badges and proper Signals of the Office of Grand Vizier became Angry and Sullen for tho' he was made General yet that seemed not sufficient without the Title of Supreme Governor And whereas before he was on his March towards Belgrade he returned back again to Sophia declaring that without those powerful Instruments it was impossible for him to Govern the Army and Rule them with such strict Obedience as was necessary against so powerful an Enemy and so formidable as the Christians And as to the Overtures of Peace he was resolved to make none nor suffer the Ambassadors to pass until such time as he had tried the Fortune of the Ottoman Sword once more in the Field To this pitch of Insolence was this Yeghen arisen that he was ready to Sacrifice the whole concernment of the Empire to his own Pride and Vanity But Express after Express coming from Belgrade with News that the Germans were Marching towards the Save with a Resolution to pass that River so soon as the Elector of Bavaria should Arrive in the Camp Yeghen began to grow a little ashamed and fearing that all the Misfortunes impending over Belgrade He returns to Belgrade would be attributed to his ill Government and Sedition he Marched away from Sophia and being come to Belgrade he made publick Declaration that the Sultan had created him General of all Hungary upon which the Forces Encamped in the Parts adjacent to the City submitted to his Command and being now invested with the sole Power he vented his Spleen against his old Competitor Hassan Pasha with whom formerly as we have said he had a Quarrel in Bosnia and having now an opportunity to shew his farther Resentments he seized on his Tents Seizes on Hassan Pasha Horses and Money and would have strangled him had he not been prevented by the Aga of the Janisaries and the Son of the Han of Tartary who was there present with a small Body of Tartars But the Turks had now something more to do than to quarrel amongst themselves for the Christians came pouring upon them on all sides and how to resist them was the present Incumbence and grand Concernment so that laying aside all Intestine differences Yeghen with Ten thousand Soldiers joyned to the Troops of Tekeli resolved to pass the Save and Encamp near Semblin on the other side of the River But that design was laid aside so soon as News was brought to Belgrade that P. Lewis of Baden was Decamped from Valkovar and that together with Caprara he had taken his march towards Illock with which Yeghen and the Turks fainting in their Courage The Turks seek for Peace were inclined rather to Proposals of Peace than to a continuance of the War and to try whether any reasonable offers of that nature would be accepted Two ordinary Peasants were dispatched to Oseck with Letters to Marquess Herman of Baden and Marshal Caprara desiring them to interceed with his Imperial Majesty to put an end to this bloody War which had already cost the lives of many innocent People and laid waste and desolate vast and large Countries and Provinces But such a Message as this being brought by Peasants Their Messengers are suspected who are improper Instruments to be employed in so eminent an Action gave just cause to the Generals to take and esteem them for no other than Spyes Upon which suspicion they were imprisoned and Advice sent thereof to the Imperial Court which not judging fit to take notice of any Offers of Peace proposed in such Form gave new Orders and Instructions to Caprara to pursue with all vigour imaginable the Rules chalked out and designed for carrying on the Work of this Campaigne In the mean time the Troops of Bavaria arrived in the Camp under the Command of General Serini an experienced Captain and therewith the main Army being reinforced Illock abandoned by the Turks Caprara took his march towards Illock of which so soon as the Turks had received intelligence they were put into such consternation that they abandoned the place and having packed up what Moveables the shortness of time would permit they set Fire to the City and retired in a precipitate and disorderly Flight The Smoke being descryed at a distance Caprara detached a Body of Germans and Hungarians to advance towards the Town to observe the face of the Enemy and the occasion of that Smoke and being come near to the Gates and perceiving that the Soldiers and Inhabitants had deserted the City the Germans were employed to extinguish the Fire and the Hungarians to pursue the flying Enemy which they performed so effectually that they seized a great part of the Goods which were then carrying away and brought them to the Camp The News hereof so affrighted the Garrison of Peter-Waradin that with like Terror and Precipitation they abandoned their City and fled to Belgrade These Successes gave great encouragement to the whole Army and to the Imperial Court at Vienna where the Duke of Mantoua about this time arrived with intention to pass forward to the Camp and signalize himself and his Followers in a War against the common Enemy his Equipage was very splendid and agreeable to the Spirit of so generous a Prince 1688. July In like manner the Elector of Bavaria Maximilian Emanuel the Third arrived at Vienna being called by the Emperor to command the Army in Hungary in the place of the Duke of Loraine who was become so weak by his Indisposition and want of Health that he judged himself unable to command the Army with such vigour as was required in so active a War The Elector was so intent upon this Expedition The E. of Bavaria at Vienna and hastens to the Camp that the very day he arrived at Vienna with his most Serene Consort he had departed and proceeded to the Camp had he not been forcibly detained by the obliging invitation of the Emperor and persuaded to stay until the Evening of the following day In the mean time a design was formed to block up Great Waradin but the Garrison being strong within the Turks made frequent Excursions with Two hundred Horse and a Thousand Janisaries at a time and frequently brought Provisions into the Town the which was so managed by the Pasha and other Commanders that the Castle held out until the Year 1692. Howsoever the Blocade of
by break of day within sight of the advanced Guards of the Enemy who gave the first Alarum upon which the Pashas was the first to Mount on Horseback and immediately drew forth his Troops placing them in order of Battel the Horse into Two Wings and the Foot in the middle The Turks assault the Germans The Force conducted by Prince Lewis was no stronger in all than Three thousand Horse and Three hundred Croats but the Turks by several Recruits which had lately joyned them were in all Fifteen thousand Fighting-men by which inequality of Numbers the Turks judging themselves secure of Victory furiously attacked the Prince who had also divided his Squadrons of Horse into Two Wings the Right Commanded by Piccolomini and the Left by Count Castelli both Generals of Battalia The Turks at first falling in with all their power and Numbers on the Left-wing were Three times bravely repulsed by Castelli when Piccolamini coming in to their Assistance the Fight became so hot and fierce that the Christians and the Turks remained for half an Hour so mixed together that having not time to Re-Charge their Fire-Arms they fought only at handy blows opening the way with their Swords At length the Turks being overcome by the unparallel'd Valour of the Imperialists the Turkish Horse began to retire The Turkish Horse put to Flight And the Foot exposed to danger leaving their Infantry naked and exposed to the Fury of the Enemy of whom the greatest Slaughter was made that ever was known between Two such small Bodies And indeed Reflexion being made on the Numbers of the Imperialists it will appear a Miracle that Three thousand three hundred men should defeat Fifteen thousand killing Five thousand on the place amongst which was the General Topal Pasha Two Agas and the Kahya to the Pasha The Foot made a brave defence for some time but at length were dispersed About Two hundred of them were drowned in the River and lost in the Bogs and such as escaped the Sword submitted to Quarter The Imperialists had the advantage to be covered by the side of a Hill when the Enemy attacked them In this great Action the Imperialists lost not more than One hundred and fifty men amongst which was Captain Maraville and Two Lieutenants the Prince August of Hannover was slightly Wounded in the Hand by a Lance and the Count de Cronsfelt Sergeant-Major of the Regiment of Holstein in the Neck Prince August was Colonel of a Regiment of Curassiers and conducted a Detachment of Two thousand men with which he was commanded to march from Peter-Waradin and joyn with Prince Lewis of Baden the which he performed and behaved himself with incomparable Valour which is natural to that Illustrious Family P. Lewis returns to Proot In this manner Prince Lewis Exalted with Glory and laden with Spoils returned with many Standards and Colours taken from the Enemy to his former Camp at Proot where Dedicating the Day following to the Repose and Refreshment of his Soldiery he retorned Thanks to the God of Hosts for so signal a Victory which happened to fall out on the very same day that the Elector of Bavaria sang the Te Deum at Belgrade for the Conquest and Subjection of that place News sent to Vienna These Two great and signal Actions being performed so near to each other in time filled all Vienna and Christendom France only excepted with extraordinary Joy and Triumph Prince Charles of Vaudemont was chosen by the Elector to be the joyful Messenger of this Glorious Action of taking Belgrade to the Imperial Court which was immediately followed by Baron Schlick dispatched by the Prince of Baden with Advice of that wonderful Victory obtained over Topal the Pasha of Bosnia The French K. obstructs the Wars against the Turks In this glorious manner did the Campaigne end in Hungary which might have been farther improved and a progress made by the Imperial Arms to the utmost extent of those Dominions which the Turks possess in Europe had not the most Christian King being displeased at the prosperous Course of the Imperial Arms against the Turk thought it time to make a diversion by waging War upon Germany And indeed it had been no wonder to have seen the Imperial Eagles as a consequence of the present Consternation Erected on the Walls of Constantinople and the Turks driven over the Bosphorus to possess their more Ancient possessions in Asia had not the Menaces of the French King recalled the Elector of Bavaria from his intended Enterprize which was very probable and likely to have succeeded The Rascians in Arms against the Turks For the Rascians were got into a Body of Eight thousand men between Semandria and Nissa being besides their old Feuds lately exasperated by the burning of their Houses and destroying of their Fields by Yeghen Pasha which he did to hinder the Imperialists from following him in his late Flight from Belgrade In revenge of which they desired the Germans to furnish them with experienced Commanders to direct and discipline them not questioning but to become Masters of all that Country and to possess Sophia it self promising also to bring the Bulgarians and Greeks into the Interest of the Emperor But the Elector of Bavaria as we have said being obliged to return The Elector of Bavaria returns to Vienna he arrived at Vienna the 18th day of September and Three days afterwards was followed by the Duke of Loraine who by reason of his late indisposition could not move so vigorously as the Elector The arrival of the Elector at Vienna happened on the Day of Thanksgiving for the late Successes A Solemn Day of Thanksgiving where nothing was omitted to render that Day solemn and full of Joy and Triumph The Procession came forth from the Royal Church of the Augustines discalced and proceeded to the Cathedral of St. Stephen's being followed by all the Clergy Gentry Nobility and Ministers of the Court and last of all with Exemplary Devotion and Piety came the Young King of Hungary and their Imperial Majesties attended with the Queen of Poland and the Electress of Bavaria This most August Train being entred the Church an Eloquent Sermon was Preached before them agreeable to the present occasion after which Te Deum was Sung and Mass Celebrated by the Bishop of Vienna with the Harmony of the most exquisite Musick both Vocal and Instrumental that Human Art could arrive unto All which Jubilee and Triumph was much augmented by the appearance of his Electoral Highness whom the Fatigues and weariness of his Journey could not hinder from bearing part in the Festival of this day and indeed the People beheld him with such Admiration that their Eyes had scarce time to fix on any other Object than his person who had atchieved Two such memorable Actions that Year namely in passing the Save and subduing Belgrade as may compare with the most memorable and Heroick Acts of Alexander or the Caesars
their own Trenches but also to offend the Venetian Camp Whilst the Doge and principal Officers were contriving the Attack which was to be executed on the 20th The Turks on the 18th made a Sally on the Regiment of Colonel Gaspar an Athenian August The Turks Sally on who was placed to guard the Aqueducts but were so bravely received by the Valour of that Colonel that they were repulsed with the loss of 150 of their Men killed on the place Colonel Gaspar an Athenian killed and 50 or 60 of the Christians amongst which was Colonel Gaspar himself being shot in the Breast with a Musket-Bullet in recompence of whose Resolute and Valiant Behaviour to the general Satisfaction and Applause of the whole Army the Doge bestowed the Command of the Regiment on his Brother Demetrio with an Annual Pension to his Son during his Life The Morning of the 20th being come every one prepared himself for the intended Assault on the Enemies Trenches The Marquis of Corbon with his Cavalry was the first to break in upon the Enemies Horse The Turks Attacked in their Trenches which he performed with such Success that he thereby opened a way for the Foot to Attack the Trenches in three several places which was executed with such resolution that neither Cannon nor Musket-shot were serviceable on this occasion for the Fight in the Trenches was so close with the Swords and Handy Blows that being intermixed one with the other the Combatants rather appeared like Gladiators than Soldiers fighting in regular Troops The Turks on one side being hard pressed began to throw away their Arms and fly but being seconded and relieved by some Troops led on by the Pasha Commander of the place who at the same time promised Rewards to the Valiant and threatned Death to the Cowardly the Fight increased and the Trenches were filled with the Bodies of Dead and dying Men. The Venetians were repulsed twice and thrice in some places But at length all the Passes towards the Mountain being forced by the Regiment of Bonometti and the Venturieri who are Soldiers of Fortune the Turks began to abandon their Posts and betake themselves to Flight They quit them and fly and other Regiments forcing the Lines in other places filled all with Slaughter and Confusion the Horse were the first began to turn their Backs running with full Career to take refuge in the Town and to save themselves But the Infantry fared much worse for some Thousands of them being pursued by the Christians even to the Gates of the City about 500 of them were cut off and their Journey shortned Another Party of the Turks flying towards the Sea were killed by the Horse and others threw themselves headlong into the Water where some were Drowned A terrible Slaughter and others killed by Vollies of Musket-shot from the Shoar so that the Sea was dyed with Blood and covered with the Garments and Bodies of Men and besides those who were killed and wounded of the Turks many Prisoners were taken This Fight continued about two Hours at the beginning of which the Turks Cannon offended much the Venetian Troops but without any disorder every one giving undoubted Proofs of his Bravery and constancy of his Resolution This Action cost the Lives of 200 Men amongst which Seignior Girolamo Garzoni was slain Girolamo Garzoni slain the Senior of all the Senators then in the Camp he at first was hurt with a Musket-shot in the Side but refusing to yield unto that Wound or to be carried into the Tent for Cure he continued to fight until he was cut down by a Turkish Scimeter with which the Turk would have taken off and carried away his Head but that Seignior Almoro Morosini covered his Body and defended it from the Insults and Indignities of the Enemy Of the Venetians about 200 were wounded amongst which was Prince Harcourt by a Shot on his Breast The Venetians Masters of the Turks Trenches Suburbs Prince of Turene in the Arm but the Prince of Wirtemberg mortally In the Trenches all their Cannon and Mortar-pieces were taken with great Numbers of Arms and all their Baggage and Provisions after which with little difficulty the Venetians made themselves Masters of the Suburbs wherein also they found some Cannon Provisions and Arms besides some good plunder Aug. 21. The Day following this Action News was brought by a Deserter That the wounded Men brought into the Town were above 1000 and those who were killed were much more amongst which they reckoned the Son of the Seraskier and one Mustapha Pasha The â—oss of the Turks who was Bey of five Gallies with many other Officers The next Day the Venetians continued to batter the Town with Cannon and Bombs and the 23d the Turks made a furious Sally but were repulsed with the loss of 150 Men and 30 killed on the Venetian side For three Days afterwards nothing happened besides the continual shooting of Cannon and Bombs until the 27th when the Christians began to open their Approaches nearer to the Town which continued until the 5th of September without the least damage imaginable to the Pioneers or Soldiers when the Turks to the Number of 500 made a Sally from the Part of the Suburbs on the Quarters of the Sclavonians The Turks Sally again and made themselves Masters of the first Trench but afterwards rallying again in good order they drove them out of the Trench and pursued them to the very Ditch killing about 40 of them with the loss only of 14 Christians General Konismark continuing sick and his Fever increasing on him the Doge substituted the Major of the Troops of Brunswick in his place Genâ—ral Konismark sick to oppose the Sally of the Enemies and tho' this brave Man was also at that time laid upon his Bed and labouring under the Access or Fit of a Fever yet he arose and strove against his Natural Weakness to comply with the Command of the Doge but so soon as he was gone out of the Door of his Tent a Cannon-shot from the Enemy stroke his Bed and overthrew it Septemb. The Night following Captain Verneda the chief Engineer and a Captain of the Regiment of Wirtemberg with some common Soldiers were killed by Musket-shot as they were advancing their Works towards the Ditch The 6th and 7th passed without other Action than firing Cannon on both sides by which the Venetians made a Breach in a Tower on the Sea-side at the end of the Ditch A brave Offer made by an Engineer upon which the Engenier Romagnato a Man of resolute Courage made an offer with 50 Persons how difficult soever the Attempt seemed to mount the Breach This generous Offer being accepted and greatly applauded the Doge came ashoar in Person and placed himself in one of the Batteries to be a Spectator of this Enterprize and to give the necessary Orders therein which should be required for seconding so resolute an
help of his Soldiers he preserved the Castle and the Ammunition therein notwithstanding the Flames which by the forcible Winds were carried to the very Walls of it At the same time the like Misfortune befel the Fortress of Honot in the Upper Hungary and the Citadel of the Jews at Prague so that both one and the other were in a few Hours miserably reduced to Ashes all which was suspected to have been done by Treasonable Practices and not by Chance or Accident and that which gave undoubted Assurances thereof were certain Sacks of Powder found at the Gates of some Houses in Vienna and a Fire breaking out in a House adjoyning to the great Hospital of the City being kindled at a time when the Wind was very high put all the City into a great Combustion but by the Vigilance of the Magistrates and the activeness of the Soldiers it was soon extinguished The which horrid Practices were some Days afterwards discovered to have been acted by certain Frenchmen who being convicted by course of Justice were sentenced as Incendiaries to be cast into the Fire and committed to the Flames The which Tryals and Proofs being produced and laid before the Council of State extorted from the benign Nature of His Imperial Majesty a severe Edict for Banishing all the French out of his Dominions The French Banished out of the Empire unless such as had been Naturalized or for the space of 10 Years past could prove their Abode or Residence with their Wives established in some City were all without any exception to depart in the space of 14 Days The which Edict how severe soever it might seem at another time was in the present Conjuncture no less than necessary when the French Nation was crept into every City and Country and entertained for Valets de Chambre Pedants Dancing Masters Cooks and such like in most of the Houses and Families of Princes and Nobles of principal Quality where they served for Spies and Traytors to the Empire But the Wars in Germany not being the Subject of this History let us proceed to the Affairs of Turkey where it was reported That the Turks were assembling all the force they were able to recover the City of Belgrade and that the Seraskier was already in the Field and had prepared Bridges to pass the Morava above Jagodina and began to march so fast as if he intended to force Belgrade before the Grand Vizier was joyned with him the noise whereof caused some Consternation at Belgrade but at the appearance of Prince Lewis of Baden Pr. Lewis coming to the Army encourages the Soldiers sent thither with Commission of General of the Imperial Forces in Hungary all the Fears of the Soldiers vanished and every one reassumed his Courage and at the Command of the Prince fell to work about the Fortifications the which Work being by direction of His Highness put into a way of dispatch he proceeded forward to the Army And on the 14th of June June being arrived at Semendria he made it his business in the first place to enquire and inform himself of the true State of the Affairs of the Enemy who according to common report of the Spies were said to be very near being encamped in the Plains of Jagodina to the Number of 40000 Men under Command of the Seraskier the greatest part of which were Asiaticks raw and Undisciplin'd Soldiers to which very speedily the Grand Vizier was to joyn with 10000 Turks and a considerable Train of Artillery which was already on the way from Sophia Reports of the Turks Power alarm Pr. Lewis The Prince being alarm'd hereat by reason of the small force he had with him dispatched an Express away to the Counts of Veterani and Piccolomini with Orders to hasten their March what was possible and come to his necessary reinforcement against so formidable an Enemy and in the mean time the heavy Baggage was sent to Belgrade with about 30000 Inhabitants of that place who for their better security were ordered to pass the Save But for the more certain Intelligence of all the Prince dispatched an Express to Hassan Pasha Palanca Hassan Pasha Palanca where Count Hoffkirchen was Quartered to know of him what News he had received there from the Camp of the Enemy At this Palanca I lodged one Night as I remember which is no other than a small Fortress built of Stone in a Woody and a Desolate Country at the Charge of one Hassan Pasha with intent only to cover a Chan or Inn for Reception of Travellers and their Goods from Spoilers and Robbers which often infested that place where notwithstanding by means of this Fort Garrison'd by 60 Soldiers Strangers may sleep and remain secure from Robbers The Messenger being returned from Hoffkirchen brought Intelligence that the Turks were neither so numerous and strong nor so near as common Fame reported And they only appeared sometimes in Parties on the River Morava but with some Care and Caution in apprehension of the Germans whose Numbers tho' they knew not yet they were sensible enough of their Valour and Vigilance This News and the Conjunction with the Militia of Veterani and Piccolomini Veterani and Piccolomini joyn with Pr. Lewis greatly encouraged and animated the Prince and more especially because that Piccolomini had passed a Bridge over the Save between Belgrade and Sawaz for the more commodious Transportation of Ammunition and Victuals which came from the Parts of Hungary In the mean time Tekeli did not remain idle but made several Incursions with design to relieve Temeswaer Giula and Waradine which were streightly blocked up by the Imperialists In which tho' he did not succeed yet having joyned with the Pasha of Silistria he fell upon Fetislau a Garrison of the Rascians Fetislau â—â—en by Tekeli which after a stout defence for 12 Days and having no hopes of succour they were forced to yield at Discretion and being made Prisoners several of the principal Men with their Colours were sent in triumph to the Grand Seignior who in recompence thereof sent a Scimetar a Vest of Sables and some Money unto Tekeli with an Aferum or You have well done and do still better Tekeli having put a Garrison of 1000 Janisaries into Fetislau he marched to Orsoua a place which Heisler had lately deserted and demolished which he possessed and delivered it into the Hands of the Prince of Walachia to be Garrison'd And possess Orsoua and made a place of Arms and a Magazine for divers sorts of Provisions and Ammunition expected from Nicopolis and which if well fortified and provided might be considered as the Key of the Upper Hungary About the same time Count Corbelli made a Detachment of 1000 Heydukes from the Blockade of Waradine who approaching near the Walls with intention to carry off the Cattle which were feeding thereabouts they were so furiously attacked by the Enemy that before they could retreat 300 Heydukes killed by
the Turks they lost 300 of their Men and amongst the rest Captain Tugnochy a Valiant Soldier who the last Year had signalized himself on various occasions against the Turks This Loss was soon afterwards recompensed by the Success which the Croats gained upon the Turks who having formed a Body of about 8000 Men intended to spoil all the Country round about Costanovitza near the River Unna On the other side the Croats to the Number of 2000 Men under the Command of Count Drascovitz marched against them with design rather to view the Countenance of the Enemy than to give them Battel took their March through certain Woods and Mountains and unfrequented Ways when happily near a place called Czrin The Croats defeat a great Body of the Turks they met a strong Party of Turks who were come out also to discover the Enemy and having espied the Croats and believing them to be of greater force than they really were they betook themselves to Flight but being pursued by the Croats several of them were taken Prisoners and by them it was known that 8000 Turks or thereabouts under the Command of Sar Mustapha Pasha lay encamped not far from that place Upon these Advices the Count and his Croats resolved bravely to attack the whole Camp which being performed without other Hesitation or Delay and taking a short Turn about some little Hills they charged the Turks with such Fury that they being surprized with some Consternation the Spahees betook themselves to Flight leaving 2000 Janizaries open and undefended who all yielded themselves Prisoners at discretion of which some intimation having been given to the Croats on the Confines they marched with such haste that they met the Spahee's in their Flight and the Bridges being broken down the greatest part were made Prisoners besides many who endeavouring to Swim were Drowned in the Waters A compleat Victory in which Action the Croats took 11 Colours and much Booty In this Fight the Flower of the Militia of Bosnia was cut off and the Ways were covered with dead Bodies for the whole length of an Hungarian Mile of which many of them by the finery of their Clothing were judged to be Persons of Quality The Commander in Chief called Sar Mustapha Pasha Kaja with the Bey or the Lieutenant-General were taken Prisoners and according to the Report of those who came to enquire after some who were missing there were 6000 Men killed and scattered In which Action very few Croats were killed or wounded Count Corbelli having intelligence that the Turks of Jeno and Giula intended to fortifie Fechedebator in revenge for his late Misfortune resolved to use his Endeavors to surprize the Castle and thereby save the Turks the trouble of their intended Fortifications and in order thereunto he mounted the Regiment of Gondola on Horseback and with 500 Hussars and 100 Musqueteers and about as many Heydukes which he had mounted on Waggons he passed the River Geresch in sight of the Garrison of Waradin who had drawn out about 2000 of their Men into the Field But to amuse the Enemy Corbelli marched to and again the whole Day and at Night he detached two great Bodies of Hussars before to take cognisance of the place and being come near to Fechedebator they took two Rascians Prisoners belonging to the place by whom they understood that there were not above 50 armed Turks in the place besides some few Rascians for the greatest part of the Garrison were gone to Jeno to solemnize the Marriage of a certain Person of chief Quality in that Country upon which intelligence the Party sent to discover only without farther design Corbelli Summons Fechedebator meeting this Opportunity and resolving not to lose it sent immediately a Summons to the Castle to surrender to which the Turks returning an impertinent and scornful Answer and saying That when he brought the Keys of their City with him meaning Giula Jeno and Waradin upon taking of which they should be forced to surrender that then they would open their Gates to them until which time they craved their excuse intending to defend themselves to the utmost Extremity At the same moment that this Answer was returned a Rascian who had made his Escape out of the Town advised that there was a great Division arisen amongst the Turks in the Castle of the which Corbelli desirous to make use he caused the Regiment of Gondola to pass the River on Horseback and the Foot on Ferry-Boats and Floats and being on the other side he drew up in order of Battle in sight of the Fortress threatning them that in case they did not surrender in the space of one quarter of an Hour that he would give no Quarter to any Person whatsoever The Governor of the Castle being terrified with this sudden Demand with such affrighting Menaces he requested the respite but of one Day only which being denied he then Capitulated to have 30 Carts allotted to them and to be Convoyed with their Arms and Baggage to Waradin but Corbelli refusing that also they were conducted to Jeno Fechedebator is surrendred a place infected with Sickness and starved with Famine Accordingly the Turks came forth to the Number of 40 Soldiers 14 Young Men with Arms in their Hands with about 80 Women and Young Children who were all carried to Jeno In the mean time Corbelli entered the place and found the Castle in good repair encompassed on one side with a Ditch full of Water fortified with Palisadoes and on the other side with the River Geresch the which place tho' in it self small was yet considerable for its Situation being seated in a convenient place to cut off all Communication between Waradin and the Towns streightned by Blockades and for that reason Corbelli put a Garrison into it of 200 Hussars under Command of Comloschi a stout and valiant Soldier and after this Action returned to his Camp In the mean time Prince Lewis of Baden had discovered that the Design of the Seraskier was to avoid a Battle and that the Report he gave out of his March to Belgrade was only to amuse the Germans and cause them to draw their Troops on that side whilst he encamped his Forces near the Banks of the River Morava Wherefore the Prince having reinforced the Garrison of Belgrade with 2000 Foot July Pr. Lewis encamps near the River Morava and fortified Semendria he moved with the whole Body of his Army and towards the end of July encamped near the Morava where Boats being provided the same Night by help of the Moon a Bridge was cast over the River over which 2000 Horse were Commanded to march under the Command of Colonel Strasser The Turks retreat to observe the Countenance of the Enemy who upon the News of the Germans Advance had made their Retreat Whereupon Prince Lewis having raised a Fort and put a Garrison into it of 6000 Men to secure the Bridge he marched his whole Army on the 2d of
received intelligence that a great Body of Turks and Tartars under Command of Sultan Galga Son of the Chan of Tartary had passed the Morava near Jagodina with design to attack the Germans on that side of the River near Passarovitz And moreover that the Seraskier was on his March with an Army of 50000 Men towards Passarovitz and Semendria with design so to environ the Imperial Army on all sides The Designs of the Turks as to cut off the Provisions from coming to their Camp the which Resolution was formed upon the Report of some French Fugitives who had deserted and fled to the Turks and given them intelligence that the Germans were in great want of Provisions which was the cause of their Retreat to Semendria Prince Lewis being well assured that he was able to march securely to Passarovitz notwithstanding a Thousand Difficulties which were presented before him Pr. Lewis resolves to Attack the Seraskier and tho' a Body of Turks and Tartars were not far distant and the whole Army of the Seraskier encamped not above an Hour and halfs March from the Christian Forces yet trusting to the good Conduct of his General and the Bravery and Courage of his Soldiers he resolved to dislodge the Camp of the Seraskier and thereby open a free Communication between the Palanca of Hassan Pasha and Semendria whereby the Magazines would be maintained and the Reputation of the Imperial Arms supported Hereupon on the 29th of August by Break of Day in the Morning His March the Prince commanded two Regiments of Dragoons with all the Quarter-Masters and Foragers and a Party of 500 Horse to ascend the rising of a Hill not far distant from the Bridge to cover and secure the March of the Foot which were sent before under Command of General Heisler and Count Guido of Staremberg who were appointed to secure the Baggage in passing the River Ressava And at the same time the Prince himself with his Cavalry advanced towards the River keeping the rising Hill on his right Hand and the Plain to Ressava on his left marching always in a Line the better to withstand the Enemies Horse which ran on all Quarters to find out where they might best annoy and break in upon them And here it was that Prince Lewis very wisely and with much Policy commanded the Horsemen to dismount as if they intended to lodge there for securing their Baggage But in regard the sole Design of the Prince was to fight the Enemy and drive them to the other side of the River he commanded Colonel St. Croix with some Hundreds of choice German Horse and the Generals Cziacchy Diach He advances towards the Turks and Badiani a Captain of Strigonium with their Hungarians privately to pass the River and with their Hussars to hide themselves amongst some Woods and Bushes in a certain Valley opposite to the Horse upon which Veterani and Piccolomini and the Hussars advanced in full Career against the Enemy whilst the Prince with the rest of his Cavalry followed upon an easie Gallop At the first the Turks did not believe that the Design of the Prince was to advance so far upon them or to force them to a Battle and therefore they retired very easily with their Tartars keeping a Reserve of 12000 Horse with 500 Janizaries mounted behind which they embosked in a Wood to attack Veterani and Piccolomini which they looked upon only as a handful of Men But so soon as they discovered the whole right Wing moving through the Plains under Veterani and the left commanded by Piccolomini and the Prince following with the main Body of the Army directly marching and pouring upon them they made more haste in their Retreat than before and being attacked on all sides both from the Hills Mountains and Vallies they made a hasty March away for the space of four Hours but being closely pursued to a narrow Pass where they were forced to make a Stand they were so furiously assailed by the Troops of Veterani and afterwards seconded by those of the Prince that in a short time they were defeated and dispersed in the Woods The Turks defeated in which being pursued and hunted for the space of an Hour and a half into the Plains on the other side the Turks were so beaten that above 400 of their best Horse both Turks and Tartars were killed and many Prisoners taken amongst which was the Commander in chief of the 500 Janizaries with 12 Standards and Timbals which are the Musick of Pasha's In this Confusion many of the Turks forsook their Horses and betook themselves to their Heels through Bushes and Thickets and the adjacent Hills and Mountains but being pursued by the Heydukes and Hussars who were acquainted with the private and secret Ways and Conveyances of the Country many of them were killed and taken Others of them who to make themselves more light for Escape threw away their Arms and whatsoever else might incumber them in their Flight so that all the Ways were strowed with Lances Turbants Boots Caps Cloaths Vests and Arms all which became a welcome Booty and Spoil to the Victorious Soldiery This Success so encouraged the Germans that Prince Lewis to improve this Advantage to an entire Victory resolved to defeat and thwart the Designs of the Son of the Tartar Chan who lay encamped on the other side of the River by falling upon him before he could come to joyn with the Turkish Cavalry lately beaten And tho' the Imperial Horse were much tired and harassed with the Fatigue of that Days Action he returned notwithstanding to the Bridge where after three Hours March about seven a Clock in the Evening he arrived The Cavalry being here refreshed and set up for a while the Prince went in â—erson to visit the Infantry which he found well encamped out of all danger and every thing perfectly well disposed and in good order by the Care and Conduct of those two brave Generals Veterani and Piccolomini After which some Scouts were sent to discover the Ways and observe the Ground on that side Consultations to Assault the Enemy upon whose Report that there was only a very narrow passage through a rough and thick Wood about half an Hours March in length by which there was an Entrance into a small Plain which if the Enemy should possess they might easily defend the Pass and make an Attack on the Tartars difficult and hazardous Prince Lewis and the Generals being well assured hereof detached Count Solaro with 500 Men to secure the Passage into the Plain but the Enemy having intimation thereof with 3000 Janizaries and a good Body of Horse not only gave a stop to his March but caused him to retire with the loss of several Men But General Heisler coming seasonably in to their succour so advantageously posted himself within the Woods and thick Bushes that he maintained the Pass until such time which was next Morning by Break of Day that Prince Lewis
and Krakolovetz and many of them were taken up on the Way by the Hungarians Hussars and Rascians Great was the Joy of the Generals and Soldiers for so signal a Victory and having lodged one Night in the Enemies Camp with much Pleasure and Festivity the Day following early in the Morning they sang Praises to God for his Mercy and Blessings of Victory Return Thanks to God and as a signal of Triumph made the Camp to resound with three Vollies of Shot with Drums Trumpets Timbals and all sorts of Warlike Musick After Thanks were returned to Almighty God who is the God of Hosts and Giver of Victory the Imperial Generals thought it reasonable and necessary to give some repose and rest to the wearied Troops and to augment their Commons and Refreshments Orders were given to the Commissaries to distribute amongst the Army the Provisions found in the Enemies Stores In the mean time the Hussars and Hungarians who had pursued the Enemy for some Days returned the 3d of September to the Camp Septemb. bringing some Colours and many Prisoners with them together with 36 pieces of Cannon of the largest size And thus the Victory being compleat Prince Lewis permitted the Courier whom the Turkish Ambassadors had dis-speeded from Vienna to Constantinople to proceed he had been detained for some Weeks at Semendria so that now besides the Dispatch from the Ambassadors he carried another from Prince Lewis to the Grand Vizier giving him to understand Pr. Lewis Writes to the Vizier that the Imperial Armies having advanced so far within the Bowels of the Ottoman Dominions he would now proceed forward to meet him and save him the trouble of a tedious March but in case his Company and coming should be unwelcome and displeasing to the Sultan they might thank themselves for the trouble of such unacceptable Guests which might have been avoided had they hearkened to the Propositions which His Imperial Majesty and His Allies made to them for a Peace which they having unadvisedly rejected had brought upon themselves all those Misfortunes which had attended them in every Action of this last Campaign In the mean time the Blockades of Canisia and Great Waradine were daily more streightned Blackades of Canisia and Great Waradine continued and all the Corn and Grass burned up in those parts which were neighbouring to those Cities and tho' they suffered much Want and Penury of all things and had received the unwelcome News of several Defeats given to the Turks yet supporting and comforting their Spirits with hopes that a Peace would speedily insue at least in the Winter Season they resolved not to surrender until the last Extremity Prince Lewis having refreshed his Forces with several Days of rest and plenty of Provisions taken from the Enemy and reinforced his Army with some Troops coming from Belgrade he prepared for a new Enterprize Pr. Lewis marches to Nissa and began his March towards Nissa about 20 Leagues distant from the Camp at Patoschin the most part of the way Woody and Mountainous but nothing was now difficult or insuperable to the exalted Courage of the Germans The Turks on the other side tho' somewhat abased and mortified yet supported themselves with the Comfort That tho' they had lost their Camp with their Cannon Tents and Baggage yet most of their Army was still in being That the Tartars had beaten the Muscovites That the Troubles in Asia were pacified and the Discontents in Albania wtih Mamut Ogli Bey composed Moreover a Reinforcement of 20000 Men were sent to the Seraskier with new Tents and all the necessary Appurtenances for War and likewise it was reported abroad That the Grand Vizier would come himself in person and in despight of the preceding Misfortunes would yet put an Honourable end to this Campaign Prince Lewis little regarding the Talk and the Reports with which the Turks comforted themselves committing the charge of Patoschin to a Sergeant Major with 100 Horse to cover the Artillery and to guard them on their Way to Semendria he dis-speeded some Hungarians and Rascians to take a Survey of the Country and of the State of the Turks Affairs who accordingly coasting the Country brought News that the Turks were not only fled out of all those parts but had likewise abandoned Nissa having for their easier passage built a Bridge over a Marshy Ground near that Town Pr. Lewis marches towards Nissa Whereupon the Prince having fixed his Boats on Wheels Convoyed by a Party of 500 Horse he took his March with the whole Army on the 11th of September and arrived that Night at Jagodina after a hard March through Woods and Marshes and to make a passage for the Boats which were designed to make a Bridge over the Morava a new Way was made through the Woods where being arrived they happily met some other Boats from Passarovitz with some quantities of Flour which came seasonably for relief of the Army At Jagodina News was brought that the Turks had quitted Nissa whereupon Prince Lewis detached 50 Heydukes of Palfi's Regiments Bridges broken and others made and 10 Dragoons on Foot to Crussavetz to break down the Bridge there and conserve that Post and for passage of the Army at a more convenient place another Bridge was made with Boats and to cover it Colonel Strasser with 2000 Men made a Redoubt on the other side of the River And here so great was the Mortality of Men and Horse and want of Forage that it seemed almost impossible to advance farther but News being brought that the Turks were in great Consternation in their Camp and that the Soldiers deserted by Hundreds every Day and the Dukes of Croy and Holstein coming about that time to the Camp with some Recruits animated Prince Lewis to come to one Battle more with the Seraskier and having raised two Forts at the Bridge he passed over with his Horse on the 16th and the Day following with his Foot The Turks had just then received a Recruit of 10000 Men and strongly intrenched themselves by the side of the River near Nissa The Prince being ill provided with Victuals in his Camp had no time to lose and therefore marched so fast that on the 22th of September he pitched his Camp within a League distant from Nissa near a little Stream which falls into the Nissava from whence he took a prospect of the Countenance and Situation of the Enemy and their Camp and having observed every thing and in what place the Enemy might most commodiously be Attacked on the 23th they marched forward in a close and well ordered Battalia but nothing happened that Day besides some small Skirmishes of little importance but that Night before the Evening was quite shut in the Prince made as if he intended to make a Bridge over the Rivar to pass to the Tartars who were posted on the other side Septemb. 24. but in the Morning he took another Method possessing himself of the
sides of the Hills over the Enemies Camp Pr. Lewis engages the Turks near Nissa which when the Turks discovered they detached a Party to engage with them and with 2 or 3000 Turks and Tartars they attacked the Rear-Guard of the Right Wing by which Count Veterani was forced to keep a little behind with the two Regiments of Hanover and St. Croix which formed the second Line of that Wing and were appointed to guard and cover the Baggage which was always placed in the Rear of the Army This slow motion of the Cannon and Baggage which could not be avoided retarded the motion of the advanced Troops which ever and anon made a Halt so that it was five a Clock in the Evening before they could reach the Foot of the Hill where both Armies came in sight of each other And because it might rationally be conjectured that the Turks would before the Morning fortifie their Camp with some Trenches and Parapets of Earth the Prince resolved without giving them so much time to advance upon them with all the Courage and Fury imaginable extending his right Wing towards the Foot of the Hill and his left along the Plain to the Banks of the River Nissava which being orderly disposed resolutely Attacked the Enemy Pr. Lewis Attacks the Turks according to the Methods and Measures design'd The Turks with their accustomed Cry of Allah Allah caused the greatest part of their Cavalry which was drawn up on the declivity of the Hill to charge the Infantry of the left Wing Commanded by Count Guido of Staremberg and the Regiments of Kisel and Sarau which when the Prince observed he caused some Cannon to be brought on that side with which and a Detachment from these Regiments the whole left Wing advanced towards the Enemy the Turks seeing this retired with their Body of Horse and wheeled about towards the right Wing and Attacked them at the Foot of the Hill on the Flank which could not well be secured which produced some Fear and Confusion amongst the Hussars but being succoured by the Regiments of Holstein and Noircharmes which Piccolomini Commanded and by a Party of brave Hungarians The Turkish Horse in disorder they so disordered the Turkish Horse that they had been put to an open Flight had they not been stopt in their Career by some of their own Troops who met them and Fired upon them By this Accident the Enemy still maintaining their Ground on the side of the Hill towards the right Wing of the Germans gave opportunity and time to the Cavalry to rally again in the Plains But Prince Lewis incessantly riding and giving Orders in all places of the Army commanded the main Body which was directed by Baron Heisler to Attack the Turks on the Hill which they performed so effectually that after a long Conflict they gained the top of the Hill and then drawing all the Battalions into an equal Line both the right Wing and the Baggage were both secured from the Attempt of the Enemy On the other side the Duke of Croy Duke of Croy succours the right Wing who commanded towards the River being advised by the Prince that the right Wing was distressed and hardly beset by the Enemy he presently resolved to advance to the top of the Hill in a direct Line towards their Succour to give a greater Diversion to the Enemy and to gain the top of the Hill the which being effected the Situation thereof proved so advantageous a Post that in a short time they drove the Enemy from thence with a considerable Slaughter Notwithstanding which the Turkish Horse rallying again in the Plains made another Vigorous Assault on the left Wing but were received by them with so much Bravery and Resolution that they were once more on their Flight when the Janizaries who were making new Trenches Fired upon them and forced them to stand another Charge which they steadily performed and with great Vigour against the Hussars but they being succoured by the Regiment of Caprara forced the Enemy entirely to quit the Field and pursued them with great Fury to their very Camp Whilst the left Wing had thus gloriously acquitted themselves another Party of the Enemies Horse Attacked them in the middle of their Body but being succoured by Count Guido de Staremberg with some Battallions of his own Regiment and of the Heydukes of Palfi they discharged such terrible Vollies upon them that great Numbers of the Turks fell Dead on the Ground and the others so cowed and affrighted that losing all hopes of Conquest The Turks put to Flight when they saw their Trenches possessed by the Prince and shut up on all sides by the right Wing they betook themselves in good earnest to a confused and disorderly Flight and tho' the Night came on yet the Victorious Germans pursued the Turks so long as they could have the least glimpse or appearance of the Enemy so that many of them to avoid the Sword threw themselves headlong into the Nissava where by the depth of the Water and rapidness of the River they miserably perished And here as well as during the whole course of the Battle the two Brothers Charles and August Princes of Hanover with their Regiments behaved themselves with great Bravery and in the heat of the Action could scarce be withheld from following the Enemy into the Water but only by the Perswasions and Injunctions of General Veterani they gave a stop to the Pursuit Thus the Night put an end to the Victory and the Slaughter of the Turks who abandoned the City tho' fortified with a good Ditch and some Palisadoes after the Turkish manner The Christians gain an entire Victory tho' irregularly planted the same Night Prince Lewis put into the Town several Battalions to conserve it from being burnt as the Turks intended to have done In the Morning Provisions and Forage were found sufficient to subsist the Army for three Weeks In short all the Cannon being 30 pieces for Battery became a Prey to the Germans as also many Thousands of very fine Tents amongst which was that of the Seraskier which the Grand Seignior had lately sent him with divers Standards particularly that of Mamoot Ogli Pasha of Albania The Horse-Tayls were also taken Numbers sâ—â—in The Numbers slain on the Enemies side with those Drowned were computed to be 10000 amongst which were 3000 Spahee's whose Horses and Mules with rich Furniture and good Lading were brought to the Camp where for that Night it remained and next Morning was distributed amongst the Imperial Cavalry This Victory was so much the more Glorious and Wonderful for having been atchieved by 15000 Germans tired and harassed by Marches Countermarches Skirmishes and Battles as before related against 80000 Turks The Victory wonderful and what is still more miraculous there was not on the Christian side above 300 killed and wounded and none of any considerable Quality besides the Sergeant-Major of the Regiment of Stirum and
Orders were not to approach too near nor advance too far until they had well observed the true strength of the Enemy and discovered whether they were so strong as had been reported Accordingly they at first posted themselves with their Backs to a Morass and planted four Field-Pieces against the Enemy who durst not Attack them in that Place but keeping within the Hills and Woods they detached 1000 Tartars into the open Fields upon sight of which Colonel Strasser quitting his Advantageous Post forced them to retreat with the Death of some of them but the Germans being now in the open Field and not able to retreat they found themselves surrounded on all sides with 30000 of the Enemy against which having sustained a Battle from Nine in the Morning till Three in the Afternoon The Germans defeated and having spent all their Powder and Ammunition they were at last totally defeated In this Fight the Prince of Hanover Colonel Strasser Count Solari with most of the Officers and many of the Common Soldiers were killed on the Place most of the Prisoners being wounded died all their Colours Kettle-Drums c. were taken by the Enemies nevertheless 6 or 700 Men by help of the Night and of Woods and Mountains came safe to Belgrade from whence they were dispatched to their Regiments This News being brought the same Night to the Prince of Holstein unto Prissina he retreated from thence to Nissa leaving behind all the Forage and Baggage of the Regiment of Stirum On the 4th the Regiment of Piccolomini which was to joyn with Strasser having no Advice of the Defeat came near to Casseneck Count Montecelli Attacked by the Tartars under the Command of Lieutenant-Colonel Count Montecelli so soon as he came in sight of the Tartars they immediately Invested him but he very prudently retreated towards a Morass over which there was a Bridge on the other side whereof he commanded a Lieutenant with 30 Horse to guard that end of the Bridge until he put himself in a Posture to fight on the other side After some time the Tartars Attacked them on both sides the Lieutenant with 30 Men defended himself for a good while until being over-powered he was relieved by two Companies sent to his Assistance He makes his Escape with some loss and on both sides defended themselves so valiantly until Night that under shelter of the Darkness they made their Retreat the Tartars followed them with great noise for the space of an Hour but could not put them into disorder so about Midnight they arrived at Prissina which Place they found Abandoned but having refreshed themselves and their Horses there for a while they proceeded to Procopia with the loss only of about 30 Men and one Captain and some wounded their Baggage was not with them they having sent it to Poza and Novibassa which afterwards fell into the Hands of the Enemy with most of those which accompanied it the rest saved themselves in the Woods By this time Veterani who was appointed General in the Place of Piccolomini deceased arrived at Nissa from Transilvania with some Troops which being a Place open to the Attack of the Enemy and much feared they caused the Garrison and Inhabitants to work Night and Day upon the Fortifications Veterani also provided Pyrot Procopia Mustapha Palanca being Passes with all Necessaries and demolished Cossova Albania and some other little Places from whence he withdrew the Soldiers to strengthen Places of greater moment Casseneck surrendred The Pass Casseneck which was Besieged wherein was a Garrison of 180 Men and before which the Turks had raised a Battery of seven Guns defended it self several Days and at length surrendred on Conditions one of which was that they should be conducted to Belgrade Whilst things were acting on this side Colonel Corbelli who commanded the Blockade of great Waradin received Advice that the Turks at Bellingesh had provided a great Number of Cattle and 100 Waggons with Provisions under a strong Convoy to be put into Waradin for relief of the City whereupon making a Detachment of 200 Horse 300 Dragoons 300 Hussars and 200 Heydukes he marched therewith towards Bellingesh but those of the Place having received early notice hereof from Waradin Corbelli destroys the Palanca if Bellingestâ— withdrew all their Provisions into the Castle so that the original Design of Corbelli was defeated yet not to return empty he stormed and entered the Palanca where after the Slaughter of several Turks he plundered and carried away every thing that was in it He could not Attack the Castle which was well fortified for want of Cannon and therefore having destroyed the Palanca with the Gardens thereabouts he returned back with good Booty On the 15th Tekeli with his Men and 2000 Turks arrived near Oraviza with a design to Attack Temeswaer but he miscarried therein and was forced to retreat On the other side the Governor of Lippa Captain Christopher Morris with Captain Baltasar having under them 100 Hussars 100 Horse of Heisler's and 100 Dragoons marched towards Temeswaer with design to surprize some Turks in the Villages thereabouts but meeting with none they proceeded until they came in sight of the City leaving the greatest part of their Troops in Ambuscade at some distance from them Upon their Approach the Turks sallied out with Horse and Foot and posted themselves in a hollow Way where the Germans under the cover of a Mist or Fog attacked them the Hussars falling upon their Horse The Germans get an Advantage and the Dragoons on the Janizaries with such bravery that they put them to flight after having killed above 300 on the Place and taken several Prisoners and having only four Men killed and nine wounded they retired back again to Lippa About this time 50 Soldiers having deserted the Service of Tekeli took the Oaths of Fidelity to the Emperor and were sent to Prissina to recruit the Garrison of that Pass consisting of some Imperial and Rascian Troops These Deserters gave Intelligence to General Veterani that Sultan Galga the Tartar was designed in a few Days to joyn with Tekeli and to make an Invasion into Transilvania upon which Orders were given to work on the Fortifications on the Frontiers with all diligence And now Advices came to Nissa That the Turks had burnt Uranic with all the Villages round that Place as also Cossova and the adjacent Places near to Prissina but some little time before this piece of Execution was performed the Turks had allured the poor Peasants with their Wives and Children The Tartars barbarous Usage of the poor People to return from the Woods and Mountains to their own Dwellings where they promised them Quietness Protection and Safety but the Tartars not having been concerned in this Guaranty the poor People were no sooner returned to their Habitations but they were barbarously attacked by the Tartars who killed all the Old Men and Women and carried away the Young of both Sexes
