Plea or Endictment struck off his Head and threw his Body into the Sea on pretence that he was sent thither as a Spy for his Master and to give Intelligence and a beginning to Rebellion These were his colours and allegations for his deserved Death for Governours though never so wicked and so absolute and that have no need to render any other cause to the World of their actions than their own will yet esteem it necessary to act under the specious guise of justice and in the good opinion of the multitude The Aga of Babylon encountred the same Fortune for Mortaza giving place he thought it sit for himself to do the like resolving for Constantinople but being intercepted in his Journey by the new Pasha his Head was struck off and his Journey shortned But that which again renewed the trouble and fears of the Vizier was a report that the late Kahya-begh degraded at Adrianople was secretly returned to the City and lived concealed giving such Orders to the Janizaries as tended to Mutiny and Insurrection and that the pretences and reports of his being gone to Damascus and thence in his holy Pilgrimage to Mecha were but all false stories to conceal his Residence at Constantinople This set the Vizier all on fire and made him tremble with the thoughts of it wherefore search was made for him day and night but not found for in reality he was gone on his designed Journey only it was the misfortune of his Kahya or Steward as before it was of Mortaza's Emaum to fall into the Viziers hands who being beaten to confess where his Master was died afterwards of the blows But notwithstanding that Mortaza was fled yet the Vizier laid not aside his fears and thoughts concerning him not knowing how soon he might be recalled home and seated in his place of which various Examples are extant in Turkish History And therefore he sent orders to Mahomet Pasha his late Kahya now Pasha of Darbiquier as General with the knowledge and consent of the Grand Signior and to the Pashaws of Aleppo Erzirum and others near adjacent to prepare and assemble what Force was necessary to constrain the King of the Curdi to surrender Mortaza into their hands But whilst these matters were in agitation some unexpected troubles in Georgia diverted their Armes and held them for some time in suspense not knowing what the issue might be The Original and Ground thereof was this After Sultan Solyman had taken Erzirum it was agreed in the Capitulations between the Turks and Persians that of the seven Provinces of Georgia anciently called Iberia but now as supposed to have received the Denomination from St. George the Cappadocian Martyr there had in great esteem and reverence three should be tributaries to the Turk and three to the Persian all governed by Achic-bash as head and supreme Prince to whom the seventh should also be subjected without acknowledgment to either In payment of which tribute they continued most willingly lest for default thereof the importation of Salt of which their Provinces afford none should be hindred either from the Turkish or Persian Dominion And now it happened that Achic-bash dying his Wife married again who to gratifie her new Lover was contented to have the eyes of her Son put out who was the lawful Heir to the Government This Fact was so hainously received by the Princes of the three Provinces under the Persian that with common consent they elected one to succeed Achic-bash and extorted the power out of the hands of the Amorous Traitour The Princes of the three Provinces under the Turk alarm'd hereat made insurrection resolving rather than any Foreigner to set up one of the Kindred of Achic-bash which the Persian Provinces better understanding approved likewise and for confirmation and maintenance of their choice assembled an Army of threescore thousand men The Pashaws tending towards Curdi were surprized in their March with the news of these disturbances in Georgia and not rightly apprehending the causes of these sudden commotions gave an arrest to the progress of their Armes inclining towards the Parts of Georgia to be in a readiness to suppress all designs against the Ottoman Dominions so that the thoughts of War against the Curdi was for some time laid aside The news of these troubles did also alarm the Port with which also came a report That six hundred Tents of the Kuzilbashees which are the best sort of Persian Horsemen were pitched nigh the Consines of the Grand Signiors Territories so that Orders were dispatched to the aforesaid Pashaws to watch the motion and issue of those Affairs but those storms blowing over by the establishment of Achic-bash the Turkish Forces proceeded on their first design against Mortaza marching to the pass of the Country of the Curdi which is very steep asperous and rough The whole Kingdom being as it were one Mountain of dangerous and difficult access hath hitherto preserved the Inhabitants from the Ottoman Subjection The entrance thereunto being strong by Nature is also fortified with several Castles the chief of which possessed by Mortaza is called Zizri and the people thereabouts Zezidi The Turkish Army being arrived at this pass Mahomet the Pasha of Darbiquier appointed General as we have said before ordered five hundred of his select men to enter within the pass which the Curdi perceiving with little opposition put to slight being so commanded by the General The unadvised Curdi cagerly pursuing the enemy left the pass naked and undefended supposing their whole victory and success to consist in the Rout of those few whereupon the Turkish Army wisely possessed the pass and got between the Curdi and their place of Retreat and laying the Siege to the Castle required them either to surrender themselves or else Mortaza and his Complices into their hands The Curdi perceiving themselves thus hardly beset and in a manner defrauded their Garison which possessed the pass without the Confines the enemey gotten possession of the Gate which opened to their Countrey their Castles