the Soveraignty of so great an Empire howsoever it was got caused the young Princes Eyes to be most cruelly put out the usual practise of the Tyrants of the East upon such as they are loath or fear to kill and yet would make them unfit for Government Of which barbarous cruelty his Sister Theodora married to Constantinus Prince of Bulgaria hearing ceased not with tears and prayers and all other womanly perswasions to stir up her Husband in revenge thereof whereunto also Iathatines the Turks Sultan gave no small furtherance who weary of Exile and to be so in a corner confined as into a Prison from whence he might not start by secret Messengers intreated the Bulgarian Prince to make War upon the usurping Emperor promising him a great summ of Mony if by his help he might recover his former Liberty Wherewith he the rather moved with a great power of his own and above twenty thousand Tartars which then lay by the River Isther suddenly brake into the Emperors Territories and in shorter time than was to have been thought overran all the Country of Thracia even unto the Sea side leaving neither man nor beast in all that Country as he went in good hope also to have by the way surprised the Emperor himself even then returning from his Wars against the Despot in Thessaly who hearing of his speedy coming being got unto the Sea side and having no way left to have escaped by Land shipped himself into a Gally of the Latines which with another her consort bound for Constantinople by good hap put in there for to water and so in two days arrived safe at the Imperial City Thus disappointed of the Emperor all his care was for the delivery of the Turks Sultan Wherefore marching in hast to Aenum he so terrified the Citizens with his coming that they without farther delay delivered him into his hands so to redeem their own Peace In his return you might have seen the Souldiers especially the Tartars driving before them infinite numbers both of Men and Cattel in such sort as that in the open Country of Thracia for a space was hardly to be seen either Countryman or Beast it was so clean swept both of Inhabitants and likewise of Cattel Iathatines the Sultan by the Tartars carried over Ister and so by them set at liberty shortly after died In whose Kingdom succeeded not his Son Melicke as some write but two others as the Turks themselves report the one called Mesoot the Son of Kei-Cubades and the other Kei-Cubades the Son of Ferameine born also of the Selzucâ—ian Family as were all the other Turks Sultans but how near of blood unto the late Sultan Iathatines they say not Betwixt which two as his Vassals Gaza the great Tartar Cham by whom they were so preferred for the payment of a yearly Tribute divided the Turks Kingdom apportioning unto Mesoot the Cities of Amida in antient time called Amisus and Aminsus in Galatia Melatia otherwise called Melesine in the lesser Armenia Sivaste in antient time Sebastia and Harbarie before Satabrea both in Cappadocia with all the Country about them And unto Kei-Cubades Iconium the antient seat of the Turkish Sultans with all Rumilia Asiatica or the Countries of the lesser Asia alongst the Sea-coast which these two Princes held as the Tartars Tributaries as had the late Sultan Iathatines before them until such time as he was by the same Tartars again expulsed So that the Turks Kingdom which had of long time flourished in the Selzuccian Family in Persia in Syria Palestine and Egypt there quite overthrown by the Mamalukes and Tartars as is before declared and now brought underfoot in the lesser Asia also where only rested all the hope of that Nation was now at a low Ebb divided betwixt two weak Princes reigning but at the devotion of the Tartar. In which confusion of the Turkish Empire so rent not only divers men of greater Power and Authority amongst them shared unto themselves some one corner of the declining Kingdom and some another but many of the obscure and basest People also bearing with them nothing but their Bows and Arrows took the straight passages of the Mountains and from thence with their dayly Incursions did much harm in the Countries of the Christians joyning upon them which was no great matter for them to do the Garrisons which were wont to defend the same being for want of pay quite disbanded and the Castles upon the Frontiers by them abandoned which at the first as a thing of small importance neglected was at length unto the Greeks a great cause of the ruin and decay of the greatest part of their estate in Asia These mischiefs unregarded grew dayly more and more the Turks still gaining upon the Greeks what they lost unto the Tartars Whose invasions the Glory of their Kingdom only excepted was not so hurtful unto them as the cause of their much greater felicity afterwards At length it fortuned that a great power of these adventurous Turks meeting together in Paphlagonia were about to have invaded the Territories of the Christians against whom Michael Paleologus the Emperor sent out a strong and puissant Army to stay their further coming on lest breaking in that way they should without resistance at their pleasure forrage the Country before them Which Army conducted by unskilful Captains encountring with the Turks was by them in a great Battel overthrown and utterly defeated few or none of all that great multitude escaping for whilst the Greeks unadvisedly pursued the Turks retiring of purpose before them they were by them drawn into the danger of a greater Power lying in ambush for them and so entraped were slain with an exceeding great Slaughter After which so great a Victory the beginning of the misery of the Christians in the lesser Asia the Turks without let or stay overran all the Country unto the River Sangarius upon the Banks whereof the Greek Emperor was glad to fortifie divers Towns and Forts to keep them out of Bithynia Nevertheless they in short time after subdued all the Countries from Poâ—ntus and Galatia unto the Lycian and Carian Sea and the River Eurymedon which they divided amongst them into divers Toparchies little or nothing acknowledging the Soveraignty either of Mesoot or Kei-Cubades Whilst the Turks in the lesser Asia thus win from the Christians on the one side and lose to the Tartars on the other many an hard conflict in the mean time passed betwixt the Egyptian Sultans with their Mamalukes and the Tartars for the Soveraignty of Syria The poor remainder of the Christians all that while there in doubt both of the one and of the other from whom and from the Armenians then also much infested with the Mamalukes divers Embassadors were sent unto the Pope and the Christian Princes of the West to crave their aid and help in that their hard Estate whose prayers little prevailing with the rest yet so moved Lewis the French King
of them there most miserably perished Basta the Emperour's Lieutenant in the upper Hungary at the same time lay at Cassovia with eighteen thousand men doubting lest the Enemies Army which he heard to be at hand should come to besiege that City In the mean time Ibrahim Bassa General of the Turks Forces came to Solnoch with an Army of fifty thousand strong among whom were ten thousand Janizaries but for all that understanding that Basta nothing dismayed awaited his coming at Cassovia not thinking it good to go any farther his Souldiers being already weary with long travel neither yet safe there to stay so near unto his strong Enemy retired back again unto Belgrade a place of more Strength and Security expecting a great Fleet of Ships which charged upon the Danubius were to bring Victuals for the Army as also for the relief of Buda Alba-Regalis and other such distressed Places with divers great pieces for Battery and other less Artillery upon Carriages with a number of Ladders and other Instruments of War declaring their purpose for the performance of some notable Exploit all guarded with five thousand Turks which conducted it up the River Of all which the Imperials understanding the Lord Palfi dispatched his Lieutenant with a convenient Power and the Captain of the Hussars with his Followers all good and valiant Souldiers to cut off this Convoy who to make the matter short suddenly assailing them and so coming to handy blows cut in pieces the Convoy and rifled the ships of whom the greater part were there sunk in the deep River and so took an exceeding great booty deemed to be worth a million of Gold where among other things of great value there was found a-board 100000 Dollars which were all divided amongst the Souldiers as a reward of their travel This great overthrow once known at Buda Alba-Regalis and the Cities thereabouts brought upon them a great fear yea the Army of Ibrahim grew thereby much discontented as being at once disappointed both of their Victuals and their Pay. Besides that the Imperials over-ran all the Country thereabout ransacking sacking and destroying the Country Villages and Castles without Mercy although the poor Inhabitants offred them large Contribution to have staid their Fury which would not be accepted Upon this notable overthrow also the Lord Swartzenburg was determined with all his Forces to come again to the siege of Buda in hope in so great a discomfiture and want of Victuals to have had it delivered unto him and for thaâ— purpose sent for certain great pieces of Artillery to