Georgio BuscaanAlbane,his ingratitude to PrinceSigismundus;PrinceMoyseshis Lieutenant, is overthrown byBusca,General for the EmperourRodulphus; Sigismundusyieldeth his Country toRodulphus; Buscaassisteth PrinceRodolinWallachia.
This goodsuccess gave such great encouragement to the whole Army, that with a Guard of six thousand, three spare Horses, before each aTurksHead upon a Lance, he was conducted to the Generals Pavilion with his Presents. Moyses received both him and them, with as much respect as the occasion deserved, embracing him in his Arms, gave him a fair Horse, richly furnished, a Scimitar and Belt worth Three hundred Ducats; andMeldritchmade him Sergeant Major of his Regiment. But now to the Siege, having mounted six and twenty pieces of Ordnance, fifty or sixty Foot above the Plain, made them so plainly tell his meaning, that within fifteen days two Breaches were made, which theTurksas valiantly defended as Men could; that day was made a darksome Night, but by the light that proceeded from the murdering Muskets, and peace-making Canon, whilst their slothful Governour lay in a Castle on the top of a high Mountain, and like a Valiant Prince asketh what's the matter, when horror and death flood amazed each at other, to see who should prevail to make him victorious: {MN}Moysescommanding a general assault upon the sloping front of the high Promontory, where the Barons ofBudendorfeandOberwin,lost near half their Regiments, by Logs, Bags of Powder, and such like, tumbling down the Hill, they were to mount ere they could come to the breach; notwithstanding with an incredible courage, they advanced to the push of the Pike with the Defendants, that with the like courage repulsed, till the EarlMeldritch, BecklefieldandZarvana,with their fresh Regiments seconded them with that fury, that theTurksretired and fled into the Castle, from whence by a Flag of truce they desired composition. The Earl remembring his Fathers Death, battered it with all the Ordnance in the Town, and the next day took it: all he found could bear Arms, he put to the Sword, and set their Heads upon Stakes round about the Walls, in the same manner they had used theChristians,when they took it.Moyseshaving repaired the Rampires, and thrown down the Work in his Camp, he put in it a strong Garrison, though the pillage he had gotten in the Town was much, having been for a long time an impregnable den of Thieves; yet the loss of the Army so intermingled the sowre with the sweet, as forcedMoysesto seek a farther revenge, that he sackedVeratio, Solmos,andKupronka,and with two thousand Prisoners, most Women and Children, came toEsenberg,not far from the Princes Palace, where he there Encamped.
{MN} Regalassaulted and taken.
Sigismunduscoming to view his Army, was presented with the Prisoners, and six and thirty Ensigns; where celebrating thanks to Almighty God in triumph of those Victories, he was made acquainted with the serviceSmithhad done atOlumpagh, Stoll-WeissenburghandRegal;for which, with great honour, he gave him threeTurksHeads in a Shield for his Arms, by Patent, under his Hand and Seal, with an Oath ever to wear them in his Colours, his Picture in Gold, and three hundred Ducats yearly for a Pension.
Smith's Arms
Sigismundus Bathori,Dei Gratia, DuxTransilvaniæ, Wallachiæ, & Vandalorum;ComesAnchard, Salford, Growenda;Cunctis his literis significamus qui cas lecturi aut audituri sunt, concessam licentiam aut facultatemJohanni Smith,nationeAngloGeneroso,250.militum Capitaneo sub Illustrissani & GravissaniHenrici Volda,Comitis deMeldri, Salmariæ, & Peldoixprimario, ex1000equitibus& 1500. peditibus belloUngaricoconductione in Provincias supra scriptas sub Authoritate nostra: cui servituti omni laude, perpetuaq; memoria dignum præbuit sese erga nos, ut virum strenuum pugnantem pro aris & focis decet. Quare e favore nostro militario ipsum ordine condonavimus, & in Sigillum illius triaTurcicaCapita defignare & deprimere concessimus, que ipso gladio suo ad UrbemRegalemin singulari prælio vicit, mactavit, atq; decollavit inTransilvaniæProvincia: Sed fortuna cum variabilis ancepsq; sit idem forte fortuito inWallachiæProvincia, Anno Domini1602.die Mensis Novemberis18.cum multis aliis etiam Nubilibus & aliis quibusdam militibus captus est a DominoBaschaelecto exCambiaregionisTartariæ,onjus severitate adductus salutum quantem potuit quæsivit, tantumque effecit, Deo omnipotente adjuvante, ut deliberavit se, & ad suos Commilitones revertit; ex quibus ipsum liberavimus, & hæc nobis restimonia habuit ut majori licentia frucretur qua dignus esset, jam tendet in patriam suam dulcissonam: Rogamus ergo omnes nostros charissunos, confinititmos, Duces, Principes, Comites, Barones, Gubernatores Urbium & Navium in cadem Regione & cæterarum Provinciarum in quibus ille refidere conatus fuerit ut idem permittatur Capitaneus libere sine obstaculo omni versari. Hæc facientes pergratum nobis feceritis. SignatumLespriziainMisniadie MensisDecembris9.Anno Domini1603.
