PRESBOURG.

This Town lies upon the Danube, and is the Capital City of the Upper Hungary, and of all that belongs to the Emperor within that Kingdom. It gives it's Name to a County, which is a Province of Hungary, betwixt Mo­ravia, Austria, and the Danube; the Latin Authors call it Posonium and Flex­um, and those of the Country, Poson. This place is eight Leagues from Vien­na in Austria, and as far from Newheu­sel and Comorra; it is Fortified with a considerable Castle against the Incur­sions [Page 13] of the Turks, which is mention­ed by the Author of the German Itine­rary in this manner. Lib. 5.

The Authors of the Hungarian Histo­ry, which are bound up in one Vo­lume, speak of Presbourg, as well as Cluverius, Ortelius and Samson; it hath the Title of an Arch-Bishoprick, and in the Cathedral-Church, which is partly possessed by the Fathers Jesuits, the Body of St. John Bishop of Alex­andra is held in great Veneration.

Pope Clement the Fifth being inform­ed that the Hungarians were in Arms, and would not submit to Charles Mar­tel, Son to Charles II. King of Naples, thought himself obliged to send a Le­gat thither, either for composing these Disorders, or strengthening the Party of the Lawful Soveraign. For that effect he pitched upon Gentil de Monteffiore, whose Merit had raised him from a Franciscan Frier to the Dignity of a Cardinal, and who ac­quitted [Page 14] himself extraordinarily well in his Commission. At first he used all ways of Mildness; but finding them to be unprofitable, he employed Ec­clesiastical Censures, and reclaimed the Hungarians to their Duty. He ce­lebrated a Council at Presbourg, in the year 1309. Where sound Cannons were made; which were afterwards approved by the Pope. In this Town there are a great many Houses built after the Italian manner, which con­tribute much to the Beauty thereof.

NITRIA.

Nitria or Nitracht, a Town in the Upper Hungary, is the Seat of a Bishop, Suffragan to the Arch-bishop of Gran, and has it's Name from the River it lyes upon, which it gives to a Coun­ty, whereof it is the Capital: It is un­der the Jurisdiction of Newheusel, be­ing five Leagues distant from it, and ten from Presbourg, and continued al­ways subject to the Emperour.

NEWHEUSEL.

The people of the Country call it Owar, and the Latin Authors Neoseli­um; it lyes upon the River of Nitria, or Nitrach, two Leagues from Comor­ra upon the Danube: It is but a small Town, but very well seated, and the chief Town of a large Country; the Turks took it in the year 1663. And the Emperours Army having invested it the seventh of July, 1685. Re­took it the nineteenth of August fol­lowing.

NOVIGRAD.

A little Town with a Castle upon a Hill, the Capital of the County of the same name, lying on the Danube, betwixt Gran and Vachia.

VACHIA.

Vatzen or Veitzen, and in Latin Vac­cia, is a Town lying upon the Danube, betwixt Novigrad and Pest, and the Seat of a Bishop, Suffragan to Gran.

CASSOVIA.

This Town by the Hungarians is called Caschow, the Capital of the County of Abauwiver. It is very well fortified, and lyes upon the River of Kunnert, which falls into the Teiss five or six Leagues from the Carpatian or Crapat Mountains, betwixt Esperies and Borsanick. And though it be a free Town, and have considerable Pri­viledges, yet it hath always acknow­ledged the Emperor as King of Hunga­ry, till of late, being engaged in the Rebellion of Teckely, it was forced to return to the Emperor it's Lawful So­veraign in the year, 1685.

FILLECK.

Was formerly a strong Town of the Imperial Hungary, lying five Lea­gues to the North of Agria, and as far to the West of Cassovia, upon the River Gayenne, in the County of Zabel; it was reduced under the power of Teckely, and it's Fortifications demo­lished.

ESPERIES.

In Latin Eperiae is a very well forti­fied Town in the County of Sarax in Hungary, lying upon the River of Tar­bez, towards the Mountains and upon the Frontiers of Poland: It always be­longed to the Emperor as King of Hungary, till it was involved in the Rebellion of Teckely, from whom it was retaken by the Imperial Arms in the year, 1685.

AGRIA.

This Town by the Germans is cal­led, Eger, and by the Hungarians, Er­law, lying upon a River of the same Name: It is but a small place, hut ex­traordinarily well fortified, and hath always been the Seat of a Bishop, Suf­fragan to the Arch-bishop of Strigoni­um, and the Bulwark of Christendom, and therefore it was Besieged, but in vain, by the Army of Solyman: But at length, Mahomet the Third carried it the 12. of October, 1596. Since that time it hath been in the hands of the [Page 18] Turks, who keep a strong Garison in it. Three Leagues from this Town the River of Agria falls into the Tyssa or Teisse, which is the Tibiscus of the Latins. In the year 1552. the Turks first besieged Agria, with an Army of Threescore and ten thousand Men. It was then no strong place, neither by Nature nor Art; and yet the Cou­rage of the Garison supplied the Weak­ness of the place. There were within it Two thousand Hungarians, and Three­score of the chief Gentlemen of the Country, who brought thither their Wives, Children, and all their Goods. They all took an Oath, that they would suffer the utmost Extremity, ra­ther than render the place; they put all their Provision into publick stores, and when the Turks summoned them to render the place, they put out a Cof­fin upon the Battlements of the Walls, to shew that they had resolved to die, rather than to yield. The Town was for Forty days time incessantly Batter­ed with Fifty pieces of Cannon; but all that daunted not the Besieged. Nay the Turks having made three Assaults in one day, were still beaten off, and [Page 19] lost Eight thousand men. Above all things the Valour of the Women was conspicious in so bloody an Action. One of them was fighting in presence of her Mother and Husband, who was killed hard by her, and her Mother bidding her carry off the Body and Bury it: God forbid, answered she, that I should Bury my Husband be­fore I revenge his death: and with that snatching up the Buckler and Sword of her dead Husband, she threw her self into the midst of the Enemy's, and left not off Fighting till she had revenged the death of her Husband by the slaughter of three Turks. Ano­ther Woman carrying a great stone to cast down upon the Enemy, was shot with a Canon Bullet, that carried off her head. Her Daughter who fol­lowed her, without standing to be­wail her loss, took up the stone, and all bloody as it was with her Mo­thers Blood, threw it down upon a croud of the Enemy, who endeavour­ed to mount the Wall. The Turks be­ing Witnesses of such obstinate Reso­lution, raised the Siege the Nineteenth of October; and the Besieged sallying [Page 20] out after them, cut to pieces a great number of the Infidels, and took most of their Baggage.

TOKAY.

A very strong Town with a Cita­del upon the River Bodroch, that falls in­to the Teisse. This Town lying in form of an Island, was taken by the Turks, and afterwards regained by the Em­perors Army; but falling into the hands of the Rebel Teckely, his Impe­rial Majesty retook it in the year, 1685. to whom it belongs at pre­sent. This Town is Subject to Inun­dations, and yet the Land about it is very Fertile, and bears excellent Wine called by that name. Below it the Ri­ver of Bodroch, running by Esperies, joyns the Teisse.

UNGWAR.

A little Town, Capital of the County of Ung, lying at the Foot of the Carpat Mountain, near the River Ung, the Boundary of Red Russia, thirty Lea­gues to the East of Cassovia, and five [Page 21] and twenty to the North of the Teisse; it fell likewise into the hands of Teckely, and was retaken by the Arms of the Emperor in the year, 1685.

COLOCZA.

An Ancient Town lying near the Danube lower than Pest, was here­tofore an Arch-bishops See; it is encompassed with very Fertil Mea­dows.

ONOTH.

A Town lying upon the side of the River of Schaia, between Agria and Tokay.

DEBRECHIM.

A City lying in the County of Zo­bel, betwixt Tokay and great Waradin; it is Rich, Populous, and of great Commerce and Traffick; upon the humble desire of the Inhabitants, it was received into the Protection of his Imperial Majesty, after the Reduction of Zolnock, and Cassovia: It continued [Page 22] Neuter during the late Revolutions in Hungary, and sided not with the Re­bels, allowing always Liberty, as well to the Judges there established by the Emperour, as to the Commissioner of the Port, to Exercise their Authority in it.

GIULA.

This Town lies betwixt the Rivers of Sebeskeres and Feyerkeres, upon the Lake of Zarkad, a few Leagues be­low great Waradin, upon the Frontier of Transilvania; as yet it belongs to the Turk.

ZOLNOCK.

