MEMOIRS OF EMERIC Count Teckely In Four BOOKS Wherein are related all the most considerable Transactions in Hungary and the Ottoman Empire from his Birth Anno 1656 till after the Battel of Salankement in the Year 1691. Translated out of French LONDON Printed for Tim. Goodwin at the Maiden-head against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street 1693. To the Right Honourable RICHARD Earl of Bellomont Treasurer to Her Majesty My Lord IT seems not unseasonable or improper to publish these Memoires under your Lordship's Protection though Truth needs no Hero to defend her the Beauty of Vertue and generous Spirit of Liberty influenced Your glorious Ancestors and runs still in the Veins and Blood of your Self and Noble Family 'T is this sublime Character that shines so bright in most of the Greek and Latin Writers this Purity and Majesty of Thought Stile and Action elevated the Ancients far above our Level and rendred them such noble Monuments to Posterity that at this Day they carry the highest Value and the greatest Reputation Whereas in the late Ages we have so far degenerated from the Candor and Sincerity of those Learned Authors that either Sects in Religion Factions in the State or other private Interests or Rewards have made Men deviate so far from the old Rules of History that the greatest part of the Modern is more like Romance design'd to please some sorts of Readers more than to profit or teach Mankind Polybius Lucian and others foresaw the many Corruptions that were like to overspread the Writers of History therefore they thought fit to leave behind them some Rules and Methods for preserving its Native Purity My Lord These Memoires of Count Teckely seem free from the aforementioned Deseases of History Methinks there appears in them something of the ancient Air of Thucydides and Livy The Author casts no Mists to mislead his Readers puts on no Mask to deceive the common Eye all here is naked Matter of Fact without any superficial Gloss or Artifice to corrupt the plain simple Truth and therefore the most fit to be dedicated to your Lordship by My Lord Your Lordship 's Most humble Servant THE PREFACE TO THE READER WHEN I first began to read this Book I took up a strong Conceit that it was written by the Order of the French Court of purpose to make the Protestant Princes of Germany jealous of the Emperor and of the Court at Vienna by shewing them how their Brethren had been treated in Hungary both as to their Religion and their Civil Liberties which I believe were the true foundation of this long and dangerous War which brought the Imperial House within an Hair's breadth of Ruin for had the Prime-Visier in 1683 taken Vienna and the French King been called in as in appearance he must to save the rest of the Germans from the Ottoman Yoke the consequence would have been the utter ruine of this Branch of the Austrian Family of the Liberties of Germany and consequently of the Liberty of all Europe and of the Protestant Religion But by considering the Sincerity and Plainness of these Memoires one may conclude there can be no other Design in the Author than to transmit to Posterity pure Matter of Fact If any thing in this World were capable of making a zealous Roman Catholick Prince reflect on the Dangers the Jesuits expose them to for their own Interest this were enough to make all the crowned Heads that shall live hereafter suspect and avoid the precipitate foolish unjust Counsels of this sort of Men. It is true what so much threatned the ruine of the Emperor by a wonderful Turn of the Divine Providence in the event became an Occasion of wresting Hungary intirely out of the Hands of the Turks and the Imperial Forces pursuing their Advantages in the end brought the Ottoman House into the same Danger the Austrian had so happily escaped but then this is owing intirely to the Goodness of God and the Counsels that brought the Emperor into that Danger are as much to be detested as if they had succeeded It is much to be observed that the same Methods that were used in Hungary to ruine the Protestant Religion and the Civil Liberties of that Nation were also imployed after that in France for the same End and began in England Scotland and Ireland in the last Reign and carried as far as they had Time and Means to carry them and by the same Men. So that it seems to be a formed Design intended to be acted in one Place after another throughout Europe It is hard otherwise to conceive how the same Maxims and the same Politicks should be put in execution in such distant Places The first natural Inference that will arise from hence is That we can never enough admire the Goodness of God in Delivering us so timely and so wonderfully out of a Danger which would have certainly prepared England for Ruine if it had been effected But the best Vse of this is to be made by the Non-swearers Let them consider seriously what Treatment the Hungarians have all met with as well those that stuck to the Emperor as those that joined with the Malecontents Let them consider how little the Loyalty of the Protestants of France was considered by the Present French King who had been deposed in his Minority but for them How little the Loyalty of those that had twice saved the late King was regarded either in England or Ireland when they found these Men would not abandon the Protestant Religion and the Civil Liberties of England to them I am morally certain there is no Man in England of any Prudence doth expect any better Treatment from the late King if he should return than they met with before but rather much worse and therefore I am amazed to see so many reputed wise Men stand out against the Present Government and seem to desire nothing more than to put themselves and the Nation into such a Condition as must inevitably end in the Destruction of the late King and the whole Royal Family or the Ruine of the Protestant Religion and the Civil Liberties of England They every Day pester us with Libels against Their Majesties Persons and Government and incurable Scruples of their own but when they come to shew how the Nation should be secured in case they had what they desire never did Men in their right Wits talk more childlishly and impertinently Leaving them as incurable I wish the rest of the Nation would read this little Book and compare exactly in their Minds what was done in Hungary according to the Report of this Author with what was done or apparently intended to be done in England and then I believe the Consequence of it will be a fixed Resolution to spend the last Drop of their Bloods and the last Penny of their Money in the Defence of the Present Government Memoirs on the Life Of EMERIC Count of TEKELI The First Book Containing the History of what has passed in Hungary from the Year 1656
