Hungarian Infantry to be posted all along the Wall of the low Town from the water-Roundel to the German Quarters where they secured themselves with a deep Trench and a good Parapet And because the Danaw is very deep thereabout two Barks filled with Stones were ordered to be sunk and several Palisado'd Spurs were rais'd all along the bank of the River to discourage the Enemy from designing any Relief that way This morning the Enemy gave us another Alarm in the Bavarian Quarter whereupon all our Cavalry were commanded to horse but the Enemy retreated at the same time It seems their design was to have forced a Passage that way but the Bavarians were too well entrenched for them to succeed in their Enterprize The Prince of Croy being cured of his wounds re-entred upon the Duty of his Employment and appeared again in the Approaches Four Hussars very well mounted advancing toward some Turks of the Garrison made a shew as if they intended to have charg'd 'em but when they drew near they talked lovingly together and shook hands which being observed by some of the Musqueteers in the Redoubt adjoyning they went forth and fired upon the Hâ—ssars who betook themselves to their heels but one was wounded and taken Prisoner together with another of his Companions the third escaped and the fourth got into the Town The Prisoners examined declared that they only expostulated with the Turks about their holding out but then they were put off to a more strict Examination August 11. Some Troops of the Enemy shewed themselves upon the Hill next to the Bavarian Quarters toward the Road to Alba Regalis As yet we could not learn the exact number of the Enemy though our Spies assured us that they were forty thousand Turks and twenty thousand Tartars But notwithstanding all these hot Alarms being so well fitted to receive 'em as we were all things were at the same time preparing for a vigorous Assault of the second Wall if the Mines did that execution as was expected The 12th In the morning all things being ready for an Onset three Mines were sprung in the Lorrain Attack which did no other Execution than only overthrew some Palisadoes For the Miners had not digged deep enough under the Wall of the second Rampart which made it apparent that they did not understand their Trade though the best were sought out and sent for from several Parts the Generals knowing that nothing would contribute more to the Reduction of this Place than well ordered Mines Thereupon the Assault which was determined to have been given had the Mines succeeded was delay'd and the Miners were again set to work to make new ones In the Skirmishes which our Men had this Day with the Enemy there was a Turkish Officer slain who was no doubt obliged to have got into the Town For there were Letters found about him for the Governour of Buda discovering the Method which the Enemy intended to observe for the relief of the Town which was to force one Quarter and put Relief into the Town without hazarding a Battle and that eight Thousand Tartars were to range the Country as far as Gran and cut off Provision from our Men and infest the Country with continual Inroads Upon which Intelligence the Duke of Lorrain called a Council of War Whereupon it was resolved to leave a part of the Army to guard the Posts against the City and to issue forth out of the Lines with the rest of the Imperial and Auxiliary Forces and go and meet the Enemy who as those Letters seemed to intimate was above sixty Thousand Strong Though the more Judicious would not allow 'em to be above forty Thousand Fighting Men. The 13th All the Army march'd out of the Lines except twenty thousand men that were left for the guard of our Works and to hinder the Enemy from putting a Recruit into the Place Commissary-General Rabata caus'd a distribution of Oats and Hay for the Horses for three days And besides we made a shift to form a very noble Body of Volunteers under good Officers The Duke of Lorrain posted himself in view of the Enemy four thousand Hussars and Heydukes keeping the Van-guard Nevertheless the Town was no less vigorously batter'd and assail'd than before This Evening our Spies and some Deserters assur'd us that the night following the Enemy would put themselves in Battle-Array to Attack us the next morning by break of day which oblig'd the Duke of Lorrain to dispose all things in readiness for a Battel The 14th Before Sun rise the Enemy had drawn out a Body of eight thousand Men part Janisaries part Spahi's of the stoutest and most resolute Soldiers in the Army which being divided into divers lesser Bodies march'd from six till eight a Clock in the Morning turning and winding to and again behind the Mountains towards Alba Regalis and entred into a Plain designing to approach our Camp under the shelter of a great Valley But the Duke of Lorrain having observ'd this contrivance of the Enemy and understanding their design commanded Count Dunewald General of the Cavalry to possess himself of the ground on the left hand with nine Imperial Regiments Cuirassiers Dragoons and Croats viz. Caprara's Palfy's Taff's Lodron's Neuburgh's Furstenbergh's Stirum's Serau's and Schultz's to which he added some Hussars and General Heusler had orders to post himself with his detachment upon a rising ground on the right hand The Hussars next to General Dunewald were they that received the first Charge and although they fought with all the bravery imaginable they were nevertheless forced to give ground but finding themselves seconded by the Germans they return'd to the Charge The Turks having thus made the Hussars give ground thought they should have a cheap bargain of the rest To which purpose they advanced with great fury and loud outcries against our Men who received them without moving a foot General Heusler who had the upper ground charged them vigorously so that the Combat was obstinate and bloody for though the Enemies saw themselves