THe Kingdome of Hungary having been for many ages as a Wall to Christendome against the Turkes , was in the yeare 1395 first invaded by the Sarasens , King Sigismund being ▪ defeated in that yeare , ( though hee had gotten a powerfull Army together ) and yet he was farr worse beaten in the yeare 1409 by the Turkes . In the yeare 1439 Amurath the Turkish Emperour came before Senderyn , situated on the Donaw being a Citie belonging to Georg Despota ; Lord of that Country , who durst not attend the Turkes comming , but fled out of the Citie , leaving his two Sonnes therein , to defend the same : Hee wrote to the Emperour for assistance but it was then too late , for the Sarasens soone tooke the said place in by a storme , and caused the said two Sonnes Eyes to be put out , and afterwards to be guelded , putting to the Sword besides all the inhabitants . Anno 1441 Iohn Huniadar Corvinus ( whose Father was a native Wallachian , but his Mother a Grecian Woman ) being the Emperours Generall in Transilvania ; cut off in a Village 20000 Turkes , amongst whome was killed the Turkish Bashaw and his Sonne , whose heads Corvinus caused to be stuck upon a Waggon ( which was soe full of Turkes heads that ten Horses could hardly draw it ) which said Treasure hee in that manner presented to the German Emperour ; In the yeare 1442 & 43. did Corvinus again courageously beate the Turkes out of the feild . Anno 1444 Ulad●slaus the King of Hungary broke the peace with the Turkes ( being thereunto incited by Pope . Eugenius who wrote unto him that hee was not obliged to keep his Oath with Infidels ) and took the feild ( all though against the advice of Corvinus who proposed to him what a shame it was to breake his Oath , which , even the very Turkes did keepe , and how much more Christians ought to doe so , But the King being backed by the Legat Julianus , despised the Councell of Corvinus , and marched forwards : Now the Turkes hearing that the King of Hungary was soe perfideous , came hastely over the Hellespont with 100000 Men , whom the Masters and Pilots of Genoa ( having for each Turke a piece of Gold ) waifted over before Vladislaus was aware of it : upon St Martins Eve the Christians and Turkes joined Battle , and the Turks at first were put to flight , and Amurath the Turkish Emperour also flying , who seeing a Crucifix in one of their Ensignes , cryed out aloude O thou crucified Christ if thou art the Son of God , powre downe thy wrath upon this King and his people , for hee hath most perfideously broken the Oath , which hee hath sworne by thy Name and holy Gospel . Behold now there the Turkes flying , and their Camells full of Treasure dispersed , the Bishop of Erland and Waradin fall on to plunder , but the King desirous to follow the Victory , notwithstanding Corvinus shewed him the danger thereof ( and councelled him to the contrary ) with certain Horse followeth the persuite , which a Janisary perceving , who knew him , shot his Horse under him , and soe killed the said perfideous King , cutting of his head , and stuck it upon a long Speare ; Thus sped that peace-breaking Monarch of Hungary , whose guard endeavoured to have rescued him , but in vaine : All the Christians in number about 30000 were that very day by the Turkish Emperour hemmed in and cut off and the Hungarian Kings head , ( who was but 20 years old ) was carried into Turkey . Anno 1445 Corvinus was made Vice-Roy of Hungary , who having confederated himselfe with the Prince Scanderbeg , did in the yeare 1448 cut of 34000 Turkes in three dayes space , but the last day the Dice turned and Corvinus with many Christians where beaten , and hee in his flight being attacqued by two Murtherers ( who both quarrelled about the faire and great Gold Crosse which hunge about his Necke , Corvinus wrung one of their Scymiters out of their hands , wherewith hee killed the one of them and caused the other ( having disarmed him ) to fly : hee retyring himselfe , was by Despota taken prisoner and not discharged , until hee had delivered over his Sonn Uladislaus as Hostage ; But hee did shortly after well reward the Despota by visiting him , with an Army , so that the Despota was glad ( with many gifts and presents ) to restore him his Sonne againe . Anno 1452 Corvinus silently retired into Hungary , where King Vladislaus ( who now was but 12 yeares old ) reigned , to whom hee resigned up his Vice-Royship of Transilvania , but the King would perforce that hee should keep it , and gave him also the Earldome or County of Bistrice : which great honor the Earle of Celien envying , hee accused Corvinus as if hee aspired to the Crowne of Hungary , and sought the life of his Majesty ; but Corvinus being advertised thereof , did so cunningly worke himselfe through all these obstacles , that the Accuser was imprisoned , and hee triumphantly continued in his honour . Anno 1456 the Turkish Emperour Mahomet , who had been made Roman Emperour , by his Father , upon condition , that hee should be , and ever remaine an unreconcileable enemy of the name of JESUS : Three yeares after hee tooke Constantinople from the Christians , massacring almost all hee found , and caused all the Borders of Christendome by his Vagabonds and Straglers to be harrased , and miserably destroyed . Vladislaus the Hungarian King , fearing that those invasions might apparently take hold of , and breake into Vienna , tooke care thereof ; but none save Corvinus alone , knew any remedy to oppose the Turkish powers , hee advised and strengthened himselfe with Cardinal Joannes , Legate of Pope Calixto , and certaine German forces , unto whom joyned Capistranus an Italian by birth ( who was both cunning and curagious , but a meere Hypocrite and dissembler ) with 600 Polanders , who adored him as an Idoll , with these and other Troopes did they in the yeare 1456 , attempt to releive Stoel-Weissenburgh , which was beseiged by Mahomet : Corvinus got into it , and encouraged the Garrison , and sallyed out the 6th of August , in which conflict Mahomet himselfe was wounded in his Eye , and carried dead into his Tent , which they set on fire and so most shamefully left the Seige , hereupon Corvinus sallyes out agayn , but returning backe , and being too much wearied , departed this life the 10 of September , having been a