most generous of all my Slaves I command thee to revenge my Death with the Blood of sixty thousand Janisaries and Spahees good Forture shall accompany thy Arms and Victory shall crown thy Labours During these Intrigues and Difficulties of Reconciliation Abassa spoiled the Lesser Asia and the Persian King conquered the City and Province of Bagdan or Babylon took Kur Asan Pasha an old Souldier Prisoner possessed himself of Mosul and Leska on the Persian Sea and meeting no considerable opposition he divided his Army into four parts The first was dispatched into Mesopotamia commanded by the King himself The second made Incursions into Palestine The third infested the Coast of the Black Sea and the fourth marched towards Mecha with hope and design of sharing all the parts of the Eastern Empire Ali Pasha who opposed the King in Mesopotamia was slain and his Army wholly defeated so that the Province became a Prey to the Enemy the success in Palestine was equally fortunate by the revolt of Damascus a place of great Riches and Importance the Coast of the Black Sea was greviously infested and a Port taken near to Trapezond and little opposition being made at Balsora the Town was taken by that Army in their March towards Mecha and the parts of the Red Sea where they rendered themselves Masters of Medina the City of their Prophet Mahomet To repair these losses and to encounter numbers so strong and valiant in all parts the Vizier was dispeeded with a powerful FOrce to the Town of Bagdat but by reason of Mutinies and Tumults amongst the Souldiery Matters found not the success expected and the Garison making valiant and vigorous Sallies against the imbecility of the Turkish Souldiery which were always most obstinate and stout to oppose their own Commanders obtained an advantage in every Attempt by which discouragement many forsaking their Colours The Siege raised at Bagdat the Turks overthrown the Siege was raised with dishonour and the Interest of the Turk impaired and almost irreparably lost in those Provinces This News arrived at Constantinople that the Camp was risen and fled by Night that they were forced to burn their Tents and Provisions and to break their great Artillery and cast them into the Euphrates that the Miseries in the Army had been such by Famine and Pestilence and want of all Provisions and Ammunition that the like was never known that the Vizier had beheaded three of his Pasha's that so he might cast the whole blame upon them and that now retreating with his Army into the Turkish Dominions the Persians pursued them in the Rear and for ten days did execution on them making the best use they could of their Victory which Relation filled the Hearts of all People with sadness and disordered the Counsels with confusion The Cause of which will Success according to custom being imputed to the General he was deprived of his Office and sacrificed to the Fury of the Janisaries These Troubles were increased at Constantinople by the Addresses which the Prince of Transylvania made unto the Port by his Kapi-Kahya or Agent representing to the Grand Signior That he wanting Heirs Male to succeed him in his Principality the States at a Diet had with common consent elected his Lady for his Successor and therefore desired confirmation from the Port. In excuse of her Sex he alledged the urgent Necessity of the present Times which perswaded rather to admit of the Government of a Woman than that his Principality should for want of an Heir fall into the Hands of the powerful Family of Austria To make good this Demand Duke John of Weymar and Count Mansfelt Duke of Weymar and Count Mansfelt join with the Prince of Transylvania arrived in Silistria to whom the Prince of Transylvania joined his Troops and Morteza Pasha of Buda wrote to the Port that he was marching towards Vatz to meet the Prince and confer with him concerning these Designs The Emperor 's Resident at Constantinople greatly exclaimed against these Proceedings which something troubled the Counsels of the Turks who in that Conjuncture were unwilling to give beginnings to a new War so that besides fair Words they promised to write such Letters to the Pasha of Buda as should give a stop to the Investiture of the Princes But to say truly the Instructions given were in such ambiguous terms that they in effect left the whole Matter to the Discretion of Morteza to act as he judged most agreeable to the State of Affairs on the Frontiers and security of the present Peace Thus did the Turkish Court seek to ward off the blow of a War with Germany and yet secretly nourished and encouraged it by giving Orders to the Pasha of Buda to take up his Winter-quarters with the Prince of Transylvania and to follow his Directions but yet so to govern Matters with Caution as not to engage too far on uncertain Grounds or doubtful Hazard but to embrace Propositions of Peace if offered with Honour and Security In prosecution of these Rules Morteza observing that Weymar and Mansfelt having united their Forces with Gabor had formed a considerable Army and were able to fight with Wallestein General of the Imperialists joined also his Forces to theirs judging it a prudent and politick Design to wage a War at the Blood and Expence of others With these Encouragements and with the favour of a good Opportunity The Emperor's Army defeated the Confederates fell upon the Army of Wallestein near the River Gran who not being able to withstand their Force and Fury was put to flight and pursued in the Rear with great slaughter and endeavouring to pass the River on two Bridges of Boats were closely followed by the Prince's Forces who gaining the Pass put the whole Army into great amazement and resolved to pursue them to the Gates of Presburg or Vienna Notwithstanding this Success the Prince of Transylvania observing the backwardness of his Allies to contribute the Succours of Men and Mony which they had promised and fearing that the unfortunate Estate of the Turkish Affairs should cause the Sultan to disown the War dispeeded a Messenger to the Emperor in the Winter-season to excuse the Constraint upon him of taking up Arms and to offer Terms of Accommodation and Peace But the Emperor refused all Treaties until such time as Gabor had separated himself from his Allies and from association with the Turk Upon which Answer Gabor retired to Cassovia and Morteza to Pesth This Compliance gave beginning to a Treaty at Komara where the Commissioners on part of the Emperor of the Grand Signior and Prince of Transylvania assembled All Parties seemed inclinable to War and yet with occult Intentions to make Peace being necessitated thereunto by the urgency of their distinct Interests The Emperor was urged by his Wars with the Protestants of Germany and apprehension of Forces from England in favour of the Elector Palatine then King of Bohemia The Grand Signior was encumbred by
the Imperial Horse had left receiving in their Passage the fire of all the Neighbour squadrons which flank'd them in this charge Notwithstanding that some of them penetrated even to the Reserves and endeavoured to return by the same way they came and after the same manner but few of them came off On the left Wing the Tartars having endeavoured by small Troops to gain the flank of the Christians were not more luckey for those that past were cut in pieces by others that were sent against them or obliged to return to their main body after which the Imperialists advancing always in good order to attack the whole front of the Turks the Enemy separated before they could come up to them One part took the way towards the Marck and the other towards the Bridges of Vienna They were followed some time without being overtaken Those that took on the Danube side finding themselves pursued that the Poles were not far off and that the whole Army marched that way betook themselves to the only expedient for their escape which was to cast themselves into the River and endeavour a Passage by the remaining Posts and Pillars of the burnt Bridge leaving their Arms their Horses and their Equipage on the brink of the River but most of these were drowned and the rest all kill'd or taken The Night being come on the Duke camped where he was On the morrow he was presented with several Standards Timbals and Drums and some Prisoners of note were likewise brought to him The Turks lost as was discovered by their own intercepted Letters from a thousand to twelve thousand Men many were killed upon the place but many were drowned The Chams Son was hurt but saved himself by swimming upon his Horse The Bassa of Erlaw was slain with many Officers The next Morning some Prisoners were taken found hid in the Hedges and Bushes Their Army consisted of near fourteen thousand Turks and Tartars all Horse but that of the Malecontents stayed at the Marck The Duke came the same day to Cronenberg to refresh his Horse which had been upon Service twenty four hours with design to go and fight the Malecontents if they continued in their Post He sent for this purpose to General Siemariski who was come to Nekelburg with a body of Horse being the King of Polands Avaunt-Guard to meet him the next day upon the way to Volgersdorff but being upon his March he had News that the Tekelists were retired to Tirnau that the King had sent order to his General to attend him at Nekelburg and that his Majesty would be at Krembs the first of September The Duke hereupon returned to his Camp at Cronenburg to expect the arrival of the Polish Army They seemed in the Town in much distress for the Governour had caused forty Rockets to be fir'd from the top of St. Stephens Steeple to advertise the Duke of the straits they were in and the necessity of being suddenly relieved The Grand Visier seemed to scorn these signs answering them with two hundred Cannon shot And yet it was observed that the Infidels sent many Camels laden with Baggage and several Servants towards Presburg probably to secure them in case they should be forced to raise the Siege The same day the Duke sent the Chevalier Lubormiski to compliment the King of Poland who had also orders to inform his Majesty of the measures they had taken for the relief of Vienna and that it seemed to require all their haste as the Counts Capliers and Starenberg signified by their Letters the Place being reduced to Extremity but writ in such Terms which made it evident they would defend it with their Lives but could answer for nothing else The Grand Visier did in the mean time order the Walachians to endeavour to rebuild the Bridges of Vienna to the end that they might by a diversion that way retard the march of the Imperialists or employ a considerable body by that means As the Waters were grown extream low since the Bridges were ruined insomuch that the Pillars which had been then burnt level with the Water appeared now three or four foot above Water which gave room for this Enterprise They were furnished with Timber out of the Neighbouring Villages and the Work was carried on by the Walachians and Moldavians with so much diligence that near a third of the great Bridge was laid in two Nights The Duke having notice hereof caused Boats to be prepared for the retaking of those Posts which he had quitted in the Isles The Count Archinto and Collonel Heyster were employed herein who on the Night of the 31th of August re-entered their old Retrenchments planting there some Pieces of Cannon Upon break of day they began to play upon the Turks who were so greatly incommoded by the continual firing of great and small shot that they were obliged to quit their Enterprise They afterwards applyed Pitch and Tar Barrels to the Pillars that remained and so burnt them The same day the Turks sent away many Camels Waggons loaden with Baggage and part of their Artillery which they conducted towards the Forest of Vienna After Noon those who were upon the Ramparts heard several Musket shots the way that these Infidels marched which made them guess that they were skirmishing with the Pickeerers of the Christian Army and that consequently the Succors were near hand At the same time the Duke of Lorrain being advertised that the King of Poland lay at Heilbron left the command of the Army to Count Caprara and went to give this Prince a visit He met him at the Head of his Hussars and alighting from his Horse when he was come within twenty five paces of him moved towards him which his Majesty perceiving he likewise descended met him and embraced him and after some obliging discourse he presented the Prince his Son to him saying he would have him to be his Servant as he was and that he had brought him with him to teach him betimes to serve the Emperour The Senators the Palatines and the principal Officers of the Crown did likewise complement the Duke The King and Duke mounted on Horseback and having passed the Troops continued their march discoursing the whole time together When they arrived in the Camp they entered the Kings Tent together with the Prince and the Grandees of Poland where the Duke entertained his Majesty with the main Discourses that tended to the Affairs in hand The Prince of Waldeck who had no Opportunity to speak with the Duke in the Kings Tent went to attend him at Stokarcau where he communicated all his Thoughts and agreed with him of the Manner and Method they were to use in relieving the Place The Duke dined that day with the King sitting at the upper end on the Right-Hand of the King the Prince being seated on his left all three in Chairs with backs Some Palatines and Officers of the Imperial Army were also placed at the Table by the Kings Order After
and court him The Vizier having thus successfully contrived his Establishment and security at home had time to confirm it by his Wars abroad well judging that foreign Wars allay Civil Dissentions and the Prosperity thereof doth both produce reputation and terrour of his Person amongst his Enemies as well as reconcile affections and increase Authority amongst his subjects at home Wherefore he meditated on a War against the Emperor and was glad to embrace the occasion from the late Disturbances made in Transilvania by Kemenius as we have related in the former Year But yet like a crafty Politician who looketh one way and steers another so the Vizier that he might the better lull the Germans into a sleep and apprehensions of security he dissembled his inclinations to Peace and to hearken to such propositions as were tendered him by the German Resident namely that the Fort of Serini should be demolished being built against the intention and without the knowledge or consent of his Imperial Master that the Garisons of Zechelhid Coloswar and other places should be removed with other overtures and the fairest Propositions imaginable which might give the Turks satisfaction and by some means or other reconcile the differences if possible The resolution of War uncertain To which counsel the Emperor was the rather inclinable in regard that a Treaty at that time was on foot between the French King and the Duke of Lorain for Alsatia and that the result might prove prejudicial to the Empire should he at the same time be engaged in a War against the Turk whilst as dangerous a friend as the other was an Enemy crept easily into a suspected Neighbourhood But the other Christian Princes especially Rome and the Allies engaged in the Venetian Quarrel perceiving the Emperor to detract from his resolutions of War upon this suspicion endeavoured to clear him from all jealousie in reference to the French designs and for better evidence thereof had their own engagements seconded by Protestations from that King not only not to molest the Empire during this War but to afford him considerable aid and assistance both in Men and Money These Negotiations and incitements to a War encouraged the Emperor and the German Princes in that manner that whilst the Turks expected the return of the Currier from Vienna as it were 〈◊〉 an Oliver Branch of Peace and Confirmation of all Articles which before were esteemed to be concluded and agreed the Scene was wholly changed and the Letters contained new demands and propositions and in fine made all doubtful and unsatisfactory The Turks penetrating rightly into this Affair pressed hard to have a speedy Peace or War wherefore the Reis Effendi or Secretary of State did at a private Conference with the German Minister in name of the G. Signior and in few words declare That three months were allotted to demolish the Fort built by the Count Serini and for coming of an extraordinary Ambassador to confirm the Articles Notwithstanding which the Grand Signior unmindful of the time and of the Conditions he had given and prefixed for Peace ordered the Vizier immediately to prepare for the War declaring that he would in Person accompany him in part of his March and remove his Court to Adrianople for this being a Country champian and plain full of Game of all sorts so drew the heart and delight of the Grand Signior that his Seraglio at Constantinople seemed as a Cage or Prison in respect