attack'd in Flank and Front they did their utmost to cut their way through till at length they were put into disorder separated and constrain'd to fly The slaughter that followed was very great and it was a very pleasant sight to see the Janisaries drop here and there who being abandon'd by the Spahi's and environ'd by ours threw down their Arms and shifted every one for themselves They were pursu'd into the Plain nor would it serve their Turn to throw themselves among the Bushes to shelter themselves from death for they were Massacred like Wild Beasts that fall into the Hunters Net The Turks had three Thousand Men killed upon the Spot the most part Janisaries and all choice Men who had undertaken to force a Quarter and get into the City or to perish and to whom the Grand Vizier had given five Ducats a Head of Twenty which he promised to every one that should enter the City They
of Venice to bring 'em to a particular accommodation and to break that Sacred League which our Holy Father Innocent XI so politickly contriv'd and carry'd on at the expence of the Treasures of the Church for the good of the Cause of Jesus Christ and the Propagation of the True Faith In the mean time the great War-like preparations which the Emperour made in his Hereditary Countries and other parts of Germany were carry'd on so vigorously that all things were ready by the time appointed to thunder in upon the Turkish Garrisons The Artillery the vast number of Bombs Granado's Shells and Fire-works the inventions of a Franciscan Monk and the Sieur Gonzales a Spanish Ingineer were so dreadful that well there could not any doubt be made of the happy issue of one of the most glorious and daring Enterprises that had been undertaken in a long time And though the Siege of Buda were in vain attempted in the year 1684. at what time it cost us the blood of 10000. Christians the disappointment of one Campagne and the expence of so much Treasure yet was not the Imperial Court discourag'd from a second attempt well knowing that upon the Conquest of that important Capital depended all the rest of Hungary and the neighbouring Countries True it is the Duke of Lorrain was not more succesful in the first Siege than those other Generals which had preceded him in that Enterprise however he fail'd not to acquire great honour and made it apparent that he might be compar'd with the most renowned Captains which past Ages have admir'd by that noble retreat which he made in the face of a numerous Garrison and an Army of the Enemies little inferiour to his own who durst not make the least attempt upon his Rear for fear of having no better success than at the time of the Siege during which the Duke had three times beaten the Serasquier's Army and had it not been that the Winter was already come which caus'd a scarcity of Forrage and other necessaries for the subsistence of the Armies and some little mis-understandings among the Generals perhaps there might have been no need of a second Siege In the Council of War that was held the last year in presence of the Emperor to consult what was to be done the next Summer there were some who presently propounded the Siege of Buda and to keep the Fortress of Newhausel blockt up that so it might be compelled to yield of it self which was rejected by others who were of opinion That Thorn was first to be pulled out of the foot and that the Expedition of Buda was to be reserv'd for the present year as was done In the mean time there were several Councils of War wherein the Sentiments of the Generals were very much divided the most part affirming That it was first requisite to be Masters of Alba Regalis to prevent the Turks from making use of it as a place of Retreat and sheltering their Army under the Cannon of that Fortress as the Serasquier had done at the last Siege to the great vexation of our Forces Others were for marching directly to the Bridge of Esseck taking that City and then leaving a part of the Army for the preservation of that important Passage to wast all the Enemies Country and so to sit down before Buda Others were for the Recovery of Agria and the Fortress of Mongats thereby to exterminate the Remainder of that Arch-Rebel Teckely's adherents of which the Reduction of those two places would clear all the Vpper Hungary Some propos'd to act with two Armies apart That the Elector of Bavaria should march into the Vpper Hungary and draw one part of the Enemies Forces that way while the Duke of Lorrain Besieg'd Alba Regalis and that the Croatian Army under General Schultz should march toward the Bridge of Esseck There were very few that concluded positively for the Siege of Buda which was nevertheless the Enterprize that the Emperor and the Duke of Lorrain had resolv'd to put in Execution whatever it cost 'em that they might have the rest of Hungary at a cheaper rate keep a door open to Belgrade and Winter fifty or sixty thousand Germans in the Kingdom where the year before they could not Winter above twenty thousand This Design thus concluded upon was kept very secret even from the Generals themselves to whom the Emperour upon their dismission declar'd that he would send his Resolution what he would have done to the general Rendezvous which was appointed to be in the Plains of Barkan upon the thirtieth of May. But because the Auxiliary Forces of Bavaria Brandenburgh Saxony and the Circles could not be there so soon they were delay'd for some days In the mean time the Forces march'd from all parts to the place assign'd as well by Water as Land so that it was a lovely sight to see the Danube cover'd with such an infinite number of Barks and Barges laden with Soldiers great Guns Ammunition and Provisions Bullets Bombs Granado's Carcasses Shovels Pick-Axes and other Instruments fit for the Siege of a Town Upon the 20th of May the Elector of Bavaria arriv'd at Newstadt to which place the whole Court was come from Vienna some