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 discourses 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 sâ— ot 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 or 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 the 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 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
Days against all the Force of the Ottoman Army that the Tower which was adjoyning to the Castle was Blown up which made so wide a Breach that it was impossible to sustain another Assault of the Enemy having endured two Assaults before And therefore after a loss of the greatest part of the Garrison which was reduced from Three hundred and fifty to One hundred and thirty Soldiers the Surrender thereof seemed excusable and not to be imputed to the Cowardize or want of Conduct either in the Commander or in the Souldiers There was also something more than ordinary in the behaviour of the Turks towards the Garrison when this place was Surrender'd For they out of a Principle of hatred to the Christian Religion and of scorn and indignation against all People but those of their own Profession were commonly provoked to use their Victories with Pride and unlimited Insolence and to break their Faith and Engagements to which they had obliged themselves by Articles and Capitulations did now contrary to their usual practice Treat the vanquished of this Fortress with due respect and kindness and lest any thing should happen which might seem disagreeable to their Capitulations in their march by Land care was taken to Transport them in Boats and to Land them as near as was possible to the Christian Camp and for the better security on the way they were accompanied by three Turkish Officers whom the Duke of Loraine treated with a Civility corresponding unto which they had used towards the Garrison The next Day being the 11 th of August the Christian Army pitched their Tents at Almatz about a League distant from Strigonium From whence an Officer was sent to Complement the Duke of Loraine and the other Generals with a Relation of what the Turks had acted in the late Siege He told them That one the 30 th and 31 st of the last Month their Approaches were begun as were to be seen on the side towards Comorra at the Foot of St. Thomas his Mount and were in two Days time carried on to the Counterscarp of the lower City where they Sprang four Mines and seconded them with as many Assaults in which so many were killed that the Ditch seemed to be levelled and filled up with the dead Bodies of the Slain and made equal with the Border of the Counterscarp In fine About two Days before the Turks having received certain Intelligence of the Approach of the Christian Army for their Relief had raised the Siege with so much hast and precipitation as gave Courage to the Defendants to make a Sally upon them at their departure and falling on their Rear took a Bloody Farewel of them with the Slaughter of Three hundred of their Men. The Success of Strigonium made some amends for the loss of Vicegrade and gave undoubted proofs that where is any equality in Force the Christian Valour and Conduct challenges Fortune to be of their side and to favour and assist them The Duke of Loraine having recruited the Garrison of Strigonium with Five hundred Foot and succoured it with Ammunition and Provisions necessary for it's Defence raised his Camp on the 13 th and marched away in quest of the Seraskier with resolution to give him Battle in case the moorish and fenny Grounds which interposed between the two Armies did not prevent the Engagement The Day following with rising of the Sun was opened a clear Scene representing the whole Turkish Army which having passed the Danube to joyn with some Tartarian and Turkish Troops were Encamped on the farther side of a fenny of moorish Ground which lies between Newhausal and Senan extending it self from the Banks of the River to a certain rising Ground on which they had planted their whole Train of Artillery the Appearance of which seemed very formidable and not consisting of less than 55 or 60.000 fighting Men which for the most part were experienced Soldiers who had tried the Dint of the Enemies Sword and often without fear beheld Death in the Face The fenny and moorish Ground which interposed between the two Armies was the Bar which restrain'd the Courage and Mettle of the Christians who otherwise in despight of all disadvantages where had been any possibility of Engagement would have broke through all to have closed and mixed with their Enemy To perform which the boggy Ground was tried and assaied on all sides but being found unpassable the Generals feigned a kind of fear and unwillingness to Engage in expectation thereby to draw the Enemy to remove so that raising their Camp as if they had feared a Battle the Turks carried on by their own Destiny followed after them leaving the place of a more advantagious Ground The Christians retreating at the distance of an hour's march drew up in the Form and Order before mentioned extending their left Wing towards the Danube and their right towards the Hills of Saran The Seraskier animated with this Retreat as if it had been caused by his more formidable Force which much exceeded the Christians in their numbers raised his Camp and followed the motion of the Christians and leaving a great part of the Infantry with the heavy Cannon behind on the rising of the Hill on the 15 th and 16 th Instant he passed the moorish Ground and marched towards the Enemy At break of Day in Morning so great a Fog or Mist arose that for some hours neither Army could discover the motions of the other during which time the Christians had the advantage to draw up their Army undiscerned into a posture of Battle and to reinforce the left Wing with some Regiments which were not as yet disposed No sooner was the Army drawn up in its due Order than the Fog dispersed and a bright Day appeared which showed the two Armies each to the other both moving with a slow and regular Pace to joyn Battle The Turks who are of the more fiery and fierce Temper caused their left Wing to March with some hast to charge the right Wing of the Christians upon which they three times made an Attempt but the Germans who stood firm and unshaken like a Rock three times repulsed them with great Slaughter The Duke of Loraine perceiving that the Turks pressed the right Wing with their main force caused his left Wing to move with a slow pace to their Succour The German Foot were conducted by their Captains at the head of their respective Companies with their Artillery in the Front which being charged with Musquet-bullets were fired upon them so opportunely and seconded by Vollies of small Shot that the Turks began to draw back at some distance The Seraskier observing the disorder of his left Wing advanced with a strong Body of Turks to charge the utmost part of the right Wing of the Christians to sustain which the Duke of Loraine redoubled the firing of the first Line and commanded Count Dunewald to reinforce the first Line with such Squadrons
The Duke surprised with the change having thereupon sounded to Horse sent Count Dunewald to his Majesty to represent to him the necessity of expecting the Foot and the danger there was in separating in the neighbourhood of the Armies of the Turks and Rebels and in the middle of their Garrisons The Count found the King already on Horseback who answered him that having advice that the detachment of the Turks towards Barcam was not great he saw no inconvenience to continue his march They seeing the King's resolution followed him leaving but one Company of Crawats to accompany the Infantry which that daw were to be at Mose The King being come within a League of Barcam was advertised by his advanced Parties that some Squadrons of the Enemy did appear He ordered a detachment to charge them They did not stand but being relieved by a greater Body the Poles who attacqued them were repelled The King commanded other Squadrons to second them which being engaged he advanced himself with all his Horse The gross of the Turks Cavalry which had continued hitherto covered by a great hill unexpectedly appeared six or 7000 strong and briskly charging the Poles in Flank and Front put them to flight The Turks charged them hotly in the disorder they were and killed above 2000 of them and amongst the rest the Palatine of Pomerania They took Tymbals and Standards and some Baggage which by being intermingled with the march of the Troops did somewhat contribute to their defeat The Count of Dunewald who had marched all day with the King seeing the encounters of the first Squadrons sent to tell the Duke that the Poles and the Enemy were engaged whereupon he marched swiftly and filing through a narrow passage betwixt him and the Plain he saw upon his arrival that the Polish Horse was quite broke and that the Turks were close in their pursuit At this sight his first care was to put the Emperours most advanced Troops into Battalia leaving room for the flying Poles to avoid their running upon him As soon as he had some Squadrons of his first Line formed seeing the Poles still in disorder he advanced upon the Enemy with his first Squadrons leaving Prince Lewis of Baden to embattel the rest This motion stopt the Enemies carreer after which they retired with some speed under Barcam to avoid the Imperialists charge whilst the Duke advanced the Queen of Polands Brother came to him and told him that he believed the King was lost because his Majesty was in the head of all in the places the most exposed to animate his Men by words and inspire courage into them by his example The Duke seeing the Enemy retired advanced towards the Poles He found the King who having advanced with the first would be the last in retiring He told the Duke how affairs had gone and it being near Night they thought of nothing but encamping Fear and Terror had seised upon the Poles as is usual in such Encounters they could scarce be perswaded to keep the Right because of the Neighboâ—rhood of Barcam whither the Enemy was retired insomuch that the King for the greater security of his Troops made them take the Left desiring the Duke to march into the right with the Emperours Troops which these last had always pretended to before they discamped the Duke sent Orders to Count Starenberg to make haste and come and joyn him with the foot The next Morning he was advertised that the Poles continued disquieted that the loss they had suffered was extreamly sensible to them that they would perswade the King not to advance any further but to retire to the Places designed for their Quarters that the principal Officers were much divided and finally that many Difficulties were alledged to the King to hinder the Execution of the Resolutions which had been taken The Duke who knew the Consequence of retaining the Polish Army and in case it separated they should lose the Fruit and Honour of the Campania the which he desired to see finished with some handsome Action and not upon a loss went to the Kings Quarters and having found things as they 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 Palfi 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 Iabloriski 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
