Carrying away of Goods assist the Transportation with Carriages and Cattle and on all hands the Evacuation shall be carry'd on with Security and Safety In all which Evacuations of Fortresses and other Places in whatsoever manner they are fortify'd whosoever of the Subjects shall voluntarily desire to depart may do it securely and safely with all their Effects and Goods and whosoever of 'em have a mind to continue where they are may in like manner safely do it and there shall by no means be any Lett or Impediment on either side and considering the Evacuation of all Fortresses and Places is to be commenc'd in the beginning of March As to the Affair of leaving behind the Artillery at Caminiec viz. those that were belonging to it and were found there the Polish Envoy that is to be sent to the Fulgid Port shall lay that Demand before the Throne of the Emperor IV. None of the Subjects of the Sublime Empire of whatsoever Condition especially the Tartars let 'em be of what Nation soever shall under the colour of any Pretension or Controversie presume to commit any Hostilities upon the Subjects of the King and Republick of Poland or upon their Borders and shall not presume to make Excursions to take Captives to drive away Cattle or to do any sort of Damage or give any sort of Disturbance which shall be particularly express'd in Royal Edicts and commanded to be put in Execution by Visiers Beglerbegs and the most Happy Crimean Cham Carelgaius and Nuradinus and the other Sultans and the Weywode of Moldavia that they with utmost Diligence secure the Peace Quiet and Tranquillity of the Borders that neither by the Captures of Men or driving away of Cattle or by any other Means the Polish Subject suffer any Losses or Disturbance and that they make strict and severe Enquiries after the Disturbers and Transgressors of these Conditions of Peace and when they come to the knowledge of 'em they Inflict Punishments upon 'em for Example to Others and if in these matters any one acts carelessly or negligently he shall be duly punish'd as is Agreeable to the Divine Laws In like manner the Poles on their part shall carefully observe and prosecute these Conditions of Peace and let no Man dare to act any thing contrary to ' em V. Considering the Kingdom of Poland was from Ancient Times entirely Independent it shall not by the Sublime Empire and by any Nations subject to it under the colour of any Pretension or Demand whatsoever be disturb'd with any Hostility nor upon the force of any Compacts of that happy Peace shall they stand oblig'd to any such Pretensions VI. In this War the Budziac and other Tartars leaving their proper Seats and entring upon the Lands of the Moldavians do upon that pretence Exercise Hostilities upon and Create Disturbances to Moldavia and its Inhabitants which being contrary to the Sacred Capitulations formerly granted to the Kings of Poland for that Reason ought to Cease and be prevented therefore shall the Tartars be remov'd from all Places and Possessions and Lands and Winter-Quarters whether these were taken from others or newly rais'd by them and shall inhabit their Native Places and live peaceably and for the time to come Create no Disturbances VII The Regulars of the Church of Rome according to the Edicts granted by the Sublime Empire wheresoever they have Churches may without hindrance Exercise their usual Functions and live peaceably and besides the Extraordinary Envoy to the Fulgid Port may lay before the Imperial Throne any new Demands upon this Head VIII Considering Merchandize is one of the Fruits of Peace and brings the Provinces into a more thriving Condition therefore the Merchants of each Party not practising by any obscure Ways but going and coming through convenient and open Roads after they have pay'd the usual and ancient Duty for things Exported and Imported shall by no means be burden'd with new Exactions and Demands nor shall a Duty in ready Money be Exacted and whatsoever Native Subjects of the Two Polands and Lithuania and of other Nations subject to them after this manner coming to exercise their Merchandize their Buying and Selling as is declared in former Sacred Capitulations shall not be troubled with the Exaction of the Tribute call'd Haracz or any other unusual Exactions But still with this Proviso that any resolving to leave their Native Country and set up their Rest in the Dominions of the Empire or any Foreigners mixing themselves with Polanders such shan't to the Detriment of the Government enjoy this Exemption Polish Merchants leaving the War and returning Home with their Horses and Carriages and Captives having an Authentick Certificate of their Dismission and being desirous to return to their own Country shall not be subject to any Exaction nor shall any Lett or Obstruction be made to Captives thus going away But still under this pretence none without leave obtain'd shall presume to carry away things prohibited Besides the publick Officers of Justice shall not pretend to intermeddle in the Confiscation or Distribution of the Goods or Effects of Merchants Subjects to the one dying in the others Dominions but they shall be deliver'd into the hands of Merchants of Credit that according to the Inventory they may be dispos'd of to the Right Heirs But if any Difference happens betwixt the Merchants themselves this shall be Decided by the Consul or Chief and let him be Accountable to those whom he is subject to None contrary to the Divine Laws shall be Compell'd to pay any Debt not verify'd in Writing or by some Judiciary Instrument nor shall the Causes of Debts or Contracts be Try'd or Decided by hireling Evidences because upon the reading and considering the Divine Precepts such sort of Suits are to be Decided only by Authentick Instruments and Writings of an Antecedent Date And so in all Controversies of the like Nature whatsoever Privileges are intermix'd and establish'd in the Sacred Capitulations shall as in the Grants to the other Confederate Nations be Interpreted and Extended to the Polish Merchants and besides the true meaning of all Grants by Sacred Edicts which are still preserv'd in their hands particularly indulg'd to the Poles shall be maintain'd and observ'd IX Captives carry'd away in time of War shall be Releas'd pursuant to the Declaration about this matter in former Capitulations upon Proofs made according to the Laws of their Value or by Oaths that make that manifest the due Prizes being pay'd But if the Captives have serv'd a long time the Prizes of their Redemption ought to be proportionably Abated but if the Master of the Captive cannot be brought to a fair and moderate Price the Judges of the Places proceeding in a legal Course shall compose such Differences If after the Conclusion of the Peace Captives shall be taken out of the Polish Territories they shall be Dismiss'd without Ransom Besides Men going about for the Redeeming Polish Captives whether in the Kingdoms of the
only of affording them his Assistance and granting them his Protection So that to let slip this favourable opportunity on the Nice point of a Truce not yet expir'd were said he to give up the Mahometan Cause the advance and increase of which were a sufficient ground to hallow any thing which may stand in opposition to it There were other things also alledg'd in reference to secret Encouragements given from France which tho' they carried not such weight with the Council so as to depend on them yet they served for probable inducements to incite forward unto a War With which Reasons the Grand Seignior and the Council being convinced a War was determin'd and great preparations made in order thereunto And now in regard we are come to a Crisis of time which gave a turn to the successes of the Turks and hath shaken and almost subverted the whole Fabrick of the Ottoman Empire it may not be an impertinent digression to look back to the Troubles of Hungary which were the Causes and Original of that War which hath prov'd fatal to the Turks and brought the Kingdom of Hungary under the entire and absolute Dominion of the Christian Emperor We shall therefore give a succinct Account of the beginning of those Troubles as reported by the Author of that Tract called Vienna Oppugnata adjoyned at the end of the History of Isthuanus formerly Vice-Palatine of Hungary whose words are to this purpose The Turks having in the Month of August 1664. received an Overthrow with the Slaughter of 10000 Men near St. Gothards The Original of the Troubles in Hungary a Town in Hungary by the Imperial Army under the Conduct and Command of Raymond Montecuculi a Peace or Truce rather was immediately concluded thereupon to continue for the space of Twenty years During which time the Kingdom of Hungary long harassed with War might have recover'd its pristin happy Estate had not certain Miscreants the barbarous and degenerate offspring of that Country disturbed the Tranquillity and Quiet thereof and by Machinations and Plots against the Life of their Sovereign drawn upon themselves that destruction which they design'd for others But God be praised their Treason was detected and the chief Conspirators namely Francis Count Nadasti Chief Justice of Hungary Francis Marquis of Frangipani and Peter Serini a Count of Croatia all of them Eminent both for Arms and Letters were taken arraign'd and being found Guilty were put to Death and their Goods and Estates confiscated to the use of the Emperor But so soon as this Rebellion was suppressed another of more dangerous consequence was raised being fomented by the Nobility and Persons most considerable for their Estates and Power in Hungary of which Emericus Count Tekeli was declar'd the Chief the Causes and Grounds of which they deliver'd under these Heads First That contrary to the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom a Palatine had not been constituted to supply the vacancy of the former deceased Secondly That the Hungarians were excluded from all Offices and places of Trust and Strangers introduced into their stead Thirdly That the German Troops were forcibly quarter'd upon them and the numbers daily increased And all the Forts Castles and places of defence garrison'd by German Soldiers and no Trust or Confidence reposed in the Hungarians to the great oppression and discouragement of that People Fourthly That by the Counsel and Advice of the Jesuits the free exercise of their Religion was not only taken from them but they were also ejected out of their Churches and places where they worshipped God For which Reason they desired that the Jesuits might be banished out of Hungary And tho' the Emperor did in his Wisdom fore-see all the mischiefs which did ensue and with a gracious Clemency endeavour'd to apply those Lenitives which might appease the Spirits of his discontented Subjects and in order thereunto called a Diet to be held at Cassovia where he offer'd to condescend unto all the Propositions which the Malecontents did demand And afterwards summoned another Diet to be held at Presburg at which before the Coronation of the Queen he assisted and presided in Person and there made new offers to grant Liberty of Conscience and a free exercise of Religion to all Protestants and to restore to them their Churches taken from them with as many other Privileges and Favours as could be desir'd So that there was all appearance imaginable of Peace and a fair Accommodation But matters were permitted to go too far before they received a Check For the Malecontents were engaged with the Turks beyond any power of retractation And having received Assurances from them of Assistances which were daily expected and Promises as it is said of Money from the French all thoughts of accommodation were laid aside from whence that terrible War hath ensued fatal to the Turks and pernicious to Christendom All this is a short Epitome of the Troubles and Unquietnesses in Hungary for the space of about Eighteen years which having been the occasion of the great War which hath alter'd the state of the whole World We shall not content over selves with this short Relation but shall proceed to render an Account of the rise of these Troubles the continuance of them with the several Successes until the Entire conquest of Hungary by the Emperor The People of Hungary are naturally of a mutinous and unquit Temper complaining of War and not well contented with Peace The Emperor towards the end of the Campaign 1664. had gain'd a Victory as is said over the Turks and made the good use thereof as with that opportunity to clap up a Peace The Hungarians who before that time and even during the War with the Turk bad been unseasonably incensed by many Insults and Outrages committed on them by the German Soldiers but more sensibly touched by having their Churches taken from them by the Counsel and advice of the Jesuits and Clergy of Rome were not content with the Peace made by the Emperor with the Grand Seignior Alledging that they ought to have been made Parties to the Treaty it being their Country which was chiefly concern'd That after so Signal a Victory better and more advantageous Articles might have been obtain'd from the Turk and perhaps Newhawsel it self might have been Surrender'd and Restored but by default hereof their Condition was render'd far worse than before for by vertue of the new Articles lately concluded The Pasha of Newhawsel pretended to bring all the Villages on the Frontiers of Moravia under Contribution and to add unto the new Conquests all the Country and places on this side the Danube which are nearly adjoyning to Gran Alba-Regalis and Kanisia wherein was comprehended the greatest part of the lower Hungary Which they exclaimed against as Terms so disagreeable unto them that a War had been much better and therefore to prevent and disappoint all farther proceedings thereon they seized on the Secretary of the Imperial Resident then remaining with the
to the Turks than become the Slaves of the Germans The consequences of which War have been so dismal and even the Imperial Victories gain'd at the expence of so much Blood and Treasure as all Germany as well as Hungary has felt the fatal effects of it So that Men are apt to look back with Indignation on the Authors of these Troubles and to think them worthy of the extreamest Punishments that have brought their Country to such Ruin and Desolation The greatest part of which Censures will without doubt fall upon the Protestants whose Arms have wanted even Success that popular justification and whose Cause labours under two such fearful appearances as a defection from their Prince and the joyning with the Common Enemy of Christendom tho' perhaps a considering Man will be apt to reflect on that Cruel severity which forc'd them to take shelter in the Arms of an Infidel at least he will see a fatal instance of the unhappy Consequences of driving Men to Despair by subverting their Laws Liberties and Religion I shall therefore give an impartial Account of the Causes that exasperated the Protestants of Hungary to this degree and leave them to the Readers judgment either to be condemn'd or acquitted And therefore let us hear what Account the Protestant Writers give of this matter when the Protestant Religion began first to insinuate it self into Hungary under the Reign of King Lewis Anno. 1523. it met there with the same fate it did in other Countrys viz. Opposition and Persecution But this King unhappily engaging himself in a War against the Turks fell in Battle and leaving no Heir Male the Hungarian Nobility were divided in the choice of a Successor one part Electing John Zapolya Vaivode of Transilvania and the other Ferdinand the first But John dying soon after his Election Ferdinand remain'd in sole possession of that Kingdom who the better to gain the affection of his Subjects granted free exercise of Religion to Cassovia Bartphia Eperias Leuchenia and Libinia the five free Towns of upper Hungary and afterwards to several of the Towns of lower Hungary besides the same Privileges which he gave to divers of the Nobility Notwithstanding which there being several Commotions and Disturbances on account of Religion still remaining in the year 1606. at the Pacification of Vienna made between Rodolph Emperor and King of Hungary and Stephen Botscai-Kis-Maria in the first Article it was said That as to the business of Religion that notwithstanding the first Constitutions and the last Article of the year 1604. according the Resolution taken by his Imperial Majesty All the Inhabitants and Persons of what Order or Condition soever within that Kingdom as well the great Lords as the Cities and Privileg'd Towns immediately belonging to the Crown or upon the borders of that Kingdom as likewise all the Soldiers of Hungary shall have free and entire Liberty of Conscience without being troubled or molested Nevertheless without prejudice to the Roman Catholick Religion so that that Clergy the Churches and the Temples of the Catholicks may remain in the State wherein they are without Violation or Molestation And that those which had been taken by one side or other should be restor'd to their lawful owners Afterwards the Emperor Matthias himself explain'd that Clause nevertheless without prejudice to the Rom. Cath. Religion by assuring them That it was put in upon a good design and that it only meant that neither Party should be disturbed in the exercise of their Religion This liberty was afterwards often confirm'd as you may see in the Grievances presented to the Emperor which are affix'd to the end of this History The now Reigning Emperor Leopold solemnly confirm'd this Article at his Coronation Vide the sixth Condition in the Imperial Patent running thus Ordered That the exercise of Religion granted to the States of Hungary according to the Constitution of Vienna and those Articles establisht before our Coronation shall remain entirely free as well for the Barons Lords Gentlemen as free Cities and all Orders and States of the Kingdom of Hungary as likewise for the Towns Villages and Hamlets that will accept of it so that no Person of what Condition soever shall be hinder'd in the exercise of his Religion in what manner or under what pretence soever Given in the Royal Citadel of Posonium June the 25th 1655. In despight of all these Edicts made in favour of the Protestants the Clergy especially the Jesuits had so much interest in the Court of Vienna as to get a Manifest publish'd there and Entitled Truth declared to all the World or a Treatise wherein is proved by three Argument that his Caesarean Majesty is not obliged to tolerate the Lutheran or Calvinist Religion in the Kingdom of Hungary Writ by George Barzon titular Bishop of Waradin Priest of the Society and Councellor to his Sacred Majesty The first Argument was drawn from three Conditions under which the liberty of Religion was granted at the Pacification of Vienna The first That it should be with out prejudice to the Protestant Religion which Condition being impossible ought to pass for nothing The second That the Clergy and the Catholick Churches should remain in their former Condition without being toucht which was violated by Bethlem and Ragotski The third That what was taken either by one side or the other should be restor'd which the Protestants had not perform'd To this was answered That it did by no means follow that if one Condition or Clause was lookt upon as impossible and so null that the whole Treaty should be so also and besides that the Emperor Matthias himself had explain'd the Condition by declaring that it was not to be made use of for the ruining of that liberty which was granted That whatsoever Bethlem or Ragotski had done this Liberty was notwithstanding confirm'd by the Edicts and Ordinances of the Emperor That if it had been so that Protestants who being daily provok'd by the Papists had gone a little too far yet the innocent ought not to suffer That the Destruction of Temples which were made use of during the Troubles only regarded those that Botskai had taken in the War and not such as had been for a long time in their Hands The second Argument is That this liberty was not establisht by the unanimous consent of the States of the Kingdom to whom it belongs to make Laws with the Consent and Approbation of his Majesty and consequently that those Articles ought to be abolisht But it was urg'd that this was extreamly injurious to those Kings who had confirm'd and ratify'd them and who no question were not so ignorant of the rights of the Kingdom of Hungary That when this Affair was manag'd at Lintz 1645. Tho' the Arch-Bishop of Strigonium George Lippai and some seculars opposed it yet Count Palfy President of the Chamber and divers Catholick Lords consented notwithstanding that opposition so that the Affair being extreamly hindred by that Arch-Bishop
