observe the place but scarce were they in the Middle of the River but about 300 Turks appeared on the further Shore and discharged a Volley of Shot but without doing any dammage to the Christians who after this discharge hastened to Land under the favour of the Cannon Planted to Annoy the Enemy so that thereupon the Turks quitted their Post where the Landing place and ground was found as well as could reasonably be wished being very Commodious by reason about four paces from the Bank of the River were almost Inaccessible by reason of the Bushes and Woody places so that the Boats left those they carried over in Security and returned when about Four in the Morning 3000 were got over covering and Intrenching themselves to prevent any Attempt or Surprize the Evening might make upon them who now approached in considerable Numbers and whilst the Foot thus continued to pass over in Boats the Bridge was laid for the Horse however before it could be Finished 6000 of the Enemies Foot and some Horse Attacqued the Christians on the further Shoar on the Right and the Left but after several Assaults were Repulsed with a considerable Loss the Christians losing a Major of the Regiment of Staremberg with divers Granadeers that were too far advanced when about Eleven of the Clock 10000 Men had effectually passed the River and then the Enemy appeared again with a greater force within Musquet-shot but made no farther attempt and soon after a Hungarian Dissenter Informed the General That the Enemy the Night following intended to make an Attacque with their whole Power but about Five in the Evening the Bridge being entirely finished a Regiment of Dragoons passed it and after them the Foot that remained and about Midnight the rest of the Horse c. so that on the Ninth of August the whole Army with the Artillery and Baggage Encamped on the further Shore within four Leagues of Belgrade where his Electoral Highness was Informed That there was a Garrison of 12000 Turks and 3000 Tartars in the City but without any certainty and that Yeghen Bassa lay Entrenched with the rest of the Ottoman Forces between the Save and the Danube to cover the place but being nothing dismayed at this Report his Electoral Highness Commanded the Army on the Tenth to March towards the City in order to Battle resolving to Attacque the Enemy in their Camp when contrary to expectation they found it abandoned and the Suburbs or lower Town on Fire the Turks that Inhabited it having saved themselves in the Boats belonging to the City yet four of them were taken with a considerable Booty and the Hussars being sent out in a flying Party after the Retreating Enemy took much of their Baggage and some Thousands of great and small Cattle when upon the near approach of the Army 4000 Greeks and Rascians with their Wives and Children came to meet them and to Implore his Electoral Highnesses Protection which they obtained strict Orders being given throughout the Camp that none under great Penalties and Punishment should presume to disturb or molest them however the Soldiers having quenched the Fire after it had Burnt several hundred Houses found a considerable Booty the Turks in their hast and confusion had left behind them The Imperialists thus uncontrouled approaching the Walls of Belgrade Scouts were sent out to learn the Motion and Intent of the Enemy who returned with an Account That Yeghen Bassa the Serasquier of Hungary together with Yeckley was retired to Sendrovia about Eight Leagues further with 20000 Men under his Command And upon further Inquiry it was confidently reported That no more than 4000 Men were left in the Castle or upper Fortress under the Command of a Governor who had lately been a common Soldier And further That Yeghen would have Fought the Army but was disswaded from it by the Bassa of Erla or Agria and some other Principal Officers Three of which in a great Fury he cut in pieces with his own hand and caused the Bassa of Agria to be Strangled in his presence the former Bassa Governour of Belgrade making his Escape to avoid his Fury as also did Hassan Bassa his Competitor Upon the day of Arrival before the place the Elector of Bavaria caused the Trenches to be opened against the Upper Town and Castle and dispatched the Sieur Dietrick Captain of Horse and Adjutant to General Caprara with Letters to Vienna giving the Emperor an account of the Success and lodged himself in the Pleasure-House built without the Town for the Reception of the Deposed Sultan Mahomet when he came to View the Muster of his Army that under the Leading of Cara Mustapha the Grand Vizier Besieged Vienna Anno 1683. where