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 14 th 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 15 th 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 of 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 reâ—olved 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 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 side 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 happened 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 Styrum was but he was so seasonably succoured by some Imperial Battalions and other Troops of the second line that the Turks were forced to retire being indeed chased and repelled in all the parts of the Army Being fled by the Morass the way they came they seemed to make head again in their Camp but upon the advance of the Christians who passed the Morass with their Foot and Horse the terror and consternation was so great amongst the Turkish Souldiers that it was impossible for the Serasquier notwithstanding all his endeavour to perswade his Men to oppose the passage of the Morass They also abandoned their Camp Arms Cannon and other Instruments of War to the Pursuers besides forty Ensigns and some two hundred Prisoners which were taken The Serasquier was hurt in his Leg and having left five thousand upon the place secured the rest by a timely retreat The two Armies separating after the fight the Christians went back to Comorra in order to their prosecution of the Siege of Newheusel and the Serasquier having rallied his Forces and punished with strangling some of his chief Officers who had not well behaved themselves in the Battel of Gran and passed the Danube declaring he would relieve Newheusel whatever it cost but soon after he received the news as the Christians had at Comorra that the place was taken by assault The Serasquier however having formed a new train of Artillery of twenty Pieces which he took out of Buda and being re-inforced with several fresh Troops he marched towards Vaccia incamping betwixt that place and Pest but hearing of the approach of the Christian Army he abandoned Novigrade and Vaccia taking the Cannon and Ammunition with him that was there demolishing the said places and setting fire to them when he left them He also ruined the Country about Pest and having sent a Detachment to re-inforce the Garrison of Agria he repassed the Danube with the rest of his Army at Buda And now the Turks do not seem averse from Peace the Serasquier having sent an Aga to the Duke of Lorrain with a Letter wherein he acquainted his Highness that he had full power from the Grand Seignior to treat and conclude a Peace which he conjures him to promote by offers of great advantage as abandoning Count Tekely and delivering of the three Hostages which were in the Grand Seignior's hands But the Duke answered him that he had no Orders to treat of Peace and that a Victorious Army was not to be amused with such Proposals but that he would acquaint his Imperial Majesty with the Serasquier's desire The Serasquier having passed the Danube the few Tartars he had not exceeding six thousand left him and returned home The Bassa's of Agria Temiswar and Waradin were sent back with the Troops under their command and went home to their respective Governments the Serasquier with the rest of his Army posting himself betwixt Buda and Alba-Regalis to observe the Christians motion The Imperial Army had advanced in quest of the Turks as far as Vaccia but hearing that the Ottoman Army was separated in several Bodies and marched as above as also towards the Frontiers of Styria and
great Preparation made by Amurath had drawn into the society of this War the King of Bosna as is aforesaid with Vulcus Prince of Macedonia his Son in law who both brought unto him great Aid he had also by his Embassadors procured great Supplies from other Christian Kings and Princes out of Valachia Hungaria Croatia Sâ—lavonia Albania Bulgaria and Italy besides great numbers of other voluntary devout Christians which all assembled and met together did in number far exceed the great Army of the Turks With this Army Lazarus the Despot encamped upon the side of the River Morova the greater not far from whence stood the strong Castle of Sarkive which Alis Bassa had of late taken from Sasmenos the Bulgarian Prince standing as it were betwixt Bulgaria and Servia this Castle being now possessed of the Turks was thought by Lazarus dangerous to his Country who therefore sent one Demetrius a right valiant Captain with certain Companies of select Men to take in the same The name of this Captain Demetrius was a general terror unto the Turks for the harm he had done them so that they in the Castle hearing that he was come without further resistance yielded the same unto him Whereof Amurath understanding sent Eine and Sarutze Bassa to recover the same but Lazarus doubting that the Castle would hardly be kept in that dangerous War sent Vulcus his Son in law with twenty thousand Men to bring away all that was therein and in the City near unto it lest it should become a prey unto the greedy Turks which he accordingly did and at the same time rased both the Castle and the City before the coming of Iaxis Beg sent from Amurath to have done the same exploit which he coming thither found already done to his hand by Vulcus As Amurath was marching towards Servia Seratze and Custendil two Christian Princes his Tributaries met him with their Forces whom he caused to march before him as his Guids and passing through Custendil his Country was there refreshed with plenty of all things necessary until at length passing the River of Morova the less he drew so near to the Plains of Cossova where the Christian Army lay that he with his Son Bajazet from a little Hill took full view of the Christian Camp which was so great that it covered all those large Plains from side to side and so daunted Amurath as that returning to his Army he presently entred into a great consultation with his greatest Captains and Commanders what course to take against such a puissant Enemy These great Armies being now come so nigh together as that they might the one well descry the other Amurath had purposed the same day to have given the Christians battel but being disswaded by Eurenoses both for that it was extream hot and his Souldiers wearied with travel he rested that night The next morning as soon as it was day he put his Army in order of battel placing his Son Bajazet with Eurenoses and Eine Beg Subbassa in the right Wing his youngest Son Iacup with Sarutzâ— Bassa in the left Wing the main battel he led himself Lazarus in the mean time had also set his Army in good order giving the charge of the right Wing to Vulcus his Son in law the left Wing was led by the King of Bosna and his Sons in the main battel stood Lazarus himself the Italians Valachians Hungarians Bohemians and Bulgarians he placed in both Wings It is thought greater Armies than those two had seldem before met in Europe Lazarus as the Turkish Histories report but how truly I know not having in his Army five hundred thousand men and Amurath scarce half so many To begin the battel Amurath had drawn a thousand of his best Archers under the leading of Malcozzeus out of the right Wing of his Army and the like number of Archers out of the left under the conduct of one Mustapha which so placed on both sides of the Army as he thought best Eurenoses a man of great experience told Amurath That the Christians were for the most part well and strongly armed and shouldring close together in their charge would be like a Rock of Iron unable to be pierced but if in joyning the battel he would a little retire the Christians following upon good hope would so loose their close standing the chief part of their strength and leave an entrance for his Men. Upon which resolution Amurath commanded the Archers to give the first charge which they couragiously performed At which time the Turks Army gave ground a little which the Christians perceiving with great force assailed the left Wing of their Army and after a hard and cruel fight put the same to flight which Bajazet seeing with such fury renewed the battel that the Turks which before as men discouraged fled in the left Wing began now to turn again upon their Enemies and the Christians having as they thought already got the Victory were to begin a great battel In which bloody fight many thousands fell on both sides the brightness of the Armor and Weapons was as it had been the Lightning the multitude of Launces and other Horsemens Staves shadowed the light of the Sun Arrows and Darts fell so fast that a man would have thought they had poured down from Heaven the noise of the Instruments of War with the neighing of Horses and out-cries of Men was so terrible and great that the wild Beasts of the Mountains stood astonied therewith and the Turkish Histories to express the terror of the day vainly say that the Angels in Heaven amazed with that hideous noise for that time forgot the heavenly Hymns wherewith they always glorifie God. About noon time of the day the fortune of the Turks prevailing the Christians began to give ground and at length betook themselves to plain flight whom the Turks with all their force pursued and slew them down right without number or mercy In which battel Lazarus the Despot himself was also slain Howbeit some Histories report otherwise as that he with his Son were taken Prisoners and by and by afterwards in revenge of Amurath his death cruelly slain othersome also reporting that he died in Prison Amurath after this great Victory with some few of his chief Captains taking view of the dead bodies which without number lay on heaps in the field like Mountains a Christian Souldier sore wounded and all bloody seeing him in staggering manner arose as if it had been from death out of a heap of slain men and making towards him for want of strength fell down divers times by the way as he came as if he had been a drunken man at length drawing nigh unto him when they which guarded the Kings Person would have stayed him he was by Amurath himself commanded to come nearer supposing that he would have craved his life of him Thus the half dead Christian pressing near unto him as if he would for honour sake have kissed his
