with other Matters caused great Heats and Animosities on both sides So that some of the Turkie Company Men of the better Principles thought it most advisable to Petition his Majesty to constitute another Ambassador with Letters of Revocation to recal this but others who were the zealous Men of those Times who had tasted the sweetness of Sequestrations and proved it to be the Grand Catholicon of all Remedies perswaded that his Estate should be Sequestred This I say may perhaps have been the attempt of some few though the generality of the Company have so far disavowed the Seizure of his Lands and Estate in England that they declared themselves ignorant of any Estate he had there Howsoever this Apprehension being fixed in the Mind of Sir Sackvile Crow he proceeded to strange Extremities against the Company For he not only caused all the Goods and Monies belonging to them within the Grand Signior's Dominions to be sequestred and seized by his Agents but also imprisoned the Persons of all the English Merchants and Factors which were considerable either at Constantinople or Smyrna The Particulars of all which will appear with more clearness by this following Warrant Sir Sackvile Crow his Second Warrant dated in Pera of Constantinople the 30 th of April 1646 directed to Iohn Hetherington Lorenzo Zuma Enordering upon false Pretences the Sequestration of the Merchants Estates at Smyrna according to a Schedule WHereas the Levant Company sometime before our coming to this Place by a Court of their Assistants thereunto especially authorized treated with Vs touching a yearly Allowance for our Care and Pains during our residence here as his Majesty's Ambassador to be had and taken in such Particulars as might have relation to their Trade and Occasions And for a conclusion of such Treaty as aforesaid did offer unto us the election of any one of their Agreements formerly made with any of our Predecessors in like occasion And for a further manifestation of their sincerity in their said Offer upon our accord thereunto did at the Court aforesaid in publick give into our Hands and Possession the Copies of five of their Agreements made with our said Predecessors with Power to chuse which of them we should best like of to be a Rule and Pattern for an absolute Conclusion and Condition to be drawn up between us and them thereon also promising that they would make grant and confirm the like unto us And whereas we thereon and to the Purposes and Ends aforementioned chose and fixed upon that Agreement which the said Company had made with Sir Thomas Glover formerly Ambassador Resident for the Crown of England with this State And his Majesty by his Favour did assure the same unto us graciously promising to make his Employment of us here as good and beneficial in all the Allowances and Perquisites thereof as it had been to any of our Predecessors whoever and we expected no less The said Company finding themselves mistaken in their Offer as they pretended first retired from the same denying their said Agreement though sufficiently proved before his Majesty and then by force of Presents and Mony given under-hand to the Officers of that Time so prevailed against us that we could not only not obtain that Right which since hath appeared unto us and as well by their own Agreement as by his Majesty's Iudgment then Custom and their former Contracts was due unto us but were forced after to other Agreements with the said Company by which over and above all such Rights Priviledges and Perquifites as then were and should be granted unto us by his Majesty's Capitulations and besides all other Gratifications and Allowances accustomed to be given to his Majesty's Ambassador which in Houshold Provisions only the said Company assured us were to the value of 800 l. per Annum Sterling at least and over and above such Plate and Houshold-Stuff as they assured us we should find of theirs here and hold to our use during our Residence of which we found not the value of an Asper the said Company did covenant with us for and in respect of our Pains and Care only therein agreed to be taken by us in their Affairs and Occasions as aforesaid for and during all our time as his Majesty's Ambassador with this State they would pay or cause to be paid unto us the Sum of 5000 Chickeens per An. to be paid by equal Proportions quarterly before-hand by their failing wherein besides our other Engagements for them to a very good Value twenty and five thousand Dollars or thereabouts rests at this day due and unpaid unto us And whereas also after the Agreements aforesaid upon several Arguments held before his Majesty concerning the Rights of that Consulage which amongst other things is granted by the Grand Signior and payable by his Capitulations to his Majesty's Ambassador Resident at this Imperial Port from Strangers to which the said Company could shew no likely or probable Title the said Company were adjudged to relinquish their Pretences to the said Consulage and a Grant thereof under his Majesty's Royal Hand and Signet was thereon made and given to us for our better support during the time of our Residence here The said Company upon Conditions between them and us agreed did also promise to give us Content therefore with intent nevertheless thereby to get advantage of our credulity and absence and to draw us out of suspect of their evil Intentions towards us which hath since as well by their several interruptions and hinderances here in the Collection thereof as their practices and endeavours at Council Table before his Majesty and by their other Appeals to the Courts of Parliament where in these Times of Distractions they presumed of some better advantage hath appeared unto us Whereby and by suggesting several Vntruths against us and by other false ways they have endeavoured not only to deprive us of the Strangers Consulage and benefit thereof but under that colour also and these their Pretences to keep themselves from paying as us from taking such other Consulage as was and is as much our right and due unto us from themselves by the said Capitulations and the Grand Signior's Grant thereon for all their own Goods traded in And now of late but suspecting our just Intentions of making a claim thereto for until this present day we never made any demand thereof or publick pretence therein to prevent what they suppose we might justly do in our own Right for we take God to Witness we knew no other cause under like unjust and scandalous Pretences we are certitified that they not only go about to get us removed from our Employment here but upon false Suggestions loose and bare Suspicions only have gotten Order for the seizure of all our Lands and other Estates in England into their power as some of their own Servants and Factors here have the confidence to report and affirm and as we are assured from thence without hearing
of this Vizier's avarice and injustice Of which the Turks as well as the Christians were so sensible that Solyman the late Vizier's Kiaja or Steward and then Imbrahor or Master of the Horse to the Grand Seignior demanding one day concerning the Avania of Pentlow could not suppress his Thoughts tho' much a Courtier but said In this Man's time the Musselmin or Believers cannot expect better Usage or Treatment than the Gaurs or Christians But this single instance is not sufficient to express the unjust and rapacious Humour of this Vizier who in an unparallell'd manner of proceeding did ever incline to the Plaintiff in whose favour having given Sentence against the Defendant to the utmost Asper demanded his method was to cause the Money immediately to be paid and took it to himself giving the Plaintiff some small share thereof not worthy the Trouble or Expence of the Suit In this manner he dealt with another Merchant of our Nation on whom one Pizzamano an Italian made a false pretence of Six thousands Dollars which Cause being brought before the Vizier he readily condemned our English Merchant and having forced the payment by a rigorous Imprisonment he appropriated the whole Sum to his own Use giving the Plaintiff about Thirty Dollars as a gratuitous Reward for turning Turk he having in compliance with the Vizier and to gain his favour renounced his Faith and Sold his Religion at so vile a Price In a short time after which the Vizier extorted from our Turky Company Fifty thousand Dollars and demanded an increase of the usual Presents which at certain times were made to him and to all the Officers of the Court The which and the like manner of Proceedings tho' they gained him the hatred of all Men yet the constancy of the Grand Seignior to his Ministers and his method in making his Master sharer with him in all his Rapines seemed to secure him from all apprehension of Danger For when the Grand Seignior upon Complaints made to him told him of the ill Reports he had received The Vizier answered That his Majesty might be pleased to weigh the Benefits he had received by his Administration of Affairs which would appear by the Increase of his Treasury and that if he desired to have his Empire well Governed he must suffer him to use the means proper for that end otherwise his Head was at his Command which he might take off and supply the Office with a better Minister Many and frequent were the Examples of his unheard of injustices as well to the Turks as to the Christians The Valide Kiajan or the Queen Mother's Steward whose place was always esteemed quiet and free from danger and Independant of the Meri or the Grand Seignor's Treasury and their Estates permitted to go to their Children without any Interruption Yet dying very Rich by the benefit of his Office which he had enjoyed 18 Years The Vizier was desirous to partake of the Estate and taxed his Heirs at 1200 Purses for Payment of which the Grand Seignior at the Instigation of the Vizier caused a Vakuf or an Estate given to the Church to be seized which was such a piece of Sacrilege as was never known or heard of before in that Empire Draco Bey a late Prince of Moldavia falling short in the Payments he was to make to the Grand Seignior for Tribute of that Principality had the Torture given him in Prison at least six times with Fire and other ways which cause the acutest pains during which they forc'd his Son to stand by him and threatned to put him into his place in case the Father dy'd under the Torture But more hard and severe than all this seems the Case of the Ragusean Ambassadors from whom besides the Annual Tribute demanded of that Republick the Vizier requir'd 300 Purses as a Fine for what they had receiv'd on account of Customs which the Turks Trading into their Ports had pay'd them during all the time of the Venetian War the benefit of which was esteem'd so great and their Town so much enrich'd by the grand acquisitions of Trade that 300 Purses or 150000 Dollars seem'd a mean exaction from a People so well improv'd and enrich'd as the Raguseans were adjudged to be It is true their City being advantageously Situated in the Gulf of Venice did for a long time during that War reap a considerable benefit by Trade it being made the chief Mart or Scale for all the Commodities which Bulgaria Hungary Transilvania and the Countries thereabouts yielded for the supply of Italy To advance which the Raguseans had erected a Factory at Sophia which as I remember for I was at that Place three times consisted of about 30 Merchants whose Employment was to buy Hides Tallow Wax and the like and send them by Caravan to Ragusa from whence they were transported to other parts of the World. The Vizier hereupon making up an account of the Profit which this little Republick could or might have gain'd in so many years esteem'd it reasonable that the Grand Seignior by whose Wars they had gain'd should partake of a share in their Profits which by a Computation he made out of his own head or with the help perhaps of his Jew-Broaker or of the Customer of Constantinople he valued at so high a Rate that 300 Purses were esteemed a moderate allowance to the Grand Seignior out of such vast Riches which they had acquired With this notion of the matter the Vizier called the two Ragusean Ambassadors to his presence Commanding them immediately to write unto their Principals to provide with all speed the 300 Purses which the Grand Seignior required from them in return of the favour and protection he had given them during his Wars with Venice The Ambassadors who were well acquainted with the Poverty of their State which had for several years past labour'd under great difficulties to pay the Annual Tribute which the Turks exacted from them endeavour'd to possess the Vizier with a true sense of the impossibility of raising such a Sum within the compass of their narrow Dominions alledging that in the Year 1666. their whole City had been subverted by an Earthquake in which all the Inhabitants perish'd excepting 5000 Persons only who by God's Providence being directed to the Fields or Streets were conserv'd from this Universal Ruine The which Desolation was so grievous that two Ages could not repair their Losses nor increase their People to their former numbers But the Vizier who could endure no contradiction nor excuses in opposition to his covetous desires Commanded the Ambassadors immediately to write to the Government to send the Money for payment of which no more than 3. Months would be allow'd at the expiration of which the Raguseans being in no Capacity to comply the Ambassadors were sent Prisoners to the Seven Towers and threatned with Tortures and drubbing on the Feet unless speedy payment were made After more than a Years Imprisonment at the
Grandfather being with as little stir as might be deposed he himself might alone injoy the Empire But needing Mony for the effecting of so great matters he by force took all the Mony from the Collectors whom the old Emperor had sent into Thracia for the taking up of Mony there telling them that he was an Emperor also and in need of Mony and that the common charge was likewise by the common Purse to be discharged After that he took his way towards Constantinople pretending that upon special causes he had occasion to send Embassadors unto the Sultan of Egypt for the transporting of whom he was there to take order for the setting forth of a great Ship and other things necessary for the journey Neither went he slenderly appointed but with a great Power and the Cities of Thracia before well assured unto him such as he suspected being thrust out of Office and others more assured unto him placed in their steads But whilst he thus bestirreth himself one of those that were most inward with him detesting so foul a Treason secretly fled from him unto his Grandfather from point to point discovering unto him all the intended Treacheries and withal how that his Nephew had determined to depose him from his Empire or otherwise to bereave him of his life if he should stand upon his Guard but if in the attempt he should find easie success then to spare his life and depriving him of the Imperial Dignity to thrust him as a Monk into a Monastery and therefore advised him to beware how he suffered him after his wonted manner to come into the City for fear of a general revolt but rather by force to keep him out Which the Emperor hearing and comparing with other things which he had heard of others yet sounding in his Ears deeming it to be true stood up and in the anguish of his Soul thus complained unto God Revenge my quarrel O God upon them that do me wrong and let them be ashamed that rise up against me and preserve thou unto me the Imperial Power which by thee given unto me he cometh to take from me whom I my self begot and advanced After he began to consider what course to take for the assurance of himself and his State in so great a danger And first he sent unto his Nephew come half way to forbid him from entring the City and to tell him that it was a great folly for him being so manifest a Traitor both unto his Grandfather and the State to think his traiterous purposes to be unknown unto the World. And beside in way of reproof to rehearse unto him how many occasions he had given for the breaking of the League with his Grandfather first in taking away the Mony from the Collectors whereof the State never stood in more need by reason of the division of the Empire which required double charge then in that he had in the City every where displaced such Governors and Magistrates as his Grandfather had sent thither and placed others at his pleasure with many other like facts declaring his treacherous aspiring mind for which he was not without cause by his Grandfather forbidden to enter the City After that the old Emperor by secret Letters craved aid of Crales Prince of Servia and Demetrius the Despot his Son who was then Governor of Thessalonica and the Countries adjoyning commanding him with Andronicus and Michael his Nephews Governors of Macedonia with all the Forces they were able to raise and such aid as should be sent unto them out of Syria with all speed to joyn together and to go against the young Emperor But these Letters thus written unto the Prince of Servia the Despot and others as is before said were for the most part intercepted by such as the young Emperor had for that purpose placed upon the Straits of Cristopolis and the other passages especially such as were written in Paper yet some others in fine white linnen Cloth and secretly sowed in the Garments of such as carried them escaped for all their strait search and so were delivered And in truth nothing was done or about to be done in Constantinople but that the yong Emperor was by one or other advertised thereof whereas the old Emperor on the other side understood nothing what his Nephew did abroad or intended For all men of their own accord inclined to him some openly both Body and Soul as they say and such as could not be with him in person yet in Mind and good Will were even present with him and that not only the common sort of the Citizens of Constantinople but the chief Senators the great Courtiers yea and many other of the Emperors nearest Kinsmen also who curiously observing whatsoever was done in the City forthwith certified him thereof Amongst whom was also Theodorus the Marquess one of the old Emperors own Sons who many years before by the Empress his Mother sent into Italy and there honourably married was by his prodigal course of life there grown far in debt so that leaving his Wife and Children behind him he was glad after the decease of his Mother to flie unto his Father at Constantinople and there now lived who beside that he most honourably maintained him in the Court and bestowed many great things upon him paid also all his Debts which were very great All which Fatherly kindness he forgetting went about most Iudas like to have betrayed his aged Father For he also dreaming after the Empire and for many causes but especially for that he was in Mind Religion Manners and Habit become a Latine by him rejected thought he could not do him a greater despight than by revolting unto the young Emperor so that the nearer he was in blood the more he was his Fathers unnatural Enemy Shortly after Demetrius the Despot having received the Emperors Letters at Thessalonica called unto him Andronicus and Michael his Nephews the Governors of Macedonia with whom joyning all his Force and dayly expecting more aid out of Servia he first spoiled the young Emperors Friends and Favourites in Macedonia giving the Spoil of them in all the Cities and Towns of Macedonia unto their Souldiers who made havock of whatsoever they light upon and whosoever seemed any way to withstand them or dislike of their Proceedings their Goods and Lands they confiscated and drave the men themselves into exile Neither was the young Emperor Andronicus in the mean time idle but secretly sent out his Edicts into all parts of the Empire yea into the very Cities of Constantinople and Thessalonica and over all Macedonia whereby he proclaimed unto the People in general a releasement of them from all Tributes Impositions and Payments and frankly promised unto the Souldiers and Men of War the augmenting of their Pensions and Pay which were no sooner bruited but that most men were therewith moved both in Word and Deed to favour his proceedings doing what they could to further the same and by secret Letters
