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Which comprehends what has happen∣ed from the Year 1688, until the Year 1691.
THe Affairs of the Ottoman Empire being in a very great disorder, and the new Sultan, no more than his Vizier, not knowing how to be∣take himself to hinder the Germans from making new Conquests in Hungary, the Divan thought it was necessary to know the opinion of the Bassa's, who
were not able to come to Constantinople, and to send, in the same time, for all the Officers of experience that were in the extend of that Empire. Orders were sent to Teckely too, to repair thither, that they might hear of him, what he thought the most effectual Method to carry on the War in Hungary. Altho' there was a great deal of danger for him to obey that Order, because it might happen that the Turks being irritated a∣gainst them that had engaged them in that War, would revenge themselves upon him for the losses they had made; nevertheless he took the resolution to go, to represent to his Highness more strongly than he could do by Letters, what it behoved them to do in a con∣juncture of such a consequence.
Before he set forth for his journey, he wrote to his Spouse to take patience still for a while, seeing that as soon as he would come back he would not fail to go to her Succour.
In the mean while, whatever the Princess could do, she was not able to persuade the Garrison to hold any longer; because a Month before that time it was reduced to such a want, as was capable to put the the most Constant out of Patience. Ha∣ving heard, besides, that Teckely was gone
to Constantinople, she thought him to be absolutly lost. And indeed the least fit of Inconstancy, whether in the Grand Seignior, or in the Vizier, was enough to Restroy him. Those Reasons brought the Princess and the Garrison of Mongatz to capitulate the 17th of January.
Here are the chiefest Articles, which she agreed upon with Caraffa, authorized by the Emperour: 1.
That a general Pardon should be granted to the Gar∣rison, as well as to the Inhabitants, for all that was past; and that she should carry along with her all that she had in the Place. 2. That the Princess Ragots∣ki, and the Children she had by the Prince Ragotski, should be brought to Vienna at the Emperor's charge, who should keep them, according to their Quality, and that he should let them enjoy all sort of Liberty, excepted that they could not go out of it without his leave. 3. 'That all the Goods, moveable, and immovea∣ble, that could be found belonging to them in Mongatz, and elsewhere, should be restored to them; but that that place and what belongs to it, should remain in the Emperor's hands, till they had made it appear that it had not been usurped upon the Crown of Hungary. 4. 'That the Princess should enjoy all
the Benefits she had received of Prince Ragotski, when he espoused her, unless the Emperour thought convenient to give her an equal Value, and that she could take all that belonged to her in particular in Mongatz; but that all the States of her Children, and their Digni∣ties should be left to the Emperour, and that he should be their Guardian. 5. That she should be bound to restore upon Oath all that belonged to Count Teckely, and them who were still with him. 6. That the Emperour should take care to have her Children brought up as he would think the most convenient. 7. That the Princess should not acquaint Teckely of the surrender of the place, nor of the Reasons why she had done it. 8. That leave should be granted her to tarry in it, till she had setled her Affairs, and the Equipage that was to carry her to Vienna should be ready.Two days after the conclusion of this Treaty the place was surrendred into the hands of the Imperialists, altho' the Princess did not go out of it presently after, for the reasons we have said already. They say she boreher ill Fortune with great Constancy, and that she hath never ex∣pressed any sign of Weakness.
In the mean while, it happened a thing
that might have served mightily to re-establish the Affairs of the Turks, and of the Malecontents, if the Turks had served themselves of the occasion, as they should have done: It was, that the Troops the Duke of Lorrain had left in Tran∣silvania, instead of observing the Treaty that had been made, committed infinite Disorders, and lived as they pleased upon free Quarters, by reason they were not paid, according to their ancient Custom. It may be too that the Imperial Court was not sorry that its Troops would re∣venge it self, because Abaffi had assisted the Malecontents during many years; and in∣deed he deserved as much, for having done too little since he sided with that Party, and too much to be regarded as a Friend by the Emperour. The Tran∣silvanians sent to Vienna to complain of the Ravages the Imperial Troops com∣mitted in their Country, and to represent, that if the Treaty was not kept by the Em∣perour's Party; it would not be observ∣ed neither by themselves. Upon those Complaints, Caraffa received order to go into Transilvania, where instead of satisfying the Transilvanians by a good Discipline, he complained by turns, as if they had failed to execute several Ar∣ticles of the Treaty. Thus the Transil∣vanians
found themselves more grieved by that General's coming than they were before. And yet to show that he was willing to give them some Satisfaction, he offered to ease them in removing those Soldiers Quarters, provided they would pay some certain Sum of Money to the Emperour; but that Sum was so ex∣cessive that it was impossible it could be found in Transilvania.
A little while after the Grand Seig∣nour sent a Chioux to Abaffi, to solicite him to brake the Treaty he had made with the Emperour, upon the Word he gave him to succour him the next Cam∣paign. But because all these were but words, and that the ill Success of the Campaigns that were past, gave little hopes to see the Effects of it, Abafti had rather carry himself discreetly, and keep fair with the Court of Vienna, who was able to punish him for his Inconstancy. Nevertheless, the carriage of the Ger∣man Army was such that it hindered the Hospodar of Walaenia, sollicited by the Emperour to side with him openly, from falling into that Snare.
Teckely, who was in his way for Con∣stantinople, did not go very far, thinking that his Remoteness would cast all them that remained still his Friends into a De∣spair,
and that after the taking of Mon∣gatz his Presence was absolutely necessa∣ry: When therefore he had joyned his Troops, it wanted very little but he had been surprized hard by Waradin by Ge∣neral Heusler, who set upon him unpre∣pared: but having retired himself sud∣denly to Giula with his Horse, he avoid∣ed the Danger, and his Foot was whol∣ly defeated. Some of his Enemies that were then at the Port, made their En∣deavours, at that time, to ruine him by reason of his Absence; going about to perswade, That in betraying the Inte∣rest of the Grand Seignour, he durst not come up to Constantinople, after having given his word that he would come. But those Accusations appeared so ill grounded, and those who were acquain∣ted with the condition Hungary was then in, knew so evidently the contrary, that they had no effect at all. On the con∣trary, the Sultan sent to him to assure him of his Protection, and to confirm upon him the Title of Prince of Hungary, which Mahomet the Fourth had given him: he presented him in the same time with a Semiter inriched with precious Stones, and exhorted him to make use of it against his Enemies, with the same Faithfulness he had done till then. Not∣withstanding
there was a Report that he had been strangled by the order of the Port; and to undeceive them who be∣friended him still, he caused this Mani∣festo to be published:
Count Teckely's Declaration published in March 1688.
YE People of Hungary, it is long a∣go since your Enemies and mine have published my Death; and neverthe∣less I am alive still, God be thanked, to defend your oppressed Liberty. I know it is to your sorrow, that you follow for the present the Standards of the House of Austria; it is too long ago since you know it, to trust yourselves to it: And what has lately hapned in the pretended Election of a King of Hungary, makes you know plainly how much both your Lives and your Fortunes would be in a Danger, if you were compelled to obey him: Ye are forced to dissemble, because the conjuncture ye are in will have it so; but I know your hearts as I know mine, I know ye have an horrour for all that ye do, and that they hate them that are a preparing their Chains, although they be bound to bear them, by reason of the Charges they enjoy in the Kingdom.
Is it not a shameful thing, for Count Esterhasi, to have made a private suit for the Dignity of Count of the Empire, as if that of Palatine of Hungary was not without comparison much above it? Is that the Reward of all the base Trea∣sons he has been guilty of against you? And is it possible that a Man who has the Honour to be in my Alliance, would disgrace me and all the Nati∣on? I had rather see my State and my Goods in the hands of my Enemies, than to enjoy them at that rate: What Proffers have they not made me to for∣sake you? Do they not do the same still every day, if I were willing to accept them? But if God has resolved that I should be Vnfortunate, it is not possible I should be Guilty; and rather than be∣tray you, I would expose myself: I drew the Sword for you, as soon as I was able to weild it; and I have undergone a thousand Dangers in your Service: I have contemned Swords and Poison, and I am still exposed every day to both by my Constancy to you. But I prefer a glorious Death to shameful Life, being perswaded that ye will always confess that I deserve a better Fortune.
