Szigetvar - "Florus Hungaricus" by James Howell, 1664

Florus Hungaricus

or, The history of Hungaria and Transylvania deduced from the original of that nation, and their setling in Europe in the year of our Lord 461, to this dangerous and suspectful period of that kingdome by the present Turkish invasion, anno 1664.

Howell, James, 1594?-1666.

London: Printed by W.G. for Hen. Marsh, 1664.

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In Sclavonia, Mustapha the Bassa of Bosnia, having taken Krupa in sight, and to the ignominy of Auspurgerus, who dared not to Encounter him, proceeded and stormed Novia, and was thence prosecuting his Fortune with Fifteen thousand Men, when Petrus Erdaedius but with Fifteen hundred so lustily accosted him, that he put him to the Rout, and slew the Turks like so many sheep.

Nor did the Peace in Hungary stand firm and inviolable, for Hidajetes a new Envoy or Chiaux Solyman, had demanded Tockay to be restored to John, by which encouragement Bekessius and George Bebecus (the Son of him that was put to death by Isabel, who flying to Ferdinand was intercepted by the Turks, and begged of Solyman by John, whom as his benefactour he was obliged to serve) confer Counsels and contrive a war; so that the conclusion made between Suendius, Somlianus, and Cracsianerus of Poland (who negotiated the accomodation by his Kings order) although ratified, took not its effect: Somlianus (for his prevarication with John) in that Treaty, being committed to Custody. The War being commenced, the Bassa of Buda, and Hasan Beg of Fueleck, assisted the Transylvanian, who recovered Ieneon, Desvium, Vilagosvarum, Pancota, and lastly, after a difficult siege, the strong Town of Zacmar; upon the Surrender whereof, Hasanes enraged for the losse of Curtus his Major slain during the siege, commanded the Garrison to be put the Sword, after Articles of Life and Liberty. Swendius although equal to the Enemy yet delayed engagement, proffered by Hasanes, knowing a new Treaty was managed at Vienna, which new stated the agreement, viz. John to have all places taken from him restored, and to be honoured with some present from the Emperour.

But Caesar forbearing the restitution of Tockay, and lingering in other points to be performed on his part, Solyman now 80 years old, undertook his last Expedition into Hungary, and when disswaded thereto by Albert Vicius, and Hoszutothius, Maximilian's Ambassadors, alleadging there was no mischief intended by their Masters delay, he answered in a juvenile heat, That the end of his life was measured out to him, not by his length of years, but the extent of dominion. He was now arrived at Belgrade (where the news of the defeat of Arslanes and his dislodgement from the Siege of Palotta by Thurn, met him) and there gave reception to John Sigismund, having fetcht him from the other side of the Danow in his own Barge, and presented him with a stately Horse, richly set out, on which he was brought through his Guard of Janizaries to his own person; Sigismund himself had the Honour of his right hand joyned with his, the rest of his Train kissed Solyman's  knee or the hem of his vest. After some discourse and thanks rendered for his many kindnesses, and his Aid and assistance anew implored against the Germans, he drew out a Petitionary paper containing the Oath that Solyman had took concerning the redelivery of Buda, betwixt hope and fear of what would ensue such an Addresse. But such was the generous freedome and clearnesse of Solyman's nature, that to rid him of the anxiety he presently Commanded his Vizier Mahomet to conforme in all things with the desire and request of his Beneficiary. But Mahomet taxing the Ingratitude of, upbraiding him with his own tendernesse, as having been more a Father to him than Solyman, and taking it in scorn that he should keep equal State with him before Company, so wrought upon Solyman by setting before him how many Musselmens lives his Quarrel and that Place had cost him; and that it was against the Law of Mahomet to yield it to the Christians; that not only the City was not rendred to him, but he dismist with a prohibition of any further speech or sight of the Grand Seigniour. At the same time Portau Bassa took Gyula which Ladislaus Kereczsenius for a while resolutely Defended; but being corrupted by the Enemy against the advice and intimation given him of the necessity of the Turks departure, by Stephen Bathori, delivered it upon terms, which the perfidious Enemy observed not, how ever by the favour of the Night, and the Reeds growing thereabouts, some few escaped. He himself, as a just reward for his Treason, was by the Command of the Sultan, rolled down a Hill in a Barrel stuck full with Nails.

Whose first attaque was upon the Town of Sigeth, wherein was Governour Count Nicholas Serini, with Two thousand five hundred Men; an incompetent number to the Defence of the place, which diverted the storm from Agria (at a Town neer to which called Soklos the Bassa of Bosnia had been slain) upon it self. All Military Experiments were practised in this Seige, the continual discharge of the Cannons so rarefying the Air, that the noyse of the Leagure was heard as far as Canisa. Aly Portau the General of the Ordinance doing the part of a valourous and skilful Commander, as well by diverting the Course of the River, as bringing his Men in person to the breaches. Nor was Serini lesse active and Couragious filling the Grafts with the slaughtered Carcasses of the Enemy; from the shame whereof arose Indignation and resentment of their losse, by which both Towns the old and the new were taken and Sacked. Aly Portau surviving not that Effort, committed the prosecution of the Castle to Seysedin Bassa now destitute of provision and wanting men the few Defendants being tired out with constant duty. Three dayes before the Castle fell into the hands of the Turk died Solyman, labouring with an anxious Expectation of its reduction, and wearied with old Age, made more irksome by a pain in his Leg and accelerated by the Flux. His Death was concealed by the Policy of Mahomet, until Selym his Son should be seated in the Imperial Throne, and several menacing Edicts fainedly given out to make the Turks desperate in the next Assault; when Serini being disabled to hold out longer, opening the Gates and encouraging his Souldiers to die with him (having put on a rich Sute with a Hundred peices of Gold in his Pocket, the reward of him that should kill him) sallyed out with fury upon the Enemy, and died nobly revenged in the midst of them, having slain during the Siege no lesse than Twenty some say Thirty thousand men. The Head of this Famous person, was made a publique spectacle one whole day; and the next by Mustapha Bassa of Buda sent to the Count of Salms, and interred at Csaktornya, but by the Imperial Army in veneration of his great and admirable Actions solemnly attended to Abdua, and there deposited.

The said Army, consisting with the aydes of the Empire, of 25 Thousand Horse, and 80 Thousand Foot, paid chiefly with the money of Pope Pius the 5th. lay encamped about Raab (where a sad Fire happened about this time) not offering to stir to the relief of Sigeth, nor to the suppression of John Sigismond who aided with a great body of Tartars (his own Army amounting to 15,000 men) had ruined the Territories of Patach Munkacks, and Bereckshez, sparing neither age nor sex. Tockay was defended against him by the valour of Jacob Ranuger, and Matthias Calvasius; the same Tartars continued this their ravage of both sides the Tibiscus to the County of Bodroch and Samosch, intending the like upon Bihor, to such a desolation of the Country, that John afflicted with the sight of it, when he could neither regain the Captives nor perswade them to desist their cruelty, near to Debreczinum gave them battel, and victoriously freed his people of these Locusts and Destroyers; as, while Maximilian retired to Vienna having fortified Canisa, and thereafter disbanded his Army, Mahomet took in Babozza, and with the honour of the Campania retired to Belgrade, having met Selymus, in his return, at Valkovar, who followed his Fathers Corps (meanly attended in sign of humane frailty) to Constantinople, where it was interred in a most magnificent Mosque built by himself in his life time.