had been represented he endeavoured to perswade his Majesty to continue in the Terms they had agreed upon He demonstrated to him and his Generals the unlucky consequences that were to be feared if they changed design how easie it was to force this detachment if they did not delay to attack them the importance of doing it suddenly for fear all the Forces of the Enemy might rejoyn them and he insisted that they should advance and charge them as soon as the Foot were come up The King explained this Discourse to the Senators and Officers of the Army that did not understand the Language and in order to it agreed to march the next Morning irresolute only upon the ordering of the Battel The Duke who had been visiting the Ground made a Description to the King of it and the Condition of Barcam and afterwards discoursed of several forms of embattelling He proposed that which they had held at Vienna offering the right to his Majesty or to march as they were camped and divided the Poles into the two Wings which last proposal was accepted of and the Resolution to march was taken The Army being put into Battalia with the Day Prince Lewis of Baden commanded the right Wing and under him Count Gondola and Baron Mercy Count Dunewald was in the left and with him the Counts Palsi and Taff. Count Starenberg Marshal of the Field conducted the Infantry with the Prince of Croy and Count Serin This done the Duke went to the King for the dividing of his Army His Majesty having been informed that the Enemies detachment had been augmented by several Troops conducted by Haly Bassa of Aleppo and by the Bassaes of Sylistria and Caire and apprehending that these Troops were followed by the rest deliberated a-new upon the Enterprise but the Duke represented to him many motives which made him believe the Army could not yet be come thither He added that if it were he believed the Ground whereon they stood was so advantageous that they ought not to change their Design being the Imperial Army possessed all the Plain the Danube on the right and the Mountains on the left and that the Ground growing narrower towards the Enemies they could not make use of a great body though they had it these reasons being approved the Polish Army was divided The King with a party of his Hussars of his Foot and of his best Horse placed himself in the right betwixt the Emperours Horse and his Dragoons The Great General Jabloriski did the same in the left and the rest of the Polish Army made a third Line they marched for half an hour in this Order About nine a Clock they saw the Turks drawn up in the Plain before them They moved justly and by their firmness their Forces were judged equal with those of the Christians Being come near the Troops that appeared made a motion putting themselves into three Lines leaving only two great squadrons on their right They then came and charged the left of the Christian Army with much fierceness and searching the Poles they attack'd the Hussars which the Great General Commanded At the same time the gross of the Turks who were in the middle of the height advanced towards the adverse Foot as if they would have charged them and being come within half Musquet-shot they declined to the left of the Christians exposing their Flank to relieve their own men The Duke who was gon towards his Infantry seeing this motion ran along the Line of the Horse of the left Wing and with all the party of the first Line which had not yet charged he himself advanced at the head of the Squadrons and charged the Enemy in flank which put them to a general rout incapacitating them to make head again He ordered Dunewald to pursue with the whole first Line and with all the Poles of the same Wing who followed them Pell-Mell to the very Gates of Barkam and the Marshes of Gran where many of them were slain Whilst Count Dunewald chased the Enemy the Duke caused the Army to advance in Battalia towards Barcam The King having seen the flight of the Turks was come from the right Wing to the left to complement the Duke the Generals and Senators who accompanied him did the same Amongst the rest Jablorisky the Grand General of Poland in presence of all avowed that his People refusing to advance to sustain the Hussars the readiness of Count Dunewald to succour him and the Vigour of the Emperours Horse had repaired that fault and could not be sufficiently commended And now in the disorder the Enemy was in they resolve to attack Barcam The King caused some of his Cossacks to advance and the Duke added five Battalions of Starenberg of Grana and Baden all under the conduct of Count Starenberg This detachment was scarce ordered when the Duke who was approached to the Fort to inspect it was advertised that the Bridge upon the Danube was broken by the precipitate flight of the first Run-aways and that the crowding in Barkam and upon the side to the River were so great that they seemed to be packed upon each other He hasted thither and would lose no time upon such an occasion He gave Prince Lewis of Baden orders to dismount the Regiments of Dragoons of Schults Comfettein and Castell and to march to the Fort on that side to make a second Attack The command was instantly executed and having sent some parties of Foot by Water and five pieces of Cannon charged with Cartrages he ordered that the Fort should be assaulted whilst the great and small shot plyed their Vollies upon the Banks of the River The Turks seeing themselves thus pressed on all sides could not withstand the Attack the place being forced the Foot and Dragoons entering at the same time by the ways they attempted it The slaughter was terrible though most of the defendants to save themselves from the fury of the assailants precipitated themselves into the Danube some leap'd in with their Horses others tried to pass by swimming holding by the Mane and tailes of their Horses or some plank or piece of the broken Bridge and there were some who crept over the dead bodies which were held by the cordage and pieces of wood remaining where the breach was This slaughter continuing long the number of the dead was very great all that part of the Danube near the shore not being very rapid being filled with them all the surface of the River where largest being covered with cloaths and the equipage of Men and Horses and there did not escape above seven or 800 of all this multitude who found their preservation in the king of a Redoubt which was at Barcam where they had put themselves and from whence they demanded quarter and had it The Town being garrisoned with Dutch and Poles Count Staremberg seeing these two Nations were ready to murther each other for the booty removed the Imperialists having only the Poles there who awhile after
mend the actions and outvie the prowess of the most magnificent and most successful of their Sultans But the Ambition of this grand design giving way to necessity and to those other impediments which obstructed it Newhausel after due and mature Consultation Newhausel called by the Hungariaus Oywar was fixed upon as the place to be first attempted and held up to the eye of the Souldiery as the reward and prize of their valour and hazard Wherefore Boats were provided and Planks and Timbers for a Bridge to pass the Danube which the Turks in a few days according to their usual 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 haste 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 fore-saw the Storm of VVar 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 Forcatz the Governour of Newhausel ill advises a Sally was brought in by the Countrey 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 VVar 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 God's 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 thought 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 concur with him in this Enterprize and advantage on the Enemy which Heaven seemed to reach out to them for their Deliverance if their wisdom 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 condescention and thereupon about Eight thousand men of Choice and approved Souldiers well armed with strout hearts and hard Jron 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 forgoing Dispute lasted the Turks had transported the gross of their Army over the River and then lay on her Banks Fortcatz surprises the Turkish Camp. resting securely undre their Pavillions The Christians approaching near the Turkish Camp with the first twilight and dawnign of the Morning perceiving the Enemy unprovided but not discovering their Force dealt at first on-set 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 from of a half Moon so as to enclose this small number The Germans are routed and fly 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 sought 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 Souldieres who were only unfortunate for being over-powered by his command and perswasions The rest overwhelmed with multitudes yielded for though they behaved themselves beyong 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 The Vizier deals not like a Soâ—â—dier with his Prisoners of War. and success and returned with their Captives and Trophies back to Strigonioum where the Vizier mounting a Throne of State and Majesty treated these valiant Souldiers not like men of War or Captives takrn in open Field but as a Judge condemned them to dye by the hand of the Hangman or Executioner passing a formal Sentence of Death upon them as if they had been Thieves or Assassinates arrested by the hand of Justice The Sentence being passed and the Turkish Army drawn up these valiant Christian were ranked in order and file to dye who had so lately with Swords in their hands ranged themselves in Battel against their Enemy and so