But 'tis not time yet to be out of Hopes, ye know that I am under the Protection of a powerful Empire, and that it is ready still to receive you under its Protection: If it has met with some Crosses of Fortune, it is not in a dan∣ger for all that to be overthrown; if it had lost all that it holds in Europe, which it is very far off, yet of it remains still two Parts of the World wherein it com∣mands. It had not so much of Strenght when it Overthrew the Empire of the East, and that of the West doth not come near to its Power. It is not time then yet to say, as they do every day, That there is wanting but a little Strength to run it quite down. Your Enemies and mine are perswaded of it in the bot∣tom of their Hearts: That is the only reason why they moderate still the Pas∣sion they are in, to spill to the very last drop of our Bloud. Do you not remem∣ber that they have shed, without having been provoked, in so many Rencounters, and how they have put the Arms in the Executioners hands when theirs were weary of using them? Is there any one amongst you, that may boast himself, that he has not lost a Brother, or a Ne∣phew, or a Kinsman, or a Friend in that great Effusion of Bloud that has been
newly made by General Caraffa? What is, has been the Success of your Com∣plaints, although ye have clearly proved, that he did nothing else than to rob the Fatherless, and Motherless, and Wi∣dow. They have made as if they had sent some Orders that the strict Forms of Proceedings in Law should be obser∣ved: but ye have seen whether they have been performed. Since he had received them, we may reckon, you and I, above two hundred Persons he has condemned by his own Authority; and to whom he has answered uncivilly, when they have begged leave to justifie themselves, That their Tryals would be performed after they had been executed. How long will ye bear, ye brave Hun∣garians, their Triumph over your Inno∣cency? If you be designed to perish, is it not better to do it having your Arms in your hands, than to be put to death by an infamous Hang-man? Make some Endeavours to get out of the shameful Slavery wherein you are, seeing you want nothing else but the Will to do it: The Power of your Enemies is not so great as you think. How can it be, since I scorn it? And if you had helped me with all your Forces, what condition should we have been in? Do not tarry till ye be
weaker than ye are now. They do not endeavour to weaken you, but to render you absolutely uncapable of shaking off the tyrannical Yoak which they are a pre∣paring for you so many Years since. Soliman, now Emperor of the Turks, offers you his Hand to draw you out of Oppression. A Prince of his Name has been formerly the Terrour of those you are dreading now-a-days; and although we must not give credit to Prophesies which come from thence, I cannot for∣bear from telling you, that the Turks are a divulging, they have one, accord∣ing to which their Empire almost over∣thrown, is to become more flourishing than ever, under a Prince of that Name. Do but joyn with me, that it might be found true, since your Safety as well as mine depends for ever upon our Vnion with those People: They have support∣ed us during many Years, as we have supported them by turns. We have al∣ways acted unanimously: Why should we give over a Conduct which has turn∣ed so much to our good?
What can you expect from your Ene∣mies Promises? Do but look upon the Prince of Transilvania, and you will see how they have abused his Credulity: What good doth he got for having made
a Treaty with a People that will not ob∣serve a single Article of it? But there is no need to fetch Instances from a∣broad: How many times have they bro∣ken their Word they had given you? Or to speak more proper, Is there any one amongst you, who can remember that they have kept it to him? They seek for no other thing but to engage you into a Treaty, to deceive you the better; and your Faithfulness hath not been reward∣ed but by the blackest Treachery. They endeavour to make you fall into the Snare, under the specious names of Am∣nisty and of Peace. I require no more from you, but that you would make some Reflections upon it; and I am confi∣dent that afterwards you will become wi∣ser. That, if all that I have said be not capable to stir your Minds, do but consi∣der at least, nothing moves me to speak as I have done, but your own Interest. I can, when I please, make mine Agree∣ment upon such Conditions, which could appear advantageous enough to a Man that would have forgotten the Care he ought to have for the Liberty of his Country: But seeing, thanks to God, I never lost the memory of it, since I came to the Age of Knowledge, I will re∣member
it the better now I am to re∣venge so many of my brave Countrymen: Ye should, as well as I, hear their Voices which intreat us, not to bear without Revenge the wrongful shedding of their Blood. Believe me, do not def∣fer a thing so necessary for the Security of yourselves, seeing this Impunity in∣creases the Presumption of your Ene∣mies, their Punishment on the contrary will render them more cautions in un∣dertaking any thing against you.
Those Reasons had very little success, they not being backed by any Army cap∣able to give a Shelter to the Hungarians, who had declared themselves for Tecke∣ly. Those that favoured him privately, were informed by this Declaration that the Turks had not put him to death; but they were not in a capacity to help him otherways than with their Wishes and Prayers. Thus he tarried a long while about Giula without undertaking any thing. It is reported, that the Turks fearing that he being weary at last of so many Crosses of Fortune, he would re∣concile himself to the Emperour, got him to be watched so near, that he could do nothing but they were acquainted with it. Some great Disorders happen∣ed
a little while after at the Port, where the Chiaoux made a new Vizier, who had brought up Soliman upon the Throne, was treacherously murthered by the Seditious, and the Grand Seig∣nior himself was in a eminent danger of being Deposed. He could not get off but by appeasing the mutiny'd Troops with a great deal of Money, and cau∣sing some of the hottest to be strangled: He created Vizier Ismal Bacha in the room of the Chiaoux, and published eve∣ry-where, that he would go into Hun∣gary at the head of the Armies, or at least to Adrianople, to be nearer to them, and readier to send them the necessary Or∣ders. It was ordered in the mean while, that all the Preparations should be got ready against the next Campaigne.
The first thing they did to the Prin∣cess Ragotski, after her arrival at Vienna, was to take away her Children from her, and to get them to be brought up in the Romish Religion, instead of the Lutheran, wherein they had been instruct∣ed, since their Mother was married to Count Teckely. This last having had notice they had carried his Wife to Vienna, pe∣titioned for to have leave to write to her; which was denied him by the Em∣perour's Officers. Notwithstanding, be∣cause
it was a hard matter to surprize him, what measures soever they could take; they thought to have found out the means to make him away in corrupt∣ing two of his Troops Officers, who en∣gaged some Souldiers in their Conspira∣cy, and who had executed it, had it not been discovered: But they having been betrayed by some amongst them, they were all hanged, with a Bill wherein one could read these words, Traytor to his Prince, to his Religion, and Country. The Army expressed a great Joy that that Plot had been discovered; and abused the very dead Bodies of those unfor∣tunate Men. A little while after the Hungarians of St. Job's Garison, and ma∣ny of those that had been at Mongatz, came to surrender themselves to him, because, notwithstanding the Amnisty, they were used very ill at all times, and that the least Fault in them was punish∣ed by Death; they perceived there was no trusting upon the Imperialists Pro∣mises, after having been in Arms against them; and that they had forgiven them what was past, only till they could find an opportunity to destroy them. That Conduct of the Imperialists is the cause that Teckely has not been seen yet with∣out a little Body of Hungarians, become
irreconcileable to the Germans. He was then upon the Frontiers of Transilvania with eight thousand Men, and raised some considerable Contributions out of the Neighbourhood in spite of the Im∣perialists: These last would leave whol∣ly Transilvania, where Count Caraffa left four thousand Men to hinder Abafti from making a new Treaty with the Port, that sollicited him to it a long while. In the mean time he drew towards Esseck, and a little while after the Garrison of Alba-Regalis, destitute of Provisions and Succours, and without hope of getting a∣ny, perswaded the Bassa to surrender himself to some German Troops that in∣tercepted the Victuals coming to them many Months, Teckely received this news with Sorrow; and the Turks fearing lest he should retire into Poland, obliged him to take a new Oath of Fidelity, and gave him new Assurances that they would not forsake him. In the Month of June he attempted to surprize Chonod, without a∣ny success.
