farther consideration to attack them in their own Camp and force them to sight of which the Poles being well advised placed several-Pieces of Artillery and lined all the Hedges and Ditches with Musquetiers where the Turks were necessarily to pass drawing out their whole Army into Batalia the Turks who hastened the nearest way to charge the Enemy fell into the Ambush where having lost about five hundred men they began to make a stand and to consider of some more advantageous way to their design Wherefore Abassa taking another course which he judged to be free from all concealed dangers ordered the Tartars to charge the right Wing and the Moldavians and Valachians the left of the Enemy and he with his Turks would fight the main Body The Tartars with great resolution performed their part and had wholly deseated that Wing had not Wisnovitzki with some Troops and a Train of small Artillery come in seasonably to their succour the Moldavians and Valachians sought so faintly against the Enemy whom they considered to be Christians Brothers and Neighbours that they soon turned their backs and fled but were not far pursued by the Poles Abassa receiving this repulse sounded a Retreat and immediately repassed the River Tyr and marched with all the haste he was able stopping no where until he arrived at Rinzur about thirty English miles from the place of the Fight and arriving at length on the Banks of the Danube he gave licence to his Souldiers to disperse into their Winter-quarters in the mean time Abassa dispatched Advice to the Grand Signior of the Particulars of the Fight and of his great Victory by an entire defeat of the Polish Army The Grand Signior believed the report which none durst to contradict and which was confirmed by the rumour of an Ambassadour coming from Poland For the Poles being at that time engaged in a War with Moscovy and apprehensive of another with Sweden judged it not seasonable to provoke the Turk but rather by way of Accommodation dispeeded an Ambassadour with a train of three hundred men to make complaints against the late Acts of Hostility committed by Abassa as if he had moved his Arms without the Orders or knowledge of the Sultan About that time that the Ambassadour approached near to Constantinople the Grand Signior had another Son born but of a weakly and sickly temperament howsoever great joy was expressed and all the City was enlightned with Torches Bonsires and Fire-works and that the Grand Signior might evidence his Greatness and Magnisicence to the Ambassadour he took this occasion of the Birth of a Son to make a solemn Entrance into the City and to make the greater show he armed all the Citizens and Inhabitants Before the Grand Signior would grant Audience to the Ambassadour he ordered that Abassa should treat with him and understand his business and desires Abassa carried himself high in the Negotiation he pretended the damages and charges of the War the demolishment of certain Palancas which were the places of Refuge for the Cosacks and the Tribute of ten years past with security of payment for the time to come The Ambassadour positively refused to hearken unto any terms about Tribute and that for other matters the Presents which he had brought to the Grand Signior would reasonably answer His Presents were A Coach lined with Velvet with six very fine Horses A Bason and Candlesticks of Silver richly gilt Four Clocks ten Vests of Sables six Quivers of Arrows with some Hunting Dogs Being at length admitted to Audience and thereunto conducted by the Aga of the Spahees and the Chaous Bashee the Grand Signior asked the Ambassadour which was not usual For what reason he was come thither To which he answered That he was come to bring his Majesty advice of the Coronation of his King and to establish a Peace if his Majesty should judge fit to accept thereof To which the Sultan replied That all Christian Kings ought either to receive the Ottoman Laws or pay him Tribute or try the sharpness of his Sword And taking a Cemiter in his hand which hung by him he drew it half out and said With this I will subdue my Enemies and though my War in Persia continues I do not fear to undertake another in Poland To which the Ambassadour returning a modest Answer was dismissed of the Royal Presence And now the Grand Signior to put a good face on the business and to make the World believe that he designed what he spake he proclaimed a War with Poland and ordered his Tents to be carried abroad supposing hereby to draw the Poles to his own terms of agreement and in pursuance hereof he mounted on Horse-back and rode in state through the City his upper Vest was made after the Hungarian fashion lined with Sables in his right hand he carried a Quiver of Arrows in his left two drawn Swords on his Turbant he wore a large Plume of Feathers encompassed with a Circle of Diamonds and in this manner entring his Tents he proceeded to Adrianople But before his departure the Count Puchen Ambassadour from the Emperour arrived with other sumptuous Presents offering Incense and gifts of Peace at the Throne of this Greatness But before we relate the transactions at Adrianople and the success