Part 2
A General rumour of a general Peace, now spred it self over all the face of those tormented Countries: but the _Turk_ intended no such matter, but levied Soldiers from all Parts he could. The Emperour also, by the assistance of the _Christian_ Princes, provided three Armies, the one led by the Arch-duke _Matthias,_ the Emperour's Brother, and his Lieutenant Duke _Merceur_ to defend Low _Hungary;_ the second, by _Ferdinando_ the Arch-duke of _Styria,_ and the Duke of _Mantua_ his Lieutenant to regain _Caniza;_ the third by _Gonzago,_ Governour of High _Hungary,_ to joyn with _Georgio Buson_ to make an absolute conquest of _Transilvania._
Duke _Merceur_ with an Army or Thirty thousand, whereof near Ten thousand were _French,_ besieged _Stoll-weissenburg,_ otherwise called _Alba Regalis,_ a place so strong by Art and Nature, that it was thought impregnable. At his first coming, The _Turks_ sallied upon the _German_ Quarter, slew near five hundred, and returned before they were thought on. The next Night in like manner, they did near as much to the _Bemers,_ and _Hungarians;_ of which, Fortune still presuming, thinking to have found the _French_ quarter as careless, Eight or Nine hundred of them were cut in pieces and taken Prisoners. In this Encounter Monsieur _Grandvile,_ a brave _French_ Colonel, received seven or eight cruel Wounds, yet followed the Enemy to the Ports; he came off alive, but within three or four days died.
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{MN} _The siege of_ Alba Regalis.
Earl _Moldritch,_ by the Information of of three or four _Christians,_ (escaped out of the Town) upon every Alarum, where there was greatest Assemblies and throng of People, {MN} caused Captain _Smith_ to put in practice his fiery Dragons, he had demonstrated unto him, and the Earl _Von Sulch_ at _Comora_ which he thus performed: Having prepared forty or fifty round-bellied Earthen Pots, and filled them with hand Gun powder, then covered them with Pitch, mingled with Brimstone and Turpentine; and quartering as many Musket-bullets, that hung together but only at the Center of the division, stuck them round in the mixture about the Pots, and covered them again with the same mixture, over that a strong Searcloth, then over all, a good thickness of Towze-match, well tempered with Oyl of Lin-seed, Camphire, and Powder of Brimstone, these he fitly placed in Slings, graduated so near as they could to the places of these Assemblies. At mid-night upon the Alarum, it was a fearful sight to see the short flaming course of their flight in the Air, but presently after their fall, the lamentable noise of the miserable slaughtered _Turks_ was most wonderful to hear: Besides, they had fired that Suburb at the Port of _Buda_ in two or three places, which so troubled the _Turks_ to quench, that had there been any means to have assaulted them, they could hardly have resisted the fire, and their Enemies. The Earl _Rosworme,_ contrary to the opinion of all Men, would needs undertake to find means to surprize the Segeth and Suburb of the City, strongly defended by a muddy Lake, which was thought unpassable.
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{MN} _The effect of good fireworks._
The Duke having planted his Ordnance, battered the other side, {MN-1} whilst _Rosworme_ in the dark Night, with every Man a bundle of Sedge and Bavins still thrown before them, so laded up the Lake, as they surprised that unregarded Suburb before they were discovered: Upon which unexpected Alarum, the _Turks_ fled into the City, and the other Suburb not knowing the matter, got into the City also, leaving their Suburb for the Duke, who, with no great resistance, took it, with many Pieces of Ordnance; the City, being of no such strength as the Suburbs, with their own Ordnance was so battered, that it was taken by force, with such a merciless Execution, as was most pitiful to behold. {MN-2} The _Bashaw_ notwithstanding, drew together a Party of Five hundred before his own Palace, where he intended to die; but seeing most of his Men slain before him, by the valiant Captain, Earl _Meldritch,_ who took him Prisoner with his own hands; and with the hazard of himself saved him from the fury of other Troops, that did pull down his Palace, and would have rent him in pieces, had he not been thus preserved. The Duke thought his Victory much honoured with such a Prisoner; took order, he should be used like a Prince, and with all expedition gave charge presently to repair the Breaches, and the Ruins of this famous City, that had been in the possession of the _Turks_ near threescore years.
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{MN-1} _A worthy Exploit of Earl_ Rosworme.
{MN-2} _Earl_ Meldritch _takes the_ Bashaw _prisoner._
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CHAP. VI.