of those desired Plains of Thrace His Women were no pastime or recreation to him in whos Apartments he spent little time For this excessive humour in Hunting made him daily to press the Vizier to depart for Adrianople not that he had so real a desire to the War as he had to his Game which gave occasion to that ordinary Saying amongst the Turks That the Grand Signior had left some Hares behind him at Adrianople and would return to seek them At length the Vizier not longer able to resist his importunity without his displeasure summon'd a Council of all the Viziers of the Bench where also the Janisar Aga was present to consult concerning the time of their departure at which they unanimously concluded that for divers Reasons it was most necessary to defer this expedition until the next Spring First Because that three months time were already given to the Emperor for sending his Extraordinary Ambassador Secondly The Reason why the Turks deferred the War with the German Because in so short a time Provisions could not be sent into those Parts for relief of the Camp. Thirdly Because the Souldiers which were abroad could not have timely notice to repair to their Colours Fourthly Because many Souldiers had begun to rebuild their houses destroyed by the late Fires which by the Spring they might see finished And lastly That the Summer being now almost spent was not so fit for action as the Spring which gives new life and blood to men as well as sap and moisture unto Vegetables These Reasons being represented with all humility to the Grand Signior he seemed to rest satisfied and his heat of visiting Adrianople for the present allayed And in the mean time that the design against Germany might be the more covertly carried it was given out that the preparations were intended against the Venetian Territories in Dalmatia viz. Zara Sebenico and Cataro and Proclamation was made that all Souldiers should prepare themselves for the Wars against the next Spring In which Interim no accident intervening which might bring matters to an accommodation and better understanding the daily Skirmishes on the Frontiers made the Controversie every day more difficult to be reconciled and the breach the wider The Count Serini also proceeded in finishing the Fortification he had lately raised near Canisia and the other Commanders of the Cesarean Army seeing the great progress of the Turks in Transilvania secured Claudiopolis Somoswar Sechilhid Clewar alias Coloswar and Betlem with some other Towns and Fortresses The Turks on the other side The sad Condition of Transilvania under the Command of Ali Pasha penetrate into the very Center of Transilvania and conceiving a jealousie of War from the passages before mentioned lost no time to take their advantages so that the Pasha of Varadin not contenting himself with that Country and limits formerly prescribed for maintenance of his Fortress adjoined to his Jurisdiction what Villages and Towns he thought fit the whilst the poor Prince Michael Apafi though made by the Turks durst not lift a hand or interpose the least Obstacle or Impediment to his quiet progress or peaceable possession which so harrassed the People of the Country and wrought that misery and destruction therein that the Prince deprived of his power in Government and disabled by oppression to pay his Annual Tribute had no hopes of redress but from the assistance of Divine Providence governing the hearts of Christians and Turks to compassionate the misery of his Country Wherefore he
they presented themselves on their Knees with their Faces on the Ground according to the Custom of the Eastern Courts with which occasion the Heer Reningen who had for sixteen or seventeen years been Resident for the Emperor The German Ambassadors last Audience with the Grand Signior a person grown infirm with Age and the Gout and his Knees not so active and pliable as the younger sort coming also to take his turn in this prostrate manner of Worship was so rudely handled by the kapugibashees who assisted on each Arm at the Ceremony that he not being able to bow his head so easily as others was thrust down by them with so little consideration or respect that his Brows and Forehead were broken on the Flour which mischance so disordered him as put him besides that Speech which he had premediated in Turkish to address to the Grand Signior and though he curbed what was possible his passion whilst he remained in the Royal Presence yet in vain afterwards he vented his Choler with words against those unmannerly Officers without other remedy or satisfaction The Demands of the Ambassadour were in writing read before the Grand Signior according to the custom of the Court and principally concerned the freedom of the Slaves some of which were then in the Gallies and Banniard and others of the most principal in the seven Towers Other Demands there were in relation to the State of Transylvania that for the future it might be free from Incursions in which particular the Turks had already violated the Peace and that a more orderly Government of Affairs might be observed on the Frontiers than usually had passed as agreed by the last Capitulations To which the Grand Signior gave no Answer referring all to the Vizier only told the Ambassadour in short That he should counsel his Master to beware of invading the Ottoman Dominions or acting any thing in prejudice of the Peace The Articles of Peace made between the Two Emperors were for the most part a confirmation of the ancient Agreement only it was provided as a new Addition That the Armies should depart from the Confines of Transilvania Secondly That the Castles and Forts garisoned with German Soldiers in that Countrey should be resigned into the hands of the Prince And Thirdly There were other particulars added in reference to Newhausel and the Countries adjacent lately conquered and the Limits of both Emperors as before declared But whilst these things were in agitation and Ambassadours interchangeably at either Court the Turks of Varadin and Janoua made frequent incursions into Transilvania destroying the Villages and carrying away great numbers of Captives and so lately as about the beginning of August last those of Varadin conveyed themselves privately under the Castle Cseh and robbed the Horses belonging to that Garison killed some and carried others into slavery at which time also Two thousand Turks besieged the Castle Valko which they took and razed to the ground which Complaints of their Countries Aggrievances the Transilvanians intimated to the German Ambassadour as matters already acted contrary to the late Articles of Peace requesting farther to interpose for a moderation and abatement of their Tribute which Kuperlee had contrary to Oath and reason unjustly augmented But the Ambassadour seemed so coldly to interpose in this behalf as taught the Turks to deny his Requests acquiescing with this Answer That it was no breach of Peace then to make incursions on the Frontiers as also without Cannon to rob and spoil and skirmish not exceeding Five thousand men in number For it appeared that the Ambssadour was most desirous to secure the main points of the Peace The Reasons why the German Ambassadour interposed not in behalf of Transylvania which concerned most the Interest of the Empire and not hazard it for such like Concernments of Transilvania for though it seemed strange to the World to see a Peace hastily clapt up with disadvantageous Terms on the Emperors side whilst he was victorious and fortunate in several Enterprizes yet they that penetrated farther into the State and Condition of the Empire report That there was a necessity of making a moderate use of these successes by a fair accommodation rather than to tempt Providence by a too eager and continued prosecution of the War. For it was observed that the Designs of making the Duke of Anguien Son to the Prince of Conde King of Poland proceeded forward and that there was a Combination of a dangerous League amongst the Princes of the Rhine The Divisions between the Germans and the Hungarians encreased the latter of which are known to be an obstinate sort of People The Army also of the French was feared in the Bowels of the Empire under the Command of Monsieur la Feuvillade who under pretence of applying themselves to the assistance of Christendom were suspected to come with intentions to advance the interest of their King and force the next Diet to elect him King of the Romans in order whereunto and in consideration of farther assistance they demanded several Towns in Hungary to be delivered into their hands and made extravagant Propositions for Winter Quarters all which considered made the German Ambassadour more tender how he entred into Disputes with the Turk which might prejudice the essential points of the Peace or occasion a new War more destructive to Germany through the dangers before intimated than by the Arms and Hostility of the common Enemy The German Ambassador's Audience with the Vizier These Considerations made the Ambassador less zealous in the matter of Transilvania and in all others which were not really conducing to his Masters immediate service so that having no other difficulty remaining than the liberty of the Captives on the day of his last Audience with the Vizier being the 8th of November he urged with more earnestness their Release which was in part granted those of the Gallies were delivered from their Chains and Oars but such as were of greater Quality in the seven Towers were detained until the Emperor had on his part released the Turks of Quality in like manner and though it was agreed in the Article That Captives should on both sides be released yet the Vizier interpreted it to be in respect to Number and Quality of which I remember to have heard often Complaints and especially of those poor Gentlemen then under Irons and restraint who though afterwards received their freedom yet for the present endured more torment in their minds than if they had never been put in expectation to enjoy their hopes At the end of the Audience the Ambassadour proposed something in behalf of the Religious of Jerusalem That certain places of Devotion might be restored them which were injuriously taken from them by the Greeks and also that License might be granted for re-edification of some Churches and Monasteries destroyed in Galata by the late Fire To the first of which the Vizier answered That the Franks with the Greeks of Jerusalem
strongly as the besieged had within heaving like Moles with their numerous Army of Pioneers whose lives being not valued they were wholly intent unto Mines blowing up all before them in that manner that every day they gained a pace of ground within the City So that in effect as will be seen by the Sequel this most impregnable Fort of the World was forced and taken by the Spade and Shovel and by a Crew of unarmed Labourers who understood nothing more than the Plough and Harrow So that now this Town seemed to be reduced to its utmost Crisis either of being taken or for ever freed of this malignant Enemy And indeed the Turks had so far advanced upon the Bulwark of St. Andrea that now nothing remained of it more than ruines and undigested heaps of Earth and stone in defence of which the chief Commanders applying themselves in person with all diligence the Marquess St. Andrea Montbrun was wounded by a stone in the face the Cavalier de Bret was buried in the ruines to the very Neck and with difficulty drawn out of the Earth by Assistants about him two other Cavaliers were wounded with Granadoes and the Cavalier Fuillere who carried the Standard of Malta was shot into the Eye with a Musket The Proveditor General Carnaro serving at the repair of the Breach was so wounded in the Belly by a Granado that his Bowels burst of which he died in three hours and with a piece of the same Granado the Count Vignole a French Gentleman of great Valour was likewise slain And so hotly the Turks plyed this Breach that from the 28th of May to the 2d of June they sprang five Mines which brake all the Palisades of the Christians the which the Turks seconded with that fury and mettle as if they intended to win the place and make an end of their work before the arrival of the Forces expected from Christendom And this Post was now grown so dangerous and weak that the Captain-General the Marquess of Montbrun and all the chief Officers took up their Quarters at this place where his Excellency kept an open Table and the Marquess took up his Lodgings at Night that so the other Officers might have no excuse on account of attendances or orders to abandon these Quarters The Princes of Christendom all this time forgot not their besieged Brethren in Candia Pope Clement the IX pressed the most Christian King to make ready his succours in due time Succours sent out of Christendom who had already himself prepared all things and elected the Duke of Beaufort his General of all the Forces by Sea whether of French or other Nations This Duke like a couragious and brave Prince thinking it little glory to command at Sea where the Enemy was of an inferiour and unable Force to encounter him did therefore desire Licence from his King to make tryal of his Fortune in the Field where he might evidence his Valour in the face of the Infidels and signalize his Fame either by Death or Victory The King unwilling to hazard so worthy a person of his bloud out of his due Command in the rank of an ordinary Souldier at first denied his requests but the Pope interceding for him whose General he was with holy Arguments and devout Contemplations of Martyrdom and glory of dying for the Christian Cause at length obtained a concession from the King who of himself was flexible to so pious a request esteeming it unholy to deprive his Kinsman either of the Palm of a Martyr or the Lawrel of a Conqueror The Summer being come and all things provided The French Fleet loose from Tolon the Duke ascended his Ship at Tolon a City in Provence the 6th of June New-style with about seven thousand Land Souldiers commanded by the Duke of Navailles with the Marshals Lebret and Colbert and several other Worthies and Heroes of undaunted Courage and arrived before the Town of Candia the 19th of the same Month having casually encountred together in the Seas on the 17th with fourteen Sail of Venetian Ships laden with Horse and Ammunition to mount the Troops and relieve the Town which happy encounter and speedy passage seemed a happy Omen of the future success The appearance of this succour seemed to the Besieged as sent from Heaven and administred unto them new hopes and courage and the salutes passed between the Town and the Fleet with the usual Ceremonies and all the imaginable testimonies of joy and triumph No sooner were they arrived than the two Generals with other principal Officers They arrive at Candia immediately in their Shallops took the best view and survey they could of the Enemies Camp and the Condition of the Besieged in which whilst they entertained themselves they espied a small Vessel making towards them with St. Mark 's Colours in which was the famous Engineer Signior Castellano dispatched by the Captain General Morosini with an axact plat of the Town and disposition of the Turkish Camp which being particularly viewed and considered it was evident That if the Turks should make some very forcible Attempt before the new Forces could be landed as it was very probable they might they would put all in hazard of being lost wherefore the Captain General pressed to have some succours immediately supplied to be assistant in that case of extremity To which the Duke of Navailles immediately consented and landed himself that Night in person with sufficient Force to mount the Guard on the Breach of St. Andrea whose first Rettenchment was continually battered by the Turks and though there was a second Retrenchment in hand yet time being required for compleating thereof that part of the Town would be reduced to its ultimate hazard for should the Enemy spring a Mine which they feared was already formed under the present Work it would lay all open and naked without other Fortification The Duke being ashoar was received by Morosini with all demonstrations of Civility and Respect due to a personage of his Quality and Employment and with a welcome suitable to the present extremity of his Affairs all Ceremonies and Complements were soon passed over the urgency of matters not permitting them time to be long impertinent The French Forces landed so that falling into the Discourse of the common safety it was resolved that the succours should be immediately landed which was performed with that diligence and expedition that in two days the whole Army came safe on shore excepting only some few cut short by shot from the Enemies Camp. On the 23d the Generals and other Officers held a Council of War A Council of War held in Candia amongst whom was also the Marquess of St. Andrea and did unanimously conclude that the Town was no longer tenable or to be maintained unless by some extraordinary enterprize attempted on the Enemy and by some furious Sally performed with resolution and stratagems of War in order unto which it was resolved That the 27th