order though slowly by reason of the roughness of the way and the opposition of the Enemy the left moving along the Danube as far as the Village of Neudorff carryed it after a considerable resistance To the right upon the same Line there was another Hill guarded by the Turks at the attack whereof a Dutch Batallion being disordered was succoured by Stirums Dragoons ordered by Count Dunewald This Batallion recovered took the Post and continued to advance The justness of this march the Christian Armies order of Battel and the scituation of the Place which made the Imperialists appear as in a kind of Amphitheater presented a great and formidable object to the sight which astonished the Turks and did not a little contribute to the Victory The King of Poland being yet behind the Army halted near Newdorff until he was advanced upon the same Line after which they continued their march The Imperialists carried without very great resistance the Post the Turks had at Helgstat and the Prince of Waldeck obliged those that opposed him to retire In the mean time the Infidels who were in Battalia in their Camp moved as if they had designed upon the left Wing but perceiving the Army of Poland upon the heights they moved that way so that the Poles and Turks faced each other almost in the same order making more depth then front The Poles seemed back'd by the Wood and the Turks by their Camp. The King who was in the head of his Troops detach'd some squadrons of his Hussars who charged the Turks being all Lanciers with great Vigour they bore before them those that opposed them but engaging themselves too far they drew so many Enemies upon them that they were forced to run The Turks followed them to a Place where Prince Waldeck had opportunely posted two Batalions of Bavarians The fire of these Foot cooled the pursuit of the Enemy and gave the King of Poland time to cause his first Line to advance to re-establish the Disorder of his Hussars Count Rabata at the Kings desire joyned the Emperours Dragoons with them But this body of Turks detach'd from their Troops did not dare to stand the shock of the Christians but retired to a height where they had Foot and Cannon with more diligence then they were come After this advantage the King continued to march with all his Army and the Turks endeavoured to obstruct their Passage from the several Posts they had The fire of their Artillery and Musquets did some harm to the Poles but did not break them and so they advanced still gaining Ground insensibly upon the Enemy In the mean time the Duke being far advanced towards the left of the Enemies Camp to divert their Endeavours upon the right the Turks put themselves in battalia upon the Ravine or before their Camp and planting some great Guns against the Christians they made many shot and seemed by their meen to resolve to defend that Post which was the strongest of all and served for a Retrenchment for their Camp but their firmness did not last long The Imperialists being advanced within Musquet shot they abandoned their Station about five in th Evening and left them the convenience of passing it without disorder and entring into their Camp. It was then that the Duke making use of this Advantage wheeled all his left Wing and instead of continuing his way by the Danube he caused it to march to the right to enter into the Enemies Camp no Souldier quitting his rank to pillage their Baggage which they had abandoned and their Tents standing This motion being perceived by the Turks who were engaged against the Poles on the right Wing quite dismayed them and they began to retire for fear of being charged in the Flank The King thereupon passed the Ravine with his Troops notwithstanding the firing of some Janizaries that defended it and pursued the Enemies About seven a Clock he entred their Camp some little time after Prince Waldeck who passed into it with his Bavarians and Franconians Half an hour after the Duke having gained the Suburbs and Counterscharp commanded Prince Lewis of Baden to advance towards the Trenches of the Turks with some Troops that the Baron of Mercy conducted but this Prince could not come there so soon but that the Janizaries that were in guard there had leisure to make their retreat by favour of the Night that came on They had begun it as soon as they saw the Christians approach their Camp. They retired with no great loss having had the bravery before they abandoned their Trenches to attempt another attack against the City and to turn and fire the Cannon of their Batteries against the Army The Night suspended the Victory and obliged the Troops to make halt in that part of the Camp which was betwixt the Danube and the City the Turks being retreated on the other side of the River The Duke of Lorraine sent to complement the King upon the happy success of that day which was owing to his presence This Prince returned his complement confessing that every body had a share in it but that all the honour was due to his Conduct and to the valour of the German Troops who first entred the Camp and the Enemies works During the Night the Turks passed the River at Schunket making their retreat by the Rear of their Front and quitted their Camp with so much precipitation that they left behind them in the great Visier's Quarters the Standard of the Ottoman Empire and the Horse Tayle the ordinary Ensigns of their dignity They left also all their Tents and the greatest part of their Equipage all their Ammunition and Provisions which they had in great abundance all their Artillery amounting to 180 pieces of Cannon and Mortars and they hastened their retreat with so much diligence that their formost Troops had the next day passed the Raâ—b The Christians lost no body of consideration except Prince Thomas of Croy the Count of Transmandorff young Poloski Captain of a Company of Hussars and the wounded besides the Duke of Croy the Counts Fontaine Tilly and Schalemburg were inconsiderable The 13th early the Duke having appointed his Army to be ready went to wait on the King of Poland to regulate their march and the immediate pursuit of the Victory But finding him little disposed to it he omitted no instances to perswade him to it proposing to him to march with all the Army or with all the Horse only or else with a great detachment but the King opposed the weariness of his Troops and the necessity of refreshing them some hours The King thereunto being unwilling the Duke entred into the City The Grand Visier before his flight caused the Heads of five of the Women of his Seraglio to be cut off for fear they should fall into the hands of the Conquerors The Baron of Kaunitz the Emperors Resident at the Port who was at present in the Visier's Quarters was in danger of being killed by
was a faint Refreshment in respect to that terrible Storm of sixty thousand Men composed of Turks Tartars Moldavians and Valachians which under the Command of Abassa had already passed the Danube Konispolzki the Polish General having not sufficient Force to oppose them in open Field nor time to assemble a greater Army gathered what Supplies he could from the Cossacks and Lords of that Country and therewith encamped himself upon a Hill between the River Tyr and the Town of Chocin that he might be the better able to succour Kemenitz which the Enemy designed to assault Abassa who contemned this weak Force of the Poles resolved without farther consideration A Fight between the Turks and the Poles to attack them in their own Camp and force them to fight 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 defeated that Wing had not Wisnovitzki with some Troops and a Train of small Artillery come in seasonably to their Succour The Moldavians and Valachians fought to 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 License 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 Ambassador coming from Poland An Ambassador sent to the G. Signior srom Poland For the Poles being at that time engaged in a War with Muscovy and apprehensive of another with Sweden judged it not seasonable to provoke the Turk but rather by way of Accommodation dispatched an Ambassador 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 Knowledg of the Sultan About that time that the Ambassador 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 Bonefires and Fire-works and that the Grand-Signior might evidence his Greatness and Magnificence to the Ambassador 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 Inhabitans Before the Grand Signior would grant Audience to the Ambassador 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 Cossacks and the Tribute of ten Years past with Security of paiment for the Time to come The Ambassador 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 Ambassador 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 is his Majesty should judg 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 take another in Poland To which the Ambassador 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 Horseback 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 Ambassador from the Emperor 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 The several Mischiefs by Water and Fire 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 Siguior's Chiosks or Houses of Pleasure the Fire took so fiercely on the Tavan A terrible Fire at Constantinople 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