This Town lyes upon the River of Teisse, where the River of Zagiwa joins it: It is the chief Town of the same name, and strongly fortified, having long groaned under the Turkish Yoke; it lyes fourty Leagues to the West of Waradin, and sixty from Bu­da. This Fortress was taken by the Baron de Mercy, Lieutenant-Marshal de Camp, and by the Sr. Heusler one of [Page 23] the Emperor's Generals, in the Month of October, 1685.

ZATMAR.

A small Town lying upon the River of Samos, on the Frontiers of Tran­silvania, and the Capital of the County of the same Name; it belongs to the Emperour, and is ten Leagues North­ward of Waradin, and fourteen East­ward of Tokay.

ZARAVAS.

This is a Modern Fortress built by the Turks, since the breaking out of the Rebellion, which Emersi Count of Teckely raised in this Kingdom: It lyes upon the River of Kiros, which falls into the Teysse, five German Leagues from Zolnock, and twelve from Giula; but the situation of it is not as yet de­scribed in the Maps: By the Conquest of this place, two Counties that de­pend on it have been gained, which before the Rebellion held not of his Imperial Majesty; the one is called the County of the Tarantali­ans, [Page 24] and the other of the Czongradi­ans.

MONGATZ.

A Fort with a very strong Castle seated on the River Torza, betwixt Ungwar and Zatmar near the Moun­tains; it hath been a place of Retreat to the Rebel Count Teckely, as it was before to Prince Ragotzi. The Coun­tess of Teckely, Aurora Veronica Daugh-to the late Count Peter Serine, and be­fore Widdow of the said Prince, still delays to render it to the Emperor, as being uncertain what will become of her Husband. In the mean time it is straitly blocked up by the Imperial Forces.

TEMESWAR.

A great and strong Town upon the River of Temes, towards the Fron­tiers of Transilvania; it is the chief Town of a P [...]ovince of that Name, which has the Title of a County. The Turk hath subdued both the Town and Country.

WARADIN.

This Town which is called Great Waradin, lying on the Drave, was of the Ancient Dacia, and is at present in Transilvania.

It is situated to the South of the lit­tle River of Keuvres, which others call Sobeskeres, and the Ancients Chrisus, that has its Source in one of the Branches of the Carpathian Mountains, from whence it seems to wash away, and bring along with its Sand little Spangles of Gold.

In the year 1242. the Tartars made themselves Masters of that Town, and used great Cruelties i [...] [...]t, putting most of the Inhabitants to the Sword, with­out distinction of Age or Sex.

In the year 1290. Ladislaus King of Hungary, built in it the fair Church of our Lady, which is the Seat of a Suf­fragan Bishop.

This Town having a strong Cita­del, is fortified with five Bastions; and the Turks looking upon it as a fa­vourable Post, for enlarging their Con­quests on the side of Transilvania, sent [Page 26] first in the year, 1598. a powerful Army under the command of Omar, who besieged it in the month of Sep­tember; but after may Cruel and Bloody Attacks on both sides, the Turks were forced to raise the Siege on the third of November: How­ever in 1660. they took it, and made it a place of Arms against Christendom.

This place is the usual Residence of a Sangiack, who depends on the Beglerbey of Themeswar: And here it was, that Count Emery of Teckely, was surprised and seized by the Bassa of the place, and sent to the Grand Visier at Adria­nople in Chains. This was a great Transformation of him, who put in his Standard that was taken in the month of September, 1684. by General Schultz at the Battle near Esperies; his own Arms beset with two Lions Or, and two Argent holding in their claws a Shable, cleaving the Imperial Eagle in two, and over-head a Ducal Coronet, with a device in Latin and Sclavonick, of, Protector in Hungary: But alas!

GUTTA.

This Town is very well Fortified at that place, where the River of Waag discharges it self into the Danube; it was Built since the last Wars, in a Fen­ny place betwixt a branch of the Da­nube, the Waag and the Swatrz. It is a Mile distant from Newheusel, and from the top of the Church of Gutta, one may see the Town of Newheu­sel, and even distinguish the several Houses.

SCHINTA.

Esteemed a very strong place, long since Built to command the River, and all the Country about; it hath a Tower in the middle, with four Ba­stions, and several great Guns.

TIRNAW.

Is a Town lying in an open Coun­trey, and may be seen at a great di­stance; within these seven years it was reduced to Ashes, and is now almost intirely Re-built.

TOPOLCHAN.

This Town lyes upon the Banks of the River of Nitra, and was burnt down with its Church during the late Wars, and could never be Built again since.

LEOPOLD.

This Town was Built after the loss of Newheusel, and much in the same Figure; it hath six very Regular Ba­stions, and well covered, lying West­ward of the River of Waag, and exact­ly opposite to Freistadt: It is not ve­ry far from the place, through which the Tartars went in the late War, when they ravaged a great part of that Coun­try, and made many Slaves, as they did also in Moravia. It was begun to be fortified in the year, 1665.

FREISTADT.

Is a very pretty Town, but the Turks not long since burnt it: The Count of Forchatz, has a lovely Castle and a [Page 29] stately House in it, and the Capucins a Convent.

TRENSCHEIN.

Is a very fair Town lying upon the side of the River of Waag, over which it hath a Wooden Bridge: The Mar­ket place of it is very pretty, the Je­suits Church lovely, and the Castle very high; it is seen at a great di­stance, and belongs to Count Illeshazi. There are a great many Springs of Mineral Waters, in all the Country a­bout it.

SERNOWITZ.

Is a Town lying upon the River of Gran, having a Castle built upon a Rock.

NEWSOL.

Is a pretty neat Town, lying upon the River of Gran; at the end of it there is a very lovely Tower, and the Castle well deserves to be seen; be­cause there is a Church within it co­vered [Page 30] with Copper, wherein are a great many fair Wooden Statues, and some Relicks. It hath a Bridge over the River, with a handsome pile of Building, made to stop the Timber that is thrown into the River, ten Miles above the Town in the Country, that is all covered with Wood. By that means Wood is conveyed to Newsol without much trouble and cha [...]ges, which is made use of for Working in the Copper Mines that are in the Town: It was taken by Bethlem Ga­bor Prince of Transilvania, who making use of the Occasion of the Revolt of the Bohemians, and of his Alliance which they demanded, fell into Hun­gary and took many places in it. Before this Town of Newsol, the brave Count Charles of Bucquoy, Knight of the Gol­den Fleece, being General of the Im­perial Army, found his Bed of Ho­nor; for having retaken the Towns of Presbourg, Tirnaw, Altenbourg, and others, and encamping before New­sol, where he Valliantly carried on the Siege in the year, 1621. he was kil­led in a Sally in the Month of July that year, after he had received Six­teen [Page 31] Mortal Wounds. The following Inscription was made to his Me­mory.

ALTSOL.

Is a Town lying upon the same River of Gran, lower than Newsol, betwixt it and the Town of Crem­nitz.

HERN-GRUNDT.

Is a little Town standing on a pretty high Ground, though it be betwixt two [Page 33] Hills. The place it stands on goes by the same Name, and is but a mile from Newsol.

SCHEMNITZ.

The biggest of all the Towns in Hungary, where there are Mines, and in it there is a great deal of Silver found daily. The Town is very well built, hath three fair Churches, and most part of the Inhabitants are Lu­therans. It hath also three Castles; the first is the old Castle, that stands in the Town; where one may hear pretty pleasant Musick, at six of the Clock in the morning, and six at night, which is performed by means of an Engine that they have found out. The second is the new Castle, built by a Lady, who caused the Gibbet that stood upon a Hill to be removed, and a stately Fabrick to be erected in place of it. The third is upon the top of a very high Hill, where there is always a Sentinel to discover the approach of the Turks, and to give notice of it by firing a great Gun. The Streets lye upwards and downwards upon the side [Page 34] of the Hill, and all the Country is ve­ry uneven.

CREMNITZ.

This is but a very little Town, but hath large Suburbs, and stands on ve­ry high Ground. It is thought that St. John's Church, which is pretty near it, is built on the highest Ground of all Hungary: It is the ancientest of all the Towns where Mines are, and is also the richest of all the seven, which are called Schemnitz, Cremnitz, New­sol, Koninsbergs, Bochantz, Libeten, and Tiln.

VIROVICHITZ.

Lying before the Isle of St. Andrew, is a place in high Esteem, for the love­ly Vines and good Grapes that grow there. Near it there is a demolished Stone Building, upon the side of the Isle of St. Andrew, where it is said, that heretofore there was a Stone Bridge.

MAROS.

Is on the other side of Vicegrad, near the Isle of St. Andrew. It hath a very lovely Church, and being a place that heretofore yielded voluntarily to the Turks, the Christians are not much tormented there; but only pay a yearly Tribute of very small Conse­quence.