delivered from these terrible alarms The Christian Army being assembled as is already said at Tuln and that the Duke of Lorrain had put an end to several difficulties which were again started about the Rank and the command of so many Princes and Generals he brought it to a conclusion that they should march the next day being the 9th towards Vienna As soon as this resolution was taken he sent Baron Mercy to Morbach with 2000 Horse to observe the countenance and motions of the Turks The 9th at the point of day he marched with all the German Army and came and encamped betwixt St. Andrew and Koningseck In this Post he received advice of the Cities being reduced to its last extremity and that they fired with nothing but Muskets He sent to advertise the King of Poland who was yet at Tuln with the news and caused the Prisoners to be conducted to him who confirmed the advice He writ also to him beseeching him to advance and joyn with him The 10th the Duke caused the Germans to enter the Mountains by three several avenues and left a fourth for the March of the Poles He camped at Wilbleng and the Poles rested an hour behind to the right The King himself came to discover the heights where the Imperialists were camped The Duke shewed him Kalemberg from thence whither he would march next morning and his Majesty returned to his Camp. By favour of the night the Duke went in Person to discover the passage of Kalemberg and to take possession of those Posts he judged necessary to assure their march He also seised the Chappel of St. Leopold and having put 300 men into it to secure it returned to his Camp having sent to inform the King of what was done after this the Army was put in Battel-array to possess Kalemberg by five differing ways according to the directions given by the Duke and consented to by the King. The way on the right was left to his Majesty as the day before The Prince of Sax-Lawenburg General of the Horse took the next passage to the Poles conducting by that way the Right Wing consisting of eight Regiments of the Emperour's Horse two of Dragoons and one of Crauats of all the Horse and all the Dragoons of Bavaria and Francony The Infantry of Franconia and Bavaria took the third way which was the middle-most being commanded by the Prince of Waldeck The Elector of Bavaria placed himself with the said Prince that day and continued there all the day following advancing with much firmness in places of most danger but without any Fonction or command he having declared at first that he would only serve as a Voluntier All the Emperour's Infantry and that of Saxony took the other two passages to the left whereof one was that of St. Leopold's Chappel being the high-way and the other went along the Danube Prince Herman of Baden and Count Lesley General of the Artillery were at the head of the Foot. Count 4 Caprara General of the Horse followed immediately by the same ways with the left Wing which contained seven Regiments of the Emperour 's Lubomirski's Poles to which the King had joyned some Squadrons of his and all the Cavalry and Dragoons of Saxony The Elector of Saxony commanded the Auxiliary Troops which however of differing tempers and Bodies marched in Battalia in as much as the ground would permit it and were computed to amount to 65000 men About eleven of the clock the first Squadrons had gained the tops of Kalemberg without any opposition at all They there extended the Front of the Army above a league and a half camping on the declivity of the Mountain towards Closternewburg in three lines and some places more as the ground would permit them seizing thereby seven or eight Avenues by which they might descend and range themselves for the combat They brought at the same time some small Field-Pieces to St. Leopold and to the Monastery of Camaldoli The remainder also of the day and all the night was spent in advancing the Train which was not effected without great trouble the Mountain being so steep that none but small Field-Pieces could be brought up nor they but in some time doubling and tripling the draught Horses The Turks seeing the Christians appear about the Chappel of St. Leopold and the aforesaid Monastery drew out on their right advanced to the foot of the Mountains and extending thence to the brink of the Danube they seized the Hedges hollow-ways and heights from whence they might incommode the Enemy at the descent of the hills and first filings out of their streights The Cannon being arrived at St. Leopold and Camaldoli they-quickly obliged the Turks to quit the Posts which they had taken and remove out of their shot The Troops which they had advanced consisted in Horse and another sort of Militia which fights like our Dragoons on Horse-back and on foot Of these the number was great and they had brought but few Foot out of the Camp and without Cannon in all this detachment which they opposed against the Christians The space betwixt Vienna and the entry of the Wood is reckoned a League and a half the Country being very difficult trenched with Vineyards Ravines and hollow ways The Vineyard was enclosed by a great Dike which covered the Turks Camp on the side of Helgstat The Duke of Lorrain had chosen this march to make use of the advantage of the heights and judging that in a situation of this nature he might secure his Flanks His design was the next day to coast the Danube and to attack the Turkish Camp on their right It was for this reason and because of the cuts in the ground that he placed a great Body of Foot to the left this Wing being designed first to charge the Enemies The King of Poland who stay'd an hour behind having encamped came to St. Leopolds Chappel from whence the Duke shewed him the descent of the Mountain the Camp of the Turks and the Troops which were advanced to oppose the descent of the Christians Their Countenance made his Majesty of opinion that they would dispute all the passages and that the Duke should do well if they could the next day seize the first heights at the entry of the Wood. He moreover desired some German Foot to joyn with his in the descent of the Mountain Having obtained four Battalions he caused them to advance on that side whereby the Poles were to descend Towards the evening of that day the Duke having surveyed the ground at the foot of Camaldoli ordered Count Lesley to command some Troops to take post at night at the going out of the Wood and to raise a Battery there the better to secure the passage of the Army the next day At first there were but two Battalions sent Count Lesley deferring to send any greater number till it was with the Artillery They laboured all Night at this work but the Turks being aware of it before it
order though slowly by reason of the roughness of the way and the opposition of the Enemy the left moving along the Danube as far as the Village of Neudorff carryed it after a considerable resistance To the right upon the same Line there was another Hill guarded by the Turks at the attack whereof a Dutch Batallion being disordered was succoured by Stirums Dragoons ordered by Count Dunewald This Batallion recovered took the Post and continued to advance The justness of this march the Christian Armies order of Battel and the scituation of the Place which made the Imperialists appear as in a kind of Amphitheater presented a great and formidable object to the sight which astonished the Turks and did not a little contribute to the Victory The King of Poland being yet behind the Army halted near Newdorff until he was advanced upon the same Line after which they continued their march The Imperialists carried without very great resistance the Post the Turks had at Helgstat and the Prince of Waldeck obliged those that opposed him to retire In the mean time the Infidels who were in Battalia in their Camp moved as if they had designed upon the left Wing but perceiving the Army of Poland upon the heights they moved that way so that the Poles and Turks faced each other almost in the same order making more depth then front The Poles seemed back'd by the Wood and the Turks by their Camp. The King who was in the head of his Troops detach'd some squadrons of his Hussars who charged the Turks being all Lanciers with great Vigour they bore before them those that opposed them but engaging themselves too far they drew so many Enemies upon them that they were forced to run The Turks followed them to a Place where Prince Waldeck had opportunely posted two Batalions of Bavarians The fire of these Foot cooled the pursuit of the Enemy and gave the King of Poland time to cause his first Line to advance to re-establish the Disorder of his Hussars Count Rabata at the Kings desire joyned the Emperours Dragoons with them But this body of Turks detach'd from their Troops did not dare to stand the shock of the Christians but retired to a height where they had Foot and Cannon with more diligence then they were come After this advantage the King continued to march with all his Army and the Turks endeavoured to obstruct their Passage from the several Posts they had The fire of their Artillery and Musquets did some harm to the Poles but did not break them and so they advanced still gaining Ground insensibly upon the Enemy In the mean time the Duke being far advanced towards the left of the Enemies Camp to divert their Endeavours upon the right the Turks put themselves in battalia upon the Ravine or before their Camp and planting some great Guns against the Christians they made many shot and seemed by their meen to resolve to defend that Post which was the strongest of all and served for a Retrenchment for their Camp but their firmness did not last long The Imperialists being advanced within Musquet shot they abandoned their Station about five in th Evening and left them the convenience of passing it without disorder and entring into their Camp. It was then that the Duke making use of this Advantage wheeled all his left Wing and instead of continuing his way by the Danube he caused it to march to the right to enter into the Enemies Camp no Souldier quitting his rank to pillage their Baggage which they had abandoned and their Tents standing This motion being perceived by the Turks who were engaged against the Poles on the right Wing quite dismayed them and they began to retire for fear of being charged in the Flank The King thereupon passed the Ravine with his Troops notwithstanding the firing of some Janizaries that defended it and pursued the Enemies About seven a Clock he entred their Camp some little time after Prince Waldeck who passed into it with his Bavarians and Franconians Half an hour after the Duke having gained the Suburbs and Counterscharp commanded Prince Lewis of Baden to advance towards the Trenches of the Turks with some Troops that the Baron of Mercy conducted but this Prince could not come there so soon but that the Janizaries that were in guard there had leisure to make their retreat by favour of the Night that came on They had begun it as soon as they saw the Christians approach their Camp. They retired with no great loss having had the bravery before they abandoned their Trenches to attempt another attack against the City and to turn and fire the Cannon of their Batteries against the Army The Night suspended the Victory and obliged the Troops to make halt in that part of the Camp which was betwixt the Danube and the City the Turks being retreated on the other side of the River The Duke of Lorraine sent to complement the King upon the happy success of that day which was owing to his presence This Prince returned his complement confessing that every body had a share in it but that all the honour was due to his Conduct and to the valour of the German Troops who first entred the Camp and the Enemies works During the Night the Turks passed the River at Schunket making their retreat by the Rear of their Front and quitted their Camp with so much precipitation that they left behind them in the great Visier's Quarters the Standard of the Ottoman Empire and the Horse Tayle the ordinary Ensigns of their dignity They left also all their Tents and the greatest part of their Equipage all their Ammunition and Provisions which they had in great abundance all their Artillery amounting to 180 pieces of Cannon and Mortars and they hastened their retreat with so much diligence that their formost Troops had the next day passed the Raâ—b The Christians lost no body of consideration except Prince Thomas of Croy the Count of Transmandorff young Poloski Captain of a Company of Hussars and the wounded besides the Duke of Croy the Counts Fontaine Tilly and Schalemburg were inconsiderable The 13th early the Duke having appointed his Army to be ready went to wait on the King of Poland to regulate their march and the immediate pursuit of the Victory But finding him little disposed to it he omitted no instances to perswade him to it proposing to him to march with all the Army or with all the Horse only or else with a great detachment but the King opposed the weariness of his Troops and the necessity of refreshing them some hours The King thereunto being unwilling the Duke entred into the City The Grand Visier before his flight caused the Heads of five of the Women of his Seraglio to be cut off for fear they should fall into the hands of the Conquerors The Baron of Kaunitz the Emperors Resident at the Port who was at present in the Visier's Quarters was in danger of being killed by
send greater Recruits Hereunto Navailles gave answer That the zeal which the King his Master conceived for the conservation of Candia was evidenced by better effects than the empty promises without fruit of other Princes and that accounting the present number of Forces and Gentlemen of considerable Quality which were ingaged in this War together with the great expence and charge his Majesty had been at in maintenance of a Fleet to transport them his Majesties affection to the Republick was unquestionable and that both he and his Officers who had the honour to command those Forces had undertaken along Voyage and entred into dangers with constancy and readiness of mind and had assaulted the Enemy almost before they saw them and given relief to the Town before they set their foot in it but if the issue of affairs did not correspond with aâ— success agreeable to their good intentions and the primary design of this Enterprise they must have patience seeing that it costs no other than the slaughter of French-â—â—â— and that there had been a large effusion of the Noble and Illustrious as well as of the common blood It was a species of ingratitude not â—o remain contented with such forcible arguments of friendship and it was a breach of modesty to pretend that because his King had 〈◊〉 them eight thousand men that therefore they should continue in Candia so long as one remained alive It was true that besides the Kings service he was acted by some inward motives of Religion but that he could not transgress the Commands and Instructions of his Majesty which injoyned him to imbark his Forces in order to their return about the 20th of that present month of August In reply to which though the Captain-General and the other Venetian Officers and also Bali Rospigliosi the Admiral of the Popes Gallies urged his stay with all the instances and arguments imaginable yet nothing could prevail to detain him until the arrival of other Forces only he was contented to leave six hundred men in the Town during the time that he continued at Standia so that by this time having imbarked his Forces and lastly the six hundred men left on the Works the Duke took his farewel and departed so that the Town being as it were deserted and forsaken of its chief hopes all things were given for desperate and men began to be weary of their lives as well as of the War and of their labours and whereas with the assistance of the French as it was said in the Council the Town might have held out until the next Spring it was now by this grand revulsion reduced to its last Crisis and so weakened as that no possibility of preservation remained but in honourable terms of Surrender And though the French in their Voyage home about Malta encountred positive Orders to remain on the place yet judging the Town might already be surrendered and so the return disgraceful and in vain proceeded notwithstanding in their course for France for which default and want of constancy the Duke of Navailles being arrived at Tolon sustained the punishment of his Princes disfavour and ordered for some time not to approach the Court. The Turks by departure of the French The Turks make an assault increasing in hopes and courage made an assault on the Quarters of Sabionera and St. Andrea and first attaquing some Souldiers to the number of about thirty who were placed on the Guard at the Post of St. Pelagia they cut most of them off and put the rest