faithfull Servant of Christendome ; Count Ulrich of Celien hearing of this , stirreth the King of Hungary up , against the two surviving Sonnes of Corvinus . Anno 1457 the King and Count Celien meeting together at Greek-Weissenburgh to devide the Spoyle gotten from the Turkes Vladislaus , Corvinus eldest Sonne fell at variance , first in words with the said Count of Celien , and afterwards to blowes , in so much that Vladislaus runn Count Celien thorough ▪ Vladislaus Mother did by reason hereof on her knees begg pardon of the King and obtained it , his Majesty soon after commanding , that they should all put of their mourning weeds , and put on Purple Robes embroidered with Gold , which the King gave them as a reward of their Fathers demerits ; But they afterwards travailing from Offen towards Hungary , thinking that all was pacified , were by the King ( who was incensed by fresh Accusers ) taken Prisoners , and caused Vladislaus most cruelly to bee beheaded in the feilds , without any processe of Law ; and Mathias the youngest brother to be conveyed a Prisoner in strong Chaines to Vienna . One thing was observable , that the Headsman when hee should execute Vladislaus , struck him three blowes without fetching Blood , and though hee protested his innocency , hee was never the less dispatched . But God to whom Vengeance alwayes belongeth , punished that King of Hungary , for in the yeare 1458 , as he was travelling to Prague to marry with that incredible precious Princess Magdalen , Daughter of the King of France , hee ( being then but 18 yeares old ) was in the space of thirty houres in health and dead , beeing upon 24 of November destroyed by Poyson ; But Mathias was miraculously delivered by his Unckle , who sent to the King of Bohemia 50000 Hungary gilders , by which hee was not onely discharged , but the King of Bohemia gave him his daughter to Wife , by which meanes Mathias himselfe came to be the King of Hungary and was succesfull in his Warrs against the Turkes , not withstanding , that the Polander much envyed him , who himselfe would have had the Hungarian Crowne on his head ; but was in the yeare 1463 at Bania shott with an Arrow in the backe . Anno 1481 the Turkish Emperour Mahomet deceased of a great fit of the Collike , which continued three dayes . Anno 1490 dyed King Mathias , having greived himselfe too much about some harsh words which he had used against one of his Servants . Anno 1520 the Hungarians more and more declining mocked and shamefully intreated the Turkish Embassadors , whereupon a Warr ensues , in which the Turkes won Weissenburgh , beating King Lodowick : a Monck by his too much bragging being the loss of this , ( his name was Tomorewes , ) because hee performed not his promise in time , and King Lodowick stumbling in a hole in the Water called Drabmarr ( which was but a spann and a halfe deepe ) though comming out , was thrown backward and his Horse fell upon him , under which hee at last was smothered ; That villainous Monck two Bishops , and fowre other heads , were carryed through the Turkish Leaguer , and amongst others the head of Ladislaus Soleani Archbishop of Gran , who would very faine have left a great Treasure behinde him , without assisting the King therewith , the Turkish Emperour saying , That Francis Bary Bishop of Waradyn had done better , by warning the King against this Battle ; and seeing a piece of Hungary money upon which both the King and Queene of Hungary ( who where both of them young ) coyned or instamped , is said to have been grieved , that his Councell had not advised him aginst that feild Battle , he not beeing come into Hungary to prejudice the King Lodowick , but to a venge the spitefull usage shewed to his Embassadours , and that hee ( if Lodowick had been alive ) would willingly have assigned the whole Kingdome to him , upon a small Tribute , because hee had been deceived and seduced by his owne people ; but the Turkes when they speak faire are not to be trusted for they did afterwards winn Pest and Offen ; which King Ferdinand 1527 rewonn , but lost the same againe , and also Comorra . Anno 1529 came Solyman before Vienna , of which the Suburbes were burned , it had yet 20000 foote Souldiers , and 2000 Horse therein : Solyman the Turkish Emperour demanded the City to be surrendred , but they answered him , that they by Gods grace would defend the said City to the last Man , whereupon Solyman came with 400 Ships downe the Donaw , and with slight Cannon , caused all the Bridges to be throwne downe : the Christians had but ill success then , yet after that 636 Citizens had been killed , the Turkes upon the 14 of October 1529 left the Seige after the Christians had there lost 1500 Men ; then the Turkish Emperour returned to Constantinople , and made John Vayvod at Offen King of Hungaria : The Turks had before that time taken the City Offen without blow or push , the Germans not making one shot , which much troubled Thomas Nodasti their Governour , Soliman himselfe praising Nodasties faithfulness , and gave him , ( though hee was his Prisoner ) his life , But the Germans when they were marched out ( although he promised them their lives ) did hee cause to be killed in the feilds , for their perfideousnes , thereby punishing the falsitie of Soldiers , whilst hee as Turkish Emperour committed falsnes , by breaking his promise , made to the German Soldiers : Solyman did then also winn Comorra and the well fortified Citie Altenburgh . Anno 1532 the Turkes beleaguered Gran , and did much disstresse it , but where as the Woemen and Children who were fled into the Castle made a great noyse and crye , the Turke , thinking , that there were still very many Soldiers in the Citie , did therefore depart ▪ and left the Seige . Anno 1537 were the Imperialists beaten by M●homet , because John Catzianer Generall o● the Crabates plaid the part of a faithless man , leaving Lodowick Lodron in the danger , who carried himselfe so manfully , that hee cut the hamstrings of his owne Horse , thereby to give an example to his Soldiers , that hee would not ride nor runne away , but stand by them to the death ; hee was ( manfully fighting ) at length taken prisoner , cut in pieces , and his head sent to Constantinople : Catziaus thought to excuse himselfe , but was apprehended , though cutting the sheet's of his Bed into pieces , he escaped out of his Chamber , and ran to the Turkes , ( who upon condition , of delivering over some Cities in Austria ) confirmed him to be Generall in Croatia ; hee thereby thought to induce Nicholas Earle of Seryn to doe the like , ye● this brave Champion would not breake his Oath , which hee had sworne to the Emperour , but did after dinner cause this Traytor to be murthered , and sent his head to the Emperour , by reason whereof this noble family of the Seryns which indeed are brave Souldiers , were by the Emperour dignified with the Castle of Catzianer and all his goods .