days before There his Electoral Highness together with the Arch-Dutchess his Lady were received by their Imperial Highnesses with all the Marks of a tender Affection beseeming the near Relation between Personages of that illustrious Quality the Cannon of the Garrison being three times discharged upon their Entrance Upon the 23d being Ascension-Day the Elector went to visit the Duke of Lorrain who was come to Oldenburgh though somewhat indisposed and returned the same Evening to Newstadt Where his Electoral Highness having had several Conferences about the opening of the Campaign and taken leave of their Imperial Majesties and the Electress his Wife he departed the second of June with the Acclamations of the whole Court and People and the Prayers and good Wishes of all That God would be pleased to preserve the Life of that young Prince who was going so generously to expose his own and the Lives of his Subjects in such a Holy War against the sworn Enemy of Christendom After that his said Electoral Highness arriving at Comorrha was there received by the Commanders and Magistrates of the City with Peals of Cannon and three Volleys of small Shot ranged in double Files and so conducted to the Lodging prepared for him The next day the Duke of Lorrain who had put himself at the Head of the Imperial Army near Barkan came to give a visit to his Electoral Highness and view the Bavarian Army which was to that purpose drawn up in Battle-Array in the Fields near Comorrha where Prince Lewis of Baden commanded next under his Electoral Highness in the quality of General of the Cavalry Count Serini in quality of General of Artillery The Marquess de la Vergne and the Count de Fontaign acted there as Lieutenant-General Marshals of
the Camp the Count d'Aspremont and Prince Eugenius of Savoy served as Generals of Battalia's The Baron of Beck who was also nominated to serve under his Electoral Highness lying sick at Newhausel of a dangerous Feaver was dispenc'd with but his Regiment of Infantry which was in the number of those which the Emperour had made choice of to re-inforce the Bavarians fail'd not to be there under the Command of the Lieutenant Colonel The 10th of June Count Straatman great Chancellour to the Emperour arriv'd at the general Rendezvous near Barkan to compose certain differences that were risen among the Generals upon certain Punctilio's of Command and allotment ordain'd of who and who to serve in the separate Armies of the Duke of Lorrain and the Elector of Bavaria This Minister of State who is one of the most dextrous Persons and profoundest Politicians of his Age caus'd a Council of War to be call'd where he so well manag'd the dispositions of the Generals that he gave them all the satisfaction imaginable Which done he shew'd them the Imperial Commission containing the Emperour's orders to begin the Campagne with the Siege of Buda exhorting them withal to behave themselves according to their Qualities in an Enterprize of such great importance upon which depended not only the preservation of his Conquests the establishment of his Crown Imperial and the welfare of Christendom but also the Ruin of the Ottoman Empire which after the loss of so considerable a place could not prevent the other Cities of Hungary from returning under the Obedience of their Lawful Sovereign nor stop the progress of the Christian Arms. So that though the Generals expected positive Orders to besiege Agria or Alba Regalis it is not to be express'd how much overjoy'd they were when they heard that the Emperour was resolv'd they should sit down before Buda And this News being spread among the Officers and Soldiers of both Armies they testify'd their particular satisfaction and the eager desire which they had to hasten to the place where they should have such noble opportunities to give signal proofs of their Valour and revenge the death of their Comrades which had laid their bones in the Trenches of the former Siege The Volunteers which were already numbred to be above six thousand that resorted to this Stage of War from Germany Spain Italy France England the Low-Countries and all part of Europe of all Qualities and Conditions to win honour under the Imperial Ensigns manifested the greatest heat and zeal imaginable to signalize their Courage in so glorious an Enterprize The Auxiliaries of Saxony commanded by the Prince of Saxen-Hall and Major-General the Count de Trautmansdorf who had taken their march through Moravia being by this time also arriv'd at the Rendezvous the Generals resolv'd to decamp without staying any longer for the Forces of the Circles or those of Brandenburgh who having chosen the way of Silesia and the narrow streights of Jabluncka march'd but slowly and could not arrive so soon Thereupon the Armies dislodg'd the 12th of June being Corpus Christi Eve by break of day The Duke of Lorrain taking the Road that led to the Bridge of Gran which his Army pass'd the 13th The Troops of Saxony keeping the Van. The Elector of Bavaria held his march on this side the Danaw that he might make himself Master of the City of Pest before he sate down before Buda While the two Armies march'd thus on both sides the Danaw the Count of Rabata Commissary-General caus'd a prodigious number of Gabions and Bavins to be embark'd for making of which the Soldiers were still employ'd as they came to their Rendezvous to keep 'em from idleness which were all sent with the great Guns Ammunition Provision Hay and other necessary Provisions for the subsistence of the Armies The 14th The Body of the main Army advanc'd so far as till they came under Vicegrad but the smaller Artillery and the Reer-guard were constrain'd to stay behind by reason of the narrow ways through which they were to pass The Bavarian Army quarter'd that night near Vaccia on the other side of the Danaw The 15th The Imperial Cavalry continu'd their march for an hour beyond Vicegrad followed by