Doria for 60 Rix-dollars Ma â— Doria sold for 60 Rix Dollars and many other Officers for a small Matter and afterwards sent away the Marquis Doria with the following Letter to his Lady at Vienna written in Latin GOD Almighty comfort thee Tekeli's Letter to his Princess and also me with a more happy time After many Misfortunes I have been comforted with a Victory over my Enemies having had the good Fortune to make General Heusler my Prisoner and Marquis Doria which with several other German Officers have hunted after my Life This Accident may give an occasion for thy Releasement to which end I have sent the said Marquis unto thee for whom General Heusler remains Security and with him I have sent my Servant Michael for a Companion to the end that he being an Eye-witness of my State and Condition may render thee a true Account and Information thereof God grant that he may bring me good News from thee Live well Yours Emericus Tekeli This Letter being delivered to the Princess by the Hand of Marquis Doria an Answer was returned in Latine as followeth The Princess's Answer I Wish thee Health and all Blessings from God whose Name be praised for giving me the happiness to see the proper Hand-writing of my beloved Husband and therewith his remembrance of me Marquis Doria hath acquainted me with the Love which thou professest towards me I doubt not but Marquis Doria will inform His Imperial Majesty with the Answer I have returned to thy Letter viz. That I depend on Almighty God's Providence and the Emperor's Clemency and as to other Matters I am ready to give sufficient Security that if leave should be permitted me to go and meet my Emericus Tekeli according to my Nuptial Duty that I will return again at the time appointed as to what the Imperial Court will do about the Prisoners the Marquis will acquaint you to accept or reject the Conditions will depend much on your Affections towards me the Marquis having earnestly sollicited his Business hath gotten an early Dispatch he says as much in short as is enough and you may believe him I have spoken with your Servant who hath been sick but now is better Perhaps my Emericus thought me to be some Lady in a Nunnery because he gives me not the Name of his Wife perhaps it might be to try me whether I desire to be so called Gold is tryed in the Fire which Tryal I willingly suffer from my Beloved expecting impatiently another Letter God deliver the Prisoners and comfort all afflicted Minds which I heartily wish Amen Your Dutiful Wife Helena Zrinin From Vienna Septemb. 24. But let us here leave Marquis Doria returning with his Answers to Tekeli whilst we discourse a while concerning what the Turks are farther acting before Nissa in Servia now straitly besieged by the Grand Vizier himself An Attempt was made at the same time on Widin Widin invested by the Turkish Fleet which they expected should take the Place without any Land Forces but they being beaten off and four of their Ships sunk the Vizier commanded that the Place should be Besieged both by Land and Water accordingly the Lines were finished and the Batteries raised by the 24th of August In like manner the Germans had perfected a Fort which they had raised on an Island near Orsoa called Carolina after the Name of the Emperor's second Son and therein a Garrison was put of 400 Germans and 1000 Rascians with 24 Pieces of Cannon and all other Necessaries required for maintenance of the Place Whilst things were in this doubtful Condition and the Christian Army commanded by General Veterani lying at Jagodina Pr. Lewis at lagodina under some Discouragement by reason of the near approach of the Grand Vizier Prince Lewis of Baden arrived to the great Joy of the Camp bringing with him a Regiment of Hussars The Prince had taken a view of the Camp and entered into a Council of War touching what was to be done when the unhappy News arrived of the total Defeat of General Heusler in Transylvania which altered all the Measures before agreed and new Resolutions were taken to march thither with the greatest force of the Army of which General Aspremont was to lead the Van by way of Semendria where care had been taken to erect a Bridge for Passage of the Troops and for the better security of the Ships laden with Provisions and with Sick and Wounded People The Horse remained on an Eminence until all were Embarked and Orders were sent to the Governor of Crassowitz to demolish that Fort and with the Germans National Troops and the Country People who were with him to march towards Belgrade By this time all Intercourse with Nissa was cut off Nissa straitly Besieged the Vizier having encompassed the City on all sides with an Army as was reported of 30000 Foot and 50000 Horse besides 15000 Tartars daily expected the appearance of which was enough to have affrighted the Place to an immediate Surrender as was expected by the Grand Vizier but contrary thereunto he met with a most vigorous Resistance to the great loss of his Men and a second time And Attacked which was the last of August they made another more violent Attack with fresh Troops and were still repulsed with greater loss At length the Turks for saving their Men made a trial of some Mines which they sprang in divers Places Septemb. but most commonly they reversed to the greater Damage and Mischief of the Turks themselves The Grand Vizier having understood that Prince Lewis was on the Retreat and had withdrawn his Forces from Widin and Semendria detached a part of his Army to Widin the which Garrison consisting of no more than 800 Men it was not probable that they should be able to withstand any long Siege and therefore being sensible Widin surrendered that no Succour was to be expected they rendered themselves up to the Enemy on the 29th of August before any Breach was made or the Enemy advanced within 40 Paces of the Walls despair of Succour put them upon this Resolution The Garrison marches and joyns with Pr. Lewis whereby they gained such good Conditions that they marched away and joyned with the Army of Prince Lewis the 11th of September Exemplum Epistolae ab Amico ad Legatum Colyer e Castris Turcicis ad urbem Nicaeam positis missae Sept. xvi A. D. 1690. TAmetsi per fidum ac certum hominem qui Sagiri Achmetis Algazirani causam ablatorum quingentorum Leoninorum restitutionem huc missus fuerat Exc ae V ae cuncta quae hic acta perscripsi non male tamen me facturum existimavi si illa repeterem quae post consecuta sunt adjungerem A. d. ix Aug. Primus Vizirius cum exercitu ad munimentum Sarkioi accessit quod cum non statim dederetur vis adhibita est cui impares qui in praesidio milites
Turkish Camp how that the Regiment of Dragoons of Count Bucquoy Commanded by their Major Count D' Arco in all 1000 brave and well mounted Men together with 400 others sent for Recruits to the Regiment of Caprara and Hoffkirchen contrary to the Order of Prince Lewis were fallen into the Hands of the Enemies Count Bucquoy's Regiment cut to pieces the occasion whereof was that these Soldiers preferring the security of their Baggage before that of their Lives resolved to take that with them and so marching very slowly they came to stop about two Hours in a Place distant about a German League from the Imperial Army where being attacked and surrounded on all sides by the Turks they defended themselves with much Bravery for the space of two Hours The Christians lose all their Provisions but at length they were all cut down not above 30 escaping of the whole Number of 1400 the Major only was taken Prisoner and the next Day after the Battle was found Chained Hand and Foot in the Enemies Camp Besides this the Turks took 250 Waggons carrying Provisions to the Imperial Army with a 100 Ships belonging to the Sutlers of the Army the Men whereof for the most part were saved for joyning themselves with the Rabble of the Army they fought stoutly for their Lives killing great Numbers of the Turks This great Loss was very sensible to the Christians who having lost all their Provisions without hopes of any other Supply found no other Deliverance and Safety but in their Arms and so resolved on a Battle The Turks on the other side growing Arrogant and bold on these Successes began now to contemn their Enemies and to look only on them as so many lost Men whom they now condemned and sentenced to Destruction resolving to give them no Quarter in the Field The Christian Soldiers thus armed with Despair on the 19th of this Month of August by Break of Day in the Morning having put themselves into posture of Battle 19th marched directly towards the Turks and about Noon both Armies being drawn up they faced each other at a small distance The Prince of Baden Commanded the right and Count Dunewaldt the left Wing The Turkish Army consisted of about 100000 Men of which 60000 were the best Soldiers in all the Ottoman Empire besides 15000 of the best The Disposition of the two Amies and most experienced Janisaries all which Force was advantageously posted having the Danube on their Back and in their Front a deep Ditch with Earth thrown up behind them but their left Wing was not so well fortified but that it lay something more exposed to the Christians whose Army was likewise drawn up in a Martial Posture The greatest part of their Infantry being divided into 20 Battalions that is to say The Regiment of Ernest Staremberg four Battalions of Souches three of Chizzola one of Guido Staremberg three of Salm one of Beck one of Otting two of Brandenburg three of Caunitz one of Vaudemont one the which were flanked with the two Regiments of Horse of Nieuburg and Holstein with the greatest part of the biggest Cannon The rest of the Army was drawn up after the usual form of Battle in a right Line opposite to the Enemy and in this Posture upon firing a Bomb which was the Signal given they all marched in an equal Line until they came within 200 Paces of the Enemy and then the Cannon on each side began to play At the first it was intended to attack the Enemies left Wing before the right to give room for the Foot The Battle of Salankement which was placed on the rising of a Hill opposite to the main and strongest Intrenchment of the Turks which was fortified with 80 Pieces of Cannon and also to charge the Enemies Horse which were drawn up below the Hill in the Plains with design that having Overthrown them to force through the Camp unto that part where the Enemies were less fortified and secured It seems that the right Wing was something too forward and began to engage before the left could come up being hindred by the high Grass and Bushes howsoever here was no staying or retreating for the right Wing but on they went looking on the Enemy before them and proceeded to their very Ditches and Intrenchments but the Janisaries having a good Parapet or Breast-work before them fired so furiously from thence that many both of the Chief and Subaltern Officers were killed and wounded and here it was that General Souches upon a numerous Sally of the Enemy was forced to give way until the Foot came up which was not far behind but in the mean time being sustained by the four Regiments of Nieuburg Holstein St. Croix and Darmstadt under the Command of the Dukes of Holstein and Aremberg they advanced to the very brink of the Enemies Retrenchments with which Example of Bravery both Horse and Foot being again animated the Infantry made several Attacks on the Enemy and tho' they were sometimes repulsed yet being relieved and guided by those brave Officers both of Horse and Foot the Fight was continued from three a Clock in the Afternoon until it was Night by which time all the Superiour Officers of the Infantry were killed excepting only General Guido of Staremberg and Prince Charles of Vaudemont tho' both of them were also wounded Nor was the rest of the Army in the mean time idle for the Enemy attacking them in the left Wing and in the Flank with great fury were as bravely repulsed by the Brigades of Castelli and Hoffkirchen but the Turks rallying all their Horse into a Body fell on with greater Fury in despight of the small and great Shot and charged the Brigade of General Sarau which was part of the Right Wing And the Turks being very numerous on that side they so over-powred this Brigade that two of the Battalions were cut down on the Ground where they stood in which Action the Battalions of Otting Beck and also the Old Regiments of Staremberg and Brandenburg suffered very much so that until that time being about six a Clock Fortune favoured the Turks and things had such a dismal and desperate Face that the Generals themselves began to despair of saving one Man from this Bloody Action The Christians in a dangerous posture for here was no Retreat or Sanctuary nor Place to fly unto for Succour And thus both Officers and Soldiers armed with Despair redoubled their Endeavours and in contempt of Death rushed on the Enemies Squadrons the which being observed by those who attended the Baggage and remained for Reserves how that their Companions were beset on all sides and in a continual Fire were ashamed to be Lookers on and Spectators of this Tragedy came in to the Succour of those who were ready to turn their Backs and with their Cries and Prayers gave a stop to their Flight Matters standing in this desperate State and Condition the main Body of the Army
under the Command of the Brandenburg Generals Barsus and Brandt came timely in to the Assistance of Count Sarau who by these Succours rallied his Men and defended his Post until about an Hour before Night when the Brigades of Hoffkirchen and Castelli with the left Wing which at this time was Commanded by the Prince of Baden in Person were advancing towards that side of the Turkish Army which was not as yet Intrenched The Christians enter the Enemies Camp and so furiously assaulted them that by the Divine Assistance and Arm of the God of Hosts visibly appearing for them they at last forced and entred the Enemies Camp driving them from the rising Grounds where they had planted their Cannon which when the Hungarians and Rascians observed they who until then had been something backward and watched the time to Escape came thundering down with renewed Courage and furiously entered the Turkish Camp cutting down all that presented before them by which means a Way was opened for the right Wing to advance and so the Turks being brought into the middle and attacked on all sides in a narrow Ground between their Trenches and the Danube were entirely subdued and overcome and began to fly And tho' the Turkish Cavalry for the most part found a way to escape through a void Interval laid open for the right Wing howsoever the Foot continued to defend themselves so furiously and firmly in their Trenches that tho' the Field was yielded to the Christians yet here they received their greatest loss for this Action cost the Life of the Duke of Holstein with a Deluge of Blood entirely to subdue the already conquered Enemy The Anger Rage and Despair of the Turks on one side and the Fury of the Christians on the other was such that the first scorned to accept Quarter and the others not willing to give it for which reason very few Prisoners were taken The remainder of the Turkish Cavalry amongst which was the Grand Vizier in Person were forced to break their way through the narrow Passages and Distances between the Lines with their usual Cries of Allah Allah which is a calling upon the Name of God In this Passage many of them fell and many were mortally wounded so that the Roads to the very Save were filled with dead Bodies and on the other side thereof the Grand Vizier with many other principal Turkish Officers ended their Days In this memorable Battle which was the most Bloody of any that hath happened in several Ages the Turks lost in all upwards of 25000 Men and amongst them the Grand Vizier what Officers were killed on both sides or wounded appears in the following List The Turkish Fleet bringing their Vessels close to the Shoar and as near as they could to their Army landed 5000 Men out of it which might have turned the Ballance had they come timely in unto the Assistance of their Brethren The Turks land 5000 Men out of their Fleet. but finding the whole Army in Confusion and all the Field in disorder they retired with much Precipitation Aboard their Fleet. It would be impossible to describe all the Circumstances Turns Changes Passages and Chances of this Battle which was fought on both sides with admirable Resolution and Courage for which those of the Christian Army who were slain deserve for ever to be Chronicled in History and those who survive are worthy of a lasting Fame and Immortal Glory Much is owing by all Christendom to the Valour and Conduct of that Noble General Prince Lewis of Baden as also to the Marshal-General Count of Dunewaldt to Count Souches General of the Artillery to Count Stirum General of the Horse and to Lieutenant-General Barfus of the Brandenburg Troops besides all the Sergeants Generals and Officers who behaved themselves with that Bravery Conduct and Zeal in the Cause of Christendom and of the Empire that they merit to be mentioned with all Honour and Respect whensoever this Battle comes to be recounted in these present Days or in future Ages And so bloody was this Battle that the French King to comfort the Turks ordered his Ambassador to tell them That such another Victory would ruine the Emperor After the Battle the Imperialists became Masters of all the Enemies Artillery namely 154 Pieces of Cannon of all sorts great and small great Numbers of Ensigns and Colours and amongst the rest of the Standard of the Grand Vizier with those of the Pasha's and of the whole Spoil and Plunder of the Field with all the Camels and Mules and Beasts of Burden belonging to the Camp which amongst the Turks are vastly numerous Also 10000 Tents 10 Waggons laden with Copper Money found in the Vizier's Tent in the Treasurer's 54 Trunks of Copper and 12 with Silver and 24 Chests of Kaftans Moreover all the Standards and Colours belonging to the Regiment of Bucquoy taken the Day before by the Turks 24 Ensigns and four Horse-Tails were sent to Vienna and amongst them the Grand Vizier's Standard which the Emperor sent to the Pope The Loss the Turks have had in this Action appears irreparable for about 10 or 12000 of their best Disciplined and Veterane Janisaries being killed they have not as yet been recovered to this very Year of 1694 the which is evident for of all the Army they could make in that Year of Turks and Tartars with Thousands of raw and ill composed Troops consisting of Plow-Men and Cow-Boys they could not make up an Army of 50000 Men which indeed is wonderful and shows the strange Catastrophies of this unstable World and deserves our serious Contemplation of the Uncertainty of Humane Affairs For whereas the Ottoman Empire which hath been famed in past Ages for Multitudes and Swarms of Men by which over-powering their Enemies by Numbers rather than by Valour made all their Conquest from Basora as far as Buda are now dwindled to a Condition which many of our smaller Princes in Christendom are able to equal All which we are to attribute to the Almighty Hand of God who commiserating the wretched Estate of Christendom at a time when the Victorious Arms of France were employed in ruining and laying waste one end of it the Turks had Invaded the other and threatned an entire Desolation of all Germany The Killed and Wounded on one side and the other are according to the following Lists A LIST of the Dead and Wounded on the Emperor's side Of the Infantry DEAD THE Duke of Holstein Sergeant-General Colonels Count Caunitz Count Bucquoy Lieutenant-Colonels Count de Petting of Col. Becks Regiment Count Stahrenberg of Chizzola's Regiment Sergeant-Majors Fingerman of Daun's Regiment N. Grones of Otting's Regiment Kilch de Lorch of Vaudemont's Regiment Captains 15 Lieutenants 6 Ensigns 8 Subaltern Officers and Common Soldiers 1724 Sum of the Dead 1761 WOUNDED Count Souches General of the Artillery who Died the 26th of his Wounds General-Major Count Guido of Stahrenberg General-Major Count Aremberg who Died the 24th General-Major Corbelli Colonels Prince
were all very ill managed for that Year For had the Christians instead of Ingulsing themselves amongst Marasses and Moorish Grounds unpassable for an Army in which they lost six or seven Days and gave the Turks the advantage of marching so many Days before them to Temeswaer and thence to Lippa they had saved the loss of Veterani and his Forces at Lugos as also Titul and Karansebes all which fell that Year for want of good Conduct for the Turks were esteemed not stronger at that time than 40000 Men and one half of them Raw and Undisciplined Soldiers The ill Conduct of the Imperial Army in Anno 1695. but the Slowness and Negligence of the Christians in that Years Expedition broke all Measures as if there had been a Fatality attending this Years Actions For no sooner did the Turks understand that the Imperial Army was marching after them but being struck with a suddain Consternation they Decamped with their whole Army from Lippa more like Cowards flying before the Enemy than in Order and Posture of War marching Day and Night to get into Temeswaer before the Enemy could overtake them But so soon as it was known to the Turks that the Imperial Army was marched to Segedin they took Courage and gave a stop to their precipitate Flight And here it was that Fortune changed and gave unexpected Success to the Turks in this Years Expedition which turned greatly to the Fame and Renown of this New Sultan Mustapha For considering that he was but a raw Soldier and kept himself in every Action at a distance and out of Musket-shot yet the whole matter being carried on against the Opinion of all his Ministers and the Inclinations of almost all his Soldiers especially the Janisaries and all the prime Officers of the Army and the State things looked at first with a very bad Face and promised nothing but Destruction Yet afterwards succeeding quite otherwise than were expected all was attributed to the Courage Wisdom and Conduct of the Sultan so that it became a Wonder to the World how it was possible for a Sultan without Experience who had but newly come out from an Imprisonment of eight Years and known nothing yet of War to be attended with such Success that all his Army did avow That his Victories were due to his Valour and Conduct which gained him a wonderful Esteem amongst all the great Men of his Empire both Martial and Civil the Effect of which was found in the following Year Great Honour gained by the Sultan when all the Soldiery being flushed with Blood and Spoil came willingly to the War and struck an Awe and Fear into the Hearts of all the Ottoman Subjects believing this Prince to be sent them from God to rescue them and the Empire from Ruine and utter Desolation The Sultan being sensible of the great Honour and Fame which he had gained by the unexpected Successes of this Campaign being unwilling to lose the same so soon as he heard that the Imperial Army was marched towards Transylvania he resolved to return homewards and not to tempt Fortune again for this Year and accordingly marched again with his whole Army to Temeswaer whence he sent Commands and Decrees one after the other with Letters to Ziafer the Pasha of Belgrade to provide Temeswaer with all sorts of Victuals necessary for maintenance of the Place and that he should take care to send them thither with a Convoy sufficient to defend them from the Enemy And farther he ordered that Pasha to take notice That he was returning to his Palace at Adrianople by the way of Walachia of which Advice was given to the Prince and Commands sent him to repair the Bridges and mend the Ways of that Country and to enlarge them for the more easie Passage of the Army The Sultan Orders for his Return to Adrianople The like Decrees and Commands were sent to the Prince of Moldavia and divers Letters were Wrote by the Grand Seignior himself to his Mother the Valide Soltana as also to all the Chief Governors of the Provinces in Anatolia and to the Chimacams of Constantinople and Adrianople in which after he had recounted unto them all his great Actions and Successes he Commanded that Days and Nights of Rejoycings should be celebrated for the same through all the Dominions of his Empire in regard that he had Taken and laid Desolate a greater City and Territory than that of Belgrade and that he had slain more than 10000 Germans and made above 3000 Prisoners with the Officers belonging to them for which Glorious Victories and Fortunes Commands were given to offer Thanksgivings in all Places of the Empire and to praise God for that he had been pleased to appease his Wrath against the Musselmen who had long provoked the Divine Anger The Sultan being in this manner resolved to make his Return to Adrianople by way of Walachia notice was given thereof as we have said to the Prince of the Country who was thereby put into a most grievous Terrour and Consternation of Mind not knowing what to do or how to help and protect his Poor Miserable Province already wasted and consumed by the War and what was now to be more done on the Passage of divers Asiaticks Albanians Turks c. was not to be resolved until the Prince considering and revolving all things in his Mind concluded That the best and safest way was immediately to depart and meet the Sultan on his way according to his urgent and reiterated Commands shewing no Fears or Jealousies but a Confidence of the Grand Seignior's Favour to him In pursuance of which he proceeded and met the Sultan over against Widin where being seen by him and looked upon with a tender Eye The Grand Seignior marches back and a kind Aspect the poor Prince began to take Courage and ease the Throbs of his Trembling Heart Howsoever being acquainted with the Humour of the Sultans who often speak fair to their Pasha's and yet nourish a secret Design to take away their Lives he could not settle his Thoughts or believe that the bitterness of Death was yet over but there was nothing to be done now nor any starting back but on he must go as he did to the Place called Turno on this side of the Danube over against Nicopolis where the Army Encamped on the 13th of October and the Sultan took some Repose for certain Days called by the Turks Days of Otoracke the Officers of the Prince proceeding in the mean time to prepare the Ways and to make them wider The Grand Seignior coming very weary to Turno reposed there about an Hours time and then Embarking in his own Boat passed to the other side of the Danube after which the Grand Vizier followed with the whole Army there being Boats and Floats sufficient to Ferry them over And here it is to be for ever recorded to the honour of this Sultan Mustapha That in passing this Province of Walachia
with Women and Children they gave them liberty to shift for themselves and go to what Places they pleased In the Castle little Provision was found and few Arms so that Colonel Kyba according to his Instructions from the General proceeded in his March And On the 17th came to the Castle Maglay which upon the first Summons Surrendered on condition only to go out with their Wives and Children leaving all other things behind them On the 18th by Break of Day in the Morning the Garrison of Maglay marched out and Surrendered the Place About which time nothing more was heard from the Enemy only that the Kahya the Son of the Deceased Pasha was Encamped near Orossa Viza and that the Imperial Foragers were annoyed much by the Meroders of the Enemy On the 18th they appeared before the Palanca or Pass called Schebze wherein were 300 Turks which upon the Summons demanded a time of Consideration until the next Day which the General of the Imperialists would not grant them but advanced with 400 Foot Soldiers and 300 Dragoons with the Artillery belonging to them and mounting 12 Pieces of Cannon against the Palanca in the Night they stormed it in two Places in which Attack having lost 12 or 15 Men within the Pallisadoes without any stop they still advanced forward whilst Colonel Kyba meeting with 200 Horse of the Enemy whose Design was to cast themselves into the Pass Schebze but were prevented being in part killed and in part taken Prisoners And having Intelligence That the Kahya was with a Body of about two or 3000 Men between Schelze and Branduck he caused Batteries to be raised to hinder their ready Passages On the 19th they marched on through the Orohovizar Valley being a very troublesome Passage at the first Entrance thereinto not only for the Narrowness and Streightness of the Road but also because the Enemies on both sides had cut and ruined the Ways so that about three a Clock in the Afternoon the last Regiments which were Horse entered the Field and joyned the former Troops but the Infantry came not thither until it was Night and as to the Artillery and Baggage they remained full half an Hours March behind at a distance from the narrow Passage where it remained all the Night guarded by two Regiments of Dragoons which in the Morning marched in safe Conduct and guarded them in safety to the Body of the Army The 20th the March was through Narrow and Rocky Passages worser than the former or that way which leads to the Castle Branduck which was so difficult that the Imperial Army would have been in a very ill Condition had the Turks been capable of disputing vigorously the Passage with them But at length having passed the most rough and difficult Ways of Branduck which were so inconvenient that the Artillery and Baggage could not be brought after them but were forced to be lodged under a strong Guard on the Orohovizar Valley where the Places were fairer and more pleasant but the Inhabitants were fled and gone but had left behind them all sorts of good Fruits with small and large Cattle in great Numbers with sufficient Herbage and Sustenance to maintain them The 21st the Imperial Army arrived near the River Bosna over which there was a Bridge but so Old and Ruinous that the Army was not willing to adventure a Passage over it but rather esteemed it more secure for every Dragoon or Horseman to take a Man behind him and therewith to Wade through the River with this Burden and Equipage they marched over a very high Hill for the space of two Hours which nevertheless was more easie to pass over than the former So they continued their March again over the Bosna by the help and convenience of a good strong Bridge not ruined by the Enemy and so advanced into the Camp near the Village Doboy where Colonel Kyba joyned again with Prince Eugenius advancing still before the same Night towards Sarai or Seraglio to observe the Place to which great Numbers of People of that Country were fled for security But because that City was not capable to receive such Multitudes of People great Numbers of them were forced to lodge before the City Gates so as the Prisoners declared which together with those in the City would make up a Body of 30000 Men but they wanted Arms very much October So that tho' the Kahya was then personally present in the City yet his Power and Authority was weak to dispose Matters into any tolerable State and Condition of Defence But the Imperialists found this Part very Fair Fruitful and well Built and therefore the Christians and Inhabitants of that Land went to the Imperial Camp to render themselves up under their Protection At the beginning of this March on the 22d the Troops found the Ways Narrow Crooked and Deep but afterwards passed into a more pleasant Place called Visega and then repassed again the River Bosna over a Bridge at the end of which after an Hours time they Encamped and by this time Colonel Kyba was come back with his People who had done some Execution against the Inhabitants in their March killing some and making Prisoners of others which put the City of Seraglio into great Amazement and Confusion whilst several Parties of the Enemy roved round the adjacent Parts and took several Prisoners at which time a Cornet with a Trumpeter were sent into Seraglio to Summon the City to submit willingly or otherwise no Quarter should be given to any of them The 23d two Parties sent out the Day before returned back again very early in the Morning before the breaking up of the Imperial Army bringing no News or Advice from the Enemy Only the Cornet gave a Relation That as he was going to Seraglio for almost a Quarter of an Hours time he had met with no Body at all but afterwards falling in amongst the Turks to whom having made a Sign with his Hand he showed them the Writing he had with him which were Proposals for the Surrender of the City but that he happened to see the Trumpeter killed before his own Eyes and with much difficulty with divers Wounds escaped himself And farther reported That all the Inhabitants in great haste went out of Seraglio After this the Army in a Body marched to the City which the Turks had quitted and abandoned leaving none remaining but Christians and Jews from whom they took all they could find but nothing of great Value in regard the Turks had not only disposed of the best of their own Goods but likewise before their Flight had Plundered the Houses of the Christians and committed the Guard of the Castle to a Garrison of 150 Men and the same Day towards Evening a Fire broke out in the City of which no care being taken to Extinguish it it was totally burnt and consumed The Castle howsoever was not burnt for it being built of Stone required leisure to demolish which at that time could not
longer continue than until such time as he saw them disarmed and his Enemies at his feet Howsoever not wholly to reject the terms of peace Commissioners were appointed on both sides to meet at Esperies to offer and receive the Propositions which Treaty continu'd during the whole Month of March and at last concluded without any considerable effect only Count Palaffi Imbre became so touch'd with a sense of his Duty that he embrac'd the Pardon and accepted the gracious Offers made him by his Imperial Majesty and afterwards had a Command given him in Hungary under Major General Baragotzi in expectation that by his Example others would be brought to Obedience But in Transilvania the displeasure of that Prince grew higher A Plot against Apafi upon discovery of a Plot against his Life carried on by those who had more Zeal than true Understanding of the Emperor's Interest which caused Apafi not without some reason to declare himself more than formerly in behalf of the Malecontents And so high were the Spirits of both Parties exasperated against each other that the Hussars pursuing a flying party of the Malecontents as far as Rima now a Town belonging to the King of Poland in the Palatinate of Cracovia could not contain their fury against their Enemy with any respect to the Prince or Dominion unto which they were fled but in the heat of their pursuit set fire to the Town Which rash Act was so far resented by the King of Poland that it had caused a War between the two Crowns had not some other Considerations cemented the difference and the common safety united the two Princes against their powerful Enemy as will appear some years after Howsoever in the mean time the King of Poland touch'd with a sense of this Disgrace gave License to some of his Troops of whose assistance he had not much farther occasion The King of Poland gives leave to some oâ— his Troops to serve the Malecontents after the Peace concluded with the Turk to joyn with the Malecontents and serve against the Emperor under the Command of Count Boham These Polanders to the number of 6000 departed from Seratin on the 25th of September The Poles March into Transilvania taking their March directly towards Transilvania to which Country this Count Boham had dispatch'd his Major General Frebual before to advise the Prince and Nobility of his coming The which News was so welcom that 500 Horse and 800 Foot were Order'd from a Castle appertaining to Wessellini to meet them on their way and joyn in a Body with them These Troops conducted by Frebual met the Polish Forces at the Village of Nemet on the Banks of the Theysse about four Leagues distant from Mongatz and having pass'd that River they Encamp'd near the Village of Nimelsi about 2 leagues from Zatmar where they attended the coming of Wessellini the Hungarian General with his Forces to joyn with them Whilst they remain'd in this post the parties which they sent abroad had taken several prisoners by whom they were inform'd that Major General Smith was advancing from Zatmar with a considerable Body of the Imperial Army much stronger than that of the Poles and that he march'd with Cannon upon this Intelligence Boham call'd a Council of War at which it was agreed to re-pass the little River Battor and the inclos'd Country adjacent and to post themselves on a Ground of more advantage that they might the sooner joyn with their own Troops not as yet come up and also attend the Attack of the Enemy in a fast and a securer place Two Polish Gentlemen Revolt But before the Camp remov'd from Nimelsi two Polish Gentlemen with a Servant revolted over to the Enemy and inform'd Smith then at Zatmar that the Polish Forces together with the Tartars of Lipka were inconsiderable very much harassed with a long March and weaken'd with want of Food and Necessaries to sustain them in which streightned Condition they were ready to Mutiny and would soon change their side in case Letters were wrote to some of the Chief of them giving them assurance of good Quarter and a kind Reception Letters were accordingly wrote and dispatch'd by the Servant of the Polish Gentlemen who arriv'd the same Night at Nimelsi where the Treachery of the two Gentlemen was discover'd and the Letters intercepted Their Treachery discover'd and publickly read the substance of which was this That Smith had a strong Army well resolv'd and provided of all things necessary against which in all probability their Forces were not able to stand The Substance of Smith's Letter to the Poles That therefore they should in time provide for their own security and safety by passing over to the Imperial Party where they might assure themselves of a kind Reception and a hearty Wellcome and it would make their Merit much the greater in case they would seize the Papers Money and Plate of all the Officers and particularly of the person of Uladislaus Wessellini Son of the late Palatine of Hungary and Nephew to the present General of the Malecontents Farther advising such that were thus well disposed to bind Straw about their Caps which should be a Signal at the beginning of the Fight of their good Intentions And that Smith might give them security that these promises should be perform'd he affix'd his Seal upon the Letter with this Motto Per hoc assicurantur Domini Poloni No News being as yet come of Wessellini A Fight between the Imperialists on one side and the Poles and Tartars and Hungarians on the other Boham had no sooner provided for his own security and well posted his Forces and put them in Battalia before the Van-guard of the Enemy Charg'd the advanc'd Troops of the Poles so fiercely that they put them to a Retreat and wounded Koreski Colonel of the Tartars of Lipka with which the Imperialists being encourag'd press'd the Hungarians and Tartars with such fierceness and vigor that the Tartars began to give ground and fly and were pursu'd by some Troops of swift Croats who knew very well in what manner to make use of such advantages killing many and taking some Prisoners In the mean time Smith made such hast to come in to the succor of his advanc'd Troops that he left all his Infantry some Leagues behind and March'd in the Front of 20 Squadrons of Horse much more strong and numerous than the Poles Testifying by his Countenance the great assurance he had of Victory But when he was come near and had receiv'd the fire from a Regiment of Dragoons Commanded by Major Zefold and drawn up amongst the Bushes on the right hand of the Line and observ'd the good Order and Resolution of the Poles he began then to be sensible of his temerity and the Snare into which he was drawn by the false Report of the two Fugitives The Hungarians and Tartars which were newly put to flight by the Vanguard of the Enemy Thâ— Tartars
Rally seeing at a distance the valour of their Companions rallied again and Charg'd with new Courage so that the Imperialists being astonish d and dismay'd by the Clouds of Arrows the continual Fire from the Infantry and Dragoons and the redoubled Blows of the Cut-lashes and Scimitars and the Multitudes of their dead Companions which covered the Field with their Bodies The Imperialists overthrown began to give ground and breaking in one upon the other betook themselves to Flight in the most confused and shameful manner that can be imagin'd and were pursued by the Enemy near two Leagues from the Field where the Battle was Fought The number of those Slain were a Thousand besides those who endeavouring to save their Lives by Swimming were Drown'd in the River The Officers Slain were Count Hermestin Colonel of Foot and Governour of Zatmar Colalto Colonel of the Croats besides many other Captains and Officers of Foot whom Smith had perswaded to leave their Companies and attend him in this Enterprise in which he judged himself most secure of Victory Smith himself was wounded in the Hand and was forc'd to quit his Horse to save his Life which was afterwards the prize of a Tartar with the Saddle Holsters and Hoosings embroider'd with Gold The Poles took four Kettle-Drumms and the greatest part of their Trumpets with all their Colours and 800 Prisoners And had not the night favour'd them very few had escaped The praises of Boham and other Officers On this occasion Boham Signalized himself very greatly and evidenced unto the World by his Valour and Conduct how much he deserved the chief Command of those Troops And indeed all the Officers as well Tartars as others behaved themselves like Soldiers and able Commanders But Major General Smith tho' inferiour to none in any thing which appertains to Martial Exercise yet being betray'd by his own Credulity was blam'd much at Vienna for his Rashness and Precipitation After this Success Boham having Refresh'd for two days his Forces in the Field where the Battle was Fought repassed the River of Battor and the Inclosures and joyned the Army of the Malecontents which was 16000 strong The Poles and Malecontents joyn under the Command of Count Wessellini So that now being a formidable Army the Chief Officers at a Council of War agreed to Besige Tokai to prevent which General Kops upon advice of the Enemies Motion departed from Caschau with the Imperial Army intending to Attack the Enemy with the first Advantage Which Wessellini avoided until he had first secur'd a place of Retreat in case of any Sinister fortune or disgrace But Howsoever sending Parties abroad they Burnt and Plunder'd seven Villages near to Mongatz and in regard the Imperial Army was marched at some distance from Caschau adventur'd to Burn several Villages also near to that Town and had the Fortune to intercept a Convoy which carried both Money A Convoy with Money and Provisions taken by the Malecontents 1500 of the Imperialists revolt to the Enemy Victuals and Ammunition from Vienna for Payment and Maintenance of the Army under General Kops This loss of Money and Provisions proved of ill Consequence to the Emperor's Army which wanting Pay and necessaries for subsistence many of them to the number of 1500 upon the Promises of Wessellini to bestow on every Officer 26 Ducats with a command agreeable to his quality and 10 to every private Soldier who should relinquish the Emperor's Service were easily induced to Revolt and take up Arms in favour of the Malecontents Kops being highly incensed hereat resolved on a quite contrary method of Action supposing that he might effect the same with Rigour and Cruelty Kops his Cruelty which the Enemy had done by Allurements and Rewards and that it was possible to terrifie and affrighten the contrary party into their Duty and Obedience Wherefore to make an experiment hereof he killed all the Prisoners he had in his hands and empal'd several others This piece of Cruelty against the Law of War and Nations was in like manner retaliated by Wessellini who put the Prisoners to death to the number of Sixty which the Polanders had taken in the late Battle together with Lieutenant Colonels Majors and Captains which occasioned great Desturbances and Murmurings in the Imperial Army For which he his blamed at Vienna And at Vienna this Conduct of Kops was highly blam'd and Orders sent him never more to exercise the like unhumane Practices for that many Officers of good Note and Reputation had absolutely refused to serve the Emperor in a War where no Quarter was to be expected About this time Smith with his shatter'd Troops joyn'd with General Kops near to Butrack two Leagues from whence the Malecontents were Encamped and Reinforc'd by 2000 Transilvanians conducted thither by Count Tekeli Count Tekeli appears in the War who after the death of his Father as before mention'd had served Prince Apafi in the nature of his Secretary or one who had a chief hand in the management of his Affairs and now making this first entrance on the Stage we shall have occasion to mention him often hereafter being the Person who is to make the greatest Figure in this following History and to prove the most active General after the destruction of many before him and after various Successes of good and bad Fortune and Honours and Diâ— races received from the Turks we shall sâ—â—d him still Boyant and above Water even at the last extremity when the Turks themselves were beaten out of all Hungary The Imperial Army having been much diminish'd in numbers by the Sword and Sickness was again in part recruited by some Additional Forces under the Command of Count Warbenoren and by 600 Men out of a Regiment in Silesia Howsoever such was the Misfortunes of those Times and the inauspicious Stars which then reign'd that the Imperialists were worsted in all Fights and Skirmishes to the destruction almost of their whole Army Whilest the Forces of the Malecontents increased double to the numbers of the Emperors Army The Malecontents increase in their Forces And the Turks still forwarded these Mischiefs by their frequent Incursions from Buda Newhawsel and all their Garrisons which was a Course and Practice which this Faithless People used to make War without declaring it ANNO 1678. The Emperor sends to treat with the Malecontents and with the Turks The Emperor being sensible of his own weak and decaying Condition and of the Strength and increasing Power of his mighty Enemies labour'd to cure and remedy the imminent evils and dangers by Treaties which could not be done by Arms And in order thereunto he offer'd three Churches to the Malecontents in the Upper Hungary with other Propositions more large and extensive than formerly And Hoffman the principal Secretay of State and War was sent to the Grand Seignior to make Complaints of the Succours which the Pashas of Hungary daily afforded to his Rebellious Subjects But
neither the one nor the other of these Negotiations had the success desired For the Malecontents were so far from hearkening to any Accommodation with their Sovereign Prince that they were contriving the manner how they might absolutely throw off his Authority and acquit themselves of their Allegiance The Malecontents propose to Elect a King of their own And to that end they proposed to Elect a King of their own Nation and many cast their Eyes upon a certain Count who was of the House and Family of Frangipani But the different Interests and variety of Opinions obstructed the Election so that nothing was agrreed or concluded in that affair Nor could much more be expected from the Negotiations of Hoffman at Constanstinople for the Vizier was so extravagant in his Demands and so unreasonable in his Proposals that it plainly appear'd how far he was from any intentions of renewing the Peace or any other designs than that of War Only by force of the rich Presents which Hoffman brought he prevailed with the Vizier to strangle the Pasha of Waradin Howsoever things ran not so smoothly in Transilvania nor with the Malecontents but that they met with other difficulties and Enemies besides the Emperor For a certain Person Pedipol procures a Commission to be Prince of Transilvania a Boyar of that Country named Pedipol being ambitious of Government offer'd Money to the Grand Vizier for the Principality of Transilvania alledging that Apafi had Ruled there much beyond the time of other Princes The Vizier whose business was Gain enter'd into a Treaty with Pedipol made the bargain took his Money and sold him the Principality and procur'd the Grand Seigniors Hattesheriff or Royal Signature to constitute him Prince and to divest or depose Apafi When Pedipol came with this Authority to take Possession of the Government the People refused to receive him and Apafi to Surrender He is opposed by Apafi and overcome Whereupon Pedipol with his Party endeavoured to make good his Title and Establishment by Force of Arms. The Vizier upon the news hereof to prevent those Divisions dispatched an Officer into Transilvania to decide the Difference by taking off the Head of that Person who should be found disobedient and averse to the Grand Seignior's Commands But before this Order could arrive the dispute was determin'd by the Fortune of War for the Malecontents being sensible of the Obligations they had to Apafi and of what concernment his continuance in that Station would prove to them offered him all the aid and assistance they were able to which the Poles likewise joyning their Forces over-threw Pedipol in the Field and caused him with some of his Adherents to Fly into Valachia Where raising new Forces he marched again towards Transilvania with intention to make a second Attempt But being met in his way by the Pasha of Waradin he was commanded by him in the Grand Seigniors name to quit his Pretentions to the Principality and to content himself in a private Condition For the Vizier having got his Money little cared what became of Pedipol whether he were a Prince or Paisant only he thought it necessary at that time to conserve Peace between the Friends and Allies to the Port which was more easily done by supporting the interest of Apafi who was old and experienced in that Government rather than by setting up Pedipol whose Circumstances were very disagreeable both to the Transilvanians and the Malecontents Howsoever these differences contributed little to better the Condition of the Emperor who of late had been worsted in all the Conflicts and Engagements against the Enemy As for Instance a Party of Five hundred Horse under the Command of Azos Benas The Emperor 's ill Successes being advanc'd as far as Erlaw belonging to the Lands and Demesnes of Count Tekeli were assail'd by the Turks and their whole Body defeated and cut in pieces Another Party also consisting of two hundred Men Commanded by Colonel Wolping were overthrown by a Detachment of Turks belonging to Newhawsel Representments of the Assembly at Altembourg These ill Successes in War inclin'd the States of Hungary then Assembled at Oedembourg to consent that all the Churches taken from the Protestants should with many other advantageous Propositions be consigned and granted to them And another Assembly at Altembourg did represent unto the Emperor that the Change made in the Government of Hungary was the cause of all the late Troubles and Wars in that Kingdom to appease which they were of Opinion that it was absolutely necessary to re-establish the Charge and Office of Palatine according to the Ancient constitution of that Nation and that a General Diet should be conven'd to that purpose But when the Imperial Ministers of State as well Ecclesiastick as Civil came to Debate upon these Points they offer'd many Qualifications The Emperor's Council qualifie them As that the the Authority of Palatine should be limited and restrain'd That the Emperor's Writs or Letters should be Imperative rather than Mandative that is that they should be penn'd in such a Stile as that they might appear rather Assertive of the Absolute and Imperial Power than to condescend unto more moderate Terms anciently us'd in that Kingdom And when they came to the Article about restitution of the Churches which was the main point on which the Malecontents insisted they Treated with such Niceties and with so many Provisoes and Savings that the Deputies believ'd that the Imperial Ministers came to speak for Colours and Subterfuges to evade and illude an Accommodation rather than with true and sincere affections to heal the breaches and compose the differences of the Nation Wessellini his death Whilst these Matters were in Negotiation Count Paul Wessellini who was Brother to the late Palatine and General of the Malecontents died and then the Command of the Army was committed to Count Tekeli Is succeeded by Tekeli who as we have said had gain'd such great Reputation in the Court of Prince Apafi that he made him his principal Minister of State and tho' he was a young Man of about twenty four or twenty five years of Age yet he so distinguish'd himself by his Valour Prudence and Industry that the eyes of all Hungary were upon him as a Person in every respect agreeable to the present great Undertakings Tekeli being now at the head of twelve thousand Fighting Men well appointed and fitted with all Necessaries and a Train of Artillery of about twelve pieces of Cannon and four Mortars look'd on himself as in a Condition to undertake some great Enterprize Tekeli's first designs And having joyn'd with the Forces of his Cousin Count Tekeli and supply'd himself with some of the Emperor's Money out of the Mint at Nagibania he held a Council of War and propos'd to Besiege either Caschau or Kalo Howsoever He is in Love with the Princess Ragotski the Inclinations he had for the Daughter of Count Serini Widow of
the late Prince Ragotski directed him in the first place towards Mongatz that he might if possible come to a sight of that Lady for whom he had so great a passion But upon the approach of these Troops her Mother-in-Law who was zealous for the Interest of the Emperor gave Orders to the Forces which were rais'd within her State to fall upon Tekeli Tekeli defeats the Troops of the Princess Ragotski Dowager whose Quarters were not far distant from Mongatz The Fight was bravely maintain'd on both sides till at length the Troops of the Princess were forc'd to give way and 200 of them being slain on the place and many Prisoners taken amongst which the Count Serini was one the rest were put to flight being entirely defeated With these Successes the Army of the Malecontents daily increas'd to which an additional Force of eight or nine thousand Tartars being added the Emperor thought it necessary to recruit his Army with a Regiment of Horse under the Command of Count Stirum and with some other Troops which were in Bohemia and Stiria EMERIC COMTE DE TEKELI p 44 M. Vander Gucht Scul The Emperor perceiving that he was very unable to resist the Forces which were now in open Field and in defiance against him had his Recourse to the Old Project of making New Propositions and Offers of Peace to the Malecontents But this was always so unluckily managed and with so ill a grace that it was no wonder if it found no better Success But now as if it were intended to make things more plain and satisfactory to the World without Disputes or Qualifications a Manifesto was publish'd by the Emperor's Command The Emperor publishes a Manifest Granting and Indulging unto all a General Act of Pardon and Oblivion a Restoration to their Estates a Free Exercise of Religion and a Right and Privilege of being equally admitted into Places of Trust and Offices of Court with the Germans and others of the Roman Catholick Religion provided that within the space of three Months they lay down their Arms and submitted to the Clemency of his Imperial Majesty And as to those who should still stand out and obstinately persevere in their Rebellion he requir'd the States of Hungary and all his Loving Subjects of that Kingdom to joyn their Forces unto his for the subjection of such Rebellious Persons who were Enemies to himself and to their own Country But least these fair Offers should Operate any thing on the Minds of the People Tekeli offers new Aggrievances Tekeli at the same time to make the Embroils more confused sent a List to the Emperor of fresh Aggrievances for which he desir'd some Remedies might be consider'd All which the Emperor referr'd to the Examination of a Diet which was suddenly to Assemble And in Order thereunto the General Baragotzi sent Passports to the Chief of the Malecontents Passports given to meet at a Diet. that they might freely come to the Diet and return without molestation Insinuating unto them that their Government by a Palatine should be restor'd and whatsoever they could expect to gain by force of Arms should now be more easily yielded and granted by Covenants of an Amicable Agreement But all these Hopes and Expectations were overthrown by the heats which arose between the Emperor's Ministers at Vienna and the Deputies appointed by the Malecontents to Treat and prepare Matters against the Meeting of a Diet. For one day The Diet disappointed and how when the Differences were in debate it happen'd that the Chancellor Oker unadvisedly said That the Hungarian Nation had always been Faithless and Rebellious against their Prince Which words being immediately catch'd at by the Great Chancellor of Hungary It is unjust said he to Charge the Crime of some particular Persons on the whole Nation To which Oker with more passion than before made this Reply That it would be happy for the Emperor if one in twelve were found that truly and sincerely adher'd to his interest At these words Count Palfi the Treasurer of Hungary not being able to contain himself longer burst out into a passion and call'd the Chancellor Traytor Knave and Rascal And Count Harcani another of the Deputies as Gouty as he was made a shift to get upon his Legs and perswade his Companions to break up the Assembly and be gone to avoid the noise of such Ribaldry and affrontive Language And as they were going out of the Room the Chancellor of Hungary and Count Forgatz added Know said they that we have never betray'd our King nor pleaded for our Kindred who were found guilty of base and perfidious Actions Consider that we have not forgot how far you Countenanc'd the Governour of Freibourg To all which Oker made no Reply but return'd to the Emperor to give him an account of what had pass'd at this Conference In the mean time Tekeli thinking of nothing less than Peace The Proceeding and Actions of Tekeli or means of Accommodation burnt the Suburbs of Cassovia and having receiv'd a Recruit of four hundred Horse which the Brother of Baragotzi who Revolted to his Party had brought over to him he seiz'd on the Citadel of Zeilaverd where were found sixteen pieces of Ordnance He then designing to pass the River of Tourna to re-take the Fortress so call'd which the Enemy had lately gain'd he found the Passage obstructed by a Party of the Imperialists on the other side but bringing four pieces of Cannon to play on the Enemy they clear'd the way and kept them at a distance by which means a Regiment of the Poles first passed and after them the whole Army Thus Fortune favouring the Malecontents a hundred Soldiers of the Imperial Troops revolted over on this Occasion to the Enemy Some of the Imperialists revolt such prevalence hath Success always on the Minds of Mankind the which facilitated also the taking of Tourna which was Surrender'd at discretion After this Tekeli March'd towards Chiacatorno and in his way he took Zerenetz and Melkasso which yielded also at discretion without any resistance but Podrach standing out was taken by force and all the Garrison put to the Sword except some Officers who were conserv'd and made Prisoners of War Tekeli Master of the Field Whilst these Successes attended the Malecontents Tekeli remain'd Master of the Field so that the Count de Wourmb neither durst remove his Encampment from before Esperies nor Count Lesley adventure on a March to joyn with him until Tekeli removing from those parts towards Strigonium and to make himself Master of Leventz the Imperial Forces found an opportunity to March as far as the River of Waagh where they joyn'd with the Regiments of Dunewald Holstein Massigni Caraffa and Strazoldo which came lately out of Silesia and tho' these Forces were joyn'd together with those also of Count Lesley yet they were not sufficient to withstand the Army of Count Tekeli which consisted of at least twenty thousand effective
and divert them from their Loyalty and Allegiance Moreover the Propositions now tender'd were of the same nature and temperament with those which had been so often rejected and which tended to the diminution of his Imperial Majesty's Authority And the Reasons why As namely the Emperor was to suffer the People to make Choice of a New Palatine according to the Ancient Constitutions That the Estates of the Malecontents which had been Confiscated for their Rebellion should be restor'd and that the German Garrisons should be withdrawn out of all the Towns of Hungary and Troops of that Nation admitted into their Places These being the Old and Stale Points so often controverted and rejected it was concluded that Tekeli did not again repeat and make offer of them in hopes of an accommodation but to amuse the minds of the People and to serve some purpose which he desir'd to conceal At the same time Count Serini to whom his Estate Confiscated had been lately restor'd had by some secret Informations fallen into suspicion of keeping a Correspondence with the Malecontents for which Reason he was taken into Custody Count Serini suspected and Imprisoned and his Papers seiz'd and several other Hungarian Gentlemen committed to Prison for Complices with him in the same Plot and were all afterwards carried to Prague where Orders were given to take the Informations and draw up the Indictment against them Accordingly the Examinations were made and a close inspection into certain Letters wrote in Characters to Count Tekeli which gave just Cause of Jealousie and Suspicion of an unlawful Correspondence Howsoever when the Letters came to be Decyphered and nothing found to be therein contain'd but Arguments and Perswasions unto Tekeli to accept the Offers made by the Emperor the which he urg'd and enforc'd by assurances in such Case of being instrumental in the Marriage with his Sister the Princess Ragotski for whom he knew that Tekeli conserv'd a Passion Serini was then acquitted and restor'd again to his Estate He is cleared and set at liberty after a Months Imprisonment and License given him to Visit his Sister the Princess at Mongatz At his Arrival at this Court he was joyfully Wellcom'd by all those who had a tenderness for that Family and the Princess her self receiv'd a seasonable Consolation from the Company of her Brother being then in Mourning and in Affliction for the Death of her Mother-in-Law the Princess Dowager which Occasion Count Tekeli took to pass the Complement by an express Messenger of Condoleance with her Tekeli being now Recruited with considerable Numbers both of Turks Tekeli â—ivides his Army into three Bodies and Tartars divided his Army into three Bodies the one Commanded by himself and the other two by Petrozzi and Palaffi-Imbre with intent to enter into the Hereditary Countries by three several ways Against which Forces the Emperor sent Count Staremberg Governour of Vienna and Major General Haran with all the Troops belonging to Moravia Stiria and Austria Staremberg had the fortune to Encounter one Party of them as they were breaking into Moravia and gave them a Repulse howsoever in their Retreat they took a Redoubt which was built upon the Waagh in which were three hundred Soldiers whom they totally Defeated In Revenge of which Count Dunewald Routed another Party of the Malecontents The Imperialists have several Successes consisting of five hundred of which three hundred were killed upon the place and fifty Officers and Soldiers taken Prisoners with four Colours on which was this Inscription Comes Tekeli qui pro Deo Patriâ pugnat Count Caprara with ten thousand Men advanc'd as far as Erlaw to observe the motions of Tekeli Count Staremberg attended Palaffi-Imbre whose Design was to enter into Moravia and by a Detatchment from his Army overthrew three thousand Men Commanded by Petrozzi who with much difficulty made his escape The Emperor being sensible that his Enemies increas'd and that frequent losses enfeebled and abated his Army caus'd several New Regiments to be rais'd the Officers of which were all chosen and put in by Father Emeric the Emperor's Confessor and Abelé the Chief Secretary of State by which two the good Emperor was entirely directed and govern'd which General Montecuculi having observ'd and how Men were preferr'd by favour only to Great Commands who were neither Soldiers nor capable of those Trusts he took the freedom to advise the Emperor Montecuculi's Counsel to the Emperor that in the choice of his New Officers respect was had to Favour rather than unto Merit and that little good Success could be expected from such unable and improper Instruments The Authority of so Wise a Minister of State and so Old a Captain prevail'd so far with his Imperial Majesty that the former Commissions granted by Recommendations of Father Emeric were call'd in and others issued unto such who were Warranted and Vouch'd by more competent Judges of Military Affairs Towards the end of this Campaign Fortune seem'd to favour both sides with various Successes Various Successes and Chances of War what the Emperor gain'd in one Place the Malecontents recover'd in another so that all Countries were fill'd with Blood and Ruine and Destruction of the People without any hopes or prospect of coming to a conclusion Upon consideration of which the Pious Emperor commiserating the Afflictions of his People Overtures of Peace made by the Emperor resolv'd to make one Trial and Essay more to see if it were possible to bring Matters to an end by way of an Amicable Agreement and to that purpose he conven'd a Diet at Oedemburg where the Malecontents gave in these Grievances made in Transilvania and Written Originally in Latin GRAVAMINA Binarum Superioris Hungariae Regiarum ac Liberarum Cassoviensis Epperiensis Civitatum Articularium quibus ibidem degentes Universi Cives Incolae Trium Nationum Evangelici partim in negotio Religionis Evangelico partim Libertate Civili-Politica contra 25 26 41 Articulos Diaetae Soproniensis Anni 1681. graviter injuriati essent cum adjunctis eorum Postulatis Quoad Negotium Religionis PRIMO Nemo ibit inficias praeattacto 26 Articulo Soproniensi speciali suae Majestatis Serenissimae Gratia per expressum hisce formalibus verbis In aliis vero locis juxta benignam suae Majestatis Resolutionem loca pro aedificandis Templis Scholis Parochiis erigendis pro commoditate eorundem Augustanae Helveticae Confessioni addictorum per certos Commissarios designanda decernuntur Sancitum esse ut Evangelicis ademptorum templorum scholarum parochiarum loco per suae Majestatis Serenissimae destinatos certos Commissarios loca commoda congrua quidem citra aliquam locorum exterorum restrictionem in ipsis civitatibus superioris Hungariae juxta genuinum literalem dicti Articuli itae sonantis Clausulae sensum Ac tandem in liberis ac Montanis Civitatibus c. ac in Superiore Hungaria omnibus itidem