or Land been taken from the Turks With which his excuse Mahomet seemed to be reasonably well contented and with good words cheared him up nevertheless as soon as the City with all the other strong Holds in the Isle were by the Princes means delivered into his hands he no longer made reckoning of his Turkish Faith but cruelly caused many of the chief Citizens of Mitylene to be put to death and three hundred Pirats whom he found in the City to be cut in two pieces in the middle so to die with more pain And when he had placed convenient Garrisons in every strong Hold in the Isle he returned to Constantinople carrying away with him the Prince and all the better sort of the Inhabitants of Mitylene that were left alive together with all the Wealth of that most rich and pleasant Island leaving it almost desolate none remaining therein more than his own Garrisons with a few of the poorest and basest people Mahomet after he was arrived at Constantinople cast the Prince Nicholaus with Lucius his Cosin whose help he had before used in killing of his elder Brother into close Prison where they seeing themselves every hour in danger of their lives to win Favour in the Tyrants sight wickedly offered to renounce the Christian Religion and to turn Turk Which Mahomet understanding caused them both to be richly apparelled and with great Triumph to be circumcised and presently set at liberty yet still bearing in mind his old grudge he shortly after when they least feared any such matter clapt them both fast again in Prison and there caused them to be most cruelly put to death A just Reward for bloody Murtherers and Apostacy who to gain a little longer life were content to forsake God. Shortly after it fortuned that Stephen King of Bosna in ancient time called Maesia Superior who supported by the Turkish Emperor year 1464. had wrongfully obtained that Kingdom against his own Brethren refused now to pay such yearly Tribute as he had before promised for which cause Mahomet with a strong Army entred into Bosna and laid Siege unto the City of Dorobiza which when he had with much ado taken he divided the pleople thereof into three parts one part whereof he gave as Slaves unto his Men of War another part he sent unto Constantinople and the third he left to inhabit the City From Dorcbiza he marched to Iaziga now called Iaica the chief City of that Kingdom which after four months Siege was delivered unto him by Composition in this City he took the Kings Brother and Sister Prisoners with most of the Nobility of that Kingdom whom he sent as it were in Triumph unto Constantinople The other lesser Cities of Bosna following the Example of the greater yielded themselves also But Mahomet understanding that the King of Bosna had retired himself into the farthest part of his Kingdom sent Mahometes his chief Bassa with his European Souldiers to pursue him wherein the Bassa used such diligence that he had on every side so inclosed him before he was aware that he could by no means escape which was before thought a thing impossible So the King for safeguard of his life was fain to take the City of Clyssa for his Refuge where he was so hardly laid to by the Bassa that seeing no other remedy he offered to yield himself upon the Bassaes faithful promise by Oath confirmed that he should be honourably used and not to receive in his Person any harm from the Turkish Emperor Whereupon the Bassaes Oath to the same purpose was with great Solemnity taken and for the more assurance conceived in writing firmed by the Bassa and so delivered to the King which done the King came out of the City and yielded himself The Bassa having thus taken the King Prisoner carried him about with him from place to place and from City to City until he had taken possession of all the Kingdom of Bosna and so returning unto his Master presented unto him the Captive King who was not a little offended with him for that he had unto him so far engaged his Turkish Faith. But when the poor King thought to have departed not greatly fearing further harm he was suddenly sent for by Mahomet at which time he doubting the worst carried with him in his hand the writing wherein the Bassaes Oath for his safety was comprised nevertheless the faithless Tyrant without any regard thereof or of his Faith therein given caused him presently to be most cruelly put to death or as some write to be â—lain quick Thus was the Christian Kingdom of Bosna subverted by Mahomet in the year 1464. who after he had at his pleasure disposed thereof and reduced it to the form of a Province to be as it is at this day governed by one of his Bassaes in great Triumph returned to Constantinople carrying away with him many a woful Christian Captive and the whole Wealth of that Kingdom Mahomet following the Example of his Father Amurath had from the beginning of his Reign by one or other of his great Bassaes or expert Captains still maintained Wars against Scanderbeg the most valiant and fortunate King of Epirus the greatest part whereof although it did in the course of time concur with the things before declared and might by piece-meal have been amongst the same in their due time and place inserted yet I have of purpose for divers reasons wholly reserved them for this place first for that I would not interrupt the course of the History before rehearsed with the particular accidents of this War And then for that the greatest heat of this Hereditary War delivered as it were from hand to hand from the Father to the Son hapned not long after this time when as Mahomet having conquered the Kingdom of Bosna had surrounded a great part of Scanderbegs Dominion wherein I had respect also unto the Readers ease who may with greater pleasure and content and less pains also view the same together than if it had been dispersedly scattered and intermedled with the other greater occurrents of the same time In which discourse I will but briefly touch many thing well worthy of a larger Treatise And if forgetting my self I shall in some places happen to stay something longer than the Readers hast would require yet I hope that the zeal and love he bears unto the worthy memory of most famous Christian Princes together with the shortness of the History in comparison of that which is thereof written in just Volumes by others shall easily excuse a lager discourse than this But again to our purpose Mahomet in the beginning of his Reign sent Embassadors to Scanderbeg offering him Peace to that he would grant to pay unto him such yearly Tribute as his Father Amurath had in his life time demanded Which embassage the crafty Tyrant sent rather to prove what confidence Scanderbeg had in himself than for any hope he had to have his demand granted This dishonourable
Beside the great number of Spaniards Italians and Burgundians the Bohemian Camp lay not far off strengthened with them of Silicia and Moravia There were also some Troops of Polonian Horsemen not sent thither by publick Authority but serving as voluntary Men King Sigismund winking thereat who as he was careful not rashly to break the League he had made with Solyman so lest he should seem careless of the Christian common cause by notable dissimulation left place for such of his Subjects as would as if it had been without his knowledge to shew their Valour in the most honourable War. The Christian Army ready to receive the Enemy lay in a great Field near unto Vienna in this Order Three great Squadrons of Pikemen standing one Squadron a great way distant from another were so placed against the Enemy with like and equal Front that all the Horsemen divided into two parts might well be received into the great spaces betwixt the three Squadrons for it was not thought convenient to oppose so small a number of Horsemen in open Field without the Footmen against almost three hundred thousand of the Turks Horsemen The right wing of the Horsemen was led by the Emperor himself and the left by King Ferdinand Before and behind and on every side of the three Squadrons of Pikes saving in those places which were left open for the Horsemen about thirty paces off were placed twenty thousand nimble Harquebusiers ranged in length and but five in a rank so that whilst the first discharged the second and after them the third and so the rest readily and orderly coming on might without let deliver their Bullets upon their Enemies neither was it thought any disadvantage to place them so thin for that if they found themselves by the Enemies oppressed they might easily retire amongst the Pikes standing fast at hand Before the Harquebusiers was planted the great Ordnance whereof the Emperor had such store and so well placed that he could therewith as with a most sure Trench have compassed in his whole Army Only the Hungarians Men well acquainted with the manner of the Turks fight chose to lie in the open Field in two great wings under the leading of their two valiant Captains Valentinus and Paulus Many noble Gentlemen beholding this goodly Army wept for joy conceiving a most assured hope of Victory if the proud Enemy durst with all his Forces joyn in Battel But Solyman who by all means sought with his great number of Horsemen to keep the wide and open Fields certainly advertised both of the Emperors strength and the manner of his lying got him over the River of Mura and at Marpurge by Bridges which he made on the suddain passed over the great River Dravus And so he which that Summer held almost all the World in suspence with the doubtful expectation of the success of that War having with all that his huge power wherewith he threatned the World done nothing at all worth the remembrance but was in every place either overcome or else shamefully repulsed left Stiria and returned the same way he came directly betwixt the Rivers of Savus and Dravus to Belgrade and so to Constantinople leaving here and there some remembrance of his barbarous cruelty and still looking behind him if the Emperor were not at his heels at such time as a few Dalmatian and Croatian Horsemen did still pursue the tail of his Army It is reported that he carried away with him thirty thousand Christians into Captivity besides many thousands of poor Country People slain by the mercilâ—ss Turks but especially by Cason and his Followers and so to his eternal infamy was twice in the space of a few years driven out of Germany The Emperor understanding of Solymans departure determined with all speed to return into Italy although King Ferdinand his Brother most earnestly entreated him before his departure in so fit a time to imploy those great Forces against King Iohn who now as it were forsaken of Solyman might easily with so puissant an Army have been thrust not only out of Buda but also quite out of the Kingdom of Hungary wherein he was by Solyman as his Vassal placed But the Emperor for that Winter began now to approach and the Plague was got into the Camp yea even into his Court continued in his former purpose of departing into Italy yet yielding so far unto his Brothers request as to leave behind him all the Italians who joyned with King Ferdinands own Forces were thought sufficient for the accomplishment of the Hungarian War. Over these Italians one Fabritius Maramaldus was by the means of Alphonsus Victius appointed General but no order taken for the payment of their Wages whereby the Souldiers might be the more encouraged to take in hand that War and also kept in obedience Which think at the first much offended the minds of the other Captains thinking themselves disgraced by the preferment of Maramaldus a Man of no greater account than themselves but as soon as it was known abroad the under Captains and Officers of the Bands led with the credit and favour of their old Captains said plainly That they would not go into Hungary except either King Ferdinand would in person go himself or else one of the great Commanders Vastius or Leva were appointed for the General and the Common Souldiers said flatly that they would ask leave to depart except they had three months Pay which they knew well they should never get of that poor King already brought unto great wants Vastius to appease this Mutiny travelled greatly with his Souldiers perswading them to remember the faith of Souldiers and by their constant perseverance to maintain their honour they had got by their chearful coming telling them That valiant Souldiers never wanted Pay furnishing themselves by their Victories with all things necessary from the Enemy And as for Maramaldus their General they had no just cause to mislike him being an old Captain of great experience for courage and policy not inferior to any of the greatest Commanders and placed by the Emperors own appointment as a Man most sufficient whose judgment they ought not in any case to dislike When Vastius had with these and such like reasons well appeased the tumultuous Souldiers and was gone out of the Camp into Vienna to take further order for the remedying of all difficulties Night the Nurse of sedition came on whose darkness excluding all modesty and fear gave further scope and place unto the mutinous Souldiers insolency By chance there was at that time brought out of the City into the Camp very course hoary mouldy Bread which some of the Souldiers having brought and thrusting it upon the points of their Spears shewed it unto their Fellows in great choler railing against King Ferdinand which in his own Kingdom in the beginning of the War had made no better Provision but with such corrupt and pestilent Bread to feed them being Strangers which were only for
the charge of the Mount nearest unto the Castle which as it was a place of most danger so was it also of greatest honour Whereat the old Spaniards after the manner of their proud nature much repined Upon the top of this Mount the Count set up his rich Tent in the eye of the Enemy and there lay with the Italian Companies over whom he commanded He had not there lien long but Salec one of the Turks famous Pirats with certain Companies of the Garrison-Souldiers sallied out of the Castle directly upon the Mount whereon the Count lay and by making shew as if he would desperately have assailed the same raising a great Alarm against the Italians yet so as after certain Vollies of Shot discharged on both sides he began to retire as if he had been thereto constrained Which thing the Count perceiving being a man of greater courage than direction in great rage with bitter words reproved certain of the Captains whom he perceived not so forward in pursuit of the Enemy as he would have had them and in his fury ran down from the Mount the rest for shame following him and overtaking the Enemies slew divers of them The crafty Pirat now seeing the Count drawn out of his strength into the plain ground and perceiving himself strong enough to encounter him suddenly turning himself about said unto his Souldiers The advantage you wished to have of your Enemies is now offered they are now in your danger wherefore now shew your selves valiant men and suffer not one of these proud fresh-water Souldiers to escape alive or unwounded Which he had no sooner said but they presently made a stand and so hardly charged them from whom they but even now seemed to fly that the Italians not able longer to indure the fight betook themselves to flight The Count himself with Belingerus his Kinsman fighting valiantly in the foremost of his Companies was slain many others indured the same fortune others flying back again to the Mount were slain there by the Turks who resolutely entred into the Trenches with them so far that they carried away with them the Plate and Riches of the Counts Tent. Neither was there any of the Spaniards which lay nearest unto them and might easily have rescued them that would once stir out of their places to help them for it is reported that they were nothing sorry for the overthrow of the Italians forasmuch as the Count had so arrogantly craved of the General the most honourable place which he so evil held His head and right hand were cut off and sent by Salec to Barbarussa This Overthrow much grieved the Italians whom Vastius comforted with chearful Speeches imputing all that loss neither to the valour of the Enemy or cowardise of the Italians but only to the rashness of the Count whom he said worthily to have paid the price of his inconsiderate forwardness But the Spaniards he sharply reproved as merciless men which upon so light an occasion had given cause for the Italians to have them in distrust The Turks in the mean time by the often shooting off their great Ordnance shewed the joy they conceived of this Victory It oftentimes so falleth out that whilst men laugh at their Neighbours harms their own is not far off and so it fell out with the Spaniards for Tabacches another of the piratical Captains shortly after sallying suddenly out of the Castle in the dawning of the day was got up to the top of the Trenches wherein the Spaniards lay before they were aware of his coming and there slew some as they lay asleep some idly sitting fearing no harm others as they were arming themselves and with their sudden Cry caused the rest which lay near unto that place shamefully for fear to fly out of their Trenches where the Turks taking such trash as they there found and having slain and wounded many amongst whom was one Mendosa a Captain and carrying away with them the Ensign of Sarmentus which stood upon the top of the Trench returned with Victory The alarm raised in the Army was such as that the Emperor himself came running to the place in his Armor severely reproving them of cowardise which had forsaken the place and grievously offended with them which had kept such negligent watch against such an Enemy as was not for wiliness agility and courage to be slightly regarded of the best and most expert Souldiers This disgrace of the Spaniards well comforted the Italians to see the old Souldiers no less overtaken in their neglience than they had been in their unadvised forwardness This Tumult appeased Vastius called into his Tent and Colonels and chief Captains of the Spaniards and spake unto them in this manner Friends said he elsewhere always valiant who together with me have by your invincible prowess gained unto our Emperor many most glorious Victories you seem unto me at this time to have need to be called upon and to be put in remembrance of your wonted and approved valour for as far as I can see the remembrance of your ancient Fame is in you grown altogether cold your hands are become faint for fear and that which I am sorry and ashamed to say you are grown I know not how altogether out of order and heartless shewing no courage for the subduing of these naked Pirats Yesterday as many say you smiled at the unskilful and unfortunate forwardness of your friends which they bought dear but to day they worthily laugh at your degenerate careless negligence so that it concerneth you in Honour to blot out this so foul and publick a disgrace by some notable and worthy Exploit Wherefore I exhort you and I straightly charge and command you that with all speed you prepare both your minds and weapons for the atchievement of some new honour so that if the proud Enemy shall again presume to come forth and assail your Trenches you shall forthwith break out upon him and beat him back again even to the Gates of Guletta Perhaps good fortune will so attend your valiant and resolute pursuit that you may together with their disordered men enter some of their Rampiers wherein we see their whole hope consisteth which if it shall otherwise fall out than is hoped for yet shall you by this your notable devoir wonderfully content the Emperor your Soveraign and me your General and withal cover your late dishonour Whereunto they all answered That they would so bear themselves against the Enemy as that he should not desire greater courage or contempt of danger in men desirous of honour and commendation It was not long but that the Turks incouraged with their former success after their wonted manner sallied out again conducted by Giaffer Captain of the Janizaries a man of exceeding Courage and Strength of Body who with the Janizaries and certain Companies of Moorish Archers about the noon time of the day issuing out of the Castle assailed the uttermost Trenches hoping in