PEST.

On the other side of the Danube to­wards the East, is the Town of Pest, that is square and seated in a very lovely Plain: it looks very pretty from Buda, because of its Walls and the Towers of its Mosques. It gives the Name to all the Countrey about, which therefore is called, Comitatus Pesthiensis, the County of Pest; for Hungary is divided into Counties as well as England. Betwixt this place and Buda there is a fair Bridge of Boats, at least half a mile over; it hath been taken and re-taken, whereby it is much ruined, and the Town of Buda which [Page 36] is over against it standing on an Emi­nence, whereas this lies in a Plain, so commands it, that it can batter it down with great Guns; unless on the side of the Gate of Agria, which is covered by the Town. The Imperial Forces took it in the year 1684. when they invested Buda; but quitting that Siege they also abandoned Pest; though now in this present year 1686. they have again made themselves Masters of it.

HADWAN.

Lies upon the Zagywe to the North of Pest, and fortifyed with Earth, but not so as that the Turks repose great assurance on it: It was taken by the Christians in the year 1596. but after­wards abandoned to the Turks in the year 1603. and is not above six Leagues from Pest.

To close up the Description of the Towns of Upper Hungary, I shall sub­join the Latin Epigram, made upon the Revolt of the Towns that espoused the Party of Teckely.

BUDA.

BEfore the Turks invaded Hungary, the City of Buda was the Metro­polis of the Kingdom; the Ancients called it Curta, and the Germans Offen.

It is divided into the Upper and Lower Town, lying upon the side of a Hill, the Foot whereof is washed by the Danube, which at that place is a­bove half a mile over: It hath a Bridge of Boats over it, that joins the City of Buda, to the little Town of Pest, ly­ing on the opposite side. In Buda are to be seen the Ruines of several stately Palaces, built heretofore by Matthias Corvinus King of Hungary, and his Predecessours; which the Turks neg­lect, and let fall into decay.

This is a large, fair, and well built Town, but ill peopled, and hath hard­ly any Inhabitants, but the Spahies and Janisaries of the Garrison, which is al­ways very numerous.

After the Death of John Zapol, Count of Scepus and Elba King of Hungary, his Widow Elisabeth of Po­land and his Son Stephen, called in the Turks to their Assistance, against Ferdi­nand of Austria, who was elected King. The Germans besieged Buda, and the Turks having defeated them, made themselves Masters of the Town under pretext of Friendship, sending the Queen, her Son, and George Martinisius, who had been chief Minister to the late King, into Transilvania.

This Town is the Residence of a Beglerbey, whose Authority extends o­ver twenty Sangiacks. The Bassa of Buda hath more Authority than the others have, and the Garrison consists commonly of eight or ten Thousand Men. Some take it to be the Curta of Ptolomy, and others for the Aguincum of the Itinerary of Antonine. It is ve­ry hard to be positive as to that, and all that can be said are but Conje­ctures. [Page 40] But it is a Fable, that the Brother of Attila built it, and called it by his Name Budaeus: For that Bro­ther of Attila was named Bleda, and not Budaeus, as the Fabulous pretend.

Solyman rendered himself Master of Buda the 20eth. of August, 1526. and in the year 1527. Ferdinand I. King of Bohemia, Brother to the Emperour Charles V. after the overthrow of Loüis the Young, in the Plain of Mohacz, was proclaimed King of Hungary, by Stephen Bathori Palatin of the Kingdom, and by the sounder part of the Nobi­lity; John Zapoliha, Vaivod of Tran­silvania, having been before tumultua­rily elected by the rest.

The same year, Ferdinand made himselt Master of the greatest part of the Kingdom, and of Buda the Capi­tal City, of which he made Thomas Nadasti Governour; until the year 1529. that Solyman took it by the Trea­chery of the Garrison, and shortly af­ter laid siege to Vienna, which he was forced shamefully to raise, after he had made many B [...]oody Assaults.

From whence, retreating to Buda, he re-established John Vaivod of Tran­silvania in the Kingdom; having left in Buda, Gritti, a Renegado, with three Thousand Janisaries, to defend it in Name of the Vaivod.

Afterwards Ferdinand King of Bohe­mia, made General Rogendorf besiege it, in the year 1530. but in vain.

In the year 1540. he commanded his General Leonard Fessius to Besiege it a second time, having first possest himself of the Forts of Vicegrad, Vac­cia, and Pest; and John Zapoliha be­ing dead the year before, who left for his Successor John Sigismond, a Pupil under the tuition of the Princess Isabel his Mother, and George Monck; but Fessius having there endured the fati­gues of a long and troublesom Siege, was again obliged to draw off.

In the year, 1541. General Rogen­dorf renewed the Siege again a Third time; but upon the coming of Soly­man, he thought it best to retreat. In the mean time that Ottoman Prince surprised the Town by Cunning, drove the young Prince and his Mother out of it, and sent them to Reign in Tran­silvania, [Page 42] publishing that he would keep it until John Sigismond, the Son of John Zapoliha the Usurper, were of Age.

In the year, 1542. the Marquess of Brandebourgh, made as if he intended to Besiege Buda, and in that design marched towards it. He attacked Pest, on his march, but in vain, and retreated without any success.

The Count of Swartzenbourgh ha­ing in the Month of March 1598. by a Wonderful Stratagem retaken Java­rin, or Raab, from the Turks, marched the same year in the Month of Octo­ber, under the Auspices of the Arch­duke Matthias, and laid Siege to Buda, which after thirty days Attack he was forced to raise, because of the conti­nual Rains: And it is remarkable, that the Turks, who at the same time Besieged the Town of Waradin in Tran­silvania, were likewise obliged to quit their Enterprise for the same Rea­son.

The Christians again attacked that Town in the year 1602 under General Roswurm, but having ruined the Bridge ever the Danube, and pos­sessed [Page 43] the Town of Pest, the Rigour of the Season obliged them to desist from their Design.

The Duke of Lorrain Generalissimo of the Imperial Armies, attempted the Siege of the same place, having first made himself Master of the Castle of Vicegrad, Vaccia and Pest, and thrice defeated the Ottoman Army; but the Season being too far advanced, that he might not endanger the Army, he thought it convenient to raise the Siege in the Month of October, 1684.

VICEGRAD.

The Latins call it, Vissegradia, and the Germans, Plindenburg. It is a strong Town, built upon a very high Rock, the Danube running by the Foot of it, and lies above Buda, and below Stri­gonium. In this place there is a Castle, upon a little Hill, where the Abbey of Pily stands also. Heretofore the Crown of Hungary was kept there, that Town in former times having been the place of Residence of the Kings of Hunga­ry; and the Remains of the Ruines of a very stately Building of Free Stone, are still to be seen there. The Forces of the Arch-Duke Matthias, re-took [Page 47] that place in the Reign of Mahomet III. But the Heydukes committed a piece of the greatest Treachery ima­ginable, and delivered it up into the hands of the Turks, in the time of Sultan Achmet. Charles King of Na­ples, who was also proclaimed King of Hungary, having been wounded in the Head by Forchatz, was carried into that Castle, where under pre­text of applying a Plaister to his Head, they strangled him. The Crown of Hungary was heretofore kept at Vice­grad, but the Turks having advanced so far, it was thought safer to put it into the Castle of Presbourg. This Crown is of a pretty singular shape; for it is very low, and hath a Cross on the top with four leaves that go compleatly round it, of which one is as big as the other three, or at least, as two of them. It is infinitely esteem­ed by the Hungarians, because they believe that an Angel brought it to their King St. Stephen: and the most August Emperour Leopold, who reigns at present, is the two and fourtieth King that hath been crowned with that Crown.

S. MARTINSBERG.

Is a pretty handsom Town, and a very strong place, seated on the Top of a very high Hill, from whence all the Countrey about may be discovered. It lies betwixt the Fort of Raab, and the Town of Dotis.

DOTIS.

Dotis, Tata, or Theodata, is but four Leagues from Comora; it hath a Ca­stle with Ditches round it, and not far from thence, there are some natural Baths. It lies betwixt S. Martinsberg and the Danube, hath been often ta­ken and re-taken, and belongs to his Imperial Majesty. The Count of Salms, General of the Imperial Army, took it in the year 1565. with the Town of Vesprim.

VESPRIM.

