would not have been cried up for a Victory had not Victories become very rare in those Days their Hopes were very big and that he might make these Actions the more Triumphant and Glorious the Grand Seignior dispatched away several Messengers to the Kings of Persia and the Princes of Arabia and to other Tributaries to communicate unto them all his Successes and Victories of the last Year whereby he hoped to encourage the drooping Spirits of his own Soldiers and confirm those of his Friends and Allies unto him The Loss of Scio was certainly not very considerable to the Venetians at that time after they had gained it from the Turks for Conquests at such a distance from them can never turn to any Account or benefit The Morea indeed may be a more useful Conquest than any of those on the Coast of Asia where the Turks are far stronger than on the Coast of Europe and this Year also the Venetians had been most successful in those Parts of the Morea having Defeated the Turks there in all their Attempts in this as well as several other Years but these Successes are not likely to be continued for unless the Venetians increase the Number of their Ships at Sea and augment their Forces at Land and make good choice of their principal Commanders all Matters will probably go backwards for such Generals as Morosini and Konismarc are not easily to be found under whom all things thrived and prospered so that it were now to be wished that the Venetian Forces were more numerous than formerly and composed of their own Subjects rather than of Foreigners But the Turks had a more watchful Eye over their War in Hungary and the Parts about Belgrade and Transylvania than either in Asia or other Countries of Europe or over the Province of Bassora or Basorat of which the Arabians had made a late Conquest over the Turkish Basha of that Country who having but 2000 Men with him was forced to submit to the greater force of the Arabs and upon his Surrender made a Capitulation with them That he might pass into Persia where he was well received at Ispahan by the King being a Wise Man and a Soldier About the same time likewise Solyman Bey a Turk a Native of Curdistan having routed a Party of Persians on the Frontiers had a Commission given him by the Grand Seignior to do all the Mischief he was able on the Frontiers of Persia not on the Persians only but on the Georgians and Arabians who had joyned together and made themselves Princes of those Provinces The Venetians at Sea give a Defeat to the Turks Nor did the Affairs of the Turks prosper better at that time in the Morea where a strong Party of the Venetian Forces made an Irruption upon the Turks and advanced so far as Thebes where the Turks received an entire Defeat all the Country being Spoiled Plundered and Sacked by the Venetians who upon their return carried with them a great Booty with vast Numbers of Turkish Slaves Whilst these Matters were transacting the Sultan was diligently employed at the Port in forming a Numerous Army and providing all things for the Support and Maintenance of them Nor was the like Diligence wanting in preparing and setting forth their Fleet and putting them into a posture capable to Fight and Engage the Venetians but as to the Land-Forces the Campaign of this Year began early in the Month of May when the Heydukes in divers places of Sclavonia assembled themselves in a Body to the Number of 400 Men with which they passed the Save and made an Inroad so far as Nissa about eight or nine Days to the Eastward of Belgrade and in that March they drove away great Numbers of small and great Cattle after which they contrived in what manner to make their Retreat but as they thought thereupon the Garrisons of Belgrade and other Neighbouring Places made a Sally out upon them with a Party of about 2000 Men Horse and Foot who being informed of the Enemies Design they drew up so advantagiously in a Wood and received them with so great Bravery that after several Repulses given them in which great Numbers were Killed and Wounded were at length forced to fly and quit the Field whilst the Sclavonians made good their Retreat and proceeded happily in their Design which is all the Prologue that was made to the succeeding Actions of the following Campaign only every thing began then to dispose it self towards a Bloody War and for Action of the following Year When the Duke of Lorain made his first Campaign in Hungary in Quality of Major-General of the Imperial-Army Commanding in particular the Regiments of St. Croix de Commerci and Bassompierre in which Commands this Young Prince evidenced to the World a clear Inclination and Disposition to the War agreeable to the Mind of his Illustrious Ancestors Whilst things were thus preparing in Hungary News came to the Port from Diarbekir giving the Relation of a Fight between the Rebels in those Parts and the Turks in which the Turks had been Defeated and their General The Pasha of Diarbekir put to Flight the Pasha of Diarbekir put to Flight at a Place not far from Sivas The Particulars of which succeeded in this manner When the Pasha heard where the Rebels were Encamped he presently marched against them with a Body of 3600 Horse Commanding two other Pashas with a force of 2000 Horse more to fall upon the Rebels and getting between them began to Kill and Destroy them without giving Quarter to any of them The Rebels having had timely notice of this Motion of the Pasha's they mounted their Horses with much Courage and Activity towards the Evening and taking a Round about the Mountain by favour of the Moon they marched all that Night and in the Morning early they fell in with the Turkish Seraskier or General with their Swords And the Turks defeated or Scimyters and with their Pikes and Lances whence arose a very Bloody Fight which held for the space of two Hours to the great loss and diminution of the Army of the Turks and danger of the Pasha's Life who being put into great fear quitted the Field and fled leaving the Spoil to the Enemy with which they being encouraged they marched towards Aleppo and from thence exacted what Money and Provisions that rich Province could afford them upon pain of Military Execution at which the Sultan was so enraged that he gave out present Orders to raise the Nefiran which is the Militia of the Eastern Countries and like one Man to rise and joyn themselves against the Enemy Besides which many other things were to be done both by Sea and Land and that with all Expedition in regard that the force of the Rebels growing daily greater their Power would with much more difficulty be subdued And in regard there was a necessity of putting the Fleet to Sea with all expedition all other Affairs were laid aside until
most People That the Sultan would not go this Year to the War but only in appearance and that he would only be upon the Defensive avoiding all Fights and Encounters in the Field And as to the Moscovites the Reports were various and full of uncertainty All this time the Sultan remained at Sophia chearful and much pleased to understand that the Polanders had declared the Prince of Conti for their King which could not but produce a Peace with that Kingdom and an Union with that Crown which tho' not true yet it gave the Turks hopes of an Addition of 30000 Coruzzi unto their Forces against the Germans who as they did assault Tokay the last Year with good Success so they were full of hopes to do the like for this also with the Possession of several other Castles and Fortresses But then it was thought necessary that Tekely should be sent to them with Title of King of Hungary which when the Sultan understood with the good Tydings That Bihatz did bravely defend it self with Assurances of conserving the same against all Enemies it was esteemed News of such Importance that the Grand Seignior gave Commands to the Grand Vizier to Write the News into all Parts and particularly unto Tekely That the Grand Seignior had declared him King of Hungary for which the Sultan had sent him a Commission with a Letter the Superscription of which was Orla Maggiar Croli which signifies in the Hungarian Language To the King of Hungary To which were added also some Purses of Money for defraying the Charges of his Journey and adorning his Equipage Tekely's Afflictions This Command came very unfortunately at this time for Tekely who was then grievously afflicted with the Gout and preparing for Recovery of his Health to pass over to the Baths and Medicinal Waters of Prusia or Bruscia which fall from that Mountain which was anciently called Mount Olympus But what was worse the Chiauses came furiously upon him at Prusia and without Compassion Complement or good Manners threw him into a Carr like a Log to make him a King without any Respect which was most miserable for him for he had not only the Gout but had a Paralytical Distemper upon him so as that he was seized with a Palsie in his Head Neck and Arms And in this manner he was carried Day and Night in a Waggon until he came unto the sight of the Sultan All this time the Sultan remained at Sophia whilst the Army or greatest part thereof marched towards Belgrade and some into Bosnia and having received some Advices out of Asia That the Rebels of that Country were inclinable to a Submission and made some Evidences as if they intended to return to their Duty and Obedience The Sultan became very much pleased and put himself that time into an excellent Humour and thereupon was induced to dispatch several Aga's into Anatolia with Letters written under his own Hand in an Humble and Caressing Style not usual for any Sultan before that time to Write Swearing In the first place To grant Pardon to all and a general Amnesty to such as should return to their Duty of Obedience Secondly he swore That he would do Justice to all in their Just Demands and Pretensions Thirdly That he would give every Man satisfaction Fourthly That he would damnifie no Man either in his Goods or Estate or Life but on the contrary reward every Man according to his Deserts provided that they became Obedient and Deserted the Party of the Male-contented Beys or Pasha's against whom are so many Examples of God's Vengeance and Justice Of which he advised them well to consider before they entered into a March which would conduct them to his Terrible and Affrighting Presence which if they did not accept and do he Swore That he would make up a Peace with the Christians and March in Person into Anatolia there to take Vengeance upon them for their Offences and extirpate the whole Race of those who have taken up Arms against the Mussulman Cause for which by the Laws of the Alcoran they are to Die and without Mercy to suffer Death This News being carried to the hearing of the Male-contents about 10000 of them Deserted the Cause and proceeded to pass over from Anatolia into Europe and without any delay took the nearest way to reach and overtake the Army of the Sultan to hasten which the Grand Seignior wrote Commands to the Chimacam and Bostangibashi to prepare Quarters for them in the Imperial Gardens and Houses as they passed and that they should in all their Marches want nothing of Refreshments nor those who are unprovided want Arms or any other thing necessary for the War amongst which there were 3000 Bostangees fitted out for the War from the Grand Seignior's Seraglio's And such Rigorous Courses were spread over all the Countries of the Lesser Asia August that those Laws and Commands of the Sultan being put into execution it was believed impossible for any Embroils or Seditions for ever after to arise in the Lesser Asia tho' they could not but be some times apprehensive of Troubles from Persia for since the time that this King was Crowned he was always esteemed a Troublesome and a Dangerous Enemy to the Turks for tho' he was not wanting in his Courtships and Embassies to the Ottoman Court as we have seen yet he was still encouraging the Georgians and the Persians in the Parts of Basora to be troublesome to the Turks The Sultan still remained at Sophia where having Advices from the Frontiers he dispatched away a Capugibashee to his Mother the Valide Soltana giving her to understand That his Forces had fallen upon a Body of Germans which he had routed and taken the strong Fortress of Titul in which he had put all the Garrison to the Sword and did not doubt but speedily to enter into Transylvania from whence he promised to send his Mother a Present of some fine Young Ladies to attend and wait upon her and to be conducted by some of those Black Eunuchs which were attending at that time upon his Person After such Vapours and Boastings as these which the Sultan expressed to his Mother it was not judged to be longer Honourable for the Grand Seignior to remain at Sophia a place so far distant from the Ottoman Camp in Hungary whereupon marching with the Main Body of his Army slowly and in good Order Messengers were sent unto Sarchan Pasha then at Belgrade who was then the General and esteemed an excellent Soldier and a Couragious Man and well acquainted with the Countries about those Confines to hasten his March to meet the German Army And so also the Sultan followed and arrived in good time to joyn the Main Body of the Front about Titul In the Relation of which Battel there were two Accounts sent from Constantinople one of the 29th of October and another of the 5th of November The Battle of the Tibiscus Such as were on this side
Counsel of these Great Men made to the Sultan took so much amongst the People that the Report slew like Lightning and in five Days time was divulged almost over all the Empire All the Persons that were present at this private Conference were the Mufti Han of Tartary Aga of the Janisaries Aga of the Spahees and Grand Vizier and the Sultan himself To make some little appearance of unwillingness to make a Peace as if they had been able to continue the War they sent away towards Belgrade some Field-pieces of Brass which had been lately Cast or Founded and on that Occasion 15 Chambers of Janisaries with their Ciurbagees or Captains of which every Chamber consisted of 100 Men but were computed in all to make up 2200 Janisaries 200 Zebegees or Armourers 70 Gunners which were commanded by a certain Person called Ali Pasha who was Brother in Law to the late Grand Vizier It was reported That all the Chambers had their full and compleat Numbers but upon the true Computation they were found to be much short and not above 70 in a Chamber by this kind of Computation the poor Estate of the other Militias of the Ottoman Army being to be judged made the Proposition of a Peace to become much more acceptable to all Sorts and Conditions of Men One Evidence of which was the readiness and haste the Grand Seignior and Vizier showed to be upon their March towards Sophia In order to which it was appointed That the Aga of the Janisaries should on the 6th of June begin their March June and that the Sultan should follow two Days afterwards being the 8th for that already towards the latter end of May all the Camels and Horses which were provided to carry the Tents and Baggage were arrived at Adrianople In pursuance whereof the Grand Seignior and Grand Vizier began their March on the 8th of June when it was supposed That taking Sophia in their way and making that Place a Quarter of some Days Repose there to Celebrate the Feast of their little Biram they might arrive at Belgrade by the 15th of July when all the Army of the Turks could not amount to more than 40000 Men tho' they should receive an Addition of 10000 Men from Asia which was the greatest Number of Soldiers that they could expect this Year from those Parts and hereof many Hundreds failed of making up that Number Howsoever in regard that the Peace in Hungary and other Parts with the Christians was almost secure and certain it rais'd a Chearfulness amongst the Turks so that they little regarded any Apprehensions of a War against the Persians or their Conjunction with Bebek Sulyman a Bold Insolent Daring Person who lived on the Confines of Persia whom the Turks desired might be suppressed by the Persians But the Persian Ambassador notwithstanding the great Treatments and Civilities he had received from the Turks made some Difficulties thereof saying That it could not be foreseen or measured how far such a War as this might go this Bebek Sulyman being a most Pestilent Fellow feared as well as beloved by all the Arabian Princes so that a War with him might cause much Blood Howsoever the Turks pressed most earnestly to have this Sulyman suppressed alledging Both the Honour and Safety of the Persians was concerned And to Encourage them herein the Grand Vizier promised them the Sultan's Assistance for that having now made a Peace with the Emperor and the other Christians as might be presumed to be his Hands were at liberty to carry the War into what Parts of the World that he should think fit which he should not more readily do to any Region than against those who might be troublesome on the Frontiers of Persia and bring Disturbance to the Ottoman Port. Such Friendly Discourses as these passing between the Grand Vizier and the Persian Ambassador a Promise was farther made unto him That the Sultan would not deny any thing to the King of Persia which might be of satisfaction to him being resolved to cultivate a most sincere and lasting Friendship with him according to the Capitulations lately made and agreed between those two Great and Mighty Monarchs After which they did Eat and Feasted together with high Expressions of Love and a lasting Friendship in farther Confirmation of which a Present was made to the Ambassador of another Horse well Equipped with a Rich and Noble Furniture and then the Tefter Emini who was designed to be Ambassador from the Sultan to the King of Persia and was preparing for his Journey was introduced into their Presence that an Acquaintance might be begun between them the which was easily effected considering that the Tefter Emini was a Person of a good Address and Skilful and Practised in the Persian Language he was a Refined Person and fit and proper for such an Embassy as this to the Persian Court whom the Grand Vizier had Chosen and Elected for this Employment for which he was preparing himself with fine Horses of Price well Equipped with rich Embroidered Saddles with Arms inlaid with Jewels and other Gallantries which might serve for Presents at his Arrival at the Court of Ispahan to the Persian King such as Quivers Bows and Arrows Besides all which kind Treatment the Grand Seignior himself Treated him at his Tents without the City of Adrianople as also did the Chimacam of Constantinople at his Palace on the Bosphorus or Black-Sea Thus we may see how freely and frankly the Turks Treated the Persians at this time for now having secured the Peace with the Western Princes in Hungary who were much more formidable at all times than the Eastern Nations Howsoever that no Advantages might be taken neither on that side strict Commands and wise Instructions were sent to the Beilerbey of Gran Cairo a Person of great Courage Wisdom and Experience one of the Sultan's Bed-Chamber to take the Care and Charge of those Eastern Kingdoms giving him also the Title of Seraskier or General and Beylerbey of Bagdat or Babylon with Orders forthwith to form an Army with the People of the Country and therewith to Attack Bassora and drive out from thence the Rebellious Pasha and settle in his Place another Pasha Commissionated by the Port to succeed in his Employment with a Hattesheriff from the Sultan But principally above all things it was recommended to him to hinder and prevent all Incursions of Rebel Sulyman upon the Persians who being good Friends to the Sultan he could not permit or suffer that they should receive any Affront or Injury from such as go under the Denomination of Subjects to the Port. But these Eastern Countries so far distant as Persia were not now the care of the Turks whose Thoughts were wholly taken up in what manner they might finish the War with the Christians which were divers as with the Emperor the Venetians the Old and Irreconcileable Enemies to the Port also with the Polanders and Moscovites the latter of which were not
the Vizier at Candia hoping by the lenity and moderation of his Nature to obtain more easie terms than those demanded by the Chimacam and in the mean time to notifie their intention of Revolt unto all the World they caus'd a Standard to be erected with two Sâ—ymeters died with Blood and a Crescent or Half Moon over them The Grand Vizier at Candia dismisses the Agents from the Rebels The Grand Vizier being then labouring at the Siege of Candia and in a doubtful Condition of Success was not willing to entertain thoughts of a new War until he had put an end to that which he had then in hand and in which he was daily engag'd Howsoever not to seem diffident of his own Successes or negligent and cold in the entertainment of Propositions so apparently advantageous to his Master's Interest thought not fit to dismiss them with a slight Answer but causing their Propositions to be taken in Writing and examin'd he dis-speeded the Messengers with fair Words and Promises referring their Matters to be farther debated by the Officers actually present with the Grand Seignior who had more time to consider their Affairs than he had who was daily engag'd in Batteries and continual Assaults upon the City The Transilvanian Messengers being come to the Port Conditions demanded of them by the Turks the Conditions requir'd of them by the Turks were very severe For in the first place they demanded of Ragotski who was Chief of the League that the five Towns in Hungary which belong'd to him should be deliver'd up into their hands That Count Serini should cause Copranitz an impregnable Fort in Croatia to be surrender'd to them and that an Annual Tribute should be pay'd for the Kingdom of Hungary The Commissioners for the Malecontents who thought these Proposals very hard did yet endeavour to come as near an accord as was possible for tho they were unwilling to surrender up their own Towns and Demesnes to the Turks yet they promis'd to fight for them and deliver such Towns and Fortresses as they should take from the Emperor into their hands The Grand Vizier Kuperlee was by this time return'd Triumphant from Candia having with the entire subjection of that City and the whole Kingdom put an end to the War with the Venetians Howsoever tho' the Propositions offer'd by the Malecontents were of such advantageous Consequence as the like could not be expected yet they were rejected by the Vizier for whether it were out of a sense of Faith to the Emperor Kuperlee unwilling to break with the Emperor with whom he had concluded a Peace but five years before and which he had no cause given him to break or by reason of a War design'd against Poland and some umbrages and Clouds of discontent began with the Moscovites he was not of a mind to enter into a War so soon with the Emperor howsoever he under-hand encourag'd it and gave private Instructions to the Pasha's on the Frontiers to aid the Malecontents in such sort as that their union and actings with them might not amount unto a Rupture or breach of the Peace During all this time the Imperial Court had only suspicions and jealousies of what was Plotting rather than any certain advice or knowledge thereof And the Emperour 's Resident at Constanstinople had as yet received but some obscure Notions of what was treating by the Transilvanian Agents which afterwards came to a clearer Light by the means of an English Gentleman as we have before declar'd in our preceding History And which being once made known other things appear'd to put the matter out of all doubt or question And as a particular Evidence to discover this Truth the principal Servant of Count Tassembach and one in whom he had reposed the greatest confidence having been put in Prison by him for Robbing him this Traitor that he might be revenged on the Count and obtain his Liberty discovered much of the Plot by producing one of the original Papers all written with the proper Hand of Tassembach which contain'd a Scheme of the whole method of their intended proceedings as agreed and concerted between him and Count Serini dated the 11th of September 1667. This Paper being Read in the Council at Vienna served to open the Eyes of the Emperor and of the Government and caused them to watch all the motions of Tassembach and of Serini and the other Accomplices To evidence and farther confirm that there was a Plot advices came from Schaketorno in Croatia that Count Serini was in Arms and had levied several Troops A Plot discovered The original Letter also appeared which Serini wrote to Frangipani giving him an account of the Resolutions and Proceedings of Tassembach the which Letter by what means is not known was found with a Soldier belonging to Frangipani who carelesly made use of it for a stopper to his Powder-horn Another Letter was intercepted from Frangipani directed to one of his Captains in whom he reposed his greatest confidence Signifying the offers which he had made to the Turks of subjection to them that the Germans intended nothing more than to ruin their Country and therefore that he should keep his Forces in a readiness to oppose them in case of necessity These and several other Evidences were a clear conviction of a Plot design'd and a ground sufficient for the President of the Council of Grats to seize the Person of Count Tassembach and commit him to safe Custody After which his House was searched where was found a considerable quantity of Powder and Ammunition And his Papers being also seized and examined it thereby appeared that the Arms and Ammunition were designed to furnish therewith 6000 Men which he intended to raise and upon farther enquiry into this matter several questions being put to him Tassembach own'd the whole Design and Conspiracy and the Engagements which were between him and the Count Serini Whereof Copies with the Process being sent to the Emperor the whole Plot was discover'd and no further doubt or question made of a Rebellion and General revolt of the whole Kingdom This discovery was seconded by advices of the constant intercourse and correspondences held between Serini and the Pasha's of Buda Bosna and Kanisia And more particularly by a Letter which Marquis Frangipani Brother-in-Law to Count Serini wrote to Captain Tscolnits containing the whole secret of the business and served to demonstrate the inveterane Malice which the Marquis had conceived against the Emperor and the whole German Nation Tscolnits had at first entertained a correspondence with the Malecontents but making reflections afterwards on the persons with whom he was to engage that they were rash and heady and Men of no solid Foundation or good Temper he retracted from his former Engagements and show'd the Letter to the Emperor But matters were proceeded too far to be wholly suppressed or defeated For those in the upper Hungary appeared openly in the Field under Ragotski who threatned to take
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 The Vizier accepts of the Conditions offerd by the Moscovites 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 Tekeli and Wessellini Fight for Command 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 pursu'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 Rebel 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 The Paisants in Bohemia rise in Arms. 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 Emperor accommodates the Matter between the Lords and their Tenants 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 Poles press to have a Treaty Signed 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 Moscovites 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 which the Emperor having call'd his Council it was Resolv'd by them that all Treaties with him for the future should be absolutely deny'd in regard that by experience he had always been found false and perfidious in every Treaty having broken his Faith and Promises whensoever it serv'd his turn not to perform them Besides it was well remember'd in what manner he had formerly made use of Cessations of Arms The Emperor refuses to Treat with Tekeli to debauch the Minds of the Emperor's Soldiers and to seduce
The remaining Asiatick Troops were from Georgia and the conquered Countries thereabouts all which were the Forces out of Asia and Horse 28000 After these marched the Janisaries of Europe 12000 Next followed the Tartars ill Armed and worse Clothed 14000 Last of all marched the most flourishing part of the Turkish Army consisting of the Sons and Servants of Pashas also of the richest Spahees and other young Men all richly cloathed and armed 35000 Pioniers and others with Shovels Spades c. 12000 Gunners and other Attendants on the Train of Artillery 13000 Attendants on the Waggons of Ammunition and Provision 14000 Other Attendants on the Tents and Baggage 13000 All which formidable Forces amounted unto 264000 According to a Calculation made by several Italian Writers but as to my own Opinion I cannot believe that Asia could furnish half those numbers and therefore do rather follow the Computation of the Asiaticks according to this Account Mustapha Pasha Grand Vizier 15000 Emir Pasha of Adana 500 Husaein Basha of Bolu 330 Kara Mahomet Pasha of Diarbeker 1500 Mustapha Pasha of Silistria 1080 Halil Pasha of Sivas 530 Ahmet Pasha of Maras 710 Husaein Pasha of Aleppo 950 Osman Pasha a Sangiac under him 510 Husaein Pasha of Damascus 2300 Hassan Pasha of Armit 500 Bei of Gran Cairo 3000 Basha of Tokai on the Borders of Persia 340 Bekir Pasha 500 Â 27750 This Computation may very well agree with the Forces of the first Year's Expedition out of Asia to which being adjoyned the several Chambers of Janisaries with all the European Forces both Horse and Foot as also the Tartars Transilvanians Moldavians and Valachians with the Hungarian Rebels we may without Romance account the Ottoman Force to consist of a Hundred eighty Thousand effective fighting Men besides Miners Pioniers Sutlers Gunners Attendants on the Train of Artillery Attendants and Servants belonging to the Tents with a vast number of Rascals and Rabble following the Camp which may very well be Calculated to amount unto at least 40.000 more For the Turks above any Nation in the World have their Camp pestered with the Incumbrances of Baggage so that if we consider this vast number of 220.000 Men it will not seem incredible what we find reported that they spread the Country eight Leagues in length The Report of this formidable and as to human Appearance invincible Army caused the Duke of Loraine to hasten with all speed possible the Fortifications of Raab which he designed to enlarge on some rising Grounds near to the Town and to defend them with the whole Body of the Army or at least by the Infantry which having a Communication with the Garrison might be able to oppose that great force of the Enemy and weary them out by a lingring Siege in a Country which was already become desolate and without Forage for above twenty Miles round But the Duke of Loraine having received Intelligence The Grand Vizier at Alba Regalis that the Grand Vizier on the 1st of July was entred into Alba Regalis and certainly resolved to Besiege Vienna and to stop at no other place on their March thither He then changed his Measures and having reinforced Raab with the three Regiments of Baden Grana and Souches and given the command of the Place to Colonel Wallis and having also reinforced Comorra and other Places with strong Garrisons his whole Field-Army became reduced unto 24.000 Men only And fearing lest with so small a number he should be surrounded by the multitudes of the Enemy he once resolved to encamp himself under the Cannon of Vienna In the mean time Tekeli having made a Visit to the Grand Vizier in his Camp at Alba Regalis perswaded him to publish a Manifest He publishes a Manifest signifying unto the People That the Grand Seignior did take under his Protection all the Hungarians who should joyn themselves to the Male-contented Party and that he would maintain them in their Priviledges Liberties Estates Laws and Religion And that such who refused to accept this gracious Offer were to expect no Quarter but to be punished with Fire and Sword This Manifest being divulged by Tekeli at his return from the Vizier to Cassovia so operated on many of the Hungarians that the Towns of Papa Tot and Vesprin accepted of the same and opened their Gate to Tekeli and his Party And such was the Consternation of all Hungary that many other Counties and Towns declared to the Emperor's Commissioners that they would open their Gates to Tekeli at the first Summons rather than expose themselves to Fire and Sword where was no hopes or expectations of Relief This Declaration of the People giving the Emperor just cause to fear lest Neutra and the Mountain Towns should follow the same Example Orders were given to Count Schultz Governour of Neutra to demolish that Fortress Neutra demolished and bring the gross Cannon with all the Ammunition from thence and the like Command was given to the Officers of the Mountain Towns where the Mines of Silver were it being impossible to relieve them because Tekeli was Master of all the Passes which led thither which Orders were readily obeyed by the Officers Priests and Religious Men who fled to the Camp of General Schultz on the Banks of the River Waagh Where Schultz having joyned with the six Thousand Polish Horse under the Command of Prince Lubomiski he had the fortune to meet a Party of the Malecontents joyned with some Tartars and to give them a total Defeat killing and taking two Thousand of them with several Colours and all their Baggage In the mean time whilest the Duke of Loraine was in this dubious Condition not knowing what course was best to be taken he resolved once to retire under the Cannon of Vienna and there to govern himself according to the Motion of the Enemy but the Turks came on so fast their Van appearing on the Banks of the River Raab followed by the whole Body of their Army Marching in Batalia that there was no time for any thing but a Precipitous Flight nothing was now to be put to a hazard for the least Defeat might cause the absolute loss of Vienna and open the Enemies way into the Hereditary Counties In this exigency all the Foot was Transported over into the Island of Schultz under the Command of the Count de Zely and all the Horse being about Nine thousand five hundred in number Marched away about Midnight and pitched their Camp near to Altembourg The Infantry being in the Isle of Schultz The Christian Infantry in the Isle of Schultz Marched without danger of the Enemy and were in the way either to Communicate with Raab or to give Succour to Vienna according as they saw the Enemy bend their Course for they were in a Condition to move faster than the multitudes and gross Bodies of the Turks In a few Days it appear'd that the Turks aimed at the Capital City of Vienna and to leave all
thence after payment of which they marched into the three Counties of Esperies Cachan and Tokay which were appointed to receive them five of the Imperial Regiments being dislodged from thence But as the German and Polish Armies were marching towards their Quarters on the Banks of the River Gran in sight of Leventz Leventz taken they sent their Summons requiring the Governour to Surrender the place into their Hands which in few hours time was yielded and the Garrison permitted to march out In the place were twelve Pieces of Cannon well mounted and Provisions and Ammunition in great quantities The Croats found the like good fortune having in their march taken the Castle of Raboniz about six English Miles distant from Kanisia and the Town of Probenz Situate on the River Drave as also the Castle of Esseghet Esseghet Provens and other places taken and the City and Castle of Brevenitz which was so near to Kanisia that it seemed already blocked up if not almost besieged And here these generous Soldiers thought fit to fix their Winter-quarters which they had conquered and won as if they had scorn'd to abide in any place which was not opened to them by their own Swords The Duke of Lorain being at Sequi about an hours march from Leventz and busied in assigning Quarters for Twenty seven Regiments The Forces of Lituania with the Duke of Loraine was visited by the General of Lituania accompanied with the principal Officers who gave him to understand that they were come with an Army of Ten thousand Men which were Quarter'd in the Neighbouring Towns and Villages and that they were marching to joyn with the other Troops of his Majesty of Poland and to follow his Orders and Instructions The Duke after having courteously received them prescribed them the Roads which they were to take and deliver'd into the Hands of the General a Letter for the King perswading him to employ that Army which was fresh and not harrassed with the Fatigues of War upon some Enterprise it seeming somewhat absurd and perhaps of ill report in War for so considerable a Body of Soldiers to take a long march out of Lituania into Hungary and to perform nothing but to return again To this Letter the King made no other Reply Than that for maintenance of his Winter-quarters he should have occasion of those Troops The King of Poland in his march towards Cackaw which with Esperies and Tokai were appointed for the Quarters of his Troops passing near to the City of Setzin sent his Son Prince Alexander with Summons to Surrender which being refused the Poles made an Attack in two places with which the Defendants being affrighted offered to Capitulate and in that Amazement before the Articles were agreed Setzin taken by the Poles they opened their Gates and let in the Enemy who being obliged by no Terms made a miserable slaughter of the poor Inhabitants of which there were Two thousand Turks besides Twelve hundred Janisaries and Spahees and on the Walls were twenty Pieces of Cannon mounted A Garrison of Germans being put into the Town the King continued his march towards the Quarters designed for his Troops where having refreshed himself for some few Days he passed on towards Cracovia The King of Poland and his Army return home attended only with the Servants and Officers of his Court And not long afterwards was followed by his whole Army into Poland where we will leave them to their own Fortune which seemed favourable to them abroad whilst they were directed by the auspicious Conduct of the Duke of Loraine and other the greatest Captains in the World But looking on them in their own Country as we shall hereafter do we shall find their Successes much different from their late Triumphs and Glories For being left to themselves and inspired with French Councils and Interests we shall hear of no great Atchievements afterwards gained upon the Turks nor attemps made to recover Kaminiec the Bulwark and Fortress of their Kingdom on that side Of which the Turks being sensible made but weak Preparations against them leaving them to the Tartars who as things were then governed proved a sufficient match for their Neighbours the Poles Notwithstanding this separation and that the Polanders were withdrawn into their own Country Several Castles belonging to the Malecontents submit yet the Reputation of the Emperor was highly exalted and his name terrible to his Enemies so that every small Castle and Fortress Surrender'd upon the first Summons as the Castles of Jasem Zalabstat Sumstam and Seramz with other places all belonging to the Malecontents of which divers Persons of Quality returned to their Duty and Allegiance and particularly the Count of Zabbor the Commander in Chief under Tekeli who by the Count Esterhasi being introduced to the Presence of his Imperial Majesty he was with his usual Clemency received and a gracious Pardon granted to him These Triumphs in Christendom increased the Troubles Discontents and Commotions in Turky which are always attended with Tragedies and Destruction of their Chief Ministers and Rulers We shall begin with the fate of Kara Mustapha the Grand Vizier the Chief Author and Cause of all the Evils which are past and those which for many years following are to ensue We have in the beginning of this History made mention how that the Valide Soltana which is the Queen Mother the Kuzlir-Aga who is the black Eunuch of the Women and the Embrahore who is Master of the Horse to the Grand Seignior were all mortal Enemies to this Vizier and attended only an opportunity to destroy him which was now very practicable under the present Circumstances of Affairs especially having the Widow of the Pasha of Buda whom the Vizer had lately put to Death and who was Sister to the Grand Seignior to joyn with them in their methods of Revenge The Grand Vizier being sensible of his Danger from these Enemies and from the ill success of Affairs which usually prove fatal to the Generals or Commanders in Chief marched away towards Belgrade with a great part of his Army esteeming it a Matter of higher Consequence to his own safety to purge himself from blame in the Opinion of his Master than to return back to the Relief of Gran being already advanced as far on his way to Belgrade as the Bridge of Esseck where he received the first intelligence of the Defeat of the several Pashas before Barcan and the Siege of Strigonium These misfortunes hastned his proceedings to Belgrade The Grand Vizier excuses his Misfortunes before the Grand Seignior where being admitted to the presence of the Sultan he described the admirable order of the Siege before Vienna and how near he was to have been Master thereof and even of all Austria and the Emperor 's Hereditary Countries as Appendages thereunto belonging had not these fair hopes been defeated by the Cowardise and ill Conduct of the Pasha of Buda and several other Officers whom he
