Part 3
Universis, & singulis, cujuscunq; loci, status, gradut, ordinis, ac conditighis ad quos hos praesens scriptum pervenerit,_ Gulielmus Segar, Eques auratus alias dictus Garterus Principalis Rex Armorum_ Anglicorum, Salutum._ Sciatis, _quod Ego praedictus Garterus, notum, testatumque facio, quod Patentitem suprascriptum, cum manu propria praedicti Ducis_ Transilvaniae _Subsignatum, & Sigillo suo affixum, Vidi: & Copiam veram ejusdem (in perpetuam rei memoriam) transcripsi, & recordavi in Archivis, & Registris Officii Armorum. Datum_ Londini 19. _die Augusti, Anno Domini_ 1625. _Annoque Regni Domini nostri_ CAROLI _Dei gratia Magnae_ Britanniae, Franciae, & Hibernix _Regis, Fidei Defendoris, &c. Prime.
Gulielmus Segar, Garterus.
{MN} Sigismundus Bathori, by the Grace of God, Duke of _Transilvania,_ _Wallachia,_ and _Moldavia,_ Earl of _Anchard, Salford_ and _Growenda;_ to whom this Writing may come or appear. Know that We have given Leave and Licence to _John Smith_ an _English Gentleman,_ Captain of 250 Soldiers, under the most Generous and Honourable _Henry Volda,_ Earl of _Meldritch, Salmaria,_ and _Peldoia,_ Colonel of a thousand Horse, and fifteen hundred Foot, in the Wars of _Hungary,_ and in the Provinces aforesaid under our Authority; whose Service doth deserve all praise, and perpetual Memory towards us, as a Man that did for God and his Country overcome his Enemies; Wherefore out of our Love and Favour, according to the Law of Arms, We have ordained, and given him in his Shield of Arms, the Figure and Description of three Turks Heads, which with his Sword before the Town of _Regal,_ in single Combat he did overcome, kill, and cut off, in the Province of _Transilvania._ But Fortune, as she is very variable, so it chanced and happened to him in the Province of _Wallatchia,_ in the year of Our Lord 1602. the 18th day of _November,_ with many others, as well Noble Men as also divers other Soldiers, were taken Prisoners by the Lord _Bashaw_ of _Cambia,_ a Country of _Tartaria;_ whose cruelty brought him such good Fortune, by the Help and Power of Almighty God, that he delivered himself, and returned again to his Company and fellow Soldiers, of whom We do discharge him, and this he hath in Witness thereof, being much more worthy of a better Reward; and now intends to return to his own sweet Country. We desire therefore all Our loving and kind Kinsmen, Dukes, Princes, Earls, Barons, Governours of Towns, Cities or Ships, in this Kingdom, or any other Provinces he shall come in, that you freely let pass this the aforesaid Captain, without any hindrance or molestation, and this doing, with all kindness, we are always ready to do the like for you. Sealed at _Lipswick_ in _Misenland,_ the ninth of _December,_ in the year of our Lord, 1603.
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{MN} _The same in_ English.
_With the proper privilege of his Majesty._ SIGISMUNDUS BATHORI
To all and singular, in what Place, State, Degree, Order, or Condition whatsoever, to whom this present Writing shall come: I _William Segar,_ Knight, otherwise Garter, and principal King of Arms of _England,_ wish health. Know, that I the aforesaid Garter, do witness and approve, that this aforesaid Patent, I have seen, Signed, and Sealed, under the proper Hand and Seal Manuel of the said Duke of _Transilvania,_ and a true Copy of the same, as a thing for perpetual memory, I have Subscribed and Recorded in the Register, and Office of the Heralds of Arms. Dated at _London,_ the nineteenth day of _August,_ in the year of Our Lord, 1625, and in the first year of our Sovereign Lord _Charles,_ by the Grace of God, King of great _Britain, France,_ and _Ireland,_ Defender of the Faith, &c.
WILLIAM SEGAR.
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CHAP. IX.
Sigismundus _sends Ambassadours unto the Emperour. The Conditions reassured. He yieldeth up all to_ Busca, _and returneth to_ Prague.
