the Prince of Tarente her new husband to make an attempt to remount the throne But the prudence valor and fidelity of the Transilvanian rendered their endeavors ineffectual till Pope Clement the sixth put an end to the war The signal services which the Vayvod had done to the King his Master both in Naples and to his friend and Ally Francis Carcarius Prince of Padoua made him dream of vaste recompenses wherewith his hopes fed him But he did but flatter himself for Lewis not only frustrated him of his great expectations but recalled him also from the Government of Naples jealous of the worth and vertue of so eminent a person P. Other great Potentats have done the like before and after King Lewis Narses and Gonzale have furnished matter enough to the Writers of their times to lay foul imputations on the Emperor Justinian and Ferdinand King of Arragon But how did Steven carry himself in this his disgrace G. This Transilvanian as accomplished a Courtier as he was a Captain dissembled his ressentiment till some favorable opportunity should be offered whereby he might with advantage revenge himself This proffered it self by the death of the King who left no other successor but a daughter named Mary affianced to Sigismond of Luxemburg King of Bohemia The non-age of this Princess the unconstant humor of the Hungarians and the practises of our Vayvod procured such a contempt of Mary that many said publickly They would not be governed by a Girle This Cabal knowing the dexterous adress of the Bishop of Zagabria who was an Italien both by extraction and inclination sent him to Charles the second King of Naples the son of Andrew and Cousin-germane of Mary The Bishop did exactly that for which he was sent He offers the Kingdom of Hungary to the King of Naples and prays him to come take possession of the Estates which as he said of right belonged to him Charles gave a favorable audience to the Bishop and finding his mind perplexed with passions of diverse natures required a time to resolve of a business of so great importance He broke the matter to his Queen who forgot not to disswade him both with reasons and tears from an entreprise dangerous for the wavering unconstancy of the people and shameful for the great injustice he should commit in robbing his near Kinswoman of her inheritance without any color of reason But at length both Equity Justice and Reason must yeeld to Ambition Charles equippeth a great Navy and accompanied with an army suitable to such a King he landeth in Dalmatia and in few days came to Zagabria where he was met with many of these Nobles who favored his entreprise From thence he marched to Buda and though he met with some resistence by the resolution of Nicolas Gara and some other faithful subjects of the Queen yet he was established in the Kingdom by the favor and assistance of the Transilvanian Vayvod Sigismund King of Bohemia and husband of Queen Mary seeing the loss of Hungary inevitable retired himself to his own Kingdom And then Charles thought he had struck a nail in the wheel of Fortune His joy notwithstanding was but short and his usurpation no longer lived then other violent actions are Sigismund is recalled by the enemies of the Usurper and having routed Charles killed or chased all that offered to resist him reestablisheth himself in the Dominions of Mary his Queen P. These were marvellous alterations and no question such as were of hard digestion to the Transilvanian G. The loss and defeat of the King of Naples made the Vayvod dispair and forget all that is dear and precious to men Religion and Countrey He trode upon all considerations divine and humane and hath his recourse to Bajazet King of Turks to whom he promiseth his daughter on condition that he should assist him to chase Sigismond and Mary out of their Kingdom of Hungary This was the beginning and original of the miseries of this till then flowrishing Kingdom and of the hopes the Infidels conceived to make it a part of their Empire Bajazet layeth hold on Occasion marcheth with a mighty army towards Hungary meeteth with King Sigismund near Nicopolis between whom was fought a fierce battel where twenty thousand Christians and three score thousand Turks were laid in the dust upon the 18. of September 1396. P. I believe it was there where John Duke of Burgundy was taken prisoner with the loss of a thousand Gentle-men whom he had carried with him to that war But if I be not deceived the Turk made no great progress in Hungary during the reign of Sigismund G. These Burgundians kept company with the Hungarians who died at that time But in Sigismund and his Successor Albert of Austrias reigns the Turk gained but little ground in Hungary He resolved to go softly and to be first Master of Constantinople before he would fix his thoughts else where But for all that he learned the way to give us visits Mahomet the first beat the Hungarians at Tautemberg in the year 1400. And the Infidels advanced by little and little immediatly after the death of Albert of Austria This Prince at his death left his