of affairs at that place let us recount several dismal accidents at Constantinople The Grand Signior returning by Sea from a place called Stravosta in the Bay of Ismit anciently the Bay of Nicomedia where he had for some time held his Court and great Divan he was followed by several Vessels appointed to transport the people in one whereof were ninety five persons embarked all of them Pasha's Aga's and chief Officers of the Court the Vessel was over-set by a sudden gust of wind and all the people drowned excepting three Sea-men which saved themselves by swimming More considerable were the mischiefs by fire For on occasion of some Fire-works made in one of the Grand Signior's Chiosks or Houses of Pleasure the fire took so siercely on the Tavan or wooden Works of the Sieling that it endangered the whole Palace and had consumed all but that many hands and active men gave a stop to the farther progress This fire was but the fore-runner of a greater which began the 16 th of September in that part of the City of Constantinople which is called 〈◊〉 being between the Wall and the Port where live Taverners Butchers Fishmongers and others who sell provisions The fire took first in one of those Houses which had been a Tavern and are Buildings only made of Deal-boards and Timber which combustible matter flamed out so violently that it took hold on all the Houses round and was so quick in its motion as if it had taken by a train or that some wicked people with Fire-balls had employed themselves in the mischief the fire took its course against the wind burning on one side and the other to the Historical Pillar and to
encounter with the more favourable terms and advantage at the Port. Notwithstanding which offices of kindness Dervis Bei without farther loss of time passed up to Constantinople bringing his Gally in without Lantern shot thorough ill treated and shattered feigning himself also to be wounded related that he had lost forty four Levents and seventy seven Slaves which were killed and that all the Haratch or Tribute-money which was collected for the Grand Signiors service from the several Islands was robbed and embezled by these Candiots His complaints were aggravated by many circumstances and being assisted with the clamours of other Beys or Captains of Gallies the noise and dispute was exceeding high in the Divan urging that the Venetians were obliged to make good a loss which they had caused rather out of malice than mistake At that time Georgio Giustiniano resided at Constantinople for the most Serene Republick who to oppose the high clamours of these Complainants shewed courage and accompanied his answers with prudence and resolution which are often very convincing in the Turkish Court They alledged that the Peace was broken he answered That it would not be the first time and that they ought not to yield entire credit to the relation of persons passionate and partial in their own cause that such accidents as these were as ordinary and common in the World as cold and heat as fair and foul weather and that so soon as the errour was discovered and the Gally known not to belong to Barbary but to the Grand Signior it was punctually and entirely restored with all the excuses imaginable In short this business which had so bad an aspect at the first by the dexterity of this Minister and giving something to Dervis Bei whereby to stop his mouth the complaint ceased and all farther proceedings were superseded The Wars in Persia being unsuccessful it was proposed in Council that a Peace should be made if possible with Abassa Pasha that his demands whatsoever they were should be granted and promises given him of Honours and Preferment but the inveterate enmity and hate which the Janisaries bore him and the difficulty there was to perswade Abassa that the overtures made him were free and candid and not mixed with treachery and design were obstructions not to be obviated or overcome Wherefore Abassa keeping mutual Intelligence with the Persians and receiving assistance and succours from them was become very formidable and strong and the Town of Erzirum well fortified with Works and a numerous Garrison Howsoever the Janisaries his mortal Enemies pressing the Vizier to proceed against him at length obliged him to besiege the place which having done and closely begirt it the most forward and brave amongst the Janisaries were the first to scale the Walls but were repulsed by the valour of stout and resolute Souldiers for they knowing that there was no other safety but in their Arms and no other mercy than an ignominious death being the just reward of their Rebellion refused to give or to receive quarter wherefore they made frequent Sallies on the Enemy and as many Janisaries of them as they took Prisoners they immediately hanged about the Walls as a spectacle of horrour to their Associates This resolution and cruelty deterred the Turks from their frequent assaults and storms made upon the Town and the many Batteries and Fortifications rendred the place almost impregnable so that there seemed no other hopes to remajn but to overcome them by a long Siege and Famine but Abassa had so well provided