The true travels, adventures, and observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America, from anno Domini 1593. to 1629 His accidents and sea-fights in the straights; his service and stratagems of warre in Hungaria, Transilvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, against the Turks, and Tartars ... After how he was taken prisoner by the Turks, sold for a slave ... and escaped ... Together with a continuation of his generall History of Virginia, Summer-Iles, New England, and their proceedings, since 1624. to this present 1629; as also of the new plantations of the great river of the Amazons, the iles of St. Christopher, Mevis, and Barbados in the West Indies. All written by actuall authours, whose names you shall finde along the history.

CHAP. VIII. (Book 8)

Georgio Busca an Albane his ingratitude to Prince Sigismun∣dus; Prince Moyses his Lieutenant, is overthrowne by Busca, Ge∣nerall for the Emperour Rodolphus; Sigismundus yeeldeth his Countrey to Rodolphus; Busca assisteth Prince Rodoll in Wal∣lachia.

THis good successe gave such great encouragement to the whole Armie, that with a guard of six thousand, three spare horses, be∣fore each a Turkes head upon a Lance, he was conducted to the Generalls Pavillion with his Presents. Moyses received both him and them with as much respect as the occasion deserved, embracing him in his armes, gave him a faire Horse richly furnished, a S••mitere 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 peeces of Ordnance fifty or sixty foot above the Plaine, made them so plainly tell his meaning, that within fifteene dayes two breaches were made, which the Turkes 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, whilest their slothfull Governour lay in a Castle on the top of a high mountaine, and like a valiant Prince asketh what's the matter, when horrour and death stood amazed each at other, to see who should prevaile to make him victori∣ous: Moyses commanding a generall assault upon the sloping front of the high Promontory,* 1.1 where the Barons of Budendorfe and Oberwin lost neere halfe their Regiments, by logs, bags of powder, and such like, tum∣bling downe 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 defendāts, that with the like courage repul∣sed, till the Earle Meldritch, Becklefield and Zarvana, with their fresh Regi∣ments 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 Earle remembring his fathers death, battered it with all the Ordnance in the Towne, and the next day tooke it; all he found could beare Armes he put to the sword, and set their heads upon stakes round about the walles, in the same manner they had used the Christians, when they tooke it. Moyses having repaired the Rampiers, and throwne downe the worke in his Campe, he put in it a strong Garrison, though the pillage he had got∣ten in the Towne was much, having beene for a long time an impregna∣ble den of theeves; yet the losse of the Armie so intermingled the sowre with the sweet, as forced Moyses to seek a further revenge, that he sacked Veratio, Solmos, and Kupronka, and with two thousand prisoners, most women and children, came to Esenberg, not farre from the Princes Pa∣lace, where he there Encamped.

Sigismundus comming to view his Armie, was presented with the Pri∣soners,

and six and thirtie Ensignes; where celebrating thankes to Al∣mightie God in triumph of those victories, hee was made acquainted with the service Smith had done at Olumpagh, Stowle-Wesenburg and Re∣gall, for which with great honour hee gave him three Turkes heads in a Shield for his Armes, by Patent, under his hand and Seale, with an Oath ever to weare them in his Colours, his Picture in Gould, and three hun∣dred Ducats, yearely for a Pension.

[illustration]

* 2.1SIGISMVNDVS BA∣THORI, Dei gratia Dux Transilvaniae, Wal∣lachiae, & Vandalorum; Co∣mes Anchard, Salford, Gro∣wenda; Cunctis his literis sig∣nificansus qui eas lecturi aut audituri sunt, concessam licen∣tiam aut facultatem Iohanni Smith, natione Anglo Gene∣roso, 250. militum Capitan••o sub Illustrissimi & Gravissimi Henrici Volda, Comitis de Meldri, Salmariae, & Peldoiae pri∣mario, ex 1000. equitibus & 1500. peditibus bello Vngarico con∣ductione in Provincias suprascriptas sub Authoritate nostra: cui ser∣vituti omni laude, perpetua{que} memoria dignum praebuit sese erga nos, ut virum strenuum pugnantem pro aris & focis decet. Quare è fa∣vore nostro militario ipsumordine condonavimus, & in Sigillum il∣lius tria Turcica Capita designare & deprimere concessimus, quae ip∣se gladio suo ad Vrbem Regalem in singulari praelio vicit, macta∣vit, at{que} decollavit in Transilvaniae Provincia: Sed fortuna cum variabilis anceps{que} sit idem forte fortuito in Wallachia Provincia Anno Domini 1602. die Mensis Novembris 18. cum multis aliis etian Nobilibus & aliis quibusdam militibus captus est à Domino Bascha electo ex Cambia regionis Tartariae, cujus severitate ad∣ductus salutem quantam potuit quaesivit, tantumque effecit, Deo om∣nipotente adjuvante, ut deliberavit se, & ad suos Commilitones re∣vertit; ex quibus ipsum liberavimus, & haec nobis testimonia habu∣it ut majori licentia frueretur qua dignus esset, jam tendet in patri∣am suam dulcissimam: Rogamus ergo omnes nostros charissimos, confinitimos, Duces, Principes, Comites, Barones, Gubernatores

