highly commended their ordinance The armie being certaine daies refreshed in this towne they all together continued on their iourney vntill they came to Zalnoch which is a Castle enuironed with water where for the guard and safetie thereof before he departed he left 50. Spaniards During the march of this armie and that they hasted to arriue at the place where Frier George was the Queene had published a Diet to bee held at Egneth which is one of the greatest townes of Transiluania there to deliberate and aduise what meanes was best to chase and expell the Frier out of that Prouince He at that time as wee haue said was at his Bishopricke of Varadine and vnderstanding the drift of the Queene and to what purpose she laboured omitting all things which then he was greatly busied about called for his Coach and in the greatest haste he could tooke the way that lead towards Cheresuania Vpon the way passing a little brooke which runneth by a valley it happened that his Coach ouerturned in such dangerous manner that if hee had not instantly been helped by his men he had there been drowned Certaine gentlemen of his traine ill interpreting this accident aduised him to returne from thence but hee smiling made them this answer That such diuinations as were grounded vpon Chariots were exceeding miserable knowing that they had in heauen another Chariot which by his influence would warrant him minding by his pleasant countenance to inferre that the Chariot of Erictonius placed in heauen should among other signes stand him in stead of a guide and so with expedition continuing on his iourney within short time he approached neere to Torde from whence hee wrote to all the Lords who were with the Queene and specially to his friends that if they would see the safegard and defence of their countrie and that the whole kingdome should not bee ouerthrowne and lost and fall into the puissant commaund of the Infidels they would not faile but presently come to the place where hee was and where hee daily expected them that they might speedily prouide for the common good of all Within a while after there came to him certaine bands of souldiours and companies of horse which hee caused to come from Varadine which being come together made a good number of men with whom he determined to goe to this Diet shadowing his intent that they came with him for no other cause but onely to bee a guard for his person Thus against the opinion and liking of all he came from thence to Egneth where being arriued he so throughly dissolued and brake off the Diet that not any so great and mightie was hee durst stay there any longer least the Frier should stomacke and malice them and by this meanes he ouerthrew all the Queenes deseignes which vanished into smoke She vnderstanding the arriuall of the Frier and seeing she could come to no better end of that which to her great charges and trauaile she had alreadie begun suddenly dislodged from that towne with her sonne and retired her selfe to Albe-iula with such force as she had of which Peter Vicchy was Captaine generall who caused the towne to be well fortified But after fearing to be besieged therein by the Frier leauing there as many men as was thought necessary for the defence therof she thought it better to make her retraict to Sassebesse a place for the situation farre stronger then Albe-iula where she determined to stay and expect what would be the issue of her fortune The Frier being aduertised of all this and also vnderstanding certaine newes that the forces which Ferdinand had sent were alreadie on their way and that Castalde came with no small ayde presently determined vpon this occasion to besiege Albe-iula thinking that if he were able to be master thereof he had effected the greatest part of his desires Being there arriued with this resolution he very straightly besieged and battered it in many places with great store of Cannon But those within being nothing possest with feare valiantly defended themselues and more couragiously then the Frier expected He now seeing the constancie and resolution of the besieged to bee such and that Castalde made but slow speede although euery day by letters and Posts vpon Posts he willed him to hasten on his iourney and so much the rather because he besieged this towne which defended it selfe so gallantly that it was greatly needfull for him to haue the helpe of his forces hee againe thought it sitting to seek out meanes once more to accord with the Queene Whilest these matters were treated of Castalde arriued at the confines of Transiluania But since it now very fitly falleth out I will for a while leaue the continuation of this historie and will largely describe the situation the inhabitants the strength the qualitie and fertilitie of that countrie Transiluania is a Prouince of the kingdome of Hungarie making a part thereof enuironed on all sides with high mountaines resembling a well walled towne hauing all his entries and passages very difficill and narrow which maketh me thinke that it tooke his name thereof being anciently named Dacia of King Docus who was Lord and King thereof Towards the North it boundeth vpon Polonia and of one part of Moldauia hauing in the midst the hils Carpates Towards the West it doth confine vpon Hungarie and towards the East it stretcheth it selfe to the shores of Danubius and taketh his ending against Walachia the inhabitants whereof are called Walachians anciently dissended of some Romane Colonie sprung from the familie of the Flacchians who were sent to subdue that countrie of whom that Prouince afterward tooke the name of Flaccia which at this present is corrupted into the name of Walachia which also containeth in it Moldauia being two seuerall Prouinces which now are separated comprised in time past vnder the name of Flacchia Towards the South it neighboureth vpon the Transalpinians and Seruians named Slauons and the Rascians vulgarly called Rhatians who in a manner are as naturall Walachians for that they all liue vnder one law and custome they are Christians and obserue the decrees and ceremonies of the Greeke Church they obey the Patriarke of Constantinople they vse the Italian language but so corrupted that it is hardly vnderstood to be the same they vse armes like to those of the Turks they haue been and are yet a warlike nation cruell and endureth trauaile and wearines of warre more then any other people for that they are naturally very strong Within Transiluania there is a Prouince in a manner linked to a mountaine which separateth it from Moldauia which is named Ceculia and the inhabitants thereof are called Ceculians and at this day they are called Sicilians who are of the Hungarian nation and of the same qualitie and disposition liuing according to the lawes and customes of Hungarie The other part of the kingdome which is the greatest is inhabited
batterie on that side which Vigliandrando had viewed as it was generally thought to be the weakest and least defencible of any part thereof That being done after the vapouring away of the fogge which towards the morning doth vsually rise vpon the riuer they began vpon the 4. of Nouember to batter the towne with foure double Cannons two small Culuerines with which it was battered al the day long both in the night following and the morrow after Castalde seeing that the Artillerie had sufficiently effected his purpose was determined the same day to giue the assault and not suffer the Turkes to haue so much leisure to fortifie themselues any better and not minding to impart it to all he tolde it notwithstanding to some few in whose friendship he greatly affied for all that which he purposed to doe But vpon this determination they discouered the Fort which the Turks had erected within insomuch as they were forced to alter their opinions and commaunded the Canoniers to increase their batterie and ruinate it saying that he would not lose his people at the furie of an assault but would preserue them for a battaile The batterie being reenforced with two Cannons they began to batter so terribly against these Rampiers that in euery mans iudgement they thought it to be quite ouerthrowne Whilest they continued their batterie and that Castalde was gone to Frier George to giue order for that which should be fitting for an assault fiftie Spanyards who then were out of their quarters within the Trenches for the guard of them and to see what was done by the batterie began to discourse and conferre among themselues of it the breach seeming good commodious to giue the assault these men taking resolution because they onely would haue the glorie to goe thither first were of this minde that first they must view it and that finding it to bee so as they verely beleeued they presently would haue marched to the breach without any other companie to assist them if it had so pleased Castalde that they should haue gone alone to the assault As they discoursed of this enterprise among themselues a priuate souldiour greedie of glorie offered himselfe to goe and view it but he so badly viewed it that he was afterwards the cause of great disorder as wee shall presently declare for he reported that it was very reasonable not any thing perceiuing the Trench which the Turks had made within halfe a pike in heigth and a whole in breadth raised vp with two rankes of baricadoes one vpon the other full of earth and well furnished with necessarie defences vpon the which they had planted two small peeces of Artillerie hoping thereby to warrant themselues from the assault which they hourely expected At the report of this souldiour the fiftie Spanyards being greatly incouraged were attentiue to the signall which should bee giuen for that they would be the first which should shew themselues vpon the breach While Castalde was with the Frier accompanied with all the Colonels Captaines principall Lords and many other souldiours of the armie it was concluded to goe to the assault and generally incouraging euery one and promising to them liberall rewards he spake vnto them after this manner If it bee true as the trueth is so that Gods goodnes neuer faileth those who for the maintenance of infallible faith for iustice and for the good of many imploy their vttermost endeuours I make no doubt my souldiours but that this day fighting for the defence of our Religion the iust cause of the King our master and Lord for the deliuerie of Lippa and for the recouering and preseruation of this kingdome that wee shall not onely receiue of God this present victorie which voluntarily prepareth it selfe fortunate to vs but also after our death an euerlasting felicitie in the world to come And this will be the day although it seemeth somewhat perilous if we fight couragiously which will crowne vs with infinit honour and infuse such a feare and terror into our quailing enemies that increasing our reputation it will cause the other to tremble as well at our very names as at our present warlike exploytes Therefore let euery one of you dispose and prepare himselfe couragiously for the assault and conceiue neither feare or horrour thereof For it is necessarie to all those who are desirous of glorie to oppose and thrust themselues into difficill and daungerous attempts and not to bee daunted by any base repulse O souldiours what a shame would it bee to you hauing in time of peace accustomed your selues to martiall exercises and in time of warre to subdue and conquer to bee now vanquished and ouercome by the force and prowesse of the Turks whom you now see alreadie full of feare through the batterie and ruine of their walles Therefore I promise to those who shall be the first that this day mount vpon the wall or that shall performe a sufficient proofe of their valour to prize and reward them as their commendable acts doe proclaime them worthie Thus you being confirmed in a resolute courage feare not to goe to it for that you see God is on our side and opposite to our enemies who alreadie begin to feele his anger which is manifestly seene to come vpon them by their broken and defaced walles by the fearefull siege which they painfully and with great horrour endure in respect of the famine which they piningly suffer by our warlike squadrons which we cause to march against them and by the death which they within few houres shall receiue to their perpetuall damnation whereas we dying with valour shall liue eternally And whilest wee see the occasion fauourable to vs euery one should assay to ouercome all of vs animating one another it being alwaies a commendable thing that good and valiant souldiours in haughtie enterprises and difficult attempts should exhort and encourage one another valiantly to performe his deuoire to the end that through negligence missing of the victorie it bee not imputed to their dishonour and by this meanes euery one should bee in daunger of blame if at the least once he made not triall of his vertue and prowesse against the enemie And you Hungarian souldiours whom this siege doth more import then any other valiantly endeuour your selues this day to shew your vttermost vertue and courage because that in this day you may in the blood of the Turkes our common enemies reuenge the death of your parents slaine and most horribly murthered by them and take reuenge for the rauishment of your daughters the taking away of your sonnes the ruinating of your Temples and the prophaning of your Monestaries I doubt not but bearing your selues valiantly you will carrie away the victorie and that by the slaughter of your enemies you will secure the liues of your countrimen and reconquer the lost honour of your townes Now then you being all vnited and linked together with one like friendly league of amitie refuse not these
reioyced But when newes was brought how the Turkes lead captiue more then 60000. prisoners that all the villages and houses in the champion were burnt and ouerthrowne their ioy was presently turned into sadnes beholding with great compassion all the fields to bee disfurnished of men â—easts trees and houses not any remayning to till the ground which miserable spectacle gaue occasion to euery one to lament and sigh bitterly The great Turke being arriued at Buda and willing to performe his promise which he had made confirmed Iohn King of Hungarie with priuiledges written in letters of gold and inuested him in his kingdome calling him his friend and vassall of his house leauing with him Lewis Gritty to aduise and ayde him in all necessarie things and to be an assistant to him in his kingdome And after proceeding on his way with tedious iourneys by reason of the vehemencie of the winter which with snow and frosts was alreadie at hand at length he arriued at Constantinople where with great reioycings and triumphs he was as well receiued of his subiects as if he had conquered all Austria Now after that Lewis Gritty had soiourned a certaine time with King Iohn in the administration and gouernment of the kingdome of Hungary he was called home by Solyman He attained to this honour by the meanes of Abraham Basha a speciall friend of the Duke his father through whose friendship he was so conuersant with the grand Seigniour that one day he inuited him to a feast at his house vnto whom the said Seigniour vouchsafed him the fauour to go the rather in respect of the haughtie spirit and deepe iudgement in all things which he knew was naturally grafted in him in regard of which he had oftentimes sent him to execute great enterprises as this was one wherein he vsed such marueilous wisedome and great expedition and carried himselfe so indifferent to all that his greatnes was not enuied of any one Now the cause of his calling to Constantinople was only to discourse with him of many matters which were of no small importance which when they had aduised vpon he was presently dispatched againe into Hungarie to his charge with ample commission and great authoritie being among other things commanded to remaine at Buda and with his vttermost abilitie to maintaine in those quarters the glorie and renowne of the Ottoman house charging him to bee continually present at all the Councels which should bee held as well for warre as for peace the grand Seigniour furthermore not minding that they should alter any thing in that kingdome whilest he was absent in making warre against the Persians Moreouer he was commanded to enquire if the report which was bruited were true namely that Iohn at the instance and request of the Hungars would accord with Ferdinand and haue peace with the Germanes and Bohemians who continually made incursions into his countrie vpon these conditions that as long as he liued he should peaceably enioy all Hungarie and that after his death he should leaue the possession and all such right as he could any way pretend therein to the children of Ferdinand as we shall hereafter more at large treate of At the time when Solyman went into Armenia Gritty arriued in Valachia hauing for his conuoy certaine Turkish horsemen and companies of Ianisaries and those of the grand Seigniours guard sufficiently tried with some of his owne familiar acquaintance and other Italian companies who of their owne accord being well armed followed him and he had also with him two famous Hungarian Captaines namely Vrbain Batian and Iohn Doce with their companies they in all making about 7000. men as well horse as foote He was besides in outward shew for warre well furnished with Camels Mules Horses cattell and other munition for the seruice and reliefe of his Campe. And with this traine which rather seemed an armie he caused great suspition as well among his friends as his enemies and before he departed from Valachia he made peace with Peter Vayuode of Moldauia who before was made Solymans friend he hauing sent vnto him many rich presents to request his fauourable assistance for his going into Hungarie and to ayde him with men and victuals and with all other necessaries which he stood in neede of vntill he had accorded the strife of Ferdinand for the loue of whom he vndertooke this voyage This league being confirmed by oth of either side Gritty thinking himselfe to be sufficiently strong in those parts to manage such affayres at his pleasure entered presently into Transiluania causing open proclamation euery where to bee made through all the prouinces of Hungary belonging to the Emperour Solyman that all the townes Comminalties and Lords of that kingdome should haue recourse to him as an Arbitrator and Lieutenant for all the prouinces of Hungarie for the grand Seigniour and as the sole Iudge of all their debates strifes processe and discords But this did not greatly please King Iohn and it was afterward the cause of Grittys fall At this time liued Emeric Cibacchy Bishop of Varadin and Vayuode of Transiluania a man who for his noblenes puissance and vertue was very famous among his people being in regard of his calling the second person next the King Against him Iohn Doce bore speciall hatred and open malice for receiuing a blow of him with his fist vpon the nose about a certaine question and controuersie moued betweene them He vpon the bruite of the comming of Gritty to Bresouia made no such haste it may bee as Gritty expected he should haue done in respect of the honour he looked for but making slow speede it thereby seemed that he little regarded those whom the grand Seigniour had sent which made him odious and displeasing to Gritty who sought nothing more then to increase the authoritie which he had and to make it appeare how greatly aboue others the Transiluanians had honoured and reuerenced him Vpon this a common opinion went that Emeric vsed this manner as beseemed a good Christian being greatly displeased in his heart to see the Turkes in his countrie where they neuer came before and that he should consent to open to them a passage whereby they might haue more ample knowledge of the store of townes boroughs and villages of the infinite number of horses of the fertilenes of the land and the fat pastures which are therein by the which they might bee inticed in time to make themselues masters thereof But all such opinions were in the end found false for that without any suspition he went as a friend to receiue and visite him When Gritty was alreadie arriued at Bresouia and that from thence he meant to goe to Megest where he was by many messengers informed that Emeric would come to see him and that he marched well accompanied being lodged but fiue miles from him with a great companie and furnished with many troupes of Caualarie all the chiefe of the prouince
and he in the meane time returned to Fogar The appointed day being come the Moldauian caused a sumptuous banquet to bee prepared and commanded those who should be present that at the sitting downe at the table they should propound certaine pleasant and facetious speeches and that from them they should proceede to outragious words and after that to armes and that vpon this tumult they should seize vpon Maillat and take him prisoner Which from point to point was fully performed as had been before determined of For Maillat being come to the Tent of the Moldauian was by him entertained with great mirth and cheerefully And dinner time being come he placed him at the table with all the other inuited who after they had exhilerated themselues with pleasant discourses performed that so well which they had in charge as taking armes in hand they would needes offer violence to Maillat who in such an act minding to crie out treason and to defend himselfe being a very strong and stout man and to accuse the Moldauian of that infamous deede he was presently seized vpon and bound and spoyled of the richest things he brought with him he exclaiming that he had thus vilanously and vnder pretence of friendship so treacherously deceiued him Achomet came in who faining bitterly to reprehend the Moldauian for such a dishonourable act aduised him not to violate that faith for confirmation whereof pledges had been giuen and that he should not be an occasion of the death of those Captaines which were sent to Fogar To whom in manner of disdaine the Moldauian made answere that he caused him to bee apprehended for certaine iniuries which he had receiued of him and that he would keepe him aliue and send him to Solyman who afterwards should iudge whether hee were iustly taken or no. This being done the Castle of Fogar after the pledges were set at libertie by the treason and wickednes of those who commaunded it in the absence of Maillat was within a while after yeelded to the Turkes although some say that it was for the deliuerie of Maillat and those of his traine By this meanes Maillat and as we shall hereafter speake of Valentine also who were the two principallest of the Hungars and who alone were remaining of the ancient Huns vnfortunately happened at one time vnder the tyrannie of their enemies who caused them to dye in prison at Constantinople and not being able otherwise to vanquish them by armes they were in the end subdued by the deceit and treacherie of Peter the Moldauian Mustafa and Achomet hauing the possession of Fogar and not seeing any who opposed themselues against them caused all the Transiluanians to sweare fealtie to Stephen the sonne of King Iohn vnder whose gouernment euery one liued peaceably hauing been before that thirtie yeeres in subiection to his father vnto whom they were very affectionate and faithfull subiects These things being thus pacified in Transiluania the two Mahomets tooke their way towards Solyman who trauailing in great hast receiued newes of the victorie which the two Mahomets obtained at Buda which was the cause that afterward he marched more slowly and performed his iourney at his owne ease and with great pleasure In the end at the beginning of August Anno 1531. he arriued within two miles and a halfe of Buda where he lodged his Campe being come not so much to restore the Queene and her sonne to their first estate and tranquillitie as to euery one hee bruited abroade as to reduce this towne vnder his tiranny and to settle himselfe there without any great expence knowing the commoditie and succours that he might receiue thereby in his warres which he hoped to commence against Ferdinand The Armies of the two victorious Mahomets being ioyned to his Campe he did highly commend them and also Mustafa and Achomet because without effusion of blood they had with such good expedition brought the affaires of Transiluania to so wished an end and after that they presented to him Maillat as a prisoner who within a while after was sent to Constantinople with Valentine Turkey Afterwards there were brought before him and before the Sangiacs and Bashaes all the other prisoners who were taken at the ouerthrow of Roccandolph and were bound with long cordes foure and foure together being about 800. amongst whom were certaine Captaines of marke namely Baltasar Pocan Taisch Bursicchy a Bohemian and others whose liues were saued at the instance of the Queene and all the rest as those who contemning the peace and friendship which by his Ambassadours he offered vnto them were by him condemned to die which presently was performed by the Ianisaries in such sort that in an instant they were beheaded which certainly was a miserable spectacle This being done Solyman sent three fayre horses to King Iohns sonne furnished with golden harnesse pearles pretious stones and rich plumes apparell and cloath of gold He also sent to other Hungarish Lords and the chiefe men of his Court certaine fayre long gownes after the Turkish manner and chaines of gold His Ambassadours being admitted to the Queenes presence presented in the name of their Lord and Master to euery one the presents which they brought and courteously intreated the Queene to send her son with the chiefest of her Court to Solyman who greatly desired to see him and that she would not distrust any thing assuring her that all should fortunately succeede to her owne content this being his vsuall manner not only to maintaine and increase the kingdomes and estates of his friends but also to defend and preserue them and that for that cause hee desired to know and imbrace his sonne who had been so great a friend vnto him and in token of perpetuall amitie to be acquainted with him and in respect of her that he bare no lesse regard and honour vnto her then if she were his owne daughter or childe and that he would willingly haue come to visite her if it were not forbidden him by his law and that also to preserue her honour and to auoyde all suspition he would by no meanes that she should come and visite him in his Pauilion contenting himselfe to haue the child sent him with his Nurse Solyman made this request to the end that he might with more ease get possession of the towne of Buda as within a while after by a certaine deceit he did and also to see if this childe were a sonne or daughter for that it was bruited to bee a daughter and the rather so suspected because the Queene would not suffer any to see it and therefore she had it priuately nursed and to know the certaintie thereof he was desirous that she should send the child to him The Queene being greatly troubled by such a demaund would willingly haue made a resolute answer to the contrarie that she would doe nothing therein but presently Frier George interrupted her and praied her that for the auoyding of