he had News that the Prince of Baden after Three hours obstinate Fight had overthrown the Bassa of Bosna's Army composed of between 12 and 14000 Men posted to hinder his Passage over the River Vna Killing Four Thousand on the Place upon which Constantowitza had Surrendred a Place of considerable Importance on that side Things being at this pass Preparations were made with much caution and diligence to Attack the Castle the Management or Conduct of which was left to Count Serini Lieutenant General to His Electoral Highness the Walls whereof the Elector had Viewed and given Orders where he perceived it most advantageous for the Attacks c. And although the Turks Sallyed at the same time yet were they beaten back with the loss of but One Man on the part of the Christians The next day being the Twelfth in the Evening the Troops ' began to Approach the Castle and to take their Posts to hinder which the Enemy made a Vigorous Sally so that the Skirmish continued Three or Four hours but at last they were Repulsed and in this Action Eighty of the Christians were Killed and Wounded the Turks losing a greater Number And so successful it proved that the former secured under the favour of this Action their Posts and opened the Frenches within Musquet-shot of the Walls and began to work on Two Batteries The Thirteenth in the Morning the Besieged made another Sally in a greater Body than the former breaking on upon the Besiegers and came to Handy-blows in which Dispute Count Rabntine General of the Battalia was shot in the Arm Count Tassis Serjeant Major of the Regiment of Bavaria in the Body and several other private Soldiers were Killed and Wounded but the Besiegers being presently reinforced the Besieged were beaten back many of them being Slain and Wounded of which 500 were left behind Dead and two taken Prisoners who Reported That there were Ten Thousand Persons in the Garrison but many of them Women and Children which was confirmed by a Christian Slave who had been there since the Siege of Vienna and now made his escape to the Army when the same day News came That Yeghen Bassa had set the Famous City of Semandra on Fire which was about seven Leagues from the Camp
and thereupon General Carraffa who had it in charge to carry the Proposals made by the Turks was Commanded to take charge of him and Guard him to Newstadt The greatest Prizes that were gained in the Sack of this Important Place fell to the share of the Christian Slaves who knew where their Masters had hid their Treasure during the Siege of which there were found about Six Hundred the greater part of them Austrians who had at sumdry times been taken by Turkish Parties and brought or Sold to the Turks Inhabitants of the City and now found their delivery from a long and cruel Bondage by the prevailing Arms of their fellow Christians here were found likewise Seventy Pieces of Canon great and small and although the Town and Castle was extreamly defaced by Fire yet the Houses being many of them ruinous before and the greater part built with Timber will upon their Rebuilding render them more Famous which will not long be wanting by reason of its Commodious Scituation for Trade and confluence of People that are soon expected thither from their Neighbouring Parts This Action lasted Four hours with much Blood-shed and Slaughter on both Sides most of the Turkish Garrison Soldiers being Killed a Thousand dead Bodies being afterward found and thrown into the River and Three Thousand made Prisoners nor was the number of the Christians slain in the Assault inconsiderable among whom of more particular Note in relation to their Characters and Quality fell Lieutenant General Count D' Schariffenburg the Count Emanuel d' Frustemburg Colonel of Foot and the Young Count d'Staremberg so unto the Governor of Vienna many likewise of Note were Wounded amongst whom the Elector of Bavaria himself slightly in the Cheek as he exposed his Person in places of danger to Incourage the Assailants and give necessary Orders And thus in the space of Twenty Two days the Famous City of Belgrade fell into the Hands of the Christians and by its Reduction opened them a way into all the Turkish Dominions that are considerable in Europe there being no Place of great Importance between it and Constantinople the Metropolis of the Ottoman Empire which if the Intestine Commotions of the Christian Princes hinder not may undoubtedly in a short time follow the Fortune of this strong City as also their other places got and unjustly detained from the European Christians to the shaking if not the Overthrow of that Bloody Empire which for