_Busca_ having all this time been raising new Forces, was commanded from the Emperour again to invade _Transilvania,_ which being one of the fruitfullest and strongest Countries in those Parts, was now rather a Desart, or the very Spectacle of Desolation; their Fruits and Fields overgrown with Weeds, their Churches and battered Palaces, and best Buildings, as for fear, hid with Moss and Ivy; being the very Bulwark and Rampire of a great part of _Europe,_ most fit by all _Christians_ to have been supplied and maintained, was thus brought to ruin by them, it most concerned to support it. But alas, what is it, when the Power of Majesty pampered in all delights of pleasant Vanity, neither knowing, nor considering the labour of the Plough-man, the hazard of the Merchant, the oppression of Statesmen, nor feeling the piercing Torments of broken Limbs, and inveterate Wounds, the toilsome Marches, the bad Lodging, the hungry Diet, and the extream misery that Soldiers endure to secure all those Estates, and yet by the spight of malicious detraction, starves for want of their Reward and Recompences, whilst the politique Courtier, that commonly aims more at his own Honours and Ends, than his Countries good, or his Princes Glory, Honour, or Security, as this worthy Prince too well could testifie. But the Emperor being certified how weak and desperate his Estate was, sent _Busca_ again with a great Army, to try his fortune once more in _Transilvania._ The Prince considering how his Country and Subjects were consumed, the small means he had any longer to defend his Estate, both against the cruelty of the _Turk,_ and the power of the Emperor, and the small care the _Polanders_ had in Supplying him, as they had promised, sent to _Busca_ to have truce, till Messengers might be sent to the Emperour for some better agreement, wherewith _Busca_ was contented. The Ambassadors so prevailed, that the Emperour re-assured unto them the conditions he had promised the Prince at their confederacy for the Lands in _Silesia,_ with 60000 Ducats presently in hand, and 50000 Ducats yearly as a Pension. When this conclusion was known to _Moyses,_ his Lieutenant then in the Field with the Army, that would do any thing, rather than come in subjection to the _Germans,_ he encouraged his Soldiers, and without any more ado, marched to encounter _Busca,_ {MN} whom he found much better provided than he expected; so that betwixt them, in six or seven hours, more than five or six thousand, on both sides, lay dead in the field. _Moyses_ thus overthrown, fled to the _Turks_ at _Temesware,_ and his Scattered Troops, some one way, some another.
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{MN} _Busca_ in _Transilvania_ overthroweth _Moyses._
The Prince understanding of this so sudden and unexpected Accident, only accompanied with an hundred of his Gentry and Nobility, went into the Camp to _Busca,_ to let him know how ignorant he was of his Lieutenants error, that he had done it without his direction or knowledge, freely offering to perform what was concluded by his Ambassadors with the Emperor; {MN} and so causing all his Garrisons to come out of their strong Holds, he delivered all to _Busca_ for the Emperor, and so went to _Prague,_ where he was honourably received, and established in his Possessions, as his Imperial Majesty had promised. _Busca_ assembling all the Nobility, took their Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity, and thus their Prince being gone _Transilvania_ became again subject to the Emperor.
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{MN} _Sigismundis_ yieldeth his country to _Busca._
{MN} Now after the Death of _Michael,_ Vavoid of _Wallachia,_ the _Turk_ Sent one _Jeremy_ to be their Vavoid or Prince; whose insulting Tyranny caused the People to take Arms against him, so that he was forced to flie into the Confines of _Moldavia;_ and _Busca_ in the behalf of the Emperor, proclaimed the Lord _Rodol_ in his stead. But _Jeremy_ having assembled an Army of forty thousand _Turks, Tartars,_ and _Moldavians,_ returned into _Wallachia. Rodol_ not yet able to raise such a power, fled into _Transilvania_ to _Busca,_ his ancient Friend; who considering well of the matter, and how good it would be for his own Security, to have _Wallachia_ subject to the Emperor, or at least such an Employment for the remainders of the old Regiments of _Sigismundus,_ (of whose Greatness and true Affection he was very suspicious) sent them with _Rodol_ to recover _Wallachia,_ conducted by the Valiant Captains, the Earl _Meldritch,_ Earl _Veltus,_ Earl _Nederspolt,_ Earl _Zarvana,_ the Lord _Becklefield_ the Lord _Budendorfe,_ with their Regiments, and divers others of great rank and quality, the greatest Friends and Alliances the Prince had; who with Thirty thousand, marched along by the River _Altus,_ to the Streights of _Rebrink,_ where they entred _Wallachia,_ encamping at _Raza; Jeremy_ lying at _Argish,_ drew his Army into his old Camp, in the Plains of _Peteske,_ and with his best diligence fortified it, intending to defend himself, till more power came to him from the _Crim-Tartar._ Many small Parties that came to his Camp, _Rodol_ cut off, and in the nights would cause their Heads to be thrown up and down before the Trenches. Seven of their Porters were taken, whom _Jeremy_ commanded to be flayed quick, and after hung their Skins upon Poles, and their Carcases and Heads on Stakes by them.