to flight with which the Turks being more animated advanced to the Palisade of the new Rentrenchment but Vollies of Cannon and showers of Musket-shot and stones pouring on them gave some stop to the â—ury of their career Grimaldi observing that the Enemy was at a stand brought up his Voluntiers and Cavalry which served on Foot and together with the Forces from Brunswick so plyed the Turks with stones Granadoes and shot that the Fight was confused bloody and horrid howsoever the Enemy so persisted that the Commanders gave Order That the gross of the Army should fall on but the Souldiers were so broken and torn that they refused to advance though thrust forward with the point of Sword and Spear The Captain-General in the mean time taking his course along the Marine on which part also the Turks were far advanced caused a Mine to be sprang under the thickest crowd of the Turks which consisting of an hundred Barrels of Powder made such a destruction as abated much of the storm and induced the Enemy to retire within their Redoubts The Marquess St. Andrea in like manner performing the office of a valiant and experienced Souldier applied himself to all places where danger most required his presence and recovered certain Breast-works which the Enemy had gained in the Skirmish Nor was the storm less furious and bloody on the part of Sabionera nor was the success and advantage on the Christians side less considerable in all which the Souldiery deserved great commendations and renown the two French Regiments of Perasi and Jonsac under the Command of the Sieur Choiseul did wonders as also those few which remained of the Regiments of Savoy commanded by Signior Arborio Signior Rados Micolo Polani a Noble Venetian the Proveditor Cornaro the Colonels Gabriel Givii and the Sergeant Major of the Troops of Brunswick and Serjeant Major Bellegarde as also the Commander in cheif of Malta gave honourable testimonies of their Bravery and Valour In short the Captain-General praised them all which was the best reward he could bestow on such generous Souls and then sent Orders to Standia That the Forces arrived with the Duke Mirandola should immediately be landed these Forces which when they were first imbarked amounted to the number of a thousand five hundred men were now by Calentures and other sicknesses caused by the excessive heats of the season reduced to six hundred and though they were unhealthy and unexperienced Souldiers yet the extremity of Affairs was such as called them to immediate service and to be placed on the Guard of the new Retrenchment But all this could give little relief to the perishing condition of this miserable Town which was not only weakened by departure of the French but by at least five hundred others such as Swedes and Germans and other Nations who notwithstanding all care and endeavours to the contrary crowded under the French Banner Likewise the Batalion of Malta imbarked which though reduced to a small Body was yet very considerable for the Quality and Valour of the Cavaliers which example all the Voluntiers followed and thereby reduced the Town to a condition beyond all possibility of defence for that in actual service not above four thousand men remained and of these at least an hundred a day being killed the Town must necessarily in a short time become a prey to the Enemy wherefore the Captain-General called a Council of the most eminent Officers A Council
the Camp about Ten of the Clock preceded by his Guards and riding between the Dukes of Bavaria and Lorrain being followed by many other Princes and Lords and saluted with three Vollies of all the Cannon and Musqueteers of the Army After Mass the Archbishop of Strigonium read with a loud Voice the Bull of Indulgence accorded to such who should fight against Infidels and having given his Benediction to their Imperial Majesties who received it on their Knees and consequently to all the Army this Prince caused 500000 Livers to be distributed amongst the Souldiery which was no less acceptable to them The Command of the Forces being given to the Duke of Lorrain as Generalissimo the Right wing was conducted by the Duke of Sax-Lawenburg the Left by General Caprara and the Infantry and Cannon by the Count of Starenberg With this Army thus composed most of the Emperour 's old and best Souldiery and under so expert a General as the Duke of Lorrain the Court hoped for somewhat extraordinary though as it will appear they were disappointed in their Expectation In the mean time a Council of War was held to see what might be done before the arrival of the Turks and after what manner they should act upon the Defensive when the Enemy did appear All agreed that for the Offensive there was nothing to be attempted but Gran or Newhausel and that as they ought to avoid those Enterprises which would cost much Blood and weaken the Army so they seemed to point at Gran as most easie though others were for Newhausel for several Reasons For the Defensive it was concluded they must endeavour to defend the Passages of the Rivers Raab and Waagh The result of this Council being referred to the Emperour he judged that for the Reputation of his Arms and other important Reasons not to suffer his Army to lye idle the space of two Months time which they had before the Enemy could take the field but left the choice to the Duke whether he would attempt Gran or Newhausel He only recommended to him that when the Turks advanced he should take care for the security of the Garrisons and oppose as much as in him lay the Enemies ravaging of the Hereditary Countries The Army being advanced near Comorra the Duke having no certain Intelligence of the condition of Gran resolved in person to take a view of the Place which he did but being upon the point to resolve its Siege he was advertised that the Turks were forming a Camp at Buda and judging that they might from thence relieve Gran by Water as the Bassa of Newhausel had already done upon the news of the Christians Design to attempt the place and perhaps cut off the Communication betwixt him and Comorra by posting themselves betwixt this Place and Gran he quitted the thoughts of that Enterprise resolving upon the Siege of Newhausel as the only choice left him This Resolution being taken June 3. he sent some Foot towards Gran and armed Boats down the River as designing to burn the Bridge to gain a belief of his intent to besiege that City but wheeling about with his Horse he marched all that Night and invested Newhausel the Day following The Turks seeing this set the Suburbs on fire to prevent the Christians approach who notwithstanding planted their battery and were advanced within an hundred paces of the body of the Place with little loss save that of Count Taxis and might probably have given a good account of the Siege if the Court which disapproved the Enterprise had not sent orders for them to retire This command was immediately obeyed and not without some Precipitation the Army returning to their old Camp betwixt Raab and Comorra The sudden raising of the Siege seemed strange to some being the Turkish Army was not yet ready to appear and that the Christians were so forward in their approaches But the more discerning thought otherwise because this Town being strong and well furnished with all things the obstinacy of the Besieged might have wearied the Imperial Troops and have reduced them to an Inability of being able to oppose the Ottoman Army when they came into Hungary and that therefore it was better chusing the certain than the hazard of that which was not so as was the taking of Newhausel and to keep upon the Defensive the rather being the Polish Army was not ready nor yet raised and therefore the Imperial Army upon whose Valour depended the Preservation of Hungary and Austria was in no wise to be weakned or baffled The Duke of Lorrain having refreshed his Army for some time advanced with all his Forces on the side of Raab having given orders to hasten the Works at Leopolstat and repair the Fortifications of Raab and Comorra In the mean time the Turkish Army composed of all the Nations under their Obedience consisting of 200000 Men advanced into Hungary on the side of Alba-Regalis sending 4000 Pioneers before them to dig Pits and Wells in their passage to furnish all the Army with Water and the Grand Visier himself having passed the Bridge of Essek with the body of his Army moved towards the Christian Camp by Raab with a Resolution to attack it instantly and oblige them to a general Battel his Army was so numerous that they covered the whole Country from Alba even to the Mountains of Raab and being come within a League of the Imperialists he detached a great number of Tartars to spoil and ravage the Country out of which the Christians could receive any Subsistence or Forage which extremely augmented their wants which were already but too great The Grand Seignior arriving at Belgrade the Third of June the Sultan Queen would not stay behind but accompanied his Highness in his Voyage of Hungary At Belgrade he received an Express from the Caimacan of a great fire at Constantinople which had intirely consumed one of the quarters of the City and that the Grand Visier's Seraglio had been quite burnt if the neighbouring Houses had not been pulled down to save that sumptuous Building Takely having taken his measures from the Grand Visier upon whom he had waited and concerted with him concerning the following Campania being returned to Cassovia published a Manifest in the Grand Seignior's and his own Name that all the Hungarians that would embrace his Party should be maintained in their Priviledges Liberties Goods Laws and Religion but that such who refused to submit should have no quarter This Manifest had the desired effect for the Cities of Papa Tot and Vesprin the most remote immediately opened their Gates to the Tekelists The Emperour fearing that Neutra would follow the Example of these three Places commanded Count Schults the Governour to draw forth the great Guns the Arms and Stores and to quit the Place The same Orders were given to the Hilly Cities and to the Officers of the Silver Mines who all obeyed a Conduct so extraordinary alarmed all Hungary The Cities and
Counties declared to the Emperours Commissioners that they would open their Gates to Count Tekely to prevent Fire and Pillage being there was no hopes of Succours To all this the Hungarians under their Palatine Esterhasi's Command who guarded the Passages of the River Waagh about 15000 in number deserted likewise putting themselves under the Protection of Tekeley and the Turks so that this Palatine with scarce a competent Guard was forced to retire to Vienna because he would not violate his Faith sworn to the Emperour Whilst the two Armies did nothing material but observe each other a great Body of Tartars under the Conduct of their Cham who was there in Person animated with the hopes of Pillage having examined the Avenues and Fords of the River Raab by following it towards its source passed over by swimming their Horses and guided by some Hungarians they came to Kerment and St. Godthard a place famous for the memorable Victory which the Christians gained from the Turks nineteen years past far from finding any Obstacles to hinder them every thing seem'd to favour their Passage Count Badiani abandoned his post upon the River joyning with Tekely those Hungarians he commanded so that the Enemy entered the Country like a torrent putting all to Fire and Sword and passing the Rabwitz continued their Devastations The Duke of Lorrain finding the Enemy on both sides and fearing lest they might cut off his way to Vienna and the Hereditary Countries having reinforced the Garisons of Raab and Comorra resolved to retire with the rest not exceeding 24000. And to the end the march of the Horse might not be retarded by the Foot and Artillery they were separated the Infantry and Canon marching along the Isle of Schut the way on the left side of the Danube being exposed to little Danger from thence they came safe to Presburg and Thebes and passing the River Mark arrived happily at Vienna The Duke having passed the Bridge of Raab with the Cavalry marched to Altembourg where he rested some time exposing this little Town to the Pillage of his Souldiers as being loth to let their Cattel and Provisions fall into the Enemies Hands which would infallibly happen The Inhabitants however seemed very dissatisfied to be so used by their Friends though the Cruelty of the Enemy who ravaged all with Fire and Sword effaced the other ill as wholly disproportionable from thence having passed the Streight there they marched towards the Plains of Kitz or Kitzer where two Months before the general review of the Army was made Cara Mustapha the Great Visier attributing this retreat of the Christians to their fear called a Council where it was deliberated whether he should pursue them or undertake the Siege of Raab But judging according to the appearances that their retreat was no better than a runing away it was resolved to pursue them whereupon he presently raised his Camp and followed the way the Christians were gone leaving a body of 12000 near the said Raab to secure his Convoys and Provisions The Duke perceiving their design and not judging himself in affurance in the Plains of Kitz against so formidable a power resolved to march towards Vienna He sent Count Aeneas Caprara General of his Horse to acquaint the Emperour with it and inform him of all things The Duke following had sent his Baggage before but it happened that a Troop of Tartars mingled with Turks and conducted by Hungarians to the number of 3000 in all having swum over the River Leithe and hid themselves in a Wood betwixt the Villages of Petronel and Elend fell suddenly upon them and attacking some Regiments on the left Wing which followed the Baggage with dreadful cryes and howlings did so surprize them with the terrour of so unexpected an irruption that it brought them all into confusion and by reason of the Dust which was so thick that they could not distinguish Friend from Foe not knowing which way to turn they broke their Ranks and communicated their Disorder to the very Regiments that followed In the mean time these Barbarians taking the ordinary Advantages of their impetuousness flew some of them upon the Pedees Carters and Servants which they sacrifice to their Cruelty and Fury whilst the rest plunder the Chariots and Baggage Many Officers lost there their Equipages and amongst others the Duke of Saxon-Lawenburg the Prince of Croy and Aeneas Caprara all General Officers had all their Plate taken away This Accident put the Army into a prodigious Consternation it could not be comprehended that the Duke having left the Enemy behind him this same Enemy should possibly have got before them and by ways nearer and shorter intercept and so boldly attack their Baggage which was thought secure under the Convoy that guarded it As soon as they had recollected themselves and that the Duke had considered the disorder part of his Army was in he sent fresh Troops to second the first and to assist them to repell the Barbarians yet so as to avoid a general Engagement which he greatly apprehended The Tartars seeing the Christians rally began likewise to draw to a head but the fear to see themselves deprived of their Prey obliged them to retire and to run away with no less precipitation and speed than they used in their Onset The Duke caused them to be pursued by his Light-Horse who took some Standards being unwilling to engage with the gross of their Troops as well being this Detachment was supported by the Avant-guard of the Army as not to retard his march to Vienna the which he continned afterwards without any Interruption The Chevalier of Savoy Brother to the Count of Soissons was lost in this Confusion for being too far advanced with his Dragoons that followed him a Tartar knock'd him from his Horse with his Sable and thinking him dead did alight and heaving him cross his Saddle with his Breast upon the Pomel prest him so there that he bruised his Stomach A little after this Prince being relieved and conducted to Vienna and however his Wound in his Head was not mortal his dislocated Stomach could not bere-set so that he died in a few days Prince Thomas of Aremberg and Count Mellini were slain in this scuffle though the common loss of either side was not great The Emperour being informed of the present State of Affairs by Count Caprara was greatly irresolved not knowing what to do upon so important and pressing an Occasion He immediately caused his chief Ministers to be summoned to know their Sentiments and all unanimously counselled his Majesty to retire from Vienna They now only deliberate what road or way he ought to take some advised he should go over the Mountains without passing the Danube and so strait to Campililium being the shortest and easiest way to Lintz but the Enemy being on the same side of the River the other was preferable as less subject to Danger and the violent pursuits of the Enemies Cavalry who would make more way in
