sallie out of Buda vaine and friuolous who knew not what to doe for that she tooke another way more vnusual and lesse frequented and quite differing from that which they were of opinion she would take but the Queene being exceeding prouident and of good iudgement preuented the Turkish subtilties escaped their ambuscadoes and fell not into their hands And thus by Gods prouidence altering her way she disgraced Achmeths friuolous enterprise and his followers found little contentment of their laborious desires The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE FOVRTH BOOKE SOlyman prepareth an army to inuade Hungary and George Vayuode of Transiluania leauieth forces against him Themesuar summoned by the Turkes and diuers townes with Lippa is yeelded to them Themesuar besieged by the Turk but he raiseth his forces and retireth from thence George is vehemently suspected by Ferdinand who sent aduertisements to Castalde to kill him The towne of Lippa besieged and taken by Castalde but the Castle held out and George endeuoureth to saue Oliman who was Gouernour thereof who in the end vpon composition departed in safetie from thence but was set vpon by our men who were ouerthrowne by him Aldene made Gouernour of Lippa The conspiracie of George his death who was slaine at Buise his buriall and his moueables seized vpon to Ferdinands vse for whose death the Sicilians began to mutine but were appeased by Chendies wisedom AFter that the agreement passed betweene Ferdinand King of the Romanes and Queene Izabella was ended and concluded and that the Queene peaceably leauing the kingdome was wholly freed out thereof the Transiluanians for two causes thought happely to liue a long time in a peaceable tranquilitie and to haue brought to fortunate issue the bitter afflictions which they in former time with many perturbations sorrowfully endured The first whereof was because they saw the sonne of King Iohn in league with the now present King and to haue taken in mariage the Infanta Ioane his daughter which aliance and amitie did indifferently minister to euery one an assured expectation of a perpetuall and quiet repose and that in time by meanes of Ferdinands clemencie and bountie the way should not altogether be taken from Iohn one day to reenter againe into that kingdome The other was that for the late sustentation which by these new agreements happened to them they thought themselues so sufficiently assured in abilitie that the Turk for feare of the puissant authoritie of Ferdinand and of the Emperour Charles his brother durst neuer more or at the least not so often as hee had done molest and spoyle them but on the contrarie in consideration of this he would greatly feare and doubt them so that by this meanes they should haue time and leisure to fortifie and strengthen the passages and furnish the low countrie townes in such warlike manner that they should neuer hereafter stand in dread of the Ottoman violence But fortune not minding to satisfie their expectation vnhappely shuffled all the cardes in their hands and altered that sweete desire of peace into a trembling feare and suspition of warre For this Frenchman of whom wee haue before spoken being arriued at Constantinople declared how he fled from Sassebesse vpon suspition that he was a Spie for the King of France and being retired to the grand Seigniour informed him of all that which had passed betweene Ferdinand and the Queene Solyman now knowing that to bee true which vntill then hee would not beleeue commaunded with expedition to leauie an armie to send into Transiluania vnder the conduct of the Belerbey of Greece to whom hee gaue commaund that with all diligence hee should with 12000. horse repayre vnto Belgrade where the whole armie should bee ioyned and vnited together which should bee sent him by the Sangiacs lying there about and that hee should enter and assaile this Prouince on both sides on the one side by the helpe and assistance of the Vayuode of Moldauia and on the other by the ayde of the Basha of Buda and that he should with his vttermost abilitie endeuour himselfe to conquer it and leauie such a masse of his people and so continually imploy them that Ferdinand should haue no time to preuent it norfortifie himselfe there Castalde hauing notice of this by speciall aduertisement in the greatest haste he could mustered his men of warre and began to perswade with the Frier that he should prepare his forces to incounter the enemie and giue preuention the best he could to the sinister chances which shortly might ensue because that they were not able to prouide for the time The Frier greatly dreading the Turke in respect hee was vehemently incensed against him for his former proceedings answered dissembling his thoughts Castalde that hee would not faile him in any furtherance But on the other side hee cunningly practised his attonement with the enemie to whom faining to write for the good and behalfe of Ferdinand he onely writ for his owne safetie and commoditie and sending certaine presents to Rostan Basha and to him of Buda to draw and allure them to his friendship he assayed as much as he could to shake the blame from himselfe saying that if the Turke should send an armie into Transiluania to conquer it because they had put the King of the Romanes into possession thereof that for that purpose he neede not send thither seeing that all was done by the Queene and not by him who had alreadie maried her sonne Iohn with Ferdinands daughter to whose Lieutenants also she had freely and from the perswasion of her owne opinion intirely relinquished her countrie and crowne and her selfe was retired to Cassouia and that for these reasons it was to no great purpose to send an armie to destroy the kingdome and spoyle the poore inhabitants who were vtterly ignorant and guiltlesse of the said facts and promised that hee would herein so carefully trauaile that he would chase from thence all those souldiours and men of warre which Ferdinand had sent thither and that he would continually pay the ordinarie tribute and that according to such order as before was promised and as they had alreadie begun to pay it and further writing many other reasons for his excuse and also to confirme this his deuice he caused likewise certaine of the principallest of the kingdome priuately to write to the said Bashaes to approue all that which he had said Yet would it not induce the Belerbey to desist from marching on with his troupes which he brought with him from Constantinople He being arriued at Belgrade he began to muster and assemble his Campe and after hauing prepared certaine bridges ouer Danubius he passed to the other side and went to lodge by the riuer Tibiscus vpon which he also caused likewise another bridge to bee made and from thence passing on a long he came neere to a Castle named Becche situated almost vpon the riuers side In
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
then to cause the Vayuode of Transiluania to march forward with Transalpina the fidelitie and alleadgance of whom towards the King was most assured either to assaile the enemie behinde of which they nothing mistrusted or else they leauing them to iourney into Thrace which was naked of souldiours whilest the Turkes aduanced themselues against the King For by this meanes the enemie should either bee ouerthrowne and defeated being inclosed betweene two armies or else forced to forsake his enterprise and returne to defend his owne This counsell at the beginning was suspected for certaine causes which would be too long to rehearse but afterward imparted to the Bishop of Strigonium and approued by him the Vayuode of Transiluania was commanded by Vrbine Batian who then was dispatched to go into Moldauia to aduise vpō this what was most expedient and behoofull to be done for the safegard of the kingdome And if he esteemed the counsell good he was commanded to turne his forces and those of Transiluania with Transalpina also towards that quarter and this in part was a speciall cause that the Vayuode could not be present at the day of battaile During these counsels the time of the assemblie and the rende vous appointed to be at Tholne was already expired yet neuerthelesse they were not yet in readines and it seemed that all were not plyable therevnto but only the King neither said they ought they to come to Tholne before they vnderstood of the Kings being there In the meane while the bruite of the Turkes approaching and of his passage of Sauus daily increased in such sort that in the end certaine newes came that after hee passing the riuer and hauing throwne downe certaine Castles hee held on his course towards Varadin Peter and did besiege it both by land and water though it were a towne of no great force In the end the King although not any were come neither from Bohemia nor from any other place and though he had with him but few companies of souldiours yet not willing to be reproued as tardie or negligent concerning this matter of import he departed from Buda called at this day Ofen the 24. of Iuly marching along the shoare of Danubius comming by little and little to Tholne hoping that the other would shortly come to him A little before the King went from Buda Stephen Battor of Somlie was sent to the Vayuode of Transiluania by whom hee was commaunded that leauing the first assignements he should haste himselfe towards his Maiestie with all his Transiluanian forces seeing the sudden ariuall of the enemie did require it When the King departed from Buda he had but 3000. men as well foote as horse counting those that did belong to Queene Marie and the Archbishop of Strigonium The first day that they departed from Buda they made their nights rest at the village of Ambroise Sarkan named Erd distant from Buda two miles In that place the Kings best horse and that which he loued most suddenly dyed whereupon he was much disquieted and many diuined it to presage euill hap The King hauing made his aboade there certaine daies and no aide comming to him proceeded on with those small troupes which he had to the next village named Erchij There hauing spent many daies without effecting any good in the meane time there arriued Andrew Battor one of the principall of that kingdome with a good number of souldiours and they marched along Danubius vnto Pantelee which is a place as we haue said of Ezeck where is to be seene the remaindes of an auncient Romane Colonie There George Basi comming from the Vayuode of Transiluania found the King who imparted vnto his Maiestie that the Vayuode was in great care what he should doe in respect of the diuersitie of messages which hee had sent him hauing first receiued letters from his Maiestie and afterwards by many Curreers and namely by Iaspar Horuuath of Wimgard one of his chiefe gentlemen by which he was commaunded to come to the King and that afterwards there arriued Vrbain Batian who brought him certaine specialties that according to the former he might assaile the enemie behinde with the Transalpinians after him there arriued Stephen Battor of Somlie who brought him the same and first commaund but did not make it openly knowne to him that the King did meane that the aduertisements sent by Batian should come to effect and for that occasion he was vncertaine what to doe in so many alterations not knowing which to follow being neuerthelesse readie and willing to doe what his Maiestie would commaund him And that neuerthelesse he found not any thing of more importance then with all speede to come to the King that it was now too late to assaile the Turkes behinde and in as much as that enterprise was daungerous so was it also more hard now to execute it then at the first for that the Transalpinian with whom he was commaunded to ioyne himselfe was alreadie forced to send his only sonne in hostage to the Turkes Campe. The King vnderstanding the charge of George Basi dislodged and arriued the same morning at the towne of Felduar situated by Danubius and there conferred with his Councell of that which Basi had reported to him At the same instant he also commanded Basi to iourney day and night with as great diligence as he could to the Vayuode and to tell him that the King allowed wel of his counsell and that it was sound and good considering that the enemie had alreadie entered into the kingdome and marched towards him and that therefore he leauing all other determinations he should as well with all all the Transiluanians as those which he met in the way comming towards him make haste and with all expedition come to the Campe bringing with him not onely the Nobilitie and priuate souldiours but also euen the peasants themselues To this effect letters were dispatched vnto the Transiluanians to Iohn Gozthan Chauncellor to the Queene and Bishop of that Prouince and to the Vayuode by the perswasion of George who desired the same according to the aduice that he had receiued of the King his master These letters were of purpose framed sharpe and seuere and sent to the end that the Vayuode should shew them to all whereby to excite and animate euery one He was specially commanded by them vpon paine of disloialtie and treason that he should day and night march to the King To incourage euery one the more there was sent with George Basi Iohn Statile a man of readie and quicke wit and well seene in learning He was by meanes of their sister nephew to Peter Berizlas Bishop of Vesprimie and to Martin Ban a man greatly esteemed both in the affayres of peace and warre These messengers were not yet departed when euen then euill tidings came of the taking of Varadin Peter which the Hungars otherwise call Petrouar after it had been valiantly defended for many daies and all those
made deniall Vpon the right hand of the King was the Archbishop of Strigonium and the Bishop of Zagrabia and the Bishop of Agria was sent from Batha to Buda Next vnto him of Zagrabia were the Bishops of Varadine the fiue Churches and of Sirmia Those of Iauarin and Vacchia were vpon the left hand Behinde the Chauncellor were placed the Bishops of Nitria and Bosnia and the Prouost of Albe after whom were the Secretaries and the Groomes of the chamber On the left side of the King and neere vnto his person there was a place voyde for the Counte Palatine who although he had the gowte and not without great paine could sit vpon his horse yet notwithstanding he did valiantly his dutie sometimes being in the Vauntgard and by and by in the battaile Whilest the Palatine continued not in his place there were certaine Barons kept themselues about the King and those two Bishops which we haue before named behind the King were Czetricz Malliart and Horuuath Master of his horse All these Lords had behind them the best and most resolute men they could chuse for their gard and defence In the midst of this battaile was seene the Ensigne royall which was borne by Iohn Dragfy Marshall of the Kings house which among the Seculars is the third dignitie next to the King This battaile was enuironed with light horse and certaine footmen vpon the flankes Vpon the right wing after the Bishops Secretaries were ranged these three rankes in which as we haue set downe was placed the Kings person The place wherein this armie was thus seated and ranged in battaile was distant from Mohacz one mile and from Danubius halfe a mile hauing neere vnto it a long and large plaine which was not any thing annoyed with wood bushes hils or water but only vpon the left hand towards Danubius there was a muddie marish and ouergrowne with rushes within the which afterward many men lost their liues Before the armie a farre off was a little hill which was of great length and in forme of a Theater behinde the which Soliman was incamped At the foote of this hill there was a little village with a Church it was named Feulduuar and in that village was planted the artillerie of the enemie with many souldiours specially of Ianisaries who on this side the houses of the village tooke vp a large place of ground by reason of their long and thicke troupes among those was Soliman as after was knowne This artillerie being thus planted was as in a valley and for that cause was lesse offensiue to the Hungars then if it had been vpon the plaine in so much that the feare thereof was more offensiue then the hurt The armie being thus ranged in good order in the morning presently after the Sunne was vp the day being cleere and calme Counte Palatine lead the King out of his place and did shew him to all the souldiours riding along the rankes of the armie as he had done the same three daies before to the end to frustrate the distrust which some had that his Maiestie was not present in the battaile openly shewing him to all with his hand and publishing aloude that the King was resolute and readie to endure all extremities and euen death it selfe for his countries weale for the vnspotted religion of Iesus Christ and for their wiues and children declaring to them on his part that they must shew themselues men and bee mindfull that they were Hungars and to be such who oftentimes as hardie and valiant defenders of the Christian publike weale had heretofore brought away so many and so excellent Trophees from such and the like enemies as these were who they saw before their eyes that they should not be astonished at the multitude of their enemies for that the victorie consisted not in the pluralitie but in the dexteritie and courge of the souldiours that God on high would assist them they fighting for his holy religion that the safetie not onely of their owne countrie which the Turks would vsurpe and tyrannize but also of all Christendome was now in their vnconquerable hands After that the King and Counte Palatine had thus reuisited all the rankes of his men of armes and footmen and vsed to all of them the like orations the King retired to his former place A great part of the day was spent in attending the enemie who hauing onely sent a small troupe of his people to skirmish he himselfe kept behinde the hils imagining as it appeared either to draw the Hungars within the straights of these hils or faining to deferre the fight vntill the next day he might in the meane time assaile them and in the night following they being vnprouided to set vpon them in their Campe which he might easily doe as well for the infinit number of his people as also for the great store of Cannon which he had or else that he might rather molest them by a protracting fight They knew not which of these three deuises the enemie would execute but all the day the Hungars were in great doubt of the Turkes resolution vntill towards euening they perceiued the troupes of the enemie to approach by a valley which was on the right hand vnder those hils being onely discouered by the tops of their launces The Frier thinking that they which now came in sight were of the Vauntgard to force and breake his Campe or to enuiron his people commaunded Iasper Raskay with two others who were appointed for the gard of the Kings person as is said before to discouer what the enemie would attempt and force them take some other way Iasper knowing what charge was committed to him to haue a speciall eye and care of the Kings person most honestly refused as much as he could that commission but in the end perceiuing the Frier did greatly presse him thereto and that the King did not contradict his commaund disdaining least the refusing he made vpon so good and iust a cause should be imputed to him as fearfull and cowardly suddenly he set spurres to his horse and with his two companions being followed of all the companies of souldiours which he commaunded aduanced themselues with this hope neuerthelesse wherof they held themselues assured that they should be able to returne in time before the King should haue need of them They being set forward although they were vncertaine whether the enemie would giue battaile that day or no for it was alreadie three houres past noone besides there were certaine of the principall of the armie who being tired with so long an expectation of fight were of opinion to sound a retraict and retire themselues to the Campe. The Frier hearing this sudden motion came with his companion towards the King and did aduise him in any case not to delay the fight alleadging that there was lesse daunger to fight now with part of the enemies armie then to stay vntill the next day at which time
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