against this danger with such plenty of provisions that the Turkish Army began to be more straitned for want of sustenance than the besieged so that becoming weary and discouraged amidst so many difficulties they raised the Siege with such disorder and haste that they left several Pieces of Cannon behind them and retiring with some confusion were charged in the Rear so that many Janisaries fell a Sacrisice to the hate and revenge of the Enemy The News of this success coming to Constantinople was ill received but the disaster thereof according to the usual custom was attributed to the Vizier who was General for which cause he was deprived of his Office and the Selictar Aga who carries the Sword before the Grand Signior was put into his place a person of a fierce bloody and cruel disposition To these new troubles were added out of Tartary For Mahomet the King of that Country exalted to the Princely Dignity as we have already declared by the favour and Election of that People though contrary to the sense and pleasure of the Port was now fallen from the good esteem which they conceived for him because he gave some hinderance to their usual Incursions on the Polonians and Cosacks out of memory and gratitude to the assistance they had contributed towards his Election for which reason being as it were famished for want of their usual depredations they refused to obey his Commands and then openly threw off their Obedience to him as their Prince The Turks who always envied this Dignity to Mahomet rejoyced to see this discord between him and his People and therefore thought it time to make use of this occasion to re-instate Gherey the elder Brother into the possession of his Kingdom whom the Turks for his better security having placed at Rhodes the usual Retirement of the Tartarian Princes dispatched a Squadron of Gallies to fetch him from thence to Constantinople where being arrived he was received with a magnificent and Princely Entertainment by the Sultan that so the Fame thereof forerunning his arrival in Tartary the people might be better prepared to concur with the Port in their acceptance of him for their King He was afterwards conducted to Caffa the Grand Signiors Town in Tartary with a strong Fleet of fifty Gallies where at his first landing he was received by Cant-Emir a rich and powerful Tartar and Chief of the Turkish Faction and by many others with great honour and solemnity with whom also a considerable Party most willingly engaged But the Cosacks of Poland and Circassians friends to Mahomet the Brother joyning their Troops to his Forces became too strong for the Turks for giving them Battle near the Inclosures of the Danube at a place called Bandet they defeated them and killed three or four thousand of their men putting all to Fire and Sword round about and entring on the Seas with their Fleet of Boats took five of the Turkish Gallies with which ill success the Tartars which took part with Cant-Emir being discouraged abandoned their Colours and fled so that Cant-Emir was forced to take Sanctuary in Caffa which being a Town belonging to the Grand Signior it was hoped that the reverence they owed to that Name would cause them to refrain all violence thereunto But the Tartars provoked by this late effusion of blood lost all respect to that Government so that besieging the Town they assaulted and took it and therein the
these reasons for a Peace with the Emperour the designs the Grand Signior entertained of making War upon Poland with the assistance of the Moscovites and Tartars and of dispossessing Emir Facardin of his Government were strong inducements to make fair weather on all other sides of the neighbouring Princes The envy which the riches and greatness of Emir Facardin who was a Prince inhabiting in the parts of Arabia to whom a large tract of Land with several Fortresses did belong had contracted to him from the Pasha's of Damascus Tripoli and Gaza caused them to accuse him before the Grand Signior of Rebellion and other enormous Crimes the Plea against him was managed especially by the Pasha of Tripoli who alledged That he was an Enemy to the Mahometan Law destroyed the Moschs kept correspondence with the Malteses and the Corsaires of Ligorn permitting them freely to take water in his Country that he openly favoured the Christians suffering them freely to build Churches in his Country That he continually fortified his Castles and encroached on the Lands and Territories of the Emirs his Neighbours In short his riches were so great that every one feared and envied him and therefore represented his case in that manner that the Grand Signior resolving to destroy him sent great Forces into those Countries under the Command of the Pasha of Tripoli to whom he commanded the Pasha's of Damascus Gaza Aleppo and Cairo to joyn their Forces and for better expedition the Captain-Pasha was appointed to equippe his Fleet to transport Men and Ammunition into those parts The Captain-Pasha in his passage by Sea encountred two English Ships lading Corn in the Gulph of Vola called the William and Ralph and Hector this being a prohibited Commodity not to be transported under penalty