Evils The Duke of Lorrain answer'd That they might expect all from the Clemency of His Imperial Majesty if they would immediately break with the Turks and submit themselves to the discretion of their Soveraign That this was all the Counsel that he could give and that he had no other Answer to make to their Propositions Thereupon they separated and the Deputies return'd to the place from whence they came The Duke of Lorrain applied himself to put the Imperial Troops into the Quarters which had been assign'd them and left the Counts Rabata and Caraffa with Baron Merci to Command them All the Necessary Orders being given he took the way of Lintz where the Emperor still was The King of Poland who had parted some time before for Cassovia took in his way the Small Town of Schim where was a Turkish Garrison He continued on his March and sent to Summon Cassovia which having a strong Garrison of Malecontents refus'd to Surrender The King not knowing how to force them in the middle of the Winter and not liking to leave his Troops expos'd to the Incursions of the Malecontents in a Country of which they had no knowledge made but little stay in Vpper Hungary He gave Order to his Army excepting some Foot to enter into Poland and took the Passes to return to Cracovia His Army followed him soon after and left the Germans the liberty to take the Quarters which had been assign'd them Cara Mustapha had presented himself before the Grand Seignior the first time at Belgrade and to excuse himself had laid the blame upon several others and particularly upon Tekeli by whom he said he had been betray'd The Grand Seignior at first appear'd satisfied with his Reasons but whether it were that as soon as he came to Adrianople whither he went soon after some had taken Care in his Presence to aggravate the Faults of the Vizier or upon any other occasion he as has been said sent to have him Strangled In the mean while Tekeli having notice of the ill Impressions the Vizier had given of him to his Highness and not being able to subsist without Aid of the Port took a Bold Resolution which succeeded well He render'd himself at Adrianople and having obtain'd Audience of the Grand Seignior he told him That being inform'd that his Conduct had been mis-represented to his Highness he came to justifie himself before him or to offer him his Head if he were culpable The Grand Seignior was touch'd at his Submission and the Confidence which he appear'd to have in the Justice of the Musulmans He gave him Commissioners to whom Tekeli related the particulars of the Vizier's Faults of which he had been already inform'd in part Among these Faults he particularly enlarg'd upon one of them on which we have remark'd above which is That the Vizier not having given him Troops enough to act on the other side the Danube the Imperial Horse which were the best Horse in the World had been in a condition to traverse his Designs and that it had been strong enough to be Master of the greater part of Hungary almost in the View of so formidable a Body Besides not being able to have Communication ready and easie enough with the Vizier who was not Master of the Danube he could not be reliev'd when he needed it nor could give the Necessary Advices That if the Vizier had had the Precaution to render himself Master of some Pass upon the Danube though he had not succeeded before Vienna he might have preserv'd to the Grand Seignior all the Upper Hungary which held with the Malecontents by retreating on that side That his Army joyn'd to that of the Malecontents was yet stronger than was necessary to beat the Army of the Emperor and the King of Poland in case they durst have pursued the Vizier and that it had been easie to take Quarters in those Parts of Hungary where the Imperialists had never been but because they had abandon'd them These Reasons supported by the Vizier's Enemies and conformable to the Prejudices they had given the Grand Seignior against the Conduct of that Minister appear'd to him so plausible that he promis'd Tekeli his Protection and gave him his word that he would never forsake him The Count for his part fail'd not to give hope that with the Assistance of the Port he would restore Matters into so good a Condition that he should give the Emperor more trouble than ever The Grand Seignior after having caus'd Cara Mustapha to be put to Death nam'd in his Place Ibrahim who before had been Caimacan This new Vizier after he had a long time consulted with the other Ministers of the Port was of Opinion to make Peace with the Emperor but the Grand Seignior as they assure us was so opposite to this whether because of his word pass'd to Tekeli or for any other Reason that he followed the contrary Opinion which was for his continuing the War The End of the Second Book MEMOIRES FOR THE LIFE OF Emeric Count Teckely BOOK III. Containing the History of what arrived to him from the Year 1684 to the Year 1687. TEckely being returned into Hungary immediately saw the Effects of the Grand-Signor's Promises in that the Bassa's of the Neighbouring Cities sent to offer him what Assistance he should have occasion for The Emperor on his side set out