Queen with child which occasioned great divisions amongst the Nobility Some thought it fit to wait till the Queen were brought to bed before any thing should be done in order to the election of a new King Others made difficulty to obey a child though she should be delivered of a son and therefore resolved to choose a King capable to govern them Hungary being thus divided a faction of the Great Ones sent an offer of the Kingdom to Vladislaus the son of Casimir King of Polen Another party preferred Ladislaus the son of Albert though he was yet in his cradle and in it they set the Crown upon his head P. Truth it self doth teach us what danger Estates are in when they are divided amongst themselves And assuredly Hungary hath suffered irreparable losses by its divisions G. This division of affections and forces moved Amurath the second to take the field and taking his advantage of the discords of Hungary pierced to the heart of the Countrey and besiedged Alba Royal. Yet he got not all done he desired but on the contrair he lost almost all his army and was forced to raise the siedge This affront did irritate the Tyrant who to have his revenge entered Hungary with new forces where he was defeated by John Huniades Corvin This action as it gained much reputation to Corvin so it enflamed Amurath with spite and rage and therefore opposeth to Huniades who was constantly General of King Vladislaus his armies two of his bravest Captains these were Isaac and Mezets who entered Hungary and Transilvany both at once and filled all places where they came with terror fire and confusion Huniades runneth to the rescue renconntreth them loaden with spoil chargeth them gallantly but unfortunatly for he was beaten back and put to flight
you before I did ever believe and I hold it still for a certain truth that most part of men have more reason to be thankful to God for the good they receive from him then to petition him for a deliverance from the evils which afflict them And yet we hear more complaints then praises because we are more sensible of pain then pleasure A Prince is not so much contented to have been victorious all his life as he is afflicted to see Fortune turn her back upon him in one single rencounter A great Man who almost found nothing impossible to him till he was fifty years old and who had seen his most redouted enemies brought under his power said That Fortune was a woman and loved young men better then old And retired himself to a solitary life because he saw his ambition limited by one of the greatest Empires that ever was There are some who take a permission rashly to hazard on any enterprise that pleaseth their capricious humor and do excessively complain when these things which themselves began without judgement contributeth to their misfortune Certain it is that the Divine Providence which the vulgar nick-name Fortune often abateth the pride of the most successful to make them acknowledge that what they have obtained proceded from his Bounty and not from their prudence We see many States-men who see or think they see all things and yet are blind as moles to these calamities which threaten both their Countrey and their persons This I could confirm with infinit exemples but I pass them over in silence that I may hear your Demands and answer them as exactly as possibly I can P. Let us speak then of the present wars of Hungary And because a Discourse you had with me three years ago led us to the sight of a dangerous cloud which rose above Transilvany and that out of it since hath issued a tempest which hath dejected George Ragotchy and Janos Remin to mount Abaffion the throne entertain me with the cause and effects of that alteration that I may know whence it cometh that the Grand Seigneur who hath been but a pure spectator of the Tragedy which Europe hath acted full thirty years should now insolently invade our Neighbors and thereby give us opportunity to take armes and with joynt forces and affections make him repent his enterprise I am confident that this rupture hath so many circumstances preceeding accompanying and following it that I may with advantage spend some days to weigh and ponder them and that these who shal consider them after me may thereby reap both pleasure and profit G. I have always looked upon your will as a law which should over-rule me yet I am to obey you in this with some reluctancy because I fear I must speak more then perhaps willingly I would And because you must know from whence the remedies must be taken which are intended for application I shal endeavor to satisfie you And that you may have reason to acquiesce to what I say I will lead you to the source and fountain from whence sprung our miseries and will briefly represent to you what the Turk hath done in Hungary since Bajazeth came there to support the rebellion and foment the discord I know that these who know no better say when the Turk intendeth a war he hath little regard to justice that the smal difficulty he proponeth to himself to meet with in the prosecution of his enterprises