and Territories now in this Treaty for Peace the Turks amongst other their unreasonable Requests demanded to have their Subjects freed and yet the Subjects of the Emperor to pay as they were before accustomed Which as it was a request nothing indifferent so was it no less prejudicial and hurtful unto the Emperor his Subjects in Hungary for which cause the Embassadors would not by any means consent thereunto before they knew the Emperors farther Pleasure concerning the same Whereupon they dispatched one Sig. Odâ—â—rdo a Gentleman of Mantua very skilful in the Turkish-Language and in such like affairs by reason that as well about this business as at divers times before about other the like he had been employed from Vienna to Constantinople in the Emperors Service So Selymus shortly after viz. the twentieth of October departing from Constantinople in great Magnificence passed by the Gate where the Embassadors lay with his whole Court in Arms and in the same order that is usually kept when he goeth to War or taketh any great Journey After whose departure the Embassadors having sufficiently viewed the City of Constantinople and then at good leisure to pass the time and to see the Countries they had so often both heard and read of together with the Ports and Havens on both sides that narrow Sea which divideth Europe from Asia embarking themselves and crossing the mouth of the Haven betwixt Constantinople and Perâ— passed all alongst the Coast on Europe side unto the Euxin or Black-Sea and so back again by the other side of that Straight Sea curiously noting the great ruines of the ancient Cities of Bithynia with some others alongst the Asian shore together with the pleasant situation they in former times had whilst they yet flourished in their glory but now for most part or rather for altogether laid in the Dust and brought to nought and so returned again to Constantinople But whilst they thus deceived the time and lay long expecting the return as well of their own Messenger unto the Emperor as of Selymus himself they were advertised in all hast to repair unto him to Hadrianople whether the aforesaid Messenger was now come with full Instructions of all things concerning the Treaty for Peace For which cause they with great speed making themselves ready and taking their leave of Pial Bassa who for that he was Selymus his great Admiral then lay at Constantinople â—et forward the first of Ianuary in the year 1568. and so after nine days travel year 1568. at length arrived at Hadrianople about an hundred fifty three Italian miles distant from Constantinople Here they stayed until the Peace was concluded which was the seventeenth of February the chief Capitulations whereof were That either of those great Princes should still hold what they had got each from the other in the late Wars That the Emperor should yearly pay thirty thousand Ducats to the Turkish Sultan as a Tribute for Hungary the Tribute to begin in the beginning of Ianuary last past this year 1568. That the Subjects of the Turk should pay nothing to the Subjects of the Emperor neither the Emperors any thing to the Turks but to be both of those Payments free And that upon these Conditions there should be a firm and sure Peace betwixt these two great Monarchs for eight years next following wherein the Vayvod of Transylvania was as the Turks Tributary to be also comprehended Nevertheless all things at this time thus agreed upon the Turks after their subtil manner finding sundry Cavillations and raising many doubts about the aforesaid Capitulations did what they might to have in some sort altered what they had before agreed upon to the bettering of themselves and the hurt of the Christians and so with many their unreasonable Demands stayed the departure of the Embassadors until the twentieth of March following At which time having their Dispatch and taking their leave of the Great Turk and the Bassaes accompanied with Hebraim-Beg Selymus his Embassador unto the Emperor they by Land returned towards Vienna where they with the joyful News of Peace the tenth of May arrived being there two days after at the Court most honourably received And five days after Audience was given unto the Turks Embassador who well heard and better rewarded shortly after returned with a full conclusion of Peace from the Emperor to Constantinople But whilst this Peace was thus in concluding and the Embassadors yet resident at Hadrianople the sixteenth of February came an honourable Embassage from Shach Tamas the Persian King unto the Great Sultan Selymus to intreat a Peace betwixt them or rather to conclude the same being before agreed upon the Controversies for which they afterwards fell to open War. Which Embassage for that it is no less truly than plainly set down in a Letter sent from Erzirum a City then in the Confines of the Turks Dominions towards the Persians written by a Chiaus to Mâ—hamet Chief of the Visier Bassaes which Chiaus was of purpose sent from Constantinople to meet the said Persian Embassador I thought it not amiss for the better understanding thereof to set down the effect of the same Letter as it was translated out of the Turkish into the Italian by the Emperors Embassadors Interpreter The effect of the Letter written to Muhamet Bassa the Chief Visier by a Chiaus sent of purpose to meet the Persian Embassador AFter due Salutations this is the effect of that which we thought good to make known unto your Lordship Now at this present to wit in the beginning of the month Giuma Sulacchir is in good health arrived the Embassador of Persia the Kings Chief Counsellor called Schach Culi Soltan attended upon with a hundred and twenty Gentlemen with gilt Turbants on their Heads and well furnished with spare Horses led in Mens hands Besides whom he was accompanied also with two hundred Knights all apparelled in Cloth of Gold with four hundred Persian Merchants in all above seven hundred Persons with a thousand nine hundred Beasts Camels Mules and Horses five couple of Drums every couple being placed upon a several Camel five Nacars three Trumpets five Flutes and other Instruments in all about thirty Musicians playing upon these Instruments There were also two Queristers or Chaunters of the Alcoran one Organist one playing upon a Turkish Instrument like a Lute two Players upon Sagbuts with two other Musicians eight in all There were also four Bondwomen serving in the Embassadors own Chamber Who when he was with all this Magnificent Pomp come within one days journey of Erzirum the Sayms and Spahies assembling themselves together to the number of eight thoâ—sand Men went to meet him amongst whom were an hundred and more all apparelled in Cloth of Gold and Saltin two thousand Men with gilt Morrions on their Heads in which bravery we marching forward the Persian Embassador amazed to see so great Majesty and Pomp said that all the Army of Constantinople was come to meet him
forthwith calling together the States of Enseric declared unto them all that was done in the Assembly at Presburg And for as much as that Assembly was chiefly to that end appointed That the Kingdom of Hungary should not altogether be pluck'd away from the Empire and that after the revolt thereof the greatest harm to be done by the Incursions and spoyling of the Enemies would lie upon the Countries of Austria he advised them so to look unto themselves and carefully to provide for the Common-weal as that having Money always in readiness to maintain an Army they might with all convenient speed go to meet with the Haiducks if haply they would not conform themselves unto the Articles of the Pacification but again raise new Broils that so they might defend and preserve their Country from their Outrages About the beginning of this Spring when as Ierome Prince of Valachia was dead leaving behind him a Son but thirteen years old the Emperour admitted him as yet not capable of the Government under Tutors unto the Succession of his Heritage Which thing the Valachians being by no means willing to endure and bearing themselves upon the help of the Turks went about to make choice of another instead of their Prince of late dead For which cause the Princess Widow by Letters certified Polloscie her Son in Law of this Outrage and Injury of her Subjects and having obtained of him a great sum of Money and therewith raised an Army of ten thousand good Souldiers went forth against the Valachians and in open field overcame them in so bloody and terrible a Battel that having slain five thousand of the Valachians and Turks she had over them a notable Victory and by that means preserved the Principality of that Country for her Son. The Great Duke of Florence had hitherto done great harm with his Fleet unto the Turks in the Mediterranean Sea for which cause a Messenger about this time coming unto him in the Great Sultans Name promised him great Matters if he would from thenceforth forbear to hurt and pursue the Turks Gallies Which his Request served the Turks to no other purpose but as it were to put Oyl unto the Fire For the Duke afterward caused new Gallies to be made and his Fleet increased and therewith did more harm than formerly he had done Now although that after the ending of the Assembly at Presburg Illishascius and George Turson had delivered unto the Haiducks the Articles of the Pacification and commanded them from thenceforth to keep themselves quiet yet for all that could they not yet be perswaded to hearken unto such their Counsel for that they being Men still accustomed to the Wars and living by their Swords could not endure to fall to Husbandry and such other Labours For which cause they of the Country about Gymeric writ unto them which dwelt in the Country about Nusol Letters to this effect That forasmuch as they being divers times certified of the miserable estate of their Neighbours had refused to come to aid them they should yet now remember how necessary a thing it were with their conjoyned Minds and Forces to help one another for that the Haiducks having now passed the River of Teise were broken into that Province and were run as far as Budnoc neither were they minded so to stay but to rob and spoil all the Country before them if they were not with speed encountred And the rather for that but a few days before they had received thirty thousand Hungarian Duckats from the Turks whom they now acknowledged for their Lords with Horses and other Gifts to be divided among their Leaders and Captains and moreover daily expected Aid from the Tartars who in great Numbers lay about Belgrade Wherefore seeing it could not be expressed what great harm and loss was by the Haiducks done as well unto the Noblemen themselves as to the common Country-men that they should therefore thereof give their Neighbours to understand and with all speed to take up Arms against the same rebellious Haiducks Not long after about the latter end of March Proclamation was made by the Commandment of Matthias the Arch-duke throughout all Austria That every man should provide himself to take up Arms. The cause whereof men diversly suspected howbeit that unto this Proclamation was this Reason joyned That the Arch-duke was determined himself to go about the fourteenth of April into Moravia and there to gather together all his Power as well Hungarians as Austrians and Haiducks for the War he was to take in hand There were also Letters in the Arch-dukes name sent unto the Vassals of Austria to give them to understand That whereas they were not ignorant what for the obtaining of Peace and Defence of these Countries had of late been decreed at Presburg and that all the States of Enseric had approved the report thereof received from their Deputies and so promised their help and aid unto the Arch-duke as if that he himself would take in hand any Expedition they would joyn themselves unto him and together with him to live or dye yet that there were some which being more desirous of War than Peace did not only not rest upon the former Pacification but gathered an Army also in the Borders of Moravia with a purpose to make an inroad as well into Moravia as into Austria it self For which cause the States of Moravia also were enforced for defence of themselves to raise an Army and to crave help from their Neighbours And that therefore seeing the Arch-duke mindful of his promise for the common Defence of the Countrey was resolved to bestow his Life and all his Fortunes and in his own Person to undertake an Expedition unto those Places from whence the greatest danger was to be feared to fall upon those Countreys necessity then required that the States themselves also should suffer nothing to be wanting on their behalf but every one of them together with their Servants forthwith to joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and to the uttermost of their power to endeavour themselves to deliver them and theirs from death and destruction That God in whose name this Expedition was by them to be taken in hand as by the lovers of Peace might so in short time make an end of all tumults and grant unto those Countries wished Peace and quietness And that therefore they were to be admonished That according to the tenor of the Decree made at Presburg they with such a number of Horse and Foot as they could upon the sudden raise at a day to be shortly after named unto them should joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and not to suffer any thing to let them in so doing So that if haply any chance or sickness should happen unto their General yet notwithstanding that they should send their Power under the leading of some other man seeing that the Arch-duke himself spared not to adventure his Life and Fortunes and if God should see
of holy Jesus which follow the Popes Religion may build Temples in our Realms there to say divine Service after their manner and read the Gospel We will yield them all favour and will not suffer any one to disturb thâ—m contrary to Law and Equity 8. It shall be lawful for the Inhabitants born in the Realm of Hungary of either part to re-edifie the Villages ruined and laid waste and after they are inhabited they shall pay Tribute to the one and the other if they be such Villages as have been accustomed to pay to both 9. Merchants shall have free leave to traffick passing from our Port into those Countries and the transport of Merchandise shall be free to such as shall take Letters from the Governours of the Frontiers or from the Receivers of the thirties the which they shall represent in passing and the Lord of the Place or the Receiver shall attest the said Letters by his manual sign or seal for the which they shall not take any thing of the Merchant If the Merchant be to pass by any dangerous Place they shall give him a sufficient Convoy to conduct him in safety and after that the Merchant hath paied of either side the thirtieth which is the full due no man shall molest him nor hinder him to go where he pleaseth 10. The Merchants which would pass from the Realms and Seigniories of the Emperor of the Romans and the House of Austria into our Kingdoms with Merchandise or Money shall come under the Ensign of the Emperour of Romans and shall have his Letters patents to us without the which they shall not be suffered to pass And if they enter without Ensign or the said Patents the Agents and Consuls of the Roman Emperour may seise upon their Vessels Merchandise and Money and shall give advice thereof unto their Emperour wherefore all the Merchants of the Emperours Countries of the House of Austria and of the King of Spain both as well those of the Low-Countries as his other Realms may come with all assurance into our Realms with their Ships Money and Merchandise paying three in the hundred And as for the Agents and Consuls of the Roman Emperour they shall pay unto them two Aspers for the hundred and in doing so the said Agents and Consuls of the Roman Emperour shall have a care of the Merchants Affairs If any Merchant chance to die the Emperours Agent and Consul shall cause his Goods to be sealed up and shall take them into their Possession to the which our Treasurer shall have no colour or pretension And when as the Merchants have paid the Custom of three for the hundred in one place they shall not be bound to pay it in another for the same Merchandise If the Merchants have any Controversie amongst themselves or with others the Cadi or Iudge of that Place may take knowledge of the cause if it exceed not the value of 4000 Aspers but it shall be judged by the Cadi of our Port. 11. As long as this holy Peace shall continue the Posts which shall be sent with Letters by the Bassaes Begues Lords and Agents or by the Visiers on our behalf to the Emperour of the Romans and respectively from him to our Court shall be honourably entertained by our Officers and if the way be dangerous they shall give them assistance to conduct them into a place of safety with their Letters And if the Agent which is with us desire to write any particular Letter unto the Emperour and not send an express Messenger that this Letter shall be carried by the post and delivered safely where it is directed That the Messengers of the Bassaes and Begues shall go no more into the Villages but the Iudges shall bring the Tribute and deliver it where they ought An Accord for the Execution of the Articles touching the Villages in Controversie and the raising of Fortifications TO conclude all Differences touching the division of Villages and demolition of Fortifications made in prejudice of the Peace of Situa Torok We the Commissaries deputed had agreed upon the time of four Months But for that all Controversies cannot be decided within that time by a common consent we have concluded the time of twelve Months for the Expedition of all that shall remain undecided all things remaining in the same Estate during the time For the ending of these Affairs on the behalf of the Majesty of the Roman Emperour shall be sent the Noble Lord Adolph of Althen Earl of the sacred Empire with others according to his Maâ—esties good Pleasure And on the behalf of the Othoman Emperour hath been named the Noble Lord Ali Visier Bassa For the greater assurance of these things we the said Commissioners have caused six Copies of this Treaty to be dispatch'd in the Italian Hungarian and Turkish Tongues And we the Director or President of the Privy Council to his Imperial Maâ—esty and Cardinal with other Counsellors of his Privy Council and Commissioners having full Power and Authority have confirmed these Presents under our Hands and the Seals of our Arms. As also We Ali Bassa of Buda Visier to the most powerful Sultan Achmat Tyhaia Mutafaraga and Gasper Gratiani Ambassadors to the Turkish Emperour with the Imperial Majesty of the Roman Emperour having full Power and Authority to conclude this Treaty have signed it with our Hands and sealed it with our ordinary Seals whereof there were three Copies delivered to either party Given at Vienna the first of March 1616. This new Declaration of the Othoman Emperour upon the first Articles concluded at Situa Torok shews plainly how much the Turks are of late days refined from their antient barbarism and rudeness having made themselves capable of great Affairs And these frequent meetings betwixt the Emperour of the Romans and the Sultan by their Ambassadors as a holy watering of the Olive Tree of Peace seems to make it so flourishing as the sweet savour may pierce further and make us hope that God will make use of this peaceful Union to prepare unto himself some means to a new Harvest or a healthful Conquest of Souls wandering amidst the falshoods of the Alchoran Alexandrina Wife to Prince Coreskie having been taken at that unfortunate overthrow of the Polonian Princes in Moldavia by Skinder Bassa and Prince Michna she was carried away as you have formerly heard by a Tartarian Captain and led Captive unknown to Bialigrot where she received many Indignities being with Child yea during the time of her lying in which was five or six Months after her taking all which time she bethought her self of a means to hasten her own Delivery and withal to free a Polonian Souldier called Iaques who had carried Arms under Prince Coreskie This man although he knew the Princess well and might by her discovery have purchased his own Liberty yet he would not do it wherefore the Princess having tried his Fidelity taught him a means how to work his own Liberty and hers in