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{MN} _Busca_ assisteth _Rodol_ in _Wallachia._
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CHAP. X.
_The Battle of_ Rottenton; _a pretty Stratagem of Fire-works by_ Smith.
_Rodol_ not knowing how to draw the Enemy to Battel, raised his Army, burning and spoiling all where he came, and returned again towards _Rebrink_ in the night, as if he had fled upon the general rumour of the _Crim-Tartars_ coming, which so inflamed the _Turks_ of a happy Victory, they urged _Jeremy_ against his Will to follow them. _Rodol_ seeing his Plot fell out as he desired, so ordered the matter, that having regained the Streights, he put his Army in order, that had been near two days pursued with continual Skirmishes in his Rear, {MN-1} which now making Head against the Enemy, that followed with their whole Army in the best manner they could, was furiously charged with six thousand _Heydukes, Wallachians,_ and _Moldavians,_ led by three Colonels, _Oversall, Dubras_, and _Calab,_ to entertain the time till the rest came up; _Veltus_ and _Nederspolt_ with their Regiments, entertained them with the like courage, till the Zanzacke _Hamesbeg,_ with six thousand more, came with a fresh charge, which _Meldritch_ and _Budendorfe,_ rather like enraged Lions, than Men, so bravely encountred, as if in them only had consisted the Victory; _Meldritch's_ Horse being slain under him, the _Turks_ pressed what they could to have taken him Prisoner, but being remounted, it was thought with his own hand he slew the valiant Zanzacke, whereupon his Troops retiring, the two proud _Bashawes, Aladin,_ and _Zizimmus,_ brought up the front of the body of their Battle. _Veltus,_ and _Nederspolt_ having breathed, and joyning their Troops with _Becklefield_ and _Zarvana,_ with such an incredible courage, charged the left flank of _Zizimmus,_ as put them all in disorder, where _Zizimmus_ the _Bashaw_ was taken Prisoner, but died presently upon his Wounds. _Jeremy_ seeing now the main Battel of _Rodol_ advance, being thus constrained, like a Valiant Prince in his front of the Vangard, by his example so bravely encouraged his Soldiers, that _Rodol_ found no great assurance of the Victory. Thus being joyned in this bloody Massacre, that there was Scarce Ground to stand upon, but upon the dead Carcases, which in less than an hour, were So mingled, as if each Regiment had singled out other. The admired _Aladin_ that day did leave behind him a glorious name for his Valour, whose Death, many of his Enemies did lament after the Victory, which at that instant fell to _Rodol._ It was reported, _Jeremy_ was also slain; but it Was not so, but fled with the remainder of his Army to _Moldavia,_ leaving five and twenty thousand dead in the Field, of both Armies. {MN-2} And thus _Rodol_ was seated again in his Soveraignty, and _Wallachia_ became subject to the Emperour.
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{MN-1} A battle betwixt _Rodol_ and _Jeremy._
{MN-2} _Wallachia_ subjected to the Emperour.
But long he rested not to settle his new Estate, but there came News, that certain Regiments of stragling _Tartars,_ were foraging those Parts towards _Moldavia. Meldritch_ with thirteen thousand Men was sent against them, but when they heard it was the _Crim-Tartar,_ and his two Sons, with an Army of thirty thousand; and _Jeremy,_ that had escaped with fourteen or fifteen thousand, lay in ambush for them about _Langanaw,_ he retired towards _Rottenton,_ a strong Garrison for _Rodol;_ but they were so invironed with these hellish numbers, they could make no great hast for skirmishing with their Scouts, Foragers, and small Parties that still encountred them. But one night amongst the rest, having made a passage through a Wood, with an incredible expedition, cutting Trees thwart each other to hinder their passage, in a thick Fogg, early in the Morning, unexpectedly they met two thousand loaded with Pillage, and two or three hundred Horse and Cattel; the most of them were slain and taken Prisoners, who told them where _Jeremy_ lay in the passage, expecting the _Crim-Tartar_ that was not far from him. _Meldritch_ intending to make his passage by force, was advised of a pretty Stratagem, by the English _Smith,_ which presently he thus accomplished; for having accommodated two or three hundred Trunks with wild-fire, upon the Heads of Lances, and charging the Enemy in the night, gave fire to the Trunks, which blazed forth such Flames and Sparkles, that it so amazed not only their Horses, but their Foot also; that by the means of this flaming Encounter, their own Horses turned Tails with such fury, as by their violence overthrew _Jeremy_ and his Army, without any loss at all to speak of to _Meldritch._ But of this Victory, long they triumphed not; for being within three Leagues of _Rottenton,_ the _Tartar,_ with near forty thousand so beset them, that they must either fight, or be cut in pieces flying. Here _Busca,_ and the Emperour had their desire; for the Sun no sooner displayed his Beams, than the _Tartar_ his Colours; where at mid-day he stayed a while, to see the Passage of a tyrannical and treacherous imposture, till the Earth did blush with the blood of Honesty, that the Sun for shame did hide himself, from so monstrous sight of a cowardly Calamity. It was a most brave sight to see the Banners and Ensigns streaming in the Air, the glittering of Armour, the variety of Colours, the motion of Plumes, the forests of Lances, and the thickness of shorter Weapons, till the silent Expedition of the bloody blast from the murdering Ordnance, whose roaring Voice is not so soon heard, as felt by the aimed at Object, which made among them a most lamentable slaughter.