provoke the Enemy and to draw him forth unto Battel Balabanus also shewed himself with his Army in seemly order before his Tents but there stood fast and would not stir expecting continually the coming of his Fellow Which Scanderbeg perceiving and that he sought but to dally out the time and as one unwilling to fight had again retired his Army into the safety of his Trenches drew nearer and nearer unto him continually skirmishing with such as he sent out daring him to the Field and braving him unto his Trenches in such sort as if he would have forced the same and by strong hand have â—et him out thence whereat the Turks fretted and chafed exceedingly insomuch that they were ready to rise against their General because he would not lead them forth to Battel but suffer them to be so disgraced Balabanus mindful of that he had promised to Mahomet his great Lord and Master did what he might to have deferred time but when he saw that his Fellow came not and that he could no longer delay the matter being so continually assailed and braved by Scanderbegs Souldiers that his Turks therewith provoked were ready oftentimes to have issued out without his direction and no remedy but that he must needs fight placed his men in good order and so went out of his Trenches to give Battel himself leading the left Wing thereof where betwixt him and Scanderbeg was made a fierce Fight many falling on both sides But Scanderbeg strengthened with the old Garrison of Croia and the most expert Souldiers of Dibra prevailed upon the Turks and forced them to give ground yet still keeping their order The Fight was so great in this part of the Battel that in other places they stood almost still as lookers on expecting the doubtful fortune of their Generals which thing Scanderbeg perceiving drew certain Troops out of the right Wing whereas he saw was least danger which speedily fetching a compass about charged the side of the Enemies Army and again withdrawing themselves and with wonderful celerity wheeling about set upon the back of them that fought in the left Wing so that the Turks there fiercely charged both before and behind by the Wing of Scanderbeg his Army fell in other places with a great Slaughter Balabanus with exceeding Courage gainstood his Enemies so long as there was any hope leâ—t but when he saw the fortune of Scanderbeg to prevail and all about him to become desperate he made shift for himself and fled out of the Battel as fast as he could The rest of the Army being in other places before troubled and disordered fled also some one way some another every man as his Fortune led him Some few that followed Balabanus escaped the rest were for most part either slain or taken Prisoners Scanderbeg had scarcely well breathed himself after this Victory and divided the Spoil amongst his Souldiers but that news was brought to him in Post from the Lady Mamiza his Sister then lying at Petrella That Iacuppe Arnauth was by the way of Belgrade come into Epirus with an Army of sixteen thousand Horsemen burning and destroying the Country before him and then lay incamped in the Plains of Tyranna the less When Scanderbeg to prove the minds of his Souldiers had chearfully imparted unto them such news as was like to be the beginning of new labour and peril they were therewith nothing dismaied but ready to follow him with such chearfulness of countenance and mind as if they should have gone to some great Feast or Banquet reckoning of them but as of the remnant of a discomfited Army This chearfulness of his Souldiers Scanderbeg took as an assured token of his good success and having all things in readiness presently set forward and in short time came to the place where the Enemy lay Iacuppe hearing of his coming removed his Camp into a corner of the Plain of Tyranna near unto a little Hill as a place of more safety for his Army to lie in Scanderbeg having taken the Plain incamped his Army in the same place from whence Iacuppe was but a little before departed where he rested one whole day The next morning to terrifie his Enemies who as yet had not heard of the overthrow of Balabanus he caused divers of the Turks Heads which were slain in the late Battel which he had brought for that purpose to be cast before the Trenches of the Enemy and withal divers of them which were taken Prisoners to be shewn which Iacuppe beholding in great despair said I see the evil hap of Mahomet Immediately after Scanderbeg sent forth five hundred Horsemen to skirmish with the Turks commanding them so soon as they were charged by the Enemy to retire if happily they might be so drawn into Battel Which fell out accordingly for Iacuppe now seeing his Fellow was not to be looked for and willing also without further delay to try his Fortune came readily into the Field and began a fierce Battel which endured not long for Scanderbeg perceiving in what part of the Army Iacuppe was bent his greatest Force that way and singling him out with his own hand slew him Wherewith the Turks being discouraged forthwith betook themselves to flight and in flying were for most part slain or taken Those which escaped the present fury of the Sword stragling through the Country by thick woods and blind ways were by the Country People either slain or taken Prisoners In these two Battels were slain of the Turks four and twenty thousand and six thousand taken And of Scanderbeg his men were lost about a thousand Scanderbeg and his Souldiers were so weary of the slaughter of the Turks that when it was told him the next day That Balabanus was fled but with one Cornet of Horsemen and might easily be surprised if he were well pursued he said O let some of our Enemies live to report their own Slaughter and our Victory After that Scanderbeg had in this sort vanquished these great Captains he presently entred into the Frontiers of the Turks Dominions and roaming up and down at his pleasure without resistance made havock of all that came in his way and after returning to Croia with Victory brake up his Army and gave his Souldiers leave to depart every man to his own dwelling Whilst these things were in doing Mahomet had with great rewards procured two Turks to undertake to kill Scanderbeg year 1465. These Traitors came unto Scanderbeg as Fugitives making such shew of the detestation both of Mahomet his Tyrannical Government and vain Superstition that they were both of Scanderbeg and others reputed to be indeed the men they desired to be accounted and so after they had learned the principles of the Christian Religion were by their own desire baptized But Treason against Princes whom God hath in his most mighty protection cannot be long covered much less without his great sufferance performed So fortuned it that these two false dissembling Traitors expecting nothing but
that the Camp lay defended on the right hand with the steep Hill on the left hand with the River and behind toward the City with a strong Bulwark Upon the right hand upon a little rising ground he placed the lesser Camp wherein were the Hungarians which favoured King Ferdinand and then followed his Ensigns He made also a Bridge from his Camp into a little Island which lay in the River and with a Fort well planted with Ordnance commanded both the River and the Plain so to beat the Enemies Fleet coming up the River and themselves also as they should march alongst the Plain He was about also to have made a Bridge of Lighters and Boats quite over the River from his Camp to Pesth and in this order to expect the coming of new supplies from King Ferdinand and to repel the Enemy who was coming and with long Siege to weary them in Buda for there was such store both of Victual and all other warlike Provision in Pesth as would well have sufficed his Army until Winter had been spent As soon as the Turks were come nigh the City Valentinus as an Embassador from the Queen met them with two thousand Horse and fully instructed both the Mahomets what the Christians did what strength they were of and how they might most conveniently encamp their Army Wherefore the Bassa marching on boldly forward came within half a mile of the Christian Camp where he quickly intrenched himself round with a strong Trench filling a great part of the Plain with his Tents But the other Mahometes Governour of Belgrade a most politick Captain took the higher ground towards the rising of the Hill nearer unto the Tents of the Hungarians than of the Germans Unto these two Armies thus encamped belonged also two Fleets the Christian Fleet consisted of four and twenty Galliots about fourscore small Pinnaces and little less than a hundred Ships of burden and other great Boats whereas the Turks Fleet was not thought to be past half so great Neaâ— unto the little Island joyned as we have beâ—ore said by a Bridge to the Christian Camp beneath in the River had the Turks taken another Island called Cepellia over against their own Camp where casting up a great Bulwark in the uppermost end thereof and planting it with great Oâ—dnance they from thence shot at the Fort which the Christians held in the little Island and at their Vessels passing to and fro in the River as the Christians did at them likewise This Island of Cepellia lyeth somewhat more than foâ—ty miles in length in the River Danubius full of Country Villages so commodiously that if Râ—gâ—ndorff had at the first taken it and fortified it before the coming of the Turks as the Hungarians perswaded him to have done the Turks could by no means have encamped in the Plain but must needs have forsaken their Fleet fetching a great compass about more toward the West further off from the River which would have turned to the Turks great disadvantage But no Man is so wise as to foresee all things when as the very evil success be the Plot never so well laâ—â—d shall of it self beside the loss leave unto the unfâ—rtunate Man the Note of the want of provident forâ—sight and discretion But Rogendorff was not willing to divide his Forces until he had some new supply from King Ferdinand Whilst the Armies lay thus near one to the other there were some light skirmishes made every day either by the Horsemen or the Footmen and sometime one brave Man challenging forth another hand to hand whom he thought by his Armor or some other sign of his worth to be like to himself which was so pleasant a sight to behold that both the Armies upon a military courtesie as if it had been so agreed would many times for certain hours forbear to shoot any shot of purpose to see those Gallants with true Prowess to prove their Valour and Manhood one upon another with their Spears and Swords only In which light skirmishes the German Horsemen were often times put to the worst who mounted upon