the Soldiery upon them and encouraged them to torment them in the midst of this barbarous usage they would sometimes pretend to shew a glimpse of Pity and endeavour to allure them by the promises of the Imperial favour and protection offering them preferments upon Condition they would change their Religion at length finding them proof against all their arts they stigmatiz'd several and sold them to the Spanish Gallies from whence afterwards they were redeem'd by the famous Ruyter Admiral of Holland others were thrown into vile loathsome Prisons in which some perish'd the rest who out-lived their misfortunes were released by the importunities of the States Ambassador at the Imperial Court These matters of fact are too publick to be denied and the Reasons that are given seem by no means sufficient to palliate such Barbarities Those Letters in Cypher which were produc'd against them to prove them Guilty of Treason are justly suspected but grant them true they were but from particulars and one or two Mens Guilt cannot render a whole body of Men liable to punishment As for those Accusations which were laid upon them of being Murderers Robbers Ravishers c. they were only alledged not proved and consequently likely to be meer Calumnies To conclude that they were Rebels because some fled from the Persecutions they saw pouring upon them seems to be no very good consequence and to shew not so much their guilt as their fear at least this cannot be urg'd against those that made their appearance and that there were several which signed the Paper that was presented them argued they indeed weak but not criminal and the rigours that were used to bring them to sign it do extreamly diminish if not absolutely take away all the force of that Argument So that I doubt not but it will appear to the impartial Reader that the conduct of the Popish Clergy has had too great an influence on these last Troubles and that their persecuting Maxims are as ruinous to the interest of a State as contrary to the Spirit of our Christian Religion And from this Original began that War which hath ever since continued with great effusion of Blood and strange vicissitudes of Fortune which not only reduced Hungary to the pit of despair but even Germany it self to the brink of Destruction until God was pleas'd to take the Cause into his own Hands and avenge Christendom from their Enemies whose Sins it seems were more ripe for the Divine vengeance than those of the Christian people The discontents on both sides grew so high that the Emperor resolved to perform nothing on his part of what he had promised to his Hungarian Subjects nor they any thing on theirs which respected Duty and Allegiance to their Prince Both Parties stood in defiance to each other the Emperor would not lose the benefit of the charge and expences he had been at to fortify the frontier Garrisons against the Turks Nor would the Hungarians restrain themselves from their usual Incursions notwithstanding the Treaty so lately sign'd by them By which the Emperor received frequent complaints from the Turks So all was now private Machinations and open Defiances It was now in the Month of September That the three years were expir'd at the end whereof according to the Statutes of that Kingdom a Diet was to be Assembled at Presburg for redress of those aggrievances of which the Subjects complain'd It was usual for the Emperor to be present there but some jealousies being whisper'd of a Plot to seize his Person his Majesty refrain'd from making his appearance at that Diet which being by that means put off the Sovereign Chamber of the Kingdom The Hungarians complain taking all matters into their Consideration sent their Deputies to complain unto the Emperor That Colonel Spaar Governour of Zatmar had extorted Money from the Citizens upon pretence of paying his Soldiers tho' in reality to appropriate it to his own benefit and service That the German Soldiers were still quarter'd in the Countries notwithstanding all the Promises and Engagements given to the contrary the which aggrievances together with that of taking away their Churches was such a Scandal and block of Offence as caused great Commotions in that Kingdom whensoever that matter came into dispute Hence it was That the Protestants chose three Leaders or Chiefs of their Faction and Party against which Prince Ragotski and Apafi opposed their Forces in favour of the Palatine Wesselini and Count Palaffi Imbre appear'd as one of the Chief of the Male-contents but having not sufficient Force to sustain his party and interest he crav'd assistance and succour from the Turks to whom he offer'd his Son for a Hostage and the Town of Debin with the dependences thereunto belonging as a farther security for performance of Articles All was now divided into Sects and Parties Count Peter Serini of whom the Emperor had not the least jealousie entertained secret consults with the Malecontents and with Nadasti raised Forces upon pretence of giving a stop to the Turks in their passage to Dalmatia but with real design to seize the Person of the Emperor at Puttendorf a place appertaining to Count Nadasti as he was Riding post with Prince Lubkovitz Chief Steward of his House and with about 12 Gentlemen of his Retinue to meet the Empress but that Plot took not effect for their Ambuscade missing the Emperor he happily met the Empress on her Journey out of Spain This Conspiracy being thus disappointed 1667â— Count Nadasti desired the Emperor that he might be made Palatine of Hungary in the place of Wesselini lately deceased But the Emperor not being well satisfy'd of the Faith and Integrity of that Person refused to confer it upon him or any other until he saw the Tranquillity and Peace of that Kingdom better secur'd At which Nadasti being enrag'd corrupted a Carpenter in revenge to set fire to the new Appartment which was building in the Palace for the Empress Eleonora In expectation that in such an affrightment and confusion the Conspirators might seize on the Person of the Emperor But God conserved his Imperial Majesty tho' that Plot was not detected until Nadasti received the reward of his demerit The Deputies of the upper Hungary made new Addresses to the Emperor to have the Office of Palatine supplied according to the Constitutions of the Kingdom but in those times of Sedition and Discontent his Imperial Majesty not finding a Person equally grateful to the Hungarians and loyal to himself to whom he could confide that Important Charge did for some time keep the Office in his own hands which with the refusal made to restore the Protestant Churches was so generally displeasing that the Nobility deny'd to be present at the Coronation of the Empress until they were a little mollify'd and appeas'd by having the Revenue and Rents of their Churches releas'd to them Besides the Office of Palatine the Government of Carelstadt became vacant by the decease of the
Count Aversperg which being in Croatia and lying commodious for Serini he immediately made applications for it by means of his Lady who with her good air and address and the vivacity of her Spirit and fluency of her Language thought nothing difficult for her to obtain but missing thereof for Reasons best known to the Emperor who judg'd it not good policy to add greater Authority to a person who was Vice-King of Croatia and possess'd already more Power and Interest than he could willingly afford him the Lady was forc'd Count Serini's Lady disgusted much against her Nature to acquiess in a denial but not being able to suppress the violent commotions of her Spirit she openly breath'd out her menaces against the Emperor and finding an humor in the People generally inclin'd to a Revolt easily perswaded her Son-in-Law Prince Ragotski and the other principal Nobles of Hungary to enter into an Association and Conspiracy against the Emperor The Deputies make their Complaints to the Emperor The first thing they did was to complain of the German Garrison in Tokai and being assembled at Zemblin they sent their Deputies to represent unto the Emperor that according to the Laws and Privileges of that Kingdom all their Forts and Places of Strength ought to be Garrison'd with no other than Soldiers of their own Country That the Protestants receiv'd all sorts of ill treatment and discountenance their Churches were taken away and not restor'd as was promis'd and agreed besides several other Aggrievances which they laid before the Emperor supplicating his Imperial Majesty to grant them ease and redress therein according to the Constitutions and Privileges of that Kingdom which his Majesty at his Coronation had Sworn to maintain To all which the gentle and sweet temper of his Imperial Majesty and the sense of his Conscience was inclin'd to yield a benign and gracious Answer had not Father Emeric a Jesuit Emeric a Jesuit hinders an agreement with the Hungarians and his Confessor instill'd other Principles and Motives into his Mind giving him to understand that it had always been the Prerogative of the Kings his Predecessors to dispose Garrisons in all places of that Kingdom consisting of such Nations as he should judge most for the safety and security thereof And that whereas at present the Hungarians were inspir'd with an humor of Rebellion and Revolt there was no reason to trust or confide in them but in the Germans only whose Loyalty and Duty was sufficiently known and approv'd by his Majesty Farther he added that the Hungarians had in the late War against the Turk suffer'd Waradin to be lost and at the Battle of St. Gothards upon the River of Raab had appear'd in such small numbers for defence of their Country as if they had intended to have betray'd it had it not been for the German and other Foreign Forces the whole Kingdom had become a Prey to the Turks With such Discourses as these the Deputies were entertain'd The Deputies return with dissatisfaction The Evils thereof and dispatch'd away without other satisfaction at which the Nobles and People were so displeas'd that they gave a stop to the Payments they had begun to make towards building the Forts and cut all the Germans in pieces which they found quarter'd about the Country and particularly they kill'd forty Soldiers of the Regiment of Spaar near Xants the which piece of Blood and Slaughter was again return'd by the Germans and Force repell'd again by Force So that now all was open defiance War and Massacre To carry on the Great Designs in hand The Male-contents assemble at Kivar the Malecontents assembled at the Castle of Kivar upon the Frontiers of Transilvania about two Leagues distant from Ghibania where the Gold and Silver Mines arise The Principal Persons there present were Ladislas Giulaf Gabriel de Kende Benedict Seredey Jonas Veradt the Calvinist Minister of Cassovia also Derus Bansi General of the Transilvanian Forces Janos Betlem the Chancellor Michael Talha Governor of the Frontiers with some others where a League was form'd between the Hungarian and Transilvanian Protestants to drive and expell the Germans out of the Kingdom to demolish Zatmar and to arm themselves in defence of their Religion In this accord the Wife of Prince Apafi appear'd extreamly zealous being a Woman of a Masculine Spirit a fierce Protestant and one who had a hand in all Matters whilst her Husband apply'd himself to Hunting and to the Conversation of Learned Men. In the mean time Count Nadasti having fail'd in his late Treason against the Emperor Count Nadasti Plots how to Poison the Emperor contriv'd to Poyson him at a Magnificent Banquet which he had prepar'd for him at which the Persons present were the Empress the two Imperial Princesses Prince Charles of Lorain with all the Court The fatal Dish prepar'd for the Emperor was a Pidgeon Pye which he extreamly lov'd but God preserv'd his Sacred Person by means of the Lady to the Count who being endow'd with greater Sentiments of Honour and Religion than her Husband beseech'd him on her knees to desist from so black and so detestable a Wickedness but not being able to prevail upon him she Order'd the Cook to set another Pye of the same fashion before the Emperor in the place of that which was poyson'd of which he having eaten without any hurt Nadasti apprehended the dealing of his Wife therein and least the Cook should discover the Secret he kill'd him the same day with his own hand Count Serini tho' he was contriving all this time yet it was not in Matters of so black a nature as these He entertain'd several Conferences with Count Tassembach a Person of as Ambitious and unsetled an humor as any whatsoever and ready to enter into any League and Conspiracy with the other Malecontents And in fine after many Consultations he concluded it necessary to engage the Turks with them in the whole Enterprize A Treaty held with the Turk But lest it should come to be discover'd to the Emperor 's Resident at Constantinople by the openness of the Turks who can keep no Secret it was resolv'd that the Matter should be Negotiated by the Transilvanians who being already Subject to the Turks and under their protection might with less suspicion propose this Treaty The Turks hearken to the Hungarians This Overture being made to the Turks they immediately embrac'd it being an Offer which at the first sight appear'd very advantageous but then the next Condition requir'd by the Chimacam who was Kara Mustapha the Grand Vizier being then at the Siege of Candia was That in Consideration of the aid and protection which the Grand Seignior was to give unto the Hungarians they were to become his Tributaries in the same manner and on the same Conditions as the Transilvanians were This Demand tho it seem'd hard to the Hungarians yet they resolv'd to pursue their Design and accordingly sent their Agents to
an Arbitrary Power into a Free Kingdom and to make that Crown Hereditary which was Originally Elective and to force a Religion on them contrary to their Principles and Consciences had taken away their Churches and places where they assembled to serve God and compell'd them to receive German and Foreign Garrisons into all places and Fortresses of strength within that Kingdom So that if any thing may be said in defence and excuse for a People who rebel against their Prince certainly the Hungarians had all those Arguments which might be deduced from the Topicks of Law Natural Liberty and Self-preservation to plead for them But notwithstanding this submission of Ragotski to the Emperor by which the Troubles seem'd in some measure to abate and the Malecontents to lay their Arms and Pretensions down yet still the Animosities were high and the minds of those who were Loyal and well-affected to the Emperor griev'd and afflicted to see their poor Country over-run and harass'd with German and Foreign Souldiers The Loyal Hungarians Petition the Emperor wherefore in a sense thereof they sent their Deputies to the Emperor representing their Fidelity and constant Allegiance to his Majesty from which they had never suffer'd themselves to be seduc'd and therefore they humbly pray'd that they might not be number'd with the guilty nor their Towns and Lands made a prey to the Liberty and Licentiousness of Soldiers In case any of their Country-Men had offended they ought to be legally Cited before the Tribunals of Justice but to make his Loyal Subjects equally noxious with the Disobedient was a Severity unagreeable to the known Clemency of his Imperial Majesty But all the moving Language which the Deputies could use in behalf of their Principals avail'd little for General Sporke being recruited with a considerable Army which General Heister had brought out of Bohemia was Commanded with all expedition to march into Hungary the appearance of which not only troubled the Hungarians The Turks alarm'd at the coming of German Forces on the Frontiers but alarm'd the Turks who assembling in great numbers about the Quarters of Kanisia dispatch'd several Messengers one after the other to Vienna to know and to be satisfy'd of the Reasons and Causes which mov'd the Emperor in a time of Peace to send so considerable an Army to lodge and encamp on the Frontiers of the Grand Seignior's Country In like manner the Pasha's of Newhawsel and Agria being alarm'd with the near approach of this Christian Army prepar'd for a Defence and withal sent a Chiaus to General Sporke to assure him that the Grand Seignior had resolved not to assist or afford Aid unto the Malecontents nor to enter on the Emperor's Lands or to do any thing to the infringment or violation of the Truce some few years before concluded And on the other side the Chiaus told General Sporke that the Grand Seignior did conjure him to let him know the Causes and design which moved the Emperor to appear with a Force so considerable and in the times of Peace so unusual on the Frontiers To which the General returned answer General Sporke's Answer to the Turks That the Emperor his Master had no design or intention to pass the Limits of his Dominions or to act any thing towards a Rupture or to the Infringement of the