the Infantry and Artillery And then it was that the Duke of Lorrain sent out a commanded Party to discover the Enemy who met with a small Party of the Turks that presently betook themselves to flight but ours had the good fortune to overtake 'em and after they had kill'd some to make five Prisoners whom they brought to our Camp Where being examin'd they unanimously declar'd that the Inhabitants of Agria and Alba Regalis fearing a Siege had secur'd the best of their Goods in the City of Buda which together with both the other places were provided both with Men and all things necessary to sustain a long Siege till Relief came The 16th They came within an hours march of Buda none of the Troops of the Garrison appearing all this while to observe our countenances The 17th The Cavalry made a halt to rest themselves and to give the Infantry and the Artillery time to come up At what time the Duke of Lorrain commanded three thousand Men to make some thousands of Gabions and Bavins and began to lay a Bridge of Boats over the River to the Island of St. Andrew thereby to joyn together both sides of the Danaw The 18th The Baron of Diependael General of Battalia invested the City of Buda with one part of the Cavalry while the Infantry came up and took their Posts about half a League from the place and then they began the Lines of Circumvallation At what time a great Party of the Garrison both Horse and Foot shew'd themselves without Vienna Gate But they retreated into the City upon the approach of a detachment of the Imperial Cavalry which was commanded to charge ' em But then the besieged bestowed upon us eight Peals of their Cannon though without doing any more hurt than only killing one single Pioneer by reason they shot at too great a distance The 19th The Duke of Lorrain caus'd the Army to advance as far as the hot Baths of which he made himself Master without any opposition the Turks having abandon'd that Post the day before and took up his Head Quarters about a quarter of a League from the place The same day the Elector of Bavaria made himself Master of the City of Pest which the Turks had forsaken after they had carry'd off their Cannon Ammunition and Provisions into Buda and broken down part of the Bridge of Communication between the one place and the other About the same time our Croats scouting up and down met a Turkish Chaous with a Convoy of forty Spahi's who carry'd Letters from the Port to the Grand Visier of Buda Him they brought Prisoner to the Camp where his Letters were read containing only strict Orders to the Visier to be watchful over the Security of the Places
few wounded The Count of Souches who commanded this day in the Trenches having sent three Granadeers to observe the Distance between our Approaches and the Roundel brought word that it was not above three hundred Paces and that the Enemy was hard at work in making a deep Trench at the Foot of the Roundel and that having gone a great way forwarder on the left side than on the right they had encreased their number of Workemen on the right side All night long Bavins Gabions Munition and Provision were sent to the Camp in great abundance through the Care of the Count de Rabata Commissary General The same day General Caprara left the Camp with the Cavalry of Suabia to head the Cavalry encamped near Alba Regalis which he was to command in chief Five Rascian Shepherds also coming out of the City to feed along by the Walls surrendred themselves with above four hundred Sheep to the Elector of Bavaria's Quarter who caused 'em to be well rewarded They could give nothing of Information only that there was a great Consternation among the Besieged nevertheless that they were resolved to defend themselves in expectation of the Succour which they were promised moreover that our Bombs and Carcasses had set fire to several parts of the City which had been fortunately quenched The first of July Yesterday in the Evening General Schoning who commands the Auxiliary Forces of Bradenbâ—rgh arrived in the Camp And this Morning Camp-Marshal-General Starenburgh shewed him the Approaches and the Attack which was reserved for his Men which was toward the water side to the left of the Imperialists after which he was magnificently treated by the Duke of Lorrain and having had a Conference with his Highness where was also present General Starenburgh he returned to meet his Forces that were expected the next day or the next day after at farthest This morning the Imperasists began to shoot from their new Battery of four Pieces carrying twenty four pound Ball. The five Mortar Pieces also near the great Battery continued playing upon the round Tower upon the right Hand with such Success that the Besieged durst not appear there any more The same day they finished their Works and made two Redoubts to secure a Communication with the great Battery This Night we had but five wounded and one slain but in the morning Adjutant General Mercy was wounded in the Head with a Musket as he was carrying Orders to the Approaches There was nothing done in the Bavarian Quarter this day only they advanced their Works and their Batteries had made a Breach in the Rampart without And the same day the remainder of the Bavarian Forces arrived consisting of 1400 Foot which were added to the rest of the same Circle July 2. Our Approaches on the Lorrain Attack side were advanced within two hundred Paces of the Wall of the City The night before was finished a Battery of twelve pieces of Cannon carrying twenty four pound ball and four Mortar Pieces more were planted near the first that play'd without ceasing and fir'd the last night a part of the City next the great Church which burnt till morning Nevertheless we continued â—â—ooting with our great Guns against the two first round Towers which were left almost defenceless The two Battalians also of Keyserstein and Croy were commanded to reinforce those that lay encamped