an Act of Oblivion in the beginning of the Year 1684 wherein he gave an Assurance 1st To re-establish all those who had born Arms against his Service in their Honours and in their Estates which should not be forfeited 2d That they who formerly possessed Employments should be indempnified for the Loss of their Posts which had been conferred upon others 3d. That Orders should be exhibited for maintaining Officers and Souldiers by dispersing them into the Garisons of Hungary The Declaration also purported That from the 15th of February those Male-contents that would return to their Duty should find the Emperor's Commissioners at Presbourg ready to accept their Oaths and to hear their Remonstrances in order to give an Account thereof to the Imperial Council which would not forget to afford them Satisfaction At last it threatned those who would not enjoy the benefit of this General Pardon with the severest Rigours that have been accustomed to be practised against obstinate Rebels This Declaration which would have been laugh'd at before the Turks had been defeated produced some effect amongst People fatigued with so long a War and from which they did not see how they could disengage themselves with Honour The Barons Baragozzi were of the first who thought upon deserting the Party of the Male-contents and the eldest of this Family withdrew himself into the Castle of Zakwar which belonged to him with three hundred Hussars The Count Humanai who had been deputed to the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorrain did the same and fixed himself in his Castle of Vngwar where he thought himself secure They were
were obliged to make too many Detachments and to keep them too Remote one from the other and that they could cut them off if they did Fight them one after another they not being able to help themseves reciprocally That it was impossible to entertain an Army in Servia because the Turks and Tartars had Ruined it and would Ruine it still more That if they had the worst in a Battel as that might happen the farther advanced they would be the more difficult it would be to Retreat which would put the whole Army to Flight that they should not consider it as a small matter to reduce all Hungary into the Emperor's Hands and to keep it so that they should be no more in danger of loosing it which they would be exposed to in undertaking too much That that very thing would keep all the Neighbourhood in its Duty without any need of hazarding any thing else They added some other Discourses of the same nature which aimed all to stick to the surest But the first Opinion was esteemed best and they did not perceive it was maintained with Reasons more Specious than Solid but after this Resolution was Embrac'd there was no more time to change for the better part In the Month of February the Tartars who had consumed all that they could find of Provisions in Servia repassed the Danube and went to look for some in Walaquia The Imperialists quartered there but not finding themselves Capable to stop their Inroads retired into the Transilvanians Territories and gave an opportunity to the Walaquians to Reproach them that it happened nothing otherwise than what they had forewarned and that they had refused them what they had promised them Some thought the Hospodar kept a Correspondence with the Tartars and that he had drawn them to drive away the Imperialists However it were by this it Manifestly appeared that they were grasping at more than they could keep and they were not displeased to Mortifie the Walaquians The Tartarians retired soon after and the Imperialists who feared least the Turks should attack Nissa or Widdin called into Servia the Troops they had in Transilvania to secure those Places Canisa after having suffered a blockade almost without Intermission since the taking of Buda surrendred it self at last to the Emperor for want of Victuals as soon as they lost all the hopes of receiving any Succours The Surrender of that Town pleased the the Imperial Court mightily so much the more that they hoped Themiswear and Waradin would follow its Example which nevertheless did not happen those places having been victualled many times A little after the surrender of Canisa Michael Abaffi dyed at Alba-Julia after having been a long while Sick and dying recommended his Children to the Emperor as to the Power then most capable to support them and get his eldest Son to succeed him in the Principality The Turks had made him Vaivode as you may have seen in the first Book of this History and the Malecontents of Hungary had protected him as it has been told in the Second against the intrigues of the Imperial Court. Because he had been in the Party of both during many Years But the Emperor having made himself Master of all the Vpper Hungaria after the raising of the Siege of Vienna he began to keep fair with him rather by necessity than by Inclination for fear least he should act again for the Turks or for the Malecontents and to be revenged for what was past they filled Transilvania with Imperial Garrisons and the Transilvanians were not much better used than the Hungarians Charles the fourth Duke of Lorrain dyed also in the beginning of that Campagne and the Imperial Court was deprived of a most able and zealous General for the House of Austria whose Interests his Relations were bound to The Duke of Bavaria was named to command in his room upon the Rhine while Prince Lewis of Baden was coming to take the Command of the Army in Hungary 'T is reported for certain that this last should excuse himself because although he had met with such good Success in the last Campagne his Army wanted many necessary things so that it had been impossible to do any thing if the Turks had used a better Conduct than they did The Imperial Army conquered a good part of Servia and often routed the Turks but this was not effected without exposing themselves to great Hazards and by a timely laying hold of those Opportunities