On the contrary, every thing seem'd to favour the Imperialists, and the Elector of Bavaria being the only Commander of the Army, during the Sickness of the Duke of Lorrain, passed the Save in Au∣gust, and took Belgrade the seventh of
the next Month, altho' they had got some Succours into it in the beginning of the Siege. True it is, that that place was not very strong, but there were in it al∣most all that remained of the good Troops the Turks had in Hungary, and the Port was very much concerned in the keeping of it. The Imperialists, having got that Town, were in a condition of plundering every where to the very Gates of Adrianople, and to render them∣selves Masters of Servia, Bosnia, and Bulgaria; because there is no other con∣siderable place in those Provinces. The Bassa of Bosnia who was a marching with some Troops to come to the Relief of Bel∣grade, not only began his march too late, but besides he was defeated by Prince Lewis of Baden who went to encounter him. The Grand Seignior, whom the Seditions had detained at Constantinople, and who was not able to send a conside∣rable Army into the Field, had sent, before he had the News of the Siege of Belgrade, some Envoys to speak of Peace with the Emperor. They arrived im∣mediately after the taking of that place, and understood by that it was still more necessary to come to some Agreement, which they did not think at Constanti∣nople. It is very probable it had been
soon concluded, if the Emperor had not made excessive Demands of the Turks, and if these last had not been so much the more incouraged as soon as they knew that Lewis the 14th, King of France, was at the end of September entered into the Territories of the Empire, and had de∣clared a War against the Emperour. That made the next Year a great Diver∣sion, but because that is a thing that be∣longs to the general History of the Em∣pire we shall not stick to it. We shall say nothing neither of the Enterprize which William Henry of Nassan, Prince of Orange, performed at the end of that Year in England, where after he had re-establish∣ed the Laws, he was made King of Great Britain. Yet we must own that made not a little to hinder the Diversion, the King of France would have made in favour of the Turks and the Malecontents of Hungary, from being so considerable. So that tho' the King of France had designed to make an happy Use of the Pretexts which the Rules of good Poli∣ticks suggested to him, to prevent the exces∣sive Greatness of the Emperor; yet he was obliged to turn the best part of his Troops against England,
and Holland, which hindered him from acting along while against the Emperor, with the Forces necessary to make him abandon Hungary.
Count Teckely having had notice be∣times, that the French Army had attack∣ed the Empire, did not fail to make it known every-where, and let the People understand how the King of France was a going to put the Emperour and the Empress into such a Confusion, that the Turks should soon have the upper-hand in Hungary, which must be quitted by the Germans, who would now be forced to defend their own Country. And he made it his endeavour to persuade the Hungarians to take hold of that oppor∣tunity, to rid themselves again of the Despotical Government of the House of Austria. But the same Reasons which hindered his Declaration from having a∣ny Success, prevented also the Effects of this Admonition. The Diversion France was capable of making, was too far off to compell the Imperialists suddenly to meet it, for they suffered Philipsbourgh, Spire, Worms, and the Palatinate to be taken, before they sent any Troops that way. They acted the rest of that Year, according to the same manner, as if Germany had enjoyed a perfect Peace.
And yet they will have us assured, that the little Army of Count Teckely was in a better case, and better paid than before, altho' the Turks did not then supply them, as 'twas reported, with any Money, which caused the People to have some suspicion, that the same Power that at∣tacked the Empire upon the Rhine, did furnish them with what they wanted, by sending their Leader secretly Bills of Exchange.
Whether it was true, or no, Teckely was a making endeavours to encourage the Hungarians, and to perswade the Transilvanians and Walaquians to joyn with the Turks, and deliver themselves from the Yoke of the Germans. The Emperor had already concluded a Treaty with the Hospodar of Walaquia, but that Treaty became fruitless by the death of this last; which gave Count Teckely some hopes to have good success on that side. It was thought the Son of the Hospodar should succeed his Father, but the States elected their Chancellor, by reason of the necessity of the present juncture of Affairs, which required an able Man for the Management of their Affairs. The Emperor having had notice of it, thought it necessary to lay hold of the wavering condition People are always in at the
beginning of a Principality; and made as if he had been willing to support the Son of the Deceased, unless the new Ho∣spodar would declare himself for him: That Prince, lest he should incur the Hatred of the Turks, in forsaking them openly, and to carry himself discreet∣ly, and keep fair with the Emperour, gave out, He was ready to enter into a. Negotiation with him; and declared he would send an Embassador to Vienna to that purpose.
In the beginning of the Year 1689, Teckely sent his Secretary to the Hospo∣dar, to congratulate his new Dignity, and to assure him, the Count would al∣ways have a great Consideration fo•• him: He told him, at the same time, i•• was not true the Turks had given thei•• word to his Master to make him Hospo∣dar, and that to give him an Evidenc•• of it, he did promise him, in the name o•• the Grand Signior, sufficient Succours if he would declare himself for the Port against the Emperour. The Hospoda•• used Teckely's Envoy very well, but h•• would do nothing, which could mak•• the Imperialists to turn their Arms a¦gainst him. About the same time th•• Count wrote a Letter to the Gran••
Vizier at Constantinople, which, they thought convenient to publish through∣out the Town, whereof they sent Co∣pies into several parts of the Ottoman Empire; because it was very sit to raise the Peoples courage, that after the ta∣king of Belgrade, presently expected to see the Imperialists before Constantinople. That Letter gave notice that if his High∣ness was willing to do what he could in Hungary, the People being as dissatisfied with the Germans, as they ever were, they would not fail to rebel again: That the Hospodar of Walaquia would fall out with the Emperor, and would remain faithful to the Port: That Abaffi was in the same disposition, and would for certain declare himself openly, as soon, as he could do it with Security; that the King of France having passed the Rhine, with prodigious Forces, much better commanded and provided of all things than those of the Germans; he had taken there already several Places, and whole Provinces, and that neither the Emperor, nor the Empire were in a capacity to act in Hungary with the same Vigor as before: That it was at last the best opportunity the Turks could find to retreive their Affairs in that Kingdom. That the lat∣ter had such success in the Army, which
could scarce dispose itself to march into Hungary, thinking it no less then certain death, by reason of the losses the Turk sustained since the beginning of the War.
In the mean while Mauro Cordato, first Interpreter and Effendi, whom the Port had sent to the Emperor, and who had not been willing to open themselves to any Body but himself, offered to leave him the Conquests he had made in Hungary, if he would conclude a Peace. But they laughed at that Proposal, because the Turks offered only what they must lose; they pretended they should quit to the Emperor all that they kept still in Hun∣gary, and they should go out of Bosnia, Servia and Slavonia, demanding besides some great Sums of Money, those Pro∣vinces being not capable, said they, to make amends for the charges of the War. All the Offers of the Turks seemed too small matter to the Victorious Imperia∣lists, the Demands of the Imperialists were looked upon by the Port to be excessive, so that that Embassy was quite in vain; the Envoys having had no other order than to propose the yielding up of what the Emperor had gotten, nor having re∣ceived any since, so that after having kept some Years, strictly enough, they
have been forced to let them go.
The Grand Vizier not perceiving any Success of the Embassy, went about to prepare himself for the War, and got the most, he could, of the Troops out of Asia. The Grand Seignior was much streightned for want of Money, and they did not know how to raise some speedily, because they durst not gather the Taxes with too much violence, least new Sedi∣tions should arise, which they had been too much used to, since the Elevation of Soliman upon the Throne. That is the fate of the Despotical Empire, they are not to lay heavy Burdens upon their Sub∣jects, tho' for the necessary Succours they want, after having charged them without Necessity: As there is no other Justice, than the Will of the Soveraign, which is as unconstant as his Passions, there is no Obedience neither amongst the Subjects, but as much as they can be brought to it by Force, which cannot be always equal.
In the mean while the Greatness of the Ottoman Empire afforded them ne∣vertheless many Helps, and the Vizier was soon in a readiness to send fifty thou∣sand Men into Hungary; whereof he sent some part towards Adrianople in the Spring. The Imperialists on their side had
begun, in the middle of the Winter, to block up Themiswear, which they intend∣ed to besiege the next Campagne. Tec∣kely acquainted the Turks with it, and let them understand, that if they would send him some Succours, he would not only throw it into Themiswear, but also seize upon one part of Transilvania, which was weary of the Imperialists, and who would be glad to lay hold on that Opportunity to declare themselves against them. He kept always some Correspondency in Hungary, and Let∣ters with Cyphers were intercepted, written to some of his Friends; which made the People have a suspicion that there was a Design under hand, but it could not be discovered. It happened in the same time, that is to say, in April, that some Houses were set on fire at O∣nod, and some other Towns of Hungary and Transilvania, which was laid upon the Emissaries of the Malecontents, al∣though they could not prove it.