under the Wall of the low Town The Enemy likewise shot down several Bombs and Stones without doing us any great Mischief only that they kill'd us two or three Soldiers The same day the Troops of Suabia began their Line of Circumvallation and the next night raised a Battery upon the Hill which they possess In the mean time the Bavarians play'd very furiously against the Castle and the high Town and shot in several Bombs which occasioned a new Conflagration which was not quenched in a good while And now the Duke of Lorrain apprehensive lest the Turks might in the night time by the help of small Barks get in Men and Provisions into Buda went personally to view the Places adjoyning to Pest and commanded the Prince of Savoy's Regiment of Dragoons to post themselves in the Townâ— that they might be ready to assist the Hungarians who lay there and had orders to raise certain little Forts upon the Banks of the Danaw July 3. This morning arriv'd the Troops of Brandenburgh from the other side of the Danaw that lay encamped near our Bridge Soon after came the Duke of Lorrain to take a view of 'em and was received by General Schoning with three Volleys of Musqueteers rang'd in Battalia and three Peals of Artillery planted at the head of the Infantry His Highness also was entertain'd with much splendor at Dinner and then return'd to his Quarters extreamly satisfied to have seen such a considerable Body of Men stout and active and so well provided with a noble Train of Artillery The same day the Imperialists finish'd another Line for the defence of their Trenches They also fired very furiously with their Cannon and Mortar Pieces so that they not only made a considerable Breach in the Wall but also ruin'd the Batteries upon the two first Roundels from whence the Enemy fired without Intermission On the other side the Bavarians advanced their Lines to the Castle and raised a new Battery on the right hand toward the Danaw upon which they planted nine Mortar Pieces which did wonderful Execution Three days before this they play'd from a Battery of seven Demi-Cannons against the round Tower while from another of four Pieces they belabour'd the Flanks they likewise raised a new Battery of eight Pieces to beat down the left side of the Roundel Seven men were kill'd in the Lorrain Attack and some wounded This day in the Afternoon an Ensign of the Janisaries rendred himself to the Camp having deserted his own Party for having kill'd a Turkish Officer in a Duel He assured us that of true Janisaries there were not above fifteen hundred in the Garrison but that what with the Saphi's Albanians and others they made up the number of seven thousand fighting Men. He added that the Bombs and Carcasses had already ruined several Edifices and occasioned great destruction both of Men and Cattel That the Besieged were very busie in making a Mine behind the Breach of the Lorrain Attack and that till that very hour there had not any person entred the place As for General Dunewald he forbore to prosecute his Design upon Palotta finding it was provided with a good Garrison a Party of which had kill'd some of his Men that went to take a view of the place Another Parry also of the Garrison of Alba Regalis had met withal and routed some Forragers of the Horse that were quartered in the Neighbourhood and kill'd among others Count Papenheim Captain of Horse in the Bavarian Troops July 4. They advanced so far with their Approaches in the Lorrain Attack that they were got within a hundred Paces
diligence And now the Duke of Lorrain finding that almost all the Generals of the Foot were wounded and not in a condition to do Service ordered for the future that two Generals of the Cavalry should do Duty in the Approaches viz. the Count of Stirum and the Count of Lodron Whereupon the former mounted the Trenches this evening with Lieutenant General Souches and was Relieved the next day by the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and the Count of Lodron The 30. A Battery of three Demi-Cannons and another of four Mortar Pieces were finished upon the Curtin and great diligence was used to perfect several Mines to the end they might be ready for springing the next day Certain Rascians having made their escape out of the Town reported That though the besieged had resolved to defend themselves to the last yet that they began to falter in their Resolutions and to cry out That it was but reasonable to prevent the farther effusion of blood Upon which a Council of War was held and after a short Consultation the Duke of Lorrain sent a second Summons to the Governour to Surrender while there was yet a Door of Mercy open and that he might do it upon honourable Terms which if he refused he would not be answerable for the blood that should be spilt if the Place should be carried by Assault for that the Soldiers would spare neither Age nor Sex Abdi Bassa kindly received his Highness's Letter and desired a day to consult with the Officers of his Garrison which was granted him and so there was a suspension of Arms. The Deserters that left the Town in great numbers assured us that in the last Assault meerly in the Bavarian Attack the Turks had three hundred men kill'd and seven hundred wounded We had Intelligence this evening that four thousand Turkish Horse were seen four Leagues from the Camp being sent to discover the Condition of the Place but that being afraid of being surpriz'd they retreated as suddainly The 31. About nine of the clock in the morning the Count of Lamberg Adjutant General was commanded by the Duke of Lorrain to go with an Interpreter and receive the Governour 's Answer which was to this effect That he neither could nor would so easily surrender the City which was the Key of the Ottoman Empire but that if he would make a general Peace they would surrender into our hands some other Town equivalen In the afternoon the Enemy desired a Cessation of Arms in