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CHAP. XI.
_The names of the_ English _that were slain in the Battel of_ Rottenton; _and how Captain_ Smith _was taken Prisoner, and sold for a Slave._
In the valley of _Veristhorne,_ betwixt the River of _Altus,_ and the Mountain of _Rottenton,_ was this bloody Encounter, where the most of the dearest Friends of the noble Prince Sigismundus perished. _Meldritch_ having ordered his Eleven thousand in the best manner he could, at the Foot of the Mountain upon his Flanks, and before his front, he had pitched sharp Stakes, their Heads hardned in the fire, and bent against the Enemy, as three Battalion of Pikes, amongst the which also, there was digged many small holes. {MN-1} Amongst those Stakes was ranged his foot-men, that upon the charge was to retire, as there was occasion. The _Tartar_ having ordered his 40000 for his best advantage, appointed _Mustapha Bashaw_ to begin the Battel, with a general Shout, all their Ensigns displaying, Drums beating, Trumpets and Haut-boys sounding. _Nederspolt_ and _Mavazo_ with their Regiments of Horse most valiantly encountred, and forced them to retire; the _Tartar Begoli_ with his Squadrons, darkning the Skies with their flights of numberless Arrows, who was as bravely encountred by _Veltus_ and _Oberwin,_ which bloody slaughter continued more than an hour, till the matchless multitude of the _Tartars_ so increased, that they retired within their Squadrons of Stakes, as was directed. The bloody _Tartar,_ as scorning he should stay so long for the Victory, with his massie Troops prosecuted the Charge: But it was a wonder to see how Horse and Man came to the Ground among the Stakes, whose disordered Troops were there so mangled, that the _Christians_ with a loud Shout cried _Victoria;_ and with five or six field Pieces, planted upon the rising of the Mountain, did much hurt to the Enemy that still continued the Battel with that fury, that _Meldritch_ seeing there was no possibility long to prevail, joyned his small Troops in one body, resolved directly to make his passage, or die in the conclusion; and thus in gross gave a general charge, and for more than half an hour, made his way plain before him, till the main Battle of the _Crim-Tartar,_ with two Regiments of _Turks_ and _Jaizaries_ so overmatched them, that they were overthrown. The night approaching, the Earl with some thirteen or fourteen hundred Horse, swam the River, some were drowned, all the rest slain or taken Prisoners: And thus in this bloody Field, near 30000 lay, some Headless, Armless and Legless, all cut and mangled; where breathing their last, they gave this knowledge to the World, that for the lives of so few, the _Crim-Tartar_ never paid dearer. {MN-2} But now the Countries of _Transilvania_ and _Wallachia_ (subjected to the Emperor) and _Sigismundus,_ that brave Prince, his Subject and Pensioner, the most of his Nobility, brave Captains and Soldiers, became a prey to the cruel devouring _Turk:_ where, had the Emperour been as ready to have assisted him, and those three Armies led by three such worthy Captains, as _Michael, Busca,_ and Himself, and had those three Armies joyned together against the _Turk,_ let all Men judge, how happy it might have been for all Christendom: and have either regained _Bulgaria,_ or at least have beat him out of _Hungaria,_ where he hath taken much more from the Emperour, than hath the Emperour from _Transilvania._
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{MN-1} _the Battle of_ Rottenton.
{MN-2} _Extracted out of a book, instituted, the Wars of_ Hungaria, Wallachia, _and_ Moldavia, _written by_ Francisco Ferneza, _a learned Italian, the Princes Secretary, and translated by Mr._ Purchas.