other He caused his Horse to advance which he had left behind the narrow Passages to be ready upon Occasion and in the mean time caused Okelby to enter the Castle with two hundred Men commanded a-new for this Enterprise At break of day the General commanded Prince Lewis of Baden to inspect the Suburbs where some Malecontents did appear Upon his advance the Enemy retreated into the City and abandoned the said Suburbs without resistance This happy Success and that in sight of the Enemy seemed an Argument of their Weakness and occasioned the summoning of the Town which in the Surprise it was seeing the Imperial Army at their Gates and the Garrison of the Castle reinforced immediately surrendred deliberating no longer than was necessary to give means to the Garrison of the Malecontents to retire to their Camp which did not happen for one part of them was cut in pieces when they were out and the other made Prisoners in the Town After this advantage the Duke was resolved to attack the Enemy who were advanced in Batalia within three quarters of an hour of the City He gave Prince Lewis of Baden Orders to seise with his Dragoons the Vineyards and Gardens at the head of the Suburbs and to extend on both hands from the Danube to the foot of the Mountain whilst the Horse commanded by Count Caprara descended by the same Vineyards to embattel themselves The Enemy on their side made some motions of coming up to the Imperialists and detached some Parties to begin the Skirmish but the Duke would not Engage them before all his Troops were in Battel-array As soon as the second Line was formed they began to advance which occasioned the Malecontents to change their Countenance for whereas they had appeared as if designing to bring the business to a Battel much Dust appeared in the Rear of their right Wing as also the left and removed farther off which seemed to be occasioned by retiring Troops which also proved so all the Line which stood opposite to the Imperialists wheeling and separating into a perfect Retreat Those who were on the Lorrainers right and had a Party of Polanders in opposition to them finding themselves pressed by their Ayantguard were intirely routed being chased with considerable loss until they had gained a Wood and passed a Brook two miles off they there rallied on the other side and obliged the Troops that had pressed them to a stand On the left another detachment of Poles seconded by some German Squadrons and the Regiment of Palfi charged the Enemy with so much Vigour that having broken them they kill'd and took betwixt five and six hundred of them They seised on above a thousand Waggons with Baggage and pursued them towards Tirnau with so much heat that they forced some of them with great Confusion into the Woods and others into the Danube The fear was such that they fled on all sides until they had passed the Waagh Tekely upon the Advice he had of the march of the Imperialists by the Party he had beaten the Night before he retired in the Night with the greatest part of his Horse and all his Foot leaving but few of his Men with the Turks who would retire as he did resolving to expect the Germans This Action produced some misunderstanding betwixt the Tekelists and the Infidels who separated with little satisfaction from each other but they re-united since by order of the Grand Visier as was found by their intercepted Letters The Duke in the mean time caused the Timber the Planks and the Boats prepared for the Construction of the designed Bridge to be destroyed and afterwards returned to the Marck The Siege in the mean time as also the defence was bravely carried on one Day the Turks divertised themselves with a consort of Flutes Cymbals and other Instruments of their Fashion and the terrible howlings of the Assistants which they account Melodious denoting as was supposed by their joy some extraordinary Feast The Besieged that were in the Counterscharp but ten Paces off could not forbear rallying these Barbarians and ask them in scorn to give them part in the Divertisement of their Ball being they had given them that of their Musick And the Ball did truly follow but the Leapers were on the Christians side For these Infidels having sprung a Mine which they had newly dug under the Posts and Pallizadoes of the Counterscharp the Earth with a good part of the Pallizado and about ten of the Defendants were blown up The Turks taking advantage of the Opportunity used all their might to render themselves Masters of the Counterscharp by the breach they had made in it The Fight was hot and the Slaughter great The Confusion and Disorder grew high but most amongst the Christians which being perceived by Count Serini and St. Croix Lieutenant Collonel to Dupigni they ran with a hundred Men to their Aid and employing them to throw hand Granadoes and other artificial Fires upon the Enemy so encouraged their Friends that they fell with revived Courage upon the Enemy beat them back and kill'd a great number of them planting the Heads of the slain in rows upon their Pallizadoes letting these Barbarians know that Christian Walls would not tumble with noise of Instruments and showting as the Walls of Jerico once did A Messenger being sent to the Duke of Lorrain a second time with Letters in Cyfer was unhappily taken by the Turk and his Letters being tyed to an Arrow were shot again into the Town with Latin lines affixed to them intimating that they sent this Letter to the Besieged being it was to no purpose to send it to Lorrain being assured that in the ill Condition the place was in it would be taken before the Succours could arrive The Governour published an Ordinance whereby all Persons of what Quality or Condition soever they were being able to bear Arms and had not yet listed themselves in the Companies of the University or those of the Magistrates should appear at the New-Market upon the noise of the Bells to be inrolled and form a fourth Body which was done In the mean time many Christians taken by the Tartars being shaved and in Turkish habits found means to save themselves and escape into the City The Turks continued their Labours and the Advancement of their Works and to hinder the Effect of the Bombs which were continually thrown out of the City they covered their Trenches with great Beams and Trees upon which they threw Sacks of Earth in abundance which not only closed the chinks but rendred it proof against Granadoes as also Musket shot When this Work was finished not only the principal Bassaes but the Visier himself came to view the Trenches and lodged in them having their separate Apartments pav'd with Brick and divided into Chambers with all the conveniencies of great Houses There arrived an Express in the Camp Aug. 1. which informed the Duke that the King of Poland would not part from
Cracovia till the 16th Instant that the Troops of Saxony would have their Rendezvous at Dresden the 4th and that those of Frankonia would not begin to march before the 11th These Succours appearing remote and the duration of the Defence of Vienna incertain his Highness resolved to approach the Enemies Quarters He thought that he should be able by the Twentieth of August with his Forces as well Imperialists as Bavarians and the Troops of Polanders which should enter into Silesia to pass the Daunbe at Krembs and advance with that Body towards the Heights near the Camp of the Enemies with design to maintain himself there till the arrival of the Allies During this he might weary out the Infidels animate the Besieged in their Defence and hold himself in a Condition to force a Post for the relief of the Place according to the necessity of Affairs He sent Count Palfi to Court to acquaint his Imperial Majesty with the Design and press the march of the Troops which might be got together by that time and some other disposal of Boats and Provisions necessary for that Expedition After he had dispatch'd the Count he was informed that Count Tekely had sent Boats to the Turks that he had passed the Danube and that they were seen from Entserdorff a little Town seated upon that River where the Imperialists had some Magazins The Duke marched thither with four Regiments and thence to the Bridge of Vienna where having learned that the Enemy had possessed themselves of a small Island and that they had taken Boats from the Peasants who had retired into the said Isle he ordered the Baron of Mercy to dislodge them thence and returned to Entserdorff Mercy caused his Cannon to advance upon the opposite shoar to the Isle with the Dragoons of Savoy which guarded the Bridge and having broken these Boats with his great Shot he reduced the Turks to an Inability of being able to get out of the Tabor or Leopold's Isle As soon as Tekely understood that the Imperialists were returned towards Vienna he summoned Moravia to pay him Contribution The Duke being advertised of it returned to Ancren upon the Mark to defend that Province against the Malecontents He was informed upon his arrival there that a party of them had repassed that River that day and burnt some Villages He detached presently 500 Polanders to pursue them seconding them with some Horse and Dragoons who encountering them two Leagues from Ancren loaden with Spoyl they attack'd them so briskly though far inferior in number that they killed 500 released the Prisoners recovered all the Booty and took ten or twelve of their Standards The Siege was carried on with no less bravery than it was sustained and being several who were out of Employment were necessitous an Ordinance was published intimating that Monies and Provisions should be given to all such who would inroll themselves with assurance they should not be obliged to serve after the Siege Many accepted of the Condition received three Patacoons each advance Moneys and were regalled with Bread and Wine by the care of the Prince of Swartzenberg and by the Liberality of the Religious and the Citizens Wine never failed nor indeed fresh Meat for the sick store of Cattel having been twice brought in by sally during the Siege The Magistrates had by the Governours Order taxed the Ecclesiasticks the Cloysters the Citizens and the Peasants who were refuged in the City to furnish for the use of the Souldiers the hundredth Pint which was punctually executed there being none that refused to pay this Imposition the greatest Lords and the Emperours Officers not exempting themselves upon this Occasion St. Stephens Steeple being very obnoxious to the Turks by reason of its height and the great extent of its Discoveries was much shot at by them though Solyman when he besieged Vienna had declined ruining so noble a Fabrick upon no other Terms but that they should put a a Half Moon the Arms of that Empire upon the Spire of it which was still up The Centinel that was there the 7th perceived betwixt the River Mark and Moravia on the other side the Danube Fire and Smoke which lasted till eight a Clock C. Starenberg judg'd they were C. Tekely's Troops who in passing the Waagh had skirmished with the Imperialists and it proved so as he found by the return of one of his Spyes which he had sent to the Duke The account he gave was that the Turks having detatched 3000 Horse to discover the Succors which were arrived in the Princes Army out of Saxony Bavaria and the Circles these Infidels fell into an Ambuscade which was laid for them and where most of them were cut in pieces that an Aga Count Tekely's Secretary and an Hungarian Count since dead of his Wounds were taken Prisoners that the Imperialists had taken a great number of the Enemies Waggons with Baggage and that since this Advantage many of the chief of the Malecontents were come in to the Duke Collonel Heister having passed the Danube at Closternemburg took four hundred of the Enemies Horse On the other side the Malecontents continued to send small parties into Moravia who set fire by Night on the Houses and Villages and as it was a hard matter to remedy these Disorders by force of Arms the Duke judged that the best way to repress them was by that of Reprizals He caused Tekely to be advertised that he would send Orders to Zatmar and to all the Emperours Garrisons to burn the Palaces and Houses of all them of his party This threatning put a stop to these Incendiaries for he thereupon sent a Person to Chevalier Labormiski under pretext of an Envoy to the King of Poland to the end he might inform the Duke of Lorrain that he had not commanded those burnings and that they should hear no more of them About this time Count Albret Caprara the Emperours Envoy at Constantinople had Permission given him by the Grand Visier to return to his Master and having passed by Tuln he had in charge to propose to his Imperial Majesty that upon the Cession of Raab he would abandon the Siege of Vienna Kotlinski a Lieutenant upon promise of the first vacant Company had been dispatched from Vienna to the Duke one from the Deputies of the Council of State and the rest from the County Caplier and Starenberg The first for they were of several dates marked the danger the Counterscharp was in others gave an account of the state of the Siege minding him of the Necessities of the place and the Accidents that might happen and praying him to hasten the Succours and these were writ by the Governour Caplier's Letters particulariz'd the slain and wounded finishing with earnestness for Relief praying him to consider the Officers their want of Granados their stock being near spent and the Disposition of the Citizens not to be relied upon The last Letter marked that C. Starenberg was sick of a bloody Flux and could answer
this repast the Duke returned to his Camp very well satisfied with the Civilities done him by his Majesty who likewise approved of all what this Prince had proposed to him and upon his reiterated Instances he made to him for hastening the Conjunction of his Forces he sent Orders to his Great General who was stayed behind to hasten his march The King himself resolved to be at Krembs the second of September where the Emperour was to come to agree about the Conjunction and Passage of the Armies In the mean time the Emperour who should have come to Krembs not only to animate and authorise the Expedition by his Presence but also to allay the infinite Difficulties which the Competition of so many Princes would occasion was retained at Lintz by an Indisposition of Health Thus the Care of all was left to the Duke of Lorrain as also to regulate the Pretensions of the Auxiliary Armies Having at length found Expedients for all these Difficulties he went and acquainted the King of Poland with what he had designed which being highly approved of he went thence to Otelsdorff where at his intreaty the Duke of Saxony and all the Generals met him After some Contestations the Passage of the Danube and the Conjunction of all the Auxiliaries was resolved upon which was to be September 5. in the Plains of Tuln It was determined that the Polish Army with that of the Emperours should pass where they were That the Saxons should traverse the River upon the Bridge at Krembs and whereas the Bavarians with some German Troops camped there under the Command of Count Lesley they should all march in body to Tuln to joyn the Imperial Army and that of Poland The Princes upon Consultation deferred the Execution of this Design till the seventh The King began to pass the sixth in the Evening The Duke of Lorrain after having detached the Contes of Lodrox Riccardi and Herberwiller with their Regiments and two Batalions of Lorrain to joyn 3000 Poles which the King ought to add to them to form a Body to cover Moravia he sent Collonel Heyster with 600 Horse to Closterneuburg with orders to make Fires upon the heights of Khalenberg to advertise the besieged by this sign which was concerted betwixt them of the approach of their relief The besieged had been extreamly pressed for the Turks had finished their Galleries and attacked the two Bastions of Lebel and the Court so that the besieged did daily by Messages and Rockets advertise their Friends of the extremity they were reduced to the Enemy being now attacked to the very body of the place having made a great breach in the Court Bastion The sixth at Night they were greatly encouraged by the firing of five Fusees or Rockets upon the Mountain of Kalenberg which made them judge their help near hand and which they answered by the like Signal The Grand Visier not ignorant of the Christians motion on the seventh commanded a review of his Troops to be made which upon enquiry were represented to him by his Officers to amount to 168000 Men a List whereof was found in his Tent as also in that of Reiz Effendi or chief Secretary the which we have omitted here not to puzzle the course of History with hard Names but shall however to satisfie the more curious subjoyn not only that but an exact account of the Christian Army that raised this celebrious Siege and also of those Worthies who deserve to have their Memories transferred to Posterity