he promised her and to pay all the interest which she could pretend and in like sort to satisfie all the debts which were found to be due since that time These offers seemed generally good and reasonable to all and specially to Frier George who also made shew to bee well pleased therewith And after many aduertisements it was concluded that he should cause the Queene to vnderstand thereof and bring an answere from her This charge was committed to the Frier who willingly accepted thereof and being come to the Queene he recited to her all which had been propounded in the Councell She being attentiue and vnderstanding what had passed and withall considering the offer of Ferdinand and that it was a meanes for her to wade out of that subiection wherein the Frier so peremptorily held her she presently answered that whatsoeuer he did she esteemed it greatly beneficiall to her committing all her actions and affayres into his hands of which particularly and by peecemeale they conferred together by the space of fifteene daies But the Frier continued still without resolution now saying this then that apparantly shewing that he had no other respect but to his owne proper commoditie which he shadowed by this that he fained that herein he aymed at nothing but that which particularly concerned the Queene and the good of her sonne whom he protested he loued more then himselfe in respect of the indissoluble bonds of gratitude that forced him to it which oftentimes hee had receiued from his father King Iohn who was his raiser and maker and of whom depended all which he possessed in this world being raised by him of nothing and exalted to this high degree of honour wherein he was now And thus cunningly did he dissemble and draw backe the most he could As these affayres proceeded on in this manner without any resolution it happened one day the Queene without the Friers knowledge found oportunitie to haue some priuate conference with Castalde and in such a conuenient place where she might freely discouer and impart the conceptions of her owne minde assuring him what singular contentment she receiued in that Ferdinand King of the Romanes had sent so sufficient and worthie a man as hee was to negotiate in these affayres the vertue and renowne of whom she had before heard an exceeding good report of and she thought her selfe thrice happie of his comming greatly commending the choise that was made of him and the iudgement of the King in giuing him that absolute authoritie to dispose of things in his name as he thought good of thinking thereby she should haue occasion speedily to bring her miseries to an end which vntill then had held her wrapped vp effectuously importuning him that he would giue faith and credit to the integritie of her heart which had alwaies desired and endeuoured her selfe to doe his Maiestie seruice And afterward she earnestly desired Castalde that for her discharge he would amplie aduertise his Maiestie that for the time passed she was not of her selfe withdrawne from the agreements betweene them but that all proceeded through the Friers subtilties who neuer would agree nor consent that they should proceed to the execution of them but to the contrarie intreated her so badly as still he did that finding none to whom she might haue recourse in such necessities she was constrained as being in despayre to demaund ayde of the Turke of whom she had been many times importuned and incited to leaue that kingdome peaceably vnto him in exchaunge of another great estate which he offered her especially seeing it was in his power as he said to thrust her out of it And although some great feare might giue her good occasion to thinke seriously thereof yet neuerthelesse she meant not for all that to offer that displeasure to Ferdinand especially considering that she was a Christian borne and that it was not conuenient for her to yeeld to any agreement with a Heathen Prince she being greatly sorrowfull for that which was past Thus to release her self out of the Friers snares which she reputed a worse and more intolerable subiection then that of the Turkes as she had been before constrained peaceably to depart from one part of her kingdome so for the like effect she would now willingly forsake the other with a resolute determination to deale with him so that besides the consideration of the seruice which shee meant to performe to Ferdinand hee should finde great contentment freely by her meanes thus without any condition to surrender this Prouince which by force of armes she would neuer haue yeelded to any And yeelding all things into his Maiesties hands she would intreate him that he would haue regard to her sonne who was a King a child and an orphane for which respects he should not refuse to be a Lord and father to him and esteeme of him so in regarde of the time to come as if hee were his naturall sonne hauing that particular respect and care of him as she would and ought to haue of him her selfe and specially acquainting him with the paines and torments whereinto she was fallen yet withall hauing patience to see her selfe brought to that low ebbe that of a great Queene as in former time she saw her selfe to be she was now forst to become a poore Lady and a begger hauing neuer since the time she was expulsed Buda with her sonne in her armes and accompanied with a small traine leauing that towne by the Friers iugling in the gouernment of the Turke receiued any comfort vntill now that he gaue her occasion of exceeding consolation seeing her self now readie to depart out of Transiluania which she would leaue vnder the gouernment of such a King as Ferdinand was who no doubt would defend it and neuer lose it and who might repute it for no small good fortune seeing so voluntarily she suffered her selfe to bee by him depriued of her kingdome with so small a number of men Artillerie of which others with great armies could not dispossesse her Castalde in Ferdinands name answered her that hee accepted of her good and sincere affection which she manifested in these proceedings more then any rich kingdome whatsoeuer promising her that in all fidelitie and sinceritie he would performe all that had been treated of from point to point and he firmely assured her gaging his word that his Maiestie from thence forward would haue such respect to King Iohn as to his owne children And for his owne particular he offered in all her affayres to remaine her obedient and faithfull seruant and protector of her cause desiring no lesse to satisfie her expectation and to please her then Ferdinand himselfe who sent him thither After such like discourses they tooke leaue one of another the Queene retyring to her chamber and Castalde to his lodging In the meane time the Frier began to practise a dissoluing of all the agreements which already were but lately propounded and mistrusting the
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
writ presently vnto him that he should not at that time stay about that enterprise vntill they were vnited together because that they two ioyning in one happely they might attempt some fortunate successe which on the contrarie they could not possibly obtaine if they were separated for that one was not sufficient to make that conquest but their vnion was likely to bee the cause of some good euent and the time should not be lost in vaine as it might happen if he himselfe would onely bee opinionated to stay there with daunger to lose it Besides aduertising him that if in case he would persist in this enterprise and that he saw the Basha of Buda attempted to succour that Castle yet by no meanes he should fight for feare of losing the battaile but that he should endeuour himselfe to retire the best he could it being now no time to hazard his men seeing he very well knew the great and present necessitie which himselfe had thereof He also writ to Ferdinand concerning the same desiring him that hee would cause Palauicin to depart from Drigal and that hee would commaund him presently to march and ioyne with him it being more necessarie then the taking of this Castle This reason although in it selfe it was sound and true yet was it not so apprehended by Ferdinand nor receiued by such due obedience of the Marquesse so that for not inclining to this counsell he fell into such calamitie as we shall hereafter speake of Mahomet who had not the heart to goe to besiege Lippa knowing it was very strong and that the garrison was of Spanyards Germanes and Hungars all chosen and approued souldiours hauing at this instant had newes that the master of the Campe Aldene had forsaken it and set fire on the Castle and not beleeuing that a Spanyard would commit such an indignitie and so vnfit for him sent the same day that Bartholmew Coruatte had drawne out the Artillerie to know the certaintie The Turkes who went thither approached so neere vnto it that they perceiued that the towne and Castle had not receiued very great damage and they began as well as they could to quench the fire and presently aduertised the Basha that this fire had procured no great detriment to that which was newly fortified and that although the Castle was broken and rift in many places the Bulwarkes and Curtaines neuerthelesse were sound and whole and very defencible onely that there was two old towers fallen downe but not any thing of that ruinated which was fortified within and that the Castle it selfe might easily be reduced into his former strength and made sufficient to defend it selfe The Basha vpon this aduertisement was so well content as if he had conquered the moitie of Transiluania and presently dispatched Cassombassa with 5000. horse to goe and enter into Lippa and defend it Presently vpon this Captaines arriuall there he commaunded certaine Turkes to goe and view Solimos thinking for certaine that he should spend more time in taking of it then he did and that it might proue so ill an neighbour to him that he shuld scarcely hold Lippa in peace because that although that Castle was very little yet it was inexpugnable for that it could neither bee battered by the Cannon nor yet assaulted and there was within the said Castle a Corporall of Aldenes squadron with 25. Spaniards and about some 100. Hungars which number was sufficient to defend it against all the world they hauing victuals for two yeeres and of Artillerie and munition as much as should suffice them But feare had alreadie possest euery mans heart insomuch that newes being come that Cassombassa was within Lippa the Corporall fearing the enemie would come directly to the Castle did resolue to leaue it to the hazard of fortune thinking that the former fault of others would excuse him from the reproach of any dishonourable act vpon which resolution he perswaded all the souldiours who were within to depart who alreadie were so discouraged for the passed accidents and for the faint-heart which they perceiued in him who commaunded them that they were presently induced without any vrgent perswasions to credit his sayings and began to goe forth at the instant when Cassombassa had sent 200. horse to summon them to yeeld who being arriued before the Castle and finding it open although they suspected some deceit yet they boldly entered in and without any resistance made themselues masters thereof and considering that the garrison could not be farre off vnderstanding that the night before they were within presently they set themselues forward to follow them and they had not gone farre but that they ouertooke and so intrapped them with such an assault as wolues commonly giue to amazed sheepe being in flight and put them all to the sword except the Corporall whom they led prisoner to Cassombassa and thus was the desert of their shamefull cowardise duly rewarded yea euen at the time when seeking their owne safetie they then found death which then had not ended their daies if they had remained within the Castle and valiantly employed themselues for the defence therof which men expect for at the hands of resolute souldiours for thus in keeping Solimos they might thereby with good securitie haue defended Lippa Castalde at that time alwaies remained about Sassebessa with that small force which wee haue spoken of daily expecting the arriuall of the Marquesse Sforce and assuredly beleeuing that the Basha would not omit to attempt the enterance into the kingdome and that so much the more boldly because he saw himself Lord without any impeachment of the place which he esteemed of most importance he was attentiue to see what he would determine of because that vntill then he could neuer vnderstand the drift of his intention but onely then when he was at Themesuar he heard that hee durst not enter into Transiluania because it was reported that Castalde was therein with a good number of men and that daily he expected more and that if he should then enter there he could not so easily retire himselfe as he would This opinion of the Basha was grounded vpon certaine policies and stratagems which Castalde Andrew Battor and Thomas Nadasily had vntill that time vsed deceiuing thereby his Spies causing his people daily to bee newly mustered and stretching their squadrons at length to the end that they might seeme double as great as they were adding thereto very great Salues of the Artillerie and Harquebuziers hauing caused their Campe to be largely lodged to the end that it should seeme greater then it was further reporting that daily they expected ayde and that Duke Mauris would shortly arriue with 20000. men and Ferdinand in person with a great armie By such and other like inuentions Castalde greatly helped himselfe in the necessitie wherein he then was supplying therein by his owne industrie that which he knew was wanting by reason of the smalnes of his armie and not being able
brother King of Polonia being aduertised of his death made present instance to the Lords of Poland to permit him to goe into France to take possession of so great a kingdome and to set things in order there promising them to returne againe within few moneths The Pollacques would not willingly graunt to him that which he demaunded neuerthelesse they aunswered him that they would consent thereunto if so be that for that effect a Diet should be assembled without which they could graunt him nothing In the meane time his Maiestie gaue order to locke vp his best implements and Iewels and to depart secretly with all speed and after he had sent away before the Ambassadour of France vnder coulour that his authoritie was expired by the decease of his Master and seeing that to attend any longer the resolution of this Diet which the Pollacques delayed from day to day of purpose to detaine him and being resolued to depart he caused to be written in his name by the Lord of Pibrac a letter in Latin to the Senat of Poland by which his Maiestie aduertised them that the occasion more then apparant and the neede of France forced him to depart from their kingdome sooner then hee thought for without further expecting the issue of the Diet he being solicited by messengers vpon messengers to doe it by the Princes and Lords of France and especially by the Queene his Mother without further expecting the issue of the Diet. Hauing left these letters vpon his table and as the said Lord of Pibrac had ended them his Maiestie departed in the night from Cracouia out at a secret posterne of which he vsually had the keyes to goe on hunting and being mounted on horsebacke he made so good speed that within a short time he was out of the limits of the kingdome of Poland and being come to the confines of the Emperours territories he was receiued by his Emperiall Maiestie and by his children with all demonstration of great amitie and by them conducted to Vienna where he was honored and vsed with all manner of honorable respects From thence hee went to Venice where the Seigniorie prouided for him a magnificent enterie After that he passed by Ferrara Mantua and Turin being greatly entertayned by the Princes of Italie An Ambassadour of Poland met him at Ferrara who greatly complayned himselfe of his Maiestie and protested that if hee returned not within a short time the Polonians were resolued to make choise of a new King for that this kingdome could not remaine without the presence of a King His Maiestie desired him to stay this resolution promising him to returne within a short time From Turin within few daies he arriued in France at the same time that the Hungars giuing order to their affayres and fortifying their frontier places against the Turkes prepared for the warre and this they did so much the more willingly for that they already saw amongst them many disorders and that in Transiluania there was declared King by the commaund of the Turke Stephen Battor a man of great experience of whom they had some feare and not without cause Vpon such distrusts and with such preparations they began both of the one part other greatly to be indamaged But during such feares as the Hungars had by reason of the Turke he alreadie preparing to destroy all Christians and feeling himselfe marueilously puffed vp with glorie by reason of the happie successes which betided him in Africa and thinking to take away from the Venecians the I le of Candie as he had done that of Cypresse he dyed within few daies after He was a Prince aboue all other of his time greatly periurious barbarous and wholly fraughted with treacherie he being not come to this Empire but by deceits and falsehoods hauing induced his father to cause all his brethren to be massacred as it was afterwards auerred and hauing thus filled his house with homicides and murthers he obserued not any law or religion but was drowned in all filthie and vilanous vices whatsoeuer This death happened then when the Polonians seeing that their King Henry was peaceably possessed of the Crowne of France and that the time by him prefixed was expired many moneths alreadie past began to treate of the election of another King Henry being aduertised of their intention desired the Electors and Barons of the kingdome that they would attend vntill a certaine time in which space he promised to returne to them or else that hee would send them full commission to chuse another such as they would think to be more commodious for them To this request being ioyned the threats of Amurath the Turke the Polonians contented themselues to stay vntill the prefixed time This passed and at the last expired the Diet was appointed at Cracouia The Emperour Maximilian after that he was aduertised that the intention of the Polonians was not to remaine without the presence of a King began to negotiate with them to cause himselfe to bee chosen King amongst them On the other side Amurath who succeeded Selim hauing vnderstood the suites which the Emperour made sent to the Pollacques and aduised them to doe nothing in that affayre which was disliking to him and that he would they should chuse for their King one amongst them or else Stephen Battor King of Transiluania And the more to astonish this negotiation of Maximilian he writ vnto him by a Chiauss that he and his brothers the Archdukes should pay him tribute of all whatsoeuer they possessed otherwise that he would march into Hungarie and Austria with a puissant armie to put all to fire sword threatning him in the end that if for him or any of his he shuld practise the getting of the kingdom of Polonia he would make him repent it Notwithstanding these threats the Emperour by meanes of those who were of his partie was chosen K. of Poland against the King of Transiluania and Duke of Muscouia which two perceiuing themselues greatly disdained determined to endamage with all their forces that kingdome Maximilian being aduertised thereof and foreseeing that he should draw vpon himselfe so many and so puissant enemies and considering that he had not sufficient forces to oppose himselfe against them and especially against the Turk who prepared to thrust himselfe into Poland being offended with this that the Polonians had so slightly regarded his aduertisements and messengers fearing to trouble himselfe in a warre too daungerous for him and his from whence very hardly he could vntangle himselfe made no great shew of reioycing at this election but laying aside the care which he ought to haue had of it fained as though he knew nothing thereof prolonging by that meanes the taking possession of that kingdom vnder a hope that after the first assaults of these Princes there would not thereby happen to him in the end any other thing Neuerthelesse the Polonians fearing the puissance of the Turke who prepared himselfe to armes