Vienna But whilst things went thus well in the lower Hungary Collonel Rodoler of S. Andrews in the upper Country took occasion also upon this Overthrow of the Turks with 500 Horse and 600 Foot to shew himself with this small Company before Agria â—aving yet left the greatest part of his Forces a little off in secret Ambush which small Company the Bassa of Agria beholding presently put himself in Arms and so sallying out began an hot and brave Skirmish when suddenly the other Souldiers left in Ambush starting out and courageously assailing their Enemies brake their order and put them to flight pursuing them at the heels even to the Gates of the City and had there been a greater force of Foot-men it was verily thought that the Turks dismay'd with the flight and altogether confounded had abandoned the defence of the Place and the Christians even then become Masters of the City which had been the cause of their notable Overthrow in the Year 1596. Nevertheless they with great bravery and small loss retired having slain a great number of the Turks and carrying away with them an hundred Prisoners with a Booty of five hundred Horse and much other Cattel The free Haiducks also strengthened with new Supplies had done great harm in the Country about Buda scouring freely all over it finding none to oppose themselves against them for which cause the poor Christians which yet dwelt in that Country rise up against the Turks promising their Obedience unto the Emperour and moreover to the intent they might be no more molested by the Imperials offered to take up Arms themselves against the Enemy and to the uttermost of their Power to hinder his Passage both by Land and Water These same Haiducks also had broken down all the Bridges which the Turks had made betwixt Buda and Alba-Regalis to the end they should not that way commodiously bring either Victuals or Munition from the one place to the other and the Lord Paâ—fi and Nadasti understanding by their Espials That the Tartars divided into three Companies had over-run a great part of the Country and with a great Booty were retiring towards Buda presently went out against them and inforced them to fight which barbarous People better inured to filch than to fight there lost all their Lives together with that they had before stoln After which Victory these valiant men turning their Forces against certain other places of the Turks there by took two of their Castles with much rich Spoil which Castles they sacked and burnt together with the great Town of Zolna breaking down also the Bridge upon the Rivâ—r Trava Now at this time the Turks at Buda held themselves male-content within the City having no Governour their Bassa being before taken by the Haiducks and they themselves pinched also with great want of Victuals wherefore doubting some sudden Attempt of the Christians as men dismayed they for their more safety retired themselves into the Castle a place of great strength leaving the City unto the Imperials then ready to have besieged it but doubting of the Turks great Army which as they heard was marching thitherwards the avantgard thereof being come to Moatcsh where Sartes Bassa was also looked for the Report being given out that the Turks having relieved Buda woâ—ld go to besiege Canisia or else Strigonium they stayed to go any farther as men in doubt what to resolve upon So were sent certain Collonels and other Captains with their Souldiâ—â—s to fortifie certain Passages whereby the Turks Army was to pass the rest in the mean time retiring for that the puissant Enemy began now to approach as also for that they knew the great desire that Ibrahim Bassa had to recover again Strigonium and had therefore sent a great number of Tartars to forrage and waste the Country and so suddenly having relieved Buda and Agria there to resolve whither to turn his Forces The Imperials in the mean time incamping near unto Hatwan and Zolnoc to hinder the Turks from victualling of Buda as they desired cut off five hundred of them at their first Arrival who to that purpose were going towards Buda and took also one of the Turks Chiaus Prisoner who sent from Ibrahim the General was going to Agria to put them in hope of their speedy Relief They also at the same time attempted to have surprised Zolnoc where a good number of them with certain
Horse-men following him a sufficient number to have for a time defended the Town and endured a Siege especially in so strong a Place and so well provided both of Victuals and Munition All which this most cowardly Governour but unworthy that Name lest together with his Honour for a Prey unto his Enemies having yet before his Departure out of the Town caused the principal Buildings thereof to be undermined and Barrels of Gun-powder to be laid under them wherewith they were shortly after all overthrown and most part of the Town burnt But being gone not past half a League from the Place he met with four hundred Haiducks all well armed whom the Governour of Strigonium had sent for the relief of Pesth with a number of Boats loaded with Corn Munition and other Necessaries of all sorts for the better assurance of the Place and the performing of the Promise before to that end made by the Governour of Strigonium which Hungarian Haiducks meeting with these dismayed Cowards upon the way thought it not best to go any farther as thinking themselves not able to do that with their so small a number which the other durst not to undertake with their far greater and so joyning themselves with the other fearful Fugitives they with them returned to Strigonium leaving their Vessels and Munitions unto their Enemies who immediately after seised upon them The next day after the Mines having taken their effect the Turks wondering to see so great and terrible a Fire in Pesth which still more and more increased there being none that went about to quench it adventured to come over the River from Buda and to draw near unto the Town now all on a light fire Which they finding abandoned and forsaken by the Christians they with great diligence quenched repaired the Ruines of the Town and so without any loss became Masters of the same Iagenreuter the cowardly late Governour with his fearful Troops in the mean time coming to Strigonium and by the Governour there examined of the Causes of his Flight and of the so shameful leaving of his Charge and being able to alledge no other Cause or Reason but the great brute and report of the Visier Bassa's coming with his Army to besiege the Town was therefore committed to Prison and there reserved to be afterward justly punished for his Disloyalty and Cowardise The Bassa of Buda by the Cowardise of the Governour thus possessed of Pesth by Letters excused himself unto the Governour of Strigonium for the taking thereof the Treaty of Peace being not as yet quite broken off alledging for himself as the truth was That he had taken it as a Place by the Christians upon a vain fear forsaken and desperately set on fire without any such cause given them so to do by the Turks or on his behalf And farther offered unto the Governour if he so pleased to deal with him for the exchange of Prisoners on both sides taken offering to exchange one of them for another And as for the concluding of the Peace so oftentimes treated of and even yet in hand that he for his part was wonderful desirous that it might be fully concluded and ended before the Arrival of Hassan the Visier Bassa with his Army in Hungary for that he being once come there would then be no time amidst the noise of so many Weapons and so many men of War to talk of Peace Hassan the Visier Bassa was now for all that already entered into Hungary drawing after him a world of men and was come towards Sexart for the viewing of which Army the Governour of Pallantwar going forth with an hundred Horsemen by evil hap chanced before he was aware upon the sudden to meet with five hundred Turks by the Bassa himself likewise sent forth to discover the Country and the Passages thereof by whom he charged and with the multitude of his Enemies oppressed was himself taken Prisoner most of his men being in that Conflict slain some few of them that were left alive by speedy flight hardly escaping Which evil hap on the Christians side was forthwith recompenced with the better Success of the County Serin who falling upon three hundred Turks near unto Sigeth being in number scarce half so many as they yet set upon them with such Courage that giving them no leisure to consider of the Weakness of his Forces they were by them overthrown and cut in pieces before they were well aware of him But together with the time of the Year to come unto the main point of these present Wars in Hungary The Turks finding themselves out of hope by any Capitulations or Treaties of Peace to regain the strong Town of Strigonium out of the hands of the Christians were now resolved to imploy the uttermost of their Forces for the obtaining of the same with a thousand Protestations That if by force of Arms and strong-hand they should gain the Place they would never more have Peace with the Christians At which their vain Threats and Speeches the Christians before resolutely set down for the defending of the Place by them so much desired and well acquainted with their great Brags could not but with scorn smile as men nothing therewith