_A brave Encounter of the_ Turks _Army with the_ Christians; _Duke_ Merceur _overthroweth_ Assan Bashaw; _He divides the_ Christian _Army; His Nobleness and Death._
_Mahomet_ the Great _Turk_, during the Siege, had raised an Army of Sixty thousand Men to have relieved it; but hearing it was lost, he sent _Assan Bashaw,_ General of his Army, the _Bashaw_ of _Buda, Bashaw Amaroz,_ to see if it were possible to regain it; The Duke understanding there could be no great experience in such a new levied Army as _Assan_ had, having put a strong Garrison into it, and with the brave Colonel _Rosworme, Culnits, Meldritch,_ the _Rhine Grave, Vahan,_ and many others, with Twenty thousand good Soldiers, set forward to meet the _Turk,_ in the Plains of _Girk._ {MN-1} Those two Armies encountred as they marched, where began a hot and bloody Skirmish betwixt them, Regiment against Regiment, as they came in order, till the night parted them: Here Earl _Meldritch_ was so invironed among those half circular Regiments of _Turks,_ they supposed him their Prisoner, and his Regiment lost; but his two most couragious Friends, _Vahan_ and _Culnits,_ made such a Passage amongst them, that it was a terror to see how Horse and Man lay sprawling and tumbling, some one way, some another on the Ground. The Earl there at that time made his valour shine more bright than his Armour, which seemed then painted with _Turkish_ Blood; he slew the brave _Zanzack Bugola,_ and made his Passage to his Friends, but near half his Regiment was slain. Captain _Smith_ had his Horse slain under him, and himself sore wounded; but he was not long unmounted, for there was choice enough of Horses, that wanted Masters. The _Turk,_ thinking the Victory sure against the Duke, whose Army, by the Siege and the Garrison, he had left behind him, was much weakened, would not be content with one, but he would have all; and lest the Duke should return to _Alba Regalis,_ he sent that Night Twenty thousand to besiege the City, assuring them, he would keep the Duke or any other from relieving them. Two or three days they lay each by other, entrenching themselves; the _Turks_ daring the Duke daily to a sett Battle, {MN-2} who at length drew out his Army, led by the _Rhine-Grave, Culnits,_ and _Meldritch_ who upon their first Encounter, charged with that resolute and valiant courage, as disordered not only the foremost Squadrons of the _Turks,_ but enforced all the whole Army to retire to the Camp, with the loss of five or six thousand, with the _Bashaw_ of _Buda,_ and four or five _Zanzacks,_ with divers other great Commanders, Two hundred Prisoners, and nine pieces of Ordnance. At that instant appeared, as it were, another Army coming out of a Valley over a plain Hill, that caused the Duke at that time to be contented, and to retire to his Trenches; which gave time to _Assan,_ to reorder his disordered Squadrons: Here they lay nine or ten days, and more Supplies repaired to them, expecting to try the event in a sett Battle; but the Soldiers on both Parties, by reason of their great Wants, and approach of Winter, grew so discontented, that they were ready of themselves to break up the Leager; the _Bashaw_ retiring himself to _Buda,_ had some of the Rear Troops cut off. _Amaroz Bashaw_ hearing of this, found such bad welcome at _Alba Regalis,_ and the Town so strongly repaired with so brave a Garrison, raised his Siege, and retired to _Zigetum._
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{MN-1} _A brave encounter of the_ Turks _Army with the_ Christians.
{MN-2} _Duke_ Merceur _overthroweth_ Assan Bassa.
The Duke understanding, that the Archduke _Ferdinando,_ had so resolutely besieged _Caniza_ as what by the loss of _Alba Regalis,_ and the _Turks_ retreat to _Buda,_ being void of hope of any relief, doubted not, but it would become again the _Christians._ {MN-1}To the furtherance whereof, the Duke divided his Army into three parts. The Earl of _Rosworme_ went with Seven thousand to _Caniza,_ the Earl of _Meldritch_ with Six thousand he sent to assist _Georgio Busca_ against the _Transilvanians,_ the rest went with himself to the Garrisons of _Strigonium_ and _Komara;_ having thus worthily behaved himself, he arrived at _Vienne,_ where the Arch-dukes and the Nobility with as much honour received him, as if he had conquered all Hungaria; his very Picture they esteemed would make them fortunate, which thousands kept as curiously as a precious relique. To requite this honour, preparing himself to return into _France,_ to raise new Forces against the next year, with the two Arch-dukes, _Matthias_ and _Maximilian,_ and divers others of the Nobility, was with great Magnificence conducted to _Nurenburg,_ there by them royally feasted, (how it chanced is not known;) {MN-2} but the next Morning he was found dead, and his Brother in Law died two days after; whose hearts, after this great Triumph, with much sorrow were carried into _France._
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{MN-1} _Duke_ Merceur _divideth his army._
{MN-2} _Duke_ Merceur _and his brother in law die suddenly._
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CHAP. VII.