be made in them and Boats to bâ—â—rought thither Upon his return he found Count Palsi arrived from Lintz with orders from the Emperour that it was necessary he should expect the arrival of all the Allies before he approached near the Enemies About this time a noise was spread in the City that the Turks who incessantly mined and moved the Earth had made a Subterranean passage which should open into the Emperours Cellars by which they pretended to surprise the Town The Governour howbeit he believed nothing of it ordered the Emperours Guards which were left for the Guard of the Palace to keep watch and Centinels in the Cellars which they did with no great regret The same day there happened an accident which for the rareness of it may well be recorded Kimpler an able Engineer working in a Countermine under the Castle-Gate encountered deep in the Earth within a walled Vault Estani a Coffin of Tin wherein he thought to have found a dead Corps but opening it he was dazzled with the lustre of a great many pieces of Gold and Silver wherewith this Coffin was filled he saw moreover rich Jewels enriched with precious Stones Having secured this Treasure he found in the bottom a Box of Tin wherein was a Parchment where the following words were traced in ancient Characters GAUDEBIS SI INVENERIS VIDEBIS TACEBIS SED ORABIS PUGNABIS AEDIFICABIS NON HODIE NEC CRAS SED QUIA UNIVERSUS EQUUS TURRIS ERECTA ET ARMATA DIVERSA ORDINATA ARMA SUBSCRIPTIO ROLLANDT HUNN MOG POSUIT Those who would divine the Sentiments of Rowland Hun of Mets who had deposited this Treasure in the Earth pretended he had some Knowledge of the future and that by this Inscription he would manifest that he knew this Treasure would be found during the Siege of Vienna and that the Infidels should be obliged to abandon it Their Sense of the words follows Rowland speaking to Kimpler says to him Si inveneris If thou dost find what I have hid from all others videbis tacebis thou wilt consider these words and discover thy good Fortune to no body sed orabis pugnabis but thou shalt render thanks unto God for reserving these Riches for thee and as obliged in gratitude thou shalt fight against the Enemies of his Name aedificabis non hodie nec cras Thou shalt imploy the Monies I designed for thee to build Churches but it shall not be when thy Native Country is desolated by War it shall not be neither to day nor tomorrow sed quia universus equus thou would'st ill take thy time whilst the Ottoman Cavalry surround the Walls of the City Turris erecta armata but fear nothing the Ramparts raised for the defence of the City and the brave Souldiers that Garrison it will preserve it from the vain attempts of the Enemy Diversa ordinata Arma The Arms of the different Nations that thou seest arrayed in these Plains shall only serve to render the Victories more glorious their Triumph more splendid and the flight of the Turks more infamous Count Starenberg received new assurance by his Spies from the Duke Aug. 24. of being relieved in eight days which caused an universal Joy redoubled the Care and augmented the Courage of all men On the other side the Infidels prepared for a general assault whilst the Governour on the contrary did every day invent new Engines as Freize Horses bearded with Iron turn'd Pikes and the like to oppose in the Breaches Five hundred Horse of the Besiegers passing the River burnt some Villages but they were encountered and defeated by a party of the Imperialists commanded by Collonel Heister who cut in pieces the greatest part of them the rest endeavouring to save themselves by swimming being drowned in the River We lest the Duke of Lorrain marching towards Tuln but upon advice that the Malecontents were designing to make Incursions into Moravia he detach'd Lubomirski and two Regiments of the Emperours Horse to march towards the Frontiers of that Province This Report was grounded upon the Grand Visiers Order who upon the Knowledge he had that the Imperialists and Auxiliaries took the way of Tuln and Krembs had commanded Count Tekely to enter into the Hereditary Countries with Fire and Sword thereby to oblige the Imperialists to return back to their defence But the Malecontents having no mind to engage with the Duke Tekely was contented to encamp upon the Mark however in obedience to the Grand Visiers Order he caused the Tartars and Turks that were with him to enter into Austria having promised to follow and second them with his Army The Duke being advertised that the Infidels were burning the Villages towards Eversdorf changed his march having sent orders to Lubomiski who was in the Avant-guard to hault and instead of marching towards Tuln he went to meet the Turks leaving his Baggage at Stokareau with the Regiment of Rokondi leaving to Count Lesley the Care of the Execution of those things which he had resolved in order to the Passage of the Danube and the Conjunction of the Auxiliary Forces The Duke being come to the height of Pisemberg about two of the Clock he could see the continuing of the Fires he thereupon sent Parties out who made some Prisoners They were questioned and answered that the preceeding Night they had passed the Marck with a Body of twenty five thousand Turks and Tartars that Tekely followed them and their Camp was but half a League from the Bridges of Vienna The Duke hereupon immediately commanded Baron Mercy with some Troops to the top of the height to discover the Enemy Upon his report he put the Army in Battalia extending his right Wing towards the Wood under the command of the Counts Caprara and Rabotta posting the Dragoons there and some small Field-pieces and the left Wing was extended along the Plain under the Conduct of Prince Lewis of Baden He drew the whole into two Lines and a reserve on the right whereof Lubomirski's Poles were placed The Imperial Army was composed of thirteen Regiments of Horse and five of Dragoons besides Lubomirski's two thousand Poles Whilst the Imperialists formed their Squadrons the Turks likewise ranged theirs leaving the gross of their Troops in the bottom of the Plain They began a line upon the heights extending to the left as if designing to gain the flank of the Imperialists As soon as they were approached each other they began to skirmish and as the Armies grew near the Infidels detach'd two great Troops the one of Turks which moved easily and the other of Tartars who advanced towards the left Some Volleys of Cannon which the Emperours Dragoons had on their right did somewhat disorder the Turks whilst they advanced but did not hinder them to charge the Poles with much firmness They immediately routed two squadrons and with a surprising Vigour or rather Temerity passed even to the second Line as well by the way they had made as by the interval which
the Imperial Horse had left receiving in their Passage the fire of all the Neighbour squadrons which flank'd them in this charge Notwithstanding that some of them penetrated even to the Reserves and endeavoured to return by the same way they came and after the same manner but few of them came off On the left Wing the Tartars having endeavoured by small Troops to gain the flank of the Christians were not more luckey for those that past were cut in pieces by others that were sent against them or obliged to return to their main body after which the Imperialists advancing always in good order to attack the whole front of the Turks the Enemy separated before they could come up to them One part took the way towards the Marck and the other towards the Bridges of Vienna They were followed some time without being overtaken Those that took on the Danube side finding themselves pursued that the Poles were not far off and that the whole Army marched that way betook themselves to the only expedient for their escape which was to cast themselves into the River and endeavour a Passage by the remaining Posts and Pillars of the burnt Bridge leaving their Arms their Horses and their Equipage on the brink of the River but most of these were drowned and the rest all kill'd or taken The Night being come on the Duke camped where he was On the morrow he was presented with several Standards Timbals and Drums and some Prisoners of note were likewise brought to him The Turks lost as was discovered by their own intercepted Letters from a thousand to twelve thousand Men many were killed upon the place but many were drowned The Chams Son was hurt but saved himself by swimming upon his Horse The Bassa of Erlaw was slain with many Officers The next Morning some Prisoners were taken found hid in the Hedges and Bushes Their Army consisted of near fourteen thousand Turks and Tartars all Horse but that of the Malecontents stayed at the Marck The Duke came the same day to Cronenberg to refresh his Horse which had been upon Service twenty four hours with design to go and fight the Malecontents if they continued in their Post He sent for this purpose to General Siemariski who was come to Nekelburg with a body of Horse being the King of Polands Avaunt-Guard to meet him the next day upon the way to Volgersdorff but being upon his March he had News that the Tekelists were retired to Tirnau that the King had sent order to his General to attend him at Nekelburg and that his Majesty would be at Krembs the first of September The Duke hereupon returned to his Camp at Cronenburg to expect the arrival of the Polish Army They seemed in the Town in much distress for the Governour had caused forty Rockets to be fir'd from the top of St. Stephens Steeple to advertise the Duke of the straits they were in and the necessity of being suddenly relieved The Grand Visier seemed to scorn these signs answering them with two hundred Cannon shot And yet it was observed that the Infidels sent many Camels laden with Baggage and several Servants towards Presburg probably to secure them in case they should be forced to raise the Siege The same day the Duke sent the Chevalier Lubormiski to compliment the King of Poland who had also orders to inform his Majesty of the measures they had taken for the relief of Vienna and that it seemed to require all their haste as the Counts Capliers and Starenberg signified by their Letters the Place being reduced to Extremity but writ in such Terms which made it evident they would defend it with their Lives but could answer for nothing else The Grand Visier did in the mean time order the Walachians to endeavour to rebuild the Bridges of Vienna to the end that they might by a diversion that way retard the march of the Imperialists or employ a considerable body by that means As the Waters were grown extream low since the Bridges were ruined insomuch that the Pillars which had been then burnt level with the Water appeared now three or four foot above Water which gave room for this Enterprise They were furnished with Timber out of the Neighbouring Villages