The Turks sent some Succours to Tec∣kely, who endeavoured to lead them to Themiswear; but having been wounded as he was forcing a Passage, he was for∣ced to go back towards Walaquia, ex∣specting the Turkish Army, which was meeting together at Sophia in Bulgaria,
That caused the Imperialists to apply themselves about fortifying Belgrade, as well as it could possibly, seeing the Con∣fusion and the Charges occasioned by the War the Emperour had upon the Rhine, did put him in; because the Turks are very bad Inginiers, they thought indiffe∣rent Fortifications, or rather some Repa∣rations in the old ones would serve to defend the Place; which has been the cause it has been lost since. They block∣ing up Cavis a long while since, which being very remote from the Frontiers of the subdued Countries, suffered much for Want, without being willing to sur∣render. They betook themselves too to block up Great Waradin, and they began by plundering and spoiling the Country round about the place, to hinder the Garrison from having any means to sub∣sist. They expected to attaque, by that means, three Places at once, the two Towns we have already spoken of, and that of Themiswear, because the Turks, being a great way off, could not carry Victuals thither, but with great difficul∣ty, chiefly to Canisa, which was the re∣motest of all; but they could not hin∣der some Convoys from getting at se∣veral times into Themiswear and Waradin.
Prince Lewis of Baden went to Bel∣grade
to command a little Body of an Ar∣my which was there, with an intent to observe the Turks March, and to watch the opportunities to do them some Dam∣age. The Imperial Troops being so divided, those that were about Waradin did not find themselves strong enough to keep the Garrison within the Place; for after having repelled it back twice with great difficulty, they were wholly defeated at the third Sally, and their Commander made a Prisoner; five or six hundred of them remained dead up∣on the Spot, the rest betook themselves to their Heels. Teckely did the best he could, on his side, to raise the Blockade of Themiswear, which felt already great Incommodities, for not having been pro∣vided with Victuals. But because he had been necessitated to pass the Danube, and to retire into Servia, lest he should be surrounded with the Imperial Troops which were on the other side of the Da∣nube, it was a hard matter to come over it again: The Imperialists had garrison∣ed all the little Places which are along the River, to hinder the Communicati∣on the Turks of Hungary had with those of Servia. Teckely set upon one of those Towns called Novigrad, upon the Fron∣tiers of Bulgaria, and made the Garri∣son
of it Prisoners of War. After the taking of that place, three thousand Wa∣laquians came to him, in spite of General Heuster, who lay upon the Frontiers of Walaquia with a Body of Troops to oppose to the Designs of the Count. The Walaquians feared extreamly, least the Imperialists should enter into their Territories, as they had done into those of the Transilvanians, and use them as they pleas'd; but they committed the same fault as the last had done, that is, that instead of acting openly for the Turks, and making all their Endeavours to support that wa∣vering Party, they did but help them under-hand; a Conduct that did but ir∣ritate the Emperour, but not hinder him from quartering his Troops amongst them. The Moldavians did also the same, and found themselves at last expo∣sed to the same Troubles, altho' a little less by reason of their being afar off.
In the mean while Prince Lewis of Baden was advanced, in July, as far as the River Morave, to observe the Turk∣ish Army's March; having had notice, that that Army was stronger than his, which consisted not of full thirty thou∣sand Men, that the Turks was fifty thou∣sand, he returned the same way; and to increase his Army, he got the Fortifica∣tions
of many little Towns to be level∣led to the Ground, along the Danube, and took out of them the Troops that were in Garrison therein. The Turks having seen the Christian Army return towards Belgrade, passed the River Mo∣rave to follow it; but having had notice they had received some Reinforcement from Transilvania, went back again over the River, and retired themselves to∣wards Nissa, where they intrenched themselves. Prince Lewis of Baden fall∣ed not to follow them, but there fell such a quaintity of Rain, that it was impossible to overcome the difficulty of the Ways; and the Provisions having begun to grow scarce, they were for∣ced to return back towards the Bridges they had laid over the Morave, hard by Passarowis: The Army arrived there at the end of August, and was soon follow∣ed by that of the Turks, who believed the Christians did fly from them a se∣cond time: The Infidels made a great Detachment of their Cavalry, support∣ed by some Janisaries, to disturb the March of the Christian Army, and en∣deavour to intercept the Convoys, which would come from Semandria, where the Magazines of the Christians were. But that Detachment was defeated the 29 of
August, and betook it self to flight, after having lost five or six hundred Men. The next day the Christian Ar∣my advanced to that of the Turks, who expected them, being regularly drawn in Battalia beyond a Wood.
The Christians had crossed the Wood, and their Infantry was drawn up in Bat∣tel-array in the Plain beyond it, under the favour of a Mist, when the Wea∣ther clearing up, made the Turks per∣ceive the Fault they had committed, in letting almost all the Enemy's Army to pass without having made any Oppositi∣on: Upon which they came forward to charge it with much Fury, but having been received with great Valour, they gave back; and the Christian Army ha∣ving advanced accordingly, the Horse had room enough to inlarge their Wings, and to assault the Infidels: Presently they gave way every-where, and they had been cut into pieces, if the Ground had not been incumbered with Woods and Entrenchments, beyond which the Turks did rally, and which were to be forced one after another. Having been repelled thus, they retired into their Camp, where it was thought they would hold out; but they were so much af∣frighted, that as soon as they perceived
some Imperial Regiments appear, they left it, with all their Cannon and Am∣munition, and also the best part of their Baggage. The Christian Army went to encamp itself in it, and found therein almost a hundred Pieces of Cannon, and much Ammunitions for War, of which they were in great want. Those of the Turks were commanded by a Serasquier, a Title which signifies a General in the Turkish Language, and which doth not belong to any Dignity of the Court; it was composed of some disciplined Souldiers of Europe and Asia, but chiefly of new raised Troops, uncapable to stand against Veteran Souldiers, as were the Imperialists: however, the Turks su∣stained not altogether so great Losses, because their Troops did not persist ob∣stinately to defend the Posts committed to their Guard, but did flie before they were pursued too close.
During the Christians and the Turks were seeking one another for fighting, Count Teckely seized upon Otsowa upon the Danube, towards Transilvania, aban∣doned by the Imperialists, to try whe∣ther he could throw some Succours into Themiswear: But having had order from the Vizier to march towards Nissa, to reinforce the Turkish Army, he gave o∣ver
that Design. He was not for all that in the Defeat, the Orders he recei∣ved coming too late, or not having made hast enough. Whether it was through Prudence or Chance, he had not been yet in any great Army of the Turks, when they had been resolved to fight: however, such were his Circumstances as render'd it his best Policy to avoid it, as every ways dangerous for him, because being engaged to venture himself upon such an occasion, to encourage the Turks by his Example, and to get their Esteem; it might have unluckily happened that he had been taken by the Imperialists, for want of not being constantly and sufficiently sustained and supported by the Turks. On the contrary, if he had mannaged himself, the Turk would have believed, that he did not rely upon them; therefore they had accused him of Cowardize or Treachery, according to the Success of the Fight. Thus it was more safe for him to shun the Occasions, where there was every way so great Danger.