Favourites no true Cause in my Opinion can be assigned unless finding in that Person of whom they make choice for their Companion a certain Harmony of Affections and Humour they love him by Sympathy and adore their own Image in him without which all other Qualities would be mean and contemptible But to return to the Vizier his greatest Study and Application was to make Levies by Land both in Europe and Asia Commands were dispatched to that Purpose to Aleppo Damascus Diarbiquier and Gran Cairo the remotest parts of the Empire but those being Countries ill Peopled Levies made in Europe and Asia Levies were made with much difficulty and such as were constrained to go by reason of the far distance from the Rendezvous came late many sickned in the March and some ran away and deserted and diverse of the European Troops which had been harassed the last Year retired into the Mountains where they passed the whole Summer and in the Winter came out from thence and returned home where they told Stories as if they had been engaged in all the Sieges and Battles which had happened that Year The Grand Vizier finding the numbers allotted to be raised to fall much short of the Quota and of a reasonable Calculation attributed the Default thereof to the negligence of the Musselims or Deputy-Governours to the Pashas for which some of them were punished with Death and others being affrighted hereby used all the Tyranny and Force imaginable to compel the poor People unto the Wars to which many of them going with much unwillingness stole aside and never came so far as the Camp Howsoever it was impossible but that out of so vast a Tract of Ground as is the Ottoman Empire consisting of many Kingdoms and Principalities there must be some out of every part who having Courage enough to sacrifice their Lives for their Religion and Country came in and united themselves with the Camp and these thô inferiour to the numbers designed and expected yet composed an Army very formidable and such as was able to bid defiance to the Forces of Germany Howsoever the Turks did not think fit to trust so much to their Arms but that they would first assay and try if it were possible to put an end to the War by a fair Accommodation The Person appointed to manage this Treaty was Shitan Ibraim as yet Vizier of Buda a Person as we have before-mentioned of refined Parts and good Address The Turke propose a Treaty and a Courtier fitted for such a Negotiation In pursuance of this Design this Vizier wrote Letters of Complement to the chief Ministers of State at Vienna acquainting them of the Grand Seignior's Inclinations to a Peace And thô it had never been the Custom of the Sultans to be the first Promoters of Peace or to ask it before it was offered or begged yet such was the Clemency and Compassion of this Emperor and his desire to stop the Effusion of Human Blood that contrary to the Dignity of his Sublime Station raised above the Throne of earthly Kings he would now condescend so low as to be the first who should make this Religious Motion in order unto which he desired that a Pass-port should be sent him for a Chiaus who was an Armenian by Nation and as I think by Religion a Christian freely to pass and repass and to carry the Proposals and to Treat thereupon The Pass-port was accordingly sent A Chiaus sent to Vienna and the Armenian conducted to Comorra where being taken rather for a Spy than an Ambassadour he was so closely confined and guarded that he complained of his Restraint to be contrary to the Laws of War and Nations at length he was guarded to Vienna where he was detained under Custody with as jealous and watchful an Eye as when he was at Comorra Howsoever the reception of this Chiaus became the Subject of much Discourse and Talk in the City and gave occasion to the World to censure as if the Emperor had designed to make a Peace under-hand without the Privity and Concurrence of the Allies The Audience of this Chiaus was deferred for some time until it was promoted and hastned by the Envoy from the Prince of Transilvania then residing at that Court and by him at length conducted to the presence of the President of the Council to whom he delivered the Propoposals and Articles of Peace The which after mature Examination seemed to be projected with such Sagacity and Subtlety without sincere and open Terms that they were generally concluded to be Fallacious and not to be Grounds for a faithful and lasting Peace And so in sine the Armenian was dispeeded back with this Answer only That the Emperor could not conclude a Peace without the Concurrence of the King of Poland He is sent back and the State of Venice the true Allies and Confederates with the Emperor by which Answer the Minister from Apasi Prince of Transilvania being assured of the Emperor's Resolutions to continue the War changed the Tenure of his former Memorials and in his Master's Name proposed that he might remain in a Condition of Neutrality thinking it more secure to remain as a Friend to both sides rather than by adhering to one to rise or fall according to the dubious fortune of War But if we look into the Winter-quarters before we Treat of the Feats of War which were Actions most fit for the Summer Season A miserable Plague and Famin. we shall find the Imperialists and Bavarians so miserably in want of all Provisions and of things necessary for the sustenance of Human Life That one would wonder how it were possible for these Men to be so soon recover'd and made fit for new Services and Fatigues For such was the Famine in the Lower Hungary that the Inhabitants were forced to Abandon their Dwellings and Fly for Bread into the Town of Buda where they were entertained for Day-labourers to Repair the Fortifications with the Wages of eight pence a Day two pounds weight of Bread and a pint of Wine In the Emperour's Country a Bushel of Wheat which in the times of Peace was worth no more than ten Groats was now advanced in price to Eighteen shillings In Presbourg the Streets were cover'd with famished and dying People the Soldiers were either Dead or Languishing or had deserted their Colours A Pestilence as is natural followed the Famine and Cattle died of the Murrain The Island Schultz which used to be the Granary of the Upper Hungary was now in a Starving condition and the Inhabitants forced to Eat Roots and the Barks of Trees Nay this Misery and Desolation extended even to Vienna it self where in the Garden of the Archbishop two Women were seen to Eat the Raw-flesh of a Horse lately Dead But for a remedy to this Epidemical Calamity the Emperor who is the Common Father of his People caused great quantities of Corn to be brought from all the Neighbouring Countries
present at this great Action to add the Subjection of this Place to the Glory of his late Victory But the great Mind of the Duke which was zealous for the Service of the Emperor and the Christian Cause gave orders not to defer the Assault for one Moment but first to advise the Besieged of the defeat of their Seraskier and to verify the same by some Prisoners taken in the late Battle which were sent into the Town that being informed of their desperate Condition they might be induced to accept Terms of Mercy for their Lives The 18th was the Day appointed for this Attempt but the Rains were so violent that it was thought fit to expect more favourable Weather and to break some Palisadoes with the Cannon which were newly erected within the Breach The next Morning being the 19th at break of Day the signal of the Assault was given by the discharge of Thirty six Pieces of Cannon upon which An Assault made immediately Three thousand Men were appointed to make the Assault Count Scaffemberg at the head of his Men Commanded the Attack in face of the right Bastion and mounted thereupon without the loss of one Man and was followed by the Troops of Lunenburg and Suabia the Turks now losing their Courage did not dispute the Breach with such Resolution as was agreeable to the Resistance they had made at first and thereby gave opportunity to Scaffemberg to possess himself of the Bastion without much difficulty The Baron of Asti and Colonel Kaletz who Commanded the other Attacks with the Troops of Cologne Bavaria and Franconia were in like manner successful and planted the Imperial Standards on the Breach where a Pasha which Commanded it was killed he was a Native of Bohemia and of the Family of Garasba In the Bastion Eight hundred Men were slain excepâ—â—ng Two or Three hundred who cast themselves over the Wall into the Ditch where they met the Sword of the Bavarians and under that ended their Days All this time Seventy Pieces of Cannon continually plaid upon the Town and Twenty Mortar-pieces which threw Bombs and Carcasses and Three thousand Men already upon the Walls and within the Town in which Amazement the Turks spread a white Flag which was the signal of a Parly or of a Surrender But alas it was too late for the Christians being already Masters of the Town they killed all without remorse or distinction of Age or Sex either of Men Women or Children The Governour of the Place died the next Day of his Wounds which he had received on the Breach the Garrison which consisted of Three thousand Men was reduced to On thousand Seven hundred most of which also were killed on that fatal Day The Town is taken At length the Town being taken Orders were given to stop the effusion of Blood which came only in time to save the Lives of about Two hundred Persons In the Town Eighty Pieces of Cannon were taken with great quantities of Ammunition About Forty Christian Slaves were set at liberty The Plunder of the Town was esteemed to amount unto two Millions besides Plate good Furniture and Moveables belonging to the Houses There were Fifty Horses of Price taken which were distributed amongst the General Officers all which was performed with the loss of Fifty Soldiers only and one Lieutenant So soon as the Place was taken Count Scaffemberg took Post to carry the joyful News thereof unto the Emperor who was graciously pleased in Reward of his Services to conferr upon him the Government of that Place The News of two such Atchievements as the defeat of the Turkish Army and taking Newhausel filled all Christendom with Joy and Wonder and Thanks to Almighty God for such glorious and unexpected Successes which also being accompanied with the taking of Esperies by General Schultz and the burning of the Town and Bridge of Esseck by Count Lesly increased the Jubilee of that Year in Christendom as on the contrary never was there such a Damp on the Spirits of the Turks nor such Sorrow and Grief as at that time For the Loss having been Universal through the whole Empire the Death of Friends and Relations was lamented as far as to Bagdat or Babylon it self and to other remote parts of the East The Advice of taking Newhausel was brought to the Duke of Loraine whilst he was in Discourse with the Elector of Bavaria and the other Generals of carrying on the Wars with such other Enterprise as might conclude and terminate this Campaign with the greater Glory Upon the News hereof the Generals moved with a desire to see the Place The dismal Condition of Newhausel enter'd into it on the 20th and there beheld the most horrid Spectacle of Slaughter and Desolation in the World To cover which immediate Orders were given to bury the Dead and to repair the Breaches which the Cannon had made in the Walls and with the Labour of Turkish Slaves to fill up the Trenches and Approaches which were made without the Town during the Siege The Christian Slaves which on occasion of the late Defeat had escaped out of the hands of the Turks came in great numbers to Newhausel and there related how that the Seraskier was come to Buda with a slight Wound in his Leg The ill Condition of the Turkish Army that the Confusion amongst the Turks was so great that they killed and robbed one the other in the Flight that in the Sieges of Strigonium and Vicegrade they had lost at least Four thousand Men and that the latter place was so weakned by blowing up the Tower and required so much time and labour to repair it that they expected Orders from the Seraskier to demolish and abandon the Place And in fine That the Turkish Forces were so scatter'd and divided that after all these losses and discouragements they were scarce able to Rally an Army of 30.000 Men. We having not thought fit to interrupt the Relation of two such great Matters as the Fight near Strigonium and the Siege of Newhausal with a Digression unto other Actions which being now past let us look back and behold the Progress which Count Lesly and General Schultz were making against the Common Enemy in different Places Lesly being advanced into the Country near Kanisia had the good fortune to meet a Party of Turks belonging to that place which he defeated and with the Slaughter of several hundred of them caused the rest to Fly into their Fortress After which with an Army of about Eight thousand Men composed of Croats Hungarians and Germans he resolved to render himself Master of the Bridge of Esseck The Expedition of Count Lesly to the Bridge of Esseck In order whereunto having left his Baggage at Turnawitz under the Custody and Guard of Two thousand Men he marched away on the 9th of August with Four thousand Germans and Two thousand Croats all choise and experienced Soldiers towards Esseck taking with them Provisions for ten Days
he had Sworn by his Law and by his Prophet being herewith a little comforted he was carried Prisoner to the Middle-gate of the Seraglio in the mean time his House was rifled and all his Servans and Pages of any fashion were taken into Custody and Examined for better Discovery of his Estate All the Mony found did not amount unto more than Five thousand Purses besides his Jewels and his great Revenues in Lands and Houses His Estate seized Being thus stripped of all his Estate he was on the 18th of March put into a Gally and sent to Rhodes there to remain a Prisoner in the Castle Soliman Pasha now Vizier compassionating his Case and not knowing how soon it might be his own turn sent him Five thousand Dollars with a Vest of Sables and obtained a small Allowance for him from the Grand Seignior Nor was this Change only of the Vizier but attended with others at the Court for the Janizar-Aga or General of the Janisaries was put out and one Hassan Aga Lieutenant General of the Janisaries at Buda was put in his stead Changes of Officers in the Turkish Court. Zulficar Aga a vast rich Man one of the Pashas of the Bench was sent to command in the place of Mustapha Brother to the late Vizier Kupriogli who was recalled to Court and made Chimacam at Constantinople Ahmet Pasha nam'd for Captain Pasha last Year was made Seraskier or General in Hungary in the place of Shaitan Ibrahim and Apti Pasha whom we have formerly mentioned was return'd again to his Province of Pasha of Buda The Reis Effendi or Secretary of State was displaced the Reason not known and that Office supplied by a Relation of the late Vizier's who wrote his Letters for him a raw and an unexperienced Man The Mosaip was continued General in the Morea and Missir-ogli was made Captain Pasha in the place of Mazzamama to whom as we have said the care of the Fleet was committed the last Summer These were the Changes with which this Year began in the Ottoman Court after which care was taken to Recruit the Army and make all Warlike preparations in Hungary for which the new Vizier Solyman was preparing and al the Court and People were full of hopes and expectations of mighty Successes under the auspicious Conduct of Solyman whose very Name had been Fortunate to the Turks Tekeli as we have mentioned before being set at Liberty Tekeli receives Aid from the Turks and restored to his Command with Honour received Money from the Vizier to Raise Two thousand Men and was recommended by the Vizer to the new Seraskier to give all the encouragement and assistance he was able that so he might once more try his Fortune in the Upper Hungary Amongst the many ways and contrivances to raise Money one was to discover the hidden Riches of the Imprisoned Vizier for which whilst they made diligent Search in his Seraglio or Palace at Constantinople it came to be known that Three hundred Purses belonging to the Vizier Kara Mustapha who was Strangled at Belgrade were found in a secret conveyance of the House the Chimacam and Embrahore or Master of the Horse would be present at Sealing of the Baggs and had counted out Two hundred when it proving dark and late The Viziers Palace Burnt they deferr'd the remainder until the Day following but that Night by what Accident is not known the Palace took Fire and was Burnt to the Ground At Adrianople where the Court resided an Envoy arrived from Muscovy and another from the General of the Cosacks with Complaints against the Tartars and Governour of Asac a Fortress of the Turks on the Tanais for Incursions made upon them The Muscovites remain'd until this time in suspence whether to make War or confirm a Peace with the Turks Addresses to the Ottoman Court. but the Success of the Emperor and the Provocations received from the Tartars put that Business beyond all doubt and brought the Muscovites into a League with the Emperor and Poland as will shortly be made manifest by the Capitulations between them Amongst other Applications to the Ottoman Court a new Ambassadour from France arrived at Adrianople to assure the Sultan of his Master's Friendship and his Resolution to stand Neuter in this present War But the Turks who rely not with much confidence on the Word and Stories of the French gave them an ordinary Reception without Favours or any unsual Concessions denying to them the Guardian-ship of the Holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem which had formerly been granted to them This was the State of the Ottoman Court in the beginning of this Year 1686 when Count Caprara kept the Town of Mongatz Blocked up which is strongly fortified with a Castle Situate on the River Turza between Ungwar and Zatmar Mongatz Blocked up near the Mountains The place belonged to the Countess Tekeli in right of her former Husband Prince Francis Ragotski She was Daughter of Count Peter Serini and Married to Tekeli as we have formerly mentioned Caprara having all the Winter his Quarters not far from Mongatz sent frequent Messages to this Lady to Surrender the Town and Castle to the Emperor promising in the name of his Coesarean Majesty to conserve both her self and her Son in the same Condition of Greatness and Estate as at present adding thereunto many Complements which are commonly given to a young and beautiful Lady The expressions he made to her were so full of tenderness and respect that she could not refuse to return an Answer agreeable to so much concernment as he testified for her assuring him That nothing so grieved her as to see herself embarked in a Cause against the Emperor and that nothing could be so uneasie to her and difficult to determin in what manner she was to behave herself between the Duty and Faith she owed to a Husband and Allegiance to the most gentle and gracious Prince of the Universe But as to the Surrender of the Town and Castle it was not in her Power but depended entirely on the Secretary and Deputy of her Husband who was there constituted Governour with all the Riches and Wealth of the place and that the Citizens and Chief Magistrates thereof were joyned in the same Resolutions with him to defend and maintain the Place to their utmost hazard of their Lives and Fortunes and that herein they were the more encouraged by Advices lately received from Count Tekeli whereby he not only gives them the good News of his Liberty and the great Honours and Aids which the Turks had bestowed upon him in recompence for the Affront which the late Vizier had cast upon him but promised them very speedily a Relief sufficient to drive their Enemies from their Doors and at a distance from their Country and would bring Rewards in his Hands for those who should in the mean time remain true and constant to his Interest A Sally from the Town of Mongatz Count Caprara
rightly judging that by such delays and excuses as these the Princess intended only to gain time and to illude his designs began to draw his Forces nearer with a Train of Artillery Mortars and other Engins proper for a Siege But the Garrison nothing dismaid thereby made a Sally with Six hundred Men and gained a Redoubt which the Imperialists had raised near the lower Town with the slaughter of Four hundred Souldiers therein and having taken out the Arms and Guns they demolished the Fort and rased it to the very Ground Howsoever Caprara having received a Recruit of Two thousand Men possessed himself of a Post whereby he hoped to bar the Town of the Water which supplied both that and the Castle But matters happened quite otherwise for the Rains fell in such abundance as filled the Cisterns with Water which were anciently made to supply the wants of the Inhabitants on such occasions In the mean time Apafi Prince of Transilvania labour'd with all his power to gain a Neutrality for himself between the Turks and the Emperor by the first of which he was pressed with all imaginable instances to serve in this War both with Men and Money according to agreement and obligations of his Investiture when he received the Standard from the Sultan And by the other That is by the Emperor he was threatned to declare himself either a Friend or an Enemy for that no sort of indifferency would be admitted in this Case And the better to compel him thereunto Count Caraffa advanced into his Country with Eight thousand Men Two thousand whereof were Hungarians and took up their Quarters on the Frontiers of Transilvania which was now in a Condition under such a Force rather to receive Laws than to give them Apafi desires a Neutrality The Prince Apafi being much incommoded by Quartering of Soldiers dispatched three Agents to Vienna to Treat of those matters to which he was altogether averse in former times and readily offer'd to give free Quarter to those Troops which were sent into his Country but as to an open Declaration of nearer Alliance he desired to be excused considering that his Country was environed by the Turks and their strongest Garrisons bordering on his Confines so that until the Emperor had driven the Enemy at a farther distance it could not be advisable for him to make a more publick Declaration The City of Debrezin Debrâ—zin redeems it self from free Quarter Situate between Tokay and Great Waradin is Populous and Rich and had voluntarily desired to be received into Protection of his Imperial Majesty after Zolnock and Cassovia had been reduced having conserved themselves in a Neutrality during the late Revolutions of Hungary without taking part in any Engagement with the Malecontents This City I say was received into Protection upon promise to maintain with free Quarter Five thousand Germans and One thousand Hungarians but finding themselves overburdened and harassed with Quartering these Soldiers they agreed to pay Eighty thousand Florins per Month for the space of six Months in lieu of their free Quarter by which Sum of Money they eased themselves from the inconvenience and insolence of Soldiers as did also many parts of the upper Hungary the main burden of Quarters being cast upon the Counties bordering on Transilvania which was of great relief to the Hereditary Countries This Year began early with Action for the Generals Mercy and Heusler having their Quarters at Zolnock made frequent Incursions upon the Turks with great Success and Advantage And having intelligence that in Transilvania a Convoy of about an Hundred Wagons was providing laden with Money Ammunition and Provisions for the subsistence and relief of Buda they made a Detachment of Five thousand choise Horse with some Auxiliaries from Count Caprara and ordered them to march towards Segedin and to Way-lay them in their Passage over the River Heusler being advanced about a League from Segedin gave Orders to Peterhasi with a strong Battalion to embosk himself within the Woods which grew very thick in that Country and when the Garrison of Segedin should Sally forth to the assistance of the Convoy That he should then with his Battalion arise from the place of Concealment and seize upon the Town which might perhaps be left naked and void of all defence Matters did not in all things answer expectation for the Convoy being Guarded with a strong party of Turkish Soldiers they Fought with such Valour and Resolution Heusler Attacks a Convoy of the Turks that thô the Imperialists remain'd Masters of the Field and of the Convoy yet the Action cost so much Blood that it could not properly be called a Victory for a Victory may be too dearly bought when it is purchased with the Lives of so many brave Men as are not to be estimated by any advantage whatsoever And so it happened now The Victory dearly bought for thô Three thousand Turks were killed on the place yet they were not to be valued with the Blood of Two thousand Germans and Hungarians all choise and select Men who lay dead in the Field But as it happens commonly amongst Soldiers those who live and survive have little sense or regard for such as are slain unless that being made Mad and more Furious by the death of their Companions they breath nothing but Revenge as did this remaining Party which exasperated by the difficulty of the late Fight fell upon the Lands of Seudin Geset Bahatz and the Parts adjacent or not far from the place of Battle destroying and consuming all with Fire and Sword The News of these Successes were not very pleasing at Vienna where they esteemed the Victory too dearly obtained and thô they publickly applauded the bravery and resolution of the Officers and Soldiers yet in their private Councils they could not but secretly blame the rashness of the Commanders As all places in the upper Hungary were filled with Slaughter and Confusion so no less Damage was caused in Croatia Flouds of Water in Croatia by the vast Flouds and Inundations which for some time drowned all that Country and carried away whole Towns and Familes Castles and Provisions down the Torrent And not only hinder'd all Commerce and Correspondence of one Town with another but prevented the intended Incursions on the Enemy destroy'd the Provisions necessary for support of the Army and superinduced a grievous Famine over the whole Land Count Nicolas Erdeody who was then Ban or chief Commander at that time of Croatia being much affected with the Common Calamity of his Country assembled a Convention of all the Estates at Zagrabia to consider of the said Condition and Desolation of their Province where after divers Conferences they concluded it necessary to represent unto the Emperor the State and Condition of Croatia and the Confines and Militia thereof and how necessary it was to defend and guard those Frontiers from the Forces then gathering between Belgrade and Esseck Nor were these Advices ill grounded for
thereby was soon repair'd by the diligence of the Besieged returning their Shot with fiery Bullets of a new invention which did great execution within the Lines This and other Successes raised their Spirits within the Town to a steddy defence to secure which the Princess Ragotzki imposed a new Oath of Fidelity on all the Souldiers which they chearfully took and to express their readiness thereunto they fired all the great and small Shot round the Town with resolute Protestations never to hearken unto any Offers or Conditions for Surrender of the Place To confirm the Soldiery in this good Humour it was noised in the Garrison that there were sufficient Provisions in the Magazines for the subsistence of a whole Year that the Princess had received Letters from her Husband Tekeli assuring her that he would very suddainly appear before the Town with an Army sufficient to raise the Siege and restore their Liberties Reports of Tekeli's March and reward all those who had continued firm and constant in their Faith and Allegiance unto him Nor was this Report confined within the Walls of Mongatz but it was spread over all the Imperial Camp that Tekeli had joyned the Seraskier's Army with a Force of Eight thousand Turks and Tartars and shortly resolved to attempt the raising of the Siege before Mongatz and to Re-inforce the place with considerable Recruits To prevent which Count Caprara dispeeded General Piccolomini with a strong Detachment to joyn with Mercy Caraffa and Heusler and with united strength to oppose the Enemies passage and watch some favourable opportunity to engage them But the Report of the Turks numbers and Tekeli's design soon vanished there being no such apparent Force in the Field to give them opposition In the mean time the Siege proceeded vigorously Bombs and Carcasses being daily fired and thrown into the Palanca and Castle one of which fell into the very Room where the Princess Ragotzki was at Dinner which without any disorder or affrightment of the Lady was soon extinguished Howsoever the Besiegers made such a Breach into the Palanca that they lodged a strong Party upon the brink of the Ditch The Besieged on the other side had raised a great Battery behind the Breach which dismounted several of the Imperialists Cannon and made divers Retrenchments and fired continually Bombs and Carcasses into the Lines which often times did considerable execution But when the Officers of the Garrison consider'd that the only means to preserve the place was to prevent the Draining of the two Ditches of the lower Town which were extreamly deep they cut a passage for several streams of Water by secret and hidden Channels to fall into the Ditch which being increased by the melting of Snow from the Mountains and continual Flouds of Rain which fell in that Season of the Year the Ditches were not only filled but the Earth made so soft and moist that it was impossible to maintain their Works so that Caprara could do nothing more than Batter the Town with his Cannon and throw some Bombs and Carcasses with little or no Execution In fine the Season coming on for Action which required an application to something more profitable and promising than this difficult Work The Siege of Mongatz raised the Siege was raised by Order of the Emperor about the end of April after five Months had been unprofitable spent before that place But before the great and most considerable Actions of the following Campaign began there were certain Preparations or Preludes thereunto represented in Fights and Skirmishes between certain Parties detached from the main Bodies in all which the Imperialists gained the Advantage and sometimes had the fortune of a clear Victory On the 14th of March some Imperial Troops having their Winter-quarters in Croatia routed Fifteen hundred Turks drawn up in open Field and put them to flight Achmet Aga their chief Commander was killed and his Son taken Prisoner Achmet Aga defeated This Engagement happen'd near a little Town called Jalonne which the Croats stormed and took and pillaged it and set at liberty Eight hundred Christian Slaves of which Three hundred were in a condition to take up Arms. Another Detachment of Croats possessed themselves of the Castle of Clanitz where they found a considerable Booty as also of the Town of the great Cladussa about four Leagues from Strediclo from whence they were enabled to make Incursions into the Territories of the Turks without any opposition April About the beginning of this Month other Detachments from the Garrison of Vesprin and Places in the Lower Hungary took the Castle of Palotta about two Leagues distant from Alba Regalis Other Successes and put all to the Sword About the end of this Month Count Baragotzi with a Regiment of German Horse and some Hungarian Troops intended to surprize Tekeli in Giena a little Town belonging to the Turks but the Design failed Tekeli being retired a little before the coming of the Enemy Howsoever his March was not altogether fruitless for in his return he took forty Turks whom he made Prisoners The Turks on the other side with Three thousand Horse and Foot under the Command of Fonduck Pasha designed to surprize Wirowitza in Croatia but the Governour of that Place having notice thereof got together about One thousand Seven hundred Horse and Dragoons from the neighbouring Garrisons with which he surprised the Enemy in their Camp before Day in the Morning and charged them so briskly that they killed about an Hundred and Seventy on the Place took Thirty seven Prisoners amongst which were two Agas and several Officers of Note with three Standards Drums Timbrels and a considerable Booty The Imperialists were still within their Winter-quarters which were so well disposed and in that Military Order as if the Army had been drawn in Battalia The orderly Disposition of the Christians in their Winter Quarters by which means they kept the Seraskier in continual Alarums on both sides of the Tibiscus The Hungarian and German Troops possessed a vast Tract of the Country for General Barkotzi with Four thousand of his Countrymen acting joyntly and by agreement with Piccolomini and the Regiments of Schultz and Dunewald extended themselves all along the Upper Hungary as far as to the Confines of Poland to hinder the Incursions of the Tartars who were used to make that Way their common Road to Pillage and to Infest those Countries The Quarters of these Forces reached so far as to be near or as we may say in call of General Caraffa who with the Counts Getz and Terzi extended their several Bodies of Horse and Foot all along the Confines of Transilvania and the Counties of Chege and Debrezin even to the neighbouring Jurisdiction of great Waradin In like manner General Marcy and Heusler extended their Quarters from the Province of Zolnok beyond the Tibiscus into the very Heart of the Turks Country bringing all those Parts under great and heavy Contributions and still maintaining
shall forthwith be authorized and dispatched for accommodation of that Matter especially about the Dependencies on Kiovia Sixteenthly That Security of Trade and Commerce be established between the two Kingdoms Seventeenthly That the Debts which are owing from the Subjects of one Kingdom to those of another shall mutually be accounted for and satisfied by one to the other And that what Suits do or shall arise between the Subjects of either Kingdom shall be determined by the ordinary Courts of Justice where the Defendant abides Eighteenthly Those Points which remain undecided and cannot be agreed by the Commissioners the same shall be remitted to the Determination of the Sovereigns Nineteenhly That the People on each side who live on the Borders shall pass friendly and peaceably one with the other and in case of Differences arising between them the smaller Causes shall be determined by the Palatines and the greater by Commissioners Twentiethly Neither side shall give Succour or Assistance to the common Enemy nor entertain any of their Subjects in the War or in any Office or Employment One and twentieth That their Majesties the Czars shall Swear to the Observation of these Articles in presence of the Polish Ambassadours And the like shall be performed by the King of Poland at a meeting of the Diet in presence of the Ambassadours from the Czars and in the mean time the Ambassadours shall mutually engage that all these Articles shall be observed and maintained Two and twentieth That whilst these Articles are interchanging and before the Ratifications are made It shall be lawful for the Merchants of each Country and Nation to Trade and Traffick without any trouble or interruption of Commerce Only Tobacco and Brandy shall not be brought into Moscovy but remain Contrabanda as by ancient Articles Three and twentieth In case the Poles or Moscovites shall have occasion to dispatch Messengers to Persia or other Parts no molestation let or hindrance shall be given them nor Passports denied Four and twentieth And in regard a good Understanding and Communication is necessary in this War the King of Poland obliges himself to maintain and defend the Confines and Country of the Dukedom of Solensko and the Czars so far as Kohzi◠And that private Letters shall pay Postage on both sides but the Publick and Royal Letters shall go free without Charge Five and twentieth That both Parties shall give Advices to all the Allies and Confederates of this happy League and Agreement Six and twentieth That this Contract shall as well oblige the Heirs and Successors as the Princes who are Parties thereunto And in case this Original Instrument of Accord should be lost or embezled in the Chancery or Paper-Office of either side yet the Agreement shall not be Rescinded thereby but stand in full Vertue and Force The League being in this manner agreed signed and ratified on both sides the News thereof soon spread it self over all Europe and was particularly received at Vienna and in the Confederate Camp with as much Joy and Triumph as it was at Constantinople with Trouble and Confusion And now it was expected by all the World How the Treaty was put in execution that this Agreement should be executed and that the Moscovites should in the first place to give a beginning have made Incursions into the Enemies Country and without farther delay have invested those Places which lay upon the Frontiers but instead thereof their first Exploit was to take Possession of the Dukedom of Smolenzko and of Kiovia and of about Fifty Leagues of Country which lies along by the Banks of the Niester but as to other Acts of Hostility unless it were by some ranging and confused Incursions made by their own Cosacks with design rather to Pilfer and Pillage than to Offend and Damage the Enemy nothing of Moment was performed by which means the Tartars against whom the Moscovites were obliged to oppose their Arms found an opportunity to joyn with the Cosacks of Poland who with united Forces not only disputed the Passes with the Polanders but likewise recruited and reinforced the Grand Vizier's Army in Hungary After this Agreement was finished the next Treaty in hand was to deal with Apafi Prince of Transilvania to draw him off from his Adherence to the Turk Treaty with Apafi begun This Prince finding himself between two great Powers the least of which was able to crush him to nothing kept and maintained his Agents at both Courts only to protract time and divert a Storm Count Caraffa quartering with a strong Party of Horse and Foot on the Confines of that Principality was appointed by the Emperor to treat with Apafi and to joyn Menaces and Force to fair Words but little Satisfaction could be extorted from him more than a Desire to live in a kind of Neutality for thô the Imperial Forces were not far distant from him yet the Turks were not as yet beaten out of the Field nor their Garrisons taken but all things seemed to remain in a doubtful state and change of War Thus Apafi feared both and demanded Protection and Assistance from both sides hoping that whilst he was wavering and seemed unfixt he should preserve both his Friends or at least not provoke them to be his Enemies But what Count Caraffa could not obtain by Treaty he forced by two Regiments which procured the Contributions which were then exacted to which Apafi more easily yielded because such a Compliance seemed rather an effect of Violence and Necessity than of Choice Howsoever The Turks jealous thereof the Turks were not so very well assured of the Constancy of the Transilvanias but that just cause of Jealousie remained of their Inclinations towards the Emperor to prevent which the Turks order'd a strong Body of Men to march and quarter on their Confines there to attend and observe the Motions both of the Germans and the Transilvanians the latter of which seeing the Sword over their Heads continued still in a state of Irresolution So that the Emperor esteeming that nothing was to be done by Treaty commanded the Agents to quit his Court Howsoever for a while a stop was given to their Departure for that the Brother of the Prince of Valachia Catachuzeno sent from his Brother Prince of Valachia to the Emperor called Catachuzeno of which Family and Name were the last Greek Emperors being privately dispatched to Vienna to enter into a Treaty and League with the Emperor in the Name and Behalf of his Brother did insinuate many fine and hopeful Projects for gaining without Blood or Treasure the three Principalities In order unto which a Dispatch was sent to the Count Scaffemberg under the Imperial Signature immediately to march with his Forces to Cassovia where he should find Orders for his farther Proceedings the Count accordingly obeyed and immediately upon his arrival received a positive Commission to joyn Seven thousand Germans to Four thousand Hungarians His Promises detached from the Troops quartered in the