effusion of bloud of captiuities of violations and of the execrable miseries which are daily committed among the rest of the inhabitants of this miserable Hungarie and euen by those whom they had drawen so vndiscreetly into their countrie vnder the colour of succour and ayde And vpon this report refraine your rage take againe your wonted spirits and indeuour that your follies may be so momentarie that in euery wisemans iudgement they may be esteemed better then heretofore THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE A Philosophicall and Theologicall discourse concerning the reuolution of things Lewis the second of that name King of Hungarie and Bohemia of his descent and qualities The gouernours and Councellors of his estate Solyman prepareth to inuade Hungarie The diligence of Paul Tomoree Lieutenant generall of the Kings armie Lewis soliciteth the Christian Princes for ayde Ecclesiasticall treasure is leuied for the warre The Turkes armie passed the riuer Sauus The description of Hungarie A briefe recitall of the places where happened the greatest force of the warre The riches of Hungarie Aduertisements to the King for the ordering of this warre against the Turkes Lewis goeth into the field Varadin Peter taken by the Turkes Souldiours repayred from all parts to the King lying at Tholne Wylak taken by the Turkes The priuiledges of the Barons of Hungarie The King determined to goe into the field with a small force and the Souldiours importune to fight The description of the towne of Mohaz where the King fought and lost the battaile A disswasion from fight and further consideration thereof Tomoree aduiseth to fight The Christian Armie no more but 25000. men and the Turkes were 300000. The meanes to preserue the King in battaile the order and place of the battaile The King is shewne to the Hungarian Souldiours A deliberation of the enemies purposes and of his appearing in the field Tomoree importuneth to fight the beginning of the battaile the losse of the King and ouerthrow of the Hungars The Kings bodie found dead A certaine Ghost appeared in mans shape The Turkes spoyle and harrie all ouer Hungarie Buda taken by the Turkes 200000. Christians ouerthrowne slaine and taken prisoners in this expedition SEeing the Heauen is such as it representeth it selfe to our sight that is proportioned like vnto a Sphericall or round forme and sith the same Heauen enuironeth besides the meane of this great concauitie which being betweene it and vs is filled with ayre this wonderfull frame which wee name the world little I confesse in respect of that which enuironeth it about and wonderfull great in consideration of the naturall apprehension which we may haue of it it is not without cause that certaine auncient Philosophers esteemed that all things had their reuolutions For sith so it is that the lowest part of a circle is that which is in the middest thereof and that the lower parts or bodies are gouerned by the superiour which thing also is found true by naturall reasons knowne and diligently obserued in all handie workes and engines it is not without reason that some haue inferred of this that this world is subiect to the motion of the Heauens and that we perceiue amongst vs the things passed to returne againe and represent themselues to our viewes For Heauen being round his period or full point is no other but a continuall begininng againe euen as prest and readie as his ende which the Aegyptians by their Hierogyphicall figures meant to represent vnto vs and namely by a serpent holding the end of his tayle with his teeth Now this world being heauie and ponderous of his owne proper nature and yet in the middest of this great soft and light ayre firme stable and immoueable by diuine disposition which is incomprehensible to vs this world I say receiueth by certaine reuolutions in the same place and quarters the same and like passions which it hath once receiued from the influence of Heauen euen as by the ordinarie circumuolution of it it commeth more neere vnto vs with his beames The volubilitie which is in the one and the stabilitie that is in the other is the cause of the effecting bringing forth of such passions these two contraries being so ordained and disposed of to the end that that which is the patient might make the other to become the agent it being not possible that the one should subsist except the other were in essence And as the patient to the end it may suffer ought to stand fast and not shake so the agent on the the other side is alwaies in action being not able to stay it selfe And if they were both alike in soliditie and firmenes or of the same motion their qualities would be without any effect And for this cause God meaning that the world should be gouerned according to the nature of it by Heauen he hath created the world stable for the patient and the Heauen moueable for the agent and all this to the end the world should receiue this benefit of God by the meanes of Heauen through certaine reuolutions of it in as much as this great circumuolution might still remaine and returne againe Whereupon proceedeth this auncient prouerbe which telleth vs That nothing is done nor nothing sayd which hath not been done or sayd before What is there now that hath not been And shall not that at last Which is to be receiue his being From that which once is past That which is made vnmade shall be And eke againe be made And being made againe it shall Be seene to waste and fade And this is that which oftentimes vpholdeth many good spirits which otherwise would be terrified through the innumerable euils wherewith men are often times enuironed For wrestling against such torments they are supported by a certaine hope against such terrors namely this that one day good shall come in steed of euill like as when it raineth we still hope for faire weather These reuolutions neuerthelesse are not alwaies equall or of like perfection by reason of the multiplicitie of meteores and heauenly starres which in their sphericall courses haue euery one their proper motion more soone or later one then the other and that in such wise that thorough many ages we doe not finde two equall situations or aspects of the same starres streaming vpon vs. For this cause the effects of such reuolutions doe not manifest themselues agreeable in euery circumstance to the first There be also some of these reuolutions which haue not their neerest causes from these heauenly influences but they succeede onely by a certaine combining togither or be as a consequence of things fore-happened as for example in time of warre many euils doe infallibly accompanie it and are ingendred thereby Other reuolutions there be which are not natural but proceed from the only and free will of God these we may name supernaturall although we see thē to happen by the sequell of
certaine precedent causes and to haue bin practised before in certaine worldly matters These reuolutions sometimes fall out sooner then the naturall course of the starres because that Gods iustice whereof they do depend doth hasten and addresse it selfe to punishment euen as the waight of the misdeedes requireth The two first kindes of these reuolutions may be noted to happen many times naturally in those who are altogether abandoned and forsaken of God and are by him left to the course of their owne lust as we see amongst the Barbarians and in the person of Pharaoh The third kind was inflicted vpon the children of Israell who haue often felt one selfe same iustice and diuine punishment for that their fault was the same equall to the former such being the will pleasure of God to chasten those whō he loueth The calamitie happening to the kingdome of Hungarie whereof I vndertake to write the historie may well bee referred to one of these three punishments For when this countrie at an instant was ouerthrowne there was not in Europe yea it may be not in all the world any place where the people was more proude effeminate cold of courage then in this they giuing themselues ouer to such infamous vices through the great riches and maruelous abundance and wealth of the countrie which is the cause of all wickednes and because they did to say the trueth often make head against the Turks and many times repulsed them from whence proceeded their pride and from the same the despising and contemning of their enemie The seruice of God was not then obserued but in pompe and sumptuous riches The Pastors Prelates of the Church behaued themselues like souldiours vnder colour that it was for defence of it against their enemies Iustice was made an ordinarie sale The Nobilitie peremptorie and vntolerable And the simple people no more simple but hollow perfidious and wicked For these and such like enormous vices it is likely considering that which ensued that God to commence and begin his chasticement sent to this people a yong King according to that wise saying of Salomon who assureth vs That cursed is that countrie whose King is an infant Notwithstanding as yong as he was yet was he soone taken out of the world leauing no certaine heires behinde him but vnfortunate and cankered hatred yea a desire in the hearts of certaine Princes to raigne which continued and perfected the vtter subuersion of this miserable Prouince But discoursing thus freely vpon the euil of another it may be obiected that I haue matter enough at home without borrowing from elsewhere to make the like discourse There is truly enough and more then we should desire but I willingly answer as the wiseman who saith That it is unseemely for a man to be iudge in his owne causes or make his owne accounts For to write and discouer our vices is a vaine foolishnes and to magnifie and extoll our praises is no other but meere flatterie I had rather imitate those who vse the good examples of others to inrich their narration and know so wel to accommodate them to the subiect or matter which is propounded that the auditors are more drawne by them then by their principall and chiefe arguments Nay I will speake boldly as similitudes are not in all respects alike so it seemeth that we are in worse condition then was Hungarie for that the miserie thereof did not happen but by one of these reuolutions and the euill fortune which doth enuiron vs doth depend vpon all the three because it seemeth rather to ouerthrow vs then to correct vs so that we know not which is more true whether we are chasticed for our faults by the pleasure and will of God as if he loued vs or whether he doth vtterly abandon and forsake vs as he did the Barbarians of Peru leauing vs to our owne motiues of lust and by consequence to the naturall course of the starres the great Coniunction of which as hath been obserued by the Astronomers should happen in this miserable time bringing with it nothing but a great alteration of kingdomes and estates with a consequence of a thousand and a thousand miseries At the falling out of such Coniunctions wee reade that the Romane common-weale hath changed the estate vnder Iulius and Augustus as afterward this French Monarchie did vnder Pepin and Charlemaigne and as before that Italie did vnder Romulus and Assyria vnder Merodach and before them the like mutations happened vnder Ianus and vnder Moses The miseries that accompanied the alteration of the Romane state are sufficiently knowne The cruelties were not such vnder Pepin as they were vnder Hugh Capet The reuolution of diuine Iustice did not extend it selfe but vpon the three sonnes of Philip the faire for the punishment of their wicked liues who successiuely were kings of France and dying without issue the kingdome was transferred to those of the house of Valoys Also it is a necessary and vsuall thing that when a good or bad State is come to his complete perfection it presently declineth and reuolueth by reason of this circumuolution commonly called in all ages the wheele of Fortune to which reuolution God hath fastned all humane actions as well actiue as passiue as to a fashion or forme the certainest of all others so that we neither see nor reade of any thing but a continuall returning of good and euill hauing his course or period more short or long according to the varietie of things or disposition of Gods will When we see Religion Iustice or Policie to be in his full force of vertue we may assure our selues to rest in good estate and great content But of the contrarie when superstition and Atheisme when oppression and denying of Iustice when tyrannie and disorder are come to their full points wee ought to expect for no other but great ruine and miserie and yet the same decaying and declining by little and little I will not in particular here recite deuotion turned to hypocrisie the sacred Ministerie and the goods therof committed to Captaines and men of warre and conuerted to the dowries of women vnlawfull bargaines and fowle enormities couered with the vaile of Iustice the execution thereof committed to the ignorant in that the same is valued rather at the price of money then of knowledge the gouernments of Prouinces and Captainships of fiftie men of armes brought to a set price in fine that the royall seate is the onely shop of all ruinous inuentions and the charges and exactions of the simple people without limite or reason The euill which infallibly followeth such like infortunate operations proceedeth not but by diuine prouidence who minding afterward to introduce good must first cast out and purge the euill by punishment and chasticement which bringeth with it such miserie Notwithstanding all these naturall violences and iust chasticements may bee mitigated and asswaged by some other gentle and discreete meanes The first
were propounded before the King and the same it may be more necessary then profitable this Captaine turning himselfe towards the King said Most excellent Prince the vertue and force which may come by counsell is not then necessarie when the effect thereof must goe before mens opinions For this cause since our enemies are so readie to fight it is in like sort conuenient and that for two causes that we also prepare our selues to the combat The one is that wee ought to preserue your Maiestie safe and sound and the other that wee may maintaine our honour and reputation for it would bee imputed as a base and seruile thing for vs Hungars who are borne and alwaies accustomed to manage armes now to flye or refuse the battaile which the enemie offereth vs. And for this respect it behoueth vs both with bodie and courage to fight with our inuincible forces and especially now since the commoditie of further aduise is taken from vs the which would greatly haue besteaded vs in this affayre considering that either a memorable victorie must happen to vs or else a glorious death to all and so much the rather also as the necessitie of this war doth take away all benefit and commoditie of the time by the suddaine arriuall of our enemies and yet more then that considering that there is nothing lesse thought of thē the interest which the one and the other pretendeth to the gouernment and rule of this kingdome which cannot acknowledge two Lords and indeed demaundeth but one For these causes although the enemies far exceed vs in number it is necessarie that euery one fight for the glorie and renowne of his Countrie and for the good and quiet repose of the publike weale to the ende that it may not bee thought that we would flie the burthen and daunger of a Battaile and also we ought this day for the benefit and commoditie of euery one rather to hope for a memorable victorie by the point of the sworde then to saue our selues by a cowardly flight and if fortune be fauourable to vs we shall gaine a perpetuall peace or else in dying obtaine an honorable end considering the custome of fortune is such that among those who fight couragiously for the preseruation and defence of their Countrie she doth rather fauour them whose number is but small then those who are followed by thousands of souldiours These speeches being ended presently he began to forme and order his Battaile committing the right left wings to the Transiluanian souldiours and to the Caualary of the same Countrie as reposing greater affiance in them then in the other and he impaled himselfe in the midst of the Hungarish and other souldiours newly gathered together Opposite to these Battalions the Captaines of Ferdinand ordained their squadrons in forme of two wings giuing the right to the souldiours of Austria and to the horsemen of Bohemia and the left wing to the souldiours of Stiria to the horsemen of Carinthia and Valentine was placed in the midst of all with the royall Standard enuironed and followed of all the Hungars and Paul Bacchie a man expert in feates of war being wel acquainted with Turkish deceites with a good cōpanie of Vsarons who are like our light horsemen withdrew himselfe into a secret ambush where he might as he did suddainely assayle the hinder part of the Armie of King Iohn and according to the accidents of fortune annoy him At this instant the souldiours aswell on the one part as on the other without being requested thereunto by their Captaines were inflamed to fight and began now couragiously to march one against the other and after the Artillerie had interchaungeably played not being greatly offensiue to either part they incountred in such rude and fierce maner that the Stirians could not sustaine the violence of the Transiluanians but begā to turne their backes and their Caualarie to disperse here there But on the otherside the Carinthian men of armes bore the shocke force of Ference Bode his squadrons who were but fresh-water souldiours lately leauied and passed through them and brake their arraies In the meane while the Hungars aswell on the one part as on the other valiantly fought with equal art and industry force and courage none being able to iudge on which side the victory would fal and that with such obstinacie that there was sinall or no difference at al betwixt them in respect of their valour courage Neuerthelesse al the Hungarish Battalion of King Iohns was broken and ouerthrowne by the Bohemian armed men who came in to the skirmish At this alteration offortune Bode inforced himselfe to reunite certaine companies which were dispersed and againe to make head against the enemie and to pursue the battaile in executing of which he was suddenly surprised and enuironed by the light horsemen of Paul Bacchie who vntill then held himselfe in couert and there Bode was the second time broken and himselfe taken prisoner and all his armie defeated and cut in peeces and the royall Ensigne of Iohns taken with all the Artillerie and baggage King Iohn seeing fortune incline to Ferdinand and to bee opposite to him and all his armie ouerthrowne and that there was now no more hope left vnto him of any good tooke his flight towards the confines of Sarmatia which wee at this day call Polonia and the Conquerors ranging all ouer the countrie reduced Transiluania with the rest of Hungarie vnder the obedience of Ferdinand to whom was sent Ference Bode with all the Ensignes wonne in the battaile and many other persons of note whereof he receiued great content and causing the fidelitie of Ference Bode to bee sounded to see if he would forsake Iohns part and sweare alleageance to him But not being able to draw from him in any sort that he had a meaning to breake his oth and promise which he had giuen vnto Iohn he was in the end by his commaund sent prisoner to a Castle where in great penurie and not without a pitifull example of fortune and to the great ignominie of him by whom he was imprisoned he ended there his life hauing been a man of singular vertue and wisedome who well might haue been compared to any one of the ancient or worthie Captaines and one might iustly iudge that such calamitie was farre vnfitting such an excellent and worthie man Ferdinand obtaining this victorie and publishing at the same time a Diet of the Hungars to be held at Alberegalis was in like sort after the same manner as Iohn was with Anne his wife crowned King of Hungarie and that by the hands of the same Archbishop of Strigonium and of Peter Peren who had forsaken King Iohn who being brought into poore and meane estate was retired into Polonia he being entertained by Hieromic Lasky a mightie man both in possessions and also well followed in those countries who exceedingly reioyced at the arriuall of so great a