upward of Two Hundred Years has been so terrible to Christendom Three B 's of which Two are already won Will Crown the Glory of the Work begun Buda Belgrade Bizantum once obtain'd The rest will be but sport and quickly gain'd POSTSCRIPT SInce the Rendition of this Important Place more particular News came of the Defeat of the Bassa of Bosnia which for the extraordinary and unexpected success of the Christians I conceived might be acceptable and not improper to be added Prince Lovis of Baden on the Fourth of Septemb. having notice that four or five Thousand Turks were Encamped about Six Miles from Brod he Marched to Encounter them with 3000 Horse and Dragoons Marching with great diligence all Night but in the Morning to his no small Surprize he found himself greatly mis-inform'das to the Number which amounted to Fifteen Thousand Horse and Foot under the Command of the Bassa however calling the Officers about him he told them it was to no purpose to think of Retreating as being too late by reason of their too far Engagement amongst the Enemy but that they must now fight for their Lives and Victory which was chearfully consented to but before they had well put themselves into a Posture to Fight the Turks had surrounded them and vigorously charged four or five times which was sustained with so much Bravery and such vigorous Returns that the Enemies Horse perceiving themselves over-set fell first into Disorder and then to open Flight leaving the Foot to shift for themselves whose Ranks being forced by the Imperial Horse breaking in upon them they were miserably Beaten down and Slain those that Fled crying out for Quarter so the Prince becoming entirely Master of the Field 5000 of the Turks were found kill'd 2000 taken Prisoners 36 Colours taken and all the Baggage for which extraordinary Success in which the hand of God so signally appear'd Thanks were sent up to Heaven in most of the Capital Cities of the Empire We are further assured that of the 1000 Boats that fled from Belgrade before and after it was Invested not above 200 of them Arrived in places of Safety the rest being either Stranded bedded in the Mudd for want of Water or Deserted by such as were in them out of a fear they were Pursued and by that means most of the Deserters with their Baggage fell into the hands of the Country people or such parties as were abroad to scowre the Coast and gather the Spoil FINIS
and carried the Inhabitants to Nissa continuing his Retreat in great disorder towards Sofia The Fourteenth of August the Enemies Cannon Played suriously and they threw a great many Granado's and Bombs but did no considerable Execution and after that made another Sally though with no better success than the former and the same day a Detachment of the Garrison of Temesware got by the help of Boats into the Castle on that part that stands to the River Danube though the number was not considerable The Fifteenth of August the Besieged had finished a Battery of three Mortars and shot a great many Carcasses and Bombs into the place doing considerable Execution and the Elector ordered that a Lieutenant General a Serjeant-Major and Two Colonels with 800 Horse and 3000 Foot should Nightly Guard the Trenches where the better to Incourage the Workmen His Electoral Highness continued frequently till One or Two in the Morning On the Sixteenth the Duke of Mantua arrived and made his Entrance into the Camp with a numerous Train and splendid Equipage having with him above 500 Men on Horse-back including his Guards 40 lead Horses 24 Mules and 25 Waggons with Baggage and a Coach of State drawn by Six Horses and followed by many other Coaches and a great many Servants in Liveries and upon his approach was met by the Elector of Bavaria accompanied by the Chief Officers about a Mile from the Camp and thence conducted to the Head Quarters where they Dined together and afterward went to visit the Trenches when in the mean time his Tents to the number of 104 some of them very Rich were pitched between the Electors Quarters and that of General Caprara and in the Evening the Besieged made a Sally with a greater Body than formerly but found the Trenches so strongly Guarded that they were obliged to Retreat with a considerable loss On the Seventeenth by break of day the Besiegers began to Batter the Walls of the Castle with Six Pieces of Canon and understood by a Deserter that the Enemy were hard at work in their Mines and in the Evening General Caprara being with his Electoral Highness in the Trenches to give necessary directions and encourage those that were working a Musquet-shot passed through his Hat and