greaâ— heavy Horses fitter for a set Battel could 〈…〉 so readily charge the Enemy nor pursue him in his flight as could the Turks with their nimble and ready light Horses so well acquainted with that manner of flying fight that they would with wheeling about easily frustrate the first charge of the heavy Horsemen and by and by come upon them again with a fresh charge and so oft retire and come on again until they had either wearied or overthrown them But the Hungarians acquainted with that manner of fight as well as they and also better armed did easily encounter the Turks and foil them although they were in number more There was amongst the German Captains a Nobleman called Eckius Rayschachius whose Son a valiant young Gentleman being got out of the Army without his Fathers knowledge bare himself so gallantly in fight against the Enemy in the sight of his Father and of the Army that he was highly commended of all Men and especially of his Father who knew him not at all yet before he could clear himself he was compassed in of the Enemy and valiantly fighting slain Rayschachius exceedingly moved with the death of so brave a Man ignorant how near it touched himself turning about to the other Captains said This worthy Gentleman whatsoever he be is worthy of eternal commendation and to be most honourably buried by the whole Army As the rest of the Captains were with like compassion approving his Speech the dead Body of the unfortunate Son rescued was presented to the most miserable Father which caused all them that were there present to shed Tears but such a suddain and inward grief surprised the aged Father and struck so to his Heart that after he had stood a while Speechless with his Eies set in his Head he suddainly fell down dead From that time the General commanded That no Man should upon pain of death go out of the Army to skirmish with the Enemy without leave wherein he was so severe that he hanged up one or two that presumed to transgress his Commandment which thing much discouraged his own Men and so encouraged the Enemy that they would sometime brave the Christians upon the top of their own Trenches Many days had now passed since the coming of the Bassa the Turks and they of Buda daily encreasing both in strength and courage when on the other side faint courage weak strength troubled council uncertain resolution the ominous signs of an undoubted overthrow were easie to be seen and hope it self the stay of all human Actions especially of Martial Affairs almost lost the only things that held their fainting Hearts was the often Letters of King Ferdinand and the firm opinion they had conceived That Charles the Emperor would not in so great a danger fail to aid his Brother both with Men and Mony and last of all the
the Palatine of Valachia Transalpina that joyning those Forces to his own he might take Iohn the Vayvod and sending him in Bonds to Constantinople to place Peter his Brother Vayvod in his place The Palatine glad of this command and having raised his own power together with the Turks and the Hungarians swam over the River Moldavus having in his Army about an hundred and two thousand fighting Men a power not only sufficient to have driven the Vayvod out of Moldavia but also to have shaken a right puissant King in his Kingdom The Palatine in the midst of so great a strength little fearing and less regarding the suddain coming of the Vayvod suffered his Men with their Horses to lie disorderedly here and there dispersed in the large Meadows and Pastures all alongst the fair River side so the better to refresh themselves weary of their long travel In the mean time certain Scouts came to the Vayvod then at Dinner certifying him that the Enemy with an huge Army the certain number whereof they could not well descry was come over the River and now resting themselves had turned off their Horses into the rich Meadows thereabout in such disordered and careless manner as that they might with a small power be easily overthrown The Vayvod glad of this news forthwith sent before Sujercevius with his Cossacks and 5000 other light Horsemen more certainly to descry what the Enemy did with the manner of his lying and he himself with the rest of his Army followed fair and softly after Sujercevius with great silence approaching the Enemies Camp suddainly light upon the Enemies Scouts in number about 500 who enclosed before they were aware were taken every Man by the Cossacks and by them straightly examined of the state of their Army and Camp. Who for safegard of their Lives now in the Enemies power frankly confessed how that the Palatine lay securely there by resting his Army not so much for the refreshing thereof after his Travel as with greater strength to set upon the Vayvod with his fresh Souldiers and that in the Army were about seventy thousand Valachians thirty thousand Turks and three thousand Hungarians who now dispersed and sleeping in security might easily be overthrown Of all these things Sujercevius advertiseth the Vayvod requesting him with all possible speed to hasten his coming for the obtaining of a most notable and assured Victory he in the mean time lying close with his Men not far from the Enemy The Vayvod certified of all these things came without delay and forthwith commanded Sujercevius with his Men to give the onset upon the Enemy purposing himself with the rest of his Army on the other side to charge the disordered Camp in three places Sujercevius according as he had in charge with a great and terrible outcry suddainly set upon the secure Enemies who dismaid with the suddainness of the unexpect danger stood as Men astonished not knowing which way to flie or how to make resistance But whiles Sujercevius with his light Horsemen thus on the one side filled the Camp with tumult terror slaughter and fear behold even as a suddain Tempest cometh the Vayvod bearing all the disordered Camp down before him neither had the Enemies any means to flie having put their Horses a great way off from them into the rich Pastures but there taken unarmed were miserably slain In all the Camp was lamentation and mourning Death raging in every place with such fury that of so great an Army as of late passed the River few or non escaped more than the Palatine with Peter his Brother who by great chance with much ado getting Horses swam over the River and so came to the Castle of Brailovia in Valachia all the rest were slain and left to be of the Beasts of the Field and Birds of the Air devoured It was a most horrible spectacle to see the ground covered with the Bodies of the dead all stained with gore Blood and their Weapons of all sorts lying by them In the Camp were found great Riches all which the Vayvod gave unto his Souldiers and there staied four days to refresh his wearied Men. After that he with his victorious Army entred into Valachia the Palatines Country where he took many Castles and Towns and put to the Sword all that came in his way Men Women and Children without respect of Age or Sex and burnt all the Country Towns and Villages before him as he went so that all that part of the Country of Valachia Transalpina was covered with Smoke and Fire to the terror of the Beholders The aged Fathers were in every place drawn forth to slaughter the young Babes were cut in pieces the Matrons and Virgins defiled and afterwards slain and in brief all the Cruelty that could be devised performed in the bloody execution whereof the Vayvod commended his Men perswading them in like manner still to prosecute the Victory and that the rest of their labours was all but for prey and booty for the enriching of themselves In this havock of all things it was told him That the Palatine with his Brother Peter the Men whom he most sought after were in the Castle of Brailovia not far off whereupon he forthwith marched thither with his Army The City of Brailovia standeth upon the River Danubius and had in it a Castle of some good strength defended both by the nature of the place and a strong Garrison of the Turks which Selymus had appointed for the keeping thereof as the Key of the Country not far from this City the Vayvod encamping his Army writ unto the Captain of the Castle forthwith to deliver unto him the Palatine with Peter his Brother his mortal Enemies who never wronged by him had invaded his Country and sought after his life and being overthrown in Battel were fled unto him which if he should refuse to do he threatned never to depart thence until he had to his further harm constrained him by force to yield them These Letters he sent by two Valachian Captives to be delivered unto the Captain of the Castle whereunto he returned answer by four Turks two of the City and two of his own Servants by whom he also sent ten great Shot and as many small with two Turkish Arrows and this Message For that I know thee to be the Servant of my dread Sovereign Selymus I regard thee and will not deny the same Men to be with me whom thou so much requirest But forasmuch as I understand that thou of late hast slain a great number of the Servants of the great Emperor who by his commandment were bringing Peter the Brother of the Palatine into Moldavia I therefore tell thee that except thou betime raise thy Siege I will feed thee and thy Followers with such Dishâ—s as these whereupon thou and thine Army gorged to the full shall all afterwards dangerously surfeit and cast Farewel This rough answer so much moved the Vayvod that he commanded hands
General of the Artillery were at the head of the Foot. Count 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 〈◊〉 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 near 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