is the principal cause of his undertakings For my part I profess that little faith should be given to an infidel and that the end of the Turks designs is seldom other then his advantage yet it is not impossible for all that but that he may many times find a specious pretext wherewith to cover the ugly face of these disorders which his ambition procureth in the world And therefore I will show you what reason the Otthomans conceive they have to keep the soveraignity of Transilvany whereby you will also learn the causes why we are now calling our forces together and begging assistance of Strangers to defend it against them And then I shal come to these resolutions that are now concluded at Ratisbone by which these will be satisfied who desire to know the manner our Princes use to contribute for the preservarion of Germany and for the maintenance of the war we are engaged in for our defence against so mighty an enemy P. I should not receive that contentment which I promise to my self by your discourse if you should only relate simply to me what is a doing on our frontiers how numerous our forces are and of what worth and merite the Commanders of them be for these who look upon any novelty desire to know the cause of all And this war of ours having had its rise from the disrespect was given to the Sultan of Turky by Ragotchy and the protection which the Emperor vouchsaved to give to Remin Janos I cannot choose but hear with much satisfaction the reasons why the Grand Seigneur offers to chastise these Princes of Transilvany who offer to raise a war without his consent and the causes which oblidgeth the Emperor to defend them against him Speak then to that as clearly and succinctly as possibly you can G. You demand two things of me which seem to be incompatible yet I shal not despair to reconcile them provided you be attentive In the year 1350. or as others write 1383. Lewis the first of that name reigned peaceably over the people of Transilvania Moldavia Valachia Mysia Dalmatia Sclavonia which were appartenances of his Kingdom of Hungary But his repose was interrupted by a mischief which he could not prevent because he could not foresee it Joanne Queen of Naples a Princess extreamly dissolute having preferred in her affection some young Neapolitanes to her husband King Andrew put him to a cruel death The news whereof with the letters of those who abhorred the parricide did quickly stir up a desire of a just revenge in the soul of King Lewis This generous Prince finding himself oblidged in honor and justice to take armes to avenge the death of his brother raised a puissant army and marched straight to Naples His expedition was fortunate for having chased away the Queen and routed her party he very soon reduced the Rebells to obedience and then punished the principal Counsellors of that detestable Regicide This being done supposing Hungary stood in need of his presence he bethought him of his return to his ancient Kingdom but not till he had provided for the preservation of his new acquired one He had brought with him many brave and noble persons both for birth and merite amongst the rest Steven Vayvod of Transilvany who though young had a very hie place in the Kings favor Him he appointed his Lieutenant and with him left sufficient forces to keep the new conquered Neapolitans within the limits of their duty The departure of Lewis encouraged Joanne
of service five thousand wagons fourscore pieces of great canon and six hundred lesser ones with all furniture and amunition necessare for such a train of Artillery fell in the hands of the Victor G. The loss of the battel was but a smal matter in comparison of that which followed The Turk killed and took more then two hundred thousand persons And did so far advance in Hungary and fixed himself so firmly in it that till this hour he could never be removed out of it And no doubt he hath now more hopes then ever to abolish our Religion in that unhappy Kingdom so we have reason to write the 29. of August of the year 1526. amongst the most dismal days that ever afflicted Christendom or Christianity This King died without children and his want of issue did much augment the right which the House of Austria pretended to have to the Crown of Hungary Yet that illustrious family did not find the Hungarians much inclined to submit themselves to their domination John Zapoliha Earl of Sebusia and Vayvod of Transilvany who came too late with his forces to defend the Crown thought he was come soon enough to set it on his own head He had of a long time imployed both his means and his pains to gain the affections of the whole Kingdom And by the defeat he had given not long before to George Sekell and the peasants who had made him King he had opened to himself a way to the Royalty Seeing himself now in a condition to have the greatest hopes he prays he exhorts the whole Nobility and every one of them in particular not to loose the right and priviledge they had to elect a King and to make their generous resolutions in order thereto known at the