for defending their City with so signal Bravery and Constancy It did not seem that the Christian Princes in the Turkish Army did serve them with any great good will. Tekely who had been but once in the Camp to salute the Grand Visier left but a thousand Hungarians with him upon his departure and Abassi though often invited to the Port excused his attendance by manifold Pretences However the Visier being entred Hungary he could not dispense with his waiting upon him at Javarin though but with few Troops He was notwithstanding well received by this Minister and sent back to guard the Passages betwixt Raab and Ramnitz and the Bridges which the Turks had built upon those two Rivers to secure a retreat in case Fortune proved their Enemy The Vayvod of Walachia already mentioned caused a Cross of Oak of a prodigious bigness to be planted before his Tent in the Camp at Vienna it is seventeen foot in length with this Inscription in Latin upon it Crucis exaltatio est conservatio Mundi Crux decor Ecclesiae Crux custodia Regum Crux confirmatio Fidelium Crux Gloria Angelorum vulnus Demonum Nos Dei Gratia servamus Canthacuzenus Valachiae Transalpinae Princeps ejusdem perpetuus haeres Dominus c. Ereximus Crucem hanc in loco quavis die devotione Populi sacro honorato in perpetuam sui suorumque Memoriam Tempore obsidionis Mahometanae à Vizirio Kara Mustapha Bassa Viennensis inferioris Austriae Mense Sept. die 1. Anno 1683. Viator Memento mori The Infidels upon the approach of the Christians were in no little disorder their whole Camp being in a tumultuous Motion their Horse mov'd confusedly and the Servants were seen to load their Camels with Baggage which made the Besieged judge that they design'd to march to meet the Succours notwithstanding this Disorder they did not discontinue their Approaches and the following day redoubled the firing of their Cannon and Mortars That Morning a Prisoner being taken reported That the Turks were in a great Consternation because the Christians were already upon the Mountain of Kalemberg Those who were upon the Rampart saw their Enemies pull down their Tents and go and joyn their Companions who were advanced to oppose the Passage of the Christians and about Noon they saw a great Body ranging themselves in Battalia at the foot of the Mountain whilst others joyned them carrying with them all their Baggage and Provisions upon Waggons and Camels as if they designed to change their Camp where they also planted their Pavilions in the same manner as if they intended a long stay there probably to refresh themselves to be more brisk and in a condition to fight the Succours when they should descend from the Hills During all these motions the attack was carried on with redoubled vigour and though the defence was yet braver yet at Night they fired many Rockets to advertise their friends that the place was reduced to the last extremity and that they could hold out no longer But now the Christians were seen to cover the Mountain of Kalemberg and to salute their Enemies with several volleys of Cannon To comprehend well the joy of the besieged at so charming a spectacle we need but represent to our selves how they had been close shut up the space of nine Weeks being every hour indeed moment in cruel apprehensions for their goods their lives their Wives and their Children and to see themselves now upon the point to be
was finished they sent some Troops very early to hinder the Labourers and posted themselves neat them behind a Curtain and behind Planks which well-nigh shut the descent from the Mountain before the Christians Battery Count Fontaine who commanded the Post was quick in opposing their effort and having called the men from their work and got his two Battalions together he posted them betwixt his Battery and their Barricado yet so as not to be encompassed by them who at the same time began to stretch to the right and left to gain the Christians Flanks The Duke who observed from St. Leopolds Chappel the Turks motion sent some Battalions of the Regiments next hand to the relief of his men These being commanded by the Duke of Croy arriving in time the Imperialists extended their line and took a resolution to attack the Infidels in their Post behind their blind This was executed with so much vigour that the Enemy were forced to give way They abandoned their Post and retired to another where the gross of their Body remained The Duke of Croy having his shoulder pierced with a Musket-shot in this action was obliged to retire leaving the command to C. Fontaine who disposed all things for the defence of the Post which the Enemy seemed forward to attack again but they contented themselves with shooting out of their own station the fire continuing brisk on both sides The Duke perceiving that the Turks made all that Body move which had camped beyond Neudorff to support their advanced Troops he first commanded all the left Wing to march and presently after he gave order to Prince Waldeck and to the Duke of Sax-Lawenburg to rush out of the Woods upon the Enemies who were at the head of their Camp. He sent to advertise the King of Poland of all this and understanding that his Majesty came to St. Leopolds Chappel he went to meet him there and shewing the motions the Armies were in he acquainted him with all the orders that he had given upon this occasion After they had agreed upon all things the King having performed his devotion at the Chappel mounting on Horse-back he went from Rank to Rank exhorting his Officers and Souldiers to do well and spake to them after this manner Generous Polish Cavaliers It is not only to defend the glory which your Ancestors and your courage have acquired to you of being esteemed the invincible Bulwark of Christendom against the Ottoman Power It is not the defence only of your own Country which the loss of Vienna by an infallible consequence will expose to the cruel Invasion of those against whom you are going to fight but it is the cause of God and to save the Empire of the West which does us the honour to have recourse to our Arms an honour which our Ancestors did never presume to hope for and which is reserved for your valour Think then of nothing but conquering or to dye nobly in this occasion to which the glory of Martyrdom is concomitant Think that your King fights in the head of you to partake with you of your perils and your victories and rest assured that the God of Battels whose cause we are going to defend will not fail to fight for us Whilst this Prince endeavoured by his discouses to inspire his Troops with that generous ardour he was himself agitated the Citizens of Vienna who had been advertised of the approach of their relief saw with inexpressible content the Army of the Christians descend from the Mountains of Kalemberg being ascertained by the noise of the Cannon which was shot against the Turks who had parapetted the Passages with earth and stone though to no purpose that their deliverance was near And they would also contribute all they could to it by the discharge of all their Artillery from the Bastions and Curtains of the wall There was also an infinity of small shot discharged on both sides with many Granadoes The Turks had not as yet shot so many Bombs since the beginning of the Siege as they did this day to retard the Christians that descended into the Plain and to annoy those who crowded upon the heights of the City to observe the descent of their friends and the combat Whilst the King of Poland continued his march at the head of his Army the Duke of Lorraine caused Heisters Regiment of Dragoons and another of Saxony which Count Caprara posts to the left at the foot of St. Leopolds Chappel to descend That of Heister received orders at eight of the clock to go and attack the Enemies who had possessed a place to the left from whence they troubled the Imperialists and the Infantry had likewise order to advance upon the Turks who were retired behind their courtains and hollow ways This motion was made on both sides at once The Turks made some resistance at first but not with Vigour enough to hinder the Christians advance who obliged them to retire behind another blind Count Lesley who had brought down some Cannon planted it at the head of the Infantry The Duke of Croy was also returned for having used the first Applications to his hurt he had force enough not to quit the fight the whole day This advantage gave both time and room to extend the front of the left Wing as it descended and issued out of the Streights In the mean time the first Line of Infantry which in their march against the Infidels gave continual fire with their Musquets mingled with that of Field-pieces beat them out of another Post and a Line of Curtain which reach'd from the Danube Hill over against the Carthusians The Duke about ten a Clock made a halt and whilst the rest of the left Wing filled the ground which the first Troops had taken and that Count Caprara extended it to the Banks of the Danube he sent orders to the Prince of Waldeck who began to appear upon th first heights to the right and to the Duke of Saxon-Lawenburg who was also got out of the Wood to continue their march until they were equal with the front of the Troops commanded by the Duke of Croy and to advance extending to the right until they came within shot of the Poles upon their issuing out of their Avenues which were on the right hand of all These orders being given the Duke returned to the head of the left Wing to make the great Body of the Germans move at once The Great Duke of Saxony came and joyned him and continued always near him in the places the most exposed At Noon they saw the King at the Head of his Troops who came and joyned the right Wing of the Imperialists The Duke in the mean time took care that in marching to the Enemy the Subaltern Generals should rally and re-establish any Disorders which might have happened by the Difficulty of the Passages and that all should advance with equality firing continually with their great and small shot The march was in this
the Christians in the heat of the Battel as being habited after the Turkish fashion By day there was not a Turk left though they were traced during the obscurity of the Night by the Villages on fire the Infidels having marked their retreat with this last cruelty after they had first burnt their Camp as far as the precipitation of their flight and the fear which obliged them to be gone would permit them They retired also out of the Isle by favour of their lower Bridge the upper Bridge which they had layed being possessed by the Christians upon their arrival The same evening many Cavaliers and Souldiers entered the City with great Droves of Cattel which they found in the Camp and near it which continuing the following days Beef became so cheap that they were sold for five and six Florins each The Duke of Lorrain being now assured that he had no more Enemies to combat dispatcht the Count of Aversberg Son to the Prince of that name to the Emperor to inform him with the happy success of that day On the morrow of the fight being the 13th the fire took in the Powder which the Turks had left a League from the City and confumed an infinite number of Bombs Granadoes and other artificial fire-works This accident was attributed to the negligence of some Christian Souldiers and yet there were prodigious quantities of Powder Bullets c. left behind It was observable that many of the Cannon which the Turks had abandoned were marked with the Arms of the Emperours Ferdinand the first and Rodolf the second After the Souldiery had pillaged the immense Riches of the Camp which amounted to many Millions the King of Poland entered into the City accompanied with Count Starenberg the Governour many Commanders and a great number of the Polish Nobility where Te Deum being sung he the Duke of Bavaria and several Grandees were sumptuously treated by the Governour the People by their joyful acclamations eechoing the praises of their Deliverers In the mean time the Duke of Lorraine was employed in giving the necessary Orders for the Army part of it beginning to discamp and all together with the Poles designing to go in pursuit of the Enemy which favourable conjuncture was omitted in expectation of the Emperour who also arrived that evening at Vienna where he was received coming out of his Boat by the two Electors and the principal Officers of War and Justice Having taken a view of the Enemies works He caused Te Deum to be sung with all the solemnity possible in the Church of St. Stephen That done he caused the Crescent and Star the Ottoman Arms to be taken down from the Spire of that Steeple placed there since the time of Solyman being these last Turks did not cease shooting at it and raised the Cross in their place Wednesday being the 15th the King of Poland sent his Grand Chancellor to the Emperor with a numerous Train to complement him and offer him a part of the booty which he had found in the Grand Visier's Tent and amongst other things the Standard which was always carried before him when he marched It was made of Horse-hair work'd with the Needle and embroidered with flowers the staff of it was guilt as also the Apple which was of brass They call it Tugh in their Language which is to say Horse Tayle The Chancellor made a very elegant Latin Speech and the Emperour answered it with Sentiments of esteem and acknowledgment for his Majesty of Poland After a quarter of an hours conversation with this Envoy and hearing Mass in our Lady of Loretto's Chappel he took Horse to ride to the Camp where he was to visit the King of Poland There was some difficulty about the upper hand This Prince pretended it and there were examples contrary to this pretension In the mean time what he had done deserved particular consideration To conclude it was resolved for the removing of these obstacles that the Emperor should go see the Troops that they should be ranged in Battalia and that these two Sovereigns should advance within twenty steps of each other which was performed in the manner following The Emperour having seen the Bavarians in Battalia continued his way to Ebersdorff where the first Squadrons of the left Wing were drawn up and thence he went to Swech where the right Wing was posted and where the King of Poland expected him Being within Pistol-shot of each other the King with the Prince his Son upon a little gallop moved forwards and then both Princes uncovered at once saluted and covered again in a moment The Emperor spoke first and told the King That he was extremely obliged to him for leaving his Country and undertaking a long and painful voyage to come and combat his Enemies and deliver Vienna that all Christendom shar'd in the obligation and that he had covered himself with glory by so generous an action The King of Poland answered him that it was to God alone that we ought to render our thanks for this Victory that he had done nothing but what every Christian Prince was obliged to do upon the like occasion and that he would endeavour for the future to do yet more for the Interest of Religion that all his displeasure was that he was not in a condition to pursue the Enemy upon their defeat but that his Troops after a march of three days required some rest especially his Cavalry the Horse being extremely tired Prince Alexander who by order of his Father was clothed that day after the German fashion kissed the Emperour's hand who thereupon returned into the City and the King further into his Camp. His Imperial Majesty in his return observed that all the Villages and Palaces were burnt around except the place where Solyman had formerly camped when he besieg'd Vienna in memory whereof the Emperour Rodolf had caused a house of pleasure to be built in that place with Towers which were covered with guilt Copper in the same symmetry or figure that the Sultans Tents were so that the Turks being informed that this building had been made after the Model of Solymans Camp would not ruine it during the Siege but had made a Magazin of it where was also found a great quantity of Bread and Bisquet The Emperour employed the rest of the time that he stayed at Vienna in visiting the Retrenchments and Fortifications with Count Starenberg had made behind the Bastions and the Walls to defend the Ground foot by foot The Prince Elector of Saxony parted the fifteenth with all his Troops His retreat seemed precipitated and supposed to be upon account of the Protestants of Hungary thinking perhaps he had done enough in saving of Vienna whereto he nobly contributed The Emperour willing to recompence Count Starenberg's Services made him Marshal General of the Field and of his Privy Council he gave him 100000 Florins and writ to the King of Spain to send him the Order of the Golden Fleece He