In Latin Vesprinium, and in High-Dutch Weisbrun, is a little pretty strong Town, lying near the head of the Ri­ver [Page 49] Sarwis, and the Lake Balaton ele­ven Leagues from Strigonium, and five from Alba Regalis, being the Seat of a Bishop Suffragan to Strigonium; it is the capital of the County of its Name, and hath a strong Castle upon the top of a little Hill, belonging to his Im­perial Majesty. The Count of Salms took it in the year 1565. with the Town of Dotis.

PAPA.

A little Town, but strong, defend­ed by a Castle, and lying in the County of Vesprim, upon the River of Malchaltz; it belongs to the Em­perour.

SARWAR.

This place lyes upon the Raab, be­twixt Papa, and Sabaria, under Obe­dience to the Emperour, having been re-taken in the year, 1567.

SABARIA.

Is an Ancient Town in the County [Page 50] of Iron Castle lying at the concourse of the two Rivers of Guntz, and Regnitz, before they fall into the Raab. This Town is affirmed to be the Native Town of St. Martin; and there are some who report, and others that be­lieve, that the Famous Poet Ovid di­ed and was Buried in this Town of Sabaria. They write, that having been Seven years Banished at Tomos, near the Euxin Sea, he was afterwards recalled, and died at Sabaria, upon his return to Italy; where they say his Tomb was found in the year 1508. with this E­pitaph, made by himself, and cut on the outside of a stately Vault.

And about the year 1540. Isabel Queen of Hungary shewed Peter Angelo Bargeo, a Silver Pen that Ovid made use of to write with; which not long before had been found amongst the Ancient Ruins of Tearunum, at present called Belgrade, at the mouth of the Save, that falls into the Danube, with these words Engraven round it: Ovidii Nasonis Calamus, which that Queen highly prised, and kept it as a Sacred thing.

GRAN.

This Town which is called Gran, Strigonium, or Ostrogon, lyes on the South-side of the River of Gran, where it falls into the Danube. It is divid­ed into the Upperr and Lower, Town both which are considerably strong [Page 52] and have good Walls. The lower Town commands the Danube, and St. Thomas his Hill is also very well fortified, be­cause being close by the Town it might command it. In this Town there are excellent Natural Baths, that are not too hot. Heretofore it was the Metropolitan City of Hun­gary, and St. Stephen their first King was born in it; as Stephen III. died there. The chief Ornaments of it are the great Church of St. Stephen, who lyes buried in it, the Arch-Bishop's Palace, and the Houses of other Ca­nons: This Arch-Bishop formerly put the Crown upon the Kings Head the day of his Coronation. In the Upper Town there is a Rock, on which a ve­ry strong Castle is built. The Neigh­boring Hills abound in Vines, and the Country about with Springs of hot water, so that by reason of the Fruit­fulness of the Country, and the strength of the Town, the Kings of Hungary, in former times had their Palace and kept their Residence there: Hardly any place hath maintained so many Bloody Sieges. For John King of Hun­gary▪ Besieged it, but in vain; and he [Page 53] could not succeed in his Attempt. So­lyman took it in the year, 1542. but the Count of Mansfield re-took it, for the Arch-duke Matthias. It was once more Besieged in vain; but in Succession of time Sultan Achmet took it, by means of an infamous piece of Baseness, that the Christians who de­fended it committed; for having kil­led the Count of Dampierre the Gover­nour, they surrendered the place to Alybeg General of the Turkish Army. The Town of Barckan, is exactly op­posit to Gran, and there is a Bridge of Boats betwixt those two places. It was before that Fort, that the Armies of the Emperor and Poland gained the Battle against the Turks in the Month of October, 1683. when they Besieged and took the said Fort, and the Town of Gran also the 23. of the same Month, after they had gloriously raised the Siege of Vienna; which the Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha had laid to it, with the chief Forces of the Ottoman Empire, who were cut to pieces, and put to the rout there; and after that the City of Gran, for the space of 80. years had groaned under the yoke [Page 54] of the Turks. But the Barbarians, be­ing impatient that such an important place should remain longer in the Hands of the Christians, endeavoured to regain it with an extraordinary strong Army, and laid Siege to it the 30th. of July, 1685. which they were forced to raise, with the loss of the Battle that followed after the 16th. of August, the same year.

RAAB or JAVARIN.

A very strong Town situated where the Rivers of Raab and Rabuits, fall into the Danube, is the Seat of a Bishop Suffragan to Gran, or Strigoni­um. The Germans call it Raab, the French Javarin, the Hungarians Gever, the Italians Giavarin, and the Latin Authors, Javarinum, Arabo and Ha­rabo. The Fort was made by Ferdi­nand of Austria, King of Hungary, be­fore he came to be Emperor in the year, 1550. and is one of the com­pleatest Strengths in Europe. It hath two Bridges, one on the side of Au­stria, and the other on the side of Al­ba Regalis, or Stael-Weissenbourgh, it is [Page 56] fortified with Seven Bastions, and hath Four high Mounts, from whence all the Country about may be disco­vered. The First is the Bastion, on which the Castle or Governours Pa­lace is built. The Second is upon the brink of the River of Danube. The Third stands upon the Holy Hill; and when the Turks blew it up, there was a Man upon it on Horse back, who was carried by the force of the Gun­powder into the Danube, without the least hurt either to Man or Horse. The Fourth is that in the middle, which looks East-ward into the Coun­trey. The Fifth is that which is cal­led the New Bastion. The Sixth the Imperial Bastion. And the Seventh is that of Hungary, on the brink of the River of Raab. Here it was that the Turkish Governour was killed, when the Christians surprised the Town, in the night time. It is very near the Isle of Schut in a Plain that reaches out of sight, environed by a Branch of the Danube, and the River of Raab, which makes many to give it that name: And it would seem that nothing can be able to hurt it; unless it be a little Hill [Page 57] which is at a pretty good distance from it too, and might be blown up when they pleased, if there were occa­sion for it. Beyond it there is also a little Tower, in the middle of the Plain, from whence the approach of an Enemy, may easily be discovered. This Town may be near Three hun­dred paces in Circuit, and at each Angle of the Figure, there is a Cava­lier which commands the Fortification faced with brick. Sinam Bassa besieg­ed it in the Reign of Sultan Amurath III. He lost a great many men there, and Twelve thousand were killed in one Attack; but at length it rendred in the year 1591. by the Treachery of the Count of Hardeck, who was Go­vernour of the place, for which base Action he had his Head struck off at Vienna. Some years after it was re­taken by the Count of Swartszenbourg, and the Count of Palfy who surprised it in the night time, in the year 1606. under the Emperor Rodolph, and made a great slaughter of all the Turks that were in it: A piece of the Gate, which was broken down by a Petard, is still kept in the Cathedral Church, as the [Page 58] Instrument of the Victory; in memo­ry whereof, the Town fires yearly all their Guns, and make a Solemn Pro­cession. Whilst the Turks were Ma­sters of that Town, they made a Dungeon for the Christian Prisoners, into which there enters no Light but through a Grate that looks to the Market-place. But at present there are commonly Turks shut up in it, who beg the Charity of those that pass that way, and sell a kind of Whips, which they make in their wretched Confine­ment. George Drascovitz Bishop of that Town held a Synod there in the year 1579.

The Emperor finding himself in­commoded by the great number of Chiaus or Ordinary Envoys who came often to Vienna, from the Vizier of Bu­da, and never went back again with­out some Present, ordered for the fu­ture, that they should advance no far­ther than Raab, unless they had a Per­mission, and that they should receive their dispatches there. In consequence whereof there was in December, 1685. a Turkish Aga there named Aga Scelebi, waiting for the Emperours Answer, [Page 59] from whom he came to beg a Peace.

COMORA.

Gomora, Crumenum, or Comaronium, is a very large fair Town, lying at the East-end of the Isle of Schut; it looks to the Danube, and Waag, and is very well fortifyed and peopled. The Fortifications of it have also been late­ly enlarged, and a great deal of ground taken in, by means of a Line drawn from the Waag to the Danube, and is fortified by four Bastions more.

TORTOISE.

Is reckoned a strong place, and has its Name from its Figure, which in some manner resembles a Tortoise. Si­nan Basha having taken the Town of Raab, besieged this place with Three­score Vessels, and a vast number of Turks and Tartars; but it was without success, and most part of the Tartars were kill'd there.

PETRONEL.

Betwixt Vienna and Presbourg, where the River of Mark falls into the Da­nube, lyes the Town of Petronel, near the Hill, and Castle of Haimbourg. Petronel is thought to be the place that was anciently called Carnuntum, which was one of the strongest places of the Panonians, and in vain besieged by the Romans 170. years, before the Incar­nation of our Saviour; who never­the less, in Progres of time made them­selves Masters of it under Augustus, that sent thither a Roman Colony, with the Forces which were called Legio decima Gemina, and Classis Istrica. It was enlarged so much afterward, that it became the chief City of the Upper Panonia, and contained all that lay on the South side of the Danube, where at present we see Haimbourg, Altenbourg, and St. Petronel.