besieged and in danger to be gained and an inlet made to an Inundation by their Enemies caused them to request a three days truce for Consultation which being granted they began to consider whether it were better to hazard the welfare of their Country in a dangerous War of which the Turks having already compassed the passage had made half the Conquest or to surrender up Mortaza to his own King one in whom they had no part no interest nor relation The latter counsel was most generally pleasing wherefore they seized Mortaza promising at first to conduct him through the Mountains to the Persians but afterwards being on horse-back and about a mile distant from the Camp they bound his hands behind him and with his Steward the Master of his Horse and a Page delivered him into the hands of the Turks who immediately struck off their heads and sent them to Constantinople where for three or four days
from his retirement and by special command of the Sultan was unwillingly restored to the Office of Vizier being best pleased with a quiet and pacifick life to which his melancholy temper had naturally disposed him In the mean time Chusaein Pasha being terrified by the sensible touches of his own conscience took his flight by way of the Black Sea and being out of the reach of Justice a Fine was set of five thousand Zechins and of Lands to the Revenue of an hundred thousand Aspers a year to be given unto him who should bring his head many of those who had sold him their friendship and favour being affrighted with this Sentence voluntarily disgorged the rewards they had received and amongst the rest the last Aga of the Janisaries who had been his Kahya or Steward for the space of three months restored eight hundred thousand Dollars as an atonement for his sin and a ransom for purchasing his own life and Office At length by force of the foregoing reward Chusaein Pasha was betrayed and taken alive and being brought to Constantinople was immediately strangled before the gate of the Divan Many were the difficulties which this young Sultan was to encounter the greatest of which was the insolence of the Janisaries who feeling themselves empty of money began to repent of the prodigal and easie remission of their Donative and in a tumultuous manner to redemand it again There was no argument or debate to be used against men of the Sword who hearkned to no other reason than their own wants and to satisfie them there was no other remedy than compliance wherefore all Officers and persons not employed in Military Affairs were forced to contribute towards a large Tax and a shameful demand was made for the Loan of thirty thousand Zechins from the four Christian Ambassadours resident at the Port that they also as Friends might yield an assisting hand towards the present urgency of Affairs so little consideration and shame have Turks to lay open the nakedness and distress of their Country even to strangers and enemies of it And indeed such was the insolence and uncontroulable power of the Souldiery that their desires and commands were Laws and their determinations Rules for their Sultan and his Subjects This humor of Usurpation and unlimited Power wearied all the Officers of the Empire and inclined them secretly to approve the cause of Abassa Pasha of Erzirum who declared and stiled himself Enemy to the Janisaries and of Bechir Pasha of Babylon who was joyned with him The Vizier also finding his power abridged by the arbitrary will of the Souldiery moved slowly and coldly into Asia where all the Force he could make consisted of no more than fifty thousand new and unexperienced men such as were uncapable to contend with a more numerous Army of veterane Souldiers to which also the Beglerbei of Anatolia joyned himself as did all other the chief Timar-Spahees who conspired together to confound and destroy the pride and government of the Janisaries The Vizier also was of the same Party and coldly at first answered the request of the Janisaries when they earnestly pressed him to lead them against Abassa their common and mortal Enemy at length being fortified with the Force of the Timar-Spahees he told them plainly That if they would go and fight he would be a Spectator of the success but would not ingage himself in a quarrel wherein the blood of Musselmen might be spilt on one side and the other by which means the Rebels in Asia took head increased in force and every day rendred them in a more formidable and dangerous posture But this was not all the trouble which ensued for the Tartars having refused that King whom the Grand Signior had appointed them to receive declared for Mehmet his Brother who was seconded by the Votes of the generality and maintained by the strongest nerve of that Nation The Vizier was unwilling to ingage in this quarrel alledging That a Civil War was the worst of evils and that it was better to coanive at a present inconvenience than in this distracted time of Affairs to pollute the Empire with the blood of Tartars who were their Brethren and of the same Religion and Alliance with them Howsoever the Divan was of another opinion and resolved to dispeed the Captain-Pasha with a Force sufficient to re-instate Gherey for so the elder Brother was called in the Government of that Kingdom but yet the Instructions given rather directed him to act with dexterity than with force supposing that the Authority of the Turks abetted with the presence of a considerable Force would create an inclination in the Tartars to obedience so soon as they discovered them to appear on their Coast. The Captain-Pasha being arrived at Caffá declared That he was sent by the Grand Signior not to exclude either one or other of the Pretenders but only to be Witness of a free and fair Election that so all Civil discord ceasing that Party might be chosen who was most pleasing to the generality of the people to which end two Standards were erected one for Gherey the elder Brother desired by the Turks and the other for Mehmet beloved