_The unhappy Siege of_ Caniza; _Earl_ Meldritch _serveth Prince_ Sigismundus; _Prince_ Moyses _besiegeth_ Regall; Smith's _three single Combats; His Patent from_ Sigismundus, _and Reward._
{MN} The Worthy Lord _Rosworme_ had not worse Journey to the miserable Siege of _Caniza,_ (whereby the extremity of an extraordinary continuing Tempest of Hail, Wind, Frost and Snow, insomuch that the _Christians_ were forced to leave their Tents and Artillery, and what they had; it being so cold, that three or four hundred of them were frozen to Death in a Night, and two or three thousand lost in that miserable flight in the Snowy Tempest, though they did know no Enemy at all to follow them) than the Noble Earl of _Meldritch_ had to _Transilvania,_ where hearing of the Death of _Michael,_ and the brave Duke _Merceur,_ and knowing the Policy of _Busca,_ and the Prince his Royalty, being now beyond all belief of Men, in Possession of the best part of _Transilvania,_ perswaded his Troops, in so honest a Cause, to assist the Prince against the _Turk,_ rather than _Busca_ against the Prince.
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{MN} _The unhappy siege of_ Caniza.
{MN} The Soldiers being worn out with those hard Pays and Travels, upon hope to have free liberty to make booty upon what they could get Possession of from the _Turks,_ were easily perswaded to follow him whithersoever. Now this Noble Earl was a _Transilvanian_ born, and his Fathers Country yet Inhabited by the _Turks;_ for _Transilvania_ was yet in three Divisions, though the Prince had the Hearts both of Country and People; yet the Frontiers had a Garrison amongst the unpassable Mountains, some for the Emperour, some for the Prince, and some for the _Turk:_ To regain which small Estate, he desired leave of the Prince to try his Fortunes, and to make use of that experience, the time of twenty years had taught him in the Emperours service, promising to spend the rest of his days, for his Countrys defence in his Excellencies Service. The Prince glad of so brave a Commander, and so many expert and ancient Soldiers, made him Camp Master of his Army, gave him all necessary relief for his Troops, and what freedom they desired to plunder the _Turks._
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{MN} _Earl_ Meldritch _serveth with Prince_ Sigismundus.
{MN-1} The Earl having made many Incursions into the Land of _Zarkan,_ among those Rocky Mountains, where were some _Turks,_ some _Tartars,_ but most _Bandittoes, Rennegadoes,_ and such like, which sometimes he forced into the Plains of _Regall_ where is a City, not only of Men and Fortifications, Strong of it self, but so environed with Mountains, that made the Passages so difficult, that in all these Wars, no attempt had been made upon it to any purpose: Having satisfied himself with the Situation, and the most convenient Passages to bring his Army into it: The Earth no sooner put on her green Habit, than the Earl overspread her with his armed Troops. To possess himself first of the most convenient Passage, which was a narrow Valley betwixt two high Mountains; he sent Colonel _Veltus_ with his Regiment; dispersed in Companies to lie in _Ambuscado,_ as he had directed them, and in the Morning to drive all the Cattel they could find before a Fort in that Passage, whom he supposed would sally, seeing but some small Party to recover their prey; which took such good success, that the Garrison was cut off by the _Ambuscado,_ and _Veltus_ seized on the Skonces, which were abandoned. _Meldritch_ glad of so fortunate a beginning, it was six days ere he could with six thousand Pioneers make passage for his Ordnance: The _Turks_ having such warning, strengthened the Town so with Men and Provision, that they made a scorn of so small a number as _Meldritch_ brought with him before the City, which was but eight thousand. Before they had pitched their Tents, the _Turks_ sallied in such abundance, as for an hour, they had rather a bloody Battel than a Skirmish, but with the loss of near Fifteen hundred on both sides. The Turks were chased till the Cities Ordnance caused the Earl to retire. {M-2} The next day _Zachel Moyses,_ General of the Army, pitched also his Tents with nine thousand Foot and Horse, and six and twenty Pieces of Ordnance; but in regard of the Situation of this strong Fortress, they did neither fear them nor hurt them, being upon the point of a fair Promontory, environed on the one side within half a Mile with an un-useful Mountain, and on the other side with a fair Plain, where the _Christians_ encamped, but so commanded by their Ordnance, they spent near a Month in entrenching themselves, and raising their Mounts to plant their Batteries; which slow proceedings the _Turks_ oft derided, that their Ordnance were at pawn, and how they grew fat for want of Exercise, and fearing lest they should depart ere they could assault their City, sent this Challenge to any Captain in the Army.