Souldiers which had been ruined during the Troubles of Moldavia desiring the Polonian to remember it well lest they should be found to differ when they should come to treat of her Ransome The Tartarian returning soon after to his House he found Iaques the Polonian there whom he entertained very kindly both in reward of the good Offices he had done to his Brother and for the hope he had of his Prisoners ransome remembring that Iaques had told him that she was his Kinswoman and that it might be he would bring it After some little Discourse Iaques asked him What ransome he would require for his Polonian Prisoner To whom the Tartarian answered That he would have six thousand Chequines for her and her Son unless he would give him the Stone with the which he had cured his Brother to whom the Polonian replyed That as for the Stone it was not in his Power having restored it to a Nobleman whom he had followed when he was taken Prisoner And as for the ransome which he demanded for his Prisoner and her Child it was more than she and all her Kindred were worth she being Wife to a Captain who had been taken Prisoner at the defeat of Alexander and for want of means was still detained The Tartarian interrupted him saying That he understood she was of noble extraction and that she had rich Kinsfolks who would not suffer her to spend her Life in Captivity I confess said the Polonian that she is issued from Noble Parents but they are ruined during the Troubles of Moldavia adding withal that he would not have returned if he had thought he would have demanded above a thousand Chequines the which he offered him intreating him to accept it in regard she was his Kinswoman and for the good Office he had done for his Brother You have been satisfied reply'd the Tartarian and have no cause to complain Notwithstanding after some contesting by the mediation of the Captains Brother who had been so well cured the Ladies ransome was set at three thousand Chequines whereof her faithful Agent gave present Intelligence to Prince Charles Brother to prince Coreskie who sent this sum with all possible speed and so the Princess and her little Infant were redeemed from Captivity and conducted into Polonia by their faithful Sollicitor From whence she advertised the Prince by Letters of her delivery This relation was written by a Frenchman who by his report was present in all the Troubles of Moldavia but as touching her delivery by means of the Cure I cannot warrant it but leave it to the censure of Physicians and Naturalists who can best judge of the Virtuâ—s of Stones Herbs and Plants but it is certain that she was imprisoned and ransomed as an unknown Person In the year 1617 there came to Paris a Chiaus year 1617 a Spanish Renegado called Solyman sent from Constantinople with Letters from the Emperour Achmat to the King for the delivery of eight and twenty Slaves who had redeemed their Liberty for Money in divers Ports of Italy and in their return to Constantinople had been taken by the Ships of Merceilles the King caused them to be set at Liberty But the Chiaus had also charge to intreat his Majesty to cause Justice to be done unto the Moors Grannadines expelled out of Spain and wronged in their Goods and Persons upon their Passage into France wherein he had what contentment he could expect of Justice Notwithstanding he did witness openly his amazement at their long delays in the dispatch of Suits saying plainly That France which had the Reputation throughout the World to maintain every mans right inviolably did no Justice but after long and tedious Pursuits and that the Execution of decrees was many times longer than the Suit it self Whereas the Turks Justice said he was speedily administred to every Man and within eight days they saw an end of the greatest and most important Suits This Chiaus was favourably entertained and defraied with his Train for the space of six or seven Months at the Kings Charge As the Turks Estate hath not grown great but by Combustions so it is ordinarily full of Troubles whereby it seems that the Preservation thereof depends in making War upon others or to support it when as neighbour Princes seek to recover that which they had unjustly wrested from them by the Othoman Force So this great Estate entertained this year four great Armies two at Land the one against the Persians his antient Enemy the other consisting in a manner all of Tartarians against the King of Poland as supporting the part of the Vayvod of Moldavia against the Turk who had settled another in that Province And two naval Armies the one in the Black Sea against the Cossacks or Russians who made daily Incursions into the Othomans Country Men wholly given to Arms which go to Sea in small Boats able to carry but five or six Men made of the Bodies of hollow Trees but they are in a manner invincible with these kind of Boats for when as the disadvantage of a Combat forces them to sound a retreat they retire near unto the Land and in such Places whereas the Turkish Gallies cannot approach and so they easily prevent a total overthrow Finally in case of Necessity they carry their Vessels with them For in the end of the last year finding the passage of the Black Sea stopped at the mouth of the River of Danow by the Turkish Gallies they put their Boats into Carts and taking the way by the Mountains they brought them easily into the Sea. The Turks fourth Army is in the white Sea as they call it employed either to conduct the Caravan which brings the Tribute from Egypt to Constantinople or in search of the Gallies of Malta and Florence which scoure those Seas continually to annoy the Turk The Army against the Persian is led by Haly Bassa Successor to Mehemet Bassa he who fled into Persia after that he had lost threescore thousand men in a set Battel after which being sent for to come unto Constantinople fearing that the Sultan would take revenge of so great a loss upon his life he retired to the Sophy where he now remains The Turks being much annoyed both at Sea and Land by the Vscoques made great Complaint to the Estate of Venice with whom they are in League being greatly grieved at their Thefts and complaining much that they could not pass by Sea without danger of Servitude or Death adding withal that these Pyrates having gotten a way into Turkey by the Venetians Territories they were by them made Slaves and slain in their own Countries and although they went not from their Houses nor undertook any Voyages yet they were still in alarm and subject unto ruine That the small Resistance which was made gave great cause of jealousie that there was some secret Intelligence betwixt the Subjects of the Seigniory of Venice and the Vscoques and that they
that of Adrianople as was accustomary he was mounted on one of the best of his Horses and cloathed with a Coat of Mail a Casket on his Head with three Feathers adorned with Pearls and precious Stones his Sword was girt to his side with his Bow and Quiver his Beard was in a rough and neglected manner which made him appear more Fierce and Martial the Chimacam came after him accompanied with the Traitor who surrendred Revan This Festival for his return was celebrated for the space of a whole week during which time the Shops were shut the Doors and Outsides adorned with green Boughs and Paintings and by Night the Streets with Torches were made as clear as the day howsoever the People secretly murmured that the War was not prosecuted and the Advantages taken when Fortune began to smile and favour their Enterprises and that now desisting in the middle way the Work was again to be begun and all the foregoing Blood and Treasure was spent and consumed to no purpose These Murmurings of the People were not without some Ground and Cause for after the departure of the Grand Signior the Persians put themselves again into the Field and recovered the Country which they had lost and having offered a Sum of Mony to Mortesa Pasha to surrender Revan which he refusing to accept on Principles of Fidelity and Honour they prepared to lay close Siege to the Place the Janisaries were also displeased to see themselves neglected and cast out of the Guard and their Places supplied by the Bostangees nor less disgusted were the Lawyers to see several of their Judges and Kadies hanged and their Heads cut off upon pretence of Sedition and Faction His ill Humor more increased to the height of Tyranny by reason of certain twinges which he suffered of the Gout which is not usual in Persons of his Age not surpassing twenty six years and because his Physician a Jew forbid him wholly to drink Wine as poison to his Disease and Complexion he was so enraged that he drove him from his Presence with Indignation and immediately conceived such Anger and Prejudice against the whole Nation that he caused their Houses to be searched and their Jewels taken from them But what was most strange was his horrid aversion to Tobacco the taking of which by any Person whatsoever he forbid upon pain of Death which Sentence he so rigorously executed that he caused the Legs and Arms of two Men one that sold Tobacco and the other that took it to be sawed off and in that manner exposed to the view of the People he also caused two others a Man and a Woman to be impaled alive for the same Offence with a Roll of Tabaco about their Necks As the Gout caused him to be froward and ill-natur'd so more especially when ill news came from Persia he was observed to be more raving and tyrannical than ever His Army in Persia wanting Provisions disbanded Mortâ—sa Pasha Governour of Revan being killed the Souldiers rebel open the Gates and yeild themselves to the Persian for which Offence the Janisaries fearing the Justice of their Master the Grand Signior two thousand of them took up Arms in Service of the Enemy the sense hereof vexing Morat to the Soul he caused the Register of the Janisaries to be hanged and another of their principal Officers to be beheaded and strowed the Streets of Constantinople with dead Bodies some for one cause and some for another which struck the whole City with a general Dread and Consternation He often walked in the night punishing Quarrels and Disorders of the Streets and meeting two Women wandring in the dark he caused them to be cut in pieces He put his Cook to Death for not dressing his Meat well or not seasoning his Sauces according to his Palate In his Seraglio sporting with his Arms he wounded himself with a Dart in the thigh and by accident wounded the Son of Mâ—hmet the late Vizier with a Carbine-shot of which in a short time after he died The Persians having taken Revan as we have said instituted Chambers of Janisaries in that place after the Turkish fashion paying them in the same form as at Constantinople and to allure the Spahees to enter into his Service he offered to all that came in twelve Aspers a day of constant Pay and declared That their Faith and Law had no difference from the Mahometan The Grand Signior receiving these Advices with extreme indignation proclaimed his Intentions to return again into Persia and though the Design pleased not the Militia who were weary of the War yet his Power was too great to be resisted and his Humors too violent to be diverted by sober Counsels for having subjected and absolutely subdued the Insolence of the Souldiers and suppressed the Arrogance of the Lawyers and Church-men he ordered every thing according to his Arbitrary and Uncontroulable Pleasure which being rendred Extravagant and Unsupportable by reason tbat in his Cups and at the time of his Debauchery he would often take his Counsels and determine his Resolutions were notwithstanding with more patience endured upon hopes that they would not be lasting and that Excesses would accelerate his Death and the end of their Oppressions The Pasha's of greatest Note and Riches he put to Death and confiscated their Estates to his Exchequer and whereas Avarice and Cruelty were equally predominant in his Nature there was scarce a day wherein he made not some demonstration of those Dispositions The English Ambassador making some instances for the releasement of English Slaves from Captivity was forced to purchase their Liberty by giving two Russians or other Slaves in the place of one English-man He took a singular delight to sit in a Chiosk by the Sea-side and from thence to shoot at the People with his Bow and Arrows as they rowâ—d near the Banks of the Seraglio which caused the Boat-men afterwards to keep themselves at a distance from the Walls of the Seraglio And as he likewise took pleasure to go from one Garden to another on the Bosphorus so if he observed any so bold as to put forth his Head to see him pass he commonly made him pay the price of his Curiosity by a shot from his Carbine In all his Gardens and places of Pleasure his chief Recreation was Drinking in which his principal or almost sole Companions were Emir Gumir the Persian who betrayed Revan and a Venetian of the Family of Bianchi who having been taken by the Turks when he was young was placed in the Seraglio and educated in all the Learning and Customs of it and becoming as well a Proficient in Drinking as in other Vices he was made a Favourite and Companion to Morat And thus did they follow this trade of Drunkenness so constantly that the Health of the Grand Signior began to impair and at length he became so sensible of his Extravagancies that he incharged the Chimacam not to obey him after
of us nay so much as intimation to us of the Grounds thereof or such Matters and Things as they pretend at least to have against us whereby we might answer for our selves and so whilst we are labouring as for these many Years we have done with all fidelity for them and their publick Interest whereof as we have proof sufficient in our Actions so we have him that is Iudg of the World for Witness to our Conscience they are contriving the ruin of us and our Posterity Which manner of proceeding so unjust horrid and odious before God and Man as in all reason we ought taking to heart and our serious consideration and as well that Violence which is offered to the Laws and his Majesty's Honour and Interest therein as our Self and our Family not pretending to extend that Authority which his Majesty hath put into our Hands to unlawful Ends but only to make a just use of it for the right and lawful defence of our selves and it in the several Occasions aforementioned finding by Accompt under the Hands of the Treasurer of the said Company here that for such Goods as they have brought in and carried out from the Port of Constantinople there is due unto us according to the Capitulations and the Grand Signior's Grants therein to the value of Dollars Ryals of 8 8 seventy four thousand and that for the like in Smyrna there is due Dollars Ryals of 8 8 one hundred thousand in circa and rating that Estate in Land which they have gotten into their power as aforesaid but at the value we were offered for it viz. at ninety seven thousand and five hundred Dollars in all two hundred seventy one thousand and five hundred Dollars Besides for ought we know to the contrary they may else have prevailed themselves upon of ours and as due to us by Privy Seal to the value of one hundred thousand Dollars and Leases under the Great Seal to near as great a value more We hereby enorder Sequestration of all Monies Merchandizes and other Goods and Faculties whatever within the Dominions of the Grand Signior where-ever belonging to the Parties and Members of the said Company in the Schedule hereunto annexed the chief Fomentors Contrivers and Abettors of these unjust and horrid Proceedings requiring you John Hetherington and you Lorenzo Zuma or one or both or either of you by the help and means of that Officer sent by the Vizier and those Commands in your Hands being now at Smyrna on other like Occasions according to your Instructions herewith sent to board and enter all Ships and Vessels and to break open and enter into all and every of the Houses Ware-houses Counting-houses of all and every of the Parties in the Schedule hereunto annexed and aforementioned and there to Attach Arrest and take into your custody and possession and as arrested and sequestred to take carry away and put into safe custody all such Monies Merchandizes other Goods and Faculties of what Nature soever that you shall discover find out and get into your power belonging to any of the Parties or under the Marks of the Schedule hereunto annexed and the same to keep so arrested and sequestred for our better Indemnity Satisfaction and Defence against all Pretences of the Levant Company before-mentioned whatever until we may be heard therein by due course of Law and till farther Order from us in that behalf for which this is to be your Warrant Dated in Pera of Constantinople this 30th of April Anno 1646. To our loving Friends and Servants Iohn Hetherington and Lorenzo Zuma Sackvile Crow To perform and put in execution the foregoing Warrant it was necessary to make use of the Turkish Officers Power and Authority Wherefore Sir Sackvile Crow demanding Audience of the Grand Vizier and representing Matters unto him in that manner as he judged most agreeable to his Cause was heard by him with a gentle and gracious Ear and assurances made to him of all Respect Favour and Assistance imaginable For the Turks had now smelt out a Cause in Transaction which with good improvement might be worth them many Purses of Mony and was of such a Nature as that their Religion and Doctrine obliged them to nourish having the prospect of gaining Mony and enflaming Christian Discord On these Grounds Sir Sackvile Crow easily obtained Commands from the Vizier directed to the Kadi of Smyrna to act all things according to direction of him the Ambassador and to enforce Matters with better execution a Chaous or Pursuivant accompanied with Iohn Hetherington and Lorenzo Zuma Interpreter was dispatched to Smyrna with Commands to carry up the Consul and Factors to Constantinople and to break open the Ware-houses and make seizure on such Estates belonging to the Turkie Company as would answer the Demands and Pretentions of the Ambassador Accordingly the Consul and Factory were carried up and with that other of Galata imprisoned in the Ambassador's House In the mean time the Agents at Smyrna with assistance of the Kadi sealed up all the Merchants Ware-houses but when it came to execution and Seizure more Difficulties arose for the Turks Armenians and Jew-Merchants made high Clamours to the Justice that many of the Goods belonged unto them some were not yet paid for others were only Pawns in the English Hands and all the Town being desirous to favour the Cause of the Merchants a great Uproar and Hubbub arose amongst the People The Kadi affrighted hereat grew more slack and faint in his Proceedings but the Cordial of 1500 Dollars and Gratuities to his Servants overcame the Difficulties and gave him new Resolution so that at length being attended with the Principal Officers of the Town he began first with the Consul's House making Seisure and delivering out of the Ware-houses all the Goods found there with some Caution howsoever and respect to those Pretensions which Stranger-Merchants made thereunto as appears by the following Letters Joh. Hetherington and Lorenzo Zuma their Letters to Sir Sackvile Crow advising further of their Proceedings dated in Smyrna June 16. 