of the Tartars The people in multitudes ran to the Standard of Mehmet and but few to that of Gherey which demonstrated at how mean a rate the Tartars esteemed the protection and favour of the Port. The Captain-Pasha vexed hereat denied to give his assent to the confirmation on pretence that he was first to demand the Grand Signior's pleasure but at length was perswaded by Gherey to land a Force of about eight thousand men to owne and maintain his Cause on hopes that rather than ingage against the Turks the people would condescend to Terms in his admission and favour The Tartars not being in the least dismayed hereat arrayed themselves in a warlike posture and feigning fear and flight allured the Turks to a pursuit of them until they had brought them to a place where thirty thousand Horse lay in ambush which on a sudden arising and encompassing them round had entirely destroyed them had not Salil the Brother of Mehmet given a stop to the slaughter on hopes that such a testimony of friendship would reconcile the spirits of the Turks at least might render his Brother's preferment more tolerable and grateful to the Turks In this conflict Ibrahim and Chusaein who were Viziers of the Bench the Kahya and a Capigibashe of the Seraglio were slain whose bodies were afterwards transported to Constantinople six hundred Janisaries and as many Sea-men were killed and fifteen hundred Prisoners were taken whose liberty was procured at a mean ransom for the sake of that Faith and Religion which they joyntly professed they also took thirty Pieces of Cannon and might also have become Masters of the whole Fleet consisting of thirty six Gallies had they been desirous to have prosecuted their Victory to the utmost advantage and moreover in that conjuncture of
and a gentle gale to make their escape and being with the gray of the morning advanced without the Port they were espyed by the watchful Venetians who dividing their Fleet into two Squadrons charged them with high courage the Fight continued for the space of two hours during all which time the Castle of Valona fired at the Venetians and shot down a Mast of one of the Galleasses a splinter of which wounded Lorenzo Marcello the Commander at length five of the Gallies of the Pirates being disabled and many of their people killed they began to fly and retire again under the protection of the Town as also did the Venetians to their place of Anchorage A distinct Advice of all Particulars being dispatched to Venice the Senate wrote to Capello That since the respect which the Republick owes to the Ottoman Court was not unknown to him he should by no means make any attempt against those Pirates upon the Land but meeting them fairly at Sea he ought then to make use of all the valour and force he was able In the mean time the Duke of Medina las Torres Vice-King of Naples dispatched an Express to Capello with Letters applauding the generosity of the design wherein he was now engaged for the Glory of his Republick and the common good of all Christendom proffering to supply him with refreshments and Ammunition and what else might supply his occasions expecting that by such encouragement as this he might be induced to assault the Enemies in Valona without respect to the Grand Signior or any inconveniences which might arise thereby On the contrary the Governour of the Castle and Kadi of the Town wrote a Letter to Capello putting him in mind that he was within the Grand Signior's Dominions and that he should be careful how he offered any violence to those places which would certainly prove a violation of the Peace and be the Original of an inevitable War Capello had now lain a whole month before the Port having all the time injoyed fair weather and a smooth Sea against the hope and desire of the Turks who expected that by means of some storm the Enemy would be forced to remove their Quarters to some secure Harbour and thereby afford them an opportunity to escape But Capello growing weary of such tedious attendance resolved to expect no longer nor yet to lose the present advantage of rendring himself Master of the Vessels of the Enemy wherefore dividing his Fleet into several Squadrons he advanced near the Port firing several shot at the Tents of the Pirates of which one from a Galleass struck a Mosch and arming with store of men the Galeotes and Brigantines they entred the Port and to the astonishment and vexation of the Turks possessed all the sixteen Vessels and brought them to their Admiral which though they had disfurnished of all their chief Booty yet their Cannon and Arms remained of which there were twelve Pieces of great Brass Guns besides others of Iron with divers Falcons and lesser Arms. The Intelligence hereof being carried to Venice Orders were given that all the Vessels should be sunk in the Port of Corfu excepting only the Admiral of Algier which was to be brought to the Arsenal of Venice there to remain as a Trophy of Victory and for a perpetual Memory of this glorious Atchievement Howsoever this Exploit was variously interpreted at Venice and approved or disproved according to the diversity of humors The younger men applauded it as an action of great Gallantry excusing his transgression of the Senates Orders by a transport of passion and zeal towards his Country and desire of Glory But the Senators and men of mature Judgments highly resented this breach of their Orders which as they are strictly enjoyned so they expected that they should be punctually obeyed That this action was a sufficient and just cause alone to kindle a War and that it was a matter intolerable that a single Citizen should of his own head and humor presume to act such things as must necessarily involve the Publick in a War contrary to their pleasure and in opposition to their express commands For which crime and other subsequent defaults Capello was afterwards forced to justifie himself as will be signified in the sequel of this History The Particulars of this Advice were by an