of forfeiting Ships Goods and Liberty of the men moved the Pasha with the sight of such a Booty to command his Gallies to seize the Vessels which being only two it was imagined that they would immediately yield and surrender without contest But these bold Brittons knowing the consequences of such a surrender resolved not tamely to yield themselves at least to sell their liberties lives Ships and Goods to the Turks at the dearest rate they were able wherefore cutting their Cables put themselves under Sail and got into the main Sea fighting with the whole Fleet above three hours sometimes they were boarded by one Gally sometimes by two at once but plying their Quarter-deck Guns with small shot and defending themselves manfully with their half-Pikes they often cleared their Decks and put off the Enemy with great slaughter the Captain-Pasha being ashamed to see such resistance made by two such Vessels against his whole Force resolved to enter his men at the Gun-room port of one of the Ships and running the Prow of the Gally into the Stern-port the valiant crew of the Gun-room clapt an Iron Spike into the Trunnel-hole of the Prow whereby the Gally being wedged fast to the Timbers of the Ship they brought their Stern-chase laden with cross Bars pieces of Iron and Parteridge-shot to bear upon them which raking them fore and aft killed the Captain-Pasha himself with near three hundred out of the Bastard Gally At length having spent all their shot they charged their Guns with pieces of Eight and being over-powered by numbers of their Enemies and not able farther to resist they set fire to their Ships which blowing up destroyed two or three of the Gallies which laid by their sides together with those men which were then fighting aboard at handy-blows on the Deck with the defendants so that none of the English were taken unless three or four fished out of the water An end being in this manner put to the Fight the Turks gained the Victory with the loss of twelve hundred Slaves killed and wounded besides Turks and were forced into Port where they remained a full month to repair their Gallies the which Fight affected all Turks with an astonishment of the English Bravery or obstinacy as they call it and is a matter remembred and talked of to this day especially by the Son of the Captain-Pasha who was slain called Omem Pasha Ogli who is Pasha of Rhodes at present as I remember and commands three or four Gallies for which reason he is so inveterate an Enemy to the English that to satisfie his revenge he buys what English Slaves he can get into his Gallies and sells none out under a double price or ransom The News of this Fight coming to Constantinople provoked the Grand Signior to the height of indignation howsoever the Officers either being ashamed of their loss or entertaining some secret admiration of the English Bravery suffered the matter to be compounded for the Sum of forty thousand Dollars of which the English paid only their share with the French and Venetians whom for I know not what reason the Turks equally concerned in the occasion Whilst the Turks were appointing a new Captain-Pasha and again refitting their Fleet the Pasha of Damascus dispatched a Summons to Facardin to surrender Seida up to him with other Castles and places of strength The Old man resided then at Barut where pretending to be retired from all business answered that he had resigned the whole Government into the hands of his Son Ali as he had already testified by publick Acts that he was but a Subject and a Souldier under his Son and therefore to him they ought to make their applications Facardin had at that time an Army of twenty five thousand men the which he divided into two Bodies commanded by his two Sons Ali his eldest he ordered with twelve thousand men a thousand of which were Maronites and two thousand Druzes to march to Saphet for hindering the conjunction of the Emirs of Ferue and Therabith and the Pasha's of Gaza and Damascus whose Forces being joyned together did not compose a greater number than that of Facardin Ali encountring with them and being a brisk and hot-metled Prince engaged and charged them so home that he defeated them and killed eight thousand of their men but such a Victory as this not costing him less than seven thousand of his men was in effect his own overthrow for being the next day charged again by the Enemy both sides fought with that obstinacy that as is reported there remained not above an hundred forty six of all the Souldiers which followed Ali and he himself having his Horse mortally wounded under him and being out of breath weary and faint yielded himself to a common Souldier who promised him quarter but afterwards having him in his power he stranged him with his Match and cut off his head and his little finger on which he wore his Seal-ring and so presented both to the Pasha But this proud Conquerour refused to accept this Present without Ceremony until first the Head had been perfumed with sweet waters the beard combed out and covered with a rich Turbant and having