Peace between him and the Grand Seignior and that the Commission he had received from the Emperor was only to suppress the Rebellion of his own Subjects who had taken up Arms against him And thus much he supposed to be lawful without any concernment of the Grand Seignior therein With these assurances the Chiaus departed and Suspicions and Jealousies seem'd to clear up on the side of the Turks And herewith did the Clouds in all quarters seem to disperse for a while Ragotski Karâ—oned For Ragotski who was chief of the League being brought into favour by the intercession of his Mother and all things accommodated by a Treaty which he held with the Prince of Holstein and General Heister a Passport or Writing of Safe Conduct was sent him by the Emperor and all the Offences and Crimes which were past were pardoned and forgiven to him And Ragotski on the other side that he might make a Return agreeable to so much Goodness and Clemency of the Emperor published his Edicts in all parts of his own Dominions forbidding his Subjects to Rise in Arms or to favour the Cause of the Malecontents either directly or indirectly upon pain of losing their Noses or Ears or being more severely proceeded against by Punishment of Death Ragotski had thus wisely made his peace with his Sword in his Hand whil'st poor Serini and Frangipani had partly by their own Fears ill Conduct and Treachery of others fallen into the power of their Enemies With whom at first they received a kind Treatment and hopes of being set at Liberty with restitution to their Estates Dignities and Privileges But afterwards time discovering many private Practices which at first were unknown and lay concealed the Chief Ministers of State for the Reasons before mentioned and to make some Examples of the Emperor's Indignation for the late Revolt perswaded his Caesarean Majesty to proceed against them by Impeachment of High Treason which when Serini perceived he wrote an Expostulatory Letter to the Emperor to this purpose Serini justifies himself That tho' the Hungarians had much to say for themselves in regard to their Laws and their Country which Nature and Religion obliged them to defend And tho' the Provocation was high when the House of Austria labour'd to make that Kingdom Hereditary which was originally Elective and to subvert the Laws and Liberties of the People who were by their Constitutions free as any Nation of the World and to introduce upon them Tyranny and Oppression with the loss of their Privileges and Religion yet he would not justifie himself upon any of those Topicks but rather insist on his Innocence and Avow that he did never Enter into any League with the Turk nor take up Arms against his Sovereign against whom neither by himself or his Subjects he had committed any act of Hostility but to the contrary had blindly obey d the Commands of his Imperial Majesty the which appear'd by the Negotiation of Father Forstal in his behalf by whom he sent his only Son for a Hostage and with him a blank Paper that the Emperor might inscribe therein what Articles and Conditions he judged fit moreover that he had enjoyned his Son-in-Law Prince Ragotski to submit unto the Emperor at a time when he was at the Head of an Army and possessed the Narrow passes leading to the Mountains and other advantageous places of great importance He deny d all Intercourse and Correspondence with the Turks unless it were with intention to betray them and that when they tempted his Faith and Fidelity to the Emperor with large offers of reward he discover d all to the Count of Rothal
of the Regiment of Heister and he himself seized in his Bed and carried to Vienna where by order of the Emperor he was lodg'd in the Common House belonging to the Nobility of Hungary where after he had remain'd 3 days he acknowledged his Crimes and humbly beg'd the mercy and pardon of the Emperor but his Crimes were too black and wrote in too large and plain Characters to deserve a remission His Pardon deny'd And besides he was possess'd of vast Riches having eight Millions of Livers in ready Money by him which being a Prey that the Chief Ministers of State might vouchsafe to stoop unto they colour'd his Actions with a dye more black than those Accusations which were objected against Serini or Frangipani Whilst these things were in agitation and the Indictments drawing up against these three great Personages The Assembly at Leusch require a maintenance of their Privileges the Assembly of Hungarians met at Leusch represented unto the Emperor That it was their undoubted Right according to the Constitutions of that Kingdom to the observation of which the Emperor had religiously Sworn to be the Judges themselves of the Nobles and others of their Country who were accused of Treason or other Crimes and therefore they desir'd that a speedy day might be fix'd for the Tryal of those three Counts whose Cause was only to be heard before the Palatine and Deputies of that Kingdom Moreover they presum'd to represent unto his Imperial Majesty That it was one of the Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of their Country to have the Office of Palatine supply'd soon after the vacancy which having now been void for a considerable time all those Acts which have pass'd since ought to be esteem'd null and of no effect The Emperor who was well enough satisfy'd within himself that what was here alledg'd was the true and undoubted Right of the People of that Kingdom to observe which he had Sworn at his Coronation was inclinable to gratifie his People with a concession of these just Privileges The Reasons why the Emperor denies to allow them but his Chief Ministers and Councellors disswaded him from it alledging that such a Condescension as this would raise again the Spirits of the Malecontents to such a degree as would blow up the fire of Rebellion into a flame That it was improper and incongruous to put the Tryal of the three Counts into the hands of those who were Conspirators and Complices in the same Plot with them That the People of Hungary had forfeited all their Charters and Privileges by their Rebellion and Revolt having sought for aid and protection from the Turks who are mortal Enemies both of the Emperor and all Christendom That Serini and Nadasti were actually Officers and Servants of the Emperor the first being Vice-King of Croatia and the other President of his Majesty's Privy-Council and for that Reason could not decline the Jurisdiction of that Court which his Imperial Majesty should erect for their Tryal These Reasons being given to the Assembly at Leusch little reply could be made thereunto nor knew they well how to proceed in other Matters in regard that being compos'd of different Religions and Interests their Meeting broke up abruptly without any Conlusion It will not be necessary in this place to enlarge upon the several Tryals of the Counts Serini Nadasti and Frangipani as also of Count Tassembach and Nagiferents Secretary of the League The three Counts are put to death let it be sufficient for us to say that they were all Judicially Arraign'd and receiv'd Punishments agreeable to the blackness of their Crimes only we shall add that Nadasti was Executed at Vienna and the same day Serini and Frangipani at Newstadt The Emperor out of his innate Clemency and Mercy restor'd their Estates in Land to their Children with Orders only to change their Arms and Names And accordingly Their Children change their Names the Children of Nadasti which were eleven in number took the Names of Creuzemberg and the Son of Serini was call'd Gadé who was a Gentleman of such Integrity and of that Loyalty to the Emperor that when his Father was living and would have given him for a Hostage to the Turks he refus'd to submit unto such a dishonourable Character protesting that he would continue uncorrupt in his Allegiance to his Prince Howsoever afterwards being provok'd and resenting highly the death of his Father he deserted those Principles and in revenge joyn'd himself with the Malecontents in their defection Tassembach us'd such Arts and Subterfuges supported by the interest of powerful Friends as conserv'd his Life for seven Months after the death of the aforesaid Lords tho' afterwards he was forc'd also to submit unto his Fate Notwithstanding all this Care and Severity of the Emperor the fire of discontent could not be smother'd but in other places under different Heads and Leaders burst forth into a flame Count Tekeli the Father Rebels Count Tekeli the Father was one of those who appear'd openly in the Field declaring That tho' he had ever own'd all Fidelity and Allegiance to the Emperor yet he desir'd to be number'd amongst those good Patriots who were oblig'd both in Honour Conscience and Religion to maintain and defend the Rights Privileges and Liberties of their Country Count Tekeli to maintain this Cause fortify'd himself in his Castle of Kus with a Garrison of 800 Hussars and caus'd all his Subjects with the Morlaques to take up Arms for his defence Col. Heister with a considerable Force was dis-speeded to suppress this Party which was the only open Enemy then appearing in the Field but whilst preparations were making to Besiege this Castle Count Tekeli died therein Old Tekeli dies and resign'd up his Cause and Country to be maintain'd by his Son who afterwards was the grand Incendiary that again kindled the fire of War which continu'd for many years and in conclusion miserably wasted the Kingdom of Hungary and prov'd fatal to the Ottoman Empire And tho' in course of time the Turks were driven out of that Kingdom and the Emperor gain'd an absolute Dominion therein as of a Conquer'd Country yet it was done with such an effusion of Christian blood and with the loss of so many brave Captains and valiant Soldiers that the price or purchase thereof seems to have been gain'd at a dear rate His Castle is surrender'd In fine I say Count Tekeli the Father dy'd in his Castle which being hardly press'd by the German Forces was Surrender'd to Count Paul Esterhasi General of the Kingdom But young Tekeli together with his Kinsmen Kizir de Paragozi and Petrozzi made their escapes and retir'd to Licoüa but being also pursu'd unto that place which could not long stand out these young Lords made a second escape from thence by night and fled to Husse a very strong Castle in Transilvania but Paragozi was taken Prisoner in his way thither and carried to Vienna and Licoüa
thereof LEOPOLD by the Grace of God Emperor of the Romans c. This is to make known unto all Men that having happily extinguish'd the Fire of Rebellion in this Our Kingdom of Hungary and punish'd those ungrateful Persons who were the Chief Incendiaries and who growing wanton with those Benefits which We had heaped upon them violated their Bonds of Allegiance to Us and seducing to their Party many of the Nobility with divers Towns and all the Estates of this Kingdom call'd Strangers to their aid and assistance and rais'd an Army to oppose Our Power and Dominion In pursuance whereof they Besieg'd Tokai where We had plac'd a Garrison kill'd great numbers of Our Soldiers taken the Convoys which we had sent for supply of Zatmar fought against that Army which We had sent to suppress the Troubles of Hungary and to abate and diminish Our Authority several unlawful Assemblies were held for contriving and carrying on a War against Us by which Councels Our good Subjects being disturb'd the Turks Invited into Our Dominions Our Royal Treasury pillag'd Incursions made into Austria Stiria Moravia and other Our Hereditary Dominions and at length a Conspiracy was made against Our Life which was prevented by the Divine Providence of God Almighty And now whereas it is a Duty incumbent on Us to provide for the safety of those People which God hath committed to Our Charge and that Christendom and Hungary may not for the future be expos'd to the like Disorders We have by Our Absolute Power and Imperial Authority made an exact Regulation of the Military Quarters allotting the number of Soldiers which every County is to maintain and the Orders and Decorum which Soldiers are to keep that they may not molest or trouble the Inhabitants where they are Quarter'd And We require all Persons concern'd without Excuse Delay or Conditions whatsoever to submit unto that power which God hath given Us over them which We have been compell'd to maintain by force of Arms and which We shall continue so to do And therefore We give notice to all Our Subjects that they peaceably submit unto Our power lest Our Clemency be turn'd into Severity and that contrary to Our Nature being provok'd by so many Injuries Treasons and Rebellions We be enforc'd to execute Our Wrath on those who have abus'd Our Indulgence and cause them to taste the direful effects of Our Rigour Given at Vienna the 21st of March 1671. The Declaration enforced The Emperor to establish and confirm this his Remonstrance by force of Arms caused his Regiments which were in Bohemia Silesia Moravia and Austria to march with speed into Hungary with Cannon and all the Train of Artillery Which when the Malecontents perceived and consider'd their ill Fortune and Successes having in every place been worsted in all the Fights and Reencounters against the Emperor's Forces and that the Grand Vizier had forbidden Apafi Prince of Transilvania and all the Pashas of Hungary to yield Assistance or Protection to them They began then to think they had taken false Courses against their Sovereign Prince and resolved for the future to submit with blind obedience to the Commands and Decrees of the Emperor The Hungarians repent but too late serving themselves only of Prayers and Petitions to obtain his Pardon and a remission of his Rigours and Oppressions But it was now too late for his Imperial Majesty being highly provok'd by their frequent Rebellions was so far from granting their Requests That besides their usual Taxes and Impositions he laid a farther charge on them of maintaining an Army of 30.000 Men which were quarter'd in their Cities and Towns and upon their Lands and Estates of Inheritance With these Successes and the Destruction and Death of the Chief Leaders of the Malecontented Party Hungary was consider'd by the Imperialists as a Conquered Kingdom and therefore to be subjected unto such Laws as the Emperor should please to impose upon them The Emperor alters the Government of Hungary The great Office and Dignity of Palatine who was always a Person of the noblest Descent and highest Degree was by the ancient Privileges of that Kingdom elected at a Diet consisting of the several Orders of the Nation But now the Emperor assumed this Power unto himself pretending that the same was forfeited to him by the Revolt of the People and so in the lieu of Palatine he thought fit to Govern by such a Person as he himself should chuse and impose without the Concurrence of the States by the Name and Title of Vice King And in lieu and by way of resemblance of a Diet he erected a Sovereign Chamber or Council consisting of a President Chanceller and two Secretaries one a German and the other a Hungarian with about six or seven Councellors or so many as his Imperial Majesty should think fit to add to whom the Administration of all the Affairs of that Kingdom was committed The Person destinated and appointed for this considerable charge was John Gasper Ampringhen Prince of the Empire and Grand Master of the Teutonick Order which was an Office so considerable that the late Arch-Duke Leopold Uncle to the present Emperor did not disdain to own this Prince being an Hungarian by Birth and qualified with many Vertues and having perform'd many brave Actions and Atchievements was esteemed worthy of this August honour His zeal for Religion and advancement of the Christian Cause was well known to all the World The character of the Grand Master of the Teutonick Order having in the year 1664 brought two Regiments one of Horse and the other of Foot to the Imperial Army commanded by the Cavaliers of his own Order and maintained at his own expence during all the time that that War lasted After which and that the Turks renew'd their War again in Candia he sent a considerable body of Foot Commanded by several Cavaliers of his own Order into the Service of the Venetian Republick and afterwards went himself in Chief to Command them within the besieged City where he perform'd such noble Actions of Chivalry as obtain'd the acknowledgement of the Senate and procured likewise a Brief from the Pope with such obliging Expressions as denoted the singular esteem he had of his Person and Merits In fine such were the deserts and qualifications of this Grand Master that the Emperor remain'd entirely satisfied with his Abilities as being agreeable and every ways suiting with this Honourable Promotion to which being called he appeared at Vienna attended with a great and an expensive Equipage and with many Knights of his own Order ANNO 1673. This new Vice-King having taken his Instructions and Leave from the Emperor departed from Vienna and made his Entry into Cassovia on the 22d day of March with Acclamations and universal Contentment of the People Great was the expectation which the World conceived of the wisdom and good conduct of this new Vice-King as the only person who was able to appease the
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