express Messenger dispatched to Luigi Contarini the Bailo or Ambassadour for the Venetians at Constantinople a Person of great reputation and esteem having been conversant in the principal Courts of Christendom and employed for the space of seven years at Munster where he was assistant with the Nuntio Chigi afterwards Alexander VII in the general Peace of Europe The Turks also receiving this News aggravated to them with all the foul circumstances imaginable the Chimacam immediately summoned the Bailo to Audience and with an angry countenance began to exclaim That taking advantage of the Grand Signior's absence in remote parts the Venetians had in a perfidious and hostile manner assaulted and destroyed the Fleet of Barbary which were his Subjects and such as he had called to his assistance against the Corsaires of Malta and Ligorne That being accidentally compelled by storm to enter into the Port of Valona they were forcibly taken thence and violence offered to the Grand Signior's Port and Castle by way of a manifest and open breach If this presumption were grounded on the long distance of the Grand Signior from these parts the Venetians would do well to consider how that they provoke an angry Prince and one who esteems neither expence hazards nor labours to compleat his revenge If this were a design to divert the Grand Signior's Arms from Persia they would do well to consider that the Sultan was not so far advanced but that he could turn a currant if he pleased sufficient to drown and in an instant to overwhelm the Dominions of Venice or could at least collect Forces from nearer parts able to revenge his quarrel and vindicate his Honour from the disdain and scorn of such petty Neighbours Hereunto the Bailo or Ambassadour made this Reply That this Piratical people was the same which the year before had landed in Candia and made spoil of the Estates of the Inhabitants and carried many of them into slavery and not contented with this Booty they entred the Gulph and penetrated into the very bowels of Italy with design to sack and plunder the Island of Lissa which was under the Dominion of the Republick That the Venetian General friendly saluted the Castle of Valona which was returned with several shots from thence that had it been his intention to have attempted the Port in the beginning he would not have lain thirty seven days in expectation of the forth-coming of those Pirates it being only respect to the Grand Signior which obliged him to that attendance At length being wearied and provoked by the insolence of that people he forcibly entred the Port knowing that by Capitulations with the Grand
from the Sofiá of Persia bringing a Ratification of the Peace who was so much the more welcome by how much more the present Conjuncture rendred it advantagious and being ushered in with exceeding rich presents ravished the hearts of the Turks whose good nature melts and dissolves with the sight or hopes of Gifts In Dalmatia near the Confines of Zara the Turks made Incursions on the Venetian Territories and caused some disturbances but being chastised by an Ambush laid for them whereby about 200. of them perished all matters were again reconciled and the Peace renewed And now one would imagine that the design against Asac by such diversity of obstructions were absolutely laid aside which though they were of that importance and especially the fear of Ibrahims Death to detain the Vizier at home yet he thought fit to prosecute the design under the Command of the Pasha of Silistria to whom he had committed the Conduct of this War The Pasha proud of his Charge rejoiced to be employed in a War wherein he apprehended so little difficulty and prognosticated to himself nothing but Glory and Victory esteemed the Defendants for no other than Fishermen and better experienced to sail their Boats and govern their Sayks in the Black Seas than to draw up an Army in the Field or defend their Walls This confidence was farther increased by an Embassy at the same time from the Moscovite who not only renounced all assistance or concernment for that Town but renewed with them his Friendship and Articles of antient Agreement The Ottoman Army besides Janizaries and other Turks consisted of Moldavians and Valachians and a great number of Tartars which at first entered into their Trenches and besieged the Town but here they rested not securely by reason of the frequentSallies the Besieged made upon them and more especially by the Mines which they sprang to the terrour and damage of their Enemies The Turks moved hereat made furious Assaults but were as valiantly repulsed by the Defendants who threw scalding Water and Pitch and burning Sulphur upon the Assailants so that not being able to take the Town by force they retired to their Trenches and deliberated in what manner by fair promises and mony they might invite them to surrender Hereupon the Captain Pasha the Tartar Han and others tryed the efficacy of large Proffers of Priviledges to the Town their Country and Inhabitants with a gratuity of twelve thousand Hungers of Gold but these promises could make no more entrance into their hearts than the Turks could do into their Walls which they seemed resolute to defend wanting neither Provision nor Amunition nor Courage for the War but on the contrary side all these were wanting in the Turkish Camp so that 15 days passed without any action until they were supplyed by the arrival of certain Brigantines and light Vessels dispatched with all expedition with the necessaries of War At the coming of which the Turks prepared for another Assault which they continued uncessantly for the space of seven days but were received with that vigour by the Besieged that they could not gain one palm or inch of ground so that at length with disgrace and discouragement they were forced to give over their attempt despairing to gain the Town in the time and with the Force which was allotted for this enterprize With this ill success extremity