ALTENBOURG.

Is a Town environned by the little River of Leytha, and near that small [Page 61] Branch of the Danube, which runs to­wards the Lower Hungary, eight Leagues from Presbourg. It was form­erly an open Village; but it hath since been walled in by the Hungarians, who call it Ovar, that's to say, old Castle, which sutes with the German name Altenbourg, that signifies an old Bur­rough. It is near to the West end of the Isle of Schut, and in the Hands of the Emperour, who in the year 1646. gave that Lordship to Nicholas Drasko­witch, Count of Trukostian, at that time chosen Palatin of Hungary, that he might qualifie him by that Dig­nity.

SIGET.

A strong Town lying on this side of the Drave, in the Wash of the River Alm, with a Citadel fortifyed by a tripple Wall, and a tripple Ditch: It is the chief Town of the County of that Name, and was taken by the Turks the seventh of September, 1566. after a brave defence made by Nicho­las Esdrin Count of Serini, Great-Grandfather to Nicholas II, Knight of [Page 62] the Golden Fleece, who died in the year, 1664. and three days after, Soly­man who besieged it departed this Life in the Town of Five-Churches, whi­ther, falling sick in the Camp, he was carried. This Nicholas I. was that Great and Valiant Warriour, who af­ter the taking of so many Towns, and gaining so many Battles, defended that great and important Place of Ziget, against the Turks with an undaunted Courage to the last; so that being no longer able to resist the formidable Ef­forts of that Barbarous Enemy, he made the last Sally with Prodigious Re­solution, and amongst many Musket-shot which he received at the first dis­charge, one in the Head, laid him Dead on the Ground. The Barbari­ans having cut off his Head, sent it to Selim the Son of Solyman, who sent it to Mahomet Bassa, and he to the Ba­sha of Buda, who presently wrapt it up in a Cloth of Silk, and by two Boors sent it to the Emperor Maximi­lian in the Camp of Turn or Bregeto, and from thence it was carried by Bal­thasar Butschano to Tscacaturno, and there buried in St. Helens Church, [Page 63] where Catharine de Frangipani his first Wife lay; this is the Epitaph upon his Tomb.

Vixit annos quadraginta octo: occubu­it septimo Septembris, anno Vir­ginei partus 1566.

ALIUD.

FIVE CHURCHES.

This Town hath a Bishoprick Suf­fragan to Gran, or Strigonium; the Ger­mans call it Funf-Kircken, the Hungari­ans Otegiazack, and the Latin Authors Quinque Ecclesiae. It lyes upon the Ri­vulet called Kevirz close by the Drave, which five or six Leagues from that, falls into the Danube. Five Churches is [Page 65] a strong place Four Leagues from Si­get, and in the hands of the Turks. Solyman II. took it in the year 1543, and afterward died in that Town, du­ring the Siege of Siget in the year, 1566. which being so near, they had reason to say that he died in his Camp. The Valiant Count Nicholas Serini Se­cond of that Name, burnt this Town, and the Bridge of Esseck, in the year 1664. and shortly after signalized him­self in a particular manner at the Bat­tle of Raab, the Turks having ingenu­ously confessed, that the Terror of his Name was the cause of the gaining of that Battle. Not long after that brave Count ended his Life, in a very Tra­gical manner, for being separated from his Attendance, and engaged in the Thickets of a Wood, a Wild Boar enraged by the Wounds which it had received, fell upon him, and having hurt him in the Knee, threw him down. The Count had not the leisure to come to him again; for the violent Beast struck one of its Tusks into his Head, and gave him that Mortal wound, whereof he shortly af­ter died in his Page's Arms. Such [Page 66] was the end of that Illustrious Cap­tain, whom Death seemed to have respected amidst the greatest Dangers to which he daily exposed himself, and yet became a prey to an inconsi­derable Beast. He was a sworn Ene­my to the Mahometans, and had for them as implacable a Hatred as ever Hanibal had for the Romans. He was undaunted in Dangers, brave in Acti­on, indefategable in Labour, Mild in Peace, and moderate in his Pleasures. He was very sober and took greatest pleasure in Hunting in the Woods, be­cause it was an Exercise that resem­bled the Labours of War. He was a man of a profound and solid Judg­ment; and in a Word, one of the most zealous Defenders of the Christi­an Religion, whose Courage, Valour, and brave Actions, ought in History to procure him a place amongst the greatest Hero's. He died the 18th. of November, 1664. about the four and fortieth year of his Age, and his Body was Buried near to Sacathurne, the place of his Residence in Croatia, in the Chap­ple that hath been built in the same place of the Wood where he was killed, [Page 67] and all round the Chappel these words are to be read: Neque diem, neque horum scimus. The Chappel is full of all sorts of Trophies, Standards, and Colours, which that Noble Warriour took from the Turks. His Epitaph is in Leonin Verse.

ESSECK and its BRIDGE.

The Town of Esseck or Osseck, is thought to be the Ancient Mursa, or at least it is not far from it. History will have it to be in this place, that Constantus Son to the Emperor Con­stantine defeated the Tyrant Magnen­tius in the year 359. This Town lies very low, and there are Trees grow­ing in all the Streets. On one side of [Page 68] the Gate there is part of a Roman in­scription, which begins thus: M. Aeli­an, &c. And on the other, the Head of a Maid on a Stone. There is a very pret­ty Dial there also, brought thither from Serinwar; and one of the finest pieces of Cannon that ever was seen in those parts: It is not upon a Carriage, as o­thers are, but upon great beam of Wood. This is a great and populous Town, there being in it at least five hundred shops, many Mosques and Haccars, which are large Inns for Tra­vellers.

But that which is most considerable, is the lovely Wooden Bridge, (not to be matched in the World) which was built by Solyman, in the year 1521. immedi­ately after he took Belgrade, partly over the Drave, and partly over the River of Fenues close by, both which do often o­verflow. On this side the Drave it is about Eleven Hundred paces long, and on the other side almost Eight Thousand, all of good Oak. It is about Twelve yards broad, so that three Turkish Wag­gons, that are bigger than ours, can go a Breast upon it. The River of Drave is not broad at that place, and there are [Page 69] but sixteen Boats that support the Bridge with great Trees that make the Arches. All who well consider that Bridge, and the several Wood­en Towers which are built upon it, with the vast number of Beams that were needful to uphold so great a Fa­brick, cannot sufficiently admire, how they could find Timber enough to build or to support it. The Brave Count Nicholas of Serini, Second of that Name, burnt the part of the Bridge that is over the Drave in the year 1664. but in six Weeks time they made ano­ther Bridge of Boats, a little lower than the first. The Turks would not re-build it in the same place, because the Piles that supported it, and that were under Water when the Fire was out, stuck so fast in the ground, that it would have cost them too much Trouble to get them out. Over this Bridge march all the Armies that come into Hungary, and here it was that the unfortunate King Loüis thought to have put a stop to the Turks, that were co­ming against him, under the Conduct of Solyman, in the year 1526. and in­deed, if that Pass had been well defen­ded [Page 70] at that time, it is probable Soly­man might not so easily have marched forwards to Buda. Count Serini burnt the part of the Bridge that was built o­ver the Drave, to hinder the Grand Vi­sier from receiving Succours from the other Counties of Turky; and upon his return, he also burnt Five-Churches, that lyes West-ward from Esseck. Count Le­slie, General of the Imperial Army, set fire again to the Bridge of Esseck, which for twelve hundred Paces length was immediately in a flame; at the same time he took the Town of Esseck, put all he met to the Sword, and ha­ving plundred it, and blown up the Magazin and Arsenal, that were full of Ammunition and Provisions, he put Fire to it, and reduced it to A­shes.

WALPO.

Is a Town lying upon a River of the same Name, which abounds in Fish. It was taken by the Turks in the year 1642. and re-taken and sacked by Count Leslie, in the Month of Au­gust 1685.

METRONIZA.

Is a pretty neat Town, and big e­nough to be the place of a Fair. It lyes upon the side of a Lake.

CIRMIUM.