the Army was composed of 14 Regiments namely Staremberg Mansfelt Diepenthal Baden Grana Strasoldo Souches Heisser Bech Wallis Schaffemberg Newberg Thime and Wirtemberg The which Body was flanked on each side with a Regiment of Cuirassiers and 12 Regiments of Horse namely Rabata Gondola Halleweil Palsi Dunevalt Caprara Montecuculi Saxolunemburg Taaff Goz Dupigny and Mercy with 3 of Dragoons Stirum Castelli and Herbeville and 4 Companies of Croats commanded by Riccardi all of them well armed and mounted and most of them select and veterane Soldiers To these were adjoined a Body of Hungarians and Hussars being Horse and Foot under the Command of Count Hesterhasi Palatine of that Kingdom The number of the Forces to the number of about eight Thousand with 14 Pieces of Cannon about a Thousand whereof were armed with long Lances the number of all which as some Authors report amounted unto 70.740 thô as yet the Forces of Alsatia with those of the Circles of the Rhine were not come up but others perhaps with more reason make this whole Force to consist of no more than forty three Thousand Men in all besides six Thousand Polish Horse which the Emperor had hired with his own Mony under the Command of Prince Lubomiski to which were adjoyned great numbers of Gentlemen and younger Brothers who came to adventure and make their Fortunes in this War After the Emperor had heard Mass which was celebrated by the Arch-bishop of Strigonium and sang with Musick the Arch-bishop read with a loud Voice the Bull of Indulgence which the Pope had given unto all those who should fight the Christian Battles against Turks and Infidels after which he gave his Benediction to the Emperor and the Nobility and to all the Army who received it with much Humility and Devotion on their Knees which Ceremony being ended the Emperor took a View of the whole Army greatly to his satisfaction After which he was conducted to a magnificent Tent Duke of Loraine feasts the Court. raised on the Banks of the Danube where he was splendidly treated by the Duke of Loraine together with the Empress the Arch-duchess the Elector of Bavaria the Prince of Newbourg Coadjutor of the Grand Master of the Tutonick Order the Prince Lewis of Baden and the Duke of Saxelawemburg After which magnificent Entertainment the Emperor and the Court returned that Night unto Presburg Such being the force of the Emperor's Army let us also take a View of the formidable numbers of the Turks which were sufficient like Locusts to over-spread the face of all Hungary But first we shall observe the Motions of the Emperor's Army which being now in it's Vigour and Strength and encouraged with fifty Thousand Florins which his Imperial Majesty was pleased as a Donative to distribute amongst the Soldiers it was agreed by the Generals of the Army for the Reputation of their Forces that some Enterprise should be undertaken before the Grand Vizier with the gross of his Army was advanced farther which according to their Conjectures was believed could not be in less than in the time of two Months The Places nominated for to be attack'd were Gran and Newhausel the first seemed the most easie in respect to the weakness of the Fortifications but Advices being come that the Turks were forming a Camp of 40.000 Men near Buda whereby the Imperialists might be cut off from all Communication with Comorra it was resolved to change the Design and to march towards Newhausel Accordingly the Troops were commanded to march and on the second of June some Battalions of the first Brigade posted themselves near the Neker about Cannon-shot distant from the Town in two or three days afterwards the whole Army being come up they too possessed themselves of the Suburbs and of a Palanca which covered the Gate towards Buda side and lodged within a Hundred Paces of the Ditch and on the 6th and 7th of this Month the whole Town was surrounded Newhausel besieged and the Platforms raised to receive the Cannon for Batteries and all things put into a condition of a formal Siege But whilst Matters were carrying on in this posture the Duke of Loraine received Orders from the Court at Vienna to desist from that Enterprise for that the Turks were far advanced into Stiria and the Grand Vizier with a vast Power of the Ottoman Force as far as Esseck Hereupon a Council of War being called and the Orders communicated to them the Siege which was laid the 3d. of June was raised on the 10th and the Army marched towards Raab and Comorra to reinforce those Garrisons and from thence to observe the Motions of the Enemy Many were the Reflections on the Enterprise of Newhausel it seeming strange that so wise a Captain as the Duke of Loraine should commence so difficult an Enterprise at the beginning of a most perilous War in which it was hardly possible for him to succeed there being at the same time an Army of 40.000 Turks encamped under the Walls of Buda which was not many days March distant from Newhausel and the Gross of the Turkish Power not inferiour to the greatest of their Armies of which Histories recount such prodigious numbers were then marching under the command of the Grand Vizier between Esseck and Alba Regalis or Stultwessemburg But we ought not to impute any thing to the ill Conduct of so great a General whose Successes having crowned all his Actions nothing can seem Rash or void of Council where Fortune hath always led him by the hand and made him Victorious as we shall God willing make appear in the sequel of this History The Grand Seignior at Belgrade But before we proceed farther we must add what before was omitted that about the beginning of April the Grand Seignior being desirous to show himself in his Army began to move towards Belgrade where he arrived with his beloved Soltana who would not leave his Company and with a splendid Court on the 2d of June The grossest part of the Army being by this time come to that place appointed for the general Rendezvous the Grand Vizier was willing to give the Grand Seignior a Survey of all his Forces to let him see how he had employed his Treasure and with what hopes of being repaid with Kingdoms and with Spoils of the richest Dominions in Christendom And so the Grand Seignior being placed in a high Scaffold erected for that purpose all the Soldiers in their several Ranks and Degrees according to their Countries and Nations passed in their several Orders before him And in the first place The Forces of Mesopotamia all on Horseback Numb 13000 Those of Assyria and Babilon as far as Balsora 14000 Other Asiatick Troops comprehending the Provinces Numbers of the Turkish Army Of Sias Amasia Maras Bussia c. 30000 The Militia of Judea Egypt c. 18000 The Militia of Caramania 8000 Turks out of the parts of Greece 16000 The Militia of Armenia Capadocia c. 24000
The remaining Asiatick Troops were from Georgia and the conquered Countries thereabouts all which were the Forces out of Asia and Horse 28000 After these marched the Janisaries of Europe 12000 Next followed the Tartars ill Armed and worse Clothed 14000 Last of all marched the most flourishing part of the Turkish Army consisting of the Sons and Servants of Pashas also of the richest Spahees and other young Men all richly cloathed and armed 35000 Pioniers and others with Shovels Spades c. 12000 Gunners and other Attendants on the Train of Artillery 13000 Attendants on the Waggons of Ammunition and Provision 14000 Other Attendants on the Tents and Baggage 13000 All which formidable Forces amounted unto 264000 According to a Calculation made by several Italian Writers but as to my own Opinion I cannot believe that Asia could furnish half those numbers and therefore do rather follow the Computation of the Asiaticks according to this Account Mustapha Pasha Grand Vizier 15000 Emir Pasha of Adana 500 Husaein Basha of Bolu 330 Kara Mahomet Pasha of Diarbeker 1500 Mustapha Pasha of Silistria 1080 Halil Pasha of Sivas 530 Ahmet Pasha of Maras 710 Husaein Pasha of Aleppo 950 Osman Pasha a Sangiac under him 510 Husaein Pasha of Damascus 2300 Hassan Pasha of Armit 500 Bei of Gran Cairo 3000 Basha of Tokai on the Borders of Persia 340 Bekir Pasha 500 Â 27750 This Computation may very well agree with the Forces of the first Year's Expedition out of Asia to which being adjoyned the several Chambers of Janisaries with all the European Forces both Horse and Foot as also the Tartars Transilvanians Moldavians and Valachians with the Hungarian Rebels we may without Romance account the Ottoman Force to consist of a Hundred eighty Thousand effective fighting Men besides Miners Pioniers Sutlers Gunners Attendants on the Train of Artillery Attendants and Servants belonging to the Tents with a vast number of Rascals and Rabble following the Camp which may very well be Calculated to amount unto at least 40.000 more For the Turks above any Nation in the World have their Camp pestered with the Incumbrances of Baggage so that if we consider this vast number of 220.000 Men it will not seem incredible what we find reported that they spread the Country eight Leagues in length The Report of this formidable and as to human Appearance invincible Army caused the Duke of Loraine to hasten with all speed possible the Fortifications of Raab which he designed to enlarge on some rising Grounds near to the Town and to defend them with the whole Body of the Army or at least by the Infantry which having a Communication with the Garrison might be able to oppose that great force of the Enemy and weary them out by a lingring Siege in a Country which was already become desolate and without Forage for above twenty Miles round But the Duke of Loraine having received Intelligence The Grand Vizier at Alba Regalis that the Grand Vizier on the 1st of July was entred into Alba Regalis and certainly resolved to Besiege Vienna and to stop at no other place on their March thither He then changed his Measures and having reinforced Raab with the three Regiments of Baden Grana and Souches and given the command of the Place to Colonel Wallis and having also reinforced Comorra and other Places with strong Garrisons his whole field-Field-Army became reduced unto 24.000 Men only And fearing lest with so small a number he should be surrounded by the multitudes of the Enemy he once resolved to encamp himself under the Cannon of Vienna In the mean time Tekeli having made a Visit to the Grand Vizier in his Camp at Alba Regalis perswaded him to publish a Manifest He publishes a Manifest signifying unto the People That the Grand Seignior did take under his Protection all the Hungarians who should joyn themselves to the Male-contented Party and that he would maintain them in their Priviledges Liberties Estates Laws and Religion And that such who refused to accept this gracious Offer were to expect no Quarter but to be punished with Fire and Sword This Manifest being divulged by Tekeli at his return from the Vizier to Cassovia so operated on many of the Hungarians that the Towns of Papa Tot and Vesprin accepted of the same and opened their Gate to Tekeli and his Party And such was the Consternation of all Hungary that many other Counties and Towns declared to the Emperor's Commissioners that they would open their Gates to Tekeli at the first Summons rather than expose themselves to Fire and Sword where was no hopes or expectations of Relief This Declaration of the People giving the Emperor just cause to fear lest Neutra and the Mountain Towns should follow the same Example Orders were given to Count Schultz Governour of Neutra to demolish that Fortress Neutra demolished and bring the gross Cannon with all the Ammunition from thence and the like Command was given to the Officers of the Mountain Towns where the Mines of Silver were it being impossible to relieve them because Tekeli was Master of all the Passes which led thither which Orders were readily obeyed by the Officers Priests and Religious Men who fled to the Camp of General Schultz on the Banks of the River Waagh Where Schultz having joyned with the six Thousand Polish Horse under the Command of Prince Lubomiski he had the fortune to meet a Party of the Malecontents joyned with some Tartars and to give them a total Defeat killing and taking two Thousand of them with several Colours and all their Baggage In the mean time whilest the Duke of Loraine was in this dubious Condition not knowing what course was best to be taken he resolved once to retire under the Cannon of Vienna and there to govern himself according to the Motion of the Enemy but the Turks came on so fast their Van appearing on the Banks of the River Raab followed by the whole Body of their Army Marching in Batalia that there was no time for any thing but a Precipitous Flight nothing was now to be put to a hazard for the least Defeat might cause the absolute loss of Vienna and open the Enemies way into the Hereditary Counties In this exigency all the Foot was Transported over into the Island of Schultz under the Command of the Count de Zely and all the Horse being about Nine thousand five hundred in number Marched away about Midnight and pitched their Camp near to Altembourg The Infantry being in the Isle of Schultz The Christian Infantry in the Isle of Schultz Marched without danger of the Enemy and were in the way either to Communicate with Raab or to give Succour to Vienna according as they saw the Enemy bend their Course for they were in a Condition to move faster than the multitudes and gross Bodies of the Turks In a few Days it appear'd that the Turks aimed at the Capital City of Vienna and to leave all
it and say nothing but give Thanks and Pray to Almighty God and Fight Thou shalt Build but not to Day nor to Morrow but hereafter thou shalt Erect Churches when thy Country is freed from it's Enemies but not now while the Ottoman Horse encompass you and that the Towers are Armed and a Formidable force Besiege you This was the Interpretation which some passed on this Writing 24th The 24th the Turks Sprang another Mine but with little effect more than the casting up of great quantities of Earth But that which administred the highest Comfort and Joy imaginable to the Defendants The Besieged comforted with hopes of Relief was the entrance of a Messenger into the Town with the News of the great preparations making and assurance that the Town would be relieved in eight hours time The same day the Great Vizier detach'd a Party of Five hundred Horse to pass the Danube to Spoil and Burn some Villages on the other side but being encountred by Colonel Heisler they were defeated and many of them in their Flight drowned in the River 25th The 25th the Christians made a Sally with such Resolution and Fury that they drove the Turks out of the Ditch overthrew their Galleries and Gabions spiked six Pieces of their Cannon and discharged one of their Mines of the Powder which was ready to be fired which a German Miner had luckily discovered in the Ditch 26th The 26th the Turks fired two Mines under the Ruins of the Ravelin with Resolution to make an Assault but were still bravely repulsed by the Defendants one Cannon shot having carried away sive Turks Heads at once 27th The Turks fired their Cannon and Mortar-pieces with continued Peals for some hours during which time in the Morning Three hundred Musquetiers and Fifty Horsemen of the Regiment of Dupigni descended by certain Subterranean Vaults into the Ditch of the Court Bastion where they ruined the Traverses of the Enemy in such manner that they required three days time to be repaired which was of highest concernment to the Defendants to whom nothing was so necessary and important as to put the Enemy backwards in the Approaches and Pressures they made upon them In this Action one of the principal Officers of the Turks was slain as appeared by the Conflicts that were made to regain his Body for which there was a Dispute that lasted a whole hour the same day the Turks fired two Mines one on the left side of the Ravelin and an other under the Counterscarp which joyns to the Court Bastion and immediately mounted on the Ruins intending to possess themselves intirely of the Ravelin but they were repulsed by Count Scaffemberg with great Slaughter At the close of the Evening Forty Rockâ— were fired â—â—om the top of St. Stephen s Steeple to gâ—â—e notice uâ—â—o â—he Duke of Loraine of the great distress of the City and of the daily advances the Enemy made upon them and the hourly diminution of the Garrison The nex day to confirm these Signals 28th the Duke of Loraine received Letters from Staremberg and Capliers representing the sad and extreme misery of the City which could not hold out much longer but must if not speedily relieved be yielded to the Besiegers Howsoever they concluded with a Resolution to defend themselves to the last drop of their Blood The 29th the Turks fired the greatest Mine of any they had yet done 29th but to so little purpose that they durst not adventure to second it by an Assault as they had formerly done This day about three a Clock in the Afternoon 30th a Mine of the Turks over-threw a great part of the right Flanker of the first Retrenchment of the Ravelin which was still defended by the Imperialists thô the outward Retrenchment was possessed by the Turks The Christians lost only two Men by this Mine who were buried in the Earth but the Turks pressing forward were repulsed with loss of twenty of their Men who were killed The Turks to conclude this Month fired their Cannon and Mortars so incessantly 31th that it was believed a General Storm would follow And having fired a Mine in the Morning they hoped to have become Masters of the Ravelin now as it were at its last gasp and Assaulted it with such Fury that it seem'd ready to yield But the Christians fought with so great Resolution that they kill'd Sixty Janisaries upon the Ruins and recover'd all the third and part of the first Retrenchment And thô the Defendants were well assur'd that they should be Relieved in very few days yet not knowing what Accidents might occur which none could foresee they with all diligence made another Retrenchment at the Foot of the Court Bastion and at other places Towards the Evening it was discovered that the Turkish Miners were at work under the Ravelin in which to disturb them it was agreed the next day to make a brisk Sally and to burn the Galleries by which they passed to the Mine The next Day being the first of the Month Spet 1st the Sally was accordingly performed by three Hundred Men who descending into the Ditch of the Court-Bastion advanced as far as to the Galleries intending to burn and destroy them with Granadoes and diverse sorts of Fire-balls but the Works being deep and the Janisaries pressing on them in great numbers the Defendants were forced to retire with the loss of about twenty Men thô with many more on the Enemy's side Towards the Evening the Fight was again renewed by a fresh Assault of the Janisaries purposing with full resolution to become entire Masters of the Ravelin but the Christians being spirited with the hopes of speedy Succour so valiantly opposed them that at length they were forced to retire with great Slaughter Immediately after which the Besieged made another Sally with about four hundred and fifty Men burnt their Galleries and ruined those Works which they could not repair again in less than three Days In this Action the Citizens behaved themselves with much Bravey and Dexetity in the execution of their Fire-works and thô this Sally cost them Ninety Men yet it was attended with the death of above three Hundred Janisaries The Day before was remarkable for the Encounter of the Duke of Loraine and the King of Poland the first going to Olbrun to meet his Majesty The Duke of Loraine meets with the King of Poland So soon as they came in sight of each other about the distance of twenty five Spaces the Duke descended from his Horse as did also the King and coming near they embraced The King in very affectionate Terms demanded after his Health and commended his Valour and Conduct by which he had sustained so long the force of such powerful Enemies Then he presented to him his Son Prince Alexander whom he said he had trained up betimes in War to serve the Emperor and did not doubt but he would improve much more by the Guidance and
and sheltring themselves under some Sacks of Wool which they carried before them they mounted the Breach with their Cries Allah Allah and planted four of their Standards thereupon But not withstanding all this Fury of the Turks they were repulsed with equal Bravery by the Christians The Fight continued the whole day in which the Generals Captains and common Soldiers performed the Offices and Parts of valiant and stout Defendants who fearless of the Enemies Cannon small Shot Bombs Granadoes and Mines thô twenty of them were killed that day by one Bomb and thirty by the Mine yet still they remained resolute not to grant one Palm of Ground to the Enemy but what they gained with the Lives of thousands The Christians lost in this day's Conflict one Hundred fifty four common Soldiers besides some Officers but this Loss was recompensed with the slaughter of twelve Hundred Turks whose Bodies filled up the Ditch amongst which 't was believed that diverse were Men of Quality because their Corpse were carried off with much diligence and hazard by those who attended them at their fall The Turks enraged with these Repulses 5th fired their Batteries incessantly against the Walls of the Town and towards the Evening a terrible Fight began in the Ditch at the foot of the Court-Bastion near the Breach in which the Turks were beaten off with much Bravery by the Defendants who not only repaired the Breach but retrenched themselves so strongly that the Turks durst attempt them no more on that side This day Arms were given into the Hands of four Hundred Inhabitants who had not as yet been engaged on the Walls having been employed in other Services On the 6th the Turks fired two Mines 6th one of which was under the Lobel-Bastion and being extreamly deep it over-threw a great part of the Wall opened a Breach of nine Paces wide A Mine fired and blew up twenty four of the Defendants Howsoever the Turks did not immediately proceed to an Assault because the Mines had thrown up such vast quantities of Stones and Earth as had almost filled up their Trenches and buried many of their Soldiers Howsoever having breathed and considered a while they advanced to an Assault with their usual Multitudes which continued for two Hours till at length the Turks finding it impossible to prevail with-drew from the Breach and fled with such fear that not regarding the way they took to avoid the Enemies Shot many of them came within reach of the Ravelin called Molk where they were so received by Cannon and Granadoes filled with Nails and old Iron Two thousand Turks killed and by small Shot from behind a Redoubt placed in the Ditch that whole Chambers of Janisaries were destroyed in the Fight and greater numbers killed than had been in any of the Assaults the Loss having been computed at the least two Thousand Men. With this Success and with the daily hopes and expectations of Relief the Spirits of the Defendants were raised and exalted as the Courages of the Enemy with the many Slaughters sustained in the Siege and apprehensions of the approach of a vast and formidable Army against them began to abate and decline And as a fore-runner of the expected Succour Signals of the Succours coming five Rockets were discovered that Evening in the Air from the Mountain of Kalemberg which was the Signal agreed upon in that case and as a Token that they were so understood by the Town five Rockets more from the top of St. Stephen's Steeple were returned in answer This day was the last that the Turks made their fiercest Attacks being well assured that what was not then obtained could not afterwards be effected but by a total defeat of the Christian Forces so that the Vizier did little more the day following being the 7th than continue their Batteries without hope of much execution and expecting every day to be Assaulted by an Army not much inferiour to his own he drew out his Troops to take a review of them and to see in what Condition they were to encounter so formidable an Enemy The Army being drawn out every Beglerbeg Pasha or Sangiac gave in a List of the Men which remained under his Command the numbers of which being cast up into one total Sum Account of the Turk's Forces amounted unto One hundred sixty and eight thousand Men which probably might have been the full account of the whole Army when they first surrounded the Walls of Vienna Afterwards during the Siege those which were slain or died by Sickness were computed at Forty eight thousand five hundred and forty four What were killed at the Siege as appeared by a List found in the Grand Vizier's Tent after the Siege was raised so that then the Turkish Army was reduced unto One hundred and nineteen thousand four hundred and fifty six fighting Men besides Camel-drivers and Attendants on the Camp and with this vast Force the Turks shamefully turned their Backs and Fled as we shall shortly see in a few days following On the 8th 8th there was an appearance of Smoak ascending from Mount Kalemberg which gave an undoubted assurance to the Besieged of the approach of some advanced Troops designed for their Relief And with this joyful Spectacle the Defendants beheld the Turks loading their Camels and preparing to pack away with their Baggage Howsoever they continued still to fire great quantities of Bombs and Granadoes into the Town and to dig their Mines one of which they fired this day under the Bastion of the Lobel By which they blew up part of the Wall which as believed would be seconded by a General Assault and accordingly expected by the Defendants who in fear thereof remain'd all day in Arms on their Guard and with them the Regiment of Horse commanded by Dupigni all serving on Foot armed with their Helmets and Coats of Mail but instead hereof the Turks only made a small Attempt with about Three hundred Men with which they had the fortune to beat the Christians out of the Trenches of the Palisadoes which united the Communication between the Lobel and Town But Santa Croce Lieutenant Colonel to Dupigni with Fifty of his Regiment armed as aforesaid coming in to their assistance repulsed the Turks from those Trenches and again possessed themselves thereof In which Action the Lieutenant Colonel was wounded in the Leg as was also one of his Captains called Grove and Sixteen of his Souldiers killed and wounded besides Twenty five Foot Soldiers belonging to other Regiments but still good fortune so favoured them that they met with a Mine of the Enemy furnished with Twenty eight Barrils of Powder which was ready to have been fired that Night had they discharged it and filled the vacancy again with Earth The Turks having News of the near approach of Relief 9th resolved to make their ultimate Effort on the Town which they thought was now reduced to the last Gasp and Extremity and that they must
Count Caprara with seven Regiments of the Emperor's Horse to which the Poles under Lubomiski were joyn'd with all the Cavalry and Dragoons of Saxony commanded by the Elector himself in Person In this Order the Army mounted the Hill with a slow pace to attend the Motion of the Artillery which thô consisting of small Pieces yet the Ways were so Rough and Rocky that with double Teams of Horses they ascended slowly to the Top of the Hill And now both Armies with opening of the Morning began to take a view of each other The Turkish Camp opened The Stars were not with drawn from the Sky when the Christians heard the Alah Alah sound from the Turkish Camp which are the Lauds or Praises which they sing to God in their Prayers The Fires and Lights in their Camp discover'd the excellent symetry and order in the disposition of their Tents and Troops which had been the most pleasing Spectacle in the World had it not been of Enemies and Infidels who came to destroy the Christian Religion and the German Empire From hence it was that the King of Poland and the Duke of Loraine taking a view of the Enemies Forces did conceive that the orders in which they were placed did look as if they intended to dispute every Foot of Ground between each Army which they might have done with great advantage in case they had possessed themselves of the Woods in the Forest of Vienna and of Ambuscades which according to the nature of the Ground might be pleaced to hinder the descent from the Mountain Wherefore the King desired of the Duke of Loraine Two thousand German Foot to Flank his Horse at the entrance out of the Wood and to support them in the descent down the Craggy Hill and accordingly four Batalions were granted for that service Count Lesly who was General of the Artillery had received Orders to Raise a Battery at the coming out the Wood for better security of the Army in their March over the Hill which he almost effected with one nights work but before he had quite finished it the Turks made a discovery of what was there doing and were put in mind thereby of what they themselves should have done to impede the Enemies passage that way But certain it is they were so confident of their invincible strength that they thought it too mean for them to take the advantage of Posts or Situations against an Army of which they conceived so low an Esteem But finding themselves at last deceived in those imaginations and Councils they detached early in the Morning some Forces to demolish the Work which Troops came very near and posted themselves behind certain Trees which were felled and Planks which served for Barricadoes against the Shot of the Battery The Duke of Loraine observing from the Monastery of St. Leopol the motion of the Turks against the advanced Troops Ordered several Batalions under Command of the Duke of Croy to support them which coming seasonably to their Assistance caused the Imperialists to enlarge their Front in that Line and gave them Resolution to Attack the Enemy who were drawn up behind certain Banks and charged them with so much Gallantry that they forced them to retire into their main Body The Duke of Croy wounded In this Action the Duke of Croy being wounded in the Shoulder by a Musquet Shot was carried out of the Fight and his place of Command supplied by the Count of Fountaine The whole Body of the Turkish Army beginning now to move the Duke of Loraine gave Orders to his left Wing to advance and to Prince Waldeck and to Duke Saxelawemberg to Sally out of the Woods and fall upon the Enemies Front at the Head of their Encampment In the mean time the King of Poland was advanced as far as to the Chappel of St. Leopold where he heard Mass with great Devotion which was celebrated by Father Mark Aviano a Capuchin and Confessor to the King which being finished the Blessing was given to him and all his Army And then the King Cry'd with a loud Voice Now we may March with entire assurance that God will give us Victory And then mounting on Horse-back he Road in amongst the Ranks of his Army and made this Speech to them as follows Generous Polish Cavaliers 'T is not only the Work of this Day to maintain the Glory which your Ancestours have acquired and your own Courage hath Atchieved by passing to the Succour of the Invincible Bulwark of Christendom against the Ottoman Troops Nor is it our Aim only to Defend our own Country which in case Vienna were lost would lie miserably exposed to the Invasion of those Enemies against whom we Fight at present But our chief design is to defend the Cause of God and save the Western Empire which hath done us the Honour to have recourse unto our Arms an Honour which our Ancestors never durst to hope for and which is reserved as a Reward of your Valour Whefore resolve to Conquer or to Dye nobly in this Cause in which Martyrdom is held out for the Prize and Recompense Behold therefore your King who Fights at the Head of your Battalions And be confident that the God of Hosts whose Cause we are going to maintain will Fight on our side The Mountain of Kalemberg and the Woods of the Forest of Vienna resounded by this time with the Ecchoes from the Peals of Cannon and Vollies of small Shot which called the Inhabitants of Vienna to the Tops of their Houses and of the Rampires to behold the long wished for Sight of their approaching deliverance Howsoever they were not so much taken up in seeing and admiring as to neglect their Guards and Watches on their fortifications but on the Contrary they plied all their Cannon Small shot and Granadoes against the Enemy in their Trenches The Turke play with their Cannon on the Town with much profuseness knowing that the time of their deliverance being come they might the more lavishly bestow their Ammunition on their Enemies The like quantities of Cannon Fire-works Bombs c. were returned from the Turks on the Town and in greater abundance than had been at any time since the beginning of the Siege and all the Mountains Plains and Places round the City were filled Fire Smoak and Noise In the mean time the King of Poland continued his March down the Hills as did the Regiments of Dragoons of Heisler and of Saxony which were posted on the left Wing near the Chappel of St. Leopold The like Orders were given to all the Imperial Army to advance towards the Enemy who began now to shelter themselves under Rocks and behind Trees and in rough places The right Wing also moved at the same time and all with equal paces The Turks give ground The Turks made some resistance as yet but so faintly as was not able to withstand the Fury of the Christians and the several Shelters unto which they began to
the Governour 's House The Jo◠at Vienna after which towards the Evening with the like Joy and Festivity they returned to their respective Quarters and Tents in the Camp In the mean time the Besieged Inhabitants who had long been pent up and inclosed within the Walls of the City were not only desirous to breath in a more open Air but were carried with a Curiosity to see the Approaches which the Enemy had been making on them and how near they had entred to the Heart of the City that it may be doubtful whether it was more pleasant to Men lately delivered from the extremity of a perishing Condition to behold how near they were to the devouring Enemy and yet to escape or to survey with an amazed Curiosity the Tents Batteries Trenches and Approaches which the Turks had formed against them with wonderful Art and Industry The Face of all things was now changed Want and Famine into Plenty Fears and Anguish into Joy and War into Peace In the Vizier's Tent The Vizier's Tent allotted to the King of Poland of which the King of Poland was possessed the rich Vestments Jewels and Mony there found were valued at a Million and became the Prey and Booty allotted to his Majesty which no Man envied considering the generous and heroick Action of that Prince for whose Merit no Reward seemed too great Amongst other things in that Tent the Standard of Mahomet was found which the King sent to Pope Innocent the XI by his Secretary Tulenti On the 14th the Emperor with the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony entred into the City of Vienna The Emperor's Entrance into Vienna which he beheld with Eyes of Compassion and Tenderness for seeing the Desolation which the Enemy had made and considering the Slaughter of many of his trusty Citizens and valiant Soldiers he could not refrain from Tears of Sorrow mixed with Joy for the Deliverance and Safety of the superviving Party Being entred within the Gates he went directly to the Cathedral of St. Stephen's not on Horse-back or on a Triumphal Chariot but humbly and meekly on Foot carrying a Taper in his Hand in a kind of penitential manner went to the great Altar to pay his Duty and offer up his solemn Thanks to Almighty God according to his usual Devotion for the wonderful and miraculous Deliverance of that City And having thus in the first place complied with his Service towards God he went in the next to visit the King of Poland whom he overtook at Sweket a Village about a League distant from Vienna as he was proceeding on some farther Enterprise against the Enemy Upon notice of the Emperor's Approach the King whose Army marched in the Van Interview between the Emperor and King of Poland made a stop and the German Army being in the Rear the Emperor placed himself at the head of them and the Polish Army facing at the same time about the King appeared at the head of his and so between the two Armies these two great Princes attended with a numerous Train of the chief Nobility and Gentry belonging to each Court met and embraced each other and with very affectionate Complements and Expressions of Kindness and Friendship having entertained Discourse together for the space of near half an Hour after second Embraces they departed Never was there a more heroick and generous Action performed in the World than was this of the King of Poland who after a long and tedious March so valiantly exposed his own Person to Hazard and his Army in the face of an Enemy which to human Appearance was Invincible and all this to bring Relief and Succour to an Ally and to maintain the Bulwark of Christendom against Infidels and Enemies to the Christian Cause 't is such a piece of Bravery as cannot be parallelled with all its Circumstances in any History of past Ages and therefore with much Reason and Justice were his Praises celebrated over all the Christian World and the Poets and other refined Wits in diverse Countries and different Languages exercised their Pens in Panegyricks and Elogies striving to out-vy and surpass each other in the Excesses of Praise which how Hyperbolical soever could never reach to the imputation of Flattery We shall repeat one which was composed at Rome by Guicciardin Procur Gen. of the Celestines ELOGIUM JOANNI SOBIESCO Dominatione Polonico Lituanico Liberatione Austriaco Pannonico Profligatione Ottomanico Tracico Religione Christianissimo Pietate Cattolico Zelo obsequio Apostolico Inter Reges Proestantissimo Inter Duces Invictissimo Inter Imperatores citra fabula◠Solo nomine tremebundo Solo aspectu Hostes profliganti CUI Gloria Militaris Regnum peperit Clementia firmavit Meritum perennabit QUI Raro Probitatis Religionis exemplo Propria deserens Aliena defendens Docuit quo pacto sacra Foederum Jura Incantur Colantur Perficiantur Ottomanicam Lunam fulgentissimo Crucis Vexillo Aeternam Eclypsim Minitantem Adeo proprie fortiterque è Christianorum sinibus eliminavit Ut unum idem fuerit VENISSE VIDISSE VICISSE Inter igitur Christiani Orbis plausus Inter vindicatoe Religionis Imperii loetitiam Inter cruentatoe Lunoe extrema deliquia Agnoscant Proesentes credant Posteri Non tantum nascenti Evangelio quo promulgaretur Sed jam promulgato ne profligaretur Utrobique fuisse missum à DEO Hominem CUI NOMEN ERAT JOANNES Del P. Maest Guicciardini Procur Gener. Dei Celestini in Roma Which Noble and Heroick Action would have remained on the Records of History to all Posterity in honour of this King had he not afterwards sullied and tarnished the Glory thereof by condescending and stooping to Actions as low and mean as this was Sublime and only worthy of the Dignity of a Heroe as we shall show in the following Year But to return again from whence we have digressed the Emperor and King having passed their Complements Prince Alexander Son of the King whom his Father presented with the Complement of having Enlisted himself early into the Service of his Imperial Majesty The young Prince by order of his Father had habited himself in the German Fashion and was admitted to Kiss the Emperor's Hand as were all the Persons of Quality belonging to the Army and Court of Poland The King after having viewed the Riches taken in the Vizier's Tent which he assumed to himself as the Reward of his own Atchievements Out of Complement he sent to the Emperor to make tender of one half of the Booty accompanying the Message with the Tugh or Horse-tayl on a Staff with a brass Knob on the top which was one of the three Staves of Authority carried before the Vizier Such another kind of Present like this being Mahomet's Standard he sent to the Pope which being Gifts of no great Value more than for the Curiosity of them he frankly and really offered but as to half the Prey it was generally believed that his Majesty was well informed before-hand
with their Cannon and blown up with their Mines The Grand Vizier hastning his March or rather his Flight for as we said before he actually Ran away and shamefully turned his Back with near 120.000 Fighting Men meditating as we may believe of the Disgrace The Grand Vizier complaining to the Grand Seignior against the Pasha of Buda Ruin and evil consequences of this Misfortune sought and endeavoured to clear his ill Conduct and want of Courage by casting it upon others as is common to the Nature of Mankind Accordingly he dispatched away a Letter to the Grand Seignior giving him an account of the unfortunate Success before Vienna caused by the Cowardise or Treachery of several great Officers and Generals of his Army Particularly he named the Vizier of Buda to whom having given command to Charge the Enemy with a Body of Twelve thousand Men as they descended the Hill of Kalemberg he and his Soldiers instead of obeying these Orders shamefully turned their Backs and put themselves unto Flight which when the rest of the Army saw they were struck with a common Consternation and Fear suggested to them to secure their safety by following the Example of their Fellow-Soldiers So the whole misfortune of the Day was attributed to the ill Conduct and Cowardise of the Vizier of Buda which was sent to the Grand Seignior then residing at Belgrade and in hourly expectation of better News The Vizier of Buda who had received Information by several Hands of the Discourses with which the Grand Vizier entertained all the Officers concerning him laying to his Charge the Loss and Ruin which had happened thought fit to disculpate and clear himself by a more faithful Relation of Matters in a Letter to the Grand Seignior The Vizer of Buda writes to the Grand Seignior wherein he set forth That by the unskilfullness of the Grand Vizier and his want of Resolution in Military Affairs this important matter had miscarried For had he fortify'd the Forest of Vienna and erected some few Redoubts on the descent of the Hill of Kalemberg the City by all the Force of the World could never have been Relieved Or had the Vizier spent that time which he employ'd in sinking Vaults and Caves for shelter in bold Storms and Attempts thô with loss of half the Army the importance of the place and the consequences of the Success would have largely paid for the effusion of Blood but using unnecessary cautions of Mines and formal Approaches by which he hoped to have constrained the City to Surrender upon Articles and hereby assumed to himself the Riches and Plunder of the place which taken in Heat of Blood and by Dint of Sword would have become the Prey and Booty of the Soldiery he gave occasion to such delays as served the Christian Army and turned to the Ruin and Miscarriage of this whole Enterprise The Grand Vizier Strangles the Vizier of Buda and other Pashas The Grand Vizier being weary of such Complaints as these resolved to Sacrifice the Life of the Pasha of Buda to his own Folly and Destiny commanding him to be Strangled together with the Pashas of Essek and Possega and the Aga of the Janisaries great Friends and Confidents of the Vizier of Buda and the best and most experienced Officers of the whole Army with above Fifty Officers and Soldiers more whom he accused of Cowardise but this Execution of Justice as they call it could not secure his own Life but rather furnished his Enemies at Court such as the Kuzlir Aga and others with instances wherewith to aggravate his Crimes to the Grand Seignior and indeed there now offer'd a surprising occasion to wreak their Malice on the Vizier since it is almost impossible for a Man to be unfortunate and yet to be estemed Innocent Nor did the Vizier escape clear with the remainder of his shatter'd Army to Buda for being Attacked in the Rear by the Garrison of Raab he lost Six hundred Men more Howsoever he proceeded in his March and Reinforced the Garrisons of Newhausel and Strigonium The Death of these Pashas by which the Vizier hoped to have saved his own Life raised such Mutiny amongst the Turks Mutiny in the Turkish Army as caused a greater Fluctuation of Rage in the Minds of the Soldiery than they had lately endured of Fear from the Enemy between which two Passions there was nothing but Confusion Discontent and Discouragement in the whole Army For the Pasha of Buda was popular and well beloved by the Soldiery and esteemed the most Martial Man in the whole Camp And the Aga or General of the Janisaries was so well affected by that Militia that they highly resented his Death for at no time much less in this can they endure to have their General punished or cut off unless it be by themselves and in their own Mutinies In this confusion were the Turks when the Chief Captains of the Christian Army consider'd A Council of War that the present Relief of Vienna would be of little benefit to the Christian Empire unless the Victory were pursued and improved by succeeding Enterprises All the Princes and Commanders agreed hereunto except the Elector of Saxony who as we have said before return'd home and wisely judged that the Turks having made a Retreat with a Body of near 120.000 Men entire and whole they might reasonably be expected the next year to return again unto the Siege unless advantage were taken of their present Consternation to break and confound them beyond a possibility of Recovery At this Council it was proposed to Besiege Newhausel or Gran and for enlargement of Winter-quarters and Annoyance of Buda and Gran that Pest and Barcan should be taken In fine after some debate it was concluded That nothing could be resolved at present concerning the manner of Proceedings for that the Actions of War were to be regulated according to the Motions of the Enemy but that something was to be undertaken speedily whilst the Iron was hot and the Spirits of the Turks cold and still under their late Consternation The King of Poland being of the same Mind Commanded his Troops to advance towards Presbourg which on the 18th Encamped near Ficken together with the Imperial Forces and came thither on the 19th where they were forced to continue until the 25th for want of a Bridge which could not be finished until that time Tekeli sends a Letter to the King of Poland Whilst the Bridge was framing and the Army detained on the Banks of the River a Messenger from Tekeli brought a Letter to the King of Poland containing certain Proposals in order to an Accommodation The King having received a Character of Tekeli to be a Man of Intrigue and False and who had frequently made Offers of Peace but never obserâ—ed any admitted his Messenger to Audience in a manner of Coldness and Jealousy and yet with respect due to the Person from whom he was sent But before he would
receive the Letter he asked Whether it was Dated before or since the Raising of the Siege of Vienna To which the Messenger making answer That it was Wrote two days before that Success The King thereupon Replied with an angry Frown Go said he and return the Letter to your Master again and tell him That he should correct and amend the Stile and change the Substance and Sense thereof according to the alteration of Times and Affairs Such is the force of Success and Prosperity of a Prince that so soon as the News of the Relief of Vienna was divulged in the Upper Hungary many Counties declared for the Emperor Some Cities Revolt and the Fortresses of Papa and Totis were the first to give Examples of Obedience and Duty to other Cities News also came at the same time that the Count of Budiani who upon the formidable appearance of the Turks Budiani changes his side had deserted the Post he maintained on the Passage over the Raab and had taken Party with the Malecontents and joyned with a Body of Turks and Hungarians and had Fought against the Imperial Troops and Burnt and Plunder'd several Villages on the Frontiers of Stiria Had now with the turn of Fortune changed his side and interest and having Surprised and Cut in pieces those very Turks with whom he was Associated had united his Forces with those of Count Aspremont and therewith troubled and infested the Turks in their Retreat The Bridge over the Danube being finished the Poles were the first to March over it into the Isle of Schultz and were followed by the Imperial Army But the Troops of Bavaria and Franconia remain'd still Encamped near Vienna for want of Orders to advance farther but Letters were sent to the Princes of that Circle to continue the Aid of their Forces for some farther design and a Messenger was dispatched to the Elector of Bavaria who by Reason of some indispotion of Health was advised by his Physitians to go to Brin for benefit of the Air which was esteemed more wholsom than that of Vienna But the year being now far advanced towards the end of September to stay for such Orders and the March of these Auxiliaries the Season would be too far spent to undertake any Action of great moment wherefore the King of Poland and the Duke of Loraine resolved to advance with their Army to Comorra without the Reinforcement of the Allies Being come to a place called Wismar within an hours March of Comorra Advices were brought that Tekeli had dispeeded a Detachment from his Camp before Levents to Bergstadt that the Vizier was at Buda from whence he had Reinforced the Garrison of Newhausel with Four thousand Men but that in the Turkish Army were such Discontents caused by the late ill Successes and by the Cutting off of the Pasha of Buda and other great Men well affected by the Soldiery that there was nothing but Mutiny and Confusion in the Camp Upon this Intelligence it was resolved at a Council of War to attempt Gran Resolved to Besiege Gran. and which to make the more Feasible it was concluded necessary in the first place to take the Fortress of Barcan which is a Palanca opposite to that City and covers the Foot of the Bridge over the Danube which makes a Communication between the two places By this time Four thousand Swedish Infantry and One thousand Horse with some other Auxiliaries which by reason of the distance of the places from whence they came could not Arrive in time to partake in the Honour of relieving Vienna were all sent with what expedition was possible down the Danube to Reinforce the Army which was thereby become more numerous and flourishing than before the Fight at Vienna The first to pass that Arm of the Danube which is called the Waag was the King of Poland with his Army which was the work of the 4th and 5th of Octob. the Imperial Cavalry followed The Christians pasâ— the River but the Foot could not pass the same day The 6th they Marched to Mose two Leagues distant from Comorra where Count Staremberg had Orders to March the Foot and on the 7th to joyn the Army which would stay and attend them at that place But the King of Poland impatient of delay contrary to expectation immediately mounted on Horseback and sent to advise the Duke of Loraine that he was Marching towards Barcan The Poles advance before the Imperialists The Duke being surprised at this suddain Resolution returned Count Dunewald to his Majesty to represent unto him the necessity of taking the Foot with them and the danger of dividing the Army in a place so near to the Enemies Quarters being between the Turks on the one side and the Malecontents on the other But the King being already mounted on Horse-back when Dunewaldt came to him he answered That he knew no Reason which might cause him to defer his Proceedings having certain Intelligence that the Detachment of the Turks near Barcan was very inconsiderable and desired that no time should be omitted in following with the rest of the Army The Duke leaving only a Regiment of Cravats to support the Infantry Marched away with all the Horse to attend the Poles The King being come within an hour's March of Barcan understood from the advanced Troops of his Van-guard that they were in sight of some Squadrons of the Enemy which they having orders to Charge the Turks gave ground but being supported by a greater Body the Van was forced to Retreat to Succour and Support which other Troops were commanded to Charge the Enemy and at length the King in Person with all his Cavalry was engaged The Turks who until now had concealed Seven or eight thousand Men under covert of a Hill began to appear and Sallying forth The Poles put to Flight Charged the Poles both in the Front and Rear with such Bravery as that they killed Two hundred of them with the Palatine of Pomerania and put the rest unto Flight taking several of their Colours Kettle-drums and some Baggage Count Dunewaldt who had Marched with the King of Poland observing the Skirmish of the first Troops sent to advise the Duke of Loraine that the Poles were Engaged with the Turks upon which News he hastned his March with all the diligence that was possible and having passed certain narrow Ways and Bushes he espied at the opening of the Plain the Turks in hot pursuit of the Poles At the sight whereof he immediately took care to draw up his advanced Troops into Battalia and gave order to Prince Lewis of Baden to do the like with those Marching in the Rear The appearance of the German Regiments which stood firm and entire before the face of the Turks caused them to desist from their pursuit and to return under Barcan The Duke of Loraine thought not fit to follow them that Day but rather to Rally and Fortify the Poles and to enquire after the
King who was said to be lost but at-length his Majesty appearing and found in safety it alleviated something of the ill Success of that Day which by that time that the Story was told and Matters related in what manner things had passed it grew towards Night when it was thought fit to Encamp until the Morning All that Night there was great disturbance in the Polish Camp the loss sustain'd by the Slaughter of so many of their Friends and Comrades was such a Grief and Discouargement to them that they were desirous that Night to yield the Quarter on the right Wing which was nearest to Barcan unto the Germans who had formerly challenged that place as their due And towards Morning the principal Officers insinuated unto the King the many Circumstances which presented to render the Success difficult alledging that their Army was Galled and soar of their Wounds and much Discouraged and the Enemy flushed with Yesterday's Fortune and more numerous than was believed The King of Poland unwilling to adventure another Engagement The news of this Discontent and Wavering in the Polish Camp being brought to the Duke of Loraine he immediately went to the King to keep him steddy to the former Resolutions and Measures and so well mannaged his Discourse with him producing many Reasons why the Enemy could not be very strong and arguing the Probability and almost Certainty of Victory that in fine he prevailed upon the King his Senators and chief Officers to make Tryal of next Day 's Engagement The Duke of Loraine having taken a full Survey of the Ground and of the Situation of Barcan gave a description thereof uno the King and offered the Honour of the right Wing unto the Poles for which they had formerly contended but being much taken off of their Mettle they desired to change their Station and mix some of their Troops with those of the Imperialists An hour before Day the Duke of Loraine caused to sound to Horse and with the dawning of the Morning the whole Imperial Army was drawn into Battalia consisting of Horse and Foot to the number of Sixteen thousand two hundred Men besides the King of Poland's Army and the Fifteen hundred Polanders under the Command of Lubomiski Prince Lewis of Baden Commanded the right Wing and under him Count de Gondola and the Baron of Mercy Count Dunewaldt Commanded the left and under him the Counts of Palsi and Taaff The Orders of the Christian Army and the main Body of Infantry was conducted by Count Staremberg the Duke of Croy and Count Serini The Poles being expected in their Station seemed still tardy and backward to draw out by Reason that the King had in the Night received Intelligence that the Enemy was greatly recruited by a strong Body Commanded by Hasly Pasha of Aleppo and the Pashas of Silistria and Grand Cairo and that it was much to be doubted The Poles deliberate again about fighting whether the whole Turkish Army were not joyned with them But the Duke of Loraine opposing unto these Doubts undeniable Reasons why it was not possible for the Gross of the Turkish Army to be joyned with these Forces before Barcan and yet on supposition that they were yet considering the advantagious Ground on which the Army was drawn up they needed not fear the whole Ottoman Force of all which he made such clear Demonstrations that the King was again confirmed in his former Resolutions and so with a Party of his Hussars and of his Infantry and of the Flower of his Cavalry he posted himself on the right Wing between the Imperial Cavalry and the Dragoons And the great General Jabloniski with some of the Hussars Foot and Cavalry marching on the left Wing between the German Horse and Dragoons and the rest of the Polish Army made a third Line In this order they marched about half an hour when about nine a Clock they discover'd the Enemy drawn up in Battalia upon the Plain marching very slowly and in such manner as that their Force seemed equal to that of the Christians The Armies being come very near the Turks of the right Wing charged the left of the Christians with much fierceness as if they had had a particular spight and aimed chiefly at the Poles The Fight begun And at the same time the Turks who were on the rising of a Hill advanced as if they intended to Charge the main Body of the Christians But being within half Musquet shot of them they on a suddain Wheeled about and fell upon the left Wing which when the Duke of Loraine observed he crossed the Line of the Cavalry on the left Wing and with all the party of the first Line which had not been engaged he in Person charged the Enemy in the Flank with so much Courage and Bravery as put them to a General Rout and into that Confusion The Turks routed that they were never more able again to Rally Dunewaldt was Commanded to Pursue them and with the Poles of the left Wing enter'd pell-mel with them at the very Gates of Barcan at which place many of them were killed and perished in the Marshes of Gran. And pursued Whilst Dunewaldt pursued the flying Enemy the whole Army advanced in Battalia towards Barcan and in the way thither it was resolved by all Parties to Assault the place in this heat of Action whilst the Enemy was Affrighted and in Disorder the King accordingly drew out some Troops of his Cosacks and the Duke of Loraine five Battalions of Staremberg Grana and Baden which were appointed for that Service Which Detachment was no sooner order'd than Information came that the Bridge over the Danube by the Crouds and Multitudes of the Turks pressing over it was broken and that Barcan it self was so filled up with People that they had scarce room to stir and were ready to trample one another Under-foot Prince Lewis of Baden with these Forces and three Regiments of Dragoons and three Pieces of Cannon assaulted the Fort and took it by main force Barcan taken The Slaughter which was there made by Fire and Sword was very Cruel and Bloody But most to avoid the Fury of the Enemy threw themselves head-long into the Danube some endeavoured to save themselves by Swimming others by their Horses hanging on their Mains and Tails others on Planks and Boards of the broken Bridge in which Passage thô many saved themselves yet the greatest part perished in the Waters as appeared by the Bodies of Men and Horses together with their Garments which cover'd the Surface of the River in places where the Current ran not so rapid on the Sides and Banks as in the middle of the Water In fine of these great numbers in Barcan none escaped unless Seven or Eight hundred Men who having betaken themselves to a Redoubt belonging to that Fortress obtained Quarter for their Lives on Condition of quiet Surrender In this Action the Turks lost their best Captains