and Famine pinched the Turks in their Trenches so much that an Oxe was sold for 15 Zaichins a Lamb for three and a Measure of Barley which served a Horse for one time for a Dollar so that at length they were forced to raise the Siege and the Captain Pasha by tempestuous weather was constrained to shelter his Fleet in the Port of Caffa In their return home the General was fearful of having forfeited his head the Commanders were silent and ashamed of their success and the Souldiers discouraged famished and poor for they had lost 3000. Spahees 7000 Janizaries and 800 other Souldiers besides Moldavians Valachians and Tartars those that survived of the Foot were naked and many sick the Spahees were without Horses with which they were supplyed by the Tartars and in fine so unsuccessful were all matters that the Veterane Souldiery avouched that they never endured a more cruel nor a more miserable War And now we shall end this Year 1641. with the ruin of Emir Gumir a Persian by Birth a Favourite and yet Traytor to his natural Prince This Emir in the last Wars which Sultan Morat waged against Persia was entrusted with an Embassy and with Conduct of part of his Army but he betrayed both to the Turk under whose protection he took Sanctuary and obtained great Gifts and Preferments for a reward and price of his Treachery Sultan Morat afterwards bestowed a magnificent Seraglio upon him situated on the Bosphorus enriched him with a vast Treasure and what is more with his Favour making him his Companion in his Pastimes and his Confident in his serious Counsels it was he that first perswaded the Sultan to drink Wine in which both of them were beastly intemperate and mighty and valiant to bear until the heat thereof having extinguished the natural heat of their Stomachs it became too cold and crude unless corrected or fortified with Rach or distilled Spirits The fumes of such strong Drinks were the cause of the extravagant actions which Morat practised in his Life and afterwards became the means to hasten his Death whose days being ended it was time also for prosperous wickedness to expire and to meet a punishment equal to its demerit Wherefore one day having desired Licence of the Vizier to return to his own Country where it is believed he had by mony purchased his Pardon he was called to the Viziers presence and there without any Impeachment Process or Accusation had the string applyed to his Throat and strangled on the place the reason hereof some give to be the immense Riches which Sultan Morat had bestowed upon him though there wanted not many causes to render him suspected and obnoxious to the present Government first because he was too well acquainted with the Secrets of the Seraglio and of that State to live in any other Country than the Turkish Dominions then it was feared that the Persian Ambassadour might make use of this person to act what Treason he pleased on the remainder of the Ottoman Family on promise that such an attempt should expiate his former Villany and regain the favour of his natural Prince But such signal actions as these are commonly wrote in such large Characters of Divine Justice which never left Treason unpunished either in this Life or the other that we need not to search or enquire for a further cause or occasion of this punishment The Year 1642. being now entered and the Turks desirous to repair their last Years disgrace resolved again with better preparation and Conduct to attempt Asac but before they would engage according to their usual Custom
have been observed nover to have thrived where the Heads of Armies have been of dissenting humors of different interests This timidity on the Christian part raised in that manner the spirits of the Turks that without stop or opposition passing the River Muer they arrived at Serinswar where they immediately fell to their Mattock and Spade breaking ground for their Trenches which by continued labour they so diligently attended that in seventeen days they arrived at the very ditch of the Fort only whilst the Turks were transporting their Numbers over the River the generous spirit of Strozzi not enduring to see their passage so easie and open valiantly opposed himself and his small Force against the greater power of the Enemy and so resolutely performed the Action that he killed five hundred upon the place till at length being unfortunately shot by a Musket-bullet in the forehead he gloriously together with one Chisfareas a renowned Croatian Captain ended his days in defence of his Country and the Christian Cause In this interim General Montecuculi arrived with his Army and was received by Count Serini with all evidences and demonstrations of respect and hearty welcome and between both passed an appearance at least of friendly correspondence But as to the present Engagement Montecuculi was of opinion That the opportunity was over-slipt which should at first have been performed rather by way of surprize than open Battle before the Ottoman Army had arrived to its full numbers consisting now of an hundred thousand fighting men To which reasons Serini replied That the Christian Cause and the States and Confines of the Empire were not to be maintained by men that carry their thumbs at their girdles or by Armies made resty with ease and wanton with luxury That those Armies were raised not to consume and exhaust the Revenues of their Princes and Exchequers of their States without making satisfactory amends by a valiant defence of that Interest which they owned That the Enemy had not been before that time attempted was no fault or neglect of his who under the very Walls of Kanisia resolved to give them Battle but that the other Generals supposed it more prudence and caution to protract the Engagement till his Arrival who being now happily conjoyed with them nothing ought to deter them from a glorious Attempt on the Turks who not consisting of above thirty thousand men ill disciplined and worse armed were not able to withstand the prowess