In this dismal Battel, where _Nederspolt, Veltus, Zarvana, Mavazo, Bavel,_ and many other Earls, Barons, Colonels, Captains, brave Gentlemen, and Soldiers were slain, give me leave to remember the names of our own Country-men, {MN} with him in those Exploits, that as resolutely as the best in the defence of Christ and his Gospel, ended their days, as _Bakersfield, Hardwick, Thomas Milemer, Robert Mollineux, Thomas Bishop, Francis Compton, George Davison, Nicholas Williams_ and one _John_ a Scot, did what Men could do, and when they could do no more, left there their Bodies in Testimony of their minds; only Ensign _Charleton,_ and Sergeant _Robinson_ escaped: But _Smith,_ among the slaughtered dead Bodies, and many a gasping Soul, with toil and Wounds lay groaning among the rest, till being found by the Pillagers, he was able to live, and perceiving by his Armour and Habit, his ransom might be better to them than his Death, they led him Prisoner with many others; well they used him till his Wounds were cured, and at _Axopolis_ they were all sold for Slaves, like Beasts in a Market-place, where every Merchant, viewing their Limbs and Wounds, caused other Slaves to struggle with them, to try their strength, he fell to the share of _Bashaw Bogal,_ who sent him forthwith to _Adrianopolis,_ so for _Constantinople_ to his fair Mistriss for a Slave. By twenty and twenty chained by the Necks, they marched in file to this great City, where they were delivered to their several Masters, and he to the young _Charaza Tragabigzanda._
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{MN} _The English Men in this Battel._
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CHAP. XII.
_How Captain_ Smith _was sent Prisoner thorow the_ Black _and_ Dissabacca _Sea in_ Tartaria; _the Description of those seas, and his usage._
This Noble Gentlewoman took sometime occasion to shew him to some Friends, or rather to speak with him, because she could speak Italian, would feign her self sick when she should go to the _Bannians,_ or weep over the Graves, to know how _Bogal_ took him Prisoner; and if he were as the _Bashaw_ writ to her, a _Bohemian_ Lord conquered by his Hand, as he had many others, which ere long he would present her, whose Ransomes should adorn her with the glory of his Conquests.
But when she heard him protest he knew no such matter, nor ever saw _Bogal,_ till he bought him at _Axopolis,_ and that he was an _English-man,_ only by his Adventures made a Captain in those Countries. To try the truth, she found means to find out many who could speak _English, French, Dutch,_ and _Italian,_ to whom relating most part of these former Passages she thought necessary, which they so honestly reported to her, she took (as it seemed) much compassion on him; but having no use for him, lest her Mother should sell him, she sent him to her Brother, the _Timor Bashaw_ of _Nalbrits,_ In the Country of _Cambia,_ a Province in _Tartaria._
{MN-1} Here now let us remember his passing, in this speculative course from _Constantinople_ by _Sander, Screw, Panassa, Musa, Lastilla,_ to _Varna,_ an ancient City upon the _Black Sea._ In all which Journey, having little more liberty, than his eyes judgment, since his Captivity, he might see the Towns with their short Towers, and a most plain, fertile, and delicate Country, especially that most admired place of _Greece,_ now called _Romania,_ but from _Varna,_ nothing but the _Black Sea_ Water, till he came to the two Capes of _Taur_ and _Pergilos,_ where he passed the Streight of _Niger,_ which (as he conjectured) is some ten Leagues long, and three broad, betwixt two Low-lands, the Channel is deep, {MN-2} but at the entrance of the Sea _Dissabacca,_ there are many great Osie-shaulds, and many great black Rocks, which the _Turks_ said were Trees, Weeds, and Mud, thrown from the In-land Countries, by the Inundations and violence of the Current, and cast there by the Eddy. They Sailed by many low Isles, and saw many more of those muddy Rocks, and nothing else, but salt Water, till they came betwixt _Sufax_ and _Curuske,_ only two white Towns at the entrance of the River _Bruapo_ appeared: In six or seven days Sail, he saw four or five seeming strong Castles of Stone, with flat tops and Battlements about them, but arriving at _Cambia,_ he was (according to their custom) well used. The River was there more than half a Mile broad. The Castle was of a large Circumference, fourteen or fifteen foot thick, in the Foundation some six foot from the Wall, is a _Pallizado,_ and then a Ditch of about forty foot broad full of Water. On the West side of it, is a Town, all of low flat Houses, which as he conceived, could be of no great strength, yet it keeps all them barbarous Countreys about it in admiration and subjection. After he had stayed there three days; it was two days more before his Guides brought him to _Nalbrits,_ where the _Tymor_ was then resident, in a great vast Stone Castle, with many great Courts about it, invironed with high Stone Walls, where was quartered their Arms, when they first subjected those Countries, which only live to labour for those Tyrannical _Turks._
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{MN-1} _How he was sent into_ Tartaria.
{MN-2} _The Description of the_ Dissabacca _Sea._