Anno 1540. Iohn King of Hungary deceasing , left a Widdow and 2 Son of eleaven dayes old behind him , the Christians called him Steven but the Turkes Iohn Issabella , the Widdow was by a Monck whose name was Iurian , perswaded , that both of them should take the Crowne of Hungary upon their heads ; The Monck being cuning , though poore , yet of a noble house of Croatia , and educated by the deceased King Iohns Mother , being ashamed to serve other men , retired himselfe into a Monastery at St Paul learning as much Latin as that hee could say the Masse : 't is true that King Iohn made much of him ; and Iuriaen the Monck carried himselfe well , in so much that the King made him his Steward over Transilvania , and gave him the Bishoprick of Waradyn ; but this Monck and the Queen fearing that the Emperour Ferdinand , in persuite of the peace concluded betweene Austria and Hungaria would endeavour to make himselfe Master of Hungary , sent in the name of the young Son ( whom they pretended to desire that he should remaine King of Hungary ) to the Turkish Emperour , a two yeares contribution , namely a tun of Gold , and one hundred silver gilt dishes , forty Cotes embroidered with Gold and Sylver , after the Turkish fashion , and thirty pound weight of beaten Gold ; whereby they obtained great assistance against the German Emperour in somuch , that anno 1541 the Turkes won Pest out of which the inhabitants as if they had been persued rann away in so much that the River Donaw turned read with their blood , loosing thereby 2500 Men , and 186 pieces of Cannon . Solyman the Turkish Emperour being incensed by some of his Soldiers ( in despite of the Emperour of Austria ) caused the Christian Prisoners to be massacred ; but sent to the Queen of Hungary and his freind the Moncke great presents , desiring to see her cheife Lords and Son in his Leaguer , the Monck doth not councel the Queen to the contrary thereof but promiseth to remaine surety , that her son should be by Solyman returned to his Mother ; though when they were come thither , and whilst Solyman kindly yet deceiptfully entertained them , and the Lords who accompanied them ; he overmastered the Citie Offen ; afterwards hee sent the young King backe againe , but detained the Lords who brought him thither , and made the Monck Treasurer : the Emperour Ferdinand did then begg to obtaine Hungary and Sevenbergen of him , but yet in vaine , The Moncke Iuriaen having gotten in all liklyhood his will of the Queen , maintained her very meanly , in so much , that shee complained to the Emperour of Turkey ( for shee could not sustaine her selfe with that which Iuriaen allowed her , but Solyman caused care to be taken of her which so much grieved the Moncke ; that he said to the Earle of Solms , that hee knew a way to bereave the Queen ( although shee was the Daughter of Sigismund King of Poland ) of all her Kingdoms . And thereupon began a Warr in Transilvania , wherein the Inhabitants incline to the Traytor and desert the Queen ; But yet the Secklers a trustie people , remaining faithfull to the Queene , forced the Moncke to an agreement ; afterwards Iuriaen became perjured , and hee seeketh assistance of Ferdinand the German Emperour , who in the yeare 1548 won Erlan : In the yeare 1551 the Moncke had so much seduced the Emperour , that the King of Stoel - Weissenburgh constrained the Queen to agree with Iuriaen and to surrender Transilvania , to him , Ferdinand was to give her for a present the summe of 150000 Hungary Crownes yearely , and yearely to her Son 25000 Crownes , and that the Queene should incorporate the City Casha , but afterwards the truth appeared , for when the King at Table related to the Emperours Generall Castoldo , that Iuriaen the Moncke was the occasion of all those troubles , hee a moneth after fell of from the Emperour , and in the interim a Turkish Bashaw intended to have taken the Queene prisoner ; But it sped not , and in the meane tyme was Transilvania conveyed over to the Emperour , at which the Turke was incensed , and not being content with the agreement betweene the Emperour and the Queen , thereupon followed a great Warr in Transilvania , in which the Monck appeareth in the feild ; and at the Emperours earnest intreaty , Iurian the grand knave was by Pope Iulius the third made Cardinall , who by credit of his hath acted very prejudicially against Christendome , in so much , as there were several designed to make him away , to which end Castaldo Palavicino one of the Imperial Colonells , comming to Bintz to advise with the Monck , concerning the management of the Imperiall Army , and not being satisfied with the Moncks opinions concerning the same , Castaldo departed from the Monck in a great discontent , and comming by Andreas Loperean another Commander of the Army , told how necessary it was , that the Monck should be dispatcht out of the way , or al Hungary would be lost . Both agree with 24 Spanish soldiers , to surprise some Towres of the City , and order several Troops to be in a readiness , neer to the gates of the Citie of Bintz , and that night it was observed that the River was swel'd so high , that it was never knowne before in the memory of the eldest in the Citie , at which the Monck himself was not a little troubled ; in the morning as the Moncks Waggons did usualy goe out of the gates of the Citie , for provisions , severall Heyduks cloathed in turkish habits to hyde their Armes , came into the Cittie , and Palavicino attended with some trustie spanish Soldiers , came very early to the Moncks Lodgings , desiring to speak with the Monck , having in their company ( for to avoyd suspition ) an other Spaniard who was the Moncks Secretary , who having a letter in his hand , was immediatly admitted into the Moncks Chamber : Palavicino stepping after , held the dore so that it might not be shut againe , the Secretary comming to the Monck , who was leaning upon a Table in his night-Gowne , desired leave of him to goe with the Marckgraef Palavicino to Vienna , and if hee pleased to command him any service thither , giving him the letter he carryed in his hand , and desiring him to read it , which while the Monck was doing , the Secretary being behind him , strooke this Monck with his Dagger upon the shoulder , soe that it came throw his breast and out neere his throat whereupon the Monck creyed out O Iesu Mary : and struck the Secretary upon his breast , insomuch that hee fell backward against the corner of the Table , the Marquis hearing the noyse , Suddenly stepped with his naked sword into the Chamber , and with a mighty blow cleft his head asunder , the other Spanyards entering in , killed him outright , after hee had first bitterly wept , O Iesus Mary our Lady : my deare bretheren wherefore doe you this ? Thus punished God one by the other : those who murthered the Monck remained not unpunished , for Palavicino was taken Prisoner by the Turkes , and caried away into Slavery : two others of them was beheaded in France , an other was for his falshood quartered , and an other was killed by a wild Boar : And the Princedome of Transilvania fell afterwards into greater misery then ever before : The Turkish Emperour understanding the Moncks death , who had been very serviceable to him in many things ( to the prejudice of Christendume ) became very sorrowfull , and the more , because the Christians became masters of all the Moncks fortresses and riches , whereupon hee in his turkish wrath , swore by Mahomet to avenge the same upon Transilvania , for it vexed him sorely , that 250000 Crownes which the said Monck left behinde him , and also 50000 Crownes lying amongst the Officers at Bints , Waradyn , Vivar and Deve , came into the hands of the Christians : although the German Emperour Ferdinand did very justly command , that all such summes as hee had in his life time taken from the Queene , should be again payd unto her , out of the Moncks relict goods , and did also out of the same goods richly reward those who murthered the Monck , and did cause the rest of the Gold and Silver to be melted , and Hungary money to be coyned thereof , which peeces or kinde of mony as being of good allowance , did long afterwards cause the Hungary Ducats and smaller pieces to be well esteemed of . On the other side the Pope was angry that the Emperours Folkes had killed the Monck , and did therefore despise the Emperours Embassadours , hee thinking it to be an infallible thing , that because he had given the Moncke a Cardinalls hat , he was therefore virtuous in all his dealings , as if that understanding and virtue were entailed to that dignity , and hee caused the Emperour , for that cause to be sharply reprehended , that hee caused a person so well qualified , and renowned in Europe , to bee murthered . The Emperour Ferdinand as an obedient Sonn of the Church of Rome , fearing to enrage the Pope promised to demonstrate the just demerit of the Monck , and that the manifold villanies by him committed were more then certain enough , but it availed nought , because the Pope required that they should have made him Heire of the Monks Estate , for he sent to that end three expresse Legates from Rome to Austria , that they should send him over a true Inventory of all the Moncks relict goods ; But the Germans answered the couvetous Legates , that the Military persons were paid therewith , and that there was not so much found , as they had made the Pope beleeve . This did the Legates write over to the Pope , who being thereby the more inraged , said , that the sinns of the Murtherers of the Monck , should never be forgiven : notwithstanding that there were severall originall Letters shewed to the said Legates , which the said Moncke had in his lifetime , ( to the shame of the Christians ) exchanged with the Turkes , in one of which amongst the rest , stood written as followeth , That he had agreed with Solyman the Turkish Emperour , that he should have caused him ( although but a Monck ) to be crowned King of Hungary , and that alone with this condition , that hee should pay but a small Tribute to Solyman . In the meane while , the Turke accordingly as hee had threatned presently invaded Transilvania , taketh Temeswar , Sobuch and Solnoch ; besieged Erlan , in which place , the Woman aswell as the Men demonstrated their courage , for defence of their Countrie , for they made in the Citie a mutuall and solemne Covenant to that end one with another : 1. That upon paine of death no peace should be made with the Turkes , 2. That no man should yield themselves to the Turkes , 3. Neither give any other answer to them then by shooting against them , 4. That if by famine they were compelled to each others Flesh ; that it should be noe sham to any one . 5. That Woman as well as Men should worke at the fortifications for the releife of sicke and wounded persons . 6. That for prevention of all treason it was ordered that but 3 or 4 persons should assemble together , or talke privatly , being alwayes mindefull how they ought to fight for their Countrey . 7. That all provisions should be to each one equally divided . 