their Goods and Estates out from the City Notwithstanding this Discourse maintain'd and urged by divers the contrary Opinion prevailed for the Siege of Buda as if the Difficulties thereof served rather to enflame than to discourage so many valiant and generous Spirits The Siege of Buda resolved Such an Enterprise as the taking a Capital City with the Conquest of which the whole Kingdom would follow and fall a Prey into their Hands seemed an Adventure and an Exploit worthy the undertaking of so many brave Soldiers who were certainly the greatest Captains of this Age and perhaps we may speak it without injury to past times that they were the best Soldiers that ever the World had produced Indeed the whole Army of this Year was in a most Flourishing Condition well Provided and Accoutred Fleshed with Blood and Victory and so Couragious that nothing seemed too hard and difficult for them And this was one Reason to perswade the Military Councils to the Siege of Buda not knowing whether the next Year would produce such an Army as at present which as it was capable to undertake any thing so it was pity to have it wasted and employed in trivial matters and taking in of Fortresses from whence no Important Consequences could be expected There was moreover one thing more especially urged that by the last Siege the Defects and Errors and false Attacks were all seen and discover'd the which might now easily be rectified and provisions made against the mischiefs which cost the Lives of many Men and the Ground and nature of it and Situation being perfectly known the subjection of this place would become much more easie than the time before notwithstanding all the Provisions the Turks had made In fine with these Arguments as I said the Siege of Buda was resolved and every thing prepared in order thereunto In the mean time the Turks were not idle on their part every Day Olacks or Curriers were dispatched in all hast from Buda to Belgrade and thence to the Port to expedite the coming of the Ottoman Army and Succours for Re-inforcement of their Garrison Provisions made by the Turks for the War giving them advices of the Motion and Approach of the Imperial Troops against them which if not prevented would quickly surround their Walls and intercept their Advices and Relief The Turkish Officers and Soldiers in all their Quarters in Hungary amassed and gather'd what Forage and Provisions they were able which they laid up and disposed in those Garrisons which were most exposed to the Enemy and Re-inforced them with Troops drawn from other places which were in the least danger of the Enemy and at farthest distance from them The Tartars were urged and sollicited not only to hasten their march to the Confines of Poland to keep that Country in Awe but also to send another Body to joyn with the Ottoman Camp in Hungary In the mean time Skirmishes daily hapned between several Hussars and Dragoons belonging to Raab and Strigonium and detached Parties from Buda to which place Reinforcements were so constantly sent that the Garrison was calculated to amount unto above Nine thousand Men besides the Citizens and Inhabitants tho' in reality the numbers were much greater And in regard the Grand Seignior was not well satisfied with the Valour and Conduct of the present Pasha another was sent to supply the place The Pasha of Buda changed who incessantly laboured both Day and Night about the Fortifications for tho' it was not certain whether the Imperialists would make that Siege the business of this Year yet it was greatly feared and too much labour and caution could not be used for the Defence of a place of such Importance In the mean time the Grand Seignior removed from Adrianople to Constantinople The Grand Seignior goes to Constantinople to pass his Summer there in hopes that his Presence would bring some Trade to that City but the War had drained all the Money in such manner that the Merchants found little benefit or alteration in the quickness of their Trade The Grand Vizier intended at the same time to have moved from Adrianople towards Belgrade but the great Fire which had hapned lately there caused him to retard his March for some Days in order to rebuild the publick Edifices consumed by the Fire Besides the Fire and Sword Scarcity of Corn amongst the Turks there was great Scarcity of Corn in all the Ottoman Dominions by the two first the Rich were the greatest Sufferers but the latter was an Aggrievance which most affected the Poor Howsoever they supported these Troubles and Losses with Patience without Murmurings amongst the Citizens or Mutinies as yet in the Camp The Moscovites were all this time playing a double Game having sent an Envoy to the Court to complain of the Incursions which the Tartars had made into their Country The Moscovites treat with the Turks and of the Depredations which the Turkish Governour of Asac had made upon them at the Mouth of the Tanais The Envoy found a kind Reception and Orders were sent both to the Tartars and Governour of Asac to abstain for the future from all such Acts of Hostility and maintain a good Correspondence with the Moscovites who were become Allies and faithful Friends to the Port And more to engage the Envoy some few Russian Slaves were given him with License to rebuild an old ruined Greek Church in Constantinople with which to outward appearance the Envoy returned with entire Satisfaction The Polish Inter-nuntio who from the beginning of the War had been kept under restraint at Constantinople was now upon exchange for a Turk of quality again set at Liberty and being upon his return into Poland was on the Confines met by a Polish Jesuit who had some Months before been sent by the late Vizier with Letters to that King containing a Project for making a Peace and was now returning with Answers to those Letters and Instructions to the Inter-nuntio in what manner to manage a Treaty with the Turks Tâ—â— Poles make prâ—posals The Inter-nuntio returned herewith and made Proposals That in case the Turks would Surrender Caminiec with all they had taken in Podolia That then the Polish King would become a Mediator for Peace with the other Confederates But the Turks were not as yet sufficiently humbled to give up any Places they had in Possession especially that important Fortress of Caminiec which was the very Key of Poland and tho' an Expedient was offer'd to Demolish the same it would not be accepted by the Turks who had a greater value and esteem for that Place for having been the only Conquest which this Grand Seignior had made in Person And the Turks having no great value of late for the Poles either as to their Prowess in War or Conduct in Peace gave a proud Answer to the Demand resolving this Year to stand on the Defensive part and to tire out the Christians with a long and
Affliction of Mind for the Loss and Disgrace he had sustained before the City of Negropont a great cause of which being attributed to the Miscarriage of some Officers who performed not their Duty in the last Attack he ordered a Process to be made against them and their Tryals to be managed at a Counsel of War But here we will leave the Venetians for this whole Winter and return to the Wars in Hungary transacted in the Year 1689 at the end of which we shall recount all the Actions performed by the Venetians during that Campaign But Procurator Girolamo Cornaro was more fortunate and successful in Dalmatia and Albania where he Commanded the Venetian Army For having Landed his Forces at Scardona on the 24th of August Cornaro marches against Clin. they speedily marched towards Clin with design to invest that place and on the 27th the several Troops took their Posts and began a Line of Circumvallation fortifying the same with several Redoubts The next Day Summons were sent to the Garrison which being answered with Vollies of small and great Shot the Night following the Trenches were opened and in the Morning the Cannon and Mortars began to play upon the Town with great execution Septemb. In the space of two Days a considerable Breach was made in the first Wall which the Besieged labouring to repair the Cannon quickly ruin'd their Works The Venetians stoâ—m the Breach So that by the 1st of September the Venetian Trenches were advanced so far and the Breach made so wide that it was resolved to give an Assault which was accordingly executed on the 2d of this Month and performed with such Resolution that the Venetians notwithstanding the Vigorous Opposition of the Enemy mounted the Breach on which having lodged themselves obliged the Defendants to retire within their second Wall or Retrenchment On the 3d and 4th several new Batteries were raised from whence the Enemy was greatly annoyed and a Bomb falling into their Magazine of Powder blew up and killed many of the Inhabitants however the Defendants still continued to maintain their Castle and the Lower Town with great Resolution At length it being observed by General Cornaro that one side of the Town was naturally fortified by Water without other Guard or Defence he ordered that the Regiments of Corbon and Sebenico should pass over and streighten the Enemy on that side the which they chearfully performed for most of them being practised Swimmers they carried their Swords naked in their Mouths and swam over to the other side which when the Turks observed fearing to have their Retreat cut off from the Castle they quitted the defence of the Breach and retired some within the second Retrenchment and others into the Castle They bâ—come Masters of the first Retrenchment Thus the Venetians without farther opposition entered the first Retrenchment where they found some pieces of Cannon 50 Horses two Camels some Mules 100 Head of Oxen some Corn and a good quantity of Hay The Venetians having gained the first Retrenchment appointed Marquis Borro and Francisco Grimani to maintain the Ground they had gained which they performed by throwing up Earth for shelter of their Men whilst on the other side they cut off the Pipes and ruined the Aqueducts which conveyed Water to the Castle The Turks in want of Water The want whereof and the blowing up of the Magazine of Powder greatly sunk the Courage of the Defendants howsoever the Venetians continued still to throw their Bombs and Fire into the Castle and batter the Walls of it with their Cannon by which they had now made the Breach so wide that an Assault might be made thereon But the Proveditor-General well considering that the Turks could not long subsist without Water deferred for some few Days the Assault until he saw the Effects which the Extremity of Thirst would constrain them unto the which speedily happened out according to expectation For on the 12th of September the Defendants spread a White Flag on the Walls desiring to Capitulate and that in the mean time a Cessation of Arms should be granted Hereupon the Pasha of the place They Capitulaâ—e sent out two Aga's who being conducted to the Tent of General Cornaro they offered the Surrender of the Town and Castle upon License given them to march out with their Arms and Baggage as is usually granted to Valiant Soldiers But Cornaro answer'd That their Behaviour had not merited such kind and honourable Usage And growing angry at their Discourse he told them plainly That he expected they should immediately yield at Discretion without farther Argument or Capitulation The Turks astonished at this peremptory Resolution desired time to propose the same to the Garrison and to the Inhabitants but no more time would be allowed than four Hours during which in case they did not submit they threatned them with the last Extremity Within the space of four Hours the same Aga's returned again declaring their necessity to submit to the hard Conditions of the Conquerors and soon after they were follow'd by the Pasha Atlagick attended with his Son and Nephew and with Cernigick the Sangiack They Surrender at Discretion and five Aga's with 50 other Turks of Condition who being conducted to the Tent of General Cornaro they were received by him in quality of Slaves howsoever to demonstrate the Generosity of the Conqueror an Allodgment was assigned them in a Tent provided for them where they were treated with all Conveniencies both of Victuals and Lodging The Day following in the Morning about 900 Women and Children came forth and about 400 Turks capable to bear Arms with Countenances full of Sorrow and dejected Looks which showed the inward Grief which oppressed their Spirits These were follow'd by a Troop of 150 poor Christians who having hereby regained their Liberty and Freedom from Slavery changed the Scene of Sorrow into another of Joy and Festivity 22 Pieces of Brass Cannon were found in the place 200 Horse great quantities of Provision and Ammunition both for War and Sustenance for Life Clin being in this manner surrendered the Proveditor Girolamo Cornaro General in Dalmatia designed to take Narenta an ancient Port for all sorts of Merchandize brought thither in former Times from Thrace Cornaro designs against Narenta Servia Bosnia and Macedon and several other Provinces but first it was esteemed necessary in order thereunto to become Masters of a small Tower called Narino built about three Years before by the Pasha of Bosnia who had furnished it with some Guns and encompassed it with a double Palisado October In pursuance of this Resolution the General embarked at Spalatro all his Troops Provisions Cannon and other Military Appurtenances with which having loosed from that Port they were so crossed by contrary Winds that the Fleet was forced to put into divers Harbours and the Winds continuing long in that Quarter they spent some Weeks without any Action At length the General being
the Soldiery upon them and encouraged them to torment them in the midst of this barbarous usage they would sometimes pretend to shew a glimpse of Pity and endeavour to allure them by the promises of the Imperial favour and protection offering them preferments upon Condition they would change their Religion at length finding them proof against all their arts they stigmatiz'd several and sold them to the Spanish Gallies from whence afterwards they were redeem'd by the famous Ruyter Admiral of Holland others were thrown into vile loathsome Prisons in which some perish'd the rest who out-lived their misfortunes were released by the importunities of the States Ambassador at the Imperial Court These matters of fact are too publick to be denied and the Reasons that are given seem by no means sufficient to palliate such Barbarities Those Letters in Cypher which were produc'd against them to prove them Guilty of Treason are justly suspected but grant them true they were but from particulars and one or two Mens Guilt cannot render a whole body of Men liable to punishment As for those Accusations which were laid upon them of being Murderers Robbers Ravishers c. they were only alledged not proved and consequently likely to be meer Calumnies To conclude that they were Rebels because some fled from the Persecutions they saw pouring upon them seems to be no very good consequence and to shew not so much their guilt as their fear at least this cannot be urg'd against those that made their appearance and that there were several which signed the Paper that was presented them argued they indeed weak but not criminal and the rigours that were used to bring them to sign it do extreamly diminish if not absolutely take away all the force of that Argument So that I doubt not but it will appear to the impartial Reader that the conduct of the Popish Clergy has had too great an influence on these last Troubles and that their persecuting Maxims are as ruinous to the interest of a State as contrary to the Spirit of our Christian Religion And from this Original began that War which hath ever since continued with great effusion of Blood and strange vicissitudes of Fortune which not only reduced Hungary to the pit of despair but even Germany it self to the brink of Destruction until God was pleas'd to take the Cause into his own Hands and avenge Christendom from their Enemies whose Sins it seems were more ripe for the Divine vengeance than those of the Christian people The discontents on both sides grew so high that the Emperor resolved to perform nothing on his part of what he had promised to his Hungarian Subjects nor they any thing on theirs which respected Duty and Allegiance to their Prince Both Parties stood in defiance to each other the Emperor would not lose the benefit of the charge and expences he had been at to fortify the frontier Garrisons against the Turks Nor would the Hungarians restrain themselves from their usual Incursions notwithstanding the Treaty so lately sign'd by them By which the Emperor received frequent complaints from the Turks So all was now private Machinations and open Defiances It was now in the Month of September That the three years were expir'd at the end whereof