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ground_n	left_a	march_n	right_n	2,695	5	10.9002	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57999	The history of the Turks Beginning with the year 1679. Being a full relation of the last troubles in Hungary, with the sieges of Vienna, and Buda, and all the several battles both by sea and land, between the Christians, and the Turks, until the end of the year 1698, and 1699. In which the peace between the Turks, and the confederate Christian princes and states, was happily concluded at Carlowitz in Hungary, by the mediation of His Majesty of Great Britain, and the States General of the United Provinces. With the effigies of the emperors and others of note, engraven at large upon copper, which completes the sixth and last edition of the Turks. In two vol. in folio. By Sir Paul Rycaut, kt. eighteen years consul at Smyrna, now his Majesty's resident at Hamburg, and fellow of the Royal Society.	Rycaut, Paul, Sir, 1628-1700.; White, Robert, 1645-1703,	1700 (1700)	Wing R2408; ESTC R216646	1,015,219	685

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 The Christians Retreat 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 And are followed by the Turks 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 15th and 16th 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 A Battle begun 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 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 Turks defeated 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 Janisaries 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 Janisaries to Revenge themselves on the Spahees for exposing and abandoning them upon the Hill killed many of them to get their Horses Thô 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 Loss which the Turks sustained 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 All things ready for an Assault upon Newhausel 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

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 Poles charge the Turks 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 resistence 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 The King of Poland enters the Turkish Camp 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 Janisaries 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 of the Honour of the Success of this Day was due to the Bravery of the Germans who were the first to enter into the Camp and Trenches of the Enemy Thus were the Christians become Masters of the Turkish Camp where they lodged that Night in the same Form and Order as the Turks had done the Night before with Fires and Lights in all the Tents only it was a more grateful Spectacle to the Besieged which they could behold with more Comfort and Security than ever they had done the Nights before for this was of Joy and the others of Terrour In the Night the Turks passed the River at Sweker The hasty Flight of the Turks with so much Fear and Precipitation that they not only left their whole Camp standing but even the Standard of the Empire which is the Sacred Banner of their Religion with the three Horse Tails which are the Ensigns of the Vizier's Authority Moreover they abandoned to their Enemies all their Tents Baggage Ammunition and Provisions with all their Cannon and Artillery being One hundred and eighty Pieces and so speedy were they in their Flight that before the next Day in the Evening the Van of their Army had passed Raab Next day early in the Morning Count Staremberg attended with his Son and several of the principal Commanders of the City went out to return Thanks to his Benefactors for so great deliverance and to Congratulate with them their Fortunate Successes and Triumph which would appear Glorious over all the World But the first thing which the Duke of Loraine did that Morning by break of Day was to Order all his Army to put themselves into a readiness to March whilst he consulted with the King of Poland how and in what manner they might pursue the Enemy and improve the Victory But the King seemed so well satisfied with the advantage already gained and with the Prey and Booty of which he was possessed The Vizier's Tents fall to the l●t of the King of Poland sitting Master in the Vizier's Tent with all the Appurtenances and Accommodations thereunto belonging that he excused all farther Proceedings at present saying That his Army was much Harassed and required Repose and not in a Condition to pursue an Enemy whom they beheld at a far distance advanced in their way before them by the Fires and Smoak whith ascended upwards for as the Turks fled they burnt all the Villages through which they passed And now in the Christian Camp and in the City was time for Joy and Triumph Count Staremberg having paid his Respects and made his Complements to the King of Poland and the Duke of Loraine he conducted them into the City with a numerous attendance of Nobility and Gentry who had served in the late Siege all the Forces were drawn up on both sides of the Streets between which they passed with loud Acclamations of Joy unto the Church of the Augustin Fryers where in the first place as was most just Te Deum was Sung and Thanks returned to God with Sincere Devotion Thence they went to the House of the Governour Count Staremberg where he received the Applause and Praises of the King of Poland and the Duke of Loraine which were due to his Conduct and Valour and the like Commendations were bestowed by them upon all the Officers and Souldiers of the Garrison who had every one signalized themselves during this Siege by some Action or piece of Service or other which was Remarkable and worthy of Observation Afterwards these welcome and long-desired Guests were entertained with a sumptuous Feast at

matters sofast that due care was not taken to hinder a Reverse but on the contrary The Turks Fire a Mine to their hurt 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 13th of this Month it was resolved not longer to defer the Assault on the Bavarian side July 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 An Assault made on the Town 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 Assault 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 An Assault given with loss to the Christians 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 James Natural Son of King James 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 Terrible effects of Bombs to the Turks 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 Of Mines to the Chrians 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 20th Day of July July about seven a Clock in the Morning a strange hollow Noise was heard under Ground The great Magazine of the Turks Blown up 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