which the Slowness and Consternation of the Turks have long ago furnished them with If it happened that the Turks should take better Measures and act with more Vigour there was cause to fear least the Imperial Arms should not be so dreadful as before It seemed indeed the Grand Vizier was a preparing himself to do better in this Campagne than his predecessors had done for some Years past he was a gathering his Troops at Nicopoli in Servia whither he had given a Rendezvous to a grand number of Saiques While they were expecting the opening of the next Campagne every Party named a Vaivode of Transilvania The Emperour declared himself for the eldest Son of the deceased Abaffi and the Grand Seignior for Teckely for although that Principality was Elective the States have used to choose ordinarily him they think to be the strongest or the best supported to provide in the same time for the Security of the Country and keep to themselves a Shadow of Liberty which they shall enjoy in Reality when they be able to do it with Security Abaffi had a strong Party in the Country and got himself to be chosen according to the usual Formalities in spight of the Manifesto Teckely had sent thither by which he declar'd he had been made Vaivode by the Grand Seignior under whose Protection Transilvania was He forbid the Transilvanians also to acknowledge the Emperour of Germany's Orders oâ— his Commanders neither should they furnish them with any thing whatsoever ordering them to keep their Provisions for the Turks and Tartars Armies which were going to enter their own Country to deliver them from the Germans Yoak A little while after during the time the Serasquier besieged Widden and the Vizier Nissa Teckely appeared upon the Fronteers of Transilvania The General Heusler who commanded four thousand Men of the Imperial Troops had made himself Master of the Passages with some of the Country Millitia Teckely who was coming from Walaquia with an Army of fifteen or sixteen thousand Men composed of Hungarians Turks and Tartars besides some Transilvanians and Walaquians caused his Transilvanians to go across some Hills whither the Horse could not pass When he thought they were come to the place whereby they should attack the Enemy in the Reer he assaulted them in the Front with the main of his Army the twenty second of August The Transilvanian Militia that were not concerned in the defending of the Germans run presently away and the Imperialists encompassed about were almost all
but there was some treachery on one side or other in this capitulation since some shot with a Musket upon Esterhasi and that he took Baragozzi Prisoner and sent him to Vienna The others saved themselves once more in the Night and without hindrance got into the Castle of Hust in Transylvania That of Licowa surrendred it self the next day and by its surrendry leâ—â— the Imperialists absolute Masters of Upper Hungary 'T was thus that Count Tekeli made his first Apprentiship at his own cost in the matter of War All his moveables were seized and all his Plate and that of all the other Malecontents They carried it to Vienna as in Triumph and this was not unseasonable for paying the German Troops one part of what was due to them without speaking of what might continue in the hands of those who were commissioned to go and seize the most considerable Riches of Hungary The End of the First Book Memoirs on the Life Of EMERIC Count of TEKELI The Second Book Containing the most Remarkable Occurrences from the Year 1671. to the Year 168â— COVNT TEKELI being arrived at Transylvania if we may believe the common report immediately puts himself under the Protection of the Turks and pays them the Tribute which they call the Carche after which the Emperor could not pursue him without running the hazard of breaking with the Part. Abaffi received the Malecontents very kindly because he had cause to complain of the Imperial Troops which were upon the Frontiers of Transylvania and often made very great ravages upon his Lands In the mean while he takes a journey to the Port which joyned with some movements of the Turkish Army from Thrace gave ground of fear that the Grand Signior would take part with the Male-contents who as was said sollicited him to send an Army into Hungary But soon after it was known that the Turks had no design so hastily to engage in a War which they could not make without great expence The Imperial Council being delivered from this fear and seeing that all who could resist the design which it had to treat Hungary as a conquered Countrey were dead or banished or intimidated by the ill success of their Efforts thought that now at last the time was come to execute this project The first remarkable attempt which was made for this was the vacating the important charge of Palatine which investing them who had it with a very great Authority put them into a condition when they would to frustrate the designs which the Ministers at Vienna had upon the Liberty of the Hungarians If any one were disobliged by them he could hardly fail of taking his revenge at least of convicting them before Judges of the Countrey of having violated the Laws of their Countrey which it was not easie to do As this dignity was for Life the Death of him who was invested with it was peaceably to be expected or else it was to be forced from him an expedient dangerous and likely to make the Kingdom revolt Instead of the Palatine the Emperor resolved to send a Governour whom he might recall when he pleased and to whom he might give no authority but what he found fitting he also formed a new Sovereign Chamber composed of eight Counsellors and of two Secretaries besides the President who was to be the Governour of the Realm John Gasper Ampringhen Great Master of the Teutonick Order was chosen to fill this last place whether it were that he was judged the most likely to acquit himself well of this employment or that being born in Hungary the People might not look