according to the Statutes of that Kingdom a Diet was to be Assembled at Presburg for redress of those aggrievances of which the Subjects complain'd It was usual for the Emperor to be present there but some jealousies being whisper'd of a Plot to seize his Person his Majesty refrain'd from making his appearance at that Diet which being by that means put off the Sovereign Chamber of the Kingdom The Hungarians complain taking all matters into their Consideration sent their Deputies to complain unto the Emperor That Colonel Spaar Governour of Zatmar had extorted Money from the Citizens upon pretence of paying his Soldiers tho' in reality to appropriate it to his own benefit and service That the German Soldiers were still quarter'd in the Countries notwithstanding all the Promises and Engagements given to the contrary the which aggrievances together with that of taking away their Churches was such a Scandal and block of Offence as caused great Commotions in that Kingdom whensoever that matter came into dispute Hence it was That the Protestants chose three Leaders or Chiefs of their Faction and Party against which Prince Ragotski and Apafi opposed their Forces in favour of the Palatine Wesselini and Count Palaffi Imbre appear'd as one of the Chief of the Male-contents but having not sufficient Force to sustain his party and interest he crav'd assistance and succour from the Turks to whom he offer'd his Son for a Hostage and the Town of Debin with the dependences thereunto belonging as a farther security for performance of Articles All was now divided into Sects and Parties Count Peter Serini of whom the Emperor had not the least jealousie entertained secret consults with the Malecontents and with Nadasti raised Forces upon pretence of giving a stop to the Turks in their passage to Dalmatia but with real design to seize the Person of the Emperor at Puttendorf a place appertaining to Count Nadasti as he was Riding post with Prince Lubkovitz Chief Steward of his House and with about 12 Gentlemen of his Retinue to meet the Empress but that Plot took not effect for their Ambuscade missing the Emperor he happily met the Empress on her Journey out of Spain This Conspiracy being thus disappointed 1667â— Count Nadasti desired the Emperor that he might be made Palatine of Hungary in the place of Wesselini lately deceased But the Emperor not being well satisfy'd of the Faith and Integrity of that Person refused to confer it upon him or any other until he saw the Tranquillity and Peace of that Kingdom better secur'd At which Nadasti being enrag'd corrupted a Carpenter in revenge to set fire to the new Appartment which was building in the Palace for the Empress Eleonora In expectation that in such an affrightment and confusion the Conspirators might seize on the Person of the Emperor But God conserved his Imperial Majesty tho' that Plot was not detected until Nadasti received the reward of his demerit The Deputies of the upper Hungary made new Addresses to the Emperor to have the Office of Palatine supplied according to the Constitutions of the Kingdom but in those times of Sedition and Discontent his Imperial Majesty not finding a Person equally grateful to the Hungarians and loyal to himself to whom he could confide that Important Charge did for some time keep the Office in his own hands which with the refusal made to restore the Protestant Churches was so generally displeasing that the Nobility deny'd to be present at the Coronation of the Empress until they were a little mollify'd and appeas'd by having the Revenue and Rents of their Churches releas'd to them Besides the Office of Palatine the Government of Carelstadt became vacant by the decease of the
Count Aversperg which being in Croatia and lying commodious for Serini he immediately made applications for it by means of his Lady who with her good air and address and the vivacity of her Spirit and fluency of her Language thought nothing difficult for her to obtain but missing thereof for Reasons best known to the Emperor who judg'd it not good policy to add greater Authority to a person who was Vice-King of Croatia and possess'd already more Power and Interest than he could willingly afford him the Lady was forc'd Count Serini's Lady disgusted much against her Nature to acquiess in a denial but not being able to suppress the violent commotions of her Spirit she openly breath'd out her menaces against the Emperor and finding an humor in the People generally inclin'd to a Revolt easily perswaded her Son-in-Law Prince Ragotski and the other principal Nobles of Hungary to enter into an Association and Conspiracy against the Emperor The Deputies make their Complaints to the Emperor The first thing they did was to complain of the German Garrison in Tokai and being assembled at Zemblin they sent their Deputies to represent unto the Emperor that according to the Laws and Privileges of that Kingdom all their Forts and Places of Strength ought to be Garrison'd with no other than Soldiers of their own Country That the Protestants receiv'd all sorts of ill treatment and discountenance their Churches were taken away and not restor'd as was promis'd and agreed besides several other Aggrievances which they laid before the Emperor supplicating his Imperial Majesty to grant them ease and redress therein according to the Constitutions and Privileges of that Kingdom which his Majesty at his Coronation had Sworn to maintain To all which the gentle and sweet temper of his Imperial Majesty and the sense of his Conscience was inclin'd to yield a benign and gracious Answer had not Father Emeric a Jesuit Emeric a Jesuit hinders an agreement with the Hungarians and his Confessor instill'd other Principles and Motives into his Mind giving him to understand that it had always been the Prerogative of the Kings his Predecessors to dispose Garrisons in all places of that Kingdom consisting of such Nations as he should judge most for the safety and security thereof And that whereas at present the Hungarians were inspir'd with an humor of Rebellion and Revolt there was no reason to trust or confide in them but in the Germans only whose Loyalty and Duty was sufficiently known and approv'd by his Majesty Farther he added that the Hungarians had in the late War against the Turk suffer'd Waradin to be lost and at the Battle of St. Gothards upon the River of Raab had appear'd in such small numbers for defence of their Country as if they had intended to have betray'd it had it not been for the German and other Foreign Forces the whole Kingdom had become a Prey to the Turks With such Discourses as these the Deputies were entertain'd The Deputies return with dissatisfaction The Evils thereof and dispatch'd away without other satisfaction at which the Nobles and People were so displeas'd that they gave a stop to the Payments they had begun to make towards building the Forts and cut all the Germans in pieces which they found quarter'd about the Country and particularly they kill'd forty Soldiers of the Regiment of Spaar near Xants the which piece of Blood and Slaughter was again return'd by the Germans and Force repell'd again by Force So that now all was open defiance War and Massacre To carry on the Great Designs in hand The Male-contents assemble at Kivar the Malecontents assembled at the Castle of Kivar upon the Frontiers of Transilvania about two Leagues distant from Ghibania where the Gold and Silver Mines arise The Principal Persons there present were Ladislas Giulaf Gabriel de Kende Benedict Seredey Jonas Veradt the Calvinist Minister of Cassovia also Derus Bansi General of the Transilvanian Forces Janos Betlem the Chancellor Michael Talha Governor of the Frontiers with some others where a League was form'd between the Hungarian and Transilvanian Protestants to drive and expell the Germans out of the Kingdom to demolish Zatmar and to arm themselves in defence of their Religion In this accord the Wife of Prince Apafi appear'd extreamly zealous being a Woman of a Masculine Spirit a fierce Protestant and one who had a hand in all Matters whilst her Husband apply'd himself to Hunting and to the Conversation of Learned Men. In the mean time Count Nadasti having fail'd in his late Treason against the Emperor Count Nadasti Plots how to Poison the Emperor contriv'd to Poyson him at a Magnificent Banquet which he had prepar'd for him at which the Persons present were the Empress the two Imperial Princesses Prince Charles of Lorain with all the Court The fatal Dish prepar'd for the Emperor was a Pidgeon Pye which he extreamly lov'd but God preserv'd his Sacred Person by means of the Lady to the Count who being endow'd with greater Sentiments of Honour and Religion than her Husband beseech'd him on her knees to desist from so black and so detestable a Wickedness but not being able to prevail upon him she Order'd the Cook to set another Pye of the same fashion before the Emperor in the place of that which was poyson'd of which he having eaten without any hurt Nadasti apprehended the dealing of his Wife therein and least the Cook should discover the Secret he kill'd him the same day with his own hand Count Serini tho' he was contriving all this time yet it was not in Matters of so black a nature as these He entertain'd several Conferences with Count Tassembach a Person of as Ambitious and unsetled an humor as any whatsoever and ready to enter into any League and Conspiracy with the other Malecontents And in fine after many Consultations he concluded it necessary to engage the Turks with them in the whole Enterprize A Treaty held with the Turk But lest it should come to be discover'd to the Emperor 's Resident at Constantinople by the openness of the Turks who can keep no Secret it was resolv'd that the Matter should be Negotiated by the Transilvanians who being already Subject to the Turks and under their protection might with less suspicion propose this Treaty The Turks hearken to the Hungarians This Overture being made to the Turks they immediately embrac'd it being an Offer which at the first sight appear'd very advantageous but then the next Condition requir'd by the Chimacam who was Kara Mustapha the Grand Vizier being then at the Siege of Candia was That in Consideration of the aid and protection which the Grand Seignior was to give unto the Hungarians they were to become his Tributaries in the same manner and on the same Conditions as the Transilvanians were This Demand tho it seem'd hard to the Hungarians yet they resolv'd to pursue their Design and accordingly sent their Agents to
and the Bravest of their Soldiery and so fatal was this Fight to them that they never recovered their Courage and Spirits again but suffer'd themselves for several years afterwards to be beaten and baffled by their Enemes After which we shall find them still decaying and giving Ground and at length falling into Discords and Civil Dissentions the Ottoman Empire had nearly expired had not the Christians falling into Wars amongst themselves which have always proved advantagious to the Turks given new Life and growth again unto that People This Victory obtained the King of Poland with his General and Senators justly applauded the Wisdom and Conduct of the Duke of Loraine and Valour of the German Troops to whom he acknowledged the whole Success of that day was to be attributed In the Quarters of the King Te Deum being sang and Thanks returned to Almighty God for so signal a Blessing the Duke of Loraine took a Survey of the Fort of Barcan to see in what manner it was possible to be put in a condition to offend Gran which was Situate on the other side of the Water just in opposition to it But such was the Fury of the Soldiers that they burnt almost all the Palisadoes and set fire to part of the Town and so ravenous were they after the Plunder of the Place that the Germans and Poles had fallen into Civil Wars amongst themselves had not Count Staremberg put an end to the Scuffle by commanding the Germans to with-draw and leaving the Poles Masters of the Place they made all the Spoyl they were able in revenge of the Loss they had suffered the day before Nothing could come more seasonable nor more advantagious to the Christian Arms than this Victory for besides the Loss as we have said of the best of their Men there remained not above two or three Thousand alive of all that Army which consisted of Fourteen thousand of their best Horse and Twelve hundred Janisaries commanded by the new Pasha of Buda Haly Pasha of Aleppo and six other Pashas Twelve hundred or One thousand Prisoners were taken and amongst them the Pashas of Aleppo and Silistria with several other Agas The Consequences of which Victory were very happy to the Christians for besides that it administred new Courage to the drooping Spirits of the Poles it totally dismayed the Malecontents and produced such Disorder in the Turkish Army that the Great Vizier Mutiny against the Great Vizier with all the Authority with which he was clothed was not able to contain them within any bounds or limits of Duty but rather fearing to be Murdered by them than hoping to Appease them was forced to abscond himself from their Rage in obscure Retirement By this Overthrow the Grand Vizier lost all the remainer of his Baggage which had been saved at the Battle of Vienna with Twelve Pieces of Cannon which had been advanced some Hours on the way before the Siege was raised and was employed by the new Vizier of Buda for the Service of this Camp The Duke of Loraine pursuing the course of his good Fortune was desirous to conclude this Campaign with the taking of Gran which was the glorious period to which the Emperor directed him if possible to advance his Affairs The Siege of Gran intended In order hereunto the Duke of Loraine taking first according to his usual Methods a judicious Survey of the situation of the Place and the way thereunto observed that in the middle of the River something below Gran there was an Island in which was not only good Forage for the Horse but also an ancient Intrenchment which with some little Labour might be made useful and defensive against the Cannon of the Town And from the farther side of that Island with the help of a few Boats the whole Army might find an easy Passage The King of Poland approving this Design Boats were ordered down from Comorra for framing the Bridge But whilst this was doing the late Successes which had brought great Reputation to the Emperor's Affairs had moved Tekeli to send the Count de Humanay in Behalf of the Malecontents to offer Terms of Peace and Pacification The Duke of Loraine who had been long versed in the Practices of Tekeli and his Associates was of opinion Tekeli sends Deputies to the Duke of Loraine That the Malecontents were not as yet reduced to such Terms as might render them fit and disposed for a Treaty Howsoever at the desire of the King of Poland being admitted to Audience they proposed a Cessation of Arms and an assignment for Winter-quarters To which the Duke of Loraine reply'd That such Concessions at present were not agreeable to the Interest and Dignity of the Emperor and took from hence occasion to make some Discourse of the Laws and Constitutions of their Kingdom and to reproach them for their Rebellion and want of Faith towards their Sovereign In short he told them That if they would hope to tast of the Emperor's Clemency they must without any previous Conditions lay down their Arms and renounce all Alliance with the Turk which was the first Preliminary or Step to a Treaty With this answer the Deputies being retired in a few days afterward Several Towns and Counties Submit not only Papa and Totis as we said before submitted but Wespring and Levents received German Garrisons and the Counties of Trinschin Tirnaw Nitria and Levents declared against the Cause and Interest of the Malecontents and received the Garrisons into their Castles and Fortresses which were sent thither by order of Count Caraffa to take Possession thereof The Bridges being finished by the 16th of this Month of October and the Bavarian Troops come up to joyn with the Army the Duke of Loraine desired the King of Poland according to his Place of Precedency to lead the way with his Troops but the King made some difficulty thereof The King of Poland proposes enquiries concerning the State of Gran. alledging That a Survey ought first to be taken of the situation of the Place and Enquiries made how well it was provided with Men and Ammunition and how far the Vizier with his Forces was retired from affording it Relief or disturbing the Siege Accordingly Two thousand Horse being appointed to take a View of the Country they passed the Bridges without opposition or disturbance and so dismayed the Turks that they deserted Thomas-burg a Palanca not far from Gran and set it on Fire but was soon quenched and Possession taken by the Imperialists Upon the appearance of a Party on this side of the River two Hungarians of Totis brought Intelligence that the Vizier was marched with his Army towards Esseck having left a small Force encamped near unto Buda This News hastned the Passage of the Christian Army over the River tho' the Poles remained in their Camp and moved not as yet and gave Encouragement to the Generals to hope that the Siege would not be of long