dismayed nor so to be removed nevertheless the Bassa constant in his Resolution for the regaining Strigonium with all his Forces came the eighteenth day of September and laid Siege unto it Now unto this Siege the Turks in hope of Spoil and Booty came flocking from all Places as it had been to some great Mart and the Fields in all the Country thereabout were covered and swarmed with Arms Men Horses and Tents They incamped near unto Charles's Hill taking up with their Tents half a League of the Country round about and at their first coming most bravely advanced their Ensigns with their Half Moons the Arms of their still encreasing Empire Whom the Besieged in this Action imitated bravely advancing their Ensigns upon their Walls as did the Turks in the Fields and farther braving and provoking them with a thousand thundring Shot discharged out of the Town amongst them All the Walls round about the Town glistered with Arms and flames of Fire out of which the deadly Bullets flew carrying with them Death and Terror into the midst of these new-come Enemies for their Welcome The Turks nevertheless came still resolutely on and as men prodigal of their Lives even in the midst of so many dangers began to make their Approaches Upon whom the Christians with great Courage sallied forth to disturb them in their Works and so for the space of certain hours having had with them an hot and sharp Skirmish without any great hurt received retired again into the Town leaving unto their Enemies by that they had done a good Testimony of their Valour and Resolution The Turks for all that lodged themselves made their Trenches and so incamped before the Mount of Saint Thomas where by the placing of their Cannon
our general Assembly as to retain those who may be cause of much trouble without our Consents There is no Difficulty that I understand I am content to accept the antient and honourable Treaties made with the famous Emperour Solyman and his Successors and now lastly at Chotyn if there be any other difference I have Power and am ready to accommodate it My desire then only is That a present End and Conclusion be made of a Peace firm and perpetual and that the Emperour will be pleased according to many promises to deliver and set free the Captives taken in the last Wars as I do in his Majesties Name give my Word that all others taken on our parts shall have Liberty and Pasport to return And if there have been any Difficulty made by occasion of my pressure for the rejection of Tomsha and Cante-Emir-Emirze I do make this true Protestation That as it is the Request of his Majesty my King in Friendship so there is no other end nor cause of that desire but only to remove all occasion of offence and breach with this Imperial Port which those ill Neighbours are ever ready to minister But if that be any great Inconvenience to this Imperial Port I only then seek that better order may be taken with them for the future that they may live quietly without offence of the publick Peace I desire your Excellency to weigh and consider these my Reasons and Protestations which proceed only from a good and sincere Heart to promote and maintain an inviolable and good Friendship with this Imperial Port. Within two days after the Duke of Sbaraskie took his leave of the Emperour to the great Joy of himself and his Train who thereby saw themselves delivered out of Captivity The three great and noble Prisoners were set free and did make a publick acknowledgement of his Majesty of Great Britains Favour to whom both the Ambassador and they attributed the best part of their good Success and gave particular Thanks by Letter Articles Contracted between the Grand Seignior and the King of Poland HIS Majesty of Poland having sent into our happy Port his well deserving and famous great Ambassador the most Illustrious Duke of Sbaraskie to offer us sincere Peace loyal Friendship and good Correspondence and to seek that the antient Peace and Friendship should be of us anew confirmed and the old Capitulations renewed and that for the time to come there might be established an eternal Peace and Friendship His Kingly instance hath been most pleasing to us and the Peace and Friendship of us accepted and we have ordained That all the antient Treaties shall be renewed and at the present have given this our Capitulation with the following Articles FIrst That never upon our part nor of any of our Visiers Beglerbeghs Beghs Cadees Officers nor Souldiers any harm shall be done to the Provinces Cities Castles Towns Villages and other Places pertaining to the King and State of Poland And likewise upon the part of his Majesty of Poland that by his Princes Ministers or Cossack nor any other his Subjects there shall be no wrong done in any part of our Empire City Castle Town or Village but that both parties shall always remain Friends to Friends and Enemies to Enemies II. And seeing that the Tartars of Dobrirza Biaolograd Keil Ozu and Silistra and the People of Moldavia do enter invade and damnifie the State of Poland We command that for the time to come our Beglerbeghs of Silistra and all other Beglerbeghs of Bender shall take care to keep all those Passages and Rivers to the end that hereafter the said Nations shall have no passage by those ways to damnifie the State of Poland and whensoever it shall be known that the said Ministers have used Negligence in keeping those Passages according to the Treaty with Sultan Solyman of happy Memory that such Ministers be degraded and severely punished III. The Vayvod of Moldavia likewise shall never grant any Passage to the said Nations and whensoever it shall be known that the said Vayvod hath transgressed in this our Will he shall be degraded and severely punished IV. And whensoever the said Tartars and others contrary to this our Will shall make any Invasion or Spoil in the State of Poland all our Ministers and Governours shall apprehend and severely punish them and as it is set down in the Agreements with Sultan Solyman all the Slaves and Prisoners which shall by such Malefactors be brought into our Dominions shall be set at Liberty and their Goods restored to them again and the Malefactors punished for having transgressed our Imperial Capitulations V. And if any of our Subjects shall buy any Person or Polish Goods unjustly taken by such Malefactors and it shall be made known unto us by the King of Poland the buyers for having bought unlawful Goods their Estate shall be confiscate and they themselves severely punished VI. The Prince Chrim Tartar shall be obedient to us and all the Tartarian Nation under his Command Kalgha Sultan and other Emirs and Princes of his Blood from henceforth shall never enter into nor invade any part of the State of Poland nor ever do any Dammage either by the way of Moldavia the open Field or Desart nor shall ever enter into or invade any part or jurisdiction of the same And at all times that his Majesty of Poland shall give notive That the said Prince or others above mentioned have broken this our Will and Capitulations and entered and damnified his State for their Disobedience the said Prince as well as the others shall be by us punished and chastised and we command that never any one in any part of our Dominion shall sell either People or Goods robbed from the State of Poland and finding that there be any one that hath dared to buy Men or Goods robbed from them such shall be immediately punished with confiscation And as before mentioned the Beglerbeghs of Silistria with all Diligence shall keep the Straights of Osue and never suffer the said People to pass and if it shall be known they have transgressed they shall be punished with loss of their Charge and Office. VII And whensoever the said Prince Chrim Tartar or his Kalka Emirze or others shall by our order be called and commanded in their proper Persons to go to any part of the War in our Service if by chance they should pass by the Confines of Poland as it is set down in the Capitulations of my Father of happy Memory They shall not enter into any Village Borough Castle or City of Polonia or do any kind of dammage to the People thereof and finding that they have given any molestation or hurt they shall be corrected as is aforesaid VIII And in Conformity of my Fathers said Capitulation every time that his Majesty of Poland shall invite and call the said Prince Chrim Tartar in his Occasion of War whilst he giveth him his annual stipend the said Prince with