to join Battel at which firmness of resolution the Turks being a little startled became willing to avoid the sight and to creep under the shelter of the point of Babiers which locks in one of the Bayes between the Castles and the Mouth of the Dardanelli But the Wind on a sudden turning favourable for the Venetians the Prior of Rochelle with his Squadron and Mocenigo with three Ships under his Command made up towards the Castles with design to cut the Turks off from their Retreat the others valiantly assailed the Turks who defending themselves like those whose chief security consists in their Arms there ensued a most miserable slaughter on one side and the other at length the success of Victory happened to the Venetians who were animated by the couragious Example of their General Marcello though he having Boarded and become Master of a great Ship called a Soltana with the Gally which attended her was shot in the thigh with a Cannon Bullet and thereby gained the glory to die Conquering and Triumphant After whose Death the Proveditor taking upon him the Command of the Fleet prosecuted the Victory so close that excepting 14. Gallies which escaped with the Captain Pasha and 4. Gallies of the Beyes all the whole Fleet was either taken sunk or burnt The Venetians not being able to Man all the Vessels that they had taken set many of them on fire in the Night excepting only 12. Gallies 4. Ships and 2. Galleasses which they reserved for a demonstration or evidence of their Victory With this glorious success 5000. poor Christians obtained their freedom and had their Chains and Shackles knocked off What number the Turks might have lost is uncertain but as to the Venetians it is reported that besides their General there were not above 300. Men in all killed and wounded The Venetians being encouraged by this success attacked the Island of Tenedos and in the space of four days became Masters of it as also in a short time afterwards of Stalimene antiently called Lemnos the which shameful losses and overthrow so irritated the mind of the G. Signior that he gave Orders to carry the War into Dalmatia intending the next Summer to go thither in person and in the mean time Commanded by the Pasha of Bosna that the City of Ragusa should be put into a readiness to receive his Troops being judged a convenient place for the Seat and Magazine of Arms for those Countries But the poor Republick greatly apprehending this misfortune than which there could be no greater mischief nor ruine to their Country dispatched certain Deputies with their yearly Tribute to the Port with instructions that in the way thither they should supplicate the Pasha to intercede with the G. Signior in their behalf representing to his Majesty that they paying their annual Tribute for protection ought not in justice to be exposed to the licentiousness of an Army which their little Territories were not capable to receive nor provide with convenient Quarters at which Message the Pasha being highly incensed answered rudely and imprisoned them threatning to strangle them in case their Government did not obey the Commands of the Sultan ANNO 1657. BUT the Chief Ministers at the Port taking into their consideration the present State of Affairs that the City of Constantinople was full of discontents the Persian on one side and Moscovite on the other ready to invade divers parts of the Empire that there were designs to depose the G. Signior and set one of his Brothers on the Throne besides a multitude of other dangers the resolution of the Courts removal and of the G. Signiors March into Dalmatia was suspended his presence and authority being esteemed most requisite in such a Conjuncture of troubles at the heart and center of his Empire After which the appearance of the G. Signior in publick was less frequent for that he might hasten the departure of the Spahees and Janisaries for Candia he deferred his Journy to Adrianople for some time but they being averse to this War refused to march until first they had received all Arrears which were due to them the which audacious proposal so inconsed the G. Signior that he caused the heads of two of the most forward Mutineers to be cut off in his presence This unseasonable rigour rather provoked the spirits of discontented men than abated them and the continual prizes which the Venetians made on the Turks and stoppage of provisions which did usually supply Constantinople from the Archipelago raised the price of Bread and of all Victuals in that populous City so that the people murmured and exclaimed as if they had been reduced to their last extremity The G. Vizier considering that the loss of Tenedos was the cause of all these inconveniences promised the Inhabitants of Constantinople that he would regain it in a short time in order to which he set forth a very numerous Fleet to besiege that Fortress but contrary Winds and bad weather forced them into a Neighbouring Port where they attended the Conjunction of the Beyes Gallies with them The General of the Venetians having received advice hereof put to Sea that he might hinder these two Fleets from joining and was no sooner in the Channel of Scio than that he met with 10. Sail of Barbary men of War convoying a great number of Saiques and other Vessels