on him as a Forreigner This was conceived within the Year 1672. In the Twenty Eighth of February in the Year following the Emperor Signed a Declaration by which he gave his Subjects of Hungary to understand 1. That he had established in their Countrey a Sovereign Court which should regulate Publick and Private Affairs in the last resort 2. That he had chosen for President of this Chamber John Gasper Ampringhen Prince of the Empire and Great Master of the Teutonick Order and would have them render him an entire Obedience as to his own Person and also to the orders of the new Court The Great Master made his entry on the twenty second of March and immediately after the Chamber applyed it self to remedy the disorders of the Realm which were very great Ill meaning Persons on both sides having taken occasion from the troubles to commit all sorts of outrages Two things gave the Chamber the most troubles and in the end caused new broils The first was the Regulation of the Troops which they were obliged to maintain in Hungary rather against the Malecontents than against the Turks They found no way more proper to prevent the Insolence of the Souldiers than to appoint Commissaries in every County who should furnish the Troops with all things necessary and keep them within their Duty The second was the Protestant Religion which they were resolved to extirpate whatever it cost them Besides that the Catholick-Zeal was satisfied with that the Ecclesiasticks and Laicks found no burden of the Protestants goods which were Confiscated for very slight faults that they might be obliged to change their Religion Many Calvinist and Lutherian Ministers says an honest Priest who writes the History of these Troubles in Italian since they would not moderate their Seditious Ardour to Preach new Doctrines were sent to the Gallies of Naples to learn Modesty and Obedience in Chains c. The Rigor which they used to re-establish the Catholick Religion and in searching out them who adhear'd to Protestancy gave many companions to them who had fled to Transylvania The Protestants had in divers Languages published the Persecution which they said had been in Hungary against them of their Religion And the Ministers whom they had sent to the Gallies of Naples were not delivered till the Year 1676. By the mediation of Michael de Ruyter Admiral to the Vnited Provinces The Zealous Catholicks who were offended at this have seen by the consequences what People so treated are capable of doing and have repented a little too late Prince Ragotski died soon after his reconciliation with the Inperial Court and the Transylvanians pushed on by the Male-contents who were retired among them redemanded of the Emperor the Counties Zathmar and Zambolich At the same time many Hungarian Gentlemen assembled their Friends together to oppose the Violences of the new Soveraign Chamber They form a Body of 12000 Men and surprize Kalo and Little Waradin thro' the default of General Spankau and some other Imperial Commanders more fit to ruine and evil entreat the Peasants and disarmed Burghers than to fight an Enemy or take good measures against them The Emperor was obliged to send into Hungary 10000 Men under General Kops whom the Male-contents fail'd not to resist in many Rencounters As this was not a War of Quarter they defended themselves desperately and treated the Germans
sent some Horse to charge the Rear but they were repulsed so well that the Christian Army repassed the Drave without loss The Visier also pass'd it and posted himself between Esseck and Darda in the Isles which the Marshes and Arms of this River compose there where it was not possible to force him The Christian Army was near Mohats and made several unsuccessful Motions to draw the Enemies to a Fight but there were only some inconsiderable Skirmishes for a long time C. Teckely was then in the Camp of the Turks and part of their Conduct is imputed to his good Advice The 12th of August the Christian Army in marching from Mohats towards Siclos was charged at last by the whole Turkish Army but the Elector of Bavaria who was the first attack'd sustained their Shock with so much Resolution that the whole Christian Army being come back repulsed them every where insomuch that Terror being introduced amongst them they fled towards Esseck The Bridg of the Drave being broke down by those who fled first many of them were drowned who undertook to swim over it and the Turks lost 6000 Men in this Engagement for want of knowing how to make an orderly Retreat to their Camp which it was easy to defend But when they have once the lower-hand their Minds are for the most part so strongly possessed with Fear that they no longer distinguish what they do Otherwise they had gain'd the Advantage in the first Skirmishes and even in the beginning of the Fight the Ground was favourable to them and they were superiour to the Christians in number their Army having been considerably angmented since it had been said they were above 50000 Men. The Christians plunder'd the Camp which they had deserted and found therein a very considerable booty After that the D. of Lorrain judging that the Grand-Visier was not in a condition of undertaking any thing during the rest of the Campaign left the C. of Dunewald with 4000 Horse and 6000 Foot to cover Siclos and Quinque-Ecclesia and passed the Danube with the remainder of the Army near Mohats From thence he marched towards Zolnick where having taken to the right he turned towards Transilvania to put his Army there in Winter-quarters The War had so entirely ruined Hungary that the Towns were almost become Desarts and the Lands by consequence untilled for the most part which made the Germans who had been formerly so ambitious of Winter-quarters in this Country no longer covetous in that respect On the other-side it was to be feared lest if Transilvania were left to the Discretion of the Turks they should take Quarters in 't themselves and compel Abaffi to do