Year of Peace and repose of this Empire what the Sultan contrived for security of himself by the death of his Brothers We acquainted you formerly in what manner the Sultan was disappointed in his designs against his Brothers by means of his Mother to whom the Janisaries had committed the care of their safety which she according to her promise had maintained and tendered equally with her own But now the Vizier being returned from the Wars and the most seditious amongst the Janisaries withdrawn from Constantinople it was thought fit to make a new attempt on the Princes still residing in the old Seraglio which was performed with those due preparations and secrecy that it took effect on Sultan Orchan the eldest of the two who in the Month of September 1671. dyed by a draught of poyson which was administred to him as a Present from his courteous Brother some say he was strangled and that before he submitted his neck to the Bow-string he killed one of the Executioners with his Hanjarre This Prince was reported by the people to be a comely Person of a strong and robustious body of large and black eyes like Sultan Morat his death was lamented by all and presaged as fatal to the Empire in regard that that very night that he was murthered the Moon suffered a greater Eclipse than it had done for many years before which happening out in this conjuncture was interpreted as â—minous and served to increase the maledictions and evil spâ—eches which the Turks in all places cast out upon those who gave this counsel to the Sultan About this time the State of Genoua desirous to change their Officers in Turkie sent a new Resident to Constantinople and a Consul to Smyrna which change was principally obtained at the request of the old Ministers who weary of an employment so tedious without a benefit corresponding to their melancholy life and perceiving their Trade decline before it was arrived to any tolerable state or degree of reputation by the assistance and mediation of friends sollicited their Letters of Revocation For the Trade of Genoua being cheifly founded on hopes of those advantages which they expected from a coarse or base alloy of mony did instantly decay so soon as the Turks discovered themselves to be abused by the vast quantities of Temins imported as we have before related after which their profit â—ailing the Consulage consequently decayed which is the only subsistence and encouragement of such Officers as are necessary to reside for the continuance of that Peace which but a few years before they unadvisedly made with the Turk The new Resident had no sooner arrived at Constantinople and considered the poor and mean estate and ill foundation of their Trade the growing charge of the Residency and the great debts thereof that were to devolve upon him from his Predecessor but he perceived into what a Labyrinth of troubles he had ingulfed himself instead of being preferred according to his hopes into a place of Honour and happy retirement In which confusion of thoughts arising one morning before day from his bed and sitting on his Close-stool as the servants of the house report reached at a Towel which being intangled within the Lock of a Carbine that hanged always charged near his bed unfortunately drew the Trigger too hard which with that gave fire and shot the poor Gentleman into the belly with a brace of Bullets of which being mortally wounded after Confession and some Prayers in a few hours he passed to another life unhappy mischance if it may be called a chance for I have understood from a sober person of that Nation that the anguish of mind which he conceived at the evil condition of his Affairs wrought in him a deepness of melancholy and despair under which languishing some days did at last most miserably lay violent hands upon himself And now it is time to recal to mind the Conspiracy of Count Serini Marquess Frangipani and Count Nadasti Persons of Quality and of great Power in Croatia and Hungary who as we said before had sent their Messengers to the Great Vizier then remaining in the Leagure of Candia with overtures of submission to the Ottoman Power It was strange News to the World to hear that the House of Serini should abandon the Christian Party and those renowned Defenders of their Country should apostatize though not from Christianity yet from that Cause and Liberty which their Ancestors and themselves had defended with Blood Treasure Valour and Constancy But dissentions and animosities sown by Satan the Enemy of the Christian Church did strangely corrupt the minds of those famous Persons and raise in them a Spirit resolved to avenge the neglect and injuries put upon them by the Ministers of the Imperial Court though at the expence and hazard of their fortunes and lives and ruine and shiprack of their Honour and Consciences For the neglects and affronts undeservedly cast on Nicholas Serini during the late War as before related and the contempt and scorn put on the Croatian and Hungarian Nobility was supposed to have fited the hot and ambitious Spirits of these Persons who could more easily endure the slavery of the Turkish yoke than condescend to the Government and prevalency of a contrary Party Wherefore in prosecution of their design the complices of Serini being resolved to submit to the Turk dispatched two other Gentlemen to the Ottoman Court besides those which were sent the year before to Salonica who arrived at Adrianople the 11 th of February 1670 1 demanding the protection of the Sultan for which they promised a Tribute of thirty Purses or fifteen thousand Dollars every year for those Lands they held in Croatia To make Answer hereunto a Divan or Council was called in which were weighed all the Arguments and Reasons on one side and the other The Muftee opposed their receiving into protection as being against the Capitulations and Agreement so lately concluded with the Emperor wherein the receiving or abetting of Rebels is expresly forbidden and provided against by one side and the other but Vanni Efendi the Preacher who used to be always of a different opinion to the Muftee urged to have them received because that the advancement of the Mahometan Cause and enlargement of their Empire was more sacred than the conservation of their League with an Infidel Prince And that the Ottoman Court was no longer to be termed the Refuge of the World if it could not yield that protection which oppressed Kingdoms and distressed Princes petitioned to obtain In this manner the matter being controverted without Agreement it was in fine resolved to refer the matter to the determination of the Grand Vizier who was now a few months past return'd triumphant from Candia But by this time Intelligence being come by way of Bosna that the Emperor had already entered Croatia with thirty thousand men that he had taken Chiacheturno in Cotoriba and that Serini and his Associates were
of this New Sultan with Success and Victory The Fight between the Poles and the Tartars in the Suburbs of Leopolis happened on the 11th of February of this Year being Extracted out of a Letter of the Great General Written to the Envoy Cavalier Proski of the 16th of February from Leopolis An Extract of the Great General 's Letter Written to the Envoy Cavalier Proski WE have not only in the Season of the last Spring but during the whole Summer and Autumn lived in continual Alarms and Skirmishes with our Enemies but even in this very Winter been engaged with them in divers Bloody Fights And particularly on the 11th of this Month of February a Battle was made between 3000 of our Soldiers against 70000 Tartars within the Suburbs and under the Walls of Leopolis The Particulars of which are these Sultan Zabas Gerei Son of the Tartar-Han who in the Month of October last gave up to our Hands all the Provisions belonging to the Turks which he had taken into his Care and Conduct to be Convoyed to Kaminieck of which Disgrace and Dishonour his Father being very sensible urged the Son to repair his Credit by some great Action worthy the Fame of his Valour and his Prowess in War Accordingly being assisted by all the Power of the Tartars as well those of Budziac Bialogrod and Dobrucz as those of Crim who the last Year had joyned with the Turks under Peter Waradin came on the 10th of this Month of February and Encamped themselves in the Plains of that Town which is called the Cracovian Leopolis with intention to fix his Camp there and from thence to send out his Parties to all Places where they could Burn and Spoil make Slaves and put all to Fire and Sword and so they Ravaged every where for the space of eight Days until at length all the Countries round being alarm'd hereat I raised all the Forces that I was able and brought them together from their respective Quarters which alas was a most inconsiderable Power against so Mighty an Enemy for all that we could gather and unite did not amount to more than 3000 fighting Men. The Day following about Eight of the Clock in the Morning the Sultan Tartar drew out his Men into form of Battle and I also having my Confidence in God drew out that Handful of Men which I had with me and made a Sally out of the City to covert the Sâ—burbs The Enemy staid not long to look on us but seeing some Polish Companies to march boldly against them they Detached a Party of Tartars to meet and engage them and to force the Outworks which were only fortified with Hedges and a kind of Wall made up with Mats and Rushes well woven together This Command was executed with such Vigour that doubtless the Place had been carried at the first Attack had not the danger wherein they were of losing their Lives and Estates and all they had made them desperate and forced them to make all the resistance that they were able and in effect they fought like Lyons receiving the Enemy so bravely that in a short time all the Fields were covered with the Dead Bodies of the Slain The Tartars made Thirteen Attacks to try their Fortune and were as often repulsed by the Christians without any great loss on their side This Fight continued four Hours until at length the Enemy observing that all their Assaults prevailed little but were very Bloody and of great loss they resolved That at the same time