said Inhabitants shall any wise be disturbed for the future in the free Exercise of their Religion on the severe punishment that is expresly set down in the 26th Article of the Diet of Sopron Notwithstanding which when the said Protestants of Cassovia and Epperies would have freely us'd and enjoy'd their Right Establish'd by His Majesty's Warrant and continu'd their way of Worship as also the Instruction of their Youth within the said Cities and their Walls as places provided by the above-mention'd Articles and formerly us'd and allow'd they were not only not admitted but severely prohibited and hindred by the Magistrates and Clergy of these Cities nay sent away and Banish'd till this time to the fore-specified places in no wise convenient for them as if they were Strangers and wholly incapable of the Common Liberties of the Kingdom Wherefore in this Point also Relying on the Gracious Resolution of His most Sacred Majesty and the Articles he has been pleased to make with us We do most Humbly implore a lawful Restitution and firm Establishment of the free exercise of our Religion in its former State according to the said Article 1st Anno 1608 viz. within the Walls of the said Cities We also submissively beg that till we have a convenient opportunity of Building and Erecting new Churches Schools and Parishes which by reason of our great Poverty and the vast Taxes and Contributions to the present War we are not able now to perform it be graciously granted to us that we may anew freely enjoy the said exercise of Religion in certain private and convenient places and have Schools for the Instruction of Youth Thirdly Though the indifferent and common life of Bells and Burials was every where permitted as well to the Protestants as Catholicks by these express words of the 26th Article of the Diet of Sopron The free use of Bells and Burials is left to the Catholicks of those places as well as to those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg Which nevertheless the Catholick Magistracy and Clergy of Cassovia and Epperies have fully deny'd and do still deny the said free use of Bells and Burials to the Protestant Inhabitants of the said Cities forbidding them with most severe Threats to perform the usual Ceremonies of Burials within the Walls of the said Cities notwithstanding the gracious resolution of His most Sacred Majesty made to the illustrious States of the Kingdom in the Diet of Sopron December the 10th Anno 1681. So that we earnestly desire the common use of Bells and Burials for the Protestants as well within as without the City Walls free from any molestation or disturbance conformable to the Pious Grant of His most Sacred Majesty Fourthly It is evident also that by Vertue of the general Clause inserted in the end of the so often mention'd 26th Article in these words Provided always That the Laws of the Kingdom confirm'd by the Royal Charter be not hereby prejudiced The standing Laws of the Kingdom concerning the Ecclesiastical Revenues of those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg were left in force and consequently any Arbitrary proceedings forbidden especially such as against the instinct of Nature tend to the enriching of some Persons to the Damage and Wrong of others Nevertheless the Roman Catholick Magistrate and the Clergy of Cassovia and Epperies by their own Authority and by Force have taken and appropriated to themselves all the pious Legacies and Gifts left by Will through the pious zeal of the Protestants for the use of Protestant Churches and Schools viz. in Cassovia four Houses standing within the Wall of the said City one of which the Magistrate has sold and alienated to the illustrious Michael Domeczki a Garden and certain Plow Lands lying in the Territory of the same City as also a Vineyard formerly called Varghaszóló lying in the Territory of Tokai And in Epperies certain Vineyards likewise lying in several Territories of Upper Hungary together with their Revenues actually retaining the same for their own use and for the most part turning them into prophane uses against the 11th and 14th Articles of the year 1647 to the great injury and damage of the Protestants Wherefore in this Case also the Protestants appealing to the aforesaid Laws and Constitution of the Kingdom do lawfully require that all the pious Legacies and Church Lands violently taken away and retain'd from them who are the right Owners be restor'd together with their Revenues according to that Rule of Common Justice Render to every one his own Fifthly It is certain likewise that for the paying of the Protestant Ministers and of the Catholick Curates it was evidently enough provided not only by the often mentioned 26th Article in these words Nevertheless the Catholicks shall not be obliged to pay any thing to the Ministers of the Protestants nor the Protestants to the Curates of the Catholicks But also by the 11th Article of the year 1647 in these words Let no Protestant be obliged to pay any thing to the Catholick Curates nor the Catholick to the Protestant Ministers Nay in the following 12th Article of the said year 1647 are contained these words Concerning any use whatever of the Ministerial Functions but where the Protestants have no Parishes let them pay the Ministers that they employ as the Catholicks are to pay their Catholick Curates and where hitherto the Protestants did pay nothing to the Catholick Curates they shall not be obliged hereafter to pay any under any pretence whatsoever nor the Catholicks to the Protestant Minsters Which words together with these of the same 12th Article concerning the Revenues of Schools but in any place whatsoever the Catholick Curates and the Protestant Ministers shall receive the Revenues of Schools from their respective Followers only Establish this positive Law and Constitution that the Protestants pay the Protestants and the Catholicks the Catholicks Notwithstanding this the Protestants are forced maugre themselves to pay the Catholick Curates whilst not only a Weekly allowance together with other perquisites is constantly paid to the Catholick Curates by the Magistrate out of the publick Purse wherein the Protestants put most being three for one Catholick but also the Revenues of Schools are adjudged and paid to the same Catholick Curates and with the greatest injustice deny'd to the Protestant Ministers and School-Masters Therefore they demand with all Submission and Justice that the Protestant Ministers and School-masters be allow'd out of the publick Purse a Salary equal with that of the Catholick Curates or that neither of the Parties be paid out of that Fond but each by their respective Followers according to the intention of the before mention'd Articles Sixthly Every body knows that by Vertue of the 25th Article not only a free return and stay in the Kingdom is granted to the Banisht Ministers and School-masters but also a free exercise of their Religion and Profession and by Vertue of the following 26th Article it is Order'd That amongst
the imperial and free Cities of Upper Hungary Cassovia and Epperies shall be appointed and establish'd places for the publick and free exercise of the Protestant Religion and that hereafter no Subject shall be disturb'd in the free exercise of his Religion under the pain expressed in the 8th Article of the 6th Decree of Uladislaus Nevertheless the Magistrate of Epperies on the very Festival Day of St. Bartholomew the Apostle in the Year 1688 last past dar'd deprive the Protestant Church of Epperies establish'd by the Articles of their Ministers and with great dishonour expel all the Protestant Ministers of the three Nations out of the said City and its Territory without letting them know any cause of so injust an usage or shewing them any Warrant of His most Sacred Majesty for it protending only an unheard of Title of Lord of the Manor which cannot be admitted among Civilians since they enjoy equaly with the Magistrate the common civil Liberty nor amongst Clergy Men who enjoy a special Liberty nor can it in any wise be taken by Magistrate whose Office is but for a year to the great diminishing of His most Sacred Majesty's Authority and the Contempt of the before mentioned Articles Wherefore they humbly beg that the innocent and unjustly Banish'd Protestant Ministers of Epperies be restor'd and may perform as before their Ecclesiastical Duties and that both the Protestant Ministers of Cassovia and those of Epperies employ'd either in Preaching or in Teaching Schools present or to come being always presented by the right Patrons may live quietly and safely in their own or hir'd dwelling places which they have or shall have within the Walls of the said Cities Seventhly No body that knows the Law will deny but in the beginning of the aforesaid 41st Article of the Diet of Sopron where the Common Liberties and Privileges of the imperial and free Cities are confirm'd and besides the there mention'd Laws and Articles of the Kingdom made in several places are renewed it is expresly ordain'd That the same Laws and Articles be strictly observed both by the Chambers and the Officers of the Army and by any other person whatsoever so that they viz. the same imperial and free Cities be no way disturbed by any one in their free right to chuse a Civil Magistrate nor in any other Privilege Nevertheless the modern Magistrate of the said Cities against the Prohibition contain'd in the 83th Article of the Illustrious Chamber of Scepusium in the year 1647 out of meer private hatred against our Religion was pleased to take upon him such a Power as to degrade and turn out of their publick Dignities and Civil Employments all the Senators of Cassovia and Epperies and several other Protestant Officers well deserving and qualified for publick Offices and Civil Dignities against the evident Constitution of the aforesaid Article and of those that are cited in it but especially of the 13th before the Coronation in the year 1608 of the 44th in the year 1609 and of the 12th in the year 1649 to the most evident prejudice of the Common Liberties and Civil Privileges and to the considerable oppression of the Protestant Citizens and in the room of the said Senators and Protestant Officers the said Magistrate has put Catholick Citizens either less fit or wholly unacquainted with the Affairs of the said Cities and more minding their private concerns to the damnifying and even undoing of the said Cities Wherefore we require with the deepest Humility First That the free right of chusing the Civil Magistrate and other Officers which hitherto has been so disturbed and wholly taken away from the Protestants against the positive Laws of the Kingdom made in the Illustrious Chamber of Scepusium belonging properly and only to the Sworn Citizens of the same Cities and as well to the Protestants as to the Catholicks be restor'd and maintain'd in its former State and in no wise any more disturbed by any one under the pain mention'd in the renewed and aforesaid Articles Secondly That in order to maintain a civil mutual Union and put out any Fewel of Division and Hatred a free Election be made of the same Magistrate and other Officers out of the well deserving and well qualified Sworn Citizens without any difference of the Catholick and Protestant Religion and that the Employments and any Civil Dignities whatsoever be indifferently and equally conferr'd and bestowed so that the Catholicks and Protestants promote mutually one another to publick civil Honours according to the intention of the aforesaid 13th Article of the year 1608 before the Coronation and of the 44th of the year 1609. Thirdly That in order to observe a just equality of Turns and procure the publick good of the Cities it be graciously granted that the Offices of Judge and Tribune be by Turns and promiscuously exercised for a year according to the intention of the aforesaid Articles and of the 12th in the year 1649. All the Protestant Citizens and Inhabitants of the three Nations of the Free and Imperial Cities Cassovia and Epperies The Grievance of the Protestants of the Free and Imperial City of Carpona IT is not without a great deal of Grief that all the Noblemen and Gentlemen all the Auxiliary Forces and hired Soldiers of both sorts and all the Protestant Inhabitants and Citizens of Carpona think it their Duty to Represent to Your most Sacred Majesty that altho' according to Your most Sacred Majesty's Resolution inserted in the 26th Article of the Diet of Sopron Anno 1681. Among the places of the Kingdom which were to be appointed for the Building of new Churches and Schools and Erecting Parishes for the conveniency of those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg the same City of Carpona is particularly named and established to be one of the places where the free exercise of Religion should entirely and quietly be enjoyed as it may be seen in these words In the Division before the Mountains at Leva Carpona and Tulekin Nevertheless Your Majesty's High Commissioners appointed in the year 1688 last past in the Mountain Cities being come to that of Carpona whereas according to the intention of the aforesaid Article and of Your Majesty's Gracious Resolution and Declaration contain'd in it instead of the convenient Churches and Schools and Parishes which were from the Protestants of the Confession of Ausbourg they should have appointed other convenient and fit places and left the Protestants in the quiet Possession of them according to the intention of the 19th Article in the year 1647 did on the contrary turn the Protestant Ministers and School-masters out of their Offices and with severe Threats forbid both all the Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen all the Soldiers of the Garison as well as all the Inhabitants and Citizens to continue the Exercise of Religion which had been enjoy'd in the same place from time out of Memory and was confirm'd by the Articles as we have already said till Your Majesty's further
tended towards Peace and in order thereunto did not only dispatch Deputies as far as to Lintz to Treat thereupon with the Imperial Ministers but likewise entertain'd a personal Conference with Count Caprara and agreed with him to continue a Truce until the result of a Diet should be known which was to convene in the Month of Febuary That which in all appearance was most probable to administer the greatest difficulty and cause of dispute when a Diet should assemble was the restitution of the Churches Schools and other Foundations which the Malecontents challenged as their own and upon the Right and Title of having Erected and Built them at their own charge and expence They were also very positive to have their ancient Government by a Palatine restor'd and all the German Garrisons withdrawn out of Hungary at least that the Officers placed over the German Forces should be Hungarians the better to keep the Souldiers within some Terms of Moderation and Good Behaviour towards the People of the Country The time appointed for the Diet to meet being come the Emperor remov'd to Newstadt to be nearer to the place of Treaty But it being the Fate of that poor Kingdom to be unhappy something or other still intervened to prevent and disappoint the Endeavours of Peace A Plot to seize Tekeli during the Truce for whilst some labour'd in that good Work others made it their business to impede and divert it And so it was at present for whilst Tekeli was delighting himself at a House of Pleasure a Plot was laid to surprize and take him during the Truce of which Tekeli having notice How it was prevented he countermined the Plot by an Ambuscade which being opportunely disposed in the way where they were to pass the Party which came to seize him was totally defeated This and other Artifices of the like nature fomented jealousies and diffidences between the Parties that nothing was acted clearly and with a free Spirit but with such Caution and reserves as easily presaged the little hopes of an accommodation by way of Treaty Howsoever some Zealous Men such as Esterhasi and Forgatz who were passionate for the peace of their Country travel'd from County to County exhorting the People to lay aside all Animosities Esterhasi and Forgatz make offers of Peace and return again unto that Allegiance and Duty which they ow'd unto their Prince upon assurance that the Emperor would restore the State of Hungary to the same Condition in which it was in the year 1662. and grant almost all the other Propositions which the Malecontents did demand provided that the States of that Kingdom would declare the Arch-Duke Joseph Son to the Emperor King of Hungary To this Proposal the Malecontents were ready also to condescend on Condition that at the same time the Kingdom were declar'd Elective and some Acts repeal'd which in the year 1664 had made it Hereditary Notwithstanding this difficulty and divers others which were daily started displeasing to the Emperor the Meeting of a Diet at Oedemburg was so warmly press'd that the Emperor's Commissioners and fourteen Deputies from the Malecontents Assembled in the Month of February as was agreed tho' Tekeli refus'd to be there present alledging that the late Treacherous Design against his Person was a sufficient and a just Excuse for his Absence This and some Dispute about the place of Meeting which the Imperialists desired might be at Presburg occasion'd a Prorogation of the Diet until April next following The Diet prorogued until Aprâ—ll In the mean time the Malecontents held their Consultations in Transilvania concerning the Measures and Methods they were to take in the next Campaign and made use of the cessation of Arms to fortifie their Garrisons and supply them with Provisions The Clergy of Hungary finding in the Emperor a Spirit so inclin'd unto Peace that he was ready to condescend unto all the Demands of the Malecontents and with the rest to grant and yield unto them all the Churches of which they had been depriv'd they being touch'd with a sense of the mischief which might accrue to themselves thereby The Clergy endeavour to disturb the Diet. sent their Deputies to Vienna before the Convention of the Diet to represent unto the Emperor the great prejudice damage and scandal he would cause to the Catholick Religion by delivering up the Churches which were already Consecrated and Hallowed to the Service of God to be prophaned by Impious and Heretical Worships This and such like Speeches serv'd to trouble and distract the Mind of the good Emperor with a thousand new Scruples Howsoever being desirous to appease the Troubles in Hungary and not disappoint that August Assembly His Imperial Majesty a full Month before the Convention remov'd to Newstadt to be near and on all Occasions to be assistant to the Diet which notwithstanding the former Disputes to the contrary was to be held at Oedemburg The Deputies jealous of the Emperors Guards But whereas the Emperor was attended with three Regiments for his Guard the Appearance seem'd so extraordinary on such an Occasion that the Malecontents refus'd to send their Deputies fearing to be over-aw'd in their Debates and Votes by a Military power unless the Arch-bishop of Strigonium and other German Lords were first deliver'd into their hands for Hostages and Security of fair and faithful Dealings But to remove this difficulty the Emperor discharged his Regiments and with a Guard only of six hundred Hungarians The Emperor enters into Oedemberg and holds the Diet. made his Entry on the two and twentieth of May into Oedemburg where he was receiv'd between the double Files of Hungarian and German Soldiers and Conducted to the Lodgings prepar'd for him by the Commissioners and Deputies there present The Diet over which Count Swartzemburg presided in the Name of the Emperor had sat several days before his Majesty's Arrival And on the first day of the Session before they would enter upon any other Business the Election of a Palatine was propos'd and three Persons were Nominated thereunto viz. Esterhasi Palfi and Erdedi and accordingly were offer'd to the Emperor to make choice of the Person which he thought most worthy A Palatine offer'd and agreeable to that high Employment and Office of Trust But whereas this Prince was entirely in the hands and possess'd by Father Emeric lately made Arch-bishop of Vienna and Abelé the Secretary he refus'd to determine the Choice until such time as he had consulted with these two Confidents thereupon By this Retardment all other Matters mov'd slowly tho' the Diet sate eight hours every day The least point Administer'd matter of Dispute Affairs obstructed and what at the first appearance seem'd easie and of little importance was render'd difficult and intricate by reason of the Spirit of Dissention and Bitterness with which that whole Assembly was possess'd And moreover Father Emeric excepting against every Person which the Diet propos'd for Palatine gave