personage and receiued him very curteously and did greatly comfort him for the paines and miserie whereinto hee was so deeply fallen and entertained him in such friendly sort that it well appeared he wanted nothing else but onely the dignitie and state of a King did so much honor him as was possible But Lasky being of a haughtie spirit and a man who with deepe iudgement had often managed affayres of great import as well in the warres as in the peaceable gouernment of a kingdome and other publike Estates perswaded Iohn that he saw no other meanes more behoofull to redresse and reduce this present extremitie of his affayres into better order nor none more proper nor conuenient for the recouerie of his kingdome then that which might befall him by the ayde and helpe of Solyman the Turkish Emperour And therefore instantly aduised him not to forsake the meanes and oportunitie but to vse it in his necessitie for that he assured him in respect of the extreame ambition glorie and couetousnes to increase the limits of his Empire and in hope to make himselfe a greater Monarke he would by no meanes faile or omit to giue him ayde and succour so as himselfe would offer and vow to hold his kingdome of him by faith and homage as depending vpon the Ottoman house and to pay him some reasonable tribute such as Solyman himselfe would impose vpon him Which being concluded and determined betweene them Lasky desiring greatly to fauour and ayde the cause of his friend and receiuing of Iohn the summe and charge of an Ambassage he set forward to goe towards Constantinople with a good traine where at the length being arriued he presently endeuoured himselfe by gifts to win the fauour and grace of all the Bashaes and of the Captaines of the grand Seigniours Port and of all other principall persons of his Court who with his presents he in such sort gained that they serued him as a ladder to mount to the top of his desires who being at last admitted to the Turkes presence and after humble reuerence to him made was by him according to the custome sent againe to the Bashaes among whom Luflefy and Abraham had the most authoritie commaund and credit the one being alied to the grand Seigniour because hee had maried his sister and the other being a Visir which is the chiefe of all officers and one that keepeth the Turkes seale and signeth all expeditions or dispatches Lasky gained and that beyond all expectation these mens amitie by meanes of their wiues whom he had possest and corrupted with rich and costly presents with whom also hee discoursed so familiarly in the Slauonian and Turkish languages as if hee had been naturally bred and brought vp among them His fayre and good speeches caused him to be gratious and amiable to all and by such pleasing courses he began with all his endeuour to treate of the affayres of King Iohn specially tending to this purpose that hee might bee restored againe to his kingdome being vniustly chased out of it by the forces of Ferdinand and by the enuie and wickednes of certaine Hungars being before by them iuridically chosen and crowned King for the recouering of which he did offer besides a reasonable tribute to acknowledge and hold it of the grand Seigniour and to be called the subiect of the Ottoman house and in token of true fidelitie and alleageance and for the perpetuall memorie of such a benefit he would yeeld himselfe to bee his subiect Lasky further declaring that it was better for Solyman to haue King Iohn with a weake force for his neighbour and friend then Ferdinand who because he was brother to the Emperour Charles and King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria and Lord of many other countries would make shew rather to be feared and redoubted by his neighbours and he further declared that if he would not listen therevnto it might possible be that one day he would vex and disturbe him more then he now presently thought of And besides that he should doe in this as beseemed a magnanimious and vertuous Emperour in ayding those who by others are wrongfully oppressed and iniured and to fauour the iust cause of him who for euer should remaine his bounden and loyall subiect These reasons being heard by the Bashaes and reported to Solyman who by a secret window had alreadie vnderstood all that passed did so set him on fire with the glorie which hee hoped for by such an expedition that incontinent he resolued to vndertake it with such conditions notwithstanding that King Iohn should obserue from point to point all that which he had caused to be promised him In the meane time Ferdinand not without cause mistrusting the which indeede happened that Iohn might seeke ayde of the Turke against him did deliberate thinking to preuent the deseignes of his enemie to send to the grand Seigneor to demaund of him truce and to confirme the amitie and friendship that Ladislas and Lewis Kings of Hungarie had in former time sworne with the house of Ottoman and the which truce the King of Polonia then enioyed not doubting but he would willingly condiscend to his demaund if he would sufficiently apprehend his reasons For this cause he sent his Embassador Iohn Oberdansch to Solyman to practise and negotiate this confederacie He being dispatched with good expedition arriued at Constantinople and was honorably entertayned as was fitting for an Ambassadour But publishing the occasion of his comming he well perceiued the rigour of Solyman and the little credit he had amongst his people and hee manifestly knew that King Iohn had alreadie preuented his purpose And receiuing his aunswere that the grand Seigniour would not by any meanes accept into friendship them who in former time had been such and so great enemies to his house and by whom his people had receiued infinite outrages and especially considering his Master had so vniustly vsurped that kingdome which he possessed not but onely by force expulsing the true King the iust titles and allegations of whom being before from him concealed by the late victorie which his Master obtayned against him and being afterwardes better acquainted with the cause by the information of credible people he was forced by pittie and Iustice of his sworde to reinueste the sayd Iohn in his true and lawfull possession For these causes Solyman absolutely denyed Ferdinand all his demaundes as vnworthie of his frendship and instead of peace he denounced open war commaunding presently his Ambassadour from Constantinople who with all expedition departed and within a short time came to Vienna imparting to the Kings Counsell what was the issue of his Ambassage The councellours giuing no credit to his words but iudging his reporte to bee false sent vnto Ferdinand who then was at the diet at Spire and when he heard it he was greatly astonished thereat The Spring time approaching Solyman caused to be proclaimed that al his forces
of Europe and of Asia should resort to Andrionoplis where he would make a generall muster and presently after with great diligence to march to Belgarde which is in Hungarie with all his forces where he so iourned not long but incontinently King Iohn with a great companie of the Hungarian Nobilitie which he brought with him came to kisse his hands and to acknowledge himselfe to him as his subiect and tributarie He found him sitting vnder a Canapie where hee made no great countenance to moue himselfe at the reuerences which he made but showing a great Maiestie he gaue him his right hand in signe of amitie the which he kissed and after some courtesies Solyman said to him that he doubted not but with ease to reconquer all that which vniustly had been taken from him and that by the iustice of his forces which being done he would liberally render it to him againe King Iohn departing from Solyman went to visit Abraham Basha whose friendship he had alreadie obtayned as is sayd before by meanes of Lasky who also was the onely cause to procure him such fauour with Solyman and drew to him Lewis Gritty who was the sonne of Andrew Gritty then Duke of Venice and who easily and friendly ruled Abraham and so familiarly also that it seemed he could not liue without his companie Also Lasky as hauing intelligence of the Bashaes affayres and with the Lords of Solymans Court had specially practised the friendship of the said Gritty for by the industrie of him by meanes of Abraham Basha he obtained of the grand Seigniour that which he desired And King Iohn had in this so good successe that he found in this armie the aforesaid Abraham After that Solyman had reposed himselfe with his armie certaine daies at Belgrade he marched directly to Buda which was forsaken by the citizens as soone as euer they heard of the report of his comming and so it came vnder the gouernment of the enemie without any resistance only the Fortresse was kept by 700. Germanes who very couragiously for a time did their endeuour to defend it The Turkes seeing they could not so soone be masters thereof as they thought began to myne and sap it whereby they might make the defences and wals saultable and hauing throughly performed it the fire and the thicke smoake which darkened the element ascended euen to the noses of the assieged who greatly feared to be destroyed therein and seeing their companions alreadie begin to flye in the ayre caused them maugre Nadasky their Captaine who commaunded that place to sound a parley and treatie of a composition with the Turkes conditionally that in deliuering that hold they might in safetie depart with their baggage and retire themselues into some place of safetie Which being accorded and concluded they rendred vp the Castle and departed In the meane time it being reported to Solyman that this composition was onely made by the souldiours without the agreement of Nadasky their Captaine he presently sent after them in the way towards Poson to which place they would make their retraict his Ianisaries to put them to the sword as vnworthie to liue hauing alreadie suffered them too long to breathe This towne and Fortresse being thus taken the armie marched directly towards Vienna all the Campe resting in the way before Alteburg which was a towne defended by the Bohemians who at the first manfully withstood certaine assaults but seeing that in one of those assaults their Captaine had lost his life they began then to lose their courage and waxe faint and feeling themselues wearie for that they were continually at the fight and finding themselues more straightned then before and assailed with greater furie they forsooke the Rampiers and gaue place to the enemie who with such a furie entred the towne that they put all to the sword This towne being wonne the grand Seigniour was aduertised that he should not now find any hinderance neither in townes nor field whereupon he sent before the Accanges to the quarters of Vienna which are as in former times like the aduenturers of France and not much vnlike our Scottish borderers to fire and spoyle all the countrie These people serue not for wages but in time of warre are leauied among the peasants as the Ayduches in Hungarie are they are not paid any wages neither are they taxed but of the bootie which they get they giue the tenth part thereof to the grand Seigniour as they do of all their goods besides They now following the commaund which was prescribed them executed incredible cruelties bearing away with them all kinde of bootie After that they made towards the fiue Churches where they committed no lesse outrage to the inhabitants of the countrie then they did to the other who fearing such and the like deuastations and enormious cruelties forsooke their houses seeking by diuers meanes to saue themselues In this sort the Accanges continuing their pilling robbing and massacring at last arriued before Vienna by the riuer of Lints where they were no more mercifull then in other places Ferdinand along time foreseeing these euents had put into Vienna all that little ayde which then he had causing new Rampiers and fortifications to be built and fearing worse would afterward ensue he trauailed to al the townes of Germanie not as a King but as a Post or messenger to demaund speedie ayde At the request of whom and vpon the bruite which was dispersed of the taking of Buda all the Germanes with one accord sent the Counte Palatine with 20000. Launsquenets and 2000. horse to the end himselfe with many other Captaines of marke might enter into Vienna to take possession and defend it and hinder the Turkes further proceedings as it was an easie matter for him to doe Among other voluntaries there went William Roccandolph Comptroler of King Ferdinands house Iohn Gazianer a Slauonian Hector Ransach Nicholas Salm who was at the taking of the King of France at Pauia Leonard Velsch and Nicholas Turian and many other renowned through Germanie for their vertue and prowesse they put into the citie 100. peeces of great Artillerie and about 200. lesser all which were in good order planted about the towne In the meane while the enemie not being able to march so fast as was requisite for them in respect of the great store of raine that fell in the moneth of September and especially by reason of the passage of Danubius which was then ouerflowed in the end they arriued before Vienna vpon the 13. day of the same moneth who with al their army enuironed it diuiding their Campe into foure quarters the circuite of which was so great that one could not see nothing but the ground couered with Tents and Pauilions for foure miles compasse Abraham Basha was incamped vnder a hill right ouer against the citie that he might the more commodiously obserue and take view therof himselfe being lodged in a little ruinated Castle which was thereby
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
Pescara who being called to him he commaunded that he should prepare and employ himselfe in the expedition of his brother Ferdinand making him Lieutenant and Captaine generall to his nephew Maximilian King of Bohemia Castalde gratiously accepted this charge which the Emperour had imposed vpon him and being well furnished with good store of horse and armes which were bestowed vpon him by many Lords of the Court of whom he was well beloued and fauored And among others of the Duke of Alba the Bishop of Arras the Marquesse Iohn of Pescara and of the Duke of Sessa he put himselfe in good equipage and taking his leaue of the Emperour he set forward towards Vienna where being at last arriued with a reasonable companie he was receiued of Ferdinand and with great mirth sports by the King Maximilian with whom spending certaine daies he was instructed by them of all things which were needfull for this warre and of the manner which he ought to vse towards the Frier and how he should gouerne and commaund this Prouince and the meanes to entertaine in loue and kindnes the Lords thereof After that Ferdinand promised him yeerely 8400. Florins of gold to maintaine his estate besides the rewards that should particularly bee giuen him to dispose among men of marke and authoritie who followed him And to the ende there should bee no default for the true payment of this money he made him a more ample and sure assignation He hauing thus confirmed his estate and authoritie he specially commaunded him that he should peaceably friendly manage his affayres with Frier George according to his nature but with speciall discretion whereby he might at the beginning the better know and enter into his conditions according to which and to the experience and practise of things which daily would present themselues to him he might gouerne and behaue himselfe and not to contradict him in any thing but agreeing to all reasonable matters which he demaunded he should alwaies shew himselfe towards him liberall milde and gratious knowing well that he was ambitious and couetous that being the onely way whereby he must walke and temper with him He also commaunded him that hee should make a memoriall of all such things which were necessarie for this warre as well for the commoditie and defence of footmen as horsemen whereby there might bee prouision made therefore and all things to be in a readines by that time he should set forward on his iourney which was presently done and presented to his Maiestie according to the articles which here follow Instructions for the conduct of an Armie and maintenance of the same 1 That first speciall choise is to be made of a good and discreet Generall of a Campe who before hath been practised and experienced in that office and knoweth what belongs to that charge as well to lodge and dispose of a Campe as also to minister and execute iustice and to set a reasonable rate of victuals It is necessarie for him to haue two good Auditors besides his Secretaries Notaries Sergeants Archers Masters of iustice Iaylors and such other officers as for example are ouerseers of the Campe Suruayors of victuals and such like by whom all the Campe ought to bee gouerned and subiect vnto obeying vnto the precept of the ordinances which daily ought to be set downe That in like sort all the other officers of the Campe of what nation soeuer ought to receiue from the foresaid Generall his ordinances and commaundements and to execute them in their quarters whereby all things may proceede in their right and due course not at any hand tolerating the retaylers to lodge within the Campe for feare of famine and bringing of them to necessitie or victuals or other marchandise to be heigthned in their price vpon which things they ought to haue speciall care 2 That he must haue a generall Comissarie ouer victuals one that hath experience therein who hath the charge to distribute them and to haue Bakers to make and bake bread Butchers to giue euery one a sufficient quantitie of flesh Victulars Tauerners Hostlers and others who are accustomed to carrie wine flesh poultrie egges salt meates cheese rice salt pulse and other such marchandise for which necessaries there must bee conuenient roomes and market places to make euen measures waights and to moderate their prices seuerally chastising those who shall exceede and infringe the said edicts or offer violence or shall inhaunce their marchandise aboue the price which the Generall hath alreadie rated them at 3 Also that he ought to be prouided of a faithfull and politike Treasurer generall who knoweth meanes to get and bring in money when there shall be need thereof and to negotiate with Marchants or others to haue it at the lowest rate whereby the souldiours shall not altogether be entertained with words and hopes but with deedes themselues suppressing thereby the mutinies and tumults which often vpon that occasion are stirred vp in a campe 4 That he ought to haue a diligent and carefull Secretarie who is to haue the bookes accounts and registers of the whole armie and to keepe the roles of payments that are made to the Generals officers of the Campe Colonels Captaines Ensigne-bearers Comissaries Sergeants and other officers 5 Also hee ought to make choise of a wise and suttle Comissarie who should haue the charge to know and vnderstand whether all the Colonels and Captaines as well of foote as horse haue as much and the same pay as their roles bindeth and prescribeth vnto them whereby the King shall not any waies be defrauded nor the souldiours deceiued of their pay and that the Captaines do cause their Colours to be well guarded by the souldiours to whom they shall bee committed vnto punishing those who doe not their dutie therein And that to the said Secretarie and Comissarie he ought to allow as many officers and clarkes to bee vnder them as they shall neede to the end euery man may bee furnished of their due and that vpon any occasion they may be readie at hand according to their charge 6 That he ought to haue a good and experienced Generall of the Artillerie who may haue the charge to cause it to bee conducted and planted where want is thereof and to bestow them in such conuenient places as shall bee appointed This Generall of the Artillerie ought to haue such officers as is needfull for him and to euery peece a Canonier with his Pioners and ouerseers to gouerne them as well in their iournies as in places where they are lodged and euery number of Artillerie ought to haue his Captaine with so many Pioners as shall be needfull for the voyage and for the occasion of time 7 Besides he ought to appoint a sufficient guard for the Artillerie as well footmen as horsemen vnder the charge of two Captaines who ought to haue a speciall care often to visit and ouersee them to the end that
firmly impresse it what these calamities are and how horrible and grieuous the effects be Awake awake therefore I say your drowsie spirits and waite not vpon a vaine desire vpon a swelled pride so willingly to yeeld your selues vnder so miserable a seruitude yea much worse then death it selfe but valiantly oppose your vttermost abilities against such enterprises and giue not occasion to others to call you tyrants for surely not onely he is a Tyrant who is the cause of another mans seruitude but also he who is able to oppose himselfe against the violence of another and yet maketh no resistance Call together with you all the Sicilians and Transalpinians making a league with your neighbours and with those of whom in time you may hope for succour and ayde and in defending your selues offend the enemie this being no dishonest thing nor worthie of blame for defence of your selues to enter into league with any straunge nation whatsoeuer And resolue and vnite your selues quickly in one considering that in the occurrances and aduentures of warre too long remissenes increaseth more detriment then profit And by such a sudden determination doing that which in reason and courage ought to be done you shall manifest to your King a quicknes of spirit and declare how much your hearts are cleere and cleane as well in prosperitie as in aduersitic those onely meriting to bee reputed truly couragious and of a firme resolution who perfectly discerning troublesome things and things that are pleasant one of them from another not doubting at any hand any perill nor withdrawing themselues from the seruice of their Lord as I assure my selfe you will not doe making full account of this that hauing before your eyes the pregnant experience of euils passed and deeply thinking on the present labours you will rather make choise to lose your liues by a iust and honourable warre then liue with a vile peace and an infamous quiet These speeches animated Frier George with all the rest and chiefest of Transiluania presently to yeeld themselues knowing the veritie of the cause to the Kings seruice and he offered himselfe with them altogether to his deuotion acknowledging him for their true Lord and King The first who did sweare fealtie were the Saxons and Sicilians neuerthelesse with this condition that he would confirme and obserue their priuiledges Their chiefe Commaunder among them named Ladislas Endef was then greatly recommended because hee had induced them to such their acknowledgement And they deliberating together vpon the warre that they meant to take against the Turke who as it was said would come and assaile them it was concluded that they should send as they had alreadie done through all the Prouinces and publish that euery man should be in a readines vpon the first sommons that should be giuen them to march against the common enemie During this time and whilest these things were discoursed of Ferdinands packet of letters arriued by which hee confirmed and ratified all that which Castalde had promised and agreed vpon with the Queene and Frier George And besides gaue thereby further authoritie to Castalde that if possible it could be done by a Proctor or Deputie to celebrate the espousals betweene the Infanta Ioane his daughter and Iohn the Queenes sonne which within a short time euen in the very same place was after performed with great ioy and contentment of all the kingdome being the generall opinion that this new aliance and agreement made betweene these Kings would bring forth among them a perpetuall quiet These affayres being thus decreed and concluded the day following which was the 9. of September the Queene departed from Colosuar with a conuoy of 400. Hungarian horse which Castalde sent with her accompanying her himselfe from that place two miles which maketh foure French The Queene being thus accompanied and in a Coach with her sonne who was very sicke and trauailing on her iourney she that day plainly manifested the great sorrow and extreame discontent which she felt to see herselfe depriued of her kingdome and by agreement to leaue her owne and to search after another mans which was very apparant to euery one by the mournfull plaints and deepe sighs which she powred out together with abundance of teares falling from her eyes true witnesses of her sorrow and distresse They being all come to a way which led on two hands the Queene and her sonne tooke leaue of Castalde not without great redoubling of sorrow and teares the one returning towards Colosuar the other proceeding on their iourney towards Cassouia Scarse was the Queene departed but newes was brought her that Peter Vicchy had agreed with Andrew Battor into whose custodie he had alreadie yeelded Lippa and Themesuar with Becch Becherech and Chinad and all the other Castles which were vnder his gouernment not being willing before to come to this agreement vntill hee was acertained by the Queenes letters of all which had passed vntill then And after he had thus yeelded his whole commaund hee set forward on the way towards the Queene to accompanie her to Cassouia Whilest he was proceeding on his iourney Battor entered into the said townes and taking ample and sure possession of them furnished thē with a garrison of such souldiours as he had drawne out of certain Fortresses and who for that purpose he had brought with him being 800. Aiduchs who are footmen bearing Halberts Curasses Bowes Arrowes Crosbowes and Sables and 300. horse With this warlike companie he greatly assured the countrie specially because the Caransebansses the Lugasiens and the Rathians people very puissant were reduced vnder the obedience of Ferdinand and had declared that they were content to liue vnder his Maiesties deuotion and to serue him in all occasions of warre which should be offered The affayres of Lippa and Themesuar being thus with diligence dispatched Castalde thought then he had fully effected his most important busines because that whilest these two Fortresses were not yet vnder the gouernment of Ferdinand men thought that that which he had negotiated before was to little or no purpose for that those two places were of great importance and specially Lippa which was esteemed and reputed the key and port of all Transiluania The same besides it was of great importance was exceeding profitable and commodious and therefore necessarie to be more carefully maintained and kept in respect of the great reuenewes which come from thence because it is the Port where al the vessels of salt are laden which is transported by the riuer Marosse through all Hungarie and is a marchandise of the best and greatest trafficke dispersed into all those countries Frier George demanded this toll of the King importuning that his Maiestie would giue it him but afterward the King vnderstanding it was yeerely worth 300000. Florins hee would not intirely giue it him but yet hee had it at a reasonable rate although the other would not so accept thereof and because he was not