and the Work was carried on by the Walachians and Moldavians with so much diligence that near a third of the great Bridge was laid in two Nights The Duke having notice hereof caused Boats to be prepared for the retaking of those Posts which he had quitted in the Isles The Count Archinto and Collonel Heyster were employed herein who on the Night of the 31th of August re-entered their old Retrenchments planting there some Pieces of Cannon Upon break of day they began to play upon the Turks who were so greatly incommoded by the continual firing of great and small shot that they were obliged to quit their Enterprise They afterwards applyed Pitch and Tar Barrels to the Pillars that remained and so burnt them The same day the Turks sent away many Camels Waggons loaden with Baggage and part of their Artillery which they conducted towards the Forest of Vienna After Noon those who were upon the Ramparts heard several Musket shots the way that these Infidels marched which made them guess that they were skirmishing with the Pickeerers of the Christian Army and that consequently the Succors were near hand At the same time the Duke of Lorrain being advertised that the King of Poland lay at Heilbron left the command of the Army to Count Caprara and went to give this Prince a visit He met him at the Head of his Hussars and alighting from his Horse when he was come within twenty five paces of him moved towards him which his Majesty perceiving he likewise descended met him and embraced him and after some obliging discourse he presented the Prince his Son to him saying he would have him to be his Servant as he was and that he had brought him with him to teach him betimes to serve the Emperour The Senators the Palatines and the principal Officers of the Crown did likewise complement the Duke The King and Duke mounted on Horseback and having passed the Troops continued their march discoursing the whole time together When they arrived in the Camp they entered the Kings Tent together with the Prince and the Grandees of Poland where the Duke entertained his Majesty with the main Discourses that tended to the Affairs in hand The Prince of Waldeck who had no Opportunity to speak with the Duke in the Kings Tent went to attend him at Stokarcau where he communicated all his Thoughts and agreed with him of the Manner and Method they were to use in relieving the Place The Duke dined that day with the King sitting at the upper end on the Right-Hand of the King the Prince being seated on his left all three in Chairs with backs Some Palatines and Officers of the Imperial Army were also placed at the Table by the Kings Order After
delivered from these terrible alarms The Christian Army being assembled as is already said at Tuln and that the Duke of Lorrain had put an end to several difficulties which were again started about the Rank and the command of so many Princes and Generals he brought it to a conclusion that they should march the next day being the 9th towards Vienna As soon as this resolution was taken he sent Baron Mercy to Morbach with 2000 Horse to observe the countenance and motions of the Turks The 9th at the point of day he marched with all the German Army and came and encamped betwixt St. Andrew and Koningseck In this Post he received advice of the Cities being reduced to its last extremity and that they fired with nothing but Muskets He sent to advertise the King of Poland who was yet at Tuln with the news and caused the Prisoners to be conducted to him who confirmed the advice He writ also to him beseeching him to advance and joyn with him The 10th the Duke caused the Germans to enter the Mountains by three several avenues and left a fourth for the March of the Poles He camped at Wilbleng and the Poles rested an hour behind to the right The King himself came to discover the heights where the Imperialists were camped The Duke shewed him Kalemberg from thence whither he would march next morning and his Majesty returned to his Camp. By favour of the night the Duke went in Person to discover the passage of Kalemberg and to take possession of those Posts he judged necessary to assure their march He also seised the Chappel of St. Leopold and having put 300 men into it to secure it returned to his Camp having sent to inform the King of what was done after this the Army was put in Battel-array to possess Kalemberg by five differing ways according to the directions given by the Duke and consented to by the King. The way on the right was left to his Majesty as the day before The Prince of Sax-Lawenburg General of the Horse took the next passage to the Poles conducting by that way the Right Wing consisting of eight Regiments of the Emperour's Horse two of Dragoons and one of Crauats of all the Horse and all the Dragoons of Bavaria and Francony The Infantry of Franconia and Bavaria took the third way which was the middle-most being commanded by the Prince of Waldeck The Elector of Bavaria placed himself with the said Prince that day and continued there all the day following advancing with much firmness in places of most danger but without any Fonction or command he having declared at first that he would only serve as a Voluntier All the Emperour's Infantry and that of Saxony took the other two passages to the left whereof one was that of St. Leopold's Chappel being the high-way and the other went along the Danube Prince Herman of Baden and Count Lesley General of the Artillery were at the head of the Foot. Count 4 Caprara General of the Horse followed immediately by the same ways with the left Wing which contained seven Regiments of the Emperour 's Lubomirski's Poles to which the King had joyned some Squadrons of his and all the Cavalry and Dragoons of Saxony The Elector of Saxony commanded the Auxiliary Troops which however of differing tempers and Bodies marched in Battalia in as much as the ground would permit it and were computed to amount to 65000 men About eleven of the clock the first Squadrons had gained the tops of Kalemberg without any opposition at all They there extended the Front of the Army above a league and a half camping on the declivity of the Mountain towards Closternewburg in three lines and some places more as the ground would permit them seizing thereby seven or eight Avenues by which they might descend and range themselves for the combat They brought at the same time some small Field-Pieces to St. Leopold and to the Monastery of Camaldoli The remainder also of the day and all the night was spent in advancing the Train which was not effected without great trouble the Mountain being so steep that none but small Field-Pieces could be brought up nor they but in some time doubling and tripling the draught Horses The Turks seeing the Christians appear about the Chappel of St. Leopold and the aforesaid Monastery drew out on their right advanced to the foot of the Mountains and extending thence to the brink of the Danube they seized the Hedges hollow-ways and heights from whence they might incommode the Enemy at the descent of the hills and first filings out of their streights The Cannon being arrived at St. Leopold and Camaldoli they-quickly obliged the Turks to quit the Posts which they had taken and remove out of their shot The Troops which they had advanced consisted in Horse and another sort of Militia which fights like our Dragoons on Horse-back and on foot Of these the number was great and they had brought but few Foot out of the Camp and without Cannon in all this detachment which they opposed against the Christians The space betwixt Vienna and the entry of the Wood is reckoned a League and a half the Country being very difficult trenched with Vineyards Ravines and hollow ways The Vineyard was enclosed by a great Dike which covered the Turks Camp on the side of Helgstat The Duke of Lorrain had chosen this march to make use of the advantage of the heights and judging that in a situation of this nature he might secure his Flanks His design was the next day to coast the Danube and to attack the Turkish Camp on their right It was for this reason and because of the cuts in the ground that he placed a great Body of Foot to the left this Wing being designed first to charge the Enemies The King of Poland who stay'd an hour behind having encamped came to St. Leopolds Chappel from whence the Duke shewed him the descent of the Mountain the Camp of the Turks and the Troops which were advanced to oppose the descent of the Christians Their Countenance made his Majesty of opinion that they would dispute all the passages and that the Duke should do well if they could the next day seize the first heights at the entry of the Wood. He moreover desired some German Foot to joyn with his in the descent of the Mountain Having obtained four Battalions he caused them to advance on that side whereby the Poles were to descend Towards the evening of that day the Duke having surveyed the ground at the foot of Camaldoli ordered Count Lesley to command some Troops to take post at night at the going out of the Wood and to raise a Battery there the better to secure the passage of the Army the next day At first there were but two Battalions sent Count Lesley deferring to send any greater number till it was with the Artillery They laboured all Night at this work but the Turks being aware of it before it