Vrbium & Navium in eadem Regione & caeterarum Provincia∣rum in quibus ille residere conatiu fuerit ut idem permittatur Capi∣tancus libere sine obstaculo omni versari. Haec ••cientes pergra••um nobis feceritis. Signatum Lesprizia in Misnia die Mensis Decem∣bris 9. Anno Domini 1603.

[illustration]

Cum Pri∣vilegio pro∣priae Ma∣jestatis. SIGISMVNDVS BATHORI.

UNIVERSIS, & singulis, cujuscun{que} loci, status, gra∣dus ordinis, ac conditionis ad quos hoc praesens scriptum per∣venerit, Guilielmus Segar Eques auratus aliàs dictus Garterus Principalis Rex Armorum Anglicorum, Salutem. Scia∣tis, quod Ego praedictus Garterus, notum, testatumque facio, quod Patentem suprascripium, cum manu propriapraedicti Ducis Tran∣silvaniae subsignatum, & Sigillo suo affixum, Vidi: & Copiam ve∣ram ejusdem (in perpetuam rei memoriam) transcripsi, & recorda∣vi in Archivis, & Registris Officii Armorum. Datum Londini 19. die Augusti, Anno Domini 1625. Annoque Regni Domini no∣stri CAROLI Dei gratia Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, & Hi∣berniae Regis, Fidei Defensoris, &c. Primo.

GVILIELMVS SEGAR, Garterus.

* 4.1SIGISMVNDVS BATHOR, by the Grace of God, Duke of Transilvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, Earle of Anchard, Salford and Growenda; to whom this Writing may come or appeare. Know that We have given leave and licence to Iohn Smith an English Gentleman, Captaine of 250. Souldiers, under the most Generous and Honourable Henry

Volda, Earle of Meldritch, Salmaria, and Peldoia, Colonell of a thousand horse, and fifteene hundred foot, in the warres of Hungary, and in the Provinces aforesaid under our authority; whose service doth deserve all praise and perpetuall memory towards us, as a man that did for God and his Country over∣come his enemies: Wherefore out of Our love and favour, ac∣cording to the law of Armes, We have ordained and given him in his shield of Armes, the figure and description of three Turks heads, which with his sword before the towne of Regall, in single combat he did overcome, kill, and cut off, in the Pro∣vince of Transilvania. But fortune, as she is very variable, so it chanced and happened to him in the Province of Wallachia, in the yeare our Lord, 1602. the 18. day of November, with many others, as well Noble men, as also divers other Souldi∣ers, were taken prisoners by the Lord Bashaw of Cambia, a Country of Tartaria; whose cruelty brought him such good fortune, by the helpe and power of Almighty God, that hee delivered himselfe, and returned againe to his company and fellow souldiers, of whom We doe discharge him, and this hee hath in witnesse thereof, being much more worthy of a bet∣ter reward; and now intends to returne to his owne sweet Country. We desire therefore all our loving and kinde kins∣men, Dukes, Princes, Earles, Barons, Governours of Townes, Cities, or Ships, in this Kingdome, or any other Provinces he shall come in, that you freely let passe this the aforesaid Cap∣taine, without any hinderance or molestation, and this doing, with all kindnesse we are alwayes ready to doe the like for you. Sealed at Lipswick in Misenland, the ninth of December, in the yeare of our Lord, 1603.

With the proper privilege of his Majestie. SIGISMVNDVS BATHOR.

TO all and singular, in what place, state, degree, order, or condition whatsoever, to whom this present writing shall come: [William Segar Knight, otherwise Garter, and principall King of Armes of England, wish health. Know that I the aforesaid Garter, do witnesse and approve, that this afore∣said Patent, I have seene, signed, & sealed, under the proper hand

and Seale Manual of the said Duke of Transilvania, and a true coppy of the same, as a thing for perpetuall memory, I have subscribed and recorded in the Register and office of the He∣ralds of Armes. Dated at London the nineteenth day of August, in the yeare of our Lord, 1625. and in the first yeare of our So∣ueraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God, King of great Bri∣taine, France, and Ireland; Defender of the faith, &c.

WILLIAM SEGAR.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Regall assaulted and taken.
• * 2.1

  The Patent.
• * 4.1

  The same in English.