of which 14. were laden with provisions carrying also with them 200 thousand Crowns which was the Tribute of Rhodes these the Venetians assailed with such Courage and success that they burnt the ten Ships and many of the Saiques killed a thousand Turks took 400. Prisoners delivered 300. Christians with the loss only of 100. killed and 300. wounded This and other losses augmented the discontents at Constantinople so that the G. Vizier to hold up the spirits of the people resolved to go in person to Tencdos and accordingly Equipped a Fleet of 18. Ships 30. Gallies 10. Galleasses with an innumerable Company of Saiques and other Vessels whereon he Embarked 20. thousand Horse and 80. thousand Foot with which Army the Vizier sailed out of the Dardanelli on the 17th of July having first received intelligence that Mocenigo was not returned from the Morea where he had been for some time in chase of certain Ships Howsoever the Turks found not the passage so clear but that they encountred with a Squadron of 18. Sail of Men of War under the Command of Signior Bembo the which seeming an inconsiderable number to the Turks they assailed them with undoubted hopes of Victory The Admiral and Vice-Admiral of the Turks with five other great Ships charged the Venetian Admiral who defended himself so bravely that for three hours they lay Board and Board the rest of the Turkish Fleet assailed the other part of their Enemies Fleet so close that the Fight became terrible and bloody both for one and the other until at length the Turks being worsted were put to flight and in the pursuit a
expeditions had raised so that the Army both Horse and Foot began to transport themselves as fast as was possible to the other side but the multitudes crouded over in that disorder and hast that three or four thousand men had scarce passed the River before the Bridge was so broken and shattered that some time was necessarily required to repair it before the rest of the Army durst adventure to follow their Companions The Approach of the Turkish Army alarmed all that side of Hungary but especially the Inhabitants of Newhausel who observing the Turks to bend their Course that way plainly foresaw the Storm of War to be breaking on them the News also of the fall of the Bridge and thereby the Separation of about four thousand Turks from the Body of the Army was brought in by the Country people who forsaking their Villages fled for succour to the stronger Fortress of Newhausel Hereupon Forcatz the Governour of Newhausel a valiant and experienced Souldier though esteemed by the Turks unfortunate taking this Alarm judged that this occasion of cutting off that part of the Turkish Army which had past the River was in no wise to be omitted and therefore assembled a Council of War which consisted of all the principal Officers and Commanders of the Garison amongst which was Colonel Volter that commanded the four thousand men lately sent to reinforce the Town he declared that his opinion was Immediately to make a Sally on that part of the Turkish Army which had already passed the River before the Bridge was repaired for Transportation of the others which endeavours by Gods Assistance succeeding well might not only discourage the Enemy but be a means to divert them from their present design upon their City This Advice though he pressed with heat of Argument and violence of Speech yet could it not prevail with the rest of the Council which seemed wholly averse thereunto especially Volter who declared That his Commission was not to fight in the Field but to conserve himself within the Walls for maintenance of his Garison Some days passed in this Dispute whilst Forcatz growing more eager and hot on this design used opprobrious Terms and expressions of infamy towards the other Officers accusing all such of Cowardice and Treason who refused to concurr with him in this Enterprize and advantage on the Enemy which Heaven seemed to reach out to them for their Deliverance if their wisedom and courage afforded them only will and grace to lay hold on the opportunity These sharp words and resolution of the Governour provoked the minds of the Officers to a condescension and thereupon about eight thousand men of Choice and approved Souldiers well armed with stout hearts and hard Iron not suffering themselves to be upbraided with such reproach in the silence of the Night under the Conduct of Forcatz their own Commander Volter remaining in the Town took their way towards the Turkish Camp and being armed with Firelocks marched with all privacy without lighted Matches or sound of Drum or Trumpet But whilst the foregoing Dispute lasted the Turks had transported the gross of their Army over the River and then lay on her Banks resting securely under their Pavillions The Christians approaching near the Turkish Camp with the first twilight and dawning of the Morning perceiving the Enemy unprovided but not discovering their Force dealt at first onset their shot most plentifully amongst them and proceeding amidst the thickest cutting shooting killing and making havock of all before them The amazed Turks having many of their Companions brought to their last