8. That all Poultrey and choisest fare , should be onely preserved for the sicke and wounded persons : Those of Erlan being thus resolved , did manfully resist thirteen most bloody Stormes ; and although Mahomet Bashaw promised them all favours and Priviledges , yet they contemned the same , and gave no other answer unto his fl●ttering promises , but shewed him a dead Beare , covereth with a mourning Cloath , which they lifted up , upon two speares above the Walles , giving him thereby to understand , that they would rather manfully within the Walls die for the defence of the Citie , then leaving the same become slaves to the Turkes , or die as faithless Christians . And these Rules were thus registred in their records . In this Seige it happened , that a Woman standing upon the Walls , her Husband was shott dead downe by her side , at which shee being undaunted , would not depart from the Walls to bury her Husband , before shee had taken her revenge upon the Turkes for it , to which end shee did presently disrobe her Husband of his Armes , and put them upon her selfe , and was not satisfied before shee had killed three Turkes with her owne hands , and then shee caused her Husband to be bury●d in the Church . Another Wom●n in this Seige carrying a greate Stone upon her head , to fling downe upon the Sarasens who were storming , her head was shott of : her Daughter standing by her side , not withstanding shee was much bloodied with the shot , made at her mother , tooke up the same stone , and killed two Turkes , and wounded other two therewith ; whereby shee wholly forgot her mothers death . Anno 1556 wonn the Turkes Stoel-Weissenburgh . Anno 1558 Ferdinand was Elected Emperour in Charles the fifths place , and after him Maximilian , who quitted himselfe well against the Turkes , but the most detestable thing was , that the Hungarians themselves , out of malice to each other encouraged the Turkes , in so much that they cruelly plagued Hungary , Transilvania , Wallachia , and other parts , practising about nothing else but to spoile Europe , and sought by divers wayes and meanes ( though in vaine ) to obtaine the assistance of the Northerne and Westerne Christians : 't is true they procured some who assisted them with Gunnpowder and Cannon , and also some Ingeniers , and fireworkes , by the way of Muscovie , intending thereby to have forced the strong forteresse Sigeth : which the Count Seryn understanding , and having understood their inclination thereunto severall yeares before , hee stopt up the Gates of the place with earth and tooke an oath to the death of the Cittisens , that they would never lysten to the Turkes , in so much , that when as the Turkes sometimes , though they had advanced or gotten some what , hee defended the place very manfully , and though the Sarasens in one ▪ day saw above 300 Turkes heads stucke upon speares about the Walls at which sight their courage and force to fight was lost , they yet attempted to perswade & bribe the same Count Seryn by money ( though in vaine ) to deliver over the said place : In the meane time Solyman the Turkish Emperour dieth : the Turkes ( according to their deceiptfull nature ) shewed the Soldiers the Corps in a Coffin , pretending that those who saw him , and stormed Sigeth , should be assisted by the deceased Solyman , and become masters of the place● the Janisaries in this matter the most earnest , fell on manfully upon the Castle , but they found by the manfull resistance themselves wonderfully deceived . Then Count Seryn was again by the Garrison very much pressed , and demanded , why they so long should withstand soe great force , the Soldiers pretending , that they lived but by their wages and the Oath , the Count seeing their discontent , and that there was noe othet issue , but death to be expected , he put on a darke purple Suite of Cloathes , tooke the Keyes of the Castle , and a 100 Hungary Gilders ; the Imperial Ensignes , his Semiter and Target , and laying them by him , he sent for the Souldiers , leaning with his arme upon the said Armes and Keyes , he spake to them in this manner , These things which I yet have by me , and still in my power , shall never ( as long as the Almighty ▪ spareth my health ) be taken from me for I am ready for the defence thereof to fight till death , &c : The Soldiers being hereby encouraged , continue in their fidelity , so long till at last , the Count Seryn after severall wounds by him received , died of three shott which he got in his head , by which meanes the fortresse Sigeth was won by the Turkes . Anno 1570 a Peace was concluded , between the German Emperour and the Turkish Emperour : And the Turkish Emperour Sultan Selym , having reigned eight yeares deceased , almost about the same time , when Rudolphus was made King of Bohemia . Anno 1576 dyed the Emperour Maximilian , at the dyet at Regensburgh , when as the truce with the Turkes was prolonged from eight to sixteen yeares : Anno 1586 , was all along the River Donaw a great famine , and foure yeare after happened eight or 9 Earthquakes . Then came Hasan Bashaw of Bosnia before Canisa , by Isdrin , dissembling at first not to take the place , but marched up against the Cloyster of Zagabria , which he battered with 24 pieces of Cannon , but because the said Cloyster was soe well situated betweene the Rivers , the Saru and Culpa , he could not obtaine it . The Turke seeing of how much concernement this place might be to him , and not willing to let fall so dainty abit , sent many rich presents to the Commander thereof , and also informed him that the secrets of their Cloyster had been long since made knowne to him , the said Commander growing jealous of such boastings , examined every one in the Cloyster , to trye if any of them kept any correspondence with the Turkes , and at last found out that the cheife head of the Cloyster was the person who kept intelligence witn the Turkes , who also five yeares before had taken money of the Turkes to betray the same ; hee was presently imprisoned , and was in presence of those who were sent from the Turkes throwne alive downe out of a high Window of the said Cloyster , into the River the San , and there drowned : There was no other answer given to the Turkes , but that they shewed them all their Cannon and Armes : They returning brought back the newes of all to the Turke who seeing himselfe thus cheated and mocked , became much enraged , and endeavored to winn the place , both by subtilitie and under hand dealing , for he well knew how much the place concerned him . And wrote therefore to the Commander , that he should provide himselfe of some faithfull persons , and appoint a day and time to treate with him in due forme about the surrender of the Cloyster .