side Without the Town the Soldiers were harassed and tyred with continual Watchings and Pains and the Pioneers and Labourers working beyond their strengh in the excessive heats fell into Malignant Fevers and Diseases of the Camp by which the numbers of those People being greatly diminished the Mines and Works advanced very slowly On that side towards Strigonium the impediments and hindrances were as great as on the other for the Defendants continually Fired upon the Labourers which obstructed them in such manner that it was impossible to joyn their Trenches to the Wall of the Bastion which Flanked the Curtain and such showers of Granadoes and Vollies of small Shot were thrown amongst them that they were forced to desist from their Work and to proceed by Mining the Earth which required much time and retarded the Conquest of the place On the 30th of August about Sun-rising the Turks made a Furious Sally into the Trenches of the Germans causing them to Fly with the loss of Forty or Fifty Men but other Troops coming to their Succour they were forced to Retire in much Confusion and Disorder and endeavouring an Escape by the Breaches in the Walls and narrow Avenues they exposed themselves to the Swords and Fire Arms of their Enemies who destroyed them with great Slaughter Sept. At the beginning of September the Rains fell in such abundance that the Soldiers in some of the Trenches remain'd a whole Day up to the middle in Water which increased the Diseases of the Camp from which some of the Commanders were not freed and particularly the Duke of Loraine who became so indisposed in his Health that he was constrained to Retire unto Old Buda for ease and remdy where he continued not above four or five Days before he returned again to the Camp during this time the Turks made other Sallies upon the Christians Sallies from the Town for several Days to their great loss and discouragement for besides Three hundred Common Soldiers many principal Officers were killed and wounded amongst which those of chief Note were the Marquis Cavalieri Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Gran Count Tirheim a Captain of the Regiment of Baden were slain and Major General Schaffemberg and the Marquis of Parella with several other Officers were wounded But to suport the Spirits of the Christians which were not a little dismayed by these losses and the great difficulties which were yet to be overcome the Bavarian Infantry fortunately came to their Succours thô those of Franconia were Countermanded which so enlivened and cheared up the Hearts of the drooping Camp That the Duke of Loraine sent a menacing Message to the Governour of Buda Summons sent to the Town giving him to understand that in case he stood out longer and refused to surrender until he was forced thereunto by a General Assault which he was preparing to make that then he would put all to the Sword giving Quarter to none nor sparing Age nor Sex To which Summons he returned this answer That in such Case he would neither demand Mercy The Vizie's Answer or Quarter for his own Person nor for any of the Soldiers or Inhabitants of that place And on the other side he declared That he would give no Quarter to the Besiegers but when they fell into his Hands would treat them with the same usage which was threatned unto them And to shew how much he was in earnest he caused Forty Christian Prisoners to be brought before him on the Walls and in Presence of the Person who brought the Summons he commanded them all to be put to Death saying His Cruelty That if it were in his Power to Massacre the whole Christian Army he would do it with as little Remorse as he executed his present Rage on those miserable Wretches And it being farther told this Vizier that the Duke of Bavaria had in Person and with 30.000 Men reinforced the Army which encompassed the City He made answer That he knew very well what a Petty King of Germany meant and that his Three thousand Men which he had brought with him could not terrify him who commanded a Place where the Soldiers were many and brave and where was no want of Ammunition and Provisions On the 8th The Christians Sprang a Mine under one of the Towers where the Turks had placed their principal Battery and at Night Sprang three or four more under the Curtain but not with so good effect as was expected Howsoever they had brought their Attacks to the very Ditches of the Town and Castle and had made a Lodgment upon one of the Breaches On the 9th and 10th Several other Mines were fired with such Success that they overthrew a great part of the Wall and opened so wide a space that four or five Carts might enter a-breast Howsoever it was not thought advisable to make an Assault by Reason that the Defendants had formed several Retrenchments within and guarded them with many Troops and Batteries And besides the Infantry were so weakned by Dissenteries and other Sicknesses that it was not thought fit to hazard them upon so desperate an Attempt Howsoever having fired a Mine at Kulakupee with good effect The Christians make an Assault and are repulsed they seconded it with a furious Assault but were again repulsed with much loss and great slaughter of the common Soldiers and the Counts of Harach and Nassau and the Major of the Regiment of Mansfeldt were all killed and the Counts of Staremberg and Aversberg were amongst the number of the wounded Amongst these Disorders and Discouragements five Christians found means to make their Escape out of the Town and informed the General that the Turks had raised two Batteries each of five Pieces of Cannon upon a Horn-work which was palisadoed and was guarded by another Tower behind this Work and joyned to a more inward Wall made of Earth above nine Foot thick That there was also a Ditch and Palisadoes behind the Breach and that there were still 20.000 Men within the Town who were capable to bear Arms and that the principal Officers upon hopes of being relieved by the Seraskier as was assured them by some Soldiers lately come from Belgrade and the Bridge of Esseck had resolved to maintain the Town to the last and utmost Extremity Howsoever that there was some division amongst them for thô the Inhabitants seem'd resolute to stand out unto the last drop of their Blouds fearing lest they should be treated like the Garrison of Virovitza yet the Janisaries who had no other Concerment in the Place than their own Lives protested that in case they were not speedily relieved by the Seraskier they would constrain the Governour to surrender upon Capitulations If the Garrison of Buda were in a bad Condition the Imperial Camp in the Leaguer was not in a much better for most of the Officers were either killed The ill Condition of the Leaguer sick or wounded and such was the scarcity of
thereby was soon repair'd by the diligence of the Besieged returning their Shot with fiery Bullets of a new invention which did great execution within the Lines This and other Successes raised their Spirits within the Town to a steddy defence to secure which the Princess Ragotzki imposed a new Oath of Fidelity on all the Souldiers which they chearfully took and to express their readiness thereunto they fired all the great and small Shot round the Town with resolute Protestations never to hearken unto any Offers or Conditions for Surrender of the Place To confirm the Soldiery in this good Humour it was noised in the Garrison that there were sufficient Provisions in the Magazines for the subsistence of a whole Year that the Princess had received Letters from her Husband Tekeli assuring her that he would very suddainly appear before the Town with an Army sufficient to raise the Siege and restore their Liberties Reports of Tekeli's March and reward all those who had continued firm and constant in their Faith and Allegiance unto him Nor was this Report confined within the Walls of Mongatz but it was spread over all the Imperial Camp that Tekeli had joyned the Seraskier's Army with a Force of Eight thousand Turks and Tartars and shortly resolved to attempt the raising of the Siege before Mongatz and to Re-inforce the place with considerable Recruits To prevent which Count Caprara dispeeded General Piccolomini with a strong Detachment to joyn with Mercy Caraffa and Heusler and with united strength to oppose the Enemies passage and watch some favourable opportunity to engage them But the Report of the Turks numbers and Tekeli's design soon vanished there being no such apparent Force in the Field to give them opposition In the mean time the Siege proceeded vigorously Bombs and Carcasses being daily fired and thrown into the Palanca and Castle one of which fell into the very Room where the Princess Ragotzki was at Dinner which without any disorder or affrightment of the Lady was soon extinguished Howsoever the Besiegers made such a Breach into the Palanca that they lodged a strong Party upon the brink of the Ditch The Besieged on the other side had raised a great Battery behind the Breach which dismounted several of the Imperialists Cannon and made divers Retrenchments and fired continually Bombs and Carcasses into the Lines which often times did considerable execution But when the Officers of the Garrison consider'd that the only means to preserve the place was to prevent the Draining of the two Ditches of the lower Town which were extreamly deep they cut a passage for several streams of Water by secret and hidden Channels to fall into the Ditch which being increased by the melting of Snow from the Mountains and continual Flouds of Rain which fell in that Season of the Year the Ditches were not only filled but the Earth made so soft and moist that it was impossible to maintain their Works so that Caprara could do nothing more than Batter the Town with his Cannon and throw some Bombs and Carcasses with little or no Execution In fine the Season coming on for Action which required an application to something more profitable and promising than this difficult Work The Siege of Mongatz raised the Siege was raised by Order of the Emperor about the end of April after five Months had been unprofitable spent before that place But before the great and most considerable Actions of the following Campaign began there were certain Preparations or Preludes thereunto represented in Fights and Skirmishes between certain Parties detached from the main Bodies in all which the Imperialists gained the Advantage and sometimes had the fortune of a clear Victory On the 14th of March some Imperial Troops having their Winter-quarters in Croatia routed Fifteen hundred Turks drawn up in open Field and put them to flight Achmet Aga their chief Commander was killed and his Son taken Prisoner Achmet Aga defeated This Engagement happen'd near a little Town called Jalonne which the Croats stormed and took and pillaged it and set at liberty Eight hundred Christian Slaves of which Three hundred were in a condition to take up Arms. Another Detachment of Croats possessed themselves of the Castle of Clanitz where they found a considerable Booty as also of the Town of the great Cladussa about four Leagues from Strediclo from whence they were enabled to make Incursions into the Territories of the Turks without any opposition April About the beginning of this Month other Detachments from the Garrison of Vesprin and Places in the Lower Hungary took the Castle of Palotta about two Leagues distant from Alba Regalis Other Successes and put all to the Sword About the end of this Month Count Baragotzi with a Regiment of German Horse and some Hungarian Troops intended to surprize Tekeli in Giena a little Town belonging to the Turks but the Design failed Tekeli being retired a little before the coming of the Enemy Howsoever his March was not altogether fruitless for in his return he took forty Turks whom he made Prisoners The Turks on the other side with Three thousand Horse and Foot under the Command of Fonduck Pasha designed to surprize Wirowitza in Croatia but the Governour of that Place having notice thereof got together about One thousand Seven hundred Horse and Dragoons from the neighbouring Garrisons with which he surprised the Enemy in their Camp before Day in the Morning and charged them so briskly that they killed about an Hundred and Seventy on the Place took Thirty seven Prisoners amongst which were two Agas and several Officers of Note with three Standards Drums Timbrels and a considerable Booty The Imperialists were still within their Winter-quarters which were so well disposed and in that Military Order as if the Army had been drawn in Battalia The orderly Disposition of the Christians in their Winter Quarters by which means they kept the Seraskier in continual Alarums on both sides of the Tibiscus The Hungarian and German Troops possessed a vast Tract of the Country for General Barkotzi with Four thousand of his Countrymen acting joyntly and by agreement with Piccolomini and the Regiments of Schultz and Dunewald extended themselves all along the Upper Hungary as far as to the Confines of Poland to hinder the Incursions of the Tartars who were used to make that Way their common Road to Pillage and to Infest those Countries The Quarters of these Forces reached so far as to be near or as we may say in call of General Caraffa who with the Counts Getz and Terzi extended their several Bodies of Horse and Foot all along the Confines of Transilvania and the Counties of Chege and Debrezin even to the neighbouring Jurisdiction of great Waradin In like manner General Marcy and Heusler extended their Quarters from the Province of Zolnok beyond the Tibiscus into the very Heart of the Turks Country bringing all those Parts under great and heavy Contributions and still maintaining
universal Peace that they would then oblige themselves that an Equivalent should be given to the Emperor by the Delivery of two other Places And that they were ready to give up the same and conclude a Peace for making which they had received a sufficient Power from the Grand Seignior provided that the Siege be immediately raised With this Answer the Generals not being pleas'd they began on both sides to fire with the usual Fury Batteries raised and Mines fired and that Night they finished two Batteries which were raised for enlargement of the Breaches and three Mines were fired which fill'd a great part of the Ditch with Earth but one of them recoyling back bury'd a hundred Men of the Brandenburger Troops who were advanc'd too far and were not advertis'd when the Mine was to be fir'd The next Day following about Nine a Clock in the Morning the Turks beat again a Parly towards the side of the Breach of the Bavarian Quarter and sent the two Agas which had been employed the Day before with the Duke of Loraine Another Parly unto the Elector desiring that two Hostages might be returned in their Places which being done accordingly one of the Agas offered in the Name of the Vizier of Buda To yield and surrender up the Place with all the Dependencies which he avowed to be very great and to contain no less than a Hundred and Fifty Leagues of Land thereupon depending or otherwise to deliver up any other two places within the Kingdom of Hungary being under the Turks Dominion at the Will and Choice of the Emperor provided that a general Peace might thereupon be concluded and ensue which is broken off But in regard the Elector was sufficiently informed that it was not in his own nor yet in the Emperor's Power to make a Peace without the common Consent of the Allies for which there was no time at that critical Season The two Agas were remanded back and the Hostages returned and then the old Trade proceeded and they began again to fire on all sides as before But this Cessation of Arms was made use of by the Christians for discovery of the Breach of the Castle and the entrance thereunto by way of the Town of which a Lieutenant Colonel belonging to the Regiment of Baden took a particular Observation The same Day a Mine was fired by the Imperialists at the Attack of Loraine which made a Breach in the second Wall and shaked the third which so alarum'd the Defendants that in great numbers they came running to that place The Bavarians enter the Castle but are repulsed by which such a diversion was made of their Forces as gave the Bavarians an opportunity to enter the Castle but being not able to make good their Ground they were constrained to abandon the Lodgment which they had already begun August During these Actions Count Staremberg applying himself to all places Count Staremberg wounded where his Presence was required without any