when they engaged us in the Front with one Party they should break in upon the Hedge with another and whatever loss or Blood it should cost to carry it by main force as it immediately proved for the Enemy having by this means got between us and the City we remained without any hopes imaginable of relief howsoever with a Courage full of resolution to overcome or die like Brave Men turning our Faces upon them to whom we had but newly turned our Backs we did not only overcome them but cut a great Number of them in pieces and after another Engagement which lasted about two Hours more drove them out of the Suburbs of the City tho' in the time of this Fight the Tartars having set Fire thereunto the Wind and Smoak and Dust did so incommode our People that they were in a manner Blinded and knew not which course to take howsoever their Invincible Courage was such as that the Enemy was put to Flight This Fight continued until Three a Clock in the Afternoon by which time they had been so beaten that they were forced to withdraw before the Evening about a League and a half from the City and the next Day proceeded on their March and the third Day passed the Neister on their way homewards The Number of the Slain on the Christian side did not exceed above 100 and about 160 Wounded what the Enemy lost is not to be known But such Matters as these at so far a distance and between Tartars and Poles did not much affect or trouble the Ottoman Court but such as were nearer hand as Naval Fights and the Taking and Recovering of the Island of Scio being near the Royal Cities made great noise both in Europe and Asia and raised the hopes of the People to great and high Expectations of the future Fortune of this New Sultan as if he had been born to be Restorer of the decaying Condition of the Ottoman Empire We have related already the ill Success which the Venetians had had in two several Fights at Sea against the Turks which being unusual and of many Years not known made it matter of Wonder to all the World. For after the Turks had beaten the Venetian Fleet all things were put into great Consternation at Scio so that the Venetian Commanders most shamefully abandoned the Place stealing away in the Night without giving time for some of their Troops which were abroad to guard the Island to Embark with them which gave cause to some of their Officers who thereby became Slaves to the Turks to vent out Thousands of Imprecations and Curses upon them and indeed their Cafe was sad but Necessity had no Law for the Venetians had now been beaten twice at Sea by the Turks who had they followed their Blow might have utterly destroyed the Venetian Fleet but the Turks being contented with this unusual Success a thing not known to them for more than a hundred Years past were contented with the Flight of the Enemy and therewith a Cession to them of the whole Island and the Turks entered triumphant thereupon without any Opposition The first Act of the Turkish Clemency was to Hang up four Men of the Latine Rite who were of the Romish Church and of the Italian Race namely Signior Pietro Giustiniani di Antonio Signior Domenico Stella who were Deputies ordained to protect that Religion Signior Francesco Draco and Giovanni Castelli di Brecci Signior Sofiati who
to have chosen in his room some other Captain of Valour and Discretion but seeing he would needs make choice of the fame unfit man he was not now to blame any other for his Errour but only himself As for his coming to Constantinople it was a thing long before thought most needful not only for his advice how the matter of Peace might be brought to some good pass but also because if that treaty came not to the desired issue then he had to talk with him how he might compass the overthrow of his Enemy which thing as yet he had no fit time to declare unto him but was now ready to reveal it if it were so his Pleasure Wonderfully was Amurath grieved with this sullen answer when he conâ—idered that a slave of his own should so arrogantly and manifesâ—ly reprove him of folly and improvidence Notwithstanding being desirous to know of him what that secret and important matter was which he had to reveal unto him for the easie compassing of his commenced Enterprise he dissembled his discontentment conceived against him and commanded him to disclose those his Devices which he had to utter Sinan in brief of all his Advices propounded these two things first his Counsel was not to proceed in this War as they had hitherto done by seeking with Forts and Foâ—tresses to hold and keep the Enemies Countries for that their Treasures were not able to yield such store of Money as was sufficient for the maintenance of so many and so great Garrisons contrary to the Opinion of Mustapha of late dead who with great pertinacy had perswaded that dangerous chargeable and difficult manner of War. His second Advice was that the true means to bring this War to the wished end consisted especially in the Resolution of Amurath himself who if he would go in Person and against so mighty a King oppose the Person of a King then might he most assuredly promise unto himself all speedy and honourable Victory for that at the only name of his coming the Persians would easily come to any Agreement or if not he might then proceed in his Wars and so obtain most glorious Conquests This his Advice so little pleased the effeminate King that instead of the great Opinion he before held of him he now conceived an envious affection against him and a further suspition fostred by the great Ladies of the Court especially Amuraths Mother That Sinan had thus Counselled the King himself to go in Person not for any good could come thereof but only that so he might find means for the Prince his Son to make himself King and to drive out his Father Which suspition was in such sort nourished in the Mind of Amurath especially being assured of the great affection which the Prince carried towards Sinan and he likewise towards him that he resolved to rid him out of his sight and so depriving him of all charge presently banished him the Court and out of Constantinople to Demotica a City of Thrace from whence afterwards he by most humble Supplication obtained to be removed to Marmara a little beyond Selymbria And into his place of Visiership was preferred Sciaus Bassa who had married Amurath's Sister an Hungarian born a goodly Personage and of honourable Judgment but above all men a seller of Justice and Preferments and yet a great friend to the Peace with the Christian Princes which Sinan had always most wickedly maligned The Persian Captains in the mean time with their Spoils year 1582 and divers of their Enemies Ensignes were with great Joy received at home in Persia but when the Discord that fell out between Mahamet Bassa and Mustaffa the Georgian was also reported the former Joy was redoubled every man being of Opinion that thesâ— Discords might be great impediments unto 〈…〉 further attempts into Persia which it was 〈◊〉 they would the next year attempt to the 〈…〉 of Nassivan and Tauris Upon which 〈◊〉 the Persian King perceiving that he could not have a fitter Opportunity to imploy himself against Abas Mirize his Son then with him in disgrace determined with himself to leave the matters on this side of his Kingdom in their present state and to march toward Hâ—ri whereunto he was earnestly sollicited by his elder Son Emir Hamze Mirize but especially by Mirize Salmas his Visier Upon which Resolution committing the defence of Reivan Nassivan and that side of his Kingdom to Emir Chan Governour of Tauris he set forward himself with his Army towards Casbin and so marching through divers Provinces arrived at length at Sasuaâ— being on that side the chief of all the Cities subject to the Jurisdiction of Heri which City he took by force and without delay caused the Governour thereof to be beheaded although he alledged a thousand excuses for himself and objected a thousand Accusations more against the seditious Visier The King after this departing thence and having also put to death certain Captains and Sultans that were accused by the Visier to be Confederates in the Rebellion of his Son he arrived at last at the desired City of Heri Very strong is this City by Scituation compassed about with a good Wall and watered with deep Channels of running Springs conveyed into it by Tamerlane their Founder or Restorer beside that there was in it many valiant Captains Enemies to Mirize Salmas ready to lay down their Lives in defence of themselves and of Abas their Lord so that the winning thereof could not but prove both long and difficult As soon as the King approached the City he felt in himself many troubled Passions arising of Grief and Pity it grieved him to think that he should beget so graceless a Son who instead of maintaining his State and Honour should seek his Ruine and Destruction it grieved him also to remember the Blood of his Subjects before spilt upon so strange an occasion and scarcely durst he enter into the Cogitation thenceforth to shed any more of the Blood of his People Nevertheless being still more and more sollicited by his Visier he attempted to understand the mind of his Son and if it might be possible to get him into his hands But whiles the King travelling with these thoughts lay with his Army before Heri Abas Mirize in the mean time writ divers Letters to his Father and to his Brother wherein he besought them That they would make known unto him the Occasion of this their stir for if desire of Rule had moved them to seek the deprivation of him being their Son and Brother from the Honour he lawfully possessed and which his Father himself procured for him of his Grandfather Tamas they ought to abandon their Imagination for that he was always ready to spend his Wealth and his Blood together with his Estate in their Service and acknowledged his Father to be his good Father and King but if they were not induced hereunto for this cause but by a desire to revenge some trespasses that he