still hoping that time according to custome would remedie all all Empires estates riches honours pouerties glories triumphs and all prosperous and aduerse things being subiect continually to inconstant alteration and there being nothing vnder the concauitie and cope of heauen which continueth long in one and the same estate but is forced within a short time to chaunge the forme habit and colour and which sheweth not the instabilitie of humane actions to bee conformable to the naturall chaunge of her course The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE THe Queene complaineth to Solyman of George he seeketh the fauour and ayde of Ferdinand of which the Queene hauing notice aduertiseth Solyman thereof whose puissance George fearing he retireth and fortifieth himselfe in Sassebasse and the Queene leauieth forces against him Solyman sendeth a Chiauss into Transiluania in fauour of the Queene the Transiluanians forsake her and incline to George who accordeth with the Queene for feare of the Turkes power marching towards him against whom George taketh armes and forceth them to retire and he still vseth the Queene after his accustomed manner she incenseth the Transiluanians against him whereupon he vniteth himselfe to Ferdinand who maketh Iohn Baptista Castalde his Lieutenant and sendeth him into Hungarie The Queene publisheth a Diet and George interrupteth and dissolueth it Castalde besiegeth the Castle of Dalmas which is yeelded to him The Queene accordeth with George and Albe-iula is yeelded to him Many suspitions passeth betweene Castalde and Frier George and the Queene yeeldeth her selfe to Ferdinand but George seeketh to frustrate that agreement who in the end is made Vayuode of Transiluania and created Cardinall The Queene resigneth all the royall ornaments to Castalde with the Crowne which are sent to Ferdinand vnto whom the Hungars sweare homage The Queene departeth out of Hungarie and George seeketh againe the fauour of the Turkes who lye in waite for the Queene trauailing to Cassouia QVeene Izabella seeing the affayres betweene her selfe and Frier George succeede from worse to worse and also diligently obseruing his bad and euil demeanour which was more then her patience could digest or tolerate and that notwithstanding shee knew not any meanes how to withdraw him from his obstinate wilfull course being highly offended therewith had no other recourse or helpe of redresse but writ to the Turke greatly complaining her selfe of the bad entreatie which he vsed towards her desiring him that since he was content to appoint and leaue her in possession of that kingdome that in like sort he would vouchsafe to assist and ayde her out of such a miserable subiection wherein she was now fallen into specially in suffering the cruell tyrannie of the Frier which was more burdensome to her then the iniurie of her professed enemies and if it were not speedily preuented it might in time bee the cause of some sinister and ominous fortune wherefore wholly relying vpon his fauour and clemencie she effectually prayed him to relieue her against so great a calamitie whereby she might quietly enioy the same peace which many times he had promised her with a faithfull and sincere affection Solyman vnderstanding these complaints made no other shew at that time for the redresse of them but onely writ to the Frier that he should vse the Queene as was fitting and answerable to her calling and that so much the rather for that she was recommended to him and if he did to the contrarie he would teach him how to behaue himself yea it might be he would make him an exāple to others to take better heede for the like presumption These letters in stead of causing him to alter his peremptorie behauiour towards her confirmed him the rather in a more malicious and obstinate will then before He now notwithstanding seeing all his actions were discouered to the Turke and that it was behoofull for him to liue more neere and priuate to himselfe determined perceuering still in his peremptorie resolution to vse the Queene after his accustomed manner to assist himselfe by the fauour of Ferdinand who was alreadie crowned King of the Romanes with an intention to be able by his meanes at euery assay that might be offered to resist and onely defend himselfe against the Turke and the rather being induced thereunto through a continuall vexation which he receiued of Solyman demaunding of him oftentimes besides the yeerely tribute which was payd him sometimes victuall sometime munition and other extraordinarie subsidies which were infinit by reason whereof not being able to satisfie his greedy ambitious minde the treasure was in the end spent and consumed in so much that there remained little or nothing thereof so that he to content his barbarous appetites was constrained to impose vpon the kingdome new taxes and tributes whereby he procured the dislike and hate of euery one In this time was Counte Nicholas Salm Lieutenant generall for Ferdinand in Hungarie who as hath been said was sent vpon an Ambassage to Solyman to treate of a peace with him Long before Frier George desired conference with him in the Castle of Tocchay where King Iohn as wee haue said in the first booke was ouerthrowne by Ferdinands Lieutenant where by the meanes of a riuer Hungarie doth diuide it selfe from Transiluania But there neuer falling out any oportunitie to see one another one day as they both desired it happened they nothing thinking therof but either of them minding to goe some other way that they met in the middest of a way comming from Hungarie to that place the Frier continually soliciting the Counte that he might come to him and speake with him for the Kings seruice and hauing instantly vrged him thereto the Counte would neuer seeme to hearken thereunto as not reposing much trust in him knowing that he was mutable inconstant and a friend not much to bee trusted Notwithstanding setting at that time before his eyes the great and often solicitation which he daily vsed to cause him to come to parley and seeing himselfe well accompanied with sufficient bands of footmen and troupes of Caualarie refused not to hearken to the Frier whereupon he went to lie at Tocchay with George who all the whole night continued together in priuate with long conference concerning his purpose saying that hee had notice that Peter Vicchy Gouernour of Lippa and Themesuar had intelligence with the Turke and vnder colour to giue vp these countries into which he had inuested himselfe as if it had been into his owne inheritance vnder the Crowne of King Iohns sonne and to comfort and ayde the Queene the more he would wholly take away the care administration of the kingdom from him and reduce it into extreame calamitie and transferre it as already he saw some likelihood thereof vnder the gouernment of the Turke which did not much displease him for his owne particular as for the great damage which all Christendome should receiue
behold thee bringing with thee nought but dishonor and ignomie knowing well that thou neuer tookest this reproachfull example of thy forefathers who neuer yet fell into such vnseemely cowardlines whereinto thy selfe art now deeply plunged And who of our time is he that by so base vile a courage hath committed so foule and enormious a fault and who hath euer left vnto his heires so great and infamous an outrage without being reuenged as they selfe Doest thou not thinke that it would rather haue reioyced and contented me if thou hadst with thine owne hands slaine our enemies and that my selfe euen with my mouth might haue sucked their blood then to see them so cruelly murthering ours and to sucke the blood of mine And neuerthelesse thou leauing all thine dead in the place darest now presume to come crying before me as a little girle euen as sound and whole as when thou didst depart from thy house Auoyde infamous man and cause that mine eyes doe neuer behold thee for they shall haue as great shame to see thee to bee my husband as my selfe to behold my selfe to bee thy wife since the condition and noblenes of my blood abhorreth the indignitie of thy person whom if it had pleased God I would in regard of so shameles a fact I had neuer knowne thee and so I would esteeme my selfe more proud and ioyfull then now I am and in stead of life I should not bee so vrged as now I am to desire death She hauing ended these words inflamed with ire and great indignation departed from him being many daies and moneths before she would once vouchsafe to see him againe Whilest fortune in this sort fauoured the affayres of Varcocce the Frier went to Megest not in respect he misdoubted the strength of Sassebesse but onely to be more neere vnto the Sicilians vpon whose forces he greatly reposed himselfe there being the principall of the kingdome ranged on the Queenes part to whō they were very fauourable vntill the Chiauss of whō we haue before spoken being without hope any longer to delude the Frier or obtaine him by any stratagem did diuulge to them the Turkes commaund telling them that if all of them did not presently take armes against the Frier he would procure the Basha of Buda and the two Vayuodes of Moldauia and Transalpina to chastice and handle them as the deserts of disobedient persons merited destroying all their townes and ruinating the whole countrie as they were wont to doe But these threatnings little profited the Queene but to the contrarie so incensed the hearts of those who were adhearing to her part to succour her that seeing the Turke began to take vpon him to ayde her they wholly dismissed themselues from her seruice in respect of the naturall hate which they bore to the Turkes Vpon this occasion the Frier omitted no oportunitie but thereby did the better shadow his ambitious proceedings imparting to those Lords that if they any longer fauoured the Queenes part they might be well assured that it would be the manifest ruine and vtter subuersion of their countrie seeing it was apparant that vnder the colour of ayde she endeuoured to bring the Turkes in among them who once knowing the Fortresses and difficult passages the condition and fertilnes of the countrie and prying by all deuises into their commodities and their other actions they might within short time finde the meanes to patronize themselues of all Transiluania euen as by the like facts they tyrannously haue made themselues masters of all Greece By these and such like perswasions the Lords were drawne vnto his faction absolutely leauing the Queene and they amassed and vnited themselues with the Frier that within few daies he assembled a good armie and incamped before Albe-iula where for the most part the Queene made her abode with such few men as she had of the countrie the chiefe and Captaine generall of whom was Peter Vicchy Both parties being thus certaine daies without performing any memorable act the one against the other the Sicilians began to mutinie saying they would returne home againe and that they would no longer remaine in that place against the Queene The Frier not knowing the cause of this mutinie armed himselfe with his Curasse and being well mounted went into the middest of the mutiners who vnderstanding the cause that did thus moue them to this tumult answered them in this sort that they should not bee astonished at so great a delay the which was not done without speciall aduice and benefit to the whole countrie and that thereof there should proceede great good and quiet to euery one for that now in the meane time an agreement was laboured betweene himselfe and the Queene which was almost well brought to passe And for that cause he prayed them a while to haue patience not doubting but this busines would effect to good end and that afterward they should returne with great content and quiet By such and many other sweete perswasions which he well knew at pleasure how to vse both in time and place he appeased all this tumult yet not without great trauaile and labour But seeing it was no easie matter for him to entertaine them with words but that he must in the end conclude by deedes for that these dissentions were like to continue long and end by warre and battaile which the Sicilians by no meanes would endure he began knowing it greatly imported him in respect the Basha of Buda the Moldauian and the Transalpinian were comming against him with three armies diligently to seeke an agreement betweene himselfe and the Queene who also was greatly inclined to peace for that she doubted no ayde would come from the Turke and she presently accepted of the conditions which the Frier offered her and the rather in regard she was disfurnished of necessaries for the maintenance of warre as of men money fauour and forsaken as she thought of the Turke in whom she reposed but little trust And being a sole woman not hauing any whom she might assure her selfe to relie vpon she thought that the continuance of this peace would be very momentarie notwithstanding of two euils she determined to chuse the least and the rather accepted of this agreement which was concluded betweene them and both willingly dismissed all their forces Whilest Frier George and the Queene were in tearmes of reconciliation the Basha of Buda on the one part and the two Vayuodes on the other being carefully solicited by the Queene were alreadie in their way whilest these broyles were in motion and euery one of them brought a sufficient armie to relieue her and although she was aduertised thereof yet in stead of comming forward she writ vnto them that they should retire because the Frier and her selfe were now accorded and in tearmes of agreement and that their comming would bee little profit or commoditie to her But neither the one nor the other would hearken thereunto for that they determined
in the greatest haste he could passing a little arme of Marosse he retired and iournied as farre in one day as he marched before in sixe and went againe to Buda not without the losse of 300. horse who were defeated by Turchy Iohn the which before his Vauntgard dislodged he had sent into the countrie of Deue to range as well for victuals as also to discouer if there were no ambushments to hinder or annoy his retraict This Turchy was sent by the Frier to preuent him of the passage and to annoy him in his rereward but the quicknes of the Basha caused that hee arriued too late and tooke away from him all occasion of being able to ioyne with Varcocce much lesse to endamage his rereward which might easily haue been broken and defeated if these two had been vnited The Frier being now assured by these two that the Basha was retired in the greatest expedition he could turned his Campe against the Moldauian who as we haue said spoyled and burned the countrie and townes of the Sicilians and went forward with a vehement resolution cruelly to bee reuenged of the iniurie which he esteemed more intolerable then any that euer he receiued But the Moldauian hauing notice of the Friers intent and knowing besides what had happened to the Transalpinian found it good by the aduice of his Councell not to attend his comming whereupon after great spoyle made in the countrie he speedily retired himselfe with his people as well horse as foote who were about 30000. leading with them a great bootie of moueables and beasts with more then a thousand prisoners who were taken by a Chiauss of the Turkes that in respect of the loue and kindnes he bore to him came thither with certaine troupes of Turkish Caualarie After that Frier George had thus chased all the enemies out of Transiluania he retired towards the Queene where with consent of all in respect of his valour and prowesse which vndoubtedly was very great the peace was againe confirmed betweene them two with such conditions which should like them both among which he importuned that the Queene would write to the Turke and acquite and cleere him of all such matters whereof before he had been accused Which request though it was contrarie to her disposition for women like not to countermaund their owne proceedings yet notwithstanding she presently did it But the Turke being well informed of the veritie of the cause and of all that which passed and withall seeing how mightie and puissant the Frier was and that the greatest part of the kingdome was fauourably addicted to his part he smoothly dissembling the matter reserued the chasticement thereof vntill better oportunitie and made shew to the Frier as though he held himselfe satisfied with his fidelitie and that he very well knew he of his part was not faultie in any of the late broyles Whereupon hee sent another Chiauss with Letters Patents directed to all the kingdome by which he commaunded that euery one should obey and reuerence him as being againe confirmed in all his former honours and degrees But yet the peace lasted not long for the Queene in the end seeing the Frier respected not any thing which he had promised by the last agreement omitted no time but by the occasion of his absence being then in his Bishopricke of Varadine to recreate and solace himselfe she began priuately and vnder hand to raise and incense the greatest Lords of the kindome with intent to assist her to chase the Frier out of that prouince and especially those whom she reputed most faithfull and affectionate to her and most opposite against the Friers proceedings manifesting to them how his naturall disposition was inconstant and cruell and how he vsed her badly not willing to keepe nor obserue any lawes couenants promises nor faith but aspiring to the vniuersall tyrannie of that countrie he did thus wickedly demeane and behaue himselfe towards her with this intent to chase both her and her sonne out of the kingdome and to remaine sole and absolute Lord himselfe assuring her selfe that for the loue and fidelitie which they in former time vsed to King Iohn her husband and alwaies maintained the same notwithstanding all sinister fortune in the behalfe of Stephen her sonne and her selfe in regard whereof they would neuer endure this iniurie nor tolerate such a crueltie farre surmounting all other practised against her person in falling from so high and eminent dignitie of a Queene to become an ordinarie and poore Ladie and their King of Transiluania to become a seruant esteeming it of greater moment that they should rather desire to haue the sonne of him and their naturall Prince for their Lord and Patrone then a Frier voyde of all faith and honestie and onely gorged with ambition By such like demonstrations she so awakened the spirits of euery one that all in generall not willing to submit themselues to any other Lord then to King Stephen and her selfe concluded to take armes against the Frier with intent to expell him the kingdome George hauing notice of this and of all their other proceedings which was practised against him and seeing himselfe weakened of men and depriued of such forces which were necessarie to resist the scourges and assaults of such vnlooked for fortune after he hauing long pondered vpon these affayres determined vpon this resolution to accorde and linke himselfe with Ferdinand and to conclude with him the practises which oftentimes without effecting he before had acquainted him with he being induced and in a manner constrained thereunto by his extreame ambition and troublesome minde the enemie of quiet repose it being tolde him that if by that meanes he could expell the Queene he might easily compasse his intention which was to see himselfe absolute Lord of Transiluania which he so much esteemed that he would often say he cared neither to be Pope nor Emperour and that he would neuer goe out of it By these deuises one might manifestly discerne the insatiable desire of his ambitious nature which tended to no other end then to the sole gouernment of this kingdome Now Counte Salm being dead with whom hee had alreadie begun to treate of this affayre and knowing not how to effect his determination finding himself now neerely driuen resolued to negotiate this busines by Ambassadours sending secretly to Ferdinand one of his gentlemen by whom he gaue him to vnderstand that he greatly desired that either one way or other they would put in practise that which he before time had giuen him notice of by Counte Salm instantly praying him againe that he would not faile to send speedie succours and that it would please him to commit this charge to such a one that was sufficient and able to withstand the Queene who had againe begun to bandie against him And further he shewed him that if he did not allow ratifie of his former motions he should in short time see all
ought also to giue commaund to certaine officers not to suffer any to disband themselues out of their ranks and especially when the campe marcheth and that they may haue authoritie to punish them accordinglie 25 And lastly he ought to make choise of a Captaine for the baggage who shall conduct them vnder an Ensigne but in such sort that by the way he doe not intermeddle himselfe with the armie I haue hither vnto written more amply of this note to the ende it may serue to all Kings and Princes who would manage and exercise martiall discipline whereby they may know how to prouide and conduct their armies in their iourneys And whosoeuer hath a desire to see more of this subiect I referre them to the fiue treatises that the Lord Ascagne Centorio hath made of warre wherein hee shall more at large see all things distinctlie written These Articles being finished and presented to Fredinand he gaue speciall order to execute them if not in all places yet at least in as many as for that time they could conueniently And whilest they were busie in these affayres Frier George fearing that by too long a delay of succours which he daily expected the Queene should assemble so great forces that the preparation of Ferdinand would bee in vaine and to little effect to ayde him wherefore he ceased not by messenger vpon messenger to solicite and vrge him that his armie should march towards him with as great expedition as was possible because that in temporising and deferring time hee feared the losse of so fayre an occasion in the conquest of the kingdome Ferdinand being aduertised of this and iudging it best not to omit any time after the accomplishment and deliuerie of the said Articles which they presented vnto him and perceiuing that it was best that Castalde should depart with such men and munition as for the present he then had he caused to be dispatched to Castalde a very large Commission by which he gaue him power authoritie to cause him to bee obeyed and to commaund euery one not onely in Hungarie and Dalmatia but also through all Croatia and euen to the other parts of Slauonia and lower Austria minding that he should be chiefe in all the Councels and assemblies which were held in those countries and hee commaunded him that before he went to the Campe he should visit the I le of Comar and other holds and enquire in what estate the frontire places were that so hee might diligently prouide what was necessarie for them because that they were then but meanly munitioned through the sloth and carelesnes of those who had the commaund of them Following this commaund the first day of May Anno 1551. Castalde departed from Vienna and tooke the way leading towards Agria where the souldiours were that he should leade into Transiluania first going himselfe to the frontier places as we haue said which he commaunded to be repaired the best hee could foreseeing that a time would shortly come which would manifestly declare how profitable it might be not to haue been slothfull and negligent in these things which in semblance are thought little and of no validitie and yet afterward doe cost very deare for besides the losse of honour men many times lose for them both State and life it selfe Castalde being arriued at Agria he found there Bernard Aldene Campe master of seuen Companies of Spaniards which Ferdinand at his costs and charges entertained in those quarters and those to attend him were lodged by the towne He spent there certaine daies vntill hee had gathered all his souldiours together and in the meane time he laboured to furnish himselfe of all necessaries which was behoouefull for a battaile And he seeing this towne to bee one of the most important of Hungarie and that it was neither strong by situation nor rampier and that there was no industrie nor art vsed for the remedie thereof and that the walles such as they were were not yet very well flanked being rather built after the ancient manner of fortification then such as of our time for the remedy of so many inconueniences he committed the charge therof to Erasmus Teufl to fortifie it and by the commaund of Ferdinand not to omit nor deferre the fortifying thereof vntill he had fully finished it Hauing gathered together all his armie and seeing that in expecting the Cannons which by the negligence of those who had the charge to send them were not yet arriued and which might bee the cause of some inconuenience he determined neuerthelesse to depart without them giuing notice to Ferdinand that he should cause them to bee sent with as great expedition as could be Resting vpon this determination he departed from Agria the 26. of May appointing his armie to march in this manner Hee placed in the Vauntgard seuen Ensignes of Spaniards who were in number 1200. and 500. Hungars called Aiduchs and 1000. of light Hungarish horsemen named Vsarons who after the Turkish manner fought with Targets Turkish Launces Maces of iron Sables and Murrions they were vnder the conduct of a Lord of Slesia named Captaine Christopher and after them followed 4. field peeces The Battaile was led by Counte Felix of Arco and Counte Iohn Baptista of Arco they had vnder them one Regiment of 3000. Almaines all good experienced souldiours and well armed with 4. other field peeces and two small Culuerins with 400. horse whereof were 300. of Launces and 100. Pistoliers He caused to march in the Rereward the Hungarish Infantrie with 300. light horse and the baggage with three field peeces the whole armie making 5700. souldiours and 1700. horse With this small armie Castalde proceeded on his iourney to conquer Transiluania against so puissant a Prince as the Turke And hereof may bee said as King Tygranes scoffingly said of the Romanes armie which came to incounter him vnder the conduct of Lucullus That they were too many for Ambassadours and too few for fighters for that they seemed but a handfull of men in respect of his which were 250000. Castalde being arriued in this Militarie order at Tisse anciently called Tibiscus which is a large and deepe riuer which taketh his beginning in Poland at the foote of the hill Carpatus and thwarteth Hungarie and stretcheth it selfe towards the South vntill it entereth into Danubius betweene Belgrade and Cenedin where then it loseth his name It is in some places eight miles broade by reason of Quagmires and Marishes which it maketh as it findeth the ground there flat and euen and it glideth so soft and smooth away that one can scantly see it moue The water thereof is very fayre and cleere and greatly abounding in fish Castalde by this riuer a while reposed his Campe and willing himselfe the first to passe it the better to encourage his Captaines and souldiours some say that vpon the shore of this riuer he made to them this or the like speech If I had