The Imperial Army having tarried some days in the Turkish Camp, to rest themselves, they thought it convenient to send back one part of it, for fear lest they should want Victuals, and to
march with the other towards Nissa; in hopes to prevail there if possible, thro' the Consternation the Turks were in, before they had time to recollect them∣selves. The Prince of Baden marched at the head of sixteen thousand Men to∣ward Nissa, as speedily as he could: He came thither the 23d of September, and found the Enemy well entrenched before the Place. He disposed the Army in order to fight, although the Enemy was stronger by half, but they never went out of their Lines. The next day the Imperial Army marched to look for some weak side, and to assault the Enemy that way: it went along their Camp, during some hours, without discovering any place whereby they could set upon them; but at last they found one side covered by a Hill, which was not entrenched, and it was resolved to attack them that way. The Turks perceiving the Reso∣lution of the Christians, posted upon the top of it a body of Janisaries, and began to entrench themselves. The Christian Army commanded some Regiments to ad∣vance, to remove the Janisaries; and the Turks sent some Spahees to attack the Christians in the Flanck, during that En∣counter; but the Christian Horses pre∣sently advanced to receive the Spahees,
and repelled them easily enough. The Janisaries made a greater Resistance, but at last the Imperialists made them run, and carried some Cannon upon the ri∣sing Ground, whence they began to play upon the Turkish Camp; the Spahees came to the Charge again, and the Jani∣saries stood firm a little way off; but the Spahees having been broken, betook themselves to the flight in earnest, with∣out minding of turning back; the Jani∣saries fired once upon them to force them to turn back, which increased their Disorder: So that the Serasquier seeing there was no way for the rallying of his Troops, scared by the loss of two Fights, thought it was high time to fly away: the Night, and Weariness of the Impe∣rialists, who had been in Arms since the Morning, made their Retreat the more easie, and hindered them from being pursued. The Christian Army spent that night in the Turks Camp, where it had time and the means to refresh itself with the Provisions it found in it. The next day it entered Nissa without distur∣bance, the Town not being fortified. Three thousand Horse were presently detached, to march towards Sophia, whe∣ther the Serasquier was fled: They came again some days after, and upon the Re∣port
they brought concerning the Turks Consternation, and the Goodness of the Country, it was resolved to leave one part of the Army at Nissa, to spend there the Winter, and fortifie in some manner that place. During the time the Prince of Baden was at Nissa, the Serasquier sent him Mustapha Aga, to beseech him to give a Pass-port and a Convoy to go to Vienna, and joyn the other Embassa∣dors of the Port. The Prince granted him what he petitioned for, but that new Envoy had no new Proposals to make: they acquainted him, it may be, with the Diversion of France, least they should conclude any thing.
Teckely having heard of the Defeat of the Turkish Army at Nissa, while he was in his March, took his way towards Si∣lestria; thence he went to Sophia, where the Grand Vizier was, and got thither the 19th of October, follow'd with a mat∣ter of a hundred Persons, after having left the Troops he commanded, which were encamped some Miles off of the Town. The Vizier welcomed him ve∣ry well, and presented him with a mag∣nificent Vest, and some gallant Horses: he certified him the Grand Seignior was extreamly well satisfied with his Con∣duct; exhorted him to continue to act
with Vigor against the common Enemy, and assured him of the Protection of the Port. The Count had many Discourses with the Vizier, and the other Turkish Officers, to consider what might be done to stop the Imperialists Progress: While they were a consulting together, they had notice that the Prince of Baden had taken his March from Nissa towards the Danube, where he made himself Master of Widden, a place of moment to pass in∣to Walaquia, where he had a mind to give his Troops Winter-quarters: he was arrived before that Place the 14th of October, had beaten two Bassa's encamp∣ed thereabout, and reduced it to surren∣der four days after, although he had but four Field-pieces, the great Cannon not being come from Semandria. The Vi∣zier, very sorry for this News, ordered Teckely to go to Nicopoli, to prevent the Designs they might have upon that Place, and to endeavour to retake Widden, if it was possible.
In the mean time General Picolomini, who had tarried at Nissa with some part of the Army, made some Incursions in the neighbouring Countries: but re∣turning to Nissa, he died of a Cholick at Pristina, leaving the command of the Army to the Duke of Holstein, till the
Emperour had named a new Comman∣der. The Duke of Holstein beat again several times the Turks in Servia; but the Advantages and Progress of the Im∣perialists carried every day, having ren∣dered them too bold, their Carreer and Progress was chect by a considerable Loss that befel them:
Not having had notice that a Body of ten thousand Tartars, delivered at last of the fear they were in of the Poland∣ers, who had resolved to keep them∣selves upon the defensive, had pass'd the Danube, and joyned the Turks, they con∣tinued their March without fear, whi∣ther they speeded to find some Booty or Enemies. One day, that five Regiments were advancing with speed to surpize a Body of Turkish Troops, they found themselves surrounded by the Infidels, four times stronger than they were, and were all cut off, very few scaping to car∣ry the news of that Defeat.
Prince Charles of Hanover perish'd a∣mongst many other Persons of note, in spight of a vigorous Resistance, not ha∣ving been willing to accept any Quar∣ter.
This engaged the Duke of Holstein to look about himself more carefully than before; and the General Veteranie, who
came to Command in the Room of Pico∣lomini, retired all his Troops to Nissa; least in leaving them divided, the Tar∣tars should surprize them, as they had lately done the four or five Thousand Men, whom they had cut in Pieces.
The Prince of Baden, after having left a Garrison in Widden, to have always a free Passage over the Danube, passed that River to enter into Walaquia, and sent to the Hospodar, he was a coming to leave there Six Regiments in Winter Quarters, to secure his Country against the Tartars. The Hospodar and the States fearing equally, offered the Im∣perialists a considerable Sum of Money, to free themselves from Lodging those Troops, and represented also that, Six Regiments quartered amongst them were capable indeed to draw upon themselves the Tartars, but not to stand against those Infidels. For that Reasons sake they intreated them to give them more; but at last they come again to the Num∣ber of Six, and engaged themselves to entertain them, and to remount those of the Horse-men, who had lost their Horses. The Prince charged those Troops to Build some Forts in the Pla∣ces, from whence they feared the Tar∣tars should come; and conveyed the rest
of his Troops into Transilvania, after he took his way to Vienna.
Altho' the Tartars had not obtained a great advantage upon the Imperialists, and that in going on at that Rate, there was great hopes for the Turks to re∣cover what they had lost; the Grand Vizier and the Caimacan were both Ar∣rested, and Strangled, as having ill Ma∣naged the Affairs of their Master. Cuperli Ogli, Bassa of Chio, was made Grand Vizier, and another Bassa of the same name got the Caimacan's place. After that they sent a Courier to Vienna, to carry a Letter to the Emperor, and new Instructions to the Envoys that were there.
That Courier Arrived in the begin∣ning of the Year 1690, and presented to the Emperor the Grand Seiginor's Let∣ter, which contained only some General Propositions concerning the Peace. It was thought the Envoys knew something more, and because they demanded eager∣ly to know the Emperors Pretentions, that they might acquaint their Master with them, they received these Condi∣tions in Writing:
They disposed themselves in the mean while at Vienna, to carry on the War, as Vigorously as they could, and amongst several Opinions Startled up, two, they say, were the Chief: The first was to Continue in sending a Great Body of Troops into Servia, to Act there against the Turks, and carry further the Con∣quests they had made, and to Fortifie. Nissa. The other Advice was to leave those new Conquests, and to Exaust Ser∣via wholly, to apply themselves to For∣tifie Belgrade, which was not done. All that wanted to be done, according to the Opinion of those that proposed this Second Advice, was to Reduce Giula, Themiswear, and Great Waradin, to be quite Masters of Hungary, and keep them∣selves afterwards upon the Defensive.
Those, who were for the first Opinion, represented that it would be a shameful thing, and that it would express a great weakness, to quit what had been Con∣quered: That that Conduct would not fail to raise the Enemies Courage, and to give them some new Hopes, That in the weakness and the fear they were in, there was only need to Repel them, and that that would quite put them in Dis∣order; that so much the nearer they should approach Constantinople, so much
the more the Seditions should be more Frequent, and by Consequence the Grand Seignior should be more uncapa∣ble to gather a Powerful Army: That the Moldavians, and Walaquians, would Declare themselves for the Turks, as soon as they could perceive they were a Re∣tiring: That the places, which remain∣ed in Hungary, should fall of themselves into the Emperor's Hands, if they con∣tinued to Intercept the Provisions, and that so much the Easier, by keeping the Turkish Army farther off of the Frontiers of Hungary: That an Indifferent Army could do what they wanted, by reason that the most part of the Old Turkish Troops were dead, and that henceforth the Army could be compos'd only of Souldi∣ers newly raised by Force. They strength∣ened that Opinion with many other specious Reasons, and so much the more agreeable to them who had no Skill in Wars, that they seemed to agree with their desires, as more honourable to the Imperial Arms.