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 Ianizaries 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 Regaliâ— 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 Groats 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 Spabi'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 and 10 Waggons loaden with Ammunition This great action cost the Christians but little the slain not exceeding 60 and the wounded but 33. After this fight the Turks made several movements and drew up in a Plain which lookt towards the Bavarian quarter and keeping their Wings upon heights they made meen as if they would come to a decisive battel or relieve the Place with all their Forces Hereupon a Council of War was called where it was resolved to follow the Enemy which was done by the Elector of Bavaria in the head of his Army but the Turks apprehending an Engagement retired The Generals Dunewald and Heusler pursued them beyond the Mountains and the Hussars had another skirmish with a great Party of Turks which stayed behind to amuse the Christians and favour the retreat of their Army The booty the Christians got was considerable for they had all the spoil of the Enemy whereof there was not one that had not the 5 Duckets which the Grand Visier had given him besides his own moneys The Besieged thinking they were already relieved made great fire upon them that kept the Approaches and supposed they might ruine some of the Enemies works but in vain for they were so briskly received that they lost the desire of risking further They however made a very furious sally on the Bavarian attack which was fatal to them for they were not only repelled by the Regiments of Baden and Aspremont but the retreat being cut off there was great slaughter made of them The Turks being retired without coming to a decisive battel the Army returned into their Lines and immediately dispatched young Count Palsi to the Emperour with the news of this great advantage and to lay 28 Colours and Standards at his feet that were taken in the late engagement The rest for some were taken in the pursuit were planted upon the great Rondel to make the Besieged comprehend the defeat of those Succours that they had expected with so much impatience Aug. 15. The Germans and Hussars scouting abroad brought some Prisoners in who all agreed in this that the Grand Visier notwithstanding this check would not desist making other attempts to put relief into the Town tho' with the hazard of his whole Army And in effect however he was retired he did not cease to alarm the Camp every night This Afternoon a signal was made to the Besieged for a Parley to inform them by the Janizaries Prisoners of the rout of their Succours but whether they perceived this within or not they answered by the fire of their great and small shot Aug. 16. The works of the three Attacks were pursued with vigour and in the Morning the Besieged's Palizadoes and Defences of Wood upon the Breach were fired in the Lorrain Attack and partly consumed by the Flames notwithstanding all the diligence of the Turks to extinguish them In this Action they threw a prodigious quantity of Stones Granadoes Sacks with Powder and other combustible matters upon the Assailants insomuch that four of them who fired them were burnt twelve Crowns a man being given to each of those who engaged themselves in this Service as a recompence and yet they could not clear the way for an Assault the Besieged having taken their time in the Night to plant other Palizadoes and repair their Defences In the Bavarian Attack the Castle and the great Tower were incessantly beaten which were as it were overturn'd by the force of the
the Tartar Han which remain for Hostages in the Turkish Court upon signs made to them are the first who present themselves before him to wish him a happy Festival whom as I have heard reported he walks three Paces to meet and they prostrating themselves say Eiamischerif which is May these days be happy and arising kiss his hand and so retire The next who makes his address is the Prime Visier who standing on the right hand of the Grand Signior in the front of all the Beglerbegs Pashaws and other great Officers Complements the Grand Signior upon one knee and nearer approaching kisses his hand and then arising takes the station of the Kapa Agasi or Eunuch of the Pages The next who follows in this Ceremony is the Mufti who on the left hand fronts the Officers and principal Heads of the Law as the Kadelescheres or Lords chief Justices of Anatolia and Greâ—ce the Nakib Eschref principal Head or Primate of the Kindred of Mahomet the Mollahs Preachers called Seighs and others Then the Mufti bowing his head to the ground holding his hands on his Girdâ—e kisses him on the left shoulder and the Grand Signior steps one pace forward to meet him and so retires to his place then all the others in their several Orders take their turns to pass this Ceremony who are treated according to what the Prime Visier informs the Grand Signior for some kiss his Hand others the hem of his Vest some his Sleeve others his Breast thereafter as their Quality and Authority is which is so full of variety and formal niceties that there is a Book wrote expresly treating of all the particularities of this Ceremony The last of all who is called to perform his Complement is the Ianizar Agasi or the General of the Ianizaries This part being thus far passed the Grand Signior enters into a more retired Chamber of the Seraglio where the Arz Agalar or the four principal Pages are the first of the Court to do their obeysance as before then follow the Eunuchs and other Pages In the mean time a Dinner is provided in the Chamber of the Divan where the Officers of State having complied with their obligation take a plentifull repast at the Grand Signior's charge after which the Grand Signior makes a present to each of the sixteen principal Officers of Sable Vests with which the Ceremony concludes Then is way made for the Coaches of the Sultana's who having been Cloystered in the old Seraglio the whole year before are glad at the Feast of Bairam to have occasion to make their Visits to the Grand Signior in the first place as being of his Kindred and Relations and then to the Queen or Queen-Mother and to the other Sultana's and Ladies with whom they use variety of Ceremony according to their Condition and Quality and there have liberty to remain for the space of three days in Banqueting and other divertisements of Musick and Discourse It may well be observed from the premisses how generally the World is mistaken in the opinion is conceived of the Courtship used amongst the Turks commonly reputed by Travellers to be rude coming much short of that quaintness bowings cringings and reverent postures used in Christendom It is true the Turks deportment even in the most vile and mechanick vulgar though never so mean is carried with a strange kind of barbarity and rudeness towards the best of Christians in those parts which proceeds rather from a sort of pride and detestation taught them by their Religion than from any want of being instructed in their duty of due reverence to their Superiours for in their carriage one towards the other they observe the rules and niceties of Complement with as much variety and exactness as is exercised in Rome or the most civilized Courts of Christendom and amongst the chief Ministers ' there is much preciseness and caution used not to exceed the limits of that Ceremony which inferiours owe the superiours lest they should disparage their own quality or give occasion to the World to believe their disorderly submission to be a part of adulation And therefore it is worthy the study of Christian Ministers employed in Embassies in the Ottoman Court to be well informed in the rules and manner of their carriage in the presence of the chief Ministers of State for uncovering the head as in Christendom is amongst them esteemed ridiculous and affrontive and the manner of little bowings and often inclinations of the body taken as acknowledgments of the great distance there is between the Masters they represent and therefore a little Ceremony at the entrance and the like at departure with a steady and constant behaviour at the time of the Treaty or Discourse is the best rule for a Christian Minister which is interpreted amongst Turks as the effect of gravity and estimation of themselves it being certain that the contrary hath caused many Christian Ministers to fall lower in the reputation of the Turks than they had deserved for their wisedom and dexterity in the management of the more substantial points of Affairs CHAP. XXV Of the Prohibition of Swines Flesh and Wine THE five foregoing Principles already treated of are as we have said before the essential points required towards the constitution of a true Mahometan other matters are proofs and trials of their obedience amongst which none is more enjoyned than the prohibition of Swines flesh and Wine which are called Haram things abominable and forbidden The first in reality abhorred by them and as displeasing as the Flesh of a Man to civilized People or a Dogs thigh to such as have been used to Delicacies and wholesome Viands But Wine of late years though forbidden by the Law hath gained a better reputation and though accursed by them is yet accounted of so strong a temptation that the sin is the more excusable and though the Alchoran positively inhibits the use thereof and the Expositors of the Law have so far removed it from all possibility of becoming lawfull that they have determined that if Wine be spilt on the ground and in that place Grass grows and with that pasture a Sheep or an Ox is nourished those Cattel become Haram and are as abominable as the Flesh of Swine But notwithstanding the severe Prohibitions hereof by their Religion Wine is so commonly used that it is publickly drank without cautions or fear of giving scandal the great Men because in Office are more carefull how the World discovers what delight they take in that liquour lest the miscarriages of their Office should be attributed to the excess of Wine or their knowledge of the use of that which deprives them of their reason render them uncapable of their Trust and Dignity For the Turks account it impossible to drink Wine with moderation and are ignorant of the benefit of it for Concoction of crude humours and indigestions of the stomach and wonder to see it by English French or Italians tempered with Water for unless