discoursed diversly hereof Some said that the King had reason to do it for that they had secret Practices and Intelligence with the Turk his capital Enemy Others affirmed that he did wisely to prevent their Attempts against his Estate which were to be feared considering their Numbers were so great And some said plainly that it was to have their Lands and Inheritances which had continued so long in their Races But the King declared his own intent by his Edict the which he published in these Terms The King For that reason doth in Conscience bind a good and Christian Government to expel out of all Realms and Common-weals those things which breed scandal and bring hurt to our good Subjects and Danger to the Estate but especially which are offensive to God and prejudicial to his Service for this cause Experience having taught us That the residence of the new Christian Morisques and their abode in the Realms of Granado Murcia and Andelosia hath been the cause of all these Inconveniences For that besides the manner of their proceeding which joyned in the Rebellion of Granado the which began by cruel Murthers of all the Priests and old Christians which lived amongst them calling the Turk in to their Aid yet having drawn them out of the said Country and suffered them to live in our other Provinces so as they would repent them of their Faults and live faithfully and Christian like according to the Precepts and just Ordinances which were given them They have not observed and kept them according to the strict and direct Rules of our Holy Faith but have always made shew to contemn it and to have no fear to offend God as hath been seen by the great numbers which have been punished by the Inquisition and besides they have committed many Thefts and Murthers against the old Christians And not content herewith they have conspired against my Royal Crown and Realms seeking Aid and Succours from the Turk certain interposed Persons being sent to that effect and doing the like with other Princes promising unto themselves Aid and Assistance offering unto them their Persons and Means And seeing that during so many years in which they have practised these Treasons and Conspiracies not any one hath come to reveal them but they have always covered concealed and denied them it is a most apparent sign that they have all been of one Mind and Will against the Service of God and of me and against the good of this Realm yet they might have imitated many Knights of theirs of generous extraction who have done service to God to the Kings our Progenitors and to us like good Christians and most loyal Vassals Wherefore considering all this and how much I am bound to set down some good order and to procure the preservation and increase of my Realms and Subjects and desiring to provide for all I have decreed with the Advice and Counsel of many judicious learned men and others that are very religious wise and jealous of Gods Service and mine to chase out of the said Realms of Granado Murcia and Andelosia and out of the Town of Hernache although it be not within the Limits of the said Realms all the new Christians Morisques both Men Women and Children For when as a great or detestable Crime is committed in any Colledge or Communalty it is fit that Colledge or Communalty should be ruined and that the less for the greater and one with another should be punished and that such as pervert the good and sincere Life of Common-weals and of their Towns and Cities should be banished from other Inhabitants lest their Contagion infect them For this cause by vertue of these Presents we ordain and command That all the new Christians Morisques without any exception of Age or Sex of those that live and reside in the said Realms and in the Town of Hernache except such as be Slaves shall within the space of thirty days after the Publication hereof depart out of all our Realms and Dominions of Spain with their Wives Children Servants and others of their Nation and that they shall not presume to return nor make any residence in them in any sort whatsoever And we forbid them to depart by the Realms of Valencia or Aragon nor to enter into them not to stay in any of our Realms or Countries after the time prefixed upon pain of Death and confiscation of all their Goods And we command that no Person within our Realms and Seigniories of what Estate Qualities or Condition soever shall presume to receive conceal or defend publickly nor secretly any Morisque Man or Woman after the said term upon pain to lose all their Goods Vassals Forts and Lands and moreover to lose all the Graces and Benefits which they have from me to be applied to my Exchequer And though I may justly confiscate all the Goods moveable and unmoveable of the said Morisques as belonging to Traitors and guilty of high Treason yet using Clemency I am content that during the said term of thirty days they may dispose of their moveable Goods and carry them away not in Gold Silver Jewels nor Letters of Exchange but in Merchandise which is not prohibited bought of the natural Subjects of this Realm and not of others or in the Commodities of the said Country And to the end they may during the time of thirty days dispose thereof and of their moveable Goods and employ it in Merchandise or in the Commodities of the Country and transport what they shall buy for as for their Lands that must be annexed to my Revenues to be employed in the Service of God and the Common-weal as I shall think most fit I declare by these Presents that I take them into my Royal Protection and assure them and their Goods That during the said time they may go and come to sell exchange and alienate all their moveable Goods and to employ their Mony Gold Silver and Jewels in Merchandise not prohibited or in the Commodities of the Country and to transport the same freely without any let or interruption by Land or by Sea paying usual Customs so as they carry no Gold or Silver coined or to coin nor any other thing prohibited by the Laws of my Realm Yet we are content they shall carry so much Money as shall be needful â—or their Passage by Land and embarking by Sea commanding all our Officers and loving Subjects to see this present Edict duely observed c. Signed I the King. After the Publication of this Edict the term of thirty days was restrained to twenty so as the Morisques were hastened to depart and the Ships and Vessels of what Country soever were stayed in all the Ports of Spain to transport them whither they would go Many passed from Spain into Barbary but during this year there came above 150000 of these Morisques into France the King sending Commissaries to see them well used and orderly transported away There was a War fallen
he himself did think fit to nominate and appoint over which the Vice-King was as Chief Commissioner to preside And thus the Parties of both Religions being disgusted and animated to Fight pro Aris Focis for their Laws their Country and Religion Fury and Despair served them in the place of Counsel Money and other Nerves and Sinews of War So that when one party was cut off another arose in greater numbers and like Hydra's increased the more by being destroyed Amongst which appear'd a bold Fellow nam'd Striâ—iniski who pretended to be sent by the Governors fo the Mountain Towns calling himself Duke Iohn and with his own name signed and issued out Commissions and dispersed them every where as if he had been the Sole and Sovereign Prince of that Country Many persons adher'd to him and followed his Standard looking on him as a bold and a daring Fellow who seldom gave quarter to any much less to Jesuits and Priests to whom he never showed mercy whensoever any of that character fell within his Power The which was again revenged by Count Strazoldo in such cruel manner without distinction of persons either of guilty or innocent that the Imperial Council taking notice thereof sent their Orders to him to uâ—e better moderation in his future actings and to treat the Hungarians with more gentleness which tho' he observed in respect to the Sword of his own Souldiers who were forbidden to Massacre or shed their Blood yet being directed to take and bring them before the Courts of Justice by which a speedy Sentence was passed and some were condemned to be hanged some be quarter'd others to be empaled this way of process seemed much more cruel and sâ—vere than a speedy Execution by the Sword of the Soldiery ANNO 1674. Tho' the Grand Seignior had not as yet publickly own'd the cause of the Malecontents howsoever the Pasha's and Officers had receiv'd private Instructions to countenance and favour their Causâ— without open â—eâ—unciations of a War and many