1646. Right Honourable YEsterday we received your Lordships of the 4 th present being the Copy of the 3 d And to day we received your Lordships's of the 8 th and rejoice to hear your Lordship is in such a readiness for your just Demands and wish your Lordship less Trouble and better Success than we this day have had and we doubt for many days shall incounter here This morning the Cadie's Son with his Neipe and principal Officers came and we began first with the Consul's House But before we began 't was spoken in the Kaddie's own House and all over the Town our Design to seize what we could find about seven a Clock his Son came and entred the Consul's House and opened all the Warehouses and took from thence with Elford's and Keeble's some four hundred Clothes and nine Bales Mohairs we left behind us 38 Bales of Silk 13 Bales his Servant pretended were sold by
blood to men as well as sap and moisture unto Vegetables These Reasons being represented with all humility to the Grand Signior he seemed to rest satisfied and his heat of visiting Adrianople for the present allayed And in the mean time that the design against Germany might be the more covertly carried it was given out that the preparations were intended against the Venetian Territories in Dalmatia viz. Zara Sebenico and Cataro and Proclamation was made that all Souldiers should prepare themselves for the Wars against the next Spring In which Interim no accident intervening which might bring matters to an accommodation and better understanding the daily Skirmishes on the Frontiers made the Controversie every day more difficult to be reconciled and the breach the wider The Count Serini also proceeded in finishing the Fortification he had lately raised near Canisia and the other Commanders of the Cesarean Army seeing the great progress of the Turks in Transilvania secured Claudiopolis Somoswar Sechilhid Clewar alias Coloswar and Betlem with some other Towns and Fortresses The Turks on the other side under the Command of Ali Pasha penetrate into the very Center of Transilvania and conceiving a jealousie of War from the passages before mentioned lost no time to take their advantages so that the Pasha of Varadin not contenting himself with that Country and limits formerly prescribed for maintenance of his Fortress adjoined to his Jurisdiction what Villages and Towns he thought fit the whilst the poor Prince Michael Apafi though made by the Turks durst not lift a hand or interpose the least Obstacle or Impediment to his quiet progress or peaceable possession which so harrassed the People of the Country and wrought that misery and destruction therein that the Prince deprived of his power in Government and disabled by oppression to pay his Annual Tribute had no hopes of redress but from the assistance of Divine Providence governing the hearts of Christians and Turks to compassionate the misery of his Country Wherefore he craved the assistance of the Emperor and of the King of Poland acquainting other Christian Princes more remote of the sad estate of the Christian Cause he sent also his Ambassadors to the Port with most submissive Letters to the Vizier complaining against the Pasha of Varadin and craving his Commands for retirement of his Army within their due and ancient bounds Letters were also directed to the Publick Representatives of Christian Princes residing at Constantinople one of which was directed to the Earl of Winchelsea his Majesties Ambassador which being that which may conduce to the more full understanding of the present deplorable Condition of Transilvania I thought fit to be here mentioned Excellentissime Domine Amice observandissime AFflictiones Regni Transilvaniae quibus per complures annos justo Dei Iudicio castigatur toti Orbi Christiano manifestae sunt nec possumus non fateri inter duos Potentissimos Monarchas adeo indies hoc Regâ—um coangustari ut nisi extraordinaria Dei clementia aliquod subsequatur levamen vix immo ne vix quidem diu duraturum credamâ—s Sed ut ad rem proximius collimemus Potentissimus Imperator per Legatos Regni nostros nunc reduces Clementissimum suum patrocinium pollicetur interim autem Passa Varadinensis non contentus Villis ac Pagis ad dictam Arcem pertinentibus usque ad meditullium plane Transilvaniae metu Mortis integras ad deditionem cogit Regiones quae nunquam eidem Arci applicatae fuerant nec possible est Principatum Transilvaniae iis ademptis ulterius persistere Tributumque annuum persolvere posse Qua de re tam Potentissimum Imperatorem quam Supremum Vezirium denuo requirere cogimur vestram quocirca Excellentissimam Dominationem confidenter rogamus eo quo convenientius putaverit modo continuo nostro Oratori opitulari eaque qua pollet Authoritate Caâ—sam promovere ne gravetur rem non saltem Transilvaniae verum quoque Christianitati perutilem factura nosque ad vincula amicitiae arctissâ—me devinctura cui felicem vitam precamur manemus indubitati Datum in Castris ad Pagum Koozard positis die 26 Septembris An. Dom. 1662. Excellentissimae Dominationis vestrae Amicus Benevolus Michael Apafi In English thus Most Excâ—llent Lord and most worthy Friend THe Miseries of Transilvania with which for many years by the just Judgment of God we have been afflicted are manifest to all the Christian World nor can we but confess how between two most Potent Monarchs our Principality is so daily straitned that unless through the extraordinary Mercy of God we obtain some relief we believe not our selves longer able to subsist But to come nearer to our Business The Most Potent Emperor by his own Ambassadors and ours now lately returned hath promised us his most Gracious Protection yet notwithstanding the Pasha of Varadin not content with the Towns and Villages appropriated unto his Castle hath entered into the very middle of Transilvania and hath compelled for fear of death those Provinces entirely to yield themselves which never before were belonging to his Fortresses which being taken away it is impossible for the Principality of Transilvania longer to subsist and pay its annual Tribute wherefore we are constrained again to beseech the most Potent Emperor and the Supream Vizier as also we confidently desire your Excellency in that manner which your Excellency judges most convenient to be assistant to our Agent and with your Authority to countenance our Cause in which your Excelleney will not only perform a matter beneficial to Transilvania but to all Christendom and oblige us for ever with the Bonds of friendship and praying for all happiness of Life and Prosperity to your Excellency we remain your undoubted Friend Given in our Camp at the Village Koczard the five and twentieth day of September 1662. Your Excellencies Loving Friend Michael Apafi This Letter was received by His Majesties Ambassador with that humanity as was agreeable to his Noble Nature and with that sense of the Christian Cause as became a Religious Minister of the Faith's Defender and an Answer returned thereunto full of affectionate Piety and Compassion But it was feared that the time was elapsed and the Disease proceeded too far to admit a gentle Cure for it could not probably be expected that the Vizier should upon fair words or perswasions or by the force of passionate and Rhetorical expressions be induced to let slip the fair opportunity of an intire and total subjection of Transilvania And the truth is herein lay the ground of the great Quarral between these two Emperors for ever since the Defeat of Chimianus or as the Transilvanians call him Kemenius the Turk swallowing in his thoughts the intire subjection of that Country designed to reduce it to the Government of a Pasha rather than of a Christian Prince though elected at the Ottomon Port and in order thereunto advanced beyond the Limits of the ancient bounds and
Justice the people being discontented hastened the removal of the Chimacam and now another entring on the Office the Kahya remained exposed to the malice and complaints of all his Enemies amongst which none was of greater force than an accusation laid against him for having granted leave to the Armenian Christians at Constantinople for a Sum of Money to erect a Church for which though a Command was granted by the Great Vizier obtained at a good price to build one there of Timber but of a low and mean Fabrick yet the Kahya for a greater Sum of twenty Purses of Money or ten thousand Dollars improved this Command and changed their Materials from Timber to Stone and Mortar the which Building beginning to rise with some magnificence offended the neighbouring Turks which so much scandal that great numbers of them carried the Complaints thereof to the Grand Signior who calling the Vizier and examining the Case the Vizier would own no other Command than for repairing of an old Church but not building one new Whereupon Sentence of Death being passed on the Kahya an Officer was sent to execute it And in his way to Constantinople at a place called Selebrea meeting with the Offender he caused him to return again with him to Constantinople where having strangled him his Body was thrown into the Sea. We have thus far discoursed of the Affairs at home which consisted for the most part in jollities and divertisements let us now look on the enterprizes and attempts abroad and we shall find no great matter of action this year performed against Poland more than some incursions made into Vkrania by the Turks and Tartars under the Conduct of Ibrahim Pasha in which we have no Battels nor great Skirmishes to recount only a seizure or surprize of those Cosacks which were not under the jurisdiction of Dorosensko who like sheep were driven from their pastures and Men Women and Children carried away into Captivity and transplanted into Countries where they might better serve the purposes and designs of the Turkish Empire to which ends also vast numbers of Tartars with their Families were called to inhabit the circumjacent parts of Kemenitz for better security of that Conquest to which the Tartars most willingly concurred esteeming it a happy Bargain to exchange the Soil of Tartary for the fruitful Plains and more gentle Air of Poland And thus we may consider what the intestine Discord of the Poles hath brought upon themselves that they who in former days maintained their honour and reputation with the Turks beyond any of the bordering Nations not having ever suffered them to continue in their Country much less to sojourn or possess one palm of Ground therein can now more easily see them before the Walls of Leopolis or Cracovia and planted in the very Bowels of their Countrey rather than a King of their own Countrey set over them not agreeable to their own humour and fancy or perhaps rather than behold the envied exaltation of some persons to dignity or some little disorders in their Government of which the Turk knows well to make use it being no new Lesson for him to profit himself of the Discord and Animosities of the Christians In like manner the Marine Affairs of the Turks this year afforded little worthy of observation unless it were That the Captain Pasha was employed with about thirty Sail of Gallies into the Black Sea for transporting of Ammunition and Provisions to those Forces in Vkrania but he returned not with an equal number of Gallies with which he departed having lost have of them by storm and then arrived at Constantinople on the 26 th of October called by the Greeks the Feast of St. Demetrius and by the Turks Cassin-gheun a day which is commonly remarkable for Storms at Sea of which the Turks and Greeks are so aprehensive or superstitious that on that day or near that time either before or after until the storm hath vented its fury and taken its course they will not adventure themselves unto the Sea upon the most pressing occasion or hopeful inducement whatsover And here I judge it requisite to conclude this Year with two matters very observable relating unto Trade The first is with reference unto the Genoueses who in the Year 1666. first sent their Ambassador Signior Durazzo with many Presents and great Magnificence to conclude a Peace with the Ottoman Empire with the sole design and intention of Trade which having been established on no other foundation at the beginning than that of their Temins and the Fabrick of their own Cloth when the first failed as it did in two years after and that their Cloth turned not to account but was out-sold by the English and Dutch then their Trade began to decay or rather never came to perfection like the fruit of a young tree which buds fairly and produces fruit but hath not strength to digest or bring it to maturity Even so it was with the Genoueses who having been at the charge of an Ambassadour Extraordinary and setled a Resident at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna and all the other Formalities of Trade wanted that nourishment thereof from their own soil which produces the true and natural fruit of Commerce which is gain and profit and being out-done by other Nations in shipping there could little or no benefit be expected from their own Navigation in the Levant For these reasons their Trade failing the Duties of Consulage on Goods appointed to maintain the Officers and defray the publick Expences were consequently wanting so that the Count Fieschi Resident for that Republick at Constantinople finding himself in great distresses and necessities and unable to maintain himself and his Attendants agreeable to his Character and Quality often advised his Prince and the Senate of the unhappy state of their Affairs desiring from them either to provide a Supply agreeable to the occasions or to recal him from that Office where he could no longer live in that Honour required This importunity produced the exchange of Officers and the Mission of Signior Giustiniano to reside at Constantinople and Signior Gentile at Smyrna the first of which some few days after his arrival being unfortunately killed with a Carabine in his Chamber at Constantinople as before related the Office of Resident came to be still continued in the person of Fieschi who remaining without provisions necessary to maintain his degree and the annual Presents expected by the Turks which they esteem as due as their Income and as part of their Revenues was forced to take up money on Pawns and his own Credit at the Interest of 20 25 or 30 per cent according as hâ—s necessities increased and the apprehensions men conceived of an insufficiency and hazard in their security was the cause that the debt which in the beginning was inconsiderable increasing with Interest upon Interest came at length to the Sum of sixty or seventy thousand Dollars which the Republick of Genoua attributing in a