Upper Hungary and with that Army without any farther delay to march to the Confines of Transilvania situate on the River Maros where Catachuzeno had given Assurances that Twelve thousand Transilvanians well provided and armed would there be ready to meet Scaffemberg and joyn with his Forces at their first appearance and with these proceeding farther to Valachia he should there on the Confines have his Numbers increased by an addition of Sixteen thousand Valachians and Moldavians with which formidable Force composing a most powerful Army it was not to be doubted but that after the Example of their Soldiers the three Provinces would revolt and yield to the Emperor and with such a Force which nothing could oppose Incursions might be made with Fire and Sword into all Towns and Quarters of the Turks from the River Danube to the Confines of Poland and whereby an intercourse of Arms and other intelligences would be obtained This had been a rare design and a happy project had all things corresponded with the like Success and in such a manner as they had been promised and insinuated by Catecuzeno But tho' all things did not answer these expectations yet in other matters the March of these Forces came very opportunely into those Countries and served to obstruct the Tartars passage into the upper Hungary where they were speeding to joyn with Tekeli and to wast and destroy all those Counties By this time the Sultan had received a new Confirmation of the Advice That Apafi had sent Commissioners to Treat with the Emperor at Vienna Orders sent to the Grand Vizier to relief Prince Apafi and tho' the Turks were well assured of the inclination of Apafi towards them yet not knowing how far the fear and dread of the succesful Arms of the Imperialists might prevail Orders were dispatched to the Vizier then at Belgrade immediately to send Succours into Transilvania to six and confirm the wavering Mind of that Prince Accordingly a very considerable Force being on the march thither they were encounter'd on the way by Count Schaffemberg who charged the Ottoman Troops sent to secure Transilvania with such Bravery and Success that he killed and routed that whole Party and made himself Master of that important Pass of Hermansburg After which he pressed the Estates of Transilvania once more to declare but they seeking new pretences and excuses of delay endeavouring so long as they could to maintain their Neutrality The Transilvanians joyn with the Imperialists were so distressed at length by Oppression and Free quarters and Insolence of the Soldiers that seeing no other remedy they joyned their Troops with the Imperialists and in a Body charged a party of the Tartars and put them to Flight In the mean time the Season coming on for laying as was resolved Siege to Buda the Duke of Loraine departed from Newstadt with intention to go to the place of General Rendezvous but being seized by some Indisposition he stopt at Odemberg and came not unto the Muster and Review of the Army until about 19 29 of May At which time the Elector of Bavaria and Prince Lewis of Baden Count Staremberg and Count Bielk with a Regiment of Swedish Curassiers raised for the Service of the Duke of Bavaria together with the Auxiliary Troops of Saxony came to the Camp at Newstadt upon the River Waagh but the Brandenburghers and the Troops of Suabia being not as yet come the Duke of Loraine marched toward Raab Comorra and Gran and put off the Review and Muster of the Army until the 5th of June But on the first of that Month A Council held for directing the Siege of Buda a General Council of War was held to agree upon such Measures as were to be taken for carrying on the Siege of Buda At that assembly of Officers all the miscarriages and defects in the mannagement of the last Siege of the Year 1684 were examined and Plats brought of the place drawn by divers Hands In fine After long Discourses thereupon it was resolved That every one should possess the same Post which he held before at the last Siege and that some false Attacks should be made at first until the Lines were formed and secured in such manner as to hinder all Succours from being brought into the City After the Council was risen several small Parties of Horse were detached to scowre about the adjacent Parts of Buda Alba Regalis and Erlaw to make discovery of the State and Condition of the Enemy The same Day the Commissary Generals brought unto the Duke of Loraine a List of the Forces which were formed and in a readiness to be employed in the Siege of Buda A List of the Forces designed for Buda the which was composed of Thirty thousand Foot and Twenty thousand Horse besides the Hungarians and Brandenburgers which were not as yet come to the Camp The Artillery consisted of Sixty Pieces of heavy Cannon Forty Mortar Pieces besides a great number of Bombs Carcasses and Granadoes with vast Stores of Ammunition and Provisions The greatest part of the Army was by this time advanced as far as Gran which is about Forty English Miles distant from Buda the Imperial Troops with those of Saxony passed the Danube over a Bridge at Gran whilst the Bavarians continued their march on the other side that place being designed for the General Rendezvous and where the Feast of Corpus Christi falling out on the 13th of June was to be celebrated the Solemnity thereof caused so great a Concourse of People that the City not being capable to contain them the Procession was made without the Walls and within the compass of the Camp Some Writers say That the People flocked in greater numbers to perform the Festival in that place where it had been interdicted by the Turks for the space of One hundred and twenty Years which now they were joyful to see restored These Writers had said more properly if instead of the word Restor'd they had used the word Introduced for that it is scarce an Hundred Years as yet since that Feast was first ordained After this Day of Devotion was past the Duke of Loraine leaving his Infantry under the Cannon of Gran marched with his Cavalry without any Opposition as far as Marotz a place near to the Isle of St. Andrew he caused the Ways to be enlarged which were Narrow and full of Woods and Bushes and then took a full Survey of all the places Situate near the City In the mean time the Turks were not idle to secure and defend themselves and for encouragement of the Garrison of Buda Recruits brought to Buda an Aga arrived there from Constantinople with a great Sum of Money to pay the Soldiers all their Arreares and being assured now that the Siege of Buda was certainly designed great numbers of Boats freighted with Ammunition and Provision were with a strong Convoy sent up the River which so drained all the Countries round of Victuals
open'd the Gates to give entrance to the other Troops After which the Fire was put out and considerable Booty and rich Plunder taken and about a Thousand Christian Captives set at liberty This Success was soon afterwards followed by the Siege of Segedin by some Troops detach'd by Order of the Duke of Loraine under Command of Count Caraffa one of the Generals Segedin besieged who coming before the Place in a short time rais'd four Batteries and mounted his Cannon thereupon which were brought from Zolnock but Forage and Provisions growing very scarce in the Leaguer Caraffa went himself to hasten the Provisions leaving Count Walis Major-General Chief Commander of the Forces before the Town In the mean time Count Walis receiv'd Intelligence that Two thousand Turks joyn'd with a considerable Body of Tartars were marching to raise the Siege or to force Succours into the Town he detach'd six ' Regiments of Horse and Foot with some Croats and a Regiment of Dragoons under the Command of Count Veterani who having marched all the Night by break of Day drew up his Forces into Battalia and with his right Wing charged the Tartars with such resolution Veterani routs the Tartars that he put them to flight and kill'd great numbers of them in their Tents and took Four or Five thousand of their Horses with all their Baggage Nor was the Colonel of the Regiment de Gotz whose Incumbence it was to Charge the Turks less successful in his Enterprise for thô they had the advantage of a Palanca for their Defence yet the Insperialists to whom nothing could now be difficult did Storm it with so much Courage and Vigour that they soon became Masters of it killing Two hundred of the Three hundred Janisaries A Body of Turks routed which defended the Place at the same time the Horse charging the others forced them to fly in disorder of which many falling into the Hands of Veterani were kill'd without Quarter given to any This Action was scarce over before the Imperialists espied a great number of Turks passing a Bridge which they had laid over the Danube as if they had design'd to reinforce those Troops newly defeated and to come in to their Assistance for the Relief of Segedin Veterani resolving to charge them also made a Detachment of some Regiments to hinder the run-away Tartars from attacking the Imperialists in the Flank whilst he assail'd the Turks who were reputed to be Twelve thousand Men Commanded by the Vizier himself The Action was so bravely perform'd that the Van-guard of the Turks was beaten and foreced to retreat to a Place where their Infantry lay under covert supported by Six hundred Janisaries with Thirty Field-pieces which were discharged with terrible Fire and Smoke upon their Enemies but the Christians having receiv'd their Fire with undaunted Constancy and Courage they assail'd the Turks and Tartars with such bravery that they put them to flight Another Body of the Turks defeated In this last Encounter above Three hundred Janisaries were kill'd upon the Place all their Artillery and Baggage taken with their Timbals which they sound before the Pashas and many Colours together with Five hundred Horse and Two thousand Beasts of Burden laden with Baggage and Provisions and all this on the Christian side with the loss only of a Hundred Foot Soldiers and about Fifty Horsemen After which Veterani returning to the Camp before Segedin where Te Deum was sung some Prisoners were releas'd to carry the Intelligence of these Successes into the Town And thereupon a Treaty being desired Segedin taken and Hostages given it was agreed That the Soldiers of the Garrison only should have liberty to march out with as much Baggage as every Man was able to carry upon his Shoulders and to be conducted in safety as far as Temeswar Thus Segedin being taken great quantities of Provisions were found therein which served to augment the Loss and increase the terrible Consternation in the Turkish Army and in the Court and in all parts of the Ottoman Dominions Nor did the Turks Misfortunes of this Year's Campaign end here nothing being able to withstand a victorious Army Prince Lewis of Baden divided his Army into two Bodies the first he Commanded himself and march'd towards Darda which is a Fortress built by the Turks and serv'd to cover the Bridge of Esseck the other Detachment was committed to the Conduct of Count Scaffemberg with Orders to Attack Zyclos the which he so well executed that in five or six Days he took the Place the Soldiers and Inhabitants Surrendring at discretion Zyclos taken In the Town were found Twelve Pieces of Cannon with stores of all sorts of Provision and Ammunition The Men were made Prisoners of War but the Women and Children were dispersed into several Cities and Towns under obedience of the Emperor After the taking of Zyclos the Count of Scaffemberg joyn'd again with Prince Lewis who was now come before Darda on the first of November where he understood the two Pashas who had layn encamp'd on that side with about Two thousand Five hundred Men were already pass'd the Bridge of Esseck and that the Garrison of Darda had abandon'd the Place and march'd the same way carrying their Cannon and Provisions with them and to hinder the pursuit of their Enemies after them had beaten down and burnt a great part of the Bridge behind them The Fort and the Bridge being both possess'd without any opposition Prince Lewis burnt about Six thousand Paces more of the Bridge notwithstanding the Cannon-shot which they fired continually from the Town of Esseck without any great loss or damage to the Imperialists The Bridge of Esseck ruin'd or the People of the Country which came in to their Assistance so that by what one side and the other had done the Bridge was totally ruin'd Prince Lewis having put a good Garrison into Darda march'd to Zyclos and thence to Kapeswar which he took upon Conditions that the Garrison should march out and be conducted in safety as far as Sigeth There were in that Town Twenty four Pieces of Cannon planted and the Magazines well stor'd with all sorts of Provisions and Arms. In this glorious manner did this Campaign end in favour of the Christian Arms And now it being time for both Armies to retire into their Winter-quarters the losing Party had leisure to lament and quarrel and lay the fault on each other and the victorious Party to rejoyce and triumph And so it was for by this time the news of the loss of Buda and the several Victories gain'd by the Christians being come to Constantinople it struck all sorts and conditions of Men with a wonderful Consternation and Astonishment and yet under this Affliction and pressure of heavy Taxes they behav'd themselves with much Humility and Resignation of Mind to the Will and Pleasure of God acknowledging all these Miseries which had fallen upon them the flights and
Proveditor in ordinay he immediately block'd up the Port and guarded the narrowest streight of it to secure the Passage for the more safe and easie Transport of Cannons Mortar-pieces and Provisions unto that Place where the Camp was pitch'd with design to Attack New Navarin which was a Royal Fortress and a place of greater Importance than that of Old Navarin On the 4th of June at Night the Gallies of Donado and Pizzamano both Noble Venetians were the first to enter into the narrow Passage on the first of which the General Count Conismarc was embark'd who enter'd safely within the Port thô several Pieces of Cannon were fired at them from a Ravelin which trolled the Shot exactly on the Surface of the Water These were follow'd by the Captain of the Gulf The Venetians enter the Port of Old Navarin with three other Gallies who passed without any damage or loss and on the 6th at Night Cornaro General of the Islands enter'd with his four Gallies also without other hurt than the breaking some few Oars by a Shot from the Ravelin The Cannon and Mortar-pieces and other Necessaries for an Attack were first to be landed which by the diligence use and labour of the Slaves was presently effected notwithstanding the many Difficulties which interven'd and a formal Siege in a short time laid by the Industry and Valour of Captain General Morosini and the happy Conduct of Count Conismarc who had raised a Work on which eighteen Mortar-pieces were planted carrying Bombs of Five hundred pounds weight and on another advantagious Ground had raised a Battery of Twenty Pieces of Cannon carrying Fifty pound Bullet Whilst these Matters were acting a certain Greek was taken with Letters from the Town directed to the Seraskier whereby they gave him to understand That thô Sefer Pasha a valiant and resolute Soldier was come to them with a good Recruit both of Men and Ammunition whereby their Garrison amounted to a Thousand Soldiers and that nothing wanted either of Arms or Ammunition yet that it was impossible for them to hold out long unless the Siege was raised by a vigorous Force Upon this Advice General Conismarc resolved with the greatest part of his Troops to advance into the Country and engage the Seraskier Upon which Advice Conismarc advances against the Seraskier the Turks were so far from designing to disturb the Siege that they raised their Camp and retreated Upon which also Conismarc thought fit to draw his Troops off and return to the Siege the Turks defending themselves and refusing to Surrender upon any Summons or Force which had hitherto been applied upon hopes as they conceived of receiving speedy Succour and Relief from the Seraskier concerning whom the Report was that he was approaching towards the Christian Camp In the mean time the Captain General form'd all the Trenches and Traverses for an Attack and bomb'd the Town with Twenty Mortar-pieces and batter'd the Walls with six Pieces of Cannon carrying Fifty pounds weight of Bullet The Report of the Seraskier's near approach confirm'd by the Scouts and other Messengers and that the Turks with a Body of 10.000 Men were come within six Italian Miles of the Leaguer Count Conismarc with a very strong Party advanced once again to meet and give them Battle leaving the Cavalier Alcenago one of the Major Generals with a sufficient Force to maintain the Siege The next Day after June Count Conismarc had risen from before the Town being the 14th of June they found the Seraskier encamp'd with 10.000 Men of which Two thousand were Horse in a very advantagious Post which seemed very difficult to be forced Howsoever the Venetians resolving to surmount all the Disadvantages with their Valour enter'd into the Vally by a very streight Passage He engages the Turks where the Turks lay encamped and forced them to engage in Battle which lasted for the space of two Hours in a dubious Condition it not appearing as yet to which side the Victory would incline The Regiments of Corbon and Visconti which were Dragoons behaved themselves very bravely and sustaining the heat of the Battle the greatest part of the Loss fell on them but the Saxons and overthrows them and the Troops of Brunswick coming to their assistance with four small Field-pieces forced the Enemy to quit the Field and betake themselves to flight leaving about Five hundred dead upon the Place with all their Tents and Baggage besides many of them are wounded amongst which the Seraskier himself was one all which was perform'd by the wonderful Mercy of God without any considerable loss on the Christian side The Joy of this Victory was solemnized with Te Deum and giving Thanks to God and with many vollies of Shot and Cannon which wholly disanimated the Besieged and put them into such a distracted Consternation that with more lenity than before they began to hearken to a second Summons The Town Capitulates and Surrenders which the Captain General to spare farther effusion of Bloud had been pleased to send to them After divers Debates and Articles propos'd the Besieg'd declar'd themselves willing to lay down their Arms and yield on Conditions that three Days should be given to the Garrison to march out with their small Arms and Baggage and that shipping should be given to the Garrison and Inhabitants to Transport them to the nearest Coast of Barbary Whilst these things were in agitation it unfortunately happen'd that by some Accident a Fire took in certain Houses near a Magazine of Powder which on a suddain blew up and killed an Hundred and Fifty Turks with Sefer Pasha the Commander in chief of Navarin and also six Christians and about fifteen wounded without the Walls of the City The Turks fearing lest this Accident should be esteem'd as done with Design came trembling before the Captain General solemnly protesting their Innocence in the Disaster offering two other Hostages for performance of the Articles agreed and laying their Standards and Keys of their City at the feet of the Captain General they were graciously received And accordingly at the time appointed above Three thousand Persons were embarked of which One thousand were capable to bear Arms and were conveyed over to the Coast of Barbary The Venetians take Possession of the Town and the Venetians took Possession of the Town and planted the Colours of St. Mark on the Walls thereof It was not long after before the Fortress of Modon followed the same fortune for the Christan Forces losing no time to pursue their good Success on the 22d of June the Armada of Ships and Gallies shewed themselves before Modon at which the Garrison not seeming to be dismay'd the Pasha who Commanded in chief Modon attacked returned a resolute Answer full of Bravery and Defiance to the Summons sent to him by the Captain General Upon which the Approaches were begun and the Batteries raised and Cannons plaid and Bombs thrown by Direction of that famous Engenier
suppress which and to restrain the Mutinies which were daily expected it was reported that the Grand Vizier designed to leave Belgrade and March back to Constantinople But the Grand Seignior consulting with his principal and wisest of his Confidents laid his Commands upon him not to remove from the Confines but rather to keep a watch on the Motions of the Enemy than to attend to domestick Seditions which the Government was at all times able to appease The Vizier ordered to stay at Belgrade and to quiet the mind of the Vizier they gave him to understand that he was entirely in the favour of his Prince who was very sensible that the misfortunes of the last year were not to be attributed either to his ill Conduct or want of Courage as did appear by a Writing under the Hands of the principal Officers of the Army for his justification but rather to the divine Justice of God who was pleased for the Sins of the People to abate the Pride and Glory of the Ottoman Empire By this Letter the Grand Vizier being well satisfied of his Master 's good Inclinations towards him and strengthned in his hopes that he should yet keep his Head for some time longer or at least until the next misfortune he alter'd his intention of returning to the Port and resolved to pass his Winter at Belgrade where his Presence was chiefly necessary for keeping the Army together and more entire on the Frontiers Moreover during the rigour of this Winter season he continued to fortify Belgrade and gave Orders to erect a Fort on the Danube for better security of Peter Waradin and dispatched divers Convoys with Ammunition and Provisions for the Succour and Relief of Great Waradin Giulia Lippa Zeno and Temeswar In the mean time the Imperialists pressed Apafi Prince of Transilvania to Declare himself entirely for the Emperour and receive his Forces to Winter-quarters in his Country But that Prince who had been always very crafty and subtle in his Negotiations did so possess the Emperour's Generals with the danger which he himself should incur and the disadvantage which would accrue to the Emperor thereby A Treaty concluded with the Deputies of Transilvania whose benefit it would rather be for him to remain in a Neutrality That Count Caraffa admitted the policy of his Plea to be good and concluded a Treaty with the Deputies of Transilvania on certain Articles as namely That for subsistence of the Troops which should be put into the Frontier places of their Country Michael Apafi their Prince should furnish them every Month with Ten thousand Bushels of Wheat and Oats for which one Moiety should be paid in ready Money and that the other should be carried to and laid up in the Magazines or Store-houses at reasonable Rates which was of more advantage to the Emperor being thereby disobliged from the trouble and charge of fetching and transporting such quantities of Provisions from Countries far distant from the places where they were to be used And Secondly it was agreed to give Winter Quarters to the Imperial Troops upon which General Veterani Ordered and Assigned the several places and Count Caraffa marched from Zatmar to Kalo giving Directions to General Heusler diligently to observe the motions of the Garrison at Waradine and rigorously to exact the Contributions of that Country for maintenance of the Troops The Grand Vizier on the other side who was a person of quick vivacity and readiness of parts The Vizier prepares for War and sends to the Tartars as we have before declared finding that the Proposals made to the Emperor for a Peace were not likely to prevail he used all imaginable diligence which was possible to prosecute the War living in hopes that the following year would prove more auspicious to the Ottoman Arms than those lately past In the first place frequent Messages were sent to the Tartar Han to hasten their speedy march and begin the Campaign early and with one Body to joyn with the Turkish Forces and with another to infest the Borders and Confines of Poland and to make the diversion there greater and more violent endeavours were used to raise divisions and jealousies between the Cosacks who were Subjects to the Boles and those to the Moscovites sending rich Presents and kind Salutes and Promises to invite them to Desert and Revolt from their Princes and take part with the Ottoman Forces But this design miscarried and took no Effect by the happy arrival of Two Ambassadors from the Czar's of Moscovy at the Court of Poland where having occasion of their Union and Friendship The Czar sends Ambassadors to Poland nothing was omitted to gain their Alliance thô their demands were so exorbitant that nothing but a present necessity could have gained their concession The Vizier being disappointed on that side looked closely to his business in the lower Hungary for having lost Quinque Ecclesiae Siklos Capiswar and a great part of the Bridge of Esseck being burnt the strong Fortress of Sigeth seemed to be in some danger The Vizier endeavours to relieve Sigeth and lie most exposed to the design of the Enemy To prevent which the Vizier caused the Tartars to advance and pass the River Drave and so to join with the Turks in the City of Esseck the Tartars who are the most expert Soldiers in the World for destroying and laying waste a Country having passed the Drave left nothing for those who were to follow after them carrying away all the Inhabitants with them and with what Provisions they had plundered they supplied the small Garrisons which remained to the Turks on the Banks of the Drave and especial care above all was taken to furnish Sigeth with all sorts of Forage and Provisions so that it was made the chief Magazine of all that Country for better defence and security of which several new Boats were built to repair the Bridge before Esseck and on the sides of the River divers small Forts were raised on which Forty Pieces of Canon were Mounted to prevent all Incursions of the Enemy and Attacks on Sigeth during which season of a rigorous Winter the Tartars plaid their parts to hinder all Convoys laden with Forage and Provisions to supply the Fortresses which the Christians had lately conquered Howsoever by the diligence of Thinghen Sergeant-General of Battalia and the Governor of Quinque Ecclesiae joyning themselves to the Regiment commanded by Baron de Pace they agreed to disappoint the aforesaid design of the Enemy To which end having detatched Two hundred and Fifty select or choice Foot and Five hundred well-disciplined Horse and Dragoons led by Brave and well Experienced Commanders they sallied out of their Quarters about Sun-set and the Horse for better Expedition mounting the Foot behind them they made such haste that before day in the Morning they lodged themselves secretly near the Town of Sigeth A surprize given to Sigeth and without any noise conveying themselves into the
Suburbs about dawning of the day set them on Fire which took with so much fury that in a short time Three hundred Houses were all in a Flame the which more increased the Consternation of the Inhabitants and Soldiery because that many of those Houses were the Store-houses in which were laid up vast quantities of Provisions Many People surprized with the sudden and unexpected Fire were smothered in the smoak and perished in the flames others at a distance betook themselves with great Confusion to their Arms The Fear and Consternation there and not knowing as yet where the Enemy or the Danger was Fired their Canon at random they knew not where nor on whom The Day coming on the light discovered the Enemy and the Danger in which they were howsoever in all this Action the Turks killed but Four Troopers Three Dragoons and a Corporal of Foot and leaving their Houses in the Town retired to the Castle which gave the Imperialists an opportunity to set Fire to the City and to burn some hundreds of Waggons all laden with Provisions designed for the Camp and Relief of Alba Regalis With this success the Christians retired driving away with them some few heads of Cattle a small quantity of Provisions and such Plunder as could be taken and carried away in so hasty an Action To recover which the Turks made a fally and attacked them in the Arrear to which shame and confusion of face gave them Courage but the Conquerors whose Valour increased according to their success made a stand and so assailed the Enemy that notwithstanding all the considerations of shame and desire of revenge they carried away their Spoils and honour of the Victory The happy consequence of this Action The consequence of this success thô the Action in it self was not very great was yet very considerable for thereby the intercourse between Quinque Ecclesiae Siklos and other conquered Towns was rendered more free and secure and not only the Peasants of those Countries brought their Provisions with readiness and safety to the Market but even the Rascians who were Inhabitants of the Town of Sigeth came voluntarily in and submitted themselves to the Protection of the Emperor This Action served likewise to disappoint and overthrow the design of the Commanders in Esseck who intended an incursion of Turks and Tartars in Two separate Bodies but their Provisions in Sigeth on which they depended for maintenance of their Forces being consumed that resolution was put off till a fairer opportunity Howsosoever the Imperial Forces remained Vigilant and Watchful on their Guard having received frequent Alarums that the Turks resolved on some sudden Enterprize to avenge themselves and repair their Honour which General Thinghen and Colonel Pace greatly suspecting retired to Quinque Ecclesiae from whence they sent and distributed considerable quantities of Corn and Flower to Kaposwar The Christian Garrisons supplied and relieved and other places for sustenance of the Garrisons giving special charge to the Governors thereof to be intent and watchful to prevent any surprize of the Enemy And for better security thereof the Commissary General Count Rabata farther supplyed all those places with Victuals there being no want amongst them of Arms or Ammunition Care likewise was taken to repair the Breaches at Quinque Ecclesiae in as good a form and manner as the Season of the Year would permit But because the Fortress of Siklos lay much exposed to the attack of the Enemy being the most Frontier Garrison they raised with admirable industry and diligence a half Moon which they encompassed with Palisadoes the Season of the Year nor time permitting to fortify it with a Wall or any other Work Whilst things were thus tranfacted and places secured on the Frontiers no care or circumspection was omitted for conservation of Buda tho' as yet the Walls and Breaches made in it the last Siege were not repaired neither time nor season of the year Buda cleansed of Rubbish and perhaps other great employments not giving time to so great a Work which perhaps we may find neglected for some years afterwards howsoever they laboured for the present to clear the Ditches fill up the Trenches level the Batteries Breast-works and other Redoubts carrying away the Rubbish and Ruins of Houses and Buildings which had been beaten down and demolished by the vast quantities of Bombs and Carcasses which had been thrown into the Town during the last Siege In which Work great quantities of Arms which lay buried in the Ruins were discovered Rich Goods found in Vauits with Head-pieces Corslets and Semyters of value And in digging the Cellars and Vaults they found many Chests filled with rich Housholdstuff with Trunks and Boxes of Writings and ancient Records amongst which as was Reported were the Charter and Privileges given to that City with a Register of all passages which had happened there since the time that it first submitted to the Dominion of the Turk Nor were the Turks in the mean time idle and remiss on their part The Pasha endeavours to secure Alba Regalis for the Pasha of Alba Regalis suspecting that that City would be the next to be attacked and made the Work and Design of the ensuing Campaign he studiously applyed the Soldiers and Workmen to raise new Outworks and repair the old inward Fortifications which by time and the neglect of his Predecessors were much decayed and to expedite and quicken this Work the Soldiers besides their ordinary Pay were encouraged by daily Wages such as was commonly given to Day-labourers But to disturb this Work by frequent Alarums a party of Hussars were detached to watch the Avenues about Alba Regulis and sometimes to appear in sight of the Town and intercept those who should go in or out from thence Accordingly posting themselves in a private way it was their fortune to meet and surprize a party of Turks of which they killed some and took others from whom they understood that they had been dispatched by the Pasha there to carry Letters and Advices to the Grand Vizier at Belgrade In like manner they encountered another party coming from Zigeth to Alba Regalis to whom only they gave chase the Turks saving themselves by the swiftness of their Horses Howsoever by the Letters which were intercepted they came to have a perfect knowledge of the state of that City and the intentions of the Vizier It was therein declared That the Garrison consisted of Four thousand Fighting men but much discouraged and in great fears and consternation The State of Alba Regal◠to think that they were to be made the next Sacrifice to the fury of the Christian Arms. Notwithstanding which the Pasha encouraged the People of Alba Regalis assuring them that he had received late Letters from the Grand Vizier at Belgrade by which he promised them such a speedy relief both of Men Provisions Ammunition and Money as might enable them to drive the Enemy from the Walls And
that he was sending a very strong Force to the Frontiers of Sclavonia Croatia and the River Dravus under Command of several Brave and well-experienced Pashas The Season of the Year much favoured this design for the Rivers Marshes and Fenns were so Frozen up that the Turks found an easy passage to all parts which they intended to relieve Of which the Imperialists being very apprehensive feared lest the Enemy who was got together in great Numbers at Esseck should attempt some of the conquered places and thereby making a diversion should introduce their Convoys into Sigeth Canisia and Alba Regalis But the place which of any other was straightned most for want of Provisions was Agria called by the Hungarians Erla situate on a River of that Name which about Three Leagues from thence empties it self into the Tibiscus This place of it self was but small but very well Fortified It is Recorded in Histories that the first Siege which the Turks laid to it was in the Year 1552. with an Army of Sixty thousand Men when it was not strong either by Art or Nature but the weakness thereof was supplied by the Courage and Bravery of the Garrison consisting only of Two thousand Hungarian Soldiers and about Sixty Hungarian Nobles and Gentlemen who had fled in thither with their Wives and Children Agria and best of their Riches and Moveables and had sworn to defend the place to the utmost extremity and to let the Turks understand this resolution they raised a Coffin above the Walls in publick View for an Evidence or Sign that they would chuse Death rather than Captivity Many great things are said of the Defence of this place which the Turks battered for the space of Forty days incessantly with Fifty Pieces of Cannon notwithstanding which the Defendants abated nothing of their Courage for thô the Turks assaulted them Three times in one day yet they were as often repulsed and lost about Eight thousand men The Women also signalized their Valour above the Nature of their Sex in all these Actions amongst which as is reported there was one who fought bravely in sight both of her Mother and her Husband but the latter being killed the Mother advised her Daughter to carry away the Dead Corps but she Answered That she could not do it until she had first revenged his Death and thereupon taking up the Sword and Buckler of her dead Husband she fell upon the Turks with such fury that having killed Three of them with her own hand she returned to perform the last Office to her deceased Husband Several other particular Actions of this Nature are recounted of the Siege of this Fortress which in fine relieved it self and caused the Turks to raise their Siege whom they pursued so vigorously in the Rear that they killed great Numbers of them and took most of their Baggage And thus did this City continue in the hands of the Hungarians until the year 1596 when it was taken by Mahomet the Third then in person before it and hath ever since that time remained in the hands of the Turks who now hearing that that place was in great distress for want of Provisions and knowing the importance of it's Situation endeavoured to send it relief by all ways and means which were possible The Pasha who Quartered on the Frontiers was commanded by the Grand Vizier to put Succours into the place and he also being a good Soldier and sensible of the importance thereof call'd a Council of War to consider in what manner this Action might most effectually be performed considering whereupon it was moved Proposals how Agria might be supplied That since Tekeli had made several instances to be recruited with Men and Provisions for attempting some great Exploit That he should accordingly be reinforced with a moderate Number of Tartars and some Turks and that the care and incumbence of that great work should be committed to his Charge and Conduct Count Caraffa and General Heusler being advised of the Design assembled a considerable force of their Troops together They are prevented and assailed the Enemy near to great Waradin on a sudden and in a manner of surprize the Tartars who are not much used to make a stand against well formed Troops were the first who betook themselves to a speedy Flight and were soon followed by Tekeli and his men howsoever several were killed on the place and some Prisoners taken And so both Caraffa and Heuster returned back to Debrezin with the Forage and Spoil which they had gained in that Conflict This misfortune did not much abate the Spirit of Tekeli for having been lately supplied with a Sum of Money he made new Levies of Men and many of his old Soldiers who had formerly deserted him returned to him again so that he seemed to recover the Credit and Reputation which he had formerly lost and having joyned his Forces to those of a Pasha on the Frontiers Tekeli with Money makes Levies and to a rabble of Soldiers who in a tumultuary manner followed his Colours he Encamped sometimes near Temiswar then about Giulia and then near Waradin from all which places he sent Parties abroad to discover the posture of the Enemy and to spy out how they might most securely succour Agria for which the Grand Vizier was extremely pressing Nor were the Christians less Vigilant to Observe and Watch the Motions of the Turks and of Tekeli whence it was that several Parties meeting each other frequent Skirmishes happened in all which the Hussars and Germans gained the advantage So that Tekeli finding the difficulty of carrying relief to Agria and other places made Incursions into the Countries subjected to the Emperor marching with a Body of Turks Tartars and a Rabble of new raised Soldiers which served rather for Guides than Combatants In their way they burnt a Village of no great moment and passed into the Confines of the Town of Segedin Enters into the Country near Segedin from whence being discovered by the Hussars of the Garrison they took the Alarum and being joyned to a Body of German Foot they made a sally on the Enemy and charged them so furiously that Tekeli's new raised Soldiers who were placed in the Front immediately gave back Is Defeated and Wounded and pressed with fear rushed into the Body of the Turks which put them into such disorder that they were forced to Retreat with considerable loss Tekeli himself being wounded with a Musquet-shot in the Knee was forced for his Cure to betake himself to the Fortress of Temiswar In the mean time his Princess being resolved to defend her Town of Mongatz did not only fortify her self therein with a stout Garrison and supplies of Ammunition and Provisions but sent several Parties of Horse from the Garrison to destroy all the Countries round with Fire and Sword and thereby to cut off all possibility of subsistence from the Imperialists who having Advice thereof detached a Party of Dragoons of
contingences from the Enemy whatsoever began his March towards Siklos with the right Wing being then about an hour's March distant from Siklos Scarce had he opened the Plain when the Elector of Bavaria with his left Wing was attacked by Eight thousand of the Enemies Horse sustained by Six thousand Janisaries A Battle began at Harscham who had the night before intrenched themselves on the side of a Hill from whence they fired many Vollies of Shot on the three Regiments of Cavalry viz. Arco Magni and Soyer Prince Lewis of Baden having observed that there was a very advantagious place on the side of the Hill near to the Janisaries which if possessed might very much annoy the Turks immediately advertised the Dukes of Loraine and Bavaria thereof who having in the first place reinforced the Rear-guards with four Regiments under the conduct of Piccolomini gave it in charge to Prince Lewis to take the Post he had denoted on the side of the Hill which accordingly he performed with admirable Success for the Janisaries having fired three Vollies and the Spahees having furiously charged the Rear-guard as often the Elector encouraging his Men setled them firm and steddy against the frequent and forcible Shocks and Charges of the Enemy who not being able to endure the Fire and the unshaken order of the Christians betook themselves to a disorderly and precipitate Flight in which the Turkish Horse broke in upon their Foot and trampling down the Janisaries under foot drove them back into their Trenches The Turks routed into which entring at the same time with the Enemy they put the whole Army to the Rout and to a shameful Flight leaving their Camp Tents and all their Baggage for a Prey to the Christians On this memorable day which is to be celebrated to all Posterity the two Dukes who were Generals signalized themselves by their admirable Conduct and undaunted Bravery to all the World The valour of the Christian Commanders Prince Lewis of Baden in like manner with his Sword in his Hand applying himself at all places to direct and encourage the Soldiery by his Presence and Voice demonstrated and evidenced himself to be a great Captain and Champion in imitation of whom and of all other the Commanders the inferiour Officers and Soldiers gave marks to the World of their bravery and zeal in the Successes of that glorious day The Prince Eugenie of Savoy was the first who with the Regiments of his Brigade entred the Trenches of the Enemy The Prince of Savoy carries the News of Victory His bravery and for that reason had the honour to be the first Messenger of this happy News unto the Emperor Count Sinzendorf a Cavalier of great Courage and Hope adventuring his Person amidst the thickest of his Enemies had Two Horses killed under him that day and Two wounded together with his Page who fought on his Left-hand and by a great Shot had his Leg broke Howsoever he pursued the Enemy beyond their Trenches for the space of an hour as did the rest of the Army until the Close of the Evening when it was thought fit to desist from the pursuit and return to the Camp that they might give Refreshment both to Man and Horse who had for two days greatly suffered for want both of Victuals and Forage The Prince of Commercy who Commanded the Troops of Volontiers deserved also his due Praise being one of the most forward to attack the Enemy of which he gave undeniable Proofs the Sargeant Major of his Regiment and One hundred and Sixty of his Soldiers being slain at the beginning of the Battle The whole Number killed and wounded on the Christian side The Numbers killed and wounded were not much above One thousand Three Captains Twelve subaltern Officers and Four Trumpeters which indeed was very strange and almost miraculous if we consider the great loss which the Turks sustained for there were Eight thousand Janisaries with their Aga or General killed on the place all choice and select Soldiers Two thousand were made Prisoners and about Three thousand Drowned and the whole Army scattered and dispersed in the Woods Marshes and Boggs of that Country Strange and wonderful indeed was the Success of this day and ought wholly to be ascribed to the Almighty Hand of the God of Hosts For the Turkish Army was much more numerous than the Christian consisting in all of One hundred and twenty thousand of which Eighty thousand were Fighting men encouraged by late Successes and grown proud and confident of their Strength by the Retreat which the Christians made But what is still more strange is that this formidable Army was Defeated and put to Flight by Ten thousand men only of the Left-wing of the Rear-Guard Commanded by the Elector of Bavaria for the Right-wing under the Duke of Loraine and Led by Count Caprara had not time to come up before the Turks were put to a Rout and a Hasty Flight which had they delayed and stood until the other Forces had come up it might in all probability have proved so bloody a loss to the Turks as could never more have been recovered and which might have proved the total Ruin and Downfal of the Ottoman Empire Thus since it was the Fortune of the Elector of Bavaria to Fight that day with Victorious Success The Vizier's Tent allotted to the Elector of Bavaria the Magnificent Tent of the Grand Vizier like opima spolia were by Lot the just Reward of his Labour and Valou It is said That that Tent was the most sumptuous and rich of any that had during this whole War been brought by any preceeding General into the Field therein was taken all the Cash or Ready-Money brought for the Use of the Army all the Books and Accounts belonging to the Militia the Horse-tails or Tugh carried before the Vizier The spoils taken besides Fifty thousand Crowns which some principal Officers as is said appropriated to their own Use Besides this stately Tent there were great Numbers of other Tents taken in which the Turks show most of their Grandeur making more Ostentation by their Tents in the Camp than they do by their Houses and Edifices in the City Moreover there were taken Sixty seven Pieces of Canon Four of which were of an extraordinary bigness of Powder there was a Thousand Kintals of Match Four hundred about Eight thousand Cannon-Bullets Three thousand Bombs and Carcasses Ten thousand Granadoes Arms of all sorts in great Numbers Two thousand Oxen Five hundred Horse Mules Asses and Camels about Two hundred Buffoloes Four hundred which were appointed and fitted to the Yoke for drawing Carriages and Cannon Sheep and other Cattle innumerable Besides all this there were found great quantities of Coffee Chocolate Sugar Sherbet and Honey with Carpets and Beds of Wool and Cotton Also Oats Rice Barley Flower Oyl Bread and Salt in short all things necessary and convenient for Man and Beast with which the Christian Soldiers