Successes The Person appointed to be Seraskier A Seraskie◠appointed or General was Kara Oglou Chiamacam of Constantinople who had formerly been Captain Pasha or Admiral of the Seas The Grand Vizier remaining at home had time to consider and reflect That the cause of the general Toleration of almost all Christendom against them did proceed from the Neglect Contempt and ill Usage which the late Vizier had put upon all the publick Representatives of Christian Princes some Instances of which we have given at the beginning of this History To redress which it was thought fit to cajole and soften a little the Foreign Ministers from Christian Princes whom the late Vizier had so contemptuously used and treated with Disgrace as had raised all Christendom about their Ears and so with much Complement the Ambassadors of England and France were invited to Adrianople by the Vizier to sit with him upon the Soffraw The Soffraw granted to the Christian Ministers according to the usual Custom and Priviledge of Ambassadors which the Pride of the late Vizier would not allow them The Lord Chandos then Ambassador from his Majesty of Great Britain to the Ottoman Port being at that time Sick excused his going and perhaps also was desirous to spare the Mony of the Turky Company and not lavish it out in an empty and fruitless Journey But the French Ambassador Monsieur de Guilleragues for the Glory as he thought of his Master made splendid Preparations at the Cost of the Merchants to enter Adrianople where being arrived he was in a short time received to Audience on the Soffraw which Priviledge hath been restored to all other Ambassadors since that time That which hastned this Favour and Indulgence to Foreign Ministers was the apprehension of a War just then breaking out with the Venetians for the Doge of Venice being newly dead and his Place supplied by Seignior Marco Antonio Gustiniani the Senate sent Orders to their Secretary at the Ottoman Port The Venetians declare War against the Turks called Seignior Capello to declare War against the Turk and their League and Alliance with the Emperor and Poland and having so done to make his Escape in the best manner he was able Seignior Capello having complied with these Instructions conveyed himself away in the Habit of a Seaman upon a French Man of War called the Faithful which was come to Constantinople for Convoy to some other Ships The Moscovites who had for a long time plaid fast and loose as we have formerly mentioned in their Treaties of Peace with the Turks became now more fixed and resolved on a War being animated thereto by the strong Alliance and Confederacies made against them and the cross Fortune of the Turks which seemed every day to decline This Union and strong Combination The Moscovites inclinable to enter into the League as it made the Turks tremble so the Sense thereof softned their Minds and rendred them much more plyable and gentle to those Christian Ambassadors who remained in Peace and Amity with them and gave just occasion to the English and others trading in their Dominions to applaud and own the Justice Moderation and easy Access of the Turks much different from that which they practised in the time of their Prosperity so that thô our English Merchants in all their Letters complained of the badness of Trade and ill Markets yet they praised and commended the present Security in which they lived and the readiness of the Turkish Mininisters to afford them redress upon all Complaints The Treaty of Confederacy and Alliance being vigorously carried on at Vienna by Seignior Contarini the Venetian Ambassador to his Imperial Majesty by and with the Consent and assistance of the Pope's Nuncio these following Articles were agreed between the Emperor the King of Poland and the Republick of Venice and afterwards Sworn unto at Rome at the Feet of the Pope by Cardinal Pio in Behalf of the Emperor by Cardinal Barbarini in the Name of the King of Poland and by Cardinal Ottoboni for the Venetians The Articles are these THat a League offensive and defensive be concluded between the Emperor the King and Republick of Poland and Republick of Venice the which shall continue until the end of this War and to be defensive for ever The Protector and Guarantie whereof shall be this Pope Innocent the XI and his Successors and the Apostolical See shall ever be Moderator to judge and determine which of these Parties falls from his Faith and fails in a due Performance That during the time that this League continues in Force none of the Parties shall enter into Treaty or accept of any Condition thô never so advantagious without the Consent Privity and Concurrence of the other Allies That his Imperial Majesty shall enter into this League as King of Hungary Bohemia and Arch-Duke of Austria as doth also the King as King of Poland and Great Duke of Lituania binding these their Dominions and Inheritances as doth also the Republick of Venice bind and oblige their Dominions and Territories to the performance of these Covenants By this League is understood only a War against the Turks and against no other Prince or Potentate whatsoever The Emperor for his part and the King of Poland for his do promise to wage War against the Turks with very powerful Armies by Land and the Venetians with a powerful Fleet at Sea and with their Troops in Dalmatia to the utmost of their Force until a Peace be concluded That in case either of these Parties be hard pressed by the Enemy so that the Aid and Assistance of the others be necessary they shall leave their present Designs and Apapply themselves to the Relief of the Party oppressed That this War be carried on by way of Diversion that is That the Emperor endeavour to conquer and subdue all the Forts and strong Holds in Hungary the King of Poland to recover Kaminiec Podolia and Ukrania and the Venetians the several Towns Fortresses and Islands which they have lost That so soon as these Articles are signed that the several Covenants herein contained be put into immediate Execution That all Christian Princes be invited to enter into this League and especially the Czar of Moscovy That this League shall not be understood to prejudice any other League made with any other Prince particularly That lately concluded between the Emperor and the King of Poland Thus did the Senate of Venice after Mature Deliberation for that Republick did never act rashly enter into the Confederacy with the aforesaid Allies against the Turks The many Insults and Avanias with which the Grand Vizier and others did daily oppress them of which at the beginning of this History we have given some Instances and the difficult Circumstances they lay under by these hard Task-masters The Reasons which the Venetians had to make a War who were continually drawing and forcing Mony from them upon false pretences without which they always threatned War
floating down the Current were taken up by the Christians The Duke of Loraine being come to Pest caused the Fire to be extinguished which had as yet Burnt but one third part of the Town all the Stores of Ammunition and Provision being saved The Works and Fortifications were ordered to be repaired and Cannon to be mounted on the Walls but the Place proved too hot for them being so much incommoded by incessant shooting from Buda that there was no abiding for them there for Pest lies in a beautiful Plain and gives Denomination to the Country round about which is called Comitatus Pesthiensis From Buda it hath a sumptuous Prospect by the appearance of the Towers on the old Walls and Spires of the Moschs but is so over-topt by Buda that all the Cannon there can shoot into it so that the Imperial Army quitted the Place until it should fall into their Hands and follow the Fate of Buda as an Appendage or Dependance thereof The Troops being with-drawn from Pest they marched back to Witzen where two Bridges of Boats were making to pass the River at the Island of St. Andrew's where the River divides it self in two Branches The Christian Army repasses the Danube and makes the Ferry over much more short and easy The Passage over the first Branch or Arm was not very difficult but that on the farther side of the Island was much more hazardous by reason that the Stream was broader and more rapid and the Turks with 20.000 Men encamped within three Miles from the Banks of the River but nothing seemed now too hard or dangerous to a victorious Army and an invincible Captain for whilst the Bridge was finishing with incredible Expedition some Soldiers for Spyes swam over to the other side where having observed July that the Turks lay with much Security within their Camp and without any motion which was a strange thing considering that they might easily have defended the River and made the Passage over impossible Five thousand Foot with some Pieces of Cannon were ferried over in Boats where being landed without any disturbance they intrenched themselves and raised a Battery from whence they could shoot into the Enemies Camp and secure the Passage of the Water for the rest of the Army On the 10th of this Month the Bridge being finished the whole Army passed over the same Day and joyned themselves with the other Body already on that side The Seraskier being informed that only a part of the Army was got over he advanced against them with all his Horse and eight Hundred Janisaries The Seraskier Assaults the Christians and two small Field-pieces with him were the Pasha of Buda and thirteen other Pashas leaving the rest of the Janisaries and all other his Foot with the Cannon about the distance of an Hour's March The Attack which the Turks made was so suddain that the Christians had scarce time to put their Forces into order of Battail but howsoever such was the readiness of this Army and the good Discipline of it that every Regiment and Troop at the first sound of an Allarum took their Places without the least Confusion The Duke of Loraine at the head of his Cavalry undertook to lead the Van and therewith sustained the first shock of the Enemy with Carbine-shot only standing so firm and resolute that no breach could be made into their Ranks in which time the rest of the Army had opportunity to put themselves into posture of Battle which upon their Motion appeared so formidable that the Turks began to make a disorderly Retreat He is repulsed and fâ—ies and to fly as fast as their Horses could carry them until they came to the Place where the Janisaries and Cannon remained Howsoever being closely pursued by the Polish Horse many of them came short home and several Colours were taken nor was this Action without some loss to the Christians and particularly of some Persons of Note and Quality as namely The Count de Velheim Bernardino Scotti a Gentleman of Milan with some other Voluntiers of Heroick Courage who pressing too forward to signalize their Valour ended their days with much Honour and Glory The next day being the 11th July the whole Christian Army advanced towards Buda between which and a Party of the Turks there happened a Skirmish to the disadvantage of the latter with which and with a constant Train of other ill Successes the Turkish Army being cowarded and dismayed with-drew themselves out of the open Plains to seek shelter under Hills and Mountains and lodged themselves near St. Gerard's Mount whilst Major General Staremberg advancing near the City began to prepare Matters necessary towards a Siege The 13th the Turks set fire to the lower Town of Buda and retired into the upper which was situate on a Hill and defended by a strong Castle The Fortifications hereof were not very regular but made of old Towers without Bastions but the Garrison consisting of Eight thousand Men was the best of its Strength Commanded by five Pashaes and well supplied with all sorts of Ammunition and Provision the Governour was the Vizier of Buda and under him as his Deputy-Governour was Shitan Ibrahim of whom we shall hereafter have occasion to give a more particular Character The 14th a small Attack was given and designed purposely as a good Omen to the Soldiery who still retained in their Memories that the same Day of the Year past the Turks had formed their Siege before Vienna The Siege of Buda formed and this very Day the Duke of Loraine had brought his heavy Cannon to the places of Battery and had now perfected a formal Siege against the capital City of Hungary The next day the Cannon beginning to play they made themselves Masters of the Ditch and of St. Gerard's Mount which Commands the Town and thereon a Battery was raised The Seraskier finding that his Army was dismayed and neither for their Courage nor Numbers a competent Match for their victorious Enemy retired three Leagues distant from Buda intending often to trouble and infest the Besiegers with continual Alarums Whilst these things were thus acting the Duke of Loraine received Advice that the Pasha of Maroz who was appointed to guard the Bridge of Esseck was advanced with Two thousand Five hundred Men to Vitrovitz The Pasha of Maroz overthrown a Place about a League distant from the Camp expecting Four hundred Men more under Command of the Bei of Gradisca with design to force their way into Buda To prevent which the Duke detached Four thousand Croats under the Command of Count Transmandorf to march against them and ordered the German Forces to stand all Night to their Arms to avoid a Surprise Transmandorf marched until seven a Clock in the Morning always a-trot and having about that time met the Pasha of Marotz he immediately engaged with him and charged him so furiously that after some small Resistence the Turks fled of whom
Squadron to Corfu but General Morosini wintered at Preveza with design to render that place impregnable and to engage the Greeks who are a People of an unconstant Humour to remain steady in that Duty and Faith which they caused them to Swear to the Venetian Republick whilst these things were carrying on some matters of less moment were acted in lighter Skirmishes near Clissa from whence the Turks carried away seven Prisoners but being pursued by the Morlaques they were again rescued by them and forced to quit their whole Booty with the loss of Fifty of their Men killed on the place Seignior Antonio Zeno Proveditor extraordinary of Cataro came to Perasto and pillaged and burnt all the Towns and Villages near Castel Nuovo and hinder'd the Turks from carrying in their Harvest and seized great Stores of Wheat and other Corn which he carried to Clissa To compleat the Successes of this year a Galliot of Dulcigno was taken Commanded by Solyman Reis a famous Corsaire In the Fight Solyman himself with Twenty of Men was killed and Twenty two Christians were Released and set at Liberty whom this Pyrate was carrying into Slavery And now having given a Relation of the Venetian Successes of this year it will be time to return to the German Camp which we left at the Siege before Buda The Siege as we have said being compleatly formed on the 12th of July a Mine was sprung near the great Tower which thô it had done great effect yet it plainly appeared That the Turks were too strong as yet in the Town to be assaulted at the entrance of any Breach until such time as their numbers were more diminished by a longer Siege The Vizier of Buda slain He is succeeded by Shitan Ibrahim On the 14th the Vizier of Buda called Kara Mahomet died of a Wound which he had received on his Face he was one of the best Officers amongst the Turks Shitan Ibrahim succeeded him in the Government He was a Person very well known to the English Nation which had lived in Turky to which he bore a signal kindness and respect and particularly to that worthy Person Sir Jonathan Dawes with whom he cultivated a Friendship which was extraordinary and unsual for a Turk towards a Christian When I came first into Turky he was then Tefterdar or Lord Tresurer whom I have seen when he was giving out the Pay to the Army to bestow Mony on the Earl of Winchelsea's Pages and Servants who being then Lord Ambassadour Extraordinary to the Grand Seignior was returning from an Audience which he had had with the Grand Vizier He was afterwards Married to the Grand Seignior's Sister and was sent Pasha to Gran Caro which is an Office of the highest Degree amongst the Turks having remained three years in that Employment which is the usual time allowed to that Government he was then recalled and taxed at Six hundred Purses of Money he was forced to lay down one half in ready Money and to pay the other Moiety in a few Days afterwards upon Penalty of being committed to a Prison from whence he had never been delivered but by Death The Character of Shitan Ibrahim He was afterwards made Pasha of Damascus then of Aleppo and with his Forces was engaged to pass by Sea to the Siege at Candia I remember him at Smyrna when he embarked there and then he told me how grievous it was for him and his Men to leave their Horses than which nothing was more pleasing and dear and to Embark on a Gally and pass the Seas to which he and his Soldiers had never been accustomed Afterwards he was employed in many great Offices to which he had been bred from his Youth and in which he had deported himself with singular Reputation and Esteem being naturally of a frank and a generous Temper He was then about Eighty years of Age and nothing declined but still as Robust and Vigorous as if he were but Forty when he defended Buda and succeeded the Pasha who was killed on the Walls and in this Condition we shall leave him for a year or two until being involved in the Common Fate and Misfortunes of the Turks he yielded to the Destiny which was provided for him Sallies from the Town On the 16th of August the Besieged made a Sally and were beaten back with some loss but the next day they had better Fortune and killed many of the Christians as they did also in several other Sallies But to encourage the Christians in this Siege several Deserters escaped out of the Town and to flatter the Party into whose Hands they were fallen they told a thousand Falsities concerning the distresses and wants of the Town But notwithstanding all their Reports it was concluded necessary to open the Breach in the Wall of Buda much wider than it was before to which end the Cannon plaid continually upon that part of the Town where the Assault was to be made But in the mean time to disturb these proceedings the Seraskier Pasha with all the Force of the Ottoman Army appeared often times in sight of the Camp which gave such frequent Allarums that the Duke of Loraine thought fit to draw out a great part of his Army to engage them leaving all the left Wing in the Approaches under Command of Count Staremberg General of the Artillery and with the remainder of the Infantry and all the Cavalry he marched between the upper City and Mount St. Gerard to meet the Seraskier and so soon as the Way opened into the Vally between Buda and Strigonium he discover'd a great Body of Turkish Horse upon a Hill opposite to the Army upon view of which the Christian Army drew into Battalia A Fight before Buda and thô the way to an Engagement with the Enemy was rough craggy and very steep yet such was the Spirit which by frequent Victories had possessed the Christian Soldiery that with incomparable Valour their right Wing moved over all the difficulties of the Ground against the left Wing of the Turks but they fearing to stand the Shock made their Retreat to another Hill within Cannon-shot of Buda where their right Wing was drawn up The Imperial Troops still continuing to advance against the Enemy detached Two thousand of their choice Horse who making as if they intended to form another Line before the Front posted themselves under the Walls of the City during which time the main Body of the Turks stood firm and kept their Ground until the Christians were come within Musquet-shot and then their formost Troops fell violently into the Trenches on the right Hand A Sally from the Town whilst a Sally was made out of the City by the Janisaries on the left And so Furious was the Charge they made that they gained the first Post which was maintain'd by Count Furstemburg Captain the Regiment of Grana and passed to the second Guard defended by a Captain of the Regiment of Baden and proceeded even
all Provisions caused by the Obstructions which the Seraskier had laid in the way to intercept the Convoys which fetched them from far distant Places that the proportion of Meat and weight of Bread distributed to every Soldier was much diminish'd so that the Siege had then been raised had not the Duke of Bavaria as we have said come to the Camp on the 9th of September with his Infantry which gave new Hopes and Encouragement to continue the Siege thô the Death of General Dunewaldt in his Tent who had the Reputation of a valiant and an experienced Soldier did very much add to the Sorrow and Discouragement of the Camp Still did the Turks continue to make their Sallies with much Bravery in one of which they spiked or nailed three Pieces of Cannon Sallies made by the Turks The Prince of Saxony Eisenach had his Leg taken off with a great Shot and General Kops fighting valiantly at the Head of his Men was wounded and died shortly afterwards in his Tent. But it was very observable how Forty stout Turks naked to the Wast behaved themselves with two-handed broad Swords hewing and cutting down all before them they advanced as far as to the River-side and having covered the Ground with dead Bodies they returned with the loss of few of their number into the Town The Reinforcement which the Duke of Bavaria brought to the Christian Camp put the Turks into an Apprehension that the Town would certainly be taken unless it were relieved by some signal Success of the Seraskier's Army within the Lines of the Christians which the Turks speedily designed so soon as they were reinforced by some Troops which were daily expected After some time the Seraskier received a Letter from the Grand Vizier that it was impossible for him to send any considerable Recruits The Vizier's Orders to the Seraskier having been obliged to dispeed such Troops as were with him to the Dardanelles Tenedos and Morea to prevent the Landing of the Venetian Army which had already made themselves Masters of Santa Maura And that therefore he should supply the want of numbers by his extraordinary Vigilance and Art and to hazard every thing rather than suffer Buda to fall into the Hands of the Enemy The Seraskier accordingly marched with about 25.000 Men or at most 27.000 to Alba Regalis and encamped before the Town with intention very speedily to disturb the Siege but hearing that the Duke of Bavaria was come thither with a very considerable Force he altered his Design and marched towards the Bridge of Esseck to fight those Troops which were sent thither under the Command of Count Erdedi the General of Croatia and to hinder them from burning the Bridge or taking the Forts which covered it Count Leslie in the mean time followed the Seraskier to observe his Motion and assist Erdedi The Duke of Loraine Marches after the Seraskier which the Duke of Loraine conceiving not of Force sufficient to oppose themselves against the whole Turkish Army he recalled all his Cavalry from the Frontier Towns and those which blocked up Newhausel and with three Regiments of Foot lately come from Moravia and some of the Bavarian Forces he departed from the Camp on the 16th with resolution to Engage the Seraskier leaving the whole Conduct of the Siege to the Elector of Bavaria But the Seraskier fearing to hazard the whole Affair on the fortune of a Battle retired under the Cannon of Alba Regalis Whereupon five Regiments of Horse and a Thousand Foot were ordered to Post and Forrify themselves on certain Hills by which the Turkish Army was necessarily to pass and could not move without being observed by them In the mean the Batteries The Bavarians advance their Works which the Bavarians had raised had begun to open a wide Breach and on that side by the Water their Works were advanced one third in length of the lower Town and several Redoubts were perfected to impede and disturb the Seraskier in his March from Alba Regalis towards the Siege of Buda The Expectations were great of the coming of the Bavarian Horse and other Cavalry from the parts near Presburg under the Command of Count Caraffa and also of the Swedish Infantry which were now much wanted at this Siege The Rains which fell in such great abundance on the 18th at Night did greatly retard the progress of the Works which the Bavarians were making thô their Batteries had good effect upon that Angle which was contiguous to the Tower on the Castle side but the Approaches appeared daily more difficult than before and the Works on the River-side proceeded slowly and on the side of the Curtain the Miners were not able to advance above three Pikes in length The Duke of Loraine being returned to the Camp the Bavarians who had the Attack by the River-side sprang a Mine under the Tower with so good Success that it overthrew a great part of the Wall with one of the Gates They also made a Line of Communication which joyned their Attack with that of Count Maximilian de Staremberg The Defendants at the same time made several Attempts to enter the Lines of Bavarians but could not prevail by reason that the Entrance was strongly fortify'd and farther to defend themselves they made several Retrenchments within the Town and pulled down several Houses covered the Streets with Beams to cast off Granadoes and hinder the Bombs from doing hurt and damage to the Houses The 20th of this Month the Defendants had the good fortune to seize a Boat laden with Provisions The Besieged take a Boat with Provisions as it was going to the Imperial Camp which caused much Joy in the City whereby the Report which some Fugitives made of the scarcity and want of Provisions in the Place was clearly confirmed And the same day a Party of Fifteen hundred Turks attacked some Foragers sent from the Leaguer of whom they killed several and took some Prisoners with the laden Waggons the rest making their Escape as well as they could In fine the Seraskier being resolved once more to attempt the Relief of Buda raised his Camp on the 21st from under the Walls of Alba Regalis and began his March of which the Duke of Loraine having Advice by a Polonian The Seraskier endeavours to raise the Siege who was escaped out of the Hands of the Turks immediately drew out his Forces into the appointed Places and with such Order as was lately agreed at a Council of War where they attended all day for the coming of the Enemy which not appearing the Forces drew off towards the Evening into their several Quarters having been greatly incommoded by the Rains which had continued all that day to fall in such abundance Howsoever the day following Two thousand Turks attacked the Lines in two places with much Resolution endeavouring to force their Passage into the Town but finding great Resistance A Sally ou◠of the Town they were beaten off
with considerable loss leaving two Standards in the Hands of the Imperialists Whilst this Attack was made Fifteen Hundred Horse and Foot made a Sally out of the Town and cleared all the Trenches before them and advanced to the very Batteries killing about Two hundred Men but some Squadrons coming to their Relief forced them back with the loss of Four hundred Men. The Seraskier who was retreated to his Camp about two Leagues distant from the Siege kept the Christians in a continual Alarum and on the 23d made as if he would have attempted the Lines once more but the Mettle of the Turks was not so warm and hot as formerly howsoever Four hundred of their Men wading over a marshy Ground up to the Armpits in Mire and Water found a Way which before that time was esteemed unpassable and got into the Town except some few who sticking in the Mire were birded off and killed with Musquet-shot By this time the Bavarian Troops being come with three German Regiments from Bohemia the Duke of Loraine esteemed himself in a Condition able to engage the Turkish Army and so marching out of the Lines with a considerable Body he followed the Enemy and provoked them to a Battle but the Seraskier having already performed his Design by putting some Men into the Town he declined the Fight so that the Duke of Loraine without other Action returned again to the Siege but before they entred the Lines the Garrison made a desperate Sally both with Horse and Foot and with such Success that they drove the Besiegers out of their Trenches filled up some of their Works with Earth levelled one of their Batteries A Sally out of the Towe and killed above Three hundred Men upon the Place and after having routed the Bavarians they fell in upon the Quarters of the Imperialists who being less harassed than the others gave them a Repulse with equal loss On the 25th the Seraskier appeared a third time in sight of the Leaguer shewing as if he intended to offer Battle upon appearance of which the Christians drew out of their Lines but whilst they were ranging themselves into a posture of Battle a Detachment of Four thousand Horse were dispeeded under covert of the Hills and before they were discovered assailed a Quarter of the Imperialists which was defended only by two Regiments of Horse and two Battalions of Foot whom charging by Surprise A Defeat given the Christians they totally defeated and killed above a thousand Men amongst which were Count Tilly and several other Officers of Note During this Consternation in the Christian Camp a Thousand Turks sheltring themselves under the shadow of the Hills found a Passage into the Town The Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Loraine being much heated and incensed with these Successes of the Enemy resolved with some Hungarian and Polonian Horse and some Regiments of Foot to Attack the Turks in their Camp The Seraskier retires but the Seraskier having done his Business by sending Relief and Recruits into the Town retired under the Cannon of Alba Regalis and there fortified himself so well having a moorish or fenny Ground before him that it was impossible to force his Camp or hinder the Alarums which several Parties detached from the Turkish Army appearing sometime on the Hills and then again in sight of the Leaguer did daily give them and disturbed much the proceeding of the Mines and other Works The Difficulties of the Siege The Town it self was raised in an advantageous Situation the Walls were so strong and filled with Earth that notwithstanding the many Batteries they could not make a Breach wide enough for four Men to enter a-breast nor could it well be expected that they should be starved or constrained by Famine to make a Surrender during the short remainder of this Year's Season for indeed this Governour of the Town had so well husbanded the Provisions that there was no scarcity as yet of any thing necessary for Human Sustenance and besides the Defendants had some times the fortune to seize certain Boats laden with Provisions designed for the Christian Camp for it was not possible wholly to debar them from all Communication with the River Wherefore there seemed no other way left to win the Town but by a vigorous Assault the which also had so much difficulty and hazard in it that it seemed neither prudent nor reasonable to be lavish of the Lives of Men in an Attempt so desperate that there seemed little or no hope of the Success thereof The Garrison within notwithstanding their frequent Slaughters consisted of Ten thousand Janisaries and others all resolute and approved Men as had been evidenced by many Proofs The ill Condition of the Christian Camp On the other side the Imperial Army was greatly diminished the Horses for the most part were dead or unfit for Service for want of Forage all the Troops were harassed weak and sickly the Duke of Loraine himself ill disposed in his Health and in danger of a Relapse the best Officers for the most part were either killed or wounded so that considering all these Matters together it was not to be expected that the Siege could long continue besides all which the Rains fell in such extream abundance that the Trenches were filled with Water and all the Mines and Works ruined and destroyed Howsoever the Bavarians being but lately come and not so much harassed as the other Soldiers on the 24th at Night advanced their Post near to the Wall at the Foot of the Castle-ditch On the same day a Body of Two thousand of the Enemy appeared in sight of the Leaguer who thô they retired again without any Action yet they caused an Alarum in the Camp and several Troops were drawn out against them which made a Diversion and retarded the Proceedings which were advancing against the Town The Bavarians being the most active of any had made a Breach in the Wall near the Castle which they stormed and made themselves Masters of a Redoubt or Bulwark on the Wall but the Turks being very strong on that side gave them not sufficient time to shelter and ward themselves but forced them to dislodge with the loss of Three hundred Men. On the 2d of October a Battery of Sixteen Pieces of Cannon of Twenty six Pound Bullet on the side of the Imperialists Octob. had entirely razed and beaten down a little Tower belonging to the Castle and next day they endeavoured with Four thousand Men to make a descent into the Ditch and possess the Breach but the Turks having with great industry and diligence Repaired it again with Earth Faggots and Palisadoes The Christians receive a great Loss defended it with such vigorous Resistance that after a most bloudy and desperate Fight the Christians were droven thence with the loss of Fifteen hundred Men amongst which was a Major and several Captains and Officers belonging to the Bavarian Troops Howsoever the Imperialists
Andrews killed above a Hundred of the wounded Men before they could be removed and pillaged the Baggage with the Equipage of Colonel Piccolomini and so much as they could not carry away they burnt and destroied A like Accident happned to some other Boats laden with the Bavarian Troops which by some accident or other being by the Winds or breaking of their Ropes or Cordage put on Shoar were suprized and taken by the Enemy Ill Accidents after raising the Siege which to observe their Motion had laien concealed in the Flags and Osiers which grew by the Banks of the Danube Great were the Murmurings and Discontents which arose upon these two unhappy Accidents occasioned as they talked by the neglect and ill Conduct of the Officers Nor was the Resolution of abandoning the City of Pest less approved thô the Fortifications were demolished the Walls and Gates Blown up and the most considerable Bulwarks demolished Howsoever those who conceived another Opinion alledged That the Masters of the Field would be able to maintain that Fortress in despight of the ill Neighbours on the other side And that it would be difficult and a great loss of Men and time to recover that place whensoever a fairer opportunity presented to renew the Siege of Buda Others of a contrary sense produced opposite Arguments all People blaming each other as is usual in Sinister events when matters succeed in an unlucky manner different to the first conceived hopes Winter-quarters assigned The Duke of Loraine before he would leave the Army saw the several Troops disposed in their respective Winter-quarters The Imperialists were lodged in Comorra and the Parts adjacent and as many as these places could not contain were sent to Silesia Moravia and Bohemia The Bavarians advanced into the Counties of Arva Czepus Lipze Saraz and other places appointed for them The Seraskier having information of the several Quarters and of the Troops which were lodged in them gathered what Forces he was able to the number of 18.000 Men with which passing the River he Sate down before Wazia or Vualtz a place defended by Five hundred Soldiers belonging to the Regiment of Thaun and Commanded by the Lieutenant Colonel only The Fortifications were chiefly the Breasts of the Soldiers Vuazia Attacked there being only an old Wall in many places Ruinous and a few weak Palifadoes unable and unfit for the least Defence The Turks encouraged with these advantages stormed the place on all sides the Imperialists repelled their Force with Force and defended themselves with as much Bravery as was possible to do with such unequal numbers But finding it at length impossible unless by Miracle to sustain so mighty a Force without hopes of Relief they agreed to Capitulate and sent Propositions of Surrender The which being accepted and the Articles signed the Gates were opened with intention that the Christians might march out and leave the Town to the Possession of the Enemy but instead thereof the Turks rushed in and with their drawn Cymiters killed and massacred all before them It was then to no purpose to call out and revile them with the breach of Faith and violation of Articles having the Seraskier's Commands not to observe them or lend an Ear nor did it much avail to use resistance the Enemy being already in the midst of them all that could be done was to sell their Lives at the dearest rate In fine Five hundred Christians put to the Sword This Tragedy ended with the Slaughter and Butchery of this whole Party which was much lamented at the Court of Vienna as a loss of the highest concernment that Regiment consisting of old experienced and veteran Soldiers Men of approved Valour and long inured to Labour and Sufferings This Misfortune also was become the common Discourse of the Army blaming the Officers for assigning Quarters at so far distance from other Succours which was to sacrifice the Lives of so many brave Men without any regard to the Fury of the Enemy and if Pest which was a Walled and well Fortified Town and capable of making Resistance was to be Demolished and Dismantled only because it was esteemed too far distant from Succours and Relief how much rather should Vualts or Vualtz have been judged an improper and dangerous Quarter which was but an open Town without other defence than the naked Breasts of the poor Soldiery Thus ended this Campagne unluckily in respect to the Siege of Buda and the Successes which followed thô in other Parts Fortune smiled on the Christian Arms for General Schultz took Barsfeldt Barsfeldt taken Situated on the Frontiers of Poland after a Siege of three Days thô it be a place encompassed with a deep Ditch full of Water and good Walls and Fortified with Towers Redoubts and Ramparts The Garrison consisted of Four hundred Men belonging to Tekeli of which Three hundred after the Surrender took up Arms for the Emperor and One hundred which refused were Convoyed as far as Ragowitz Likewise General Schultz took the Castle of Stropko belonging to the Malecontents And Stropko by Surrender upon Composition therein were Eleven Brass Guns with Ammunition and Provisions for War He took also the Castle of Makovitz Count Zober who Commanded the Hungarian Troops at Neutra Surprized the Castle at Suram whilst the greatest part of the Garrison was gone out to seek for Forage But these small advantages made but a poor amends for greater losses the sense whereof served to move Anger and desire of Revenge in the generous Breasts of the Soldiery and to quicken the Imperial Councils to make Preparations against the next Campagne And in regard Newhausel was in the first place aimed at as a Prize for the ensuing Year General Heysler was Ordered to enlarge his Quarters in all parts round the City that so keeping it continually Blocked up the Conquest thereof might be render'd much more easie at that time when the Season of the Year should make it convenient for an Army to make a nearer approach The King of Poland's Actions this year But before we conclude the Successes of this Year we must not omit and pass by the Actions of the King of Poland of whom we have Wrote and declared such Heroick and generous Enterprises and Atchievements in the Relation of the last Year's Wars For being one of the Allies of the Empire we are not to be silent of him but give him a place in this History as well as we have already done unto our Confederates the Venetians Thô we shall not need to be very Prolix in our Relations of his great Prowess and Deeds which fell very Flat and in no manner agreeable to his first beginnings The King of Poland enter'd not the Field this Year until the middle of August when on the 22d of that Month he took a Review of his Army near unto Budziack and the next Day he Detached a considerable Party to Invest Jaslowitz a Town about two Leagues distant from the
Camp and towards the Evening marched thither in Person with the rest of his Army The next Day Summons were sent to the Town commanding them to Surrender To which the Governour made this reply That the Town was committed to him by the Grand Seignior and accordingly he would defend the same unto the last Extremity Hereupon Batteries were raised Jazlowitz taken and the Cannon having played upon the Town for the space of two or three Days the Defendants thought fit to Capitulate and Hostages being given the Town was Surrender'd on the 26th when the Garrison to the number of Five hundred Men marched out with their Arms and Colours Flying After this the King marched to Swaniec Situate on the Niester over which having made a Bridge he passed his Army but having received intelligence that 30.000 Tartars had made their way into Poland he return'd again back to the other side And thô the Tartars are a sort of People who stay not long in a place but are in continual Motion yet the King had the good Fortune to meet with a Party of them and Cut Four hundred of them in pieces the rest not being willing A party of Tartars defeated as is their Custom to adventure on a Battle return'd into their own Country as did also the King of Poland into his Winter-quarters the Season of the Summer being already spent At the Actions and Successes this Year of the Poles the Turks at Constantinople made an open Scorn and Laughter and indeed their slothfulness in doing nothing deserved no better and made it their common talk and discourse The Turks censure of the Poles That the French King who was their only Friend amongst the Christian Princes had with his Money and Presents blunted the Sword of Poland and laid all the Spirits of that Kingdom into a Sleep and that the young Prince the eldest Son was Enchanted and led away Captive by a French Lady So that the Turks seemed to apprehend nothing of danger from Poland against which they made no Preparations for the ensuing Year making it the common Subject of their politick Reasonings and giving it as it were for granted That the Poles Turks and Tartars had for some time entertained a friendly understanding between each other The Turks always made slight of the Venetians And of the Venetians as of an Enemy whom they could at all times and at their pleasure crush and suppress they regarded little what they had done this Year at St. Maura or in the Morea or Dalmatia the Venetians having been more beholding for those Successes to the Albanians and others of the Grand Seignior's Subjects who revolted to them than to the Power and Conduct of their own Arms and whensoever Fortune shall but a little change her Hand they doubt not but to recover their Losses from the Venetians without much Bloud or perhaps but with asking for them And indeed if it be well considered the Venetians have trifled much in their Proceedings amusing themselves and the World in taking small and inconsiderable Places in comparison of greater Enterprises and with dislodging some Nests of Pyrates when as they might have a stroke at the very Heart of the Ottoman Empire by entring the Dardanelli with a Fleet against which the Turks were not capable to make any Resistance with less Force than that which was used in taking Santa Maura and Preveza the Venetians improving the Advantage of the present Fear and Consternation of the Turks might have made themselves Masters of the Castles on the Hellespont and sailed to Constantinople it self and destroyed or burnt it without any considerable Opposition They might with this Opportunity have destroyed the whole Turkish Fleet of Gallies which would have made them Masters of all the Islands in the Archipelago the yearly Tribute of which is very considerable They might in all probability have taken twenty Sail of Ships coming from Alexandria with Janisaries and Merchandize to a considerable Value which whilst the Venetians were pedling about Santa Maura arrived at Constantinople to the great Joy and Encouragement of that City The Pasha of Candia put to Death About this time the Pasha of Candia's Head was brought to Adrianople and exposed before the Gate of the Divan all his Treasure which was considerable according to the Custom of the Turks was confiscated to the Grand Seignior he was a bad Man and unmerciful to all sorts and Sects of People he had strangled the Metropolite or Bishop of Candia and miserably tyrannized over the poor Christians there and yet for all that the Crime alledged against him was That he was too indulgent to the Christians that he had sold them Corn and held a good Correspondence with the Venetians The Pasha of Damascus called Ibrahim Pasha incurred the like Fate he had been Janisar-Aga and one of the greatest Men in the Empire but his Enemies taking advantage of his absence from the Court upon bare Suggestions without fairer process took away his Life ANNO 1685. BEfore we enter upon the Martial Affairs of this ensuing Year let us take a short View of the State of things in Christendom and in Turky and the Preparations that were making on both sides for carrying on a more bloudy War if it can be possible than that of the preceding Years The Eyes of all Christendom The State of Christendom and I may say of the World too were at a gaze to behold the Successes of ths important War and yet Europe for the most part was either engaged actually in War or at least in Fears and Jealousies one with another The Plenipotentiaries of France and Spain were at Variance concerning the Confines and Dependencies and the Incroachments which the French King made on the Rhine and Motions in Alsatia caused such Fears and Jealousies in the Minds of the German Princes that they with-held much of that Force which they designed as Auxiliaries to be employed in Service of the Empire which was then the common Cause and Interest of all Christendom Howsoever the generous Elector of Bavaria a valiant and active Prince who had in the two last Campaigns improved his youthful Years with the Exercises of War and Military Discipline was resolved to employ his own Person Armies and Fortune in prosecution of this Religious War against the Enemy of Christendom The Elector of Bavaria Marries with the Emperor's Daughter The Affections he had to the Welfare of the Imperial Hereditary Countries and of all Germany were elevated and rendred more zealous and warm by the Love he professed to the Arch-Duchess Maria Antonia eldest Daughter of the Emperor a Princess of great Vertues whom he afterwards espoused and with her all the Interest of the House of Austria in so zealous a manner that he seemed to have contracted the same Desires and Passions with the Emperor himself Thô the last two Years Wars had consumed both Men and Mony The Emperor's want of Mony yet had
and the Imperialists the other and a third Attack was intended on the side towards Vienna on the Banks of the River Neutra which was to be committed unto the Swedes The Swedes come to the Siege so soon as they entred into the Camp as they did the Day following and having formed their Trenches they cut a Drain from the Town Ditch where being a kind of declivity the Water fell in abundance and ran with a full Channel into the Neutra To these several Attacks Three thousand Men were every Day appointed to relieve each other under Command of the General of the Artillery two Sergeant-Majors of Battalions two Colonels and other subordinate Officers which the Prince of Croy Count Serini and the Duke of Hanover were successively to Command according to their turns All the Day following was spent in opening and enlarging the Trenches The Trenches enlarged which were broad enough to contain three Men a-breast and advanced unto Five or Six hundred Paces in length and sufficient Ground secured to lengthen them about One hundred and fifty Paces more which would reach unto the side of the Ditch all which was performed without any considerable loss notwithstanding the continual Firings from the Enemy both of small and great Shot At the end of every Line a Redoubt was raised and a Parallel Line of Communication drawn from one Attack unto the other with a place of Parade in the middle about which three Batteries were raising one behind the Line of Communication which was to be the biggest containing Seventeen or Eighteen Pieces of Cannon because it was to front and succour the other Batteries on each side the other two were to the right Hand and to the left of five Pieces of Cannon each to Flank the main Battery On the 14th the Redoubts the Parallel Lines of Communication the Parade and the Trenches were all perfected and sufficiently opened so that now the Siege was completely formed and an Allodgment prepared on the brink of the Ditch which thô the Besieged did endeavour to disturb by constantly Shooting on the Workmen The Siege formed yet nothing hinder'd to perfect the Allodgment which was made wide and extreamly well fortified on all sides The City of Newhausel is Situate on a Plain with some little rising Hills about it and on the Banks of the River Neutra it is not far from Comorra and about a Days Journey from Strigonium it is encompassed by six Bastions Newhausel according to the manner of the modern Fortifications the distance of the Curtains and of the Flankers are of an exact equality and the Form is a Sex-Agon or Six-Angles After the Turks had taken it in the Year 1663 they brought the Neutra round the Town and filled the Ditch with Water and made it so Deep that it was almost impossible to form any Mine under it The presence of the Duke of Loraine who was always an Overseer and director in making the Trenches in which he for the most part remain'd until after Midnight did very much contribute to the dispatch of that Work So that between the 14th and 21th all matters requisite for the Siege were finished the Allodgment on the brink of the Ditch was more enlarged than before the Water whereof being Fathomed was found to be seventeen or eighteen Foot in Depth and sometime increased notwithstanding the Drain by the excessive Rains which not only supplied it with Water but much incommoded the Soldiers in their Trenches The Batteries make a Breach The Batteries continually plaid with good Success and not only had beaten down a great part of the Parapet but had made a considerable Breach in the Bastion it self which they intended to widen and open yet more by the help of another Battery newly raised consisting of eighteen Pieces of Cannon but whilst these things were in agitation News was brought to the Duke of Loraine that the Turkish Army began to march towards Buda and Alba Regalis and that Six thousand Turks and Tartars were advanced towards Vicegrade Upon this intelligence General Lesly who was appointed to watch the Motion of the Enemy was Order'd to endeavour unto the utmost of his power to hinder and obstruct the Passage of the Seraskier over the River Sava and Drave Leisly attend◠the Motion of the Seraskiers and Colonel Heusler with Two thousand Horse was dispeeded towards Pest to get intelligence of the Designs of the Vizier Soon after this Advices came That the Seraskier was advancing with all his Forces towards Buda and had made a Bridge not far from thence over the Danube but that it was not yet known whether he intended to attempt the raising of the Siege or to Sit down before some Town whereby to make a diversion But to be better provided and in a readiness either to meet the Seraskier in the Field or to defeat his Attempt against any fortified Place The Duke of Loraine order'd a Detachment of a Regiment of Savoiard Dragoons to joyn with some of the Bavarian and Lunenburg Troops to the number of Three thousand Men and therewith to Reinforce those Regiments which guarded the Bridge of Comorra During the time that a considerable Force was employ'd to observe the Motion of the Seraskier the Siege was carried on with all imaginable Courage and Resolution the Cannon continually fired from the several Batteries and the Bombs and Carcasses were thrown into the Fortress with such good Success that on the 22d The Town on Fire the Town appear'd to Smoak and Flame in three several places which continued all Night to the great Terrour and Labour of the Defendants But at length by the great Rains which fell the Fires were not only extinguished but the Christians very much incommoded in their Trenches and the Waters of the Ditch increased as fast almost as they were sunk by the Drain So that it seeming a long and tedious Work before the Ditch could be emptied of it's Water a contrivance was made to pass a Miner over the Ditch in a Boat and six it to the Breach in the Wall but the Boat receiving a Shot from the Town was ready to sink and those therein were so incommoded with showers of Stones from the smaller Guns and Petreras planted on the Walls that they were forced to Retire and give over that Design On the 24th the Defendants made a Sally on that side where a Guard was appointed of Swedes and Suabians to defend the Drain which was made to sink the Water of the Ditch and surprized them at a time A Sally from the Town when they were overcharged with Wine which they had unfortunatly gotten and laid for the most part in so profound a Sleep without so much as a Match lighted that a Hundred of them with their Lieutenant Colonel two Captains and two Lieutenants did never awake from their natural Sleep but insensibly passed from it into the last Sleep of Death The Turks return'd back again
The Duke of Loraine being on his march passed his Army consisting of 40.000 fighting Men over the Waagh on a Bridge of Boats bending towards Comorra On their way thither intelligence was given them that the Night before the Turkish Army had been Alarum'd by a Party of Hussars which had fallen in upon their Baggage Howsoever they continued still to force the Place having given a fierce Assault upon the lower Tower Town but were bravely repulsed This News quickning the march of the Army the next Day they passed the Danube upon two Bridges near to Comorra and afterwards Ranged the whole Army into order of Battle The Imperial Troops were divided in the first and second Lines of the two Wings with them joyned some Dragoons and some Battalions of the Allies The Order of the Christian Army the Elector of Bavaria Commanded the left Wing the main Body of Bavarians and Swedes were comprehended in this Wing and that of Franconia and Lunenburg in the Right the Prince of Hanover and General Chauvet Commanded at the Head of their own Troops as the Marquis of Tutriac and other Generals of the Allies at the Front of theirs Count Rabata General of the Horse the Commissary General Count Palfi and Baron Mercy and other Chief Officers were of the left Wing Prince Lewis of Baden Count Dunewaldt Count Taaf and Stirhaim Major General were added to the right Wing Prince Waldeck and Count de Fontana one of the Major Generals marched at the Head of their Troops and Prince Lubomiski commanded the Cannon In this order the Army marched and on the 10th of August they Encamped within three hours march of Strigonium And the next Day approaching yet nearer the Report of the Cannon and all Noise towards the Town seemed to cease so that it was concluded that either the Town was taken or the Siege raised Whilst they were in this suspense the Garrision of Vicegrade came in sight of the Camp They are met by the Garrison of Vicegrade to the great surprise of the Generals who until that time had never been informed that the place had been Invested by any part of the Ottoman Army It seem'd a little strange to meet that Garrison in the open Field marching with their Arms and Baggage with their Matches Lighted their Drums Beating and their Colours Flying but this Wonder ceased when the Officer in Chief acquainted the Generals how that the Fortress of Vicegrade had sustained a Siege for the space of sixteen Days against all the Force of the Ottoman Army that the Tower which was adjoyning to the Castle was Blown up which made so wide a Breach that it was impossible to sustain another Assault of the Enemy having endured two Assaults before And therefore after a loss of the greatest part of the Garrison which was reduced from Three hundred and fifty to One hundred and thirty Soldiers the Surrender thereof seemed excusable and not to be imputed to the Cowardize or want of Conduct either in the Commander or in the Souldiers There was also something more than ordinary in the behaviour of the Turks towards the Garrison when this place was Surrender'd For they out of a Principle of hatred to the Christian Religion and of scorn and indignation against all People but those of their own Profession were commonly provoked to use their Victories with Pride and unlimited Insolence and to break their Faith and Engagements The Turks Civility to that Garrison to which they had obliged themselves by Articles and Capitulations did now contrary to their usual practice Treat the vanquished of this Fortress with due respect and kindness and lest any thing should happen which might seem disagreeable to their Capitulations in their march by Land care was taken to Transport them in Boats and to Land them as near as was possible to the Christian Camp and for the better security on the way they were accompanied by three Turkish Officers whom the Duke of Loraine treated with a Civility corresponding unto which they had used towards the Garrison The next Day being the 11th of August the Christian Army pitched their Tents at Almatz about a League distant from Strigonium From whence an Officer was sent to Complement the Duke of Loraine and the other Generals with a Relation of what the Turks had acted in the late Siege He told them A Relation of the Siege of Strigonium That one the 30th and 31st of the last Month their Approaches were begun as were to be seen on the side towards Comorra at the Foot of St. Thomas his Mount and were in two Days time carried on to the Counterscarp of the lower City where they Sprang four Mines and seconded them with as many Assaults in which so many were killed that the Ditch seemed to be levelled and filled up with the dead Bodies of the Slain and made equal with the Border of the Counterscarp In fine About two Days before the Turks having received certain Intelligence of the Approach of the Christian Army for their Relief had raised the Siege with so much hast and precipitation as gave Courage to the Defendants to make a Sally upon them at their departure and falling on their Rear took a Bloody Farewel of them with the Slaughter of Three hundred of their Men. The Success of Strigonium made some amends for the loss of Vicegrade and gave undoubted proofs that where is any equality in Force the Christian Valour and Conduct challenges Fortune to be of their side and to favour and assist them The Duke of Loraine having recruited the Garrison of Strigonium with Five hundred Foot and succoured it with Ammunition and Provisions necessary for it's Defence raised his Camp on the 13th and marched away in quest of the Seraskier with resolution to give him Battle in case the moorish and fenny Grounds which interposed between the two Armies did not prevent the Engagement The two Armies in sight of each other The Day following with rising of the Sun was opened a clear Scene representing the whole Turkish Army which having passed the Danube to joyn with some Tartarian and Turkish Troops were Encamped on the farther side of a fenny or moorish Ground which lies between Newhausal and Senan extending it self from the Banks of the River to a certain rising Ground on which they had planted their whole Train of Artillery the Appearance of which seemed very formidable and not consisting of less than 55 or 60.000 fighting Men which for the most part were experienced Soldiers who had tried the Dint of the Enemies Sword and often without fear beheld Death in the Face The fenny and moorish Ground which interposed between the two Armies was the Bar which restrain'd the Courage and Mettle of the Christians who otherwise in despight of all disadvantages where had been any possibility of Engagement would have broke through all to have closed and mixed with their Enemy To perform which the boggy Ground was tried and