for them what he had lately done for the Emperor At the same time C. Dunewald took in the Lower-Hungary Butzin Walpo Esseck which the Turks abandoned in disorder and Peter-Waradin which compleated a Confusion in all the Affairs of the Turks and filled the Imeprialists with Courage who observing that to succeed they had nothing more to do than to undertake performed things every day which formerly they durst not so much as think on It was then the Emperor who had a mind to Crown the Arch-duke Joseph King of Hungary sent for the chief Lords of this Kingdom to Vienna He restored to them the Crown which he had transferred from Presburgh to Vienna and which he had always with him during the War This Prince made them a Discourse in Latin wherein he told them amongst other things that he deposited the Crown with them in order to see it suddenly upon the Head of his Son whom it was time to declare hereditary K. of Hungary The Hungarians returned Thanks to the Emperor in the same Language and sent the Crown to Presburgh but it was not set upon the Head of the Arch-duke till about the end of the Year as shall be seen in the Consequence The evil Conduct of the Grand-Visier followed with the ill Successes of this Campaign excited great Murmurings in the Army which besides wanted the Pay of several Months The Tumult went so far that the Army refusing to obey him advanced to Constantinople where it went to demand his Head and those of several Officers of the Grand-Signor The Visier of his own Accord surrendred his Commission which was given to Siaous according to the Wishes of part of the Army but this Resignation could not save his Life The Caimacan with some others were also put to Death Methinks the Army should have been contented with this Sacrifice but the excessive Expences of Mahomet the 4th and his slothful effeminate Life ruined even himself The troublesome Fellows deposed him also in the Month of November and placed upon the Throne his Brother Solyman the Third of the Name who is not more expert or more couragious than his eldest Brother But as when one is not satisfied with the Condition one is in it always seems to be likely to improve with change they did not cease to perswade themselves that all would go better under his Government than under that of the deposed Sultan who was imprisoned as his Successor had been for several Years To return to what pass'd in Hungary the D. of Lorrain sent word into Transilvania that to protect this Country from the Undertakings of the Infidels the Emperor had found it necessary to put Garisons into the chief Places and to give Winter-quarters to his Army there which the Transilvanians would doubtless approve of since it concerned their Deliverance from the Yoke of the Infidels The Transilvanians who had at least as much Liberty under the Protection of the Turks as they could expect under the Emperor were afraid of changing their Master for it was of no less import Abaffi in particular who had assisted the Male-contents and the Turks by whom he had been made Vaivod as it has been elsewhere said See Book 1. Page â—â— trembled at the Apprehension of falling into the Emperor's hands who had opposed his Establishment as much as possibly he could He repented that he had been a Spectator only for the last years of the Differences betwixt the Emperor and the Male-contents whom he should according to good Policy have continued to assist with all his Force since he could but perish or save himself with them But these Reflections were unseasonable now whereupon the Imperial Army was advised from the part of the Transilvanians that they would furnish it with as much Provisions as they possibly could but as for surrendring their Places or giving Quarters they could not do it without exposing themselves to the Revenge of the Turks and Tartars who entring into such an open Country as theirs would lead off without any hopes of Prevention the greatest part of its Inhabitants into Slavery and carry Desolation every-where The D. of Lorrain having answered to that in general Terms assuring them of the Protection of the Emperor did not cease to continue his Advancing into the Country and fixed a
Reasons under Examination but they must suffer it to be deferred till the Coronation was over because too great a time was requisite for that purpose The second Affair related to the Evangelicks or Protestants To make their Court they had laboured to get the Crown of Hungary declared hereditary and imagined that the Occasion was favourable to petition the Emperor in particular that he would maintain them in their ancient Privileges That their Temples and Estates might be restored to them which they had been dispossessed of since the Year 1667 That there might be no Assembly for the Affairs of the Kingdom without-some Deputies on their part That the Jesuits might be prohibited from medling with State-Affairs or concerning the Protestant Religion That they might not be permitted to establish themselves in any other Places than where they were That Caraffa might be suddenly recalled who was accused of having put to Death an infinite number of People who had no share in the Conspiracy It was considered in the States whether the Protestants might be permitted to ask these Favours of the Emperor but it was found that the Season could hardly favour their Purpose So that was also referred till the Coronation was over which imported that the Imperial Council did what it judged convenient without the King of Hungary's holding himself obliged to any thing The Ceremony of the Coronation then was performed the 9th as it had Seen resolved but the Particulars are not to be insisted Whilst great Rejoycings were made at Presburgh there arrived a Courier with a new Subject of Joy to wit the News of the Reduction of Agria which for want of Provisions surrendred upon Capitulation the 28th of November so that there remain'd nothing but Mongats unsubjected to the Emperor in Vpper-Hungary