and there treated him with a very sumptuous Dinner after which he presented him with several fine Horses and two Carts laden with Refreshments Various discourses having passed between them at length Russan Pasha taking his leave said these words Into your Hands as Commissioner for the Emperor of the Romans I surrender this City without Blood for having endured a Famine of seven Months without Bread I could hold it out no longer but am forced to give up a place which one of my Emperor◠took with his own Hands wherefore do you give God thanks for this and all other Successes are from the appointment and disposition of the most High All the Garrison with Men Women and Children which marched out were Three thousand five hundred about Six hundred remained in the place and submitted to the Imperial Sovereignty It was sad to hear the Miseries of those People recounted who had for several Months lived on nothing but boyled Herbs and if a piece of Horse-flesh could have been purchased with Gold to dress and put in the Pot with them it would have been a Feast for several Days The constancy of this People in their sufferings cannot be sufficiently expressed so that as the Blocade it self was the most famous of any in our Age so the Surrender of the place was of high importance for Thirteen Counties depended thereon The advantage of taking Agria and the Emperor thereby became absolute Master of all that Country which lies between the Danube and the Tibiscus and laid Mongatz open and exposed to greater danger which was already blocked up by Forces quarter'd round the place Thus having finished the relation of this year's Wars in Hungary it will be pertinent to our History to pass over into the Morea and there take a Survey of that Country and recount the Exploits and Atchievements performed there this year by the Venetian Arms. At the beginning of this Year the Senate ordained three days of solemn Devotion to implore the Divine Blessing on the Arms of that Republick which was performed with many Processions expence of Lamps and Wax Prayers at Venice for Success and with many Vows and Prayers of the People So soon as the Season became Ripe and fit for Action it was resolved by the Captain General the Cavalier Francis Morosini with the Universal consent of all the Commanders at a Council of War held the 21st of July to enter the River of Patras and accordingly the whole Fleet with the Vessels which transported the Land Forces Provisions and Ammunition loosed from Glimino on the 20th of July and made a glorious appearance in those Seas being composed of Twenty six Gallies six Galeasses besides Eighty seven Vessels of other sorts The Venetian Armado Sail to Patras that is to say Ships Pinks Petaches and such like who were all Commanded by the Governour Zaguri This Fleet Sailing all that Night with a prosperous Gale on the 21st in the Morning came in sight of the Castles and Fortress of Patras at appearance of which the Turks being much alarum'd came down in great numbers and pitched their Tents some on the Top of a Hill and others on the side of the main Castle The better to discover the State and Condition of the Turkish Camp the lighter Vessels were Commanded to Coast along the Shoar by which and by some Spies it was known and advised in what manner their whole Camp was disposed a Detachment of which under shelter of a Trench which they had thrown up fired many Vollies of Small-shot against the Vessels which coasted along the Shoar but proceeded no farther to annoy their Enemies than unto the end of their Line The Turks Trenches which when the Captain General observed and the difficulty of Landing near those places he enter'd into the River of Rumelia which in like manner he found to be guarded by great numbers of Turks and a Trench like the former cast up near the Castle The General Konismark of whom with due Honour we have made mention in the Transactions of the last year was embarked on the Admiral Gally with the Captain General to have the better convenience to consult and confer together was of Opinion that notwithstanding all the Preparations the Turks had made near the Castle and that the Seraskier of the Morea was encamped near the Town of Patras and two other Pashas not far distant from thence and the Banks along Guarded by Parapets or Breast-works yet that the most fit and commodious place to Land was in the River of Patras it self which being agreed the Troops were disposed in an extraordinary manner of Military Discipline and order'd speedily to Land which was done with great Resolution The first to set Foot on the Shoar were the Germans who were 〈…〉 followed by all the other Troops without any hindrance The Christians land or obstruction from the Enemy at their Landing because the place being in some manner guarded and defended by a Morass or Wet-ground the Turks thought themselves on some kind of disadvantage in case of an Attack The Troops being landed and drawn up in Battalia the Germans led the Van and marching with great bravery to the Right were charged by a strong Detachment of the Turks whom they received with such Vigour The Turks Retreat that they caused them to Retreat and afterwards betake themselves to a shameful Flight This first step being thus fortunately begun gave Courage to the Christians and Resolution to the Captain General Morosini to fall on the Seraskier in his Camp before he was reinforced by more Troops which daily joyned with him At first landing all the Venetian Army consisted of no more than Nine thousand Foot and Thirteen hundred Horse those Forces having been much diminished by the Fatigues of the last year and the Sickness of their Winter-Quarters but now being recruited by great numbers of Levents and Greeks who as Volontiers came over from Zant and Cefalonia the Army became numerous and capable to undertake any Enterprize But to facilitate the Designs it was adjudged necessary to cut off all Communication between the Castles the which was no sooner ordered than put in Execution Some Gallies pass the Castles by the entrance of divers Gallies which by favour of the Night adventured to pass the Dardanelli or narrow Passages into the bottom of the Gulf without any other hurt or loss than of four or five Men at the Oars by a Cannon-shot the which Gallies were followed by a Galleot and three Felucas Commanded by Magnar a Knight of Malta This unexpected appearance of the Venetian Colours within the Dardanelli as it struck a great Terror and Amazement to the Turks being a Streight which they thought impossible to be passed by any Vessel whatsoever so it gave the Christians a Resolution to Attack the Seraskier who according to a Report of certain Prisoners taken in a Boat passing from the Morea to Rumelia side lay not far off encamped with
Sunday whilst the Grand Counsel of ten were actually Sitting The Letters from the Captain General being opened and Read giving a distinct Account of the Blessings of Heaven on the Venetian Arms it pleased the Senate to give immediate Order that solemn Thanks should be render'd to God Almighty in all places of publick Devotion for his Benedictions and gracious Deliverances And accordingly his Serene Highness the Doge assisted by all the Ambassadors and Senators Rejoycings at Venice and Magistrates in their purple Robes descended into the Ducal Chappel of St. Mark where Te Deum was solemnly Sung with most excellent Harmony and Musick of all sorts of Instruments with firing the Guns ringing of Bells and several other Expressions of Joy and Triumph the which Festival of Joy continued for the space of three Days These Demonstrations of publick Joy being concluded the Senate which hath been always munificent in their Gifts and Honours unto those who have rendered Services to their Republick were pleased in the High Counsel of the Pregadi to ordain Rewards given to the Generals that to the eternal Memory of the glorious Triumphs of the Captain General Francesco Morosini that the Horse-tails and Standards which are the Opima Spolia or Royal Spoils taken from the Seraskier or Turkish General in the Field should be placed in the Senatorian Chamber And that a Statue of Brass representing the Person of Morosini should be erected with such an Inscription as might conserve the Glory of his Name to all Ages The term of time in which Count Konismark was to exercise the Office of General was enlarged for seven years beyond the time specified in his Patent with an Augmentation of Six thousand Ducats to his ordinary Stipend so that for the seven years to come he was to receive Twenty four thousand Ducats a year To the Prince of Brunswick a Jewel was ordained of Four thousand Ducats To the Prince of Savoy a Sword was appointed with a Hilt set with precious Stones to the value of Twenty four hundred Ducats To Marquis Corbon Eight hundred Ducats a year were allotted as an Addition to his former Salary All or most of the other General Officers were gratified with Presents agreeable to their quality and such as were Venetians were promoted to Offices and places of Trust in the State and some to the Patrician Dignity Thus whilst all things were Triumphant at Venice the Morea was filled with Slaughter and Consternation of the Turks who terrified with the entire Defeat and Flight of the Seraskier The Turks Fly out of the Morea and the Surrender of Lepanto Patras and two other Castles of considerable Force resolved to give way to Fortune and to quit and abandon the Kingdom of Morea For indeed the loss which the Turks had sustained was far greater than it was computed at first for besides those which were Slain in the Field of Battle above Two thousand were found dead in the High-ways in Ditches and under Rocks And divers Soldiers Adventurers who to get many Slaves were so bold as to Rove about in the Country reported that in the Fields and Villages every where they met with dead Bodies and wounded Men. To pursue this Victory and follow the Foot-steps of Fortune which so fairly presented it self the Captain General leaving the great Vessels of his Fleet at the two Castles of Rumelia and Lepanto enter'd farther into the Gulf of Lepanto with his lighter Gallies and coasting along by the Land-side he so affrighted the Turks that carrying away with them what Goods were portable they followed the Foot-steps of their flying Army And being mad and enraged to leave their native Soil they carried away with them whole Families of Christians into Slavery But the Peasants or Country People alarumed hereat and encouraged by the Successes of the Christians arose in Arms against them and recovered back the greatest part of their Wives and Children as they were leading them into Captivity killing and taking many of the Fugitives The Noise hereof served still to amaze and confound the Turks Mustapha Pasha Flies to Salona so that Mustapha Pasha fled with all Precipitation without so much as being pursued by the Enemy taking his March towards Salona not far from which place he encounter'd with Ishmael Pasha who had with him a Thousand Soldiers which he brought from Salonica alias Thessalonica These two Commanders with fear and uncertainty what to act remained some days at Salona for considering that in case they should remain there they should lie exposed to the Attack of the Enemy and then in case they should march and joyn with the Seraskier at Corinth they were in danger of being strangled by him for having been so tardy in their March and so backward in coming to his assistance wherefore they took a Resolution to become a Convoy to those Families of Turks who in great numbers with Women and Children had quitted the Morea and were going to plant themselves in the upper parts of Greece In the mean time the Captain General Sailing with Victorious Arms and a prosperous Gale by the Shoar of the Gulf of Lepanto The Venetians Anchor before Corinth came in a short time to take a full view and prospect of the ancient City of Corinth in the Road of which they came to an Anchor with all their Fleet of Gallies and Galeots But because that Gulf is commonly subject to bad and tempestuous Weather and the Navigation in those Seas very dangerous there being no Port on the Morea side within a Hundred Miles and on the other no shelter besides a small Nook or Creek which is narrow and not capable to receive many Vessels and the Water shallow therefore the Captain General proceeding with due caution according to Military discipline dispeeded some of his lighter Vessels to Fathom the depth of the Waters and to take a survey of the State and Condition of the Enemies Camp The affrighted Turks seeing the Venetian Fleet in the Road of Corinth did of their own accord set Fire to all the Villages and Houses round about The Turks burn and abandon Corinth and also to the Town it self blowing up all the Ammunition and destroying the Provisions which they could not carry with them and so quitted and abandoned that anciently famous City leaving it a Prey to their Enemies at a cheep rate without the least drop of Blood and thence possessed with a Panick fear marched away to Thebes there to make their place of Rendezvous for their scattered Troops to unite The Captain General being informed that the Turks had deserted the City or Village rather as it now remains and reduced as much as they could of it unto Ashes returned with all speed imaginable to the Castles of Rumelia and Morea where he had left the most considerable part of his Forces encamped as also some Gallies and Vessels belonging to his Fleet And there taking aboard the greatest part of the Infantry whilst the
Cavalry marched by Land with some Regiments of Foot under the Command of Count Konismark they all came to joyn near the Town of Corinth The Christians take possession of the place and thence in order of Battle took possession of the place where they scarce found a House or Lodging wherein to cover or shelter themselves such havock and destruction had the Turks made of every thing besides the Walls The Gates also of the Fortress were found open and an easy entrance thereinto which being possessed by the Companies of Colonel Bonetti and Count Vertoua the Standard of St. Mark was displaid on the Walls The City of Corinth was anciently the Metropolis of all Achaia and therefore called by Lucius Florus Achaiae Caput Greciae Decus After it had fallen under the Government of the Roman Commonwealth many Battles were fought near the Walls of that City A description of Corinth under the Command of several Generals such as Critolzus Metellus and Mummius The Corinthian Brass is famous over all the World for the admirable mixture of it with divers other Mettles amongst which there was some proportion of Gold which enter'd into the Composition The Art of making this Brass is now entirely lost and the quantity thereof not much at present in the World for all the ancient Statues of famous Men of Greece erected at Corinth of this sort of Brass were by Wars and Alterations in the State melted down and carried to Rome which afterwards being worked into Plates served to cover the Roof of the Pantheon now called the Rotondo at Rome and thence by order of the Barberini were ripped off and an Altar made thereof consecrated to St. Peter and St. Paul in the great Basilicon of St. Peter the Over-plus of which was turned into a Cannon and placed in the Castle of St. Angelo which gave occasion to that saying Quod non fecerunt Babari fecerunt Barberini The Situation of Corinth is in a rich and fertile Country and in a sweet Air and so near the Sea that it enjoyed the benefit and use of all the Elements rendring it a place of Plenty and Luxury which gave occasion to that saying Non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum Near this place is the Mount Parnassus and the Fountain of Helicon From the Romans Corinth descended to the Grecian Emperors one of which called Emanuel over-threw Roger King of Naples who invaded the Countries near Corinth Not long afterwards the Despots of Greece yielded it up to the Republick of Venice who defended it for some years until overpowred with the force and numbers of Mahomet the Second were at length compelled to give it up to his Tyranny Since which time it hath ever remained in the Hands of the Turks until this year of 1687 when God favouring the Christian Arms in this as well as in other parts was pleased to restore this City to the Venetians the ancient Lords and Possessors of it The Albanians encouraged with these Successes and the Flight of the Turks The Albanâ—ans fall on the Turks pursued after them and falling on their Rear seized on their Baggage and all their Beasts of Burden such as Horses Camels Mules and Asses carrying away Men Women and Children Captives with great Droves of Cattle to the City of Megara These happy events were followed by the Surrender of Castle Tornese Castle Tornese Surrenders at the first Summons made by Captain Negro upon no other Conditions than that they should save their Lives and have License to carry away all their Goods and Baggage which was freely granted to them with Vessels to Transport them to Smyrna But before their departure about an Hundred and fifty Turks Inhabitants of that Castle voluntarily declared themselves Christians and were desirous of being Baptized amongst these were many Families of the Gastuni who having a Territory of their own containing some Hundred of Houses and Cottages desired all to be received into the Bosom of the Christian Church all which were in a Solemn manner Baptized together to the great Confusion and Displeasure of the Mahometan Professors The Report of these Successes with the appearance of so great a Fleet at Corinth struck all the Inhabitants of the Morea with such Terrour and Consternation that they voluntarily submitted themselves to the Venetian Government as namely Misitra Saritenea Idrapolica all which places were abandoned by the Turks Only Salona Several other Towns submit a Town well peopled and Situate in a rich Soyl which lies within a small Gulf so called sent two Turks to the Captain General to offer a Tribute to him provided they might live under their own Laws and Government but this seeming a ridiculous Proposition under their present Circumstances it was absolutely rejected Whereupon the rich and ruling Turks of the City As also Salona with fear and precipitation removed their Goods and Families and Fled and the City yielded it self to the power and under the subjection of the Conquerour And so successfully had all things proceeded through the course of this Campain that besides the Cities gained with very little Blood as before related Three hundred Pieces of Cannon most of Brass were added to the publick Stock besides Thousands of Slaves Ammunition and Provisions All things thus falling at the Feet of the Venetians the Land Army both of Horse and Foot encamped near Corinth under Command of Count Conismark whilst the Captain General with the greatest part of the Armado coasted round the Morea to visit and strengthen the places newly reduced and especially those parts which are bordering on the Gulf of Egena In the mean time many Families of Greece which had for a long time been oppressed by the Tyranny of the Turkish Government made their Petition to the Captain General that they might be transported to some Country under the Venetian Dominion where they might enjoy Freedom and Security Several Greek Families transported to the Morea both in their Religion and Estates Morosini considering well that the multitude of People is the Riches and strength of a Country and that the Morea being almost emptied of People and desolate by the Flight and Desertion of the Turks easily condescended to their request and accordingly dispeeded the Proveditor Pisani with four Gallies and some other Transport Vessels to carry away the People of which many Thousands with their Baggage and Cattle were Embarked and Landed in divers parts of the Morea where those Families are at present setled The Successes of the Venetian Arms had now gained such Reputation in all parts Mitra Surrenders that Mitra a strong and considerable place submitted and followed the Fortune of other places for the Turks therein at the first appearance only of Polani the Proveditor of Sarnata with some Marine Forces displaying their white Flag enter'd into a Treaty and gave Hostages for performance of Articles the which was soon performed and the place yielded to the Conqueror The
Ismael Fined which he had raised from Pashas and other Officers for their places which were valued to amount unto One thousand Purses but he made his Composition and paid to the Tefterdar or Treasurer Five hundred only Thus had the Civil Dissentions taken up all their time and obstructed the due Preparations for a War so pressing and heavy upon them so that little could be expected of great Action in Hungary the Season of the Year which was now April being far advanced Howsoever great things were expected from the Wise and Valorous Conduct of this New Vizier Mustapha having for his Merit been raised from a common Soldier to be a General May He had been Janisar-Aga at the Siege of Vienna and afterwards Seraskier at the first Siege of Buda and was for a while in great Reputation with all People both Civil and Military But this favourable Air of the People did not continue long for Mustapha by his Indisposition of Body and the continual Distractions and Difficulties of the Times seemed not to answer the great expectation which was at first conceived of him and indeed the Confusions and Fears of the People grew always higher and greater as Dangers approached nearer to increase which there wanted not evil Spirits to possess and affect the minds of the Vulgar with hideous Stories and Reports Fears and terrible Reports at Constantinople and indeed as for some of them there wanted not probable Reasons or substantial Foundation The News of the Revolutions at Grand Cairo took up a greatpart of the Discourse the Truth of which came afterwards to Light and known to be no other but a discontent of the People raised upon a Belief that the Vizier intended to change the Pasha which had but four Months before been entred into his Office Upon which Report after many Consultations held at Grand Cairo they resolved to send several of their Beys or Lords as Deputies to represent unto the Vizier that besides the great Tax laid upon the Country at the entrance of every new Pasha it was contrary to the Priviledges and Constitutions of Egypt Deputies sent from Grand Cairo that their Pasha should be changed before the expiration of three years the which they supplicated the Vizier to consider and to lay these their Desires and Reasons before the Grand Seignior The Vizier at first answered them very roughly and with Anger telling them that this Message which they brought arose from Humours and Seeds of Mutiny and Sedition and the Contagion they had received from the Rebellious Giurbas That they undertook to meddle in matters which did not concern them that they were the Grand Seignior's Subjects and therefore ought quietly to submit to whom soever it was his Imperial pleasure to set over them But in a few days afterwards upon cooler Thoughts and Reflections on the present disorder of the Government it not being judged convenient to discontent or provoke this People They are dispatched back again he called again for the Deputies and dismist them with a confirmation of the same Pasha and so dispatched them back again to Grand Cairo with full satisfaction But that which gave most trouble was certain Advice that in Asia great numbers of Thieves and Robbers infested the Country and that a Body of about Four thousand Men had appeared before Angora the Head or Chief Commander of which was one Yedic Robbers in Asia trouble the Country under whom Yeghen had served as a Captain before he came into the Grand Seignior's Service he was a bold and an old Robber who had long lived on Rapine and Spoil and now commanding so considerable a Body of Horse he ravaged all the Country commanding free Quarters every where and raising Contributions and Taxes in all places according to his own Lust and Pleasure and hearing what success Yeghen his Under-Officer had gained he was willing to put in for a share with the rest offering himself and Forces to come over into Europe and serve the Grand Seignior in the Wars of Hungary About the same time also there hapned a Combustion in Candia where the Soldiers mutined for want of Pay and killed their Pasha with the Aga of the Janisaries and some others Mutinies in Candia seizing on the Pasha's Estate which was accounted to amount unto so much Money as would pay the Soldiers all that was due to them Whereupon the Grand Vizier created Kuperlee-Ogle lately banished thither as we have mentioned Pasha of that Country and the Moxur Aga or Major General of the Janisaries to be Aga of the Janisaries in the places of those who were lately killed in the Tumult and likewise dispatched from Constantinople Ali Pasha who was once a Creature of Kara Mustapha Pasha late Vizier to be Pasha of Canea by which means the Vizier freed himself of two dangerous Competitors In the mean time Ismael Pasha the late Vizier was sent on a Gally to guard Cavalla Ismael banished a Castle near Salonica which in effect was no other than an Honourable Banishment And because the Grand Seignior was not pleased to accept the offer made to him by Yedic a Teftirgee Pasha with some other ordinary Pashas Yedic was to be suppressed were dispatched into Anatolia to settle and secure the Country and to reduce Yedic and the Thieves his Complices to Obedience The Grand Vizier now according to the Custom of all his Predecessors that he might settle himself more firm began to make several changes in the Officers amongst others he put out Ramadam Effendi Lord Treasurer in the late time of Ismael placing in his stead Mahomet Effendi Treasurer in the time when the Giurbaes governed an ill Man and of a bad Reputation Nor could the Vizier think himself secure whilst Yeghen Command his Forces so near as Sophia and was disobedient to all Commands aspiring to no less than to be Seraskier or General of the Army nor could it be thought he would stop there or at any other point until he came to be Grand Vizier Wherefore Mustapha Vizier dispatched private Orders to have Yeghen strangled who remained hovering about between Belgrade and Sophia keeping all Strangers from any near approach so that the execution of those Orders were respited until a more opportune conjuncture Yeghen continues in Rebellion For he continued still in Rebellion having refused to go to Bosna declaring that he would not give up the Command of Seraskier of the Army in Hungary to Hassan Pasha or any other Whilst these things were in Agitation an Envoy arrived at Constantinople from the Emperor of Morocco with Letters of Complement to the Grand Seignior upon his Exaltion to the Throne and with Offers that as the Christians were united together against the Musulmen so he was ready to give his Assistance to the Grand Seignior in defence of the Mahometan Faith It being now the Spring time when the Turks always put their Horses out to Grass and Soil
The Imbrahor or Master of the Horse invited the Grand Seignior into the Fields to see in what order his Horses were governed at their Pasture and there gave him a very Splendid Entertainment The Grand Seignior was so pleased with the Dinner the Air and the Fields that in two or three days afterwards he went again to the Meadows at Cat-Hanah The People displeased with the New Sultan about two English Miles at farthest from Pera where he was again feasted not without the Censure and Murmuring of the People who said That in a short time he would follow the Example of the late Sultan in his Diversions and Negligence in the Government so they should have changed as indeed they had to little purpose It began now plainly to appear That the Turks by reason of their intestine Divisions had made very inconsiderable Preparations either by Land or Sea Howsoever something was necessary to be and therefore in the first place Eleven Gallies were sent to Guard the Black Sea against the Cosacks who as was reported were preparing to make Incursions into the Parts near Constantinople as they had usually done in former times The Turks make small Preparations But their chief Apprehensions and Fears were raised from a Report that the Imperialists were marching towards Belgrade And indeed they had great Reasons for it for they had nothing of Force on the Frontiers nor nothing to oppose them in case the Emperor should think fit to push forward his Conquests which nothing could obstruct besides Famine and Hunger in a March through a ruined and a desart Country The Turks in these extremities finding no safety or success and protection in their Arms had recourse to their last refuge which was if possible to obtain a Peace with the Emperor They seek for Peace a Method which they had never practised before since they were an Empire to be the first to Sue for a Peace But now Necessity pressing them they were for dispatching an Ambassador to the Kings of France An Ambassador designed for England England and the States of Holland whose design substance and main drift of his Embassy was only pretended to give notice unto those Powers of the Exaltation of Sultan Solyman to the Throne of the Ottoman Empire But with private Instructions to insinuate unto those Princes severally to interpose in a Mediation of Peace and to use their endeavours to give a stop to the Career of the Imperial Arms which good Offices in order to a Peace might reasonably be expected from Kings and Princes who had for many years maintained a happy Peace and Correspondence with the Ottoman Port where their Ambassadors had been treated with Friendship and their Merchants with Security and their Trade flourished on all sides with Profit and Advantage One Achmet Aga being proposed for this Embassy he was severally treated and feasted by the three Ambassadors who by the Discourses they had entertained with him observed him to be a Person discreet and better practised in Affairs of Countries different to their own than commonly Turks are who think it an Indignity to them to look into the States of Christian Princes which so lately the Ottoman Empire overlooked as unworthy their Consideration To Transport this Ambassador a French-ship was appointed and his Equipage prepar'd The Embassy put off but by the Conduct of Sir William Trumbal English Ambassador then at Constantinople and the confused Affairs of the Turks this Embassy did not succeed And indeed the Turky Company could not expect to Reap any thing from thence but trouble and expence and perhaps displeasure at the Port in case his Entertainment had not equalled that which he had received at Paris Howsoever the Turks were better resolved in the Point of that Embassy designed to the Emperor And to that end they chose Hamedi Effendi one who had been bred up a Clerk Ambassadors designed to the Emperor and afterwards came to be first Accountant in the Treasury and Mauvro Cordato a Greek by Nation a Man of Intrigue and Business having for many years been employed for Interpreter to the Grand Vizier ever since the Death of Panaioti The Turks being ashamed as a thing below the Dignity of their Empire to Sue for Peace thought it might prove a certain consequence in Answer to a civil Letter written by the Grand Seignior to the Emperor giving notice of his Exaltation to the Ottoman Throne much after the same Tenour with that which was written to the other Powers with this Addition and Alteration That whereas the ancient Amity and Friendship had been broken during the Reign of his Predecessor he as to his own Person had not been consenting nor instrumental thereunto and that God having punished the Authors of this War he resolved to take different Measures and considering the Emperour as his Neighbour he was desirous to enter into a League of Friendship with him and to establish a firm and lasting Peace in case the Emperor should be inclining thereunto These Ambassadors were appointed to begin their Journey towards the end of June towards whose expences the Grand Seignior intended to allow Six thousand Dollars which was esteemed a sufficient Provision for them until they came to the Confines whence according to the ancient Canon they are to be conducted by the Emperor's Guards and defray'd at his Expence Their Retinue consisted of 60 persons half of which was habited in the Turkish and half after the Grecian Fashion As yet they had received no Passports for them but in assurance that they would be granted the Ambassadors were posted away to Belgrade there to remain in expectation of them The New Grand Seignior during all these Combustions and Negotiations minded little or nothing of Business nor indeed was he capable of any for when any thing was propounded to him The Humour of Sultan Solyman He answered Yes or No or with some very short Reply after the manner of Laconick brevity and then presently turned away to read the Alchoran He was at first reputed after the manner of his Father to be impotent as to Women but afterwards taking five or six into his Embraces he gave the World cause to conceive another Opinion of him He sat as aukwardly on Horse-back as his Father that Exercise being uneasie to him his chief Divertisements were his Books which we may believe he ill understood and sometimes taking the Air on the Water and in Chiosks or Garden Houses on the side of the Bosphorus he passed his pleasant time Yeghen still continued to Ravage the Country between Sophia and Belgrade as his Comrade Yedic that Arch-robber did in Anatolia And the Government being too weak to suppress two such Thieves or Highway-Men how much less was it able to contend with the German Troops They were forced to dissemble and give way to the present Extremities Yeghen made Seraskier by making Yeghen Seraskier in Hungary whilst Hassan Pasha was forced to give
dispeeded down the Rivers of Danube Vagus Tibiscus and Drave for undertaking some considerable Enterprize Orders were also dispatched from the Council of War to General Caraffa in Transilvania That having committed the command of the Upper Hungaria to Nigrelli and of Transilvania to General Veterani and having also satisfied the Quarters of his own Militia he should forthwith march along the Banks of the Danube but with such Caution and Vigilance as might secure him and his Forces from the Surprizals of Tekely who since the surrender of Agria and Mongatz had made frequent incursions from Temeswar as far as Lippa Julia and sometimes from Jeno to Waradin It being judged almost impossible to conserve Peter Waradin by reason of the nearness thereunto of Illock where the Enemy maintained a numerous Garrison it was resolved to draw forth the Troops and Provisions from thence Howsoever Caprara being desirous first to take a view of Illock he conveyed himself privately before the place with some Horse of the Regiment of Palfi and about Two hundred Dragoons on Foot and seized on a Mosch before the Gate but being discovered by the Turks they Fired such a Volly of Shot upon him that several of his Dragoons were killed and he received Two Musquet-shots through the Folds of his loose Coat with which he retired without other hurt or loss But of more concernment it was to General Caprara to defeat the Camp of the Turks which they were forming in the open Plains of Salankement to which end he prepared Boats and Barges and Bridges to Transport over the Drave the Forces which were on their march from the Upper Hungary But the Waters by excessive Rains had so swollen the Rivers beyond the Banks of their right Channel that both Horse and Foot were constrained to make a stop at Darda to which place the General passed over in a Boat and there remained until the Waters were fallen as did also some Bavarian Troops designed to repass the Danube near Buda on their march to Erdeodi where having raised a Bridge over the Danube and Six more over the Moors and Fenns they joyned with other Forces and marched in a Body towards Illock In the mean time whilst the Imperial Court was enjoying the pleasures of the Country at Luxemburg the Duke of Loraine falling sick The Duke of Loraine Sick put the Court into some discomposure for that the Season of the Year being now ripe for Action the want of the General 's presence would be a necessary retardment to the Proceedings of the Campaigne howsoever that was happily supplied by the coming of P. Lewis of Baden who every day entred into consultation with the D. of Loraine in what manner they might best carry on the War on the other side of the Save which being agreed P. Lewis proceeded to the Camp where with Mareschal Caprara the Imperial Forces were for that time commanded and with them it was concluded to pass the Save But now some of the Transilvanians being allured by Succours The City of Stephanopolis refuses to receive a German Garrison and great Assistance promised them by the Tartars to renounce their sworn Allegiance to the Emperor the City of Stephanopolis refused to receive a German Garrison which Design was chiefly carried on at the persuasion of the Valachians who considering that by the Submission of Transilvania their Province lay open to the Germans and through that an easie passage into Tartary they both joynned to persuade the People of Stephanopolis to refuse to take in a Garrison of Germans But General Veterani immediately marched to the City with the Regiments of Pace Taff and Stirum and by surprize Attacked the Suburbs in three places and being come within Pistol-shot of the Walls the Dragoons dismounting from their Horses and raising some Barricadoes to cover them from the Enemies Cannon they began to throw Bombs into the Castle by which and by help of the Regiments of Baden and Schaffemberg who brought with them two Pieces of great Cannon and four of small they batter'd the Town to the Terrour and Consternation of the Inhabitants The City Surrendered so that with common consent they cried out for Quarter which was granted to them by General Caraffa at Discretion and the City yielded as also the Castle into which five Companies of the Regiment of Baden were admitted In the mean time General Caraffa with like diligence Marched with a Body of an Army to Lippa and having Summoned the City he was answer'd by their great and Small-shot from the Walls Upon which the General without any delay raised two Batteries by which beating down part of the Wall he made an Attack on the Breach Lippa attacked from whence thô he was repulsed at the first time by the Bravery of the Defendants yet renewing the Assault again with grater Force and Resolution they enter'd the Town by Storm with the Death of Five hundred Turks the rest giving Fire to their Houses and Magazines retired into the Castle which they maintained a while with good Resolution But Caraffa raising two new Batteries fired incessantly from them and threw Bombs into it with such good effect that the Defendants terrified therewith displayed a white Flag Lippa yielded and submitted unto Terms of being made Prisoners to the number of Six thousand Persons Two thousand of which being Men capable to bear Arms were made Slaves but the Women and Children were freed and with a Convoy were sent in safety to Temeswar The Surrender of Lippa was of great consequence to the Germans having thereby opened all the Country between the River Maros and the Tibiscus This Success was soon followed by the Surrender of Lagos a Castle four Leagues distant from Lippa which after a small resistance yielded to Colonel Pace on Articles according to which about Two hundred Soldiers with One hundred and Eighty Rascians and Valachians marched out Lagos yielded together with the Inhabitants of the lower City and about Six hundred Women and Children Within was only one Mortar-piece and eight Pieces of Cannon but no Victuals or Ammunition The like Fortune had succeeded at the great Castle of Caranzebes had not the Attacks been disappointed by an excessive Rain of four or five days which forced Colonel Pace to return back to General Carafa who remained still in expectation of his coming to Lippa The Indisposition of the Duke of Loraine increasing and little hopes of his Recovery to such a state of Health as was requisite to Conduct an Army during the present Campaign the Elector Maximilian Emanuel Duke of Bavaria was the only person looked upon fit for the high Command of General of the Imperial Forces For he was a Prince thô young in Years The Elector of Bavaria made General yet for his time of that vast experience and of that Disposition and Courage naturally inclined to War that he seemed not to come behind any of those renowned Generals famed for Heroick Actions