also conferred the same Employments and Honours upon Count Capliers and having presented Prince Alexander the King of Polands Son with a Sword richly adorned with Jewels of great value He returned back to Lintz The greatest part of those who fled upon the approach of the Turks returned to the City when they knew the Siege was raised They began to rebuild the Houses that were ruined and amongst others the Emperours Palace and Scots Church During these Triumphs at Vienna the Grand Visier sensible of his misfortune and the malice of his Enemies and knowing that the Bassa of Buda would render him no good Offices at Court upon the raising of the Siege of Vienna resolved to prevent him and informed the Grand Seignior by an express he dispatch'd to him to Belgrade that he had disposed all things to check the first onset of the Christians and engage them in Battel which would undoubtedly have been accompanied with Success but that he was forced to change design because the Bassa retired with his Army the Walachians the Moldavians and the Hungarians which did so mainly abate the Courage of his Troops that it was afterward impossible for him to bring them to fight that so he had been obliged to retire to conserve the rest of the Army and not to hazard the Person of his Highness Nevertheless the Grand Visier having well examined the Consequences which the ill Success of his Enterprise might have did scarce believe himself secure by this precaution and he perswaded himself that he must immolate the Bassa of Buda's Life to preserve his own He caused him immediately to be arrested together with the Bassaes of Erseck and Poslega who he knew were of Intelligence with the former and caused them all three to be strangled These proceedings furnished his Enemies with Pretexts to destroy him chiefly the Kisler-Agasi a Creature of the Sultana Valide to whom she had recommended upon her Death-bed to revenge her upon this chief Minister which he also did After the Death of these three Bassaes the Grand Visier continued his march but in his Passage by Raab that Garrison fell upon his Rear-Guard and kill'd near 600 of them At Gran he was joyned by a body of 15000 Turks who were going to Belgrade The remains of the Ottoman Army were dispersed some at Gran some at Newhausel at Buda some and the rest entrenched near Altemburg On the other side the Christians discoursed of the rest of the Campania but as part of the Allies did think they had done enough in contributing to the relief of Vienna thought of returning home many Councils were held to examine by what means they might be stayed The Duke of Saxony continued inflexible in his Resolution adn was marched for his Country The Elector of Bavaria consented to leave his Troops with the Emperours but the Prince of Waldeck gave them to understand that he should want new orders for the undertaking of new Enterprises with the Troops of Franconia which he commanded But the Duke of Lorrain perswaded himself that these Difficulties had not hapned if by a quick engagement they had hurried the Allies to pursue the Victory and this was one of the chief reasons that moved the Duke to press the King in it Several Projects were made to divide the Army for different Occasions many Conferences were had with the Allyes and all the time was consumed in Councils In the mean time the Duke who thought of nothing but improving the rest of the Summer proposed every thing that he thought favourable either for the Reduction of Hungary for the Siege of Newhausel or that of Gran or to take the Posts of Barcam and that of Pest for the setling of their Winter Quarters and made it appear that nothing of all this could be done without great Forces the Army of the Turks not being wholly deseated however routed and that the Rebels Army was still entire He determined nothing because he knew not what measures the Turk would take He only affirmed that they ought to march forthwith into Hungary with all the Dispositions necessary to act as the Enemies should direct The Emperour having approved his Propositions and the King of Poland conforming to them they marched the 18th towards Presburg and they encamped the same day with all the Imperial Troops near Fichen from thence they went to Heinburg and the 20th they approached Presburg where the Duke expected the Boats from the Bridge of Tuln according to orders However the Bridge could not be finished till the 25th by reason of the great Winds and the Difficulty of getting Boats in a desolate Country The Franconians continued camped near Vienna and the Bavarians came the 19th to Fichen The 22th news came that Count Budiani who upon the arrival of the Turks had abandoned the passages which he kept upon the Raab and embraced the party of the Malecontents after having warred against the Emperour's Troops with a Body of Turks and Hungarians of his Generality burnt and pillaged a great number of Villages upon the frontier of Styria had surprised and cut in pieces those same Turks to which he was united and had afterwards joyned with the Count of Aspremont to endeavour to incommode them of the great Army in their retreat towards Buda The Bridge upon the Danube to pass into the Isle of Schuts being finished the 25th the Poles began to file over the same day and being followed by the Emperour's Army they encamped the 27th at Gersdorff The Marquis of Barch who in the Prince of Waldeck's absence now sick at Vienna commanded the Troops of Franconia advertised the Duke that he could not follow him with the Troops of his Circle and sent him the copy of an Order from Prince Waldeck dated the 26th He received at the same time another Letter from the Elector of Bavaria dated the day following from his Camp at Ort two Leagues from Vienna which gave him notice that the Franconians would not leave their Camp before they had received Orders from the Princes of their Circle which he judged would be rather to recall than cause them to advance He added that his Infantry being extremely weaken'd and diminished by bloudy Fluxes and his Cavalry ruined his Troops could not so soon follow the Army of the Emperour And yet if they would undertake any great action where they should be necessary he would cause such as were in condition to serve immediately to march The Duke apprehending that this separation might put him out of condition of undertaking any thing considerable sent Prince Lewis of Baden to the Elector who was gone to Bin to change Ayr by reason of some indisposition of health he was charged to perswade him to let his Troops follow remonstrating to him that it would be a great matter now that the Forces of the Christians were diminished to hinder the Turks to take heart to oblige part of Hungary to submit themselves to take Post for Winter Quarters in the Enemies
The booty was great and ninety-two Women and Children taken amongst which was the Visier of Buda's Wife The 26th they made several traverse Lines and laboured to compleat the Approaches to secure their Quarters in the lower Town which was furnished with two thousand Souldiers and a good number of Pioneers The Earth being rude and stony did much obstruct the Labourers The great Master of the Teutonick Order which commanded the Trenches observing that the Pioneers in the lower Town might be easily insulted and beaten by the Besieged had upon his demand six Battalions sent him which were posted along the Wall to countenance them Two fugitives who said they were Hungarians rendered themselves and confirmed that the Garrison was but eight thousand Combatants who by order of the Visier had begun to untile the Houses and unpave the Streets to hinder the effect of the Bombs In the evening betwixt six and seven a Clock the Turks fallied out with great Cries to intimidate them who were posted in the Rondel by the Water side but they were so well received that they retreated confusedly Marshal Starenberg hastned thither seasonably with two Battalions of them that had been posted the day before behind the Wall without which Succour the Turks would have made a great Slaughter amongst the Labourers The Enemy was pursued and the Souldiers cut off some Heads which they presented to the Duke who gave them a golden Ducket for each Head. A Captain was hurt in this scuffle and ten or twelve Souldiers killed and as many wounded The Bavarians raised two Batteries for Bombs on the two sides of their great Battery They carried on their Trench above one hundred paces and ran three traverse Lines with a place of Arms for the defence of their Battery The Turks fired much with their Artillery but killed only two Souldiers The 27th the Christians compleated the works they had made in the Night new traverses were made some Musketiers were placed in the Mosque of the old Town a Post was taken on the right near the Gate which makes the Angle of the Upper Town the Lines were enlarged and deepned and the great Battery was well-nigh finished with the loss only of one Man and some few wounded This Morning the Enemy appear'd where they had been yesterday seemingly disposed to skirmish but seeing that the Christians were ready to receive them they retired without attempting any thing About Eleven a Clock they sallied out Horse and Foot with design to dislodge the Besiegers posted on the right but having stood a Volley and seeing Count Hoffkirchen Lieutenant Collonel to Dunewald advancing with the Guards of Horse they returned into the City leaving twenty of their men dead behind them Of the Christians there were but two killed and five or six hurt Another Deserter came out of Town who reported that the Governour was greatly perplexed in that he saw the inevitable fall of the City which the Grand Seignior had committed to his charge and that he lost in the Sallies his best Souldiers without being able to ruine the Enemies works but that he resented nothing equally with the captivity of his Wife and those of the Principal Officers of the Place taken when they thought them past danger In the Bavarian attack they finished a battery to play upon the Castle and the Rondel that joyns it to the City The 28th in the Lorrain attack a Line of Communication four hundred paces long was drawn from the Post at the Angle on the right to the middle Gate and another Line was made to go to the new battery upon which they planted twelve pieces of Cannon A little one was likewise in hand for four Mortars which were carried thither that Night with some Cart loads of Bombs The besieged began to shoot Bombs and Stones out of Town A Captain and sixteen Souldiers were wounded that Night and some killed The Duke of Lorrain foreseeing that Forrage would grow scarce in the Camp sent most of the baggage Horses to the Meadows assigned them betwixt Gran and Newheusel General Dunewald who commanded the Horse camped near Alb-Royal advertised the Duke that the Turks having abandoned the Castle of Bathyan upon the River of Zarvis he had put men into it and that he was going to make a tentative upon Palotta a place of good strength near Alb-Royal The twenty ninth they continued to compleat their Works and the Duke augmented the number of the Labourers with an addition of six hundred more The besieged made no Sallies these two days but they plyed their Artillery more furiously than ordinary to ruine the Christians great Battery About five a Clock they sallied upon the Bavarian attack with two thousand Horse and Foot with so much Success that they put the Besiegers into much disorder and the Janizaries leaping into the Approaches were busie in throwing of them down when Count Hoffkirch flying thither with the Guard of Horse from the Duke of Lorrain's Quarter and the Bavarian Generals with their reserves the fight was rude on both sides till the Turks were forced to retreat being pursued even to the Gates of their City notwithstanding the continued fire from their Cannon and Musquets from the Walls Prince Eugenius of Savoy had his Horse killed under him Prince Lewis of Baden and the Generals Fontaine and la Vargne signalized themselves in this Action as also the Voluntiers and particularly the Prince of Commercy Switterdael a Bavarian Lieutenant-Collonel was slain as also six Voluntiers with thirty seven Souldiers besides sixty two wounded one Captain two Lieutenants and an Ensign The loss on the Turks side was greater being the Christians brought away sixty of their Heads besides what a fugitive Rascian reported that the Turks had had near two hundred kill'd and wounded That Evening the four Mortars placed by the great Battery began to play into the besieged Works Six Culverins were also planted upon the old Battery wherewith they design'd to shoot into the Town Gate to incommode the Sallies of the besieged The thirtieth the Troops of Suabia and Franconia arrived in the Camp and took the Posts designed for them all the Night and Day were employed to advance the Works which are so numerous that they are scarce distinguishable Count Souches who commanded the Trenches that day having sent three Granadeers to discover the distance betwixt the Approaches and the Rondel they brought word that it was no more than three hundred paces and that the Turks were making a Ditch at the foot of the said Rondel Every Night great store of Gabions Fagots Munitions and Provisions arrived in the Camp by the care of the Commissary General Count Rabatta Count Caprara parted from the Camp with the Suabian Horse to joyn those encamped near Alb-Royal and to command the whole in chief Five Rascian Shepheards feeding their Sheep without under the Walls slipt insensibly into the Bavarian Quarters with at least four hundred where they were well received and gratified All they could
say was that the Consternation was great amongst the besieged who were yet resolved to defend themselves in expectation of the Succours they were in hope for They added that the Bombs and Carcasses had fired the Town in several Places though it had been luckily enough extinguished The first of July Count Starenberg shewed General Schoning who commanded the Bradenburg Auxiliaries and arrived in the Camp the Night before the Approaches and the Attacks which were reserved for his Troops which was on the Water side on the left of the Imperialists after which he was magnificently treated by the Duke of Lorrain from whence he went to joyn his Troops which were expected the next or the following day This Morning the Imperialists began to shoot out of their new Battery out of four Pieces which shot twenty four pound Bullets The five Mortars by the great Battery continued to play upon the Rondel on the right with such Success that the Defendants durst not shew themselves there The Works were compleating and there were two Redoubts made to secure the Communication with the great Battery This Night there were but five hurt and one killed and this Morning an Adjoutant General was hurt in the Head with a Musquet-shot as he was carrying Orders into the Approaches There hapned nothing in the Bavarian Quarters where they only continued their Labour and their Batteries made a Breach in the outward Rampart The rest of the Troops of Franconia consisting in fourteen hundred Foot arrived there who were placed near the rest of the same Circle The second the Lorrain Attack advanced within two hundred Paces of the Walls of the City The battery of twelve Guns of twenty four pound Balls was finished and four other Mortars that played without ceasing all the last Night fired the Town near the great Church which lasted till Morning the Cannon was plyed all this day against the two first Rondels which are in a manner defenceless Two Battalions more were sent to reinforce those who were camped under the Wall of the old Town The besieged threw again many Bombs and Stones but with little prejudice to the Besiegers killing them not above three or four Souldiers The Troops of Suaben began to work at their line of Circumvallation and purpos'd the following Night to raise a Battery upon a height which they possess'd The Bavarians thundred furiously against the Castle and upper Town and had thrown many Bombs which had kindled a fire that was not yet extinguished The Duke apprehending that the Turks might when it was dark put by the help of small barks Men and Ammunition into the Town went in Person to discover the suspected Places about Pest commanding the Prince of Savoys Regiment of Dragoons to post themselves there to assist the Hungarians who were already there and had Orders to raise some Sconces along the River side for their Security On the third of July the Brandenburg Troops were seen to march on the other side of the Danube The Duke of Lorrain went to visit them where he was received by General Schoning with a triple Salvo of all the Foot ranged in battalia with their Cannon at the head of the Infantry His Highness was treated there with much Gallantry and afterwards returned to his Quarters extremely satisfied to see such a fine body of Men so brisk so well disciplin'd and provided with such a good Train of Artillery The Imperialists finished another line for to defend their Approaches They made such great fire with their Cannon and Mortars that they did not only make a notable breach in the Wall but ruined also the batteries upon the two first Rondels so that there was no more