Then to give some Satisfaction to the Hungarians he abolished the Criminal-Chamber of Eperies set up to search after those who had been concerned in the late Conspiracy and which had put to Death a world of People without observing the usual Proceedings As to what regards the quartering of Troops and their Entertainment whereas the German Officers had disposed of it as they thought fit without consulting the Hungarians Commissioners were nominated of this Nation who were to regulate those kind of things jointly with the Germans The Examination of the rest was referred to another Assembly The Protestants did also beg of the Emperor and the King by a Request that Hungary might be restored in respect of Religion to the State it was in when his Imperial Majesty came to the Crown It was replied to them that there required time to consider of a thing of that consequence and that in the mean time they might assure themselves of the Favour of the Emperor and King provided they continued in their Fidelity to them All they could obtain was that things should be established as they were in 1681. Thus the Kingdom of Hungary from elective became hereditary and instead of a moderate Authority by the Laws the States have suffered Joseph the 1st to take one almost without Bounds All the Projects which the Hungarians had so often made for the Preservation of their Liberty all the Preparations in Hungary during so many years for that Design yielded at last to the good Fortune of the House of Austria for whom Poland and Germany re-united conquered Kingdoms without the Assistance of one Prince of its â—â—ood and for whom Fortune if it is permitted to say so took Cities whilst those Princes were asleep On another side almost all that Teckely undertook was baffled He had formed a Design upon Seged which the taking of Agria ruined entirely He might write long enough to all those whom he knew in Hungary in order to inspire them with a new Courage no Body was moved and Liberty was nothing but a fine Name fit to draw Sighs from the best-intention'd but incapable of raising them to Arms. The Turks imbroil'd amongst themselves did not distinguish what they did nor granted him that Relief which they had promised him All that he could do with 5 or 6000 Men was to make Incursions upon those Hungarians who had submitted to the Emperor He attempted several times to get near Mongats or to throw himself therein and to put some Relief in it or to bring out his Wife but they had lately block'd up the Place with more Application than ever insomuch that all his Efforts were unseasonable The Princess being summoned to surrender did not refuse to enter into a Negotiation but no conclusion could be made because she insisted upon having her Husband and his Companions included in it which the Emperor absolutely refused her Notwithstanding he had the Address about this time to detach from the Garison of Seged 400 Hungarians and 400 others who went in a Party about Lippa The Hungarian Troops mortified by the great Advantages which the Germans had obtained without them had much ado to live with them and some of the most impatient rather chose to undergo once more the hazard of perishing with their ancient Captain than to see themselves misused by Strangers in their own Countrey The End of the Third Book MEMOIRES OF THE LIFE OF Emeric Count Teckely BOOK IV. Which comprehends what has happened from the Year 1688 until the Year 1691. THe Affairs of the Ottoman Empire being in a very great disorder and the new Sultan no more than his Vizier not knowing how to betake himself to hinder the Germans from making new Conquests in Hungary the Divan thought it was necessary to know the opinion of the Bassa's who were not able to come to Constantinople and to send in the same time for all the Officers of experience that were in the extend of that Empire Orders were sent to Teckely too to repair thither that they might hear of him what he thought the most effectual Method to carry on the War in Hungary Altho' there was a great deal of danger for him to obey that Order because it might happen that the Turks being irritated against them that had engaged them in that War would revenge themselves upon him for the losses they had made nevertheless he took the resolution to go to represent to his Highness more strongly than he could do by Letters what it behoved them to do in a conjuncture of such a consequence Before he set forth for his journey he wrote to his Spouse to take patience still for a while seeing that as soon as he would come back he would not fail to go to her Succour In the mean while whatever the Princess could do she was not able to persuade the Garrison to hold any longer because a Month before that time it was reduced to such a want as was capable to put the the most Constant out of Patience Having heard besides that Teckely was gone to Constantinople she thought him to be absolutly lost And indeed the least fit of Inconstancy whether in the Grand Seignior or in the
durst attempt to force the other tho they lay the most part of the Summer near each other on the Danube in Sclavonia The End of the Fourth and Last Book AN INDEX Of the matters contained in the Life of TECKELY The First Book REasons for Writing and Publishing this History p. 2. Subjects of complaints given by the Kings of Hungary to their People and of the Kings p. 3 4 5. The Nobility of Hungary partly cause the troubles p. 6. Stephen Teckely Father of Emeric his Quality and his Riches p. 7. Birth and Education of Em. Teckly p. 8. George Ragotski Vaivod of Transilvania defeated by the Poles the Tartars and the Turks p. 8. 