be sent them and that the besieged although they were couragious and had good desire to fight yet were they not able any longer to endure the siege in respect of the intolerable and laborious toyles which day and night they endured in digging and fortifying with straw Castalde hearing these things with other more colourable reasons strengthening still his owne tolde him he should remember that which vsually hee was wont to say that except Lippa were recouered Transiluania would bee lost and that it might please him not to deceiue Christendome of that speciall hope which it had conceiued of him and of that glorie which it should get by the recouerie of this towne and by the retraict of the enemie being very well content that in this matter he himselfe should absolutely commaund and that he would obey him as a priuate Captaine By these reasons he endeuoured to perswade the Frier to march to Lippa and specially because the time approched that hee should relieue Lozonse and Aldene as they had demaunded hauing protested that if during the limited time of twentie daies they were not relieued they could no longer hold out but be forced to yeeld to the Belerbey The Frier whether it were that he feared to giue battaile to the Belerbey or that it was for some consideration of the practises which hee had with him that by his meanes he might reconcile himself againe to Solyman or else that he thought not his Campe to be sufficiently furnished of such men vpon whose valour he might aduenture the hazard of a combat I know not but for these reasons hee would not vpon had I wist neither aduenture his person nor the kingdome nor march any further and lesse relieue Themesuar But in the end he manifested with an euill will to goe towards Lippa and thinking to escape from thence since otherwise he could not doe it he held on his pace with slow speede not without suspition as it seemed to giue leisure that Oliman might retire himself for that he thought he would neuer aduenture nor attend him within so weak and vnfortified place Thus the Friers idle excuses was not without some considerations best knowne to himselfe And whilest some were disputing to proceede on and others to make no haste newes was brought how the Belerbey after hee had battered Themesuar eight whole daies together was now retired notwithstanding there was brought him more Artillerie and munition esteeming it to bee his best safetie not to attend there any longer vnderstanding that Frier George and Castalde approched neere with a great armie And thus vpon the day that our men thought to receiue the assault at the dawning of the day they perceiued the Turkes had forsaken and quitted their Trenches and left them disfurnished of their accustomed guards and that they had drawne their Artillerie into those Castles which they had wonne before and were in the night dislodged with so great a noyse and tumult that our men thought they yet planted other Artillerie to endamage them the more Lozonse and Aldene being aduertised of this departure would not that any should yet goe out fearing the enemie was not wholly retired but caused certaine Aiduchs to goe forth to suruiew the Trenches and discouer the occasion of so sudden a remouing These being abroade saw that the Turkes were assuredly retired and that in such great haste and disorder that in token thereof they had left in their Trenches more then 200. iron bullets for Artillerie which presently were taken into the towne by our men The Frier taking courage by this dislodging made shew to be very ioyfull thereof and causing the day following an assemblie of the Councell it was concluded then among them more expedient to assaile Lippa and not leaue it behinde then to follow the enemie The army proceeding on in this course towards Lippa they had notice how Oliman determined resolutely to defend it and as they marched being alreadie within foure miles of Lippa there arriued the 20. of October in the night a Currier who brought newes that Pope Iuly the third at the request and instance of Ferdinand had created Frier George a Cardinall and brought him the red Hat with many Cardinals letters who not knowing him but being onely induced thereunto by the good and commendable reports which were spoken of him sent to him this newes with great and magnificent salutations aduertising him with what good affection of all their Colledge the Hat was bestowed vpon him assuring him also that not onely this dignitie was due to his worthie merits but also an honour farre more renowned for a man of that sincere Christianitie and religious protector of the Romane faith defending this kingdome with so great trauaile and industrie against the Turkes whereof they generally receiued a singular contentment As these and Ferdinand had written to him these particulars and that according to the great information which was reported of his vertue greatnes and courage hee seeing such commendations to bee greatly to his renowne could not so much containe himselfe within the bounds of temporance but that hee apparantly declared to all men great tokens of ioy in his countenance considering that euery where men made so speciall an account of him yea and euen at Rome it selfe whither all the world resorted But on the other side he was much disquieted fearing that the Turke vpon aduertisement of these honourable fauours which he daily receiued of Ferdinand should in respect thereof and in time to come greatly suspect him and vpon these reasons might haue iust occasion not to repose the like trust in him as he before euen vntill that time had done By reason of these two contrarieties which he had in his minde there were contrarie shewes in him for vnto them which did little knowe and vnderstand his practises hee made shew as though hee little regarded the Hat but to others who were of a deeper reach hee to vaile their iudgements endeuoured himselfe by many inuentions to make it apparant to them what singular pleasure he conceiued of it The same night in token of reioycing Castalde commaunded that a Salue should bee made with all the Artillerie to the end that the Frier being throughly prouoked with such signes of honour and ioy he might resolue himselfe wholly to follow Ferdinands part and that with such sinceritie as he ought and that hee would wholly giue ouer himselfe to his seruice and not haue so many Irons in the fire But all this was done to small purpose For with his deceits and shifts he still continued to maske his falsehood little regarding any person of what qualitie soeuer which was a thing that greatly displeased as well Castalde as all the other Commaunders who were adhearing to the Kings part This and the ambitious desire of power and great places were first the cause of the hate which was ingendred against him and in the end procured his death because that all the Commaunders seeing
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
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
absolutely determined to bring the Turkes into these countries and to make himselfe sole Lord of Transiluania which would haue been not onely their particular ruine but also an irreparable damage to all Christendome With these friendlie speeches and other plausible reasons which he alleadged to them he wonne that abilitie ouer them that he conuerted them from their former malice to sweare all obeysance to his Maiestie and to offer him to be faithfull and readie hereafter in all his affayres performing whatsoeuer Castalde should commaund them The principals among them within a while after came together to visit Castalde at Seghesuar to manifest vnto him in his presence the assurance of that true fidelitie which in words they had by Chendy promised vnto him Castalde receiued them with infinit ioyes and demonstrations of kindnes promising large pensions to those who were at the Friers pay and giuing honourable titles and liuings to others and besides at Ferdinands charges he bestowed as well vpon the poore as rich many presents to some horses robes of silke apparell of cloath to others money entertaining euery man with good loue and curteous words and assuring them with great and ample hopes of a future and present acknowledgement of their subiection hee made them in a manner so fauourable vnto him that hee verely thought he might well trust them and assist himselfe with them in any enterprise whatsoeuer Obseruing herein the custome of the ancient Romanes who by meanes of curtesie and liberalitie made all sorts of men how proud or insolent soeuer they were to be tractable and louing friends and by force of armes and feare to become subiect and obedient The Sicilians being exceeding well satisfied by these speeches shewed themselues so well contented with this new friendship that it was an incredible thing hardly to be beleeued considering how within so short a time this barbarous and rude nation was wonne and who in all iudgement was to bee greatly mistrusted By such managings men may easily see how forcibly the industrie and gouernment of men are and how greatly the prudence of Francis Chendy serued to reduce those who for our destruction were purposely vnited together and who also had sworne to destroy all Ferdinands people and to driue Castalde out of those regions and also how great and excellent his foresight was in so wisely tempering that people that from that time forward they alwaies shewed themselues to be Ferdinands speciall friends After then that these nations were thus appeased Castalde began to diuide all the companies into commodious places of the kingdome to the end that his souldiours by the benefit of their safegards might in part begin to restore themselues from their trauailes which they had endured and that after they were refreshed they might prepare and finde themselues better disposed to the future warre which alreadie was discerned to come from the Turkes And although that all tumults seemed then to be pacified and extinct yet neuerthelesse there wanted not some who secretly kindled the fire in many places and practising with inward hatred many things according as time fitteth we shall write of brought great detriment to Ferdinands affayres and great paines and hatred as well to his people as to the particular quarters of that kingdome The end of the fourth Booke THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF HVNGARIE THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIFTH BOOKE THE Turke prepareth to make warre vpon Ferdinand Castalde soliciteth for succours and fortifieth the frontier townes of Transiluania The great store of treasure of Frier George Demaunds of Izabella to Ferdinand for performance of couenants Zegedin surprised from the Turkes and the ouerthrow of our people there The Pope excommunicateth the authors of George his death and the information thereof Mahomet Basha commeth into Hungarie Castalde calleth a Diet at Torde and the custome there concerning adulterie Duke Maurice of Saxonie raiseth forces against the Emperour Charles the 5. and forceth him to forsake his aboade and in the end they are accorded Izabella complaineth of Ferdinand and Castalde soliciteth him for succours Themesuar besieged by Mahomet in the end yeelded and the Gouernour thereof with all his people treacherously ouerthrowne and slaine by the Turkes Caransebesse yeelded to the Turks The cowardlines of Aldene Gouernour of Lippa the forsaking thereof and the burning of it by him which was afterwards possessed by the Turks Drigall besieged by the Palauicine he is defeated there by Achmeth Basha of Buda and in the end he is taken and ransomed Zaluoch besieged by Mahomet the cowardlines of the Germane souldiours there and braue resolution of the Castellan Mahomet determineth to goe and besiege Agria IN the beginning of this yeere 1552. Ferdinand and his Lieutenants thought by the death of Frier George to haue procured to Hungarie and Transiluania a long repose and perpetuall peace seeing that some of those who were vehemently suspected did not any thing oppose themselues nor made any shew of insurrections insomuch that they imagined that Fortune by that meanes had brought to euery one a happie life and sweete tranquilitie euery man applauding the present time and extreamely blaming the time past not any manner of way considering that which might happen Thus continuing in this their hope of a better life it was not long but that Fortune according to her naturall inclination gathered together so much poyson and spread abroad so many perturbations that she gaue vniuersall notice of how many mischiefes she had been the cause Then after the discontent of the Sicilians was appeased and that euery one was departed from the Diet of Wasrael Castalde returned to Sibinio when all the Castles and Fortresses which in the Friers name for a time held out they sent to him in the name of Ferdinand and offered vnto him all obeysance and yeelded vp all the treasure which was found therein that in any sort appertained to Frier George In the end hauing accepted their offers and reestablished the same Captaines in the said places he presently certified Ferdinand thereof to the end that with all expedition he should dispatch certaine Comissaries to receiue by account all that which was found in those places to haue been the Friers and afterward to dispose of them as it pleased him Whilest hee expected these Comissaries and that hee was at Sibinio certaine newes came daily by Marchants of Tergonista a principall towne of the Transalpinians concerning that which was done at Constantinople and touching the great preparation that the Turke made being exceeding angrie and enraged for the death of the Frier and caused to bee leauied two great armies to send them against the Transiluanians with which he determined at one instant to assaile this Prouince on two sides on the one side by the Moldauian and on the other by the low Marishes Vpon this newes Castalde both by letters and messengers vrgently pressed Ferdinand for present reliefe and that he would in time prouide himselfe of sufficient
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
made no account of the fowle and fish which he esteemed one of the greatest reuenewes in the whole countrie for that they were wont to bee yeerely farmed at tenne or twelue thousand Dollers the said summe amounting to tenne thousand crownes or there abouts As for her dowrie he assured her it should be satisfied in giuing him some respite and that in the meane time hee would allow her sufficient consideration for it as vpright men should thinke meete and that besides he would esteeme her as his sister and would account of her sonne as of his owne begotten perswading her with good and friendly speeches to liue contentedly With this answer Lobosky returned more inriched by a future hope then a present effect In the meane time the King and Queene of Polonia ceased not to endeuour themselues for her satisfaction and secretly in her behalfe practised that she should remaine a Ladie and Queene as before It was then that the bruite greatly increased of the Turkes huge preparation for feare of which Castalde considering the small force which was in the countrie to resist this common and tyrannicall enemie gaue notice to Ferdinand of the present necessitie he was in desiring him he would not faile to send him the 50000. men which hee promised and to cause Palauicin to hasten himselfe that he should with all speede come vnto him with the people and Artillerie which he could gather Ferdinand returned him answer that for that time he could not send him the succours which hee had promised in respect of diuers lets which of late he had in Germanie but that hee would solicite Palauicin that hee would bring his people into Transiuania and would also send others as the commoditie and necessitie of the time would permit him and that he hoped that Duke Mauris would very shortly come himselfe in person to this warre with 12000. Launsquenets and 3000. horse according to the tenour of his Obligation and in the meane time he exhorted him to doe his best endeuour to redresse the difficulties of that Prouince which he wholly recommended to him and that relying vpon his care and wisedome he assured himselfe that he would giue order when and where neede should require and that he would prouide for all necessaries as was fitting for a prouident and expert Captaine such an one as he esteemed him to bee commaunding him that he should assist himselfe with the reuenewes of the Churches of that kingdome which were vacant and without Pastors and for the notice whereof he had deputed the Bishop of Vesprimia and George Veruery who should make a role of their values and send the same to his Maiestie to make an equall deuision thereof and further commaunding him to render to all the officers and seruants of Frier George their moueables and specially those which were found at Zaluoch and that of the other he should cause to be made an Inuentorie and further that hee should pay the 400. Vssarons who are light horsemen mounted and armed a la Hungresque who were in the Friers seruice while he liued for feare they should goe and serue the enemie and that they should be vnder the commaund of Operstolph who was the principall Captaine of the Caualarie in Transiluania and who not long since was entertained on his Maiesties part all which was presently performed Losonze being at Themesuar with 600. horse and hauing with him Don Gasper the companie of Diego Velez which was 300. men ouer whom the Ensigne commaunded and 300. Bohemians and two companies of Germanes they in all making 1600. men besides the inhabitants who were apt and able to beare armes who might amount vnto nine hundred men Castalde sent him one moneths pay for all the souldiours and two hundred other Germane Harquebuziers sending him word by a Spanyard that he should not faile to get into the towne the greatest store of victuals he could to maintaine a longer time all the sieges which vpon a sudden might happen to him and besides he sent him so much Artillerie and munition as was sufficient for him to withstand all the assaults the Turkes should offer him In like sort he did aduertise him by Don Gasper that he could not then succour him any more in respect of the few men himselfe had with whom he could not goe into the field against so puissant an armie as Mahomets was for that he was disappoynted of the ayd he expected frō Ferdinand by reason of the late troubles happened in Germanie and that he had no other Infantric vpō whom he might trust but a few Spanyards who remained vnto him with 4000. Germanes which lately were come to him and 1000. men of armes therefore he willed him that he should rampier and fortifie himselfe the best he could and prepare himselfe for the defence of that towne which in the end would be the onely fountaine and cause of all his glorie and reputation and that he should not expect to bee relieued by those of the countrie who should presently be assembled for that they were not esteemed such that any trust was to be reposed in them and therefore he sent him word that it was requisite that in any case hee should make of necessitie a vertue and that so much the rather because he saw himselfe constrained to march with those few men which he had against the Vayuode of Moldauia who would enter into Transiluania by Brassouia where he had not any Fortresse to stay him those of the countrie supposing that the damage which they should receiue on that side would bee greater then that which Mahomet could bring vnto him about Themesuar by reason of the strong places which were in that quarter and for the commoditie which was there to resist him for which considerations he was forced to march against the Moldauian to withstand him from entering into the countrie and from the possession of that towne and to goe into the field with as great force as he could and that besides he was constrained to doe this except he would see the kingdome vtterly lost and because of the little content which he perceiued in the hearts of euery one whom he saw more inclined to a reuolt then a defence and also because he knew that this quarter was more commodious and fit for aduantages to keepe the field with a few men by reason of woods mountaines and other hard passages then was that about Lippa or Themesuar for which difficulties and aduantages he not any thing feared the Moldauian much lesse his Caualarie which he doubted not but with his Infantrie to defeate and force them recoyle And whereas he could not come to relieue him without a like armie to that of Mahomets that he and Don Gasper should doe their vttermost deuoyre to defend themselues and valiantly to resist the enemie in that quarter whilest he of his part should make resistance against the Moldauian assuring him that if his enterprise did fortunately succeede as