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{MN-1} _Earl_ Meldritch _maketh incursions to discover_ Regall.
{MN-2} Moyses _Besiegeth_ Regal.
That to delight the Ladies, who did long to see some Court-like pastime, the Lord _Turbashaw_ did defie any Captain, that had the command of a Company, who durst Combate with him for his Head: The matter being discussed, it was accepted, but so many Questions grew for the undertaking, it was decided by Lots, which fell upon Captain _Smith,_ before spoken of.
{MN} Truce being made for that time, the Rampires all beset with fair Dames, and Men in Arms, the _Christians_ in _Battalia; Turbashaw_ with a noise of Haut-boys entred the Field well mounted and armed; on his shoulders were fixed a pair of great Wings, compacted of Eagles Feathers, within a ridge of Silver, richly garnished with Gold and precious Stones, a _Janizary_ before him, bearing his Lance, on each side another leading his Horse; where long he stayed not, ere _Smith_ with a noise of Trumpets, only a Page bearing his Lance, passing by him with a courteous Salute, took his Ground with such good success, that at the sound of the charge, he passed the _Turk_ thorow the sight of his Beaver, Face, Head and all, that he fell dead to the Ground, where alighting and unbracing his Helmet, cut off his Head, and the _Turks_ took his Body; and so returned without any hurt at all. The Head he presented to the Lord _Moyses,_ the General, who kindly accepted it, and with joy to the whole Army he was generally welcomed.
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{MN} _Three single combates._
The Death of this Captain so swelled in the Heart of one _Grualgo,_ his vowed Friend, as rather inraged with madness than choler, he directed a particular challenge to the Conqueror, to regain his Friends Head, or Idle his own, with his Horse and Armour for advantage, which according to his desire, was the next day undertaken: as before upon the sound of the Trumpets, their Lances flew in pieces upon a clear Passage, but the _Turk,_ was near unhorsed. Their Pistols was the next, which marked _Smith_ upon the Placard; but the next shot the _Turk,_ was so Wounded in the left Arm, that being not able to rule his Horse, and defend himself, he was thrown to the ground, and so bruised with the fall, that he lost his Head, as his Friend before him, with his Horse and Armour; but his Body, and his rich Apparel were sent back to the Town.
Every day the _Turks_ made some Sallies, but few Skirmishes would they endure to any purpose. Our Works and Approaches being not yet advanced to that heighth and effect, which was of necessity to be performed; to delude time, _Smith_ with so many incontradictible perswading Reasons, obtained leave, that the Ladies might know he was not so much enamoured of their Servants Heads; but if any _Turk,_ of their rank would come to the place of Combate to redeem them, should have his also upon the like conditions, if he could win it.
The challenge presently was accepted by _Bonny Mulgro._ The next day, both the Champions entring the Field as before, each discharging their Pistol, having no Lances, but such martial Weapons as the Defendant appointed, no hurt was done; their Battle-Axes was the next, whose piercing Bills made sometime the one, sometime the other to have scarce sense to keep their Saddles, specially the _Christian_ received such a blow, that he lost his Battle axe, and failed not much to have fallen after it, whereat the supposed conquering _Turk,_ had a great shout from the Rampires. The _Turk,_ prosecuted his advantage to the uttermost of his power; yet the other, what by the readiness of his Horse, and his judgement and dexterity in such a business, beyond all Mens expectation, by God's assistance, not only avoided the _Turks_ violence but having drawn his Faulchion, pierced the _Turk,_ so under the Culets, thorow back and body, that altho' he alighted from his Horse, he stood not long ere he lost his Head, as the rest had done.
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CHAP. VIII.
Georgio Busca _an_ Albane, _his ingratitude to Prince_ Sigismundus; _Prince_ Moyses _his Lieutenant, is overthrown by_ Busca, _General for the Emperour_ Rodulphus; Sigismundus _yieldeth his Country to_ Rodulphus; Busca _assisteth Prince_ Rodol _in_ Wallachia.