shooting thence The Bavarians carried their lines to the very Castle and made a new battery on the right towards the Danube upon which they placed nine Mortars with success They shot also three days together from another battery of seven Demy-Cannon upon the Rondel whilst they play'd from another with four Guns upon the Flanks They moreover worked at another of eight Cannon to batter the left of the Rondel In the Lorrain attack there were seven slain and several hurt Amongst the rest of the Deserters there was an Ensign of the Janizaries who quitted the Town for having as he said killed a Turkish Officer He affirmed that there was but fifteen hundred real Janizaries in the place but that counting the Spahi's Albamans and other Troops they amounted to seven thousand Combatants He added that the Bombs and Carkasses had already ruined many buildings and occasioned a great loss of Men and Cattel He further said that the besieged were busie in making Mines behind the breach on the Lorrain side and that no body had hitherto entered into the place General Dunewald had desisted from his design upon Pallotta because the place was provided with a good Garison The Turks there killed some of those who were sent to discover Those of Alb-Royal attacked and disordered also some Foragers of Horse quartered in their Neighbourhood and amongst others killed Count Papenheim a Captain of Horse in the Troops of Bavaria July 4th The Approaches of the Lorrain attack were run within one hundred paces of the breach in the Rondel to the right The besieged began to run a Line out of the said breach which they lengthned till within fifty paces of the Christians to render their approach more difficult and however they fired continually with their small shot and threw a multitude of stones yet they killed and wounded but thirteen men The besiegers had now fourteen Mortars mounted out of which they perpetually tossed Bombs and Carkasses There was nothing done at the Bavarian attack but securing the works and heightning the batteries A Pole who had served amongst the Turks came over this morning and reported that the besieged were resolved to surrender if they were not relieved in a Months time Another Run-away came this Afternoon and declared that five Turkish Cavaliers were by the means of a little Bark landed on Pest side who were by several ways to endeavour to arrive where the Seraskier was and press the Succours which had been promised them The Duke of Lorrain dispatched some Horse towards Voitfar to consume the Forage there and watch the Enemies motion A party of Tartars fell upon the Foragers on the other side the Danube and took some Horses and two Grooms belonging to the Prince of Baden out of the Island of St. Margaret the following Night sixty Granadiers with some Workmen were sent to ruine the Line which the besieged had begun before the breach of the Rondel which luck'd so well that they filled the Ditch with the loss of two Soldiers only The breaches were every day enlarged as well on the Lorrain as the Bavier attack and what the Turks repaired in the night was thrown down by day All the Troops of Brandenburg are at present arrived in their Quarters The Turks made a sally upon them in the Night who
had uncovered all their Houses The Bombs and Carcasses invented by the Franciscan Frier were highly esteemed They now only plained and inlarged the Breaches and prepared themselves for the assault There were nine hurt and three slain with Granadoes and Stones The Breach in the great Rondel on the Bavarian side was large enough and the Miner was at work under the Pallizade of the Ditch The Duke having Intelligence that the Seraskier was advanced with some thousands of Turks near Hatwan commanded 3000 Horse and six Battalions of Foot Imperialists Brandenburgers and Bavarians under the Conduct of General Mercy to pass the Danube and post themselves on the other side of the Bridge to hinder the Turks to put a recruit of Troops into the City with the new designed Commander Achmet Bassa who had the Reputation of being one of the best Officers that the Grand Seignior had in his Service July the thirteenth This morning the besieged sprung a Mine under the middle Rondel near the Christians Mine which was already finished which Mine did what the besiegers designed by throwing down part of the Rondel where they had no breach as yet There were two hundred Turks ready to fly into the adverse Works as soon as the Mine took but seeing it had a contrary effect to what they designed they retired All things being disposed for an assault thereby to make a lodgment upon the Wall Count Starenburg directed the attack in the manner following Count Guydo Starenburg commanded on the right of the Rondel Count Herberstein the middle of the Curtain and Count Aversberg all three field Officers on the left They had each of them two hundred and eighty Souldiers the Engineers Granadeers Fuseliers Carpenters and Pioneers were posted betwixt two and the rest to the number of two thousand were divided into three bodies of Reserves to support the Assailants the Voluntiers who had demanded the point mingled themselves with the first Betwixt seven and eight a Clock the signal for the Assault was given by a discharge from all the Batteries and a shower of Bombs and Carcasses which were discharged upon the City and the Retrenchments which the besieged had made behind the breach and notwithstanding all the resistance of the besieged the Christians mounted the breach where the Combat was very rude and obstinate on both sides for three quarters of an hour with all possible bravery The besieged sprung a Mine under the Assailants first line which buried Captain Kalkreiter and some Souldiers But seeing they could not take post for want of Earth that they could not force the Pallizado'd Retrenchment behind the breach and that the chief Officers were already all hurt or slain by the continual fire of the besieged it was thought expedient to make a retreat five or six leap'd over the Turks Retrenchment but being ill followed got off with the rest The Regiments of Souches and Mansfeld suffered most in this Action and that of Starenburg was also ill treated There were more than four hundred kill'd and wounded but the loss of so many brave Officers and Voluntiers who lost their Lives there were particularly deplored but few that were hurt escaped which begot a belief that the Turks shot with envenomed Bullets Amongst the dead were Count Herberstein Count Kuffstein and another Captain of the same Regiment the Baron Rolle three Captains more and eight Lieutenants and Ensigns Of Voluntiers that were slain there or died of their Wounds the Duke of Vexar a Grandee of Spain who was one of the first upon the breach was one a Son of Prince Roberts with another English Lord the Baron of Scheyffer the young Count of Courmaillon a Conte of Dona and seven or eight more of Quality Amongst the wounded as well Officers as Voluntiers were reckoned Count Guydo Starenburg Count Aversperg the Prince of Veldens of the House of the Palatinat Prince Picolomini two English Lords the Duke of Escalona a Grandee of Spain the Marquess of Valero Brother to the Duke of Vexar the Prince of Commercy and more than thirty other Persons of mark The Spaniards and the English distinguished themselves by a noble Emulation opposing the greatest Fury of the Turks The English were so ill treated that of twenty of them all Persons of Quality there were but six of them that were not slain or wounded The loss of the besieged was also great for they had two hundred of their bravest men wounded and killed The Duke of Lorrain and Marshal Count Starenburg were present in this Action giving Orders every where as occasion required It was believed that the Brandenburgers would have attempted somewhat on their side but they excused it because their breach was not large enough On the Bavarian side there was a notable breach made in the Rondel and in the Wall that covers the Castle which the besieged repaired by Night with Gabions Pallizadoes and Fagots July the fourteenth The whole Night and Day were imployed in inhuming the Dead and repairing the Approaches in planting more Cannon upon the Batteries and in advancing the Mines Two Galleries were likewise framed betwixt the second and third Rondel The Duke of Lorrain having also sent for three Regiments of Horse from Alba-Regalis to reinforce General Mercy they passed the Bridge this Morning to go on Pest side The besieged sprung a Mine in the Bavarian Attack on the left of the Castle Rondel which succeeded ill His Electoral Highness having caused eight Parapets of thick Oaken Planks to be made shod with Iron of a new Invention each capable of securing a hundred armed Men they were thought proper to be used in Attacks and Assaults The same day the Bavarians discovered and disappointed two Mines of the Enemies July 15th They continued to work in their Lines and being lodged close to the Wall the Besieged were heard to work under the Breach Gonzales the Spanish Engineer being now come Bombs and Carcasses were thrown into the Town which did great Execution Upon the Advice that the Duke of Lorrain had that the Turks that had passed the Tibiscus near Segedin were still encamped under the Cannon of Hatwan he caused two Regiments of Horse more to joyn Mercy to oblige the Enemy to repass the Tibiscus July 16th A new Battery was raised in the Lorrain Attack without the Wall of the lower Town to the right against the great Rondel the which was also batter'd on the other side to render the Breach larger and themselves Masters of it A Rascian with Letters which the Governour of the Place had entrusted him to carry to him of Alb-Royal came and delivered them to the Duke but they being writ in the Armenian Language and no Interpreter in the Camp they were sent to Vienna to be decyphered Some Peasants got out of the Town reported that the Janizaries had begun to murmur against the Bassa as designing to hold out to the last extremity but that he had by the Punishment of the most mutinous by his Liberality
Places of Arms which are finished and at present every thing is disposed of for the general Assault and posting themselves upon the Breaches the Rondels and the Walls and consequently to render themselves Masters of this important Place which had cost the Christians so much Blood. The Besieged made a little sally on the Bavarian Attack but having stood the first discharge were forced to retreat as fast as they came July 27th Every thing being disposed for the general Assault and the Troops that were to be employed in it at their Rendezvouzes in all the three Attacks it was resolved that the Onset should be given at five a Clock in the Evening to which end the Duke had distributed his Orders to all the Officers high and low how they were to act The Faggots Gabions Spades Mattocks Hatchets and Sacks with Earth were there in great abundance as well to break the Enemies Retrenchments as to cover the Assailants when they should be Masters of the Breaches The signal was given from Pest by some Cannon shot and the Assault was carried on in manner following Forty Granadeers under the command of a Captain one Lieutenant and one Serjeant were at the head of the Rondel to the right hand they were followed by fifty Fuseliers and Souldiers with Hatchets commanded also by a Captain-Lieutenant and a Serjeant with a hundred men carrying Spades and Mattocks supported by two Captains two Lieutenants two Serjeants and two hundred Musqueteers all under the Conduct of the Prince of Newburg Great Master of the Teutonick Order who had the Direction of this Attack That of the middle toward the Curtain was directed by Lieutenant General Souches there were fifty Granadeers under a Captain Lieutenant and Serjeant a hundred Fuseliers two hundred men with Hatchets and to second them two hundred Musqueteers divided into two squadrons which were followed with a hundred and fifty more with Shovels and Mattocks The Attack on the left of the little Rondel was ordered by the Brandenburgers after the same manner Behind the Sacks filled with Earth Wooll and the like in the second line were posted a party of choice Harquebusiers who were not to stir thence but fire continually upon the Turks who stood there themselves in the Breaches The Heyducks commanded by the Lieutenant Governour of Raab were posted on the Water side where a great part of the Wall had been thrown down by the fire of the Magazin already mentioned they were only to make a false Attack being seconded by a Major with some select Companies The chief Officers were dispersed into several Posts to execute the functions of their Employments and thus Nigrelli General of Battalia Collonel Keth Lieutenant Collonel Rederer and the Major of Staremberg assisted the grand Master of the Teutonick Order General Souches had for Assistants Diependal Count Octtingen Lieutenant Collonel Jorger and the Major of Crop's Regiment There were above 1200 men of reserves in the covered way commanded by General Thungen under twelve Captains twelve Lieutenants and other subaltern Officers with all the other Lieutenant Collonels and Majors to succeed in the place of those that should be slain or wounded The 1200 Musqueteers were to advance in small parties in the Lines as the other gained ground the rest of the Foot were at their Arms ready to engage and all the Generals in the Trenches In this order the Souldiers full of Hopes and Courage went to the Assault and mounted the Breaches They found great Opposition particularly at the great Rondel where the Breach was high and the Defendants very numerous and resolute The Christians were beat back two or three times but returning still to the Assault they at length took possession of the Breach and posted themselves in it The Brandenburgers took the Wall of the little Rondel The Combat lasted from five till nine a Clock with great effusion of Blood not so much by the Turks Arms as their Mines and Powder which they had strewed in great quantities in several places which they successively fired as they were forced from their Posts There could be nothing more lamentable than to see two or three hundred men at once tossed up by force of the Mines which were most killed or grievously wounded And yet the Besieged could not terrifie the Christians nor hinder them by their obstinate resistance to lodge upon the Rondels and the Curtain The Hayducks apprehending the fire failed in their false alarming on the Water side The Duke and General Staremberg were near the Great Master with their Swords in their Hands encouraging the Officers and Souldiers to do well and the Prince of Croy was in the middle near the Curtain where he was hurt The Night being come put an end to the fight and it was spent in securing their Lodgments with two Lines of Communication from the Approaches to the possessed Rondels and the Miners were fastned to the inner Wall or Retrenchment where the Turks fortified themselves This Assault was one of the bloodiest the most hardy and best disputed that ever was seen whether we consider the bravery and intrepidness of the Assailants or the obstinate Valour of the Defendants The number of the slain amongst whom was Adjoutant General Attein was not very great but that of the wounded very surprising of which Catalogue were the Prince of Croy the Prince of Commercy General Diependael General Thungen the Baron of Asti the Major of Starenberg Lieutenant Collonel Redere Major Pini Conte Schlick Baron Gera and many other Captains and subalterne Officers On the Brandenburg side Count Dona Collonel of Foot was slain Major Marwitz and the Prince of Curland grievously wounded with very many others At the Bavarian Attack the Elector had ordered the Assault in this manner The Palizades upon the Breach having been burnt the day before by forty choice Souldiers the Elector commanded a Lieutenant with 20 Fuseliers a Serjeant six Voluntiers and ten Granadeers and a Corporal with six Carpenters to cut the Palizadoes an 100 Musqueteers with their Officers were ordered to post themselves at the Enemies Palizade and to shoot without ceasing to favorise the Pioneers to make the Lodgment upon the Rondel amongst which there were twenty five with Spades and Pickaxes and 75 with Hatchets commanded by a Captain and seconded by a Lieutenant-Collonel a Major and a Captain with fifty men armed with half Pikes Halberds and Partizans by a Lieutenant with thirty Granadeers and by 200 Musquetters under two Captains and two Lieutenants Things being thus disposed as well on the right as the left the two Neighbouring Redoubts were furnished each with thirty Harquebusiers and three Battalions of Imperialists Bavarians and Saxons were to second the Assailants The Gunners had order to fire from all the Batteries and to throw Bombs and Carcasses without ceasing into the Castle and betwixt the two Walls on the Water side as also to point their Cannon against the high Walls and Windows of the Castle All things being thus ordered