On the other side they asserted, the Turkish Forces were not so small, nor so contemptible as they thought, because, if they were helped by the Tartars, as it was probable they should be, they should be in a Case to Beat the Imperial
Armeis, whereof they were obliged to make too many Detachments, and to keep them too Remote one from the o∣ther, and that they could cut them off, if they did Fight them, one after ano∣ther, they not being able to help them∣seves reciprocally: That it was impossible to entertain an Army in Servia, because the Turks and Tartars had Ruined it, and would Ruine it still more: That if they had the worst in a Battel, as that might happen, the farther advanced they would be, the more difficult it would be to Retreat, which would put the whole Army to Flight; that they should not consider it as a small matter to reduce all Hungary into the Emperor's Hands, and to keep it so, that they should be no more in danger of loosing it; which they would be exposed to, in undertaking too much: That that very thing would keep all the Neighbourhood in its Duty, without any need of hazar∣ding any thing else. They added some other Discourses of the same nature, which aimed all to stick to the surest. But the first Opinion was esteemed best, and they did not perceive, it was main∣tained with Reasons more Specious than Solid, but after this Resolution was Em∣brac'd, there was no more time to change for the better part.
In the Month of February, the Tar∣tars, who had consumed all that they could find of Provisions in Servia, re∣passed the Danube, and went to look for some in Walaquia. The Imperialists quar∣tered there, but not finding themselves Capable to stop their Inroads, retired into the Transilvanians Territories, and gave an opportunity to the Walaquians to Reproach them; that it happened no∣thing otherwise than what they had forewarned, and that they had refused them what they had promised them. Some thought the Hospodar kept a Cor∣respondence with the Tartars, and that he had drawn them to drive away the Imperialists. However it were, by this it Manifestly appeared, that they were grasping at more than they could keep; and they were not displeased to Mortifie the Walaquians. The Tartari∣ans retired soon after, and the Imperia∣lists, who feared least the Turks should attack Nissa, or Widdin, called into Servia the Troops they had in Transilvania, to secure those Places.
Canisa, after having suffered a blockade almost without Intermission since the ta∣king of Buda, surrendred it self at last to the Emperor, for want of Victuals, as soon as they lost all the hopes of receiving any Succours.
The Surrender of that Town pleased the the Imperial Court mightily so, much the more, that they hoped Themiswear, and Waradin would follow its Example, which nevertheless did not happen, those places having been victualled many times.
A little after the surrender of Canisa, Michael Abaffi dyed at Alba-Julia, after having been a long while Sick, and dying, recommended his Children to the Em∣peror, as to the Power then most capable to support them, and get his eldest Son to succeed him in the Principality. The Turks had made him Vaivode, as you may have seen in the first Book of this History, and the Malecontents of Hungary had protected him, as it has been told in the Second, against the intrigues of the Im∣perial Court. Because he had been in the Party of both, during many Years. But the Emperor having made himself Master of all the Ʋpper Hungaria, after the raising of the Siege of Vienna, he began to keep fair with him, rather by necessity than by Inclination, for fear least he should act again for the Turks, or for the Malecontents; and to be reven∣ged for what was past, they filled Tran∣silvania with Imperial Garrisons, and the Transilvanians were not much better used than the Hungarians.
Charles the fourth Duke of Lorrain dy∣ed also, in the beginning of that Cam∣pagne, and the Imperial Court was de∣prived of a most able and zealous Ge∣neral for the House of Austria, whose Interests his Relations were bound to. The Duke of Bavaria was named to command in his room upon the Rhine, while Prince Lewis of Baden was com∣ing to take the Command of the Army in Hungary. 'Tis reported for certain that this last should excuse himself, be∣cause although he had met with such good Success in the last Campagne, his Army wanted many necessary things; so that it had been impossible to do a∣ny thing, if the Turks had used a better Conduct than they did. The Imperial Army conquered a good part of Servia, and often routed the Turks; but this was not effected without exposing them∣selves to great Hazards, and by a time∣ly laying hold of those Opportunities which the Slowness and Consternation of the Turks have long ago furnished them with. If it happened that the Turks should take better Measures, and act with more Vigour, there was cause to fear, least the Imperial Arms should not be so dreadful as before: It seemed in∣deed the Grand Vizier was a preparing
himself to do better in this Campagne, than his predecessors had done for some Years past: he was a gathering his Troops at Nicopoli in Servia, whither he had given a Rendezvous to a grand num∣ber of Saiques.
While they were expecting the o∣pening of the next Campagne, every Party named a Vaivode of Transilvania. The Emperour declared himself for the eldest Son of the deceased Abaffi; and the Grand Seignior for Teckely: for al∣though that Principality was Elective, the States have used to choose ordinari∣ly him they think to be the strongest, or the best supported, to provide in the same time for the Security of the Coun∣try, and keep to themselves a Shadow of Liberty, which they shall enjoy in Reality, when they be able to do it with Security. Abaffi had a strong Party in the Country, and got himself to be cho∣sen according to the usual Formalities, in spight of the Manifesto Teckely had sent thither, by which he declar'd he had been made Vaivode by the Grand Seignior, un∣der whose Protection Transilvania was.
He forbid the Transilvanians also to acknowledge the Emperour of Germany's Orders, o•• his Commanders, neither should they furnish them with any thing
whatsoever; ordering them to keep their Provisions for the Turks and Tar∣tars Armies, which were going to enter their own Country, to deliver them from the Germans Yoak.
A little while after, during the time the Serasquier besieged Widden, and the Vizier Nissa, Teckely appeared upon the Fronteers of Transilvania. The General Heusler, who commanded four thousand Men of the Imperial Troops, had made himself Master of the Passages, with some of the Country Millitia. Teckely who was coming from Walaquia with an Ar∣my of fifteen or sixteen thousand Men, composed of Hungarians, Turks, and Tar∣tars, besides some Transilvanians and Wa∣laquians, caused his Transilvanians to go across some Hills, whither the Horse could not pass: When he thought they were come to the place, whereby they should attack the Enemy in the Reer, he assaulted them in the Front with the main of his Army, the twenty second of August: The Transilvanian Militia, that were not concerned in the defending of the Germans, run presently away; and the Imperialists encompassed about, were almost all cut off; General Heusler him∣self fell Prisoner into Teckely's hand, who made him Prisoner of War, and used him very civilly.
That Victory of Teckely, which he ac∣quainted the Grand Vizier with, and which they took care to publish every∣where, engaged Prince Lewis of Baden to pass the Danube at Semandria, to protect Abaffi and the other Transilvanians of the Imperial Party against Teckely, who was come before Cronstadt, without being able to storm that place for want of Cannon. In the mean while Nissa, where Count Guido of Staremburgh commanded, was surrendred with himself the eighth of September, making an honourable Ca∣pitulation; and whereof the chiefest Ar∣ticles were, That the Garrison should be conducted safely to Belgrade; which was not exactly well observed. The Garri∣son of Widden surrendred itself too the twenty nineth of the same Month, and was conveyed more safely as far as Or∣sowa. The Grand Vizier, having had notice the Prince of Baden had passed the Danube, to defend Transilvania, went from Nissa streightway to Belgrade, the Breaches whereof he knew to be unre∣pared still.
In the same time Teckely did forget nothing to engage the Transilvanians to acknowledge him for Viavode, promising all sort of Advantage to them, who would declare themselves for him; and
threatning to use as Rebels those who would stand against him. Some Coun∣ties of Transilvania acknowledged him, and sent him Envoys; but the most part of the Transilvanians took the Party of Abaffi, and desired the Succours from the Emperour. The Marquess Doria, who had been made a Prisoner by the Tartars and redeemed by Teckely, went to Vienna upon the General Heusler's word, to get some Money for his Ran∣som: He carried a Letter to the Prin∣cess Ragotski from her Husband, to whom he brought soon after an Answer, wherein she expressed to have a great mind to be exchanged for General Heu∣sler a Prisoner.