willing to giue him any occasion to complaine of him hee liberally gaue him the third part thereof All Transiluania being reduced vnder the obedience of Ferdinand and the Marquesse of Balasse and Francis Chendy men of speciall authoritie and credit in their countrie being also entered into amitie with him Bernard Aldene Campe-master of the Spanyards desired Castalde that since hee would send other Captaines for the defence of Themesuar and Lippa that it would please him to send him thither being the rather desirous to goe for that he vnderstood he would send Spanyards thither Castalde was therewith well content and presently dispatching him he gaue vnto him 300. Spanyards and sent with him Captaine Rodrigo Vigliandrando who then was come to the seruice of Ferdinand during this expedition and who was by the same Aldene earnestly desired to haue him in his companie and that to the end that he might assist him both by his vertue and good aduice in any Martiall affayres for that he was a man of trust experienced and very desirous of honour Being thus dispatched hauing with them two peeces of Artillerie they set forward on the way from Colosuar drawing towards Themesuar which according to the iudgement of all was of greatest importance taking with them diuers Ingenors to fortifie and repayre the other places which were of least strength On the other side they caused to fortifie and strengthen Sibinio Albe-iula and Sassebesse which are townes situated vpon little hils in the middest of great plaines and which with little cost would bee made impregnable Castalde caused these fortifications to bee repayred to no other end but onely to stop the Turkes incursions in case he would enter into the kingdome and that in the meane time he might make other prouision and haue commoditie to expect the succours which Ferdinand should send him if need so required And for that in the late Diet of Colosuar the Transiluanians being for that particular cause required to ayde Ferdinand with certaine summes of money they had excused themselues in respect of the great pouertie of the countrie which was an occasion they could not contribute thereunto therefore by the commaund of the King it was ordained that all the reuenewes of the Bishoprickes in Transiluania with the Bishopricke of Agria should bee employed for the charges of such fortifications Whilest these things were thus in doing the Frier made semblance as though he had been very glad thereof but especially because he had thrust out the Queene before him and thinking that his purposes had at the beginning taken good effect hee hoped as it many times chaunceth to men who often deceiue themselues in their owne affayres that also the middest and the end would succeede fortunately as his owne conceits had alreadie promised him Now the Frier knowing that hee had greatly offended the Turke in bringing Ferdinand into this Prouince hee endeuoured by all meanes to cleere himselfe thereof and againe to creep into his former grace and fauour Thus by his subtilties thinking to hold Ferdinand in one sleeue and the Turk in another and to content them both he meant now to kindle that which afterward in the end hee could not extinguish And to execute this his intention he departed from Colosuar to go to a Castle of his owne which he had built from the ground named Wiuar He had giuen order that there he would meete the Chiauss which the Turke sent to receiue the tribute which that Prouince yeerely payed him to the end they might liue in peace The Chiauss was alreadie arriued at this Castle whilest they negotiated all the premised affayres And the Frier caused him to be so priuately yet well entertained that none could speake with him which he did in this respect for feare that any should aduertise him of what had passed For this cause he appointed him to bee lodged and friendly vsed in this place as the most commodious being more solitarie and lesse frequented of waies then any other in the kingdome The Frier being arriued at this place presently caused many sports and rich presents to bee shewed and giuen to this Chiauss with sumptuous entertainment and after he sent for Castalde who presently came thither and by their generall agreement and consent he payed the tribute to the Turke the time being almost expired in which the said tribute should be payed and the truce yet continued during which it seemed not good to Castalde and specially at that time to giue the Turke any other occasion to infringe or breake it then that he had alreadie done which was in lifting him out of Transiluania which he meant not to doe for many respects and specially because he had a purpose with speede to prouide for the fortifications of the places before mentioned and because that in the meane while hee meant to gaine the good wils of the ablest and mightiest men in the countrie and to increase himselfe both with men and money to maintaine and keepe it but fortune would not suffer that he should long enioy his desire For being one night at supper with the Frier newes was brought him that by the commaund of Achmeth Basha there was gone out of Buda 3000. horse to assay to take the Queene her sonne and the Crowne of the kingdome which was sent to Ferdinand assuredly thinking that she would carrie it with her as a precious Iewell But she as good fortune was tooke the way towards Cassouia going in the poorest habite and painfullest trauaile that could bee imagined not any thing dissembling the extreame griefe which still heauily opprest her To her vttermost abilitie she manifested this her immeasurable affliction which hourely gnawed and sorely distempered her minde Insomuch that one day passing a mountaine which separateth Transiluania from Hungarie and going downe the side thereof which was very rough and tedious by which ragged way her Coach could not passe shee was constrained during a great shewer to goe on foote and downe that side with her children and Ladies and that not without great labour Walking in this sort she greatly complained her selfe of her aduerse fortune who not contenting to be contrarie and opposite to her in great and waightie things would yet afflict her in small and meane matters And attributing this sorrow and discontent of minde which vntimely happened to her to the wickednes of her destinie she tooke a knife and with the point thereof to ease a little her vntolerable griefe writ in the barke of a great tree vnder which she was retired to repose and shrowd her selfe from the raine which powred downe amaine these Latin words Sic fata volunt and vnderneath it Izabella Regina which is as much to say Ainsi le veulent les Destinées Izabella Royne After she had engrauen these words she againe presently tooke her Coach and proceeded on her iourney and arriued in safetie at Cassouia making by that meanes the Turkes
he did not any thing esteeme nor fauour them but on the contrarie held them in disdaine and contempt began to apprehend a suspition of being betraied and in some place or other when occasion serued to be massacred Now while Frier George by his malice in concealing his purposes dissembled one thing Castalde with as great policie and wisedome fained another alwaies shadowing his intention with such discretion that none had any perseuerance of the dislike which he conceiued in his heart against him and hauing before noted the Friers deceitfull proceedings as it was said he reposed no trust in him at all but continually had a vigilant and suspitious eye ouer his actions As these affayres proceeded on in this sort two daies after there arriued with Castalde a gentleman of Ferdinands retinue named Iulius Salazar who was come post from Vienna with letters of credence which imported that if Castalde was not then departed out of Transiluania hee should not now stirre from thence but resolue to keepe and maintaine himselfe there so strongly that the Frier should finde no deuises to expell him out and that he should inuent the best meanes he could presently to haue him slaine for that he perceiued not onely by his owne letters but also he vnderstood for certaine by speciall aduertisements from those who were come from the Turkes Court and from the King of Polonia and some of his Secretaries that he intended to enter league with the Turke and to seeke the destruction of him and of all his armie and thereby to make himselfe absolute Lord of Transiluania and that before he should put in practise his determination he aduertised him to haue a speciall and vigilant eye of his proceedings and that he should in such sort doe it as though there were no such intended practise to intrap him and that hee referred to his wisedome the meanes which hee should vse to effect it skilfully endeuouring to deliuer himselfe from the danger in which he might behold his person and people at that time Castalde then vnderstanding Ferdinands pleasure he thought it no new or straunge thing because that hee alreadie very well perceiued that the Frier vsed but little sinceritie and true dealing in those affaires which concerned the Kings seruice which possest him in a confirmation of the distrust which he not without cause conceiued of him Now to frustrate his iealous braine from suspecting any intended practise against him hee by some new deuises for his better satisfaction dissembled the Kings message and his temporising with him was so discreete and wise that hee neuer gaue him the least occasion to suspect him imparting to him what desire Ferdinand had to see a good ende of this warre and what speciall hope he had of his valour and integritie to obtaine by his meanes some renowned victorie attributing all the glorie which should be gotten thereby to his vertue and prowesse With such colourable fictions he continually entertained him vntill that time which then should present vnto him the meanes to execute his enterprise euen as hee well hoped it would come to effect without any danger or losse and after such manner that by the execution of it he should neither hazard that kingdome nor his armie which he knew so well to conduct and manage and that with such suttletie and secresie and to bring it so to end that the Frier should neuer haue any suspition or coniecture of it which might haue giuen him any trouble in his minde In the meane while the Campe approched very neere to Lippa and then the Frier for that day would needes leade the Vauntgard which Castalde by no meanes would denie but gratified him in any thing he demaunded The Frier being arriued at a place where hee lodged that night found the passage to be exceeding bad for the Artillerie the way being very narrow by reason of the mountaine and riuer which fronted each other but yet not so rough that it should bee any occasion to hinder or slacke that which hee desired to doe yet did the Frier finde it to be a sufficient subiect to execute his wauering intention Thus he now seeing it was time to accomplish that which he had imprinted in his braine hauing suruaied the passage declared to Castalde that he thought it would bee impossible for the great Artillerie to passe that place and that he was of minde that it was good to leaue it there notwithstanding with such a guard of horse and foote as might defend it and that himselfe alone with the field peeces would proceede on the iourney Castalde not liking of that which the Frier aduised him of went himselfe to view the said passage and saw it was not so bad as that it should stay or hinder the Artillerie from passing and thinking the Frier was not so simple but that he knew this passage might easily be fitted iudged in himselfe that he set before them these difficulties to no other end but to slacken the deseignes of Ferdinand Vpon which consideration Castalde caused good store of Pioners to bee set on worke and made them bring many pickaxes who within a short time so repayred and enlarged the way that two horses might goe in front with a wagon and so by little and little they cut so much of the Rocke and made the passage so large that the Artillerie might well passe without any inconuenience Castalde with the other Captaines to bring the worke to an end began themselues to set to their hands and there they laboured so long till it was farre in the night in respect whereof he was forced there to lodge his Battaile and Rereward and commaunded certaine Spanish Captaines who were then with him that although it was not yet day they should march with the Artillerie the rest of the night notwithstanding it was then time rather to repose and rest themselues in respect of the former daies wearines and himselfe not being perceiued of any with his owne guard departed secretly out of the Campe and went from thence priuately to the place where two miles from Lippa the Frier was lodged and being entered into his Tent accompanied with sundrie Spanish and Italian gentlemen among whom was one Iulian de Carleual he said to him that he should not be astonished although they came to him at that time of the night and in that manner as hee sawe to speake with him for it was for no other purpose but to knowe the cause that moued him without any occasion to wish him to leaue the great Artillerie being so nigh the enemie against whom notwithstanding couragiously marching they should be sure to get vncredible honor and making themselues masters of Lippa to obtaine so great and honorable reputation as they might well hope for from all this warre and so much the rather for that the enemie had raised his Campe from before Themesuar vpon the bare bruite of their comming to relieue the besieged which vndoubtedly had alreadie purchased
that to suffer that that courage which in vs should be inuincible should remaine suppressed by this fortune for any aduersitie whatsoeuer Truly whosoeuer now should see these shamefull things in you who alwaies heretofore haue been victorious as if to vanquish were to you peculiar I know not what they should censure but that considering your former victories they might imagine that you haue rather wonne them by ominous fortune then by your owne proper vertue since that by so great dishonour you haue suffered your selues to be shamefully ouercome and in the middest and furie of the fight like women and children to be beaten away by the Turks You may well thereby thinke that the glorie of your precedent feates of armes which vntill now appeared to the world by your great triumphs is now darkened and obscured by this ignominious repulse with which incouraging these enemies whom so often you haue ouerthrowne and subdued you are the only cause that in time to come they will not any more feare you seeing your courage your force and agilitie is decayed It seemeth to me a wonder and a great infamie that the victorious dreadeth the vanquished And beleeue me souldiours there is not in the world a greater ruine and confusion then when an armie debasing it selfe by giuing courage to his enemie leaueth it selfe ouercome by pusalinimitie For then in what disaduantage soeuer it must dissolue and disperse it selfe for that it often happeneth in warres the valour and resolution of the minde profiteth more then that of the bodie If this day and during these assaults you duly consider of the honor and end of this warre you will manifestly see it a sufficient motiue to incite you to recouer your first lost prowesse and conceiue that subtiltie and wisedome nothing auaileth where is an apparant defect of courage and valour Therefore present necessitie doth vrge and constraine you this day to shew your selues valiant and vertuous souldiours for that you shall not now fight for a toy of nothing but for life it selfe for the countries good wherein you were nourished and brought vp for your wiues and children for your sisters and kindred and finally for all diuine and humane things and for your goods which if you remaine victorious they remaine yours as they haue been before and on the contrarie they must bee a spoyle for the enemie if you will lose your selues You alreadie know how the Belerbey of Greece and Basha Achmeth are on the way with an huge number of horse and foote to relieue Lippa If they shuld arriue and wee not haue taken the towne what might then become of vs Therefore if you desire as it is most requisite you should doe to auoid these imminent dangers with an honourable victorie to increase your reputation and not to interre or obscure it valiantly endeuour your selues to ouercome and fight with an assured and manly courage still bearding and facing the enemie for those who are desirous of victorie doe neuer turne their backes And doe you thinke that seeking the safetie of your liues to finde it by flying No no you haue alreadie seene by experience the contrarie that more haue been slaine by flight then fight Assure your selues then that if you doe not with your best abilities endeuour your selues to ouercome you will neither finde place mountaine nor forrest which can preserue you in safetie but all things shall be contrarie and aduerse to you and in the end you shall leaue as a pray to your enemies those things which you most dearely esteeme of which neuerthelesse by meanes of victorie winning this towne you may preserue and there is no doubt but the enemies wil be faint-harted and begin to humble themselues and in their retiring they will giue you speciall meanes to recouer that which hath been lost and possessed by euill hap and to purchase with a glorious name frustrating them from al hope euer to bee masters of you againe this libertie this quiet repose and this happie peace which you so much desire and long for vnchaining your selues from the perpetuall seruitude in which for present example you may to your griefes beholde your neighbours For there is not any thing that doth more astonish and terrifie an enemy then a sudden onset and gallant charge nor nothing which doth more animate a friend then to recouer a despairing victorie as this day may happen to you if you will Returne then my souldiours to the assault with a prefixed desire to carie the victorie from thence and not to flie at any hand and rather aduenture to die honourably for it then in losing to suruiue with shame considering that to die is common to all but to die with reputation is bequeathed but to few And I assure my selfe that if you more respect that which I haue said vnto you then the liberall offers which I haue made you you shall within few houres remaine victorious to your great glorie and to the excessiue losse of our enemies and you shall in the end see that no corporall force can euer surmount the vertue which this day will make both you and me to be eternall This said hauing first reenforced the batterie with more Artillerie he presently caused an alarme in the whole Campe. At the bruite whereof they all in good order went to the wall with ladders and other engines to mount vpon it and to obtaine the breach which now was somewhat inlarged enuironing the towne with more then 40000. men There was within it only for the defence of the breach 3000. Turkes and 100. Ianisaries and in all with the people of Oliman there was some 5000. men appointed in places conuenient Thus they began cruelly to fight as well within as without and very fiercely with so great cryes of those barbarous nations and such a thunder of our Artillerie sounding of Drummes and Trumpets that it seemed the world would presently haue ended And the great disorder which was committed in many places of the assault being reported to Castalde he presently caused all the men of armes and Caualarie to march with him appointing both the one and the other where they should attend with their squadrons considering that there was lesse perill and daunger in such disorder then to cause his men to retire vpon whose retraict he iudged greater inconuenience would ensue And approaching nigh the breach he saw that Oliman had appointed 600. horse in a place by and very neere to them well foreseeing the end which would betide him who had appointed them there not onely to succour the breach but with a resolute purpose also to saue himselfe with them seeing alreadie he could not any longer resist nor withstand our men from entering by force into the towne perceiuing that he was forsaken of the succours which hee expected from Buda and with those horse for the same respect he had mixed certaine bands of Ianisaries Castalde perceiuing this and the more to expell Oliman from all hope of safetie
vpon the frontiers of the enemie rather then to place them in Transiluania where Ferdinand had not so much to doe as in the foresaid places Castalde seeing this speech did greatly discouer him and being needfull for him to manage these affayres with more policie then before he had done said to the Frier that he thought it good and conuenient that they should send backe the Artillerie into the kingdome from whence it was brought and that with so good a guard as belonged to a matter of such moment The Frier was well content therewith but with this condition that there should bee no more then one hundred Germanes to conduct it which Castalde agreed vnto and presently sent word to his Captaines that they should cause the Artillerie to march before the Frier knew thereof and that therewith should goe fiue Ensignes of Germanes hauing charge to put one part within Albe-iula and the other in neighbouring places by And in the meane time he with his best skill declared to Frier George that it was very necessarie to leade the souldiours into the kingdome not so much for the assurance thereof as to recreate them in recompence of their trauailes which they had endured and for their exceeding valour which they had manifested at the assaults of Lippa as he himselfe had seene and also to the end that they should shew them some signe that they had good regard of them and were also mindfull of them The Frier at these speeches was content to yeeld thereto perswading himselfe that they being so small a number they should not bee able to disturbe that which he had secretly plotted in his minde Whilest the Artillerie was thus on the way the Frier and Castalde began to giue directions for the affayres of Lippa causing the dead bodies of the Turks to be conuaied away which were thickly spread in the towne streetes within the Ditches and at the breaches and specially at the Castle commanding that the walles should bee repayred the best they could And because in this towne were many persons who willingly or by compulsion of the Turkes had taken armes for their defence against Ferdinands Campe the Frier depriued them all of their goods and bestowed them in recompence vpon many his Captaines and souldiours Among which was in like sort bestowed the goods of a certaine Marchant who was slaine at the taking of Lippa a man of good sufficient wealth and one who had a wife who besides her beautie and youth was also vertuous and of good reputation as any was in that countrie This woman seeing she had lost by the sacke and spoyle of the towne her whole substance and that nothing was left her but her apparell which she then did weare and that also they had taken all her possessions from her and that the Frier had distributed them betweene two of his Hungarian Captaines who vnkindly had expulsed her out of her owne house seeing her selfe very poore and beggerly and not knowing what course to take was counselled to make her complaint to Castalde Vpon this she went and being come to his Tent and pressing to goe in and speake with him was stayed and enquired by the Guard what her busines was She answered that she would no other thing but speake with the Lieutenant generall The Guard seeing her very faire and seemely both of face and bodie thought that she came for no other thing but to make shew of her beautie and sale of her honestie and the rather considering the season which was somewhat late and approaching towards night whereupon they suffered her not to waite any longer but let her presently goe in who approaching the presence of Castalde she heauily explained the cause of her comming humbly intreating that hee would not suffer that shee should seeke her reliefe among charitable people sorrowfully telling him that although her husband was found with an ill wil to be at the wall of Lippa against him he had alreadie payd dearely for it euen the price of his life and that therefore she being a woman and a Christian she could not in any sort be found culpable thereof neither beare the offences of another being of her selfe cleerely innocent of that fault and that therefore it would please his Excellencie to haue respect vnto her condition and honour and that he would not permit that for the inriching of two who had no neede of her goods she should bee vtterly spoyled and bee forced to passe the remnant of her mournefull daies in perpetuall miserie whereof he should receiue but small honour She vttered these speeches with so good a grace and seemely behauiour well fitting the subiect of her discourse that she manifested to be no lesse adorned with an inward vertue then outwardly appeared in her countenance and bodie Vpon which her pitifull complaint Castalde caused presently these two Captaines to bee called for to whom giuing as much and more of that which belonged to Ferdinands part in recompence of this womans goods he commaunded them that instantly they should restore al that which they had of hers which they willingly did and one of the two who had offered her the greatest wrong within a while after tooke her to his wife in respect of her singular beautie and vertue which he saw that naturally she was inriched with In this time the Campe-master Aldene required Castalde to bestow the gouernment of Lippa vpon him with such conditions as he had in charge to bestow it vpō any other which was presently granted him left there with his companie to gouerne it he was commanded to fortifie it and repayre the Castle he recommending that place to him as a thing of great importance to all the countrie and especially because it was the only Bulwarke and Key of that kingdome and therefore that for this cause he was to repayre it into such state and as strong as it was before and that he should giue order that the inhabitants who were fled from thence should returne thither againe and that he should haue a speciall care to vse all his neighbours friendly vsing the like to those about the Castle of Solimos within which he was to place his Ensigne vntill the Castle of Lippa was well repayred and fortified and leauing him good prouision of victuals yea such as by it he might maintaine himselfe for many moneths Castalde on the other side to prouide for Themesuar sent thither Don Iasper Castelluio with his companie of Spanyards raised of those who at the assault of Lippa had lost their Captaines as aboue is said whereof Ferdinand not long before had prouided him and gaue him speciall charge to fortifie this towne and to take such order that it might not want any thing that might bee necessarie for any occasion Hauing sufficiently prouided for these two townes he lodged his whole armie within the precinct of Varadin and hauing well accommodated them he caused the Spanish and Germane companies to march on