by well contriving and fortifying the Mine which gave the ultimate and fatal Blow to the Town In fine he bestowed due Praises and Commendations on the inferior Officers and common Soldiers amongst whom the Booty of the Town being distributed every one remained entirely satisfied In the Town and Fortress thereof were an Hundred twenty eight Pieces of Cannon of which Seventy were of Brass of which some were buried in the Ruins in digging for which there was a Stone found with this Inscription Hoc opus fieri fecerunt Magnifici Et Clarissimi D. D. Bernardus Donato Castellanus Et Ludovicus Contareno Capitaneus Et Provisores Coroni M. CCCCLXIII Before the Departure of the Captain General the Government of this important Place was committed to the Care of Georgio Benzon to be Proveditor in extraordinary and to Justin de Riva in ordinary The Super-intendency over the Arms was committed to Count Alexander Vimes and his Brother was declared Governour The Siege of Coron being thus honourably concluded the Prior Brancaccio General of Malta and the Cavalier Malaspina Antiano Commander of the Pope's Gallies The Pope's Gallies and those of Malta return home declared that the time allotted them for their continuance Abroad by Commission and Instruction being expired they desired leave to return to their respective Countries The Captain General who was desirous to add one brave Action more to the Glories of this Campaign shewed himself unwilling to lose so good Company and so great a Diminution of his Forces instantly desired their Aid and Assistance for prosecution of a farther Design but they urging that the term of their Commissions was already expired and therefore against their own Inclinations they were obliged to depart and more-especially that their Forces were more than half diminished and most of their Knights either killed sick or wounded they at length prevailed with the Captain-General to grant them a Release from whom having received the Visits and Complements of Farewel they set Sail on the 22d of August at Night with whom also departed General St. Paul a Person very aged and tyred with the Toils of the Campaign had License given him to ease himself in the Island of Zant as also to the Colonel his Son who had for some time laboured under the Indispositions of a malignant Fever The Captain Pasha having received Intelligence of the loss of Coron sailed with his Fleet of Gallies in sight of Cerigo hoping thereby to divert the Venetians from attempting farther any Design for that Year But this Sally was only in Bravade rather than in earnest for the Venetians were become so terrible to them by the late Successes that the Captain Pasha with fear retired into the Port of Napoli di Romania The Captain Pasha retires to Napoli de Romania where so soon as he was entred he drew the Chain cross the Mouth of the Harbour for Security of his Gallies and landed the most choise and select Men of his Militia on the Shoar where he formed a Camp as well to receive the scattered and dis-spirited Troops which were fled from before Coron as to give Life and Courage to the affrighted People of those Provinces and restrain the Mainiotes from their intended defection from the Ottoman Empire promising to remit unto them all the Mony they owed for Charatch or Pole-mony and to free and exempt them from all sorts of Taxes and Impositions for the three ensuing Years This Captain Pasha was chief Favourite The Captain General who was still at Coron repairing those Fortifications with great diligence set Sail to the Coast of Zarnata being recruited with the Forces of Saxony which as we have said were lately arrived in the Island of Corfu Zarnata Zarnata is a Fortress almost of a round Figure It is naturally strong being situate on a high Hill but rendred much more considerable by Art The Captain General sent a Detachment to Summon the Place which began at the first Overture to entertain a Treaty and thô the gross of the Venetian Army was not within five Miles of them and had not as yet made any descent and the Turkish Forces under the Captain Pasha were much at the same distance from them Howsoever the Aga which govern'd the Place whether out of fear or affection to the Christians Surrender'd it at the first Demand on the 11th of September is yielded The Garrison which consisted of Six hundred Men was embarked and guarded by a Convoy within a small distance from Calamata but the Aga fearing Death for his Cowardice or Treachery remained in the Venetian Camp where he was entertained by the Captain General with a Pension of Thirty Pieces of Eight a Month after he had received Baptism with Twenty other Turks who were consenting to the Surrender In this place were fifty one Pieces of Cannon Two hundred Quintals of Powder with great store of Bullets Ammunition and other Provisions After which Seignior Morosini put into the Town Two hundred and fifty Foot Soldiers under Command of the noble Venetians Batholomeo Contareni and Angelo Emo Whilst these things were acting the Captain Pasha who was encamped about five Miles distant from Zarnata with Seven thousand Foot and Three thousand Horse upon News of the Surrender of the Fortress withdrew his Forces under the Cannon of Calamata This fear which the Turks shewed animated the Christians to adventure a Battle without which it was concluded at a Council of War that nothing could be enterprised either towards Subjection of Calamata or any other Town in the Maina upon which Resolution the Venetians landed their Forces on the Shoar of Agiasio which is situate at the entrance of the Province of Maina The Venetians land their Forces a Place secure and advantagious having on the Right-hand Mountains on the Left Woods and Ditches and on the Front several little Hills and Torrents of Water So soon as some of the Venetian Troops appear'd on the Shoar the Turks advanced to the tops of the Hills on which they planted forty or fifty Colours or Banners and about Five or Six hundred of their Horse placed themselves under the Hills in the Valley To dislodge these and secure their own Camp the Venetians had raised two Batteries of three Pieces of Cannon each at the appearance of which both the Horse marched away and the Colours were withdrawn The Christians taking this for an Instance of the Enemies fear the Captain General put his whole Army into Battalia with the Troops of Saxony conducted by General Deghenfelt an old and experienced Commander and marched towards the Enemy and at the same time about a Thousand Mainiotes flanked by Two hundred Morlaques appeared on the top of a Hill to the Right-hand In this posture the Christians remained all Night and the next Morning being the 14th of September which was the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the General gave Orders to the Army to move and attack the Enemy But the Turks not thinking themselves
safe under the Walls of Calamata set fire to their Magazines and quitted the Town making a Retreat with some small Skirmishes without much Damage to one side or the other The Captain Pasha put to Flight This Retreat or Flight rather was so shameful that the Christians believed it at first to be some Stratagem and were cautious either to pursue the Enemy or enter the Town but at length a Party of Sclavonians and Mainiotes being commanded to advance to the Town they observed it to flame in diverse Places for the Inhabitants finding themselves abandoned by the Captian Pasha despaired of all Relief quitted the Town and set fire to their Houses And thus did the Christian Army enter Calamata without any opposition The News of these Successes encouraged the Mainiotes that they repaired to the Venetian Camp in great numbers Calamata taken a Party of which was presently sent in pursuit of the Enemy In the Castle were only found nine Pieces of Cannon and those nailed and rendred unserviceable the Ammunition was equal to the Arms and the Place of it self being esteemed inconsiderable and unfit for a Garrison And demolished was dismantled and the Walls demolished Calamata is situate on the River anciently called Pamissus or Panissus in the Province of Belvedere now Spirnazza The Town is not environed by Walls but defended by a Castle which was only tenable against some present Incursion and for that reason both the Turks abandon'd it and the Christians demolished it After Calamata was taken the Venetians seized on Porto Vitalo in which were fifty Pieces of Cannon ten of smaller Artillery with store of Ammunition After which the Captain General appearing before Chielifa the Garrison therein conceiving themselves in no Condition to make defence Surrender'd upon Articles Chielifa Surrendered Asan Pasha who was Governour of that place and of all the Province round was the first to lead the way out of the Town and being accompanied with a Thousand People carried the Keys to the Admiral Gally Three hundred and fifty of which were Transported to the Island of Cervi with their Goods and Moveables During this Summer Seignior Molino Commander of Twenty Sail of Ships employed as we have said to Cruise in the Archepelago The Captain Pasha droven into Rhodes Chased the Captain Pasha from place to place and at length drove him into Rhodes where he secured himself and his Fleet with a strong Chain drawn cross the Harbour not daring to adventure a-broad thô the Venetians came often to brave him and challenge him to an Engagement Thus ending this Campaign with great Reputation and Glory to the Venetian Arms The Captain Geneal draws into Winter-quarters the Captain General Morosini Sailed for Corfu to take his Winter quarters there The Troops of Brunswick were sent to Zant those of Saxony with the Dragoons to Santa Maura and other independent Regiments to Corfu all due care being taken to make Provisions for their expected Guests Whilst these Forces were drawn into their Winter-quarters to enjoy some case after the labours of War the Seignior Molino Captain extraordinary of the Ships was appointed for a Guard to the Coast and with his Squadron to Cruise near Cape Sapientia and the Gulfs and Narrow Streights in those Seas But before the Captain General thought sit to lay up his Fleet until the next Season in Corfu he touched at Santa Maura and Prevesa to take a View and Survey of the State of those Places but in his way thither accidentally putting into the Port of Gomenizze with some Gallies he order'd the Proveditor with the rest of the Fleet to pass to the other side and bestow a few Shot upon the Castle which being done some Troops were landed The Venetians take Gomenizze and marched in Military form towards the Castle upon sight of which the Turks were become so Cowardly and Timorous that they fired one Gun and abandoned the Castle and fled into the neighbouring Mountains and Woods for Refuge So the Venetians took immediate Possession of the Fortress in which were Twelve Pieces of Brass Cannon This place of it self was of no great consideration but in regard it was the Nest and Sanctuary for Pyrates and Robbers who in the times of Peace continually infested Corfu Parga and Pazò the News thereof was satisfactory and pleasing to all the Inhabitants of that Coast So that when the Captain General on the 13th of November enter'd into Corfu he was there received with loud Acclamations extolling the Glory of his constant and continued Successes with joyful remembrance and with particular Thanks for having reduced the Castle of Gomenizze which had long been an ill Neighbour and had much annoy'd and infested their Seas Thus were the Affairs of the Turks ruinous as well at Sea as at Land in Hungary and in the Morea the Pasha overthrown at Esseck was called Siaus and so was the Captain Pasha or Admiral of the Gallies A Character of the Captain Pasha as if there had been something of Misfortune in the Name Siaus who was Admiral of the Fleet had formerly been Mosaip or Favourite and in his younger Years being a comely Person was much beloved by the Grand Seignior he was always in his Presence and ever had the Honour to be Familiar with him in Conversation to be Clothed like his Master and to Ride equal with him on the right Hand which is the inferiour place with the Turks But he that had always been educated in a Court was upon the tryal found unfit and unable to perform the Office of an Admiral at Sea and therefore was order'd to leave the care and conduct of the Fleet to Mazzamama so called because he had killed his Mother but he was a good Sea Officer bred up in the Gallies from his youth Mazzamama takes the Command of the Turkish Fleet. and one of the Beys of the Archipelago of which there are Twenty four in number who are obliged to Arm and Man their Gallies at their own Cost and Charge having in Consideration thereof the Haratch or Pole-money of the Islands setled on them for their Maintenance He was the Son of a Captain Pasha killed by the English in Fight at Sea for which cause he hath ever since declared his Hatred and Malice against our Nation He was a very fat and corpulent Man afflicted much with a Fistula in Ano which he cherished by excessive Eating and a Sedentary Life using no other Exercise than what he received by the motion of his Gally Siaus Pasha being discharged from his Office of Admiral was made Generalissimo of all the Land Forces in the Morea but he was as unfit to Command an Army as he was a Fleet for he was no Soldier nor of any experience in a Camp and besides he was affected with an incurable Lameness in one of his Knees whereby he could neither Walk nor mount on Horse-back without help His Success was agreeable to his
which answered in a right Line to the main Tower of the upper City under which they lay secure from the Enemies Shot This Exploit being performed with the loss only of Sixteen Men there was but little Plunder found therein besides some Horses and Oxen and some few Field-pieces upon one of the Works for all the Houses were beaten down by the Turks themselves and consumed by Fire and the Inhabitants either fled or retired into the upper Fortifications which shews evidently that the Turks looking on that Place as not tenable had drawn their Force into the higher Town in which they placed all their Security hoping to make a most vigorous Resistence both by the advantagious Situation Lines drawn in the lower Town and the goodness of the Fortifications But the Christians finding the Advantage of the lower Ground whereby to offend the upper City employed immediately Two thousand Men with diverse Laboures to draw the Lines and deepen the Approaches from one Gate to the other In the mean time the Turks who lived in the parts adjacent to Buda being put into great Consternation by the concourse of the Christian Arms The Turks near Buda fly to the Isle of St. Margaret prepared themselves to fly and seek Refuge in remote parts so that many with their Wives and Children and Servants having taking with them the best of their Housholdstuff and Goods passed over to the Island of St. Margarets which is situate in the Danube and of a very great length but finding this Place of too near Neighbourhood to the Christian Army and very unsecure having got about thirty large Boats and Barges they had laden their Goods and embarked their Persons thereon with design to pass down the River to Belgrade when a Body of Hungarians Hussars and Heydukes under Command of Count Budiani having Advice thereof Are attacked by the Christians and plunder'd armed out a good number of Boats and Barges and with Three hundred Dragoons by Land boarded their Vessels and having killed the Boat-men and the chief amongst them easily made themselves Masters of the rest and of all the rich Houshold-stuff Mony and Goods in such abundance that every Common Soldier had a Suit and Vest of Silk for his own Share with other good Booty and Plunder which they carried away and departed but being informed afterwards by some Rascians that the Inhabitants of that Island had committed many Cruelties and Outrages upon the Christians Many of them kill'd they returned again to the Island which is about seven Hungarian or German Miles long which make about Twenty eight English and there put all to Fire and Sword with the Slaughter of about a Thousand Men. After which Count Budiani went purposely to the Duke of Loraine June in the Camp to render an account of his late Atchievements and in testimony thereof he presented him with seven Turkish Standards which he had won in that and in another Rencounter in which he had defeated a Party of the Enemy near Ersein together with some Prisoners of Quality and Condition amongst which there was an Aga and Chiaus The Christian Soldiers animated with these daily Successes some few of them 26th with more Temerity than Prudence made an attempt to Lodge themselves nearer to the Upper City without those due Precautions of Defence which are commonly used by throwing up of Earth and making some little Blinds as is practised in all Military Approaches The Boldness of the Christian Soldiers but these bold Men adventured with open Breasts to enlarge their Lodgments on that side of the City which looks towards Strigoniam which when the Turks observed a great number of them flanked on one side by the round Tower and on the other by a Party of Musqueteers throwing Stones and Hand-granadoes assailed the Germans who were not above Fifty in all with so much Fury as forced them to make their Retreat the which notwithstanding they did with good Order being assisted by their Comrades who came to their Help and repulsed the Enemy and made them with some loss to retire back into the City Sallies made by the Turks and are repulsed Howsoever in a short time after about the Close of the Evening the Turks made a more vigorous Sally on the Left-hand of the round Tower of the old City The Count of Ausberg and the Cavalier Rohne having the Command that Night of those Quarters with great Bravery received the Enemy and engaged with them for above an Hour's space when the Prince of Commarcy and the Prince of Vaudemont having their Quarters near thereunto came seasonably into their Succour with many Gentlemen who were Voluntiers and Soldiers of Fortune and forced the Turks back into the City with the loss of about Fifty Janisaries Of the Christians were about ten killed in this Action which was well paid by the advantage then gained for whilst the Parties were engaged in this manner they opened the Trenches on both sides of the old City with two large Parades or places of Arms and extended the Lines of the Approaches towards the two Bulwarks of the upper City And because it was necessary to Batter the City on that side a Battery was raised without the old Wall of Sixteen Pieces of heavy Cannon from which many Shot were made at the round Tower and several Bombs thrown into the City The Turks nothing disanimated herewith made a vigorous Sally on the Quarters of the Bavarian Forces with Three thousand Horse and Foot and thô the Elector was at that time indisposed in his Health The Turks made a Sally and were repulsed yet his Bravery prompted him to mount on Horseback and with the assistance of the Horse under Command of Lieutenant Colonel Hofkerken which were Quartered in a Vally on the Way towards Strigonium he with a steddy Foot opposed the Turks and forced them to Retire with Disorder into the Town In this Action Twenty four of their Officers were Slain with many Janisaries and many Wounded Of the Bavarians about Forty were Killed caused by a Surprize at the first beginning of the Sally The Prince of Savoy according to his natural Courage and Valous pressing into the thickest of the Enemies numbers had his Horse Killed under him but mounting another pursued the Enemy to the very Gates of the City Whilst these things were acting it was a matter of great encouragement to the Camp to find their Forces daily augmenting by new Recruits The Swedes and others come to the Camp For the Swedes were then newly arrived under the Command of the Marquis of Turlac and took their Station on that side which leads to Alba Regalis These were followed by Lieutenant General Schoning Commander in Chief of the Brandenburg Forces whose arrival at the Camp sooner than was expected was a cause of much Joy and Satisfaction to the whole Army About the same time also came Prince Lewis of Newburg Great Master of the Knights of the
the Common Soldiery but Duke Henric of Saxon Mersburg was in that Action wounded in two places and General Rummel of the Bavarians was slain by a Musquet-shot in the Approaches which ought to have been made deeper by three or four Foot so as to cover the whole Body of a Man he was an excellent Soldier and a brave Man and therefore much lamented by his Electoral Highness and the whole Army Nothing could more annoy and vex the Defendants than the taking and possessing this Tower which render'd the Case and State of the City almost desperate so that no hopes remained unless they were succour'd and reliev'd by the Army of the Grand Vizier whom to advise of their Extremity Two Messengers sent from the City to the Grand Vizier two Messengers were dispatch'd out of the Town one by the way of the Water and the other by the Land side both disguised in the Hungarian Habit. The first was discover'd swimming over to the Island of St. Margaret's and being pursued was taken but his Letters he had first thrown into the River Howsoever being brought before the Generals he confessed and declared the low and desperate Condition to which the City was reduc'd and that it could not hold out much longer unless speedily Reliev'd and that another Messenger was sent to acquaint the Vizier thereof by Word of Mouth letting him know that it was not sufficient to appear before the Town One of them is taken and flatter them with the hopes of Succour unless also he could force the Enemy to raise the Siege and that the late Recruit of Two hundred Men who bravely made their way into the City was but a small Help and Comfort to a Garrison already wasted and almost totally consumed by a long Siege That the Castle was in a manner lost since that the principal Towers and Bulwarks of it were possessed by the Enemy And in short that those who remain'd alive were wearied out with continual Watchings and every Day diminish'd by Cannon and Musquet-shot by Bombs Fires and Carcasses continually thrown into the Town All these Matters being reported before the Generals they conceived certain hopes of putting a speedy end to their Labours and Dangers Howsoever therewithal they so far consulted their own Condition that they concluded it very necessary before any thing was farther attempted to expect the coming of that Body of the Army under Count Scaffemberg and the Twelve hundred Swedes which were now on their March and near at hand At length Scaffemberg being come with a Reinforcement of Eight thousand Men besides the Swedes raised the Spirits of the whole Army and put the Generals into a capacity of executing the Designs they had already plotted and contrived Eight thousand Men come to the 〈◊〉 Camp On the Loraine Quarter a Bridge was made near the great Tower leading towards the inward Palisadoes of the Enemy and to conserve it from fire they covered it over with Earth The like was also performed on the Bavarian side but whilst these things were preparing a stop was put thereunto by an unexpected and vigorous Sally which the Besieged made for dislodging the Soldiers which had possessed the Tower Three Attempts were made thereupon with the greatest fury and desperation imaginable throwing Granadoes Sacks of Powder and artificial Fires composed of Sulphur Pitch and all sorts of burning and fetulent Matter notwithstanding which they were most vigorously repulsed with much loss The Elector considering the dangerous Post which his Men had undertaken to defend thought sit to withdraw his Soldiers from the Bulwark that he might with more advantage batter the great Tower with his heaviest Cannon which were so hotly plyed that the whole Tower was beaten down and the Enemy thereby made uncapable to offend from those Works The Bridge of which we spake being finished on the side of the Imperialists with the Battery on the Rondel the inward Palisadoes were broken down and the Breach widen'd above Forty Paces so that now all had been surrender'd had not the Vizier comforted the Pasha with Assurances that he and the Seraskier had resolved to attempt the Camp in three places at the same time and that the most forcible one should be given at the Water-side where 't was believ'd the least Opposition could be made Upon this Advice the Water-side and Banks of the River were well fortified and secured and a strong Chain stretched over the Water below the Bridge of Boats from the Shoar to the Point of St. Margaret's Isle to obstruct the Passage of Spies and Messengers who used to swim over the Water with Intelligence and which also might serve to give a stop to the Cavalry in case they should attempt any thing on that side The City being now in a languishing Condition the Grand Vizier resolved to make his last Effort and having chosen out of his Army Three thousand of his bravest Soldiers which he encouraged with Thirty Dollars a-piece paid them in hand and with promise of Increase of their daily Pay during Life to such as should make and force their Way into the Town and at the same time another Body was ordered to enter the Line at the place which they had lately attempted The Three thousand descended by way of the Vally called Shamboiuck and with great Fury fell in upon the Guards of the Imperialists but were so well received by the Baron of Asti with his Talpatz and Hussars and by General Heusler with his Regiment that they were vigorously repulsed After which they made an Attempt on Count Caprara and again on the Quarters of the Duke of Loraine but in all places were ill treated and came off with a great loss of Men. In the mean time the second Body of Turks assaulted other parts of the Army which increased the heat of the Fight to succour which the Duke of Loraine detach'd all the Forces which were about him remaining alone only with two Assistants but the Battle growing hot and the Turks endeavouring in diverse places to break into the Line the Duke of Loraine put himself at the Head of two Battalions of Brandenburgers whose Example gave Life and Courage to the whole Army But whilst this Fight was mannaged in diverse Squadrons which confusedly ran from one side to another some of them had the fortune to force the Line towards the Wall of the lower City but passing to the Line of Contravallation they met there such Vollies of Shot and continual Firings that knowing not which way to retreat they fell into the Squadrons of Baron Marcy and Serau by whom the greatest part of them were kill'd upon the place and those which escaped were so confused that being dispers'd about the Fields they knew not which way to take Some of them happen'd to fall in with the Brandenburgers others into the general Quarters where being encompass'd on all sides they were miserably cut to pieces and slain not so much as their Servants or Grooms
Count of Swartzemburg having by a Stratagem taken Rab from the Turks marched thence towards Buda and in the Month of October laid Siege thereunto with the Forces of Mathias the Arch-Duke which after thirty Days time he was forced to raise by reason of the continual Rains And what is observable the Turks did the like at Waradin on the Frontiers being under the same Inconveniences The Christians made an Attempt the 6th time upon this City in the Year 1602 under the Conduct of General Rosworm And thô they had ruin'd the Bridge over the Danube and taken by force the City of Pesth yet being overtaken by the rigour of the Winter-season they were forced to desist from that Design The 7th Siege was laid in the Year 1684 by Charles Duke of Loraine Generalissimo of the Imperial Forces and of the other Princes of Germany which after many bloudy Assaults was again raised as we have at large declared in the Historical Treatise of that Year But now at length after many Battles unfortunate to the Turks this Fortress was forced to surrender to the said Duke of Loraine The 8th time Besieged and taken being over-whelm'd by the Power and Valour of the Christians and taken in the sight of the Ottoman Army Commanded by the Grand Vizier himself in which was the Flower of the Turkish Troops but having lost the best and bravest of their Soldiers in former Battles and discourag'd by a Series of evil Successes their Courage fail'd them and no wonder when they were generally possess'd with an Opinion that God fought against them in sense of which so soon as the City was taken the Vizier with such Precipitation raised his Camp and marched away that he was forc'd to burn a great part of his Baggage to prevent the falling of it into the Hands of the Enemy And indeed it was no wonder that the Vizier with fear and dread should hasten away for the Duke of Loraine had dispatch'd Count Budiani with Six thousand Hungarians to march in pursuit of him whilst he with the other Generals render'd Thanks to God and sang Te Deum for their Successes in the great Church Dedicated to St. Stephen King of Hungary In the mean time the Command of this important City was committed to the Charge of General Beck with the Assistance of the Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Salm The Command of Buda given and of Biscofshausen Serjeant-Major to Diepenthal with a Garrison of Three thousand Five hundred Germans and a Thousand Hungarians The first Work to be done was to clear the Streets of the dead Bodies which was perform'd by the Turks and Jews who were made Prisoners those Bodies which were Turks and Jews like themselves by Command of their Task-masters they threw into the River but the Bodies of the Christians were decently Interr'd The next Business was to demolish the Works repair the Breaches to fill up the Trenches and level the Lines But the chief Prisoners and Persons of Quality were conducted by Count Rabata to the Emperor at Vienna where the Joy and Triumph of that Court was much increas'd at the sight of such considerable Captives The Spoyl and Plunder of the City could not amount unto much by reason that the greatest part of the Housholdstuff and Moveables was consum'd in the Flames Howsoever there were some who had the fortune to seize considerable Sums both of Gold and Silver After which the Place being visited and survey'd in all parts by the two Generals Stores found in the Town they found therein above Four hundred Pieces of Cannon of great weight of which there were four of vast bigness carrying an Hundred and fifty Pound Bullet to which the Christians afterwards gave the Name of the four Evangelists besides there were twenty Mortar-pieces and Provisions and Ammunition for about a Month longer The Generals having refresh'd their Armies in Buda for the space of three or four Days on the 6th of September they march'd towards the Vizier with Twenty thousand Foot and Twelve thousand Horse of whom Count Budiani as we have said being dispatch'd before gave an account The Army marches against the Vizier that the Vizier having visited and reinforc'd the Garrison of Alba Regalis or Stultwissemberg had taken his March with all expedition towards the Bridge of Esseck and that his Army was reduc'd to a very small number being deserted by the Country-people and Handycraftsmen whom they had forc'd to the War so that the Vizier not knowing otherwise in what manner to save himself encamp'd with all the advantage he could about three Miles distant from the Bridge of Esseck upon the little River of Sarwitz having his Rear guarded by a Bog or marshy Ground intending there to remain until he saw and discover'd the Designs of the Enemy who could not in that advantagious Post force him to an Engagement The Duke of Loraine being with the Imperial Army encamp'd at Tolna about three Leagues distant from the Vizier whom he could not force nor perswade to Fight he detach'd Eighteen Regiments under Command of Prince Lewis of Baden with Orders to Besiege the Town of Quinque Ecclesiae whilst he with the remainder of the Army passed the River with a Bridge of Boats at Tolna taking his March towards Pesth and in his way seized on the Town of Hatwan which the Turks had abandon'd Hatwan surrender'd and set on Fire but the Christians entring therein before all was reduc'd to Ashes they extinguish'd the Fire and sav'd the rest and found therein seventeen Pieces of Cannon Thus did the Imperial Arms proceed with a prosperous gale of Fortune nothing standing before them but all yielded to the conquering Eagles for Prince Lewis of Baden in his March made himself Master of Simon-Torn Simon Torn taken a Fortress encompass'd with a Ditch of thirty Paces broad and that also defended by a Marsh quite round the Passage over which is made by a Bridge of Three hundred Paces long and the Castle is built of Free-stone with Fortifications after the ancient Fashion In this Place were sixteen Pieces of Brass Guns and one of Iron Twenty six Granado-shells and Twenty five Tuns of Gun-powder Then without farther loss of time he proceeded to Kaposwar and Kaposâ—â— which he Pillag'd and Burnt the Castle only excepted And being reinforc'd by Count Scaffemberg and some Troops of the Croats which joyn'd with him they march'd together towards Quinque Ecclesiae and being come near the Place a Detachment of Three thousand Germans and Croats was made to take a View of the Situation and Strength of the Town which they finding to remain in a secure Condition enter d it by Surprize and put an Hundred Turks to the Sword the rest flying to the Castle for Refuge after they had set fire to the City in four places Quinque Ecclesiae taken but the Dragoons scaled the Walls and with their Swords in their Hands cast themselves into the Place and
open'd the Gates to give entrance to the other Troops After which the Fire was put out and considerable Booty and rich Plunder taken and about a Thousand Christian Captives set at liberty This Success was soon afterwards followed by the Siege of Segedin by some Troops detach'd by Order of the Duke of Loraine under Command of Count Caraffa one of the Generals Segedin besieged who coming before the Place in a short time rais'd four Batteries and mounted his Cannon thereupon which were brought from Zolnock but Forage and Provisions growing very scarce in the Leaguer Caraffa went himself to hasten the Provisions leaving Count Walis Major-General Chief Commander of the Forces before the Town In the mean time Count Walis receiv'd Intelligence that Two thousand Turks joyn'd with a considerable Body of Tartars were marching to raise the Siege or to force Succours into the Town he detach'd six ' Regiments of Horse and Foot with some Croats and a Regiment of Dragoons under the Command of Count Veterani who having marched all the Night by break of Day drew up his Forces into Battalia and with his right Wing charged the Tartars with such resolution Veterani routs the Tartars that he put them to flight and kill'd great numbers of them in their Tents and took Four or Five thousand of their Horses with all their Baggage Nor was the Colonel of the Regiment de Gotz whose Incumbence it was to Charge the Turks less successful in his Enterprise for thô they had the advantage of a Palanca for their Defence yet the Insperialists to whom nothing could now be difficult did Storm it with so much Courage and Vigour that they soon became Masters of it killing Two hundred of the Three hundred Janisaries A Body of Turks routed which defended the Place at the same time the Horse charging the others forced them to fly in disorder of which many falling into the Hands of Veterani were kill'd without Quarter given to any This Action was scarce over before the Imperialists espied a great number of Turks passing a Bridge which they had laid over the Danube as if they had design'd to reinforce those Troops newly defeated and to come in to their Assistance for the Relief of Segedin Veterani resolving to charge them also made a Detachment of some Regiments to hinder the run-away Tartars from attacking the Imperialists in the Flank whilst he assail'd the Turks who were reputed to be Twelve thousand Men Commanded by the Vizier himself The Action was so bravely perform'd that the Van-guard of the Turks was beaten and foreced to retreat to a Place where their Infantry lay under covert supported by Six hundred Janisaries with Thirty Field-pieces which were discharged with terrible Fire and Smoke upon their Enemies but the Christians having receiv'd their Fire with undaunted Constancy and Courage they assail'd the Turks and Tartars with such bravery that they put them to flight Another Body of the Turks defeated In this last Encounter above Three hundred Janisaries were kill'd upon the Place all their Artillery and Baggage taken with their Timbals which they sound before the Pashas and many Colours together with Five hundred Horse and Two thousand Beasts of Burden laden with Baggage and Provisions and all this on the Christian side with the loss only of a Hundred Foot Soldiers and about Fifty Horsemen After which Veterani returning to the Camp before Segedin where Te Deum was sung some Prisoners were releas'd to carry the Intelligence of these Successes into the Town And thereupon a Treaty being desired Segedin taken and Hostages given it was agreed That the Soldiers of the Garrison only should have liberty to march out with as much Baggage as every Man was able to carry upon his Shoulders and to be conducted in safety as far as Temeswar Thus Segedin being taken great quantities of Provisions were found therein which served to augment the Loss and increase the terrible Consternation in the Turkish Army and in the Court and in all parts of the Ottoman Dominions Nor did the Turks Misfortunes of this Year's Campaign end here nothing being able to withstand a victorious Army Prince Lewis of Baden divided his Army into two Bodies the first he Commanded himself and march'd towards Darda which is a Fortress built by the Turks and serv'd to cover the Bridge of Esseck the other Detachment was committed to the Conduct of Count Scaffemberg with Orders to Attack Zyclos the which he so well executed that in five or six Days he took the Place the Soldiers and Inhabitants Surrendring at discretion Zyclos taken In the Town were found Twelve Pieces of Cannon with stores of all sorts of Provision and Ammunition The Men were made Prisoners of War but the Women and Children were dispersed into several Cities and Towns under obedience of the Emperor After the taking of Zyclos the Count of Scaffemberg joyn'd again with Prince Lewis who was now come before Darda on the first of November where he understood the two Pashas who had layn encamp'd on that side with about Two thousand Five hundred Men were already pass'd the Bridge of Esseck and that the Garrison of Darda had abandon'd the Place and march'd the same way carrying their Cannon and Provisions with them and to hinder the pursuit of their Enemies after them had beaten down and burnt a great part of the Bridge behind them The Fort and the Bridge being both possess'd without any opposition Prince Lewis burnt about Six thousand Paces more of the Bridge notwithstanding the Cannon-shot which they fired continually from the Town of Esseck without any great loss or damage to the Imperialists The Bridge of Esseck ruin'd or the People of the Country which came in to their Assistance so that by what one side and the other had done the Bridge was totally ruin'd Prince Lewis having put a good Garrison into Darda march'd to Zyclos and thence to Kapeswar which he took upon Conditions that the Garrison should march out and be conducted in safety as far as Sigeth There were in that Town Twenty four Pieces of Cannon planted and the Magazines well stor'd with all sorts of Provisions and Arms. In this glorious manner did this Campaign end in favour of the Christian Arms And now it being time for both Armies to retire into their Winter-quarters the losing Party had leisure to lament and quarrel and lay the fault on each other and the victorious Party to rejoyce and triumph And so it was for by this time the news of the loss of Buda and the several Victories gain'd by the Christians being come to Constantinople it struck all sorts and conditions of Men with a wonderful Consternation and Astonishment and yet under this Affliction and pressure of heavy Taxes they behav'd themselves with much Humility and Resignation of Mind to the Will and Pleasure of God acknowledging all these Miseries which had fallen upon them the flights and
good order of Battel being Ten thousand strong with Horse and Foot descended into the Plain near unto the Line charging with their usual cryes of Allah Allah and much fury on the Soldiers who defended the Trenches But General Chinixmarch had with such admirable Order and Art so well disposed the Militia that they repulsed the Enemy and then Two thousand Sea-Soldiers by Order of the Captain-General coming to their succour they put the Enemy into great confusion and the Captain-General himself at the same time coming in person with some Troops of select men The Turks put to Flight wholly turned the fortune of that day's Fight which for Three hours had continued doubtful to the Christian side and caused the Turks to betake themselves to a shameful Flight leaving Fourteen hundred of their Companions behind them killed or wounded In which Engagement the Venetians lost not more than Three hundred and Fifty men killed and wounded General Chinixmarch had his Horse shot under him but he soon remounted another and with great Vivacity and Courage was present at all places where the danger was most pressing The Princes of Brunswick and Turene exposed themselves like brave Soldiers in all places which required their help and encouragement and having thus discomfited the Seraskier's Army and caused them to withdraw in disorder from the City the Captain General to lose no time left the pursuit of the Enemy and returned to the Siege causing the Batteries from all sides to play on the Town and to terrify the Defendants they shewed many Heads of the Turks ranked in File on the points of their Lances The Besieged having seen the Seraskier in whom was their greatest hope routed and defeated before their Eyes grew desperate of any relief or succour from thence which caused them to display divers white Flags on the Walls upon which all acts of Hostility ceased and Two Turks came forth from the Town and being conducted to the presence of the Captain-General The Besieged capitulate they presented a Paper to him subscribed by the Pasha who was Governor of the City declaring his readiness to make surrender thereof provided they might have free liberty to march out with their Arms and Baggage and to be Transported thence to Troy or to the Castles in the Dardanelli or Hellespont And that the Two Turkish Gallies then in Port might also be freed with their Chiurma or Slaves and Equipage which as we have said were retired into the Rocks and fast places near the Town But this latter would not be allowed or granted by the Captain-General nor any thing more than what had been accorded lately to Modon and Navarin The first step unto all which was the Delivery of the Castle situate on a Rock within the Sea into which a Venetian Garrison was put immediately and therein were found Seventeen Pieces of Brass Canon and Seven of Iron with a large Mortar-piece to throw Bombs after this Eight Hostages were required of the most principal Turks of the City And surrender and then the other Articles were performed which related to the Embarking the Soldiers and Inhabitants who were accordingly Shipped and Transported to the Dardanelli the apperance of which so affrighted all the Coast at first that the Alarum ran as far as Constantinople and put them there into that Consternation of which we have before made a Relation Thus was this and other famous Fortresses of Greece which had for many years remained in the Ottoman power and withstood great and considerable Forces in a few Months subjected to the Christian Arms by the Valour and Bravery of the Captain-General Morosini by the admirable Conduct of Count Chinixmarch and the courage of those noble Princes of Brunswick and Turene amongst which the German Soldiery and all others did greatly signalize themselves in all their Atchievements And thus we shall put an end to the Successes of the Year 1686 which have terminated so gloriously in honour of the Christian Arms by which the Turks were reduced to that low and miserable condition of which they were never before sensible nor never accustomed unto which made them the less able to bear the Evil nor endure the Remedy ANNO 1687. NEver had the Ottoman Empire since the time that they first passed out of Asia over into Europe been under that Eclipse and in that low of Ebb of Fortune as at present And yet this following Year was so much more unlucky and fatal to them than the former as if their Mischiefs would not have ended but with the total Ruin and Downfal of their Empire To prevent which the Grand Seignior meditated on Thoughts of Peace and sent a Chiaus a thing which the Turks never practised before to tender Articles to the Emperor which were not received nor other Answer given than that his Imperial Majesty could not so much as enter into a Treaty without the consent of Venice and Poland their Allies And thô the Turks endeavour'd to avail themselves by that Method yet they thought that the best way to facilitate that proceeding was with their Swords in their Hands and by an appearance in the Field with the most formidable Army they were able to make The Turks prepare for War to which end all Otoracks who are Milites immeriti or Men excused from the War on account of past Services with a dead pay as they call it of which there may be Forty thousand in the Empire were all summoned to appear in the next Campagne and forced to the War with the greatest rigour and on pain of Death besides which new Levies were order'd to be made in all Parts of Asia and particularly at Smyrna and in the Parts adjacent Six hundred Soldiers were raised at the charge of the Citizens and Inhabitants besides which eight or nine Millions being charged to be levied in the lesser Asia The Quota taxed on Smyrna came to a Hundred thousand Dollars which Sum not being to be found amongst them and perhaps scarce the Moiety thereof the Cappugi-bashee who was sent to Collect the Money carried away most of the principal Turks in that Town to Constantinople Taxes rigorously imposed where having represented their Poverty and inability to pay so great a Tax it was moderated and brought down to one half or to One hundred and five Purses These proceedings may evidently convince the World that the conceptions of the World generally formed of the vast Riches of the Grand Seignior's Treasury were imaginary seeing that it was so exhausted in a few Years as to force the Government to those rigorous Courses and unusual methods of Oppression which can scare be repeated without a total Desolation or extreme Misery of that Country These Taxes joyned to the Discontents of the People made all things uneasy at the Ottoman Court Cabals at the Port. where it was impossible to prevent the Cabals and liberty of Speech which the Soldiers and others freely used in publick Discourse to
suppress which and to restrain the Mutinies which were daily expected it was reported that the Grand Vizier designed to leave Belgrade and March back to Constantinople But the Grand Seignior consulting with his principal and wisest of his Confidents laid his Commands upon him not to remove from the Confines but rather to keep a watch on the Motions of the Enemy than to attend to domestick Seditions which the Government was at all times able to appease The Vizier ordered to stay at Belgrade and to quiet the mind of the Vizier they gave him to understand that he was entirely in the favour of his Prince who was very sensible that the misfortunes of the last year were not to be attributed either to his ill Conduct or want of Courage as did appear by a Writing under the Hands of the principal Officers of the Army for his justification but rather to the divine Justice of God who was pleased for the Sins of the People to abate the Pride and Glory of the Ottoman Empire By this Letter the Grand Vizier being well satisfied of his Master 's good Inclinations towards him and strengthned in his hopes that he should yet keep his Head for some time longer or at least until the next misfortune he alter'd his intention of returning to the Port and resolved to pass his Winter at Belgrade where his Presence was chiefly necessary for keeping the Army together and more entire on the Frontiers Moreover during the rigour of this Winter season he continued to fortify Belgrade and gave Orders to erect a Fort on the Danube for better security of Peter Waradin and dispatched divers Convoys with Ammunition and Provisions for the Succour and Relief of Great Waradin Giulia Lippa Zeno and Temeswar In the mean time the Imperialists pressed Apafi Prince of Transilvania to Declare himself entirely for the Emperour and receive his Forces to Winter-quarters in his Country But that Prince who had been always very crafty and subtle in his Negotiations did so possess the Emperour's Generals with the danger which he himself should incur and the disadvantage which would accrue to the Emperor thereby A Treaty concluded with the Deputies of Transilvania whose benefit it would rather be for him to remain in a Neutrality That Count Caraffa admitted the policy of his Plea to be good and concluded a Treaty with the Deputies of Transilvania on certain Articles as namely That for subsistence of the Troops which should be put into the Frontier places of their Country Michael Apafi their Prince should furnish them every Month with Ten thousand Bushels of Wheat and Oats for which one Moiety should be paid in ready Money and that the other should be carried to and laid up in the Magazines or Store-houses at reasonable Rates which was of more advantage to the Emperor being thereby disobliged from the trouble and charge of fetching and transporting such quantities of Provisions from Countries far distant from the places where they were to be used And Secondly it was agreed to give Winter Quarters to the Imperial Troops upon which General Veterani Ordered and Assigned the several places and Count Caraffa marched from Zatmar to Kalo giving Directions to General Heusler diligently to observe the motions of the Garrison at Waradine and rigorously to exact the Contributions of that Country for maintenance of the Troops The Grand Vizier on the other side who was a person of quick vivacity and readiness of parts The Vizier prepares for War and sends to the Tartars as we have before declared finding that the Proposals made to the Emperor for a Peace were not likely to prevail he used all imaginable diligence which was possible to prosecute the War living in hopes that the following year would prove more auspicious to the Ottoman Arms than those lately past In the first place frequent Messages were sent to the Tartar Han to hasten their speedy march and begin the Campaign early and with one Body to joyn with the Turkish Forces and with another to infest the Borders and Confines of Poland and to make the diversion there greater and more violent endeavours were used to raise divisions and jealousies between the Cosacks who were Subjects to the Boles and those to the Moscovites sending rich Presents and kind Salutes and Promises to invite them to Desert and Revolt from their Princes and take part with the Ottoman Forces But this design miscarried and took no Effect by the happy arrival of Two Ambassadors from the Czar's of Moscovy at the Court of Poland where having occasion of their Union and Friendship The Czar sends Ambassadors to Poland nothing was omitted to gain their Alliance thô their demands were so exorbitant that nothing but a present necessity could have gained their concession The Vizier being disappointed on that side looked closely to his business in the lower Hungary for having lost Quinque Ecclesiae Siklos Capiswar and a great part of the Bridge of Esseck being burnt the strong Fortress of Sigeth seemed to be in some danger The Vizier endeavours to relieve Sigeth and lie most exposed to the design of the Enemy To prevent which the Vizier caused the Tartars to advance and pass the River Drave and so to join with the Turks in the City of Esseck the Tartars who are the most expert Soldiers in the World for destroying and laying waste a Country having passed the Drave left nothing for those who were to follow after them carrying away all the Inhabitants with them and with what Provisions they had plundered they supplied the small Garrisons which remained to the Turks on the Banks of the Drave and especial care above all was taken to furnish Sigeth with all sorts of Forage and Provisions so that it was made the chief Magazine of all that Country for better defence and security of which several new Boats were built to repair the Bridge before Esseck and on the sides of the River divers small Forts were raised on which Forty Pieces of Canon were Mounted to prevent all Incursions of the Enemy and Attacks on Sigeth during which season of a rigorous Winter the Tartars plaid their parts to hinder all Convoys laden with Forage and Provisions to supply the Fortresses which the Christians had lately conquered Howsoever by the diligence of Thinghen Sergeant-General of Battalia and the Governor of Quinque Ecclesiae joyning themselves to the Regiment commanded by Baron de Pace they agreed to disappoint the aforesaid design of the Enemy To which end having detatched Two hundred and Fifty select or choice Foot and Five hundred well-disciplined Horse and Dragoons led by Brave and well Experienced Commanders they sallied out of their Quarters about Sun-set and the Horse for better Expedition mounting the Foot behind them they made such haste that before day in the Morning they lodged themselves secretly near the Town of Sigeth A surprize given to Sigeth and without any noise conveying themselves into the
The Grand Vizier Janisaries 7000 Pasha of Bosna Spahees 4000 Pasha of G. Waradin Spahees 1000 Beglerbey of Romelia Janisaries 2400 Pasha of Soria Spahees 4000 Beglerby of Sebassia Spahees 2500 Pasha of Aleppo Janisaries 3000 Pasha of Damascus Janisaries 4000 Pasha of Nicopolis Janisaries 11400 Pasha of Karahitar Volontiers 8000 Aga of the Artillery Granadiers 1100 Â 48400 To this 600 Miners are to be added 1400 Camels of Burden 364 Oxen to draw the Artillery 400 Waggons with Ammunition 45 heavy Pieces of Cannon 28 Lighter for the Field All which belonged to the Army of the Grand Vizier not accounting the Tartars nor the Hungarian Army under Tekeli nor Garrisons and Parties dispersed in divers parts On the other side on the 4th of June the Duke of Loraine arrived at Buda where he was received with Three Salvoes of all the Cannon from the Town and having taken an account of the Horses and surveyed the Fortifications and given Command for raising New Works to which Employment Four thousand Soldiers and Peasants were appointed he departed thence on the 7th taking his march towards the Drave with a part of his Army he designed to Encamp near the Bridge of Esseck where Count Cherffemberg was to joyn him with Nine Regiments And let us here take a Computation in like manner of the Imperial Army as we have done of the Turks Of Dragoons there were Nine Regiments Of Lodron Stirum Castelli Serau Herbeville Savoy Thun Magni Kussel The first of which Dragoons consisted of Eleven hundred men all the others of Eight hundred each making in all Seven thousand Five hundred men The Cavalry consisted of Nineteen Regiments Of Saxelauemburg Caprara Dunewald Palfi Caraffa Gondola Taff Newbourg Montecuculi Veterani Piccolomini Heusler Commercy Gotz Hannover Saint Croix Furstemberg Pax Truchs These Regiments amounting unto Eight hundred men each compleated the Number of Fifteen thousand Two hundred men To these we are to add Seven and twenty Regiments of Infantry of which Five and twenty consisted of One thousand Five hundred men each and Keiserstein's and Stadel's Regiments of Two thousand men each The number of the Christian Army so that the whole Number of the Infantry amounted in all unto Forty one thousand Five hundred men so the whole Army according to this Computation amounted to Sixty four thousand Two hundred men besides Pioniers Gunners and Attendants on the Camp The Names of the Regiments of the Infantry were as followeth Of Count Ernest of Staremberg Lesley Keyserstein Baden De Croy. Mansfield Salms Maximilian de Staremberg Serini Neubourg Souches Scherstemberg Stadel Diepenthal Count Guey de Staremberg Tinhen Meternich Beck Wallis Aspremont Nigrelli Heusler Aversperg The Young Prince of Loraine Hourchin Furstemberg Strasler This being the State of the Christian Army consisting of Sixty four thousand Men plentifully supplied with all sorts of Ammunition and much superior to that of the Turks in Numbers and much more for Discipline by Instruction of the Commanders and Bravery of the Soldiers The Duke of Loraine on the Twelfth of June proceeded on his march to the River of Sarawitz and in his way received Intelligence that Agria was in such extreme want of Provisions and that the Famine there was so great that unless the Grand Vizier did by force of Arms succour the City with Victuals June 1687. and Ammunition the Place would be constrained to surrender it self into the hands of the Enemy to prevent which and to relieve the Town the Vizier appointed a Body of Eight thousand Turks and Four thousand Tartars immediately to pass the Bridge at Peter-Waradin to Convoy the Waggons and Camels laden with Provisions and force their way into Agria Upon this Advice the Duke of Loraine dispatched an Express to Count Caraffa with Orders to draw out the Twelve Regiments Encamped between Onoc and Zolnock and therewith to interrupt and stop the passage of the Enemy but such was the diligence of the Turks that marching by secret Ways they missed of Caraffa and fell in with a weaker Body of Col. Heusler Succour brought to Agria who having killed about Sixty Turks forced one part of them to retire back to Peter-Waradin whilst others more bold and forward than the rest each man carrying a Sack of Meal behind him on his Horse got into Agria which was sufficient to afford them a subsistence for a short time In the mean time the Forces began to gather near Barchan which was the place appointed for the General Rendezvous Thither came also the Troops of Zolnoc which were to be commanded by the Elector of Bavaria who very seasonably arrived at the Camp to the great joy and encouragement of the whole Army With him also came Prince Lewis of Baden a Person of admirable Prudence and Courage and of such experience and fortunate success that the Elector reposed great confidence in his Conduct The Elector of Bavaria comes to the Camp The Army being put into a fit posture and condition to march intelligence was brought that the Duke of Loraine was far advanced on his way towards Oseck upon which no time was admitted to follow him but the way being long and the Ways deep and broken by the late Rains the Army moved slowly and could not unite so speedily with the Duke of Loraine as was expected But at length with Industry Time and Patience the Armies joyned when News came that the Enemy in great Numbers were assembled near Peter-Waradin and had formed a Bridge over the Tibiscus to equal the convenience of which with that of the Enemy and maintain a Correspondence with Forces on the other side the Duke of Loraine caused another to be built near Tolna and Foituar the better to facilitate a Conjunction with the Imperial Arms. It was now made known Esseck to be first attacked that the Campaign was to begin with the attack of the Town of Esseck that from thence a way might be opened to the Conquest of Belgrade in order unto which General Dunewalt with some German Regiments and Troops belonging to Croatia and the adjacent Countries was commanded to march towards Verovitza and there to expect farther Orders from the Duke of Loraine The Troops of Croatia Commanded by Count Philip de la Torre in the place of Dunebolt who was Sick at Vienna marched in a strong Body with very good order and a large Train of Artillery provided by the Chamber of Stiria and happily joyned with Dunewalt The Duke of Loraine having left a strong Party to defend the Bridge which he had made over the Danube moved his Camp from Mohatz and without any opposition in the least June 1687. pitched again near to Darda on the 24th of June which is a Fortress that covers one end of the Bridge at Oseck The next day the Imperialists discover'd from their Camp a certain number of Turks who had lodged themselves in the Marsh which began to be dry that they might take a survey of the Christian