And now the Turkish Emperour having overcome many Castles and Strengths , most by subtilitie : upon the 9 of July gave the Christian Army a great defeate , the Sunne having the day before appeared blood-red in the Firmament , from the morning to the Evening : hereupon the terrour of the Turkes grew soe exceeding great in Styremark and Croatia , that at this time it happened in the cheife Citie Labbath , Metropolis of Croatia , that certain mad Companions came there and made the Citie beleeve , that the Turkes were come before the Gates : The Inhabitants being thereby much a frighted threw all their best goods into Cartes and Waggons , and soe fled out of the Citie , which they wholly forsooke , those Mothers who had many Children and could not take them along with them , at their departure kissed them as if they should never againe have seene them , many of them aswell Women as Children , were by their hasty flight trodden under footeby Horses , But when they were come just out of the Citie , and assured that it was all false , they returned backe again into their Citie and Houses . The German Emperour Rudolphus , finding himselfe too weake , to resist the Turkes , requested assistance of the German Princes , and obtaines it , But his Army of 7000 men was upon the 17 of September totally routed , in somuch , that but 84 Men of them escaped , who for feare , of being cut in pieces like the rest , hid themselves in a certaine Chappel , amongst the dead Mens bones . Then won also the Turkes the fort St George : the 12 of June were the Turkes by the River Culpa shamefully beaten by the Christians , leaving behind them much Cannon , and great Booty ; the provision Ships , many other shipping upon the Donaw , which lay below the Bridge , amongst which , the Ship wherein Hassan Bashaw and almost all the Turkish Grandees were got suncke in the Water , & were there all drowned together , with the son of the Turkish Emperours Daughter . The Emperour being hereupon enraged , swore hee would revenge it , and caused the 24 of August , when he had wonne Sieseck , all the Men and Women which where therein to be cut in pieces , and throwne into the Water by Culpa , and dealt further most inhumanely , both with Women and Children , a certain Moncke who thought to hide himselfe , he caused to be fleaed a live , cut in pieces , and so burnt : burning also all that was there , tooke likewise 500 Christians with him , to torture them in their captivity : hee caused also the peace with the German Emperour to be broken , and desired no longer Tribute of him ; but would destroy his Countrey with fire and sword , he caused presently the Embassadour of the Emperour Rudolphus to be bound with Iron chaines , one of which was locked about his Necke , and the other about his feete , and caused all the said Embassadors Servants in his presence to be murthered and cutt in pieces ; then he entred the feild , and wonn the Cittie Vespryn , after that the Christians had a long time defended the same , some escaping at a sally port , after they had set the Cittie on fier , to a place called Papa : afterwards hee wonne Palatta , but the Garrison ( contrary to promise made ) were all cut off : upon the 30 of September hee cometh before Papa , out of which place two Hungarians run over to the Turkes and discovered unto them all the secrets of the Citie so that the Governour yielded up the chiefe fortresse to the Turkish Emperour upon parole , provided that they might have liberty to march out ; But asoone as hee with his poeple were without the gates both hee and all his people were cutt in pieces by the Turkes ; But God raised againe other Enemyes against the Turkes , for the Persians and Georgians stood up against the grand Signiour by which meanes the Christians tooke the occasion to besiege Stoel-Weissenburgh and the Turkes comming to the reliefe thereof , were courageously beaten , the Christians wonne Sabatga , which is a pass into Hungary , and leaving Stoel-Weissenburg besieged , won Filleck , and upon the 11 of November againe , very stoutly beate the Turkes out of the feild , and afterwards tooke in Dregel , Palanoka , Samosko , Aniacko , Smolkyskow , and Wetskee . Anno 1594 were more preparations made in Germany against the Turkes then ever before : the Duke Mathias was made Generall of the Leaguer ; It happened that in the depth of Winter the Garrison of Comorra going out upon a partie , did intercept a turkish Bride , sitting upon a neatly trimmed turkish Waggon , with two turkish Boyes and an old Beldame , who had order to carry the Bride ( who was the Bashaw of Papans Daughter ) to her Bridegroome ; the Soldiers brake the Waggon in pieces , let the Beldame escape , but brought the Bride ( who was very beautifull and aimable ) and the two Boyes into Comorra : The Christians wonn also Novograde and Petryna ; the 11 of July the Turkes wonn Dotis , and besieged Raab , which they ( after much blood shed , and brave defence made ) gott by treachery from the Count van Hardeck , who for the same was beheaded ( and his hand with which hee had subscribed the agreement ) chopt off ; the Turkes having thus gotten the Key of the Romish Empire , beseiged Comorra , in the meane time Amurath the Turkish Emperour upon the 8 of January dyed at Constantinople , Mahomet the 3d succeeded in his place , who being a subtle Prince ( assoone as hee was gotten upon the Throne , and knowing that the Prince of Transilvania ( who was but newly marryed to the Lady Maria Christina of Austria the Daughter of the Arch-Duke Charles of Austria ) had made a strong and neare Alliance with the Roman Emperour against the Turkes , and that those of Transylvania could do him much harme , wrote to this new marryed Prince , in very friendly manner , and promised to sett the Crowne of Hungary upon his head , telling him , that he could not beleeve that a Nation as his was , that had allwayes received so many courtesies from the Turkes , could now so forsake their Benefactors ; promised also to make him Generall over Wallachia and Moldavia ; But all this was in vaine , the Prince of Transylvania remained faithfull to the house of Austria , and did afterwards beate the Turkes out of the feild : Afterwards the Christians besieged Gran , lying upon the Donaw ( who in the moneth of July saw by night a burning Rod in the Firmament , which appeared most fearfully like a bundle of branches ) and suffered much trouble and losse in the said Siege : At last the Turke came with agreat force to releive Gran : whereas a Hungarian horseman came into the Christian Leaguer crying out aloude , Ho kill all Christians , kill all Christians : The Generall Mansfeld