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
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
hee would gladly consort with them and especially knowing betweene them how the other had most iniuriously wronged them and with what crueltie hee had much persecuted them euen to death discouering to them that it was farre more conuenient to make him away by some deuice then to looke for this that he should take away their liues These two greatly ioyed at this vnexpected offer and determined to performe that vpon him which vniustly he had imposed vpon them and to reuenge themselues of the honours which were taken from them and of the shame and obloquie which vndeseruedly they had receiued against all right and reason Many of their friends and kinsemen who thought not wel of that which was done against them conspired with them as also many others who were kinsemen to him who lawfully should haue been Vayuode These altogether complotted with the Bugeron concerning the meanes that should be vsed to put their conspiracie in execution which was that they should suddenly assaile their enemie and kill him as within short time they performed it entering furiously one day into the Vayuods Tent who was laid vpon his bed to repose himselfe imagining that neuer any durst haue the face to offend or disturbe him they gaue him so many stabs with a poynard that they caused him presently to giue vp the ghost and afterwards by the meanes of them that followed them they set vpon 2000. Turks and Tartars which he continually had for his guard cutting and hewing them all in peeces electing him for Vayuode who indeed should be he which being performed they conuerted their furie against the Tyrants kindred killing his mother children and friends as the manner is in that countrie not leauing aliue any of the contrarie faction from whom afterwards they might haue any occasion of mistrust This death seemed to all very profitable and specially to the Transiluanians who by meanes thereof saw themselues deliuered from very great dread and feare of being at any other time assailed by him and on the contrarie they saw this new Vayuode to make some shew to imbrace the amitie and friendship of Ferdinand which possessed them with a speciall hope of a long and quiet repose But all these vaine hopes in the end proued contrary as wee shall more commodiously in another place speake of for that this new Vayuode of Moldauia did not long continue in this league which he brake within a short time after that he might bee in the Turkes grace and fauour Also this death was the speciall cause which hindered the conspiracie that was wrought in Transiluania against Castalde and also because that at that time it came to be discouered insomuch that euery one knew all them that were actors therein and who had promised him to enter thereinto which made Peter Vicchy and Chendy to be greatly doubted as all those likewise who were compacted in this conspiracie of which number Castalde would not punish any therefore knowing it was then no time being on the one side withheld in regard of the feare and suspition of the future warre and on the other side seeing himselfe more troubled then euer he was by the vexations and discontents which his owne people hourely gaue him which farre exceeded those that he receiued by the enemie For the Germanes in respect they were not payed committed the greatest outrages that were possible ranging and spoyling all the plaine countrie killing the inhabitants of villages and doing incredible things without any regard committing vnworthie excesses and such as are vnfit for a Christian who is bound rather to yeeld a rule and forme of an exemplarie and modest life then of wicked or infamous liuers seeing that by the one they might gaine much and by the other lose infinitly From these so execrable extortions proceeded the speciall cause that afterward incensed all the inhabitants of the kingdome to reuolt and specially the Nobilitie who seeing that their first enterprise taken in hand vnder pretext of doing good yet came to no effect propounded one day before Castalde that it was expedient seeing they were all then in the field to goe with all their people to besiege Lippa and vse some stratagem or force to take it it being reported that Cassombassa had few men within it hauing sent from thence the greatest part of the garrison to Mahomet to the siege of Agria importuning him that he would not omit this occasion and commoditie whilest it shewed it selfe fauourable fearing that neuer after the time would bee so conuenient for such an enterprise all of them very willingly offering themselues to this warre They spake this with a dissembling heart to deuise some meanes to worke Ferdinands armie out of the kingdome with an intent they being once out not to suffer them to reenter againe But Castalde who well vnderstood these deuises which they shadowed with a pretence of good and which in effect had an outward appearance of trueth would by no meanes consent to their perswasions but dissembling and possessing them with hope to graunt their requests deferred as much as he could their demaunds and that so much the rather for that he knew how greatly it imported him to remaine in that place where he was then resident from whence he might with good aduantages prouide for all distressed parts and specially for the necessities which daily might happen as also to consider the end to which Mahomets affayres against Agria might tend In this time there arriued at Vienna the Popes Nuntio and Comissaries with articles drawne and propounded by Cardinals deputed thereto touching the information of Frier George his death vpon which they were to examine witnesses and to bee informed by them if it were true that hee practised treason against Ferdinand in fauour of the Turkes and namely to cause him to lose and be depriued of the Realme and so accordingly to censure if the death of Frier George was iust or no. Hereupon Ferdinand and King Maximilian writ to Castalde that he should send them the examination of the witnesses which he had caused to be heard and examined as well in Transiluania as elsewhere to the end that thereby they might censure of the offence as the qualitie and condition of the fact required Castalde receiuing this message caused to be examined one Emeric the Friers Secretarie and an other that was his Chancellor named Adam who deposed certaine things which might giue some shadow and colour of suspition but in their examinations they were quite different the one from the other and the said Emeric vpon some displeasure which he conceiued against the Frier was not accounted an vnblameable witnes Castalde was greatly troubled to finde any who could verefie that which was imputed against the Frier yet within certaine moneths after there were sent to Vienna certaine proceedings which they had passed touching that point and afterwards they were presented to the Comissaries who with speede carried them to Rome As these persons departed
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
In the meane while Queene Izabella was not any thing idle but practised all the meanes she could to reenter againe with her sonne greatly assisting her selfe by the meanes and fauour of Peter Vicchy and Chendy Ference and other principall men who secretly affected her cause And although Ferdinand writ to her that he was readie at all times to performe that which he promised her and besides to giue her the Dutchie of Monsterberg yet she would by no meanes accept any whit thereof saying that since within the presixed time the premised bargaines and agreements were not of his part performed she for her part meant no lesse to obserue and keepe them and that she was determined againe to haue her owne Vpon which there was newes that the Sicilians intended some treacheries with the Turks in her fauour and that they had sent some priuately to her to restore Iohn into his kingdome By occasion of these tumults there was a Diet assigned at Possouia wherein the people of the kingdome of Transiluania greatly cōplained of the griefes and wrongs which they daily endured as wel by the warre and fortifications as also for the insolencies which they receiued by Ferdinands souldiours importuning to haue redresse thereof and not to taske them with such impositions promising if he did so not to faile his Maiestie but willingly to take armes against the Turkes and valiantly to defend themselues against them and sincerely to maintaine the dutie and homage which they had sworne to his Maiestie Vpon these complaints and demaunds Ferdinand caused them to bee answered that he would not faile as much as he could to ease them of that burthen and that he would cause it to appeare vnto them that his pleasure was no other but alwaies to ayde and defend them against the violence of the common enemie against whom they should not for all that faile to take armes as he for his part would not bee wanting to send them forces and to come in his owne person if necessitie did so require it for their deliuerie or else to send them the King of Bohemia his sonne that presently he would giue order to all those inconueniences of which they complained and that in the meane time they should not omit to persist in the faith and deuotion wherein they had vntill then continued and that there should be no fault in him but that he would vse them as most loyall and faithfull subiects Whereupon euery one held himselfe well contented with these promises Yet for all that these humours slided not out of their braines but increased more and more specially because it was manifest that Bartholmew Coruatte who had the guard of Iula with two Germane companies badly behaued himselfe in this towne spoyling murthering and killing the poore inhabitants thereof preaching to them the Lutheran religion with which opinion he was infected To remedie which Castalde was constrained to depute Paul Banchy in that quarter for Vice Vayuode and commaund Coruatte to depart out of Iula and sent him farre off leauing the charge of this towne to Francis Patocchy who bore himselfe so familiarly amongst the inhabitants that they found themselues greatly reioyced and comforted therewith If on this side Ferdinands souldiours did minister exceeding griefe and disquiet to Castalde they yet on the other side gaue him daily more and more for want of pay he being greatly tormented by Duke Mauris for the payment of his souldiours that was due to them from the time that the siege was raised from before Agria he neuer hauing receiued any seruice from them but rather great damage and infinit ruine through the whole Realme For the redresse and dispatch of which although the winter was come he meant indeede fully to content him and to dissolue his armie which was dismissed from Iauerin and there was put therein another garrison This was the cause that he being desirous to keepe his word with this Duke he could not then satisfie with pay his owne Campe which he had in Transiluania of which for that it was composed of the vassals and subiects of his king and that countrie he had more assurance in their patience then in the other which were straungers and not subiect to him who at their departure although they were well payed yet for all that they desisted not from committing great inormities And although Castalde did what possibly he could to keepe his souldiours in peace prouiding them of good lodgings and causing to bee distributed through the countrie ordinarie victuall more then was sufficient yet could he not so farre preuaile with them as to cause them to desist from or giue ouer their mutinies conspiracies or other horrible mischiefes which did not onely hurt in particular but also in generall because that the inhabitants of the countrie receiuing such iniuries hated and abhorred them greatly and they spake of nothing else but that occasion would offer it self for them to take armes and giue them cause to vnderstand their fault by the massacring which in time they hoped to execute vpon them all of them earnestly desiring that they might the better wade out of such calamities the returning of Iohn into his kingdome By reason of such mischiefes many Captaines and principals of the countrie who in former time had been Ferdinands friends became secretly his deadly enemies and raunged themselues on Queene Izabellaes partie not a little increasing her forces and faction which procured to Castalde infinit discontent Now as Fortune in this quarter managed the actions of mortall men she in better manner then men could think for disposed of them about Deua because that those who were in garrison in this towne hauing intelligence that by the commaund of Cassombech two companies of Turkish horse were departed out of Lippa to enter harrie and spoyle in Transiluania they put themselues in order for an ambuscado and to fight with them as they should passe through difficult places And hauing thus disposed of their people the Caualarie of Cassombech presented themselues with a greedie desire to pill and burne some neighbour places and being now arriued at the passage where they were expected it was suddenly charged on all sides and they all fighting a certaine time not knowing who should haue the best in the end the Turkes finding themselues in the middest of the other souldiours who vntill then kept themselues close began to retire themselues and to leaue the victory to those of Deua who omitted not to pursue them euen within sight of Lippa and slew of them 300. and tooke many prisoners Our people being incouraged at this good fortune and not satisfying themselues with that which they so happely achieued passed further with incurtions into the enemies countrie sacking some villages pilling all which came to their hands performing such warlike exploits that besides the conquest of the prisoners and bootie which was not small they put all that quarter in such a dread that the Turkes a long
thereof and chased from thence Ferdinands people there increasing at the same time so horrible a plague in this Prouince that it continued vntill the yeere 1555. whereof died so many men horses and other beasts that it was an incredible thing Vpon the occasion of this losse the Turks being incouraged tooke armes against Ferdinand and entring into that countrie besieged Albe-iula against which they built a Fort and the assieged being at the end of their victuals were constrained to yeeld to the Queene who in sauing them she was by that meanes made Ladie of that towne and within a while after in her sons name of all the rest of Transiluania and there rested no more for her to conquer but certaine Castles situated in the confines of the Bishopricke of Varadin and that of Tocchay which is very strong And expecting a commodious time to goe and besiege them she did no other thing in the meane while but assure the minds of the principals of the kingdome in the deuotion of her selfe and her sonne causing for this purpose to be published a generall Diet at Sibinio for all the nations of the countrie wherein she shewed the wrong which she had receiued by the officers of the Emperour because they had not kept with her the conditions and capitulations accorded betweene them and the losse and ruine which had happened vnto them because they would take part with him and on the contrarie the good and profit which they should receiue in being retired to her she assured in such sort her forces in this Prouince that all wholly refusing the amitie of Ferdinand and imbracing that of Iohns as of their naturall Lord all neuer ceased vntill they had cleansed Transiluania of the remainders of the Emperials the Queene being for this purpose fauoured of the King of Polonia and of the Queene Bonna her mother who secretly besides the Turke who feared that Ferdinand should set footing in this countrie and that in time he might greatly annoy him in that quarter would not faile to assist her with all counsels and succours which they should thinke necessarie and profitable for her according to the condition of the time She recompenced those who had not abandoned her part and as a sage and prudent woman she reserued to another time the commoditie to reuenge her selfe of the iniuries which she had receiued of those who so many times rebelled against her and had been the occasion of all these inconueniences And being confederate with the Vayuodes of Moldauia and Valachia and by the expresse commaund of the Turke hauing made a perfect alliance and friendship with the Basha of Buda the Sangiach of Bossina and Belgrade she began to giue order to the affayres of the kingdome and to receiue the accounts of the reuenew thereof to acquit her selfe and pay those who had assisted her to enter thereinto and also to giue presents to those who for diuers causes did merit recompence making her selfe by this meanes delightfull to euery one About this time her brother Sigismond King of Polonia hauing refused for wife one of the daughters of the King of the Romanes being inamoured of a gentlewoman his subiect who was yong and indowed with singular beautie he tooke her to wife and spouse and married her against the will of the Queene his mother and of all the principals of his kingdome for which occasion it happened that the mother was long time incensed against him vntill the death of this new Queene who suddenly died not without suspition of being poysoned and by her death all the dissentions of the kingdome were appeased and the King was reconciled to Queene Bonna his mother who hauing before greatly laboured to haue leaue to retire out of Polonia and goe and repose her selfe in Italie and to finish the remainder of her daies in her Dutchie of Barry situated in the kingdome of Naples she was in the end by meanes of the Emperour Charles and of Ferdinand King of the Romanes licensed by her sonne and in iourneying into Italie she passed by Venice where by this Common-weale she was receiued within the Bucentaure with great pompe and honoured by all the gentlewomen of the towne who gorgiously attired and dressed with stones and Iewels presented themselues to her and conducted her to the Palace of the Duke of Ferrara vsing to her the greatest curtesies which could be imagined she being further continually visited by euery one And after being accompanied with certaine armed Gallies which were giuen to her by the State of Venice to conduct her in suretie for feare of Saala Rays the Pyrat who then skoured those seas and with a good winde she arriued at the Port of Barry where she liued not long not being held in any good reputation nor gaining a good name by reason of one Pappacoda to whom forgetting her sonne and daughter so great is the fleshly desire of this world she left all the good things that she had remaining infinitly blamed for this act and little commended among the liuing This happened then when betweene the Emperour Charles and Henry King of France there was accorded after many disputes and controuersies betweene the Commissioners a truce for fiue yeeres which was published in France in Italie and Flanders And that they might the better reioyce and congratulate vpon the occasion thereof with these two great Princes the Pope sent to the one of them for Legate the Cardinall Mottola and to the other the Cardinall Caraffa The Emperour laying aside armes by occasion of this truce with hope that it in the end would ingender a good peace was resolued wholly to renounce all the affayres and pompes of this world insomuch that according to this resolution whilest he was at Gaunt he dispatched certaine Lords to the Electors of the Empire and to Ferdinand his brother by whom he declared to them his determination sending by them to Ferdinand the Crowne Scepter and the other Emperiall ornaments By these he writ to the Cardinall of Mentz an Elector the letter which followeth My Lord Cardinall seeing it hath pleased God to shew me so much grace at the end of my daies as to graunt me rest by the truce which I haue made with the King of France the fruite whereof I hope for a good peace betweene the subiects both of the one part and other I am resolute to end the remainder of my yeeres with a life more sweete and fuller of tranquilitie by meane of which I may applie my self to the contemplation of diuine things from which to my great sorrow I haue been more distracted then I would haue bin by the affayres which I haue had vpon me euen from my youth in so great abundance that if diuine clemencie had not assisted and comforted me I know it had been impossible for me to vnfold my selfe therefrom The acknowledgement which I haue thereof besides other benefits receiued frōaboue hath more excited me to