This Town lying upon the River Bosneth, near the Save, into which it falls, is the chief Town of the Province of that Name, which is also called Schremnia, in the South part of Hun­gary, having been formerly a Bishops Seat; it hath its Name from Sirmus King of the Tribals: This is the anci­ent Sirmium heretofore so Famous, which is at present so little esteemed. However, there grows excellent Wine about it, and in this Province, it is said, that the Emperour Probus planted Vines with his own hand, upon Mount-Almos or Arpataro. That Emperor was killed there by his own Soldiers, who were vexed that he kept them in so strict Discipline, and feared that they might be thought useless when that Prince had quell'd all the Enemies of [Page 72] the Empire; but afterwards repent­ing what they had done, they made him this Epitaph.

That Emperour named Marcus Au­relius Probus, was the Son of a Peasant in Dalmatia, and was killed in the year 282. Many Roman Emperours have been in these parts, who were born, died, or signalized themselves by great Actions there. For not to speak of Trajan, Caracalla, Gallien, Constantius, and several others; the Emperours Aurelian, Probus, and Gra­tian, were born at Sirmium, and Clau­dius Gothicus died there, or very near to that place. Jovian and Valentinian, were born in Pannonia, and in the time of Photinus Bishop of Sirmium, there was a general Council held in that Town.

THE DANUBE.

THE Don or Donaw, by the Anci­ents called Danube, is the second River of Europe, both for Greatness and Force; its source is in Swabia, in the County of Fustemberg, where the Schwartz-wald is, and the black For­rest. It passes by Ulm, over against which it receives the Iler, which runs by Kempten, and near to Memminguen, it passes by Donawert, near which and on the other side of it, it receives the Lech, which runs by Ausbourg, and se­parates Swabia from Bavaria; near to Donawert, the Danube enters into Ba­varia, where it leaves Newbourg to the right hand, Ingolstadt to the left; di­vides Bavaria from the Palatinat, from whence it receives the Nabe; passes under the Bridges of Ratisbonne and [Page 74] Siraubing, which are to the right; on the same side receives the Iler, which watereth Munick and Landshout, the Capitals of the upper and lower Dut­chies of Bavaria, receives at Passaw the Inn, which comes from the Enga­dines amongst the Grisons, and crosses the County of Tirol, and there wa­shes Inspruck, that has the first Bridge upon the Inn, then Halle, in Tirol, and Kufstain, &c. and gives to a part of the Town of Passaw the Name of In­stat, the first Town of Inn. A little below Passaw the Danube enters Au­stria, and there watereth Lintz the Capital City of Austria; above Ens it receives the River of Ens, where the Town of Ens is, washes Crems in the middle Austria, and Vienna in the lower; Vienna and Lintz are on the right side Bank, and Crems on the left of the Danube. The Murau, which descends from Moravia, falls into the Danube between Austria and Hungary, where the Danube continuing its course, on the left hand washes Presbourg, the Capital City of the Upper Hungary, embraces the Isle of Schut, on the Bor­ders whereof are Owar or Walkenbourg, [Page 75] and Gever or Javarin; and at the point of the Isle, Comora, all strong places, which for many years have stood it out against the Turks. The Danube ha­ving at Comora rejoined all its Branch­es, passes by Gran or Strigonium, runs betwixt Buda the ancient place of Re­sidence of the Kings of Hungary, and Pest, embraces the Isse of Ratzenimarck; waters Colocz on the left, receives the Drave on the right, and over against the Isle of Erdewdy, the Teisse on the left, over against Salonkemen, the Save on the right, and below the confluence of the Save and Danube lyes Belgrade, in a Situation that ought to be estee­med, seeing of the four Rivers that are near to it, the least runs above an hun­dred Leagues: Beyond Belgrade we have but little knowledge of the Da­nube, and from this place forwards the Ancients began to call it the Ister: On the right hand it receives all the Riv­ers, which descend from Servia and Bulgaria, and on the left those of Wa­lachia and Moldavia, by seven Mouths it discharges it self into the greater or black Sea. The whole Length of its Course may be six hundred Leagues, [Page 76] to wit, two hundred in Germany, some­what less in Hungary, and somewhat more from Hungary to the Black Sea.

The TIBISQUE, and the BEDRACK.

That great River towards the East called Tibiscus, or otherwise the Teisse, which hath its source in the Country of Maromorus, at the Foot of the Carpati­an Hills, having received the Mariscus or Marisa with several other Rivers, discharges it self into the Danube, be­twixt Waradin, St. Peter, and Belgrade. There are brought down this River great quantities of Salt Stones, dug out of several Mines in Hungary and Tran­silvania, which are also sent up the Da­nube as far as Presbourg. This River is reckoned the best in all Europe; nay, I may say, in all the World, for Fish­ing; so that the People of the Coun­try say commonly, that there is no­thing in that River but Water and Fish.

The River of Bedrack, which falls in­to the Tibiscus not far from Tockay, is also so full of Fish, that in the Sum­mer time when the water is low, the People say that the Fish make the Ri­ver to swell: It is none of the smallest Rivers; for according to the Relation of those who have seen it, it is Thirty fathom broad, and Eighty eight and a half deep. But there is no good fish­ing in it with Nets, because the Chan­nel of it is triangular. This great Fer­tili [...]y is attributed to the Communica­tion that its Water hath with the salt Mines under Ground, which impreg­nates it with a Principle of Fecun­dity.

The RAAB.

The River Arabo or Raab is to the West, which hath its source in Stiria, and falls also into the Danube. It is a River in much esteem, because it re­ceives the Lauffnitz, the Pica, the Guntz, and many other Rivers; but it is become more Famous by the de­feat of the Turks, under the conduct of Achmet, who at that time was Grand [Page 78] Visie-, by the Imperial Army at St. Go­dard near to that River.

The DRAVE.

There is a very lovely River to the South, called the Drave, or the Drau, which having its head in the Country of Saltzburland, that is a part of the ancient Noricum, and running through the middle of Carinthia, falls at length into the Danube near to Erdoed, or the ancient Teutoburgium, after it hath run about an hundred Leagues. The River of Mure falls into it.

The SAVE.

On the same side also is the River of Sava or Sau, which is very broad, and having its source in Carinthia, falls into the Danube at Belgrade, after it hath run near an hundred Leagues, and been augmented by several considera­ble Rivers that fall into it. It seems to be a very pretty River at Carnodunum or Crainbourg, which is a neat Town near the head of it; but it is much en­larged in its Course: It makes some [Page 79] pretty Islands, as Metubaris to the West of the ancient Sirmium, and Sigestica or Sissex near Zagrabia, wherein there was heretofore a very strong and fa­mous Town. The Water of the Da­nube seems to be whiter and more mud­dy than the Sau, and the Water of the Sau, blacker and clearer than the Da­nube.

The GRAN and the WAAG.

In the North of Hungary there are some Rivers also, which having their sources in the Carpathian Mountains, divide it from Poland; amongst others the River of Gran, which falls into the Danube, close by Strigonium or Gran; and the Waag or Vagus, which dischar­ges it self into the same River, above Comara. Stuckius who is an Eye Wit­ness says, that that River is no less than the Po in Italy: It is certain that at Frey­stadt, which is a Town about seven­teen Leagues from the place, where it falls into the Danube, it is very broad, and has a fair Bridge there, the greatest part whereof was carried away by the Ice, in the year 1669. A great way above this [Page 80] Place, and nearer its source, there is another very fair Bridge at Trenschin.

The SARVIZZA, WALPO, and BOSNETH.

Besides all these great Rivers there are some others mentioned by Pliny which he calls Fluvii non ignobiles, no inconsiderable Rivers. By Jeni or Nova Palenka, runs the River of Sarviz za otherwise called Vrpanus▪ which hath its source close by Wesprin, and having run by Alba Regalis, makes a Trian­gle with Buda and Gran, and then falls into the Danube.

By Walcover also runs the River of Walpo or Vulpanus, which hath its head above the Town of Walpo, that was taken by Solyman upon his March to Alba Regalis or Stoel-Weissenbourg.

As to the River Bosneth or Bacuntus, it hath its source near Mount Arpataro or Almus, and falls into the River of Sau, near to the Ancient Sirmium that stands upon its bank.

ROMAN BATTLES.

THE Inhabitants of Hungary have had in Ages past many Brushes with the Romans, and fought several Bat­tles with them: that which was given in the Neighbourhood of Adom, a Town of the Lower Hungary, upon the Bank of the Danube, was one of the Bloodiest. The occasion of it was, that at that time the Romans came to Seize the Country under the Conduct of Mocrinus and Tetricus, but there they received an utter overthrow.

Some time after the Inhabitants of Hungary having recollected their For­ces, gave the Romans a Second Battle in the precincts of Solna, wherein they again obtained the Victory, and drove out the Romans, though they lost on their side above Forty thousand of their own Souldiers.

THE BATTLE OF MOHACZ.