own force or other expected Succours And indeed the Turks might then on very good Grounds have hoped for a peace since that they readily offered to have quitted all pretensions to the Conquered places and suffered the Emperor to remain in quiet possession of all whereof he had made himself Master which had been a vast advantage to the Empire at that time when the French were entered into Germany with a formidable Army burning laying waste and destroying all the Palatinate threatning War on the Empire which continued for several Years with such fury that had not King William of England joyned with Spain Holland and some of the Princes of Germany opposed this terrible Foe The Emperor unhappily refuses it all the Empire and other Countries had sunk under the weight of the Arms of France But God knows by what Fate the Emperor refused to hearken to those fair Propositions of Peace which that they might not be urged or pressed on his Counsellors the Turkish Ambassadors were committed Prisoners to the Castle of Puffendorf where they passed some Years under a tedious restraint and loss of Liberty The Turkish Ambassadors in Prison contrary to the Law of Nations And tho' the Turks may be much blamed for this kind of Violation of the Law of Nations and disrespect to the persons of Ambassadors which in all Countries have been esteemed sacred yet it is a new thing to be so practised by Christian Princes especially by the Austrian Family which is Renowned over all the World for their Piety Justice and Clemency As there was at that time no Reason or Sense for not closing with the Turks in a Peace so afterwards the Folly and Misfortune was so apparent that the Court of Vienna hath often lamented the unhappy Consequences of that evil Counsel which the Ministers of State to throw off from themselves have cast on the prevailing Faction of the Jesuits and Clergy which have ever carried a great sway in that Counsel And thus having by God's Assistance finished the Wars in Hungary by a full and ample Relation of all that passed in that miserable Country during the Course of the last Year of 1688. Let us now proceed to the Martial Actions which passed in the same Year between the Venetians and the Turks THE Venetian Successes In Their WAR against the TURKS In the Year 1688. THE Doge of Venice Dying about the End of the last Year the Senate knew not any Subject on whom they could more worthily confer that Dignity than on the Captain-General Francisco Morosini a Person not only of an ancient Patritian Family but one who had signalized himself both in Peace and War and Sacrificed all his Time and Interest to the Service of the Republick Had he not merited more than by his great Atchievements in this present War the Ducal Dignity could not have been bestowed on any more deserving than himself of which the Senate was so sensible that tho' it was a new thing to Elect a Doge who was absent F. Morosini Elected Doge which some envious of his Vertues and growing Greatness did object yet the Majority of Voices carried the Election and accordingly the Ducal Bonnet was by order sent to Morosini by the Secretary Zuccato who found his Serenity aboard the Admiral Gally in Porto Poro a Port in the Morea where he offer'd in the Name of the Senate expressed in a most Eloquent Oration the Ensigns of the Principality all the other Ceremonies being solemnly perform'd at Venice Before this Happy Inauguration the Pestilence had greatly infested the Venetian Armata but by God's Blessing it was now ceased and Prattick given at Venice to those who came from thence for which the Doge having returned Thanks in a devout manner to Almighty God aboard the Fleet he began to entertain thoughts of undertaking some Enterprize worthy his new Dignity and which might serve for a Fortunate Omen of what was to succeed in all the Progress of his Auspicious Government which at the beginning looked fair and prosperous in all the Circumstances thereof For from Candia Advices were brought to the Armata of great Revolutions and Mutinies in Candia which ended with the Death and Destruction of that Vizier and the principal Pasha's and Bey's of that place Troubles amongst the Turks in Candia In Canea the Disorders were not less the Souldiery following the Example of those Seditions and Tragedies acted at Constantinople would govern themselves and whilst they knew not what Government to set up there was a Rumour amongst them amidst their Confusion That they would deliver up those Places into the Hands of the Venetians but their Army being at some distance and not near enough to meet the heat of this Popular Insurrection these Hope 's vanished the Turks returning to more sober and cooler Counsels The Captain Pasha was now ready to come forth with the Ottoman Fleet which consisted of so few Gallies as were in no condition to deal with the Naval Forces of the Venetians The Turkish Fle t very weak and yet were of some use for Transporting Soldiers and Relief to Negropont or other Parts according to the Motion of the Enemy But the Venetian Armata increased daily by the Union of several Convoys dis-speeded to joyn with the main Body under Command of the Doge The first Convoy was composed of several Ships Marsilians and light Gallies under the Command of his Excellency Pisani with whom also two Noble Venetians called Lorenzo Donato and Girolamo Grimani were Embarked The Venetian A mata joyned appointed by the Senate to assist as Counsellors unto his Serene Highness the Doge whom four other Noble Venetians accompanied to supply Places and Offices of Trust as occasions should offer On another Convoy the first Regiment of Wirtemberg and the Prince himself who Commanded them was Embarked with several Nobles and Gentlemen of that Nation all of them Brave and Experienced Soldiers attended with many Ships and Vessels laden with Ammunition Provisions and all sorts of Instruments and Utensils for War And with them also were dispatched the Syndicks and Officers for better government of the Morea A third Convoy was also prepared and dispatched with the Second Regiment of Wirtemberg under the Command and Conduct of the Prince Landgrave of Armstadt and whilst these Forces were on their Voyage towards Porto Poro there to joyn with the main Body of the Venetian Fleet in order to some great Enterprize his Excellency Cornaro Proveditor-General in Dalmatia Cornaro in Dalmatia was giving all the Assistance he was able to the Christians of that Country who upon the Rumour of the Misfortunes of the Turks had taken Arms to recover their Freedom The Commander in Chief of the Turks in those Countries was called Solyman Pasha who by ill Successes having lately been droven into the Castle of Podgorizza which he had plentifully provided with all sorts of Provisions and Ammunition he gathered unto him all the Soldiers
Enterprize On the eighth an Attack was made and with great courage they mounted the Breach and planted two Ensigns thereon but because the Breach was very narrow without any covert from the Shot of the Enemy and the descent into the Town very deep and hazardous they were forced to quit the Post The Venetians repulsed which they had gained with the loss of six or eight Men amongst which was one of the Ensigns whose Colours howsoever were recovered by another Officer Nor did the Turks escape without some loss on occasion of the Attack for 300 Men being lodged in the Ditch to support those who were to make the first Entrance did great execution on the Turks that appeared on the Breach without any covert or shelter A remarkable Passage There is one thing very remarkable of a Soldier who in this Assault received six Wounds on his Head and in his Body with Scimeters by which falling on the Ruines was esteemed for Dead and so remained until the Dusk of the Evening when rising up it was not so Dark but that he was perceived by the Enemy who made many Shot at him to avoid which he threw himself into the Sea bleeding with all his Wounds and notwithstanding the many Shot aimed at him of which he received one in his Shoulder he swam away and got ashore at the Camp where he was afterwards cured of his Wounds which made the Doge to give him the Name of the wonderful Man The Regiments of Count Waldeck and Colonel Bilz belonging to the Troops of Wirtemberg being advanced without any Order for so doing one to the Bank of the Ditch and the other to the Foot of the Tower received an unhappy welcome by several Vollies of small shot The Venetians again repulsed both from the Wall and from the false Bray by which two Colonels seven or eight Captains twelve or fourteen Subaltern Officers five Cavalier Adventurers and about 200 common Soldiers were all slain upon the place and as many wounded which was a discouraging loss to the Besiegers tho' the Defendants according to the Report of some Deserters lost double the number within the City Howsoever the Venetians being not dismayed hereat on the 10th of this month forced an Entrance into the Ditch where they began to form a Gallery for a more near approach unto the Wall under which they designed once to form a Mine but because it would be the work of fifteen Days at least before the Mine could be brought to Perfection for want of good Engeniers of which many were Dead and Sick They raised a new Battery on the other side of the Water from whence they made a Breach on the other Tower and with two pieces of Cannon planted on the Bank of the Ditch they bartered the foot of the Courtain between the two Towers The Day following some Deserters from the Town brought Advice That the whole Garrison within did not consist of more than 3000 Men and those much afrighted and discouraged by their many losses only that which supported their Spirits was the free and open passage by the Bridge between the Turkish Camp and the City by which every third day they received Recruits of Men and Supply of Provisions The Difficulties of taking the City so that now little hopes remained of taking the City for this year the Season also being far advanced All therefore that remained to be done was to continue the Batteries and to throw Bombs of which above 10000 having been already cast into the City few Houses remained standing but all reduced to a Mass of Rubbish and Ashes The Venetians being under these discouraging Circumstances the Attacks proceeded but slowly nothing being heard in the Camp but of the Death or Sickness of their great Men amongst which News was brought to the Doge that Signior Molino and Delfino were forced to yield unto their sick Beds That the Engenier Ramagnato was killed with a Musket-shot The Venetians discouraged whilst he was giving Direction about the Works in the Ditch That Signior Aurelio Marcelli was Dead of a Fever caused by his Wounds as was also Mattio Bon Patritii a Nobleman of Venice And that General Kenismark was Dead of a violent Fever General Kenismark's Death having Breathed his last on the 15th of September to the great Grief and Sorrow of the whole Army but especially of his Lady Carlotta who with great Affection and Tenderness having been his Companion in all this Expedition was over-whelmed with Sorrow and confused Grief at his Death His Bowels were Interr'd the same Night with many thousands of Torches and Lights but his Body being Embalmed was afterwards designed for Strade a place in the Dutchy of Bremen there to be Interred in the Burial-place of his Ancestors The same Night two Engeniers were wounded and one killed and many common Soldiers killed and wounded by the Enemies shot from the false Bray whilst they were perfecting their Works in the Ditch And now it being the 17th of September the Florentines were the first to Demand a Dismission from the Camp The Generals of the Great Duke and Malta desire leave to return home and License to return home alledging that the Season of the year was far spent and the long Voyage they had to make unto their own Country The time also appointed by the Great Master of Malta unto his General for the Fleet to remain abroad being also expired Licence was demanded for their return but the Doge flattering himself with hopes of a speedy Surrender of the place persuaded that General to stay some few days longer to which he consented in expectation of taking part of that Glory which would belong to him by the Conquest of that place But it was not the Will of God that this Place should yield to the Christian Arms for that from this present time until the End of the Siege nothing but Misfortunes attended the Actions of the Venetians However The Courage and Constancy of the Generals was such as that they would not leave one Stone unturned which might tend to the Conquest of the place resolving not to desist from that Enterprize whilst any hopes appeared of becoming Masters thereof In order unto which the Doge Morosini considering with the principal Captains what was farther to be done to facilitate this Enterprize it was observed that the greatest difficulty was how to convey their Forces under the Wall for the Ditch was 30 Paces broad and washed at each end by the Sea to do which the Ingeniers found no other means than by a Traverse which was to be covered on the top and defended by Gabions filled with Earth which being considered and resolved it was put into immediate Execution all things necessary for that work being brought to the place with the Instruments for fixing the Miner to the Walls but the Waters so encreased in the Night that the Labour became much more great and the Design more difficult
on by the great Industry of Count Caraffa Commissary-General In the mean time the Turks made continual Incursions into Bosnia along the sides of the Rivers Unna and Culpa but without much Success they being on all sides streightned in their Quarters and Marches by the Germans For Piccolomini having notice that the Pasha of Bosnia designed to over-run all the Country near the Save detached some Parties of Hungarians and Germans from the Garrison of Proot to discover the Actions of the Turks and being in the night time advanced some Leagues into the Enemies Country they surprized the Town of Lisnia and set Fire to it and killed all the Garrison consisting of 500 men some few only excepted which they carried away Prisoners But the Confusion at the Ottoman Court was much greater A Rebellion in Asia by reason of a new Rebellion in Asia carried on by Yedic a famous Robber in that Country and Partner with Yeghen Pasha whom we mentioned in our Treatise of the last Year the which continued for some time before it was appeased and Yedic cut off But before we touch upon that Story it will be necessary to declare the Fate of Yeghen who had forced himself upon the Government and obliged the Vizier to Create him Seraskier which happened in this manner After that Yeghen had fled from Belgrade he quarrelled with Noradin Galga The Fate of Yeghen Son of the Tartar Chan upon which Noradin being a Man of a high Spirit called him Coward and pitiful mean spirited Rascal fit for nothing but to Command a Band of Thieves and Robbers at which Yeghen who looked on himself as Seraskier or General of the Army was so enraged that shaking his Topuz at him which is a kind of Iron-Mace He kills the Prince of Tartary carried by the Turks on the side of their Horses Saddle caused him to be Strangled before the Eyes of many of the principal Men belonging to the Tartarian Court. The News of this Affront and Outrage committed on the Son the very hopes of the House highly enraged the Chan his Father The Father meditates Revenge who studying Night and Day a Revenge wrote to the Grand Signior and Grand Vizier in the most resenting Terms possible against Yeghen urging that that insolent and unhumane Robber was to be destroyed without which the Cause of the Musselmen could not be Blessed nor any Fortune be expected against their Enemies But the Grand Vizier thinking himself under some Obligations to Yeghen who had the Year before saved his life before Nissa when the Janisaries mutinying for want of Pay he being then Janizar-Aga conspired to Strangle him The Grand Vizier favours Yeghen In remembrance of which being now advanced to the sublime Office of Grand Vizier he endeavoured to sweeten the matter and render the case of Yeghen as plausible as might be But such was the Misfortune of Yeghen that the Tartar Chan coming in Person to Adrianople to consult on such Measures as were necessary to be taken for the succeeding Campagne he fell on his Quarrel with Yeghen who had put his Son to Death urging to the Divan that there was an unavoidable necessity for putting Yeghen to Death as the Cause and Fomenter of all the Mutinies in the Army and the Rebellions in Asia Yeghen being advised by his Friends and Correspondents of which he had many at the Ottoman Court of the Complaints and Endeavours of the Tartar Chan against him found himself not only thereby defeated of his expected Confirmation in the Office of Seraskier but in danger of the Evil which the Wiles and Accusations of an irreconcilable Enemy at the Court might bring upon him Wherefore abandoning himself to Despair Yeghen commits all sorts of Outrages he began again to practise all sorts of Villainy to rob Villages and Towns entertaining all sorts of Robbers Murderers and People accustomed to Spoil arrogating to himself a power of creating Pasha's and exercising all sorts of Violence and Cruelty upon the Inhabitants of Romelia or Greece And moreover he wrote to his Friends and Acquaintance in Asia particularly to Yedic to Declare in favour of his Cause which was also supported by the Authority of the Grand Vizier Commands issued from the Port to take Yeghen either alive or dead But the Grand Seignior and the Divan entertaining Sentiments different to those of the Vizier consulting the necessity there was of gratifying the Chan issued immediate Orders to the Pasha of Sofia to suppress the Incursions of Yeghen and to Call to his Assistance the Nefiran which are like our Trained-Bands or Militia of the Country to seize and take either Dead or Alive this Yeghen Pasha who had violated the Laws of their Prophet Mahomet and encouraged and fomented all the Rebellions in Asia This dismal News struck Yeghen with a sudden Amazement so that not knowing where to find any safety in the Parts where he remained all the World conspiring his Destruction He flies into Albania he resolved to retire into Albania and betake himself to the Aid and Protection of his old and faithful Friend Mamoot Bei Oglu it having been suspected for some time at the Port that this Yeghen whensoever he should be droven hard would endeavour to shelter himself in Albania under protection of this Mamoot Bei means were contrived before-hand with a thousand fair Promises made to Mamoot Bei that whensoever Yeghen should come for Refuge under his Command that he should do that Service to the Sultan as to betray him or cut him off Accordingly Yeghen putting himself into the hands of his ancient Comrade Mamoot was received by him with outward Joy and the most Endearing Terms of Love and real Sincerity that could be expressed and desiring him to continue with him for some days he promised him all security to joyn with him in his Adventures and to run with him all the hazards of his Fortune and so continued to Comfort and Encourage him until all his Troops being got together Mamoot Bei cuts off his Head when one Night being in Consultation with Yeghen in what manner they might with most Advantage annoy the Port Orders were privately given to the Domestick Servants to fall upon him which was accordingly executed and his Head on a sudden taken from his Shoulders with the Heads of many of his Followers which were immediately dispatched by Mamoot to the Port for a Testimony of his Fidelity to the Sultan and in Reward thereof to Challenge the Promises which had been made him In the Month of September last as we have already related News was brought to the Port that the Disorders in Asia increased where the Robbers appeared in great Bodies Commanded in chief by Yedic and encouraged by Yeghen Disorders in Asia by Yedic who sent Commissions over to his Kinsman Yedic by which such numbers of Robbers assembled from all Parts that all the Country was spoiled
as come under his evil Report For the Teftish Pasha concluding all such for Thieves requires no farther Testimony or Proofs against them but sending for them Condemns them and Hangs them up on the next Tree In this manner the Business of Yedic and his Complices was committed to the care and conduct of Teftish Achmet Pasha whose first step was rightly to inform the People of the perfidious Designs of Yedic who fought against the Sultan and the Laws of the Prophet Mahomet of which the People being once perswaded withdrew themselves from that Party and turned their Arms against Yedic and his Villainous Accomplices by which means the Teftish having increased his Forces to such a considerable number that he might with all security promise himself Victory he marched against the Enemy and after two Days he came in sight of their Camp and found them drawn up in good order according to Martial Discipline The Teftish engages Yedic and defeats him The Pasha readily attacked them with 3000 select and brave Men and well mounted and with such Resolution that at the first Onset they put the Van-guard of the Enemy into disorder and with a Shower of Arrows from the whole Army they put them all to flight so that their Leader Yedic trusted all his safety to the swiftness of his Horse notwithstanding which the Teftish pressing for an entire Victory pursued him so hard that having inclosed him in the midst of two Squadrons Yedic himself with many of his chief Captains and Commanders were either killed or made Prisoners The rest of the Common Soldiery seeing themselves deprived of their Chief submitted to the Teftish Pasha desiring to be enrolled under his Banner but the Pasha having no good opinion or hope of getting any benefit from an Union with such a sort of Rabble and Scum of the People who had been bred up and nursed in Robbery and Violence resolved to make no use of such corrupted Companions in his Army but dismissed them all with License to return to their Countries and respective Habitations and afterwards proceeded to reform the Abuses and Disorders of those ill-govern'd Provinces The Port having now entirely suppressed those two desperate Rebellions Regeb Pasha made General in the place of Yeghen whose Nephew is put to Death the most dangerous of any in such a time of a decaying Militia and a victorious Enemy began to be at leisure to prepare for their War in Hungary and in the first place Regeb Pasha was created Seraskier or General in the place of Yeghen But first to extirpate all that Party entirely they seized on the Nephew of Yeghen in Philippopolis and put him to Death with 40 of his Followers as they did also the Governor of Widin whom Yeghen had put into that Place the last Campaign being a Favourite and Creature of his The Turks to encourage their People to prosecute the War in Hungary did not only cause a Report to fly about That the Sultan had resolved to appear this Year at the Head of his Army against the Christians but the Sultan did really march from Adrianople towards Sophia The Grand Seignior marches to Sophia with an Army of about 30000 Men together with a Train of Artillery consisting of 90 Pieces of Cannon and 6 Mortar-pieces of a very large size the which being joyned afterwards to a Body of 40000 Men under the Command of the Seraskier Regeb Pasha formed a considerable countenance of an Army but being all raw and undisciplin'd Men would as was supposed be inspired with new Courage at the presence of their Sultan On the 15 25 of April April the Grand Seignior began to move from Adrianople at which time a very great Earthquake was felt both in that City and Constantinople An Earthquake about the time of the Grand Signiors Departure which was so terrible that several Moschs Houses and Towers were overthrown At which time the Tungia and Meritz Rivers which glide on a Sandy and Gravelly Soil near the Walls of Adrianople overflowed their Banks with so violent an Inundation that they Drowned all the Fields and Meadows round and forced the Turks to remove their Camp and pitch at some farther distance the which Accidents were diversly discoursed by the Learned Men and the Turks being naturally Superstitious did generally interpret them as sinister Omens for the succeeding Campaign Howsoever Sultan Solyman marched forwards to Sophia where according to the Custom of the Turkish Army they soiled their Horse giving them Grass and remained in expectation of the arrival of the Asiatick Troops and other Forces not yet come up and here it was that the Sultan entertained himself in the Army not intending to proceed nearer to the Enemy In the mean time great Conferences and Consultations were held at the Imperial Court for carrying on two mighty Wars against France and the Ottoman Empire to which end the Forces were divided those which were to serve in the Empire against France were committed to the auspicious Conduct of the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Lorrain Those which were intended against the Turk in Servia were to be commanded by that Valiant and Fortunate General Prince Lewis of Baden and under him as Field Marshal by the Duke of Croy General of the Artillery was Marquis Parella Lieutenant-General was Count Veterani and Major-Generals were the Counts of Hoffkirchen Duke of Holstein with the Princes of Hanover and Heisler And on the other side in the Upper Hungary Transilvania Bosnia and Sclavonia the Command was lodged in the Hands of the Counts Aspremont Piccolomini Trautmansdorff Guido of Staremberg Herbeville and Baron Herbeville whose force consisted of 11 Regiments of Cuirassiers nine Regiments of Dragoons and 20 Regiments of Foot together with the several Independant Companies of Hungarians Croatians and Rascians who had lately taken up Arms against the Turks In the mean time Tekeli to keep up his Credit and Reputation with the Turks caused a Report to spread abroad at the Ottoman Port that by his Spies and by his Letters of Advice he had certain Intelligence that the French had so distressed the Empire that it was impossible for the Emperor to spare at that time above 10000 Men to carry on the War in Servia and that all his Measures in Transilvania and the Upper Hungary were entirely broken And indeed by the Plots of Tekeli and the Contrivances and Intrigues of the French whose Emissaries began now to spread in all the great and considerable Towns as well in Hungary as in Germany Towns and Countries were burnt and vast Devastations committed thereon The City of Cronstadt in Transilvania was in the Month of May totally destroyed and consumed by fire May. which was kindled at the four Angles thereof Plots of the French discovered which in a few Hours by the help of a strong Wind was reduced to Ashes notwithstanding the Endeavours of Colonel Baron de Pace to extinguish it only by the
the Turks they lost 300 of their Men and amongst the rest Captain Tugnochy a Valiant Soldier who the last Year had signalized himself on various occasions against the Turks This Loss was soon afterwards recompensed by the Success which the Croats gained upon the Turks who having formed a Body of about 8000 Men intended to spoil all the Country round about Costanovitza near the River Unna On the other side the Croats to the Number of 2000 Men under the Command of Count Drascovitz marched against them with design rather to view the Countenance of the Enemy than to give them Battel took their March through certain Woods and Mountains and unfrequented Ways when happily near a place called Czrin The Croats defeat a great Body of the Turks they met a strong Party of Turks who were come out also to discover the Enemy and having espied the Croats and believing them to be of greater force than they really were they betook themselves to Flight but being pursued by the Croats several of them were taken Prisoners and by them it was known that 8000 Turks or thereabouts under the Command of Sar Mustapha Pasha lay encamped not far from that place Upon these Advices the Count and his Croats resolved bravely to attack the whole Camp which being performed without other Hesitation or Delay and taking a short Turn about some little Hills they charged the Turks with such Fury that they being surprized with some Consternation the Spahees betook themselves to Flight leaving 2000 Janizaries open and undefended who all yielded themselves Prisoners at discretion of which some intimation having been given to the Croats on the Confines they marched with such haste that they met the Spahee's in their Flight and the Bridges being broken down the greatest part were made Prisoners besides many who endeavouring to Swim were Drowned in the Waters A compleat Victory in which Action the Croats took 11 Colours and much Booty In this Fight the Flower of the Militia of Bosnia was cut off and the Ways were covered with dead Bodies for the whole length of an Hungarian Mile of which many of them by the finery of their Clothing were judged to be Persons of Quality The Commander in Chief called Sar Mustapha Pasha Kaja with the Bey or the Lieutenant-General were taken Prisoners and according to the Report of those who came to enquire after some who were missing there were 6000 Men killed and scattered In which Action very few Croats were killed or wounded Count Corbelli having intelligence that the Turks of Jeno and Giula intended to fortifie Fechedebator in revenge for his late Misfortune resolved to use his Endeavors to surprize the Castle and thereby save the Turks the trouble of their intended Fortifications and in order thereunto he mounted the Regiment of Gondola on Horseback and with 500 Hussars and 100 Musqueteers and about as many Heydukes which he had mounted on Waggons he passed the River Geresch in sight of the Garrison of Waradin who had drawn out about 2000 of their Men into the Field But to amuse the Enemy Corbelli marched to and again the whole Day and at Night he detached two great Bodies of Hussars before to take cognisance of the place and being come near to Fechedebator they took two Rascians Prisoners belonging to the place by whom they understood that there were not above 50 armed Turks in the place besides some few Rascians for the greatest part of the Garrison were gone to Jeno to solemnize the Marriage of a certain Person of chief Quality in that Country upon which intelligence the Party sent to discover only without farther design Corbelli Summons Fechedebator meeting this Opportunity and resolving not to lose it sent immediately a Summons to the Castle to surrender to which the Turks returning an impertinent and scornful Answer and saying That when he brought the Keys of their City with him meaning Giula Jeno and Waradin upon taking of which they should be forced to surrender that then they would open their Gates to them until which time they craved their excuse intending to defend themselves to the utmost Extremity At the same moment that this Answer was returned a Rascian who had made his Escape out of the Town advised that there was a great Division arisen amongst the Turks in the Castle of the which Corbelli desirous to make use he caused the Regiment of Gondola to pass the River on Horseback and the Foot on Ferry-Boats and Floats and being on the other side he drew up in order of Battle in sight of the Fortress threatning them that in case they did not surrender in the space of one quarter of an Hour that he would give no Quarter to any Person whatsoever The Governor of the Castle being terrified with this sudden Demand with such affrighting Menaces he requested the respite but of one Day only which being denied he then Capitulated to have 30 Carts allotted to them and to be Convoyed with their Arms and Baggage to Waradin but Corbelli refusing that also they were conducted to Jeno Fechedebator is surrendred a place infected with Sickness and starved with Famine Accordingly the Turks came forth to the Number of 40 Soldiers 14 Young Men with Arms in their Hands with about 80 Women and Young Children who were all carried to Jeno In the mean time Corbelli entered the place and found the Castle in good repair encompassed on one side with a Ditch full of Water fortified with Palisadoes and on the other side with the River Geresch the which place tho' in it self small was yet considerable for its Situation being seated in a convenient place to cut off all Communication between Waradin and the Towns streightned by Blockades and for that reason Corbelli put a Garrison into it of 200 Hussars under Command of Comloschi a stout and valiant Soldier and after this Action returned to his Camp In the mean time Prince Lewis of Baden had discovered that the Design of the Seraskier was to avoid a Battle and that the Report he gave out of his March to Belgrade was only to amuse the Germans and cause them to draw their Troops on that side whilst he encamped his Forces near the Banks of the River Morava Wherefore the Prince having reinforced the Garrison of Belgrade with 2000 Foot July Pr. Lewis encamps near the River Morava and fortified Semendria he moved with the whole Body of his Army and towards the end of July encamped near the Morava where Boats being provided the same Night by help of the Moon a Bridge was cast over the River over which 2000 Horse were Commanded to march under the Command of Colonel Strasser The Turks retreat to observe the Countenance of the Enemy who upon the News of the Germans Advance had made their Retreat Whereupon Prince Lewis having raised a Fort and put a Garrison into it of 6000 Men to secure the Bridge he marched his whole Army on the 2d of
he found the ancient Seat of Count Ladislaus Cziacchy The Antient Seat of Ladislaus Cziacchy plundered and burnt which was of a much more capacious and large extent than it was supposed to be howsoever without a Wall Ditch Cannon People or Money howsoever there was in it a large Magazine filled with all sorts of Grain Flour and other sorts of Provisions and Merchandize but according to the Report of the Inhabitants much infected with the Pestilence There was also an old ruinous Castle conserved only for its Antiquity Piccolomini not giving much credence to these Reports went in person to visit the place where having considered the Situation of it and the difficulty to maintain it he gave it over to the plunder of the Soldiery and afterwards putting Fire to it in several places the Houses were all in a short time reduced to Ashes together with several stately Moschs and Fountains Piccolomini retirâ—s back to Kazianech Upon these Successes Piccolomini retired back towards Kazianech which he had left defended with a strong Garrison the People flocking thereunto in great Numbers to be protected and received for Subjects of His Imperial Majesty At this place having divided his Army he detached a Party under Command of the Prince of Holstein with a Regiment of Cuirasiers belonging to the Hanover Troops to march towards the Mount Hemus and with the remainder of the Forces he went himself to Lippian and thence he detached Colonel Strasser with his Regiment of Foot and six pieces of Cannon towards Bosnia to drive the Turks out of the Castles of Zwetzey and Panza Piccolomini sick yet marches towards Prisseren And tho' the Sickness of Piccolomini increased upon him which some People termed the Plague yet his active Soul strugling with the Distemper he took a March with his own Regiment and that of Stirum with two pieces of Cannon towards Albania to discover and inform himself what his Lieutenant Colonel the Baron of Hebersburg had acted in Prisseren with his Albanians Novemb. Whilst he was in this March his Fever increased so that he was constrained to rest a while with his Army at Capuschmit where he received advice that Lieutenant Colonel Maursberg of the Regiment of Stirum had possessed himself of the Castle of Panza but that the other of Zwetzey being situate on a Rock refused to Surrender unless compelled thereunto by Fire and Cannon Tho' the Disease of Piccolomini increased yet he could not be perswaded to take a longer rest and repose which is necessary in Fevers but being full of Zeal and desire of Triumph he marched with his Regiments towards Panni And to Panni on the way to which Advices came to him That the Commander of Pyroth The Commander of Pyroth defeats 1500 Turks with a Party of Germans and 800 Hussars had taken the Field in the Enemies Country where at the first they had the good fortune to defeat a Party of 1500 Turks which they found encamped near Dragoman a place distant about six or seven Hours from Sophia where they had posted themselves to observe the Motions of the Imperial Forces but that soon afterwards the Turks being Alarm'd in all their Quarters near Sophia they appeared in several Bodies on both sides of the Mountain The Imperialists defeated near Dragoman with Reserves both of Turks and Tartars and having with their Numbers surrounded the Germans after a great Slaughter on both sides the Christians were forced to give back and betake themselves to Flight To repair the damage and prevent the ill Consequences of this Surprize Piccolomini without any delay dispatched positive Orders to Colonel Strasser to desist from his Enterprises in Bosnia and return to Nissa least the Enemy encouraged by this Success should adventure to make an Attempt upon that place In the mean time Piccolomini continuing his March Piccolomini comes to Prisseren on the 6th of this Month came early in the Morning under the Walls of Prisseren where he was met by the Archbishop of Albania and the Patriarch of Clementa carrying a Standard in which a Cross was painted and followed by 8000 Arnouts Geceks of Albania Turks and Christians with other Natives of those Countries who having given their Salvoes with three Vollies of Muskets they joyned with the Germans declaring their Resolutions to live and die with them in the common Cause Count Piccolomini tho' in a languishing Condition was yet much relieved by such a surprising appearance of People who came with humble submission to devote themselves to the Imperial Soveraignty but being acquainted with the unsetled and voluble Temper of that People he knew not what to think of this suddain Revolution until he had first satisfied himself by the Archbishop and some of the Officers who were the first of those that were come in that this People would prove obedient and constant to the Emperor's Interest with which Report Piccolomini remaining satisfied The Arnouts list themselves he caused all the Soldiers to be listed under his Banner with this Temperament howsoever that all those who were desirous to retire and live like orderly Citizens within the Walls of Towns or in the Fields to cultivate the Ground should have a free liberty so to do and be protected by the Imperial Arms But as to those who were willing to follow the Camp and be formed into regular Troops should be obliged to take the Military Oath And formed into regular Troops binding themselves to all Obedience and Respect towards their Commanders and to live according to the rigour and exact Rules of Military Discipline So soon as Piccolomini had made this Declaration and given this Charge to the new Soldiery his Disease increased upon him of which being sensible he sent to the Archbishop to perform all those Offices which were to be done in the time of the last Agony Piccolomini's Death which being administred with great Devotion this brave General expired his last to the unexpressible Lamentation of the whole Army and Sorrow of the Imperial Court The Command and Government of all the Conquered Countries Decemb. having been promised to General Veterani upon News of the Death of Piccolomini he prepared to take possession thereof but in the mean time that the Army might not be destitute of a General the Conduct thereof was committed to the care of the Prince of Holstein Prince of Holstein Commands the Army to maintain and support the Conquests of those parts until Veterani should come and take possession thereof Thus ended the Campaign of 1689 glorious in the whole progress thereof to the Imperial Arms the Victories whereof over the Turks being scarce to be numbred filled Vienna and the Hereditary Countries with Joy and Triumph And here it had been happy for the Empire and all Europe had the Germans fixed the Conclusion of the War at this period before the Air of Fortune which had blown for some Years with a prosperous Gale in