make this retraict then any other consideration I could haue had to which neuerthelesse I had not permitted my selfe to goe if I had seene that my presence and the administration committed into my hands could yet haue brought any commoditie to the Common-weale But after so many victories which God notwithstanding I was vnworthie of them gaue me I more esteeme this grace which he hath shewed me to haue fauoured me so much as to cause me to see a peace or at least a generall truce not onely among my subiects and other Princes my friends and confederates but also with those who say themselues to be my enemies leauing now euery one in quiet and in such patience that not any hath need of my helpe Considering this great fauour of God and the imbecilitie which old age hath brought vpon me and iudging that both the one and the other doe easily exempt me any longer to gouerne the rudder of this Christian Common-weale I haue presently resolued with my selfe vtterly also to forsake all other lesser affayres and pleasures of this world and to employ this little time which yet I haue here vpon earth in spirituall contemplations that so I may by the meanes thereof wipe away the faults which it may bee I haue committed against and besides the will of his diuine Maiestie euen as they who haue the like charge that wee haue doe so much the more fully fall as the burthen which they beare vpon their shoulders is great and weightie I am not ignorant but that as we are subiect to bee abused I haue giuen occasion to some to be discontented with me insomuch that this is not sufficient for me that I am willing by my retraict to appease the diuine anger which I haue drawne vpon my selfe except on the other part I endeuour to satisfie those that might complaine of me This my affection hath pricked me forward to condiscend more easily to the accord which I haue made touching the conuentions set downe by the truce by which I haue released to the King of France not onely more then he demaunded but also more then he hoped for and how also my Commissioners by my commaund haue done towards his Holines minding thereby first to content strangers and after to haue regard of my subiects whom the better to satisfie according to my abilitie I haue sent the most part of the Lords who are now here with me to giue them to vnderstand this my good will to the end that they not being ignorant thereof might freely declare vnto me whatsoeuer they esteeme good for the accomplishment thereof hauing also sent for my sonne to execute in this countrie of Flanders and Bourgundie whatsoeuer they shall discouer vnto me for the comfort of my conscience whilest that my selfe after being arriued in Spaine by Gods helpe I hope to do the like there and also in my other kingdomes I should bee very glad if I were able to come into Germanie and at a Diet there my selfe to make this my declaration for the honour which I owe to such a Prouince But the winter which approacheth hindereth me from going thither And since necessitie cōstraineth me I desire you to appoint the Diet to be held at Franckfort and to call thither all the other Electors and Princes of the Empire and you being there to declare to them all in my name the indisposition of the approached time which doth not permit me to execute that good will which I had to come and meete them there that so I might againe thanke them for the honour that they or their predecessors haue done to me in electing me to bee their Emperour and withall to set out the good affection which their forefathers haue alwaies shewed by effect to those of our house euen as also I would they meant to continue it in the election which afterwards they made of my brother constituting him K. of the Romanes and which good affection I intreate them to maintaine And also I would haue you to declare vnto them that my intention is since all things are now in peace to commit into the hands of my brother now King of the Romanes the Crowne and all the other Emperiall ornaments to the end that he taking wholly vpon him the care and charge of the Empire my absence should not be the cause that any trouble should grow there desiring them all that they would assist him and that they would liue peaceably with him and as true naturall brethren And further that you would giue them to vnderstand that this my departure from them although it be farre off yet is it not with intent to leaue or forsake them but on the contrarie they shall alwaies finde me furnished and prouided of so good an affection towards them as euer I had And if there be any subiect of the Empire who can complaine that I haue vsed any iniustice against him I haue desired my brother to giue redresse thereunto to whom for such complaints euery man may repayre And for the last care which here I can haue touching the good of this Empire I desire you to perswade them that they would accept of and ratifie the dimission which I make and that to bee short they would crowne for their Emperour him whom they haue alreadie chosen King of the Romanes to the end that this great Prouince may see it selfe prouided of a head who may haue an eye in euery place as euery one hath also an eye vpon him and that by this meanes you may shut the Port against enterance of new enterprises which may arise for want of the presence of the head who may bee able to resist them Also further I desire them that they would not faile my said brother of succours for the conseruation of his kingdome of Hungarie which is the Bulwarke of all Germanie against the common enemie And in particular I desire you most reuerend Cardinall to set your hand thereto as also more particularly I recommend vnto you against some enuious persons the defence of all that which I haue done and negotiated amongst the Electors Princes and Lords of the Empire and Emperiall townes knowing that you are not ignorant with what sinceritie I haue behaued my selfe in my actions whereof I will alwaies yeeld good account both before God and men although I will not denie but that there hath been sometime mingled therewithall some things of humane frailtie not minding to attribute to my selfe such perfection that I haue been exempted from naturall vice But the one being ballanced with the other I am assured that the wiser sort will not vse any seuere iudgement against me and commending to your wisedome the vpholding of this my cause I will not make to you any longer discourse thereof And to conclude this present matter I desire you to beleeue that wheresoeuer I am I will alwaies be mindfull and carefull to employ my selfe and that towards my friends in all that which I shall
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
for certaine strong places which were in the gouernment of the eldest sonne with euident losse of the yonger for that of three brothers the last being dead the other two which were Iohn Frederic William being accorded now the eldest hauing begun to manage the estate of him that was dead one whole yeere together one after another and gouerned by the space of the limited time would not neuerthelesse yeeld to his brother being moued with the sweetnes of commaund The Elector Palatin was greatly busied to accord them as also was the Elector of Saxonie who had been requested thereunto by the Palatin and to accomplish it they did meete together at Lipsia where the younger brother was present And for that in their allegations there were shewed many difficulties which could not easily be resolued the whole was remitted to the Diet. On the otherside Philip Lantgraue of Hesse excused himselfe that he could not be at this assemblie because of the nuptials of one of his sonnes with the Duke of Wirtembergs daughter This very subiect hindered 13. other Protestant Princes from being there insomuch that for this occasion the beginning of this Diet was proroged They celebrated these nuptials at Maspurg and by reason of the assembly of so many Princes the Emperour was greatly troubled to know what discourse they would vse therein fearing least such a resort would bring some alteration in the affayres of religion which would hinder his proceedings against the Turke That which made his Maiestie most of all to distrust was that euery one knew wel enough that all these Princes had done their best endeuour to reduce the Count Palatin who leauing the Confession of Ausbourg had taken the religion of Geneua not preuailing any thing with him thereby These Princes were Philip Lantgraue of Hesse with William and Lewis his children Philip Duke of Hulst Hernest Duke of Brunswick Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg father of the married and two of his children and two of the Count Palatin Wolfang Palatin Duke of Bipont with his sonne and Iohn George sonne of the Marquesse of Brandeburg who for the indisposition and sicknes of his father returned presently to him These affayres held the Emperours minde in great suspence in vaine expecting these Princes at Ausbourg hauing none with him but the Empresse the Duke of Bauier with the Dutches and Ferdinand her sonne and so much the more did it torment him for that he daily heard the bruites to increase of Solymans preparation and also he had certaine notice that the Transiluanian leauied men in such sort that he was out of all doubt but that the next yeere he should haue all the warre vpon his shoulders The Princes of Germanie vnderstanding this newes and seeing they could not be at the Diet so soone as their dutie required sent their Deligates to the Emperour with entire authoritie to negotiate in their name vntill they could finde the meanes to come themselues in person to the Diet. But the Emperour would not begin any thing desiring the presence of their persons in such important affayres For this cause he often sent to them messenger vpon messenger They negotiated at the same time with his Maiestie an alliance with the King of France and for the prosecuting of this there came to the Court the Bishop of Remes who hauing left there his Agent and Secretarie he returned into France with determination to returne very quickly As the Emperour searched all the meanes to defend himselfe from the enemie Sigismond King of Polonia on the other side endeuoured to make an accord betweene him and King Iohn his nephew But this good worke was disswaded and drawne backe to the great damage of Christendome this Prince being constrained to employ all his thoughts for the defence of his countrie against the Duke of Muscouia who notwithstanding the peace made betweene them had taken away a part of Liuonia The Bohemians and Hungars in the meane while by their King solicited the Emperour offering to ayde him in this warre according to the necessitie and their abilities As much also did the Kings of Denmarke and Sweden promise him who had referred all their differences into his hands By these practises his Maiestie alwaies dispatched something tending to the end of his intention expecting the execution of this Diet which he desired to be confirmed by the presence of all the Orders and States of the Empire for which neuerthelesse there was not any thing done of a long time during which Shrofetide was come Many Lords of the Court to make it appeare that they were not amazed for the newes which ranne of the Turks menaces forgot not to solemnize this day after the accustomed manner with mummeries and pleasant sports In the end the Lords began to set forward to the Diet and the first that came thither was the Marquesse of Brandebourg but he againe falling sicke by the way was constrained to returne and sent thither his sonne George and his nephewes with 300. horse with commission not to stirre from the Court vntill some new commandement There also arriued the Elector of Mentz whom the Emperour went to meet halfe a mile out of the towne and very curteously accompanied him euen to his lodging At the same time came thither Cardinall Commendon he being come thither in post sent from the Pope but in the state of a priuate man at the first vntill such time as within a while after there came thither Iohn Andrew Calligny his Auditor with the Crosse and authoritie of Legate This man was very well receiued and entertained by the Emperour there being no other in the Popes name of such qualitie although two other Cardinals were there present to wit he of Ausbourg and he of Altemps who were there as Princes of the Empire In the meane time the Emperour considering the importance of this warre besides the succours which he hoped from the Empire meant also to haue obtained some other of the Pope and to accomplish it he gaue commission therefore to Rumiler his Chamberlaine whom he sent to Rome to congratulate with the Pope who was newly come to the Pontificall dignitie and in like manner to require ayde and succours for the warre of Hungarie The Pope very willingly promised him all fauour assigning him 50000. crownes by yeere and then sending him two payes whereof the last was carried by the Lord of Billy who went towards his Maiestie in the place of a Nuncio During this Lent Maximilian often going to Sermons and Masse according to the example of his predecessors gaue proofe that he was very Catholike Going to these deuotions the Protestants forebore not to accompanie him but at his entrie they retired apart attending vntill Masse was said to conduct him againe in his Palace in which he often feasted them with royall banquets there being assembled the Ecclesiasticall and Secular Princes and being there together they were set euery one at the table
is built vpon a foundation erected against all right and reason all of you setting before your eyes that God in punishing the vniust and fauoring the iust will assist you since that in this warre besides the maintenance of that which appertaineth by lawfull succession to Maximilian it is also a question for the entertayning of his religion and of our libertie which we see to be assayled with ayde from the Turke by those who falsely would beare the name of Christians who reposing themselues hitherunto in their armes shall finally haue a miserable and tragike ende according to their demerits With these I pray you haue no communication yea I forbid you in the Emperours name to haue with them any intelligence and not to send to the Diet which the Vayuod pretendeth to cause to beheld at Torde vpon paine to incurre the punishment due to those who shew themselues rebellious to their Prince About this time the Captaine of Ainathschen being gone about his owne affayres in the towne of Agria and hauing taken with him for guide the best souldiours of his garrison the neighbouring Turkes being aduertised thereof by their spies of the Captaines departure the day following which was Saint George his day by dawning of the day they were with ladders vpon the wall and entring by force into this Fortresse killed all those whom they found within At the same time the Turkes thinking that the Counte of Serin was also absent from Sighet came and laide siege to that place but he being retourned from Vienna whether he was gone to conferre with the Emperour of many things concerning the fortification of this Fortresse the Turkes found greater resistance there then they thought for and being come to handie strokes they weare so hotly repulsed and with such slaughter that among them there remayned two wagons loaden with heades which weare carried to Sighet and at the bruite of so fierce an incounter those who were at the 5. Churches vnderstanding of the great losse happened to their partie began to flie and forsake the place Daylie the Turkes enterprised such attempts now against Iula then against Iauerin and other places of Hungarie committing infinite euils In the meane time the Emperour had certaine aduertisments that Solyman was departed from Constantinople to march in person to this warre and that in great iourneyes with 70000. men he was come to Sophia and by Misia into Bulgaria causing Portau Basha to march before with one part of the Armie and many Sangiacchs and that further he had commaunded the Belerbey of Natolia to passe by Galipoli and to come and ioyne himselfe with him and that alreadie he was marched almost to Buda where the King of Transiluania was gone to meete him with 50. Coaches 500. horse well armed and 300. harquebuziers on horsebacke carrying with him goodly and very rich presents in iewels and ouches When Solyman arriued in Hungarie with this equipage Schuendy held the Forte of Huste besieged which he had straightly shut vp minding to preuent the Turkish endeauours and on the other part in the moneth of Iune the Basha of Buda being in fielde with 8000. footemen and 25. peeces of Artillerie went to be siege Pallotta which is situated by Alberegalis 8. miles from Ianerin The batterie was so furious for the space of 8. dayes that all the wals were throwen to the ground the assieged remayning in extreame perill George Tury a couragious Captaine and of singular prowesse Gouernour of this place marching about it to repaire the breaches and to giue such order thereto as neede required was strooken on the side with a shiuer of a stone broken with a Cannon bullet and the stroke was so violent that he there thought he should lose his life whereof would haue been a great losse he hauing many times sustayned and repulsed the violence of the enemie as a little before this siege he had done when pursuing the Turkes of the garrison of Alberegalis together with the Beg he had beaten them euen to their towne gates and in such sort constrayned them that the Gouernour thereof was forced to throw his Turbant away to saue himselfe he being scarcely knowen Now although that the wound was daungerous neuerthelesse he was within a little while after cured thereof and while this siege lasted he made many sallies vpon the Turkes who after that they had giuen 6. assaultes did nothing else but play with the Cannon and they played so much with it while this siege lasted that they gathered vp together within the towne 700. bullets The Inhabitants were almost as a pray to the enemies and whilest they thought they could no longer resist incontinently and as it were at an instant they saw themselues deliuered from that daunger by reason of 12. Ensignes of foote newly arriued at Iauerin vnder Collonel George of Helfenstain who the day after his arriuall causing 90. wagons to goe forth with 900. footemen marched to enter into this place The vauntcourers of the Turkish Armie discouering this troupe and iudging it to bee farre greater then it was by reason of waggons which possessed a large roome among the souldiours who couered and inclosed them they sent certaine amongst them to aduertise the Basha thereof These by their report making the daunger a great deale more then it was presently the Basha taking an apprehension of feare caused his people to retire fearing to lose his Cannon Neuerthelesse he left one cracked and broken peece there with 40. barrels of powder and 40. sackes of meale There also remained a great number of Tents and baggage This was drawne into the towne The breaches were so large that scarcely a harquebuze would shoote from one side to another At the raising of this siege the Turkes incamped by Alberegalis and in the meane time the succours entered into the towne To repayre the breaches thereof and to aduise vpon the consequence they sent Ingenours thither to iudge of it if it might be repayred or whither it would be more expedient to forsake it and to conclude to throw it all downe to the ground These accidents daily arriuing in Hungarie caused the Emperour in the greatest diligence he could to hasten all the preparations of warre according to which he had there for that purpose 5. Regiments of Launsquenets The first was vnder the conduct of Remer the second was led by Balderdun Claus of Hogast commaunded the third the fourth was led by Count George of Helfenstain and the fifth marched vnder Polbel He also had there 20000. Reisters and 4000. Hungars 400. Harquebuziers on horseback were come from Sauoy to serue the Emperour in this warre as also were thither come a great number of Lords and Knights from many places of Christendome at their owne charges and for the loue they bore to Christian religion His Maiestie receiued them very curteously and commaunded all his Barons and other Lords of his armie to vse the like in their places considering how all these