of their Veterane Army which far exceeded them in number discipline and courage These or such like expressions Serini used and to prove what he averred he dispatched a confident Person of his own who spake naturally the Turkish Language with a Letter to the German Resident then entertained under custody in the Turkish Camp to know of him the true 〈◊〉 and number of the Turks which Messenger soon after returned with this short account Nisi me mortuum velis ampliùs non rescribas hîc vix sunt triginta millia nec illa satis electa quid vos à pugna deterret Tormenta Arcis nimis in altum exploduntur Which in English is thus Unless you desire my death write not back to me again here are scarce thirty thousand men and those ill provided what then should deter you from an Engagement The Cannon in the Castle are too high mounted or shoot over Serini gave this Letter to Montecuculi who replied That so soon as General Sporch came up with his Forces he would immediately draw up the Army into Battalia Sporch being arrived he then resolved to expect Marquess Baden and so deferred the Battel from time to time until the Turks advantaging themselves by these delays had worked themselves under ground to the very Walls of the Castle At length Montecuculi entring into Serini's Fort it is not known upon what reasons of jealousie or discontent cleared Serini's Forces of the Garrison and dispossessed the Governour which when Sirini perceived full of anger and displeasure he quitted the Camp and retired himself to his Residence at Chiacaturno with intent to make his just Appeal and Complaint to the Emperours Court. The Turks availing themselves of these delays and discontents proceeded forward in their work so that having Mined to the very Walls on the 9 th of June they blew up one of the Half Moons at which the Defendants were so terrifyed that with amazement they left open one of their Sally Ports at which the Turks entering put the whole Garrison into disorder consisting of 1900. fighting men so that now no safety remaining but in flight they forsook their Fort and crouding over the Bridge in confused heaps broke it down with the over-pressure of its burden by fall of which many perished in the Waters and about 350 which remained were cut off by the Sword This was the fate of Serini's Fort built with Art and lost by Cowardice and ill Conduct which the Year before only with 20. Germans and 150. Hungarians withstood a most impetuous and fierce storm of the Enemy but now was less tenable than a Palancha though Garrisoned with 1900. men of whom in this last assault one alone had Courage to fire his Musket but none adventured to draw a Sword unless certain Voluntiers and French Officers whose Courage only renowned their own Deaths and served to upbraid the Cowardice of their Companions In the Fort were only found five small Field Pieces one whole Cannon a great Mortar piece and two small ones belonging to Count Serini there were also one Morter piece and two small Field pieces like to those of Serini belonging to the Emperour the other Guns of weight or value were carried out of the Fort as being judged not long tenable and decreed to be abandoned to the Enemy Serinswar being thus taken was immediately demolished by the Vizier and razed to the ground either because he would seem to maintain his word or Vow he had made or because he would not multiply Garrisons when the present occasions required rather the active Force of a moving Army But before we proceed farther it seems pertinent to our purpose to declare the reasons and grounds of the preceeding neglects and discountenance passed upon Serini by the Grandees of the Imperial Army which not being vindicated by the Emperour seem to have been cast upon him by his express Order or at least to have been willing for some private respects to have the person of Serini abased and his actions obscured It is therefore to be noted what before hath been said That the first pretence the Turks made for this War was this Fort of Serinswar raised against the Capitulations and Articles of the last Peace for which though the violence against Varadin may be pleaded as equal if not exceeding the present breach to which this was only subsequent and seemed to be but a just recompence or effect thereof yet because it was that stone of scandal and offence which
Wing of the Christians and in other places they made attempts only to divert the Army whilst the Janisaries threw up Earth to secure a passage for the rest which when the Christians espied they at first resolved to sound a Retreat but afterwards perceiving that the Trench was but newly begun Montecuculi drawing up the Body of the Army into a half Moon attacked the Janisaries on all sides with that fury ordering the Bodies of Horse to contend with the Spahees that the Turks now faintly fighting began to give ground to their Enemies at which instant turn of Fortune an outcry was heard That Serini on the other side had set on the Viziers Camp which so animated the Christians and terrified the Turks that the latter began to give back and put themselves to shameful flight leaving dead upon the Place eight thousand of their Companions and the Glory of the Day to the Christians The Turks who always fly disorderly not knowing the Art of a handsome Retreat crouded in Heaps to pass the River the Horse trampling over the Foot and the Foot throwing themselves head-long into the Water without consideration of the depth or choice of Places fordable those sinking catching hold on others who could swim sunk down and perished together others were carried away by the rapidness of the Stream and both Men and Horse were carried down the River and swallowed up in deeper Places the Water was died with Blood and the whole face of the River was covered with Men Horse Garments all swimming promiscuously together no difference was here between the Valiant and the Cowardly the Foolish and the Wise Counsel and Chance all being involved in the same