Turks in hopes of Plunder and Booty habited themselves in the Hungarian fashion and joyn'd with their Troops and several parties of Turks in great numbers pretending that the Christians in a Hostile manner had made Incursions within their Territories came openly to revenge them and march'd as far as Schentha from whence they carried away an Hungarian Gentleman with 7 Soldiers Upon this Advice Lieutâ—nant Colonel de Soyer with his Dragoons and Hussars Sallied out of the Town to the rescuâ— of the Prisoners but being surpriz'd by 5 Companies of Turkish Foot who issued out of an Ambuscade where they had conceal'd themselves Soyer himself was kill'd with 2 Liâ—utenants 1 Ensign 4 Sâ—rjeants and 80 common Soldiâ—rs The Garrison of Newhawsel encourag'd with this Success continu'd their Incursions along the River of Waagh and made some dâ—predations but being pursu'd by the Hussars and Heydukes of Comorra they were forc'd to surrender 200 Head of Cattle together with all the Booty and Plunder they had taken Thus whilst Matters succeeded with various Successes but most commonly in favour of the Emperor both Parties acted their Cruelties upon each other the Malecontents as often as the Priests fell into their hands they us'd them but very scurvily they buried one of them alive of others they cut off their Noses and Ears and hanged or strangled others In punishment of which the Emperor Order'd the Vice-King to drive the Protestant Ministers out of his Dominions and to seize upon all their Churches to the use of the Catholicks and not to suffer them to meet or exercise their Religious Worship therein In pursuance of these Orders the Bishops of Colonitz and Iavarow seiz'd upon all the Churches Schools Livings and Benefices whatsoever belonging to the Protestant Clergy within their Diocesses And the Archbishop of Strigonium Primate of that Kingdom cited all the Protestant Ministers to appear before him and put many of them to the Question forcing them to confess who those were who for the two last years were the chief Incendiaries of Seditions and Authors of the Rebellion Nor were the smaller sort of the Malecontents only persecuted but some of the great Men and chief Ministers in the Emperor's Court were suspected and accused of correspondence and intelligence with the Rebels The Prince Lubkovitz President of the Council was suspected and accus'd but whether that jealousie arose from the near alliance in Blood he had with the Family of Serini or from malicious Informations is uncertain howsoever his Secretary by Order of the Emperor was put to the Torture and tho' therein he confess'd nothing which could accuse or reflect on his Master yet he was treated as a guilty person and all his Estate real and personal in Austria and Bohemia were seiz'd and confiscated to the use and benefit of the Emperor Count Souches had the like misfortune to have his Fidelity and Loyalty suspected but in regard nothing could be prov'd against him he was commanded to leave the Court and retire to his Government of Waradine or some other part of his Estate The Son also in resentment of this hard usage of his Father abandon'd the Court and all the Offices he enjoy'd therein ANNO 1675. At the beginning of this year the Turks began more openly to assert the Cause of the Malecontents making their Incursions as far as Freystadt within the Neighbourhood of Presburg forcing the People to do Homage and pay Contributions to the Grand Seignior and for default thereof they burnt many Villages and committed other acts of Hostility The Malecontents at the same time defeated a great part of a Croatian Regiment under the Command of Colalto By which and the Advices that the Turks were assembled in a Body of 14000 Men within the Neighbourhood of Newhawsel the Emperor fearing lest they should joyn with the Malecontents convened the chief Lords and Gentlemen of Hungary at Presburg to which place he sent Count Siaki to tender them Conditions of an accommodation of which Prince Apafi frankly offer'd himself to be the Mediator At this Assembly some of the more moderate Men who were desirous to bring Matters to a good understanding represented unto their Companions the ruine and destruction which must necessarily ensue from a Civil War and tho' the exercise of their Religion ought to be dearer to them than their Lives and to be preferr'd before all earthly benefits yet the same Religion taught them not to rebel against their Prince or make Wars for the sake thereof whose foundation and design was peace much less could they justifie the engaging the Turk therein unless whilst they profess'd themselves Protestants they acted like Mahometans But these and many other things were spoken in vain to Men who were possess'd with a Zeal for their Religion year 1675. and with an Opinion that they were Martyrs who died in defence thereof And in regard those of them who were in Hungary were not able
the 26 th Article of Sopron wherein the same City of Moramoruss is expresly named they had obtain'd the liberty of exercising publickly their Religion and of having Churches Parishes and Schools and have quietly enjoyed the same without giving any offence to the Catholicks until the fatal breaking out of the Wars in the year 1683 and the unexpected Burning of the Town which occasion'd an interruption of the said Exercise of Religion the Ministers and their Parishioners having been forced to disperse themselves up and down yet since the Troubles are appeased they desire in vain to reassume their publick exercise of Religion and to call back their Ministers being hinder'd from the same by the Earl of Hoffkirchen Governour of this Territory who every day growing severer forbids with greater Threats the total Exercise of the Protestant Religion Nay three Months ago the Roman Catholicks did Proclaim with the Beat of Drums that no Protestant should presume to go out of the Territory of Moramoruss to any Neighbouring to perform the Duties of his Religion nor Exercise it in his private House under pain of Imprisonment and of other severe Punishments Therefore they Humbly beg That this their Grievance may be redressed and they re-established in the Privilege granted by the Article It may be added to the foregoing Grievances that one Samuel Bizkey a Protestant Minister of a place of Lower Hungary called Hedes notwithstanding the Protection granted to him by the Council of War has been Plunder'd twice of all the means of Life Clothes Books and Furniture by some Emissaries of the Archbishop of Gran and at last on the 22 d of the last Month of March was taken and carried to Presburg into the Prisons of the Archbishop where he has nothing allowed him but dry Bread and dirty Water Likewise the Protestant Minister of Totâ—falu in Upper Hungary has been taken by a Jesuit called Father Ravasz residing at Naghybania and carried in Fetters into the Prisons of Zatmar where he is still detain'd and most barbarously used The XXI Article of the Diet of Presburg in the year 1687 in the business of Religion the 25th and 26th Articles of the year 1681 are renew'd with the inserted Decleration ALthough they of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg by their protesting against the 25 th and 26 th Articles of the late Diet of Sopron have unworthily abused the same and thereby forfeited ipso facto the benefits granted in them nevertheless since His most Sacred Majesty tending the Union and the general quiet of the Kingdom through his great Favour and Clemency has most Graciously resolved that the said Articles shall yet be in force the States have Order'd That the same shall be lookt upon as renewed and reinforced notwithstanding the opposition of the Catholick Clergy and other secular Persons and that as far as they have hitherto been infringed through Abuses introduced by the one or the other party they shall forthwith be put in Execution To these Agrievances the Emperor returned a very Gracious Answer and made several Proposals tending to a Peace And First He offer'd a General Pardon unto all even to Tekeli himself provided he would personally appear to make his Submission Secondly That every Person should be restor'd to his Lands and Goods confiscated again restor'd Thirdly That free exercise of Religion should be allowed but the manner how and the Regulation thereof should be determined at a General Diet which was judged of absolute necessity for the repose and quiet of Hungary Fourthly That all the vacant Offices Governours and Balliages of that Kingdom should be indifferently conferr'd upon Hungarian Gentlemen who were capable by their Natural parts and Abilities to Merit and Discharge such Preferments And Lastly That his Imperial Majesty would vacate the Office of Vice-King and return to the ancient constitution of a Palatine whose Election should be free according to the usage of former times The Plague which still Raged in Austria and Hungary prevented the proceedings of this Treaty which might have taken effect some time before and answer'd all the Demands of the Malecontents but now so much Blood had been drawn in all Parts and Corners of that unhappy Kingdom that it was past the Art of Man to stanch the Bleeding And besides Tekeli and his Malecontents were so nearly adjoyn'd and engaged in secret Leagues and Alliances with the Turk that it was almost