and knee betweene both hindered that the groome could not shut it The Marquesse keeping himselfe firmely there the Secretarie in the meane time approached Frier George who was in his shirt and night-gowne he vsing no other circumstances to apparell him but onely came presently out of his bed and leaning then on the table vpon which he had a little Clocke a Breuiarie and a booke of his notes with an Inkehorne by The Secretarie told him that the Marquesse Sforce was to goe to the Court of Ferdinand and before his departure he was come to kisse his hands and would know his pleasure if he would commaund him any seruice that being said he put into his hands the letters and patents aforesaid to seale them After that the Frier had perused them and taking penne and inke to subscribe his name the Secretarie not omitting any time with a poynard which secretly he had he gaue him a stab betweene the throate and the breast but not so deepe that it was mortall The Frier being greatly amazed herewith and comming to himselfe againe and saying Virgo Maria he pulled the dagger out of his breast and for that he was a man of great strength and of a bolde resolution he made the Secretarie retire to the end of the table The Marquesse being very attentiue hearing this bruite entered presently into the chamber and laying hand vpon his sword gaue him so great a blow vpon the head that he cleaued it Whereupon all the rest entering with Captaine Lopez discharged their Harquebuzes vpon him which the Frier seeing said no other thing but these words in Latin What meaneth this my friends and saying Iesus Maria he fell dead to the ground Behold now the end of the proudest and insolentest man in the world and the greatest and closest Tyrant that euer liued God permitting that he should in that very place end his daies which he had caused to be built vpon the foundations of an ancient Church and Monestarie of religious persons which for that occasion he caused to be defaced and pulled down for the ruine whereof his death was foretold vnto him by the Abbot of that place And neither could his authoritie wisedome nor great wealth protect him from the action of so miserable an end whereinto his daies being almost come to a period he suddenly fell The bruite ranne that this death inflicted on him was rather by the enuie and malice of those who hated him then by any act which he was culpable in for that the defence which he vndertooke for Olimans protection and safetie tended to no other end as was afterward perceiued and as wee shall hereafter more at large treate of but that by such curtesie vsed to Oliman and his people he might pacifie the Turkes furie and cause them to abstaine from further oppression of Transiluania and suffer euery one to liue peaceably This wee are sure on that all those which were actors of his death in time fell into great misfortunes The Marquesse Sforce within a while after was ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by the Turkes who inflicted great torments vpon him Captaine Monin was beheaded at S. Germanes in Piemont Marc Anthonie Ferraro in anno 1557. was also beheaded in Alexandria by the Cardinall of Trent his commaund Another was quartered by the Frenchmen in Prouence Cheualier Campeggio in anno 1562. was in the presence of the Emperour Ferdinand mortally wounded with a Bore in Bohemia And the conclusion was that in the end Transiluania remained not long vnder the obeysance of his Maiestie but returned vnder the gouernment of yong King Iohn so that the death of Frier George was more offensiue and preiudicial to the Christians then profitable as we will hereafter in his due place mention Returning then to the pursuite of our historie whilest these were busied about their execution Castalde was walking vpon the Castle wall to giue colour to their proceedings and there to expect the issue of this bloodie enterprise Being now assured that the Frier was dead he presently came downe and went to the Castle gate where suddenly with his souldiours which were entered into it and other gentlemen which he had with him he caused all the Aiduchs who then were appointed for the guard of it to goe foorth who hearing the bruite which was within and seeing the Spanyards in battaile without and that the Frier their Lord was dead they so suddenly were amazed that without betaking themselues to armes they most willingly fled and departing in this manner aduertised the Friers guards who were at the bridge on the other side of the Castle of what had happened This exploite being now finished Castalde doubting that many of the Friers friends would depart whereupon he presently went forth to finde Francis Chendy Ference who was alreadie in his Coach to bee gone and taking him by the hand he desired him to stay And surely if hee had not then at that instant staied him he would haue fallen into a great daunger for that he was one of the greatest friends Frier George had and hee was of that might within the Realme as he could stirre them vp against the souldiours of Ferdinand to be reuenged of the Friers death Hee hauing thus staied him brought him to the place where the Spanyards and Germanes were among whom he placed him to see what would become of this tumult that the gentlemen and seruants of the Friers would make and specially his guard who mounted all on horsebacke and gathered together in the field hauing for their Captaine Paul Bancchy who at the siege of Lippa was the Friers Lieutenant They being thus all ranged in battaile in a plaine began among themselues to deliberate what was best to bee done and being acertained of the Friers death made no other semblance against Castalde doubting they could not make their partie good in respect he had an infinit companie of men with him and that this murther was not done without great intelligence for which cause esteeming they could not greatly preuaile but rather receiue more losse and damage they resolued for the present to obscure this reuenge in silence and reserue the chastisement thereof vntill a more conuenienter time And so this assemblie was discomfited euery man taking his neerest and safest way leauing their masters dead bodie to bee a pray and spoyle and vnburied It remained there many daies aboue ground all naked and without light there being not any who respected to couer or burie him being so stiffe with cold that he seemed as a man made out of Marble hauing in the head breast and armes many wounds vpon which was yet remaining the blood all frozen which to say truly was an obiect worthie of compassion and on the other side it was very execrable and enormious to see so great a personage so vily left without buriall by those who God knoweth for what cause had practised his death In the end by some of his
men and other fit necessaries which should bee needfull for the warre and that he should draw from the Emperour Charles as many Spanyards as he could He also sent to his Maiestie the Marquesse Sforce to the end he should acquaint him with all the particulars and that it would please his Maiestie to giue him meanes to leauie some force of Italians and that with such expedition as he might bee able before neede should require to returne into Transiluania and specially to tell him that he should send good store of great Artillerie for the conduct of which there should not be vsed such detracting of time as was in sending the other to the end that by such succour and preparations they might be able to resist so puissant an enemie who assuredly would make no shew of any sloth or negligence to prepare for the ruine of this countrie and poore miserable people The Marquesse being now arriued at Vienna he presently acquainted Ferdinand with all the occurrants of Transiluania as also of that which was committed to his charge His Maiestie being attentiue thereunto and duly considering of these vnwelcomed nouelties presently dispatched him into Italie to leauie 4000. Italians and to bring with him as many Spanyards as he could and afterward writ to Castalde that he would not faile to send him such ayde as he demaunded against that time he required hoping to send him no lesse then 50000. men namely 5000. men of armes of Bohemia 20000. Hungarish horse 20000. Launsquenets and more then 5000. Spanyards and Italians which should make vp the said number and more of which he should also compose a good strong armie vpon Tibiscus for the defence of the passages and of all those places and that all these people should bee payed for foure moneths the which if Ferdinand had done Hungarie for that time might haue been in good estate But this good intended preparation could not sort to effect in respect of the aduerse accidents that happened and particularly that Duke Mauris brought to Germanie by occasion whereof he was constrained to bee carefull ouer the affayres of his brother Charles the 5. which were in some hard tearmes and to lend his aduice to appease that discord happened for the not deliuering of the Lantgraue and the Duke of Saxonie being greatly busied on all sides by such vnlooked for broyles which brought so great discommoditie to him that he could neither send money nor men sufficient for such an enterprise which default was partly the cause of the vnfortunate successe which happened this yeere in Transiluania farre different from the former In the meane while Castalde with the greatest expedition he could caused the fortifications of Themesuar Lippa Colosuar Sibinio and many other places to be reered and he omitted no time but still carefully imployed his best endeuour to that which concerned him During which imployments about such munitions the Comissaries arriued which Ferdinand at his instance had dispatched to receiue the Friers treasure which after his death was committed to safe keeping for his Maiesties vse Castalde not willing to defile his hands therewith although the bruite was that he had the tenth part of the goods knowing that such affayres were daungerous and apt to giue occasion to slanderous tongues to accuse and detract euery man yea although he should carrie himselfe therein a thousand times more sincerely then Iacob himselfe and specially when any colourable occasion doth prouoke them to it in regard whereof and to auoyde all suspition he altogether abstained and by no meanes would haue them in his owne custodie His Comissaries being come he caused them to receiue it by Inuentorie opening with his owne hands certaine places which were yet fastened as the Frier had left them which vntill then were not opened and which for the greater suretie he caused to be nailed vp and securely preserued There was found amongst them in wedges and ingots so much gold as amounted to 1744. markes and of siluer 4793. markes 1000. ancient Meddals of Lysimachus euery Meddall valued at three or foure Duckets twentie stones or peeces of gold which were found in the riuers of Transiluania which were valued to be more worth then if they had bin altogether gold and weighed 34. markes 934. markes of siluer wedges of the myne sixe very great vessels of siluer and guilt certaine chaines of gold which in all weighed sixe markes and a halfe 32. cups of siluer guilt ouer after the Hungarish fashion wrought with faire and curious works 60. gold rings set with many precious stones a faire coller of gold made in manner of a Crosse inriched with faire Rubies and Diamonds 36. great siluer cups double guilt so that one of them made two twelue guilt Basons and Eures great and of a large receit an infinit companie of siluer drinking cups great and small dishes bowles spoones trencher-plates parcel guilt and some not guilt 1534. of Hungarish Duckets many bundles of Martine sable skins there being in euery bundle 80. or 100. skinnes many other bundles of diuers skinnes of great value certaine Saphirs and other Iewels inchased in gold diuers ornaments of cloath of gold and silke and other goodly moueables for household as clothes Tapisterie and Arras of incredible estimation He also had a race of 300. Horses and Mares and in his stables were found good store of Turkish Horses and others and of Mules which afterward were all giuen by Ferdinand to his sonne Maximilian King of Bohemia and in his name deliuered into the custodie of Andrew Battor and besides all these there was found great store of victuals and munition so that all things together not counting that which was purloyned at Binse at Varadin at Wyuar at Deua and at other places by the Captaines which was esteemed to bee worth more then 50000. crownes was valued at 250000. crownes Whilest these things were thus deliuered by Inuentorie Queene Izabella writ to Ferdinand that it would please him to commaund Castalde that hee should restore to her all the gold and siluer which was King Iohns her husbands that was found amongst the Friers treasure which he had purloyned and vsurped by force and in like sort a portion of the Mares and that hee would cause them presently to be deliuered her And further that he would obserue and performe all that which was promised to her vpon the yeelding vp the kingdome of Transiluania Ferdinand answered her that for his part there should be no fault whereupon he commanded Castalde that he should restore whatsoeuer might be found to belong to her which was presently performed and there was giuen to her of the breede and other things the halfe Ferdinand also commaunded the Comissaries that they should giue to Castalde 200. markes to the end he should haue part of the spoyle of Frier George in such vessels of the guilt plate the best wrought that he would chuse and eight guilded cups of the Hungarish fashion and certaine great
guard of the passage vpon the day that the defeate aforesaid happened seeing a multitude of men to come towards him flying and demaunding of them what was happened and for what cause they ranne so hastily They answered him that all our people were quite defeated and cut in peeces by the Basha of Buda and that to warrant themselues from his victorious hand they fled in the greatest haste they could to saue themselues This souldiour hearing this without any other inquirie or information of the surplusage assuredly beleeuing that the Spanyards were also defeated vnloosed all the barkes for feare of being pursued presently passed to the other side of the water These other souldiours who were with him did the like and entering a wood together they tooke the way towards Themesuar the Corporall of the squadron hauing a boy with him who came somewhat behinde and trauailing along with others a good while he presently recalled his spirits to him thinking of that which cowardly hee had done and set before his eyes the little esteeme which euery man would haue of him in so vily forsaking those boates which Aldene had giuen him in charge without making further inquirie how all things were passed at Zegedin and further considering that if happely the Spanyards were saued he could neuer haue the courage to look thē in the face on the other side if they were lost that those that shuld see him come so sound safe might demand of him the occasion and manner how his companions were so ouerthrowne to which he could neither satisfie nor answer thē he began now to turmoyle his braine vpon these considerations and being plunged into the depth of shame for this his vile flight so farre was he growne into horror thereof that he resolued to kill himselfe and drawing out his sword for that purpose he was in good time preuented by his boy who fearing that his master would continue in his wicked purpose to assure his life hee tooke away his sword and poynard from him which the other willingly suffered him to doe dissembling that which gladly hee would haue executed The boy not thinking of any other thing and assuring himselfe of his masters life by reason of his weapons which he had taken away tooke no further care nor respect to him But this souldiour perceiuing the little account that his seruant made of him faining to repose himselfe a little out of the way commaunded that he should there attend Whilest the boy had no other regard of him it was not long but that he fell on sleepe being drowsie and wearie of his iourney And when his master sawe himselfe alone hee presently charged his harquebuze and set the mouth of the peece against his stomacke and discharged it with his foote which shot him quite through so that within a short time after he gaue vp the ghost and so long as his life lasted he did no other thing but instantly desire his boy who at the noyse came running thither that he would finish the killing of him it being not fitting said he that a man should liue who so dishonourably was fled and especially being meerely ignorant for what cause and vpon what occasion hee had so done and with these words the soule departed out of his bodie Behold here the tragedie of this vnfortunate iourney which wee haue before described which was the beginning and an vntimely forewarning of al the future and miserable accidents which happened in this yeere 1552. About this time the newes of Frier George his death was brought to Rome by occasion whereof Pope Iulius the third and all the Cardinals made great complaints against Ferdinand and those who had slaine him excommunicating them in the highest degree that could be And although his Maiesties Ambassadours directly informed the Pope of the cause for which he was put to death his Holines notwithstanding for all that would not be appeased demaunding whether Frier George was of that bad disposition as they deciphered him and wherefore did their master write in his behalfe for him to be a Cardinall and being one why did he tolerate him to bee slaine and furthermore for that he assured all the Colledge of Cardinals of his goodnes fidelitie and endeuour which hee had manifested against the Turkes to the profit and commoditie of Christendome for which good and commendable reports he could by no meanes be induced to beleeue that he was now fallen into that crime whereof he was accused but rather that he was slaine by enuie and to rob him of his treasure and moueables which were more worth then 300000. crownes which in respect he was a Cardinall and dying intestate they did of right belong to the Apostolike Sea Moreouer the Pope and Cardinals could not be silent concerning this that with such ignominie had laid hands vpon the blood of a Cardinall which by no meanes they could support or digest in respect of the reuerend degree and honour due to that calling and to giue example to others not to attempt the like enormitie Thus they grieuously being incensed against Ferdinand the Pope by no meanes would suspend the excommunication yet in the end at the earnest instance of his Ambassadours he was contented and agreed that three Cardinals with the Deane who was the Cardinall of Trany should enquire and take notice of this fact and should see whether the death of Frier George had been vniustly proceeded in or no and that they should send appointed men to Vienna and into those countries to informe him of the offence and that in the meane time the Friers moueables should be seazed in the name and to the vse of the Apostolike Chamber Against this last demaund of the Pope the Ambassadours obiected that Ferdinand had alreadie disposed of the said moueables as well to pay his souldiours as for other necessarie occasions concerning the warre which daily he had against the Turks and that they were not of that great value nor so goodly and rich as was said but farre inclining to a meaner proportion This accord being thus concluded there were presently some dispatched to iourney to Vienna to informe and inquire out the cause and to proceede therein To these Commissioners his Maiesties agents failed not to manifest the infidelitie of the Frier and how hee would haue accorded with the Turke and purloyne Transiluania from Christendome and make himselfe absolute Lord thereof in paying tribute to the Infidels and as happely it was discouered by many of his letters writ to diuers Lords of the Turkes Court to massacre all those who in his Maiesties name were vnder the conduct of Castalde And to agrauate the matter the more they produced many horrible facts and the death of certaine persons Against such accusations the Pope in defence of the Frier obiected many things and among others produced certaine letters of the Grand Viccar of Albe-iula and of certaine other persons who assured him that he was slaine by