them to retire into their main Body In this Action the Duke of Croy being wounded in the Shoulder by a Musquet Shot was carried out of the Fight and his place of Command supplied by the Count of Fountaine The whole Body of the Turkish Army beginning now to move the Duke of Loraine gave Orders to his left Wing to advance and to Prince Waldeck and to Duke Saxelawemberg to Sally out of the Woods and fall upon the Enemies Front at the Head of their Encampment In the mean time the King of Poland was advanced as far as to the Chappel of St. Leopold where he heard Mass with great Devotion which was celebrated by Father Mark Aviano a Capuchin and Confessor to the King which being finished the Blessing was given to him and all his Army And then the King Cry'd with a loud Voice Now we may March with entire assurance that God will give us Victory And then mounting on Horse-back he Road in amongst the Ranks of his Army and made this Speech to them as follows Generous Polish Cavaliers 'T is not only the Work of this Day to maintain the Glory which your Ancestours have acquired and your own Courage hath Atchieved by passing to the Succour of the Invincible Bulwark of Christendom against the Ottoman Troops Nor is it our Aim only to Defend our own Country which in case Vienna were lost would lie miserably exposed to the Invasion of those Enemies against whom we Fight at present But our chief design is to defend the Cause of God and save the Western Empire which hath done us the Honour to have recourse unto our Arms an Honour which our Ancestors never durst to hope for and which is reserved as a Reward of your Valour Whefore resolve to Conquer or to Dye nobly in this Cause in which Martyrdom is held out for the Prize and Recompense Behold therefore your King who Fights at the Head of your Battalions And be confident that the God of Hosts whose Cause we are going to maintain will Fight on our side The Mountain of Kalemberg and the Woods of the Forest of Vienna resounded by this time with the Ecchoes from the Peals of Cannon and Vollies of small Shot which called the Inhabitants of Vienna to the Tops of their Houses and of the Rampires to behold the long wished for Sight of their approaching deliverance Howsoever they were not so much taken up in seeing and admiring as to neglect their Guards and Watches on their Fortifications but on the Contrary they plied all their Cannon Small shot and Granadoes against the Enemy in their Trenches with much profuseness knowing that the time of their deliverance being come they might the more lavishly bestow their Ammunition on their Enemies The like quantities of Cannon Fire-works Bombs c. were returned from the Turks on the Town and in greater abundance than had been at any time since the beginning of the Siege and all the Mountains Plains and Places round the City were filled Fire Smoak and Noise In the mean time the King of Poland continued his March down the Hills as did the Regiments of Dragoons of Heisler and of Saxony which were posted on the left Wing near the Chappel of St. Leopold The like Orders were given to all the Imperial Army to advance towards the Enemy who began now to shelter themselves under Rocks and behind Trees and in rough places The right Wing also moved at the same time and all with equal paces The Turks made some resistance as yet but so faintly as was not able to withstand the Fury of the Christians and the several Shelters unto which they began to have recourse showed plainly their intentions to quit the Field The Devotions which the King of Poland used this Morning retarded his March for the space of a full hour during which the whole Christian Army made a Halt near to Neudorf until the Poles were come up into the Line equal to the rest of the Forces The left Wing of the Imperialists without much resistance possessed themselves of the Post which the Turks possessed at Holstadt and the Prince Waldeck caused the Enemy on the other side to give way The appearance of the Poles on the Top and on the side of the Hill looked very formidable to the Turks The King who marched at the Head of his Army detached several Troops of his Hussars to Skirmish with the Front of the Enemy but being over-powred were forced to Retire to a place where Prince Waldeck had very seasonably caused some Batalions of Bavaria and of the Regiment of Merci to advance which gave a stop to the pursuit which the Turks made after them The King upon this disorder of the Hussars caused the first Line of his Army to advance which charged the Turks with so much Fury as caused the Gross of their Body to Retire unto the Top of a Hill where some of their Foot were drawn up and several Batteries of Cannon planted And now all the Polish Army moved the Enemy opposing them in divers scatter'd places from whence they fired Vollies of Musquets with much damage to the Poles but as yet they were not broken but still advancing gained Ground on the Enemy In the mean time The Duke of Loraine being far advanced with the left Wing towards the Enemy the Turks to avoid the Effort which was making on their Right drew themselves into Batalia before their Line of Circumvallation and fortified themselves with some Pieces of Cannon as if they intended to have made a strong resistâ—nce but their Resolution continued not long before they gave way and abandoning that Post opened a way to the Christians into their Camp without any opposition Then it was that the Duke of Loraine commanded all the left Wing to Wheel about unto the Right taking in the whole compass of the Turkish Camp without breaking their Ranks or falling upon the Plunder of the Enemies Baggage or Tents which they had left Standing The King of Poland and Prince Waldeck with their several Troops enter'd the Turkish Camp about seven a Clock in the Evening And the Duke of Loraine about half an hour after made himself Master of the Counterscarp and Suburbs of the City the Ianisaries who were lodged in those Quarters escaping by favour of the Night with much less Slaughter than if it had been Day and indeed they behaved themselves with much more Valour than others of the Turkish Militia The Darkness put an end to the Battail in which the Christians had gained a compleat and an undoubted Victory And now the Duke of Loraine had leisure to send to complement the King upon this fortunate Success a great part of which Glory he attributed to the Valour and good Conduct of his Majesty and his generous Cavaliers The King returned an Answer on the other side with like obliging expressions confessing that thô every Nation and Battalion in the Army did their parts yet much
and Battalions of the second Line as were nearest unto it The Elector of Bavaria coming at the same time to their Assistance put the Turks into a disorder and confusion and afterwards forced them to make a Retreat and draw a little off The Hungarian Troops which were accustomed to the Turkish manner of Fighting were order'd to charge them in the Rear which having done they wheel'd about and made a stand So soon as the Turks were out of reach of the German Musquets they rallied again and made another Charge as furiously as they had done the first but the Imperialists maintaining their Ground and not giving one Foot backwards many principal Officers amongst the Turks fell in this Charge at the head of their Squadrons which caused a second Disorder amongst them and to turn their Backs and being pursued slowly by some Troops which continually fired upon them they were put to the rout and fled The right Wing of the Turks observing the Disorder of the left wheel'd about towards that side not only to Succour the flying Party but to joyn with them to make a second Effort and tryal of their Fortune To this Purpose a considerable Detachment advanced to charge the Christians in the Flank but being repulsed the whole Army was put to flight and being pursued by the Hungarians Croats and some Troops of Dragoons fear so possessed many of them that they took their Way without any consideration over the Moorish or Fenny Grounds where sinking up to their Middles in the Water and their Horses plunging in the Boggy places above Two thousand Men were lost and perished in the Quag-mires In the mean time the right Wing of the Christian Army having knowledge of the Passage over the Marsh by the Turks who led them the Way pursued them beyond the soft Ground and perceiving that the Turks began to rally on the top of the Hill where they had left their Cannon with some Chambers of their Ianisaries they made a stand until the Duke of Bavaria was come up with the left Wing So soon as these two Bodies were joyned on the other side of the Moorish Ground the Turks durst not stand another shock but leaving their Camp Tents Cannon Baggage and Ammunition they all betook themselves to a shameful flight Such was the general Fear and Consternation amongst them that they fled by three several Ways and the Ianisaries to Revenge themselves on the Spahees for exposing and abandoning them upon the Hill killed many of them to get their Horses Thoô the Turks in the first Action did not lose above Four thousand Men yet double the Number perished in the Fenny Ground and in the Pursuit the Seraskier himself was wounded and Osman Pasha of Gran Cairo and two other Pashas were killed The Christians lost not above Two hundred Men and took but few Prisoners because that giving Quarter was almost out of Fashion The Pursuit continued not far by reason that the Turkish Horse were more nimble than the Christian and fled to Buda and Alba Regalis the Foot saved themselves in the Woods and in the Mountains Howsoever afterwards in more cool Bloud many were hunted out who had layn hid amongst the Reeds and Ofiers which grew in the wet and marshy Grounds so that about Four hundred Prisoners might be taken and many Christian Slaves obtained their Freedom The Turks lost Thirty eight Colours Twenty three Pieces of Cannon two Mortars and great store of all sorts of Ammunition After the Battle was ended Te Deum was sung and Thanks publickly render'd in the Camp to Almighty God for so signal a Victory and the Prince of Neuburg was dispatched with all diligence to render an account unto the Emperor of the happy Success of that fortunate Day Whilst the Turks were engaged in Battle and their Army routed and totally defeated their Garrison in Newhausel declined and the Besiegers daily advanced upon them The Galleries were again refitted and repaired and the Soldiers lodged at the Foot of the Breach so that all things were ready for a general Assault only Count Caprara thought fit to demand first the Orders of the Duke of Loraine not knowing whether he might be desirous to be present at this great Action to add the Subjection of this Place to the Glory of his late Victory But the great Mind of the Duke which was zealous for the Service of the Emperor and the Christian Cause gave orders not to defer the Assault for one Moment but first to advise the Besieged of the defeat of their Seraskier and to verify the same by some Prisoners taken in the late Battle which were sent into the Town that being informed of their desperate Condition they might be induced to accept Terms of Mercy for their Lives The 18 th was the Day appointed for this Attempt but the Rains were so violent that it was thought fit to expect more favourable Weather and to break some Palisadoes with the Cannon which were newly erected within the Breach The next Morning being the 19 th at break of Day the signal of the Assault was given by the discharge of Thirty six Pieces of Cannon upon which immediately Three thousand Men were appointed to make the Assault Count Scaffemberg at the head of his Men Commanded the Attack in face of the right Bastion and mounted thereupon without the loss of one Man and was followed by the Troops of Lunenburg and Suabia the Turks now losing their Courage did not dispute the Breach with such Resolution as was agreeable to the Resistance they had made at first and thereby gave opportunity to Scaffemberg to possess himself of the Bastion without much difficulty The Baron of Asti and Colonel Kaletz who Commanded the other Attacks with the Troops of Cologne Bavaria and Franconia were in like manner successful and planted the Imperial Standards on the Breach where a Pasha which Commanded it was killed he was a Native of Bohemia and of the Family of Garasba In the Bastion Eight hundred Men were slain excepting Two or Three hundred who cast themselves over the Wall into the Ditch where they met the Sword of the Bavarians and under that ended their Days All this time Seventy Pieces of Cannon continually plaid upon the Town and Twenty Mortar-pieces which threw Bombs and Carcasses and Three thousand Men already upon the Walls and within the Town in which Amazement the Turks spread a white Flag which was the signal of a Parly or of a Surrender But alas it was too late for the Christians being already Masters of the Town they killed all without remorse or distinction of Age or Sex either of Men Women or Children The Governour of the Place died the next Day of his Wounds which he had received on the Breach the Garrison which consisted of Three thousand Men was reduced to On thousand Seven hundred most of which also were killed on that fatal Day At length the Town being taken Orders were