regard to the hazard and danger of life he received a Musquet Shot on his Left-hand which carried away his Thumb and with another Shot he was both wounded in the Cheek and in the Shoulder but the Wounds were so slight Duke of Loraine sick as did not constrain him to withdraw from his Care and Command The Duke of Loraine was at the same time indisposed in his Health by the accession of a Fever which though not very violent yet it gave some cause of Fear and Discouragement to the whole Camp howsoever the Spirit of this Hero was so great that he still continued to prosecute his Enterprize and give direction for perfecting the Mines which were now necessary on that side for that little thereof could be effected at the Bavarian Attack where the Labourers were stopped by Rocks and Quarries of Stone The Difficulty of the Mines And whilst the Miners worked at the Breach of Loraine they were forced to withdraw themselves from the pestilential Air caused under Ground by the noisome Stench of dead Bodies Howsoever the Mine under the third Wall was finished and sprung with good success thô the Ditch was not so filled that the Soldiers could pass to the Assault yet bringing Sacks of Earth and other defensible Matter they lodged and covered themselves at the foot of the Breach Whilst the Siege proceeded with all this heat and vigour certain News was brought that the Grand Vizier had composed a Body of Seven thousand Horse News of the Grand Vizier's March. drawn out of divers Garrisons in Hungary and caused them to advance as far as Sarowitz which is within Thirteen Leagues of Buda and that other Troops had passed the Bridge of Esseck and that the Seraskier was appointed to guard that way until the Vizier in Person had made his Passage who with 40.000 Men was marching to the Relief of distressed Buda and that he would be shortly Reinforced with a very great Body of Tartars and Asiatick Horse which were already on their March and had passed Adrianople But the Generals who had received more certain Advices of the Strength of the Vizier were well assured that neither the Number of his Soldiers was so great nor the Quality of them so formidable being for the most part composed of soft Asiaticks of Country-men and People inexpert and unaccustomed to War and for that Reason it was not to be imagined that the Grand Vizier would put all to the hazard of a pitched Battle Howsoever The Christians prepare to receive them not to despise an Enemy the Generals considering hereof at a Council of War dispatched immediately express Orders to the Cavalry quarter'd in all parts of the Upper Hungary where was no apprehension of any Enemy to march unto the Camp and accordingly General Dunewaldt with several Regiments of Horse under his Command and Count Caprara and General Heusler with their Troops and Count Budiani with about Two thousand Hungarians all valiant and veterane Soldiers appeared at the Rendezvous and with all expedition marched towards the Enemy with intention to give them a stop in their Way towards Buda The Ban or Governor of Croatia having given Advice to the Generals that he had raised the Militia of that Country for the Service of the Emperor was commanded to March towards the Bridge of Esseck and joyning with the other Forces to make Head and Opposition to the Grand Vizier in his March The rumour and report of the Grand Vizier's approach with all his Army did daily increase and as a certain Fore-runner thereof several Thousands of his Horse were advanced very near to discover the Force and Actions of the Christians Whereupon a Council of War being called of all the Generals it was concluded to countermand the Advance of the Troops and appoint them to appear at a general Rendezvous where it was plainly manifested how greatly the numbers were abated and therefore since the great Line of Circumvallation was perfected
the Common Soldiery but Duke Henric of Saxon Mersburg was in that Action wounded in two places and General Rummel of the Bavarians was slain by a Musquet-shot in the Approaches which ought to have been made deeper by three or four Foot so as to cover the whole Body of a Man he was an excellent Soldier and a brave Man and therefore much lamented by his Electoral Highness and the whole Army Nothing could more annoy and vex the Defendants than the taking and possessing this Tower which render'd the Case and State of the City almost desperate so that no hopes remained unless they were succour'd and reliev'd by the Army of the Grand Vizier whom to advise of their Extremity Two Messengers sent from the City to the Grand Vizier two Messengers were dispatch'd out of the Town one by the way of the Water and the other by the Land side both disguised in the Hungarian Habit. The first was discover'd swimming over to the Island of St. Margaret's and being pursued was taken but his Letters he had first thrown into the River Howsoever being brought before the Generals he confessed and declared the low and desperate Condition to which the City was reduc'd and that it could not hold out much longer unless speedily Reliev'd and that another Messenger was sent to acquaint the Vizier thereof by Word of Mouth letting him know that it was not sufficient to appear before the Town One of them is taken and flatter them with the hopes of Succour unless also he could force the Enemy to raise the Siege and that the late Recruit of Two hundred Men who bravely made their way into the City was but a small Help and Comfort to a Garrison already wasted and almost totally consumed by a long Siege That the Castle was in a manner lost since that the principal Towers and Bulwarks of it were possessed by the Enemy And in short that those who remain'd alive were wearied out with continual Watchings and every Day diminish'd by Cannon and Musquet-shot by Bombs Fires and Carcasses continually thrown into the Town All these Matters being reported before the Generals they conceived certain hopes of putting a speedy end to their Labours and Dangers Howsoever therewithal they so far consulted their own Condition that they concluded it very necessary before any thing was farther attempted to expect the coming of that Body of the Army under Count Scaffemberg and the Twelve hundred Swedes which were now on their March and near at hand At length Scaffemberg being come with a Reinforcement of Eight thousand Men besides the Swedes raised the Spirits of the whole Army and put the Generals into a capacity of executing the Designs they had already plotted and contrived Eight thousand Men come to the 〈◊〉 Camp On the Loraine Quarter a Bridge was made near the great Tower leading towards the inward Palisadoes of the Enemy and to conserve it from fire they covered it over with Earth The like was also performed on the Bavarian side but whilst these things were preparing a stop was put thereunto by an unexpected and vigorous Sally which the Besieged made for dislodging the Soldiers which had possessed the Tower Three Attempts were made thereupon with the greatest fury and desperation imaginable throwing Granadoes Sacks of Powder and artificial Fires composed of Sulphur Pitch and all sorts of burning and fetulent Matter notwithstanding which they were most vigorously repulsed with much loss The Elector considering the dangerous Post which his Men had undertaken to defend thought sit to withdraw his Soldiers from the Bulwark that he might with more advantage batter the great Tower with his heaviest Cannon which were so hotly plyed that the whole Tower was beaten down and the Enemy thereby made uncapable to offend from those Works The Bridge of which we spake being finished on the side of the Imperialists with the Battery on the Rondel the inward Palisadoes were broken down and the Breach widen'd above Forty Paces so that now all had been surrender'd had not the Vizier comforted the Pasha with Assurances that he and the Seraskier had resolved to attempt the Camp in three places at the same time and that the most forcible one should be given at the Water-side where 't was believ'd the least Opposition could be made Upon this Advice the Water-side and Banks of the River were well fortified and secured and a strong Chain stretched over the Water below the Bridge of Boats from the Shoar to the Point of St. Margaret's Isle to obstruct the Passage of Spies and Messengers who used to swim over the Water with Intelligence and which also might serve to give a stop to the Cavalry in case they should attempt any thing on that side The City being now in a languishing Condition the Grand Vizier resolved to make his last Effort and having chosen out of his Army Three thousand of his bravest Soldiers which he encouraged with Thirty Dollars a-piece paid them in hand and with promise of Increase of their daily Pay during Life to such as should make and force their Way into the Town and at the same time another Body was ordered to enter the Line at the place which they had lately attempted The Three thousand descended by way of the Vally called Shamboiuck and with great Fury fell in upon the Guards of the Imperialists but were so well received by the Baron of Asti with his Talpatz and Hussars and by General Heusler with his Regiment that they were vigorously repulsed After which they made an Attempt on Count Caprara and again on the Quarters of the Duke of Loraine but in all places were ill treated and came off with a great loss of Men. In the mean time the second Body of Turks assaulted other parts of the Army which increased the heat of the Fight to succour which the Duke of Loraine detach'd all the Forces which were about him remaining alone only with two Assistants but the Battle growing hot and the Turks endeavouring in diverse places to break into the Line the Duke of Loraine put himself at the Head of two Battalions of Brandenburgers whose Example gave Life and Courage to the whole Army But whilst this Fight was mannaged in diverse Squadrons which confusedly ran from one side to another some of them had the fortune to force the Line towards the Wall of the lower City but passing to the Line of Contravallation they met there such Vollies of Shot and continual Firings that knowing not which way to retreat they fell into the Squadrons of Baron Marcy and Serau by whom the greatest part of them were kill'd upon the place and those which escaped were so confused that being dispers'd about the Fields they knew not which way to take Some of them happen'd to fall in with the Brandenburgers others into the general Quarters where being encompass'd on all sides they were miserably cut to pieces and slain not so much as their Servants or Grooms
the Regiment of Magni who having the fortune to Encounter the Enemy gave them a total Defeat killing Fifty of them on the place of which their Commander was one and Six Prisoners were taken Whilst matters passed thus in the Upper Hungary the City of Agria suffered much for want of Provisions which greatly discouraged both the Inhabitants and the Garrison Forty men of Agria desert and joyn with the Christians so that many deserted the place and about Forty of them came to Onoth declaring themselves to be Christians and desirous to be received into the Church by Baptism But the Imperial Commanders being doubtful of the sincere Faith of these new Converts were not very forward to receive them into an Association of which they being sensible did voluntarily joyn themselves to a Party then going abroad upon a discovery and so bravely behaved themselves in a Skirmish which they happened to have with the Turks that they killed many of their Brethren with their own hands and thereby gave evident proofs of their real Conversion All this while no Garrisons were succoured for not only Agria was in miserable want Grand Vizier orders relief but likewise all the Towns in the Lower Hungary Sclavonia and Croatia suffered Scarcity and Famine The Grand Vizier being in great care and pain for those places sent strict Commands from Belgrade to the Commanders at Esseck to supply all those places with necessary Provisions for Transportation of which the Danube being frozen up there was no other way left than to carry all by Waggons over the Snow and Ice for the Rivers Lakes Fenns and Marshes being hard Frozen were seldom strong enough to bear Carriages and Waggons by the most direct and nearest way And yet such had been the misery of the late Campagne that the Countries were laid waste and desolate all the Provisions and Forage being so destroyed that to sustain the Famished Towns and Countries Supplies were to be fetched from far distant places To perform which the Commander of Esseck laboured with the utmost of his Endeavours and dispeeded great Numbers of Waggons laden with all sorts of Ammunition and Provisions to the wanting-places under a strong Convoy The Imperialists having Advice hereof made a Detatchment of Three hundred Musqueteers The Christians endeavour to prevent it Three Troops of Curassiers belonging to the Regiment of Newburg and about Two thousand Four hundred Soldiers which were Hussars and Heyducks The News of the Motion of these Forces soon Fled to Canisia Sigeth and other places where being in some fear for the safety of their Convoy those of Sigeth sent out a strong Party placing them in Ambush about Two English Miles distant from the Town The Convoy proceeded with what haste they could and the Baron d Orlich pursued them as fast and overtook them near the place where the Ambush was planted and charged them so furiously that he totally Defeated them Killed One hundred and Twenty on the place dispersed the rest and made himself Master of all the Carriages In the mean time Tekeli was neither idle or negligent in his Arms or Plots for he had employed his Engines in divers parts to sollicit the Citizens and Inhabitants of Bartfeld Esperies and Cassovia to a Revolt Plots contrived by Tekeli are discovered and having droven out the Garrisons he promised to supply them with a more numerous Force These Offers and the Ways and Methods being happily discovered several were accused for Complices in the Plot amongst which a certain Judge whom Tekeli had formerly employed at Cassovia was seized and imprisoned Likewise several Gentlemen and Magistrates of those places were known to have entertained Correspondencies with those of Mongatz and Agria and that Tekeli had remitted considerable Sums of Money to them for execution of their design The Judge being put to the Question on the Wrack accused Two and twenty to have been engaged with him in the Plot. And another Conspiracy against the Life of Count Caraffa was likewise discovered in which above Seventy persons and some of Quality were engaged One Radwanski a principal Author of the late Commotions was put to the Torture and after he had Signed a Confession dyed by the Anguish of the Wrack howsoever the Sentence pronounced against him Offenders are punished was executed on his Dead Corps which was to have his Hand and Head cut off and his Four Quarters disposed in divers places of the City In like manner Palassi Sekel Barrock and Concoud were Beheaded and Quartered As also the same day one Besseck a Counsellor of Newsol and Weber a publick Notary Tascias and several incurred the same fate and so had also Feldmeyer a Commissary at War but that he Killed himself in Prison howsoever that did not hinder but that the Sentence was Executed on his Dead Body To examine this Plot and sift into the bottom of it so employed Count Caraffa as for some time it deferred the design of Bombing Agria and indeed so many were the Conspirators that great Executions were acted in divers places and many also received pardon from the Mercy and Clemency of the Emperor for that his Imperial Majesty had been well assured there were considerable Numbers of poor innocent People engaged in the Plot rather by delusion and example of others than by a Natural Spirit and inclination to a Revolt Thô Caraffa was otherwise employed yet there wanted not other active Officers in the Field to watch the Motions of the Enemy and take the Advantages which did present Baron Orlick was commanded to burn the Bridge which the Turks had built over the Drave near Esseck and accordingly marched away from Quinque Ecclesiae Baron Orlick defeats a Party of the Turks with Six Companies drawn out from the Regiments of Montecuculi and Herberville and being on his march he received Advice that Eight hundred Janisaries and Two hundred Spahees selected out of the Flour of the best Ottoman Troops were detached from Esseck with a design to intercept a Convoy appointed for the relief of Ziclos and to take and demolish a small Redoubt which had some days before been raised on the Banks of that River by order of Count Vechi Wherefore leaving the design of burning the Bridge Baron Orlick marched directly against the Enemy whom he found attacking the Fort in which they had already killed a great many men with Granadoes But so soon as Orlick appeared the Turks fell into disorder and fear and being furiously charged by him were defeated with the loss of above Six hundred men killed on the place amongst which were two Aga's and a Bey or Lord Many Prisoners were taken with all their Baggage and many Ensigns and Colours of which Five were sent to the Emperor by Baron de Hertleben first Captain of that Regiment The Turks worsted in several Skirmishes And on the Emperor's side Six Sergeants Five Troopers and Twelve Dragoons were killed and many wounded About the same