hearing this , caused the Hungarian to be apprehended , and presently in his Bootes and Spurres to be hanged up : The Turkes indeed fell on very furiously , and to make themselves more outrageous in the attacque , had swallowed very much of a herbe they call Masla , which caused them to foame very much at the mouth : one of their Horsemen , who was behung round about with Gun powder ( and thought to get into Gran , to the assistance of the besieged ) being shott , and the powder catching fire , the Turke together with his Horse , in most fearfull manner flew up into the Ayre , and fell downe again in many pieces ; in this fight the Turkes were beaten , and forced to flie , in so much , that Gran was upon the 25 of August forced to yeild , and the 24 of September Petrina also . The Prince of Transylvania did at the same time march out against the Turkes , and when he was come into the first Village in Wallachia , and had there placed his princely Pavillion , a very great Eagle came flying downe from a very high Rocke , and sett upon the Princes Tent , which the Princes Courtiers seeing , presently brought their Lord the message , who commanded that they should proffer the Eagle some meate , which the Eagle tooke , and did eate , and kept company with the Leaguer , and let herselfe be willingly taken , and was afterwards a long time fed and nourished in the Princes Court : upon the 15 of October the whole Leaguer beheld above the said Rocke in the East a most fearefull Comet ; soon after hee puts the Turkes to flight , winneth St George , Tergovist , and Georea . Anno 1597 the Christians winn Totis . Anno 1599 the Walloones and French sell the strong fortresse Papa , and also Canisia to the Turkes . Anno 1600 they wonn Stoelweissenbourgh , and burnt the whole Citie , and with a Cannon shott beate in pieces the stone Monument , under which King Ladislaus , his Wife , and her Daughter Mary lay buried , and dispoyled the Corps of all their Jewells , none of which were ever recovered or restored . Anno 1604 dieth the Turkish Emperour , his Successor required , that the Roman Emperour should send him the usual Tribute , and if he desired Peace , that he must then renounce and desert Wallachia and Transylvania , and that hee in stead of them would give the Emperour Canisia and Erlan , the Emperour answered him , that Transylvania came to him by inheritance , but that he would treate with him about Wallachia ; and that hee would likewise anihilate the Tribute either by treaty or contract : Then gott the Turkes Pest without blow or resistance , the Garrison through feare running away . At that time neare Beckeres , in Transylvania , hard by the Citie Sackmar , many persons of credit and reputation did by cleare daylight behold two Hussars ( who seemed red as blood ) riding on horsebacke , they had each of them a golden Crowne , with a little crosse upon their heads , and held each of them a Flagg ( whereon was a red Rosse , ) in their hands , which they trayled along the ground ; they afterwards rode to the water Patrack , and over the same , as if it had been upon Ice , afterwards both together vanished away . Then the Turkes wonn Novigrade . The 9 of May the Tartars came before Newhausell ( which is a City built by Mons Le Mot a Frenchman ) and after they had suffered much miserie and greate famine they tooke the said Citie by agreement . Their Generals name was Han , and the Turkes would faine have bought Newhausel of him , but Han refused to do it , and dyed presently after . Anno 1606 was a Pea●● for twenty yeares concluded : betweene the Roman and Turkish Emperour , beginning the first of January 1607 ; th●n was the Citie of Newhausell ●pon the 11 of February again surrendered to the Emperour . Hereupon the Emperour Mathias was in the yeare 1607 and 1608 crowned King of Bohemia , and most magnificently received in all his hereditary lands , and was marryed unto Anna Queen of Hungaria and Bohemia . And was Anno 1612 at Franckford crowned King of the Romans , in so much , that every where throughout the whole Empire , at that time nothing but Joy and rejoycing was seene or heard , for this Emperour being the Sonn of Maximilian , was a courteous and wise Man , and when he was but 20 yeare old , was Elected Gouvernour of the Netherlands . Anno 1577 he came over to Brussel , and made William Prince of Orange to be his deputy Lieutenant : and thence forward the Emperour Mathias did reigne very wisely . Then was Aken by malice of the Romans , and order of the Emperour taken in , and the Protestants were banished from thence . Mulheim which had been with so great charges built , was demolished . At that time the Roman and Turkish Emperours made a cessation for 20 yeares . The Protestants intending to celebrate the Jubily yeare , from Luthers time were in Bohemia , and other Imperiall Countryes hindered to do the same , by reason whereof , certaine Lords were at Prague throwne out of the Windows . The Prince Electour of Saxony takes Armes against these proceedings : In the meane time the Emperour Mathias having banished Mansfeld , grew dayly weaker , and being 62 yeares old , ( having reigned 9 yeares ) was encountered with a very violent sicknesse , whereof hee dyed ; Anno 1609 Ferdinandus Arch-Duke of Austria was Elected Emperour , and Crowned at Franckford , hee was the Son of the Arch-Duke Charles , and Mary the Daughter of Albrecht Duke of Bavaria . The Empire was in great discontent about this election , and those of Bohemia rebelling , drove the Iesuites out of the Kingdome ; and made Frederick Paltzgrave of the Rhine their King : The other Prince Electors being hereupon very discontented , held a dyet or Councell at Regensburgh : But King Frederick writing to the other Prince Electors , caused himselfe to be Crowned King at Prague : And the Empire hereupon falling into variance and discord , Bethelem Gabor Prince of Transylvania cometh downe , & tooke the great Citie of Presburgh from the Emperour , and corresponding with those of Bohemia , tooke in the meane time other places , and aspired to the Crown of Hungary , which hee obtained , but never suffered the same to be put upon his head , and therefore never bore other title then Prince of Hungary . Anno 1620 the Germans , for the free exercise of either