the Bavarian Attack and sent two Aga's in Hostage to his Electoral Highness who sent in their place the Baron of Creux Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Baden with an Interpreter The Turks received him with great Ceremony and all the Civilities imaginable However he was not conducted to the Basha but into another House the Streets as he passed along being lined with Soldiers in Arms and in very good order though not many in number So soon as he came into the House he was presented with Rice a roasted Pullet and little Pasties with Coffee and Wine The Basha Governour sent his Excuse That he could not speak with him as yet until he had consulted the other Captains of the Garrison what Propositions to make him In which Interval several Turkish Officers came to visit the Baron Half an hour after the Governour sent word That he would take it for a kindness if he would be pleased to come over to his House which the Baron agreed to and went accompanied with a great number of Turks of which the two chiefest took him under the Arm and so led him before the Basha who was in a Lodging of Wood over against his House very well adorned and spread with rich Tapestries at which time having caused a Seat to be set for the Baron he told him That he look'd upon himself to be very unfortunate to be in such a Place which had been several times besieged without success and now happened to be so long abandoned without Relief On the other side that he was so earnestly prest by the Emperour's Son-in-Law and the Grand Vizier that he wished he were able to give his Resolution touching the Surrender of the Place but that being an Affair of great Importance and as much as his Life was worth it was impossible for him to resolve upon Surrender adding withal That if they would require any other Place in Hungary it should be delivered into the Emperour's hands To which the Baron answered That he had no Commission to discourse of Conditions but to know of the Basha himself whether he would surrender or no That it behov'd him to consider that our men were already Masters of the City That it would be too late to Capitulate if he stay'd till another Assault when it would not be in the power of the Generals to repress the fury of the Soldiers nor to prevent this Siege from being no less Tragical than that of Newhausel To which the Basha made no other Answer but only shrugged up his shoulders remaining mute like one that had been Thunder-strook But as the Baron was going about to depart he desird him to go along with him into his Cabinet whither having called the Musti and three other Turks of the most considerable Quality he declared to him moreover That he could not by any means do the Grand Signior so great a prejudice as to surrender a Place upon which depended two hundred Leagues of Country and which was the Key of Turky and then offered again any other City of Hungary with its Appendances and Dependencies yet at length protesting farther That if he would give him any Assurances of a general Peace with the Port that he would then resolve to surrender the City of Buda But the Baron who had no Commission to treat took leave of the Basha only telling him That he would communicate both to the Elector and the Duke of Lorrain the Declaration which he had made but that he could not assure him that things would be so concluded The Basha desired him to publish his Declaration through the Camp in writing and desired to be reconducted to the place where he was first meâ— which was done with a great deal of Ceremony being accompanied by several of the Turkish Officers to the Gate But it was Imposible either for the Baron or the Interpreter to express the waste which our Bombs have made in the City where they have ruined the greatest part of the Buildings The Truce therefore that had been observed during this Inter-parley was broken off yesterday in the evening at what time the great Guns began again to play with greater fury than before This day about Noon the Besieged sprang a small Counter-Mine to ruin our Mine made under their Battery opposite to the great Roundel but without any Execution Two days after we sprang two of our Mines which were made to fill up the Trenches which succeeded very well but in the afternoon Count Starenbergh
soon as General Scherffenbergh should arrive in the Camp with his Body of men out of Transilvania where he had garrison'd some Castles that the Duke would attack the Grand Vizier in his Camp who by the Report of all the Prisoners and Deserters was not above six and forty thousand men of which the one half were forc'd and undisciplin'd Men. In the mean time he was very vigilant to send out considerable Parties to observe the Motion of the Enemy who every foot meeting with the Turks gain'd every day some remarkable Advantage over ' em The 20th The Grand Vizier desirous once more to try to put Relief into Buda resolved to attempt with a lesser Body than before that he might not be so easily discovered and might approach our Camp before we had notice of it To this purpose he made choice of the stoutest Officers of his Army who promised to obey his Commands or perish in the Attempt These Men set forward in the Night time with two thousand Spahi's and an equal number of Janiseries for the more speed And this morning by break of day they appeared in St. Paul's Valley Where having put themselves in order without being perceived they came thundring upon our Out-Guards with loud Cries and terrible Yelling and having easily forc'd them fell upon two Squadrons of Caprara's and Heusler's Cavalrie who received 'em briskly and gave opportunity to others to come to their Assistance and repel the Barbarians who fled as fast as their Horses Heels could carry them The Janisaries also some of whom were already alighted with an Intention to break through our Lines and get into the City were very coursely entertain'd being pursu'd by