was not taken to hinder a Reverse but on the contrary the Turks giving Fire to their Mine it recoyled back on themselves and buried many of their Men and so shook the Walls and Fortifications of the Tower that by the help of a Battery of eight Pieces of Cannon which were levelled and plaid upon it the Breach was made considerably wide and so enlarged that at a Council of War held on the 13 th of this Month it was resolved not longer to defer the Assault on the Bavarian side The Orders for which were no sooner Issued and the Signal given than all the Voluntiers and brave Adventurers in the Army Transported with Ambition and Desire of Glory pressed to be the first that should mount the Breach In this Action Count Guy of Staremberg Count Herberstein and Count Aversberg were Commanded each with Two hundred and twenty Men to make the Asâ—â—ult in three several places the first of which was to enter in the middle of the Curtain the second on the right Hand and the third on the left amongst which some Granadiers were mixed and Pioniers to prepare and level the Ground to make an Allodgment and a Reserve of Two thousand Men was appointed to sustain and second the Assailants The Ascent unto the Breach was very difficult and the Turks had repaired it in many places with Palisodoes howsoever to brave Minds spirited with a desire of Glory such as were the Voluntiers who were Gentlemen of principal Quality from divers Parts and Nations of Europe nothing seemed so difficult and hazardous but what they were able and daring to surmount The Onset was made about seven a Clock in the Evening and the first thing attempted was to force up the Palisadoes which being done they found the Besieged posted behind in their Trenches with good Order the Christians Attacked them with great Vigour and the Turks made an equal Defence pouring whole Vollies of shot with great numbers of Granadoes and discharging a prodigious quantity of Stones from their Mortar-pieces upon them on each side likewise was a round Tower filled with Musquetiers and Granadiers who bestowed their Shot liberally upon them so that the Assailants being between Firings on each side as also on the Front were killed and wounded in great numbers howsoever they made themselves Masters of the Breach which they maintained and defended above the space of an hour but at length the heat of the Fight was so great as had put things into much Disorder and caused the Pioneers and Labourers to disperse and a Provision of Faggots and Sacks of Earth not being at Hand sufficient to cover the Assailants they lay naked and exposed to the Shot of the Enemy and at the same time a Mine being prepared and fired under the Breach it did great execution so that many Persons of great Quality and Valour were killed and wounded in this Action and the Turks making a Sally in another place at the same time the General caused a Signal to be given for the Troops to Retreat which was done in very good Order The Regiments of Souches Mansfelt and Staremberg were those which suffer'd most in this Action The Persons Wounded were The Prince of Commarcy The Duke of Bejar a Grandee of Spain Marquis Blancfort Son of Mareschal Crequi Count Staremberg Count Dona. The Duke of Escalona a Grandee of Spain Two Captains of Souches's Regiment The Baron Chifler the Natural Son of Prince Rupert My Lord George Savil Second Son of the Lord Marquis of Halifax Count Maldeghen Mr. Fitz Iames Natural Son of King Iames the II. of England Count Urse three Spanish Gentlemen Monsieur Sulpice a Gentleman belonging to the Prince of Commarcy Persons Killed were Prince Palatine of Veldens Prince Piccolomini Count Hortemback Page to the Duke of Loraine The Cavalier of Courmaillon Count Ermestein Major of Schezfemberg's Regiment Six English Noblemen amongst which was that Worthy Gentleman Colonel Robert Forbus Second Son to the Earl of Granard Three Spanish Gentlemen belonging to the Duke of Bejar The Turks had about Two hundred Men killed and One hundred wounded The Besieged thinking hereby to have gained a great advantage over the Christians and thereby to have put them into some Confusion and Disorder made a Sally that Night on the Brandenburgher's Quarters but were vigorously repulsed back again into the Town with the loss of many Heads which the Brandenburghers carried into the Camp to receive the usual Rewards promised thereupon For several Days there hapned nothing but Batteries and Firing Mines on one side and the other but the Mines on the Christian side did not so much execution as did those of the Turks Howsoever the Bombs were much available and did great damage within the Town especially those of a new Invention made by an Ingenier called Gonzales which not only killed but set all on Fire wheresoever it fell One of this sort of Bombs hapning within the Walls of a great Edifice for as we said before all the Roofs and Coverings were taken off produced most terrible and direful effects not only beating down the Walls but Killed above One hundred Men Women and Children The Turks to Revenge themselves for all these Slaughters were very diligent and active in Springing their Mines which they had prepared with great Art by which many Soldiers and Officers of note were destroyed to the great diminution in number of the Besiegers In the mean time the Christians plied their great Guns and Sprang the Mines to widen the Breaches in order to make a General Assault for which Preparations were daily made and Ladders brought and all Instruments provided in order thereunto On the 20 th Day of Iuly about seven a Clock in the Morning a strange hollow Noise was heard under Ground and the Earth trembled both in the Town and under the Feet of the Soldiers in the Camp and a dark Cloud of Smoak and Ashes cover'd the City so thick and black that for the space of an hour scarce any thing of the Walls themselves could be seen which caused a Terrour in the Minds of the Besiegers notwithstanding their Resolution and Bravery for whole showers of Stones were cast up and thrown into the Bavarian Trenches whereby many Soldiers and Officers of Quality were Wounded And whilst the Elector of Bavaria and the Prince of Baden were busily employ'd in Riding about to confirm their Soldiery a Stone of considerable weight and bigness fell between them All which Convulsion hapned by blowing up of the chief Magazine of the City whether by Bomb from the Camp or any other Accident is uncertain But such were the dreadful effects thereof That it shook down one Wing of the Castle and that side of the Wall towards the Water threw vast quantities of Stone and Rubbish into the Danube and Killed above Fifteen hundred People who were useless and unfiâ— for Service and had for their better safety hid themselves in Vaults
of Arschan and the left Wing commanded by the Elector of Bavaria to make a stand on a rising Ground near Baraniovar not more than an hour's March from the Enemy where Six thousand of the Enemies Horse made an attack on some of the Imperial Troops as others of them did on the Rear-guard commanded by the Elector of Bavaria which Skirmishes took up some hours time The same day the Prince of Comercy with Twelve hundred Horse was commanded out to cover the Foragers but he was not far advanced before he returned with advice that the Enemy with the gross of their Army both of Horse and Foot had raised their Camp and had posted themselves in a nearer and more advantagious place This News was confirmed by a Grecian youth of Retimo taken Captive by the Turks in Candia who having made his escape reported That the Turkish Army consisted of Eighty thousand fighting Men of which there were Twenty five thousand Ianisaries and with the Attendants and Servants they might make up in all the Number of One hundred and twenty thousand persons And accordingly that Evening three Encampments appear'd consisting of three very great Bodies The next day being the 12 th of August the Duke of Lorain having disposed his Affairs in a Military posture against all accidents and contingences from the Enemy whatsoever began his March towards Siklos with the right Wing being then about an hour's March distant from Siklos Scarce had he opened the Plain when the Elector of Bavaria with his left Wing was attacked by Eight thousand of the Enemies Horse sustained by Six thousand Ianisaries who had the night before intrenched themselves on the side of a Hill from whence they fired many Vollies of Shot on the three Regiments of Cavalry viz. Arco Magni and Soyer Prince Lewis of Baden having observed that there was a very advantagious place on the side of the Hill near to the Ianisaries which if possessed might very much annoy the Turks immediately advertised the Dukes of Loraine and Bavaria thereof who having in the first place reinforced the Rear-guards with four Regiments under the conduct of Piccolomini gave it in charge to Prince Lewis to take the Post he had denoted on the side of the Hill which accordingly he performed with admirable Success for the Ianisaries having fired three Vollies and the Spahees having furiously charged the Rear-guard as often the Elector encouraging his Men setled them firm and steddy against the frequent and forcible Shocks and Charges of the Enemy who not being able to endure the Fire and the unshaken order of the Christians betook themselves to a disorderly and precipitate Flight in which the Turkish Horse broke in upon their Foot and trampling down the Ianisaries under foot