Peruke without doing him any further damage On the Eighteenth the Enemies Cannon and Small-shot played very smartly so that Count Gallenfells a Colonel of Bavaria being in the Trenches received a Wound in the Body with a Musquet-shot and Lieutenant Colonel Count Lambert another in the Head and the young Count De Traun had his Arm shot off and under the favour of their Canon the Enemy Sallyed but were soon beaten back On the Nineteenth the Trenches were carried on with great diligence insomuch that the Workmen run them within ten paces of the Ditch though not without some considerable opposition and great loss of Men but not any of Note so that now they began to raise two new Batteries and the Elector of Bavaria Count Serini and General Caprara continuing all Night in the Trenches the better to encourage so important a Work. On the Twentieth the Besiegers possessed themselves of a Mosque or Turkish Church on the brink of the Ditch which the Besieged upon their approach abandoned and hastened to the Castle with great precipitation however one less nimble than the rest was taken who declared upon Examination there were 5000 Janizaries in the Town and Castle and that the Commanding Bassa encouraged the Garrison with assurance of Relief promising at the same time not to suffer things to come to Extremity though no great stress was laid upon this Report so that the Canon and Bombs continued to play furiously on both sides where by one of the Shells the Prince D'Comercy received a Contusion or Bruise on the Arm and the Sieur Claudio Martelli Adjutant General to the Army a Wound in the Head and although many others of lesser Note were Wounded yet but one Man was killed On the One and Twentieth two Parallel Lines were drawn on the Right and the Left to compass a greater space of Ground as well on the side of the Castle as the Town and two Redoubts made to support the Heads of them which were performed in spite of the opposition the Enemy made doing all they could with their Canon and Bombs to endamage the Workmen and hinder the Proceedings On the Twenty Second the Besiegers having perfected the Works the great Canon and Mortars Arrived from Buda upon which Orders were given to Batter the Castle from Two Batteries one of Fourteen Pieces and the other of Twelve And a Deserter that came into the Camp reported That the Bassa had caused a considerable Officer to be Hanged on the Fifteenth for offering to speak of a Surrender And that he gave for their better Incouragement a Duccate to every Man that would venture to make a Sally And about this Time other Scouts that had been sent out to observe the Motion of Yeghen Bassa returned having been as far as Sendrovia and made their Report that the Castle and Town were quite destroyed by Fire but the Walls are standing and that the Turks left Twenty Pieces of Canon behind them for hast or want of conveniency to carry them off They likewise brought with them a Christian who had made his Escape out of the Ottoman Army confirming That Yeghen Bassa was retired to Nissa about Twenty Leagues from Belgrade burning the Country and carrying the People along with him so that care was taken to fetch off the Canon left at Seudrovia And then it was Rumoured that a great many Families of Rascians had offered to Re-edifie and Inhabit that Ancient City if they might be Protected by an Imperial Garison On the Twenty Third the Besiegers batter'd the Castle very suriously which is Built after the Ancient way of Fortifying with Towers Battlements Double-Walls and considerable Ditches however the Canon made divers Breaches and beat down part of the Fortifications and although the Besieged Sallyed with an Intent to Attack the Redoubts they were beaten in again leaving a considerable number of their Party dead behind them And about this Time it was further confirmed that the Prince of Baden had routed the Bassa of Bosna and Killed 3000 Men. Moreover Debitza Jessuewitz and Gradiska being first set on Fire were Abandoned by the Turks who were retired towards Banyalucca whither the Imperialists follow'd them As also that General Veterani had Taken Carausebes and the strong Castle of Salancar And now the Canon Playing suriously from the Batteries the Engineers though they were raised as high as they could bare found some Obstruction by reason of the Ruinous Houses that had been consumed by the Fire or shatter'd by the force of the Bombs and Canon whereupon the Miners received Orders to Overthrow them in which they were so Expeditious and successful that the Besieged were laid more open to the force of Twenty Six Pieces of Canon though the