The Grand Vizier marching towards Belgrade, attacked so suddenly the Pa∣lank of Semandria, that the Garrison, which had order to quit it, and ruine the place, had not the time to do it: Having taken the Resolution to defend itself, and not having taken well its Measures, it was forced the fourth day, and put to the Sword. The Turks found in it some Pieces of Cannon, and a few Ammunitions, because they had carried into Transilvania, and elsewhere, what they had before in it. The very second of Octob. he laid the Siege to Belgrade, which
he assaulted very briskly; and which the General Aspremont, who had thrown him∣self into it, defended as well as he could. The Duke of Croy entred into it a little while after with seven or eight hundred Men. But because the old Breaches were but pallisadoed, and the place ill fur∣nished with Pioneers, and Tools to work the Ground; there was no likelihood to hold out long, although they had e∣nough of other necessary Provisions. And yet one would never have thought the Turks had been able to make them∣selves Masters of it, after six days siege; but an Accident that happened, was the cause that that place fell the eighth of October into their hands, a Bomb having fallen upon a Tower where the Maga∣zine of the Powder was, which should have been in Cellars, overthrew not only that Tower with horrible. Noise and Damage, but destroyed many neigh∣bouring Houses, and set some others on fire. The Turks laying hold on the Dis∣order which that occasioned, they as∣saulted the Palisadoes with such a Fury, that they took the place, without ha∣ving made yet in it any Breach, and put to the Sword all that they met; and forced the Commander to run away o∣ver the Danube, upon some Saiques, with
seven or eight Hundred Men. They retired to Esseck, to make their endea∣vours to keep that Post, which they had not Fortifyed yet; by reason they thought the Turk would never come so far. Therefore it wanted but a little, but they had lost it some while after. The Vizier having caused some of his Troops to pass the Save, sent them that way, to attack that Place, which they expected to carry easily. But having not done it with the Vigor that was re∣quired, they had Advice, that a great many Imperal Forces were a coming to Succour it; and they say, they thought them already come, hearing the sound of the Trumpets and Kettle-drums, which by way of Amusement had been sent out of that place the Night be∣fore, with an order to return with a great Noise through the Morass Way. Upon that false Suspicion they went a∣way the 6th of November with so great a Precipitation, that they left their Cannon, and one part of their Bagage, to reach the sooner to Belgrade, whither they speeded away.
There was a report then that they had offered to make Peace with Teckely, and that they were willing to know from him, what it was he expected from the
Emperor. Some Articles too, have been published, wherein he asks not only the Principality of Transilvania, but also the restoring of all his States, and the Restauration of the Priviledges of Hungary, many places in that Kingdome, to be made a Prince of the Empire, and other things, that seems to be so unlikely, that we will say no more of it. The Prince of Baden having received all the succours he expected, advanced with an Army stronger than that of Teckely, both for the Number and Qua∣lity of the Troops, to offer him Battle; but Teckely knew how to avoid it, and chose rather to Retire upon the fron∣tiers of Moleavia, than to hazard any thing. If the Vizier had had any great skill in Warlike Affairs, he should have presently after the taking of Belgrade, followed the Prince of Baden, or march∣ed in order to joyn with Teckely, and ren∣der himself Master with him of Transil∣vania. But the Turks can, no more than some other Nations, make so good use of their advantages, as to boast them∣selves of their Victories. All that they did, was to take Lippa, and to throw some Provisions and Troops in Giula, Themiswear, and Waradin. Those Gar∣risons being increased made several in∣roads
in many places of the Ʋpper Hun∣gary, and into Transilvania also, without the Prince of Baden's Power to hinder it, who had already divided his Troops, wearied by the long Marches they had undergone, to put them into Winter Quarters, to hinder it.
All the remedy they found against it, was to gather as many Troops as they could, and to follow the Turks in their retreat; which they did happily e∣nough, seeing they killed many of those who were the slowest, and that they delivered a considerable number of Prisoners.
During the time the Turks were en∣tring into Transilvania, on the side of Hungary, Teckely entred into it too through Walaquia. They sent to meet himtthe Prince of Auguste of Hanover, Serjeant General of Battle at the Head of a Thousand Horses. That Prince having attacked Fifteen Hundred Men, who were intrenched in a passage Rashly, was wholly defeated, and himself kil∣led upon the Spot. And yet Teckely made no use of that Defeat, by reason of the hardness of the Season, which hindered him from engaging himself further into Transilvania, having heard besides the Turks were retired. He re∣turned
into Walaquia, and the Prince of Baden took his way towards Vienna.
The Young Abaffi and his Friends, supported by the Imperial Troops, be∣gan then to search out those that had declared themselves for Teckely. They used them no less roughly than they had done the Rebls in Hungary, as if the Emperor had had more right to raise Abaffi to the dignity of Vaivadoe, than the Grand Seignor had to invest Teckely with it. But it is no new thing, that the party which has the better, has the Justice and Reason on his side. The States of Transilvania followed the choyce of Vienna, and gave their con∣sent, that Abaffi should be their Prince, under the Emperor's protection. Not being come yet to age fit to govern by himself: they named a Chancellor, and a Council, composed of Transilvanians, who took upon themselves the charge of the Affairs. They promised also to the Emperor's Commissioners, to give their Master two Hundred Thousand Livers per annum in Silver, and so much in Corn, while the War should last, a Tribute much larger than that the Vaivodes of Transilvania had used to pay before to the Port.
The Turks encouraged, by the advanta∣ges of the last Campaign, made incursions during the Winter, and took several pla∣ces, round about those they had in Hun∣gary. The Imperialists on their side plun∣dered upon the Turks, and till the Cam∣paign was opened, many actions hap∣ned, whereby both Parties had by turn, the advantage and disadvantage over the other: Teckely kept in play the Troops of Transilvania, during the Winter and the Spring; and the Report that the Grand Seignor was to give him Twenty Thou∣sand Men, to enter into that Princi∣pality, caused General Veterany to ask the Emperor for some new Troops, his being extreamly fatigued. The Turks, on their side, making great pre∣parations, the Emperor gave order to Fortify Esseck, after the Strongest and the most Expeditious way they could to withstand the Infidels the better. He committed the defence of Germany to several Princes, and Towns, which en∣gaged themselves to keep an Army up∣on the Rhine. In the mean while, some new troubles, which arose at Constan∣tinope, hindered the Turks from making the necessary preparations, and stopped their design. Count Teckely, instead of having an Army sufficient to render
himself Master of Transilvania, or at least to keep his ground against the Imperialists, was reduced to the neces∣sity of making some Excursions towards Themiswear with his Malecontents, which were not many in Number.
In the month of July, the Imperial Army, being above 40000 Strong, and commanded by Prince Lewis of Baden, Marched along the Danube as far as Peter-Waradin, because it was reported that the Turks, who were made to Amount to near 60000 Men, were upon the de∣sign of passing the Save, and going to Besiege Esseck. In effect, a few days after the Christian Army arrived at Peter-Waradin, the Turks, commanded by the Grand Vizier, assisted by the councels of Count Teckely, passed the Save, and came to encamp near Semlyn, upon the Banks of the Danube. The 10th of August the Imperial Army be∣ing advanced that way, saw the Infidels in Order of Battel upon hills, which they would not descend. The Imperials encamped as near them as possibly they could, in Expectation that the Turks would not refuse them Battel, if they con∣tinued to offer it them. Notwithstand∣ing these last being resolved to hazard
nothing, and being perfectly well in∣trenched, the Prince of Baden purposed to retire, with a Design to make them aban∣don their Trenches, and to draw nearer the place, from whence his provisions were sent him, which could not be con∣veyed low enough by the Danube, upon the account of the Turkish Saicks, which covered the River. The Turks, who thought that fear made the Christians withdraw, upon the 16th of the Month attacked the Rear of the Christian Army, by some Horse, to incommode it in its March, nevertheless without en∣gaging too far. For some Days fol∣lowing the Turks continued to do the same, and by amusing after that manner the Christian Army, they passed upon its Right, and went to post themselves the 18th of August upon the Hills near the Danube, between Peter-Waradin, and the Christians, with a design to cut off their Provisions. They had not ill begun, and the Regiment of Dragoons of Buquoi, which convey'd 200 Chariots of Provisions, was entirely cut in peices as well as some other Troops, which came from Esseck, and knew not that the Christian Army was further distant from them, than the Turks.