EMPIRE CONTINUED From the Year of Our Lord 1676 to the Year 1686. By Sir Roger Manley Knight year 1676 THE History of the Turkish Empire having been transferr'd to us by Mr. Knolles very methodically and well and continued by the deserving Pen of Sir Paul Rycaut to the Year 1676 being the Twenty eighth of Sultan Mahomet the Fourth now reigning We have as well by inclination as to satisfie the desires of some Friends thought fit to prosecute so landable a Design by extending the History of that great Monarchy to our present Times And though we may be defective in skill for so Eminent an Undertaking we shall notwithstanding add Industry to our Endeavours and compensate our Failings by the candour and ingenuity of our Narrative Achmet the great Visier being dead in his way to Adrianople was succeeded by Kara Mustapha his Brother-in-Law aged about fifty and who had exercised the Office of Caimacan for many years The Grand Seignior to indear him the more to him married him to one of his Daughters though very young not exceeding five years of age according to the custom practised by the Sultans to be rid of their Daughters betimes which are always numerous by reason of the multiplicity of their Concubines and by this means to ease themselves of the Expence which they are obliged to be at in maintaining them according to their Quality In the same Month of Ianuary the strong Garison of Canisia having drawn out a Party to attack the Isle of Sexin allarmed all Croatia by their Military Executions exacting Contributions and pillaging and burning such places as did not submit to their tyranny The Turks of Newhausel did also ravage the Countrey on their side as far as Frystat But before we enter upon this stage of War it may be requisite to say somewhat of the Troubles of Hungary which preceded and their causes and how the Infidels came to be Principals in a War of Religion between Christians The Kingdom of Hungary being subdivided into Counties as in England or Communities have right to send their Deputies to the Dyets or Conventions of the Estates which ought to be summoned every three years according to the Laws of the Kingdom year 1676 This Assembly is composed of the Clergy the principal Lords the Gentry and the said Deputies of the Counties In hath the right of choosing a Palatine who ought to be an Hungarian according to the priviledges of the Nation and to have the intire direction of War and Justice The great Lords have â—o great Authority over their Vassals that they are look'd upon as so many lesser Sovereigns in their several Territories They have also great Revenues which inables them upon occasion to raise considerable Bodies of Men the People in general being strong active and valiant but covetous vindicative and inconstant The great Employments of the Kingdom were also invested in the Natives and no Strangers were to be imposed upon them or Foreigners enquarrered amongst them all which the Emperour upon his Election to the Crown was obliged to observe by the solemnity of an Oath But on the other side there being very many Arrians Calvinists and Lutherans in the Countrey they added to the aversion the Natives have to the Germans having been as they thought too severely used by them complaining that they were hindred in the free Exercise of their Religion their Churches violently taken away from them and their Ministers forced from their Duty It was farther complained that the Grandees of the Kingdom were not permitted to injoy their Priviledges of which one was That none of them should for any Crime whatsoever be convened before any Iudges but those of their own Nation Notwithstanding all this as the Emperour had sworn to maintain their Priviledges he had likewise promised to defend their Country which could not be done against the Insults of so powerful an Enemy as the Turk without an Army and those strangers living ill with the Inhabitants and they again shutting their Towns against them occasioned infinite Violences and Disorders on both sides which Repugnancy was the source of all the Troubles in Hungary The Emperour beginning to suspect the fidelity of the Hungarians by reason of the obstinacy wherewith they refused to lodge his Troops began seriously to think of securing the Kingdom to himself which being perceived he augmented by that Precaution the hatred which the Nation had conceived against him which was re-doubled by the refusal of his Generals to withdraw their Troops out of their Fortresses These Grievances did so far agitate these Spirits already jealous and dissident that they at length resolved to shake off a Yoke that seemed so insupportable Many great Lords by their particular Interest were glad to entertain this aversion which might serve for the Execution of the Designs they had already formed And thus the Spirit of revolting did insensibly diffuse it self through the whole Kingdom and the general aversion grew to that height that they of the Religion said openly that they would rather live under the Domination of the Turks than the Tyranny of the Germans whilst one of their Preachers did dare maliciously to insinuate That these Infidels would at least grant them the liberty of their Religion whilst the Dutch would rack their Consciences under pretence of reforming them The Emperour being informed of these murmurings thought it expedient to secure the Lower Hungary and so strangle the Rebellion in its birth Their reiterated pressing to have the German Troops removed out of the Kingdom gave him just cause of jealousie and besides he would not lose the expence of all his toyls and those vast charges he had been at in fortifying the Frontier places and entertaining Armies capable to oppose the Invasions of the Turks Finally he judged it absolutely necessary to reduce a Nation to their duty that gloried in their disobedience to his Orders being a King is no farther a Sovereign than whilst he obliges his Subjects to pay obedience to the Laws and his Commands And thus in short we have shewed the cause of this Revolt which yet lasts on both sides and though perhaps this digression may seem foreign to some yet being the Turks have been so mainly concerned as to become Parties in it we thought it reasonable to subjoyn it to their History And now to come nearer to the matter in hand we will say somewhat of the Maxims of these Infidels which will give us some light into their Policies And first it is a fundamental one to keep their Men perpetually imployed for Idleness ingenders indigested Humours in the Politick as well as the Natural Body which renders it infirm Another Maxim is that they do never imploy their Forces more than in one War at one time unless against weak Princes Nor do they desire to continue long in Arms against the same Enemy unless constrained by their constancy to the â—nd they may not grow too warlike and expert but leaving them by Treaties and
beginning of the Year 1680. by the Mediation and Interposition of Friends the Business was Compounded for 120 Purses but broke off again upon the time of payment which the Vizier required to be satisfied together with the Annual Tribute in one Payment in August following But they alledg'd the impossibility thereof by reason of the extream poverty of the Place which had now for two years been deprived of all Commerce and the benefit of the Saline from which their chief Revenue did arise and therefore humbly desired to pay it at thrice that is 40 Purses the next August and as much the Years following with the usual Tributes But the Vizier not contented with these Conditions commanded them in his rage to be cast into a Dungeon of the Prison and threatned to have the Torture given them The Mufti interceded in their behalf and laid before the Vizier the injustice of the Act but in vain The Kadilescher or one of the Chief Justices refused to Sign a Hoget or Sentence in the Case without positive command from the Grand Seignior Howsoever they were remanded to Prison without other legality of Sentence than the Vizier's Boyardi and Command where they remain'd until the time that the Vizier march'd into Hungary when with some mitigation of the Sentence together with some drubs they were set at Liberty We shall only add one instance more to demonstrate the manner and method of this Vizier in his Judicial Proceedings which was in the Case of Monsieur Debrosses Secretary to the Ambassador of Holland who having a Demand on the Metropolite or Greek Bishop of Scio for a Debt of one thousand Dollars upon non-payment of the Money call'd his Debtor to Justice the Patriarch appear'd at the Divan to defend the Cause with several other Metropolites some of which might resemble the Debtor Debrosses being asked whether he knew his Debtor he not having seen him in several years made answer That perhaps he did or perhaps he did not and pointed to a wrong Person whereupon the Vizier call'd him Telbis or Robber to which he reply'd That Franks were not Men of that Profession or who made false Pretences The Vizier enrag'd with this Answer order'd him immediately in his presence to have 300 drubs given him of which having receiv'd 193 he lay stunn'd and for dead and then upon the humble intercession of the Bostangi-Bashee a remission was granted of the remainder Nor did the Patriarch and his Bishops carry off their Cause so clear and easie but were forc'd to pay unto the Vizier a good part of that Sum which the Plaintiff demanded in reward and acknowledgment of that justice which was done them He that made at this time the greatest Figure at Court next to the Vizier was Kara Kiaja of whom to know him we need give no other Character than that he was the Vizier's great Confident and intimate to all his Councels for having all the ill qualifications and mischievous Arts of the other he was the most likely Person to succeed the Vizier which we shall find verified some years hereafter He was Capitan-Pasha or Admiral of the Gallies which is esteem'd one of the greatest Places of Trust and Honour in the whole Empire but he was remov'd from that Station not in disgrace but by favour of the Vizier who knowing him to be a Person like himself and of his Humor and Principles plac'd him near the Person of the Grand Seignior with Title of Chimacam and in recompence for the Commission which he had laid down he was gratified with the Revenue of three Passalicks in Anatolia which had been given to the late Vizier after his return from Candia in his Place Capitan Passa of whom we have formerly made mention was made Capitan Pasha and this year dispatched with Sixty Gallies into the Black-Sea for building the two Castles upon the Boristhenes Other Preparations were not made this year for the War of Muscovy for the Turks intending for this Campaign to remain on the defensive part design'd only to build those Forts which were to Command the passage of that River and for the future to stop the Excursions and Pyracies of the Cossacks into the Black-Sea The Muscovites tho' desirous of a Peace with the Turk yet out of dulness or ignorance made faint applications for it by the means of a single Letter only which was sent from Mosco by the hands of an Armenian who was turn'd Russe that is one who had reconcil'd himself to the Russian Church and had no other business than only to deliver this Letter the Contents of which was That the Turks should quit Verania and desist from Building their Forts on the Boristhenes both which Proposals were rejected and no Answer return'd unto the Letter So that now the Thoughts and Preparations for War giving no disturbance at the Port the grand Seignior apply'd himself to the most soft Pleasures He was not now so eager in his Huntings as formerly but attended to the more common Delights of the Seraglio he had gotten together a parcel of Dancing and Singing Girls which had been presented to him for he would not be at the expence to buy them tho' he was so kind to them as to have three of them at the same time with Child by him and kept in the Seraglio where hereafter they may prove a reserve to the Ottoman Line when the Souldiers shall become more wantonly profuse of the Blood of their Emperors At this time likewise Kul-Ogli Favourite to the Grand Seignior who as we have before related had in the year 1675. Married the Grand Seignior's Daughter at Adrianople a Child then of 7 years of Age being now become ripe for her Husband he Bedded her at the beginning of this year And farther to increase the Pleasures of the Court the Grand Seignior for his Divertisement caus'd a Dunalmah or Triumph to be made which was represented on the Water by multitudes of Boats hanging out Lights and Fire-Works on the Walls of the Seraglio and a Float was made in the Sea representing the Island of Malta which was batter'd on all sides by a Fleet of Gallies But for all these Triumphs Constantinople which hath ever been infested by Pestilence and grievous Incendiations was greatly afflicted this year by many Fires the greatest was on Christmas-Eve which by common compute burnt down 2000 Houses all that quarter called the Fanar with part of the Greek Patriarchs Church the remainder being with much difficulty saved After which another Fire happening near the Old Palace of Constantine a Boy found in the Rubbish a Diamond that weigh'd 96 Carats which he sold for 3 Paraws or about two pence half-penny and the Buyer re-sold it again for a Zelot or about half a Crown to one of those Shops near Sultan Bajazet's Mosch which sell Stones for Seals and pieces of Chrystal for Rings and there it lay for some time unregarded until at length the Owner not finding a
signified to the Ambassador Sir Iohn Finch his desire to have the Capitulations sent to him by the hand of his Interpreter on pretence of reading some particular Articles therein for his own Information and Instruction The Vizier accordingly having them in his hand detain'd them saying That there were several Articles therein which being contrary to the Turkish Law and prejudicial to the Grand Seignior's Power and Revenue were to be made void and null which he would take care to expunge and would afterwards return unto the Ambassador another Capitulation This new Method of proceeding was very surprizing to Sir Iohn Finch then Lord Ambassador and the whole English Nation who being divested of their defensive Arms and of those Articles on which all their security in that Country was establish'd look'd on themselves and their Estates as expos'd to the will and arbitrary pleasure of the Turks It seem'd now as if our Nation remain'd in a state of War or in a Condition of Outlawed People being deprived of our Law and Privileges The Consuls did usually carry the Authentick Copies of the Capitulations with them whensoever they appear'd before the Kadies or Justices but the Original Exemplar being taken away the force of the Copies ceas'd and those Articles could not be produc'd in Plea for us as formerly they were This Matter relating to a state of War and Peace was transmitted home to his Majesty's Consideration who was humbly intreated by the Turkey Company to take notice thereof in Letters directed to the Grand Seignior and the Vizier But in the mean time the inconveniences were so great and the obstructions to Trade so insupportable that it was thought fit to ransom our Capitulations out of Captivity at any rate rather than to hazard all our Interest by the want of them So that a Treaty being commenc'd it was agree'd that upon payment of 50 Purses of Money being 25 thousand Dollars the Capitulations should be restor'd which was accordingly perform'd In this Condition things stood when the Lord Chandois another Ambassador from his Majesty arriv'd at Constantinople bringing besides his Credentials Letters to the Grand Seignior and Vizier containing no other matter than Complaints of that unworthy Seizure of the Capitulations and of the Price and Ransom paid for them an Action so strange and new that an Example of the like nature was never known or heard of in the World. The Vizier contrary to his usual Custom being touched with a sense of shame for so mean an Action did desire that the Letter of this Tenure from our King to the Grand Seignior might be smothered and not delivered promising to make restitution of the Fifty purses he had taken on that occasion This offer from the Vizier seemed a thing incredible and as impossible to redeem a Soul out of Hell as a Purse of Money out of his Coffers Howsoever so touched he was with the sense of this Act of which the Grand Seignior had as yet no knowledge nor taken any share in the Booty that he ordered Twenty nine purses of the Money to be restored but with so ill a Grace and so unpleasant a Countenance that our Merchants apprehended some other Contrivances and Machinations to be repaid again with a severe interest which might probably have been expected had not the Vizier been diverted from these low acquisitions to matters of higher concernment in Hungary Howsoever before his departure he left those menacing promises behind him which threatned no less than Ruin and Destruction at his Return We might here recount several other Acts of injustice passed on our Nation As the encouragement of the Pasha of Tunis to make demands on our Ambassador for what Goods the Corsaires or Pirates had taken from him on one of our English Ships And tho' out of the respect and deference which the Great Duke of Tuscany and the Great Master of Malta bore to the Majesty of our King and by the industry and good management of Sir Iohn Finch then Ambassador at Constantinople the greatest part of the Goods and Money taken were restored for which the Pasha declared himself satisfied yet this Pasha receiving countenance and encouragement from this Vizier in his pretensions demanded 450 Purses to be paid him by the Ambassador for the remaining Goods which were not recovered And tho' this pretension in the late Vizier's time a Man of more Justice and Reason than this present was cast out and quashed yet the Pasha looking on this conjuncture as the most seasonable of any when the most extravagant demands would be heard and favoured renewed his Suit and pleaded it before the Vizier with as many Lyes and false Testimonies as were required or could be invented to give colour to an evil Case The Vizier hearkned most devoutly to all the Allegations and with a bended Brow and a stern Countenance told the Ambassador That he was to answer for the Blood and Estates of the Turks which were lost Aboard our English Ships And again turning to the Pasha told him That his Demands were too unreasonable and extravagant and so mediating as it were sometimes on one side and sometimes on the other with design to take on both hands he at length fairly dismissed the Audience And in the Afternoon made a proposal by his Kaja or Deputy absolutely to supersede the Cause provided that Fifteen purses were given to him and Seven to his Kaja and Reis-Effendi who is Secretary of State. In short after divers Treaties on this Subject an Accommodation was made with a great Sum other businesses being entred and passed in the same Agreement The next which comes into play is the Venetian Bailo or Ambassador who about the beginning of this Year 1680 was sent by that Republick to reside at Constantinople his name was Ciurani a Noble Venetian and one who had formerly been General in Dalmatia he was esteemed an Avaritious and a self-interessed Person a great Merchant and a great Politician and one made up of Intrigues and Designs His first Enterprise which was to Cheat the Turks proved unlucky For having brought a great quantity of Cloth of Gold with him which was his own Merchandize and Adventure he endeavoured to save the Custom by Landing it under the notion of Presents which were to be made to the Grand Seignior and the Officers of his Court. The Goods were privately convey'd a Shoar in the Night by Boats belonging to the Ships of War which had brought the Ambassador and defended by a Guard of Albanians who are a company of lusty Fellows to the number of Thirty maintained by the Republick only to carry Letters to Zara or Cataro in Dalmatia from whence by a Felucca they are Transported to Venice A Party of these Men I say conducted these Goods and in despight of the Customer's Officers carried them to the Bailaggio or House belonging to the Venetian Ambassadors The Customer Usaine Aga who had notice of all that passed dissembled at first his