was finished they sent some Troops very early to hinder the Labourers and posted themselves neat them behind a Curtain and behind Planks which well-nigh shut the descent from the Mountain before the Christians Battery Count Fontaine who commanded the Post was quick in opposing their effort and having called the men from their work and got his two Battalions together he posted them betwixt his Battery and their Barricado yet so as not to be encompassed by them who at the same time began to stretch to the right and left to gain the Christians Flanks The Duke who observed from St. Leopolds Chappel the Turks motion sent some Battalions of the Regiments next hand to the relief of his men These being commanded by the Duke of Croy arriving in time the Imperialists extended their line and took a resolution to attack the Infidels in their Post behind their blind This was executed with so much vigour that the Enemy were forced to give way They abandoned their Post and retired to another where the gross of their Body remained The Duke of Croy having his shoulder pierced with a Musket-shot in this action was obliged to retire leaving the command to C. Fontaine who disposed all things for the defence of the Post which the Enemy seemed forward to attack again but they contented themselves with shooting out of their own station the fire continuing brisk on both sides The Duke perceiving that the Turks made all that Body move which had camped beyond Neudorff to support their advanced Troops he first commanded all the left Wing to march and presently after he gave order to Prince Waldeck and to the Duke of Sax-Lawenburg to rush out of the Woods upon the Enemies who were at the head of their Camp. He sent to advertise the King of Poland of all this and understanding that his Majesty came to St. Leopolds Chappel he went to meet him there and shewing the motions the Armies were in he acquainted him with all the orders that he had given upon this occasion After they had agreed upon all things the King having performed his devotion at the Chappel mounting on Horse-back he went from Rank to Rank exhorting his Officers and Souldiers to do well and spake to them after this manner Generous Polish Cavaliers It is not only to defend the glory which your Ancestors and your courage have acquired to you of being esteemed the invincible Bulwark of Christendom against the Ottoman Power It is not the defence only of your own Country which the loss of Vienna by an infallible consequence will expose to the cruel Invasion of those against whom you are going to fight but it is the cause of God and to save the Empire of the West which does us the honour to have recourse to our Arms an honour which our Ancestors did never presume to hope for and which is reserved for your valour Think then of nothing but conquering or to dye nobly in this occasion to which the glory of Martyrdom is concomitant Think that your King fights in the head of you to partake with you of your perils and your victories and rest assured that the God of Battels whose cause we are going to defend will not fail to fight for us Whilst this Prince endeavoured by his discouses to inspire his Troops with that generous ardour he was himself agitated the Citizens of Vienna who had been advertised of the approach of their relief saw with inexpressible content the Army of the Christians descend from the Mountains of Kalemberg being ascertained by the noise of the Cannon which was shot against the Turks who had parapetted the Passages with earth and stone though to no purpose that their deliverance was near And they would also contribute all they could to it by the discharge of all their Artillery from the Bastions and Curtains of the wall There was also an infinity of small shot discharged on both sides with many Granadoes The Turks had not as yet shot so many Bombs since the beginning of the Siege as they did this day to retard the Christians that descended into the Plain and to annoy those who crowded upon the heights of the City to observe the descent of their friends and the combat Whilst the King of Poland continued his march at the head of his Army the Duke of Lorraine caused Heisters Regiment of Dragoons and another of Saxony which Count Caprara posts to the left at the foot of St. Leopolds Chappel to descend That of Heister received orders at eight of the clock to go and attack the Enemies who had possessed a place to the left from whence they troubled the Imperialists and the Infantry had likewise order to advance upon the Turks who were retired behind their courtains and hollow ways This motion was made on both sides at once The Turks made some resistance at first but not with Vigour enough to hinder the Christians advance who obliged them to retire behind another blind Count Lesley who had brought down some Cannon planted it at the head of the Infantry The Duke of Croy was also returned for having used the first Applications to his hurt he had force enough not to quit the fight the whole day This advantage gave both time and room to extend the front of the left Wing as it descended and issued out of the Streights In the mean time the first Line of Infantry which in their march against the Infidels gave continual fire with their Musquets mingled with that of Field-pieces beat them out of another Post and a Line of Curtain which reach'd from the Danube Hill over against the Carthusians The Duke about ten a Clock made a halt and whilst the rest of the left Wing filled the ground which the first Troops had taken and that Count Caprara extended it to the Banks of the Danube he sent orders to the Prince of Waldeck who began to appear upon th first heights to the right and to the Duke of Saxon-Lawenburg who was also got out of the Wood to continue their march until they were equal with the front of the Troops commanded by the Duke of Croy and to advance extending to the right until they came within shot of the Poles upon their issuing out of their Avenues which were on the right hand of all These orders being given the Duke returned to the head of the left Wing to make the great Body of the Germans move at once The Great Duke of Saxony came and joyned him and continued always near him in the places the most exposed At Noon they saw the King at the Head of his Troops who came and joyned the right Wing of the Imperialists The Duke in the mean time took care that in marching to the Enemy the Subaltern Generals should rally and re-establish any Disorders which might have happened by the Difficulty of the Passages and that all should advance with equality firing continually with their great and small shot The march was in this
Artillery they found in the place Hitherto fortune had been so favourable to the Imperialists The Siege of Buda that they began to think nothing insuperable to their courage This opinion made them pass the Danube again and undertake the Siege of Offen or Buda the Capital of the Kingdom sometimes the Residence of the Kings of Hungary and now of the Bassa's that govern that wealthy Kingdom with no less authority After some ruffling and skirmishes the City was invested and the Suburbs taken without any great opposition The Turks likewise quitted St. Gerards Hill and the besiegers began to batter the Walls with their Artillery The Turks abroad were not idle for having got twenty thousand Men together they were resolved to attempt the relief of Buda But the Christians having left all their Foot with what Horse was necessary to continue the Siege they marched with the rest of the Cavalry one thousand Foot under the command of Count Aversberg and two thousand five hundred Hussars of Count Esterhasis The Duke marched all Night to find out the Enemy who though well trenched at sight of the Christians came out of their Camp and embattell'd themselves for their defence The dispute lasted near four hours the Turks making several motions to gain the Flanks of the Enemy which being perceived the Christians used all possible diligence to prevent them and engaging at length after a sharp fight the Infidels being disordered were put to flight and so closely pursued that not only their Camp and Cannon were taken but at least four thousand of them slain and the great Standard the badge of the Grand Visier's dignity also surprised After this Victory the Duke returning to the Siege summoned the place but received for answer that the Governour had in the presence of his Messengers caused forty Christian Slaves to be hewed in pieces saying he wished he could do as much to all the Christian Army In revenge of this the Christians assaulted the place but in vain though upon a second attempt they carried the lower Town with their Swords in their hands notwithstanding the opposition they found was great They raised a Battery there of twenty four Cannon and seventeen Mortars from whence as also St. Gerards hill they battered the City Nor were the besieged idle who made a brave sally upon the Besiegers wherein they slew some hundreds of them with several considerable Officers besides the wounded The Christian Army beginning to want Forrage they made a Bridge to pass to the Isle of St. Margaret from whence they might be the better provided with all things Many were the attempts the batteries the sallies and endeavours on both sides The Christians endeavoured to hinder the Turks though in vain from watering at the Danube The Christians sprung a Mine by the great Tower which did indeed take effect but it was found that the Turks were too well provided to hazard an assault About mid August the Governour or Visier of Buda Kara Mehemet was kill'd with a shot he received in his face a Person very brave and very knowing Ephraim Bassa succeeded him in the Government but did not enjoy it long being likewise slain with a Cannon Bullet so that the Chief command was devolved upon the Aga of the Janizaries As the attack was vigorous so the defence was brave the Turks continually vexing the Christians with their Alarms and Sallies who on the other side continued their approaches with great resolution but their Foot being much spent it was judged advisable not to hazard a General assault before the Bavarian Forces which were daily expected were come up In the mean time the Serasquier Bassa formed a design to make a diversion some other way in order to which he marches towards the frontiers of Croatia where General Lesley was camped who had besieged Virovitza in July beaten the relief designed for their succour and thereupon had the place surrendered to him upon composition Having now notice of the Serasquier's design he went and posted himself within half a League off his Camp near a Bridge that was