This Action of the Vizier's was un∣doubtedly
one of the wisest, that had been performed in this War, for a long time; and if he had often happened that the Turks had used such conduct, the Imperialists had been ••ut to their utmost shifts to oppose them. The Prince of Baden, and the other Generals perceiving then what a trick the Vizier had play'd them, and seeing themselves absolutely destitute of Provisions, be∣cause the Turkish Saicks obstructed their coming by the Danube, and the Army of the Turks prevented them by Land, they resolved to hazard all to break through the Turkish Camp, since they must of necessity starve, if they stay'd any longer. If so be they had been defeated, one might have depended upon seeing the Affairs of the Ottaman Empire restored in a little time, and perhaps all Hungary fallen into their Hands; because the Emperor being in want of Money, and believing him∣self secure by his Victories, had neglect∣ed to Fortify what he had taken from the Turks, except Esseck, and some ad∣vanced places. On the other side, by routing the Enemy's Army, the ad∣rantage was but small, unless they could defeat it easily, and without loss, which they could not expect to do. In
the mean time, as there was no other way to save the Imperial Army, than by exposing it to these Risks, it march∣ed the next Day, being the 19 of August, towards the Trenches of the Turks, which were found to be much better, than had been Imagined. About three in the Afternoon, the Right Wing at∣tacked those, who regarded the Camp of the Imperialists, and the Left Wing was to make a greater compass, in order to set upon that place, which lookt to∣wards the Rhine. The Right Wing was received by the Janizaries with so much resolution, that they repulsed it a great way from its Lines, and with much los••. But the Left Wing having found the soil more commodious, broke through the Lines of the Turks, whilst their Horse, who were gone out to oppose its March, Skirmished against some Squadrons of the Christian Army. Teckely. who was at the Head of the Horse, seeing the Camp forced on one side, and disorder in the Troops, prepared himself to re∣tire. The Right Wing of the Christian Army, having followed the left, and abandoned its attack, where it found too much resistance, gave opportunity to the Janizaries, and what remained of Horse in the Camp, to get off on this
side: The approaching Night, (this Action having lasted near three Hours, the weariness of the Imperialists, their losses, and their desire of Plunder,) gave the Turks an occasion to retire, altho' the Grand Vizier had been killed.
The Imperialists, as it is said, left in this Fight above 6000 Men upon the place, and had double as many wounded, of which several died in the end. A great number of Officers remain'd there, and the Army instead of pursuing the Turks, took the road of Peter-Waradin; as the Turks retired towards Belgrade, after having lost 18000 Men of their side. This victory of the Imperialists, being none of those which they desired to obtain often, put them out of a con∣dition to undertake any thing, on this side of the Danube; and they thought only upon reposing themselves, and re-enforcing their Army by detachments out of the neighbouring Garrisons, for fear the Turks should make any attempt.
The 28th of August a party of Tar∣tars came to take away some Cattel, and some Horses from the Imperial Army, and altho' orders had been given for a speedy pursuance of them, they could overtake but some few, who were made. Prisoners. It was known to them, that
the Turkish Army was encamped near Belgrade, and that those Bassa's, who had saved themselves, kept it in good order, notwithstanding the Vizier, and the Aga of the Janizaries ••ad been kill∣ed in the Battel of Salankemen, and the Troops extreamly fatigued.
The Christian Army having remain∣ed at Peter-Waradin, till such time as it was in a condition not to be taken of a sudden, left a Garrison in it, and di∣vided it self in two Bodys, whereof one commanded by the Duke of Croy took the way of Esseck; and the other, which was conducted by the Prince of Baden, passed the Danube, in the begin∣ning of September, and marched towards Zolnock, along the River Teys. During this March, Lippa was retaken by Ge∣neral Veterani, who was ordered to for∣tify it. From Zolnock the Army march∣ed towards Great-Waradin, which the Prince of Baden view'd the 10th of October. After which the place was re∣gularly besieged, and bombarded, to try if it might be won by that means: The Turks defended themselves with much Resolution; after having disputed the Ground with the Imperialists as well as they could, they retired the twenty third into an Intrenchment pallizado'd,
which they had made round the Citta∣del. The Imperialists continu'd to push them even into the Cittadel where they made a pretty considerable Breach, but the Ditch being full of Water, without any possibility of draining it, it was ne∣cessary at length to resolve upon turn∣ing the Siege into a Blockade, upon the seventh of November. Thus the victo∣rious Army was obliged to abandon an Enterprize, which it had undertaken, as it seems, only to let the Turks see, that the Victory had not been so bloody as they imagined, since it durst afterwards besiege one of their strongest Places: if so be they did not succeed to their Wishes, at least the Turks might see by it, that the Imperialists did not want Courage. The death of the Grand Vizier Cuperli, who was succeeded by Hali Bas∣sa, prevented them from shewing the Imperialists in their turn, that the loss of a Battel had not exhausted their For∣ces. They were also worsted in Sclavo∣nia, where they abandoned Gradiska, and let several small places be taken by the Duke of Croy▪ who commanded that body of the Army which acted on this side. Besides, the blockade of Waradin was not unuseful, since by that means the Place was reduced to Capitulate up∣on
on the 3d of June, in the following year 1692, after a Months Seige, as shall be more at large recited in the continu∣ation of this History, when there shall ar∣rive sufficient matter to make an Adition.
The Prince of Baden put his Troops in Winter-quarters, after having left a competent number to continue the blockade of Waradin, which was con∣ducted by the Prince of Aversperg. If the rigour of the season had permitted them to press the Attacks, it was im∣possible for the Bassa of this City to hold out long; since several Persons, who found means to get out, reported that the Garrison, which had consisted of above 3000 Men, at the beginning of the Siege, was reduced to less than half; that most part of the Provisions were either burnt, or consumed; and that the Garrison, was obliged to live in Caves co∣vered with Earth and Ruins, and remain∣ed there with the utmost inconvenience.
During the Siege of Waradin, a Turk, who passed out of this place through the Camp of the Imperialists, without being known, reported at Belgrade, whither he went, That he had heard a Radzian say, That the Counts Teckely and Petrozzi had wrote to Prince Lewis of Baden, That had it not been for them,
the Serasquier had gone to relieve Wa∣radin, and that the Emperour owed to them this Obligation; That if he would Negotiate with them for their Compo∣sition, General Heusler could instruct him of their pretensions. Notwithstand∣ing this information was false, the Turks and Tartars fell upon them, as upon Traytors, and the Serasquier had much ado to secure them from the Fury of the Souldiers, who intirely plundered their Baggages. It was easie for the Counts to shew the falsehood of this Accusation▪ since the Serasquier knew, that he had been of opinion himself to attempt the Relief of Waradin. They had also a mind to render Teckely suspected, because he had released General Heusler, upon condition that his Wife should be resto∣red him; but that having been done by the consent of the deceas'd Vizier, and the chief Officers of the Turks, the Serasquier made no scruple in that re∣spect. In the mean time the noise of the apprehension of the Count, being di∣spersed, was a subject of much joy to the Imperialists, who believed him lost, and much affliction to the Hungarians that followed him, who were at Wipalanka, upon the Danube, which they passed im∣mediately, for fear of being cut in pieces
by the Infidels. But the two Counts, being freed, soon went to seek them, and brought them back into Servia, where they took their Quarters about Possarowits. Thus Teckely escaped once more the brutallity of the Turkish Troops, amongst which he will hardly ever re∣main in perfect safety. He has had this good Fortune, in his Disgraces, to live to the year 1692 amongst these barbarous People, respected of the Generals, and beloved of the Port, whilst it has rui∣ned a very great number of its best Offi∣cers, under pretence of their ill Con∣duct, by reason of the losses which it had received by the War. Happy, if the same reason doth not cause his destructi∣on one day; or if he can see a Peace con∣cluded between the two Empires, and live in some corner of the World, with∣out fearing the Resentments of the House of Austria! We will end here, till pro∣cess of time gives us more Information.
The Year 1692 was Spent without any Action between the two Armies, they being both so weak, that neither of them durst attempt to force the other, tho they lay the most part of the Summer near each other, on the Danube in Sclavonia.
His Brother has married Count Teckely's Sister.
Terms taken out of the Declaration of War of France, dated the 24th of September, 1688.