General Heusler to the very Gate and met by the Bavarian Horse-Guard who came running in upon the Alarum so that the Slaughter of the Enemy was very great and very few had the good Luck to enter the City For tho' some will have them to be a hundred and fifty hardly a hundred had that good Fortune which it was easy to judg by the Horses that were quitted which exceeded not the same number and besides a good part of them were wounded too by the Musket shot of our Souldiers in the Approaches by which there was a necessity for 'em to pass And indeed had the Out-Guards done their Duty not a Turk had passed our Lines The Enemy had above four hundred slain and of our Men there were about fifteen slain and twenty seven wounded General Heusler who behaved himself with an extraordinary Gallantry received a Wound in the Foot but not dangerous but General Maigret was very much cut and mangled with a Scirnitar The Marquess Santini Knight of Malta and Captain in Salleburgh's Regiment was taken Prisoner in the first Onset And now the Besieged to testify their Joy for the Relief they had received hung out three red Colours in sign of Victory and fir'd three Rounds of all their great and small Shot During the Combat some Squadrons of Horse of the Grand Vizier's Army who had followed the rest to second them if Occasion were shew'd themselves in Battel Array to the Bavarian Attack making a shew as if they intended to try their Fortune on that side but they retired without enterprizing any thing But at ten a Clock at Night they returned again to the same place where they had attempted to break through in the Morning but were repulsed by our Men and retired in Confusion Within the Lines the Bavarians raised a new Battery of four pieces of Cannon in their Attack and the Besieged planted a whole Cannon upon the high Wall of the Castle with which they battered all the Covert way as also the Bavarian Battery upon the great Roundel The 21st This Morning a Redoubt was raised in that part which the Turks forced the day before planted with two pieces of Cannon and strengthened with a sufficient Force to defend the Passage Another Redoubt was also raised upon the Hill upon the left hand where Lodron's Regiment encamped This day the Besieged fired some Rounds of great Guns in token of Joy tho' we could not guess the reason unless it were for the Celebration of some Festival This day also the Sieur Rummel General of the Bavarian Forces being in the Approaches was killed with a Musket Shot He was very much lamented as being an Officer who all along had given most signal Proofs of his martial Valor and fought distinguished upon all Occasions where he might win Honour The 22d This Morning the Elector caused an Assault to be given to the great Tower which is in the middle of the Castle and which our Artillery had for the most part ruin'd and made himself Master of it after an hours Dispute which cost us the loss of seventy three men and as many wounded among whom was Duke Henry of Saxon-Mersbergh During this Assault there was a false Alarum given in the Lorrain Attack to divert the Enemy and the great Guns fired with great Fury upon the Defences which the Enemy had raised upon the Breaches of the inner Wall This Evening about ten a Clock a Turk was apprehended who having got out of the Town by swimming the River travelled all along the Banks of the Danaw and was got as far as St. Margetts Island where being perceived he threw his Letters into the River but nevertheless confessed that he was dispatched by the Governor to inform the Grand Vizier of the Condition of the Place and to press Relief Adding withal that there was another got out upon the same Errand The 23d The Besieged made an Attempt to recover the great Tower of the Castle which the Elector's Forces had won the day before but they were repulsed and pursued to their Intrenchments In the Lorrain Attack four pieces of Cannon were planted upon the old great Battery with which they began to batter the new Palisadoes upon the Breach of the inner Wall Last night the Besieged made a Salley upon the Saxons Quarter but were so smartly received and repulsed by Lieutenant Colonel Pletze who was upon the Guard with a hundred Horse that they had much ado to regain their second Wall where this Officer was slain with two Musquet-shots the one in his side and the other in his head The 24th This morning the Turks shewed themselves in two distinct Bodies one upon the Lorrain and the other next the Bavarian Quarters but without making any attempt they Retreated about Noon to their Camp which they had removed about a League nearer to ours than it was before This day a Deserter assured us that the Besieged began to talk with a great deal of liberty against the Governour who nevertheless endeavoured all he could to retain them in their Duty assuring them that the Grand Vizier daily expected in his Camp one of the chief Ministers at the Port called Michtakis with full power from the Grand Signior to treat and conclude a Peace with the Generals of the Christian