knowledge thereof and contrived with the High Treasurer to send one of his Servants to Buy a considerable parcel of the Cloth of Gold for the use of the Seraglio And in regard different Sortments and Colours were demanded it was necessary to open and unpack divers Chests by which means they came to a full discovery of all those Goods which had privately been convey'd away by Night When these Chapmen had concluded their Bargains and agreed on the Prices which amounted unto 3500 Dollars they gave an Assignment for the Money on Usaine Aga the Chief Customer who willingly accepted the Bill but to abate it out of the Customs due for those Goods making up the Account after his own fashion But not content herewith he obtained a Warrant from the Vizier directed to the Judge of Galata to examine the manner of carrying these Goods a-shoar in the Night by Force and Violence which being made out by several Witnesses a report thereof was sent to the Vizier who immediately thereupon gave Orders to the Vaivod and Captain of Galata to make Search in the House of the Customer for those Goods which had not paid the Custom Seignior Ciurani Alarmed at this manner of Proceeding and not willing to give an occasion to the Turks to violate the respect due to the House of Venice which until that time was ever esteemed a Sanctuary and place of Refuge seasonably compounded for his unjustifyable miscarriage by the Payment of 30000 Dollars But this trouble was no sooner ended before another of worse Consequence began arising from certain Slaves to the number of about Fifty which had saved themselves aboard the Venetian Men of War which had brought the Ambassador of which Complaint being made by the Masters unto the Vizier Orders were given twice to make search aboard the Ships for them but by help of a little Money Inquisitions were made so superficially that Returns were given of none to be found But the Complaints daily increasing new Orders were given to renew the Search the execution whereof was committed to a Capugee and a Hasakee who are Officers belonging to the Seraglio together with a Naip or Kadee's Notary who was to write down and record the proceedings These persons being come aboard and rudely making search after their manner the Soldiers arose against them and beat them off wounding some and throwing the Naip and others into the Sea. Upon report whereof the Vizier was so enraged that he would have had the Ships brought to the Arsenal there to be laid up and confiscated to the Grand Seignior's Service The two Venetian Ambassadors fearing also some violence to their Persons from these disorders betook themselves to their Ships there to remain until Matters were a little pacified and to make the business more easy the Slaves about whom was all the controversie were privately convey'd ashoar And a Search of the Ships submitted unto by consent and Proposal of the Ambassadors themselves The Vizier being a little mollified with this compliance the Chiaus-bashee or Chief of the Pursuivants with 200 Men were sent aboard the Ships to make a search where being received without opposition they left no corner of the Ships unsought and unlooked into and none being found the Chiaus-bashee gave them a favourable report upon payment of 300 Chequins After which the Bailos or Ambassadors returned ashoar referring a farther Accommodation of their Matters to Usaine Aga the Customer who was a most dexterous Person both in raising Avanias or false Pretences and in the Ways and Arts of composing them And he accordingly so managed the matter that with payment of Seventy purses to the Vizier and Ten to the Kaja with other petty rewards to Usaine Aga himself and other inferiour Officers which might in all amount to about 50000 Dollars all Displeasures were reconciled the new Bailo was Friendly admitted to Audience and the old one suffered fairly to depart The Masters lost their Slaves and the Vizier got the Money But the Troubles of the Venetian Ministers did not end here For not long afterwards some Desturbances arose in Dalmatia between the Turks and the Subjects of that Republick in which above a Hundred Turks as was reported being Cut off the Vizier in a Rage sent the Bailo Prisoner to the seven Towers Threatning to put him to Death but with the Atonement of 200.000 Dollars the Vizier's gentle Heart was melted and all things salved up and reconciled again once more But the Republick of Venice to whose expences the Sum of 300.000 Dollars was charged could not so easily digest this Extortion and knowing that with the Turks there was no other remedy but patience until such time as opportunity happened to revenge it did in the interim show their resentment by their displeasure against Seignior Ciurani their Ambassador whom they recalled speedily from his Employment and constituted the Secretary in his place and afterwards levied a great part of the Money paid unto the Turks out of his Estate and out of the Estate of Morosini the old Bailo Foscari formerly Consul at Aleppo was made Inquisitor to examine the matter who upon enquiry thereinto found that the Goods which Ciurani brought were to the value of 60.000 Dollars and others which had not paid Custom at Venice were in pena di contrabanda condemned in 30.000 Ducats such success as this have such old Politians who pretend to a craft and cunning above other Men. And thus we have given a Relation of the Treatment which the Vizier used towards the Venetians in which we have been the more large to inform the World of the beginnings and grounds of the War which soon afterwards ensued and the Reasons which moved the Venetians to joyn themselves in League with the Emperor against the Turk The next Foreign Minister which must tast of the Vizier's kindness was the Genoese Resident And tho' neither the Business nor the Actions of that Nation did Administer any ground of pretence to extort Money from them yet the Vizier made an Avania of 5000 Dollars upon them for what cause no Man knows nor do the Genoese themselves declare any It is conjectured he would not suffer their Resident Seignior Spinola to depart without payment of that Sum upon pretence that during all the time of his Residence he had never seen the Grand Seignior The new Resident who succeeded to Spinola had been the Sopra-cargo of a Ship and was rather a Factor than a Publick Minister for the State of Genoua had refused to have any concernment in Turky Howsoever they lent their name to certain Merchants for 6000 Dollars a year who in Consideration of the Consolage to be confirmed to them were to maintain a Resident at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna After which the Camera was to know nothing of any expence but all sorts of Charges and Avanias were to be born by the Undertakers who allowed their Resident 1500 Dollars per annum which with the benefit of making
their usual Hostile manner defeated some of the Emperor's Troops and plunder'd many Waggons laden with Merchandize coming from Molda Fair and killed all the Guard which convoy'd them And thus ended this troublesome year ANNO 1676. The Heats and Troubles of the People of Hungary increased with some and as years passed so the quarrel grew higher Blood had been drawn so frequently that one would think the Spirits of Hungary might have been evacuated by such vast effusions The Malecontents had provok'd their Sovereign beyond hopes of Pardon and had no expectations of safety but in the Turk with whom tho' the Emperor had no mind to break nor yet the Turks on the other side during the Government of the Vizier Kupriogli who being as yet engaged in a War against Poland thought it not seasonable to come unto an open Rupture with Germany Yet so unhappily were the Affairs of the Malecontents interwoven with the concernments of the Turks that it was impossible to be avenged of one without irritating and disturbing the other For so it was at the beginning of this year when the Count Strazoldo took Debrezin a Town into which great numbers of the Rebels were retreated and there held their Cabals But in regard it was a place which paid Tribute to the Port the taking thereof put all the Turkish Governors and Officers into an Alarm and to so loud an Outâ—ry of an open breach of the Peace that tho' this Act was perform'd by Order of the Emperor yet he was forced to disown it and cause Strazoldo to Surrender up the same into the hands of the Turks and to take away all jealousie to retire over the Theysse with his Forces and after all this to divert the Storm a Gentleman was dispatched to the Pasha of Buda to excuse the matter and testifie the high displeasure of the Emperor for this Action declaring that it was perform'd wholly without his Order Tho' the Pasha of Buda seem'd indifferently well appeased with this address and satisfaction which was given yet the Pasha of Newhawsel continued his Displeasure and on the pretence of Deâ—rezin grounded his Reasons why he would not set divers Prisoners at liberty notwithstanding the Ransom which was paid for them and treated very scurvily and unworthily many Persons of considerable quality who were in the number of those Prisoners The Malecontents being much encouraged by these misunderstandings between the Imperialists and the Turks fell upon a body of 600 Cuirasiers and cut them to pieces And after another Fight between a party of Hussars commanded by Count Esterhasi and the Turks near Carolstadt in Croatia in which the Turks were worsted and after many other Acts of Hostility being well assured that the Peace could not continue long refused to hearken unto any Terms or Conditions whatsoever tho' again offer'd to them with advantage by Count Palfi and the Bishop of Agria And indeed the Vizier himself tho' inclinable in his own nature to conserve the Truce which he himself had concluded in the year 1664 until the full Term of 20 years had been expir'd according to the usual Customs and Constitutions of both Empires Yet finding how impossible in a manner it was to remain unconcern'd whilest the Emperor pursued his Rebels within his Dominions and that the Soldiers and Inhabitants of neither side being bred up to War could be kept within any Rules or Government he then clapt up a Peace with the Poles that in case he should be induced to declare War against tâ—e Emperor and march into Hungary he might have but one business and one War on his Hands at the same time to manage The state of these Affairs animated the Malecontents in such manner year 1676. that they adventur'd to fall into the Head quarters of Colonel Colalto near Zatmar where they cut three Companies to pieces and took some Prisoners And in the Month of Iune a party of them consisting of 4000 encountring with the Regiment of Colonel Smith near Kalo gave them a total Defeat killing 300 upon the place In the Month of Iuly two Parties of the Malecontents one of 1500 and another of 600 pillaged and burnt all the places and Villages near Zatmar and Caschau and defeated a Croatian Regiment under the Command of Count Palfi with a Detachment from the two foregoing Garrisons Another party of them burnt two Villages in the Upper Hungary killed most of the Inhabitants and carried away great plunder and booty with them And being met by Count Strazoldo who was desirous to intercept them in their Retreat he was defeated by them and forced to fly with consideraâ—le loss Another party of them surprized the Castle of Balac in the Morning just at the moment when the Gates were open'd and killed and made Prisoners all the People that were in it The same party defeated Colonel Scheveling and killed many of his Hussars upon the place they took and pillaged the little Town of Newtra and intercepted all the Merchandice which was carrying to the Fair of Stoez And with such Successes as these the Malecontents being greatly puffed up and exalted they demanded a Contribution of 14000 Florins from the Inhabitants of the plain Countries and took Hostages as a security for payment thereof Nor were the Turks in the mean time idle or unactive on their side for from the Garrison of Buda they sent a very strong party to joyn with those of Newhawsel with design to take and demolish the Fort of Schella whilest the Malecontents attended the motions of the Imperialists with 8000 Men and the Transilvanians marched towards the Frontiers of their Country with 10000 but by the care and vigilance of the Emperor's Soldiers the design was prevented These misfortunes were followed by others of worse consequence for the Generals Smith and Baragotzi were defeated by the Malecontents in divers Incounters The Towns of Oedembourg Zaltach and Dowar were plunder'd and burnt by them and so greatly they increased in their numbers that Strazoldo with 3000 Men durst not appear in the Field against them And now that the fate of War might be determined advices of the Death of the Grand Vizier Achmet Kupriogli were brought to Vienna by which all expectations of Peace failed For by the Answers he had made to the Malecontents who sollicited for assistance and to the Imperial Ministers who labour'd to continue a good understanding he evidenced an aversion to this War for Reasons which we have formerly declar'd And perhaps because at that time becoming Sick and Crasy his Spirits were low and his Thoughts rather inclining to Ease and Quietness than to the bustles and business of an active and raging War. But now Kara Mustapha succeeding into his place a Person of that Temper which we have before described the Imperialists despair'd of a Peace and accordingly provided for a War and indeed considering the Temper of the Man and the conjuncture of the present
when it was resolv'd that the War should be carry'd into Hungary which Resolution was first taken in the Year 1681. then the Vizier concluded a Truce with the Moscovites for twenty Years upon Conditions which the Czars sent by way of their Ambassador residing at the Court of the Tartar Chan call'd Baucha Sarai whose chief Business there was to Redeem and Exchange Prisoners the which Letter directed to the Grand Vizier was to this effect AT the instance of the Tartar Chan We have wrote to the Czars that he would be pleas'd to grant you a Peace as desir'd by you In answer unto which he hath given us to understand that he will consent thereunto provided that besides Kiovia you renounce all Title and Pretence to Tripol Staiki and Vasikow which have always been Dependences thereupon And that you farther promise that your People shall not Inhabit nor hold Fairs Commerce or Markets on our side of the Nieper but that all that Country shall remain desert and waste as it is at present And that from the Towns of Tripol Staiki and Vasikow to the Isles of the Cosacks Zoporoges you renounce all your pretensions unto us This is what we demand and without these terms we shall conclude nothing with you The Vizier having resolv'd on a War against the Emperor receiv'd these Propositions with full satisfaction and immediately return'd Answer thereunto in a Letter wrote to the Czars full of their usual sublime Expressions and of high and fulsom praises of their Wisdoms and Grandeur Signifying that in the Name of the Grand Seignior he did accept and confirm all the Conditions propos'd desiring him to send an Extraordinary Ambassador to confirm the Treaty But lest the Czars should refuse to send a new Ambassador before the other then residing was return'd the Vizier about six Weeks afterwards gave License for his Departure and accompanied him with Presents of greater value than those which the Grand Seignior had formerly bestow'd upon the Czar Of all these Particulars Kaunitz who Resided at Constantinople in the Place of the Secretary Hoffman lately there Deceas'd gave Intelligence to the Emperor signifying also that after the Moscovite Ambassador was arriv'd with Ratification of the Peace the Grand Seignior would soon afterwards remove to Adrianople in Order as was most probable and in all appearance to a War against Hungary This Matter was acted in the year 1681 which we have anticipated that we might not abruptly break off the Treaty with Moscovy the nature of which may be best understood when it is carried forward in one Piece which having done we must look back again to the year 1680. and to the Actions of the Malecontents Tekeli was very active all this time in Recruiting his Army and preparing for War and having compos'd a Body of four thousand Transilvanians he march'd with them to the General Rendezvous intending as he had done the year before to take upon him the Command of the Army But when he came thither he was strangely surpriz'd to find the same refus'd to him by Count Wessellini Son of the late Paul Wessellini deceas'd who so resolutely contended for the Chief Command that nothing could decide it but the Sword. In short both Parties drew out into the Field and charg'd each other and after a long Dispute Tekeli got the Victory and put Wessellini and his Forces to the Rout and having pursuâ—d them with a Detachment of his Forces the Competitor Wessellini was taken and brought Prisoner to Tekeli who causing him to be tied on his Horse sent him to Prince Apafi in Transilvania after which Tekeli without a Rival took upon him the sole Command of the Army The Emperor besides a War against his Râ—bâ—l Subjects was under great Mortifications and Troubles his Imperial Palace at Vienna was burnt the Plague Rag'd violently in his Hereditary Countries and in his Army of which the Baron de Kaunitz year 1680. and other principal Officers died And at the same time nine hundred Paisants of the Circle of Braslaw in Bohemia arose in Arms against the Counts Galas and Bredaw their Lords pretending that they were treated like Slaves and refus'd to pay the Contributions which were demanded for the Emperor Howsoever to make the Justice of their Cause appear they sent four Deputies to Prague to make known unto his Imperial Majesty their many Aggrievances which were so Tyrannical and Burthensom as could not longer be sustain'd and therefore they desir'd that Council might be assign'd them to plead their Cause against their Lords at the Bar of Justice But instead of hearkning to the Petition of these distressed Paisants the Deputies were Imprison'd and to stifle this Tumult in the beginning two Regiments under the Command of Count Piccolomini were sent to reduce them upon the appearance of which the Mutineers dispers'd and fled every Man to his own home But this Combustion was not long suppress'd before it burst forth again in a more violent and outragious manner than before for four thousand of these discontented Paisants were got together in a formidable Body Conducted by several Reformed Officers with Colours flying and Drums beating and with Mottos on their Ensigns which serv'd to incite others to joyn in their Rebellion They at first attempted a Castle belonging to the Count de Thun who was Envoy about that time in England for the Emperor where they expected to find Arms but missing thereof they proceeded on other Designs but were interrupted and stop'd by Count Piccolomini who was sent with Forces to reduce them to Obedience Whereupon these Rebels made a second Experiment of sending their Deputies to represent their Aggrievances who were as before clap'd into Prison But Advices coming that some other Counties were up in Arms in like manner and for the same Cause the Deputies were set at Liberty and a General Pardon Granted to all those who would lay down their Arms and remit their Pleas to be Treated at the Tribunals of Justice Upon this Declaration five thousand submitted and return'd to their own Habitations And the Emperor himself upon hearing the Cause between the Lords and the Paisants did determine that the Paisants should be oblig'd only to Labour three days for their Lords whereas formerly they were constrain'd to the Service of five Days in the Week having but one single Day allow'd them for the Care and Support of their Family In the mean time the Resident for the King of Poland at Vienna press'd very instantly to have the League between his Master and the Emperor against the Turk to be Compleated and Sign'd to which at length this Answer was given That so soon as the Poles had drawn the Moâ—covites into an Union with them and that the Turks had also declar'd a War that then the Treaty which was already drawn should immediately be Sign'd Tekeli on the other side offer'd New Propositions of Peace and in the mean time desir'd a Cessation of Arms. Upon