THAT unhappy Battle, where­in Loüis King of Hungary lost his Life, was fought the 30th. of August 1526. in the plain of Mo­hacz, a little Town of the Lower Hun­gary upon the River called Carasse, close by the Danube, betwixt Botesk and Es­seck. Solyman, Emperor of the Turks, being come into Hungary, with a pow­erful Army; the Chief Commanders of the Hungarian Army perswaded the young King, who being hardly Twenty years of Age, was much wanting in Conduct, and had not For­ces sufficient to make head against the Turks, to give them Battle, without staying for the Succors that were to come to him from Transilvania: [Page 99] They were puffed up with their for­mer Victories, and so swollen with a good Conceit of themselves, that they [...]hought none were able to stand a­gainst them, and that their Reserved­ness might make the Hungarians enter­ [...]ain a bad opinion of the resolution of [...]heir Army. The Event answered [...]he rashness of that Counsel; for that [...]ovely Army of the Hungarians, consist­ [...]ng of the best part of the Nobility, [...]nd chief Forces of the Kingdom, was [...]outed and cut in pieces: The King was [...]ot killed in the Fight; but his Horse [...]hrew him into a Mire, where he [...]tuck, and died, after he had for a [...]ong time fought Valiantly with the Barbarians on the other side of the Town. His Body was found two Months after the Battle, in the River [...]f Czelepatuka, and was interred in [...]he Burying-place of the Kings, in the City of Alba Regalis. That unhappy [...]efeat of the Christians, and that [...]ictory of the Turks, occasioned in the [...]equel the loss of the chief part of the [...]ingdom of Hungary: The Bishops [...]hemselves aswell as the rest of [...]he Clergy, made it apparent [Page 100] in that Battle, that they were very good Soldiers for the common Cause of Chri­stendom; for no fewer than six Bishops were killed in that fatal Overthrow, and amongst them Paul Tomorie Archbishop of Colocza, one of the chief who had advised the King to engage in that Battle: His Head was carried to Soly­man, who called it a foolish Head, and incapable of giving its Master good Council. This is the Inscription that was made in memory of that fatal day.

THE BATTLE OF S. GODARD.

THis Battle was fought the first of August, in the year, 1664. at St. Godard, betwixt Kermin and Canisa, in the Lower Hungary. In this place, one half of the Turkish Army passed the River of Raab, to attack the Impe­rialists; but hardly were these Troops got over the River, when, without gi­ving them time to entrench themselves, the Imperial Forces under the Com­mand of General Montecuculi, being drawn up to receive them, forced them to fight, and utterly defeated the great­est part of the Turks; the rest betook themselves shamefully to flight, who crowding in great haste to re-pass the River, threw themselves head-long in­to the Water, and were carried away by the Stream; so that the Rapidity of [Page 102] the River, forcing along with it Men and Horses, they were drowned in the deepest places; it being certain that more perished in the Water, than by the Sword: And the Turks themselves acknowledged, that they lost many more Men, than the Gazets of Europe mentioned. To which they added, that their Histories did not speak of so great and so shameful a Disgrace happened to the Ottoman Empire, since it had attained to so high a degree of Power, as that Disaster was. The Turks left above Eight Thousand Men upon the place, and the Glory of the day to the Imperialists, which was imme­diately followed by a Peace, that the Turks proposed, and greedily embra­ced; of which these were the Condi­tions.

• 1. That Transilvania should conti­nue within its ancient Limits, and with its ancient Priviledges, under the Command of Prince Michael Abaffi.
• 2. That the Emperour of Germany should have Liberty to fortifie Gutta and Nitra.
• [Page 103]3. That the Turks should make no In­novation in the Regulation made for the Frontiers, as well of Hungary, as of the other Territories of the Em­perour.
• 4. That Abaffi should pay six hundred Thousand Crowns to the Port, for the Charges of the War.
• 5. That all Acts of Hostility, betwixt the Emperour and Grand Signior, and their Subjects, should for ever cease.
• 6. That the two Provinces of Zatmar, and Zaboli, given to Ragotzi for Life, should again return to his Imperial Majesty, and neither the Prince of Transilvania, nor the Grand Signior pretend any Right to them.
• 7. That the strong Castle of Zechel­hyd which revolted from the Em­perour, should be demolished, be­cause neither Party would renounce their Pretentions to so important a place.
• [Page 104]8. That Waradin and Newheusel should remain in the Possession of the Turks, who had carried them by their Arms.
• 9. That for Confirmation of the Peace, the two Emperours should send Ambassadours to one another, with reciprocal Presents of equal value.

THE BATTLE AND RELIEF OF VIENNA. The 12th. of September, 1683.

JOHN III. By the Grace of God, King of Poland, Great Duke of Li­thuania, Russia, Prussia, Massovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Kiovia, Vol­hinia, Podolia, Poldachia, Smalen­scia, Severia, and Czernihovia.

Upon occasion of this great Victo­ry, the following Chronogram was published.

And it was the Subject of a Medal, which was made representing a double [Page 113] spread Eagle upon the Globe of the World looking to the Sun, with this Inscription, Colliget Auxilii radios, and having in its Tallons a Sword and Scep­ter: About the Globe was this Mot­to, Sub umbrâ alarum tuarum, and un­derneath this, the Crescent reversed, with this Hemistich, Victamque rede­git in umbras. And in the circumfe­rence of the Medal, this Verse: ‘Imperii murum Austriaco interponit inorbe.’

On the Reverse these Words were en­graven.

On the one side was Written.

And on the other: ‘Duce Lotharingio Caesaris locum tenente Generali, Comite Starembergio Viennae.’

And underneath all these Writings was what follows:

There were many Sonnets made upon the same Subject in Vulgar Lan­guages to the Honour of the King of Poland; but that which was made on him in Latin, very well deserves a place here.

Now this happy Victory and Relief of Vienna, is so much the more to be pri­sed, that it is certain, according to the List which was afterwards found in the Grand Viziers Tent, that the Army of the Turks which Besieged it, consisted of 191800. men, and the Christian Army only of 81600. The great Standard, the Horses Tail, and the Grand Viziers own Horse were taken by the Poles, who obstinatly pursued them in their Retreat, and there was much booty found in the Turkish Camp, which was wholly plundered even to the Tent of the Grand Vizier, where they found great Riches in Gold, Silver, and other pre­cious things: All their Artillery, which consisted of above an hundred pieces [Page 117] of Cannon, was also gained with store of Ammunition.

The great Standard we mentioned before, was carried before the King of Poland, when he made his entry into Vienna, immediately after it was Relieved, and was sent presently by that King to the Pope. On the one side of it was this Inscription, ‘We prophecy to you prosperity and good Success, God Pardon your Sins, and grant you all his grace.’

And on the other side. ‘God Assist and Bless you, and dwell in the Hearts of Believers, that the purity of the Faith may encrease therein. Besides him there is no other God, and Ma­homet is his Prophet.’

It will not be amiss here to insert the List of the great Lords, who be­sides the Imperialists, were present at that Battle; of whom the Names follow,

• [Page 118]The King of Poland.
• Prince Alexander his Son.
• The Elector of Bavaria.
• The Elector of Saxony.
• The Duke of Lorrain.
• Prince Waldeck.
• Two Marquesses of Baden.
• Four Dukes of Saxony.
• Three Dukes of Wittenberg.
• The Prince of Anhalt.
• The Duke of Croy.
• The Prince of Salms.
• Two Dukes of Neubourgh.
• The Marquess of Barreit.
• The Prince of Hannover.
• The Prince Lubomirski.
• The Prince of Savoy.
• The Prince of Hogen Zoller.

And since the King of Poland had so great a Hand in this Victory, I hope the Curious will not be dissatisfi­ed, to see the League offensive and de­fensive, which was happily made and concluded in the Month of April, 1683. betwixt their Imperial and Polo­nian Majesties, of which the substance follows:

[Page 119]1. There shall be only an Alliance defensive betwixt the two high Con­tractors; but against the Turks there shall be also an Alliance offensive, which shall last untill both Parties find themselves in Rest and good Security.

2. This Alliance shall be Sworn and Sacredly confirmed by Oath, in presence of the Pope, by the two Cardinals Pio and Barberino, aswell in name of his Imperial Majesty, as of his Majesty of Poland, and of his States.

3. His Imperial Majesty renounces all pretentions for the Charges he hath been at, for the good of the Republick of Poland, during the late War of Swe­den, and the Diploma de Electione Regis shall be given back and an­nulled.

4. On the other hand the Crown and Republick of Poland renounces all pretentions it can have against the House of Austria.