lay'd over the Danube at Turanowitz A while after the Turks approached who charged with great fury eight hundred Croats newly come to the Imperial Camp but with their accustomed misfortune They however returned immediately to the fight and forced the Croats to retire leaving them three Standards for prise so that being animated with this advantage they would attempt more and attacked the Imperialists in their Post but they were so ill received that they were obliged to retire with the loss of five hundred men which were killed upon the place The Christians lost two hundred Though this Siege for the Greatness and Fame of it deserves to be described in all its particulars the Approaches the Attacks the Mines the Battels the Batteries the Breaches of the Christians being carried on with so much Valour and Constancy that it amazed the wondering World yet the Greatness of the Garrison the Scituation and Strength of the Place the reiterated Succours that were brought in a potent Army commanded by a Seraskier within the noise of their Guns yea oft-times their view a vigorous and intrepid Courage in the Defendants frequent and furious Sallies Countermines and the advance of a wet Season so favourable to them rendred all the Endeavours of the Besiegers fruitless and forced them to a Retreat The Duke of Bavaria had indeed brought with his Person a considerable recruit to the Imperialists and they performed all that Courage could suggest but being the fatal moment of the reducing of this Capital City of the Kingdom was not yet come we will transmit the History of it till then when the same great Atchievements were in a manner acted over again and indeed by the same Generals on the side of the Christians but with better fortune The Siege had lasted from the fourteenth of July till the first of November at which time the Christians having transported their Baggage their sick and some pieces of Artillery to the Isle of St. Andrew the Army sending their great Cannon their Ammunition and the rest of their Baggage by Water for want of draught-Horses though well convoyed followed themselves in a Body uninterrupted and marched to their Winter Quarters the Bavarians into upper Hungary and the Imperialists into both the upper and lower Hungary Bohemia Silesia c. according to their Repartitions The Turks attempted nothing upon the Army in their retreat but brought near a thousand Prisoners which were left in the Isle of St. Margaret into the City not singly triumphing for so signal a deliverance Such was the end of this bloody Siege where following the common Opinion the Emperour lost twenty thousand Men and amongst them a great number of Officers Of those of most note were the Counts of Altheim two of the Starembergs James and Lewis Carlowitz Richtari Hoken-Zollern Furstenburg Nassau Durheim Chriminz and the young Counts of Harrah and great quantity of others The
the Sword this rendred the rest so desperate that four hundred of them precipitated themselves into the Town-Ditch who were all destroyed by the Horse so that of all the Garrison which was yet twelve hundred at the beginning of the assault scarce two hundred were saved Hassan Bassa the Governour desperately wounded in the head and breast was brought to the General and some ten more of the chief Officers were saved but the Governor dyed two days after of his wounds Is taken by Assault This Hassan was a Renegade Native of Bohemia though a man of extraordinary great parts and resolution There were found in the place eighty Pieces of Ordnance and a great quantity of Ammunition and Provision so that the perpetual noise of their wants was a fable the Governour having always a great Magazin of Victuals as well as Ammunition which he did not think fit to expose before the Siege Of the Christian Slaves there were but forty remaining the Turks having consumed the rest in their works exposing them still where the greatest danger was And although the Besiegers did scarce lose one hundred in the storm yet it is supposed that during the whole Siege the number of their slain did at least equal if not surmount that of their Enemies yet with this difference that the Turks lost all and they but an inconsiderable part of a potent Army excepting the Prince of Wirtemberg greatly lamented by the good and brave and some other considerable Officers The Seraskier not imagining the fate of Newheusel so near having with great industry gathered a considerable Army estimated betwixt fifty and sixty thousand strong resoved to attempt the relief of it in order to which he would try the way of diversion Jul. 30. as less hazardous and upon that account marches to Gran Gran besieged and though that very day of his arrival an additional reinforcement of five hundred men sent thither by the Duke of Lorrain got into the Garrison yet he caused the Trenches to be opened and began to attack the place with his Cannon and Mortars from Batteries raised on St. George and St. Thomas hills They also attackt the lower Town but were repulsed with the loss of two or three hundred men Several other attempts were made upon the Out-works but with loss to the Undertakers who understanding that the Enemy advanced grew more remiss possessing themselves of all the Hills by which the Christians might attack them and thereupon quitted the Siege On the 7th of August the Duke of Lorrain with forty thousand men passed the Danube upon a Bridge near Comorra and arrived the 12th at a Village that was burnt where he found the Turks who had abandoned the Siege of Gran very advantageously posted having Mountains on each side covered with thick Woods and a Morass before them which reached to the Danube Upon the arrival of the Christian Army they skirmished near the Morass where several were killed and hurt on both sides The following Night the Christian Army camped in Battalia and continued so the 13th but the Turks alarm'd them about noon and skirmished all the day with the Christians right Wing where the Hungarians were many being slain and wounded on both sides About noon the Duke commanded some Pieces of Cannon to be planted on a Hill behind his Men from whence they shot and the Turks did the same with two great Pieces from a height where the Janizaries were The 14th the Turks advanced their Camp to the very Morass upon Mountains opposite to our advanced Guards where they made three Batteries with great Cannon shooting into our very Camp. The 15th a Polish Slave escaped out of the Turkish Camp and gave advice that the Seraskier Ibrahim Bassa was perswaded that the Christian Army did not exceed twenty thousand and thought or a retreat so that he might easily rout them if he suddenly fell upon them with his that was sixty thousand strong Upon this advice the Duke and the other Generals resolved to feign a Retreat and then by drawing the Enemy beyond the Morass find a place to fight with them in a pitch'd Battel The same day the Turks advanced towards a place in the Morass where they might pass with the Horse and took Post also in another where they might make a Bridge for the Foot. As the Christians had already resolved to march the day following very early towards the Bridge of Boats at Vyfali they let flie some Guns only to amuse the Enemy In the mean time the Orders for the march of the Army were given in the following manner First that the Baggage should part that evening The left Wing having the Avaunt-Guard followed by that of the right Secondly that the Army should be ranged in Battalia before day and march as the place would permit the two Wings each in two Lines but if the way would oblige them to file that then they should begin by the left Wing and enlarge themselves as the ground did permit into their first order of Battel That the second line should have the Avaunt-Guard commanded by Count Dunewalt which was to be followed by the first line in the same manner At the right of the first line Count Styrum was to march upon the Mountains which he had viewed the day before with his Regiment the Dragoons of Luneburg and all the Hussars except those of Zoborra with some Field-pieces That the Fauconets should march before the first line and every Regiment with its Field-pieces as usual And finally that the Squadrons and the Battalions posted on the little Mountain on this side the Morass as also those on the Mountain to the right commanded by Major General Tungen should march at the sound of the Tymbals About ten at Night they had News that the Turks were passing the Morass The Battel of Gran. Aug. 15. whereupon all the Generals took Horse Lorrain in the right and the Elector of Bavaria in the left and all being in order they began to march at the sound of their Trumpets Tymbals and Drums which was continued till the Turks by Favour of the Night charged their left Wing whereupon the whole Army facing about they marched to succour their engaged Troops which done they continued advancing notwithstanding the cries and howlings of the Turks and their continual Skirmishing till it was break of day when a great Mist covered the whole Field that nothing could be discerned Both sides made use of this accident ranging their Armies to their uttermost Advantage After seven in the Morning the Sun having dispell'd the Mist the Turks advanced upon the Christians with the noise of their Drums and horrible Cries discharging some Cannon upon their right Wing charged it with great fury but they were repulsed the same happended on the Mountain where Tungen commanded who was hurt there At the same time the Turks attacked with their greatest force and principally their Foot the heights on the Christians right where Count