relief of Agria of which as we have said there had been a long want and such a scarcity as might reasonably be termed a Famine To intercept this Relief Count Ziacchi with Two thousand Hungarians and Count Veterani with five Regiments of Horse were commanded to pass the Danube and draw towards Agria It was resolved also to fortify Mohatz and put a Garrison into it of Four thousand Men but upon News brought to the Generals that the Turks one the 29th of July had begun to pass the Drave near Esseck all the Councils and Measures were changed A Field Battle designed the Detachments were recalled back to the main Body the Bridges broken the Boats laden with Provisions order'd to a certain Island there to remain for better security and in fine all things were disposed for a Field Battle which the Christian Soldiers had long desired and to see their Enemy in the open Plain rather than fortified in the Trenches of a Camp or within the Walls of a City The Turks having passed the River advanced towards Darda and entrenched themselves very strongly between certain Morasses or Marshes in that Country near Baranwar about a League from the Imperial Camp where they much troubled and infested the Foragers belonging to the Christian Army The Duke of Loraine being very desirous to intice the Turks to a Battle retreated towards Mohatz August 1687. which the Vizier interpreting as a kind of Flight caused many Thousands of Turks and Tartars to advance which being discover'd by the German Out-guards gave an Allarum to the whole Army and put them all into form of Battle but nothing thereupon happened A Skirmish but only a Skirmish between the Christian Volontiers and the advanced Body the first of which being supported by some Regiments of Horse that party of the Enemy was forced to Retire and pass the Bridge The Duke of Mantoua at the Camp About this time Ferdinand Charles the third Duke of Mantoua being desirous to see and learn the Art of War mannaged by the first and bravest Captains of the World left the Air and pleasant Places and Gardens of Italy to observe the Martial exploits acted in the more gross Air of Hungary and being attended with an Equipage agreeable he enter'd the Christian Camp about the beginning of the Month of August where he was received by the Duke of Loraine the Elector of Bavaria and the other Generals with all the marks and demonstrations of Respect and Honour due to a Prince of such Sublime Birth and Dignity As the Christian Army retreated the Turks advanced supposing that the Retreat was an assured evidence of their weakness The Duke of Loraine was amazed and glad to observe this confidence in the Turk whom he had for a long time endeavoured to allure and decoy into a Battle of which there was a kind of a necessity at present A necessity to Fight for the gross Air of that Season became very pernicious to Bodies not accustomed to that Climate so that the Army began to grow Sickly and wanting Forage which was necessary to be supplied it was procured with a daily loss of Men taken or killed by the Enemy by which an Army worthy of higher Enterprises was in danger of being destroyed without Fighting or Action It was therefore concluded necessary to Fight of which there appear'd great hopes from the forwardness of the Enemy who animated with the March of the Christian Army pursued after them The Duke of Lorain intending to draw the Enemy after him carried away all the Provisions in Boats up the Stream to Sertio and set Fire to the Town of Mohatz destroying all the subsistence round the Country and intending to do the like by Siklos and Quinque Ecclesiae Letters were dispatched by a certain Captain to the Governours of those places to convey away all the Provision and Ammunition they were able from those parts and afterward to consume the Towns and remaining Goods with Fire But by the Providence and direction of God Almighty it so happened that this Captain being taken and his Letters intercepted he was brought to be examined before the Grand Vizier and his Papers being read and considered at a Council of War called for that purpose It was unanimously concluded that this Resolution to burn those Towns was a certain evidence of the weakness of the Christian Army and therefore that not to omit The Turks resolve to Fight and pass by so favourable an opportunity of gaining an entire Victory it was resolved to come to a Battle with the Christians and to that end the whole Turkish Army marched towards Siklos and pitched in an open Country not far distant from the Town through which the Imperial Army was of necessity to pass and there they opened some new Trenches and raised Works of some considerable defence After that Mohatz was burnt the Imperialists in order of Battle took their March towards Siklos not without some loss sustained by the Foragers who wander'd at too far a distance without due caution or regard had to the near encampment of the Enemy The Imperialists likewise continued their March The day following Count Stirum advanced before with his Guards and Scouts as did all the Quarter-masters and Foragers between whom and some Troops of Tartars a furious Skirmish happened within Trees and Boscage which continued a long time with mutual loss on both sides which fell most severly on the Regiment of Lodron The Duke of Loraine finding himself to draw near to the Enemy caused the right Wing commanded by himself to make a Halt under the Mount 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 Several Skirmishes 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 August who having made his escape reported That the Turkish Army consisted of Eighty thousand fighting Men The Turkish Army appears of which there were Twenty five thousand Janisaries 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 12th of August the Duke of Lorain having disposed his Affairs in a Military posture against all accidents and