time another Party of Turks was beaten near Zolnoch Twenty of which were killed Chonad defends it self against the Turks and about Thirty taken Prisoners Moreover Seven thousand Turks Tartars and Male-contents being joyned together endeavoured to surprize Chonad which is a Fortress situate on the River Maros which falls into the Tibiscus near to Segedin But they met so vigorous a repulse and rude entertainment from the Defendants that they were forced to desist from their Attacks and march away with the loss of Four hundred Soldiers some of which were principal Officers Thus the News of one ill success coming to Constantinople on the Head of another struck the People of all sorts and conditions with a strange Consternation The Ottoman Port in great disorder the Government fearing the ill consequences thereof endeavoured by all ways and methods of gentleness to appease the unquiet and fluctuating Spirits of the People and Soldiers To do this there was a necessity of vast Sums of Money wherewith to quiet and gratify the Army and Fleet and to satisfy the Tartars who declared that it was impossible for them to move without Money and which way to raise it was the great difficulty for the Grand Signior's Treasure was exhausted and the People already tired and over-burdened with Taxes Wherefore after a long Debate thereupon in the Divan it was agreed That the Jewels and Plate of the Sultans amassed in several Chambers of the Seraglio should be put to sale which might have raised vast Sums of Money Great want of Money could they have been sold to their value but there was an impossibility of finding Buyers for thô the Money could have been found in Constantinople yet there was none who durst own to be Master of so so great Riches In fine after divers Debates and Expedients proposed it was agreed to raise Money by way of Contribution on the chief and prime Officers of the Seraglio and of the Empire and particularly on Kadees and Men of the Law and Church Means to raise it on Customers Tax-gatherers and rich Merchants such as lived easily and idly in their Houses it seeming reasonable that such who enjoyed Protection and Safeguard in their peaceable Acquisitions at home should maintain and provide them who were venturing their Lives and fighting in their defence abroad And whereas the Tartar Han was very pressing and importunate for Money without which he could not move or serve in this Year 's Campagne it was resolved to send him Fifty thousand Crowns in Money and to make up the rest of his Demands in Diamonds Scymeters studded with Rubies Emralds and Pearls and with Bucklers set with precious Stones and other things of value taken from the Treasury in the Seraglio But whilst this was contriving an unhappy Sedition and Mutiny arose amongst the Levents who are Soldiers belonging to the Sea A Mutiny among the Marine Soldiers who having wanted Pay for a long time came in a tumultuous manner to the Captain Pasha who is Admiral of the Fleet to demand it and rushed with such violence into his House that he had scarce time to escape out of their hands and had proceeded to greater extremities had they not been appeased with a speedy tender of Six Months Pay When these things were quieted a strict Examination was made into the Cause and Leaders of this Mutiny of which some were strangled and about Twenty others were put into a Sack after their Custom and cast into the Sea Howsoever this Severity did not so suppress this Rabble but that many of them assembled together in the City where they plundered divers Houses and committed a Thousand Outrages until such time as Proclamation was made giving Licence to the People to do themselves Justice and kill those who made any attempt on their Houses or Goods which was the best way to deal with a Licentious Tumult for so soon as such a Decree was known the lewd Mobile grew afraid and dispersed most of them withdrawing themselves Aboard their Vessels But not only did the Ottoman Government labour under a want of Money but of Men also Want of men For whereas they expected a Recruit of Forty thousand men out of Asia for this Campagne notwithstanding the most rigorus Commands sent to compel all men to the War there appeared not Six thousand For Turcomania had not furnished above Two thousand men Syria and Palestine One thousand Eight hundred and the Asia Minor Two thousand The new Levies in and about Constantinople did not amount to above Three thousand Five hundred and all that could at present be found wherewith to Recruit the Armies both in Hungary and in the Morea did not amount unto more than Twenty thousand men many of which deserted in their march and fled into the Mountains where they absconded and passed the most part of the Summer being forced to commit many Outrages for their necessary subsistence These Misfortunes and disappointments moved the Grand Signior and his Counsellors to judge a Peace with the Emperor The Turks seek for Peace the most compencious Method to secure the State of the Ottoman Empire which was now staggering and falling with its own weight and therefore gave orders to the Vizier then at Belgrade to endeavour a Peace at any price and rate whasoever Accordingly the Grand Vizier dispatched a Letter from Belgrade dated the 6th of March to Prince Herman of Baden President of the Council of War to the Emperor giving him to understand That the Sultan his Lord and Master being persuaded to put an end to this miserable War which had long been maintained at the Expence of much Blood and Treasure on both sides He thought it necessary in order thereunto to Appoint a Place and Nominate Commissioners for a Treaty And to Evidence the reality and sincere intentions of the Sultan towards a Peace an Offer was made as the first Preliminary to deliver up Tekeli into the hands of the Emperor These Proposals were brought by an Aga as far as Debrezin from whence he demanded a safe Conduct to proceed as far as Esperies But to cut this Treaty short the Emperor commanded Count Caraffa to let the Grand Vizier know that he would be ready to make peace with the Ottoman Port upon a Grant or Concession of Three Articles only First The Emperor demands three Articles That the Grand Seignior should pay to him Six Millions of Gold in satisfaction of the Ruin and Spoils which his Troops had committed in Austria and other his Hereditary Provinces 2dly That all the Towns and Places which the Turks possessed in Hungary should be delivered up to the Emperor and the Turkish Forces withdrawn from that Kingdom 3dly That in all other matters they should give equal satisfaction to the Allies But as to Tekeli he being a Subject and a Rebel the surrender of him into the hands of Justice seemed not a Motive sufficient nor any prevailing Argument whereon to ground
his Soldiers too frequently to unnecessary Sallies and was too prodigal of spilling their Blood The Prince of Salm was another Field-Marshal The Prince of Salm. to whom the Education of the Young King of Hungary was committed It is said That he hath served long and gained great Experience in the War But his Valour Wisdom and Nobility have endued him with such Vertues as serve not only to render him esteemed and honoured for himself but capable also to inspire Learning and Royal Thoughts into the Mind of that Young King Count Rabata another Field-Marshal and Commissary-General of the Imperial Army Count Rabata was esteemed more capable of the latter than of the first Office For as to the providing for the subsistence of an Army no man was ever reputed more intelligent and industrious being endued with an admirable Faculty to draw out a Scheme for Winter-Quarters and the manner how to regulate Troops with such Discipline as might tend to the Conservation of the Provisions of a Country which Soldiers are apt to consume unnecessarily especially the German Armies which love Plenty and Excess and do commonly if not prevented by good Management ruin those Countries in Two Months which might otherwise conveniently maintain an Army for the whole Year Dunewald Count Dunewald General of the Imperial Cavalry was esteemed very capable of that Charge and with all the Reason and Justice in the World may be numbred amongst the best of those Officers who are esteemed to be Couragious Wise and Experienced in War Count Palfi Count Palfi General of the Hungarian Horse was a man of great Understanding but because he hath not served in any other Wars than those of Hungary he is not much esteemed for a Soldier howsoever being descended from one of the most Ancient and Noble Families in Hungary the Court of Vienna judged it policy to give in his Person an Example and Proof of the Emperor's Favour and good Will towards the Hungarian Nobility By reason of which he made a speedier advance into Preferments in the War than could reasonably be expected from his Services and Actions Count Serien Count de Serien General of the Bavarian Troops besides his other Qualities hath but too much of Wit and good Management by which he seldom fails of arriving at the end of his designs having by his Conduct and good Fortune got into the Command of the Bavarian Troops And so insinuated himself into the Court of Vienna that they seem to say that they are obliged to him for the strict Alliance which the Elector hath made with the House of Austria In short he was esteemed for a Person of admirable dexterity in avoiding invidious matters without being either suspected or perceived P. of Croy. The Prince of Croy General of the Artillery was a person of undoubted Valour Gondola Gondola first Lieutenant-General of the Horse was a very Ancient Officer much beloved by his own Soldiers in short he is a man without Vice Vivacity of Spirit or Ambition being of a Conversation easy and inoffensive to all the World Count Taff. Count Taff a Lieutenant-General of the Horse was a very Gallant man having in all occasions of danger acquitted himself with great Courage and yet he is not so much to be commended for his Military performances as for the Character he hath acquired of a just civil and an honest Gentleman He was of great Understanding pleasant Conversation good Literature and well studied accomplished in all his Exercises doing every thing with a good Grace In fine he would be supereminent in every thing did he not prefer those Qualities which rendered him useful before those which made him acceptable I had once the honour to see him at Vienna and have some acquaintance with him in the Year 1666. Count Souches chief Lieutenant-General of the Infantry Souches was greatly advanced by those Employments which his Father had bequeathed to him Count Schaffenberg Schaffenberg Lieutenant-General of the Foot was a person of great Courage but something tenacious The Prince of Neuburg Neuburg Great Master of the Teutonick Order was a very good Man but heavy and unactive bold in danger but without much Application to business The Prince of Savoy P. of Savoy a Gentleman of great Courage of more solid Judgment than quickness of Fancy He was a Man of good Learning and in his studies had applied his mind to that part of the Mathematicks which treats of Fortifications by which and by practice in War there was great hope that with time he would arrive at those eminent degrees of Honour and Preferment of which the greatness of his Birth and his own Virtues made him capable Veterani was as Brave and Valiant as any Veterani having signalized himself in the last War by an extraordinary Action worthy for ever to be remembred He was an Italian by Birth but so plain and unaffected in his Speech and Behaviour that he seemed to have contracted nothing of the Air of that Nation but the Name only Heusler was a Soldier of Fortune Heusler as stout and brave as Hercules himself no man more Valiant and none more Active and Vigilant and by his Merits only arrived to the highest Commands in the Army his Comportment Motions and way of Speaking savoured of a man of Quality Piccolomini Piccolomini was not only endued with Courage which is the first Principle of a Soldier but was a Master in the Trade of War Tho' he hath been maliciously traduced as wanting both but his own Actions Conduct and Success in many Battels have evinced the contrary To these we might add the Prince of Lommercy Rabbatin Nigrelli Esterhasi Apremont and Wallis all Major-Generals of Renown and Famous Reputation besides many other Field-Commanders Captains and subaltern Officers so that as we have said no Age could ever boast of more brave and undaunted Spirits On the contrary the Turks had in several Battels unfortunate to themselves lost the best of their brave Soldiers Pashas and Timariots and what remained were cut off by the Chiurbas and the rebellious Soldiers as fore-related so that now there scarce survived one person fit and of sufficient Experience to conduct an Army as will appear in the sequel of this present Year But to return now to the Councils of War held at Vienna for hastening the Campaigne Result of the Counsels of War at Vienna and forwarding the Troops and drawing a Scheme for managing the War of this Year many and various were the Opinions At length strict Orders were given to Mareschal Caprara immediately to go to Oseck and there consult with Count Apremont Governor of that place on such methods as might best contribute to the Service of his Imperial Majesty both as to the Enlargement of the Conquests and Subsistence of the Soldiery In order unto which great Numbers of Boats were laden with all sorts of Provision and Ammunition and
Germany with Fire and Sword and in the Year 1693 besides the Conquests gained in Brabant and Flanders we shall hear of the burning of Heidelberg and all the Upper Germany in danger of an entire Desolation All which might easily have been prevented had the Emperor hearkened at this time to the Offers of the Turks who came prepared to accept of any Conditions that in reason could have been imposed upon them But this Opportunity being let slip Fortune changed its Course and the Exploits of War were acted with various Successes and tho' afterwards the Emperor sought for Peace by Interposition of Mediators the Turks were so far engaged with the French and so encouraged by their Successes that they would now hearken to nothing under the Surrender of Buda and all the Conquests in Hungary The Loss of this Opportunity for gaining a Peace The Reasons for which the Peace was obstructed may be attributed to the Infatuation of the Minds of the Germans blinded for punishment of the Sins of Christendom No doubt but the French Faction in the Imperial Court availed much in the defeat of this Design as did also the power of the Papal Court in which at that time Alexander VIII reigned who hearing of the Overtures of Peace treating at Ausburg and Vienna dispatched away from Rome Cardinal Colonitz with Instructions about the Affairs of Hungary who after having assisted in divers Consultations and Conferences thereupon the whole Treaty broke off and the Ambassadors dismissed from all farther Negotiations of which we shall very speedily bewail the fatal Effects THE Venetian Successes In Their WAR against the TURKS In the Year 1689. IN the preceeding Year we made a Relation of the Venetian War against the Turks January maintained in the Island of Negropont and against the chief City thereof known by that Name The Enterprize was of great Importance and the Preparations for the same agreeable to so mighty a Design which had it succeeded would not only have settled and established the Venetians in their Conquests of the Morea but rendered them Masters of all the Coast of Romania but the Vetians instead thereof being compelled by Sickness and unfortunate Attacks upon the place in which they lost many of their brave Officers to quit the Island with some Confusion and as it were stealing off in the Night for fear the Enemy should fall on their Rear Cannon and Baggage but the Turks being desirous to be rid of such Guests were willing to have made a Bridge for them rather than to have administred the least Retardment or Hindrance to their Departure All the Auxiliary Gallies as those of the Pope Malta and Florence being retired as we have said to their respective Countries the main Body of the Venetian Armata entered into the Port of Napoli di Romania The Venetian Fleet Winters at Napoli de Romania with design to Winter there so as