next Dyet He remonstrats to them that Hungary had never been happy in subjecting it self to the dominion of a strange King That Sigismund of Bohemia and Vladislaus of Pole the first by his defeat at Nicopolis the last by his overthrow at Colembat and at Varna had given sufficient evidence how misfortunatly strangers govern that Kingdom He endeavored to make them believe that though a strange Prince might reign gloriously in Hungary yet it would be both more profitable and honorable for them to have a King of their own Nation That the best governed Common-wealths excluded the feminine sexe from the Scepter for fear it should come in the hands of strangers That the Hungarian Nobility was not so degenerated but there was heads amongst them worthy to carry a Crown And though himself was none of the bravest yet he thought not himself incapable to govern a great State and defend it with the point of his sword P. There are few Nations who do not abhor the yoke of a stranger What was the result of the Hungarian consultations G. The great merits and exhortations of Zapoliha prevailed so far with the greatest part of the Nobility that they invested him with the Royal dignity and caused crown him by Paul Deverda Archbishop of Strigonium on Martinmas day 1526. But to help the course of this miserable Countrey to its ruine Stephen Battori and some other Great Ones who looked upon the advancement of Zapoliha with an envyous eye sided with Ferdinand of Austria and supported his interests This Prince fortified with the accession of his new Kingdom of Boheme with the victorious forces of the Emperor Charles the fifth his brother with the marriage of Anne sister of the late King with the pretensions which Ladislaus son of Albert the first left to the Austrian family and the help of some Hungarian Lords thought that the Kingdom could not escape him In effect Ferdinand assisted by his right and his friends declared himself King and takes the field with an army and knowing the readiest way to kill a creature is to strike it at the heart he marcheth straight to Buda the capital City of the Kingdom King John astonished at this blow abandons the Town Ferdinand makes himself Master of it and shortly after beats his Competitors army and chases him entirely out of the Kingdom The course of this good fortune was stopped by the Turk who regains Jaitsa the chief town of Bosnia which Matthias Corvin had taken with extraordinary valor This loss and the safe retreat of Zapoliha made King Ferdinand believe he had not yet done his business but that Soliman and John would cut out more work for him then he had reason to desire P. I would gladly know whether this titular King retired himself what he did to recover his Estates G. This poor Prince beaten by Ferdinands force and the revolt of his subjects betook him to his shifts He went to Pole adressed himself to Jerome Lasco Vaydod of Siradie an illustrious person both by birth and vertue Lasco over-joyed with the presence of such a guest offered him all that was in his power and having maturely considered and reconsidered all means for his reestablishment at length adviseth him to have his recourse to Sultan Soliman And because these who give counsel should ever be ready to put it in execution he undertakes the journey himself and having obtained a recommeÌ„datory letter from Sigismund King of Pole he goes straight to Constantinople This great Man who had been before Embassador at the Port made it soon known how fit a person he was to agent a business of that importance He gained on his side by presents of great value Abraham the first Vizier Lustibey and Lewis Gritti who were in hie favor with the Grand Seigneur These being well instructed by the dexterous prudence of Lasco easily perswaded the Sultan that it would be both honorable and profitable for him to take the exiled King in his protection and restore him to his Kingdom Mean while Ferdinand fearing the practises of Lasco sent John Oberdans a Hungarian Lord Embassador to the Port to desire the friendship of Soliman and to demand a little unseasonably the restitution of all he had taken in Hungary since the death of Lewis the second This highly offended the proud Sultan who answered That the Ottomans were not accustomed to grant their friendship to those who had offended them That Ferdinand was in the wrong to desire it after he had invaded an Estate to which he had no just pretension That he thought him unworthy of that he desired That he would be revenged of the injury he had done him And commanded Oberdans to be instantly gone out of Constantinople and tell his Master that he denounced war against him That he would come into Hungary and bring the keys of these places with him whâ—ch Ferdinand demanded P. The Turk speaks with a wide mouth and if his actions corresponded with his words assuredly he made Ferdinand repent that he had given an interruption to Zapolihas repose G. Soliman did not all he would but desiring to be a man of his word he took the field with a dreadful army and in the Spring