Camp against which a small Party being sent they immediately retired to give advice unto the Town of Oseck of the near approach of the Enemy Against this Party of Turks many more than those appointed were out of Curiosity carried to the Skirmish The Grand Vizier desired to succour Esseck to see who those were who called so frankly to them in the French Language The News being brought to Oseck or Esseck Expresses were dispatched one after the other to the Vizier who was then Encamped with the Ottoman Army near to Peter-Waradin earnestly desiring him to march immediately to their Succour In the mean time the Duke of Loraine having disposed his Army in an exact military posture he went himself in person with a Body of about Six hundred Horse to take a view of the Neighbouring Passes and next Morning being the 25th of June June he Decamped with the whole Army and commanded the Count of Schertemberg Major-General of the Infantry to see whether the Bridges were repaired and having advanced at a good distance before without any discovery it was resolved to march with the whole Army as far as Uttona where Orders had been given to provide all Materials for making a Bridge to pass the Drave But before this Design was put in Execution The Imperialists possess themselves of Bridges and a Fort built by the Turks Souches received Orders with a Party of One thousand Three hundred Musquetiers together with Count Guido de Staremberg to march along the Banks of the Drave upon a discovery which was so lucky that he soon perceived certain little Bridges railed on each side strong and covered with Earth very artificially made not far from which there was a Fort with some Guns and a Garrison of about Four hundred Soldiers that were Janisaries As the Imperialists approached the Turks received them with such a Volley of shot as at first put them into some disorder but being animated by the Bravery of Souches and Staremberg they immediately invested the Fort with such courage as forced the Turks to abandon the place with the loss of Two hundred men and the remainder to fly to Esseck to the Walls of which the Imperialists so nearly pursued them that they had almost entred with them into the Gates howsoever they took possession of the Fort and burnt that part of the long Bridge for about the space of Five hundred Paces in length which the Turks had lately repaired with Rayls and covered with Earth The Garrison of Esseck being in great fear at the so near approach of the Christian Army dispatched Messenger after Messenger to advise the Vizier of their danger The Vâ—zier Order his Army â—o march and that they were endeavouring to pass the Drave with Bridges upon which Intelligence the Vizier caused the greatest part of his Forces to march remaining himself behind in expectation of the Asiatick Troops who moved with less diligence than the present pressure of Affairs did require Thô the Duke of Loraine was not ignorant that the greatest part of the Turkish Army lay Encamped near Esseck yet being very desirous to Engage the Enemy notwithstanding their Entrenchments he endeavoured to pass the River at Uttona being a small Redoubt or Fortress which P. Lewis of Baden had raised the year before being a very convenient Pass for the Forces for that falling down from thence with the Stream they might conveniently be Landed at Valpo about Four Leagues distant from Oseck To this End the Infantry was commanded to advance towards Siclos with the Cavalry of Montecuculi Ladron and Hanover the rest of the Army was commanded to keep their Station near Darda In the mean time whilst the Bridges were preparing such great Floods of Snow-waters fell from the Mountains of Stiria and Carinthia Floods break the Bridges that the Drave swelled beyond its Banks with a most rapid Stream and the Marshes or Morasses were filled in such manner that it was very difficult to lay the Bridges or raise Ways over the Marshes which were afterwards made firm and passable by vast quantities of Brush and Faggots The Marshâ—s repaired which the Soldiers had cut and laid And that no time might be lost whilst the Waters were abating Orders were dispatched unto General Dunewalt who was in Croatia with several Thousands of the Inhabitants of that Country to secure the passage of those Boats which were appointed to carry Provisions and Ammunition to the Army from Stiria Dunewalt having observed these Orders the Duke of Loraine Detached a small Party to view and discover the face and posture of the Enemy and to espy and take an account of what Troops lay in the way to oppose their Passage This Party being returned with intelligence that the Way was clear and open the Imperialists without any opposition posted themselves on a high Ground near Walpo over-against Uttona where the Duke of Loraine in Person passed the River to lay out the Ground and open the Trenches for better Security to the Army in their Passage Siaus Pasha at Esseck In the mean time the Heyducks had the Fortune to take Six Turks near to Esseck who declared upon Oath that the Grand Vizier was still at Peter-Waradin and that Siaus Pasha of Aleppo was come into Esseck with Two thousand men where they had raised a Trench of about Two thousand Paces in length Howsoever the Duke resolving to pass the Drave Ferried over in Boats a considerable Number of Dragoons and German Foot to labour in digging the Trenches which were intended to secure the Passage of the whole Army which was a most immense Labour and such as we may say had not been performed in many preceeding Ages for that Thirty thousand Faggots were not sufficient for settling the Marshes which by reason of the abundant Rains were scarce passable A laborious Work besides the raising of Five and twenty Bridges in divers places all which was performed with unexpressible industry in the space of Four days the Duke of Loraine himself in person encouraging and lending a helpful hand unto the Work Howsoever this Work was not done without some loss and damage in the Transportation of the Horse Baggage and Cannon Some part of the Imperial Infantry having passed the Drave in Boats and followed by the Croats of Dunewalt's Regiment the Duke of Loraine in the next place caused all the remaining Infantry to pass as fast and in as full Bodies as the Bridges would allow so that they might be able to make a resistance against any Force which they expected might be sent from Esseck to interrupt their Passage but the Turks moved not but remained still in their Trenches all the time that the Army Cannon and Baggage were with Boats and Bridges Transporting from one side of the River unto the other Before which was finished they were forced to withdraw their main Bridge Trees cut and thrown into the Stream by the Turks by reason of the
fall of great Trees which the Turks above about the parts of Kanisia had purposely Cut down and Launched out into the Torrent that being carried down with a mighty Rapid Stream increased by an abundance of Rains served very much to break and overthrow their Bridges Howsoever in a short time the Bridge was repaired and then the Thirteen Regiments of Horse which were left to cover the Bridge passed over to the rest of the Army The Imperial Forces under the Duke of Loraine being thus passed General Caprara with his Horse was commanded to do the like at Uttona which was performed the 12th of July July and also the Elector of Bavaria passed his Forces on the 13th together with Nineteen Imperial Regiments near Siklos Thus the whole Army being joyned on the other side of the Drave on the 15th the Generals Dined together The Army passed the Drave and in the Afternoon made a short march towards Walpo where the day following they Encamped near to the Castle which was defended by a good Garrison The same day General Heusler joyned the Army as did also Count Bargozzi with Two thousand Hungarians The 17th very early in the Morning the Quarter-Master-General was commanded to advance as were also those who had the care of the Forage committed to them and Heusler with a Party of Four hundred Croats was ordered to seek out Marches forward and take a view of the Enemies Camp in his way unto which he fell in with some Thousands of them which he charged so bravely that he obliged them to Retreat and pursued them to a narrow Pass where he thought fit to stop fearing some Ambuscade or private design to ensnare him And having posted his Soldiers in good order he intended to repose a while and take a little Breath and having called for a Glass of Wine Heusler wounded whilst he was drinking a Musquet-shot fired from a Neighbouring Wood passed his Left-Leg from one side to the other and having grated a little on the Boan it was thought that it might require some time to Cure so he reposed that Night near Carazizza July by which ran a small Stream sending his Spyes abroad to prevent surprizal On the 18th the whole Army marched and pitched that Night about Two English Miles distant from Esseck where some Parties of the Turks being abroad retired to their main Camp The next Morning by Break of Day the Duke of Loraine commanded the whole Army to advance in order of Battel And because the Ways were narrow the Woods and Bushes thick Commands were given to the Pioniers and Labourers to cut down the Trees The Army marches in Battalia and Under-Woods and so to open the Ways that the Army might march in Two Lines which was done with such expedition and industry that the Troops marched in that admirable order as evidenced the Conduct of one of the greatest Captains in the World and in this manner they appeared in sight of the Enemy The Grand Vizier with a Numerous Army and a well-ordered Camp lodged under Esseck fortified with a deep and regular Trench and guarded with a good number of Cannon in an open Plain about a Musquet-shot from a Wood. The Viziers strongly encamped The Christians were much surprized to find the Turks thus regularly Encamped which was an Art unknown to them till now being therein instructed by some French Engeniers and Captains with Soldiers of the same Nation under the Command of the Marquess of Persan Are assisted by the French a person well esteemed by the Grand Seignior and in favour with the Vizier For now it was that the French Nation began not only to enter into an interest and confidence with the Turks by the assistance they gave them of Officers and Enginiers but farther obliged the whole City of Constantinople with Provisions of Rice and Wheat brought from Alexandria on 14 Sail of French Ships when the City was labouring under great want and Famine almost of all necessaries for Life The Christian Army being now come in sight of the Turkish Camp it was expected that the Grand Vizier would have marched out and given them Battle which the Christian Generals bravely offer'd The Turks keep within their Camp and the Soldiers desired with a Courage answerable to their former Successes But the Turks finding it their advantage to remain within their Trenches made use of their Cannon against the Imperial Camp which lying open and undefended without Works or Trenches did great execution both against the Horse and Men and amongst other Officers Count Francis Palfy who was Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment which belonged to the General of that name was shot in the Head by a Cannon Bullet During the time that the Armies lay in this posture several Skirmishes hapned with various Successes and particularly one proved not very fortunate to a party of Croats who being on Foot and ill armed were unskilfully engaged and too far advanced by the rashness of their Commanders Some Croats cut off and they firing all their Musquets at one volly were left open to the Enemy and not being seconded by other Troops above one half of them were killed upon the place the rest retiring to the main Body In this manner did the Turks make frequent Sallies on the Christian Camp endeavouring to draw them into Ambuscades but not to an equal and fair Battle which the Vizier was not willing to adventure but rather to watch advantages within his Camp The manner of the Turkish Camp which was strongly fortified with Trenches Palisadoes and Cannon having a Line drawn from the River Drave to a Wood which with a Morass and the River Valkowar to the left Flanked with the Town of Oseck and covered behind with the Castle Valkovar and the Danube by which all Provisons were carried in great abundance which render'd the Camp impregnable and not to be focred either by Arms or Famine Whilst it was impossible for the Christian Army to continue long in that posture both because they lay exposed to One hundred and fifty Pieces of Cannon of the Turks Reasons for a Retreat which plaid continually upon them thô returned with like Damage again from those of the Christians And also because they began in that place to want both Forage and Provisions so that there seemed a necessity for the Army to retire Whereupon the Duke of Loraine observing that after he had for the space of 46 hours bid defiance to the Turkish Army and that he could on no Terms provoke them to a Battle He assembled a Council of War where many things being alledged in reference to the strong Encampment of the Turks Agreed at the Christian Camp their Resolution of keeping within their Trenches which were not to be forced without danger of losing the whole Christian Army and the want of Forage and Provisions in their own Camp which were not to be supplyed in those places it was
Successes of the Imperial Arms by which they flattered themselves so far as to believe that they should now be freed from the Tyranny and oppression of the Ottoman Yoak and that as a Testimony thereof they had readily consented to afford all the succour and subsistence they were able to the maintenance of the Christian Troops during the whole Winter season But as to assign them places for Quarters within the Principality of Transilvania they instantly desired to be acquitted in regard that such a Concession would greatly offend the Port and lay them open to the Incursions and to the Fire and Sword both of the Turks and Tartars To this Message the Duke of Loraine made Answer in obliging but yet in general Terms and in the mean time the Army still advanced without farther Treaty it being well known that neither the Turkish Troops nor those of the Country were in a capacity to Dispute their Passage so that on the 11th of October the Army arrived at Salone the first Town of Transilvania where after having without many questions or complements put a Garrison of about a Hundred Men into the place Offers made they marched forward towards Clausembourg But on their way thither the Duke of Loraine was met by three Deputies from the Prince and States who repeated the same Offers which had been related by Baron Huntschin touching the Ammunition and Provisions with which they would furnish the Troops to which they added also an offer of some Money but as to assigning places for Winter-quarters it was a matter impossible and of the most dangerous consequence to them in the World since that their Country lying open and without defence would thereby be exposed to all the Hostilities which the most barbarous and cruel Enemy in the World could execute The Duke of Loraine finding that the Commission of these Deputies extended no farther than what they had declared returned them back again with Count Scherffemberg and Baron Falkenhem who were orordered to let Prince Apafi know A Message from Loraine that since he had refused to assign him Winter-quarters on fair Terms he himself should be constrained to point them out unto his Troops and continue his March into the Bowels of his Country The States of the Principality perceiving the Duke of Loraine to be in earnest and resolved to obtain his Demands were contented to grant him Quarters for a certain number but that not suffising he continued his March towards Clausembourg or Claudiopolis the chief City of that Country and the place where the States of Transilvania did usually Assemble It is situate in a very fruitful Plain upon the little River of Samos it is encompassed with very thick Walls and the Houses are very well Built Claudiopolis it is defended by an ancient Fortress the Suburbs are so large and well peopled that it seems to be another Town the Inhabitants are both Hungarians and Saxons who live in so good unity and correspondence together that both are equally capable of Offices and Places of Trust in the Government The Duke of Loraine so soon as he appeared before the Place sent to the Governour to provide Quarters in the Town for some of his Troops but he excusing it and saying that he could not do it without Orders from Prince Apafi immediately Count Caprara was sent to let him know that his Answer was not satisfactory and that Orders were given to the Infantry to prepare all things necessary for making an Attack on the Town Whereupon the Governour considering better of the matter The Conditions with Claudiopolis enter'd into a Treaty with the Duke of Loraine who condescended to grant unto the Inhabitants these following Conditions That the Inhabitants should enjoy a free Exercise of their Religion That the Magistrates and Citizens should be maintained in their Liberties and Priviledges and not be forced to pay any extraordinary Contributions That every Officer or Magistrate of the City should be exempt from giving Quarters to any Soldier in his own House That what Forage and Subsistence should be necessary for the Soldiery should be furnished in Specie and no Money exacted in lieu of the same And that the Soldiers be forbidden under severe Penalties to commit any Disorders or Abuse the People That those Citizens who were unwilling to continue their Aboad in the City but were desirous to depart might have Liberty so to do and carry with them all their Goods and Moveables According to these Conditions the Garrison of Apafi marched out at one Gate whilst Three thousand of the Imperialists enter'd in at the other with Drums beating and Colours flying and the Command of the Town was given to Count Guy de Staremberg whith a strict Charge to punish most severely all Insolences of the Soldiers the which was carefully observed not only in that City but also in all parts of Transilvania since their entrance into it The Duke of Loraine having for one day refreshed the rest of his Army in places without the Town The Duke of Loraine at Alba Julia. marched towards Turtembourg which is another important Pass in that Country in which having left a Garrison he proceeded to Weissembourg otherwise called Alba Julia so named from the Empress Julia Mother of Marcus Aurelius and entred into it without any resistance The place is situate on the side of a Hill from whence a vast Plain discovers it self it is reported to have been the ultimate Limit of the Roman Conquests on that side Prince Ragotzki erected an University there which was very flourishing and famous considering the Country Hermanstadt alias Zeben followed the Example of the aforesaid places It is the Metropolis of the whole Province of Savons Zeben situate in a Plain full of Boggs and Marshes and no Hills near to command it the Walls are very thick and flanked with very great Bastions Bestrissa and all the other considerable Towns opened in like manner their Gates so that now the whole Army being conveniently Quartered And Bestrissa surrender the Duke of Loraine entred into a Treaty with Prince Apafi and the States of Transilvania and concluded on these following Articles Articles agreed I. That the Prince of Transilvania his Children and all persons of his Houshold as also all the Nobles and in General all the People of Transilvania may have liberty according to their Will and Pleasure to go out of Hermanstadt or any other City or Town and return again as shall be most agreeable and expedient to or for their Affairs II. That the Prince and Michael Apafi his Eldest Son who is declared Successor to his Father shall both retain the same Power and Dignity with which the Sultan had invested them and that the Principality should be governed by them and the Estates according to the known Laws and Customs of that Country III. That the Four Religions allowed in Transilvania that is to say the Roman Catholicks the Lutherans the Calvinists
Air of the World which served to quicken the Wits and clear the Understandings of Young Students who were sent to that University to have their Education This City being thus fallen into the hands of the Venetians the Government thereof was committed to the charge of Daniel Delfin a Nobleman of Venice The News of the taking of Athens flying into all the Towns and Countries round about so terrified the People of Megara Megara burnt that not attending the Assault or Approach of the Enemy they with fearful Consternation abandoned the place and carrying with them what in such a precipitate haste was portable they left the rest to the disposal of the Venetians who considering it as a place rather troublesome than useful delivered it up to the Mercy of the Flames As the Venetian Arms were prosperous in the Morea and other parts of Greece under the wise and happy Conduct of the Captain-General Francesco Morosini so were they not less successful in Dalmatia and Albania under the Valorous Guidance of that worthy General Gerolemo Cornaro Procurator of St. Mark On the First of September a Squadron of the Venetian Armado distinct from that which was commanded by General Morosini consisting of some Gallies Galiot Ships Castel Nuovo attacked and other Transport Vessels appearing before the Town of Castel Nuovo greatly alarum'd the Garrison and People therein of which they conceived the greater Dread and Apprehensions because they had observed that the Auxiliary Gallies which had long been hovering about the Coast of Dalmatia were come in and had joyned the Armado attended with great Numbers of Vessels laden with Ammunition and Provisions and re-inforced by certain Veterane Troops belonging to the G. Duke of Toscany On the Second of September Septem 1687. Girolamo Cornaro Proveditor-General of the Venetian Forces in Dalmatia and Albania endeavoured to Land the Militia with all necessary Appurtenances of War at a place called Comburt which was a Port environed round with Hills and Rocks and had been a place very proper for Landing had not the Turks pre-possessed the important Passes of it The Venetians Land and encompassed it about with a strong Trench howsoever the Venetians resolving to make a descent at that place drove the Turks out of their Trenches and landed all their Men and Train of Artillery with their Provisions and Instruments for War The first thing there to be done was to discover the face of the Enemy which Calbo the Proveditor Extraordinary undertook and with a Detatched Party brought News that the Garrison of Castel Nuovo had lately been reinforced by the Neighbouring places which the Turks were fortifying round about with Trenches and Redoubts In consideration of which it was resolved by common consent that another Descent should be made at a place called Zelenica and accordingly that was performed by the Auxiliaries assisted by Two Battalions under the Command of that undaunted General St. Paul who began a Fight with the Enemy A Fight begun in which after Five hours time the Venetians became Masters of the first Trenches and soon afterwards drove the Turks out of the second and proceeded to gain the Hill called Santa Veneranda which commands the place Where having raised a small Platform and fortified it with Two small Guns with which they shot red-hot Bullets into the Town they soon made it too hot for the Inhabitants to abide or the Soldiers in their Trenches to maintain And thô the Pasha of Bosna came with all his Forces to their assistance yet Two thousand Soldiers being seasonably landed by the Auxiliary Gallies on the East part of the Town towards the side of Ragusi gave such an effectual Repulse to the Troops of that Pasha The Pasha of Bosna endeavours to relieve the Turks that they betaking themselves to a most shameful Flight left the Besieged in great Terror and Consternation In the mean time the Morlachs who are Thieves and Robbers by Nature and Profession entred the Town and fell on the Plunder which occasioned some Disorder until the Proveditor General by his Troops and the Authority of his Person quieted the Tumult arisen about the Booty After which the Militia of Malta advanced according to agreement with so much courage to the very Muzzle of the Enemy's Musquets and the false Bray of the Upper-Castle that Four Cavaliers of Malta and many of their Soldiers lost their Lives in this Action Howsoever the Post was maintained with so much resolution against the Ottoman Fury that Marquess Borro Sergeant-Major And is repulsed flanked with some other Troops coming timely to their assistance the Enemy was forced to a Retreat and shelter themselves under the Cannon of the lower Fortress leaving slain on the place the Captain of the Castle Two Agas with several principal Officers and a great Number of the common Soldiers Thus the Turks being droven from all their Posts and Outworks which encompassed the Fortress and the same possessed by the Venetian Arms the Siege became totally formed on all parts every principal Commander having his respective Post allotted unto him to guard and defend The Turks observing themselves to be environed on all sides by a well-formed and close Siege made a vigorous Sally with a Detachment of their Bravest and best Selected Soldiers but were as couragiously received and forced to retreat Whilst things remained in this posture Intelligence being brought to the Leaguer Another Pasha endeavours to give succour that the Pasha of Herzegovina was on his march for to succour and relieve the Town a Detachment was immediately formed out of the Morlach and Perattine Troops to oppose him This Pasha having lately served in Hungary under one Atlee-gick which is as much as to say the little Horseman was upon his Death promoted to the Government of Bosna in the place of the other Pasha lately defeated and with that Preferment being a little elevated with Pride marched forward with confidence of Victory and Contempt of the Christian Camp and being on the top of that Hill which was called Topgee or the Gunner he furiously made a descent on the Quarter of Perini who upon the first Charge received a Wound in his own person A part of the Venetians put to the rout but the Body of his men stood firm and immoveable whilst the Battalion of Sergeant Major Galli was put to the Rout and Fled without looking behind them to the Sea-Coast To remedy this disorder Major-General Grimini and the Proveditor-General with the General of Malta and all the chief Officers of the Army came in to their assistance and caused the Run-aways to make a stand and rally again and make Head upon the Enemy And then the Colonel of the General 's Guards with several other Captains coming up with a Body of Granadiers they mingled themselves with the Turks The Turks defeated and fighting with their Swords amidst the thickest of them gave them such a repulse that at first they
may without the help of ancient Prophesies Prognosticate the continued Successes of the Imperial Arms The Names of which Generals are these worthy to be Recorded for ever in History The Duke of Loraine The Elector of Bavaria Prince Lewis of Baden The Christian Generals and Officers Count Caraffa Count de Staremberg Marshal of the Field to the Emperor The Prince of Salm a Field Marshal to whom the Education of the young King of Hungary was committed Count de Rebata Commissary General of the Emperor's Armies Count Dunewald General of the Emperor's Horse Count Palfi another General of Horse Count de Sereni General of the Bavarian Horse Prince de Croy General of the Artillery Gondola Chief Lieutenant General of Horse and a very ancient Officer Count Taff another Lieutenant General of Horse Count Scheffenburg a Lieutenant General of Foot The Prince of Neubourg Great Master of the Teutonick Order The Prince of Savoy Veterani a brave General full of Courage Piccolimini the like The Prince of Lommercey Rabutin Negrelli and Esterhasi Apremont and Wallis all Major Generals were Persons of great Reputation and Bravery Fit and Proper to Lead Conduct and Command an Army To give all these Generals a Character agreeable to their Worth and Merit would be too great a Talk and savour something of Flattery which is disagreeable to the Sincerity of an Historian Howsoever we may adventure to draw some few Lines in describing the Complexion of those Heros to whose Valour and Conduct Christendom is so much obliged for it's Defence and Safety The Duke of Loraine was a Prince Naturally Valiant Character of the Duke of Loraine and unconcerned in Dangers exposing himself without Ostentation or Vanity into Perils where he judged that his forwardness was requisite to animate his Soldiers and to give them an Example to imitate his Valour And as his Temperament was uncapable of Fear so amidst the most hazardous Condition he was always setled and composed and capable to give and receive Counsel and willingly hearkned to the Advices of any that pretended to have an insight into Matters Howsoever thô he was not esteemed to have a large Prospect into Matters or to draw a Scheme for a whole Campaign yet in the Management of a Battle or taking all the Advantages no General in the World was ever more capable Howsoever it was objected against him That he was over loose in his Marches and acted with little Order therein that he was not careful to strengthen his Convoys nor to secure his Forages by which and a thousand other Oversights of this nature we read in History that whole Armies have been confounded and mouldred to nothing There is no Man without his Faults and Defects of as we say without his blind side Yet the World must avouch that he was a great Captain and a Person of most excellent Qualifications for it is not little to his Honour that he was not Ambitious or transported with vain Glory but firm and zealous for the Interest of the Emperor tho he little regarded his own by endeavouring to form and project strong Leagues against France Character of the the Elector of Bavaria The Elector of Bavaria was another General of great Renown than whom no person in the World was endued with more natural Valour indefatigable in War and would never be wearied or faint thô he should be constrained to fight every day Skirmishes were his divertisements and thô he was a General yet he could condescend to the degree of an inferior Officer in giving Orders where they were necessary At this time he was Young and consequently had not as yet seen many Campaigns but no Prince was ever more capable and of greater hopes which some Years afterwards were brought to all Perfection He loved Battels and to put the Troops of his Enemies to Flight and to make himself Master of the Field and to gain Victories were his great pleasures but as to the Plunder of the Field and the great Booties obtained therein he left all to his Officers and Soldiers never demanding any share or account of them Howsoever he was esteemed also to have his Defects for it is said That he looked not with due attention to the care of his Troops and that as he was very diligent and vigilant in the time of action yet afterwards he indulged himself too much to his Pleasures in the times of Vacation and Ease from his Labours and it may be said of him as was of a Roman General That he was Patiens Laboris indefessus in bello sed ubi vacuerit nimiae voluptatis Prince Lewis of Baden was a true Man of War Character of Prince Lewis of Baden cut out for a Soldier from his Infancy in which Trade being Educated he soon arrived to a singular Perfection being naturally addicted to Arms. He was full of Courage Heat and Bravery Active Vigilant and a Man of Order in disposing of his Troops always on Horse-back and capable of doing great Actions as we shall see verified Two or Three Years afterwards Howsoever he was not without some allays by a too obstinate adherence to his own Opinion and Councils which if at any time he was forced to retract or change so as to follow the Advices and Counsels of others yet he would do it with an ill Grace and Will and not without some mixture of his own contrivance He was more fit for an Army than a Court giving his Tongue too much liberty to Speak and Discourse freely of the Faults and Defects of the chief Ministers of State which begot him some Enemies but his Greatness of Mind and Success in War carried him above all Count Caraffa was advanced by the favour of Count Montecuculi his Uncle Count Caraffa to which his own Merits contributed very much for being a Soldier of Fortune he resolved to rise by that way and being endued with a natural Courage he signalized himself on several occasions His Enterprizes were always performed with great moderation and Phlegm watching his opportunities of advantage upon the Enemy and seldom inclined to hazard any thing his Counsels were full of prudent Caution which made his Performances suspected by the Enemy fearing some Turn which they did not foresee He was also a Courtier as well as a Soldier and knew how to comport himself towards the chief Ministers of State in the Court as he did also to the Generals and Officers and Soldiers in the Camp Count Staremberg Count Staremberg one of the Emperor's Field-Marshals a Person Renowned through the World for the defence of Vienna was a person of admirable Courage and much Fire in his Temper and endued with all Qualities fit for a Soldier thô not so proper for a General being naturally violent and transported with Passion He is as we find him more celebrated amongst Foreigners and Strangers for defending Vienna than amongst the Germans who served in the Garrison with him alledging that he exposed
to Hoffkirchen to withdraw his Troops it not being advisable to hazard such brave men in a Post which could not easily be maintained and at so far a distance as Four days Journey from the main Body of the Army Proot demolished C. Hoffkirchen abandoned the place accordingly and having sacked it set Fire to it and passed the River with a very rich Booty The particulars of this Retreat not being well understood July caused some Disturbance at Possega where it was reported that the Turks in a Body of Fifteen hundred Men had passed the Save and having defeated Hoff-kirchen intended to dispute the Passage with Prince Lewis of Baden Who being in great Concernment for Hoff-kirchen was come as far as Possega to enquire after him and to receive true Information Piccolomini sent in quest of Hoffkirchen he dispatched General Piccolomini with Three hundred Horse to look after him but they Marching by different Ways missed of each other When the General came to Proot where he discovered some Parties of the Enemy which cover'd themselves within those Ruins having first broken down all the Bridges near to that Palanca he passed the Water and boldly attempted the Turks imagining their numbers to be less than they were The Turks guessing on the other side that these Forces were some advanced Troops of the main Body of the Army retired themselves into the old Fort over against Proot He retreats where having no Cannon they plied their Small-shot very plentifully upon the Imperialists by which it being discover'd that the Turks were at least Two thousand in number Piccolomini made a very skilful Retreat He Retreats with much Art and good Conduct according to the Military Order and returned towards Possega where he found Hoff-kirchen Prince Lewis and all the other other Troops happily joyned The Troops having refreshed themselves one day in Possega and being provided with all things requisite for their Subsistence Prince Lewis Marches towards Gradiska Prince Lewis began his March thence towards Gradiska on the 24th of July carrying with him four Demy-culverins and some Field Pieces resolving to pass the Save at Sisseck in Croatia and joyn there with a Body of Croats and endeavour to Attack the Enemy if possible And here we will leave him for a while on this Expedition and return to the great Camp where the Elector of Bavaria was Arrived to the great Joy and Triumph of the whole Army The Elector of Bavaria prepares his March for Belgrade The same Evening that the Elector entered the Camp at Tiska he resolved next Morning to proceed towards Belgrade and accordingly he made a strong Detachment under the Command of Count Dunewalt to Advance and discover the Countenance of the Enemy who as it was reported with a Body of Twenty thousand Men had fortified the Banks of the Save all along the Shoar as far as to the Danube with Timbers and Ditches and Palisadoes in the same manner as they had done the yeat before under Esseck besides which Tekely had formed a Camp with such Advantage as that he could in a very short time come in to their Assistance August 1688. The Army having the 5th of August Encamped at Tiska continued their March next day towards the Save and made a Halt at Bagliutz about half a League distant from the River The Cannon c. joyns the Army where the Artillery lately brought by Water from Buda together with the Baggage and the Boats on Wheels with other Materials necessary for making a Bridge joyned the Army that Evening under a Good Convoy of Horse and Foot About the same time a Prisoner was brought to the Camp who upon Examination declared That the Ottoman Army was composed of about Twenty five thousand Men of which Twenty five Chambers of Janisaries consisting of about Four or five hundred each were employed to finish the Intrenchments they had made on the other side of the Save to hinder the Passage of the Christian Army Resolved to pass the River A Counsel of War being held thereupon it was resolved to force the Passage and to send a good Body of Men to burn the Bridge which the Turks had Built near Belgrade But in case that Design succeeded not then they were to Post themselves as near the Bridge as they could both to give the Alarum on that side and also to secure the Convoys which were coming to the Army from Peter Waradin for security of which the Detachment of Four thousand Men under Dunewalt was also appointed In the mean time the gross Body of the Army moved towards the Save directing their March towards the Island of Zingar or Swallows which the Turks had possessed but fled Attempts to pass the Save and quitted it upon a Report of the near Approach of the Christian Army so that the Imperialists without any Opposition possessed themselves of that Island the Foot passed over in Boats but the Horse forded the Water But the great difficulty lay on the other side where the Water was not only deeper but the opposite Banks defended so well by the Enemies Cannon and Small-shot that there seemed an impossibility almost to pass and the more because that Tekely lay Encamped on the other side joyned to a strong Body of Turks who lay ready to receive them at their landing and to give them an unpleasing Welcome All which being consider'd it was resolved to Alarum the Turks that Night in divers places whilst Count Serini General of the Bavarian Forces assisted with the Generals Stirum and Aspremont should with Six thousand Men endeavour to pass the River at a good distance from the place where the chief Alarum was made which was executed with that Care and Conduct that the Success proved answerable thereunto for the Six thousand Men having safely passed without any Opposition posted themselves with the Chevaux de Frise chained and linked together which served like a Turn-pike against the Enemies Horse and Foot until the rest of the Army could follow But so soon as it was clear Day they were furiously attacked by Eight thousand Janisaries who were as warmly received The Christian Army passes the Save and forced to Retreat leaving Six hundred of their Men dead upon the place with the loss only of One hundred and twenty Men on the Christian side during this Engagement which lasted about two Hours a Bridge was laid over the River with such Expedition that the whole Army passed that Day except only the Cannon and the Heavy Baggage which were also Transported over without any delay The most difficult Point of the whole Campaign being now overcome the Elector of Bavaria distributed Two thousand Ducats amongst those who had signalized themselves in this Action and without any demur marched towards Belgrade from whence he was not distant above three days March Had the Turks been Men of Courage or Conduct they might easily have hindred the Christian Army from
Army the whole conduct and General direction being entirely in the power of the Elector of Bavaria The Breaches being now made some wider than others the 5th of September was appointed for a day of a General Assault which being come Septem 1688. the whole Army remained in a readiness to make the on-set and execute the last Orders of their Generals An Attack intended when unexpectedly a Bomb from the Enemies Works fell amongst certain Barrels of Powder which blowing up over-turned the Works which belonged to Mines then preparing and burned in a furious manner all things near it killing divers Soldiers and amongst the rest was Count Guido of Staremberg and Count Berzetti Chief Director of the Mines This Fire was followed by such a terrible Rain which continued all that day and part of the Night following that it was impossible to execute the intended Attack but afterwards the Weather clearing up the Mines were repaired again in such manner that at break of day in the Morning Fire was given to them with so good success that the Ditch was filled up and as it were levelled as much as was needful The Attack was ordered to be made in Four several Quarters that in the Front was commanded by the Elector himself That on the Right-hand by the Prince of Commercy on the Left by the Dragoons of General Heusler and that next the Water by Pini Sergeant Major of the Regiment of Loraine All things being in this manner disposed in order for a general Assault about Nine a Clock in the Morning the Signal was given to make the Attack by Firing a Piece of Cannon in the Front of the Line of Circumvallation which was answered by a Shot to the Right and soon afterwards by Two others to the Left which being the Signal to make the Attack the Assailants entred the Ditch where they were receiceived by infinite Vollies of Shot pouring upon them from all sides Belgrade Stormed which giving no stop to the Bravery and Courage of the Soldiers they mounted to the top of the Breach thô the Earth was become soft and slippery by the late Rains From the height of this Breach they took a Prospect of greater difficulties still to overcome for they were now to descend into another Ditch which the Turks had digged at the Foot of the inside of the Wall and there to wrench up or beat down the Palisadoes which were planted on the top of the Ditch and this was to be executed in Contempt and Despite of all the Shot which the Besieged shower'd from all sides upon them the which was sufficient to intimidate and cool the Courage of the most valiant Heroes Count Scherffemberg killed especially when at the beginning of this danger they saw their Leader Count Scherffemberg and soon afterwards their Colonel Count Emanuel de Furstemburg who entred into his place both killed before them as was also Count Henric of Staremberg And indeed the German Soldiers beginning a little to give Ground were in danger totally to lose all the advantage which they had gained had not the Elector himself exposed his own Person to all the Shot of the Enemy The Elector stands on the Breach and standing upon the Breach with his Sword drawn threatned the Life of any one who should dare to retire and accordingly some were killed for the Terror of others The Soldiers animated by the Example of their General and touched with a sense of Honour descended with new resolution into the Ditch and being well seconded by others they mounted to the Top where the Palisadoes were Planted The Turks terrified with so bold and surprizing an Attempt The Turks Capitulate fled trembling from the face of their Enemies and crowded into the Castle between which and the Town there was only a single Bridge where displaying a White Flag they demanded to Capitulate for their Lives But some of the more desperate Assailants having no regard to Flags or Colours or what was acting ascended to the Tops of the Houses and into Windows and entred in at the Port-holes made for the Guns where they made a most horrible Massacre of all that stood before them without regard to Age or Sex This Success was in a great measure obtained by the other Attack The P. of Commercy enters on the other side commanded by the Prince of Commercy who thô wounded in the Shoulder by a Musquet-Bullet did yet overcome all difficulties and enter victoriously within the Walls On that side howsoever where General Heusler commanded with his Dragoons the opposition was not so great so that laying aside the Ladders which they had prepared for Scaling the Walls they went directly to the Gate G. Heusler forces a Gate and in spite of all their Shot fixed a Petard thereunto which intirely forced it from its Bolts and Hinges and laid all open to the entrance of the Soldiers howsoever at some little distance from the first another Wall presented it self well guarded and defended with Soldiers who made continual Vollies upon the Assailants to which there was an Iron-gate to pass before entrance could be made and that so strong that it was judged almost impossible to be overthrown during the Heat of this Action Howsoever the Dragoons of Savoy being encouraged by their Prince who but some days before had been wounded in the Knee leaped on the Wall which was not very high and desperately threw themselves into the City by which means becoming Masters of the Gate they opened it and let in a whole Torrent of the German Forces who in a short time covered all the Streets with the Bodies of their Enemies Howsoever this Action cost the Lives of above One hundred Dragoons of Savoy Massacre and Slaughter of the Turks with some of their principal Officers amongst which was the Count of Massel and General Heusler had his Thumb struck off with a Musquet-Bullet which hindred nothing in prosecution of this Victory Many Turks endeavouring to escape the fury of the Soldiers by passing the River in Boats fell into the hands of the Germans who gave them no better Quarter than they had done to those who defended the Breach All being now subdued and subjected to Victorious Arms of the Christians no place stood out but only a small Trench behind the Castle to which the Pasha or Commander in Chief with the Aga of the Janisaries and some Officers had retired themselves and with them they took those Slaves which they had maintained for their Service in the Castle The Soldiers in their fury not being satiated with the Blood they had already spilt were disposed to bathe their Swords yet farther in the Bodies of this small remainder of their Enemies The Pasha and other Officers made Prisoners and were ready to have executed and wreak their final Rage on the Pasha and Officers when the Clemency of the most Serene Elector being moved by the Cries and Tears of the Christian Captives at
their Petitions and Prayers spared the Lives of the Turks being contented to see the Turks bound in the same Chains which they had newly taken from the Christians And yet the horrible Massacre of the Sword did not cease in other parts of the City all being filled with Confusion and Cruelty when on a sudden a terrible Fire broke out in the lower Town which burned with so much Violence that the Conquerors as well as the Conquered were willing to escape out at the Gates The Cruelty of the Soldiers It was grievous to see poor Old men made Prisoners dragged by their Beards and Women and Maidens covered with Blood and Dirt drawn by the Hairs of the Head and made the Sport and Pastime of Military Insolence In Fine the Fire being extinguished Slaughter ceased and about Noon the City and Castle were intirely subdued On the 6th of September when His Electoral Highness and the other Generals rode Triumphantly into the City beholding the dead Bodies which filled the Streets the Ruins of the Houses and the Destruction which the Bombs had made And considering these Successes to have proceeded intirely from the Blessing and Divine assistance of the God of Hosts His Electoral Highness on the 7th of September Sept. 7. Te Deum sung caused Te Deum to be sung in one of the Pleasure-houses belonging to the Grand Seignior situate on the Declivity of a Hill where the Elector thought fit to take up his Lodgings And a Capuchin after saying Mass was ordered by a short and devout Sermon to move the minds of the Soldiery to return Thanks unto God who was the Giver of Victory and to implore the Divine Benediction on the farther progress of their Arms. After which all the Cannon of the Fortress and of the Camp were Fired Three times with loud Vive's resounding the Fame of Leopold and Maximilian Emanuel The day following the Elector invited all the Generals and Chief Officers of the Army to a sumptuous Banquet at which also the Turkish Ambassadors happened to be present for whom and his Retinue as we mentioned before the Pasha of Aleppo had desired a Pass When this Ambassador approached near the Camp he was strangely surprized to hear all things so quiet The Turkish Ambassador comes to the Camp no Noise of Guns or other Instruments of War but coming yet nearer his Eyes convinced him when he saw the Imperial Eagles advanced on the Walls that the Town was taken News being brought to the Elector that the Ambassador was come he was conducted with his Interpreter Mauro-cordato and his Followers on Horseback into the Court-yard of the House where the Elector was lodged and there being alighted he was conducted up Stairs by Two Gentlemen to the Chamber where the Elector was seated with whom at his first Entrance he passed some Complements of Thanks for the Passport and Convoy which he had so obligingly bestowed upon him After which he was led into a large Hall Is Feasted with the Generals where a sumptuous Table was spread The Elector took the Upper-end at his Right-hand was placed the Duke of Mantoua on his Left the Ottoman Ambassador and by his side the Interpreter was seated By the Duke were placed the Generals Caprara Dunewalt Heusler Rabattin Prince Charles Philip of Hannover the Vice-Commissary Falchenhan Count of Oetting Sauran Stirum Gronsfelt Montecucoli Palfi and Sereni which filled and crowned the Table with chearful Countenances whilst the Ambassador drooping in his Spirits could not hide and suppress his Sorrow from appearing in his looks The jollity of these Victorious Officers was a Ponyard to his Heart which very ill agreed with so much Festivity and Mirth of his Enemies and of the principal Officers who in very rich Habits encircled the Table Howsoever being constrained to say something which might not betray his dejection of mind casting his Eyes round upon the Company he said to the Elector That he was astonished at the appearance of so many handsome and accomplished Personages But one thing he observed That the Emperor of the Romans was served by Young Generals at which he could not much wonder for when he considered how they daily exposed themselves to the most desperate dangers there seemed an impossibility almost for them to survive till old Age Thus far it had been well if he had stopped at this period of Complement But pursuing his Discourse farther he told them that the Year before he had been at the Battel of Hatschan To which the Elector Replied That certainly he must have had a good Horse meaning to escape and run away which caused some Laughter During the time of Dinner the Trumpets Haut-boys and other Instruments were sounded and Healths drank round in full Cups of Wine to the Emperor to the continuance of prosperous Successes to his Arms and the Third to the Health of the Ottoman Emperor To all which the Ambassador did reason in Sherbet of Lemmons Wine being both against his Religion and his Custom to Drink The Fourth Health was to the Elector the Fifth to the Duke of Mantoua the Sixth to the Ambassador and then to all brave Soldiers and after many other Glasses they concluded all with a Health to a Good Peace or a Glorious War with which breaking their Glasses the Feast ended with the Day The taking of the Town and City of Belgrade was of a most fatal Importance to the Turks for thereby the Way was laid opened to Adrianople and Constantinople no Garrisons lay between them and Belgrade nor Forces to oppose the March of the Imperial Arms unless Scarcity and want of Provisions through a desolate Country in many places full of Rocks and Mountains to be passed should bring more difficulty to the progress of a Victorious Army than the Troops of their Enemies Nor did this Campaigne end as yet with the Conquest of Belgrade being seconded by others of equal advantage in Bosnia under the auspicious Conduct of that Renowned and Fortunate General Topal signifie Lume Prince Lewis of Baden whom we left lately at Possega with design to attack Topal Pasha of Bosnia who had Encamped himself under Tervat or Terwent near the River of Ucraine about Five Miles distant from Proot which Prince Lewis had fortified to facilitate his passage more easily into Bosnia and to secure the Communication between the Neighbouring Forts And there also passed a Bridge over the Save which being finished 1688. Septem on the Third of September he caused his Baggage to pass over and the next day followed with his whole Army in hopes to have drawn the Pasha from his Encampment of whose Number the Prince had no very good Account P. Lewis passes the Save but being reported to be much less than they were the Prince marched the Fourth Instant in the Evening silently and without Noise to assault the Enemy in the Camp and having passed that Night through many strait and difficult Ways they arrived next Morning
to the other which was not above the space of an Italian Mile and the Mould or Soil being all Earth it might easily be effected the which being fortified with a Ditch and Pallisadoes Redoubts and Cannon might make a sufficient place of defence for the Soldiers and convenient Quarters might be made for them out of those Timbers and Planks which they had saved from the Ruines of the Suburbs of Negropont And that they might be in a condition all the Winter to endamage the Town and hinder the Turks from repairing their Breaches the Mount of Muslekat and the Hill of Vilibaba were to be strongly fortified with Cannon In fine all things were proposed and provided as far as Humane Reason could contrive for security of the Camp and Maintainance of the Soldiery and for Provision and Sustenance they promised themselves sufficient from the Inhabitants of the Islands besides those which might be brought from the other Isles of the Archipelago These Matters being thus proposed and projected in the Council of War where Enquiry was made into the Miscarriages of the late Assault which was made appear otherwise than was represented it was ordered that the Cannon which were nearest to the place should be drawn off and the manner contrived how it might be executed and the Night following they began to draw off the covered Cannon Some Cannon drawn off which lay under the Works the which Attempt was the most difficult of any To prevent which the Turks all that Night assaulted the Bonnet with quantities of Granadoes and Sacks of Powder but a valorous resistance being made by the Defendants the Turks were repulsed with great loss so that the Night following all the remaining Cannon were drawn off and secured In which Work Silvester the Admiral of Candia having been very active and adventurous as he had been in many other doubtful and hazardous Attempts the Doge honoured him with a Gold Chain and Medal Octob. 15. as an evidence of his good Services and of the Esteem he entertained of his Personal Courage and Conduct Had the Project of Quartering all that Winter on the Island succeeded it was very probable and with good reason it might have been rationally concluded that the City would have been obliged to yield before the Spring The Foreign Troops mutiny and will not Winter on the Island but the Foreign Troops being acquainted with the Design began to mutiny and loudly to declare That they would not Winter on the Island it being one of their Capitulations of Agreement when they first Enrolled themselves for Soldiers that they should at the Season when Armies usually break up their Camp be provided with warm and convenient Quarters and with the Spring return again into the Field To force the Soldiers to an Obedience in this particular was not esteemed adviseable but to try how far soft Terms and perswasive Arguments might prevail upon them several Noblemen and chief Commanders were employed to incline the Wills and Consent of the Soldiery thereunto but the Plot was deeper laid for tho' the Commonalty only appeared openly therein yet it was well known that their Officers had the chief Hand in the Design and instigated their Soldiers to act that part which was most desired by themselves But what was most prevalent with the Council of War was the Report made by Sergeant General Hor That the Soldiers in the advanced Lines were so far set on a Resolution to Abandon the Siege that in case it were not done above 100 of them would desert and fly to the Enemy Whereupon the Doge took a Resolution before other Misfortunes arrived to comply with the Soldiery and as a beginning thereof to embark all their Sick and Wounded Men and Baggage The Siege raised and that the Enemy should not discover the Design it was ordered That the Cannon which were not drawn off from the Lines Bonnet and Batteries should continue still to play upon the City After which by degrees all the remaining Cannon was shipped and many of their Horse embarked and all things put in order for an entire Desertion of the Island and Siege which when the Grecian Inhabitants observed who had taken the part with the Venetians against the Turks full of Fear and terrified Consternation came running to the Shoar petitioned to be carried off to the Christian Coast to avoid the Fury of the Turks for performance of which all the Boats and Vessels of the Island were taken up at Freight for Service of the Army and Transportation of the Islanders of which several of them were cut off by the Turks before they could reach the Vessels on which they intended to embark Some disorder The Turks seeing their Enemies draw off and commit themselves unto the Seas had cause sufficient to rejoyce as the Christians had to be sad and dejected when the Rear of the Army was forced to betake themselves to a precipitate Flight with some Confusion and Disorder Octob. 22. Howsoever they all got Aboard on such Vessels as they could at first come unto so that the lighter Vessels were overcharged with Soldiers and with Islanders until such time as at the adjacent Islands where Vessels usually Careen they could more orderly dispose their Companies and repart them by a more commodious and proportionable share unto every Ship Galeass and Gally From this place Orders were given by the Doge unto Venier Captain Extraordinary to pass into the Archipelago Orders given to the Admirals and places appointed where to disbark the Soldiers to collect the Contribution of the Island Admiral Zaguri was dispatched with four Ships laden with Provisions and Bisket to furnish the Fortresses of that Kingdom The Vessels laden with the Horse were ordered to disembark them at the first Shoar and thence to march by Land to Napoli di Romania Some other Companies were Landed at the Fortress of Termizi All the Foreign Troops were put into Winter Quarters in divers parts of the Morea Novemb. Other Companies and Troops Embarked on the Squadron of Ships commanded by Captain Pisani were Transported to Modon Navarin and Patras from whence Pisani had Commission to Sail for Zant and Corfu and thence to carry all the Provision and Ammunition which had been brought thither from Venice for Use and Refreshment of the Army All the Galeasses were ordered unto the secure Port of Varvaronda under Cranidi in Romania The Regiments of Brunswick Wirtemberg and Hesse having compleated their time stipulated for Service were discharged and permitted to Sail for Venice Thus all the Troops being dismissed and sent into their Wintet Quarters the Doge intended himself to Land at Napoli di Romania The Dâ—ge Lands very sick but being taken short by the Wind he could only fetch the Port Tolon where the next Day he Landed and went to Napoli di Romania but in an ill condition of Health caused partly by the Hardships of the Siege but chiefly by the Troubles and