into Captivity After this unhamane Butchery Sultan Galga retreated with most of his Hords to Sophia and thence by way of Nicopolis he made all the haste possible to return for Budziack because he had received Advices They return to Budziack That the Moscovites with a very numerous Army were on the Frontiers ready to Invade his Country but his March was not so hasty but that he had time after the Tartarian Fashion to destroy the Province of Schnepoli and to kill and assassinate all the Country People that they met and tho' this Retreat of the Tartars was Unfortunate to these poor Wretches yet thereby General Veterani was delivered from his Apprehensions for Nissa which was howsoever labouring under great want of Ammunition and Provision of all sorts and how to supply them was not as yet resolved Nissa in want of Provisions For tho' the Country of Schnepoli had engaged to furnish Nissa with a good quantity of all sorts of Provisions yet being now burnt and destroyed by the Tartars and the remainder of what was left pillaged by the Turks there could be no expectation of any supply from thence And as to what was to be conveyed to them from Belgrade by reason of the Winter Weather Snows and tired Cattle came so slowly over the Mountains that General Veterani and the other chief Officers had Abandoned the Place had not some Horses at the very instant arrived at Nissa with 50 Waggons February all laden with Provisions and Ammunition together with four Pieces of Cannon which had been taken out of the Fort of Jagodina and great Quantities of Flour and Oats much more of which was daily expected by which Stores tho' Nissa was abundantly relieved yet the Fortifications proceeded more slowly than was fit for a Frontier Garrison exposed to the main and chief Power of the Enemy Canisia iâ—clining to capitulate Thus things stood at Nissa when the Blockade of Canisia was so narrowly watched and observed that the Garrison began to be reduced to the utmost Extremity so that the People would have forced the Pasha to Capitulate but he remaining resolute to endure the last Extremity perswaded them with Presents and fair Words to a longer Patience But the Inferiour and Subaltern Officers not enduring longer dispatched a Messenger without making the Pasha or Janizar-Aga privy to their Design with Letters to the Grand Vizier desiring that he would either take some Measures for the Relief of the Place or to send his Orders to the Pasha for the Surrender thereof but this Express was not got far from the Town before he was overtaken brought back and Executed but such was the Misery in the Town that he who could escape got out amongst which was a Turkish Imaum or Priest and an Arabian Jew who reported That about Palm-Sunday the City would Capitulate which afterwards proved true accordingly In the mean time the Croats made an Invasion into Bosnia burnt Kazaraz Places taken and burnt and took some Hundreds of small and great Cattle Howsoever in their Retreat being pursued by the Turks of Bannialuca and Attacked by them near the Save some of the Cattle were recovered several of their Men killed 15 Prisoners and five Horses taken And about the same time the Governour of Novi having gotten together a small Body of Men drawn out of that Garrison and that of Zim made an Incursion into the Enemies Country where he burnt Ostrovitz Ztergarick the Little and the Great Badick with Houses belonging to Gentlemen in the Country in which Expedition they killed about 200 of the Enemy took 76 Prisoners 100 Head of Cattle 32 Horses and much other Booty and all this with the loss of one Man killed and 10 wounded In revenge hereof March the Turks of Novi-Porto Attacked with a strong Party some German Horse as they were Foraging abroad but were so warmly received by Brumati the Governour of Lescoviza and with such Valour that the Turks were put to the Rout and forced to fly leaving 20 of their Men dead on the Place Whilst Matters thus passed with various Successes there were some Fears of the Constancy and Steadiness of the Rascians towards the Emperor but those Apprehensions were soon taken away by Antonio their Captain who being sent by General Veterani to take a View of all the Passes round about reported at his return That he had met within the Pass of Prissina with one Haram Bassa The Rascians faithful to the Emperor who in the Name of all the Inhabitants of Colossi Moloch Letaner and Gaas had assured him of the Faith and Allegiance of those People to the Emperor having refused the Protection of the Turks which had been offered to them And hereof they soon gave a Testimony by an Assault they had made on a Party of 500 Turks under the Command of the Pasha of Ostrolub in their March towards the Castle of Zwetsey situate in the Pass of Bosna of which they killed 60 Men took four Prisoners and 90 Horses of which 30 were laden with Flour besides a great Booty of other things On the other side Mahomet Pasha roved round about the Country of Novi Passar burning and destroying all the remaining Villages killing the Country People that they met with and acting all the Cruelties that Fire and Sword could execute But what was of most importance at this time was the Surrender of the strong City and Fortress of Canisia having been reduced thereunto by Famine after a long and severe Blockade by which being brought to such Extremities that not being able to support themselves any longer the Pasha on the 16th of March sent out two Aga's to the Christian Army to treat with the Commanders of the Blockade who were Count Adam Bathiani and Count Stephen Zitchi Canisia treats to whom being conducted by Lieutenant Colonel Pisterski after the usual Complements had been passed on both sides the Turks desired that four Weeks might be granted them to make their Surrender offering in case no Succours came to them within that time they would then resign the City into the Hands of the Emperor's Generals with all the Cannon and Ammunition therein four Guns only excepted which they pretended to carry with them But in regard it was then late in the Evening when these Offers were delivered the Messengers were kept all Night in the Camp and well treated and the next Morning a Council of War being called an Answer was returned them to this Effect That it being well known Answer to the Garrison of Canisia that neither in four Weeks nor in four Years any Relief or Succour could be expected for them and that tho' their Extremities were so evident that they were certainly assured they could not subsist any longer yet that they might taste of the Grace and Clemency of the Emperor they promised them their Lives provided they should Surrender themselves in the space of 24 Hours With which Answer the
Succours which were promised him but as I have related in my former History so great a Faction was against him at the Imperial Court that they were not willing to see him prosperous but chose rather to Sacrifice the Publick Welfare to Private Animosities but the expected Recruits not arriving at the appointed time and the Year coming on the Ice was Thawed and the Great Vizier advancing with a Powerful Army the Count Sereni being under all these Discouragements was forced to raise his Siege and be gone General Veterani in the mean time whilst things were thus acting at Canisia being much streightned for want of Provisions ordered the Garrisons of Lescowitz and Pyroth to make Incursions into the Turkish Territories Incursions made into several places which they performed so effectually that they returned back with more than 1000 Head of Cattle the which being divided amongst the Regiments such as were sit for the Slaughter were killed and the rest employed for drawing the Waggons laden with Ammunition and Provisions On the other side the Turks surprized a Village near Belgrade which they Plundered and Burnt killing or carrying away Captives all the Inhabitants of the Place Some Skirmishes But the Garrison of Pyroth being much animated with their late Success made another Incursion as far as within three Leagues of Philippopolis burning the Villages and killing the Turks which they met in their way but at length being pursued by 1000 Turks they drew themselves up into good order and posting themselves advantageously on the rising of a Hill they engaged the Enemy for two Hours space The Turks worsted during which time 30 Turks were killed and many wounded and 28 Prisoners taken with which and some Hundreds of Cattle they returned safe to Pyroth In like manner 100 Germans and some Hussars belonging to the Garrison of Zolnock encountred a Party of 160 Turks and Male-contents which belonged to Giula and having engaged them they killed 20 of them took 60 Prisoners of which 16 were of the Male-contents the remainder throwing themselves into the River were for the most part drowned During this Season of the Year before the Grass was sufficiently grown no other Actions passed but only by Parties sent abroad to surprize Cattle and burn Villages Amongst the rest a Party of Rascians having roved over the Country of Schnepoli returned back to Nissa with a Booty of several Hundred Head of Cattle and some Yoaks of Oxen taken near to Sophia the which Successes still attending the Imperial Arms the Country People on all sides offered to embrace the Imperial Party and implore their Protection so soon as the Christian Army should take the Field On the other side Mahomet Bagavitz Pasha who had some time quietly Quartered at Poza having left 1500 Men for Garrison in that Place he marched out with a Party of about 4000 Men towards the Pass of Bosnia but having in his March received Intelligence That Captain Antonio attended him in the way and was ready to receive him returned and marched towards Bagnia from whence also by reason of the great Snows he was forced to retreat back to Poza without any Action Little more was acted now as we have faid but by Parties of which Kathana Pasha commanding one he made an Incursion therewith into the Neighbourhood of Pyroth where he took several straggling Hussars Another Party of Hungarians to the Number of about 20 commanded by that Valiant Hungarian Captain called Baudi which had made a bold Incursion and roved about 14 Days beyond Sophia near to Philippopolis were at length attacked by a strong Body of Turks with which having fought for a considerable time were at last over-powered and all of them cut off two only excepted who made their Escape to Nissa On the other side a Party from Belgrade surprized a Body of Turks Several small Parti cengage the most of which they killed or took Prisoners Likewise a Party of Rascians made an Excursion as far as Bagnia in Bosnia where they killed 20 Turks and took 12 Prisoners with 400 Head of Cattle Besides which those who guarded the Blockade of Great Waradine beat a Party of the Enemy brought home 11 Heads and eight Prisoners Another Party of 500 Hussars and 40 German Dragoons made a Sally out of Sclavonia under the Command of Lieutenant Bonidu and passed the Save and having in their way an Information that the Turkish Garrison belonging to the strong Fortress of Teockzach was fallied abroad having only left eight Men and 15 Women therein they attacked and entered the Fort early in the Morning with the loss of six of their Men killed and eight wounded of the Turks four of the eight with the Women saved themselves in a Tower from whence the Women threw Fire and Stones and hot scalding Water but at length were forced to surrender and leave the Place to the mercy of the Enemy in which they found a good Booty of Turkish Horses and other rich Goods and therewith repassed the Save having left four Troops of Heydukes for defence of the Place The Season of the Year being now far advanced towards the Summer and things preparing for greater Action the German Officers were very intent and studious in what manner to conserve Nissa May for which they had great reason to be apprehensive for that according to the Reports of all those who lately came from Adrianople and of such Deserters who came out from the Turkish Quarters Nissa provided the Turks were become much more numerous than the last Year and were marching on purpose to make Nissa the first Atchievement and Design of their Conquest But what could be done for Conservation of that Place was not omitted all the Old Works were repaired and several New ones compleated and the River Morava being with much Expence and Labour made Navigable great Quantities of Provisions and Materials necessary for War were brought down by that Water to Nissa so that nothing was wanting for Conservation of the Place unless a greater Garrison within and a more numerous Army without About this time a small sort of Venomous Flies swarmed about Nissa which killed many Horses Cattle Camels and Mules I remember in a Journey I once made through those Countries in the Month of May that we were much infested with this sort of Animals which was the smallest Fly that ever I did see covered with a thin Fluff or Down the which would not touch the Flesh of a Man Small poysonous Flies but Horses Camels Mules c. were killed by them Wheresoever they fixed on the Sides of a Horse or any other Part they would draw a Blister as big as an Egg and entering into the Nostrils immediately poisoned the Brain which caused a sudden Death to the Beast but hereof I have discoursed more at large in a former History to which I refer the Reader Tho' the great Armies were not as yet in the Field yet Parties were roving
in all Parts and Places the Weather becoming moderate according to the Season and the Grass grown the Turks encamped near Gradisca where they staid a while in expectation of some Troops to joyn with them and therewith to pass the Save into Sclavonia with no other Design than to ruine and spoil the Country but Baron Koniseck having Advice thereof marched from Brod with all the Hussars and Heydukes which were Quartered in the adjacent Villages unto a Place where the River is fordable and therefore the most likely place where they might design to pass by which not only the Passage of the Turks was obstructed but News coming to them that the Croats were fallen into their Country on the other side they quitted their first Design and marched to oppose the Croats who were too quick for them having taken great Booty and committed a vast Spoil before the Turks could come in to the Succour of their Country About the same time one Herlniovich a Dalmatian Captain marched six Days Journey beyond Nissa into the Enemies Country which he Surprized and Plundered and returned back with the Heads of several Turks and some Prisoners The same Captain soon afterwards having recruited himself with some more Troops fell upon Berkowitz in which was a Garrison of about 127 Turks provided with all things necessary for defence of the Place being fortified on a very advantageous Situation Berkewitz taken by a Captain of Dalmatia but coming upon them by Surprize the Place was taken and all the Men put to the Sword except some few who made their Escape the Booty was considerable besides 90 Turkish Women four Standards and two pair of Kettle-Drums In like manner a Captain of the Garrison of Pyroth roving abroad and seeking his Fortune met near to Sophia with 20 Horses laden with Nails Iron and several Warlike Instruments he seized them all and killed 19 Turks and took one Prisoner alive who in the Night making his Escape gave Intelligence thereof to Sophia from whence a Party being commanded out they overtook the Germans and fought with them but the Germans behaved themselves so well that they forced the Turks to leave them and suffer them to escape with the Booty they had gained At this time also some Sea Robbers landed in the Bay of Vola Sea Robbers Land and made an Incursion into the Territories of Macedonia near Monassir burning and spoiling all the Country whilst another Party of them to the number of about 600 Men made a Sally towards Stippo where they surprized 500 Turks and put them all to the Sword without Quarter given to any one but the Inhabitants they carried away Prisoners and made use of them for Slaves in the Hills and Mountains Nor were things more quiet in Hungary where several Skirmishes happened to the Loss and Damage of the Turks and particularly the Soldiers of the Garrison and those of the Blockade had an Encounter and the latter returned Victorious with 16 Prisoners 22 Heads 49 Horses and some Cattle Moreover Count Corbelli sent out a Party of 500 Horse which met and surrounded a Party of Turks of which they killed three or four of the Chief Commanders with 70 private Soldiers took 10 Prisoners and many Horses in which Action 12 Men were slain and wounded and 22 Horses killed Moreover 3000 Rascians under the Command of Captain Antonio and 200 Germans under Rusbach a Captain of Hanover arrived one Morning about Break of Day near Bernia Bernia surpriv'd by the Christians from which a Detachment being made of five Troops of Rascians with some German Musqueteers having their Van-Guard led by Artusser Adjutant-General of Piccolomini and three Lieutenants pushed forward into the City without any Halt or Hesitation or regard to the Troops which followed with such Courage and Valour that the Turks being surprized not having time to gather themselves into an Orderly Body in the open Market-place and seeing the Enemy already in the City and more Troops following them the Pasha with about 200 of his best Horse fled out of the opposite Gate leaving the remainder of the Garrison with the Inhabitants which consisted of about 3000 Men to their own Fate which ended with the Death of about 1700 of them most whereof were killed Sleeping on their Beds tho Booty taken was very considerable besides much Cattle and 500 good Horses with the loss only on the Christian side of seven Germans and 17 Rascians who were killed It being now towards the end of May which is the usual Season for Armies to take the Field News was brought to Nissa that Kuperlee the Grand Vizier The Grand Vizier marches to the Camp at Nicopolis was decamped from before Adrianople with 20000 Men and on his March to joyn with 40000 more which were Encamped at Nicopolis with intention to attack at one and the same time both Nissa and Widin and whereas the Turkish Army was in great want of Artillery by reason of the many Cannon which they had lost during this War the French furnished them with 100 Pieces which were brought from France and Landed at Galata and thence conducted on Carriages to the Army But the Season not being as yet come for pitched Battles or Siege of Towns the Armies not being gathered into a Body General Corbelli June who Commanded the Blockade near Great Waradine detached 220 Germans and Hungarians with design to attack the Palanca of Bellanasch where coming to it before Break of Day and finding no Centinels to observe their Appearance all the People being asleep with the greatest Security imaginable the Soldiers climbed the Walls and unperceived entered the Place without any opposition whatsoever The Palanca of Bellanasch surprized and taken killing Men Women and Children without any distinction some Turks howsoever escaped and saved themselves in the Castle which General Corbelli being desirous to take by reason that the People of Great Waradine had been frequently relieved from thence he sent for 500 Men more to reinforce his Troops but before these could come up to joyn the others laden with Booty and Spoil were departed and gone to secure what they had gained These two late Successes by Surprize animated the Governour of Lescowitza and Count Montecelli Captain of Horse in the Regiment of General Hoffkirchen to attempt a third and joyning with them a Party of Germans and Rascians they marched to Noviporto with intention to surprize it in the same manner as the others had been but some of the Rascians having Friends and Relations in the Place A D â—gn on Noviporto discovered gave information to those within upon which they all retired into the Castle which was well defended with a strong Tower and a good Wall and with Provision sufficient for some Weeks and stood upon their Guard so that the Party finding their Design defeated fell upon the Cattle which were feeding near the Place and carried away some of them to the Number of 6000 Sheep and 2000
other Cattle but the Turks of the Country gathering themselves into a Body pursued after them in such Numbers that attacking the Rascians in the Rear they recovered most of their Cattle and took some of their Horses howsoever the Rascians carried off about 1000 Head of Cattle and some Prisoners with the Heads of 15 Turks which they had killed The Germans still continued to rove about the Country with Parties returning most commonly with Success one of them surprized and took Uhicza and Dobran two small Palanca's killing all that they found alive therein Likewise Captain Schenchendorff with 800 Germans and some Hungarians passing near Radimir a Turkish Garrison in hopes to surprize it found the Turks vigilant and ready to receive him upon which being forced to make a Retreat the Turks sallied out upon them but were repulsed with the loss of 50 of their Men killed and three taken Prisoners upon which the Turks being put to flight Radimir abandoned by the Turks the Germans pursued them so close that they entered with them into the Suburbs which consisting of about 400 Houses they burnt all to the Ground and then retired towards Pyroth but in their way meeting with 400 fresh Hungarian Horse they joyned with them and returned again towards Radimir but in their March having received Advice That the Turks had abandoned the Town and laden their Wives Children and Goods on 130 Waggons and sent them farther into the Country a Party of Hussars was commanded to pursue them which they did and soon came up with them and took all the Waggons People and Goods that were in them but they were not so easily carried off as they were taken for a Body of about 1200 Turks from the Frontiers coming in to their Assistance they not only retook all the Booty from the Hussars A Booty taken from the Hussars the Captain Schenchendorff being at too far a distance to relieve them but also forced them to fly leaving some of their Companions who were the worst mounted unto the Mercy of the Enemy after which the Turks pursuing farther fell in with Schenchendorff who finding himself over-matched made a handsome Retreat to a convenient place They Rally and Kill some Turks where taking his Advantage made Head against the Turks and killed above 100 of them took several of their Horses and much Cattle which they carried off with them General Corbelli who commanded the Blockade before Great Waradin made an Incursion with 2000 Men and ruined all the Corn and Fruit of the Field so near the City as was within reach of their Guns Upon which Approach the Garrison sallied out A Sally made out of Great Waradin but were repulsed with great loss and amongst the rest the Chiaus-Bashee was killed The Defendants terrified herewith above 40 Families escaped out and at their Request were Baptized In the mean time a stricter Watch than ever was kept in the Blockade about the Castle of Bellanasch and the Stream of Water which ran at the Foot of the Palanca and Castle by which both were supplied being cut off by the Christians and the Currant turned another way the Defendants were reduced to great Extremities and more especially they began to be affrighted when they saw a fresh supply of Horse Dragoons and Hussars ready to attack the Place and that two Batteries were already raised which continued firing for two Days without intermission they at length inclined to a Surrender and in order thereunto sent out two Aga's to make their Capitulations which were soon concluded and agreed That the Garrison consisting of 150 Men The Castle of Bellanasch surrendred besides their Wives and Children and other Inhabitants should the next Day be conveyed to Giula which was accordingly performed on the 4th of July July Whilst these Matters went on the Parties from Nissa were always Plundering and spoiling the Countries and Captain Strahina the famous Partisan who was continually on Parties made his Inroads near to Philippopolis and surprized the Turks in several Places of that Neighbourhood with much Spoil and Damage The Turks alarm'd hereat got into a Body and pursued after Strahina The Turks Attack Strahina and having overtaken him attacked him with great Fury and Bravery but were as resolutely repulsed and their Teftish Pasha killed in the Action 200 of their Horse taken and much Booty with the loss only of five Rascians The like Success Strahina had against Kathana Pasha who meeting on the Road whilst one Party was returning to Sophia as the other was to Nissa the Turks were beaten and put to Flight and the Pasha with his Men that escaped were forced to take Refuge in the Mountains scattered and dispersed whilst Strahina and his Men with their Booty returned safe to Nissa And now to conclude the Successes of the many Parties which roved abroad in divers Places the Captains Schenchendorff Strahina and Wildenham with one Lieutenant Funck sallied abroad with 100 Germans and 1500 Rascians with which having stormed Pernich in three several Places at the same time they entered the Fortress Pernich stormed taken and cut down all the Turks in the way only 50 of them got into a Tower and refusing to take Quarter Fire was put to the same and then the People too late cryed out for Mercy after which the Town was Plundered and the best of the Goods with 3000 Head of Cattle were carried off safe to Pyroth But to make way to greater Actions the French Ambassador at the Ottoman Court Tekeli declared Prince of Transilvania after a long Sollicitation had procured for Tekeli a Baratz or Commission whereby he was declared Prince of Transilvania and to publish the same he dispatched his Circular Letters to all the Cities and Provinces written in the Latin Tongue The Contents whereof were as followeth THAT whereas God Almighty and the High and Mighty and always Flourishing Ottoman Empire had created and ordained him Prince of the Hereditary Countries of Transilvania belonging to the Ottoman Empire with an express Clause That he should enjoy the same with such Power and in the same manner and with as high and ample Privileges as had been given to Bethlem Gabor for which Cause and Reason having sent Greeting to all the People and Subjects of that Country he did strictly forbid and inhibit all Persons to give any Succour or Assistance whatsoever unto the Germans but on the contrary to put themselves into a readiness to give Assistance unto him the said Tekeli as also the Grand Vizier and the Tartars who were now coming in great Numbers very speedily into the Field to deliver their Country of Transilvania from the Terrible and Unjust Oppression of the Germans Now follows Tekeli's Declaration in Latin joyned hereunto Emericus Tókólius Dei Gratiâ à Fulgidâ Portâ Ottomanicâ declaratus Princeps Transylvaniae Partium Regni Hungariae Dominus Siculorum Comes QUAM preciosa inaestimabilis res sit animae
of the Germans and tho' the Turks told him the contrary yet not believing them he still persisted so earnestly to be Convoyed to Belgrade that the Turks at length carried him and his People thither consisting of 600 Men besides Women and Children but this mistrust of the Turks words cost them dear for arriving there they were put for two days into a Fort of the City and afterwards commanded them to bring out their Arms and lay them upon Waggons on promise of sending them for Esseck which being done they commanded them to come forth two by two that they might be the better counted After which they drove them back to the Fort like Cattle and chained them there with Iron-Chains where they kept them in so severe an Imprisonment that most of them died with Want and Hunger except such as were under 20 years of Age whom they Shaved and Circumcised and made Turks but the Women and Children they Sold and pillaged all the Goods which they brought out with them In this Island the Enemies found 23 great Guns 15 Field-pieces and three Mortars but the Bombs and Powder were thrown into the River And thus ended this Year which proved the most unfortunate to the Emperor of any that had happened since the beginning of this War THE Venetian Successes In Their WAR against the TURKS In the Year 1690. WE concluded the Venetian Successes of the last Year's Expedition with the Triumphant and Glorious Entry of that Illustrious Prince Francisco Morosini Cavalier Captain General and Elected Doge of Venice to whom his Country testified as much Honour and Glory as could be contrived and expressed the Particulars of which are long and not necessary to be inserted in this History only it may not be improper to recount in short some of the Exploits of this Great Man with that Applause which is due unto his Memory This Francisco Morosini descending from the most Ancient Patrician Family in Venice was Born in the Year 1618. He was in his Infancy dedicared by his Parents to the Service of his Country and educated in all Martial Exercises and rising by degrees and steps to several Offices both Military and Civil he at length arrived at the Supream degree of Government in that Republick being elected Doge during the time that he was fighting abroad in defence of his Country he was at first made a Noble Commander of a Gally which is the first step and degree which a Noble Venetian takes then he was made a Vice-Admiral and Governour of a Galleass next Captain of the Golf Proveditor-General of the Arms in Candia and then Captain General in which Office he continued a long time until the Year 1661 behaving himself with incomparable Valour in which Year he fought a Battle with the Gallies of Barbary under the Fortress of Valona he took a great Ship called a Sultana richly laden from Egypt near the Island of Milo he defended the Breaches of Candia and took another great Sultana The Atchievâ—ments of Francisco Morosini the Captain of which was called Admiral Nicolo of Nadalin Furlano and made him Prisoner he laid the Captain Pasha's Gally Aboard and almost entirely ruined it he took the Gally of the Pasha of Cyprus together with the several Fortresses of Calamo Egena Volo and Megara and having made himself Master of those Seas he destroyed 13 Galleots under the Fortress of Prevesa He made many Sallies from Candia in the Face of the Enemy destroying many of their Works and Intrenchments he subdued the Fortress of Calamata and made himself Master of two Turkish Gallies commanded by Hali Pasha he also took the Fortresses of Toron Chisme Castel-rugio and Schiato putting them and other Islands under Contribution He also took the Castle of Capricorno and destroyed the Forts of Calogero Sancta Veneranda and Calami which commanded the Fortress of Suda He likewise took two Ships bound from Alexandria laden with Soldiers and Provisions with another Convoy bound from the same Place for Constantinople under which were divers Ships and Vessels In fine after all these Successes and Triumphs being returned to Venice he was made Proveditor of Friuli to oppose the Incursions of the Turks who at that time threatned those Countries very much but those Fears being blown over he was sent back a second time to Command both the Seas and me City of Candia then streightly Besieged by the Grand Vizier Kupriogli with the main force of the Ottoman Empire the which Siege having continued for the space of almost three Years The Praises of Morosini the Turks were concluded to have lost 128000 Men before it During which time this Hero behaved himself with all imaginable Wisdom and Bravery and tho' at length he was forced after many Conflicts and various Successes which we have distinctly recounted in our History of the Lives of the three last Emperors yet the fame of that renowned Defence accompanied with an ensuing Peace will much more immortalize his Fame than any other of his Martial Successes it being the most memorable Siege that ever happened in the World Finally in the Year 1683 when the Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha appeared before Vienna with an Army of 200000 Men he was then appointed Proveditor-General of Friuli to oppose the vast Inundations of the Turks which had happened to all those Countries had the Success of that Vizier answered the Expectations of so mighty a Power After which he was sent a third time in quality of Captain-General against the Turks in the Morea where in the space of five Years he performed all those great Actions which have been before recounted by which he acquired such immortal Honour and Fame that he was by the Death of Contareno exalted to the Supream Throne of that Victorious and Renowned Republick where we shall now leave him employed in the exercise of the Sublime Dignity and so proceed to recount the Actions of that Noble General the Cavalier and Procurator Girolamo Cornaro who when the Doge about the latter end of the last Year returned to Venice was left in the Command before Malvasia of the Blockade which continued during the whole Winter past But the Summer coming on and the Army and Navy reinforced considerably with Men Provisions and Money dispatched from Venice under several strong Convoys and being joyned with the Pope's and the Maltese Gallies it was proposed to convert the Blockade into a Formal Siege It was now full 17 Months that the Besieged had with much patience stood out in defence of their City so that it was believed that they were reduced to the utmost Point of Famine and Penury The Venetians resolve to besiege Napoli di Malvasia the which Opinion the Turks were willing to confirm in the Minds of the Besiegers that they might take them off from the Attempts of Attacking Bombing or other Methods for forcing the Town But the Captain-General having discovered that the Defendants were still provided for a
their Forts but being closely pursued Are put to flight the Rascians and Dragoons entered the Palanca together with the Turks cutting down and killing all that were before them In this Confusion The Town and Castle of Lugos taken many of the Turks betook themselves to the Castle but with so much haste that they had not time to draw the Bridge up after them so that the Rascians passing thereon cut down one of the Castle Gates with their Battle-Axes and being come to the last Gate the Turks hung out a white Flag desiring to Capitulate the which admitted of no long dispute it being in a moment Agreed That those who were in the Castle should have their Lives given them and securely Convoyed to Temeswaer there were remaining in all no more than 152 fighting Men with their Tefterdar or Treasurer Bey or Governour of the Castle Out of the whole number of 1000 effective Men as they were before this fight began the same according to Capitulation were safely conducted to Temeswaer the remainder being 850 were killed in this Action on the other side 10 Germans were killed and about 100 Rascians besides the wounded of which there were some Rascians and 22 Germans amongst which Pohland was shot through the Arm. In this place of Lugos four Brass Guns and one Mortar piece were taken with 15 Standards After which 700 Rascians and 100 Dragoons were left for a Garrison in the place The News of this Success encourageing all the Imperialists round about the Hungarians in the Garrison at Beche The Garrison of Bech makes a Salley about eight Leagues distant from Segedin sallied out with a Party of Horse and Foot and met a Party of Tartars not far from Zatmar pillaging and robbing the Country the which he having attacked with great vigour they returned with 200 Heads together with two of their Captains Prisoners and 300 Horses Another Party of Hungarians of the Garison of Zento met with a Party of 60 Turks of which they killed 20 and made 40 Prisoners and in their return they took the Palancha of Cariawiez and killed all the People and found a rich Booty in it The Garrison of Segedin surprize Chonad The Garrison of Segedin being informed of all these Successes of their Neighbours were resolved not to sit idle but to try their fortune in the same manner and accordingly by break of Day attacked the City of Chonad and entered it by surprize before the Turks knew that their Enemy was near them All in the Town were killed and those in the Castle being terrified by the Flames round about them abandoned the place the night following These frequent Misfortunes of the Turks made them more cautious and circumspect in all their Motions for the future retiring and keeping themselves close in their strong Holds and Fortresses On the other side the Imperial Court took all possible care to reinforce their Army and make it more strong and numerous than it had been the last year To which end Orders were given to repair and strengthen the Fortifications of Buda and Esseck and especially the latter where the Counterscarps were enlarged and two whole and two half Batteries were raised and the Ice of the Danube for it was now the month of March being thawed March the River was open to bring all necessary Materials for the Fortifications whereby that work went on with all Diligence This Employment did not hinder the Governor of Esseck from making some Attempts on the Turks the which he prosecuted with some vigour for having given Orders to a Captain of Walkowar Percilia by Name with 400 Hussars and Heydukes to fall into the Dominion of the Turks He accordingly surprized Irrick Irrick surprized with much Booty taken burnt and plundered and put all to Fire and Sword He destroyed also the Neighbouring Villages and cut down all the Turks and Tartars who had their Quarters in those Parts In this Action Percilia got so considerable a Booty that he laded 70 Waggons with the Spoil besides a considerable number of stately Horses only 40 Turks of Note and Quality were made Prisoners and several Standards as a signal of Victory were sent to Vienna With this Booty a great quantity of Copper-Money was taken for payment of the Turks and Tartars together with 12000 Ducats in Gold and 3000 in Silver with Clothing for the Souldiers and rich Habits belonging to the General Officers The Report of this Action being noised abroad a Pasha of that Country A Pasha pursues them but recires called Kathana Mustapha with 200 Horse pursued and overtook them but finding them too strong for him and preparing to attack him he retired and saved himself in a Castle not far distant from thence Nor was this all for Percilia meeting with another Party of Tartars caused his Trumpets to sound a Turkish March In answer to which the Tartars called and spoke to them in the Turkish Language which Percilia returned with good Blows falling on them so suddenly Percilia routs a Body of Tartars that they entirely routed them took all their Colours and a good Booty and released many Christians which had been enslaved by the Tartars in which Action and in the former they killed 1200 Turks and Tartars and so returned safe with all their Prisoners and Booty to Walkowar and Esseck A like Exploit was done by Antonio Captain of the Rascians who having joyned with 600 Heydukes and 400 Hussars attacked a Castle called Karakowar a place situate on a high Rock and by a Stratagem took it Karakowar taken and found therein great quantities of Corn the which he distributed amongst his Men only he put a Garrison into the place and lest with them 2000 Sacks of Corn for their Subsistence Tho' the Turks had the last year been more successful than they had been any time during the War yet by their long and tedious Marches and by the Losses they had sustained in small Parties before-mentioned they could not put themselves into a posture of taking the Field until the middle of the month of July Howsoever in the mean time they made great preparations both by Land and Water ordering their Troops from the remotest parts of Asia to march for Hungary several of their Ships laden with Ammunition and Provisions arrived at Widin with design to transport the same to Belgrade where the Magazine of Stores was to be made Antonio who was now made a Colonel had notice hereof and suffered two of their small Ships to pass by without interruption herewith the Turks being encouraged sent 10 more but these Antonio attacked and took two of them and two more of them were taken by the Rascians near Modava the rest returned back to Widin May. These great Preparations made by the Turk obliged the Emperor to do the like and accordingly a great Train of Artillery with vast quantities of Ammunition Bullets Bombs and Carcasses were sent down the River to Buda and
concessa est Et ipsemet diuturnam passus detentionem ab itinere reprehensus fuit Cùm ita revera res ista se habeat qui Nos principales Nostri sive per literas sive per expressos invisitant An verò Nobiscum affligendum aliquem emittant Testamur sincere misertos infimi cujusque nullum ex suo famulitio ad nos misisse Certè si ex Nobis liquidum candidum responsum expetatur id est si hic ad decennium ita detinebimur nemo ad Nos accedet haeccine quae pronunciamus plane verissima sunt quaesumus ne his vocibus quispiam offendatur ut expressi ultrò citroque permeent veterem inter Gentes consuetudinem reciprocè literas Commeatus observari religiosè cuicunque liberam permitti voluntatem fontem qui à DEO ad extinguendum belli ignem erectus est apertum esse necessum est quousque verò his in despectu habitis Nos in isto eodem statu perseveramus sanè nihil ad bonum commune peragetur sin verò in Aula Caesarea ambigitur an Nostram hîc moram fulgida Porta velit dimissio Nostra posthac fulgidae Portae dispositioni remittatur Cursoris in Portam expeditio nobis concedatur Favente DEO Potentissimi Imperatoris Nostri quidcunque in animo est nobis revelabitur speramus tamen sidem adhibendam esse nostrae contestationi ita ut iteratis Interrogationibus non opus sit ac proinde nos neutiquam detinendos si quid praeterea tempori praesenti consentaneum Imperii Ottomanici Magnitudini consonum proponendum videbitur si placet eo quoque pronunciato Nos quamprimùm esse remittendos Fortè postquam nos salvi incolumes contenti redierimus almus aliquis aditus aperietur utrinque permanentibus Ministris opportuno momento ac loco ex mutua propensione satisfactione si ita Divinae Majestati placuerit sacrosanctus Pacis Tractatus coalescat ex vi certè nullum emolumentum emanabit haec ex sinceritate integritate Nostri erga utrumque Imperium promanant testis est DEUS nullam subesse hypocrism haeccine juxta inter Germanum Ottomanicum Imperium intercedentes res in quonam statu reperiantur facile ab Aula Caesarea de prehendetur ne se incassum defatiget The English Ambassador being Dead an end was put to the Treaty and all thoughts of Peace were laid aside on one side and the other Treaties of Peace are laid aside for after the Battle of Salankement the Circumstances of things were changed and there was a necessity of consulting again the Emperor and his Allies before any farther Measures could be taken on the former Instructions In like manner the Turks were in great Confusion and Distraction not knowing which way to turn themselves sometimes it was thought necessary that the Grand Vizier should hasten to Belgrade to take the Care and Command of the scattered Troops which were now at a loss for want of a Chief Head and a Place whereunto to resort and take refuge Besides the Presence of a Vizier was esteemed of great encouragement to the broken Army and the only means to retard the Flight of those who were ready to break up their Camp and betake themselves to their own Habitations Whilst the Vizier was consulting hereof News came that the Army at Belgrade was all or for the most part dispersed that the small Number of the Janisaries which survived The Army at Belgrade dispersed were resolved not to remain longer at Belgrade but were already on their March towards Adrianople in a Naked and Poor Condition without Money or Cloaths In like manner it was reported That the Spahees who lately went to the War with a good Epuipage and well Mounted on Horse-back were now returning back on Foot miserably Despoiled and Poor without Money Horse or Arms Many of them who had Escaped with their Horses and Arms were passing the Dardanelli into Asia and thence travelling into their own Countries perhaps as far as Iconium Aleppo Damascus or some other more remote Countries other Spahees who had neither Horses or Arms were marching towards Adrianople there to demand the Donative which hath always been given by a New Sultan at his first Inauguration The Misery of the Turkish Army This Pretension of the Soldiery which amounted unto more than a Million stroke great Terrour into the Minds of the Chief Officers for the Exchequer being wholly empty and the Soldiery in the utmost Extremity and armed with Rage and Despair no Man knew what these Miseries might produce and the Soldiers approaching every Day nearer and nearer all People were affected with the same Consternation as if the Germans and the worst of Enemies had been at their Gates In few Days after the Aga of the Janisaries with the small remainder of his Janisaries arriving at Adrianople caused the Grand Vizier the Mufti Kadileschers who are the Lords Chief Justices together with the Prime Officers of the several Ogiacks to be convened A Consultation held at Adrianople and amongst themselves they held a long Conference At which they concluded upon several Particulars First It was resolved to Confirm and Maintain Sultan Achmet upon the Throne it being esteemed a thing unworthy of the Grandeur and Wisdom of the Sublime Port to change so suddenly and frequently the Person of their Sultans Secondly It was resolved That the Grand Seignior should Winter that Year at Adrianople Thirdly That the Mint should diligently Work Day and Night to make Silver Money for Payment of the Soldiery And Lastly It was resolved that cost what it would Great Waradin was to be Succoured and Relieved The which Resolutions especially that about Coyning Money for Payment of the Soldiery gave a stop to their Mutinies and Insurrections which were daily feared But what more sensibly consummated all the Miseries of the Turks was the want of Bread The Miseries amongst the Turks as well as of Money there having never been known in those Countries so great a Dearth of Bread as also of all sorts of other Provisions as at that time which joyned to all these Misfortunes farther News was brought That there had been another Grievous Earthquake at Smyrna And that an Express was come out of Asia That all that Country was over-run with Robbers and Murderers who were assembled in a Body near Sebaste the Ancient Nest and Nursery of Rebellion In the mean time the French Ambassador laboured by all means possible to give Heart and Courage to the Turks Novemb. The French Ambassador encourages the Turks to continue the War assuring them That his King would the next Campaign go himself in Person to the War and continue the same as well in Winter as in Summer which would make such a Diversion in the Empire as that the Emperor should not be able to make Head nor so much as look the Ottoman Army in the Face Notwithstanding all which Assurances of the