Religion , kept a Couneell or Synod at Norenbourgh , where Frederick King of Bohemia appeared , and also at Wurtsburgh : in the interim those of Austria , yea the Emperour himselfe grew weake , and the Count of Boucquoy becoming necessitous , and seeing great likelyhood , that the Bohemians would get the mastery , retired into Moravia , in the meane time , the Emperour Ferdinand by publike Heralds and Proclamations , maketh void the Election of the King of Bohemia , shewing his owne lawfull proprietie and right to the Crowne , yet the Bohemians rested very well contented with their King Frederick ; but many were discontented , because he too speedily caused the Altar , and other Romish Ornaments in the Emperours Chappell , to be broken in pieces : while Moravia , Silesia and Lawfints in the meane time treate for their security : In the interim , Don Balthazar Macadas , with an Army of Polanders and Cossacks , falleth into Bohemia , making miserable havocke there amongst the Protestants and Hussars . In a Dyet at Mulhuysen endeavour was used , to perswade King Fredrick to desist and renounce the Bohemian Crowne , but Frederick was of opinion , the election belonged neither to the Emperour , nor the Princes but onely to the Cities and Burgesses of Bohemia , who also declared his eldest Son Frederick to be his Successor in the Kingdome : in the meane time the Emperour strengthens himselfe with the Pope , Spaine , Inspruch , Poland and others ; and the Duke Maximilian of Bavaria , entreth with an Army into feild , and Iohn George with an other , they both being jealous of the good Successe of the King of Bohemia , and Spinola cometh also out of the Netherlands thither , and upon the 8 of November 1620 , they beate the King out of the feild , nere Wittenbergh by Prague , where the Crowne of Bohemia fell to the Emperour : and King Frederick fled with his Queene and Children to the Netherlands . In the like manner was Moravia by Bucquoy also made subject , but when he came before the fortresse Newhausel , he was fallen upon by the Hungarians , and got 16 wounds . At which time Bethelem Gabor gave over by an agreement at N●clausburgh , the Crowne of Hungary to the Emperour Ferdinand , yet nevertheless preserving many rights for himselfe together with the Princepalaty's of Oppelan and Ratibor , and likewise the title of Prince of the Empire . Now the Emperour having his hands free , began to persecute the Protestant Ministers , and caused their Bookes to be burnt : chasing many Teachers and Schoolmasters out of the hereditary Imperiall Countryes , whereupon the Hungarians , anno 1624 made an agreement with Bethelem Gabor . Anno 1625 the Emperour made a truce of 12 yeares with the Turkes . And 1627 traveling to Prague , caused the Empress to be crowned Queene of Bohemia , and his Son Ferdinand the 3d King of Bohemia . Anno 1631 the Swedes invaded Germany , destroying the whole Empire , and in several Battles , beate many thousands of the Imperialists , till the yeare 1634 , the Ballance Battle betweene the Swedes and the Emperour was fought before Nordlingen : Prague being besieged and halfe wonn . Anno 1637 the Emperour Ferdinand the 2d dyed at Vienna , and his Son Ferdinand the 3d presently tooke the Government upon him : And anno 1638 Mariade Medicis the Queene Mother came out of Braband to Amsterdam . Anno 1648 was the peace concluded at Munster , in the interim many small and almost inconsiderable things , like to that of Wallenstein , fell out in the Empire . Anno 1642 the Swedes tooke Olmits in Germany ; but the Peace of Munster maketh every one glad , whole Germany hopeth for Joye , and those who had fled away , returned againe to their Vineyards , yet nevertheless the Saxon could not endure any Papists , nor the Emperour Protestants , but the Prince Palatin ( now the eighth Elector ) doth permit every one : In the meane time the Turkes waging Warr with the Venetians , take Canea in Candia , and would faine have taken all the Islands of the Archipelago ; but finding themselves over matched at Sea , did in the yeare 1663 send forth a great Army by land , against Austria , to take his revenge upon the Germans : the now present Emperour Leopold the 2d being delayed with hope , and now having sent his Embassadours , the Baron de Goes and Doctor Pearle , to Constantinople , began to perceive , that all was but meere deceipt , and that if he tooke not greater care , they would endeavour to wring the Keys of Austria out of his hands : the Turke on the other side collogued with the said Embassadours in Turkey , as if they had been their best friends , sending out a report to France , and other Christian Courts , as if they were already newly agreed with the German Emperour : in the meane time they sent from all places under the Prime Visier to Belgrada , Canise , and Offen their Soldiers by 3 , 4 , and 500 together , and also much Cannon and Ammunition , to the Generall Randevous , preparing mighty Magazines and stores of Provisions , to which end they before hand cruelly forced the Countrey-people , both in Transylvania and other places , that they neither might nor should bring their Catle to any other , then those places to market : The Count Seryn as a true friend to Germany , forewarned the Emperour most of all , and required assistance , for the defence of his Fortress , which lyeth upon the borders of Austria , as a Wall to Christendome , in which Countrey his Predecessours and family hath for several hundred yeares been knowne , and acknowledged for faithfull Champions to Europe : He having been informed , that the Turkes were in April 1663 already assembled at Canise , with 1500 Waggons ( each Waggon with 3 Horses ) which were onely the train of the Janisaries . And Transylvania was now taxed and racked by the Turkes , although their Prince Abafti had promised the Inhabitants better dealings , yet were forced thereunto by Aly Bashaw , who governed severely . The Emperour being yet but young , and perceiving himselfe thus sore menaced with great calamities , knew not from which side the great storme was to be expected . The Turkes ( as they said ) had seene this following Prodigie in the Firmament , above their frontiers against Christendome , and did prognosticate the same , as a forerunner of good fortune .