slain amounted to above 3000. besides the wounded which were not many so that it appears the Garrison was much strâ—nger than the Deserters reported The Governour Basha dy'd bravely upon the the Breach where he defended himself valiantly with his Scimiter in his hand scorning to Retreat or demand Quarter that he might not degenerate from the Honour and Heroic Vertue of the ancient Mussel men nor falsifie the Oath which he had made the Grand Signior either to preserve the Town or gloriously to end his days The Vice Basha being an Officer of high Reputation defended the Castle but perceiving all was lost retir'd fighting into the fore-mentioned Fort at the foot of the Castle which he thought to make good and give the Grand Visier leisure to relieve him but seeing the desperate condition of Affairs he rather chose to implore the clemency of the Victors than to occasion the Massacre of those that were about him and so was taken Prisoner with the rest by the Bavarians and presented to his Electoral Highness The Aga of the Janisaries taken by the Imperialists was delivered up to the D. of Lorrain with some other Turkish Officers of note So that the number of the Prisoners did not much exceed 2000. Men of 13000. at the beginning of the Siege all stout and experienc'd Soldiers and the very sinews of the Militia of all the Ottoman Empire The loss on our side was very small compar'd with that of the Enemies For we cannot reckon above 400. kill'd and about 200. wounded among whom were several Volunteers but very few Officers Colonel Spinola Marquess of Arquato an Officer of great merit receiv'd his death's wound at the head of the Assailants the Baron of Asti who had been twice wounded before during the Siege receiv'd a third wound more dangerous than any of the former to the great hazard of his life The booty which the Soldiers got was extraordinary there being a vast deal of Wealth in the City which the Inhabitants of other Cities and Places under the dominion of the Turk had brought thither for Security as being a place which they thought impregnable There was found in the Town Ammunition and Provision sufficient for a Siege of two Months longer a Magazine furnish'd with all sorts of Arms Offensive and Defensive for above 30000. Men Harness for Horses Saddles Boots and other Equipage for the Cavalry and besides all this near 400. Pieces of Cannon and Mortar Pieces of which 170. were never the worse fixed upon their Carriages It is impossible to give you an Inventory of every thing 't will be enough to say that never any City could be better provided to sustain a vigorous Siege than this was or ever was defended by a stouter Garrison But if the resistance met with were so surprizing much more must be the Glory of so many brave Officers Volunteers and Soldiers that signalized their valour and eternized not only their own Memories but the Honour of the Emperor in gaining such a strong hold and recovering it into the Possession of him to whom it belongs by right of Nature and Succession and which had endured so many Sieges before it could be reduced under the Subjection of its Lawful Sovereign BVDA SEXTO INEXPVGNABILIS SEPTIMO FIT CESARIS Buda six times Inexpugnable the seventh becomes Caesar's The D. of Lorrain after he had prevented any farther slaughter and given all necessary orders to reduce the Soldiers under their Colours commanded the People to quench the fire that continu'd burning in several parts gave the Government of the place to General Beek with a Garrison of 5000. Foot and 1000. Horse till his Imperial Majesty should otherwise dispose of the absolute Government of this Imperial City and commanded between 8 and 10000 Cuirassiers and Dragoons with the Hussars under Count Budiani to pursue the Grand Vizier who having look'd on and seen the taking of Buda decamp'd with his whole Army to secure the rest of the Turkish Fortresses to reinforce the Garrisons and gain the Bridge of Esseck where our General is resolv'd to attack him if he can overtake him in his march To which purpose the Infantry was embark'd upon the Danaw to make the more hast while the Cavalry march'd by Land Thus was this great and strong City the Capital City of all Hungary the seat of the Ancient Kings reduced under the Obedience of our most Illustrious and Invincible Emperour Leopold the first after it had groaned under the Tyrannous Yoke of the Ottomans a hundred forty five years who made use of it as a place of Rendezvous for their Armies and a Magazine to furnish all the other Cities in those parts under their subjection with Men and Ammunition to which purpose they always furnished it with a numerous Garrison never consisting of less than between 8 and 10000 Janisaries and Spain's whether in Peace or War And though Sultan Solyman won this important place from King Ferdinand Brother to the Emperour Charles the Fifth in the year 1529. through the treachery of the Hungarian Garrison nevertheless he put it into the hand of John Zapolilia Prince of Transilvania who had call'd him to his Assistance to preserve him in the Throne to which he had been advanc'd by Sedition and contrary to Form by a part of the Nobility after the death of King Lewis slain at the Battle of Mohaes contrary to the Proclamation of the real King Ferdinand duly elected by the four Orders of the States of the Kingdom This Usurper being thus confirm'd in the enjoyment of one part of the Kingdom and of the Capital City under the Protection of the Turks King Ferdinand sent his General Count Roggendorff who had so valiantly defended Vienna under the Command of the Elector Palatine against the efforts of Solyman to lay Siege to Buda but he was constrain'd to raise his Siege after he had lost a great part of his Army General Felsius was sent thither 10. years after But that Enterprise succeeded no better thaâ— the former notwithstanding the Death of the Usurper Zapolia and the Minority of his Son John Sigismund who was under the Tutelage of the Princess Elizabeth of Poland his Mother and George Martinusius chief Minister of State to his deceased Father However King Ferdinand was no way discouraged by these two unsuccessful Attempts but considering the Importance of the Place for the Support of his Crown resolv'd upon a third Attempt To which purpose he raised a more numerous Army than before and gave the Command of it to Roggendorff who the next Year laid a third Siege to Buda and had made himself Master of it if Solyman at the Sollicitation of the Princess Elizabeth had not hastned to his Relief which constrained the General to raise his Siege not being able to make head against such a numerous Army of the Infidels Thereupon the Sultan politickly seized upon the City of Buda sent the young Prince John Sigismund with the Princess his Mother