sleep before themselves were throughly awake and some flying before they discovered the reason or the danger an Alarm was given by the confused murmur of Allah Allah and that the Christians were upon them reached the farthest Quarters of the Turkish Army which immediately put themselves into Battalia and order of fighting whilst this handful of Germans proceeded forwards dealing their blows amongst their Enemies cutting the Cords of the Tents and destroying all before them But by this time the Turks having put themselves into a posture of Defence the Horse and Foot came marching in a Body extending their Wings in the form of a half Moon so as to enclose this small number and on all sides to assail them The Germans seeing this formidable sight approach and no safety in flight encouraged each other to sell their Lives at as dear a rate as they could all hopes of escape seeming desperate they fought with that courage and obstinacy as amazed the Turks and yielded not until their Spirits fainted with labour and their Swords were blunted by the Bodies of their Enemies The Count Forcatz hardly escaped but by the help of his Horse with some few others fled to Newhausel which unwillingly received him wishing that the rashness of his Counsels had only proved his own destruction and not involved so many brave and innocent Souldiers who were only unfortunate for being over-powered by his command and perswasions The rest overwhelmed with multitudes yielded for though they behaved themselves beyond the power and courage of men yet the numbers of the Enemy prevailed at length over these Christian Champions whose Gallantry was more eminent and conspicuous in being subdued than the Glory of their Enemies in the Victory In this Skirmish few escaped amongst which four hundred Gentlemen were slain and about eighteen hundred Prisoners reported to be taken a bad Omen at the beginning of this War This Rout being given the Turks triumphed in Blood and success and returned with their Captives and Trophies back to Strigonium where the Vizier mounting a Throne of State and Majesty treated these valiant Souldiers not like men of War or Captives taken in open Field but as a Judge condemned them to dye by the hand of the Hang-man or Executioner passing a formal Sentence of Death upon them as if they had been Thieves or Assasinates arrested by the hand of Justice The Sentence being passed and the Turkish Army drawn up these valiant Christians were ranked in order and sile to dye who had so lately with Swords in their hands ranged themselves in Battle against their Enemy and so soon as the Executioners fell to their work and the horrid Massacre was begun the Guns were fired and the whole Camp resounded with barbarous Musick and shouts In the mean while the most superstitious amongst them triumphed that God was now destroying the Infidels manifesting the truth of their Prophet and doing his own work not unlike the assertions and doctrines of those Pretenders to Religion who have always hallowed and excused their cruelties with the Name of God and sanctified the blood they have shed by making their Enemies Amalekites and by pretence of false Lights and Prophecies countenanced their most impious Sacriledge in Gods Churches and Invasions of their Neighbours Rights The merciless Executioners had proceeded to bereave of life about thirteen or fourteen hundred persons the Vizier standing a
drew after it that deadly War in which the Emperour unwillingly engaged against the Ottoman Power and caused him freely to intimate unto Serini his desire rather to see that Fort demolished than the Peace interrupted to which Serini yielding no Ear drew upon himself the deserved displeasure of his most gracious Prince who permitted the act of his obstinacy and disobedience to become a just snare to his own folly But perhaps that displeasure which was Justice in the Emperour might be Envy and emulation in his Ministers who beholding with jealous Eyes his actions and succesies the Winter before which enraged his Enemies and exalted his name to that glory in all the Courts of Christian Princes that the Pope honoured him with Medals of Gold the King of Spain with the Order of the Golden Fleece the French King as a demonstration of his esteem with a Token of ten thousand Crowns and Cardinal Francis Barberini with a Pension of eight hundred Crowns a Month and all other European Princes at least made the most part applications to him by Congratulatory Letters admiring his Virtues and applauding his Successes permitting their Gazets and Diurnals Weekly to divulge and publish his praises From whence may rationally be collected the true occasion of that Envy which by cold assistances and slow succours obstructed as well the taking of Kanisia as the valiant defence of Serinswar which was decryed not only as a Fort erected without due and mature consideration but without art or regular proportions which might render it tenable accusing at the same time as well the rashness and temerity of Serim's Counsels as his want of judgment and experience in Military Affairs But to leave now the sad subject of the Christian misfortunes occasioned by