William of England had gained at the Boyne in Ireland which served to augment the Triumphs with another triple Discharge of all the Cannon in the Army The Winter drawing near the greatest part of the Turkish Militia being under great Discouragements and having a long Journey Home thought fit to leave the Camp So did the Tartars Plundering all in their way so did the Arnouts and Albanians Septemb. and all the Soldiers whose Towns and Houses were not at a far distance so likewise the Spahee's stole privately away The Turkish Forces disperse and the Asiatick Horse made towards the Dardanelli where they passed into Asia and in this manner did all the Forces disperse that scarce any appearance remained of an Army or a Camp and those few who kept to their Colours were possessed with great Consternation upon the News that the Poles had actually Invaded Walachia and brought great Destruction and Ruine upon that Province The Weather beginning now to be Cold and Wet much incommoded the Soldiers of Prince Lewis his Army in their March especially the Foot who trashing through the Waters in a Country where was no Wood to Dry them or Warm and Dress their Victuals many of them fell Sick and Died. And indeed that Country as I have my self observed hath neither Timber nor Underwoods so that the Inhabitants live in Caves under Ground the Soil being of a stiff Clay grows hard with Fires like a Stone all their Fuel being Turf of which by the Laziness of the Inhabitants a sufficient store had not been gathered to furnish the present use of the Army Whilst the Army quartered in this Barren Country News was brought to Prince Lewis That General Veterani having heard of the Defeat of the Turks had Decamped from Dobra and was marched to Lippa where coming before the Town he sent his Summons to Surrender which being refused Lippa surrendered to General Veterani some few Bombs were cast into it which brought the Garrison to a Desire to Capitulate but nothing would be granted but a Surrender at Discretion In fine all the Men being 216 in number were made Prisoners together with three Pasha's viz. Mahomet Bey and one Ali Pasha who had been sent thither for a Place of Banishment by the Grand Vizier and also another Bey with a Ziorbassi or Captain In the Town were three Guns and two Mortar-pieces only with a good quantity of Ammunition but little of Provisions After which Count Guttensteyn was made Governour of the Place with some Hundreds of Men for a Garrison And whereas News was brought That Tekeli with five or 6000 Men was Quartered about Temeswaer it gave some Apprehensions of his Design to Invade Transilvania for which reason General Veterani kept his Station at Lippa to observe his Motions In the mean time Prince Lewis continued his March to Segedin where he refreshed his Army for some Days And here it was that a certain Turk came from Belgrade under a Pretence to demand the Exchange of 4000 Turks against so many Christians Pr. Lewis continues his March but this Proposal seeming fictitious he was suspected for a Spy seized and committed to Prison It being thought fit to secure Lippa lately taken the Prince sent his Adjutant-General with 12 Saicks laden with Provisions and some Money by way of the River Maroth to Lippa to Mend and Repair the Fortifications of that Place Reinforces Lippa and raise new ones where the Works were defective and for its better Reinforcement 2000 Rascians and Hungarians both Horse and Foot were sent to strengthen the Garrison The Prince likewise with the remaining part of the Army marched to Zolnock where the Horse having passed the Bridge for that purpose erected met on the same Day of their Arrival with the Field-Marshal Count Mansfelt and Major-General Aversberg at the same place A Party of Tekeli's Men defeated who had lately been detached in two Parties the latter of which had the fortune to surprize a Party of 600 Men belonging to Tekeli of whom they killed above 100 and made 32 Prisoners which gave so great an Alarm to others of their Companions which were posted near Great Waradin that in a precipitate Flight and Confusion they betook themselves to their Heels carrying withal their Bag and Baggage with whatsoever else was portable Nor was Count Schlick who Commanded the Blockade of Great Waradin less successful for having received Information That some Hundreds of Oxen belonging to that Garrison were Grasing in the Meadows near thereunto posted himself with 400 Horse in a small Wood over against the Place C. Schlick defeats a Party from Gr. Waradin ordering some Hussars to drive the Oxen towards the Wood where he lay in Ambuscade The Hussars following their Instructions in driving the Cattle were pursued by the Garrison till they came near the Wood when Schlick sallied out upon them and so vigorously Attack'd them that 400 Turks were killed on the Place many Prisoners taken and the Oxen carried clear away to the great damage of that Garrison This Success was followed by another of the like Nature for Schlick having understood from the Prisoners that a considerable Body of Tekeli's Men were Quartered in a Village on the other side of the City he took the opportunity of the Night to pass silently along and without any Noise surprize them and killed most of them in their Quarters after which he repassed with the like Privacy back without the least opposition to his own Camp It being now divulged that the Design of Prince Lewis was to turn the Blockade of Great Waradin into a Formal Siege Count Aversberg was Detached from the Army with a Body of Dragoons and Pioneers to Mend and Repair the Roads which were become almost unpassable especially for Cannon and Waggons laden with Provisions and Necessaries for the Army Count Schlick who was not as yet privy to this Design of the Prince observing by his Motion That Great Waradin was to be formally Besieged he privately conveyed himself and Troops into some Islands between the Rivers Korosh and Bozze and drove away the Enemies Cattle being about 900 Head and took some Prisoners from under the very Walls of the City and brought them all to his Camp As Schlick returned the Turks of the Place called to him and the Pasha desired a Parly with him in the open Field upon Parole which Schlick refused to do until he understood that Count Marsigli and his Chiaus were in the Town having been employed on the Negotiation of Peace Count Marsigli and his Chiaus at Great Waradin and then he yielded to an Interview with the Pasha who declared to him That the loss of their Cattle droven from under their Walls was not so much caused by the Negligence of the Garrison as by their attention to their New Guests whom they were entertaining with all Freedom and Friendship and so would seem to insinuate that for that reason it would be but
their Works were so ruined that none dared to show himself our Guns continually firing on the inside that our Bombs and the noisome stinking Smell of some Fireworks together with the restless State of the Besieged who were always forced to stand on their Guard and continually alarmed having no shelter but some Sellars and Vaults could not but oblige them e're long to Capitulate or Perish by Fatigues and other Wants All which I say being considered by the Prince of Baden he having provided his Forts Palanca and the City with Garrisons very commodiously placed sent the rest of his Army into Winter-Quarters The Blockade being thus resolved a Great Fort was raised for securing the several Posts being about the distance of five or 600 Paces from the Gate of the Fortress this Fort was built upon an Eminence or some higher Ground than the Walls and Batteries of the Fortress for defence of which above 1000 Germans were appointed for the Garrison The Manner of the Blockade Besides this a smaller Fort was also raised on a rising Ground and furnished with a good Garrison from whence they could shoot into the Streets and Houses of the Fortress Moreover the City it self of Great Waradin was maintained with a more numerous Garrison than what the Turks had in their Fortress and the Palanca of Ollorsi was Commanded by Col. Mollner and Garrison'd with his Regiment of Hussars with some Foot Things being thus secured and the Fortress on all sides closed up that nothing could go out or come into it the Prince judged it more necessary to send his Army into Winter-Quarters in the Neighbouring Villages Pr. Lewis marches off and Cities of Debrezin and St. Job then to expose them to the Hardships of Long Dark and Wet Nights and Snowy Weather which began to fall in great abundance In which Resolution the Prince was the more confirmed by the Report of 300 of Tekeli's Men who had Deserted their Commander and assured the Prince upon Oath That Tekeli with his Turks and Tartars was already Decamped with his Army about Giula and marched into Winter-Quarters So now we must leave the Prince and his Army also in their Quarters and the Fortress of the Turks straitly Blockaded until about the Months of May and June 1692 next ensuing Thus have we finished the Relations of the Successes in the Campaign for the Year 1691 the which proved as Unfortunate to the Turkish Affairs and Arms as most of the former Years since the beginning of this War and when things go Unluckily Abroad we cannot expect that they should look very Smiling or Pleasant at Home The Sultan who had fansied to himself mighty things under the Auspicious Conduct of Mustapha Pasha Kupriogli such as an entire Victory in the Field over the Germans and as the Consequences thereof the Surrender of Oseck and Buda and all other Cities and Fortresses in Hungary which during these Wars had yielded themselves to the Victorious Arms of the Emperor being now on a sudden fallen from the hopes of all those things which with a strong Fancy and Imagination he had figured in his Mind by a quite contrary Event he was so Surprized and struck with the sudden News That his Army was Defeated his General the Grand Vizier killed with the Flower of the Turkish Militia all the Cannon taken and the Camp exposed to the Violence and Rapine of the German Soldiery his Spirits so sunk within him Sultan Achmet fallen into a Fever by ill News that he did nothing but Sigh and being possessed with a Lumpish Melancholy fell often into heavy but not refreshing Sleeps so that having his Mind troubled in the Day and his Fancy with Horrid Dreams in the Night he fell into a Fever which endangered his Life and gave occasion to the People to Talk much of his Death and setting up in the Throne Sultan Mustapha the Son of Sultan Mahomet IV who had been Deposed But this Passion of Mind which possessed the Grand Seignior passing over with a little Time he being Naturally of a Jolly Temper He Recevers given to Musick and Wine his Fever quitted him and he recovered So also did the Old Ali Pasha who had been Chimacam at Adrianople and upon the Death of Kupriogli as we have said was made Grand Vizier his Disease was the same with that of the Grand Seignior proceeding from Afflicting himself at the News of the Rout of the whole Turkish Army and the Apprehensions he had of new Turbulencies arising thereupon amongst the Soldiery the which had struck him with a kind of Apoplexy and a Stupidity in his Understanding The Grand Vizier sick and recovered but it went off so soon as he perceived the Soldiery to return more mildly Home than was expected and then he began to revive and take upon him the Power and Authority of his Government He was an Ancient Man and of great Experience but he was neither esteemed for a Wise nor an Undertaking Man which are two Qualities very necessary in a Grand Vizier But the Mufti made some amends for the Inabilities of that Great Minister for being a Person of a deep Understanding and highly esteemed by all Parties for his profound Wisdom he became very helpful to the Grand Vizier His Qualifications who had the good quality to hearken unto the Counsels of those who were wiser than himself it being one of his Infirmities to be irresolute which shows an Imbecility of Mind and is a quality the most disagreeable to an absolute Monarchy But being pushed forward by his Friends he governed well for being a Man not very Avaritious as few Turks but are he preferred none but such as were Men of Merit and had signalized themselves by long Services or some great or good Actions his Country was Bosnia which hath given many Valiant and Stout Soldiers to the Turks being reputed Men of Bravery and Fidelity in their Words and Actions Never had the Ottoman Empire since it came to be an Empire more need of Able Valiant and Wise Men than at present and never were they more rare and hard to be found For what with the War which destroyed their brave and best of their Gallant Soldiers and Commanders and with their Seditions and Tumults at Home in which their Principal Officers both Civil and Military were cut off none remained alive but only Upstarts or some Leaders of the Insolent or Seditious Soldiery And this was the State of the Empire not only oppressed by the Victorious Enemy on the Frontiers but by a want of all things at Adrianople even to a Famine which raised the Out-cries and Clamours of the People against the Government which being joyned to the Abuse of Copper-Money than which at that time no other was to be seen or currantly passed discouraged the Country-Men from bringing Provisions to the Market and caused the People more earnestly to cry out for a Peace and exclaim against the French for having now for
four Years engaged them in a War the most Bloody the most Ruinous and most destructive to the Ottoman Empire that was ever known The French Ambassador fearing that these Tumults and the Inclinations of some of the Ministers would at length prevail for a Peace he bestowed his Money very liberally where he thought it might be well placed for as yet the French King wanted not Money as he did some Years afterwards but he could not as yet fix any on the Chimacam Chusaein Pasha at Constantinople who always told the Ambassador's Servants that he wanted none of his Presents being well provided with what was necessary for his Maintenance and Equipage The Difficulty of this Great Minister's Proceedings did not a little trouble the Thoughts of the Ambassador especially when he had understood that this Chimacam had wrote to the Mufti to perswade to a Peace The Chimacam of Constantinopâ—e an 〈◊〉 my to the French the League with France being apparently destructive to the Empire saying as it were How long shall these People be a Snare to us And hereof the Ambassador was the more apprehensive when he heard that the Sultan was returning to Constantinople for his Health being perswaded by the Physicians That the Air of that City and the Sea would be more conducing to his Health than that of Adrianople by which he feared that the Chimacam might have the better opportunity to instill these Imaginations into the Head of the Grand Seignior than he could at a distance But before the Departure of the Grand Seignior from Adrianople for Constantinople a General Council of War was held by all the Chief Officers of the Army At which three principal Points were concluded The First was Resolutions at a Council of War To do their best Endeavours and use all possible means for the Relief of Great Waradin But on the other side it was considered That the Militia on the Frontiers was tyred out and become weak by their Labours and Disgraces of the preceding Campaign so that the Means for executing this Design was not prescribed A Second Proposal was not to conside much in the Counsels of the French but to consult the Opinion of the Soldiery whether they were inclinable to a Peace And Thirdly In case the Soldiery shou'd be averse to a Peace that then Preparations should be made with all diligence to raise Men and make Provisions of War for the ensuing Year But whilst Matters were disposing to quiet the Minds of the Soldiery of which great Numbers were passed over into Asia much harassed and discontented so that some Insurrections were feared in those Countries Tumults against Copper-Money Behold on a sudden the People murmured against the base Allay of the Money which was nothing but Copper or at best mixed with a little Silver which was a mighty prejudice to Trade and caused a dearness of all Provisions so that the Poor were almost Starved whereupon the Rabble in a furious manner assaulted the Mint-Office and Killed the Master who was set over the Coinage and committed many other Insolences and were not appeased until an Order was published That the Copper-Money should be no longer Currant at which the People dispersing Silver-Money was issued from the Mint where the Officers worked Day and Night in Coining Aspers and greater Money and with Promises of being paid shortly in this Money the Soldiers were very much pleased and satisfied tho' the Discontents of the Asiatick Soldiers gave great Apprehensions and Fears to the Port of some Revolt or Insurrection in Asia which had it at that time happened it had in all probability produced a Peace But this Blessing both to the Christians and the Turks was reserved for a more happy time as we shall see if God gives us Life some Years afterwards with which we shall put a Period to this History Anno 1692. THE English Ambassador Sir William Hussey designed to Negotiate the Peace together with Monsieur Colyer the Ambassador of Holland between the Emperor and the Sultan Achmet as we have said being Dead an end was put for the present to that Negotiation and the Ambassador of Holland returned back from Adrianople without being able to effect any thing in order thereunto the Resolution of continuing the War was the loud Report and Discourse common in the Mouths of all People and that no Treaty should be set on Foot The Turks resolve to continue the War until the Recovery of Buda from the Germans and of Morea from the Venetians and herein were the Turks more animated by the Assurances of the French Ambassador that his Master was sending two great Men of War from France laden with Bombs Granadoes Carcasses and with all sorts of Military Preparations and with them 200 French Engineers and Gunners of great Experience in the Management of Fire-Works and other Warlike Instruments fit and proper both for Sea and Land And farther to show his Zeal in this Cause the Ambassador promised to go himself in Person to the War To give more life to the Ambassador's Words the Son-in-Law to Tekeli returned from France and in the beginning of this Year arrived at Smyrna whence immediately without any stop or stay he took Post for Adrianople being fully freighted with Letters and Promises from the French King to the Sultan and presents to the Chief Officers of State to perswade them to Continue and Maintain the War so that now all Thoughts and Imaginations of a Peace were vanished and laid aside Wherefore in order to a War a Project was laid by the two Cadileskers or Chief Justices to raise both Men and Money by a more easie way and manner than had formerly been done for these being the Chief Justices on whom all the other Inferiour Justices of the Empire depended an Exact and Secret Calculate was made of the true Number of the Spahees and of the People in the several Provinces and Districts through the whole Empire This Calculate was secretly carried to the Vizier and Mufti where after it had been very seriously debated it was well approved as a Means to ease the Publick Treasury by a more equal Tax on all Villages and Towns according to the Number of the Inhabitants and hereon a great Foundation was made of raising many Thousands of Men and much more Money than the last Year During all this time the Turks remained in great apprehension of some suddain Insurrection of the Arabs and discontented Militia in Asia and whereas the greatest danger appeared to be in the Parts A Teftish Pasha sent into Asia and Country of Sebaste or Sivas a Teftish Pasha or General Inquisitor was sent with a strong Party of Horse to enquire after all loose People Vagabonds or such as could give no good Account of themselves with a full Power of Life and Death which the Turks commonly execute with all Rigour and Arbitrary Power imaginable I have known a Teftish Pasha sent into Asia to enquire after Vagabonds
the Ports As the Grand Vizier was depos'd for the reasons aforesaid Chimacam Ahmet Pasha banished so also was the Chimacam called Calailicos Ahmet Pasha of Greek Extraction in danger of being strangled had not the Queen Mother and the Kuzlir Aga or Chief Eunuch procured the favour to have his Punishment altered and changed to an Exile into Egypt for the many Tyrannies and Cruelties he had committed and particularly for that he had taken away the Ancient Church called St. George at Constantinople belonging to the Patriarchate for some hundreds of Years before that time In his place Jeien Pasha a prudent Person and one very well practised in Affairs was constituted Chimacam and being the Nephew of the famous Kupriogli gave general satisfaction to all People and particularly to the Greeks and Christians to whom he always shewed much favour At this time as is usual there were two great Factions at Adrianople one in the Seraglio consisting of the Queen Regent the Kuzlir-Aga and other Principal Courtiers the other Party in opposition to these were the Mufti the Grand Vizier and Principal Officers of the Janizaries and Spahees To strengthen these after the Death of Osman Pasha the Selictar-Aga was chosen Chimacam being a Young Man a Chircassian by Nation of a very good understanding and for his years very well versed in Affairs This Person being promoted to this Office without the knowledge or consent either of the Grand Vizier or the Mufti but only by the Machination or Contrivance of the Kuzlir-Aga and Queen Mother rendred his Condition the more unsetled and uncertain And indeed not only the Court but all the Empire was in great Confusion by reason of the weakness of three or four Sultans successively of whom we have already given a Character and particularly of this Sultan Achmet of whom the best we can say is that he was a Good Natur'd Jolly Prince and feared no hurt nor wished it to any Person whatsoever But how the state of Affairs were in those days we may learn from a Letter which my Lord Paget wrote to a Person of Quality at Vienna dated April 24. N. S. 1694. Lord Paget's Letter SIR THEY so often change their Ministers here that an Ambassador can scarce come to treat twice with the same Person Since my arrival here at the Port they have had three Grand Viziers three Chimacams of Adrianople four Chimacams of Constantinople three Aga's of the Janisaries three Tefterdars or Lord Treasurers two New Cadileschers or Judges of Asia and Romelia and in short all the Great Officers of the Empire were changed the Mufti only excepted by which there was such a New Set of Idiots and Fools got into Places as would overturn the best settled Government in the World For these Officers being only such as Chance offers it is a doubtful Wager whether he proves a Fool or a Wise Man and in case he should prove a Man of Parts yet he is suffered so short a time to remain in his Office that he is in no capacity to improve them Ambassadors unless it be at their first Audience and at that of Congedie have no Conversation or Access to the Grand Seigniors and then they affect such a sort of Grandeur as may best cover all their Thoughts by a Silence so that they give no place for any debate and a Man can never lay any foundation upon their Words For as their Ally of France scorns to be a Slave to his word so they hold it to be no dishonour to be open and esteem nothing for a Secret It is true that very seldom or never a Minister shall receive a flat denial from a Turk for he shall train you on to the very last point and when you come to the last Argument and Upshot of all then a Sum of Money must make the Conclusion The disorders made by the Arabian Princes in the Countries about Aleppo did still continue which caused great fears and apprehensions at Constantinople it self but those Countries being far remote and distant made little alterations or noise at Court The Negotiations of Poland at Adrianople had no success April so that the Envoy was dispatched away re infectâ Some few days afterwards the Tartar Han quitted the Court with dissatisfaction and all things seemed in much disorder however they talked high of great preparations for the following Campagne And to make some evidences thereof they dispatched away 1200 Janisaries from Adrianople to Belgrade moreover they sent away 32 Saiques for the Danube About this time the Grand Vizier arrived from Tripoli de Soria where he had been Pasha and was sent for by the Grand Seignior to head the Army in Hungary having been recommended by some Favourites to have been the wisest and most experienced General in the Empire but the trial shewed him to be a Man rather of the Pen and good Language than of Arms. But to speak more fully and pertinently concerning the Negotiations of the Polish Envoy at Adrianople he was lodged at Demerdesh about an English Mile from the City in a poor Village without Ceremony or any great Equipage he had a Coach with six Horses in which was a French Jesuit His Business was declared rather to be designed to the Tartar Han who was at that time at Adrianople than to the Grand Seignior and accordingly had Audience of him In the first place it was observable Polish Envoy's Audience with the Tartar Han at Adrianople that during the time of his Audience with the Tartar Han the Polish Envoy kept his Cap off until he was bid to sit down and be covered after a few words of Complement he arose up and delivered his Letter The Han asked him whether he had any other Letters for him to which he replied no. He asked him from whom that Letter was he answered from the King his Master The Han asked him whether he had any thing to say to him by word of Mouth to which he answered no for that all was contained within the Letter The Han spake in the Tartar Language and the Pole in his own The Audience ended the Pole arose kissed the Han's Vest retired backwards with his Face towards the Han which is a part of respect amongst Turks and Tartars and most of the Eastern People all which was over in less than half an Hours time The which Passage seemed very Mysterious and not well understood from whence and from whom this Envoy was sent but being gone out of the Presence of the Han the Negotiation appeared to concern War and Peace and a Treaty proposed to be held in order thereunto between the Turk and Tartar on one side and of the Emperor King of Poland and the Venetian State on the other Hereof intelligence was given by my Lord Paget Monsieur Heemskirk and Heer Colyer to the Emperor Venetians and all the Allies whom it might concern the which seemed very strange that such a Negotiation should be set
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 The Nogay Tartar 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 The Grand Vizier deposed 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 Hattesherisse 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 declare an Action which happened in the Port of Smyrna in the Month of March as follows March 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 Marine 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 said to be worth more than a 100000 Lyon Dollars There being two Viziers lately Deposed it was commanded The New Vizier That the New Vizier should be actually at Adrianople on the 15th of April so as that he might be with the Army in the Field before the Month of June This New Vizier was called Ali Pasha as was also his Predecessor and both had been Pasha's at Tripoli of Soria and came from thence but as to this he had no great Reputation for his Qualities He had five Years ago been Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer at the Port he had been a great Favourite and an old Friend of the late Kuzlir-Aga but others who knew him well had no great Opinion of him but looked upon him as a Man of little Experience without Parts or Abilities for so great a Charge Character of the New Vizier and esteemed for a Person not likely to continue long in that Sublime Station Whilst Matters were preparing for the Camp against the Arrival of the New Vizier Ahmet Pasha who had been Chimacam of Constantinople was declared Pasha of Arzrum in Armenia Major and was actually Listing Soldiers in Nicomedia at which every one wondered and commonly reported That he having been disobliged by the Court was there Raising and Listing Soldiers to joyn with the Rebels in Asia of which some Murmurings coming to the Ears of the Kuzlir-Aga his Friend he advised him to hasten away with all diligence possible for that his loytering in those Parts gave just Jealousie and Ground to the contrary Faction to report Evil and Dangerous Matters concerning him and for that reason he urged him to be gone on the Business for which he was employed promising That in case he dealt Faithfully and Wisely in this Business he would at his Return use his best Endeavors to make him Grand Vizier The least Whisperings of this Nature in the Time of another Sultan had been sufficient to have taken the Heads both of the Pasha and of his Friend the Kuzlir-Aga but this present Grand Seignior feared no Evil nor designed it unto
strict Discipline was kept and which was observed with so much Rigour that a Soldier durst not steal an Egg a Pullet or a Hen and a Tartar was known to be Hanged The Turkish Discipline for taking away a Kid by force and two Asiatick Turks were Hanged on a Tree for Robbing a Bee-hive by which Severity to the Wonder of the whole World the Ottoman Army passed that Afflicted Province without the least damage or hurt to the People And here at this place of Turno it is to be noted That before the Grand Seignior passed the River he called to him the Prince of Walachia and bestowed upon him a rich Coftan or Vest which is a Signal of the Favour of the Sultan and told him That he was greatly pleased and satisfied with his Service and Diligence commanding him to return Home to his Place of Residence but above all he charged him to observe Justice which if he did he should always enjoy his Favour the like said the Grand Vizier to him who giving him a Vest as an Evidence of his Favour gave him licence to return to his own place of Government When the Turks were come on the Confines over against Fetihlam they Embarked all their Cannon and Ammunition for Belgrade but the lighter Field-pieces of which they found some in Karansebes they carried with them to render their Entry into Adrianople the more Stately and Magnificent But whilst they were contriving all things for the more Triumpant Entry of the Grand Seignior it was judged most requisite and proper for the present State of the Turkish Affairs to make the Triumph into Constantinople which was ever esteemed the Head of the Empire and the Place where the Ottoman Throne was ever seated And as to Adrianople it was ordered that the Sultan should make a short stop there of four or five Days only and in the mean time the Valide Soltana with all the Female Court was ordered to take up their Quarters in the usual Places of the Great Seraglio which was prepared on all sides to be fitted for Reception of the Grand Seignior The Grand Seignior marches to Constantinople This coming of the Grand Seignior to Constantinople was a suddain Resolution and unexpected being the effect of his Thoughts on his March only for considering that Constantinople ever since the Turks entered into Europe was always esteemed the Head and Seat of the Ottoman Empire and the Place where the Ottoman Emperors were ever Enthroned with the Benediction of the Mufti assisted by the Nakib who is Chief of the Emirs who wear green Tulbants and also the Place where the Mufti girds the Sword to the Sultan's Thigh called St. Juob in Memory of that Soldier who was the first that stormed the Walls of Constantinople when it was in the Possession of the Greeks for which reason his Memory hath ever been held in great Veneration with the Turks The Thoughts whereof incited the Grand Seignior with a sort of Impatience and Ambition to imitate the Practice of his Ancestors at a time when he esteemed himself Great Prosperous and in a way to recover the lost Honour and Reputation of the Empire Moreover his Design being to be as great at Sea as at Land or at least of equal Match with the Venetians or to have a better Army to enter into the Morea and recover the Country his Thoughts were fixed upon Constantinople as the proper Place for that Design as Adrianople was for the Wars by Land so no time was lost in the March of the Army to possess the Ancient Seat of the Osmanlees The Grand Seignior having reposed some few Days as we have said at Adrianople proceeded forwards and arrived in Company with his Mother at Constantinople tho' at first it was appointed otherwise and that she should go first and lead the way but it afterwards seemed more Great and Glorious and of less Charge to go together which accordingly they did and arrived at the Great Seraglio about the latter end of October or beginning of November But on the Road the Court and Army happening to feel some Scarcity and Want of Provisions the Sultan became very angry and displeased against the Treasurer of the Army and against those Officers whose Business it was to Oversee the Provisions and not to suffer any Want to be in Court or Army Upon which Occasion the Grand Seignior Discharged the Tefterdar of his Office with Threats and Menaces of his Life And the Commissaries for that Business being in like manner faulty as also the second Person under the Tefterdar was Discharged of his Office and great care was taken to supply their Offices with Men of Skill and Industry And now about the beginning of this Month of November Novemb. The Allai or Triumph at the Entrance into Constantinople the Grand Seignior with all his Court entered into the Capital City of his Residence with such Applause and Triumph and Joy of the People that the like was never heard or known in the Time of any former Sultan all which served to comfort the People and encourage the Militia Amongst the Particulars of this Triumph 300 Slaves were shown and all represented for Great Generals and Captains for tho' there were but very few Officers amongst them yet they were given out for such and for German Princes All the light Cannon and Field-Pieces with the Ammunition Colours Flags Drums and Trumpets were all showed and brought into the Account of Spoil with a Report amongst the Soldiery That the Turks had not lost above 500 Men killed in the Field tho' others of them which came out of the Army and had been Eye-Witnesses of the whole Battel and of the Turkish Army which consisted of 50000 Men with the Sultan at the Head of them and yet were hard put to it to fight against 8000 of Veterani's Men who having maintained a Fight for six Hours were at length forced to retire for want of Powder and Ammunition and other Warlike Provisions Thus much the Turks who had been in the Battel confessed themselves whilst others who came from all the Countries round to see the Show and Triumph Wept for Joy saying That the Time was now come that God would Avenge himself on the Christians for their Pride and would for the future blind them in their Designs and infatuate them in all their Counsels Howsoever all the World cannot but confess That the loss of so many Brave Men could not but prove a fatal Blow to all Christendom especially to the Germans who fought almost to the last Drop of Blood Nor were the Turks unsensible of their Losses also both as to Numbers and Quality for one of the Sultan's Brothers-in-Law Sahin Pasha killed called Sahin Mehmet Pasha a brisk daring Man and a good Soldier and so Named from Sahin which signifies a Falcon and was the next to the Grand Vizier and carried three Horse-Tails gilded before him was killed by a Carbine-shot for which
reason he was much lamented at the Court and most especially by the Queen-Mother not only because he had been her Son-in-Law but a Person endued with many Rare and Excellent Vertues Besides which the famous Mahmud Pasha Celebrated by all to be one of the most Accomplished Soldiers of this Age and the most Warlike Cavalier of all the Ottoman Nation He was an Albanian Born a Man of great Reputation and Fame called Mahmud Bei Oghli and was slain with three Carbine-shots and fell amongst the most Renowned Officers of the Turks These two were said to be the first who broke into Veterani's Army one to the Right and the other to the Left-Wing where they found and encountred such unexpected Opposition that the Turks confessed That they had never met the like and had not prevailed against their Enemies at that time had it not been for the Resolution and Bravery of their Fortunate Sultan who standing in the Rear with his Scimiter in his Hand hindered the base intended Flight of his Soldiery This Action gave a full stop to all the following Designs of this Year for the Turks reasoning with themselves That in case so small an Army as that of Veterani was able to do such Feats what would become of their Forces were they to engage against the whole entire Army of the Kral that is the Elector for they call the King of Poland Kral and so other Inferiour Princes to the Emperor whom they call Kaisar but the King of England they could never be taught to call otherwise than Kral The Grand Seignior having made his Triumphant Entry into Constantinople the Militia of Asia which attended the Sultan from the War had licence given them to return Home to their own Countries and Orders were given to open a Door as they call it to enroll Janisaries according to the usual Ceremonies used on those Occasions and care was taken to Arm them as well the New Janisaries as the Old Veterane Albanian Troops as also the Levents or Marine Regiments and to recruit their Numbers of which several had been lost in the late Engagements at Sea the which tho' they had not for many Years been fought with so much equality of Fortune between the Venetians and the Turks as they had been for this Year yet it was not determined which side had gained the better tho' the Turks avoided the Fight so much as was possible and thereby gave an evidence of their own Weakness and doubtful Condition It hath been long since we have heard any Discourse of Tekely Tekely neglected being not regarded so much by any as by the French Ambassador for as to the Turks they had no Opinion of him nor would they have it be thought that they had any need of his Forces or Interest of his Party in Hungary but suffered him to Lodge in one of the vilest Streets in the Town amongst Jews and the meaner sort of the Armenians called Balata his Countenance was much changed pale and fallen and his Feet Swelled so that his Enemies scorned him and his Friends could expect nothing more of good from him The Year drawing now towards an end all the Endeavours of the Turks were to begin the following Year with greater Forces than that of the preceding and herein they were the more concerned in regard of the Moscovites who were coming down upon the Tartars with vast Numbers of Soldiers and all things prepared to make War upon them and to take Asac at least the Diversion hereby would be great and so employ the Tartars that to defend their own Countries they would be obliged to desert the Service and Cause of the Turks Howsoever the Successes of the Turks had been this Year so great as gave them courage to consider in what manner they might be able to form two Armies for the next with one of which the chief Design was to enter Transylvania and if possible to make Peace with the Moscovites by the Negotiations of the Tartars but all this came to nothing as we shall see by the Sequel of the following Year Anno 1696. THO' the Turks had gained some advantage the last Year over the Venetians both by Sea and Land namely in the Recovery of Scio and by giving a Check or Stop to the Venetian Fleet yet they gained little more thereby than some little Fame and Reputation to the present Sultan Mustapha whom the People began to consider as a Deliverer sent to them from Heaven to recover their almost lost Empire which lay under sad Distresses as well in Asia as in Europe This Opinion of the People when they observed the Justice the Courage and the Resolution of this Sultan to go in Person to the War and that nothing could divert him from it gave them Courage and Assurance to expect a turn of Fortune and hopes of better Successes for the future and tho' the French promised them not to make Peace without them but to joyn with them in a perpetual League of Friendship yet the Turks did not much trust them but kept a watchful Eye over them knowing very well how little stress there is to be laid on the Promises of the Great Monarch of France who was also equally Jealous of the Faith of the Turks and both of them equally doubtful of one another This Great Ottoman Empire had the last Year changed both their Master and the Chief Officers without any considerable Change or Troubles in the State amongst themselves for that this Sultan in whom clearly appeared a Spirit of greater Wisdom and Courage than in his Father Mahomet IV or in his Uncle's succeeding him gave the Soldiery and the People such Hopes and Expectations from him that none durst open his Mouth or lift up his Hands against him there appeared also something more of Justice and Vertue in him and of Diligence and Care and Sedulity in his Business than was found in his Father or in any of the succeeding Uncles as we have formerly said which gave hope to the great Governors of the Empire that under him the Losses which the Empire had sustained in these last Wars might be repaired for tho' the Recovery of the Isle of Scio was made before he came to the Throne and consequently might be looked upon as an effect of his Uncle's Counsels for that Mustapha did not enter upon the Government until the end of January 1695 when that Scio had been taken about a Month before by the Turks but that falling so near to the time that Mustapha came to the Throne that piece of good Fortune was looked upon as an effect of the Wisdom of the New Emperor rather than of the Uncle Achmet's Counsel by which and by some other Exploits of the preceding Year in 1695 Mustapha grew high in the Opinion of the People and the Soldiery to which some Successes being added as the taking of Titul and Lippa with the Defeat given to Veterani for which the Turks paid very dear and