drove them back into their Trenches into which entring at the same time with the Enemy they put the whole Army to the Rout and to a shameful Flight leaving their Camp Tents and all their Baggage for a Prey to the Christians On this memorable day which is to be celebrated to all Posterity the two Dukes who were Generals signalized themselves by their admirable Conduct and undaunted Bravery to all the World. Prince Lewis of Baden in like manner with his Sword in his Hand applying himself at all places to direct and encourage the Soldiery by his Presence and Voice demonstrated and evidenced himself to be a great Captain and Champion in imitation of whom and of all other the Commanders the inferiour Officers and Soldiers gave marks to the World of their bravery and zeal in the Successes of that glorious day The Prince Eugenie of Savoy was the first who with the Regiments of his Brigade entred the Trenches of the Enemy and for that reason had the honour to be the first Messenger of this happy News unto the Emperor Count Sinzerdorf a Cavalier of great Courage and Hope adventuring his Person amidst the thickest of his Enemies had Two Horses killed under him that day and Two wounded together with his Page who fought on his Left-hand and by a great Shot had his Leg broke Howsoever he pursued the Enemy beyond their Trenches for the space of an hour as did the rest of the Army until the Close of the Evening when it was thought fit to desist from the pursuit and return to the Camp that they might give Refreshment both to Man and Horse who had for two days greatly suffered for want both of Victuals and Forage The Prince of Commercy who Commanded the Troops of Volontiers deserved also his due Praise being one of the most forward to attack the Enemy of which he gave undeniable Proofs the Sargeant Major of his Regiment and One hundred and Sixty of his Soldiers being slain at the beginning of the Battle The whole Number killed and wounded on the Christian side were not much above One thousand Three Captains Twelve subaltern Officers and Four Trumpeters which indeed was very strange and almost miraculous if we consider the great loss which the Turks sustained for there were Eight thousand Ianisaries with their Aga or General killed on the place all choice and select Soldiers Two thousand were made Prisoners and about Three thousand Drowned and the whole Army scattered and dispersed in the Woods Marshes and Boggs of that Country Strange and wonderful indeed was the Success of this day and ought wholly to be ascribed to the Almighty Hand of the God of Hosts For the Turkish Army was much more numerous than the Christian consisting in all of One hundred and twenty thousand of which Eighty thousand were Fighting men encouraged by late Successes and grown proud and confident of their Strength by the Retreat which the Christians made But what is still more strange is that this formidable Army was Defeated and put to Flight by Ten thousand men only of the Left-wing of the Rear-Guard Commanded by the Elector of Bavaria for the Right-wing under the Duke of Loraine and Led by Count Caprara had not time to come up before the Turks were put to a Rout and a Hasty Flight which had they delayed and stood until the other Forces had come up it might in all probability have proved so bloody a loss to the Turks as could never more have been recovered and which might have proved the total Ruin and Downfal of the Ottoman Empire Thus since it was the Fortune of the Elector of Bavaria to Fight that day with Victorious Success the Magnificent Tent of the Grand Vizier like opima spolia were by Lot the just Reward of his Labour and Valou It is said That that Tent was the most sumptuous and rich of any that had during this whole War been brought by any preceeding General into the Field therein was taken all the Cash or Ready-Money brought for the Use of the Army all the Books and Accounts belonging to the Militia the Horse-tails or Tugh carried before the Vizier besides Fifty thousand
this Year year 1687. the Senate ordained three days of solemn Devotion to implore the Divine Blessing on the Arms of that Republick which was performed with many Processions expence of Lamps and Wax and with many Vows and Prayers of the People So soon as the Season became Ripe and fit for Action it was resolved by the Captain General the Cavalier Francis Morosini with the Universal consent of all the Commanders at a Council of War held the 21 st of Iuly to enter the River of Patras and accordingly the whole Fleet with the Vessels which transported the Land Forces Provisions and Ammunition loosed from Glimino on the 20 th of Iuly and made a glorious appearance in those Seas being composed of Twenty six Gallies six Galeasses besides Eighty seven Vessels of other sorts that is to say Ships Pinks Petaches and such like who were all Commanded by the Governour Zaguri This Fleet Sailing all that Night with a prosperous Gale on the 21 st in the Morning came in sight of the Castles and Fortress of Patras at appearance of which the Turks being much alarum'd came down in great numbers and pitched their Tents some on the Top of a Hill and others on the side of the main Castle The better to discover the State and Condition of the Turkish Camp the lighter Vessels were Commanded to Coast along the Shoar by which and by some Spies it was known and advised in what manner their whole Camp was disposed a Detachment of which under shelter of a Trench which they had thrown up fired many Vollies of Small-shot against the Vessels which coasted along the Shoar but proceeded no farther to annoy their Enemies than unto the end of their Line which when the Captain General observed and the difficulty of Landing near those places he enter'd into the River of Rumelia which in like manner he found to be guarded by great numbers of Turks and a Trench like the former cast up near the Castle The General Konismark of whom with due Honour we have made mention in the Transactions of the last year was embarked on the Admiral Gally with the Captain General to have the better convenience to consult and confer together was of Opinion that notwithstanding all the Preparations the Turks had made near the Castle and that the Seraskier of the Morea was encamped near the Town of Patras and two other Pashas not far distant from thence and the Banks along Guarded by Parapets or Breast-works yet that the most fit and commodious place to Land was in the River of Patras it self which being agreed the Troops were disposed in an extraordinary manner of Military Discipline and order'd speedily to Land which was done with great Resolution The first to set Foot on the Shoar were the Germans who were on followed by all the other Troops without any hindrance or obstruction from the Enemy at their Landing because the place being in some manner guarded and defended by a Morass or wet-Wet-ground the Turks thought themselves on some kind of disadvantage in case of an Attack The Troops being landed and drawn up in Battalia the Germans led the Van and marching with great bravery to the Right were charged by a strong Detachment of the Turks whom they received with such Vigour that they caused them to Retreat and afterwards betake themselves to a shameful Flight This first step being thus fortunately begun gave Courage to the Christians and Resolution to the Captain General Morosini to fall on the Seraskier in his Camp before he was reinforced by more Troops which daily joyned with him At first landing all the Venetian Army consisted of no more than Nine thousand Foot and Thirteen hundred Horse those Forces having been much diminished by the Fatigues of the last year and the Sickness of their Winter-Quarters but now being recruited by great numbers of Levents and Greeks who as Volontiers came over from Zant and Cefalonia the Army became numerous and capable to undertake any Enterprize But to facilitate the Designs it was adjudged necessary to cut off all Communication between the Castles the which was no sooner ordered than put in Execution by the entrance of divers Gallies which by favour of the Night adventured to pass the Dardanelli or narrow Passages into the bottom of the Gulf without any other hurt or loss than of four or five Men at the Oars by a Cannon-shot the which Gallies were followed by a Galleot and three Felucas Commanded by Magnar a Knight of Malta This unexpected appearance of the Venetian Colours within the Dardanelli as it struck a great Terror and Amazement to the Turks being a Streight which they thought impossible to be passed by any Vessel whatsoever so it gave the Christians a Resolution to Attack the Seraskier who according to a Report of certain Prisoners taken in a Boat passing from the Morea to Rumelia side lay not far off encamped with an Army of 10.000 Foot and 4000 Horse and that a Reserve of 5000 Foot more and 1000 Horse lay quartered about five Italian Miles from thence The Gallies within the Gulf made great Triumph with their Flags and Streamers and made themselves Masters of Fourteen Galiots or Brigantines which had long served for Capers or Picaroons to Rob and Plunder in those Seas This Success enlivening the Spirits of the Christians it was resolved at a Council of War to March by the side of the Hill to attempt the Seraskier's Camp as a way the least incommoded by the Enemy's Cannon and where was place sufficient to draw up the Battalions in good order In pursuance of this Resolution on the 24 th of Iuly by break of day General Konismark drew up the Army and disposed them in order of Battle and advanced boldly on the Enemy who consisted of Ten thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse And in the mean time the Captain General with some light Vessels directed the Galeasses to destroy a Battery of the Enemy erected near the Sea-side and to drive out of a Trench two Troops of Turkish Horse a Marine Regiment was landed under Command of Captain Negro who in a short time made themselves Masters of the Battery on which were divers Pieces of Cannon two whereof were of Brass The Seraskier enraged at the loss of these places and seeing the Enemies Troops advance upon him feared to be assaulted in the Rear or surprized in their Trenches to prevent which he made a Detachment of some of his best Troops to meet the Enemy and Skirmish with them in which Action thô the Turks seemingly shewed Resolution yet they did it in that loose manner running at first as it were on the Face of the Enemy and then turning their Backs as if they designed thereby to disturb the good Order of the Christians who still maintained and kept their Ranks with a Regular steddiness and still advanced forward to come unto their desired Engagement At length about three a Clock in