impossible to destricate and disentangle themselves from the invitations they had made and from the Assurances and Pledges they had given to the Turks Howsoever the Emperor not to leave any means unattempted until all was become desperate dispatched Count Esterhasi into Hungary in quality of his Plenipotentiary to put those Overtures into Execution which had been fram'd and debated in the Emperor's Council But whilst these things were in agitation they received another Impediment by a discovery made of a Correspondence which several Principal Officers held with the Maleconts upon which Filek and two other Councellors and Mannagers of the Revenue of Hungary were Arrested and accused of having moved and promoted an Insurrection in divers Counties Towards the end of this year when the Armies were drawn into their Winter quarters new Treaties were set on foot The Baron de Kaunitz the Emperor's Resident at Constantinople labour'd to continue and renew the Truce but the Grand Vizier would not agree thereunto on any other Terms than that it might be allowable for the Grand Seignior to afford aid and assistance to the Malecontents But this was to cure a Soar with a greater Evil and what was inconsistent with Reason to make a Peace and yet to continue a War. When the Emperor believed all Accomodation with the Malecontents impossible at least far distant Behold on a suddain and much unexpected the Counts Tekeli Pestrozzi and Wessellino in despight of their Engagements to the Turks offer'd to make Terms by themselves and to abandon their People and their Cause in case they assented not thereunto The Conditions were to have all their Churches restor'd with their Goods and Estates which had been Confiscated To which the Emperor readily assenting there never appear'd at any time a greater probability and likelyhood of an Agreement than upon this overture But whereas to establish and confirm such an Accomodation it was necessary to convene a Diet which by reason of the present Contagion could not be done a Cessation of Arms was in the mean time concluded But whilst in order thereunto a Conference was held at Tokai Count Caprara unluckily march'd out of his Quarters with a considerable force towards that place upon which the Malecontens were so Allarum'd that they Sallied out of their Winter quarters in great numbers leaving the Treaty imperfect and the Cessation of Arms broken and violated ANNO 1681. Notwithstanding the unlucky Accidents which had happen'd to hinder and disappoint the Progress of the aforesaid Treaties Yet at the beginning of this
Crowns which some principal Officers as is said appropriated to their own Use. Besides this stately Tent there were great Numbers of other Tents taken in which the Turks show most of their Grandeur making more Ostentation by their Tents in the Camp than they do by their Houses and Edifices in the City Moreover there were taken Sixty seven Pieces of Canon Four of which were of an extraordinary bigness of Powder there was a Thousand Kintals of March Four hundred about Eight thousand Cannon-Bullets Three thousand Bombs and Carcasses Ten thousand Granadoes Arms of all sorts in great Numbers Two thousand Oxen Five hundred Horse Mules Asses and Camels about Two hundred Buffoloes Four hundred which were appointed and fitted to the Yoke for drawing Carriages and Cannon Sheep and other Cattle innumerable Besides all this there were found great quantities of Coffee Chocolate Sugar Sherbet and Honey with Carpets and Beds of Wool and Cotton Also Oats Rice Barley Flower Oyl Bread and Salt in short all things necessary and convenient for Man and Beast with which the Christian Soldiers refreshed themselves after a long Battle tedious and tiresome Marches in great Want and Scarcity of all Necessaries for Support and sustenance of an Army After which great and signal Victory Te Deum was on the 13 th of August Sung in the Tent of the Grand Vizier and Triumphs made by exposing the Horse-tails and great Numbers of Banners and Ensigns before the Door of the Tent with Vollies of small Shot and Discharge of Four hundred Pieces of Cannon giving Thanks to God for this so remarkable a Success which was the more observable because this Victory was obtained in that very Ground where Lodowick the last of the Hungarian Kings was Slain and his Army Routed by Sultan Soliman the Magnificent who in Memory thereof caused a Mosch of Wood to be Erected and Endowed it with Eight hundred Crowns Yearly Rent that Dervises who are a sort of Turkish Friers might solemnize their daily Devotions and Prayers in that place The Turkish Army being thus totally Routed and Dispersed some in the Woods and others in the Marshes where many of them dyed of their Wounds or fainted for want of Food or Refreshments others of them or as many as could Travelling a Day and a Night came at length faint and weary to lodge themselves under the Walls and Cannon of Esseck without Provision to comfort them or Tents to cover them where being sad and disconsolate had the Mortification to hear the Triumphs which the Christians were making in their Camp for their Victorious Successes This News affected the Inhabitants of Agria to the last extremity of Despair They had lived for a long time in hope of Relief and feeding on that and on Horse-Flesh and Dogs and Herbs growing under the Walls and by making sometimes Excursions near hand to gain a little sustenance but now by this last blow being put beyond all hopes the People had thoughts privately to abandon the Town and fly to other Quarters but the Town being closely blocked up by Marquess Doria was forced soon afterwards to surrender at discretion without any farther Effusion of Blood. The Suceess of this Battle near Harscham happened very seasonable to the Christian Cause and of great Comfort and Joy to the Court of Vienna where they had lately received no very good News in reference to the State of their Army which as Reported was very much weakened by late Skirmishes Sicknesses and want of Provisions and much harassed by long Marches bad Weather and dirty deep Ways Of which the Enemy being sensible was grown bold and daring and often pressed them to a Battle The Emperor being informed hereof was very doubtful and anxious for the Success and Prayers Supplications and Penance were ordered to be made in all Churches to implore the Divine Assistance and Blessing when the Prince Eugene of Savoy arrived at Vienna with the News of the Battle and the Particulars of the Victory which filled all the Court and City with Joy and Triumph To render which the more compleat and full Advices were come the Night before from the Senate of Venice to give an Account to his Imperial Majesty of the Defeat which the Arms of St. Mark had given the Turks in the Morea which had produced such a Terror and Consternation amongst them that in little more than Four and twenty Hours time Four places had surrendered to the Venetians With these happy Advices Expresses being dispatched to all Courts of Christian Princes were the Cause and Subject of common Joy and Jubilee in the Courts of all the most Christian Kings only excepted The Grand Vizier with his scattered Troops rallied near Esseck where taking an account of the Numbers lost he found his Army diminished about Twenty thousand men for besides those which were killed taken and drown'd many had deserted and withdrawn from the Field The Face of the whole Camp was sad and disconsolate and thô the Vizier did all he could to comfort and chear them yet they being not only melancholy but angry and ashamed of their dishonourable Flight began to blame and cast the fault on each other The Ianisaries with good reason upbraided the Spahees as the Authors of their Rout for that they cowardly retiring broke in upon their Ranks and put them into disorder which the Enemy observing pressed so hard upon them that they were forced to give way and with them the whole Army was laid open and exposed to the Enemy The Dispute grew so hot between the Two Ranks and Orders of Soldiers who were always emulous of each other that at length they came to Blows and to a Civil War in which about Seven hundred were killed upon the place The Grand Vizier and Officers had no sooner with much pain and labour parted the Fray but the tumultuous Soldiery joyned together to accuse the Vizier himself and to cry out that the loss of the day was to be charged on him and the Myrmidons about him who were the most forward to show an Example to the Soldiery of a base and fearful Flight the which Clamour caused such a Mutiny in the Camp as had put the Life of the Vizier and many great Officers into extreme danger had not the Vizier with Money and fair words mollified their Anger But this accommodation continued not long before the Grand Vizier was forced to give way to the irresistible fury and sedition of the Soldiery as we shall presently have occasion to declare In the mean time the Duke of Loraine not to lose the benefit and advantage of so glorious a Victory designed a farther Conquest and to conclude the Campaigne with some other memorable Enterprize It was the common Talk at Vienna amongst the Courtiers at the Emperor's Palaces and amongst the Religious men in their Convents and Monasteries that the Duke of Loraine was to prosecute his Victory without delay as far as Belgrade