a stop to all Proceedings that the Assembly was upon dissolving and Prince Swartzemburg became so tired and wearied with the many unprofitable and fruitless endeavours that he deliver'd up his Commission to Count Capeliers Superintendant of the Council of War to preside in his Place And so restless were the Soldiers and difficult to be restrain'd from breaking out into Acts of Hostility that during the Cessation of Arms a Party of the Malecontents fell upon a Regiment of the Imperialists and cut them in pieces Howsoever the Diet still continued and the Emperor at length with the Advice of his two Favourites Count Esterhasi made Palatine pitch'd upon Count Esterhasi to bear the Office of Palatine in Hungary to whom having administer'd the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity he return'd back again to Newstadt The next day following the Diet receiv'd a Letter Signed by Count Tekeli and six others signifying their Resolutions to accept the Pardon and submit to the Emperor Provided that they might have a free exercise of their Religion granted their Churches and Estates which were confiscated restor'd and the Money which they had engaged to pay the Turk supply'd and paid for them by the Emperor A new Proposition made by Tekeli And that for performance of the Articles some means and expedients should be found out for a satisfactory Security This Letter was immediately dispatched to the Emperor who with his Council considering thereupon absolutely rejected the new Article relating to the Turks to whom it was resolved to make no payments of Money Of which answer Tekeli being inform'd he dispatch'd a Message immediately unto Count Caprara giving him to understand that he was no longer able to contain his Soldiery within the Rules and Laws of the Truce and so without farther delay seized upon two Passes between Cassovia and Tokai And to put Matters yet more backwards the Deputies who represented the Malecontents at the Diet made a Petition to the Emperor requesting him that he would be graciously pleas'd to remove out of his Councils and Offices of Trusts all such as have had any hand or been instrumental in promoting those Troubles and Civil dissentions which had now near the space of Twenty years infested and oppress'd that unhappy Kingdom But to this Demand the Emperor made no other answer Than that he would consider it By these motions and steps in the Diet towards a Peace the Turks conceiv'd a Jealousy that Tekeli was disposed and inclined to an Accommodation with the Emperor To prevent which a Pasha was order'd to discourse and tamper with him The Turks jealous of Tekeli and offer him the Principality of Transilvania after the Death of Apafi And entertaining also frequent Conferences with him and other Leaders of the Malecontents the Pasha so mannaged his Discourse with them by declaring the many advantages they would receive by covering and shrouding themselves under protection of the Grand Seignior Their offers to him that he prevailed upon them to make an offer of Eighty thousand Crowns in case the Grand Seignior would promise to assist them with a Puissant and Royal Army The Emperor upon notice of this private and perfidious Treaty with the Turk was highly incensed and commanded that neither Tekeli Tekeli forbid the Diet. nor any of those who were concern'd in this Conference should be admitted as Members into the Diet And giving it now for granted that a War would ensue with the Turk the Marquis of Baden was ordered to Fortify Raab and Count Staremberg to finish the Fortifications of Vienna from the Arsenal of which place great quantities of Granadoes Bombs Powder with Arms and heavy Cannon were transported down the Danube to supply that Important Fortress of Raab Notwithstanding all which the Deputies continued to labour in the Diet and to examin the Aggrievances of the Malecontents and the Palatine Esterhasi made frequent Journies between Oedemburg and Newstadt to render an Account of all Passages and Transactions to the Emperor And that a conclusion might be put to all matters in question the Archbishop of Vienna went to the Diet to agree certain differences arisen between the Clergy and the Laity of Hungary touching the Title to some Lands and Demesnes which was still depending in a Law Suit between them Acts made at the Diet. After this Point was agreed the whole Result of the Diet was drawn up in Writing and sent to Tekeli the Substance whereof was this That all the Churches which the Protestants had Built at their own charge and expence should be restor'd with free License to Erect and Build more in any part of the Kidgdom and therein to exercise their Religion and publickly to Preach That a considerable Sum of Mony should be paid to the Turks for once and no more but not by way of Tribute Provided that the Truce made in the year 1664 be again renewed for twenty years longer under the same Articles and Conditions And farther several expedients and means were agreed for raising Monies for payment of the Troops and defraying the charges of the Kingdom during these times of trouble To confirm all which Tekeli was desired to appear at the Diet notwithstanding the late Prohibition and to concur with the other Deputies by Signing these Articles Tekeli called to the Diet. And lest he should make the insecurity of his Person an excuse for his Non-appearance the Son of Count Esterhasi the Palatine was offer'd for a Hostage These Proposals were carried to Tekeli by the Secretary to the Palatine who return'd from him in the Month of July unto the Diet still Sitting at Oedemburg with an answer to this effect That Tekeli would not be satisfied with less than an entire restitution of all the Churches That one single Sum of what value soever would not content the Turks Tekeli's answer who requir'd an Annual Tribute of 40.000 Rix Dollars without which they refused to restore to the Malecontents their Wives and Children which they had given in Hostage And moreover this Messenger gave them to understand that Tekeli absolutely refused to appear at the Diet and that He and his Party were not satisfied with the Election of Esterhasi to be Palatine This answer was the cause of much Debate and Division in the Diet and their Minds and Councils were farther disturbed upon the News that the Forces of the Malecontents being joyn'd with a considerable Body both of Turks and Transilvanians were become 15.000 strong that the Pasha of Waradin kept so close a Correspendence with the Malecontents that it was more than probable that their interest and alliances were so firmly united that neither Party was at liberty to make Terms or Articles of Peace without the Assent or Concurrence of the other The truth of which soon appear'd for Tekeli not long afterwards marched near the Confines of Belgrade Tekeli joins with the Turks where he joyned with a Body of 20.000 Turks and thereby gave evident
Demonstrations of his Resolution to maintain the War and that his former proposals and steps towards Peace were all false and feigned with design to Amuse the Minds of the Emperor and the Diet. The Turks had not as yet declar'd a War for their Forces and Troops from the remote parts of Asia were not in a readiness nor on their March till which time the Emperor was to be amused with Treaties and the appearance of that great Body of Turks near Belgrade was with pretension only to restore Tekeli to the Possession of his Lands Houses and Estate of which he had been unjustly deprived by the Emperor and his Favourites The Emperor finding it now absolutely necessary to conclude an Accommodation with the Malecontents amongst whom new difficulties daily arose returned in Person from Newstadt to the Diet at Oedemburg where the Malecontents thought it reasonable that the Tribute which they had engaged to pay unto the Turks should be charged and levied on the Estates of those who had been the causes of the Troubles and Confusions in that Kingdom This motion had so little ground and was so unlikely to succeed that it put all things backwards and induced the Emperor to limit the Session of the Diet to the 16th of August hoping within that time to agree on all Points with such who continued constant in their Loyalty and Allegiance to him and for particular Aggrievances they were to be composed by a Select Committee appointed for that purpose But all this while most of the Protestants refused to come to the Diet by reason that the Points about Religion were post-poned by the endeavours of the Archbishop of Strigonium which they in the first place and before all other Matters desir'd to have decided This Point being laid aside the Diet fell to debate on the Proposition sent by Tekeli relating to a Tribute demanded by the Turks and as an expedient and by way of Equivalent for that it was proposed to resign into the Hands of the Turks three Counties viz. Kalo Zatmar and Liptpow to which the Turks seemed with some reason to claim a Title in regard that no longer than since the year 1660 they had been disjoyn'd from the Principality of Transilvania But an end was soon put to this Controversie for both the Hungarians themselves were unwilling to have a Peace purchased from the Turk at the price of their Country by dismembring three Counties from that Kingdom at the mentioning only of which the People were so enraged that fearing lest the Emperor should privately conclude some Article with the Turk in reference thereunto they would not be satisfied until he had permitted them to joyn one of their Confidents with Caprara the Emperor 's Resident at Constantinople who might be privy to all the Treaties and Negotiations with the Turk nor would the Turks accept thereof in satisfaction for renewing the Truce but raised new and greater Demands as they found the Emperor inclinable to yield and condescend The Turks raise their Demands For now the Grand Vizier required to have Leopolstadt demolish'd on pretence that it had been Built and Fortified contrary to the Articles of the late Treaty And declar'd likewise the Grand Seignior's resolution to give aid and assistance to the Malecontents until such time as he had put them into a capacity of paying the Annual Tribute for which they were engaged New difficulties were every day started at the Diet so that the Emperor was desirous to dissolve it so soon as was possible but yet he thought not fit to do it abruptly or to break it up in discontent but that something might be done in matters of Religion The Emperor Grants several matters on which the Protestants most insisted In order unto which it was agreed to grant them a hundred Churches with Money to build others in places most convenient That all Cities and Towns should enjoy a free exercise of their Religion And that all Hungarian Soldiers in the Frontier Garrisons should do the like That all Churches which since the year 1670 had been in the Possession of either Party should so remain That Lutherans and Calvinists might build Churches in any Town or City where they were wanting and Lords and Gentlemen might build Chappels or Oratories in any of their Houses or Castles That in case any Points of Difference should arise relating to Religion or the Matters preceeding they were not to be decided by the Sword but by the Sentence of the King of Hungary And that all People of what Perswasion soever might live amicably no Person was to Revile the other on account of his or their Religion or to utter injurious or unhansome Terms thereof These particulars with some additional Regulations being at last agreed in the Diet and sign'd by the Emperor The next great work was in what manner the Malecontents might be restor'd to their Estates and to their Goods which had been confiscated And how the German Troops Aggrievances considered and stranger Soldiers might with safety and ease be removed out of their Garrisons and all parts of Hungary which next to the business of Religion was the greatest concernment of the Diet. The next Aggrievance was the Chamber of the Kingdom which Office contrary to the will and approbation of the Deputies of the States was executed by the Bishop of Newstadt whom they consider'd as the Chief Author and Fomenter of all the Troubles of that Kingdom But herein the Emperor was not willing as yet to gratify the Diet. Nor could the Deputies agree amongst themselves of the manner how to make those things practicable which they in the most erarnest manner desir'd And such were the Divisions amongst them that what the Seculars agreed upon in the Morning was disturbed and undone by the Clergy in the Afternoon which the Emperor well considering and how Men of such different interests perplex all Councils was pleased to dismiss the Archbishop of Strigonium and the Bishop of Newstadt as also the Count Capliers a great stickler for the Rights of the Church from their attendance on the Diet so that the Imperial Commissioners were reduced to three Persons namely the Prince of Swartzemburg the Count of Nostiz and Oker the Chancellour And farther The Emperor satisfies the Malecontents to satisfy the Malecontents in their pretensions the Bishop of Newstadt was put by his Office of Vice-President of the Chamber of Hungary and the same was conferr'd on Count Erdedi a Person much more acceptable to the People This gracious Clemency and Compliance of the Emperor was so satisfactory to the Protestants that they wholly submitted that point about the confiscated Goods to the favour and benign inclinations of his Imperial Majesty who not to abuse that confidence which his Subjects reposed in him did freely and of his own accord give order that the Goods and Estates of the Counts Serini Nadasti and Frangipani with those of several other Lords that had been confiscated for High Treason
assign'd to us whose Members are not yet reconciled to the Catholick Church of which sort many would be found in the Counties of Lypcze of Owar c. VI. It is order'd also according to his Majesty's Gracious Resolution that in other places the same Commissioners assign places to build Churches and Schools and erect Parishes for the conveniency of those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg Hereupon we require that instead of the inconvenient and undecâ—nt places which are assigned out of Cassovia and Esperies in Upper Hungary others be appointed within the Walls as also in all the Free and Royal Cities where there is convenient and large espaces since thus much is signifi'd by the words which will be set down lower Fig. 9. VII But in other Counties as in those of Salawar of Vesprim of Saraz of Moramoruss of Abavivar of Sellia of Semlyn of Ugoza of Bodrogh of Tornaw of Komorra of Barzod of Sachsag of Novigrad of Zolnock of Hewecz of Pesth Pelicz and Soldth united of Unghwar of Chege and of Zatmar since the Evangelicks are actually in possession of almost all the Churches there the same Churches are left for the use of the actual possessors of them Hereupon we require that the Evangelicks may recover and undisturbedly possess all the Churches which were possessed by them in the aforesaid Counties when the Article was made and which for the most part are now taken from them against the said Article VIII The same is granted in the Frontier Towns of the Kingdom viz. to those of Zentgrod in the division near Canisa of Tyhany Vasony Papa Vesprim Raab and Comorra in the division of Raab of Leva Carpen and Tuletin in the division before the Mountains and of Putnock Onod Zendro Tokai Calo and Zatmar in the division of Upper Hungary By vertue of this Grant the Evangelicks that live in Maromaruss Carpen Tokai and in any other abovemention'd Frontier Town ought to enjoy the same free exercise of Religion and use the same Churches as they did in those Towns when the Article was made IX Furthermore in all the free and Mountain Towns as in Trenschinmodra Cremnicz Novizolium and in all the Cities of Upper Hungary places shall be assign'd likewise for Churches Schools and Parishes What more direct and clear can be concluded from these words but that in the free Cities such as are Cassovia Epperies Leuschovia Bartpha Cibinium Kesmurkim Nagybania Presburg Tyrnaw Zakoliza Bazinium Modra St. George Kussegh Rust and in the Mountain Towns such as are Novizolium Veterozolium Carpen Schemninizium Cremniczium Libeten Breznow Baka Bela Vibania c. for the modifying of which two of each sort viz. of the free Cities and of the Mountain Towns are brought as instances with a certain distinction or specification used before convenient places for Churches Parishes and Schools must be assigned not out of the Walls which were to restrain the Article but in the very middle of the Cities and Towns according to the genuine and literal meaning of the words of the aforesaid Article X. Finally the Churches which are actually possessed by those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausburg shall be still for their use as before together with the Parishes and Schools and their Revenues that they may live in peace and quiet but the same free use of Bells and Burials is left to the Catholicks in those parts as to them This confirms evidently the above written seventh Point and signifieth that the Churches which the Evangelicks were actually possessed of should remain for their use together with the Revenues Parishes and Schools the Bells and Burials remaining common for the use of both Parties XI Nevertheless the Catholicks shall not be obliged to pay any thing to the Ministers of the Evangelicks nor the Evangelicks to the Curates of the Catholicks according to the meaning of the 11th Article Ann. 1647. This cannot be clearer nor better Commented upon than by the confirmed 11th Article which runs thus The Evangelicks shall not be obliged to pay any thing to the Catholick Curates nor the Catholicks to the Evangelick Ministers And by the following 12th Article yet more plainly in these words But where the Evangelicks have no Parishes let them pay the Ministers that they employ as the Catholicks are to pay their Catholick Curates and where hitherto the Evangelicks did pay nothing to the Catholick Curates they shall not be obliged hereafter to pay under any pretence whatsoever Nor the Catholicks to the Evangelick Ministers Add to this the words of the aforesaid 12th Article in the year 1647 concerning the Revenues and Pensions of the Schools But in any place whatsoever the Catholick Curates and the Evangelick Ministers shall receive the Revenues of Schools and Pensions from their respective followers by which most evident constitution of the Articles the Evangelicks are freed and discharged from paying any thing to the Catholick Curates and to this positive Law we desire to adhere XII All the Peers and Noblemen that live in the Kingdom have Liberty to Build and Endow Oratories and Chappels according to their respective profession of Religion in their usual places of Residence Hereupon we require that Noblemen may have Oratories and Chappels according to their respective professions of Religion in their usual dwelling places as the same was practised in many Counties after the taking of our Churches XIII Hereafter no Churches Schools and Parishes shall be seized nor Exercise hinder'd on either side under the pain expressed in the 8th Article of the 6th Decree of Uladislaus Against the VI. No Convenient places for Churches Parishes and Chappels have been assign'd in any free Royal Town of Upper Hungary but here the Commissioners there the Officials of the Chamber and elsewhere private Persons as in Cassovia and Epperies have appointed places for Churches Parishes and Schools which are at a great distance in the Fields out of Desert and Desolate Suburbs and which are for any Common use of the Three Nations which rendreth them so inconvenient and nasty that to dedicate Churches to the most Holy God in such places were a most detestable Crime for any sort of Christians Against the VII In many Counties as also in that of Sachsag which is one of the aforenam'd the Kings Commissioners have caused all the Churches to be taken from the Evangelicks and their Ministers to be turn'd out by the Vicount of that County the Officials have done the like in the Counties of Abavivivar of Semlyn of Ugoza and in all the Towns of the Dominion of Tokai as we have already mention'd and some private Persons have presum'd to seize upon the Church belonging to those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg in the Town of Gyongyos which Gyongyos maketh the most considerable part of the County of Hewecz to put out their Ministers and even forbid the Evangelicks to exercise any way their Religion in that place The like has been done in the Town