better to Command the Archipelago and to be near Negropont so as to be ready to obstruct the Turks in case they should Attempt to repair those Works it being intended to make another Attack on that place early in the Spring and to that end Orders were sent to Venice to dispatch away the Recruits for the Land Forces with all Necessaries for the Fleet and Provisions for the Winter of which there was so great want that both the Land and Sea Forces had much difficulty to subsist so melancholy a Countenance was put on through the whole Camp that nothing but the prevailing Authority of their Doge and Captain-General could restrain them from a Mutiny The Venetians in some distress but that which a little comforted the Soldiery was the mildness of the Winter which gave a cheerful green colour to the Fields which yielded Herbs and Winter-Fruits in much Plenty and because the Buildings of the Town had been much destroyed and ruined by the Bombs and Cannon they raised little Hutts and Cottages for shelter and Lodgings for the Soldiery to which the Athenians who had no great desire to return to their own City had greatly contributed having Built divers Houses at their own Cost and with their own Labour But what most dis-spirited the Army was the Sickness of the Doge Morosini who long had laboured under a violent Fever in such a manner that the Physicians themselves despaired of his Life for Conservation of which solemn Prayers and Processions were appointed to be made The Doge sick both at Venice and in all Places under that Dominion At length after a tedious Expectation the Convoy arrived to the universal Joy and Consolation of all the Forces and Country round about February which began to give new Life to all Motions and Enterprizes and to inspire the Soldiers with a new stock of Courage for all People having been supplied both with Money and Provisions A Convoy with Money and Provision arrives from Venice the Carpenters fell heartily to Work on the Vessels and Gallies to repair and make them fit for the next Voyage and the Soldiers remained ready to Embrace any new Enterprize But the Doge continuing sick and reduced to a great weakness and debility of Body put a damp on the Spirits of the Soldiery and much retarded the proceedings of all Designs For tho' the Captain Extraordinary Venier was Commanded with his Ships to watch and guard one side of the Channel of Negropont Turkish Forces landed at Negropont and Captain Valier Commander of the Great Alexander to attend the other yet the Captain Pasha broke into Negropont with ten Gallies and there landed 500 Men promising them by Order of the Sultan in a short time a much greater force with which they should be supplied very speedily and that in the mean time they should labour with all possible industry to repair the Works which the Enemies Bombs and Cannon had ruined so that the Venetians were not able to obstruct the Turks from giving Relief to Candia but instead thereof had the Misfortune to lose two of their Gallies by Storm and were forced to return back again to Napoli di Romania where their chief Comfort was that the Sickness began to decrease which had for some time raged both in the Fleet Army and Countries round the City March The Spring coming on the Doge began to recover his Health and Strength again Morosini recovers his Health to the great Joy of all the Soldiery so that he could now attend to Business and give Orders to the Armata which had been so well repaired and Careened as that the Gallies were in a Condition already to put to Sea Notwithstanding all which the Turks were not obstructed in their passage to Negropont Negropont supplied where four Gallies belonging to the Beyes arrived bringing Spades Shovels Pick-axes and several other Instruments for repairing the Breaches made last Year by the Enemy on which their Slaves being dis-enchain'd from the Oar laboured Day and Night with all diligence
ordered in the Night to hide themselves under some little Hills and Rocks called Grebani and at the Foot of one of the Enemies Forts to cover the Attack in case the Turks should make a Sally from the Town But the Success did not answer the Expectation of the Martial Spirits of so many brave Officers and Soldiers But without effect who came down in great Numbers to behold the performance of this Action the which was absolutely defeated for want of the four Ships which were detained below by contrary Winds Howsoever the Expectation being great the Officers on the shoar approached the Town nearer than was necessary and safe of which the Turks not neglecting their Advantage made many Shots amongst them from the Walls one of which killed Lorenzo Venier Venier Caraccioli killed Captain Extraordinary of the Ships and Michael Angelo Caraccioli a Cavalier of Malta whilst they were both in serious Discourse together having received the Mortal Blow on their Heads The Death of Venier was greatly lamented not only by the Doge but by the whole Army and indeed the Loss was general being one of the most able Citizens of Venice and the best Sea Captain belonging to that Republick And indeed it seemed as if an unhappy Constellation had been reigning over him at that time when being desirous to be aboard for better direction of the four Ships Are greatly lamented the Doge permitted him not out of a regard to his Person which he did not think fit to adventure on so desperate a hazard so that what was intended for his Conservation was turned to his Loss and Destruction But this was not all the Misfortune for the Turks observing such a Concourse of People and from thence apprehending some intention of an Assault made a Sally not only from the Town The Turks make a Sally but from the Rocks under which the Oltramarines had concealed themselves where the Turks falling on them in the Rear killed many of them and put the rest to Flight and tho' the Sergeant-Major Tomaso Pompei with some of his Men Sem Oltramarines put to flâ—ght came in to their Succour he got nothing thereby more than a Musket-shot in his Thigh after which he was forced to retreat After which unhappy Misfortune the Doge returned to his Ducal Gally greatly afflicted for the Death of Venier by which the Ships wanting an Admiral Domenico Diedo was substituted in his place until the return of Pisani from the Gulf of Corinth All which time the Forces sent to guard that important Pass and Narrow leading into the Morea remained there without any Action the Seraskier not intending to make any effort thereon for that Year The Seraskier keeps a Guard on Negropont for that his Eyes being fixed on Negropont where he expected that the Venetians should renew their Attempt he judged that their appearance before Malvasia was nothing but a Blind to divert him from the guard of that important place Things not being very promising before Malvasia and little hopes to subdue it by force the Doge resolved to spend the remainder of the Summer in cruising in the Archipelago but not to lose all the Fruits of the preceding Labours the Redoubt raised at the Bridge was fortified and perfected and the other Forts strengthned with as many Men and Cannon as were esteemed sufficient both to keep the Enemy from Sallying out or Provisions from entring in but before the Doge departed four of the greatest Ships were ordered to batter the Town The Ships batter the Town and give a farewell to them with their biggest Cannon The which being performed within Musket-shot ruined almost all the Suburbs yet not without some Loss aboard the Ships by the Enemies Small-shot from the Walls The Preparations for securing the Blockade of the Town being perfected and the Work of Careening Washing and Tallowing of the Venetian and Maltese Gallies being ended Septemb. it was concluded necessary to execute the former resolution of sailing up the Archipelago to the Gulph of Negropont whereby the Seraskier might be alarm'd and amused so far as to keep his Forces on that side and without farther attempt to pass the Streight of Corinth into the Morea and that in the mean time all things might be secured before Malvasia four Gallies were appointed to remain there under the Command of Frederico Bembo and Colonel Fabio Lanoia to maintain the first Fortress and Colonel Carlo Montanari the second with their respective Regiments All things being thus ordained and agreed the Doge weighed Anchor in the Night and endeavoured to get out but the Winds being contrary he was forced to return back again to an Anchor as the like happened also the next Day not only by contrary Winds but by some Misunderstandings between the Vessels of the Van-Guard But what was worse than all the former Misfortunes The Doge sick of a Fever the Doge was seized with such a violent Fever as confined him to his Bed in which the Physicians discovered very dangerous Symptoms of a long Distemper Moreover some unhappy Reports were then flying abroad That the Captain Pasha was come out and roving upon the Seas in the Archipelago with 14 Gallies 31 Ships including those of Barbary and 18 Galleots with design to raise Carach or Contributions from the Islands But no great credit was given to that Report by reason that the Season of the Year was so far advanced that it seemed rather time to lay up Vessels in Harbout than to begin a new Expedition Howsoever the News hereof and the Distemper of the Doge increasing which the Physicians termed a Relapse and therefore more dangerous declaring also that the change of Air would be the most proper Remedy for the Disease The Doge returns home it was resolved That the Charge and Command of the Fleet should be committed to the Conduct of that Wise and Prudent Cavalier Cornaro the Proveditor-General of the Seas whose Vice-Admiral was Carlo Pisani and Rear-Admirals Bartolmeo Gredenigo and Giovanni Pizzamano to whom also the Galley of Ludovico Balbi designed for Dalmatia was joyned together with the Gallies of Malta which being according to the Season of the Year recalled home the Admiral with that Squadron sailed with the Venetians esteeming it a great Honour to accompany the Doge on that occasion so far as his Way and Course would admit In this manner the Doge whose Illness increased set sail the 15th of September and directing his Course towards Venice came the next Day in sight of Coron and passing at no great distance from Modon they Anchored that Night at Prodano and the next Day in the Road of Zant where having remained all that Day they Anchored the next Day in Port Viscardo upon the Island of Ceffalonia and the following Day at Corfu We omit all the Ceremonies which passed between the Armata and the Officers of the several Cities and Countries by which they sailed as
and these altogether cannot be at Belgrade till the latter end of July at soonest so that if the Imperial Army be as strong and as ready as when I came from Vienna I thought it would be they will have time enough to attempt any thing before these Forces can appear to hinder them And such was the true State of Affairs at this time in the Ottoman Court in relation to a Peace The Ambassadors Heemskirk and Colyer's Letter to the Emperor touching the Peace Serenissime Potentissime Invictissime Caesar Imperator semper Auguste SACRAE Caesareae Majestatis submississimâ reverentiâ significandum censuimus quod abhinc quindecim diebus inter primum Visirium Caimacanum Janisserorum Agam Romeliae Cadelisquerium Tefterdarium in aedibus dicti Visirii circa Pacis Negotium alterum Consilium fuerit exquisitum ibidem nominatim discussum Quid de Dominis Legatis responsione ad Pacis proposita efflagitatâ promissâ denique statuant singulorum sententias enucleatim enarrare opportunum non arbitramur ne forsan informationis debitae penuriâ in uno altreóve erremus Verum enimverò Casareae vestrae Majestati indicandum hanc finalem fuisse conclusionem quippe cum variarum Regionum Ditionum Provinciarum desertione hic sit quaestio Regiminis Imperii participes super hoc deliberando tanquam maximi ponderis Negotio ullatenus negligere ipsis integrum non esse nominatim Tartarorum Hannum dicentes hunc ex Crimeâ quidem discessisse verum probabiliter in finibus Visirii exercitui sese additurum insuper excusantes responsionem Dominis Legatis tradendam eo usque esse protelandum porro existimantes grato animo officia conciliatoria Magnae Britanniae Regis Dominorum Ordinum Foederati Belgii acceptando satis signi datum fuisse dum modo aequis Pax fiat conditionibus sese non renixuros eósque id idcirco à nobis tam ardenter ad dictum responsum pronunciandum non oportere impelli quod parum prolationis aequae Pacificationis promotioni quam dissolutioni forsan conducet Quantum vero ad Dominos Legatos ab iisdem ex aequo efflagitari non posse ut omnes cum Visirio hinc ad limites proficiscantur Domino Paget idcirco Constantinopolim esse petendum nec non Domino Colyer nisi hic mallet diutius commorari ast Domino de Heemskirk soli Visirium eomitaturo dictam responsionem positivè in scriptis in castris circa fines vel itinere extradituros His autem totis obsistere viribus nullatenus defuimus obnoxia incommoda planè edocendo verum frustrà illis ubique replicantibus leviora minoris momenti Negotia ubiquè cedere majoribus praedictas quoque locorum cessiones unicè non esse animadvertendas sed applausus approbationes universales ad Majorem Imperii ejusque gubernacula tenentium cautelam non minus reputandas quocirca immutabilem stare sententiam non abs reopinamur credimusque fore quod dudum praesagivimus nimirum inchoantibus bellorum operationibus eos hostium numerum forsan virtutes prius experturos quam quid stabilis fixi de Pace decernant interim tamen quaevis spes serius ocyus felicis exitus nostris non cecidit animis Dominum de Heemskirk ante Vigesimum Mensis futuri iter facturum non suspicamur Vigesimo quinto alter juniorum Principum geminorum naturae vitam reddidit Caput Aly Pachiae abhinc parum plus anno Visirato privati in Rhodum proscripti nuper huc apportarunt Principi Moldaviae initio Hebdomadis futurae Jassum petenti Principatum occupandi animo mandatum est ut Tartarorum Hanni sub auspicio ardentissimè in id incumbat ut Polonorum Regem ad Pacem peculiarem statuminandam persuadeat Gallorum Legatus deseruit partem oppositam quà m non ita pridem fovebat novumque hunc Principem sibi devincire enititur His nos uberrimae Sacrae Caesareae vestrae Majestatis gratiae committentes sumus conatu summo Serenissime Potentissime Invictissime Caesar Imperator semper Auguste Sacrae vestrae Caesareae Majestatis Humillimi Devotissimi Servi H. HEEMSKIRK COLYER Adrianop 31 May 1693. All thoughts of Peace and Treaties being thus laid aside the Government employed its utmost Endeavours and Counsel were taken in Matters and Contrivances tending to the War It was reported That the Grand Seignior Sultan Achmet had resolved to go as far as Sophia where he would pass the Summer being nearer to Belgrade and the Frontiers in Hungary but the Physicians perswaded the contrary as being prejudicial to the Health of the Sultan who was already affected with the Dropsie the fatal and common Disease of that Ottoman Family for Cure of which Sultan Achmet sick of the Dropsie many Consultations were held by the Physicians who in regard that they found as yet a Schirrus only upon the Liver they gave great hopes of his Recovery howsoever the People took occasion from hence to discourse That in case this Sultan Achmet were Dead he would be succeeded by Sultan Mustapha his Nephew and Son to the late Sultan Mahomet who had been Deposed which would be a happy Change for the whole Empire he being Young and Brave and as to all appearance of a Martial Spirit and a Lover of Justice To forward the Preparations for the War with all Expedition possible Preparations for the War strict Orders were given to provide Caminieck with Provisions and necessary Food for want of which the Place laboured under the greatest Extremity Letters also and Commands were dispatched to all Parts in Asia to hasten the March of the Janisaries and Spahees and to enroll new Janisaries a Method not used in former Times by which taking every Pitiful Fellow that offered to come in they composed such a Band of raw Soldiers not only unexperienced in War but Poor and Feeble and Old that scarce one half of them were judged able to hold out a March to Belgrade The Turks also dispatched away 2000 Janisaries to reinforce the Garrison at Negropont likewise they reinforced Canea with Men and Provisions as they also did their Army in and about the Morea and strengthned their Castles at the Dardanelli with Soldiers Gunners and Engineers under Command of Husaein Pasha who had formerly been Chimacam with the Grand Seignior but the Troops designed for Hungary marched slowly These Preparations being much retarded by the late Change of those two great Officers namely the Grand Vizier who as we said voluntarily resigned and the Tefterdar Changes at Court or Lord Treasurer called Ismael Effendi Matulled or put out Disgraced and Exiled tho' some reported That he was secretly Strangled which was a strange and an unseasonable Policy at such a time as this to put all things backward by the Death of two prime Officers of State who perhaps were Innocent and Good Ministers But under such a Government as this it is not sufficient to be Wise Honest and Industrious but you