their own quarrels and dissentious which the Grand Enemy of Gods Church always endeavoured to sow for advancement of his own Kingdom Let us cast our Eyes on the other parts of unhappy Hungary The Siege of Kanisia being raised and Serinswar taken and demolished success had swelled and puffed up the minds of the Turks to a height that nothing seemed difficult or impossible to their desires On the other side controversies and delays gave that advantage to the Enemy that nothing could be expected but losses slaughter and in the end a total ruine But God who pittied the miseries of poor Christendome cast his Eyes of mercy on the Frontiers of the upper Hungary granting some more happy successes to the Christian Armes conducted by the Valour and Fortune of Count Soisé a French Gentleman who having the Command of an Army distinct from that of Montecuculi began his first attempt and enterprize upon Nitra where several persons of Quality and Officers of the Turkish Army were assembled to consider of the affairs of War Soise having taken his convenient measures and made his due approaches began to batter the Walls a great part of which in a short time he shook so shroadly that he opened a very wide breach and continually plying Granadoes into the Town so assrighted the Besieged that immediately they offered a Parley which Soisé accepted and the rather upon advice that Varadin Solnoc Temiswar and the places adjacent were collecting Forces to raise the Siege and relieve the Town entered into Treaty and concluding upon Conditions the Town Surrendered and the Turks marched out with their Colours folded and Muskets under their Arms leading their Horses had Convoy as far as Chomar Soisé having obtained this success entered into Consultation about recovery of Newhausel but having not Forces judged sufficient to attempt the difficulty of that place he turned his endeavours and designs upon Lewa or Leventz but in the way thither he was casually engaged with a Body of fourteen thousand Turks and Tartars who were marching to the relief of Nitra and fell in unawares upon his Rereguard whereupon Soisé commanded the Regiments of his Major General Guarnieri and of the Colonels Caprara and Zeitsch and the Horse and Dragoons of Brandenburg then marching in the Van to face about and Charge the Enemy which they performed with that Courage and Vigour that they routed and pursued them as far as the River Giava At which place Soisé Encamped with his Army and in an advantagious situation made a line of Circumvallation about his Camp strengthening it with some pieces of Cannon The Turks having recovered a convenient Retreat upon the River remained opposite to the Christians and having there reinforced themselves with additional Recruits returned again to give them Battel and in three places with extremity of fury and despair assaulted the Christian Camp Fortune for a long time remained doubtful on both sides till at length the admirable resolution of the Christians overcame leaving a thousand Turks extended on the place many were drowned and the rest fled leaving a rich Booty for reward to the Conquerours The Christians in this manner being successful resolved not to check the current of their Fortune but without delay proceeded to Lewa which having been for some time battered with great Guns surrendred it self to the mercy of the Conquerour in which was found a considerable quantity of Meal and twenty great pieces of Artillery In the mean time the difference between the King of France and the Pope on occasion of the insult offered at Rome by the Corst to the Embassadours House and Person being this Year composed those Forces of the French being in all about 3000. Horse sent first into Italy to avenge this affront under the Command of the Count Coligni were ordered to pass into Hungary by way of Venice to the assistance of the Emperour to which several Gentlemen Voluntiers of the same Nation joining themselves formed a Body of 4000. Horse well appointed valiant and desirous of action The Pope also whose words expressed and breathed out nothing but holy zeal against the common Enemy promised a supply of 10000. Foot and 3000. Horse which were to pass by way of Trieste into Croatia according to the promise and assurance of the Nuntio at Vienna for acknowledgment of which religious and considerable succour Count Leslie was dispatched from the Imperial Court in a private Character to pass those Offices of grateful acceptance as were due to so high a merit and sense of the Christian Cause But scarce was Leslie arrived at Venice before he understood to his great admiration that the holy Army was by Order of the Pope disbanded for which no other cause was assigned than only that at Rome it was seriously debated and in the end it was concluded that the expence was too great to be charged on the Ecclesiastical State and that the Souldiery also were themselves unwilling to be so far separated from their own Country all which at Vienna were understood to be frivolous pretences and the causes thereof attributed to the sinister Offices of a person ill affected to the Emperours Interest by which the Pope and Don Mario his