who together with the Tartars made perpetual Incursions into the Vkrain and the confining Provinces burning and ravaging the Villages and Countrey carrying the alarm to the very Gates of Leopol Nor were the Poles forward in their Proparations moving but very slowly to their general Rendezvous so that the King not going to the Field in Person it was very late in the year before they were come together however entertained in the mean time with a very sad account from Podolia Volinia and the lesser Russia of the miserable Devastations of those Countries by the continued Incursions of the Infidels The Grand Seignior had appointed Solyman Bassa now Seraskier to command his Army against the Poles which he endeavoured to raise and form with all imaginable Industry being sollicitous for Caminiec which he took care by reiterated Convoys though some sometimes miscarried to provide for He hearing of the Christians advance towards the Niester the Cham of Tartary being joyned with him and both near forty thousand strong posted himself near the River to hinder the Poles from passing it And now the Armies drawing near it was supposed they would not separate without a Battel The Poles passed the Niester with theirs consisting of betwixt twenty and thirty thousand men on a Bridge they had made for that purpose advanced into Moldavia where they encamped and now the whole Army being come up the Crown General having summoned a Council of War it was determined to go and find the Enemy and force him to fight The Army marched accordingly and were three days passing the Woods and Streights of Boucovisia without any Intelligence of the Enemy Being come into a Plain their Van-Guard was presently charged by a Body of Tartars Ten Troops of Horse were sent to support the Christians but being over-power'd were forced to give way The Prince of Courland advancing with three Battalions and some Field-pieces gave the Christians Opportunity to rally and returning to the charge obliged the Tartars to retire to the Hill from whence they came The next Morning the two Armies stood in view of each other only some slight Skirmishes passing betwixt them The third the Seraskier designing to fall upon the Enemies right Wing with his main force charged it briskly but finding it strengthned from the main body retired and fell upon the main body it self but with the like success The Poles left Wing was charged by the Tartars with some advantage at first but in the Conclusion were forced to retire That day the Turks had been incommoded by the opposite Artillery composed of thirty pieces of Ordnance and the following day having received Cannon from Camineck they repayed them in kind The Christians continued encamped the two following days securing themselves with Trenches and Redoubts On the ninth day the Christian General being informed that a great Detachment was sent to fall in the rear of the Army and shut up the Passages of the Forrest he resolved to retire and that he might do it with less trouble he caused all their Waggons that were not absolutely necessary to be burnt It was next Morning before the Turks were aware of their march when descending into the Plain they charged three Battalions of foot which had not yet entered the Wood but they being well covered with turn Pikes and each two Field-pieces they received the Enemy with so great a Fire that they forced them to retire And yet they escaped by their Courage and Resolution the danger that threatned them forcing their Passage back to the Niester by a very orderly retreat which they likewise passed tho' the Turks were much stronger than they and so were dispersed into their Winter Quarters Nor were the Turks very unsuccesful in Dalmatia The Christians had besieged Singn but were forced to retire by the joynt Forces of the Turks in those quarters with loss of some hundreds of their men two pieces of Cannon and most of their Baggage But the Wars being rather defensive in those parts on both sides than otherwise nothing of any very great Consequence besides Incursions and mutual Ravages worthy of Memory did happen The traverses at Sea were of more noise and consequence The Turkish Fleet was affirmed to consist of sixty Gallies and twenty men of War who were at Sea though supposed not well manned On the other side the Venetian Fleet was stronger full of Sea-men besides thirteen thousand Land-Forces of several Nations all commanded by their General Morosini who sailing for the Levant landed his Forces in the Morea at the Fortress of Calamata which he took and afterwards sate down before Coron where having made large Breaches and extremely annoyed the place with their Bombs the Bassa hung out a white Flag but all Conditions except surrendring upon discretion being refused him he put out a black Colours intimating he would defend it to extremity which he also did The Bassa of Petrasso marched with eight thousand Men to his relief but upon consideration of the strength of the Christians he durst not attempt it but contenting himself to re-inforce the Garrison of Modon and with falling upon the Greeks that avoured the Venetians he made a great slaughter of them The Visier of Morea Kalil Bassa having got together a competent Army of near ten thousand would re-attempt the relief of Coron in order to which he sent a Party to attack a Redoubt somewhat distant from the Line of the Besiegers but were repulsed but assaulting it again they took it at the second storm Hereupon the Chevalier de la Tour a Knight of Malta hastening thither with twelve hundred Men recovered it from the Turks with the loss of his own life and many of his Men. A while after the Visier made an attempt upon the main Camp but was beaten off with mutual loss In the mean time the Christian General finding the neighbourhood of the Turks troublesome and foreseeing that his Troops would not be able to subsist unless they had the Country open resolved to attempt their removal in order to which drawing ten Men out of a Company to which were joyned fifteen hundred Voluntiers with one of the Regiments of Brunswick and that of Malta they marching before day surprised and fell upon the Enemy on all sides the action was so sudden that the Turks before they could recollect themselves were driven out of their several Posts pursued and quite dispersed Of the Enemy there were near a thousand killed in the action and pursuit of which number was the Visier Kalil and Mehemet Bassa All their Cannon and Baggage were taken with nine pieces of brass Cannon seventeen Colours and the great Standard with three Horse-tayles hanging at it This Victory was some days after completed by the taking of Coron where the Christians forcing the way into the Town through their very large Breaches Aug. 11. put all they met to the Sword. There were above three thousand of the Turks slain in this storm and four or five hundred of
particularly in the Spurs This morning a Bomb from the Town falling unhappily into a reserve of Granado's fired them killing 3 and wounding 13. This evening some Turks did again appear upon an eminence to the right behind the Bavarian Camp towards which two Squadrons of them did move in good order to brave the Besiegers but some Voluntiers riding out to pickeer with them they retired with the loss only of one man slain Aug. 10. The Imperialists continued the finishing of their Mine the two others of the two other Attacks being ready The Duke caused the Hungarian Foot to be posted along the Wall of the lower Town from the Water Rondel to the very quarters of the Germans where they intrenched themselves with a Ditch and a good Parapet to secure them against surprises and as the Danube is deep there they sunk two Barks full of stones and made several Spurs of Palisado's along the brink of the River to take away all hopes of the Turks relieving of the Town that way This morning the Infidels gave another alarm on the Bavarian quarters whereupon all the Cavalry was commanded to Horse but the Enemy retired at the same time It seems that their design was to make a passage that way but the Bavarians were sufficiently intrenched to hinder them The Prince of Croy being recovered of his wounds did reassume the exercise of his charge in the approaches Four Hussars very well mounted advancing against some Turkish Horse of the place made as if they would charge them but being come up with them they discoursed them and shook hands together which being observed by the Musketiers of a neighbouring Redoubt they sallied out and gave fire upon the Husssars who ran away hurt one which they took as also another of them the third got away and the fourth entered into the City The Prisoners were examined who said they did nothing but enquire of the Turks if they would not yet surrender the place but they were to be interrogated more strictly Aug. 11. Some Turkish Troops did again shew themselves upon the Mountains on the Bavarian side towards the way of Alb-Royal The precise number of the Turks is not yet known some Spies certifie that there are 40000 Ottomans and 20000 Tartars In the mean time every necessary prevention is put in practice to receive them if they will attempt to force the Camp. Preparations are made for a vigorous assault upon the second wall if the Mines will answer expectation Aug. 12. All things being ready for the assault the three Mines on the Lorrain attack were fired which had no other success than the turning up of a few Palisades the Miners not having pierced deep enough under the Wall of the second Rampart which made it evident that they did not well understand their trade although they had been sent for from all quarters to have good ones for they were the Mines that contributed the most to the reducing of this important place The assault that was designed if the Mines had taken was deferred and new ones were gone in hand with in hopes of more favourable success In the skirmishes of this day there was an Officer of the Turks killed who doubtless had engaged himself to enter into the place being they found Letters about him to the Bassa of Buda marking the order the Turks were to observe to relieve the besieged by which it appeared that the Grand Visier's design was to force a quarter and so put in a Supply into the place without hazarding a battel and that 8000 Tartars should harass the Country as far as Gran to cut off provisions