violence of Calamity non vox mutui hortatus juvabant adversante undâ nihil strenuus ab ignavo sapiens à prudenti constlia à casu differre cuncta pari violentiâ involvebantur so that the Waters devoured a far greater number than the Sword whilst the Vizier standing on the other side of the River was able to afford no kind of help or relief but as one void of Counsel and Reason knew not how nor where to apply a remedy This defeat though in Christendom not greatly boasted by reason that the destruction of the Turks which was most considerable by the Water was partly concealed to them yet the Turks acknowledge that Ruine and Slaughter to have been of a far greater number than what the Christian Diaries relate confessing that since the time that the Ottoman Empire arrived to this greatness no Stories make mention of any Slaughter or Disgrace it hath suffered to be equal unto the calamity and dishonour of this On the Turks side were slain that day Ishmael the late Pasha of Buda and Kimacham of Constantinople by a shot from the Enemy passing the Water the Spaheelar Agasee or General of the Spahees the Janisar Aga the younger Son of the Tartar Han and several other Pashaws Alibegh General of Bosna thirty Capugibashees five and thirty Pages of the Vizier's and three hundred of his Guard five thousand Janisaries three thousand Spahees fifteen hundred Bosnacks eight hundred Albanians six hundred Croats and Hungarians of the Turks Subjects two hundred and fifty Valachians and Moldavians six hundred Tartars of Anatolia fifteen hundred and about four thousand other Asiaticks from the farthest parts of the Turks Dominions Eastward so that in all we may account seventen thousand slain on the Turks side besides which were taken sixteen pieces of Cannon a hundred and twenty six Colours with the Standard of the Viziers Guard five thousand Cemiters most of which were embossed with Silver and some beset with Jewels with many Horses of which six were sent as a Present to the Vizier Of the Christians were slain near three thousand Men those of note were The Count Nassau Count Charles of Bracondors Captain of the Guards to Count Montecuculi Count Fuchier General of the Artillery of the Empire Colonel Pleiter with his Lieutenant Colonel and Serjeant Major and with many other Gentlemen of the French Nation who deserve forever to be chronicled for their Vertue and Valour For herein the French Nation ought not to lose their just praise having made proofs of their Valour as well in this as in other Battels it being reported That Monsieur Coligni their General killed thirty Turks with his own hand The News of this Victory being posted to Vienna it is wonderful to consider with what Applauses with what Honours with what Encomiums the Fame of Montecuculi was celebrated for besides the Triumphs with 〈◊〉 sounding of Bells Banquets and other demonstrations of solemn Joy the Glory of Montecuculi was the Theme of every Ballad sung in the corners of streets which Honors of the Commonalty were seconded by greater and more substantial of the Imperial Court who conferred upon him the Title of Lieutenant General of the whole Army a Dignity so eminent as is inferiour to none except the Emperour in order of the Militia and was not without some scruple granted to the Archduke Leopold by his Brother Ferdinand the Third and withheld from Piccolomint Duke of Amalsi until he had highly merited it and made his way to it through bloody fields where Providence first crowned him with Laurels of Success and Victory And here is just occasion for us to doubt why Montecuculi should be thus admired and loaded with Honours whilst the services of Serini and Soisé were so far from being taken notice of that they seemed to effect the disgrace and ruine of these Worthies rather than to produce the favour of their Prince and the applause of their Country the natural Rewards of Valour and Vertue And indeed I cannot but confess I my self have wondred when in the Court of Vienna I have heard the Actions and Zeal of Serini so slightly spoken of or contemned when a Stranger took the liberty but to descant on his actions and to vent any thing which but savoured of his commendations The reason of which I adventure to assign unto two causes The first is that Antipathy or natural aversion the Germans have to the Hungarians and Croatians these endeavouring to maintain the Priviledges of a People who have a free liberty of the Election of their Prince whilst the others desirous to take occasion to weaken and impoverish them would necessitate them to yield their Kingdom to the Emperour by an hereditary Right The second is the fury of Serini and Soisé whose zeal without consideration of irritating the Turk or fear of moving the passion of the Lyon beyond the terms of an easie pacification transported them to commit all damage and ruine which are the just concomitants of War which rage seemed over-violent to the Court at Vienna and not to suit with the present Policy of the War which was designed to be carried on rather in a defensive than in an offensive posture imagining perhaps that the good nature of the Turk might be complemented