very dear both in Adrianople and Constantinople by reason that the Seas were obstructed by the Venetians so that no Coffee Rice nor Sugar could be transported from Egypt into those Parts the French Ambassador undertook to supply the same with French Ships demanding only That when such Commodities arrive the Turks should pay no more for them than in Times of Peace which besides some other private Contracts were very pleasing to the Turks and served to confirm the Friendship and increase the Confidence between the two People As the Eyes of all the Turkish Officers were intent on the War there being a Design to recover Scio in the Winter Season before the Venetians could come forth with their Fleet the Sultan sent for Mezzo Morto who was Admiral of the Fleet together with six Captains of the Men of War reproaching them for Cowardice for that in case they had done their Duty in the last Engagement against the Venetians Scio had not been lost wherefore these Officers were discharged of their Commands and Sarhos or Drunken Chusaein Pasha was declared Captain Pasha or Admiral in the Place of Mezzo Morto being esteemed a Man of more Boldness and Courage and Conduct than the other and such was the Shame and Confusion that the Turks conceived for the loss of Scio that even in the Winter a thing not practised by the Turks Orders were given to the New Admiral to prepare and equip an hundred Frigats Whilst all things were preparing for this Years War and in an especial manner for the recovery of Scio on the 27th of January Sultan Achmet's Death Old Stile the Grand Seignior Sultan Achmet dyed which for that present put a stop to all Business then in agitation both in regard to the War or Peace For as to the latter my Lord Paget arrived at Adrianople on the 23d and next Day desired an Audience of the Grand Vizier which was promised to him on the 31st when the Propositions he had to make were so reasonable and the Turks in so good a Temper that the Ambassador perswaded himself that they would be accepted the Great Vizier and Chimacam showing themselves not averse but rather well inclined to a reasonable Peace But whilst they were thinking of these things the Court and City and all People were surprized to hear the News of the Death of the Sultan who at the time of his last Agony desired to see and speak with his Successour Sultan Mustapha who could not be perswaded to go to him and so he died without that Satisfaction by a great Defluxion or Catarrh which fell upon his Lungs Only he left it in Commission to his Servants to acquaint his Nephew Sultan Mustapha who was undoubtedly to succeed him That all he had to desire of him was to desire him that he would permit his Son to live but whether this Request was granted him or not is not yet known for Matters of this Nature are seldom reported without the Walls of the Seraglio So soon as he was dead Mustapha Eldest Son to Sultan Mahomet IV. was proclaimed and saluted Emperor and all passed without any Disturbance Disorder or Inconvenience whatsoever In very few Hours afterwards the Body of the Deceased Achmet was hurried away to Constantinople and with a small Attendance buried in the Sepulcher of his Brother and immediately the Sultana his Mother was required to hasten thither and retire and Expresses dispatched to all Parts to carry and divulge the News and most especially acquaint the New Valide Sultana with the Exaltation of her Son to the Throne of his Father For the present Sultan Mustapha being about 33 Years of Age and in his Prime appeared very Robust and Comely and to show a mildness of Spirit at the beginning he for the present confirmed the Great Vizier in his Place by restoring the Seals to him which he had resigned into his Hands and giving him a Coftan lined with Sables His Mother was now every Day expected at Adrianople until whose coming thither nothing was to be done for as she was a Person highly beloved and esteemed by her late Husband Sultan Mahomet Father of the present Sultan Mustapha as we have manifested in our foregoing History so she was a Woman of Intrigue and one who had so great a Power over her Son that he entirely gave himself up to the Government and Guidance of his Mother The Queen Mother She was a Native of Canea tho' some say she was a Circassian born and taken from thence when the Place was first possessed by the Turks her Father was a Protopapa or Bishop of that place His first entrance into Business was to enquire after the State of the Treasury and to inform himself therein Sultan Mustapha's Beginnings he called for the Treasurer and demanded of him How much Money there was in the Treasury To which Answer was made Fifteen Purses What then said he is become of all the rest To which it was answered That his Predecessor had disposed of it It is well said he and I shall take it from them who have received it With these Beginnings it was much feared that he would prove a troublesome Neighbour to all Christendom and a Cruel and a Severe Master to all the surviving Ministers of State but things were carried so closely that the Government had no News of any thing until the Successor had carried his Point and secured every thing for his Establishment to which many things concurred as that he was the Son and lineally descended from Sultan Mahomet IV who after a Reign of 48 Years was Deposed by reason of the Ill Fortune and Avaritious Temper of some of his Ministers or to please the Soldiers who said That he had Lived and Reigned long enough Moreover the People had a great Esteem for this his Son being Young and Handsome and in his Robust and Mature Age nor was there any Person able to stand against him nor capable of being offered to the Soldiery for their Emperor There was none of the Ottoman Family known unto the World but a Child of two Years old the Son of the late Sultan Achmet and of such an one in such a Conjuncture of time it was not so much as to be thought of tho' most of the Ministers in Power did all they could to keep Sultan Mustapha from the Throne Sultan Mustapha the Second the Present Emperour Eldest Son to Sultan Mahomet the 4th p 522 M. Vander Gucht Scul When the Grand Seignior Vested him as is commonly done by every Sultan at his Inauguration Sultan Mustapha his Saying he told him That he should be careful what he did that he should treat his Soldiers well and above all that he be sure to tell him the truth and if not he should soon know and be sensible of what would follow But since this Severity The Sultan's Humour and sharp Saying he remitted something of his Angry Temper and became more mild and easie so that
to encourage and raise his Spirit a little he sent his Kuzlir-Aga in Ceremony with a great Attendance to carry to the Grand Vizier a Prayer which he himself had composed in the time of his Solitude and Seclusion from the World which were received with profound Respect the Bearer himself had five Purses presented to him and the Chief of his Attendants was treated with several Rich Vests and the others of meaner Degree had a good number of Zaichins distributed amongst them February The Grand Seignior also would not want his own Present which was in Horses and Jewels several Young Damsels richly adorned with above 100 Purses of Money and yet for all this the Vizier thought not himself safe nor did the bitter Thoughts of Death pass from him for whilst he was trembling for himself he received a Hatte-sheriff or a Royal Command from the Hand of the Grand Seignior requiring him to command the Chiaus Pasha to Arrest the Chimacam of Adrianople the Vizier's own chief Creature and Confident and to put him between the Gates a Prison for great Personages The Fault objected to his Charge was That in the time of the late Sultan Achmet he had put to Death two of this present Sultan's Favourites for endeavouring to promote the Interest of their Master to the Prejudice of the Ruling Prince Notwithstanding all which Mortifying Commands and Accidents the Grand Vizier appeared outwardly with a chearful Countenance for the least Sadness would have been interpreted for Contumacy and a Discontented Spirit against the Commands and Pleasure of his Master for which reason he bore up bravely against all Misfortunes concealing the Agitations of his Mind from all those who had Business with him and even from his own Domesticks At this time my Lord Paget Ambassador from His Majesty King William Lord Paget at Adrianople was then at Adrianople watching an Opportunity to make Proposals for a Peace with the Emperor of which tho' about the latter time of Sultan Achmet there was a great and a fair appearance yet after his Decease this young Sultan mounting the Throne all the hopes vanished he himself being of a hot and fiery Spirit was fully resolved to try his Fortune in the War from which Design neither his Mother nor his Women nor his greatest Favourites could divert them And the Kiah-Bey himself who was Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries a Person of great Esteem and Power in the Army was disgraced and put out of Office for arguing in the Divan against the Grand Seignior's taking ths Field this Year in Person These Changes had disconcerted all the Measures which my Lord Paget had taken towards a Peace of which there now remained no hopes for this Year for the Sultan was not to be removed from his Resolution nor the Soldiery averse to it having fixed it in their Minds that this Sultan was Lucky and Fortunate and was to restore all that had been lost since the Siege of Vienna and the fatal Managements of the Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha And to this purpose the Grand Seignior discoursing with the Vizier he told him how sensible he was of the evil management of Affairs in the Empire and that they were much worse than they had been in the time of his Father to restore which to a better Condition he again declared his Resolution to try his Fortune for another Year the which not succeeding well he was of an Opinion That he could at any time make a Truce with the Christians which perhaps he might be inclined to accept next Year not out of a Necessity thereof but in consideration to his People to whom after a long War of 17 or 18 Years he was glad to give Ease and Quiet for he was sensible that the Ottoman Empire was in great Disorder by reason of the Ignorance Negligence and ill Administration of some of the principal Ministers of State which he would make it his Care to remedy With these Resolutions of the Sultan all things were preparing to take the Field early with a strong Army it being divulged and published amongst the Soldiery that their first March should be towards Belgrade from whence if they could have made any Conquest on the other side of the Save the Turks might yet as low as they were have proved a troublesome and a dreadful Enemy to all Germany And indeed the Christians were more sensible hereof than formerly for the Turks had lately had many lucky Hits to encourage them and which did indeed animate the People very much seeming to them like good Omens of Change of Fortune in their favour For the Venetians had in two several Engagements at Sea been worsted by the Turks which was the cause of the Surrender of Scio to the Turks of which they possessed themselves without any great Difficulty where tho' the loss the Venetians had sustained both in Ships and Men was very considerable yet the loss of their Reputation at Sea was much more and of a more evil Consequence for the Turks animated hereby fell boldly upon the Venetians in the Morea and put them to the Rout fansying the Summer following to regain all again despising now the Enemy which lately they durst not see and were affraid to approach To these good Fortunes of the Sultan the News was added by way of Moldavia of a great Victory that the Tartars had obtained against the Poles which with the Successes the Ottoman Pasha's had obtained against the Rebels in Asia put all things at the Port into a smiling Condition no Man doubting but that the influence of these prosperous Beginnings would crown all the Actions of this New Sultan with Success and Victory The Fight between the Poles and the Tartars in the Suburbs of Leopolis happened on the 11th of February of this Year being Extracted out of a Letter of the Great General Written to the Envoy Cavalier Proski of the 16th of February from Leopolis An Extract of the Great General 's Letter Written to the Envoy Cavalier Proski WE have not only in the Season of the last Spring but during the whole Summer and Autumn lived in continual Alarms and Skirmishes with our Enemies but even in this very Winter been engaged with them in divers Bloody Fights And particularly on the 11th of this Month of February a Battle was made between 3000 of our Soldiers against 70000 Tartars within the Suburbs and under the Walls of Leopolis The Particulars of which are these Sultan Zabas Gerei A Fight between the Poles and the Tartars Son of the Tartar-Han who in the Month of October last gave up to our Hands all the Provisions belonging to the Turks which he had taken into his Care and Conduct to be Convoyed to Kaminieck of which Disgrace and Dishonour his Father being very sensible urged the Son to repair his Credit by some great Action worthy the Fame of his Valour and his Prowess in War Accordingly being assisted by all the Power of the Tartars
half and five Millions in Jewels likewise a good round Sum was demanded from the Chimacam and other Pasha's and Persons in great Offices There was a farther Proposition made to screw Money out of all the Arabians and Negro's at Court The Kuzlir-Aga was the first of that Rank from whom the most considerable Sums were exacted to pay which their Estates and Faculties sent and conveyed out of sight to Constantinople were all called from thence March The like was also demanded from the Ulema and all the Ecclesiastical Lands and Estates were Taxed All Persons Taxed To execute all these Contrivances and Ways for raising Money the Grand Seignior was solely intent labouring Day and Night to amass Money and spent his whole time to heap up Riches to do which he acted many things without the knowledge of the Vizier and wrote Letters and received Answers relating to the raising Men and providing Subsistence for the Troops without interesting his Grand Vizier therein the which struck such a Fear and Terrour into the Minds of all those who had to do with the Publick Interest that none durst to act any thing privately or in an obscure manner which might be of prejudice to the Grand Seignior and his Government To keep this Sultan in the Humour of going to the War his Mother laboured to keep up his Spirits which being observed by the great Men such as the Mufti the Grand Vizier the Lord Treasurer and the Generals of the Janisaries and of the Spahees they all submitted thereunto only they gave in a Petition to be delivered to the Sultan by the Hand of the Valide Soltana or Queen-Mother representing That since they had observed that it was His Majesty's Resolution to go in Person to the War they were concurring with him in the same promising to be helpful therein to the best of their Powers beseeching only That His Ottoman Majesty would be pleased to Indulge them so much time as might serve to assemble and gather their Militia into a Body and to make Provisions for their Subsistence as also Ammunition and Cannon with Powder and Bullet sufficient to attend so great an Army Of all which they gave the Sultan in Writing a particular Account in what forwardness all things were and concluded That since it is the Custom of the Germans to be late in the Field they did not doubt but to be more forward than they and to Grace and Honour the Sultan's first Expedition with the Success of Glorious Atchievements of which the Miscarriage would prove of evil Consequence as the contrary would be of mighty advantage to the whole Ottoman Empire which languishing after a Fortunate Sultan would then think the Wheel turned in case they could see the end of a Campaign concluded with Honour of a New Sultan The Grand Seignior being sensible hereof raised all the Forces he was able both in Asia and Europe And to Engage the Tartar Han on his side certain Aga's were dispatched to Tartary with Purses of Money with Presents of a Sword richly adorned with Diamonds and with rich Coftans as also with Presents to the other Kinsmen of the Han and to the Mirzees who are the Noble Men and Chief Officers both of War and Peace desiring them all to be early at the War by which great Assiduity of the