and there treated him with a very sumptuous Dinner after which he presented him with several fine Horses and two Carts laden with Refreshments Various discourses having passed between them at length Russan Pasha taking his leave said these words Into your Hands as Commissioner for the Emperor of the Romans I surrender this City without Blood for having endured a Famine of seven Months without Bread I could hold it out no longer but am forced to give up a place which one of my Emperor● took with his own Hands wherefore do you give God thanks for this and all other Successes are from the appointment and disposition of the most High All the Garrison with Men Women and Children which marched out were Three thousand five hundred about Six hundred remained in the place and submitted to the Imperial Sovereignty It was sad to hear the Miseries of those People recounted who had for several Months lived on nothing but boyled Herbs and if a piece of Horse-flesh could have been purchased with Gold to dress and put in the Pot with them it would have been a Feast for several Days The constancy of this People in their sufferings cannot be sufficiently expressed so that as the Blocade it self was the most famous of any in our Age so the Surrender of the place was of high importance for Thirteen Counties depended thereon The advantage of taking Agria and the Emperor thereby became absolute Master of all that Country which lies between the Danube and the Tibiscus and laid Mongatz open and exposed to greater danger which was already blocked up by Forces quarter'd round the place Thus having finished the relation of this year's Wars in Hungary it will be pertinent to our History to pass over into the Morea and there take a Survey of that Country and recount the Exploits and Atchievements performed there this year by the Venetian Arms. At the beginning of this Year the Senate ordained three days of solemn Devotion to implore the Divine Blessing on the Arms of that Republick which was performed with many Processions expence of Lamps and Wax Prayers at Venice for Success and with many Vows and Prayers of the People So soon as the Season became Ripe and fit for Action it was resolved by the Captain General the Cavalier Francis Morosini with the Universal consent of all the Commanders at a Council of War held the 21st of July to enter the River of Patras and accordingly the whole Fleet with the Vessels which transported the Land Forces Provisions and Ammunition loosed from Glimino on the 20th of July and made a glorious appearance in those Seas being composed of Twenty six Gallies six Galeasses besides Eighty seven Vessels of other sorts The Venetian Armado Sail to Patras that is to say Ships Pinks Petaches and such like who were all Commanded by the Governour Zaguri This Fleet Sailing all that Night with a prosperous Gale on the 21st in the Morning came in sight of the Castles and Fortress of Patras at appearance of which the Turks being much alarum'd came down in great numbers and pitched their Tents some on the Top of a Hill and others on the side of the main Castle The better to discover the State and Condition of the Turkish Camp the lighter Vessels were Commanded to Coast along the Shoar by which and by some Spies it was known and advised in what manner their whole Camp was disposed a Detachment of which under shelter of a Trench which they had thrown up fired many Vollies of Small-shot against the Vessels which coasted along the Shoar but proceeded no farther to annoy their Enemies than unto the end of their Line The Turks Trenches which when the Captain General observed and the difficulty of Landing near those places he enter'd into the River of Rumelia which in like manner he found to be guarded by great numbers of Turks and a Trench like the former cast up near the Castle The General Konismark of whom with due Honour we have made mention in the Transactions of the last year was embarked on the Admiral Gally with the Captain General to have the better convenience to consult and confer together was of Opinion that notwithstanding all the Preparations the Turks had made near the Castle and that the Seraskier of the Morea was encamped near the Town of Patras and two other Pashas not far distant from thence and the Banks along Guarded by Parapets or Breast-works yet that the most fit and commodious place to Land was in the River of Patras it self which being agreed the Troops were disposed in an extraordinary manner of Military Discipline and order'd speedily to Land which was done with great Resolution The first to set Foot on the Shoar were the Germans who were 〈…〉 followed by all the other Troops without any hindrance The Christians land or obstruction from the Enemy at their Landing because the place being in some manner guarded and defended by a Morass or wet-Wet-ground the Turks thought themselves on some kind of disadvantage in case of an Attack The Troops being landed and drawn up in Battalia the Germans led the Van and marching with great bravery to the Right were charged by a strong Detachment of the Turks whom they received with such Vigour The Turks Retreat that they caused them to Retreat and afterwards betake themselves to a shameful Flight This first step being thus fortunately begun gave Courage to the Christians and Resolution to the Captain General Morosini to fall on the Seraskier in his Camp before he was reinforced by more Troops which daily joyned with him At first landing all the Venetian Army consisted of no more than Nine thousand Foot and Thirteen hundred Horse those Forces having been much diminished by the Fatigues of the last year and the Sickness of their Winter-Quarters but now being recruited by great numbers of Levents and Greeks who as Volontiers came over from Zant and Cefalonia the Army became numerous and capable to undertake any Enterprize But to facilitate the Designs it was adjudged necessary to cut off all Communication between the Castles the which was no sooner ordered than put in Execution Some Gallies pass the Castles by the entrance of divers Gallies which by favour of the Night adventured to pass the Dardanelli or narrow Passages into the bottom of the Gulf without any other hurt or loss than of four or five Men at the Oars by a Cannon-shot the which Gallies were followed by a Galleot and three Felucas Commanded by Magnar a Knight of Malta This unexpected appearance of the Venetian Colours within the Dardanelli as it struck a great Terror and Amazement to the Turks being a Streight which they thought impossible to be passed by any Vessel whatsoever so it gave the Christians a Resolution to Attack the Seraskier who according to a Report of certain Prisoners taken in a Boat passing from the Morea to Rumelia side lay not far off encamped with