as come under his evil Report For the Teftish Pasha concluding all such for Thieves requires no farther Testimony or Proofs against them but sending for them Condemns them and Hangs them up on the next Tree In this manner the Business of Yedic and his Complices was committed to the care and conduct of Teftish Achmet Pasha whose first step was rightly to inform the People of the perfidious Designs of Yedic who fought against the Sultan and the Laws of the Prophet Mahomet of which the People being once perswaded withdrew themselves from that Party and turned their Arms against Yedic and his Villainous Accomplices by which means the Teftish having increased his Forces to such a considerable number that he might with all security promise himself Victory he marched against the Enemy and after two Days he came in sight of their Camp and found them drawn up in good order according to Martial Discipline The Teftish engages Yedic and defeats him The Pasha readily attacked them with 3000 select and brave Men and well mounted and with such Resolution that at the first Onset they put the Van-guard of the Enemy into disorder and with a Shower of Arrows from the whole Army they put them all to flight so that their Leader Yedic trusted all his safety to the swiftness of his Horse notwithstanding which the Teftish pressing for an entire Victory pursued him so hard that having inclosed him in the midst of two Squadrons Yedic himself with many of his chief Captains and Commanders were either killed or made Prisoners The rest of the Common Soldiery seeing themselves deprived of their Chief submitted to the Teftish Pasha desiring to be enrolled under his Banner but the Pasha having no good opinion or hope of getting any benefit from an Union with such a sort of Rabble and Scum of the People who had been bred up and nursed in Robbery and Violence resolved to make no use of such corrupted Companions in his Army but dismissed them all with License to return to their Countries and respective Habitations and afterwards proceeded to reform the Abuses and Disorders of those ill-govern'd Provinces The Port having now entirely suppressed those two desperate Rebellions Regeb Pasha made General in the place of Yeghen whose Nephew is put to Death the most dangerous of any in such a time of a decaying Militia and a victorious Enemy began to be at leisure to prepare for their War in Hungary and in the first place Regeb Pasha was created Seraskier or General in the place of Yeghen But first to extirpate all that Party entirely they seized on the Nephew of Yeghen in Philippopolis and put him to Death with 40 of his Followers as they did also the Governor of Widin whom Yeghen had put into that Place the last Campaign being a Favourite and Creature of his The Turks to encourage their People to prosecute the War in Hungary did not only cause a Report to fly about That the Sultan had resolved to appear this Year at the Head of his Army against the Christians but the Sultan did really march from Adrianople towards Sophia The Grand Seignior marches to Sophia with an Army of about 30000 Men together with a Train of Artillery consisting of 90 Pieces of Cannon and 6 Mortar-pieces of a very large size the which being joyned afterwards to a Body of 40000 Men under the Command of the Seraskier Regeb Pasha formed a considerable countenance of an Army but being all raw and undisciplin'd Men would as was supposed be inspired with new Courage at the presence of their Sultan On the 15 25 of April April the Grand Seignior began to move from Adrianople at which time a very great Earthquake was felt both in that City and Constantinople An Earthquake about the time of the Grand Signiors Departure which was so terrible that several Moschs Houses and Towers were overthrown At which time the Tungia and Meritz Rivers which glide on a Sandy and Gravelly Soil near the Walls of Adrianople overflowed their Banks with so violent an Inundation that they Drowned all the Fields and Meadows round and forced the Turks to remove their Camp and pitch at some farther distance the which Accidents were diversly discoursed by the Learned Men and the Turks being naturally Superstitious did generally interpret them as sinister Omens for the succeeding Campaign Howsoever Sultan Solyman marched forwards to Sophia where according to the Custom of the Turkish Army they soiled their Horse giving them Grass and remained in expectation of the arrival of the Asiatick Troops and other Forces not yet come up and here it was that the Sultan entertained himself in the Army not intending to proceed nearer to the Enemy In the mean time great Conferences and Consultations were held at the Imperial Court for carrying on two mighty Wars against France and the Ottoman Empire to which end the Forces were divided those which were to serve in the Empire against France were committed to the auspicious Conduct of the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Lorrain Those which were intended against the Turk in Servia were to be commanded by that Valiant and Fortunate General Prince Lewis of Baden and under him as Field Marshal by the Duke of Croy General of the Artillery was Marquis Parella Lieutenant-General was Count Veterani and Major-Generals were the Counts of Hoffkirchen Duke of Holstein with the Princes of Hanover and Heisler And on the other side in the Upper Hungary Transilvania Bosnia and Sclavonia the Command was lodged in the Hands of the Counts Aspremont Piccolomini Trautmansdorff Guido of Staremberg Herbeville and Baron Herbeville whose force consisted of 11 Regiments of Cuirassiers nine Regiments of Dragoons and 20 Regiments of Foot together with the several Independant Companies of Hungarians Croatians and Rascians who had lately taken up Arms against the Turks In the mean time Tekeli to keep up his Credit and Reputation with the Turks caused a Report to spread abroad at the Ottoman Port that by his Spies and by his Letters of Advice he had certain Intelligence that the French had so distressed the Empire that it was impossible for the Emperor to spare at that time above 10000 Men to carry on the War in Servia and that all his Measures in Transilvania and the Upper Hungary were entirely broken And indeed by the Plots of Tekeli and the Contrivances and Intrigues of the French whose Emissaries began now to spread in all the great and considerable Towns as well in Hungary as in Germany Towns and Countries were burnt and vast Devastations committed thereon The City of Cronstadt in Transilvania was in the Month of May totally destroyed and consumed by fire May. which was kindled at the four Angles thereof Plots of the French discovered which in a few Hours by the help of a strong Wind was reduced to Ashes notwithstanding the Endeavours of Colonel Baron de Pace to extinguish it only by the
coming on with his main force in a thick Fogg posted himself before the Wood being sheltered on the right Hand by Thickets and Bushy Grounds almost unpassable extending his left Wing to the side of the Morava and being thus advantageously drawn up immediate Orders were dispatched to the Cavalry The Turks attack the Christians which were refreshing themselves at the Bridge to hasten unto the Foot but before they could come up the Fog clearing away unexpectedly the whole Body of the Turkish Army appeared the most part consisting of Moors and Arabs drawn up in order of Battle just fronting the Imperial Infantry which the Turks assailed with such unusual Fury and sudden Violence that Prince Lewis had scarce time to draw up his second Line into a posture of defence The Imperialists howsoever stood the Shock with great firmness and constancy and received the Fire both of their great and small Shot and tho' the Chevaux de Freeze were of great use to them at this as on other occasions yet many of the German Foot were at that time cut to pieces by the Turkish Scimetars And now the Fight became very hot on both sides and continued so for the space of two Hours within Pistol-shot by which time General Count Casselli being come up with his Cavalry and sounding without the Wood with his Trumpets Hautboys and Kettle-Drums the Enemy were put into such a Fear and Consternation that they began to retreat into the neighbouring Wood by which Prince Lewis having gained both Time and Ground drew up his Horse behind the Foot Are beaten retreat and whilst he remained in this posture a Bavarian Soldier who had been taken Prisoner at the Siege of Buda having made his Escape came and reported that the Enemy was retired to another Plain behind the Wood where for their better security they had thrown up some Earth and made new Trenches Upon this Intelligence the Generals were in great hopes of gaining an entire Victory if they could handsomely come to Charge the Enemy in the Flank to perform which they designed to open a passage by their Musqueteers but it seems there was no need of so much Labour for Count Guido of Staremberg being commanded to advance before with a Party to discover the Countenance and Disposition of the Enemy he found a way sufficiently open and wide for a March and not above 500 paces to the Plain where the Enemy was retired not far behind their Trenches They quit their ground Upon this News the Prince immediately detached 300 Horse and a Battallion of his own Regiment and another of Count Strasser's under Command of that Count to seize that Post which succeeded so happily that the Turks upon their first appearance cowardly abandoned the place and fled which the Imperialists possessed whilst another party of Foot came in to their Assistance and then the Cannon on both sides fired with mutual damage the which continued for the space of an Hour and half during which time several German Soldiers were killed and wounded Some German Soldiers kill'd as also four Captains killed besides Lieutenants and Subaltern Officers who were wounded And here it was thought fit to take Breath a while and enter into Consultation whether it were adviseable to prosecute the Victory farther or not and pursue the Enemy who had again posted themselves with more advantage in another Trench about 3 or 400 Paces behind the former and which was much stronger being encompassed with a deep Ditch of Water and only accessible in one place which the Turks continued to fortifie without any fear or apprehension of danger Another Attack on the Turks Upon due consideration of the strength of the place and the Difficulties of an Attack it was concluded that an Attempt was to be hazarded and that with all expedition and without loss of time Accordingly the Prince ordered that the first Trench should be levelled for the more easie passage of the Horse and that Count Piccolomini to whom the Command of the Van-guard was that Day committed should advance with some Regiments of Horse and some Battalions of Foot and put himself into Battalia before the Trench and Count Palfi with his Regiment of Heydukes was ordered to take the left Hand by way of the Wood and to sound all his Drums and Hautboys and other Instruments making the greatest noise he was able in the Wood and to give an Alarm as if some great Body were in motion to Attack them in the Rear which would serve to put them into greater Consternation and Disorder Matters being thus wisely ordered Piccolomini began to advance in Battalia and the Enemy endeavoured to repulse him with their Cannon but when they observed that the Germans without fear of their Fire advanced still resolutely upon them and gained ground The Turks fly to Patoschin and that the Heydukes came on desperately to the left so fearing to be engaged in the midst they abandoned this their last advantageous Post and with great Disorder marched through thick Woods to their Camp at Patoschin This Cowardly Flight of the Turks inspired new Courage into the Christians to pursue them to their ultimate Retirement which they had done to the entire Destruction of the Enemy but that the Way was so narrow that they were forced to break their Ranks and march one after the other which lost much time and gave the Turks means to escape and the Janizaries having Horses ready Sadled notably advanced in their Flight but Baron Zant having Orders to pursue the Rear-Guard of the Enemy being joyned with the Regiments of Sarau and Kisel they overtook many of them in the Woods and pursued the rest to their very Camp after which these Colonels not having Orders to follow the Enemy farther who were 25000 strong besides those which straggled in the Woods they betook themselves to the rising of a Hill where they halted until Prince Lewis came up to them with the gross Body of his Cavalry and then the Turks fled with Disorder and Precipitation as the Germans pursued with greater Heat and Courage and had not the Woods been thick and the Germans ignorant of the Ways and Passages they had made a most terrible Slaughter to the entire Defeat and Destruction of the Turkish Army Howsoever Prince Lewis continued the Pursuit with some Parties of Horse under the Command of Colonel Zant who gave so frightful an Alarm to the Turks They abandon their Camp that forsaking their Camp with Fear and Consternation they left all their Cannon Ammunition and Provisions to the Disposal of the Enemy In the Camp they found 105. pieces of Brass Cannon and three Mortars with great Numbers of Bombs Granadoes Powder and all sorts of Warlike Ammunition and Provisions with their Camels Oxen Buffalo's and Tents The Germans possess it and in short all their Baggage became a Prey to the Victorious Germans whilst the timorous Turks fled in much Confusion towards Jagodina
Count Vellen the which great Success is entirely to be attributed to the Almighty Hand of the God of Armies This second Victory being in this manner obtained against the Seraskier on the 24th of September the whole Army continued in Arms all that Night and in the Morning Quarters were regularly set out for the Soldiers within the City of Nissa The Christians enter Nissa and on the 26th all things being setled in good order Te Deum was solemnly sung in the Seraskier's Tent with three Salvoes of all the Cannon and Vollies of Muskets returning Thanks to Almighty God for this Wonderful Victory which none but the Powerful Arm of the God of Hosts was able to bestow Afterward Prince Lewis having visited the City observed that it was fortified only with a single Ditch and some Palisadoes howsoever it was judged very convenient for Winter Quarters It is fortfied for Winter Quarters and therefore ordered that it should be something better fortified by the Work of 2000 Foot which were drawn out of several Regiments to labour on the Fortifications which in a short time was brought to that condition as to render it capable of being the head Quarters for the whole Winter where Provisions were accordingly laid up in Store-houses for Subsistence of the whole Army And to discover the Countenance and Condition of the Enemy Count Piccolomini gave Orders to Detach a Party of 1000 Horse to enter farther into the Country to view and observe the Quality and Situation of all places as far as Sophia and to possess all the Passes which the Enemy had abandoned This Party being returned brought News to the General that tho' they had proceeded above half the way towards Sophia they had not met or seen so much as one Turk on the Road having found divers Places and Castles without People and Deserted amongst which Mustapha Pasha Palanca was Mustapha Pasha Palanca a Fortress as I remember raised by a Pasha of that Name to cover a Caravasarei for Travellers to Lodge with their Horses and Goods in security from the frequent Attempts of Thieves and Robbers which in that desolate Country gained great Spoils and Booty and that they might be better protected a Garrison was put into it of 60 Men for maintenance of which this Pasha had given a Revenue sufficient for it's Subsistance And in this place I slept one Night as I remember without any Care or Fears From this place a small Party of Germans and Hungarians were sent as far as Dragoman A Party of the Germans near Sophia about four hours Journey from Sophia which gave such an Alarm all the way that the Turks every where forsook their Dwellings and so affrighted the Inhabitants that hundreds of them ran to the Mountains but suddenly returned so soon as it was known that the Party was small which gave the Alarm Howsoever the Consternation was so great that the Soldiers contrary to the Commands given to make their Rendezvous at Sophia fearfully deserted and fled to their own Dwellings The News of this Defeat was first brought from Sophia to Constantinople on the first of October October by one called Mustapha Aga whom Zulfigar the Turkish Ambassador at Vienna had freed from Captivity and afterwards dispatched him with some Letters to the Ottoman Port but on his way Prince Lewis had stopped him for some Months at Semendria until the last Victory was obtained against the Turks after which he discharged and suffered him to proceed to carry his stale Packets from the Ambassadors and fresher News from the Turkish Army which was now entirely defeated and dispersed in the most shameful manner that ever was recounted in any History The News hereof struck all the Ottoman Court with confused Consternation The Turkish Court in great Confusion none knowing what to say or what to Counsel much less to Act but all wished that the Measures and Resolutions taken at Sophia by the Grand Vizier presently after the Battle of Patoschin had been put in Execution whereby the last defeat before Nissa had been avoided and an end put to the War with more Honour and Advantage than could now be expected For the Grand Visier had on the 17th of September a thing not usual Convened a General Council at Sophia A General Council of the Turks called at Sophia of all the Grand Officers and Ministers of the Empire such as the Nakib Effendi who is the Chief of the Green-Heads or those of the Kindred of Mahomet the Mufti the two Kadileskers or Chief Justices of Romelia and Anatolia the Generals of the Spahees and Janizaries with many other principal Officers of the Army and Civil Government At which Council the Proposals for a Peace made by the Emperor and his Allies were publickly Read and with much Attention hearkned unto by this Grand Assembly which though judged in the Opinion of all there present to be very severe and dishonourable and unknown before to their mighty Empire which was used in former times to give rather than to receive Conditions of Peace yet considering the present unhappy posture of Affairs it was unanimously concluded by them to Embrace the Offers made least God who had punished them for the Violation of their last Truce or Peace should punish them yet farther if they should refuse to accept the Conditions now proposed to rescue them from Destruction The Articles being drawn up in Paper were presented to the Grand Signior for his Approbation who having Read them gave Answer The Grand Seignior consents to a Peace That he desired to return to his Throne at Constantinople in Peace And having signed them they were committed to Mustapha Aga to carry them to Vienna for which Journey he had received 3000 Hungarian Ducats from the Treasurer The Articles were as follow inclosed in a Letter to Zulfigar Aga one of the Turkish Ambassadors in the Castle of Puttendorf Offers of Peace by the Turks I. THat he should use his utmost Endeavours to Conclude a Peace so much desired by all the People who notwithstanding the many Arguments Allurements and fair Promises of the French to the contrary would not trust to that Nation which had been false to them in all Ages and now also endeavoured to entertain them with a thousand false Hopes II. That he should labour by all means possible to perswade the Emperor to quit Belgrade and to make that place the Limit of their Dominions and the Save to Terminate the Frontier on both sides And if any scruple or difference should arise thereupon that then in lieu thereof he should offer Canisia or if that should be taken then to propose Giula Temeswaer or Great Waradin III. As to the Polanders to Content them a Proposal should be made to demolish Kaminiec and if that would not satisfie them that it should be surrendred Lastly As to the Venetians They should Enjoy and Keep all that they had taken and that no mention should be made
two Aga's returned back to the City on which some Consultation being there had on the 19th three Turks were sent out again to the Christian Army declaring to the Generals in the Name of the Pasha and the Garrison That tho' they were still furnished with four Months Provision in the Town yet they would no longer refuse the Clemency of His Imperial Majesty but deliver up the City unto him And for the further management of this Treatise they proposed That three German and Hungarian Officers might be sent into the Town for Hostages Hostages given in lieu of five Turks who should be employed to Capitulate in the Army The Christians having assented hereunto the three Messengers were next Day returned with this Answer That the Clemency of His Imperial Majesty was such that he never desired to shed the Blood of his Enemies when they implored his Mercy and that the General Bathiani had full Power to pardon them which he was ready to do on Condition that they Surrendred the Place in the space of 24 Hours With this Answer the Turks returning to the Town they desired a third Conference on the 21st the which after a long Dispute was granted and agreed That five Turks of which the Janizar-Aga should be one should come into the Camp and that in the Place of them a German and two Hungarian Officers should be sent for Pledges into the City This being performed on the 22d Day these following Capitulations were agreed and signed Capitulations Agreed I. THAT whatsoever is belonging to the Arsenal and Publick Stores either of Provision Ammunition Cannon or other Arms should be delivered to the Imperial Commissaries to whom also all Mines made about the City should be discovered II. That the Prisoners on both sides should be released without Ransom III. That all the Inhabitants of the City and Strangers shall have liberty to march out with their Arms Moveables Cloaths Servants Children Horses and all other Cattle who shall have safe Passage and Conduct into the Ottoman Dominions but without Flying Colours or Sound of Drum Notwithstanding which in case any of the Rascians who are in pay of the Turks should freely desire to come over to the Christians they shall not be hindered either on the Score of Debt or any other Pretence whatsoever IV. All Christian Renegadoes who shall be desirous to return unto their Ancient Faith shall have liberty to do it and no Christian Children be privately conveyed away V. A sufficient Number of Waggons shall be allowed to the Turks to carry them to the Water-side and from thence Boats to Transport them into the Turkish Dominions VI. That so soon as these Capitulations shall be Signed the Imperialists shall immediately be put into Possession of the Palanca our Out-work called Baschlar Kapoesi in which the Turks shall have liberty to sell what they please of their Goods or to carry them away VII That so soon as the Imperial Ratification shall be returned the Turks shall immediately quit the City and begin their Journey VIII The Turks shall deliver to the Imperial Commissaries all the Tax-Registers in Canisia with such Books as concern the Military Sallaries paid from Bosnia and other Districts depending on Canisia with the Tefter or an account of such Revenues which the Janizaries usually Pay and Receive out of the Homage and Tributary Countries IX That the People of Canisia shall be Convoyed with a sufficient Number of Officers and Soldiers unto the first Turkish Fortress leaving howsoever behind them the Hostages at the last Christian Fortress until the return of the Convoy X. That during the March Provisions shall be furnished to the Turks at moderate Prices With these Capitulations the Imperial Councellor of War called Pozo the Aga and two more Turkish Officers were on the 24th dispatched to Vienna to have the Capitulations Ratified and Signed with the Imperial Firme The Emperor ratifies the Treaty they arrived on the 30th and the next Day had an Audience of Count Staremberg President of the Council of War to whom they delivered the Capitulation April and on the first of April it was returned back again to them Signed by the Emperor who was graciously pleased to make a Present therewith unto the Aga of a Watch set with Diamonds With this Ratification the Aga being returned which was on the 3d of April it was resolved by the Pasha and other Officers in the Divan immediately to put the Christians into Possession of one of the Gates of the City The Town surrendred the which by the 12th they fully quitted and the next Day the Pasha being on Horseback attended with some Turks on Foot delivered unto General Bathyani the Keys of the Town in a gilded Bason hanging on a Gold Chain The Pasha indeed expected that the General should have alighted from his Horse to receive them but the General refusing to receive them in such a manner as a Condescention too inferiour to the Dignity of His Imperial and Victorious Master the Pasha insisted no farther thereupon but presenting the Key said I deliver unto you the Key of a Fortress the like whereof there is none in all the Turkish Empire This being done the General went into the City to visit the Fortifications and afterwards entertained the Pasha the Aga of the Janizaries and Zorbagee Aga at Dinner with some others Then the Garrison marched out consisting of 600 Turks which with the Inhabitants made in all 4000 Souls the which were conducted into the Dominions of the Turks according to the Capitulation It seems that this strong City was surrendred rather by Divisions amongst themselves than for want of Provisions The Cannon and Ammunition and Provisions taken therein On the Walls were mounted 56 Brass and 10 Iron Cannon the most part of them made in the time of the Emperors Maximilian I. and II and of Charles V and Ferdinand I. In the Magazine or Store-house under the Governor's Palace were found 1540 Musquets and in the Arsenal 2200 more with much Lead Cannon and Musquet-Bullets Swords Granadoes with all sorts of Arms and Warlike Instruments in great abundance Canisia or Canisa is situate on a River towards the Frontiers of Styria near the Drave and not far from the Fort Serin it is so environed on all sides with a Morass or Marsh that no Army can lie near it The Situation of Canisia which renders the Town almost impregnable and inaccessible notwithstanding it was taken by the Turks in the Year 1600. The next Year following Mathias Arch-Duke of Austria Besieged it in the Month of September but was forced to retire after a Siege of two Months In the Year 1664 at the beginning of it in the Month of January Count Serini by favour of the Frosts which gave him some Footing on the Morass after he had taken Quinque Ecclesiae and some other Places and had burnt Sighet he besieged Canisia which he had infallibly taken if they had sent him the
to supply the Places of those who had been killed by this fatal Clap and defend the Breach they could not find a sufficient number to withstand the Enemy then ready to take advantage of this dreadful blow howsoever they made the best resistance possible until their remaining Magazines and Store-Houses took Fire and blew up one after the other in such a dismal manner that for Fire Powder Smoak Stones All the Magazines of Powder and Provâ—sions blown up and Dust one Man could not see much less know the other and in this Confusion not only the greatest part of the Garrison perished but even a thousand Turks storming at that time the Walls and entring the City were also lost and such as remained alive were forced to retreat back to the Camp at which time it seemed as if a Cessation of Arms had been made during this gloomy and dismal Interval but so soon as it had cleared up a little the Turks observing the great Consternation in the City so that those who remained alive could make no resistance they rather entered the Walls than Stormed them Belgrade taken And being come within the City they found very few Christians living or Houses standing and the very Boats in the River were sunk by the weight of the Stones and rubbish which were fallen into them so that those who escaped saved themselves for the most part by Swimming some over the Danube and some over the Save on which occasion howsoever some few Boats remained The Duke of Croy escapes with the Generals by which many passed over and amongst the rest the Duke and General Aspremont with some of their Servants but no Man could save more than what he carried about him Count Aspremont being blamed for this Action was cleared by this following Copy Copie de l'Attestation donnee par le Prince Louis de Bade a Monsieur le Comte d'Aspremont au sujet de la parte de la Forteresse de Belgrade LA Forteresse de Belgrade ayant été malheureusement prise par les ennemis l'an 1690. ensuitte de la grande confusion que causa l'embrasement du Magazine a poudre plusieurs personnes mal informées des circonstances de cette affaire en ont voulu attribuer principalement la faute au Comte d'Aspremont quoyqu'il n'y commandast plus en Chef ce qui a extremement diminué dans le monde le bon credit dans le quel il etoit sur tout a cause qu'il avoit été mis en arrest comme Sa Majesté Imperial a accoutumé de faire en de semblables rencontres N'ayant donc appris autre chose de Monseigneur le Duc de Croy ainsi que des autres Generaux Officiers qui ont été commandez dans la dite Forteresse si non que le susdit Comte d'Aspremont y a fait en toutes manieres son devoir y a montré son zéle en tout ce qui pouvoit concerner le service de Sa Majesté Imperiale tellement qu'ayant été pleinement informé de tout le susdit en consideration de la verité du fait je n'ay pû faire moins que de donner a Monsieur le Comte d'Aspremont non sculement la presente Attestation mais aussi pour son unique Consolation afin qu'am chacun puisse voir connoitre le contraire des Calomnies dont on l'a voulu charger de le recommander aupres de nôtre tres Clement Maitre en tous lieux ou il pourroit en avoir besoin pour son avancement étant hors de doute que sa été entierement contre la Clemente Intention de Sa Majesté Imperiale qu'il a dû souffrir toutes ces Calomnies En foy de quoy j'ay signé la presente y ay fait apposer mon cachet Fait a Vienne ce 10 Fevrier 1693. Louis Margrave de Baden de Sa Majeste Imperiale Lieutenant General Marechal de Camp Colonel Gouverneur de Raab And thus every Man shifting as well as he could for himself the Duke rallied about 400 Men in all with which he arrived at Titul and afterwards marched with them to Peter Waradin but the Duke remained not long here before he departed and took his march for Esseck emptying all the Garrisons by the way such as Illock Sabaz and Brod and joyning all the Forces he was able to Conserve that important place it being conjectured that after having rendred themselves Masters of Belgrade the Turks would not stop there but following the air of their good Fortune would endeavour also to take Esseck But the Season of the Year being far spent it was believed that the Grand Vizier would think he had done enough for this Summer and therefore would conclude the Campagne with an Action of so much Glory but the Grand Vizier rested not here but having left 10000 Men for a Garrison in Belgrade and recommended the repair of the Breaches to the Care of some French Ingeniers that followed the Army and leaving some of their Horse Cantoned near the City the greatest part of their Cavalry was ordered for the Upper Hungary upon the News of which The Germans 〈◊〉 the Blâ—â—kade of Great-Waradin the Germans were so Alarm'd that they quitted the Blockade before Great Waradin and with other Troops which were in the Neighbourhood they marched towards the Tibiscus to secure the passage of that River In the mean time the Pasha of Bosnia was Commanded by the Grand Vizier to take Esseck whilst he himself with a strong Army of Turks passed the Danube whereupon the Germans quitted Lugos and Caranzebes and the Vizier marched directly to Lippa which place having been attacked with much Resolution and continual Storms and in want of all Provisions was forced to Surrender but on very honourable Capitulations being permitted to march out with Bag and Baggage Drums beating and with Colours flying The Besieged lost but ten Men but the Turks 800 in this Action Whilst Matters succeeded in this manner with the Vizier's Army P. Lewis continues his march Prince Lewis of Baden continued his march by way of Weissenburg and Mullenbach and arrived the 3d of October at Hermanstadt where for want of Provisions he was forced to remain for some days but being at length supplied with all things necessary they decamped and came to Medies And beats several Parties of the Enemy where they attacked and beat several Parties of the Enemies whose Heads they brought with Triumph into the Camp For as to Tekeli and his Troops they never stood their Ground but as Prince Lewis advanced they always retreated keeping at least six Leagues distant from the German Army At length he came to Czick upon the Borders of Walachia where to encourage and keep his Followers together he boasted of great Succours coming from the Turks But this Report would not serve his turn for the Prince of Walachia having received Intelligence that
Day-broke the Garrison sallied out and entered the deserted Camp in which they found great Spoils three pieces of Cannon 100 Bombs and other warlike Instruments which the Turks had left behind in their affright which possessed them with such pannick Fear that they stopped not or looked behind them till they had passed the Bridges at Walcowar where they stayed no longer than only to break them down to secure their flight The Story hereof was pleasantly related by a certain German who had three years before been taken by the Turks and had for his skill in the Turkish Language been received into Service of the Pasha's Secretary This Man during the flight had thrown himself into a Cock of Hay and Straw where he lay hidden until the Turks were gone and then creeping out escaped to Esseck and there told the Duke That the â—asha was a dull old timorous Fellow who when he heard all the Drums beat and the Trumpets and Bagpipes sound he was struck with so much Fear that he trembled his Hands and Feet shook his Knees knocked one against the other and his Legs were not able to support his Body and he farther said That the Pasha had been ordered by the Grand Vizier that so soon as he had made himself Master of Esseck that he should not stop there but should make Excursions round the Country ruining and destroying all with Fire and Sword but this Stratagem so well succeeded that the People and Country were freed of the Turks and the Ruin which they threatned The Siege being thus raised Lieutenant Colonel Lyon was dispatched with the News to the Imperial Court Joy at Vienna which so much rejoyced the Emperor and the whole City that all the former sinister Successes of the Campagne seemed forgotten and swallowed up in the Joy of this Action for which the Duke of Croy and General Staremberg were so cryed up that never any thing seemed comparable to this Stratagem and gained them not only the Fame of valiant but wise Generals This News was the more wellcome because it was surprizing and unexpected for the Town was so ill fortified that the Soldiers would never have been perswaded to hold out had not the Duke liberally distributed his Money in the Garrison and treated the Soldiers plentifully at the Rate of a Pound of Flesh and a Quart of Wine for every Day And indeed there was a necessity thereof in that moist Country which is nothing but marshy and wet Places and in that Season of the Year subject to Rain Fogs Frost and all extremities of the Weather Thus this Siege being happily raised Te Deum was sung in Esseck and all the Trenches of the Enemy being levelled the Duke committed the Command of the Town to General Staremberg and returned himself to Vienna In the mean time Prince Lewis continued his march for Zatmar where he arrived the first of December Decemb. having been Complimented all along in his march by the States of Transylvania P. Lewis complimented by all the States of Transylvania particularly at Enget where Thanks were particularly returned him for having delivered them from the Tyrannical Government of Count Tekeli Which poor Prince after many Difficulties being come into Walachia 300 Zecklers which had followed him did then Desert him but marching home without leave were pursued by some of his Troops and cut down in such manner that none of them escaped The Walachians also unwilling to have their Country ruined by the Rascians C. Tekeli in a sad Câ—ndition who designing to make their Winter-quarters there caused great Fears so that he laboured under perpetual Troubles and Hardships At Zatmar Prince Lewis was forced to continue for some Days for Refreshment both of his Soldiers Horses and Mules the which were so extreamly tired by their long Marches especially the Beasts which had carried the Baggage that they would not stir nor rise until they put fire under them In the mean time the Turks under the Command of the Grand Vizier's Son continued to over-run and spoil all the Country on the other side of the Theysse and sent a Summons to the Governor of St. Job to Surrender the place to them but he answered That the Place being a Fortress belonging to the Emperor of which General Nigrelli had the Keys he was not capacitated to comply with their Desires Hereof News being brought to Prince Lewis at Zatmar who had not with him above 2000 good Horse the Enemy being 15000 strong P. Lewis prepares to fight the Turks did no think himself in a Condition to fight them but sending to Colonel Schick who with his Regiment was quartered near Zolnock and to the Hussars who were in those parts to joyn as speedily as they could possibly with him and to put themselves into a posture to meet and fight the Enemy Whilst things were forming and contriving for this Action a certain stout Fellow who used to go out upon Parties named Kis Ballad had a Rencounter with the Tartars in the Parts adjacent of whom he killed 100 and took 50 Prisoners Of this Body those that escaped carried News to the Turks and Tartars that the Prince had quitted Transylvania and lay encamped near Zatmar upon which Advice 12000 Turks made an Excursion into that Country But Prince Lewis having now got together 4000 good Horse adventured to seek the Enemy and on the 20th of this month came to Claussenburg where two Days before the Turks had been and summoned the place to make a Surrender but the Summons being rejected the Turks having burned the Suburbs returned to Enget and in their march passing in fight of Claussenburg they burnt and destroyed all Places in their way and attacked the Foragers and advanced Guards took some few German Prisoners with the loss only of about 50 of their Men and so marched directly towards Temeswaer But Prince Lewis having been joyned by General Nigrelli with 2000 Horse The Turks return with loss to Temeswaer by which and his own he made a Body of 4000 well armed and accoutred he pursued them so closely at the Heels that the Enemy entirely quitted Transylvania with the greatest haste and confusion imaginable and falling in with their Rear cut down about a 1000 of their Men took three pieces of Cannon with a great many Camels and Horses and most of their Baggage and hasting away with all the speed possible more in the Nature of a Flight than a Retreat they at length arrived at â—emeswaer but with much diminution of their numbers caused by toilsome and long Marches and the excessive Colds in the Night whereby some were frozen to Death and others seized by Catarrhs and Rheums which made them uncapable of farther Service After this Orsoua surrendred to the Turks the Island of Orsoua surrendred to the Turks for want of Ammunition the Governor upon the Articles granted desired to be conducted to Belgrade not knowing but that it remained still in the hands
assaulted the Places appointed to them and in this general Storm the Auxiliaries forced into the middle of the Town separating the Defendants on the Right Hand from those of the Left The Fort of Cannina capitulates who finding themselves distressed on all sides spread a White Flag demanding to Capitulate the which being granted some Persons came forth demanding such exorbitant Terms as were not thought fit to be granted At length all was reduced to these Particulars namely That they should without further delay Surrender the Fortress into the Hands of the Venetians and march forth immediately with their Families Bag and Baggage Thus was the Fortress of Cannina delivered up to the Will and Pleasure of the Captain-General Cannina surrendred out of which came forth about 3000 Souls besides 546 of the Garrison and were with safe Convoy conducted to their Camp The loss on the Venetian side was not considerable as to the Numbers but for the Quality of the Persons killed and wounded amongst which Alvise Sagredo was wounded with a Musquet-Bullet in the Thigh and General Borri through the Body Persons of Quality â—illed of which he died to the great Sorrow and Lamentation of the whole Army likewise Monsieur de Moroglie Lieutenant General of the Forces of Malta whose Place was supplied by Sergeant-Major de Brossie a Person of approved Valour and prudent Conduct The Captain-General not being willing to lose the favourable advantage of the present Consternation the Enemy was in their Army being beaten in the Field and put to flight and the Fortress of Cannina delivered and the Cannon for several Batteries playing upon the Town of Valona it was thought fit to make ah appearance of the whole Army before the City and to affright them the sooner into a Surrender a threatning Summons was sent them with Menaces of giving no Quarter in case of Refusal but hereunto no Answer was returned by the Turks so that nothing but an obstinate Resistance was expected all things being silent and quiet in the Town during the whole Night At length in the Morning the like Quietness and Silence continuing it was discovered that the Turks had privately in the Night conveyed themselves away The Turks abandon Valona and cowardly abandoned the Town to the Pleasure and Will of their Enemies on the 18th of September 1690. In the Fortress of Cannina and in the Town of Valona 134 Pieces of Cannon were taken of several sorts of Metal as well of Brass as of Iron And in this manner this Enterprize ending to the great Glory of the Venetian Arms Te Deum was sung in Venice with much Joy and Triumph and greatly to the Honour and Praise of the Captain-General Cornaro who with equal Valour followed the Footsteps of his fortunate Predecessor Morosini Nor were the Venetian Arms less successful under the Command of General Molino in Dalmatia The Pasha of Arzigovina designs on the Greeks where Zenalee the Pasha of Arzigovina had a design with a Body of 3000 Horse and Foot to attack the new Subjects lately conquered by the Venetians the which being for the most part Christians of the Greek Church it was resolved to surprize them in the Easter Week when they were more attentive to Devotion than to the Exercise of their Arms but this Design was not so secretly managed but that it was discovered and brought to the knowledge of Pietro Duodo Proveditor Extraordinary of Cataro who upon the News immediately dispatched by an Express an Information thereof to the People of Nixichi advising them to be watchful against the Surprizes of their Enemy He attacks Nixichi Accordingly at the time appointed the Pasha moving from Nevissigne entering into the adjacent Parts of Nixichi began to execute all Acts of Hostility burning Houses and Villages making Slaves and taking a considerable Booty The News hereof being brought to the Churches where the People were assembled and intent at their Devotions they all ran out of their Churches and betook themselves to their Arms with such wonderful Celerity and Resolution that they unexpectedly assailed the Turks and after a sharp Conflict routed them Is beaten off and put them to Flight The Pasha endeavouring to stop their Career killed two of his affrighted Officers with his own Hand but Fear and Consternation had so possessed their Minds that nothing could give a hindrance or stop to their Course for all being in Confusion they trampled one on the other and in the Pursuit 400 Foot and 300 Horse were cut to pieces the Slaves which they had taken were set at liberty and the Booty recovered many Prisoners were taken amongst which were some principal Turks with the Pasha himself who being put into Chains offered 3000 Zechines with two Vests of Sables for his Ransome with some fine Horses and Arms of considerable value but the People of Nixichi were too generous to accept of a Ransome The Pasha taken Prisoner and rather chose to carry their Prisoner in Triumph unto Cataro than to accept of any Present whatsoever in lieu thereof From Cataro by order of General Molino the Pasha was on a Gally transported to Spalatro And least the Turks of Arzigovina being hereby incensed should be provoked to take a Revenge with greater force the General Molino for better security of that People ordered the Commander of that District to march with a Body of 300 Men to their assistance and to put all People into Arms that taking advantage on the present Consternation with which the Turks were affected they might with more ease enjoy the lasting Fruit of the present Victory With like happy Success was the strong Fortress of Filiporich situate in the Neighbourhood of Glamoz in Dalmatia Filiporich taken taken and destroyed by order of Molino directed to the Proveditor of Knin who accordingly executed the same with such Prudence and Vigour that having dis-speeded 500 Men to a Place called Dervis their fortune was to take 60 Turks which kept the Towers Houses and Moschs within that Precinct together with four small Guns some Musketoons Colours and other Arms of the Turks as also a considerable number of Cows and Sheep they also burnt three great Villages belonging to the Turks consisting of 500 Houses and took 32 Slaves Thus had all the Adventures of this Year answered the Expectations of the Venetians at Land better than those of the Germans had done at the Court at Vienna but yet an unhappy Encounter at Sea gave the Turks some cause to rejoyce and not a little tempered the Triumph of the Venetians the which happened in this manner About the opening of the Campaign on the 22th of March of this Year the Captain-General gave Orders to Admiral Valier Commander of the Ship St. Iseppo carrying 44 Brass Guns that taking with him for his Confort A Sea-Fight the Ship called the St. Mark he should sail to Milo there to collect the usual Charach or Tribute of that Island
William of England had gained at the Boyne in Ireland which served to augment the Triumphs with another triple Discharge of all the Cannon in the Army The Winter drawing near the greatest part of the Turkish Militia being under great Discouragements and having a long Journey Home thought fit to leave the Camp So did the Tartars Plundering all in their way so did the Arnouts and Albanians Septemb. and all the Soldiers whose Towns and Houses were not at a far distance so likewise the Spahee's stole privately away The Turkish Forces disperse and the Asiatick Horse made towards the Dardanelli where they passed into Asia and in this manner did all the Forces disperse that scarce any appearance remained of an Army or a Camp and those few who kept to their Colours were possessed with great Consternation upon the News that the Poles had actually Invaded Walachia and brought great Destruction and Ruine upon that Province The Weather beginning now to be Cold and Wet much incommoded the Soldiers of Prince Lewis his Army in their March especially the Foot who trashing through the Waters in a Country where was no Wood to Dry them or Warm and Dress their Victuals many of them fell Sick and Died. And indeed that Country as I have my self observed hath neither Timber nor Underwoods so that the Inhabitants live in Caves under Ground the Soil being of a stiff Clay grows hard with Fires like a Stone all their Fuel being Turf of which by the Laziness of the Inhabitants a sufficient store had not been gathered to furnish the present use of the Army Whilst the Army quartered in this Barren Country News was brought to Prince Lewis That General Veterani having heard of the Defeat of the Turks had Decamped from Dobra and was marched to Lippa where coming before the Town he sent his Summons to Surrender which being refused Lippa surrendered to General Veterani some few Bombs were cast into it which brought the Garrison to a Desire to Capitulate but nothing would be granted but a Surrender at Discretion In fine all the Men being 216 in number were made Prisoners together with three Pasha's viz. Mahomet Bey and one Ali Pasha who had been sent thither for a Place of Banishment by the Grand Vizier and also another Bey with a Ziorbassi or Captain In the Town were three Guns and two Mortar-pieces only with a good quantity of Ammunition but little of Provisions After which Count Guttensteyn was made Governour of the Place with some Hundreds of Men for a Garrison And whereas News was brought That Tekeli with five or 6000 Men was Quartered about Temeswaer it gave some Apprehensions of his Design to Invade Transilvania for which reason General Veterani kept his Station at Lippa to observe his Motions In the mean time Prince Lewis continued his March to Segedin where he refreshed his Army for some Days And here it was that a certain Turk came from Belgrade under a Pretence to demand the Exchange of 4000 Turks against so many Christians Pr. Lewis continues his March but this Proposal seeming fictitious he was suspected for a Spy seized and committed to Prison It being thought fit to secure Lippa lately taken the Prince sent his Adjutant-General with 12 Saicks laden with Provisions and some Money by way of the River Maroth to Lippa to Mend and Repair the Fortifications of that Place Reinforces Lippa and raise new ones where the Works were defective and for its better Reinforcement 2000 Rascians and Hungarians both Horse and Foot were sent to strengthen the Garrison The Prince likewise with the remaining part of the Army marched to Zolnock where the Horse having passed the Bridge for that purpose erected met on the same Day of their Arrival with the Field-Marshal Count Mansfelt and Major-General Aversberg at the same place A Party of Tekeli's Men defeated who had lately been detached in two Parties the latter of which had the fortune to surprize a Party of 600 Men belonging to Tekeli of whom they killed above 100 and made 32 Prisoners which gave so great an Alarm to others of their Companions which were posted near Great Waradin that in a precipitate Flight and Confusion they betook themselves to their Heels carrying withal their Bag and Baggage with whatsoever else was portable Nor was Count Schlick who Commanded the Blockade of Great Waradin less successful for having received Information That some Hundreds of Oxen belonging to that Garrison were Grasing in the Meadows near thereunto posted himself with 400 Horse in a small Wood over against the Place C. Schlick defeats a Party from Gr. Waradin ordering some Hussars to drive the Oxen towards the Wood where he lay in Ambuscade The Hussars following their Instructions in driving the Cattle were pursued by the Garrison till they came near the Wood when Schlick sallied out upon them and so vigorously Attack'd them that 400 Turks were killed on the Place many Prisoners taken and the Oxen carried clear away to the great damage of that Garrison This Success was followed by another of the like Nature for Schlick having understood from the Prisoners that a considerable Body of Tekeli's Men were Quartered in a Village on the other side of the City he took the opportunity of the Night to pass silently along and without any Noise surprize them and killed most of them in their Quarters after which he repassed with the like Privacy back without the least opposition to his own Camp It being now divulged that the Design of Prince Lewis was to turn the Blockade of Great Waradin into a Formal Siege Count Aversberg was Detached from the Army with a Body of Dragoons and Pioneers to Mend and Repair the Roads which were become almost unpassable especially for Cannon and Waggons laden with Provisions and Necessaries for the Army Count Schlick who was not as yet privy to this Design of the Prince observing by his Motion That Great Waradin was to be formally Besieged he privately conveyed himself and Troops into some Islands between the Rivers Korosh and Bozze and drove away the Enemies Cattle being about 900 Head and took some Prisoners from under the very Walls of the City and brought them all to his Camp As Schlick returned the Turks of the Place called to him and the Pasha desired a Parly with him in the open Field upon Parole which Schlick refused to do until he understood that Count Marsigli and his Chiaus were in the Town having been employed on the Negotiation of Peace Count Marsigli and his Chiaus at Great Waradin and then he yielded to an Interview with the Pasha who declared to him That the loss of their Cattle droven from under their Walls was not so much caused by the Negligence of the Garrison as by their attention to their New Guests whom they were entertaining with all Freedom and Friendship and so would seem to insinuate that for that reason it would be but
yet something of Action continued in Poland where on the 27th of September the Turks Attacked a Fortress called Soroka with an Army of 30000 Men Commanded by the Seraskier Mustapha Pasha Poland the same consisting of 8000 Turks 2000 under the Pasha of Silistria 6000 under the Hospodar of Valachia 2000 under the General of the Cossacks with 12000 Tartars With this Army as we say Mustapha Pasha Invested this small Fortress which was defended by a Garrison of 600 Men with most of which the Governour made a Sally on the same Day that the Enemy came before it and killed about 80 of the Besiegers and so returned to the Fort having first burnt the Suburbs to prevent the Enemy from taking Shelter therein So inconsiderable a Fort as this which might have been taken by this Powerful Army with open Breasts without the Methods of Trenches and Approaches The Turks vigorously Attack Soâ—oka was now Invested with all the Formalities of a Siege For the first Night the Turks began their Trenches and to throw Bombs into the Place and to raise a Battery of Great Guns which they plyed for three or four Days and Nights continually On the 1st of October they advanced their Trenches to the Ditch-side the which having filled up they stormed the Fortress but were repulsed with the loss of 600 Men notwithstanding which they made a second Attempt and entered the City and Burnt it but being again beaten out of it they continued the following Day to Fire without ceasing for the space of three or four Days Is well defended by which time tho' great Breaches were made yet the Besieged with indefatigable Industry repaired in the Night what the Enemies had ruined in the Day On the 5th and 6th the Turks took Post in the Ditch and endeavoured to fortifie themselves there but the Besieged Sallying out dislodged them from thence the Turks howsoever recruiting themselves with fresh Forces recovered their Post and having drained out all the Water from the Ditch they encompassed the Fortress round on all sides throwing thereinto Bombs Carcasses Stink-Pots and other Artificial Fires But neither these nor Batteries availing to terrifie the Besieged the Turks applied themselves to sink Mines which the Besieged having discovered made some of them useless by Countermines howsoever the Turks intending to Storm the Place on the 9th of that Month fired one of their Mines early that Morning which threw down part of the Wall and immediately they began to Storm the Place October which the Besieged withstood for four Hours together driving the Turks from the Walls as often as they advanced and planted their Colours thereupon In this Action the Besieged took three Standards The Turks repulsed and killed 800 of the Enemy and prosecuting this Success they drove them out of most of their Posts and Lodgments with the loss of 1000 of their Men and having gained six Ensigns they returned with Joy and Triumph to their Fortress October This Vigorous Defence so astonished the Turks and caused them to despair of taking the Fortress that silently in the Night they raised their Camp with so much Precipitation Raise the Siege that they left behind them two Great Guns and three Mortar-pieces with much Ammunition and Provisions The next Morning being the 11th of the Month the Besieged Sallying out found no Enemy near them The Action was very strange and almost Miraculous considering that the Turks had lost more than 4000 Men and the Christians had 150 Killed and 120 Wounded the Turks had an Army of 30000 Men to oppugne the Castle and the Christians no more than 600 to defend it And with this Action the Campaign ended as well in Poland as in Hungary After the Death of Sir William Hussey who Died as we have said the last Year at Belgrade William King of England c. immediately dispatched away Mr. Herbert in Quality of Ambassador to the Grand Seignior with Orders to reassume the Mediation of Peace between the Emperor and his Allies with the Sultan and not to lose the present Opportunity which looked favourable in regard to both sides Mr. Herbert had very little time given him to provide himself for so great an Undertaking and Journey over Land Mr. Herbert sent Ambassador to the Turks and tho' he was often afflicted with the Gout and not very well at ease when he begun so long a Journey yet being a Man of a great Spirit he forced himself that he might not lose the Merit and Honour of being the Instrument of procuring that Peace between the Emperor and the Sultan in which all Europe was concerned the Turks being then very low and much debased in their Spirits seemed flexible and inclinable to a Peace And not to lose this favourable Conjuncture the Journey of Mr. Herbert was pressed with all the haste imaginable but what with the Fatigue of the Journey and the Unquietness of his Mind for being obstructed in a Negotiation so much desired by him he became so violently Attacked by the Gout that he was forced to yield unto his Distemper and lay himself up for some Months at Frankfort so that it was March before his Arrival at Vienna and far in the Month of April before his Departure from thence during which time I received two Letters from him Mr. Herbert's Letters to the Author the chief substance of which was to complain of his want of Health and of the little appearance of a Peace between the Emperor and the Turks they despising as he said all the Overtures that had been made to them which had served only to exalt the French Ambassador and to keep the Turks from a Peace who imagined that such Instances would never have been made for Peace had the Christians not been droven to Extremities and want of Power to support and continue a War Howsoever Mr. Herbert in Obedience to His Majesty's Commands resolved to proceed and try his Fortune and being furnished by the Emperor the Venetians and the King of Poland with their Conditions respectively on the which they were contented to establish the Foundation of Peace he took his way down the Danube which was the most convenient Passage for a Person labouring under his Distemper And on this occasion I have thought fit to Insert the Propositions offered from the Allies unto the Turks which are these which follow PROPOSITIONS For a Lasting PEACE Offer'd at the Sublime Port by Mr. Herbert the English Ambassador 1692. Propositions Offered by the Emperor In Nomine Dei. Inter duos Imperatores pro fundamento almae Pacis prolatae Propositiones Prima Propositio NE futuris quoque temporibus inter utrumque Imperatorem aliquod intercedat dissidium sed firma Pax coalescat Caesarea Majestas occupatorum aliquam partem restituens reliqua verò retinens moderationem aequanimitatem ostendat si autem abnuerit retentis occupatis foederi terminus temporis praefigatur Secunda Propositio Sub patrocinio
Town where their Head-quarters were kept during the Winter season and thus all Military Actions ceasing license was given to the Militia of Anatolia to return home about the 20th of October unto their own Countries the which was more readily granted in regard to the great Mutinies and Insurrection of the People in the Lesser Asia and to the Venetian Successes at Sea in the Archipelago During the whole course of this Years Actions the Venetians were unprosperous their Design upon Canea failing them which they had streightly besieged for the space of a full Month and had hopes of carrying the Place had not a Thousand French A thousand Frenchâ— desert the Venetian Service leavied for Service of the Venetians deserted and at their first landing gone over to the Turks by whose assistance the Venetians were obliged most shamefully to raise the Siege with the loss of many Men and of most of their Cannon which was the substance and sum of all their Expedition for this Year 1692. About the end whereof the Grand Seignior had two Sons born to him who were Twins the one named Ibrahim and the other Selim on which occasion great rejoycing being shown Fires in Constantinople amidst thereof a dreadful fire happened at Constantinople which began at Balasa and consumed above 4000 Houses with about 2000 Shops This Fire happened in three several places of the City one of which being near the Great Mosche of Sultan Soliman one of the Menarees or Steeples thereof fell to the ground which the People interpreted for an evil Omen and Presage for the succeeding Year The Grand Vizier being returned from the War towards the end of October gave an account to the Grand Seignior of the state of the War and that he had given the Command of the Army unto Lame Husaein Pascia and odered him with 10000 men to watch the Motions of the Enemy and especially to take care of Temeswaer Anno 1693. THIS Year begins with the Death of the deposed Sultan Mahomet IV. who died of a Dropsie on the 4th of January 1693 which had like to have produced a Peace for the great Officers of the Empire being at that time assembled together at Adrianople Debates about a Peace a Council was held in which it was debated and concluded that the present state of the Ottoman Empire was such as required a Peace Howsoever another Party prevailed excited by the French Ambassador who very liberally dispensed his Presents amongst the Military Men in whose Hands at that time remained the Balance of War and Peace the which was actuated by two different Principles the one by the Presents given by the French and by the Arrival of several French Officers Engineers Gunners Artificial Fire-workers and some Money distributed amongst the Chief Turkish Officers for carrying on the War On the other side the Mediators as the English and Hollanders whose Business it was to procure a Peace seemed to over-act their Parts and by their Sollicitations and earnest Importunities enhansed the Price thereof and made the Turks believe that either the Emperor could not subsist without a Peace or that some Fraud lay couched under such Specious and Importunate Pressures My Lord Paget as we have said arriving at Adrianople the 31st of January March and having receiv'd his first Audiences with the Grand Seignior and Vizier he had another on the 14th of March following in Company with the two Ambassadors of Holland Heemskirk and Colyer wholly relating to the Peace at which were present the Chief Officers of the Empire but nothing more was done besides reading their Credentials publickly with the Propositions and so were dismissed for that time without a final Answer telling them that they should receive the same in four or five Days but on the 18th of this Month the Grand Vizier being displaced as was reported at his own seeking Mustapha Pasha the Chimacam succeeded him in the Sublime Office so that all Matters of the Treaty were at a stand and were to begin again but for the better undersanding the true state of these Affairs nothing can be more authentick and particular than what was Written in a Letter from Mr. Coke the Secretary to Sir William Trumball which was as followeth The Copy of a Letter from Mr. Coke to Sir William Trumball late Ambassador with the Grand Seignior Adrianople 28. May O. S. 1693. AS to the Negotiations of Peace I know it will be no surprize to hear they are in the same state as you left them For my part I was too short-sighted to discover those great Inclinations in the Port towards it which Seignior Colyer represented which had made such Impressions in Seignior Heemskirk that upon Mr. Herbert's Death he came flying with a full Sail down the Danube not to begin the Treaty but conclude the Peace and thought it was so easie that it was only to speak with the Vizier and the Business was done He arrived at Belgrade the first of October S. V. 1692 the next Day had Audience of the Vizier and the third he gave in Writing to Mauro Cordato to Translate and give the Vizier his Proposals for a Peace or Truce for 30 Years The substance of which for the Emperor was on the Foot of Uti possidetis under which Notion Transylvania to retain to him each liberty to fortifie in their Confines Teckely to be delivered up the Republick of Ragusa not to be called to Accounts for Arrears of Tribute or for the future pay any to the Port For Poland Restitution of Caminieck and with-hold in Podolia all Ucrania the Castelli on the Borysthenes Moldavia and Wallachia and if the Tartars made any Incursions into their Territories the Port to pay the Damages that Crown receiv'd For Venice the Province of Levadia Athens and Thebes to be given them as an Equivalent for the Morea and in like manner several Territories on the side of Lepanto and in Dalmatia He expected an Answer to this and that the Port would change their Old Style of receiving Proposals and making none into an open Negotiation by Writing but he found all this imaginary and not to be reduced to Practice Mauro Cordato told him These Proposals were injurious to the Empire and ask'd If he had no other to make The Reply was He had no more to say till he had an Answer to what he had already proposed which he had earnestly pressed for many Days in six Letters to Mauro Cordato The Anser was The Vizier was returning to Adrianople and must acquaint the Grand Seignior with what passed and he must go thither for his Answer This startled him who thought to have concluded the Treaty at Belgrade and immediately return'd so he pressed for an Answer or to be dismissed but was told He could not devest himself of his Character which remained till my Lord Paget arrived to whom Accidents might happen as had to other Ambassadors so he was forced to go by the Danube to Rusic and