from the Besiegers and infest them with continual courses Upon this advice the Duke called a Council of War where it was resolved to leave part of the Army in guard against the Town and to march with the rest of the Imperial and Auxiliary Forces against the Enemy who according to the said Letters were above 60000 strong although they had it from good hands that they did not exceed 40000 Combatants Aug. 13. The whole Army marched out of the Lines the night past except 20000 left there for the Guard of the Works and to hinder the Enemy from putting Supplies into the Place Oats and Forage were distributed for three days for the Horse and the Volunteers were formed into a fine Body under good Officers The Duke of Lorrain posted himself out of the Camp in sight of the Enemies 4000 Hussars and Heyducks having the Avantguard This night the Spies and some Deserters assured them that the following night they would be attacked in Battel-array upon break of day which obliged the Christians to dispose of all things for the Battel Aug. 14. The Turks before Sun-rising formed a Body of more than 8000 Janizaries and Spahi's the most brave and most resolute of the Army who being divided into divers Troops marched from 6 in the Morning till 8 a clock curvetting behind the Mountains on the side of Alba Regalis and entered into a Plain the better to approach the Camp by the favour of a Valley The Duke of Lorrain having observed the Enemies countenance commanded Count Dunewald General of the Horse to take possession of the ground to the left with nine Imperial Regiments Cuirasiers Dragoons and Croats to which he added some Companies of Hussars and General Heusler had order to post himself with his Detachment upon the height on the right The Hussars who were with General Dunewald charg'd first and tho' they fought with all imaginable bravery they were notwithstanding forced to give way but seeing themselves supported by the Germans they took heart and returned to the Charge again The Turks seeing they had routed the Hussars thought to have had the others as good cheap upon these hopes they advanced with great fury and horrible cries against the Christians who received them without moving Heusler who had placed himself upon the height mentioned charged them smartly so that the fight was rude and bloudy and however the Turks saw themselves charged in their Flanks and Front they did not desist to make use of several efforts to break through the Enemy and have room to execute their design but all was in vain being every time repulsed until they were at length broke and forced to fly The execution was bloudy The Janizaries being abandoned by the Spahi's and environed by their Enemies throwing away their Arms sought to save themselves by flight but were most of them slain The Turks had above 3000 dead most of them Janizaries all chosen men who had undertaken to force a quarter and enter into the City or perish The Grand Visier had promised 20 Ducats to every one that should enter into the City whereof he gave each undertaker 5 in hand every one carried besides his ordinary arms 3 Hand-Granado's a Mattock and Spade to break the Retrenchments and fill the Ditches The Prisoners were 500 there being also taken 30 Ensigns and Standards 11 Pieces of Cannon
of Bombs Granado's Stones Sacks with Powder Stink-Pots and other arts which courage and despair are capable of inventing to break the measures of the Agressors and obstruct their violence and as they have made divers holes and caverns under the places in possession of the Christians by which they play these sorts of inventions the other were constrained to fill them with earth stones and the very ruines of the Castle to damp and hinder their operation without which they could not maintain themselves but with great difficulty Aug. 26. The Prisoners brought in the Camp by Parties and the Deserters which ran away reported that one of those which was sent to the Grand Visier by the Bassa of Buda with Dispatches in which he gave him an account of the state of the place which he can no more defend at present that the Castle is well-nigh all in the hands of the Christians who on the first assault cannot fail to carry the place That in the last assault of the Castle he had lost more than 100 of his best Soldiers that the Recruits that were sent him were but little considerable not mounting to 200 men amongst which more than half were wounded and consequently unserviceable That for his part he had acquitted himself of his duty by letting the Christians see that after a defence so obstinate during so long a Siege pushed on with so much fury and bravery both on the one side and the other that the Musselmen knew well how to support the cause of their Sultan in doing whereof he pretended to his share of glory professing finally that the Grand Visier ought to give an account of the ill success of the Siege and be responsible for a loss so considerable which he could not avoid if the Imperialists attempted another assault no more than the bloud of his valorous Soldiers and his own if he delayed their relief any longer The Bassa did further mark the places in his Letter which appear'd to him the most proper to attempt the relief by and if he took his measures well that he would succeed in his enterprise Upon this advice the Duke visited in person the place marked to the Grand Visier and gave orders for every thing to hinder the introducing of supplies The Spies which were sent to the Enemies Camp reported that the Grand Visier had again promised 40 Crowns a man to all them who would undertake to put themselves into the place promising moreover that they should be exempt from the War during their lives and enjoy their ordinary pay without the obligation of any service At noon advice was given that the Turks advanced with 12 great pieces of Cannon and a while after they were perceived in sight of the Camp ranged in order of Battel but as the Duke of Lorrain disposed his Army to fight they retired Aug. 27. The Lorrainers having finished their work in form of a Bridg it was extended to the adverse Palisades to be made use of in the assault It was covered with earth to secure it from the fire as had been done the day before in the Bavarian attack which had obliged the said Bavarians to retire but this morning they recovered their Post again and to secure them from the fire they made use of Planks covered with Tin and yet when they thought themselves safe from this devouring Element the Besieged who want no industry to their valour threw towards evening an immense quantity of artificial and combustible matters with that success that they pierced even to the said Planks and reduced them to ashes they also flung such a vast quantity of Granado's Stones and Arrows upon the Bavarians that they forced them to abandon this Post with the loss of twenty Souldiers Aug. 28. In the Lorrain attack they thundred with extreme violence from their Cannon upon the Flanks of the great Breach as did also the Brandenburgers to overthrow the Besieged's defences The Bavarians regained their Post and covered themselves so well in it that the Enemy would be much troubled to dislodg them Major Staben who commanded the Assailants was killed there the slain and wounded not otherwise exceeding 20. Upon the Report of some Renegado's that the Grand Visier was resolved to come this Night with all his Forces the Duke ordered all things for his reception and all the Army stood in Battalia but to no purpose for no Enemy did appear Aug. 29. Being the Decollation of St. John Baptist and a day which the Turks have always superstitiously observ'd as fortunate to their Empire 1000 Spahi's and 2000 Janizaries commanded by two Bassa's and seconded by 1500 Tartars came at break of day to make another trial on the Water side but seeing the Post too well provided on that quarter having received a discharge from the Musketeers that kept the Walls they retreated and judged it easier to try the passage by the same way that the last Supplies entred they went by the Valley of St. Paul and charged fiercely with their accustomed shouts upon the Regiments of Mercy Heusler and Newburg who received them with so much bravery that they killed a great number of them whereof some of the most determined were rash enough to push through to the very Lines where they were all slain except 4 who were lucky enough to get into the City The number of the dead in this action amounted to 600 besides the Prisoners which were not many and there were taken 25 Standards and Colours which were red intimating thereby that they would enter the City or perish On the other side some 30 were killed and wounded Mercy was of the number of the last but without danger and his Adjoutant of the first During this Tentative the Besieged made a sally upon the Bavarians but the Heyducks attacking them in Flank they had much a-do to retire leaving 17 dead upon the place The Grand Visier shewed himself with his Army all day on the Bavarian side ready to engage but seeing 3 Regiments of Cuirasiers and two of Dragoons being the Avant-Guard of General Scherfenberg's Army he quickly retreated back to his Camp. Aug. 30. Scherfenberg arrived this day with the rest of his Body proper men who seem'd eager to signalize themselvs The Deserters reported that the want was great in the Grand Visier's Army and that the famished Soldiers had plundered some Barks which had brought Provisions the Officers not being able to hinder them Aug. 31. The Lorrainers took a new Post in the Ditch before the Breach in the inner Wall but 3 fadom distant from the Pallisade and the place being very deep the Turks could not much hurt them where they had but 2 Soldiers wounded This Morning the Duke of Lorrain went accompanied with most of the Generals to the Elector's quarters where they held a Council of War and having dined there the Duke returned to his Quarters after which the Works were ordered to be enlarged and deepned for the easier ascent to the