The Turkish history from the original of that nation, to the growth of the Ottoman empire with the lives and conquests of their princes and emperours / by Richard Knolles ... ; with a continuation to this present year MDCLXXXVII ; whereunto is added, The present state of the Ottoman empire, by Sir Paul Rycaut ...

ANNO, 1682.

[year 1682.] WIth this year the Scene of War be∣gan to open, and the Turks to declare their Resolutions bent all their Forces against Hungary. Nor would t••e Malecontents maintain the Truce made by Tekeli, or be restrain'd from committing many Acts of Hostility. For thô the Ces∣sation of Arms was again confirm'd and re∣newed, yet in despight of this Treaty, and contrary to the Faith given, the Malecon∣tents seiz'd on all the Grane, which the Emperor had bought on the Frontiers of Poland, as it was carrying to the several Stores and Granaries, where it was to be lodged: And about the same time the Turks took many Carts laden with Soldiers Coats, as they were carrying to the Im∣perial Army. Howsoever, Tekeli pretended to keep and conserve the Faith and Pro∣mises which he had given; and during that Vacation made a Journey to Buda with a Guard of 3000 Men, where he was recei∣ved by the Pasha of that Place, at the Head of his Ianisaries, and conducted with great Magnificence and State to the Palace; where the Pasha took off Tekeli's Cap, and placed on his Head another after the Tur∣kish fashion richly Embroider'd, and beset with Precious Stones and Herons Feathers, which some call a Diadem; and say, that with that Ceremony he was by the Turks

created King of Hungary. Howsoever it was so carried, that the Emperor under∣stood it not in that manner, or at least would not so interpret it; for at the same time he received a Messenger from Tekeli, who came to desire his Majesty's consent, that he might take the Widow of Prince Ragotski to Wife; to which the Emperor readily assented, knowing that the Marri∣age would succeed in case he refused, and so making a Virtue of necessity, he hoped by such a Gracious condescention, to re∣gain the Heart of Tekeli, unless it were become obdurate beyond all possibility of being won, either by Generosity or Com∣pulsion. Having thus gain'd the Emperor's Assent, he speedily made a Journey to Mongatz, where he consummated the Mar∣riage with the Princess with great Joy and Solemnity, and took Possession of all the Towns, and Castles belonging to that Lady.

She was bred up by her Mother in the Roman Catholick Religion, but her Hus∣band converted her, and made her a Pro∣testant. During the Life of her Mother she was restrain'd from this Marriage, but after her Death, she became an admirer of Tekeli's Bravery, [year 1682.] and yielded to the Ambition and Flatteries of being a Queen, which was whisper'd to her by her Hus∣band; who told her, that the Cap which the Pasha of Buda had put upon his Head, was no other than a Diadem after the Cu∣stom and Fashion of the Turks. The Em∣peror, who was a Stranger to these Mat∣ters, believing that some use might be made of this Alliance, whereby to gain the Mind of Tekeli, employ'd Count Serini to his Sister the Princess, to compass this Design; but so far was Serini from an∣swering the expectations of his Imperial Majesty, that he enter'd into the Combi∣nation and Conspiracy with Tekeli him∣self.

About the beginning of the Month of Iuly, [year 1682.] Count Albert Caprara, Brother of General Caprara, who resided for the Empe∣ror at Constantinople, advised, That at length he had been admitted unto Audience with the Grand Vizier, who declar'd, That he would neither continue the Truce longer, nor yet renew it, but on these following Conditions.

That Hungary should be restor'd unto the Condition, in which it was in the year 1655.

That the Kingdom should pay the An∣nual Tribute of Fifty thousand Florins every Year unto the Grand Seignior.

That the Fortifications of Leopolstadt, and Gratz should be demolished.

That Neutra, Schultz and Eckof, with the Island of Schultz neer Presburg, and the Fortress of Muran be deliver'd, and sur∣rendred up into the Hands of Count Tekeli.

That a Ge••••••al Pardon be given to the Maleconten••••, and that they be restor'd to their Goods and Estates, and to all their Privileges and Immunities, in such manner as if none of these Wars or Disturbances had happen'd. But these Conditions were so hard, and shameful to be imposed on any but a conquer'd People, that it was adjudg∣ed by the Emperor's Council, that an ho∣nourable War, was much rather to be pre∣ferr'd, before such an Ignominious and Scandalous Peace.