day vntill that present he did batter it in three places with 70. peeces of Artillerie and that those within did brauely defend themselues with great resolution and that it was alreadie twelue daies since the batterie neither ceased day nor night and that it still continued This newes was brought to him by a Spanyard consorted with a Rhatian souldiour being both apparelled after one manner and were in the night departed from Themesuar being commaunded to come to Castalde to demaund a new supplie of men for that the Artillerie had slaine many of them Castalde vpon this report presently dispatched a messenger for Ottomiall who then was at Iula a very strong towne enuironed with riuers and desired him that with 400. Aiduchs he would endeuour to enter into Themesuar promising him that if he could finde the meanes to relieue it with these succours he should so well be rewarded that during his life he would thinke himselfe well contented This done himselfe set forward against the Moldauian hauing no more in his Campe then 12000. men as well horse as foote The Moldauian was alreadie incamped in a passage two miles from Brassouia where Counte Iohn Baptisted ' Archo entertained him with braue and fierce skirmishes and bearded him so that he suffered not any souldiour to disband himselfe from his battalion but presently he bought it with the price of his life and so much did he annoy him that he neither could nor durst for his life march any further nor ioyne himselfe with the Basha which was a thing of no small importance in respect of the miserie and trouble of the time The Counte had so well ordered his people and those which were left him of Counte Felixd ' Archo who in Ianuarie last was gone to Vienna that as often as the enemies ranged in that place they suffered not any of them to returne aliue and he continuing still victorious and valiantly fighting gaue them so many routes and ouerthrowes that they scarcely any more durst so suddenly assaile our men as they were wont And among other ouerthrowes which the enemies receiued there was one which partly happened through the Countes prowes for that the Moldauian retired himselfe behinde and it fortuned in this sort Counte Iohn Baptiste was aduertised that a troupe of Moldauians among which were 300. Turkes and as many Tartars would goe and discouer Brassouia and that they should goe by certaine passages which of the one side had many marishes and of the other certaine hils very rough and tedious among which hee appoynted an ambuscado of Germane Harquebuziers and certaine Caualarie who after that the Turkes were passed they should make in vpon them at their returne when they vnderstood that those of the towne were sallied forth to skirmish with them This multitude then of Barbarians presenting themselues vpon these passages and hauing passed them they managed and ranged about the towne and were presently assailed by a strong troupe of horse and foote who sallied foorth to skirmish with them and were so hotly charged that they were forced to retire more then ordinarie and comming to those places of which I haue spoken they were in such sort assailed behinde without thinking thereupon by those who were in ambuscado that being inclosed betweene them they were so throughly beaten that there remained neither Moldauian Tartar nor Turke aliue nor any who could carrie newes to the Moldauian of their ouerthrow they being all either slaine or taken prisoners in the straites and in token of this victorie those of Brassouia sent three waggons laden with those heads who were slaine to Castalde who was neere approached to the Moldauian and so boldly that the enemy thought he had more men then was reported vnto him not being able to perswade himself that a man of that qualitie as was Castalde durst appeare in the field except his armie were of more strength or at the least equall to his Vpon this opinion he was not so hardie to attend him but speedily and with so great disorder retired that he lost many men in his retraict and had lost more in making passage for his Artillerie through the mountaines if happely Counte Iohn Baptiste had had more men to haue followed him seeing 500. horse which onely pursued him had been sufficient to haue put him in disorder and into such hazard that little would haue wanted but he would haue abandoned all his Artillerie to the chance and hazard of fortune And if the Sicilians had then done their deuoire and shewed themselues such as they should haue done most certaine that day was come wherein the Moldauian had lost his armie his kingdome together with his life and Transiluania had been no more molested on that side and this defeature might haue been a happie president for others neuer to attempt the like inuasion Vpon the newes of this retraict it was reported that Castalde would dislodge from Seghesuar where he remained vnderstanding that the enemie had not dissolued his Campe but that he with his people were incamped on the other side of the mountaines by reason whereof he was constrained to soiourne certaine daies in that towne and there to expect what the Moldauian would doe for that if he should then depart from thence the other would presently returne againe into Transiluania as for certaine he vnderstood and in respect of that feare and suspition he durst not yet depart so that he could not march to the reliefe of Themesuar Being thus stayed continually there came aduertisements to him by the way of Caransebesse and Lippa that the affayres of Themesuar were in bad tearmes in respect of those who were within who had parlied with the Turkes who told them that the succours of the 400. Aiduchs which Castalde had sent them vnder the conduct of Ottomiall were defeated and cut in peeces by them Vpon this newes Francis Henriquez was presently dispatched to Lippa that vpon his returne he might make recitall of the veritie of the fact and in what state Themesuar stood and how euery thing was there and whether it could defend it selfe any longer and also to informe him of the state and condition of Lippa to the end he might prouide therefore in such sort that it might remaine intire and safe from being attained of Mahomets furie At the same instant newes was brought that the Turkes had slaine Captaine Don Gasper whose companie was giuen to Roderic Vigliandrando with command to endeuour himselfe to enter into Themesuar considering they were in danger to perish and for no other cause then that there was not any to gouerne them They sent thither also with him Captaine Andrew Lopez with his companie and 200. Germane Harquebuziers to whom Castalde said that he well knew this enterprise was difficult specially considering the enemies being very vigilant to hinder that no succours could enter into Themesuar and that they were very glad that those Aiduchs which Ottomiall brought vnder his
to pay the yeerely tribute to the Turke vpon condition he would raise his Campe and retire and so by that meanes happely they should giue remedie to their distressed fortunes This aduice was approued by some and refuted by many others as vsually it happeneth in councels where is daily seene some contrarieties among opinions in respect of the reasons and arguments which are alleadged either of the one part or other in regard whereof they could determine nothing that day The 3. of Iuly the Basha on the Castle side and towards the towne-gate caused to be giuen an hot and fierce assault which endured foure long houres with the death of more then 1500. of the assailants and about some 150. of those within In this assault Losonze with the other Spanish and Germane Captaines valiantly defended themselues and forced the enemies to retire to their Tents After this retraict and that all our people were dressed of their wounds and somewhat refreshed all the Captaines were againe assembled in councell to determine vpon the foresaid busines and then there were more then before of Losonzes opinion Thus he perceiuing many to be of his minde without expecting any more sent by a trustie messenger to acquaint the Basha with his intention to whom he returned answer that the Transalpinian had truly managed and conferred of this busines by his commaund but he should haue conceiued that this accord should haue been accepted of before hee had assembled his armie and passed Danubius and Tibiscus and not at this present he being now in the field and incamped before the towne in consideration whereof he would not that this expedition should haue any more respite nor otherwise consent to raise the siege nor depart from thence before he were master of the towne and Castle Losonze vnderstanding this answer and perceiuing no meanes of agreement not willing to submit himselfe to the discretion and mercie of the Basha set vp his rest to fight it out to the last man Whereupon the Turkes began to renew the batterie more fiercely then before without any intermission of daily assaults and to doe the worst they could and thinking that the great quantity of Artillerie which they had was not sufficient to satisfie their miserable crueltie one night they put into the Ditch more then 2000. Pyoners who began to myne the Bulwarke which the Spanyards kept which was in such sort indamaged and impayred that one might easily mount to the top of it by the ruines for that all the defences and flankes which might annoy and withstand them were all broken and throwne to the ground The Spanyards seeing this imminent daunger to giue redresse thereunto with all speede they made within the said Bulwarke a Caue sufficiently large and deepe in which they erected certaine defences where in euery one of them eight Harquebuziers might be commodiously placed without being impeached or indangered by the enemie These whilest that the Pyoners were most busie in their labour and euen as they were readie to giue fire began so effectually to discharge their shot amongst these Deluers that it was a marueilous thing to behold they falling one vpon another in such heapes that the dead bodies hindered the rest of the liuing in regard whereof they were forced to giue ouer the worke and be packing without daring once to returne thither againe Insomuch that the Turkes seeing this deuice of the Christians and that by this meanes they could not come to the conclusion of their intended purpose gaue that ouer and pursued another daily sounding them by promises assurances and perswasions that it were best to yeeld to them But seeing in the end they could not bring them to yeeld neither by letters nor by gifts nor by any other great offers and that all their labours were to small purpose they made vpon the Castle side two great Caualliars of Carpenters worke in bignes tenne fadome as any man would iudge and brought and set them right ouer against the Bulwarke where the Spanyards were caued vpon which they mounted certaine peeces of Artillerie by reason whereof not any could be in safetie vpon the said Bulwark nor remaine vpon the defences insomuch that the Spanyards were constrained to retire from one place to another secretly to make Trenches and certaine Rampiers to couer themselues withall when they should defend the towne which then was very open Don Gasper at this instant was slaine with a small shot which strooke him in the forehead and pearced him quite through and so hotly did they shoot and neerely marked our men that there were few Spanyards Germanes and Hungars left yet neuerthelesse those which remained lost not any courage but resolutely defended themselues as though they had been a great number But the Turkes for all their brauerie slacked not their endeuours to enter into the towne and our men did no lesse then gallantly oppose themselues for the defence thereof Thus both the one and the other tooke greater heede to themselues continually indamaging one the other with diuers conflicts But Mahomet distrusting himselfe that he was not able to conquer this towne by force of armes determined one day to haue some speech with Losonze and to seeke him out to parley with him that so he might perswade him to some composition which Losonze meant not to refuse but the others not willing to consent thereto were the cause that of the said conference proceeded no effect at that time The Turkes neuerthelesse ceased not from daily assaults which they alwaies renewed with greater force then before hauing no want of able men more fresh and lustie then our people were of whom they had few sound amongst them many cruelly wounded and specially by meanes of those two mischieuous engins which they had made who also caused more to bee made like vnto them in place where our Bulwarkes and walles were by the violence of their Artillerie ruinated and the rather they were incouraged because that victuals and munition greatly abounded in their Campe whereas our men daily wanted all as it often happeneth after a long and tedious siege The Basha wearie as I well beleeue to see so great a slaughter of his people and that he must fight so continually earnestly desiring that our people would yeeld themselues to him practised this deuice following The day before Ottomiall was defeated with his 400. Aiduchs which hee brought with him to put into Themesuar as is aforesaid and they were by a strong squadron of Turkish Caualarie also cut in peeces that not any one man of them escaped the fight being perceiued by the Sentinels of the towne The day following this ouerthrow the Basha for the foresaid reasons the more to amaze and terrifie our people caused 100. of these Aiduchs heads to bee most vily deformed and to be set about the walles with inscriptions that signified those were the succours which came to them and that they should not hope of any other for that they
although there were many inclined to obey him yet they would not for all that cease from giuing him to vnderstand that they determined to remaine and defend it that so they might shunne and auoyde the shame which without all doubt they should condignely receiue in dislodging so vily whereupon Paul of Zaraz reenforcing the guards tooke charge of the towne through which walking in the night season he saw many souldiours who by Aldenes oppointment were with their horses sadled readie to troupe on with their armes and baggage to whom giuing incouragement and perswading them not to bouge hee went from thence to Aldenes lodging whom hee found vpon his bed and conferring with him he desired to know why he had commaunded that the Spanyards should be in such readines For that said he he had receiued newes that the enemies were alreadie approached within two miles of Lippa with fifteene peeces of Artillerie and that vpon this occasion he was resolued that he would not at any hand attend them because the place was not strong enough he hauing before hand concluded presently to depart To which Paul replied that he would stay but vntill he had sent to know the certaintie thereof And he did so much that three houres before day hee presently dispatched two horsemen towards Themesuar to discouer whether the Vauntgard of Mahomet approached or not These souldiours posting with good speede arriued at the place where were lodged Iohn Turky and Bartholmew Coruatte and seeing them to be at quiet and not fearing any trouble of the enemies they returned backe againe with great speede to declare vnto Aldene that there was not any bruite or newes that the Bashaes Campe was risen from about Themesuar During the time that these two horsemen made this discouerie Aldene caused all the Canoniers to come to him commaunding them to charge the Cannons euen to the mouth with intent to breake them and that they should put the rest of the powder into the vautes and sellers of the towers and Bulwarkes to blow them vp when neede should require and being afterwards to expect the returne of these two souldiours who should bring certaine newes of all a Sentinell which was in the top of one of the towers at Sunne rising discouered two horsemen who came spurring on amaine These were the two souldiours which we haue before spoken of who rode in great post thinking that if they deferred any time Aldene would set fire on the Castle before they returned againe and on the contrarie the certaine newes which they should bring would expell this wicked determination out of his cowardly mind and this was the cause of their speed Another Sentinell at the same instant being not farre from the other discouered a farre off a great dust in the ayre which was raised by a number of Cowes which ranne wildly together in the fields without any keeper and these two souldiours were neere the towne crying with a loude voyce although they could not perfectly be vnderstood and said that they should make stay and not fire the munition nor Castle The other souldiours crying by the aduertisement of the Sentinell that this dust was raised by some great battalion of the enemies and that these two souldiours came posting before to giue notice thereof they went presently to aduertise Aldene who was the first that mounted vpon a good horse and sent to Captaine Paul of Zaraz that he should open the towne-gate and let the waggons forth that were full of his moueables and of certaine Marchants It being opened the Spaniards began softly to march euery man ranging himselfe vnder his Colours and presently vpon it he commaunded the Canoniers to giue fire to the Castle and to all the Artillerie wherein they vsed such haste that giuing fire to the vaults of the towers two among them blinded with feare and smoke remained vnder it burnt and consumed By the violence of this fire two great towers which were at the enterance of the Castle were blowne vp into the ayre and there were fiue or sixe peeces of Artillerie which were discharged against the walles being laden euen to the mouth and the Castle began to burne on all parts and in like sort the towne which caused a mournfull pitie among all those nations who not without iust cause cōplained for such a losse worthily blaming so vile an act inueighing with great bitternes against the Spanyards and Germanes deeply cursing Castalde that had placed them there not knowing now where to dispose or turne themselues or what might betide them by this lamentable inconuenience they being with great cries and laments dis-vnited and seuered from thence and with the greatest confusion and discontent that could be they began to lode their waggons with their wiues and children and of those commodities which they had then with them and to proceede on their iourney whither Fortune would guide them and endeuouring to saue themselues some went to one place and others to another and Aldene leauing Lippa behinde him which miserably burned like a second Troy tooke his way with his souldiours towards Transiluania marching with so great speede that not any taried to expect his companion euery one speedily labouring for his owne safetie and amongst them he was esteemed to be most valiant and sure who better then the other could nimbly vse his legges and their iourney was no lesse disordered then their departure was inconsideratiue and in such sort it was performed that the peasants who inhabited among the mountaines for the dispight which they had of so foule and execrable a fault tooke courage to assaile and kill many of them and to rob many Marchants of Lippa so that they were in a manner all lost and perished some remaining dead others wounded and sore hurt and this happened to them in reuenge of the ruine and losse of Lippa Bortholmew Gornatte who as we haue said was foure miles from Lippa seeing the great fire which as he thought proceeded from this towne was greatly astonished at the sight thereof not being able to imagine what it could be rather suspecting some other casualtie then that which happened to be true and presently mounting on horsebacke spurred on to the place from whence this flame came and arriuing neere to Lippa hee could not conceiue what the occasion should be of the burning thereof and not able to thinke who should be he that had caused so great a losse nor by what peruerse accident it should happen he vehemently mistrusted some treason by meanes whereof he thought Aldene with all his souldiours might haue been consumed in that fire And demaunding of some that went wandring about the towne who had comitted so vile an acte they presently made relation to him of the whole matter as it was done which he vnderstanding and not minding as a wise and prouident Captaine to neglect any thing which should concerne the seruice of his Prince and the noblenes of his owne minde without being constrained
rest as a pray to the Turkes for that if they departed who were the greatest and strongest part it was not in their power to warrant withstand the assaults of Mahomet and to defend themselues against so puissant a force in respect where of they thought it better to depart and retire in safetie then to remaine in danger of so apparant a losse which euery man might see readie to befall them with a cruell death The Castellan willing to appease them told them that the Hungars had not loded their baggage neither were their horses sadled to any other end but onely for feare of the fire which in that extremitie they might more conueniently transport them from place to place and that if they thought otherwise they deceiued themselues and if they were of this opinion hee himselfe would be the first that should burne their baggage and maime all their horses and would cause that the Hungars should euery one execute the like in his owne behalfe promising to recompence them in the end according to their deserts and this he did to the end that they should be the more willing to put fire thereto assuring them that before he would depart from this Castle he was resolued rather to die within it The Germanes seeing that by this means they could not compasse their drift they presently replied that they would not remaine except they might haue their pay which was due to them The Castellan made liberall promise to them thereof and sounding the bottome of his friends purses he got so much money as was needfull to satisfie them all that was their due In the meane time the Basha ceased not from continuall battering but it was to no great purpose for that the Cannon did little good in regard wherof our people in stead of taking courage they hourely seemed faint-hearted and more discouraged and this batterie hauing dured 8. whole daies they determined one night secretly to depart and by the meanes of boates to saue themselues on the other side of the riuer Which the Spaniards perceiuing they presently aduertised the Castellan thereof who told them that he had caused the boates to be sunck for that they should not haue that meanes to flie they being not able to goe forth at any other place because the enemie had wholly enuironed them who would hinder their passage which they found not true and the Spaniards in the night time walking the round about the Castle and visiting the Sentinels saw the Germanes in armes with their baggage readie to depart and comming to the Port they met the Hungars who were all on horsebacke and the Castellan that vrgently intreated them that they would not depart and leaue this Fortresse with so great shame and infamie to their nation and with so great a losse to K. Ferdinand by which speeches they in like manner saw that they preuailed not much with them in their behalfe for that they opening the Port by force they all thrust themselues forth The Turks who were for the watch within their Trenches hearing first the bruite which was within the Castle and presently after hearing no more therof and not perceiuing any signe or token of any watch as they vsually perceiued it euery night before went presently to breake open the Port which was opposit to that part which the Hungars Germanes went forth at and entering in and not finding any person they greatly marueiled thereat and looking about them they found the Castellan alone by the Port who begā to shut it after his people not meaning at any hand to depart with them but rather to remaine and die therein or else to be made a slaue before he would commit so shamefull and disloyall a fact to his Prince The Turks presently tooke him prisoner and hauing bound him they led him to Achmeth Basha of Buda who after he had vnderstood how all things had passed he shewed him great honor and entreated him curteously esteeming it to be a thing no lesse vertuous to vse clemencie towards his enemies then kindnes to his friends yea although a man hath power to suppresse or raise them vp and specially when it is in the behalfe of those who haue not committed any dishonourable or vnworthie act but on the contrarie haue performed that which was agreeable to their honour and reputation So soone as the Germanes were out they went towards the boates which because they were halfe on land and halfe in the water they found very farre ingaged and before they had drawne them out of their Docks into the water they so filled them with their implements and their own persons that they could by no meanes wagge them and thus losing the time whilest on another side the Hungars saued themselues in passing the riuer with their horses at a foord the Turks set vpon them as they were thus busied and put them all to the sword so that not a man escaped aliue Whilest that the Turks inflicted this punishment vpon these miserable men which they iustly deserued the Spaniards were almost al saued some by water others by land Mahomet hauing in this sort won this Castle with lesse paine and trauaile then he expected not conquering it by force but by the cowardise treacherie of the Germanes and Hungars who were there in garrison and who rather desired to flie and forsake their King then remaine fighting get hohonour and glorie being well able to make resistance without their losse or danger reposed himselfe with his armie certaine daies in this place and afterward leauing in it a strong garrison he tooke his way towards Agria with intention to besiege it thinking that those who were within would doe as those of Zaluoch and Lippa had done But God as an enemie to those who trust more in their forces then in his assistance would that all whatsoeuer we esteeme impregnable should be lost and againe that all that which we think vpon very good reason to be feeble and weake forsaken of all helpe and not anything fortified by any humane industrie should gallantly maintaine and preserue it selfe as appeared by this towne which the Turks found so strong that they had iust cause to bewaile that they were so euilly intreated there as if they had receiued some bloodie ouerthrow in open field this being an incredible thing how this towne could preserue it selfe and so exceedingly endamage the enemie The losse then of Zaluoch ingendered in Ferdinands campe a great admiration and generally no lesse astonishment to all because this was a place as we haue said inuincible and impregnable except by such a manner wherewith it was lost and Castalde bare inwardly in his heart in finit griefe and sorrow for it although outwardly he inforced himselfe to shew very exceeding valour and knowing that amongst humane actions there commeth not one mischiefe alone but that it is accompanied with another euen hard at the heeles this being the qualitie of Fortune neuer to begin