the wall and besides there was happened to him during this siege a great and daungerous sicknes that with all this after he had a long time expected the succours which was promised him which neuer appeared he was constrained to accept of composition In the end he desired all his friends to make suite for him to the Emperours Maiestie signifying that he might bee set at libertie so soone as the Sangiach should be deliuered in exchange of him and being at libertie he offered to remaine in such a prison as it would please his Maiestie there to attend the iudgement which should be giuen vpon his cause not perceiuing himselfe culpable in any thing Cheretsken writ to Hossute concerning all these things to the end he should report them to the Emperour In the meane time it was held for certaine in the Court that the Lord of Arrach might set at libertie the Sangiach of Alberegalis whom he held prisoner in one of his Fortresses named Zetipont to redeeme Cheretsken there hauing been made before this bad fortune a treatie of mariage betweene them this Lord hauing promised to Cheretsken one of his daughters But a while after fortune being no way fauourable to this poore prisoner there was heard of him a miserable end For many complaining to Selim for hauing receiued by this Captaine many cruell iniuries some hauing by his commaund lost their nose others hauing had their eares cut off others their mouth and all alleadging against him such like cruelties Selim moued with such a report gaue him vnto them that accused him permitting them to take what reuenge of him they would These taking a Tunne nayled within full of great nayles whereof the points were inward and carrying it to the top of a high hill inclosed Cheretsken within and after they cast him headlong from the top thereof to the foote and by this cruell and horrible paine they caused him to dye The Lord of Arrach receiued great displeasure at this death for that he could not relieue him and within a while after he had 50000. crownes for a ransome of the Sangiach and although that he should remaine debter of another great summe the Emperour neuerthelesse would that he should be set at libertie He being set on his way accompanied with Iohn Suizen a Councellor of Hungarie and being arriued on the frontier Suizen at his returne reported marueilous things of ioy and mirth that the Turkes made for the returne of this Lord. Besides the money by him disbursed they gaue libertie to Captaine Gorger who was taken at Iula and who for his ransome was taxed at 40000. crownes Schuendy being now growne to good health from so long a sicknes and receiuing good strong troupes went into the field with his people and besieged the Castle of Zatmar well furnished with all things except men This belonged to Bec the Emperours capitall enemie and the principall author of the enmitie and discord which was nourished betweene his Maiestie and King Iohn He seeing they came to besiege him he secretly departed from this Fortresse which being out of hand straightly besieged in the end the souldiours within yeelded their liues and baggage saued This taking was vpon the 14. of Ianuarie and in that place was gotten great store of bootie and Schuendy freely setting at libertie the Becs wife with all his moueables retained onely for himselfe all the Artillerie Maximilian was in the meane time to continue the Diets of his Estates and hauing been alreadie at Bruna and after at Troppa to goe from thence to Prage in Bohemia in which places he made his demaunds and at Bruna it was concluded that in stead of the Nobilitie they should giue him 1200. horse which his Maiestie should send whither it pleased him and besides that the Nobilitie should be bound to keep the limits of the countrie when there should bee neede thereof He being arriued at Prage he made his entrie thereinto very solemnely being receiued by the Citizens vnder a Canapie with great pompe and magnificence From thence he sent the Duke of Bauier and Doctor Inuch his Councellor with certaine other to the Diet of Ratisbon The Bohemians at the Diet held at Prage accorded that the succours before graunted for three yeeres should bee reduced into one onely payment seeing that the appointed money for this effect should be committed to custodie into a certaine place and that these should not come into his Maiesties coffers except they were imployed against the Turke Besides all the Estates graunted during the space of two yeeres the succours which followeth to wit that all the houses being vnder the precinct of fees belonging to Princes Barons and Gentlemen as well Spirituals as fenditaries should pay for one yeere halfe a Dollor except the publike Bathes the houses of Pastors and the shops of Artisans that the towne of Prage and the other subiects to the Emperour and those who make the third estate of the kingdome should pay three Dollors for euery house All the cities boroughs and villages euery one gaue 100. Duckets the labourers 9. the seruants and mercinaries a white groshe those who put mony to interest aswell spirituall as secular payed so much to his Maiestie which the interest came vnto by their bargaines but if the Emperour should goe in person to the warre against the Turke they should be bound hauing 10000. dollors at interest to entertaine in the warre a horseman well armed for foure moneths and that the poorer sorte should contribute rate for rate of their goods and the same should be practised if they had neede for the defence of the 15. Dukedomes of Bohemia to wit in entertayning one horseman well armed for euery reuenew of 6000. dollers and 10. footemen for a 100. subiects which should be vnder his fee. By this meanes the Emperour was succoured from all parts with men and monie to preuent any more a suddaine surprisall by the enemie when at any time he would againe make incursions into Hungarie On the other side Schuendy after one siege had yeelded vnto him by composition their liues and baggage saued the Castle of Mourach situated in Transiluania All these preparations and this losse gaue the Transiluanian sufficient matter to thinke of for that this Fortres was of great importance to him being on the way betwixt Polonia and Russia from whence by this occasion he could not draw any more succours except with a long compasse by Moldauia which was a very teadious and daungerous iourney After this taking Schuendy went to besige Hust a place of no lesse importance then the other These enterprises and executions gaue vehement suspition that betweene the Emperour and the Turke would neuer be any accord although afterwards both the one part and other treated thereof considering that in precedent yeares by reason of the same place of Mourach all the negotiation of peace was broken betweene Ferdinand and Iohn it being verie likely that the Transiluanian for
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
place and whilest they were busied and attentiue about their view Lozonse sallied forth with 400. horse somewhat against the liking of the Master of the Campe Aldene Captaine Vigliandrando also issued forth with 50. Harquebuziers to skirmish with the enemie and so effectually did hee pursue it that that day hee performed the acts of a valiant and couragious Leader as for the same valour there was renowned and commended a Spanish Knight named Alphonse Perez of Saiauedra to whom a little before Ferdinand had giuen a companie of Hungarish horse Lozonse on the other side with his horse performed as much that day as was possible for a man of experience and valour to doe against his enemie so that being well seconded by the vigilancie and dexterie of the Harquebuziers he forced the Turkes which were 2000. mauger their braueries to retire themselues to their maine squadrons And this skirmish continued vntill the Master of the Campe sent to them with commaund to retire fearing that by their too much forwardnes there might befall them some sinister fortune because the Turkes were a great number and considering also that they had giuen the enemie sufficient notice of their pr 〈…〉 esse Obeying this commaund they retired without the losse of any one of their men although they were very hotly charged euen to the very enterance of the Suburbes where Vigliandrando well foreseeing the euent had placed certaine Harquebuziers to relieue them when they should make their retraict And this preuention stood them in singular good stead and greatly endamaged the enemie who for feare of the said shot were forced to make a stand and in the end retire The day after this skirmish the Belerbey presented himselfe before the towne with all his Campe in a well ordered battaile who by reason of the Rhatians that had forsaken and disbanded themselues from our part and were linked to the Turks was growne to the number of 90000. men whereby he thought to amaze our people onely with the sight of their armie and minding to begin to take some knowledge of the place was by the sallies of the assieged so sharply annoyed that he could not at that time possibly performe what hee went about The Master of the Campe in the meane time placed 100. Harquebuziers within the Suburbes to defend it against the Turkes vntill the munition which was therein was gotten and had into the towne the better thereby to ayde themselues during the siege The second day after the Belerbey in the night time caused his batterie to be placed and on that side which Lozonse and the Master of the Camp had begun as good fortune was to fortifie Which thing when our men had vnderstood by the confession of certaine prisoners whom they had taken in their sallying forth they presently caused with all expedition that night to lengthen the Trench which they had begun fiftie paces and so diligently did they labour that the next day they thought themselues sufficiently strong The enemie hauing viewed the place began at dawning of the day to batter with two Cannons two Culuerines and other small peeces with which he battered against those defences to beate them downe Our men seeing so weake a batterie although that Aldene had alreadie sent to Castalde to certifie him that if within 20. daies he was not relieued he should be forced to render the towne esteemed as nothing the Turkes violence for that they assuredly thought they were well able to maintaine the defence of their towne vnlesse perhaps they should be so battered with a great number of Artillerie that by maine force the walles on all sides should be broken downe and laid open whereof they had some distrust fearing that the Belerbey would haue brought thither seuen other double Cannons which they should bring from Belgrade for this warre euen as they had vnderstood by the foresaid prisoners Now whilest these things passed thus at Themesuar Castalde hauing first furnished all the Fortresses with Germane garrisons and after that he had appeased the disorder which was at Bressouia by the souldiours who were risen against the citizens and had offered them great outrage and to appease which mutinie he was forced to vse seuere iustice against those who were authors thereof and to manifest thereby an example vnto others to liue more peaceably and in duer obedience for some of them were executed others banished and others condemned for a certaine time to prison After I say that Castalde had set in order these affayres he came and ioyned with the Frier who with great diligence and promptnes had already leauied as well horse as foote an armie of 70000. men which daily increased and namely by the arriuall of the Marquesse Sforce Pallauicin who came thither with 3000. Germanes and of Charles Scerettin with 400. horse and lastly by the arriuall of Andrew Battor with 10000. men who after his retraict from Lippa had thus redressed and reunited his armie which so timerously and by such a confusion was disbanded and fled By this augmentation Castalde and the Frier had in their Campe well neere 90000. men as well those of his owne pay as also those which were sent him by others and 50. peeces of Artillerie But although the number was great yet were they of little abilitie to performe any matter of moment for that they were men of small experience and such as were sent of euery house as the custome is in this kingdome alwaies to send vpon such necessitie meanly armed and meerely ignorant of any warlike discipline so that they are more fit to moue trouble and flie then to fight or pursue the enemie For these respects Castalde had no great affiance in them but only vpon a few men which were in the Kings pay of whom and of no other hee made speciall account for any important seruice which number might amount vnto 15000. horse and foote of all nations but specially he reposed singular confidence in 500. Spanyards which continually hee had with him in whose quarter as well in the field as elsewhere he alwaies pitched his Tent and lodged And because that among so many nations which from diuers parts were come thither men could not perceiue any great order or obseruation of Militarie discipline amongst them but rather by reason of the hatreds quarels priuate and publike enmitie which they had one against another they might behold an extreame confusion because that one Prouince would not ioyne and consort with an other but euery one would muster and range himselfe a part the intreatings and perswasions of their Captaines and Officers nothing auailing Castalde seeing the inconuenience thereof and endeuouring to abate and suppresse all their particular dissentions and to reduce and vnite them into one attonement that he might not by the meanes of such tumults and disorders cause to grow the hope of the enemie and weaken Ferdinands forces caused the principall and chiefe men of marke among them to assemble before
him and vsed to them this or the like perswasiue admonitions My louing and friendly fellowes in armes your famous predecessours in times past florished by good and commendable customes and abounded in all excelling vertue and specially in warlike affayres where in former time they vsually attained to the period of eternall glorie yea and in such famous sort that they thereby were greatly admired of all Nations Kings and Prouinces But since this path of vertue hath been left by their posteritie and that it hath been couered on all sides and darkened with innumerable vices this brightnes and light of true glorie there being laid a part ancient Militarie discipline remaineth so obfuscate amongst you the rest of the Dacians that it hath ingendred in this Prouince a most infamous losse and markable damage In considering of which I now esteeme it no lesse necessarie then commendable to reforme this armie and reestablish it in that estate and renowne which our ancient custome and obseruation requireth which is vnpossible to be done without your assistance Therefore I am very desirous to admonish and exhort you that leauing all couetousnesse forsaking all pleasures auoyding all corporall delights and aboue all excluding the slothfulnes mixt with your priuate hates and dissentions you would endeuour to reduce and submit your selues vnder obeysance and good order vnder which your ancestors with vnspeakable fame were wont to liue and manage armes to the ende that following this infallible rule by the helpe of your forcible armes you might haue an open and free passage to a blisfull and most quiet repose and that you might being all vnited together bring into your country by the defeature flight of the Turks memorable triumphs and not by the meanes of your preiudiciall hatreds increase their puissance In performing of which you may assure your selues I will not be to you as a Captaine and Generall but as an affectionate father and deare companion as well to comfort my self with your good and fortunate successe as also patiently to take part with any euill which God defend that shall betide you By vertue of these and such like speeches al the people which before were so disordered did now vnite themselues louingly into one hauing more respect to the person which did thus speake then regard of their owne particulars and were content to be ordered and mustered with the other This done Castalde and Frier George with this armie and Artillerie began to march with great iournies desirous in time to relieue Lozonse and Aldene who were besieged at Themesuar In the continuance of their marching the Frier would alwaies leade the Vauntgard hauing all his people with him But when he approched the enemie Castalde tooke the conduct with the best and approued souldiours which hee had leauing the battaile to the other And marching in this manner hee himselfe appointed the quarters for the armie to lodge alwaies chusing the places of most strength and commoditie whereby his people should not receiue any detriment continually causing his Campe to march in good order although it was with some difficultie for that the armie was great and the way where they should passe very narrow and tedious and specially in some places which they found betweene the mountaine and the riuer they being sometime 12. or 13000. in length where they were so straightly crouded together that very hardly a Coach could passe In respect whereof the iournies were little which did much trouble Castalde seeing that thereby the succours which he determined should enter into Themesuar were slackened which he knew to be violently battered by the Belerbey Now whilest the Campe marched the Commaunders of the armie discoursed among themselues whether they should goe to Lippa or Themesuar and after many and sundrie opinions it was thought fittest that they should direct their course to besiege Lippa and others were of opinion to proceed on and succour Themesuar and that afterward they would returne and assaile the other Against which opinions Frier George firmely opposed himselfe saying that it was much better directly to goe to Lippa alleadging for his reasons that the Belerbey to relieue Oliman would raise his Campe from before Themesuar and that hee would assuredly come to them and by this meane they should auoyde a tedious and cumbersome iourney and that afterward they might commodiously send such succours as they would to the besieged at Themesuar Castalde tooke these opinions not to bee good and prouing his speeches by diuers reasons in the end perswaded euery one to determine vpon this resolution to leaue a Campe before Lippa which should bee sufficient to maintaine a siege there and so to hinder Oliman that he should not by sallies be greatly offensiue to them neither escape himselfe and with the rest of his people since he had sufficient he would march on towards Themesuar and that he would take the way which leade towards Caransebesse which is a Castle situated in the confines of the Transalpinians not farre from Themesuar from whence he might within few houres send succours to Lozonse and Aldene and that if he did otherwise it would redound to small profit and this enterprise could bee subiect to nothing else but to inconstant fortune voyde of all reason After I say such aduices discoursed and determined of the Frier at the same instant called to him Battor that he might bee present at that which he would speake and said to Castalde that he had altered his minde and that he thought it not good to goe with this armie to relieue Themesuar being assured that this armie composed rather of people mustered together who were but badly armed and vnexperienced then of good and trained souldiours whereof the Turkes no doubt would bee aduertised it would bee suddenly incountered by the enemie and that these two armies rudely shocking together our Campe without doubt would be broken and ouerthrowne by the good order practise and long experience of the enemie And thus publishing to them many other friuolous reasons hee concluded in the end appartly shewing that he was mutabilitie it selfe and that his disposition was not to bee long firmely stayed vpon one resolute purpose Castalde answered him that he had reason to be as he was especially in important affayres in which it was behoouefull to take good counsell and vse a consideratiue foresight it being commendable for him sometimes to change his opinion from good to better but onely he now meant to perswade him to goe to Lippa where according to the euent of things they would agree amongst themselues either to assaile Lippa or relieue Themesuar The Frier replied saying that he well knew Themesuar to be a place not very strong and that by a Polacque whom he had of purpose sent thither and after that hee had diligently considered all that which was done there as well within as without hee was againe returned to him by whom he had also notice that the Turkes expected more Artillerie to