9. Implores in vain the Emperour's Assistance p. 9. Francis Ragotski constrained to receive the Imperial Troops in some of his places p. 10. Hungarians fear for their Liberty p. 11. Francis which must be read so line the instead of Paul Wesselin Palatine of Hungary opposes the designs of the Imperial Court p. 12. Waradin besieged and taken by the Turks p. 13. The Prince of Portia the Emperour's Minister lets Waradin be taken p. 14. Hungarians refuse to receive the Germans in their places p. 16. Disorders of the German Troops in Hungary and complaints of the Hungarians p. 17.18 Principality of Transilvania restored to Michael Abaffi p. 21. Quarrels between the Hungarians and Germans in reference to the quartering of Troops p. 23 25 28. Chimen and Anos routed and killed p. 28. Vseless negotiation between the Emperour and the Turks p. 29. Proposals of the Hungarians to defend their Country p. 30. Achmet Coprogli Grand Vizer beseiges and takes New hausel p. 31. Counts of Serin beat the Turks p. 33. Imperial Army against the Turks p. 34. Seige of Kanischa vainly attempted p. 37. 38 39. Fort Serin taken by the Turks p. 41. Advantages of the Imperialists beyond the Danube p. 43. Battel of St. Godard where the Turks are routed p. 44. Fault of Monteculi after this Victory p. 45. Faults of Peter de Serin of the death of his Brother p. 46. Vnion of Hungarian Lords to oppose the Germans p. 47. Truce concluded between the Emperour and the Turks p. 48. Blamed and defended p. 49. Hungarians vexed at this treaty p. 50. Their conplaints and their answers they received p. 52. New Subjects of discontent p. 55. Conspiracy of the Counts Nadsti and Serin p. 57. Death of Francis Wesselini p. 59. Francis Nadasti attempts upon the Life of the Emperour p. 60 61. Peter Serin in vain sues for the Government of Garlestadt p. 62. Protestants misused in Hungary p. 63 64. General disatisfaction ibid. Conspiracy in Hungary to defend the Priviledges of the Country 65. The Hungarians beg the assistanee of the Turks 66 67. Vain efforts of the Conspirators 68. The Count of Tattemback arrested 69. The Countess of Serin arrested 70. The Counts of Serin and Frangipam arrested p. 72. Assemb of Hung. conspired at Cassovia 73. Francis Ragotski takes up Arms. 73 74. Hungarians demands to the Emperour 74. Ragotski returns to his Obedience 76. Hungarian Conspirators reduced 77. Count Wadasti arrested 78. The Diet of Hungary vainly sollicites for the imprisoned Counts 79. Multiplication of Malecontents 80. Hungarian Lords pursued by Arms. 81. Stephen Teckely besieged and dead 82. His Son about 15 years old a Fugitive in Transylvania 83. The Second Book Teckely puts himself under the protection of the Turks 84. Well received in Transylvania 85. Hungary used as a Land of Conquest 85. Abolishment of the charge of Palatine 86. Establishment of a Vice-Roy and Sovereign Chamber in Hungary 87. Protest misused in Hung. by the Vice-Roy 88. Minist sent to the Galleys and delivered 88. Malecontents of Hungary in Arms. 89. Divers Encounters 89. Presentions of the Malecontents and promises of the Emperour 90 Hostilities of the Turks 92 Debrezen surprized and abandoned by the Imperialists 93 Offers of the Emperour to the Malecontents 94 Imperialists beaten by the Malecontents 95 Kops General of the Emperour whose cruel Conduct is disapproved of at Court 96 Nagibania taken lost and retaken ib. New Offers to the Malecontents and the Difficulties of satisfying them 97 E. T. declared Head of the Malecontents 98 His first Advances 99 Weakness of the Imperialists under C. L. 100 Teckely has an Army of 2000 Men and takes Eperies 101 C. Lesle defeated by Teck and Boham 102 Faults of the Malecontents in their manner of making War 103 Weakness and ill Conduct of the Imperialists 104 Cities surrender to Teckely ib. Vseless Negotiations between the Parties 105 Fight between C. Wourmb and the Malecontents ib. Truce between the Imperialists and Malecontents 106 Teckely suspected by the Malecontents and deceived by the Imperialists 107 Acts more vigorously than ever against the Emperour 108 Teckely and Wesselini differ about the Command 109 Disorders of the Imperial Army 110 Teckely thinks of being reconciled but his Proposals being rejected he says he will do nothing without the Port 111 Zatchmar vainly besieged by Teckely 112 Standard of the Malecontents ib. Kersmark and some other Cities taken by Teckely 113 Negotiations between the two Parties ib. The Emperour seems to grow milder in respect of the Protestants 114 Teckely solicited by the Turks and the Imperialist's and his Demands to the latter 115 The Clergy of Hungary oppose the Emperor's good Will towards the Protestants ib. The Ancient Govern of Hun. restored 116 Demands of the Malecontents 117 Negotiations caused by the Fear of the Turks 118 Reasons why the Malecontents could not agree 119 Abaffi and Teckely united in the Siege of Zathmar 121 The Siege raised and why ib. Articles concerning Religion concluded in the Diet of Hungary 123 Preparations of the Turks for the War and an Embassy from the Emperour 124 Offers of the Emperour to Teckely rejected 125 Marriage of Teckely with the Princess Rogoski 126 Zathmar taken by Teckely 127 Cossovia taken by the same 128 Several other Places taken 129 The Captains of the Imperialists suspected of Intelligence with the Malecontents 130 Teckely declared Prince of Upper Hungary by the Turks 131 Mutual Negotiations and Complaints 132 The Imperialists despond in the beginning of the Year 1683 133 Diet called to Cossovia by Teckely 134 March of the Turks towards Hungary 136 Ill Conduct of the Imperialists 137 Second Diet assembled at Cossovia by Teckely and its Effects 138 The Imperial Army commanded by the Duke of Lorrain ib. Teckely goes to see the Vizier near Esseck and is well recompensed 139 Almost all Hungary declares for him 141 The Emperour abandons the greatest part of Hungary 142 March of the Turkish Army ib. It passes the Raab and the Rabwits 143 The D. of Lorrain plunders the Country 144 The Emperour leaves Vienna and retires to Passau ib. Preparations to defend Vienna 145 The Turks invest this City and immediately commit divers considerable Faults 146 Design of Teckely upon the Castle of Presbourg 147 This Castle relieved by the Duke of Lorrain who beats the