5. The one shall not make a sepa­rate Peace, without the consent of the other.

[Page 120]6. The Heirs of the two parties and Successors in the Government, shall be obliged to observe this Alli­ance.

7. This only is to be understood of a War against the Turks, and not of any other.

8. His Imperial Majesty declares, that he will entertain 60000. men, whereof he will send 40000. into the Fields, and keep the other 20000. in Garrisons.

9. His Polonian Majesty offers to bring 40000. men into the Fields un­der his own command.

10. To the end the Preparations of War may be the sooner in readiness, His Imperial Majesty promises by Antici­pation to remit 200000. Crowns to the Crown of Poland, on condition that that sum be raised out of the Tenth of the Pope in the Kingdom of Poland, which he hath granted for that effect.

11. His Imperial Majesty shall be obliged to recover the places that he hath lost in Hungary. The Poles in like manner shall be obliged to regain theirs in Podolia, Walachia, and the Vkrain, and to act against Teckely with 6000. men.

[Page 121]12. Other Christian Kings and Po­tentats may be also received into this Alliance; but not without the mutu­al consent of both Parties, and above all the two Czars of Muscovy shall be earnestly entreated to enter in­to it.

I cannot conclude this Chapter, without calling to mind a pretty Em­bleme made upon occasion of this Victory, by a young Prince, who reckons Emperors amongst his Ance­stors: The Emblem represents a Turk pitching a Net to surprise and catch the Eagle; but who wandering and engaging too far in his own Toile, be­came himself therein the prey of the Eagle, with this Inscription: ‘Qui captat, capitur, or Turca à capiendis captus.’

THE BATTLE OR DEFEAT OF THE TURKS NEAR PRESBOƲRG.

THE Turks who were before Vienna, in the year 1683. find­ing it difficult to bring their Provisions and Ammunition from the City of Buda, to the place where they were on the side of the Danube; be­cause the Garrisons of Raab and Co­mora way laid all their Convoys, and much annoyed them; the Grand Visier sent orders to Basha Husani, to join [Page 124] Count Teckely with some Troops, who was on the other side of the Danube, near the River of Waag, and to en­deavour to make himself Master of the City of Presbourg, to the end they might have the passage of the Danube free, make a Bridge of Boats over it, and be provided of all things on that side. The thing was well undertaken; for Twenty thousand of their Men marched towards that Town: But the Duke of Lorrain, who at that time resolved to encrease his Army with the Regiments of Gran and Baden, which were in Raab, and were not so necessary there, seeing the Turks had Besieged Vienna, and who therefore had drawn near to Presbourg, to secure that Town from the attempts of the Turks; having had notice of it, sent immediately against them Prince Louis of Baden (who that day commanded the Van-Guard) with some Squadrons of Prince Lubomirski's men, and the Two Regiments of Palfi and Styrum, who at first charged Teckely's men in such a manner, that presently they be­took themselves to flight. The Turks made a little longer Resistance; but at [Page 225] length also they were forced to give ground with the loss of Eight hundred of their Men, and a considerable Aga. The Imperialists gained there a Thou­sand Wagons with Baggage; and cer­tainly it was a lucky Hit for them to have beat the Enemy at that time, be­cause if they had delayed but one day longer, Presbourg had been lost, see­ing those within had promised to ren­der next day to Teckely, and to furnish him with all that was necessary for the Bridge of Boats: whereas the Im­perialists thereby not only preserved that Town, whither soon after they sent Six hundred men to re-inforce the Garrison; but also hindred the passage of the Danube, and the means of pro­viding the Army before Vienna with necessaries; besides that they also ru­ined the Boats which Count Teckely and the Turks had gathered together for making a Bridge: These last re­treated towards the River of Waag, from whence Count Teckely wrote a Letter, to Justifie himself to the Grand Visier, which was intercepted by the Imperialists.

THE BATTLE OF BARKAN.

THE Generals of the Christian Armies, on the 10th. of Octo­ber, 1683. advanced towards Barkan (the Poles on that occasion be­ing on the left Wing;) the Turks see­ing them approach, fell upon them with a dreadful Shout, and chiefly up­on the left Wing, commanded by the Lord High Marshal of Poland Jabla­nowisky, who having the former Vict­ory in his thoughts, charged the Turks so furiously, that he constrained them to give ground; but the Duke of Lor­rain with the Cavalry of the right Wing, broke in upon them, with so great Impetuosity, that he put them entirely to the Flight. Afterwards some Regiments were commanded out to pursue the Turks, who fled, and by [Page 127] them were driven partly in a Marish, and partly into the Danube; because the Bridge, betwixt Barkan and Gran, broke in the middle, so that most of them fell into the River, and were drowned, and the rest who saved themselves in the Marish were killed, seeing in the first heat they gave the Turks no Quarters; and it was not till towards the end that they took a Thousand Prisoners, a­mongst whom was the Basha of Silistria. Prince Loüis of Baden signalized him­self on this occasion, and was by his Conduct the chief cause of the Victo­ry, because the Imperial Cavalry act­ed all along without the Foot. The Christians gained all the Colours, Tents, Cannon, Baggage, and in a word, all that was in the Camp of the Turks, besides a Thousand Horses that they made booty of. There are various Relations of the loss that the Turks suf­fered in this Fight; some will have it that being Thirteen thousand strong before the Defeat, they saved but Three or Four Thousand at most, and amongst those the Basha of Mesopotamia who Commanded them; all the rest, [Page 128] who were the Choice of the Turkish Army, being either killed or taken. However it be, the Waters of the Da­nube were died with their Blood; this Fight lasted about five hours.

From thence the Imperalists advanc­ed towards Barkan, and Battered that place so violently with great and small Shot, that presently they in the Town beat a Parley, which being granted them, the Imperialists enter­ed the place; but shortly after a Fire happening in it, this little Hold was burnt down, and no body could tell how the Fire happened. This Victory was followed by the taking of Gran, which surrendered the 27th. of Octo­ber, after four days Siege: These were the Articles of Capitulation;

1. All the Cannon, Mortars, Ammu­nition, Magazines, and other Arms shall remain in the Fort, except what is hereafter specified.

2. The Garrison shall have leave to provide themselves of Bread and Meat for two days, and to carry with them all their Coffee, Sharbet, Cloaths and other Moveables.

[Page 129]3 His Highness of Lorrain shall furnish the Garrison a certain Number of Waggons, to carry their Goods to the Water, to be Transported down­wards.

4. Some Boats shall also be given to the said Garrison, to be made use of for transporting their Effects; and if they cannot carry them off all at once, they may send for them at several times.

5. That if the afore said Baggage can­not be Transported all at once, the Garrison may put what is left behind into some Houses of the Lower Town, which shall be kept by some of their Men, that all the rest may honestly and without Let or Molestation follow after.

6. Since the Boat-men cannot be spared at present, the Garrison shall be obliged to make use of their own men, to go down and up the River with the Boats.

7. The afore-mentioned Articles being granted to the Garrison, the Gate of the Castle shall immediately be opened to the Imperial Troops, that they may take their Post there, [Page 130] and so soon as the aforesaid Waggons and Boats shall be ready, the Garrison of the Fort of Gran, that is to say, they who are capable to bear Arms, shall march out all at once.

8. All the Christian Prisoners in the Castle shall be released.

9. Lastly, the Garrison may freely march out, as hath been said, with their Wives and Children, Arms and Baggage, Horses and Camels, observ­ing the Conditions above-mentioned, in the manner as they are expressed.

In consequence of this Capitulation, the Prince of Alepah of Syria, Comman­der in Gran, and Basha of Nicopolis, and Samson Basha Colonel of the Janissa­ries, marched out of the place with Five hundred Men carrying Arms to go to Offen; whereupon the Duke of Lorrain, made Governor of Gran Co­lonel Calowith Governor of the Castle of Presbourg, with a Garrison of 1000. Imperial Souldiers, and some Hundreds of Hussars.

THE BATTLE OF GRAN.

AUgust the 16. 1685. The Dukes of Lorrain and Bavaria raised the Siege that the Turks had laid down before Gran, and then engaged the Barbarians, to the number of Fifty or Sixty Thousand men, gave them a total Rout, and obliged them to aban­don their Camp and Baggage; which Victory Three days after was fol­lowed with the taking of Newheu­sel.

It will not be improper, I think, in this place to insert the Letter which about that time, the Serasquier Ibrahim Basha wrote to his Highness the Duke of Lorrain, which he sent by the Defte­dar of the Timmariot's Achmet Desquelebi by the Advice of the Grand Signior, the Contents whereof are word for word as follows.