Sultan all the Great Officers were in fear of him knowing that as he Rewarded generously so he Punished severely The Grand Vizier in the mean time considering the Troubles under which he was to labour as also the Invincible Difficulties of the present War in case the Sultan should persist in his Resolution of going in Person to Command the Army he endeavoured what he could to obtain the Favour that he might lay down his Office and quietly and safely retire from all Business for which he made Talkish to the Grand Seignior which is a Petition made by the Master of Requests of which there is but one belonging to the Court called Talkishgee the substance of which was to lay before the Grand Seignior the impossibility of making the Donative to the Soldiers amounting unto Twelve Millions the which was always given by the Sultans to the Soldiers whensoever they made their first Campaign This was so reasonable an Exception and Excuse that there was no reply to be made thereunto but the absolute Will and Pleasure not to pay it for besides the want of Money in the Treasury which had been exhausted by a long and an unfortunate War the Grand Seignior added That he did not esteem himself obliged to a Custom which was begun in the most Flourishing Times of the Empire when Success crowned all their Enterprizes with Victory when the Enemies were forced to pay all Charges of the War with an Overplus of Riches and Increase which filled the Royal Exchequer and that Wars maintained the Empire But those Days added the Grand Seignior are now past and that it would be an Insolence in the Soldiery to expect a Donative from him who was not in the least beholding to them for his being placed in the Throne to which he came by Succession A Donative refused to the Soldiers and a Just Title and not by the Favour and Assistance of the Soldiery and that whosoever had opposed him therein who was their True and Lawful Soveraign would have been guilty of High-Treason and ought to Die by the Just Laws of the Empire In this manner the Wisest and most Experienced Officers observing how difficult and almost impossible it was to divert the Grand Seignior from his Resolution of going in Person to the War they all agreed to joyn with their Master and to applaud his happy Designs which they prayed to God might be prosperous promising to give all Assistance with their Lives and Fortunes that he might return with Victory and Success So soon were their Minds changed to the Will and Pleasure of their Absolute and Uncontroulable Lord that none durst open his Mouth against his Determination nor no Murmurings heard unless by some few Janisaries who Talked a little without any Notice taken thereof The Grand Vizier finding himself also under Invincible Difficulties thought it the safest way to close with the Sultan which he accordingly did and with much outward Zeal dissembled a Chearfulness of Spirit in Compliance with his Master This Matter being resolved it was concluded That an Army should be formed of 80000 Fighting Men and the Tugh or Horse-Tail being with Prayers after the usual manner exposed at the Vizier's Gate the 30th of March was appointed to take the Field and enter the Tents which are commonly pitched about two English Miles distant from the Gates And the Grand Seignior to lose no time Commanded that 2000 of his Pages and as many others on Horseback appointed for his Guard should be at the appointed time in a readiness to attend the Sultan But yet things went but slowly on by reason of the great Discords arisen in Asia
reason he was much lamented at the Court and most especially by the Queen-Mother not only because he had been her Son-in-Law but a Person endued with many Rare and Excellent Vertues Besides which the famous Mahmud Pasha Celebrated by all to be one of the most Accomplished Soldiers of this Age and the most Warlike Cavalier of all the Ottoman Nation He was an Albanian Born a Man of great Reputation and Fame called Mahmud Bei Oghli and was slain with three Carbine-shots and fell amongst the most Renowned Officers of the Turks These two were said to be the first who broke into Veterani's Army one to the Right and the other to the Left-Wing where they found and encountred such unexpected Opposition that the Turks confessed That they had never met the like and had not prevailed against their Enemies at that time had it not been for the Resolution and Bravery of their Fortunate Sultan who standing in the Rear with his Scimiter in his Hand hindered the base intended Flight of his Soldiery This Action gave a full stop to all the following Designs of this Year for the Turks reasoning with themselves That in case so small an Army as that of Veterani was able to do such Feats what would become of their Forces were they to engage against the whole entire Army of the Kral that is the Elector for they call the King of Poland Kral and so other Inferiour Princes to the Emperor whom they call Kaisar but the King of England they could never be taught to call otherwise than Kral The Grand Seignior having made his Triumphant Entry into Constantinople the Militia of Asia which attended the Sultan from the War had licence given them to return Home to their own Countries and Orders were given to open a Door as they call it to enroll Janisaries according to the usual Ceremonies used on those Occasions and care was taken to Arm them as well the New Janisaries as the Old Veterane Albanian Troops as also the Levents or Marine Regiments and to recruit their Numbers of which several had been lost in the late Engagements at Sea the which tho' they had not for many Years been fought with so much equality of Fortune between the Venetians and the Turks as they had been for this Year yet it was not determined which side had gained the better tho' the Turks avoided the Fight so much as was possible and thereby gave an evidence of their own Weakness and doubtful Condition It hath been long since we have heard any Discourse of Tekely Tekely neglected being not regarded so much by any as by the French Ambassador for as to the Turks they had no Opinion of him nor would they have it be thought that they had any need of his Forces or Interest of his Party in Hungary but suffered him to Lodge in one of the vilest Streets in the Town amongst Jews and the meaner sort of the Armenians called Balata his Countenance was much changed pale and fallen and his Feet Swelled so that his Enemies scorned him and his Friends could expect nothing more of good from him The Year drawing now towards an end all the Endeavours of the Turks were to begin the following Year with greater Forces than that of the preceding and herein they were the more concerned in regard of the Moscovites who were coming down upon the Tartars with vast Numbers of Soldiers and all things prepared to make War upon them and to take Asac at least the Diversion hereby would be great and so employ the Tartars that to defend their own Countries they would be obliged to desert the Service and Cause of the Turks Howsoever the Successes of the Turks had been this Year so great as gave them courage to consider in what manner they might be able to form two Armies for the next with one of which the chief Design was to enter Transylvania and if possible to make Peace with the Moscovites by the Negotiations of the Tartars but all this came to nothing as we shall see by the Sequel of the following Year Anno 1696. THO' the Turks had gained some advantage the last Year over the Venetians both by Sea and Land namely in the Recovery of Scio and by giving a Check or Stop to the Venetian Fleet yet they gained little more thereby than some little Fame and Reputation to the present Sultan Mustapha whom the People began to consider as a Deliverer sent to them from Heaven to recover their almost lost Empire which lay under sad Distresses as well in Asia as in Europe This Opinion of the People when they observed the Justice the Courage and the Resolution of this Sultan to go in Person to the War and that nothing could divert him from it gave them Courage and Assurance to expect a turn of Fortune and hopes of better Successes for the future and tho' the French promised them not to make Peace without them but to joyn with them in a perpetual League of Friendship yet the Turks did not much trust them but kept a watchful Eye over them knowing very well how little stress there is to be laid on the Promises of the Great Monarch of France who was also equally Jealous of the Faith of the Turks and both of them equally doubtful of one another This Great Ottoman Empire had the last Year changed both their Master and the Chief Officers without any considerable Change or Troubles in the State amongst themselves for that this Sultan in whom clearly appeared a Spirit of greater Wisdom and Courage than in his Father Mahomet IV or in his Uncle's succeeding him gave the Soldiery and the People such Hopes and Expectations from him that none durst open his Mouth or lift up his Hands against him there appeared also something more of Justice and Vertue in him and of Diligence and Care and Sedulity in his Business than was found in his Father or in any of the succeeding Uncles as we have formerly said which gave hope to the great Governors of the Empire that under him the Losses which the Empire had sustained in these last Wars might be repaired for tho' the Recovery of the Isle of Scio was made before he came to the Throne and consequently might be looked upon as an effect of his Uncle's Counsels for that Mustapha did not enter upon the Government until the end of January 1695 when that Scio had been taken about a Month before by the Turks but that falling so near to the time that Mustapha came to the Throne that piece of good Fortune was looked upon as an effect of the Wisdom of the New Emperor rather than of the Uncle Achmet's Counsel by which and by some other Exploits of the preceding Year in 1695 Mustapha grew high in the Opinion of the People and the Soldiery to which some Successes being added as the taking of Titul and Lippa with the Defeat given to Veterani for which the Turks paid very dear and
The which consisted of Cloth of Gold Damasks Sables Boxes of Musk and Amber Silks and Sattins of various Colours Turbants Hangings of Silk ordinary Damasks Bezoar-stones Persian and Indian Sattins Bridles of Gold a Topus or Mace of Gold with a Sword of the like Metal After all which Ceremonies according to the Ancient Custom the Persian Ambassador being upon his Return from the Presence of the Sultan he introduced 20 of his Persian Nobles and then he delivered the Royal Letter The which Ceremony being over he proceeded out from the Royal Presence Cloathed in a Rich Vest like unto that which he had received at his Audience with the Great Vizier which was like to that which they had usually given in former times to Christian Ambassadors besides which the Grand Seignior presented him with the same Horse which was sent him to carry him to his Audience with the Sultan and Vested 90 Gentlemen of his Retinue After which he returned to his Lodgings which had been provided for him and with the same Attendance as had accompanied him to his Audience After some Days continuance at the Ottoman Court it was made known by some of the Principal Ministers of State that one part of the Substance of the Letter was after the Salutes and kind Wishes and Congratulations at his Ascension to the Sublime Throne of his Ancestors The King of Persia made the following Request to the Grand Seignior The King of Persia's Requests and Demands The First Article demanded THAT he would be pleased if it were possible to Remove Bebek Suliman Bei from the Government of Caramania and to put another Prince into his place who might prove of a more Quiet and Placid Disposition than this Bebek who was of a Turbulent Spirit and gave much Molestation to the Persians the which the King of Persia or Sofi did not doubt but to obtain from that Friendship which intervenes between their great Powers and Dominions And whereas Yearly many Persian Pilgrims travel to Mecca where having no Place to Pray in and make their Devotions separately and apart from other Nations they found themselves much hindered and incommoded in the Exercise of their Mahometan Devotions wherefore their Desire was That they might have a Place assigned them for the Use of the Persians The Second Article demanded Farther it was desired That the preheminence of Place and Superiority in the Holy Land might be given to the Armenian Patriarch before others of the Christian Rite who were Subjects to the King of Persia the which ought not to be refused them in regard that they profess the same Faith with other Christians namely Greeks and Franks But in regard that it hath never been the Custom of the Turks to return a speedy Answer to fair Promises or Flattering Insinuations a term of 25 Days passed before an Answer was returned to the preceding Demands and that was done when the Ambassador received Audience with the Chimacam And then he was Invited with all his Court and Attendance to an Entertainment with the Grand Vizier where they met about two a Clock in the Afternoon the Feast held until five a Clock and concluded without other Presents than good Musick unless it were of a stately Horse with an agreeable Furniture Some Days afterwards he was Invited to Dinner by the Chimacam Hassan Pasha and in a Week afterwards he was in like manner treated by the Aga or General of the Janisaries who also presented the Ambassador with a very fine Horse After all which Feasts and Bankets and Presents the Ambassador thought it time to send his Presents to the Grand Vizier by his Kahya and other Principal Officers of his Court in number about 40. The Persian Presents to the Turks There were six Camels two of which were laden with Presents and the other four with fine Tents and Furniture for the same with rich Garments The Presents were all carried by the Hands of 28 Persians that is to say with Cloth of Gold Damasks Indian Sattins Persian Turbants with a rich Sword Moreover two small Bails to the Vizier's Kahya which contained about 25 Pieces of Sattins Damasks and Cloth of Gold In like manner the Presents to the Chimacam Chavan Pasha contained about 40 Pieces And that which was for the Janisar-Aga was not much inferiour to it After some Days stay a Messenger was sent from the Grand Seignior with the Answer to the Letter of Business which the Persian Ambassador had brought Which was in this manner The Grand Seignior's Answer to the Persian Ambassador THAT Solyman Bebek being an Inheritary Prince could not be removed from his Government it being against the Mahometan Law to be removed from thence nor was it possible for them to Allow or Assign any separate Place to the Persians to Pray and Exercise their Devotions in because that Mecca is a Holy Place and free and common to all Mahometans The Holy Land hath also been Assigned to the Standard-Bearer Omer as also to the Franks the which having not been much Esteemed or set by in the Time of Mustapha Pasha Vizier the Preheminence of that Place was given as a Law to the Franks which was so solemnly given that it could not be taken away Corrupted or Violated Five or six Days afterwards the Ambassador went to the Vizier to take his Letter which being delivered to him The Persians depart about three or four Days afterwards the Vizier sent him by Order of the Grand Seignior 50 Bags or Purses of Money by the Chiaus-Basha ten Days after which he departed from Adrianople and went to Constantinople taking 60 Days Journey within the Dominion of the Ottomans accounting Tocat in Mesopotamia and other Parts the which was so divided that a Persian Merchant coming to die within that Dominion his Goods may be challenged by his Relations and conveyed away to their Inheritance The Persian Ambassador had still another Request to make in respect to his Nation That the Persian Subjects who Inhabit at Balata in Constantinople wanting a Place for their Devotions may have that Place restored to them for their Prayers which was formerly belonging to the Armenians The which Request was granted to them before the Departure of the Ambassador with Power to rebuild the same again in what should be wanting the which was taken away soon after the Departure of the Persian Ambassador from Constantinople And tho' the Armenian Commissary endeavoured to proceed and made his Complaints at Adrianople against the Impediments he had found yet no Remedy was found but an end was put to all the Work and the Workmen desisted from all other Proceedings in that Building And here it may be enquired How it came to pass that so many Embassies were sent from Persia to the Turks successively one after the other The Cause of which is evident from the Succession of the Three Sultans one after the other namely Solyman Achmet and Mustapha who now Reigns to every one of which as it is the constant