the Lords of the Privy Council so to Establish us in the Liberty of Religion to the Immortal Fame of Your Royal Government after the Example of Your Glorious Predecessors that being reliev'd We may speedily Return to our Principals and God will recompence this Imperial Royal Favour with all sort of Happines from above Deliver'd to His Sacred Majesty at Aix la Chapelle upon his going to Vienna the 24th day of April in the year 1689. Your most Sacred Majesty's most Humble and Faithful Subjects the Deputies of the Evangelicks in the Counties Cities Towns and Frontiers of Upper and Lower Hungary about the Business of their distressed Religion The First Article of the Peace of Vienna in the Year 1606. AS to the Business of Religion notwithstanding the former publick Constitutions and the last Article of the Year 1604 which was made without the Diet and the consent of the Subjects and therefore is annulled it is granted That according to his Imperial Majesty's former Resolution to which the Subjects refer themselves in their replying all and each State of the Kingdom of Hungary as well the Peers and Noblemen as the free Cities and the Privileged Towns belonging immediately to the Crown and all the Hungarian Soldiers in the Frontiers shall any where and at any time profess and exercise their Religion without any Disturbance either from His most Sacr'd Majesty or from any Person whatsoever a free exercise of Religion being hereby granted to all the said States of the Kingdom Provided always That the Roman Catholick Religion be not thereby prejudiced That the Roman Catholick Clergy Churches and Chappels remain free and unmolested and that what has been taken from them in these Troubles be restor'd The First Article made before the Coronation in the Year 1608. concerning Religion COncerning the first Article of the Treaty of Vienna it is resolv'd by the States and Orders of Hungary that the Exercises of Religion shall be left free not only to the Noblemen and to the Inhabitants of the free Cities but also to the Hungarian Soldiers in the Frontiers of the Kingdom of Hungary and to all the Farmers and Peasant that will freely accept the same nor shall any of 'em be disturbed in the free Exercise of Religion but to prevent any effect of hatr'd and dissension between Roman Catholicks and Protestants It is Order'd That each Party shall have a Superior or Surperintendant of his own Profession Although this last first Article of the Year 1608 was renew'd in 77th Article of the Year 1618 inserted in the General Constitutions of the Kingdom by Order of the Emperor Ferdinand the Second in the Year 1622 restor'd to his Force by the 22d Article of the Year 1625 by the 33d Article of the Year 1630 and by the 29th Article of the Year 1635 confirm'd in the 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 and 14th Articles of the new Treaty of Peace made with George Ragoczy Prince of Transilvania in the Year 1648 Ratifyed both in the aforenamed Articles of 1649 and in the 10th Article of the Year 1649 and in the 18th Article of the Year 1655 made at Rakoczia and lastly confirm'd again and inserted in the Constitutions of the Kingdom by Order of Leopold the present Emperor in the Year 1659 yet notwithstanding all these the said Article remains without Force and the Exercise of the Protestant Religion is wholly exterminated against the Articles and the publick Constitutions of the Kingdom as well as against the Sacred Imperial Letters Patent And yet all this contributed little towards a Peace for the Results of this Diet concerned none but the good and quiet Men and such as were zealous for the Settlement and Peace of their Country Whilest Tekeli and others of that Spirit whose Minds were possess'd with virulent Malice and Ambition were plotting and contriving the means to set up their own Authority and give themselves into the Hands of the Turks rather than to the Power of their Sovereign Prince of whose natural Clemency thô they were well assur'd yet they suspected and fear'd his Councils which being chiefly influenced and directed by Jesuits and the Spirit of the Clergy could never be reconciled in any tollerable manner to the Protestant profession Tekeli besieges Kalo Thus whilest things were Negotiating in the Diet Tekeli besieg'd Kalo which surrendr'd at discretion with little or no resistance and Prince Apafi joyning with some Parties of the Malecontents laid Seige to Zatmar with an Army composed of Transilvanians Moldavians Turks and Malecontents of Hungary all which acted in four separate Bodies being well provided with Cannon and all sorts of Ammunition and Provisions so soon as Apafi had form'd his Siege he put forth a Manifest or Declaration which he caused to be privately stolen into the Town and there dispers'd signifying that out of Christian piety and compassion to the miserable state of that Kingdom Apafi's Declaration he had left his Country and Dwelling with no other intent than only to cause their Churches to be restor'd to them with a free Liberty of Conscience and Exercise of Religion and that their Estates which had been confiscated for the sake of their Religion and defence of their Rights and Privileges might be again restor'd to them To which he added many Solemn Protestations that he had no other end nor intention than the welfare and happiness of the Kingdom Farther also he said that he had a power sufficient for this Enterprise being well seconded by the Grand Seignior and acted by his Commission and that the Succession to the Principality was promised unto his Son to whom besides the Forces with him he had left a Guard of 20.000 Men. Having made thus much known to the Inhabitants of Zatmar he vigorously proceeded in the Siege Apafi invests Zatmar having received a Recruit of 8000 Men from the Pasha of Buda being a Detachment from 40.000 which were Encamp'd before the place whereof he was Governour And thô with these Forces the Town of Zatmar was taken yet Serini who Commanded the place retiring into the Castle or Citadel he so well defended the same that Apafi was forc'd to raise the Siege and march away burning several Towns The Siege raised and taking a Thousand Prisoners in his Retreat The raising of this Siege was variously interpreted and so ill taken by the Turks that Complaints were made thereof against Apafi at the Port. But it was no time now to make alterations or disturbances in Transilvania Towards the end of this year the Emperor being desirous to Crown the Empress at Oedembourg sent a Convoy of 500 Hussars 100 Heyduks The Empress Crowned Queen of Hungary and 500 Cuirassiers to fetch the Crown of St. Stephen from the Castle of Presburg where it is always lodg'd which being brought thither the Empress was Crown'd Queen of Hungary with great Solemnity And that this Ceremony might be performed with the more order and security a Cessation
this side return'd to Vienna to give his Majesty new assurances thereof Wherefore now to proceed in the provisions for a War Alliances were to be cultivated and in the first place the Treaty with Poland was rather to be renewes than begun for as we have before mention'd the Poles had pressed the Ratification thereof with much earnestness but in regard the Emperor was entertain'd constantly with hopes and a prospect of Peace he deferr'd the Conclusion thereof for the last Reserve to help and conserve him after all other Negotiations proved vain and fruitless Count Wallestain was the Person appointed to perform and compleat this great Work and accordingly having received a Commission and Instructions for so great a Management he made a Journey to Warsaw in Poland Count Wallestain sent into Poland where he found the Diet then Sitting but embroil'd in a thousand difficulties and differences amongst themselves as is usual in all such great Councils and Assemblies representing Aggrievances and accusing great Men. The business of the high Treasurer of that Kingdom was then in Agitation and his Accounts and Administration of that Office were under Examination upon which many of the Nobility were so intent that when Count Wallestain arrived with Instructions and Plenary Power from the Emperor to conclude a League offensive and defensive with Poland they opposed his admission to Audience until such time as they had composed their own intestine Differences and provided in the first place for the safety of their own Kingdom And so far had some angry and turbulent Spirits pressed this Matter that the Diet was in danger of being Dissolved without any Conclusion either in reference to their own Affairs or League with the Empire But the King and principal Nobility joyning their endeavours with those of Cardinal Pio Nuntio of Pope Innocent the 11th His Negotiations there and of the Emperor's Ambassador represented unto the Diet in General the necessity of a speedy Union against the Common Enemies declaring the Turks and Tartars were ready on the very Confines to over-run all Poland Hungary and Germany And because that notwithstanding all that could be said there were still certain Spirits unsatisfied it was the care of the King and of the others to deal with them in private and conjure them to give no stop but to concur with them in this important Negotiation Thus whole Nights were spent in pacifying the Spirits of the Polish Nobility who love to exert their Authority and to have Applications and Addresses made to them and at length they were so prevailed upon that remitting the Affairs of the Grand Treasurer and of other Aggrievances to the consideration of the next Diet they resolved to Treat on no other for the present than what related to the making such Confederacies as tended to the security and safety of the Kingdom And in regard the several Points and Articles with Moscovy were intricate and requir'd time to debate it was agreed without descending to other particulars in that Treaty to renew the Truce for three years longer and during that time to enter into a League Offensive and Defensive with the Emperor and King of Poland against the Common Enemy of Christendom Thus with much Labour and Assiduity The League concluded between the Emperor and King of Poland the Providence of God assisting the Christian Councils as he did afterwards their Arms the League was concluded and sign'd on the 18th of April being the Day of the Festival of Christ's Resurrection with which the Diet was Dissolved to the General satisfaction of that whole Assembly The News hereof which filled all Christendom with an Universal Joy was immediately dispatched to Vienna by an Express who moving with the Wings of Messengers who carry such pleasing Tydings arrived in a very short time at the Emperor's Court to the unexpressible Joy of the whole Empire The Chief Heads of the Treaty were these First That the League Offensive shall continue until such time as that the Emperor and King of Poland shall make Peace with the Common Enemy but that the Defensive shall continue for ever Secondly That this Alliance shall be sworn unto by Cardinal Pio in behalf of the Emperor and by Cardinal Charles Barberini at Rome in the name and behalf of the King of Poland Thirdly That the Emperor shall Renounce and quit claim to all Debts and Sums of Money which were due to him from Poland on occasion of the Succours and Assistances he gave unto that Kingdom when it was Invaded by the Swedes And that the great Seal whereby the Emperor is impowred to nominate and make choise of a new King be Cancelled and Surrendred Fourthly That no Peace be made with the Turks without the privity consent and concurrence of both Parties and that the Heirs and Successours of them be equally obliged to maintain and confirm the present League Fifthly That this League be limited and understood of a War against the Turk only and not against any other Prince or Potentate whatsoever Sixthly That during this War the Emperor be obliged to maintain 70.000 Men in the Field besides 20.000 in Garrison And that the King of Poland shall conduct an Army of 40.000 Men and March at the Head of them in Person Seventhly That the Emperor shall act with the gross of his Army in the Lower Hungary against the Turk and with another Army in the Upper Hungary consisting of Six thousand Germans and as many Auxiliaries whose business shall chiefly be to subdue the Rebels and recover the places which they have taken And that the King of Poland shall endeavour to recover Caminiec and other places unjustly usurped by the Turk in Podolia Ucrania and Volhinia Eighthly That the Emperor shall lend unto the King of Poland 300.000 Dollars and the payment thereof to be secur'd on the Tythes of that Kingdom which the Pope hath lately granted to the King for carrying on this present War Ninethly That in case other Christian Kings or Princes shall desire to enter into this Alliance their admission thereinto shall be with the knowledge and approbation of both Crowns and that the Czars of Muscovy be particularly induced to joyn in this Alliance On these Terms was this League concluded so much the more to the comfort and satisfaction of all Christendom by how much it had been uncertain and doubtful before in regard the Divisions in the Diet it self were grown so high that it was believed no place could be allowed for the Debates of Foreign Matter which did not immediately concern their own differences and that the resentment which the King of Poland conceived against the Emperor for not closing with the Alliance formerly offer'd and importunately urged would have been invincible obstacles against this Union of which all the World despair'd But God who directs all things to that end which he designs had so temper'd and qualified the Animositis of the Poles one against the other that to the Joy of all
and the Bravest of their Soldiery and so fatal was this Fight to them that they never recovered their Courage and Spirits again but suffer'd themselves for several years afterwards to be beaten and baffled by their Enemes After which we shall find them still decaying and giving Ground and at length falling into Discords and Civil Dissentions the Ottoman Empire had nearly expired had not the Christians falling into Wars amongst themselves which have always proved advantagious to the Turks given new Life and growth again unto that People This Victory obtained the King of Poland with his General and Senators justly applauded the Wisdom and Conduct of the Duke of Loraine and Valour of the German Troops to whom he acknowledged the whole Success of that day was to be attributed In the Quarters of the King Te Deum being sang and Thanks returned to Almighty God for so signal a Blessing the Duke of Loraine took a Survey of the Fort of Barcan to see in what manner it was possible to be put in a condition to offend Gran which was Situate on the other side of the Water just in opposition to it But such was the Fury of the Soldiers that they burnt almost all the Palisadoes and set fire to part of the Town and so ravenous were they after the Plunder of the Place that the Germans and Poles had fallen into Civil Wars amongst themselves had not Count Staremberg put an end to the Scuffle by commanding the Germans to with-draw and leaving the Poles Masters of the Place they made all the Spoyl they were able in revenge of the Loss they had suffered the day before Nothing could come more seasonable nor more advantagious to the Christian Arms than this Victory for besides the Loss as we have said of the best of their Men there remained not above two or three Thousand alive of all that Army which consisted of Fourteen thousand of their best Horse and Twelve hundred Janisaries commanded by the new Pasha of Buda Haly Pasha of Aleppo and six other Pashas Twelve hundred or One thousand Prisoners were taken and amongst them the Pashas of Aleppo and Silistria with several other Agas The Consequences of which Victory were very happy to the Christians for besides that it administred new Courage to the drooping Spirits of the Poles it totally dismayed the Malecontents and produced such Disorder in the Turkish Army that the Great Vizier Mutiny against the Great Vizier with all the Authority with which he was clothed was not able to contain them within any bounds or limits of Duty but rather fearing to be Murdered by them than hoping to Appease them was forced to abscond himself from their Rage in obscure Retirement By this Overthrow the Grand Vizier lost all the remainer of his Baggage which had been saved at the Battle of Vienna with Twelve Pieces of Cannon which had been advanced some Hours on the way before the Siege was raised and was employed by the new Vizier of Buda for the Service of this Camp The Duke of Loraine pursuing the course of his good Fortune was desirous to conclude this Campaign with the taking of Gran