the Diet. The Turks had not as yet declar'd a War for their Forces and Troops from the remote parts of Asia were not in a readiness nor on their March till which time the Emperor was to be amused with Treaties and the appearance of that great Body of Turks near Belgrade was with pretension only to restore Tekeli to the Possession of his Lands Houses and Estate of which he had been unjustly deprived by the Emperor and his Favourites The Emperor finding it now absolutely necessary to conclude an Accommodation with the Malecontents amongst whom new difficulties daily arose returned in Person from Newstadt to the Diet at Oedemburg where the Malecontents thought it reasonable that the Tribute which they had engaged to pay unto the Turks should be charged and levied on the Estates of those who had been the causes of the Troubles and Confusions in that Kingdom This motion had so little ground and was so unlikely to succeed that it put all things backwards and induced the Emperor to limit the Session of the Diet to the 16 th of August hoping within that time to agree on all Points with such who continued constant in their Loyalty and Allegiance to him and for particular Aggrievances they were to be composed by a Select Committee appointed for that purpose But all this while most of the Protestants refused to come to the Diet by reason that the Points about Religion were post-poned by the endeavours of the Archbishop of Strigonium which they in the first place and before all other Matters desir'd to have decided This Point being laid aside the Diet fell to debate on the Proposition sent by Tekeli relating to a Tribute demanded by the Turks and as an expedient and by way of Equivalent for that it was proposed to resign into the Hands of the Turks three Counties viz. Kalo Zatmar and Liptpow to which the Turks seemed with some reason to claim a Title in regard that no longer than since the year 1660 they had been disjoyn'd from the Principality of Transilvania But an end was soon put to this Controversie for both the Hungarians themselves were unwilling to have a Peace purchased from the Turk at the price of their Country by dismembring three Counties from that Kingdom at the mentioning only of which the People were so enraged that fearing lest the Emperor should privately conclude some Article with the Turk in reference thereunto they would not be satisfied until he had permitted them to joyn one of their Confidents with Caprara the Emperor 's Resident at Constantinople who might be privy to all the Treaties and Negotiations with the Turk nor would the Turks accept thereof in satisfaction for renewing the Truce but raised new and greater Demands as they found the Emperor inclinable to yield and condescend For now the Grand Vizier required to have Leopolstadt demolish'd on pretence that it had been Built and Fortified contrary to the Articles of the late Treaty And declar'd likewise the Grand Seignior's resolution to give aid and assistance to the Malecontents until such time as he had put them into a capacity of paying the Annual Tribute for which they were engaged New difficulties were every day started at the Diet so that the Emperor was desirous to dissolve it so soon as was possible but yet he thought not fit to do it abruptly or to break it up in discontent but that something might be done in matters of Religion on which the Protestants most insisted In order unto which it was agreed to grant them a hundred Churches with Money to build others in places most convenient That all Cities and Towns should enjoy a free exercise of their Religion And that all Hungarian Soldiers in the Frontier Garrisons should do the like That all Churches which since the year 1670 had been in the Possession of either Party should so remain That Lutherans and Calvinists might build Churches in any Town or City where they were wanting and Lords and Gentlemen might build Chappels or Oratories in any of their Houses or Castles That in case any Points of Difference should arise relating to Religion or the Matters preceeding they were not to be decided by the Sword but by the Sentence of the King of Hungary And that all People of what Perswasion soever might live amicably no Person was to Revile the other on account of his or their Religion or to utter injurious or unhansome Terms thereof These particulars with some additional Regulations being at last agreed in the Diet and sign'd by the Emperor The next great work was in what manner the Malecontents might be restor'd to their Estates and to their Goods which had been confiscated And how the German Troops and stranger Soldiers might with safety and ease be removed out of their Garrisons and all parts of Hungary which next to the business of Religion was the greatest concernment of the Diet. The next Aggrievance was the Chamber of the Kingdom which Office contrary to the will and approbation of the Deputies of the States was executed by the Bishop of Newstadt whom they consider'd as the Chief Author and Fomenter of all the Troubles of that Kingdom But herein the Emperor was not willing as yet to gratify the Diet. Nor could the Deputies agree amongst themselves of the manner how to make those things practicable which they in the most erarnest manner desir'd And such were the Divisions amongst them that what the Seculars agreed upon in the Morning was disturbed and undone by the Clergy in the Afternoon which the Emperor well considering and how Men of such different interests perplex all Councils was pleased to dismiss the Archbishop of Strigonium and the Bishop of Newstadt as also the Count Capliers a great stickler for the Rights of the Church from their attendance on the Diet so that the Imperial Commissioners were reduced to three Persons namely the Prince of Swartzemburg the Count of Nostiz and Oker the Chancellour And farther to satisfy the Malecontents in their pretensions the Bishop of Newstadt was put by his Office of Vice-President of the Chamber of Hungary and the same was conferr'd on Count Erdedi a Person much more acceptable to the People This gracious Clemency and Compliance of the Emperor was so satisfactory to the Protestants that they wholly submitted that point about the confiscated Goods to the favour and benign inclinations of his Imperial Majesty who not to abuse that confidence which his Subjects reposed in him did freely and of his own accord give order that the Goods and Estates of the Counts Serini Nadasti and Frangipani with those of several other Lords that had been confiscated for High Treason should be restor'd again to their Children or Heirs And the States on the other side to demonstrate the Gratitude and Duty which they professed unto their Prince did in Testimony thereof make a Present unto the Empress of a Purse of Gold containing 2000 Ducats which her Majesty
pry into the Secrets of the Empire Hereof the Cham having had some Intimation and seeing the Disorders arising in the Court and fearing to be sent away he desired to be dismist pretending that his Presence was necessary in his own Country he took leave of the Sultan at a Solemn Audience and being richly presented he began his Journey homewards being accompanied out of Adrianople by the Grand Vizier After the Departure of the Cham the Grand Vizier's Wife who was Sister to the Grand Seignior was forbidden the Court which was an evident demonstration that her Husband was not likely to continue long in that Office. The Heer Heemskirk who had been sent to the Assistance of Monsieur Coâ—yer Ambassador for the States-General at Constantinople for management of the Peace between the Emperor and the Turks or rather for want of an English Ambassaâ—or the two former Sir William Hussey and Mr. Herbert being both Dead At that time the Turks seeming inclinable to a Peace King William thought it not fit to let pass this Opportunity for want of an Ambassador from England but rather qualified Monsieur Heemskirk then at Vienna with the Title of English Ambassador to the Grand Seignior of which we have formerly made some mention the which had currantly passed with the Turks had not the French discovered the matter and declared that this Heemskirk was no English Man nor no Minister of the King of Enland but a German and one under Notion of an Ambassador sent for a Spy to deceive the Turks Upon which Insinuation Heemskirk was not able afterwards to treat with the Turks nor would they accept of any Propositions from him or acknowledge him for a publick Minister but committed him to Custody and kept him under a strict Guaâ—d and so was detained for some Months until the Lord Paget was sent to supply the Office of a true and undoubted Ambassador at which time Heer Heemskirk was called to Audience and had his Dismission Upon Departure Heemskirk said He was sorry that his Endeavours for putting an end to this Bloody War had been unsuccessful To which the Vizier answered That Peace would be when God pleased and was not at the Pleasure and Will of Man And so without saying any thing more material Heemskirk was dismissed and began his Journey from Adrianople towards Belgrade on the 2d of March. During these Matters great were the Disorders at Court the Grand Vizier grew weary of his Office and would gladly have been rid of it could he have done it with safety and Name his Successor and in the mean time his Wife endeavoured to accommodate Matters between her Husband and the Kuzlir-Aga Notwithstanding which Differences and the great Animosities yet they slackned nothing of their Diligences to be early this Year in the Field and accordingly Commands were issued out to dispose all things thereunto And an Aga was sent to Walachia for 500 Horses to carry Flour to Belgrade The French Ambassador perswaded the Turks to open their Campaign this Year by way of Transylvania and to induce them to follow his Advice he assured them that his King would have an Army this Year in Germany of 100000 Men but the Turks never gave much Credence to the Boastings of the French whom they commonly styled with the Name of Yalangi Francos And to second this Opinion of the French the Nogay Tartars who were setled in a Part of Moldavia made an Incursion through that Province into Transylvania and took from thence about 6000 Captives and a considerable Booty These Nogay Tartars were called into those Countries by the Tartar Han to succour and assist him at the time when the Moscovites came against Crim and were then placed with their Families in good Numbers about Budziac and part of Moldavia the Prince of which made Complaint to the Grand Seignior that being deprived of a great part of his Country by his new come Guests the Provinces were entirely ruined and the People no longer able to support the Charge and pay their Tribute But this Complaint having but little Effect the whole Blame of these Miscarriages were attributed to the ill Conduct of the Grand Vizier for which cause he was Deposed and the Embrahor or Master of the Horse was sent to demand and receive the Seals from him and the Chimacam of Adrianople employed to Seal up his House Hereupon the Deposed Vizier obtained by the assistance of Friends a Hattesheriffe or Royal Command from the Grand Seignior to return towards his Government of Tripoli de Soria without molestation for which he gave the Messenger that brought it five Purses of Money Notwithstanding which a Capigi with several Bostangees were dispatched after him to bring him back and having overtaken him he was committed Prisoner between the Ports from whence very few escape with their Lives nor did he long survive his Estate being all seized and confiscated to the Use of the Sultan Another Capigi-Basha was likewise sent to fetch the Head of Ali Pasha who was Great Vizier before this last Deposed Vizier Likewise about the same time the Kahya of Osman Pasha the lately deceased Chimacam of Adrianople was put under Arrest and his Master's Money Jewels and Goods with his own were demanded to bring Money into the Seraglio But before we proceed any farther it may not be from our Purpose to deâ—lare an Action which happened in the Port of Smyrna in the Month of March a follows One Capt. Hely Commander of a Merchant's Ship of 30 Guns having brought some Goods to Smyrna from Legorne and finding no Goods that presented for a Voyage back again he resolved to seek his Fortune in some other Port The same Morning Captain Marine a French Merchant-Man and Captain Teissere another French Man weighed also and accompanied the English Ship half way to the Castle where they remained a Back-stays for several Hours and seeing Captain Hely turning out watched an Opportunity to bear down upon him which Hely endeavouring to avoid all that was possible could not yet hinder the French Man from falling foul of him by which he broke his Sprit-sail Yard and Jack-staff and presented many Musquets and Pistols at the Men to provoke them to Fight or commit some rash Action to the Breach of the Peace in the Grand Seignior's Port but Captain Hely managed his Business with such Moderation and Courage that he saved the King's Jack and took it in and then hoisted it again and the French cutting some of their own Mizen-Shrouds Hely got clear and Sailed away towards the Castle with a good part of the French Man's Colours being foul of a Block That Night Hely having procured Materials to repair his Damage sailed away and the next Day got within five Miles of Murine Rowing to come up to him which he did near Cape Caraborno and there engaged him and after four Hours Fight in which Hely fired above 200 of his Cannon he took the French Ship which was
whatsoever manner they are fortify'd whosoever of the Subjects shall voluntarily desire to depart may do it securely and safely with all their Effects and Goods and whosoever of 'em have a mind to continue where they are may in like manner safely do it and there shall by no means be any Lett or Impediment on either side and considering the Evacuation of all Fortresses and Places is to be commenc'd in the beginning of March As to the Affair of leaving behind the Artillery at Caminiec viz. those that were belonging to it and were found there the Polish Envoy that is to be sent to the Fulgid Port shall lay that Demand before the Throne of the Emperor IV. None of the Subjects of the Sublime Empire of whatsoever Condition especially the Tartars let 'em be of what Nation soever shall under the colour of any Pretension or Controversie presume to commit any Hostilities upon the Subjects of the King and Republick of Poland or upon their Borders and shall not presume to make Excursions to take Captives to drive away Cattle or to do any sort of Damage or give any sort of Disturbance which shall be particularly express'd in Royal Edicts and commanded to be put in Execution by Visiers Beglerbegs and the most Happy Crimean Cham Caâ—elgaius and Nuradinus and the other Sultans and the Weywode of Moldavia that they with utmost Diligence secure the Peace Quiet and Tranquillity of the Borders that neither by the Captures of Men or driving away of Cattle or by any other Means the Polish Subject suffer any Losses or Disturbance and that they make strict and severe Enquiries after the Disturbers and Transgressors of these Conditions of Peace and when they come to the knowledge of 'em they Inflict Punishments upon 'em for Example to Others and if in these matters any one acts carelessly or negligently he shall be duly punish'd as is Agreeable to the Divine Laws In like manner the Poles on their part shall carefully observe and prosecute these Conditions of Peace and let no Man dare to act any thing contrary to ' em V. Considering the Kingdom of Poland was from Ancient Times entirely Independent it shall not by the Sublime Empire and by any Nations subject to it under the colour of any Pretension or Demand whatsoever be disturb'd with any Hostility nor upon the force of any Compacts of that happy Peace shall they stand oblig'd to any such Pretensions VI. In this War the Budziac and other Tartars leaving their proper Seats and entring upon the Lands of the Moldavians do upon that pretence Exercise Hostilities upon and Create Disturbances to Moldavia and its Inhabitants which being contrary to the Sacred Capitulations formerly granted to the Kings of Poland for that Reason ought to Cease and be prevented therefore shall the Tartars be remov'd from all Places and Possessions and Lands and Winter-Quarters whether these were taken from others or newly rais'd by them and shall inhabit their Native Places and live peaceably and for the time to come Create no Disturbances VII The Regulars of the Church of Rome according to the Edicts granted by the Sublime Empire wheresoever they have Churches may without hindrance Exercise their usual Functions and live peaceably and besides the Extraordinary Envoy to the Fulgid Port may lay before the Imperial Throne any new Demands upon this Head. VIII Considering Merchandize is one of the Fruits of Peace and brings the Provinces into a more thriving Condition therefore the Merchants of each Party not practising by any obscure Ways but going and coming through convenient and open Roads after they have pay'd the usual and ancient Duty for things Exported and Imported shall by no means be burden'd with new Exactions and Demands nor shall a Duty in ready Money be Exacted and whatsoever Native Subjects of the Two Polands and Lithuania and of other Nations subject to them after this manner coming to exercise their Merchandize their Buying and Selling as is declared in former Sacred Capitulations shall not be troubled with the Exaction of the Tribute call'd Haracz or any other unusual Exactions But still with this Proviso that any resolving to leave their Native Country and set up their Rest in the Dominions of the Empire or any Foreigners mixing themselves with Polanders such shan't to the Detriment of the Government enjoy this Exemption Polish Merchants leaving the War and returning Home with their Horses and Carriages and Captives having an Authentick Certificate of their Dismission and being desirous to return to their own Country shall not be subject to any Exaction nor shall any Lett or Obstruction be made to Captives thus going away But still under this pretence none without leave obtain'd shall presume to carry away things prohibited Besides the publick Officers of Iustice shall not pretend to intermeddle in the Confiscation or Distribution of the Goods or Effects of Merchants Subjects to the one dying in the others Dominions but they shall be deliver'd into the hands of Merchants of Credit that according to the Inventory they may be dispos'd of to the Right Heirs But if any Difference happens betwixt the Merchants themselves this shall be Decided by the Consul or Chief and let him be Accountable to those whom he is subject to None contrary to the Divine Laws shall be Compell'd to pay any Debt not verify'd in Writing or by some Iudiciary Instrument nor shall the Causes of Debts or Contracts be Try'd or Decided by hireling Evidences because upon the reading and considering the Divine Precepts such sort of Suits are to be Decided only by Authentick Instruments and Writings of an Antecedent Date And so in all Controversies of the like Nature whatsoever Privileges are intermix'd and establish'd in the Sacred Capitulations shall as in the Grants to the other Confederate Nations be Interpreted and Extended to the Polish Merchants and besides the true meaning of all Grants by Sacred Edicts which are still preserv'd in their hands particularly indulg'd to the Poles shall be maintain'd and observ'd IX Captives carry'd away in time of War shall be Releas'd pursuant to the Declaration about this matter in former Capitulations upon Proofs made according to the Laws of their Value or by Oaths that make that manifest the due Prizes being pay'd But if the Captives have serv'd a long time the Prizes of their Redemption ought to be proportionably Abated but if the Master of the Captive cannot be brought to a fair and moderate Price the Iudges of the Places proceeding in a legal Course shall compose such Differences If after the Conclusion of the Peace Captives shall be taken out of the Polish Territories they shall be Dismiss'd without Ransom Besides Men going about for the Redeeming Polish Captives whether in the Kingdoms of the Sublime Empire or amongst the Tartars as long as these Men shall behave themselves peaceably they are by no means to be disturb'd either upon this very pretence that they make it their Business to deliver