to encourage and raise his Spirit a little he sent his Kuzlir-Aga in Ceremony with a great Attendance to carry to the Grand Vizier a Prayer which he himself had composed in the time of his Solitude and Seclusion from the World which were received with profound Respect the Bearer himself had five Purses presented to him and the Chief of his Attendants was treated with several Rich Vests and the others of meaner Degree had a good number of Zaichins distributed amongst them February The Grand Seignior also would not want his own Present which was in Horses and Jewels several Young Damsels richly adorned with above 100 Purses of Money and yet for all this the Vizier thought not himself safe nor did the bitter Thoughts of Death pass from him for whilst he was trembling for himself he received a Hatte-sheriff or a Royal Command from the Hand of the Grand Seignior requiring him to command the Chiaus Pasha to Arrest the Chimacam of Adrianople the Vizier's own chief Creature and Confident and to put him between the Gates a Prison for great Personages The Fault objected to his Charge was That in the time of the late Sultan Achmet he had put to Death two of this present Sultan's Favourites for endeavouring to promote the Interest of their Master to the Prejudice of the Ruling Prince Notwithstanding all which Mortifying Commands and Accidents the Grand Vizier appeared outwardly with a chearful Countenance for the least Sadness would have been interpreted for Contumacy and a Discontented Spirit against the Commands and Pleasure of his Master for which reason he bore up bravely against all Misfortunes concealing the Agitations of his Mind from all those who had Business with him and even from his own Domesticks At this time my Lord Paget Ambassador from His Majesty King William Lord Paget at Adrianople was then at Adrianople watching an Opportunity to make Proposals for a Peace with the Emperor of which tho' about the latter time of Sultan Achmet there was a great and a fair appearance yet after his Decease this young Sultan mounting the Throne all the hopes vanished he himself being of a hot and fiery Spirit was fully resolved to try his Fortune in the War from which Design neither his Mother nor his Women nor his greatest Favourites could divert them And the Kiah-Bey himself who was Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries a Person of great Esteem and Power in the Army was disgraced and put out of Office for arguing in the Divan against the Grand Seignior's taking ths Field this Year in Person These Changes had disconcerted all the Measures which my Lord Paget had taken towards a Peace of which there now remained no hopes for this Year for the Sultan was not to be removed from his Resolution nor the Soldiery averse to it having fixed it in their Minds that this Sultan was Lucky and Fortunate and was to restore all that had been lost since the Siege of Vienna and the fatal Managements of the Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha And to this purpose the Grand Seignior discoursing with the Vizier he told him how sensible he was of the evil management of Affairs in the Empire and that they were much worse than they had been in the time of his Father to restore which to a better Condition he again declared his Resolution to try his Fortune for another Year the which not succeeding well he was of an Opinion That he could at any time make a Truce with the Christians which perhaps he might be inclined to accept next Year not out of a Necessity thereof but in consideration to his People to whom after a long War of 17 or 18 Years he was glad to give Ease and Quiet for he was sensible that the Ottoman Empire was in great Disorder by reason of the Ignorance Negligence and ill Administration of some of the principal Ministers of State which he would make it his Care to remedy With these Resolutions of the Sultan all things were preparing to take the Field early with a strong Army it being divulged and published amongst the Soldiery that their first March should be towards Belgrade from whence if they could have made any Conquest on the other side of the Save the Turks might yet as low as they were have proved a troublesome and a dreadful Enemy to all Germany And indeed the Christians were more sensible hereof than formerly for the Turks had lately had many lucky Hits to encourage them and which did indeed animate the People very much seeming to them like good Omens of Change of Fortune in their favour For the Venetians had in two several Engagements at Sea been worsted by the Turks which was the cause of the Surrender of Scio to the Turks of which they possessed themselves without any great Difficulty where tho' the loss the Venetians had sustained both in Ships and Men was very considerable yet the loss of their Reputation at Sea was much more and of a more evil Consequence for the Turks animated hereby fell boldly upon the Venetians in the Morea and put them to the Rout fansying the Summer following to regain all again despising now the Enemy which lately they durst not see and were affraid to approach To these good Fortunes of the Sultan the News was added by way of Moldavia of a great Victory that the Tartars had obtained against the Poles which with the Successes the Ottoman Pasha's had obtained against the Rebels in Asia put all things at the Port into a smiling Condition no Man doubting but that the influence of these prosperous Beginnings would crown all the Actions of this New Sultan with Success and Victory The Fight between the Poles and the Tartars in the Suburbs of Leopolis happened on the 11th of February of this Year being Extracted out of a Letter of the Great General Written to the Envoy Cavalier Proski of the 16th of February from Leopolis An Extract of the Great General 's Letter Written to the Envoy Cavalier Proski WE have not only in the Season of the last Spring but during the whole Summer and Autumn lived in continual Alarms and Skirmishes with our Enemies but even in this very Winter been engaged with them in divers Bloody Fights And particularly on the 11th of this Month of February a Battle was made between 3000 of our Soldiers against 70000 Tartars within the Suburbs and under the Walls of Leopolis The Particulars of which are these Sultan Zabas Gerei A Fight between the Poles and the Tartars Son of the Tartar-Han who in the Month of October last gave up to our Hands all the Provisions belonging to the Turks which he had taken into his Care and Conduct to be Convoyed to Kaminieck of which Disgrace and Dishonour his Father being very sensible urged the Son to repair his Credit by some great Action worthy the Fame of his Valour and his Prowess in War Accordingly being assisted by all the Power of the Tartars
Retardments to the Motion of the War whereby many of the Chief Men had been killed which gave a stop to the March of the Militia To which also another stop was given by the News which the Tartar Han received That the Czar of Muscovy being joyned with the Cossacks was passing down the Tanais with design to fall upon Asac of which he gave Advice to the Grand Seignior by an Express dispatched to Adrianople acquainting him That the Enemies were grown so numerous that he could not this Year send his Troops to Hungary having hard Work to defend his own Country and People from so numerous an Army as that of the Muscovites joyned with the Cossacks But the Grand Seignior not satisfied with this Excuse returned an Answer That notwithstanding all Impediments to the contrary he must by all means come with a Numerous Army and appear in his Presence but this was impossible to be done the Soldiers and People not being contented to please the Grand Seignior to see their Country laid open and exposed to such a Powerful Enemy This Grand Seignior Sultan Mustapha when he came first to the Throne was Feared Esteemed Loved and Obeyed but the Affection of his People was soon estranged from him The Mufti Deposed the Vizier Strangled since he Deposed the late Mufti and caused the Grand Vizier with many other Persons Innocent and Worthy to be Strangled with Ignominy and Dishonour But the Mufti was most of all lamented having the Reputation of a Just Sincere Honest and a Holy Man in whose place the Sultan established his late Hogia or School-Master named Feizulah Effendi a Wicked False Perfidious and Covetous Wretch as he was generally esteemed to be The Grand Vizier as we have said was always affraid of the Changeable Humour of the Sultan and could not cover his Passion nor dissemble his Countenance of which the Sultan taking notice deprived him of his Office and Banished him at Midnight to Chisme which is a small Village on the Coast of Anatolia over against Scio but this Proscription continued not long before he was brought back again to Adrianople and Strangled and his Body flung out at the Seraglio-Gate where it remained until the next Day at Noon with the Face and Beard all besmeared with a At Adrianople all the Court was changed only the Grand Seignior when he first entered upon the Throne confirmed the Janisar-Aga in his Place who was an Honest Man and a good Soldier but soon afterwards he put him out and Constituted another in his Place called Baltagée Deli which signifies Mad Battle-Axe Man the Son of an Armenian Renegade a Vile Fellow without Sence or Manners Likewise the Kahya-Bey or Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries and the Kuzlir-Aga or Eunuch of the Women were displaced and in short since this Sultan came to the Throne there was nothing done but placing and displacing of the Principal Officers all which was acted by the Counsels of Women and Favourites in the Seraglio who neither had Sence nor Experience in the Affairs of the World The like soon after happened to the Chimacam who being a Friend to the late Vizier and one of his Creatures was Banished first to Mytilene where he was likewise Strangled from whence his Head being brought to Adrianople was thrown before the Gaâ—e of the Seraglio with divers others esteemed Innocent by the People Thus the Sultan as he thought having purged his Army of Cowards and his Counsels of Ill-affected Ministers began his March from Adrianople on the 10th of June June the Janisar-Aga marched away on the 3d The Army was said to be very powerful and composed of Choice Men which so encouraged the Turks that they talked of nothing less than the taking of Buda and about that time News came from Stalida de Zetuns a small Island near Negropont That Ibrahim Pasha of that Island had entered into the Morea with 30000 Men and was Encamped under Corinth expecting the Captain-Pasha who was then designing to depart from Constantinople in ten Days where he had been detained longer than was usual to repair the Damages which the Turks had received in their late Engagement against the Venetians Belonging to this Fleet seven Ships were appointed for Alexandria to fetch Soldiers thence for the Morea and likewise about this time Recruits were sent to the Black-Sea to several Ports there the Turks being in fear of the Moscovites who being very strong the Tartars were affraid to encounter them and would have excused themselves this Year from the War but the Sultan would not hearken thereunto but proceeded with Resolution on his March But before the Sultan began the same he caused the Tallol or Common-Cryer to make Publication That the Grand Seignior's Will and Pleasure was That no Man going to the Wars New Orders for the Army should be served by Young Boys That good Order and Discipline should be observed in the March That no Man should ride out of the Common High-Road or by Bye-Ways into the Corn-Fields or Vine-yards or other Grounds belonging to the Husband-Man In pursuance of these Commands the Sultan on the very Day that he departed from the Camp before Adrianople being then Teptil or in Disguise he found a Man cutting another's Corn to give his Horse and only asking him Whether he had heard of the Grand Seignior's Command He ordered the Selictar-Aga who was General of the Spahee's for he had no other with him excepting the Kapugiler-Kahyase at the same time to kill him which he presently executed with his Lancet not giving the Unhappy Wretch one Moment to speak for his Life The Grand Seignior's Severities At the same time also the Grand Seignior espyed another walking through the Corn whom he took and carried to the Tents where he caused his Head to be cut off The Topgibashee or Master of the Ordnance likewise the Day or two before very hardly escaped for having a Boy in his Company of whom the Grand Seignior had some Jealousie or ill Thoughts had certainly been put to Death for the same had he not had some present Witnesses at hand to prove him to be his Son These and such like Acts of Severity rendered this Sultan very formidable so that all People were afraid of him not only in their Publick Actions but even in their Private Conversation scarce trusting their own Thoughts Amongst these Severities Achmet Pasha late Chimacam to Sultan Achmet was turn'd out of his Office by this present Sultan and Banished to Mytilene and after having taken from him an hundred Purses of Money his Head was brought to Adrianople about two Days after the Vizier had been Strangled All things being now prepared for the March of the Army towards Belgrade the Janisar-Aga with his Janisaries according to the usual Custom took the Van and marched away one Days March before the rest of the Army so that the Grand Seignior attended by the Mufti Grand Vizier Spahilar-Aga or General of the Spahees Tefterdar
or Lord-Treasurer began their March following the Janisaries on the 20th of June June but after some few Hours they made a Halt to give time to three of the greatest Pashas or Beglerbeys of the Empire to come up with them that is to say to the Pasha of Damascus the Pasha of Aleppo and Beglerbey of Anatolia every one of which brought with him about 1200 Men recounting Spahees and Sarigiaus and Segmen on Horseback with all which and others attending the Sultan in his March they did not amount to more than 12000 Horse with which he marched from Adrianople in six Days to Philippopolis and Encamped over against that City in those Plains where a great Council of War was held touching the Methods which were to be observed in the War and the Places which were to be Attacked The Numbers of this Army appeared so small and inconsiderable that the Sultan remained very much unsatisfied and would not be contented unless the Tartar Han would follow him with all his Force unto the Camp at Belgrade but he positively refused it and said That it could not be done unless he should expose and lay his People open to the Incursions of the Muscovites who were coming down in vast Numbers to over-run all the Regions of the Tartars Howsoever not to displease overmuch the Grand Seignior the Tartar Han forced himself to appear in the Turkish Camp with an Army of about 5000 Tartars which was a good addition to the Turkish Force so that in all they composed an Army of about 50000 Men. The Christian Army led by the Elector of Saxony was not much stronger but very desirous to meet the Turks who had taken their March towards Transylvania But in regard the Turks were so far advanced before the Imperial Army that it was impossible for the Elector to come in opportunely and in season to succour the Places which the Sultan designed to Invest unless they could take a shorter way which was offered unto them being guided by some of that Country but the Ways proved so bad being all Marshes and Wet Grounds that it was impossible to pass them with the Cannon and heavy Baggage of an Army so that after great Fatigues of three or four Days Marches the Elector was obliged to return back again to his former Camp and in the mean time the Turks had got such a way before them towards Transylvania that it was impossible for them to be overtaken by the Christian Army and having liberty to rove every where without any Opposition equal to them they fell in upon the Palanca of Lippa on the 7th of September Septemb. without Breast-works or Parapets or any Approaches Defence or Shelter before them but only with the Scimiter in their Hands they Attacked the Palanca at four several Places with such incredible Resolution that after four Hours Engagement they took the Place by Storm and put all to the Sword excepting only Major Toldo who was Governour of the Place with some others of the Principal Officers whom the Turks after their usual Custom reserved to carry in Triumph and to show them to the People at the Port as one Signal of their Victory In the mean time the Imperial Army continued their March near to Chonad situate upon the River Maros and on the 13th of that Month pitched their Camp before Natla where they reposed that Day and the 14th marched directly to Lippa hoping to overtake the Turks and to come time enough to Attack the Enemy and relieve the Place but they found it too late and the Turks reinforced with an Army of 6000 Tartars Commanded by the Han in Person This News gave a stop to the March of the Imperial Army under the Command of the Elector of Saxony and what was most discouraging was the News That the Turks lead by the Sultan himself in Person were marched into Transylvania Veterani defeated to Attack Count Veterani in his Camp which consisted not of above 6500 Men who tho' they were very well fortified and Resolute Men and good Soldiers yet being too unequal a Match for the whole Turkish Army which consisted of 18000 Janisaries and 40000 Spahees they were all cut off with the most part of their Officers and as to General Veterani himself he was shot through the Body with a Musquet-Bullet and cut over the Head with a Scimiter notwithstanding which he being still alive Endeavours were used for his Recovery but he Died of his Wounds This ill News was followed by the unfortunate Loss of Titul which the Turks having Attacked by Land and Water with 15000 Men the Place Surrendered it self to the Turks by Treaty in vertue of which the Garrison consisting of 1600 Men ought according to Articles to have been Convoyed to Peter Waradin but the Turks returning after they had Burnt and Abandoned the Place carried all the Garrison with them to Salankement This Place was taken by the Turks before that General Herberville who was Encamped with 6000 Men near Kobila as also fortified with 8 Galleys and 16 Frigats could hinder the Enemies Approaches After which the Turks leaving the Place the Imperialists entered into the same and took Possession of all what the Turks had ruined for nothing was left but heaps of Rubbish In the mean time the great Army under the Command of the Elector of Saxony advanced so far as Solnak where the Grand Seignior having received intelligence That the Christian Army was marching towards him hastned with all speed for Temeswaer with intention to enter into Sclavonia Upon which the Elector of Saxony made a Halt and on the 17th marched back and pitched his Camp about half an Hours distance from Chonad and the next Day being the 18th continued his March as far as Mokoua But whereas Advices came That the Enemy designed to enter Transylvania the Elector resolved to send all the Infantry to Peter Waradin whilst he in Person marched with the Horse to oppose the Enemy giving Commands to the National Militia of Sclavonia to joyn with the Croats to oppose the Entrance of the Turks into that Province And here it was that certain Intelligence was given of the Defeat of that Worthy General Veterani and that he was dead of his Wounds which News was received with much grief of all Brave and Worthy Champions for the Christian Cause After which Count Heisler took the Van of the Army and marched before them for Deva there to provide all sorts of Provisions for sustenance of those who were to follow and to assemble the Estates of Transylvania commanding them to meet His Electoral Highness and consult with him in the best manner how things might be put into a posture of Defence for the Safety and Security of that Province At which time also came the unhappy News of the loss of Titul taken by the Turks It was the common Opinion at that time of all the well experienced Soldiers That the Martial Affairs of the Empire
reason he was much lamented at the Court and most especially by the Queen-Mother not only because he had been her Son-in-Law but a Person endued with many Rare and Excellent Vertues Besides which the famous Mahmud Pasha Celebrated by all to be one of the most Accomplished Soldiers of this Age and the most Warlike Cavalier of all the Ottoman Nation He was an Albanian Born a Man of great Reputation and Fame called Mahmud Bei Oghli and was slain with three Carbine-shots and fell amongst the most Renowned Officers of the Turks These two were said to be the first who broke into Veterani's Army one to the Right and the other to the Left-Wing where they found and encountred such unexpected Opposition that the Turks confessed That they had never met the like and had not prevailed against their Enemies at that time had it not been for the Resolution and Bravery of their Fortunate Sultan who standing in the Rear with his Scimiter in his Hand hindered the base intended Flight of his Soldiery This Action gave a full stop to all the following Designs of this Year for the Turks reasoning with themselves That in case so small an Army as that of Veterani was able to do such Feats what would become of their Forces were they to engage against the whole entire Army of the Kral that is the Elector for they call the King of Poland Kral and so other Inferiour Princes to the Emperor whom they call Kaisar but the King of England they could never be taught to call otherwise than Kral The Grand Seignior having made his Triumphant Entry into Constantinople the Militia of Asia which attended the Sultan from the War had licence given them to return Home to their own Countries and Orders were given to open a Door as they call it to enroll Janisaries according to the usual Ceremonies used on those Occasions and care was taken to Arm them as well the New Janisaries as the Old Veterane Albanian Troops as also the Levents or Marine Regiments and to recruit their Numbers of which several had been lost in the late Engagements at Sea the which tho' they had not for many Years been fought with so much equality of Fortune between the Venetians and the Turks as they had been for this Year yet it was not determined which side had gained the better tho' the Turks avoided the Fight so much as was possible and thereby gave an evidence of their own Weakness and doubtful Condition It hath been long since we have heard any Discourse of Tekely Tekely neglected being not regarded so much by any as by the French Ambassador for as to the Turks they had no Opinion of him nor would they have it be thought that they had any need of his Forces or Interest of his Party in Hungary but suffered him to Lodge in one of the vilest Streets in the Town amongst Jews and the meaner sort of the Armenians called Balata his Countenance was much changed pale and fallen and his Feet Swelled so that his Enemies scorned him and his Friends could expect nothing more of good from him The Year drawing now towards an end all the Endeavours of the Turks were to begin the following Year with greater Forces than that of the preceding and herein they were the more concerned in regard of the Moscovites who were coming down upon the Tartars with vast Numbers of Soldiers and all things prepared to make War upon them and to take Asac at least the Diversion hereby would be great and so employ the Tartars that to defend their own Countries they would be obliged to desert the Service and Cause of the Turks Howsoever the Successes of the Turks had been this Year so great as gave them courage to consider in what manner they might be able to form two Armies for the next with one of which the chief Design was to enter Transylvania and if possible to make Peace with the Moscovites by the Negotiations of the Tartars but all this came to nothing as we shall see by the Sequel of the following Year Anno 1696. THO' the Turks had gained some advantage the last Year over the Venetians both by Sea and Land namely in the Recovery of Scio and by giving a Check or Stop to the Venetian Fleet yet they gained little more thereby than some little Fame and Reputation to the present Sultan Mustapha whom the People began to consider as a Deliverer sent to them from Heaven to recover their almost lost Empire which lay under sad Distresses as well in Asia as in Europe This Opinion of the People when they observed the Justice the Courage and the Resolution of this Sultan to go in Person to the War and that nothing could divert him from it gave them Courage and Assurance to expect a turn of Fortune and hopes of better Successes for the future and tho' the French promised them not to make Peace without them but to joyn with them in a perpetual League of Friendship yet the Turks did not much trust them but kept a watchful Eye over them knowing very well how little stress there is to be laid on the Promises of the Great Monarch of France who was also equally Jealous of the Faith of the Turks and both of them equally doubtful of one another This Great Ottoman Empire had the last Year changed both their Master and the Chief Officers without any considerable Change or Troubles in the State amongst themselves for that this Sultan in whom clearly appeared a Spirit of greater Wisdom and Courage than in his Father Mahomet IV or in his Uncle's succeeding him gave the Soldiery and the People such Hopes and Expectations from him that none durst open his Mouth or lift up his Hands against him there appeared also something more of Justice and Vertue in him and of Diligence and Care and Sedulity in his Business than was found in his Father or in any of the succeeding Uncles as we have formerly said which gave hope to the great Governors of the Empire that under him the Losses which the Empire had sustained in these last Wars might be repaired for tho' the Recovery of the Isle of Scio was made before he came to the Throne and consequently might be looked upon as an effect of his Uncle's Counsels for that Mustapha did not enter upon the Government until the end of January 1695 when that Scio had been taken about a Month before by the Turks but that falling so near to the time that Mustapha came to the Throne that piece of good Fortune was looked upon as an effect of the Wisdom of the New Emperor rather than of the Uncle Achmet's Counsel by which and by some other Exploits of the preceding Year in 1695 Mustapha grew high in the Opinion of the People and the Soldiery to which some Successes being added as the taking of Titul and Lippa with the Defeat given to Veterani for which the Turks paid very dear and
would not have been cried up for a Victory had not Victories become very rare in those Days their Hopes were very big and that he might make these Actions the more Triumphant and Glorious the Grand Seignior dispatched away several Messengers to the Kings of Persia and the Princes of Arabia and to other Tributaries to communicate unto them all his Successes and Victories of the last Year whereby he hoped to encourage the drooping Spirits of his own Soldiers and confirm those of his Friends and Allies unto him The Loss of Scio was certainly not very considerable to the Venetians at that time after they had gained it from the Turks for Conquests at such a distance from them can never turn to any Account or benefit The Morea indeed may be a more useful Conquest than any of those on the Coast of Asia where the Turks are far stronger than on the Coast of Europe and this Year also the Venetians had been most successful in those Parts of the Morea having Defeated the Turks there in all their Attempts in this as well as several other Years but these Successes are not likely to be continued for unless the Venetians increase the Number of their Ships at Sea and augment their Forces at Land and make good choice of their principal Commanders all Matters will probably go backwards for such Generals as Morosini and Konismarc are not easily to be found under whom all things thrived and prospered so that it were now to be wished that the Venetian Forces were more numerous than formerly and composed of their own Subjects rather than of Foreigners But the Turks had a more watchful Eye over their War in Hungary and the Parts about Belgrade and Transylvania than either in Asia or other Countries of Europe or over the Province of Bassora or Basorat of which the Arabians had made a late Conquest over the Turkish Basha of that Country who having but 2000 Men with him was forced to submit to the greater force of the Arabs and upon his Surrender made a Capitulation with them That he might pass into Persia where he was well received at Ispahan by the King being a Wise Man and a Soldier About the same time likewise Solyman Bey a Turk a Native of Curdistan having routed a Party of Persians on the Frontiers had a Commission given him by the Grand Seignior to do all the Mischief he was able on the Frontiers of Persia not on the Persians only but on the Georgians and Arabians who had joyned together and made themselves Princes of those Provinces The Venetians at Sea give a Defeat to the Turks Nor did the Affairs of the Turks prosper better at that time in the Morea where a strong Party of the Venetian Forces made an Irruption upon the Turks and advanced so far as Thebes where the Turks received an entire Defeat all the Country being Spoiled Plundered and Sacked by the Venetians who upon their return carried with them a great Booty with vast Numbers of Turkish Slaves Whilst these Matters were transacting the Sultan was diligently employed at the Port in forming a Numerous Army and providing all things for the Support and Maintenance of them Nor was the like Diligence wanting in preparing and setting forth their Fleet and putting them into a posture capable to Fight and Engage the Venetians but as to the Land-Forces the Campaign of this Year began early in the Month of May when the Heydukes in divers places of Sclavonia assembled themselves in a Body to the Number of 400 Men with which they passed the Save and made an Inroad so far as Nissa about eight or nine Days to the Eastward of Belgrade and in that March they drove away great Numbers of small and great Cattle after which they contrived in what manner to make their Retreat but as they thought thereupon the Garrisons of Belgrade and other Neighbouring Places made a Sally out upon them with a Party of about 2000 Men Horse and Foot who being informed of the Enemies Design they drew up so advantagiously in a Wood and received them with so great Bravery that after several Repulses given them in which great Numbers were Killed and Wounded were at length forced to fly and quit the Field whilst the Sclavonians made good their Retreat and proceeded happily in their Design which is all the Prologue that was made to the succeeding Actions of the following Campaign only every thing began then to dispose it self towards a Bloody War and for Action of the following Year When the Duke of Lorain made his first Campaign in Hungary in Quality of Major-General of the Imperial-Army Commanding in particular the Regiments of St. Croix de Commerci and Bassompierre in which Commands this Young Prince evidenced to the World a clear Inclination and Disposition to the War agreeable to the Mind of his Illustrious Ancestors Whilst things were thus preparing in Hungary News came to the Port from Diarbekir giving the Relation of a Fight between the Rebels in those Parts and the Turks in which the Turks had been Defeated and their General The Pasha of Diarbekir put to Flight the Pasha of Diarbekir put to Flight at a Place not far from Sivas The Particulars of which succeeded in this manner When the Pasha heard where the Rebels were Encamped he presently marched against them with a Body of 3600 Horse Commanding two other Pashas with a force of 2000 Horse more to fall upon the Rebels and getting between them began to Kill and Destroy them without giving Quarter to any of them The Rebels having had timely notice of this Motion of the Pasha's they mounted their Horses with much Courage and Activity towards the Evening and taking a Round about the Mountain by favour of the Moon they marched all that Night and in the Morning early they fell in with the Turkish Seraskier or General with their Swords And the Turks defeated or Scimyters and with their Pikes and Lances whence arose a very Bloody Fight which held for the space of two Hours to the great loss and diminution of the Army of the Turks and danger of the Pasha's Life who being put into great fear quitted the Field and fled leaving the Spoil to the Enemy with which they being encouraged they marched towards Aleppo and from thence exacted what Money and Provisions that rich Province could afford them upon pain of Military Execution at which the Sultan was so enraged that he gave out present Orders to raise the Nefiran which is the Militia of the Eastern Countries and like one Man to rise and joyn themselves against the Enemy Besides which many other things were to be done both by Sea and Land and that with all Expedition in regard that the force of the Rebels growing daily greater their Power would with much more difficulty be subdued And in regard there was a necessity of putting the Fleet to Sea with all expedition all other Affairs were laid aside until
from Hungary bringing News That our Army under the Command and Conduct of Eugenius Prince of Savoy did not only on the 10th of this instant Month Valiantly Attack the Ottoman Camp fortified upon the Banks of Tibiscus or Theysse with a treble Ditch and with a Force of Thirty Thousand Men therein but assisted by the Gracious Favour of Almighty God most happily subdued them killing Ten Thousand of them upon the Place amongst which were the Supream Vizier and Aga of the Janisaries and the rest which the narrowness of the Bridge could not contain threw and precipitated themselves into the River where the greatest part of them were Drowned with Seventy two Pieces of their Cannon with some Thousands of Waggons laden with Provisions which all fell into our Hands and all which was done on our sides with the loss only of 500 Men and about as many Wounded After this Battle was ended all was in great Confusion amongst the Turks and every one shifted as well as he could to escape The Grand Seignior himself posted to Temeswaer from whence he dispatched a Black Eunuch to his Mother with the unhappy News of the late ill Success and the Particulars of it to avoid false Reports which upon this Occasion might be apt to be spread abroad of the Death of himself and other Sinister Rumours more fatal to the Empire than ever was known afore times and might terrifie the Valide Soltana who by the News of the Life of her Son might take Heart and receive Comfort and prevent the Mutinies amongst the Soldiery and People who were too ready upon such an Evil Report to Enthrone the Brother of Sultan Achmet the last Brother of the three lately Deceased But it being known that Sultan Mustapha was certainly Alive all was pacified which being of so great Importance the Grand Seignior sent a Letter as I said to his Mother by a Black Eunuch by way of Nicopolis who was a Magriplee or an Abyssine or Ethiopian well beloved by the Queen and greatly Confided in by her The Relation on the side of the Turks was represented as favourably as the thing would bear in which he declared That there had been a very great Battle near a River in which his Person was not present and so was safe but his Vizier being Engaged against an Army of 100000 Men was Slain together with the greatest Number of Janisaries and Foot Soldiers and those of the Principal Officers the which Relation he also dispatched by the second Master of the Horse with a Coftan to Hussaein Pasha declaring him to be Grand Vizier which happened well for the Christians for he was a Man always inclined to a Peace and no great Friend to the French Inclinations of the Turks towards a Peace he was a great Lover of Wine which mollified the Rigorous Temper of a Turk and made him more Jocund and Easie than commonly the Water-Drinkers amongst the Turks profess to be at which News the Christians immediately conceived an abundance of Joy not doubting but that a Peace would immediately ensue as it did accordingly for all People were grown weary of so long a War which had now continued for about twenty Years with very Unfortunate Successes to the Turks both by Sea and Land After all which the Grand Seignior returned with what speed he could to his Seraglio at Adrianople where all things had put on a Countenance of Melancholy and Sadness In the mean time the Christians resolving to prosecute and follow their Blow whilst the Turks with Fear and Disorder were flying homeward the Prince Eugenius of Savoy spent the whole Day on the 12th of October in passing the Imperial Army over the Save October but the River being narrow and the Weather good and favourable they arrived early in the Camp on the other side And next Morning of the 13th they began their March towards Bosnia which was difficult to pass by reason of the Mountains Woods and Rocks in the way which was rude and unbeaten Upon the 14th of this Month the Body of the Army Encamped about Kottor where the March had been worse and more difficult and longer by an Hour than the Day before and tho' Colonel Kyba with his Squadron was marched before howsoever he proceeded not in his March because he had News on the way and chiefly from Bagnaluca That the Enemy had not the least Intelligence of the Advance of the Imperial Army so that he made a Halt until His Most Serene Highness was come up to joyn the Body under his Command that so they might hold a Conference and Council of War together which they performed standing not to lose time and then Colonel Kyba proceeded with his Forces unto Castle Doboy where was a Garrison of Turks and was situated two or three Hours from the Christian Camp And here it was thought fit not to go farther this Night because they concluded that they were not as yet discovered by the Enemy because they had not heard them shoot the Alarm as their Custom was to do whensoever they discovered any Body of Men approaching towards them and so to keep all things still without any discovery they marched with much silence without Beat of Drum or Sound of Trumpet And the very same Day the Prince of Savoy arrived in the Camp where a Council of War being called it was concluded That Colonel Kyba should be dispatched away before to take Possession of some Ground near to the Turkish Castle of Doboy as was formerly agreed and there to form his Camp where he was reinforced with 600 Men Upon appearance of which his Orders were That in case the Castle did not presently Surrender he should march immediately forward and without loss of time march into the Country leaving the last 600 Men before the Castle to inclose the Enemy who should soon be reinforced by 200 Men more And so should proceed to the second Castle called Maglay where finding Opposition he should leave that likewise October and so proceed forward By this time or towards the Morning of the 15th of this Month some Shooting was heard which was the first Signal of an Alarm Howsoever they continued to March without beating their Drums or sounding their Trumpets but this Days March was more troublesome and difficult than the Day before by reason that it was through Hilly and rough Places Howsoever coming at length to Castle Doboy they Summoned the Place to Surrender the which being denied at first by the Turks in Garrison the Christians laboured all Night and in that time raised a Battery on which they planted six Pieces of Cannon with two Mortar-pieces Castle Doboy Surrenders The Day following the Cannon beginning to play the Turks Capitulated and Surrendered themselves at Discretion and Mercy of the Enemy The Garrison consisted of about 80 Men out of which they made Prisoners of such as appeared to be the most Soldier-like Men as for others who were Old and Infirm
be allowed Howsoever several Parties on the 24th returned from abroad bringing some Prisoners with them and many poor Christians came likewise Voluntarily in with Resolution to pass the Save upon the Return of the Imperial Army which happened to be on the 25th and 26th but Colonel Kyba staid as he usually did some time behind to burn and destroy every thing that remained as yet unconsumed And on the 27th they marched on until they came to the Camp which was before Seniza And on the 28th they entered into bad Defiles and at length into the Valley of Orohovitz where the Artillery and Waggons joyned again with the Army The 29th they Encamped near Schebze where Advices were brought to the Generals in what manner the Enemy was gathered into a Body near Belgrade consisting of several Thousands of Men. Lastly The Imperialists returned again over the Save carrying with them a great quantity of Turkish Cloth with many Turkish Women and Goods belonging to the saved Christians with a great quantity of small and great Cattle After the Return of the Christian Army under the Command of Prince Eugenius of Savoy from the Fortunate Successes in Bosnia the Troops were commanded on the 30th of October to march from Marga towards Caranzebes from whence on the very same Evening Lieutenant-Colonel Count of Herberstein was Commanded to March before with his National Militia of Rascians joyned with some Germans And the 31st was appointed for a Day of Repose and Rest for the whole Army and on that Occasion sufficient Provisions were made both for Horse and Man When on the first of November the Body of the Army began to move from Caranzebes and in grievous Weather with Rain and Snow marched all the way so far as Soczan And then about two a Clock in the Afternoon they made a Halt near Gialuk in the Valley of Carassona And on the third they pitched near the deserted Village of Petrovizas From whence on the 4th Days March a Detachment was sent before to Invest the Fort of Vypalancha where the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment of Rabutin Lord of Graser with a Body of 500 Horse had taken his Post or Possession and seated himself on the side of the Danube about 100 Paces from the River advancing to the Pallisadoes and there immediately began to fire upon the Place and to Entrench with so much diligence that in a short time they had opened the Trenches 200 Paces and having prepared the small Pieces of Cannon which they brought with them and one Mortar-piece they began therewith to make their Batteries The 5th Day in the Morning they set in order their Batteries and began also to throw Bombs into the Palanca which they found to be much more strong than it was believed at first for that it was encompassed with a double Ditch and treble Rows of Pallisadoes and a place of Retreat guarded with 400 Men and well provided of all things and for the better Security they had made some hundreds of Faggots and in the mean time the Turks in a great Body showed themselves upon another Stream of the Danube above and others at the Foot of the Mountain near to Rham together with Saicks and Frigats on the River Likewise on the other side of Belgrade near Kroska Semandria Columbas Isbeck and Gradiska which were all places so near that in 24 Hours time Succours might be brought from them at least to hinder if not totally prevent the Designs of the Enemy For which reason the General Count Rabutin resolved to lose no time but forthwith to make an Assault upon the Place and if possible to take it by force to which end he prepared 500 Germans and 200 Rascians to make the Attack upon the Place On the 6th with dawning of the Day appeared on the other side of the River a great number of the Turkish Boats battering with their Cannon as they had done all the Day before against the Christian Camp And in the mean time with the Break of Day the Attack began in two Places at the same time that is upon the left Hand of the Danube where the greatest difficulty was under the Command of Heer Viart Sergeant-Major of the Hanover Troops and then on the right Hand on the River Cerasse where the Soldiers to pass the Water Waded up to the Middle under the Command of Captain Beaumont of the Regiment of Rabutin And to give the greater Inconvenience to the Enemy they fired their Cannons continually without Intermission as also their Bombs besides Small-shot from 250 Men out of the Trenches but in regard that in the Night before certain Recruits were sent to reinforce the Place together with a Boat on Board of which were 100 Men from Columbas and Isbeck with new Ammunition so that they met with very much resistance besides they Storm'd without making any Breach and that in the sight of 20 or 30 Saicks and Frigats which appeared above and below the Place insomuch as things looked more doubtful and hazardous than with any promising Countenance of Success Howsoever General de Rabutin and Sergeant-General Count de Leiningen applyed all possible care and Industry to hinder and prevent the Enemies Succours from coming upon them by which the Soldiers at the appearance and so near an approach of their Enemies again reassumed new Courage and tho' they were at first well enough animated when they observed the Turks come upon them with their Cries of Allah Allah which they usually make upon their Charge and that 400 of their Horse remained for a Reserve the Vigour and Spirit was renewed on all sides and then with Axes and Hatchets they cutting down the Pallisadoes gained so much Ground that all things laid open before them So that after a doubtful Conflict of about an Hour and a half the Place was overcome and taken by the Valour of the Christians so that not only the Commander in Chief Hay Beigh but all the Garrison with the Inhabitants without any Exception were Killed or droven into the Danube All which was done and acted in a very short time which was well that it so happened for had it admitted of any farther delay the Christians would have encountred many more Difficulties for that the Turks were bringing over many Succours which would have caused very dangerous Diversions When on the contrary the Turks lost 800 Persons and the Christians only 10 which was almost a Miracle to consider General Rabutin was always present on the right Hand during the Assault and after it the better to Encourage the Soldiers he alighted from his Horse and having Commended and Praised every one publickly in his Place according to his Deserts and especially the Sergeant-General Count of Leiningen who had the left Wing under his Conduct and had done and acted as much as could be expected on such an Occasion and indeed both he and Sergeant-Major de Viart showed as much Bravery Conduct and Military Experience as could be desired of the
which we have a fresh Instance by Letters of the 15th of July last from Constantinople which tell us That the Chimacam of that place had received an Express Command or Decree from the Sultan to Exile or Banish Tekely into some Island of the Archipelago At the first coming of this News Tekely was strangely Surprised and was half Dead with the Apprehensions thereof the Remembrance of his Journey to Belgrade and Terrours thereof were scarce out of his Mind before another Scene of Banishment was presented to him into an Island where was no Sustenance fit for his Weak Indisposed Body nor no Consolation or Comfort to be expected from Society or Conversation of Mankind nor yet from his Wife neither who poor Lady by this hard Usage was struck with an Astonishment and both joyned together in their loud Exclamations against the Ingratitude and Tyranny of Princes who have no Tenderness of Compassion for any but themselves for if they had had they would never have exposed two such Noble Families unto Ruine and Destruction After all which Hardship it is believed that the Turks will scarce suffer them to arrive unto the Place of their Banishment but by the way take their Lives as hath been the Practise commonly amongst the Turks on the like Occasions And this sad Account shall suffice to put an end to the many Tragedies of this History FINIS AN Alphabetical TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL MATTERS Contain'd in this BOOK A. AChmet Proclaim'd Emperor p. 398. His Character ibid. and 399. Falls ill but recovers 430. His Qualifications 431. Sick of a Dropsy 50x Dies p. 522. Achmet Aga defeated p. 192. Sent to Belgrade to discover the state of Alba Regalis 276. Is taken and his Confession ib. Adrianople Consultations there p. 424. Polish Envoy has Audience of the Tartar Han there p. 512. Affairs of the Turks in a doubtful Condition with the Muscovites 13. Albanians fall on the Turks 270. Alba Regalis the Grand Vizier there 100. Pasha thereof endeavours to secure it 231. It s state ib. In distress 276. Mutinies 280. Ali Pasha made Grand Vizier p. 511. Amanzega Bar. of defeats the Pasha of Gradisca 287. Ancient Seat of Ladislaus Cziacchy plunder'd and burnt 352. Apasi the Emperor affraid of him 3x Assists the Malecontents ib. Seeks a Quarrel with the Emperor 37. Plot against him 40. His Declaration 92. Desires a Neutrality 189. Is in distress 193. Treaty between him and the Emperor 198. Orders sent to the Grand Vizier to relieve him 199. Sends Deputies to the Duke of Lorrain 261. Apti Pasha Governor of Buda 201. He is Summoned to Surrender and his Answer 207. Kill'd 217. Arad taken and in it a rich Booty 186. Argos Castle describ'd 226. Turks retreat and quit it 227. Surrendred 228. Army The Order of that of the Christians 118. 126. 167. Mutiny in that of the Turks 124. That of the Turks petition against Solyman 251. Disposition of that before Gran 137. Number of that of the Turks 139. That of the Christians repasses the Danube 142 That of the Turks near Buda 167. Ill Condition of that of the Turks 171. That of the Christians reinforced 242. That of the Turks appears 244. That of the Christians passes the Drave 250. News from that of the Turks 253. They march to Constantinople ib. Inflexible 255. Miserable ib. Seditious 302. That of the Christians passes the Save 307. Great Misery in that of the Turks 424. Armies in sight of each other 168. March 200. Arnauts List themselves under the Germans 353. Athens Besieged 271. Taken 272. Described ib. Austria States thereof conven'd 27. Auxiliaries of the Emperor 157. B. BAden Pr. Lewis of at Ratisbonne p. 280. His Character 298. Marches toward Gradisca 307. Passes the Save 313. Is recall'd to Vienna 319. Resolves to attack the Seraskier 341. Writes to the Vizier 344. Marches to Nissa ib. Engages the Turks near Nissa 345. Marches to Widin 348. Is at Jagodina 378. Prepares to fight the Turks 387. Views the Troops 400. Baragotski and Smith Generals defeated 39 Barcan taken 127. Barsfelt taken 155. Basignani Engineer fails in his Design and is kill'd 322. Bavaria Elector of Marries the Emperor's Daughter 156. Comes to the Camp before Newhausel 166. His Proceedings before Buda 201. Secures the Works he had taken 210. Comes to the Camp at Salankemen 238. Vizier's Tent allotted to him 245. His Character 298. Made General of the Emperor's Forces the Duke of Lorrain being sick 301. Hastens to the Camp 305. Prepares to march for Belgrade 307. Returns to Vienna 314. Beck Gen. made Governour of Buda 219. Beck the Garrison thereof make a Sally 395. Belgrade the Grand Seignior there 99. The Suburbs thereof consumed by Fire 308. Particulars of the Siege thereof from 308 to 312. Taken again by the Turks 383. Besieged by the Emperor 504. The Siege raised 505. Bestrissa surrenders to the Duke of Lorrain 263. Blockake of Canisca and Great Waradin continued 344. Bohemia An Insurrection there 52. Appeased ibid. Boldness of the Christian Soldiers 203. Bosnia Basha of endeavours to relieve the Turks and is repulsed 273. Strangled 288. Brave offer made by an Engineer 320. Brunzien taken by Storm 509. Plundered and burnt 510. Buda a new Vizier arrives there 38. Tekeli receiv'd there 92. The Vizier thereof writes to the Grand Seignior 124. It s Siege intended 140. Formed 143. The Vizier thereof slain 146. The Siege raised 153. Ill Accidents happen after it 154. Proceedings at the Siege thereof 148. Arguments against the Siege thereof but the Siege resolved on 194. It s Pasha changed 195. City taken 217. Budiani changes his side 125. C. CAbals at the Port 229. Calamata taken and demolished 183. Camp of the Christians encreases 110. That of the Turks opened 118. Manner of that of the Turks 241. Ill Condition of that of the Christians 152. That of the Christians alarm'd 212. Marches against the Vizier 319. At Alexin 377. Campaign of the Year 1692 ends 443. Candia the Pasha thereof put to Death 156. Canina invested capitulates 390. surrenders 291. Canisia refuses to surrender 329. Inclinable to capitulate 368. Treats 369. Surrenders 370. It s Situation described ib. Caprara Count recall'd 94. Licensed to return to Vienna 96. Commands in Hungary 281. Commands at Belgrade 317. Seizes on Semendria ibid. Caraccioli Gen. kill'd 364. Caraffa Gen. goes to Hermanstadt 279. His Character 298. Casseneck surrenders to the Turks 367. Cassovia yields to the Emperor 29. The Inhabitants and Soldiers thereof fight 32. Taken by Tekeli 93. Describ'd 173. taken by Caprara 174. Castle Nuovo attack'd 272. Surrendred 275. Caunitz Count treats with the Grand Seignior 74. Ceremony of Crowning the King of Hungary 264. Changes great in the Turkish Court 436 437 438 501 526. Chielifa surrenders 183. Invested by the Turks 223. Relieved by the Venetians ibid. Chiaus sent by the Army to the Sultan 251. Children of Frangipani Nadasti and Serini change their Names and why 30. Chimacham of Constantinople
an Enemy to the French 431. Chonad defends it self against the Turks 234. Christians forc'd from the Bridges 105. Several of them kill'd 107. Pass the Danube 142. Defeated and receive a great Loss 152. Five hundred put to the Sword 154. Prepare to give Battle to the Turks 213. Gain an intire Victory over the Turks 346. Cities Revolt to the Emperor 125. Claudiopolis describ'd 262. Its Conditions with the Duke of Lorrain ibid. Clergy endeavour to disturb the Diets 75. Clin surrenders at discretion 327. Coin alter'd in Turky 445. Conditions demanded of the Hungarians by the Turks 23. Conduct ill of the Imperial Army 552. Coningsmarc advances against the Seraskier 224. Engages the Turks and overthrows them ib. Falls ill 320. Dies 321. Considerations offer'd by the Turks 353. Conspiracy against the Vizier discover'd 302 441. Constantinople a Fire there 5. A Council held there 6. The Inhabitants thereof possest with a panick fear 222. Fires there 497 502 538. Copper-Money breeds Sedition in the Turkish Empire 431. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Coke to Sir W. Trumbal late Ambassador to the Grand Seignior 498. Corbelli destroys the Palanca of Bellingesh 367. Reinforces the Troops in Servia 377. Corinth describ'd 270. Cornaro Gen. in Dalmatia 314. Marches against Clin 326. Designs against Narenta 327. Returns to Spalatro ibid. Joins the Venetian Fleet 363. Attempts to burn some Turkish Vessels ibid. Coron described 177. Taken by Storm 181. Council General of the Turks call'd at Sophia 347. Councils held about the Siege of Buda 200. Counties and Towns several submit 128. Croats take Behatz from the Turks 441. Cross set up instead of the Half-Moon at Vienna 122. Crown of Hungary described 140. Croy Duke of wounded 119. Cruelties acted both by the Imperialists and Hungarians 35. D. DAmbi sent by the Venetians to confer with Liberachi 358. Debates about a Peace 497. Debrezin taken by Count Strazoldo 38. Redeems its self from Free Quarters 189. Deputies afraid to meet at the Diet at Presburg 32. Designs to surprize Tekeli 348. Despot of Valachia submits 280. Diarbekir Pasha put to flight 537. Diet at Cassovia 24. The Emperor declares against it 25. Dissentions amongst the Turkish Militia 246. Appeased with Money ibid. Dobay Castle surrenders 554. Doge of Venice sick 322. Continues so 356. Recovers 357. Sails for Culuri 360. Relapses 364. Returns home 365. Donative refus'd to the Soldiers 529. Doria Marquis of sold for 60 Rix-Dollars 377. Draco Bey tortur'd 3. Duare besieged and reliev'd 176. Dunewalt Gen. with a Party observes the Enemies Motions 246. Marches to Kobas 250. His Character 299. Dutch troubled by the Turks 11. Dutch Ambassador's Letter to the Emperor 498. E. EArthquake at Smyrna 301. At Sophia 336. Edendorf a Meeting there 114. A Council of War held there ib. Embassy from the Poles and Moscovites to the Emperor 49. Emeric a Jesuit hinders the Agreement between the Emperor and the Hungarians 22. Emperor his Grant to the Hungarians 17. Prepares for War 26. Denies the Maintenance of the Hungarians Privileges and why 30. Sends Presents to the Grand Seignior 31. His Declaration 32. Enforc'd 33. Alters the Government of Hungary ibid. Makes Applications to the Port 38. Publishes a Manifesto 45. Satisfies the Male-Contents 78. His Camp 97. Takes a view of his Army 98. Goes with the Court to Lintz 101. Enters Vienna after the Siege 121. Interview between him and the King of Poland ib. Wants Money 156. Prepares for the next Campaign 276. Encourages the Bulgarians and Rascians 333. Makes Preparations against the Turks ib. Ratifies the Treaty of Canisia 370. Empress Crown'd Queen of Hungary 92. English Merchants troubled by the Port 8. Ambassador a Trick put upon him ibid. Trade in a bad Condition 393. Ambassador hastens to Constantinople and makes his Entry there 397. Erschet holds out against the Emperor's Forces 29. Surrenders ibid. Esperies yields to Tekeli and is demolish'd 93. Describ'd 160. Esseck describ'd 171. Taken ibid. Burnt 172. The Bridge ruined 221. Abandoned by the Turks 249. Summon'd by them 385. They raise the Siege 386. Esterhasi and Forgatz make offers of Peace 75. Made Palatine 76. F. FAcket taken by the Rascians and burnt 394. Faction against Kara Mustapha Grand Vizier 6. Famine and Pestilence a great one 159. Fechedebator surrendred 339. Felsiat surrenders 280. Ferislau taken by Tekeli 338. Burnt 348. Fight a bloody one 115. Another by Land and Water 517. Another between the Poles and Tartars 524. Filiporich taken by the Venetians 391. Finch Sir John the English Ambassador a Trick put upon him by the Port 8. Flies kill abundance of Cattle 372. Forces number of the Emperor's 98. Number of the Turks 99. A List of those design'd against Buda 199 200. Number of those of the Circles 162. Those of the Emperor join 401. Forts Schella and Scheinau give Offence to the Turks 38. France the King thereof makes a Truce with the Emperor 139. Frangipani Count made Prisoner 26. Tryed and Executed 30. His Estate forfeited to the Emperor 32. French Ambassador imprisoned 7. A juggle between them and the Turks 8. Ambassador has an Audience of the Grand Vizier 196. Persuades the Turks to fight 399. They assist the Turks 251. Desire to engage the Turks to them 261. King obstructs the War against the Turks 314. Writes to the Pope 515. Their Cruelty in Germany 316. Encourage the Turks to continue the War 332. Endeavour to draw the King of Poland from the Emperor ibid. Banished the German Empire 337. Obstruct the Peace between the two Empires 355. G. GAspar Col. killed 319. General of Malta receives Audience of the Doge 317. General Tax 528. Generals of the Great Duke and Malta desire to return home 321. Germans blam'd for not making a Peace with the Turk 332. Contemn their Enemies 340. Defeated 366. Quit the Blockade of Great Waradin 384. Germany alarm'd by the Turks 95â— Girolamo Garzani slain 320. Gomenizze taken by the Venetians 183. Gondola his Character 299. Gran the Siege thereof resolved upon 125 128. Proposals concerning the State thereof 128. A Description of it 129. Surrendred on Conditions 130. Greek Patriarch a rash Man 548. Greeks in Scio favour'd by the Turks 526. Grievances of Cassovia and Epperies together with all the other Protestant Cities and Towns in Hungary from 65 to 73. Guadagne Duke of joins the Venetian Fleet 360. Gutta taken by the Turks 160. H. HAdgi Ali mutinies 285. Kills the Aga of the Janisaries ibid. Halmet yielded 280. Hanover Prince of kill'd 393. Harscham a Battle began there 244. Hatwan surrendred 219. Heemskirk Mr. sent home 514. Herbert Mr. sent Ambassador to the Turks 444. His Letter to the Author ibid. Herbeville Col. order'd to recover Orsoua 340. Defeats of a Party of Turks and retires from it ibid. Heusler Col. his Successes 160. Attacks a Convoy of the Turks but pays dear for it 190. Wounded 250. His Character 299. Defeated 377. Hoffkirchen Count makes an Excursion as far as Esseck 249. Attack'd