which was the glorious period to which the Emperor directed him if possible to advance his Affairs The Siege of Gran intended In order hereunto the Duke of Loraine taking first according to his usual Methods a judicious Survey of the situation of the Place and the way thereunto observed that in the middle of the River something below Gran there was an Island in which was not only good Forage for the Horse but also an ancient Intrenchment which with some little Labour might be made useful and defensive against the Cannon of the Town And from the farther side of that Island with the help of a few Boats the whole Army might find an easy Passage The King of Poland approving this Design Boats were ordered down from Comorra for framing the Bridge But whilst this was doing the late Successes which had brought great Reputation to the Emperor's Affairs had moved Tekeli to send the Count de Humanay in Behalf of the Malecontents to offer Terms of Peace and Pacification The Duke of Loraine who had been long versed in the Practices of Tekeli and his Associates was of opinion Tekeli sends Deputies to the Duke of Loraine That the Malecontents were not as yet reduced to such Terms as might render them fit and disposed for a Treaty Howsoever at the desire of the King of Poland being admitted to Audience they proposed a Cessation of Arms and an assignment for Winter-quarters To which the Duke of Loraine reply'd That such Concessions at present were not agreeable to the Interest and Dignity of the Emperor and took from hence occasion to make some Discourse of the Laws and Constitutions of their Kingdom and to reproach them for their Rebellion and want of Faith towards their Sovereign In short he told them That if they would hope to tast of the Emperor's Clemency they must without any previous Conditions lay down their Arms and renounce all Alliance with the Turk which was the first Preliminary or Step to a Treaty With this answer the Deputies being retired in a few days afterward Several Towns and Counties Submit not only Papa and Totis as we said before submitted but Wespring and Levents received German Garrisons and the Counties of Trinschin Tirnaw Nitria and Levents declared against the Cause and Interest of the Malecontents and received the Garrisons into their Castles and Fortresses which were sent thither by order of Count Caraffa to take Possession thereof The Bridges being finished by the 16th of this Month of October and the Bavarian Troops come up to joyn with the Army the Duke of Loraine desired the King of Poland according to his Place of Precedency to lead the way with his Troops but the King made some difficulty thereof The King of Poland proposes enquiries concerning the State of Gran. alledging That a Survey ought first to be taken of the situation of the Place and Enquiries made how well it was provided with Men and Ammunition and how far the Vizier with his Forces was retired from affording it Relief or disturbing the Siege Accordingly Two thousand Horse being appointed to take a View of the Country they passed the Bridges without opposition or disturbance and so dismayed the Turks that they deserted Thomas-burg a Palanca not far from Gran and set it on Fire but was soon quenched and Possession taken by the Imperialists Upon the appearance of a Party on this side of the River two Hungarians of Totis brought Intelligence that the Vizier was marched with his Army towards Esseck having left a small Force encamped near unto Buda This News hastned the Passage of the Christian Army over the River tho' the Poles remained in their Camp and moved not as yet and gave Encouragement to the Generals to hope that the Siege would not be of long
their Goods and Estates out from the City Notwithstanding this Discourse maintain'd and urged by divers the contrary Opinion prevailed for the Siege of Buda as if the Difficulties thereof served rather to enflame than to discourage so many valiant and generous Spirits The Siege of Buda resolved Such an Enterprise as the taking a Capital City with the Conquest of which the whole Kingdom would follow and fall a Prey into their Hands seemed an Adventure and an Exploit worthy the undertaking of so many brave Soldiers who were certainly the greatest Captains of this Age and perhaps we may speak it without injury to past times that they were the best Soldiers that ever the World had produced Indeed the whole Army of this Year was in a most Flourishing Condition well Provided and Accoutred Fleshed with Blood and Victory and so Couragious that nothing seemed too hard and difficult for them And this was one Reason to perswade the Military Councils to the Siege of Buda not knowing whether the next Year would produce such an Army as at present which as it was capable to undertake any thing so it was pity to have it wasted and employed in trivial matters and taking in of Fortresses from whence no Important Consequences could be expected There was moreover one thing more especially urged that by the last Siege the Defects and Errors and false Attacks were all seen and discover'd the which might now easily be rectified and provisions made against the mischiefs which cost the Lives of many Men and the Ground and nature of it and Situation being perfectly known the subjection of this place would become much more easie than the time before notwithstanding all the Provisions the Turks had made In fine with these Arguments as I said the Siege of Buda was resolved and every thing prepared in order thereunto In the mean time the Turks were not idle on their part every Day Olacks or Curriers were dispatched in all hast from Buda to Belgrade and thence to the Port to expedite the coming of the Ottoman Army and Succours for Re-inforcement of their Garrison Provisions made by the Turks for the War giving them advices of the Motion and Approach of the Imperial Troops against them which if not prevented would quickly surround their Walls and intercept their Advices and Relief The Turkish Officers and Soldiers in all their Quarters in Hungary amassed and gather'd what Forage and Provisions they were able which they laid up and disposed in those Garrisons which were most exposed to the Enemy and Re-inforced them with Troops drawn from other places which were in the least danger of the Enemy and at farthest distance from them The Tartars were urged and sollicited not only to hasten their march to the Confines of Poland to keep that Country in Awe but also to send another Body to joyn with the Ottoman Camp in Hungary In the mean time Skirmishes daily hapned between several Hussars and Dragoons belonging to Raab and Strigonium and detached Parties from Buda to which place Reinforcements were so constantly sent that the Garrison was calculated to amount unto above Nine thousand Men besides the Citizens and Inhabitants tho' in reality the numbers were much greater And in regard the Grand Seignior was not well satisfied with the Valour and Conduct of the present Pasha another was sent to supply the place The Pasha of Buda changed who incessantly laboured both Day and Night about the Fortifications for tho' it was not certain whether the Imperialists would make that Siege the business of this Year yet it was greatly feared and too much labour and caution could not be used for the Defence of a place of such Importance In the mean time the Grand Seignior removed from Adrianople to Constantinople The Grand Seignior goes to Constantinople to pass his Summer there in hopes that his Presence would bring some Trade to that City but the War had drained all the Money in such manner that the Merchants found little benefit or alteration in the quickness of their Trade The Grand Vizier intended at the same time to have moved from Adrianople towards Belgrade but the great Fire which had hapned lately there caused him to retard his March for some Days in order to rebuild the publick Edifices consumed by the Fire Besides the Fire and Sword Scarcity of Corn amongst the Turks there was great Scarcity of Corn in all the Ottoman Dominions by the two first the Rich were the greatest Sufferers but the latter was an Aggrievance which most affected the Poor Howsoever they supported these Troubles and Losses with Patience without Murmurings amongst the Citizens or Mutinies as yet in the Camp The Moscovites were all this time playing a double Game having sent an Envoy to the Court to complain of the Incursions which the Tartars had made into their Country The Moscovites treat with the Turks and of the Depredations which the Turkish Governour of Asac had made upon them at the Mouth of the Tanais The Envoy found a kind Reception and Orders were sent both to the Tartars and Governour of Asac to abstain for the future from all such Acts of Hostility and maintain a good Correspondence with the Moscovites who were become Allies and faithful Friends to the Port And more to engage the Envoy some few Russian Slaves were given him with License to rebuild an old ruined Greek Church in Constantinople with which to outward appearance the Envoy returned with entire Satisfaction The Polish Inter-nuntio who from the beginning of the War had been kept under restraint at Constantinople was now upon exchange for a Turk of quality again set at Liberty and being upon his return into Poland was on the Confines met by a Polish Jesuit who had some Months before been sent by the late Vizier with Letters to that King containing a Project for making a Peace and was now returning with Answers to those Letters and Instructions to the Inter-nuntio in what manner to manage a Treaty with the Turks Tâ—â— Poles make prâ—posals The Inter-nuntio returned herewith and made Proposals That in case the Turks would Surrender Caminiec with all they had taken in Podolia That then the Polish King would become a Mediator for Peace with the other Confederates But the Turks were not as yet sufficiently humbled to give up any Places they had in Possession especially that important Fortress of Caminiec which was the very Key of Poland and tho' an Expedient was offer'd to Demolish the same it would not be accepted by the Turks who had a greater value and esteem for that Place for having been the only Conquest which this Grand Seignior had made in Person And the Turks having no great value of late for the Poles either as to their Prowess in War or Conduct in Peace gave a proud Answer to the Demand resolving this Year to stand on the Defensive part and to tire out the Christians with a long and
the hands of its late barbarous Masters In which Action this Noble person deserves as much Honour as he purchased in the Conquest of it It being no less a Vertue to defend and conserve than to gain or win according to that old saying Non minor est virtus quà m quaerere parta tueri It being a great eye-sore to the Turks to see Singh their own Native Habitation in the hands of the Christians they were moved with indignation and with a passionate desire to recover it again into their own possession In pursuance whereof Atleegick lately made Pasha of Bosna drew out his Army in sight of Singh The Turks endeavour to take Singh and encamped in the Plan of Clivino where he pitched many Tents and his Army being encreased by great Numbers of Albanians and the choicest Soldiery of the Provinces round about and provided with all sorts of Ammunition and Victuals both for Man and Horse and with a considerable Train of Artillery they thought upon their first appearance to affright the Garrison of Singh into a surrender But the place having before been well provided with all things necessary and defended by a valorous Garrison they contemned the Summons of their Enemies resolving to maintain the place to the last extremity Whereupon the Turks having raised their Batteries began to play upon it with their Cannon but without any damage to the Besieged Hereupon the Turks changed their Attack from that to another part where their Horse and Foot were drawn up in Military Order with resolution to Storm the place which they attempted by break of day in the Morning falling on with great fury Singh assaulted by Turks and with their Scemyters in their hands thought immediately by force of Arms to carry the place But the besieged so bravely defended themselves that they gave them such repulse as caused them to sound a Retreat leaving behind them many of their Soldiers dead on the place to the number of about Two hundred of which the greatest part were Albanians In the Town the loss was very inconsiderable They are repulsed there being only the chief Engineer killed and some few persons wounded In the mean time the Proveditor-General Cornaro being informed of these successes resolved to give effectual relief to the Town and accordingly he detached several Parties of Morlachs to infest the Enemy on all sides which they performed so successfully that they returned with the Heads of many Turks with Prisoners in Chains and with a considerable booty and Numbers of Cattle having had the fortune to defeat a Convoy which was sent with Ammunition and Provisions to the Turkish Camp Howsoever the Turks still continuing the Siege which had now lasted Seventeen days to which they had called all the Netferee which are the Trained-Bands of the Country and brought thereunto all the Cannon which remained in the fortified places round about they did not doubt in a short time of the success they desired The Siege raised But all these hopes vanished away so soon as News came to Atleegick that the Venetian Army was on their march to relieve the Town with which they were so alarum'd and affrighted that raising their Camp Tents and Baggage they quitted the Siege and ran away with a shameful and precipitate Cowardice And thus ended the Successes of this Year 1687 to the Glory of God and Confusion to the Enemies of the Christian Faith The Victories and Triumphs in Hungary gained by the Imperial Arms were almost miraculous as is before related the successes in the Morea with the subjection of Patras Athens and other places of Greece were wonderful and the relief given to Singh and taking of Castel Nuovo were all works of the Divine Providence And when we farther consider the Tumults Seditions and Mutinies amongst the Turks themselves to the deposing of their Sultan himself and destruction of their Chief and Principal Officers by the madness and fury of the Soldiers even almost to to the total destruction of their Empire we may believe that the Hand of God was lifted up against this People to bring them to the brink of Ruin and Misery and cause them to cease and be no longer a People Let us therefore proceed to the Ensuing Year and therein relate the sequel of the wonderful works of God in whose hands are the disposal of Empires and Kingdoms ANNO 1688. THE Emperor who had from the time of the Incoronation of the King of Hungary remained at Presburg otherwise called Possonium with all the Imperial Court returned now at the beginning of this year to Vienna and arrived there on the 26th of January The Emperor prepares for the next Campaign The Season was now come for making Preparations for the next Campaign against the Turks and Consultations were held not only to secure the new Conquests but to advance farther and to enlarge the Imperial Dominions at all which his Cesarean Majesty was pleased to assist in Person But in regard the Work was great and the Charges immense to Recruit the old Regiments and raise new to provide Ammunition Provisions and Forage for that vast Army which was designed for Hungary His Imperial Majesty was pleased to convene all the States of Austria and of his Hereditary Dominions who accordingly meeting and forming an August Assembly The States of Austria convened the Chancellor in the name of the Emperor declared unto them in a Florid Oration the neccessity that there was for a large supply of Money whereby to carry on the War against the Turks not only on the defensive part but also to advance forward in that way which God had opened and to enlarge the Dominions and extent of Christendom They promise Money At the Conclusion of the Speech the States of Austria having with most profound Reverence and Respect returned their most humble Thanks to his Imperial Majesty for his gracious Clemency they promised in the most submissive Terms imaginable to answer the just Demands of his Majesty to the utmost of their Power The like was done by the States of Stiria the Governour of which Province called Stubemberg having offer'd to his Majesty the Sum of Three hundred thousand Florins As do also the States of Stiria besides the One hundred and Sixty thousand which those States annually pay for Maintenance of their own Charges both Civil and Military and of the Militia which is quarter'd on the Confines of Sclavonia Moreover Messages were sent to the several Princes of the Empire to send their respective Quotas and Contingents and numbers of Soldiers according to the ancient Constitutions of the Empire And in the mean time the Imperial Chamber took such due means and measures in order to the preparations of all things necessary that Recruits were made the Artillery mounted the Magazines filled with Ammunition and Provisions and all sorts of Carriages Pontons Boats Barges and all other appointments for War were provided in great abundance In the mean