with Women and Children they gave them liberty to shift for themselves and go to what Places they pleased In the Castle little Provision was found and few Arms so that Colonel Kyba according to his Instructions from the General proceeded in his March And On the 17th came to the Castle Maglay which upon the first Summons Surrendered on condition only to go out with their Wives and Children leaving all other things behind them On the 18th by Break of Day in the Morning the Garrison of Maglay marched out and Surrendered the Place About which time nothing more was heard from the Enemy only that the Kahya the Son of the Deceased Pasha was Encamped near Orossa Viza and that the Imperial Foragers were annoyed much by the Meroders of the Enemy On the 18th they appeared before the Palanca or Pass called Schebze wherein were 300 Turks which upon the Summons demanded a time of Consideration until the next Day which the General of the Imperialists would not grant them but advanced with 400 Foot Soldiers and 300 Dragoons with the Artillery belonging to them and mounting 12 Pieces of Cannon against the Palanca in the Night they stormed it in two Places in which Attack having lost 12 or 15 Men within the Pallisadoes without any stop they still advanced forward whilst Colonel Kyba meeting with 200 Horse of the Enemy whose Design was to cast themselves into the Pass Schebze but were prevented being in part killed and in part taken Prisoners And having Intelligence That the Kahya was with a Body of about two or 3000 Men between Schelze and Branduck he caused Batteries to be raised to hinder their ready Passages On the 19th they marched on through the Orohovizar Valley being a very troublesome Passage at the first Entrance thereinto not only for the Narrowness and Streightness of the Road but also because the Enemies on both sides had cut and ruined the Ways so that about three a Clock in the Afternoon the last Regiments which were Horse entered the Field and joyned the former Troops but the Infantry came not thither until it was Night and as to the Artillery and Baggage they remained full half an Hours March behind at a distance from the narrow Passage where it remained all the Night guarded by two Regiments of Dragoons which in the Morning marched in safe Conduct and guarded them in safety to the Body of the Army The 20th the March was through Narrow and Rocky Passages worser than the former or that way which leads to the Castle Branduck which was so difficult that the Imperial Army would have been in a very ill Condition had the Turks been capable of disputing vigorously the Passage with them But at length having passed the most rough and difficult Ways of Branduck which were so inconvenient that the Artillery and Baggage could not be brought after them but were forced to be lodged under a strong Guard on the Orohovizar Valley where the Places were fairer and more pleasant but the Inhabitants were fled and gone but had left behind them all sorts of good Fruits with small and large Cattle in great Numbers with sufficient Herbage and Sustenance to maintain them The 21st the Imperial Army arrived near the River Bosna over which there was a Bridge but so Old and Ruinous that the Army was not willing to adventure a Passage over it but rather esteemed it more secure for every Dragoon or Horseman to take a Man behind him and therewith to Wade through the River with this Burden and Equipage they marched over a very high Hill for the space of two Hours which nevertheless was more easie to pass over than the former So they continued their March again over the Bosna by the help and convenience of a good strong Bridge not ruined by the Enemy and so advanced into the Camp near the Village Doboy where Colonel Kyba joyned again with Prince Eugenius advancing still before the same Night towards Sarai or Seraglio to observe the Place to which great Numbers of People of that Country were fled for security But because that City was not capable to receive such Multitudes of People great Numbers of them were forced to lodge before the City Gates so as the Prisoners declared which together with those in the City would make up a Body of 30000 Men but they wanted Arms very much October So that tho' the Kahya was then personally present in the City yet his Power and Authority was weak to dispose Matters into any tolerable State and Condition of Defence But the Imperialists found this Part very Fair Fruitful and well Built and therefore the Christians and Inhabitants of that Land went to the Imperial Camp to render themselves up under their Protection At the beginning of this March on the 22d the Troops found the Ways Narrow Crooked and Deep but afterwards passed into a more pleasant Place called Visega and then repassed again the River Bosna over a Bridge at the end of which after an Hours time they Encamped and by this time Colonel Kyba was come back with his People who had done some Execution against the Inhabitants in their March killing some and making Prisoners of others which put the City of Seraglio into great Amazement and Confusion whilst several Parties of the Enemy roved round the adjacent Parts and took several Prisoners at which time a Cornet with a Trumpeter were sent into Seraglio to Summon the City to submit willingly or otherwise no Quarter should be given to any of them The 23d two Parties sent out the Day before returned back again very early in the Morning before the breaking up of the Imperial Army bringing no News or Advice from the Enemy Only the Cornet gave a Relation That as he was going to Seraglio for almost a Quarter of an Hours time he had met with no Body at all but afterwards falling in amongst the Turks to whom having made a Sign with his Hand he showed them the Writing he had with him which were Proposals for the Surrender of the City but that he happened to see the Trumpeter killed before his own Eyes and with much difficulty with divers Wounds escaped himself And farther reported That all the Inhabitants in great haste went out of Seraglio After this the Army in a Body marched to the City which the Turks had quitted and abandoned leaving none remaining but Christians and Jews from whom they took all they could find but nothing of great Value in regard the Turks had not only disposed of the best of their own Goods but likewise before their Flight had Plundered the Houses of the Christians and committed the Guard of the Castle to a Garrison of 150 Men and the same Day towards Evening a Fire broke out in the City of which no care being taken to Extinguish it it was totally burnt and consumed The Castle howsoever was not burnt for it being built of Stone required leisure to demolish which at that time could not
much known to the World either for Friends or Foes tho' they began now under the present Czar by the taking of Asac and some other Actions to make themselves known to the Turks and other Nations of the World It being now resolved on all sides to make the Peace the Mediators who were to manage the Treaty were nominated and appointed and the most proper Persons esteemed to be the Ambassadors from England and Holland both of which having never been Engaged in the War on any of the sides but had always been true and ancient Friends to the Port the Turks could have no Objections to alledge against either nor had the Christian Princes any cause to suspect the Faith and Friendship of two such Ambassadors whose Offices and Persons were acceptable to the Turks and not displeasing to the Christians The Names of these Ambassadors designed to this so Necessary and Most Honourable Employment were the Lord Paget Ambassador for William King of Great-Britain and the Heer Colyer Ambassador for the Lords the States of the United Provinces All Matters being now ripe for Action and a willing mind for Execution the Turks moved with their Camp on the 11th of June 1698. commanded by the Grand Vizier the Grand Seignior still remaining behind in his Tent and with them also moved the two Ambassadors with their Equipages And to put every thing into a good posture and a way of Dispatch the Lord Ambassador's Secretary was dispatched away a second time as he had been the first on the 10th of May for Vienna from whence he returned on the 5th of July to Sophia where on the same Day he there met with the Lord Ambassador Paget to whom he Communicated the good News of the Happy Inclinations of the Emperor and that Court towards the Peace But that no delay should be made therein the same Secretary was again dispatched away to hasten the Emperor's Ambassadors to the Place appointed and agreed upon for the Treaty and to procure and bring with him Passes and safe Conducts for the Turkish Plenipotentiaries who were the Reis Effendi Chief Chancellor or Secretary and Maurocordato who was the principal and first Interpreter to the Grand Seignior These two Persons together with the Lord Paget and the Dutch Ambassador set out from Sophia before the Camp on the 15th of July and on the 24th they had passed 10 Hours beyond Nissa and on the 31st they arrived happily at Belgrade The Ambassadors remained at this place for the space of two Months that is of August and September the which passed soon away in regard that the Expectations of Peace had so filled Mens Hearts that nothing was heard in all Places but the Voices of Peace and Joy in all their Quarters At length the Mouth of October being entered the Proclamation of Neutrality was first published at Peter Waradin to the great Pleasure and Satisfaction of all People both Christians and Turks and afterwards at Belgrade On the 9 19th of October the Lord Paget and the Dutch Ambassador left their Camp near the City raised on an Eminence where was a good Air and a good Prospect over the Countries round about and upon the same Day early in the Morning they passed the Save a River which runs from Bosnia and falls into the Danube at Belgrade where it loses its Name In passing this River this Order was observed First went an Allai-Bey or the Marshal of the Show with about 50 Horse Then 60 Chiauses on Horseback A Guard of Janisaries being about 330 Men all on Foot An Aga belonging to the Ambassadors with his own Servants and six Domestick Janisaries After which followed two Flags one with the English Coat of Arms and the other was a large Red Cross in a White Field Then followed the English Ambassador's 6 led Horses covered with very rich Furniture followed by the Gentleman of the Horse to my Lord Ambassador attended by a Giovane di Lingua or a young Druggerman or Interpreter Then came up the two Interpreters attending His Excellency the Lord Ambassador on each side of his Horse and they attended with two Heydukes in their own Country Habit and on both sides 10 Chiohadars or Servants who carry the Cloaks or Vests of the Great Men in White Vests with their Carbines on their Shoulders The Brother to the Lord Ambassador road afterwards with six Chiohadars Then followed the Secretary and Doctor with two English Gentlemen one from Aleppo and the other from Tripoli Also six Pages with the Lord Ambassador's Coach with a Turkish one which went before the Common Servants who marched all on Horseback two and two At their Passage over the Bridge of the Save which was lined with Janisaries three Guns were fired from the Castle and the Gallies Saicks and the Frigats as they passed fired eaâ—h a Gun About half the way to Semblin the Chiaus and others whom the Vizier had sent along with them made a Halt and having wished a good Journey to those whom they conducted returned back About an Hour after these Matters had passed the Dutch Ambassador followed and was used with the same Civility as those preceding The Emperor's Ambassadors because they sent Passports to the Turkish Ambassadors Signed by the Emperor's Hand desired to have others Signed by the Sultan But because it was considered that this exchange of Passports would take up a great deal of time the Mediators found out and agreed upon this Expedient That the Proclamation being made in both the Emperors Names no Passports should be delivered either from the Germans to the Turks or from the Turks to the Germans but that a Pleni-power should be given to the Midiators to grant Passports to People who were going up and down within the Limits of Neutrality agreed on both sides So the German Ambassadors resolved to go to Carlowitz within three Days time tho' their Wooden Houses were not arrived as yet The Mediators also agreed upon the same and to place themselves so that their Doors might be over against each other at a good distance whereby the Turks remained wholly on the Belgrade side and the Germans towards Peter Waradin The 11 21st the Venetian Ambassador arrived at Futack but the Muscovite Ambassador after their unthinking manner came directly the same Day to Peter Waradin without giving the Governour Notice of his coming by which Neglect of the Moscovite no Salutes were passed on him of which he complained to the Governour but that was easily answered by saying That he knew nothing of his coming down the River and therefore hoped to be excused In fine To Accommodate this Matter it was agreed That the Boats of the Moscovites should remove from the place where they first Landed and by a Signal given by the Ambassador's Trumpets the Guns should be fired which was done both from the Castle the Town and the Fleet. On the 15 25th of this Month of October the Turkish Ambassadors arrived at two Hours distance from the Tents of the
c. and Lord Jacob Colyer performing the part of Mediators with great good Offices and Diligence Deputed so to do by the most Glorious amongst the most Illustrious Christian Princes and the Resort of the Rulers of the Nations William III. of England Scotland and Ireland King and the States General whose Ends God crown with Salvation and Righteousness altho' both Parties show'd a Propensity and Inclination to Peace and Reconciliation but considering in so short a time it was not easie to remove all Difficulties and to settle all things Agreeable to Friendship and good Neighbourhood Therefore least the Continuance of these good Treaties should be interrupted but that they should proceed and be brought to an End with this Intent on both sides by mutual Consent the Term of Two Years is Agreed on to begin from the 25th of December Christmas-day A. Heg 1110. within which time this good Treaty may be reduced into Order and by the Grace of the most High God a Peace or Truce may be concluded betwixt the Sublime Empire and the Muscovitish Czareate by which perpetual and ancient Friendship may be Renew'd Therefore within the Term thus prefix'd by unanimous Consent all War Battles and Skirmishes shall cease and all Hostilities shall be remov'd and forbid to the Subjects of the Czar of Muscovy both Muscovites and Cossacks and all others there shall be no Excursion Hostility Damage whether privately or publickly done or committed upon the Musulman Confines subject to the Sublime Empire whether in the Crimea or any other Places or upon the Subjects of this Empire In like manner on the part of the High Empire no Army of what Condition soever especially belonging to the Crimean Cham and all sorts of Tartars or Hords shall make any sort of Excursion nor commit Damage privately or publickly upon the Cities and Towns and Subjects or Dependants upon the Czar And if contrary to this Compact and Agreement which is made betwixt us any either privately or publickly shall raise any Commotion or make Preparation for it or shall commit Hostility or make Incursion or shall be Obstinate or not Obedient let 'em be of what side they will they shall be Apprehended Imprison'd and Punish'd without Mercy Therefore after this method shall this Truce be cultivated and observ'd during the time of it all Conflicts and Hostilities shall be remov'd and extinguish'd and both Parties with full Inclination shall apply themselves to the Conclusion of a Peace and the Crimean Cham shall be included in this Place by reason of the Obedience and Subjection he owes to the Sublime Empire That it may be receiv'd and observ'd on both sides the Plenipotentiary Ambassador and Commissary of the highly foremention'd Czar by Virtue of his Powers and Authority has deliver'd an Authentick Instrument in due Form written in the Muscovite Language We likewise by Virtue of our Powers and Deputation have deliver'd this Authentick Instrument in due Form Subscrib'd with our Hands and Seal'd with our Seals God is favourable to Justice A COPY OF THE Muscovite Treaty WITH THE TURKS IN the Name of the Omnipotent Lord God One in Holy Trinity By whose Grace the most Serene and Potent Lord Czar and Great Duke Peter Alexovic Emperor of the Whole Great and Little Russia of Muscovy Kiovia Wolodimiria Novogardia Czar of Carania Czar of Astrachan Czar of Siberia Lord of Plescovia Great Duke of Smolenscum Lord of Treria Ingoria Permia Viatka Bolgaria and of other Dominions Great Duke of Novogardia of the Lower Country of Csernihovia Resania Rostovia Jarosclavia Belovroria Valoria Obdoria Condinia and Emperor of all the Northern Country and Lord of the Land af Iveria Czar of the Cartalinensians and Grunizensians and Duke of Karbardia of the Csercassians and Mountaneers and many other Dominions and Lands to the East West and North from Father and Ancestors Heir Successor Lord and Commander between his Majesty and the most Mighty Great Lord Sultan Mustapha Han Son of Sultan Mehmet Han Lord of Constantinople of the White Sea the Black Sea of Anatolia Rumia Romania of the most Honour'd Mecca and Medina and Holy Jerusalem of Egypt of the Abyssines of Babylon and Rica and Commander of Damascus Emperor of the Tartarian and Crimean Hords as also of many other Dominions Kingdoms and Cities Islands and Provinces Whereas the War for many years has been the Cause of the Misery of the Subjects and Dependants on both Parties that Friendship and Kindness might be restor'd and by that means the Civil Affairs might become better settled and all things chang'd into a more flourishing Condition with this intent a Congress was had in Sirmium on the Confines of Carlovitz with the most Illustrious and most Excellent the most Select Lord Great Chancellor Reis Mehmet Effendi and the most Select Lord of the Privy Council Mauro Cordato of the Family of Scarlati Plenipotentiary Commissioners and Ambassadors Extraordinary of the highly mention'd Sultan Majesty Deputed with full Powers to Treat of and Settle the Business of a Peace through the Mediation of his most Serene and most Royal Majesty of Great Britain and of the States General of the Netherlands by their most Excellent Plenipotentiaries Ambassadors Extraordinary the Lord William Lord Pagett Baron de Beaudesert c. and Lord Jacob Colyer c. both sides show'd an Inclination to a Peace and Truce but in so short a time it was not easie to remove all Difficulties and put all things into an Order agreeable to Friendship and Good Neighbourhood yet least the Continuance of these Treaties should be Interrupted and that they might be perfected and brought to an end with this Intent by mutual Consent on both sides a Truce betwixt the two great highly mention'd Lords is Agreed on for Two Years to Commence from Christmas-day the 25th day of December Anno Domini 1698. within which Term this Treaty may be reduc'd into good Order and by the Blessing of God a perpetual Peace or a Truce for a sufficient Number of years may be Concluded and Antient Friendship restor'd betwixt his Czarish Muscovite Majesty and Turkish Sultan Majesty Therefore within this prefix'd time all War Battles Fights and Skirmishes shall Cease and on both sides all Hostilities shall be remov'd and extinguish'd nor shall any Incursion or Hostility be done or any Damage committed either privately or publickly by the Subjects of his Czarish Majesty whether Muscovites or Cossacks or others within the Mussulman or Crimean Confines or within any other of his Sultan Majesty's Dominions or on any of his Subjects In like manner on the part of his Sultan Majesty no sort of Troops of what Condition soever shall be brought against his Czarish Majesty especially the Crimean Cham and the Tartars of what Nation or Hord soever shall be oblig'd not to make any Incursions or do any Damage publickly or privately either in the Cities Towns or Territories Subject to his Czarish Majesty And if contrary to this Constitution and Agreement made betwixt us
his Excellency returned in the same manner to his Palace where was prepared a sumptuous Entertainment for all that accompanied him On the 16th of February N. S. the Turkish Ambassador had Audience of the Emperor and was conducted to the Palace The Emperor received him in the Council-Chamber seated on his Throne under a rich Canopy and attended by his Principal Ministers of State and other Persons of the first Quality The Ambassador when he entred the Room made a low Reverence another in the middle of the Chamber and the third near the Throne He went up the Steps of the Throne presented his Credentials and laid them on the Table that was before the Emperor and then returned to the Place where he made his Speech in his own Language containing an Assurance of the Sultan his Master's Friendship and sincere Intentions strictly to observe the Treaty between the two Empires lately concluded which being interpreted by the Sieur Della Torre the Emperor commanded Count Caunitz Vice-Chancellor of the Empire to return an Answer which he accordingly did in High Dutch and the same was Interpreted to the Ambassador by the Sieur Della Torre Then the Ambassador ordered hi Steward to bring in the Grand Signior's Presents a List of which he laid upon the Table with a Letter from the Grand Vizier and going once more up the Steps to the Throne kissed the Border of the Emperor's Robe his Attendants at the same time making a very low Reverence After which the Ambassador withdrew walking backwards while he was in the Emperor's Presence and making three Reverences in like manner as when he came into the Room and was reconducted to his House and nobly entertained A LIST of the Presents presented to the Emperor by the Turkish Ambassador A Large Tent or Pavillon very richly adorned with Testons of Gold Embroidery the Staves finely gilt and painted A Plume of Red and White Feathers set with 52 Diamonds great and small A Bridle covered with Gold and enamelled with Red and White set with 531 Diamonds and 338 Rubies the Bit Curb and other things belonging thereto all of fine Gold A pair of Stirrups of Gold set with 128 Diamonds and 204 Rubies A Housse wrought with Flowers in Gold richly set with Rubies Pearls and Emeralds A great Silver Mace inlaid with Gold and set with 16 Rubies and 25 Emeralds with Straps to hang it up by made of Red Brocado Silk embroider'd with Pearl Emeralds A red Velvet Saddle embroider'd with Pearl Emeralds and Gold A Velvet Saddle-Cloth embroider'd with 3 Gold Roses A Sumpture-Case of Scarlet Cloth embroidered with Gold A Bridle covered with Gold enamelled with dark Blue the Bit and other Appurtenances of Gold the whole set with 112 Emeralds 381 Rubies and 49 Diamonds A pair of Silver-gilt Stirrups A Housse embroidered with 26 Roses of Pearl and Coral A Velvet-Saddle wrought with Gold and Silver A Velvet Saddle-Cloth embroidered with three golden Roses A Sumpter-Case of Scarlet Cloth embroidered with Flowers of Gold A Piece of Amber weighing 89 Ounces Fifteen Bezoar Stones Ten Lumps of Musk. Two Pieces of Cloth of Gold Two Pieces of Red Sattin wrought with Gold Six Pieces of very rich Gold Brocado Four Pieces of Silk Brocado wrought with Gold Ten Pieces of fine Callico called Duezarhi Thirty five Pieces of fine Callico commonly called Imperial Twenty Pieces of fine Callico wrought With Gold Four Persia Carpets wrought with Gold Four other Carpets of Turky-work A Dun-coloured Horse of Turcomania A Bay Horse of Turcomania A Light-dun Horse of the Country called Beideleugh A Bay Horse of Arabia Two Silver Chains to fasten Horses to the Stall A Silver Trough for the Horses to drink in Two Leopards covered with Clothes of Persia Brocado and tied with Silver Chains Particulars of the Presents which the Emperor by his Ambassador gave to the Grand Seignior THirty-six Seiket Cups with Covers and Sotto Coppe Twelve Ewers and Basons six of which were gilt Ten hanging Clocks in Silver emboss'd Frames Eight great Clocks in form like the Pedestal of a Pillar and the Clock-work in the middle A curious inlaid Cabinet Abundance of very rich Brocades A great oval Looking-Glass in a square inlaid Frame A great Silver Fire-Pan alla Turca 1 ½ foot high from the ground curiously wrought and very substantial A Silver Screen six foot high very solid and the top made like a Schollop Shell A Fire Hearth alla Franca the Bars of which were of polished Steel the sore part of it of Silver at each end it had a pyramid of Silver and in the middle a great Ball. A pair of Tongs Fire-Shovel and Proger of polished Steel with Silver Heads Twenty-four Silver Sconces with Looking-Glasses in the middle of them Two great Silver Tables alla Turca at least an Ell in Diameter Twelve gilded Tumblers Two great Silver emboss'd Dishes at least 7 foot in Diameter Two great gilded Ewers and Dishes of the same bigness Six great Silver Flower-Pots Six standing Lamps emitting Branches like those in our Churches A Silver Fountain 8 foot high in Foliage-work Two Frank Tables and two pair of Stands very prettily inlaid Two standing Clocks the Cases of which were of the same Work A great Looking-Glass set about with Stones of divers colours having a Dial-Plate in the middle of it and the Figure◠ingeniously cut The Last Account of Count TEKELY TEKELY was a Count of the Kingdom of Hungary and one of the most Ancient Families thereof and one of the most Zealous Professors and Assertors of the Protestant Religion which caused him to joyn with the Turks through the whole Course of the last Wars of which we have given an ample Account in the due places of this History whereby appear the great Services which this Noble Person did them and how ill and barbarously they sometimes used him I have particularly instanced how this present Sultan being at Belgrade where having occasion for this Tekely's Services he sent a Capugi-bashee or two to fetch him thither from Constantinople where he had Lodged himself for Recovery of his Health being informed by the Physicians at Constantinople that the Air of that City was much better than that of Adrianople The Officers who are sent from the Grand Seignior to execute any of his Commands do commonly perform them without any Consideration or Ceremony or Respect to the Person to whom they are sent and so they did to Tekely whom finding in his Bed labouring under a grievous Fit of the Gout they rudely forced him to arise and without any Remorse threw him into a Waggon and hurried him away to Belgrade to receive such Commands as the Grand Seignior had to employ him in and on all Occasions as the hopes of a Peace appeared the Neglects put upon him did daily increase It is commonly the Humour of the Turks after they have done with the Service of any Person never more to treat them kindly nor if they can to suffer them to Live Of
to supply the Places of those who had been killed by this fatal Clap and defend the Breach they could not find a sufficient number to withstand the Enemy then ready to take advantage of this dreadful blow howsoever they made the best resistance possible until their remaining Magazines and Store-Houses took Fire and blew up one after the other in such a dismal manner that for Fire Powder Smoak Stones All the Magazines of Powder and Provâ—sions blown up and Dust one Man could not see much less know the other and in this Confusion not only the greatest part of the Garrison perished but even a thousand Turks storming at that time the Walls and entring the City were also lost and such as remained alive were forced to retreat back to the Camp at which time it seemed as if a Cessation of Arms had been made during this gloomy and dismal Interval but so soon as it had cleared up a little the Turks observing the great Consternation in the City so that those who remained alive could make no resistance they rather entered the Walls than Stormed them Belgrade taken And being come within the City they found very few Christians living or Houses standing and the very Boats in the River were sunk by the weight of the Stones and rubbish which were fallen into them so that those who escaped saved themselves for the most part by Swimming some over the Danube and some over the Save on which occasion howsoever some few Boats remained The Duke of Croy escapes with the Generals by which many passed over and amongst the rest the Duke and General Aspremont with some of their Servants but no Man could save more than what he carried about him Count Aspremont being blamed for this Action was cleared by this following Copy Copie de l'Attestation donnee par le Prince Louis de Bade a Monsieur le Comte d'Aspremont au sujet de la parte de la Forteresse de Belgrade LA Forteresse de Belgrade ayant été malheureusement prise par les ennemis l'an 1690. ensuitte de la grande confusion que causa l'embrasement du Magazine a poudre plusieurs personnes mal informées des circonstances de cette affaire en ont voulu attribuer principalement la faute au Comte d'Aspremont quoyqu'il n'y commandast plus en Chef ce qui a extremement diminué dans le monde le bon credit dans le quel il etoit sur tout a cause qu'il avoit été mis en arrest comme Sa Majesté Imperial a accoutumé de faire en de semblables rencontres N'ayant donc appris autre chose de Monseigneur le Duc de Croy ainsi que des autres Generaux Officiers qui ont été commandez dans la dite Forteresse si non que le susdit Comte d'Aspremont y a fait en toutes manieres son devoir y a montré son zéle en tout ce qui pouvoit concerner le service de Sa Majesté Imperiale tellement qu'ayant été pleinement informé de tout le susdit en consideration de la verité du fait je n'ay pû faire moins que de donner a Monsieur le Comte d'Aspremont non sculement la presente Attestation mais aussi pour son unique Consolation afin qu'am chacun puisse voir connoitre le contraire des Calomnies dont on l'a voulu charger de le recommander aupres de nôtre tres Clement Maitre en tous lieux ou il pourroit en avoir besoin pour son avancement étant hors de doute que sa été entierement contre la Clemente Intention de Sa Majesté Imperiale qu'il a dû souffrir toutes ces Calomnies En foy de quoy j'ay signé la presente y ay fait apposer mon cachet Fait a Vienne ce 10 Fevrier 1693. Louis Margrave de Baden de Sa Majeste Imperiale Lieutenant General Marechal de Camp Colonel Gouverneur de Raab And thus every Man shifting as well as he could for himself the Duke rallied about 400 Men in all with which he arrived at Titul and afterwards marched with them to Peter Waradin but the Duke remained not long here before he departed and took his march for Esseck emptying all the Garrisons by the way such as Illock Sabaz and Brod and joyning all the Forces he was able to Conserve that important place it being conjectured that after having rendred themselves Masters of Belgrade the Turks would not stop there but following the air of their good Fortune would endeavour also to take Esseck But the Season of the Year being far spent it was believed that the Grand Vizier would think he had done enough for this Summer and therefore would conclude the Campagne with an Action of so much Glory but the Grand Vizier rested not here but having left 10000 Men for a Garrison in Belgrade and recommended the repair of the Breaches to the Care of some French Ingeniers that followed the Army and leaving some of their Horse Cantoned near the City the greatest part of their Cavalry was ordered for the Upper Hungary upon the News of which The Germans 〈◊〉 the Blâ—â—kade of Great-Waradin the Germans were so Alarm'd that they quitted the Blockade before Great Waradin and with other Troops which were in the Neighbourhood they marched towards the Tibiscus to secure the passage of that River In the mean time the Pasha of Bosnia was Commanded by the Grand Vizier to take Esseck whilst he himself with a strong Army of Turks passed the Danube whereupon the Germans quitted Lugos and Caranzebes and the Vizier marched directly to Lippa which place having been attacked with much Resolution and continual Storms and in want of all Provisions was forced to Surrender but on very honourable Capitulations being permitted to march out with Bag and Baggage Drums beating and with Colours flying The Besieged lost but ten Men but the Turks 800 in this Action Whilst Matters succeeded in this manner with the Vizier's Army P. Lewis continues his march Prince Lewis of Baden continued his march by way of Weissenburg and Mullenbach and arrived the 3d of October at Hermanstadt where for want of Provisions he was forced to remain for some days but being at length supplied with all things necessary they decamped and came to Medies And beats several Parties of the Enemy where they attacked and beat several Parties of the Enemies whose Heads they brought with Triumph into the Camp For as to Tekeli and his Troops they never stood their Ground but as Prince Lewis advanced they always retreated keeping at least six Leagues distant from the German Army At length he came to Czick upon the Borders of Walachia where to encourage and keep his Followers together he boasted of great Succours coming from the Turks But this Report would not serve his turn for the Prince of Walachia having received Intelligence that
the Rascians did much Infest and Ruin his Country he was the first to desert the Army and return home to defend and preserve the same Soon afterwards the Zecklers and Transylvanians following the Example of the former left the Army and returned to their Homes the which Misfortunes were soon seconded by the ill News That 200 of his Men who blocked up the Castle of Terezwar had been surprised and cut to pieces by the Germans After which the Prince pursued Tekeli towards Czick Tekeli flies from place to place from whence likewise he decamped and fled through the whole Country being hunted from one place to another but seeing that Tekeli could be fixed in no place the Prince sent back all his Baggage to Medies and having alarm'd Tekeli on every side he caused all the Roads into the Georgian Country to be stopped up and rendered unpassable and being in a full march and fresh pursuit after him he almost surprized him and had certainly taken him had not the Prince been discovered in his passage over the River near Marienburg at which Tekeli was so affrighted that he betook himself to flight and with great Confusion retired through the Pass of Bozz in Walachia He flies into Walachia but being still pursued by some German Horse they overtook seven or eight Waggons with Baggage which they seized with several Prisoners but Tekeli staid in no place but rode Post away until he came as far as Tergovitz in Walachia And thus ending the short Reign of this Transylvanian King the Emperor became a second time the Master of that Principality the Care and Preservation of which was committed to the Charge and Government of General Veterani who with eight Regiments and a good part of the Army returned back to Zatmar According to Orders received from the Grand Vizier Chusacin Pasha of Bosnia appeared on the 29th of October with Mustapha Pasha and one Beg or Lord of that Country Esseck summoned before Esseck with 12 or 15000 Men and the day following sent a Summons to the Duke of Croy to Surrender up the Fortress unto the invincible Power of his Sovereign the Ottoman Emperor and in failure of a ready Compliance herewith he threatned to destroy the whole Garrison Man Woman and Child and not so much as to spare or give Quarter to Infants in the Womb of their Mothers Hereunto the Duke returned for Answer That the Germans did not use to be terrified with high and menacing Words The Answer to the Summons That they had not a Woman in the Town and consequently no Children to be concerned for who were unborn but they should find Men there who were resolved to defend the Town to the utmost of their power Upon this Answer the Pasha immediately stormed the Counterscarps which were without any Parapet and provided only with some small Pallisadoes The Turks repulsed Howsoever tho' the Garrison consisted only of 2000 Men the Turks were repulsed with great loss and slaughter The Pasha finding himself mistaken in his Measures and that the place was resolved to make a better resistance than he expected he began to form an Attack in good Order opening Trenches and raising Batteries which was performed with such diligence that on the 2d of November Novemb. two Batteries were finished from whence with eight Guns and two Mortar-pieces they fired continually into the Town The Duke one Evening walking with some Officers through the Pallisadoes to take a view of the Enemy was discovered by them and thereupon a whole Volley of shot was poured upon them amongst which one Musket-shot took of the Hat and Perriwig of the Duke and grazing on his Forehead took off the Skin for the breadth of a Finger without other hurt or mischief On the 4th about Noon the Duke caused a Salley to be made by 200 Foot A Salley made from the Town 30 Granadiers and 100 Horse which so well succeeded that the Turks were beaten out of their Trenches having 200 of their Men killed on the place and five Standards taken with the loss only of two Men killed and about 30 wounded Had the Lieutenant who commanded the Horse done his Duty and advanced as he ought to have done to cut off the Enemies Retreat above 40 Colours had been taken and not one of them had escaped out of their Trenches for which Default the said Lieutenant was seized and arrested On the 5th The Turks had advanced within 15 Paces of the Pallisadoes and Counterscarp and had so battered and ruined the Houses within the Town especially that in which the Duke had his Quarters that very few were standing and scarce any place to remain or abide in The Turks likewise began again to appear in great numbers threatning a general Storm But the Duke and the other Generals providing to make the best Resistance and most vigorous Defence they were able entered into the Counterscarps with undaunted Resolution but the Enemy attempted nothing as if some strange fear had possessed them In the mean time the Duke being returned to his Lodgings the Hussars brought to him three Turks who being in Examination demanded for what Reason the Enemies had made so violent an Assault without Trenches or Earth to cover them it was answered That there being a Report in the Army that the Christians were coming with a powerful Army to relieve the Town it was resolved to take the place if possible before the Succours came for which reason they endeavoured to carry all at once by dint of Sword or force of Arms. The Duke and General Staremberg having received this Information A stratagem to deceive the Turks sent out by Night all the Drums and Trumpets and Bag-Pipes which were in the Town to the Regiment of Hofkirchen and some Hussars which were quartered on this side of the Drave with Orders and Instructions that when the Evening was come they should under the Obscurity of the Night march to and fro causing the marches of Musqueteers and Dragoons at convenient distances to be beaten and Trumpets and Kettle-Drums to be sounded from several Places which being exactly performed according to Orders caused such an Alarm in the Turkish Camp as struck all with Fear and Confusion believing that the Succours which they feared It succeeds to the terrour of the Turks were now arrived which caused such a Consternation in the Turkish Camp that they quitted all their Trenches in the Night with a confused Precipitation making what haste was possible for Bosnia Of this the Besieged knew as yet nothing but perceiving towards six a Clock in the Morning that not the least noise was heard in the Turkish Trenches the Duke gave 50 Dollars to a Musketeer to adventure out and take a view of the Camp and Trenches the which having done he returned and gave a Report That not a Turk was remaining either in one or the other The Turks raise the Siege by a pannick fear So soon as the