This good success gave such great encouragement to the whole Army, that with a Guard of six thousand, three spare Horses, before each a _Turks_ Head upon a Lance, he was conducted to the Generals Pavilion with his Presents. Moyses received both him and them, with as much respect as the occasion deserved, embracing him in his Arms, gave him a fair Horse, richly furnished, a Scimitar and Belt worth Three hundred Ducats; and _Meldritch_ made him Sergeant Major of his Regiment. But now to the Siege, having mounted six and twenty pieces of Ordnance, fifty or sixty Foot above the Plain, made them so plainly tell his meaning, that within fifteen days two Breaches were made, which the _Turks_ as valiantly defended as Men could; that day was made a darksome Night, but by the light that proceeded from the murdering Muskets, and peace-making Canon, whilst their slothful Governour lay in a Castle on the top of a high Mountain, and like a Valiant Prince asketh what's the matter, when horror and death flood amazed each at other, to see who should prevail to make him victorious: {MN} _Moyses_ commanding a general assault upon the sloping front of the high Promontory, where the Barons of _Budendorfe_ and _Oberwin,_ lost near half their Regiments, by Logs, Bags of Powder, and such like, tumbling down the Hill, they were to mount ere they could come to the breach; notwithstanding with an incredible courage, they advanced to the push of the Pike with the Defendants, that with the like courage repulsed, till the Earl _Meldritch, Becklefield_ and _Zarvana,_ with their fresh Regiments seconded them with that fury, that the _Turks_ retired and fled into the Castle, from whence by a Flag of truce they desired composition. The Earl remembring his Fathers Death, battered it with all the Ordnance in the Town, and the next day took it: all he found could bear Arms, he put to the Sword, and set their Heads upon Stakes round about the Walls, in the same manner they had used the _Christians,_ when they took it. _Moyses_ having repaired the Rampires, and thrown down the Work in his Camp, he put in it a strong Garrison, though the pillage he had gotten in the Town was much, having been for a long time an impregnable den of Thieves; yet the loss of the Army so intermingled the sowre with the sweet, as forced _Moyses_ to seek a farther revenge, that he sacked _Veratio, Solmos,_ and _Kupronka,_ and with two thousand Prisoners, most Women and Children, came to _Esenberg,_ not far from the Princes Palace, where he there Encamped.
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{MN} Regal _assaulted and taken._
_Sigismundus_ coming to view his Army, was presented with the Prisoners, and six and thirty Ensigns; where celebrating thanks to Almighty God in triumph of those Victories, he was made acquainted with the service _Smith_ had done at _Olumpagh, Stoll-Weissenburgh_ and _Regal;_ for which, with great honour, he gave him three _Turks_ Heads in a Shield for his Arms, by Patent, under his Hand and Seal, with an Oath ever to wear them in his Colours, his Picture in Gold, and three hundred Ducats yearly for a Pension.
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Sigismundus Bathori, _Dei Gratia, Dux_ Transilvaniae, Wallachiae, & Vandalorum; _Comes_ Anchard, Salford, Growenda; _Cunctis his literis significamus qui cas lecturi aut audituri sunt, concessam licentiam aut facultatem_ Johanni Smith, _natione_ Anglo _Generoso,_ 250. _militum Capitaneo sub Illustrissani & Gravissani_ Henrici Volda, _Comitis de_ Meldri, Salmariae, & Peldoix _primario, ex_ 1000 _equitibus_ & 1500. peditibus bello_ Ungarico _conductione in Provincias supra scriptas sub Authoritate nostra: cui servituti omni laude, perpetuaq; memoria dignum praebuit sese erga nos, ut virum strenuum pugnantem pro aris & focis decet. Quare e favore nostro militario ipsum ordine condonavimus, & in Sigillum illius tria_ Turcica _Capita defignare & deprimere concessimus, que ipso gladio suo ad Urbem_ Regalem _in singulari praelio vicit, mactavit, atq; decollavit in_ Transilvaniae _Provincia: Sed fortuna cum variabilis ancepsq; sit idem forte fortuito in_ Wallachiae _Provincia, Anno Domini_ 1602. _die Mensis Novemberis_ 18. _cum multis aliis etiam Nubilibus & aliis quibusdam militibus captus est a Domino_ Bascha _electo ex_ Cambia _regionis_ Tartariae, _onjus severitate adductus salutum quantem potuit quaesivit, tantumque effecit, Deo omnipotente adjuvante, ut deliberavit se, & ad suos Commilitones revertit; ex quibus ipsum liberavimus, & haec nobis restimonia habuit ut majori licentia frucretur qua dignus esset, jam tendet in patriam suam dulcissonam: Rogamus ergo omnes nostros charissunos, confinititmos, Duces, Principes, Comites, Barones, Gubernatores Urbium & Navium in cadem Regione & caeterarum Provinciarum in quibus ille refidere conatus fuerit ut idem permittatur Capitaneus libere sine obstaculo omni versari. Haec facientes pergratum nobis feceritis. Signatum_ Lesprizia _in_ Misnia _die Mensis_ Decembris_ 9. _Anno Domini_ 1603.
_Cum Privilegio propriae, Majestatis._ Sigismundus Bathori.