her sports for a little while he distrusted that this disgrace would be accompanied with another and that so much the rather because he saw so puissant an enemie readie not onely to the ruine and subuersion of Transiluania and Hungarie but also of all Christendome and he supposed that he had done no small matter if he could maintaine himselfe in such estate as then he tooke himselfe to be in hauing but weake force a very smal armie which also then he could not pay and daily seeing the Fortresses to be abandoned most cowardly left in the Turks power and on the other side continually perceiuing war to approach vpon him and that euen by them from whom he hoped to find most fauour and ayd to maintaine Ferdinands part and to assure these countries vnder his obeisance who on the contrarie wrought a dangerous reuolt and secretly practised to depriue King Maximilian of al this prouince to render it to King Iohns son to reinuest the Queene his mother into her first royall dignity they being not able any longer to support the wars other inconueniences which daily afflicted thē labouring with al their skill to effect their purposes In respect of these vehement suspitions Castalde was in great vexation and heauines fearing that that would shortly happen to him which he had alwaies before suspected specially because he knew the nature of the Transiluanians to be much inclined to nouelties and alterations and that more then any neighbour Prouince whatsoeuer and that alreadie oftentimes the principall persons among them vnder the colour of diuers vrgent occasions retired into such places where they gaue more suspition of reuolting then assurance of true amitie all this notwithstanding he omitted not to consult and deliberate with the Vayuode and others touching all that which was necessarie and to prouide for it accordingly not minding that any fault should be attributed to him by his negligence or indiscretion nor to be reproued for that he had not as a skilfull Captaine foreseene euery inconuenience as he very wisely managed matters which thing hereafter we shall more amply treate of in his proper place The end of the fifth Booke THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE SIXTH BOOKE QVeene Izabella complaineth of Ferdinand and she seeketh the Turkes ayde The enterprise to kill the Vayuode of Moldauia The Transiluanians reuolt from Ferdinand Aldenes triall vpon life and death Duke Maurice of Saxonie bringeth with him 15000. men into Hungarie for Ferdinands ayde Mahomet besiegeth Agria the resolution of the Citizens and courage of the women there in the end he is forced to raise his siege and retire from thence with shame and losse The Hungars seeke peace with the Turke and pay him tribute The Popes absolution in fauour of Ferdinand for the murther of George Solymans insolent answer to the Hungars vpon their request of peace and the astonishment of the Transiluanians thereat Castaldes present arriuall at Wasrael and his oration there to the Hungars by which they are reanimated against the Turkes The pursuite against Aldene Queene Izabella practiseth her returne into Transiluania and is assisted by diuers of the nobilitie who in respect of the many wrongs and iniuries offered them by Ferdinands people incline to her WHilest Castalde was busied to redresse these casualties of fortune which alreadie passed through the kingdome and that Mahomet marched with his victorious armie towards Agria Queene Izabella seeing that nothing was performed of that which was promised her in the behalfe of Ferdinand and that she could draw nothing from them but words being greatly offended thereat complained of Ferdinand to the King of Polonia her brother and to Queene Bonna her mother of the wrong which she receiued and how by too credulent a beliefe she was cunningly lifted out of her estate and in this sort deceiued and depriued of all humane helpe and also that they denied for wife to her sonne the Infanta Ioane and the estates which was offered to her and the payment and disbursing of her ioynter and dowrie For which respects she would not that the agreement and resignation compacted about Transiluania should be any further proceeded in saying that she was not bound to obserue any condition with him who performed not any of his promises to her and that it was reasonable for her to breake with him that had so often failed with her With this choller and griefe she practised the meanes to set footing againe into this Prouince and to draw the principallest States thereof to fauour the cause of her sonne minding to assist her selfe with the offers which Mirce Vayuode of the Transalpinians had made her promising to ayde her both with men and money and besides to performe what possibly he could to reinuest King Iohn into his former dignities And before she discouered any the least inckling of her determination she had caused Solyman secretly to bee intreated that it would please him to fauour her cause insinuating to him how great and vnfained had been the amitie and affection which King Iohn her deceased husband bore him and the great confidence that after his death she alwaies had in him and that he would vouchsafe not now to denie her his ayd in so great necessitie which for the present she was in and especially seeing she was spoyled of all her goods because she reposed too great trust in another and that if for her sake he would not doe any thing yet that at the least he would haue a princely regard of pitie to her sonne Iohn who was a child and orphane and expulsed from his owne inheritance whom she committed into his armes knowing that from the bountie of his princely disposition she could not but hope of a remedie worthie of his excellent magnanimitie there being not any thing more commendable among Princes and Monarkes then to defend the iust causes of afflicted widowes and poore orphanes as she and her sonne were in whose defence he should greatly inrich his renowne with perpetuall glorie and adde to those his royall dignities the surname of a pitifull and iust protector of those who vniustly are oppressed by the wickednes and intrusion of others it being more expedient and behoouefull for his affayres to haue them for his neighbours and confederates then Ferdinand from whom he could expect nothing else but continuall warre and perpetuall trouble By these speeches and other like reasons which she caused to be alleadged to him she by the meanes and fauour of Achmeth Basha crept so into the fauour of Solymans liking that presently he writ to the Vayuode of Moldauia named Stephen that at all times and as often as he should bee requested by the Queene of Transiluania to ayde her he should not faile with the greatest force he could make to doe her all possible fauour and the like he also commaunded to the Basha of Buda Castalde during these practises had alreadie
from thence Ferdinand being throughly informed of the vile and infamous losse of Lippa and how it happened by Aldenes cowardlines to the end therefore that this ignominious fact should not remaine vnpunished he commaunded Castalde that Aldene should bee committed to prison and that by the consent and aduice of the Vayuode his processe should bee made against him by meanes whereof he meant to make him vnderstand that he would punish him rigorously to the end that others by his example should learne more valiantly to maintaine their owne reputation then hee had done According to this commaund Aldene was examined and demaunded vpon what occasion he fiered the munition and victuals and why without seeing any enemie he so cowardly left this Fortresse and caused it to bee burnt In answer of which demaunds he alleadged for his excuse that he was forced thereunto by reason the most part of the souldiours were fled from thence and that because he had not time commodious to carrie out the victuals Artillerie and munition he commaunded them to be burnt after that manner chusing rather to consume them so then suffer them to be a spoyle to the enemie and that for the same consideration he had performed the like to the Castle and towne thinking that the Turkes seeing such an apparant ruine they would neuer afterwards make account of it nor regard to fortifie it he for his part purposing that after they were departed thence he would returne thither againe and establish it in the former estate and fortifie it stronger then before and that for these reasons he was incited and constrained to doe that which he did But more fully to know the trueth of all these matters and to the end he should not any thing complaine of iniurie that might bee done him certaine Iudges were deputed to know and vnderstand his cause and to examine the souldiours who had been with him in Lippa During all these proceedings which were managed at Vienna concerning Frier George his death and in Transiluania vpon Aldenes fact Mahomet seeing how all things did euen vntill thē prosperously succeed with him and how much Fortune did fauour him in his conquests which he achieued with small labour and how besides she had wonne him that honour and glorie which he neuer expected to haue perceiuing himselfe by such euents to be greatly redoubted and feared did not one mite esteeme the towne of Agria perswading himselfe to haue wonne it easier then he had done the other townes and in the end although he was greatly vrged thervnto he marched thither dismissing a good part of his armie assuring himselfe he should little neede so many men nor such a power of Caualarie as vntill then he had knowing this place to bee of no strength nor such that it could long resist his forces whereupon he sent the Basha of Buda before with certaine troupes of horse to view the countrie and to assure the frontiers thereof hauing had aduertisement that Duke Mauris was arriued at Iauarin where he was lodged with 10000. Lansquenets and 5000. horse according to the promise which he made to Ferdinand to whom he had assured that he would performe in Hungarie some profitable matter for the generall good as it was also accorded at Ispurch betweene the Emperour and him This Duke had alreadie caused a bridge to bee built ouer Danubius bruting it abroad that he would march to besiege Strigonium But although that at the beginning the Turkes had some feare and doubt thereof yet this siege in the end was found to be nothing else but a particular ruine of this prouince and it was the cause of a thousand inconueniences and griefes to Ferdinand and made him to consume and spend all that treasure which he had leauied to pay the armie which he entertained in Transiluania and that was the cause also that neither on the one side nor on the other could any good be done In the end the Basha of Buda presented himselfe before Mauris not with intent to fight for his force was then but weake but onely to discerne his countenance and whither he would march that he might speedily relieue that place and in the meane time somewhat to bridle his proceedings Whilest these two expected each others attempts in such sort as you haue heard Mahomet incamped himselfe about Agria with 60000. men and 50. peeces of Artillerie This towne was in a manner all open with a Castle after the ancient fortification without any defences or Bulwarkes but onely certaine towers and it is commaunded by a hill the descent of which commeth within a stones cast of the wall This default of Rampiers and other weake meanes was supplied by the inuincible courages of those that were within who were Hungars to the number of 2000. of whom there were 500. gentlemen well dissended and no lesse esteemed in the countrie for their vertue and prowesse who were retired thither with their wiues children and moueables hauing no other place of strength in the countrie but that where they could finde any safetie for their goods and liues These with the inhabitants of the towne and other souldiours swore and protested among themselues that not any one vpon their liues should aduenture to speake of any agreement nor yeeld vpon no composition nor yet to make replie to the enemies speeches but onely with Harquebuze and Cannon and in case that by the length and tediousnes of the siege they should bee brought to extremitie of victuals they should first eate one another rather then cowardly to yeeld And that daily after intercession to God and hearing Masse both men and women without intermission should labour the strengthening of the Rampiers and fortifications and to auoyde all treason they did expressely prohibit that none should assemble aboue three or foure in a companie Besides they ordained that all the prouision as well for the munition as for the particular houses should equally bee distributed by weight and so much for a day and that the Doues Hens Capons Pullets and other like victuals should safely bee kept and reserued for the sicke and wounded and that all the spoyles which should be gotten vpon the enemie should be put into a place apart to make equall diuision therof among those who had best defended their countrie comprehending therein the women also who daily were marked and obserued by a certaine Preacher who during that siege shewed himselfe valiant and resolute in fighting and was the speciall cause by his exhortations of this great effect that those of Agria brauely indured thirteene most cruell and bloodie assaults and that they shewed themselues so gallant as they did as presently we shall speake of Being all of this resolution rather to dye then yeeld themselues vnder the faithlesse mercie of the Basha they kept themselues in continuall readines to answer him with like armes to those wherewith he saluted them Mahomet before he enterprised any thing against the towne sent to
they perceiued not any enemie whatsoeuer for that Cassombassa hauing vnderstood that Castalde was not any thing sleepie or carelesse for the safetie of this Prouince durst not enter any further fearing to be cut off at the retraict distrusting himselfe that the boldnes of those who were so forward vpon his borders was nothing else but some traine to delude and intice him to proceede on that afterward they might circumuent and intrap his deseignes For these respects he proceeded no further and our men returned againe from thence without any other profit but onely endamaging their friends possessions consuming their victuals spoyling them of those little goods which they had leauing to these poore villages by this disorder a perpetuall memorie of the euill effects of warre They being now all returned the Captaine generall of the armie of the countrie would stay no longer in that kingdome whereupon hee went to demaund leaue of Castalde who by no meanes would permit him to depart saying it should bee ill done of him to forsake him in such a manner being now alone in the field with so few men specially then because it was certaine that the Basha was not yet wholly retired desiring him to haue patience and expect a while vntill the said Basha was at the least further remoued from that quarter from whence he was assured that he must shortly bee forced to depart by reason of the Persian warre which Solyman had determined to make against the Sophy to recouer the countries which were taken from him and to warrant himselfe from his eldest sonne Mustapha of whom he had great mistrust fearing that he would make himselfe Lord and master of his Empire But all these perswasions and intreaties were of no force to keep him there for that those reasons which Castalde vsed thinking thereby to hinder him from going did also serue him to hasten his departure as he did at the end of eight daies all his Caualarie following him not any thing respecting all the protestations which Castalde could vse to disswade him therefrom Notwithstanding all this Castaldes determination was not to remoue out of the field neither to depart before he had heard certaine newes that Mahomet was passed Tibiscus and Danubius because that since the raising of his siege from before Agria he had aduertisement that he vsed long and tedious iourneys to passe them And expecting this issue Castalde endured great discommodities and extreame colds for the high and deepe snowes which daily fell in great abundance which made the souldiours passionate and specially for that they were not payed Being then largely certified that Mahomet was entirely out of that part of Hungarie he presently licensed all the souldiours of the kingdome to depart and lodged the Germanes and Spaniards by Sibinio and reenforced the garrison of Deua sending thither a certaine number of Aiduchs to bee mingled amongst the Germanes and with the Caualarie that was therein to the end that the one for the loue of the other should bee more vigilant and carefull for the defence thereof and he gaue the commaund of all the horse to Iohn Turky and the gouernment of the towne and foote to Paul Banchy Hee also sent certaine horse to Branchich and commaunded that Deua should be wholly enuironed with a wall made of earth and wood mingled together by equall distances to the end that the Caualarie should not so easily approach thereunto and that the Infantrie should not offend them Now he seeing that all the people of Transiluania began greatly to murmur for the taxes which they daily paied to maintaine the burthen and charges of the warre and both that he might giue time to his people to fortifie themselues and to resist such tumults and also that he might certainly know whether the Turke would enterprise the warre of Persia caused the better to temper and mollifie the hearts of euery one to bee published that all the principall Peeres of the countrie should assemble at Wasrael to attend there the answer of Solyman and to know if he would be content to accept with the foresaid conditions the yeerely tribute of 20000. Duckets and so to make truce with them which he did thinke would be more expedient and behoouefull for Ferdinands affayres then for the benefit of that people matters being full of stirres and doubtfulnes and specially for that he saw himselfe disfurnished of men and money and out of hope to haue any succours further considering that though the same would not serue to any other end but to bring with it a great commoditie of gaining time that in the meane while he might cause to be aduanced and finished the fortifications begun about the townes yet neuerthelesse it would be a speciall cause of great profit to Ferdinand as well to accommodate and negotiate his matters in Germanie as also to demaund ayde both of men and money and likewise to remedie the great necessities which then were dispersed through all the parts of that Prouince which now tended rather to reuolt then maintaine obedience and former faith giuen to Ferdinand According to these considerations he by the meanes of sundrie persons solicited that this busines might take effect yet he would not be openly seene therein himselfe for feare least the Turke should conceiue in him some relenting and should see the necessities which enuironed him on all sides But on the contrarie he made an outward semblance as though he no whit at all feared his enemie vsing this course to the end that the Turke fearing they would spoyle the countrie whilest he should bee busied in the Persian warre which was farre from this countrie he would the more willingly bee inclined vnto peace After this publication he went and lodged at Albe-iula from whence he might more commodiously prouide for all places hauing for his guard 500. Spanish Harquebuziers and one companie of 200. Aiduchs to put into garrison in that towne At this very same time there was brought to Rome the proceedings taken touching Frier George his death and vpon the continuall soliciting of Ferdinands Ambassadours the Cardinals appointed for that purpose assembled to giue a finall sentence of this fact this cause being alreadie very grieuous in the Court of Rome and notwithstanding that they found many things and allegations worthie of good oppositions yet neuerthelesse not to ingender more grieuous inconuenience and for many other reasons besides which I will not write of they ceased not considering it was a deed which could be no otherwise then done to absolue Ferdinand with all the conspirators adding notwithstanding this clause in their sentence that if the defences and allegations propounded by Ferdinand were true Which the soliciters of his Maiestie liked not of who so much importuned the Pope that in the end they had it absolute without limit of any condition And although the Pope refused to absolue the complices of this death yet in the end at the earnest intreaties of the said Ambassadours
nuncios tam ad excelsam Portam nostram quà m ad eum decernatis Quod si mandato nostro huic in obedientes cum inimicis nostris concordes eritis crudelitatem stragem quam Transiluaniae regnum videbit ex demeritis vestris processisse credatis Nam gratia Creatoris omnipotentis Dei speramus Christianis regno Transiluaniae iram potentiam nostram ostendere Etsi ipsi Transiluani ad pristinam obedientiam fidelitatem nobis adiuuantibus reuerti recusabunt nusquam tuti erunt per totum mundum debitas luent poenas Iurauimus enim Omnipotenti Deo quod in Transiluania lapis super lapidem non relinquetur homines omnes in ore gladij dari pueros faeminas in captiuitatem omniaque loca solo aequari faciemus Propter quod vti inuictissimum potentissimum Imperatorem decet ne tantarum animarum exitum super nostram animam fiat vos omnes prius monendos esse sensuimus Iam multoties vobis mandata talia misimus quae neglexistis sed si mandato huic vltimo obedientes non eritis acerbitatem ruinam quam videbitis non nobis sed vobis ipsis attribuite Omnia igitur cum tempore bene consulite nam caetera prudentiae vestrae examinanda relinquimus Datum Constantinopoli septima Lunae Octobris The english of which is this that followeth THE MANDATE OF THE INVINCIBLE EMPErour of the Turks to Lord Andrew Battor Captaine in Transiluania and to all the other Lords and Peeres of that countrie BY the authoritie and expresse commaund of our greatnes and highnes you shall vnderstand you faithfull in the faith of Christ Andrew Battor wise and knightly Lord amongst all the Christians inhabiting in Transiluania and all you the residue of our louing Lords how that many times wee haue made knowne to you since that Frier George our Treasurer was cruelly and by treason murdered before he could chase out the Germanes which you by your dissentions vntimely haue brought into the kingdome that you your selues and all the rest of the Lords of Transiluania should by common consent and mutuall ayd expulse the said Germanes out of your countrie according to the fidelitie which you owe to our Port and statelines Which not being as yet performed by you wee were very carefull now to incite you to doe it pardoning you of all the former offences and faults which vntill now you haue committed against vs and promising to giue it you againe and to preserue all the libertie which heretofore you haue had in that kingdome of Transiluania and you our Lords and subiects shall alwaies be vnder our protection and safegard and we will hold you in such regard as shall be fitting for you And concerning the kingdome of Transiluania as vnder the gouernment of King Iohn and of his sonne our faithfull subiects it was in peace and freedome euen so wee will ordaine that at this present it shall so continue and we assuredly promise you that the said sonne of King Iohn shall raigne and gouerne amongst you For so long as King Iohn our Vassall and subiect serued vs faithfully and sincerely we neuer suffered that any should molest or trouble you but further after his death wee of our singular grace and clemencie gaue to his sonne being yet in minoritie his fathers countrie and that kingdome and then Transiluania was alwaies quiet But after that you had called in the Germanes amongst you great dissentions were stirred vp betweene you in respect whereof and to reestablish King Iohns sonne and his mother and to deliuer Transiluania from her naturall enemies we by the grace of God haue commaunded to leauie a very great and puissant armie It behoueth you therefore in consideration of your loyaltie that your care and diligence bee with force of armes to expulse out of your kingdome the Germanes and whilest that King Iohns sonne bee reestablished in his place and dignitie that you elect a generall Captaine in that kingdome to whom you may all obey and not suffer any longer your naturall enemies to bee amongst you but by a common consent to banish from thence those who are the cause of so many garboyles amongst you and that euery one of you endeuour himselfe according to his abilitie well and diligently to gouerne the kingdome of King Iohns sonne your Lord. And if we receiue from you this marke and token of fidelitie and obedience you shall not onely obtaine of vs your ancient libertie in this your kingdome of Transiluania but also receiue further from our imperiall Maiestie speciall honour and fauour In the meane time wee will entertaine our mightie armie for the affayres of that kingdome and for the ayde and assistance of King Iohns sonne and we haue alreadie commanded that it should presently march for the deliuerie thereof from out of his enemies hands For wee will by no meanes tolerate that his enemies shall raigne and gouerne in this Prouince And being sufficiently ascertained how much King Iohn our Vassall hath been to vs a faithfull seruant and also his sonne wee haue determined to reinstall him into his kingdome and to cause him to raigne in it by our meanes and afford him such ayde that by Gods permission he shall bee able to ouercome and surmount his enemie To this intent by Gods assistance wee haue caused to march the magnificall and puissant our obedient subiect and faithfull seruant to our Highnes the most illustrious Achmeth Basha second Councellor to our excellent Maiestie and many other our subiects and Courtiers with a great number of Ianisaries of the most mightie and inuincible Port of our greatnes and highnes hauing also commaunded all our generall Captaines and Sangiachs to cause to come from Greece and Buda a great armie insomuch that with our said Councellor we shall haue an armie of 200000. men well appointed before wee march in person against our enemie And further wee haue commaunded the most excellent Prince of Tartaria the Vayuodes of Vallachia and Moldauia with all the Sangiachs which are in those countries on this side and beyond Danubius that with all their Infantrie and Caualarie they shall ioyne with our said Vizir And it is also necessarie that you obey according to your fidelitie the said Basha and that you send your Ambassadours as well towards our royall Port as also to him But if you perseuer disobedient to our mandate and that you accord and adherre to our enemies then assuredly thinke that the ruine losse and crueltie which the kingdome of Transiluania shall endure shall not ensue but by your demerits For by the grace of God the almightie Creator wee hope to giue sufficient testimonie to Christians and to the kingdome of Transiluania what our indignation and puissance is And if the Transiluanians we affoording them our ayde will not returne to their ancient obedience and loyaltie they shall neuer be on any side sure or safe but shall endure through the world the iust