The time for the Cessation of Arms be∣ing expir'd, to which the Malecontents had yielded only to gain time, whilest the Turks were preparing their formidable Army, Tekeli surpriz'd the Castle of Zat∣mar, and put all the Garrison consisting of Eighty Men, to the Sword; and turning afterwards his Cannon on the City, it was Surrender'd to him at Discretion. Thence he Marched to Cassovia, and laid Siege to it, and at the same time the Transilvanians and Moldavians joyning with the Pasha of Buda, laid Siege to Filek. Whilest Tekeli lay before Cassovia, he received a Recruit of Fourteen thousand Men, which were supply'd to him by his Wife the Princess, out of those Troops which were levied in her own Country; and the Pasha of Agria came with Four thousand Horse more to his assistance. The Town was notwith∣standing bravely defended for several days by Lieutenant Colonel Lamb; but being out of hopes of all Succours it Surrender'd at Discretion: Many of the Garrison revol∣ted to the Malecontents; but Four hundred of them endeavouring to Retire, and ha∣ving given no intimation of a Mine, which afterwards was Sprang with great loss and hurt of the Besiegers, they were all put to the Sword: The Governour was made a Prisoner of War, and the Inhabitants to save themselves from Pillage and Plunder, paid the Sum of 50.000 Crowns. The Inhabitants of Esperies being affrighted at the misfortune o•• Cassovia, Surrender'd it self on Conditions without striking one Stroak; the German Garrison being Two hundred in all, were permitted to March out with their Baggage, and had a safe Conduct as far, as to the Frontiers of Poland, and from thence License to March into Silesia, nor were the Priests and Ro∣man Catholicks permitted to remain in the City. After which, Tekeli by advice of the Pasha of Buda demolished the whole Town, not being obliged to maintain a Garrison for it's defence. In the mean time the Pasha of Waradin laid Siege to Filek, and took it in

despight of Strazoldo, who left the Villa∣g••s of the Mountains, and marched with Three thousand Horse and Four thousand Foot for its Relief; as also to the same end, Count Caprara passed the River Waagh with Six thousand Men, whilest Count S••aremberg defended the Passage with Four or Five thousand Men, and the Pala∣tine Esterhasi was coming on the other side with Six thousand Men more; yet notwithstanding the Art and Bravery of so many Generals, the Town was taken in th••ir own Sight, as if they had only come with design to be Spectators of the Suc∣cess, and Victory of their Enemies. The Hungarian Souldiers, who were in the Gar∣ri••on took part with the Turks; but the Ger∣mans were made Prisoners of War, and all the Women and Children were carried away Captives, and the place it self was razed and demolished. Leventz and Neutra fol∣lowed the like Example, and Surrender'd to the Turks; of all which Acts of Hostility, when Complaints were made by the Em∣peror to the Pasha of Buda, no other Answer was return'd, Than that those Acti∣ons were not to be esteemed as Breaches of the Truce, in regard they were only made in pursuit of Thieves and Robbers who had Infested the Countries, and took Refuge and Sanctuary in those Cities.

[year 1682.] After these Successes, Tekeli made In∣cursions into the County of Seposo, where he Plunder'd and Burnt Sobora and Saftzin, Towns belonging to Prince Lubomiski Great Marshal of Poland; which was the Cause (as we shall afterwards understand) why Six thousand Polish Horse joyn'd them∣selves to General Schultz, under the Com∣mand and Conduct of that Prince

Notes

• The Male∣contents and Turks intercept the Corn and Sol∣diers Cloths belonging to the Em∣peror's Army.
• Tekeli re∣ceived at Buda.
• The Em∣peror as∣sents to the Marriage of Tekeli with the Princess Ragotski.
• Their Mar∣riage.
• The Turks offer Con∣ditions shameful for the Emp••ror.
• Success••s ••f T••keli at Za••m••r.
• Cassov••a and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and tak••n
• Esperies yield s.
• And is d••∣m••lished.