active in the War passed over to the Isle of Candia resolving by strength and dint of Sword to force that strong City to obedience the main Bulwark of Christendom situated at the entrance of the Archipelago of the success of which famous Siege we shall have occasion to discourse more at large and more particularly hereafter in order unto which the Great Vizier on the last day of this Year went in Person to take a view of this City and having surveyed all sides of it apprehended that the Siege would be long and tedious and therefore returned again to Canea to take those measures which were requisite for an Enterprise of that weight and consideration In the mean time the Princes of Christendom being for the most part either in that discord amongst themselves of which the Turks have always made their advantage or else living in parts remote did not consider Candia as a Bulwark to their Dominions and therefore rendred little other assistance to the Venetians than good words and vain wishes for their success and Victory The Popes Forces only under Command of Muzeo Mattei which were in Dalmatia were transported to Candia and five hundred Foot belonging to the Grand Duke of Toscany came into their places for defence of that Country The most Christian King in return to the Embassy of Venice performed by the Cavalier Alvise Sagredo remitted to that Republick an hundred thousand Crowns and Cardinal Barberini at his expence supplied four thousand Measures of Corn. But the present Conjuncture did not seem to smile on the Venetians for all the Gallies belonging to Spain and Italy as well as those of Malta were employed in the transportation of the new Empress Margerita of Austria The Pope was infirm and distracted with his own domestick Affairs The Emperour was a young Bridegroom and besides the Diversion which a Wife gave him from Cares he apprehended that he might speedily receive some disturbance from the Princes of the Rhine and from Sweden in the Dukedom of Bremen The King of Spain was a Child of five years old labouring at the same time under a war with Portugal and threatned by the more powerful Arms of France on the pretence of Flanders Besides all which the Turks were as well in quietness amongst themselves as they were at peace with all other Princes so that we may expect that the force and power of the Ottoman Empire should now be turned like a Torrent to overwhelm this spot of land which seemed to be so scituated as well to resist the Waves of the Seas as the inundation of this mighty and Martial People Anno Christi 1667. Hegeira 1078. AT the Beginning of this year the Winter and Cold which chilled and benumbed the Earth encreased the heat and gave vigour and action to the Tartars who made such an unexpected incursion into Poland that they carried with them near a hundred thousand captived Souls as they were numbred before Jash in their return home The Polanders awakened hereat but ill advised resolved on a Treaty where there was more just cause for an open War and in order thereunto dispeeded an Ambassadour to the Sultan to expostulate the reason of this Breach of Peace and require justice and satisfaction on those his Subjects who had contrary to the Articles of Peace committed such actions and outrages of open hostility or at least that the Turk would not take upon him to abett the cause of the Tartars whilst the Polanders took just revenge for their late injuries The Ambassadour with this message put himself in a readiness and with a retinue of about two hundred and fifty persons begun his journey towards the end of April and on the second of May crossed the River Niestro which divides Poland from Moldavia where he was received by two of the Boiars or Moldavian Noblemen and thence conducted to Jash where the Prince of that Country resided The Ambassadour expected the Visit of the Prince according to Custom and Articles of Peace but the Prince being either forbidden by the Port or rather out of an ignorant stiffness and pride omitted to pass the Civilities of that Office but yet supplied the Ambassadour with plenty of Wine and Provisions which the Polanders enjoying freely dispensed perhaps more easily with other neglects and omissions which concerned formalities and ceremonies The ninth of June the Ambassadour arrived at Adrianople and thence was called to Demitochum a City about a days Journey distant where the Grand Signior for the sake of his hunting and divertisement remained under Tents as the most convenient lodging in that Season of the year the 25 th the Ambassadour had his first Audience with the Chimacam at which thirty five of his Retinue were vested with Coftans nothing passing but the usual Ceremonies and Complements The 28 th he had Audience of the Grand Signior but first made tender of his Presents as followeth A Crystal Cup in a Case of Gold adorned with Rubies and Diamonds 2 Baskets rarely woven with a very fine Rush. A Clock A Cabinet of Ebony supported with four Eagles made of Silver in which also was a Clock with a perspective Looking-Glass 2 Silver Cups of considerable bigness 2 Silver Flaggons A Gun which discharged twenty times 2 Spotted Dogs 4 Mastiffs 100 Ells of Holland These Presents preceding made way for the Ambassadours Audience at which he declared That the Commission from his Master the King of Poland was to make Complaints unto his Majesty of the grand Incursions the Tartars had made into Poland without any reason or cause of War and that therefore his Master did expect from him as from a just and vertuous Prince a permission for revenge and satisfaction of his injuries to enter Tartary without assuming it as any ground of Breach or Infringement of that Peace which he held with him or else that he would by his authority enjoin the Tartars to restore their Captives and their spoils and render them a reasonable satisfaction The Grand Signior returned no reply hereunto but referred that to be done by his Chimacam silence being esteemed some part of his Majesty and State which he seldom breaks but with few and haughty words This Ambassadour was a man of a bold and daring Spirit a fit Orator for such an Embassy had not his immoderate Covetousness the vice and folly commonly incident to Old Age much eclipsed many of those Vertues of which he was Master He was also a Man of a violent temper feavered to a madness in the height of his Choler which strangely betrayed him to many undecencies in his Language and Comportment For at his Audience with the Chimacam when he came to receive the Grand Signior's Answer his words were vented with that heat and so like to menaces that the Turks taking exception thereat returned his course Speeches with the like Dialect at which the Ambassadour swelled with that indignation and anger as became not the Moderation and Gravity of his Office