inclined to chuse of the worst rather then the best I haue thought it fitting to aduertise you with the best and pleasingest perswasions that possibly I can that you haue no need thus to neglect your former force and vertue for brauadoes which are but forged and full of winde Considering in what repose and quiet you now are enioying your full libertie and the same peaceably and that vnder the wing and protection of your King who is so milde and iust that not any whosoeuer may be compared to him and imagining on the contrarie that you shall neuer finde rest or safetie vnder the gouernment of this cruell and barbarous Lord holding it for most certaine that it is a vaine conceit for strangers such as you are esteemed of him once to thinke that they are able to finde any clemencie and pitie in him who towards his owne naturall children hath manifested himselfe most cruell Therefore you ought to animate defend and support your selues with a firme and stoute assurance worthie of your former prowesses against these accidents of Fortune that so you may gaine a glorious life for things that haue bin done by like tyrants ought to be tolerated as mischiefes which suddenly proceed from nature And stay your selues vpon the King my Lord and master who will neuer faile to send you what possible ayde he can with which he is alreadie become master of Albe-iula Ahnas Engedin and Lippa hath forced the Turk to recoile raise his Campe from before Themesuar constraining him in great haste to auoide this kingdome which vndoubtedly hee meant then to haue reduced to a miserable and perpetuall bondage and preseruing you in this liberty in which through his grace and fauour you liue and for which both your selues and children should be for euer bound to him And considering the aduertisement that shall be giuen to our King of all these affayres expell and banish from your idle fancies these feares and momentarie conceits and doe not any whit dread these theeues and robbers which with so great furie they menace to send vnto you Beleeue me their armies haue no wings to flie neither can they so readily assemble themselues as they haue writ of And as once to our great glorie wee haue chased them out of this Realme with so great losse of his people as cannot well be recounted so I assuredly hope that for the time to come we shall againe performe the like and that with our farre greater praise and renowne and then he in good earnest tasting of your resolution and stoutnes of courage and inuincible vertue he leauing you there in peace will chaunge his intention like fortune plainly knowing that he hath not to manage warre with effeminate or cowardly people but with men experienced as well in warre as in peace and who through the world shall yeeld a deare account to him of their persons while they doe as resolute mindes are wont to doe who being vniustly iniuried and feeling the outrage that they haue receiued doe for peace willingly imbrace warre All the Lords present being reanimated by these speeches sent to tell the great Turke Achmeth Basha the Moldauian and the Belerbey of Greece that they should come no further because that they were resolutely determined to resist them as much as they could hauing determined together to die in battaile rather then to liue vnder their lawes They also answered the Chiauss that they were content to pay him the ordinarie tribute if so it pleased the Grand Seigniour to accept of such as was offered him which if he would not accept that then he should presently depart The Chiauss receiuing this answer and seeing he could then accomplish no other thing accepted of the ordinarie tribute which was yeerely 20000. crownes and so retired to Belgrade and from thence to Constantinople leauing the kingdome free of a great feare and suspition Castalde hauing thus though not altogether gained the hearts of the Transiluanians and confirmed them in the league and deuotion of Ferdinand retired againe to his accustomed aboade at Albe-iula where he had not been long but that he had newes how Achmeth Basha of Buda writ a familiar letter full of a thousand kind and liberall offers to Patocchy containing certaine hidden and secret words as if there had been some great intelligence and correspondence betweene them two Which the Basha purposely practised to the end that Ferdinand and Castalde should vpon that occasion iustly conceiue some mistrust against him But his former proceedings being sufficiently iustified hee was alwaies held and reputed by them very loyall and faithfull and they committed vnto him the Castle of Iula with the gouernment of the towne that he might keepe it as in former time hee had done faithfully and therein to remaine his wife and children The Castles of Iula Panchotto Varadin and others began to bee in some distresse for want of victuals and it was most necessarie to make prouision for them which was not done without great discommoditie for that they were constrained to employ thereupon the money which was appointed for the musters and payment of the souldiours so that the time to muster being come and this said money spent in these affayres it was not possible to recouer or get any more and that was the cause as hereafter we shall speake of great tumults and specially because Vayuode Battor by his indisposition or for that it so pleased him would no longer execute the office of Vayuodship and requested that they would prouide themselues of another therefore although Castalde instantly desired him to continue in this office which greatly troubled him During these troubles letters came from Ferdinand by which he commanded them to begin a trial and proceed therein against Aldene the Camp-master who was still prisoner and that afterwards he shuld be sent to him with all the proceedings against him Aldene reprouing as suspected certaine of the Iudges required his Maiestie that his triall might bee referred to others which being granted him they began to examine many witnesses and concluded his triall by which in the end he was condemned to die and euen by the deposition of many who did proue against him the great treacherie and cowardlines which he vsed in abandoning Lippa he being well able to defend it who also set open and declared the great losse and damage which he had committed against Ferdinand in causing the Castle and Artillerie and all the munition to bee consumed with fire which were the materiall causes that he was condemned to death for His triall being thus fully concluded he was sent to Vienna with the sentence of the Iudges which being allowed by his Maiestie declared that he should be sent vnder a sure guard who presently after according to that commaund was surely conducted in chaines to Vienna where hee remained prisoner so long that the continuance thereof in the end was the cause as hereafter wee shall speake of his libertie
two knobs he had vpon his shoulders and breast and he was of an excellent spirit He had also a daughter named Chameria who was giuen in mariage to Rostan Basha who after the death of Abraham Basha was principall Visir This man made himselfe very odious to all the world in this office because had cut off the pay of the Ianisaries the wages of the officers of the Grand Seigniours house the charges of armies and the estate of Sangiachs all these charges being very burdensome and excessiue But in stead thereof he was very well liked of Solyman and much in his fauour for vsing such frugalitie and not in the fauour of Mustapha of whom he did greatly distrust himselfe for the traine which he had and for the loue which the souldiours bore him This distrust and feare were the cause that he enterprised a conspiracie with Rossa his mother in law against the life of Mustapha by the deceit and treacherie which wee shall now speake of This Rossa seeing how dearely she was beloued of the great Turke to aduance her children by a policie and vnder a fained colour and zeale of religion sent to Muplety properly called by the Turkes Muphty who among the Mahometanes is as the Pope is among the Christians to signifie to him how she had a marueilous desire to cause a Temple to bee built and an Hospitall also for the poore pilgrimes to the honour of God and of their Prophet but by no meanes she would vndertake this worke vnlesse that first she were assured from him that such workes should bee beneficiall for her soules health and agreeable to God Muplety answered her that this enterprise would bee well pleasing to God but not for her saluation for that she was a Slaue of the Grand Seighiour who was master and Lord of all that she had and in regard of which his power all whatsoeuer she should do in this shuld succeed to the good of him and not of her Vpon this answer she seemed very pensiue and to carrie in her heart extreame griefe insomuch that she manifesting in her minde to bee greatly afflicted the Turke had notice thereof who moued with the loue he bore her and with the displeasure of her griefe sent her word that she should be of good cheere assuring her that within shortime he would giue her occasion to comfort her selfe whereupon causing a letter to bee written for her libertie he sent it to her This subtile and craftie woman receiuing this gift well knowing to take fit time and occasion gaue him many kinde thanks and presently employed workmen about her buildings abstaining her selfe from carnall copulation with him While she thus spent the time the Grand Seigniour had a great desire to lie with her commaunding that the night following she should prepare her selfe to lie with him Whereupon she caused word to be sent to him that though he were the only Lord of her life of her goods and of her bodie he should yet looke well to this seeing he had made her free that he did not contradict the law nor commit a sinne it not being lawfull for him to vse a free woman as more at large he might know of Muplety This answer was greatly offensiue to the Grand Seigniour For louing her extreamely the more strict the prohibition was the more his desire increased to be with her and gnawing his heart with a thousand imaginations sent to seeke Muplety of whom he demanded whither he might carnally vse a Slaue that was made free The other made answer that he might not except he would take her for his spouse for that doing otherwise he should commit a great sinne by reason of the law which willed it should bee so This difficultie yet further increased a desire in the Turke to enioy his Rossa And by that meanes not being able any long to tolerate the passion which tormented him he determined to satisfie not his reason but his appetites and resolued to take her for his spouse as publikely he did giuing her by the contract of mariage 5000. Duckets of yeerely reuenew for her dowrie to the great maruaile of all who knew that to be against the custome of the Ottomans who because they would neuer haue any companion in the Empire doe neuer marrie but in place of a spouse they vse women Slaues who are very fayre which from all parts of the world were brought to them and they are shut vp within the Seraile according to the custome of the Turkish Lords where they were bountifully vsed and instructed in diuers vertuous things and by these the Grand Seigniours haue their children and those by whom they once haue had children are more honoured and better serued then the other and afterwards are married to Grand Seigniours of their owne sect and religion as are the Bashaes Sangiachs Belerbeys and such like Now this Rossa from a Slaue by the fauour of heauen and the benefit of Fortune being become the wife of so great a King she determined of no other thing then to inuent the meanes that one of her sonnes after the death of Solyman should remaine inheritour and successor of the Empire The greatnes and valour of Mustapha was much opposit to her deseignes and to abate this inconuenience she thought that it was needfull to assist her selfe by the helpe of Rostan Basha her sonne in law as of one that would rather desire that his brother in law might be Lord then Mustapha who bore him an euill grudge for that he had cut off the reuenew which he was wont to haue out of his Prouince by reason whereof he could not but doubt that when the Turke dyed and this man succeeding in his place he would not onely depriue him from the dignitie of a Visir but also of his goods and life Hauing then drawne him to her deuotion and being accorded together she effected so much with the Grand Seigniour that her sonne in law had the managing of all the affayres and expeditions of that Prouince where Mustapha commanded impressing afterward in the minde of Solyman with a fit and subtell inuention a great distrust to lose both his state and life especially by reason of Mustaphaes greatnes the good wil which euery one did beare him For confirmation of which Rostan commaunded all those who were chosen to goe into the Prouinces and specially those who went into Ionia a neighbour Prouince to Amasia that for the contentment of the Grand Seigniour they should write and make knowne particularly the proceedings of Mustapha and his honours to the end that he might take pleasure therein and that they should highly commend him in certifying all the good they could of him Which they did not knowing the deceit very willingly and often also so that by their letters they cleerely discerned the desire which the souldiours had that one day he might for his liberalitie become their Emperour Rostan after
know to be necessarie for you whereof I desire you not to feare to aduertise and solicite me In the meane time I recommend my selfe to your good fauour and prayers and humbly desire God to keepe you my Lord Cardinall in long health and happie life From Gaunt the 2. of September 1556. According to the contence of this letter Philip the only sonne of the Emperour came to his father at Scuebourg in Zeland whither from Gaunt he was come to imbark himselfe to sea There the father instructed him how he should gouerne the affayres of his States and how he should carrie himselfe to his subiects and his confederates after he had giuen him his blessing and imbraced him for the last time and dismissed all the Princes Ambassadours Gentlemen and Captaines who were there present his Maiestie the 14. of September a little before the sunne rising went aboord vnto a vessell prepared for him together with the two Queenes Elinor and Mary his sisters and being accompanied with 60. saile directed his course towards Biscay where with a fauourable winde he arriued within few daies hauing before passed the sea sixe other times He disimbarked at Larede a Port of that Prouince and there he was receiued with great honour by the Lords and Spanish gentlemen Some say that as soone as he set foote on land he kneeled downe thanking God for that in these last daies of his life he had shewed him this fauour to conduct him into this countrie which aboue all others he held alwaies most deare and by meanes whereof he was come to that high degree of the Empire attributing to it next to God in a manneral his victories and honours vsing these words As naked I came out of my mothers wombe so naked doe I returne to thee my second mother and in recompence of many merits which thou hast vsed to me I not being able for the present to bestow any other thing on thee I giue thee this my sicke bodie and these my feeble and weake bones After he had vsed these words notwithout shedding some teares he very kindly saluted all those Lords which were come thither to doe him that honour which they owed to him and after being put into his Litter he was conducted to the towne of Valladolid where was the Prince Charles his yong sonne In this towne which next to that of Tolledo is the principall towne of Spaine his Maiestie was resident a while during the which he exhorted this yong Prince to imitate the footsteps of his predecessors and charily to obserue and keepe the Christian and Catholike religion After that he went from thence into the Prouince of Estremadure to a Monestarie of S. Hieromes called the Heremite Friers situated in a very solitarie place and commodious to leade a holy life Hauing in this place giuen leaue to the two Queenes his sisters to depart and sent them backe to Valladolid this great Emperour chused there his last aboade and there ending the rest of his daies with few domestike officers giuing himselfe ouer to continuall contemplation of diuine things and forsaking all the affayres of this world he passed the rest of his time in prayer almes deedes and other charitable workes In the meane time Ferdinand King of the Romanes after he had receiued by the hands of the Prince of Orange the patents of the Emperour by which in his fauour he renounced the dignitie of the Empire the Scepter and Crowne with the Emperiall Mantle he went to the Diet of Franckfort accompanied with the said Prince with George Sigismond Sille Vice-chancellor and Wolfang Haller Secretarie of the Empire about the moneth of March. At this Diet were all the Electors and the ceremonies accustomed in such solemne acts being accomplished his Maiestie with all his Princes went to Aix where he was crowned Emperour notwithstanding the refusall which Pope Paul the 4. made to ratifie this election alleadging that it was not lawfull for that the Heretike Electors as he so called them intermedled therewithall But this no otherwise proceeded not from his Holines but by an occasion of a certaine deuice betweene him the King of France and others altogether against the house of Austria according vnto which the Duke of Albe was euen now come to blowes with the Captaines of his Holines and within a while after followed the breach of the foresaid truce vpon which occasion happened to the French this great losse which they sustained vpon S. Laurence his day in the moneth of August by the towne of Saint Quintins About this time the Grand Seigniour declared to the Queene of Transiluania that he vnderstood that certaine sects were crept into the religion which she held which by no meanes he would she should tolerate if she would remaine in his fauour knowing that such nouelties would bring nothing to her but tumult and losse of her kingdome and to him much trauaile and for this cause he commaunded her vtterly to extirpite them who were authors thereof and in such manner to extinguish them that there should not be any mention of them This command was not without cause For the Heretikes were alreadie nesled in this kingdome and by their preachings had sowed their darnell and withdrawne many from the vniuersall Church and if this commaund had not put them in great feare all the kingdome had been replenished with them But according to the will of the Turke and obeying thereto they were presently banished and chased from thence By which wee may see how much a sudden and readie foresight which is vsed with wisedome in things stirred vp besides and against ancient custome may infinitly profit in general at no hand preiudice in particular If this had been obserued in Germanie when the heresies there budded out this Prouince had not so much bin giuen to troubles as it was with the losse and damage of all Christendome In this same time Charles King of Spaine and not long since Emperour being fallen sicke in the Monestarie of the Hieronimite Friers after he had receiued all the Sacraments of the Church by the hands of the Archbishop of Tolledo named Bartholmew Miranda and not without the teares of those who were there present the 21. of September he yeelded his soule to God putting by his death an end to his great triumphs and victories and leauing this perpetuall memorie of him that of long time before him there was not any Emperour more valiant couragious wise and fortunate then himselfe His bodie was intombed in the towne of Granado in the place where ordinarily are buried all the Kings of Spayne His sonne Philip onely heire of all his kingdomes and seigniories after he vnderstood of his death he made a sumptuous preparation for his funerals in the Church of S. Iula at Bruxels And among other magnificences there was a great Ship which was made to goe through the streetes by art which was round about filled with goodly
right of Transiluania and hoping that himselfe or his childrē one day should be able to recouer it and he preuailed so farre that the enterprise of the Polish Ambassadours and of other Princes came to nothing and by that meanes the Ambassadours of Transiluania returned without any resolution Which was a cause within a while after of great warre betweene him and the King of Transiluania vnder the fauour of the Turke vpon which occasion he well knew what losse and damage it was to him for that he would not then agree A certaine time after the Vayuode of Valachia was aduertised that another Vayuode went about to dispossesse him of his estate being assured of succours from Ferdinand and of the fauour of the nephew of that Lasky who laboured the friendship which was betweene Solyman and King Iohn This nephew was also named Lasky He for sundrie matters whereof he was attainted was before constrained to forsake the kingdome of Polonia vpon which occasion he was retired vnder the protection of his vncle to the Turk of whom he was so well receiued that he was made a Colonell of certaine Turkish troupes of horse and foote But sometimes after forgetting all these honours and fauours he forsooke that part and tooke that of the Emperour Ferdinands in whose seruice he then was when he practised this subteltie and enterprised without the knowledge of Ferdinand against the Vayuode of Valachia for the profit and commoditie of another in whose fauour he had alreadie amassed 2000. horse which he ioyned with the armie of the other Vayuode which was of 8000. footmen and 4000. horse These altogether marched with great speede thinking to take the Vayuode vnprouided and were alreadie arriued very neere him attending the night which was fit to massacre them and to seaze vpon his estate in a pleasant weake village wherein for the present he then was But the Vayuode being alreadie vpon his guard according to the first aduertisements hauing assembled very secretly to the number of 40000. men foote and horse attending the issue of this enterprise being aduertised of the place where his enemies were lodged he caused that night all his people to march with speede and in such manner so surprised his enemie that he had neither leisure nor commoditie to range himselfe in battaile seeing himselfe assailed on all sides so suddenly and furiously that he was constrained with his friend Lasky to flie to the confines of Polonia and to leaue the victorie to the Valachians who with little losse of theirs and great of their enemies inriched themselus with the spoyle bootie of this man Lasky afterwards remaining dispossessed of many townes and Castles which he had by Cassouia being depriued of those by meanes of the said Vayuode And by this ill fortune so inconsideratiuely happened to him falling into the indignation of Ferdinand who dismissed him from his seruice he retired into Moldauia for that he would not fall into the hands of the King of Polonia the Emperour or of the Valachian these Princes not minding by the suffering of such an act to draw vpon them any more the forces of Solyman who neuerthelesse on his side was not to demaund of them therefore any greater satisfaction he hauing then a great distrust of the Gouernour of Egypt against whom he had sent a great number of Ianisaries and other souldiours of his Port fearing some commotion in that Prouince and from other places he had some aduertisements of the enterprises of Baiazet his second sonne who some said meant to inuade Syria with the succours and ayde of the Sophy so that Solyman was againe constrained to send new garrisons into that quarter Vpon the occasion of these troubles he himselfe had great desire to seeke peace and truce with Ferdinand although that his Lieutenants of Buda and of Bossina with the Vayuodes of Valachia Moldauia and of Transalpina in fauour of King Iohn brought great damage to the Emperour harrying and spoyling Hungarie bringing into their hands many places thereof his Maiestie not being able to draw any succours from the Lords of that countrie neither for the fortifications of the places nor for the entertainment of his souldiours and if it had not been for the new garrisons which he put in better places by the ayde of his subiects of Austria the losse had been farre greater in that countrie Solyman notwithstanding the gaine which his people had in Hungarie considering the perill whereinto he might fall if he at one time had to doe against so puissant enemies as the Emperour and the Sophy were resolued rather to seeke peace with the Christians then with his subiects To this end while they were at a Diet which was held at Franckfort there was celebrated the solemnitie of the election that the Electors had made of the person of Maximilian King of Bohemia the eldest sonne of Ferdinand to bee King of the Romanes and of his Coronation after the accustomed promises by him made to be an obedient childe to the holy Church according to the vse of his predecessors an Ambassadour sent from Solyman was presented in this great assemblie who offered a present to Ferdinand of certaine rich habiliments and of straunge beasts and after hauing ended some differences with his Maiestie which imported Hungarie the truce was concluded betweene them and in consideration thereof this Ambassadour caused to bee released and set at libertie many prisoners taken in warre who by no meanes before could be redeemed for any money nor exchaunge of others who were vnder the power of Ferdinand After this truce Ferdinand perceiuing himselfe to grow old and vnweildy of his bodie yeelded the kingdome of Hungarie to his sonne Maximilian with consent of all the Barons and Lords of the countrie in acknowledging of which all the Lords were gratified by Maximilian in all that which hee could doe Whereupon some little while after Ferdinand surprised with a great sicknes ended his daies hauing been a Prince of singular bountie and valour and had not his example and wisedome been Germanie which was greatly estranged from the Catholike Church had been wholly diuided from the vnion of the faithfull and Ecclesiasticall ceremonies This man although he was the sonne of Philip Duke of Burgongne Counte of Flanders and Archduke of Austria and of Ioane Queene of Spaine and of other kingdomes of al his fathers inheritance he had no more then the Archdukedome of Austria with the Estates which are situated in Germanie which was the ancient patrimonie of his house the lawes of Spaine being of such qualitie that the eldest haue onely the entire succession Neuerthelesse by meanes of his vertue he increased the inheritance of his house adding thereto the kingdomes of Hungarie and Bohemia augmenting by the addition of them the greatnes of it farre more then it fell vnto him by his predecessors By these actions he alwaies made it apparant that he was endued with great constancie
THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE NINTH BOOKE KIng Iohn endeuoreth to stir vp the Hungars against Maximilian Solyman marcheth into Hungarie with a great armie Pallota well defended by Tury against the Turkes Succours come to the Emperour from forraine Princes Solyman arriueth in Hungarie and besiegeth Sighet before which he dyeth whose death was concealed vntill Selim Solymans eldest sonne was chosen Emperour The last assault giuen to Sighet where Countie Serin gouernour of the towne in sallying forth brauely endeth his happie dayes and then Sighet is taken A Diet in Austria in which was graunted succours to Maximilian for the war of Hungarie Peace betweene Selim and Maximilian who after the death of Iohn King of Transiluania pretendeth title to that kingdome but Stephen Battor by the Turkes fauour is chosen King thereof The manner and coronation of a King of Hungarie and namely of Rodulph sonne to Maximilian Truce expyred betweene Maximilian and Selim and the death of him Amurath his sonne succeedeth Betweene whom and Rodulph who after the death of his Father Maximilian is chosen Emperour a truce is concluded WHilest the Emperour Maximilian prepared to defend himselfe against the iniuries of which he was threatned by the Turke King Iohn also carefully fortefying himselfe daylie encreased his armie aswell by new leauies of souldiours as with many Hungarian Lords and Transiluanians who came and voluntarely offered themselues to serue him in this war with good strength Iohn had thus gayned many of them by particular letters sent to euery one and to draw them the more to him he caused letters to be published in the name of the King of Hungarie directed to all the Nobilitie and people of the countrie by which he endeauored himselfe to proue that his cause was iust and exhorted them to follow his part adding that which here followeth The most puissant Emperour of the Turkes our most mercifull benifactour hath commaunded vs by his letters and by Zeusic his Ambassadour that we should exhort al the estates of our Realmes and countrie to be faithfull vnto vs and yeelde vs that obedience which they owe vs he hauing certified vs that that would be to him verie pleasant and agreeable when he should know the Hungars to imbrace one another with a sincere affection and to be desierous amongst them strictly to preserue it Therefore if you feare to displease him who with infinit puissance is able to chastice them who prouoke him and if you haue in any regarde the fidelitie which you owe to vs we would councell you all to acknowledge vs for your King and Lord. In doing this it will be a meanes to preserue and maintaine this kingdome so much afflicted to restore vnto peace all the States thereof and to giue particularly to euery one an assured aboade in his owne house all of vs cutting off the occasion which so often moueth Solymon to bring an armie into the fielde to ruinate them and to come himselfe in person to make this waste with infinit cost without respecting paynefull long and tedious iourneyes which it behoueth him to doe For this cause you ought all to take good heede to your selues whilest the time and season is yet fit before you haue vpon your shoulders this his great armie which alreadie is departed from Constantinople For when you shall see your fieldes harried your houses burnt your children captiues and you seperated by violence from your wiues you may then in vaine desire peace To auoyde this miserable ruine we haue been very willing to cause you expresly to vnderstand the will of the Grand Seigniour and thereupon to shew in generall to all what is the present estate of publike matters and to desire you in consideration thereof to haue regarde to the peace and repose of euery one and by that meanes to deliuer your selues from the perill of war and of the daunger present and to come which hangeth ouer the heads of euery one By these and many other reasons Iohn endeauored to stir vp the Hungars to follow his part and to be himselfe at the Diet which he had appoynted in the towne of Torde in the moneth of March in which place should assemble all the states of his kingdome to aduise together of that which was necessarie for the preseruation of it These letters being bruited abroade and the knowledge thereof being come to Schuendy who then was at Vnghar with his armie He presently fearing that these letters would alter the affection of some and that the menaces of the Turkes greatnes comprised in them should not possesse others with feare caused these heere in his name to be published the fourth of March directing them to the Barons and Lords of Hungarie My Lords there is sent me from diuers parts the coppie of a letter diuulged vnder the name of Iohn Vayuod of Transiluania full of apparant cullers and of notorious and euident deceites with which hee endeauoreth to astonish the Emperours subiects as if Solyman were very curious of the good and preseruation of the Hungars whom these 100. yeares together he and his predicessors haue labored with all their power wholly to ruinate aswell by their forces and armes as by their deuisions and ciuill warres which he entertaineth amongst you And although I make not any doubt but that by your fidelitie wisedome and for the greatnes of the neere and imminent daunger you cannot but consider whereto tendeth such subtilties and deceites Neuerthelesse to lighten you the more therein I could not but aduertise you that the Emperour with all diligence and industrie hath sought nothing more then peace with the Turkes and Prince of Transiluania of which he hoped for a good end to the content of you all if the negotiation thereof had not been hindred by the false reports and continuall hatred of the Vayuod And to make proofe thereof vnto you it behoueth you to remember that this last winter his Maiestie commaunded that the truce should be so exactly kept that for to take away all breach thereof he caused to rayse the siege from before certaine Castles and Fortresses which by our people were alreadie neerely driuen and meant not that Transiluania should be forced by our armes all this he did for the repose and good of this kingdome Now though the peace which was yet treated of with the Turkes could not be effected you ought not for that inconuenience to doubt that the Emperour will not vndertake your defence considering that the forces of the Empire and of many other christian Princes zealous of your good will not fayle him no more then I beleeue you would fayle to the obseruance of that which dependeth on your fidelitie towards his Maiestie in whose name you doing that which belongeth vnto you I can assure you of a peace and future repose desiring and exhorting you rather to pursue that which is equall then suffering your selues to follow as little children doe deceitfull amazements you should imbrace that which
would not persist in this election vsing for their excuse the long delay which Maximilian made Thus the Bishop of Cracouia many Polish and Lituanian Lords fearing the Turke and other Princes their neighbours made choise of Stephen Battor for their King hoping by this election to appease the Turke the Muscouite and other Princes who hated the greatnes of the Austrian house and on the other side this Battor was a Prince of great valour To this new election Albert Lasky Palatin would neuer consent nor performe the homage which he ought to this new King and chusing rather to abandon his countrie and goods he retired out of the kingdome with all those who fauoured the Emperiall partie Now Battor knowing that he was chosen went from thence presently into to Polonia and after he was crowned he sent into diuers Prouinces to notifie his election and namely to the Emperour Maximilian sending him word that if in former time he had been to him a friend and fauoured his actions that for the time to come he would yet honour him more and that he would respect him both as a friend and Emperour and that he should not take displeasure that this Crowne was fallen into his hands who had beene alwaies fauourable vnto him desiring that since through the dissentions of the Barons and Electors of Poland and by some wicked solicitations of some Princes who enuied the greatnes of the house of Austria and who by diuers meanes had hindered his election he would bee contented that this kingdome was come to such a person as reuerenced his Maiestie and greatly loued him and specially considering that this last election would bee the cause to quench many troubles which might be an occasion to ouerthrow the Estate of that kingdome Maximilian for all these goodly reasons and kinde offers would not be appeased but entering into choller made sufficient apparance that this election greatly displeased him adding that he would make the Polonians repent it Vpon this displeasure the Muscouit and Denmarke being ioyned together with certaine of the Emperours forces greatly endamaged by sea the riuers of Liuonia and hauing set foote on land at Plescouia ranne very farre into the countrie Battor notwithstanding being receiued and crowned King of Poland caused to be published a Decree by which he permitted all those who were retired forth of the kingdome for fauouring the Emperours part to returne home to the same Estates dignities and prerogatiues which before they had and if in case they would not returne and sweare such oth of fealtie to him as they ought they should be proclaimed rebels to his Maiestie and enemies to the Crowne In this time of the election of Battor the Emperour appointed a Diet at Ratisbone to aduise of meanes by which they might hinder that his people should not be thus daily exposed to the mercie of the common enemie who continually molested Hungarie Afterwards his Maiestie demonstrated to the Princes who were present therein and to the Ambassadours of them who were absent that he was chosen King of Polonia and that by that meanes Liuonia and Russia were fallen vnder the Empire and that the Polonians for feare of the Turke had varied in their election and afterwards chosen another whereof he was exceeding heauie further declaring to them that his intention was not to bee silent therein and for this cause desired them to assist him to the end that by meanes thereof he might preserue these two great countries to the Empire And that he might the better obtaine their forces he exhorted them all to maintaine themselues in peace one with another commaunding them that for the time to come they should not any more suffer their subiects to goe and serue straungers in their wars This Diet was transferred to Ausbourg in which he did so much that the ordinarie succours for warre was continued to him The Bohemians offered him besides the ordinarie 1500. horse and the Hungars 300. Pistoliers and 400. Harquebuziers on horsebacke and the Slesians 600. horse 100. Pistoliers and 800. Harquebuziers on horsebacke To these succours offered themselues the King of Denmarke the Duke of Saxonie Pomerania and of Brandeburg And in the end there was concluded a league betweene the Emperour the Kings of Denmarke and Swethland the Duke of Saxonie the Duke of Muscouia and the Dukes of Brandebourg and Pomerania for defence of the Empire and inuading of Polonia all these complaining for the election of Battor who that he might aspire to the Crowne of Poland against them all had presumed so much vnder the protection of the Turke Besides they feared that he in regarde of the bond which he had to Amurath would take armes against the Emperour who not content with this league sent as well in his name as in the name of the King of Spaine his Ambassadours into Persia to excite the Sophy King of Persia to make war vpon the Turke This word King is called in the Persian language Scach and the Turkes surname it Sophy which we commonly thinke to proceede of this Greeke word Sophia which signifieth wisdome which in the Turkish language signifieth wooll And the Turkes vsed this scoffe against Ismael heretofore King of Persia for that he following his opinion or heresie would teach that he must couer his head with wooll because it was more vile and base then linnen whereof the Turkes make their Turbans Battor hauing discouered the voyage of these Ambassadours caused them to be surprised in their iourney and to be massacred and sent to Amurath their letters of credence and instructions by which there were discouered vnto him the diseignes of his enemies which being reported to the Emperour he was greatly displeased thereat and caused the Ambassadours of Battor to be arested and many other Pollacques who then were in Germanie and at Vienna and sent to all the christian Princes to require ayde of them seeing the Protestants of Germanie denied him such ayde as the imminent perill required for that his Maiestie would not condiscend to the demaunds which they made to him for the affayres of Religion In this Diet notwithstanding the reclamation and hinderance of some Electors of the Empire his Maiestie caused to be declared his sonne Rodolph Emperour after him and caused to be imposed vpon him the title of King of the Romans This was then when the Muscouite Ambassadours arriued at the Court to confirme the league made with his Emperiall Maiestie their master being greatly incensed against the Polonians for that he was by them thus disdained These hauing presented to the Emperour many goodly presents offered in their masters name to his Maiestie all his abilitie to subdue Polonia Maximilian accepting these offers thanked the Ambassadours for the good affection of their Prince reseruing power to vse his ayde vntill time should require it Whilest he was in prouiding for all that which concerned the estate of the next warre his Maiestie
being suddainly taken with a vehement trembling of his members and with a great panting of his heart he ended his dayes He was a Prince who well knew to preserue his Emperiall dignitie and the greatnes of his house Hauing receiued the administration of the Empire his father liuing the care which he alwaies had in his minde was to keepe Germanie in peace and in such sort to effect it that it should not any more feele the former calamities whereinto it was fallen For this cause some seeing Germanie in so great repose had a sinister opinion of him as though he had too much fauored the Protestants But these men did not consider that amongst so many diuisions and hazards as were alreadie in France Flaunders other countries it was not profitable for the Catholike partie to adde Germanie thereto for feare least the rest of the Catholikes might not be in like perill This Prince in his young yeares was very hot of the warre He greatly loued the professours of the liberall arts and especially handicrafts men Hee had a delight to please euery one Hee spoke most familiarly many and diuers sorts of languages so that it seemed he was borne with them and although he had a subtile and fine wit oftentimes hauing an intention contrarie to his actions yet neuerthelesse he was indued with many other vertuous qualities To this man succeeded in the Emperiall dignitie Rodolph second of that name his sonne King of Bohemia and Hungarie a most Catholike and religious Prince He in the same Diet of Ausburg in which he was chosen King of the Romans was receiued for Emperour whilest that the Diet continued Presently his Maiestie commaunded the better to take away all hopes of change from all his subiects in his hereditarie estates that they should liue Catholikely and caused to be made seuere executions against those who would vndertake to preach any other doctrine but Catholike and by his example speeches perswaded all the Princes Catholikes and Protestants carefully to obserue Gods commaundements So soone as he was proclaimed Emperour he caused the Polish Ambassadours to be released and sent to Amurath to demaund truce which without any great difficultie was accorded to him because that the Turke hauing had aduertisement of the war which the King of Persia prepared against him and of the resolution of the Germanes who had made a great leauie of souldiers and money vpon euery estate of the Empire to maintaine warre against him could not any whit assure himselfe to be able to make resistance in so many places his Empire elsewhere being sorely weakened by the iust punishment of God with plague war and famine in regard of which he very easily granted the demaunds of Rodolph At the same time all the Christian Princes sent to his Maiestie to congratulate with him his new promotion in the Emperiall dignitie and amongst others Battor not long before chosen King of Poland also sent his Ambassadours thither for the same effect knowing the release that Rodolph had made of his Ambassadours while he besieged the rich town of Danzit situated at the mouth of Vistula vpon the sea of Prusia being of the demains of Polonia which then held of Maximilians part the inhabitants then knowing nothing of his death but as soone as they were assured thereof they capitulated with their new King and yeelded to him vnder condition that the towne should not be spoyled and that the penaltie should be conuerted into monie They besides gaue him 12. peeces of great Artillerie with other lesser and certaine amongst themselues for hostages to the end the more to assure his Maiestie of their fidellitie towards him This done Battor presently caused his Armie to make head against the Muscouit to recouer the places that the Duke had taken towards Liuonia During this busines he omitted not to send to the Pope to acknowledge him as soueraigne Prelat of the catholike Church and by the same meanes sought through Italie for many Captaines of valour and other men of knowledge offering them great pensions and rich recompences as he manifested to many who both of one and other vocation went to him this Prince being as much giuen to armes as hee was indued with the knowledg of learning and sciences and especially in diuinitie and histories hauing passed his youth in the exercise of armes and learning in Germanie and Italie Within a short time hee recouered all that which the Muscouits and Tartars had vsurped vpon him and tooke many places from them hauing so many times beaten them that he constrayned them in the end to seeke peace of him euen as Demetrius Duke of Muscouia for this effect solicited thereto Pope Gregorie the 13. of that name vsing him as a meane to this Prince to the end that he might obtaine it The Hungars for all this were neuer a whit the more at rest For notwithstanding the truce Amurath as these Princes are barberous proud couetous caused to be stayed at Constantinople the Emperours Ambassadour who at his new arriuall brought not to him the accustomed Present Rodolph willing to reuenge himself of this iniurie commanded his people who were in Hungarie to make incursions vpon the Turkes and to enterprise some thing vpon some of their places in stead of two Forts that these had taken in Croatia The Hungars desirous to attempt somewhat vpon certaine Castles by Alberegalis were in the way intrapped by the Turkes and most of them cut in peeces The Emperour considering that these skirmishes might in the end ingender a greater war caused a Diet to be called in Bohemia soliciting therein the Bohemians that they would succour him against the Turkes who without regard of the truce ran spoyled continually the frontiers of his countries These accorded to him a good summe of monie For the same effect he also called the Hungars to Poson and not being able to be therein for his indisposition he shewed to them by the Prince Ernestus his brother the necessitie which constrayned him to solicite them to haue regard to the common defence against the Turkes by whom daylie they receiued so many oppressions But his Maiestie could then draw nothing from them at that time minding that he himselfe should be in person at the Diet and warre In the end notwithstanding they daylie perceiuing the effects of the violence of their enemies who notwithstanding the warre of Persia in which Amurath was greatly combered ceased not neuerthelesse greatly to molest them and procured them much trouble graunted to the Emperour the greatest part of his demaunds and they all taking courage opposed themselues so valiantly against the Turkes that many times they constrayned them to retire from them and euen to forsake a great part of the Countrie which they vsurped Rodolph notwithstanding so happie successe of his people ceased not to send to Amurath to complaine of the great timeritie of the Turkes who had not any respect to the
friends he was conuaied to the Church of Albe-iula where Castalde at the charges of Ferdinand caused him to bee buried in a Tombe of stone in the middest of the new great Church by King Iohn Huniades Coruin These Aiduchs and other of the Friers people being thus retired Castalde seeing that in these alterations of fortune there would not befall vnto him any great disturbance nor tumult for the death of the Frier came on foote before the Spanish squadrons hauing Francis Chendy by the hand and began with him to set forward to Sassebesse He was not yet farre on his way but a messenger came and told him that the Castle of Binse was rifled by those who were left in custodie thereof and that the Friers Secretarie was taken by Iohn Alphonse Castalde and warranted from death and how that in the Friers chamber there was found a little Cabenet within which was 12000. Hungarish Duckets which Captaine Andrew Lopez with foure other souldiours had taken and broken vp and parted shares according to their qualities reseruing the greatest quantitie for himselfe He vnderstanding this newes presently sent Captaine Diego Velez to pacifie this disorder and take the money againe from them who had thus stollen it and to cause them to restoreal the moueables of the Frier and establish them in the former estate waiting till he should send a Comissarie who should receiue all the Friers treasure to the vse of Ferdinand By this meanes he caused the pillage to cease and recouered againe much money and other things to the value of 80000. Duckets which was all committed to the charge of his Maiesties Treasurers And marching thus along very discontented with those who had rifled the Friers chamber within short time after hee arriued at Sassebesse from whence he presently sent to the Captaines and Gouernours of such Castles and Forts as were at the Friers deuotion that they should yeeld to Ferdinand threatning them that if they would not obey his commaund he would presently send his armie and Artillerie to subdue them Among which places there was one called Wyuar where the Frier had his treasure and there hee also priuately kept an Ambassadour of the Turkes which Castalde presently after the Frier had yeelded vp the ghost sent Captaine Diego Velez to apprehend and bring the said Ambassadour to him wheresoeuer he should be to see if any matter of moment could bee learned out of him touching the Friers proceedings and whether there had been any intelligence and practise betweene them against Ferdinand as was vehemently suspected and specially in respect of the Diet of Wasrael where they looked for the Sicilians and in which as the common bruite and speech amongst our people was they should haue discoursed of the meanes which should be vsed to expulse Castalde out of Transiluania with all the Spanyards Germanes Bohemians and Hungars who should be at that time found in it and were payd by Ferdinand This Ambassadour being vnder Castaldes commaund and diligently examined they could neither know nor finde in him any matter as they desired but onely certaine letters of credit written in the Turkish language directed to Solyman Rostan Basha the Belerbey and to certaine other of speciall credit in the Turkes Court and sealed with the seale which the Frier was wont to vse in all the affayres concerning the kingdome which letters he had dispatched without imparting any thing thereof to Castalde He remained at Sassebesse one whole day that by the meanes of Iulian de Carleual he might aduertise Ferdinand of all that which happened and writ to all the townes to acquaint them with the enterprises and death of the Frier and to pray them to remaine in a loyall deuotion to the King The day following fearing the Sicilians being speciall friends to the Frier would rise against him and that it was not in his power to auoyde the tumult which he alreadie saw stirred vp determined to goe to Sibinio for that it was a towne of good strength and most faithfull to Ferdinand and lesse affected to the Frier among all those which were in that quarter in which he thought to temporise while he might together with his securitie see what end these matters would haue whereupon he left good garrisons of Germanes in Albe-iula and at Sassebesse and he left also at Binse Captaine Diego Velez with his Spanish companie and went himselfe to Sibinio where being arriued he lodged the rest of his armie without the towne but so neere at hand that vpon any necessitie and first signe giuen within foure houres he could bring them into the towne onely retaining with him 50. Harquebuziers for his guard There he was very friendly receiued of the citizens who greatly reioyced with him for that he had deliuered them from the subiection and feare of this stearne and proud Frier promising not to faile him in all prosperous and aduerse accidents whatsoeuer and offering him all that which should be any way necessary for him Castalde gaue them many kind thanks and was exceedingly pleased for that hee found the Sibinians in so good an humour and such assured friends and minding afterwards to depart from thence and go to Seghesuar that so he might be more neere to Wasrael where the Sicilians were assembled expecting the Friers arriuall and also the better to vnderstand and know of them what their purpose might be and whether after they vnderstood of the Friers death they would continue in the friendship and deuotion of Ferdinand The inhabitants of Sibinio would by no meanes permit him that he should goe out of their towne without a good guard telling him that to goe to such a Diet it was very necessarie he should leade with him more men then he had and that by no meanes he should repose any trust in the Sicilians vntill he saw how they would take the Friers death vrgently perswading him not to go to that Diet with lesse then 15000. men Vpon these considerations Castalde sent to seeke the men of armes of Charles Scerettin and certaine Spanyards and Germanes to the number of 1800. and went from thence with this troupe to Seghesuar still hauing in his companie Francis Chendy whom he now had wonne and by offers and kind vsage although it might bee thought it was more by compulsion then loue had drawne to the seruice of Ferdinand They being arriued in this towne they reposed themselues there the first day and the day following Castalde sent Chendy to Wasrael where alreadie were met the principall men of Seculia deuising together of the meanes which should be vsed to reuenge the death of the Frier Chendy being now present before them all in Castaldes name said vnto them that they should louingly and faithfully embrace Ferdinand of whom they should receiue more pay rewards and curtesies in one houre then they had receiued of the Frier in 20. yeeres whose death fell vpon him in regard of his bad demeanour hauing