August Emperor and engage not only our selves but our Posterity of this Kingdom of Transilvania And for an Evidence of this our Submission and Agreement by vertue of the power we have received from his Highness the Prince and the States of the Country We do admit and receive the Imperial Forces into the Fortress of Kôvar Huss Georgim and Braslavia besides other places already garrisoned by German Soldiers Moreover we declare That we shall be ready at all times to take up Arms against the Common Enemy of Christendom and against all others as we shall be commanded by our most gracious Lord whom with all Humility We Pray and Beseech that he would be graciously pleased to confirm our Priviledges and the free Exercise of our Religion as we have hither to enjoyed And also that he would Protect and Defend our Posterity and Successors in the said Liberty and Priviledges And in the mean time that the Teaty and Convention made with the Duke of Loraine may remain in full Force and Vertue We have in Testimony thereof and for greater Evidence and Manifestation to all the World ratified and confirmed this our Abjuration and Renuntiation of the Ottoman Protection under the Seal of the three Nations of the Kingdom of Transilvania Given at Hermanstadt the 9th of May 1688. These happy Successes made way for the Surrender of Alba Regalis which all this time held out supplying themselves sometimes with Provisions by Sallies and Excursions which they often made even to the Walls of Buda Wherefore it being wisely considered that this Garrison might still defend it self for a long time Alba Regalis straightned unless the Blocade were more streightly watched and such Forces disposed on all sides as might suffer none either to go in or come out of the City Prince Herman of Baden President of the Counsel of War projected a formal Blocade and with some Parties of Germans and Hungarians within the Jurisdiction of his own Government together with some Militia of General Count Bathyani Commanded by himself and the former Conducted by Colonel Baron Areyzaga May. Governour of Leopolstadt and these were enjoyned to make an actual Attack upon the place in case they understood that a Blocade was not likely to succeed About the beginning of May these Forces appeared in view of Alba Regalis and a strict Blocade was formed on all sides of the Town Howsoever the Defendants seemed not to lose Courage but on the contrary made a stout Sally both with Horse and Foot the Issue of which was of no greater Importance than only the taking off the Heads of some unfortunate Soldiers on one side and the other And now at length to make their last effort the Turks made another Sally on the Germans but soon retired again without any Action The Turks make a Sally which gave opportunity to the Van-guard to advance within Cannon-shot of the Town with which the Defendants became so terrified that the three Chief Commanders sent forth a Turk well clothed and mounted to make some motion for a Treaty The Turk approaching near the Vanguard desired to speak with some of the Chief Captains letting them know that he had Offers to make of a Surrender which whilst he was uttering several other Turks Sallied out with a kind of cheerful Air and Briskness They Capitulate one of which advancing before demanded of the Christian Soldiers what it was they required To which Answer being made The Town Reply was made But we must know first on what Conditions may we not said they expect to receive the same Articles that were given to Agria And may not we obtain the Favour to have our Treaty Signed at Vienna by the great Emperor of the Romans To which Answer was made That thô they had no Power nor Authority to give them any assurance of the latter yet they would endeavour to give them satisfaction in that point as well as in others Hereupon Articles were drawn into several Heads and sent into the City the which next day being consider'd in the Divan and by common consent agreed unto were Signed by the three Pashas and Chief Commanders of the Garrison the Sum of all which being this That the same Conditions should be given in all Points The Articles are agreed and Messengers sent to Vienna as to Agria And as to the Confirmation of these Articles by the Emperor that the Turks might be satisfied therein an Express was dispatched to Prince Herman of Baden that he might send Advice to the Emperor of this Success and withall to intimate the Desires of the Turks to have their Articles confirmed by the Imperial Signature The which being granted Ali Aga and Ali Beg were commissioned by the Garrison to carry the Articles to Vienna and being come near to the City an Officer was sent to meet them with a Coach by whom with a Guard they were conducted to the chief Inn of the City where they were Lodged and provided with all things necessary for their Entertainment The Emperor not being in the City but at his Country-House at Luxemburg the Turks lost the curiosity of their Desires and Honour of Kissing the Hem of the Emperor's Garment Howsoever after having been courteously treated they were with much expedition dispatched away that the Surrender of the Town might not be delaied for in War are many Hazards And perhaps the Commanders of the Town might have projected this pretence for a delay not knowing what might happen in the interim by Succours from Belgrade which were promised and daily expected to relieve them In consideration of which the Marquis Herman of Baden President of the Council of War procured the Imperial Signature to their Capitulations with all hast imaginable and having made a Present to each of them of a Watch they were Conducted back to Alba Regalis by Count Zicchy who had all that Winter been very Active to Watch that Garrison and force them to a Surrender Thus these two Commissioners being returned to Alba Regalis with the Articles of Surrender signed and confirmed they enter'd into the Divan with the Pashas and other Commanders and after some Debate and Consultation they resolved on an immediate Surrender and without other pause or delay they began to laid their Goods and Moveables on Carts and Waggons And on the next day being the 19th of May May. they quitted the City and went out by the Gates to the number in all of about Eight thousand Souls amongst which there were not above Three hundred Soldiers The Articles on which the Town was Surrender'd were these First That the Castle and City with all the Ammunition Cannon and Arms with the Bells Clocks and all things of publick use shall without Fraud or Design be delivered up and what Mines that are either in the Castle or Town shall be discovered and made known Secondly That permission shall be given without let or hindrance or molestation whatsoever to the Garrison
Remedy an equal number of Commissaries shall on both sides be immediately chose on the Confines These shall be Sober Prudent Experienc'd and Peaceable Men who without Troops meeting with an unarm'd Retinue of equal number on both sides shall hear consider decide and amicably Agree all such Controversies as can arise and shall propound and appoint such Order and Methods by which either Party shall without delay or fraud reduce or compel their Servants and Subjects to a sincere Observance of this Peace But if Matters of such great Moment should arise that such Commissaries are not able to Agree or Determine 'em then shall Affairs be refer'd to the two most Potent Emperors themselves that they themselves may find out and apply so proper Means or Expedients for the setling such Differences that they may in as short a time as possible be finally determin'd nor shall such Resolutions be neglected or long Protracted Whereas in the Sacred Articles of former Treaties between the two Empires Duels and all sort of Challenges in order to 'em have been forbid it is now likewise Agreed that in like manner for the time to come they shall remain unlawful and if any dare presume to enter into single Combates they shall be proceeded against with the utmost rigour XII The Captives that during this present War have on each side been carry'd away and are at present remaining in the publick Prisons considering from this happy Peace they may reasonably expect Release nor can they be retain'd in this Misery without Indignity to the Imperial Majesty and Offence of laudable Custom shall be restor'd by way of Exchange upon the usual or more easie Conditions and in case there are more on one side than on the other or some of greater Quality on one side than on the other yet the Solemn Demands of the Ambassador on each side shall so far prevail upon the Clemency of each Emperor that these Supernumeraries shall with the rest find a Release But as for the Prisoners that are in private Hands or amongst the Tartars they shall be Redeem'd upon Equitable and as moderate Terms as possible But if such fair Agreement cannot be made with the Patrons of these Slaves the particular Judges of the Places where they live shall settle this Matter of what is to be pay'd for their Redemption but if those ways should fail then the Captives themselves making it appear by Testimonies or Oaths what their Masters pay'd for 'em upon the Repayment of that Money shall be Releas'd Nor shall it be permitted to their Masters to oppose themselves to this Release upon the pretence of a greater Price and considering that on the part of the Ottoman Empire there may be no particular Society of Men employ'd to look after this Redemption of Captives yet it is Agreed That the Caesarean Magistrates stand in Honour oblig'd to see the Turkish Slaves Releas'd upon the Payment of what they cost their Masters so that this work may be carry'd on with equal Sincerity on both sides And that such Captives may at length gain their Liberty the Ambassadors of each Empire shall in the mean time use all good Offices that they may in the mean time be treated with Mildness and Humanity XIII As concerning the Religious Orders or Exercise of the Christian Religion according to the Rites of the Roman Catholick Church it is Agreed by the most Serene and most Potent Ottoman Emperor That whatsoever Indulgences have been made by the precedent most Glorious Ottoman Emperors in their Dominions whether it were by Antecedent Sacred Capitulations by Imperial Signets by Edicts or Special Mandates that all these shall stand good and confirm'd so that the foresaid Religious may repair and rebuild their Churches may Exercise their usual and accustom'd Functions so that it shall not be lawful from any one contrary to these Sacred Capitulations and Divine Laws to impose upon 'em any sort of trouble or pecuniary Exaction let these Religious be of what Order or Condition soever they shall enjoy the usual Protection and Goodness of the Imperial Ottoman Empire Besides it shall be allow'd to the Ambassador of the most Serene and most Potent Roman Emperor to the Fulgid Port to enter into Treaty there according to his Instructions about the Religion and Places of Christian Pilgrimage or Visitation in the Holy City of Jerusalem and he shall there lay before the Imperial Throne his Demands about these Matters XIV The Commerce according to the former Sacred Capitulations shall be free to the Subjects on both sides through all the Kingdoms and Dominions of both Empires but this intercourse of mutual Trade may be perform'd without Fraud and with just Profit at the times of the Solemn Embassies on both sides there shall be appointed Commissioners well vers'd in Mercantile Affairs who shall Debate this Matter and the same Privileges the High Empire allows to other Nations in Friendship with it shall with the same Security and Advantages to the Subjects of his Caesarean Majesty of what Nation soever they may be XV. Whatsoever Conditions are express'd in the Antient Sacred Capitulations shall stand good and be religiously Observ'd provided they do not contradict the Articles of this present Treaty or are no ways prejudicial or obstructive to that free Exercise of Power which each Empire is intended to have in its own Dominions and in case any former Articles come under this Discription then they are declar'd by these Presents null and void XVI And that this present Truce may the better grow and be confirm'd into a mutual Friendship and Confidence betwixt the two most potent Emperors Extraordinary Ambassadors shall be sent on both sides who are to be Receiv'd Treated and Attended from their Entrance into the Confines and during their stay and to the time of their Return till they are again Exchang'd with the usual Ceremonies and for a more manifest Declaration of the Friendship between the two Emperors these Ambassadors shall bring and make voluntary Presents yet such as shall correspond to and be agreeable to the High Dignity of each Emperor And the said Ambassadors by Concert in June in the ensuing Summer at the same time beginning their Journey shall be Exchang'd in the Confines of Sirmium after the manner that has been us'd upon such Occasions And it shall be permitted to each of the Ambassadors at the Imperial Courts to make what Requests they shall think convenient XVII The Rule for Receiving Entertaining or Treating the Ministers by the Courtiers of each Empire shall be taken from the practice of former times to be executed with all imaginable Candor and Decency according to that distinct Prerogative which the Characters of those that are sent shall Demand The Caesarean Ambassadors Envoys or Residents and their Attendants shall without the hindrance of any one enjoy a full liberty of using what sort of Garments they please Besides the Caesarean Minister whether he be Vested with the Character of Ambassador
way and fly privately out of the reach of his Competitor The News hereof flew with great hast to the Thieves in Anatolia who being encouraged with the Success of Yeghen His Complices on couraged under whose Government they all fancied to be made Pashas or Grandees came over in great numbers to joyn with him Amongst which one Temac Boluckbashee a leading Man with Four hundred of his Robbers passed boldly over from Asia to Constantinople and Yedic their General was not only pardoned but made a Pasha To this hard Plight and Extremity was the Ottoman Empire reduced when the Turks placing their greatest hopes in the Tartars An Aga sent to Transilvania dispatched away an Aga to Apafi Prince of Transilvania with a Patent to confirm him in his Principality and with Orders to demand of him in consideration thereof a round Sum of ready Money wherewith to Succour and pay the Garrisons on the Boristhenes and to provide for the Maintenance of Caminiec which was in want of Ammunition and all things necessary And to persuade Apafi hereunto he told Stories very improper and unfit to compass his ends for he rehersed all the Tumults of the Zorbas at Constantinople and that the Grand Seignior was forced to create Yeghen who was their Chief and Leader to be Seraskier in Hungary That in Constantinople there was want of every thing even to a Famine caused by the Seditions and Mutinies of the Soldiers and that for the appeasing these Tumults and for the Donative unto the Soldiers which is usually given by the Sultans at their Inauguration the Exchequer had been drained of Twenty Millions of Dollars wherefore he urged the States of Transilvania to grant him his Demands in failure of which he threatned them with the Incursions of the Tartars who had already passed the River Prut and were enter'd into the Neighbouring Provinces where they had left sad Marks of their cruel and miserable Devastations And that Sultan Galga and Noradin with a mighty Army were marching to oppose the Emperors designs upon Belgrade General Carafa having notice of these Practices upon Transilvania went with all hast thither and in a short time not only defeated this Aga in his Negotiations but also so well disposed Apafi and the States of Transilvania with entire Devotion to the Emperor that in despight of the Message brought by the Aga they absolutely renounced all Obedience and Duty to the Ottoman Port The which Renuntiation follows in this manner We Michael Teleky de Szek General George and Alexius de Bethlem Laodislaus Szekel of Boroszeno Valentine Frank one of the Judges Christian Zato Consul of the City of Hermanstadt Counsellors to the Illustrious Prince of Transilvania As also Nicholas of Bethlem Stephen Appor Peter Alvinzy and John Starosy Principal and publick Notaries Michael Filstrick Judge of the City of Braslavia Plenipotentiaries deputed by the Prince aforesaid and by the States of the Kingdom of Transilvania do hereby declare and make known unto all the World desiring that these Presents may remain upon Record for a lasting Testimony unto all Ages With great Reason may this present Age remain astonished and envious Eyes become dazled with the Splendor of the Divine Clemency which not suffering its beloved Christendom to Groan longer under the Yoak of Barbarous Pride nor remain in Bonds to Tyrannical Servitude nor longer to be overwhelmed and drowned after so many Wars in a Sea of Innocent Blood hath at length out of his great Compassion been pleased to exert the strong Power of his Omnipotent Arm to Rescue so many Kingdoms and Provinces from an unsupportable Slavery under the Turks who transported with senseless Fury had rendered themselves formidable to the World ruinous to their Neighbours and Despisers of all People besides their own But behold How the God of Hosts being justly displeassed with these vain Boastings hath thrown his Thunder-bolts amongst them and dispersed them making the most August Emperor Leopold the First an Instrument of his Vengeance and having showred Flouds of Blessings on his Glorious and Triumphant Arms hath encompassed his Royal Head with Wreaths of Victorious Laurel whilst the Ottoman Throne is dressed up with Mournful Cipress Such were the astonishing operations of the Divine Power made manifest to all the World For when the barbarous Tyranny was in its full Career and was in the Trail of a hot Scent after Christian Blood then was God pleased to stop them in their Course and reduce their unstable and depressed Fortune to the doubtful Terms of Hope and Fear It is now near an Age that unhappy Transilvania hath been depressed by the unsupportable Ottoman Yoak and bewailed the loss of her lawful King and Lord And after having been Turmoiled tossed with Storms of War with Fire and Sword and Civil Dissentions all things have been so confused and defaced that scarce any thing hath remained on the Registers of it's ancient Glory only since the Dominion of the Turk gained by the intestine differences of it's own Princes some Memorials are written and reserved to represent to the World a History of a most direful Tragedy But now the maligne Influence of the Stars being either abated or entirely exhausted and the Ambitious Pride and Designs of private Men defeated Transilvania embraces the Paternal and Powerful Protection of the most August Emperor of the Romans Leopold the First and Hereditary King of Hungary and of all his Successors and particularly of the most Serene Prince Joseph King of Hungary whose Life may God long continue and of his Heirs after him according as it hath been concluded and agreed in the year 1687 at the last Diet at Possonium with full Consent Approbation and Concurrence of all the States of Hungary who have for a long time poured out their Prayers and Tears and Sighs before God that at length through the Divine Mercy they might obtain the Enjoyment of this long wished Felicity Be it therefore Enacted Established and made known to this present and to future Ages That to the Glory of the Omnipotent God and for the more quiet and prosperous State of this Principality both in this and in Ages to come We the said Plenipotentiaries deputed by the Illustrious Prince and States of this Kingdom do with our free Will and Christian Zeal Renounce all Protection from the Turk declaring that for the future We will send him no Presents nor pay him Tribute Nor will we maintain any Correspondence with the Ottoman Port their Adherents or Dependants whether Turks or Christians or with any others who are Enemies to the Majesty of the Roman Emperor our gracious Lord or to his lawful Successours and Hereditary Kings of Hungary upon Penalty of High Treason to be punished according to the Laws of this Country after due Conviction of the Crime And in lieu of that Power which we have now renounced We do with all Sincerity and Purity of Heart Enter and List our selves under the Protection of the most