Cum Privilegio propriæ, Majestatis.Sigismundus Bathori.
Sigismundus' Seal
Universis, & singulis, cujuscunq; loci, status, gradut, ordinis, ac conditighis ad quos hos præsens scriptum pervenerit,Gulielmus Segar, Eques auratus alias dictus Garterus Principalis Rex ArmorumAnglicorum, Salutum.Sciatis,quod Ego prædictus Garterus, notum, testatumque facio, quod Patentitem suprascriptum, cum manu propria prædicti DucisTransilvaniæSubsignatum, & Sigillo suo affixum, Vidi: & Copiam veram ejusdem (in perpetuam rei memoriam) transcripsi, & recordavi in Archivis, & Registris Officii Armorum. DatumLondini 19.die Augusti, Anno Domini1625.Annoque Regni Domini nostriCAROLIDei gratia MagnæBritanniæ, Franciæ, & HibernixRegis, Fidei Defendoris, &c. Prime.
Gulielmus Segar,Garterus.
{MN}Sigismundus Bathori,by the Grace of God, Duke ofTransilvania,Wallachia,andMoldavia,Earl ofAnchard, SalfordandGrowenda;to whom this Writing may come or appear. Know that We have given Leave and Licence toJohn SmithanEnglish Gentleman,Captain of 250 Soldiers, under the most Generous and HonourableHenry Volda,Earl ofMeldritch, Salmaria,andPeldoia,Colonel of a thousand Horse, and fifteen hundred Foot, in the Wars ofHungary,and in the Provinces aforesaid under our Authority; whose Service doth deserve all praise, and perpetual Memory towards us, as a Man that did for God and his Country overcome his Enemies; Wherefore out of our Love and Favour, according to the Law of Arms, We have ordained, and given him in his Shield of Arms, the Figure and Description of three Turks Heads, which with his Sword before the Town ofRegal,in single Combat he did overcome, kill, and cut off, in the Province ofTransilvania.But Fortune, as she is very variable, so it chanced and happened to him in the Province ofWallatchia,in the year of Our Lord 1602. the 18th day ofNovember,with many others, as well Noble Men as also divers other Soldiers, were taken Prisoners by the LordBashawofCambia,a Country ofTartaria;whose cruelty brought him such good Fortune, by the Help and Power of Almighty God, that he delivered himself, and returned again to his Company and fellow Soldiers, of whom We do discharge him, and this he hath in Witness thereof, being much more worthy of a better Reward; and now intends to return to his own sweet Country. We desire therefore all Our loving and kind Kinsmen, Dukes, Princes, Earls, Barons, Governours of Towns, Cities or Ships, in this Kingdom, or any other Provinces he shall come in, that you freely let pass this the aforesaid Captain, without any hindrance or molestation, and this doing, with all kindness, we are always ready to do the like for you. Sealed atLipswickinMisenland,the ninth ofDecember,in the year of our Lord, 1603.
{MN}The same inEnglish.
With the proper privilege of his Majesty.SIGISMUNDUS BATHORI
To all and singular, in what Place, State, Degree, Order, or Condition whatsoever, to whom this present Writing shall come: IWilliam Segar,Knight, otherwise Garter, and principal King of Arms ofEngland,wish health. Know, that I the aforesaid Garter, do witness and approve, that this aforesaid Patent, I have seen, Signed, and Sealed, under the proper Hand and Seal Manuel of the said Duke ofTransilvania,and a true Copy of the same, as a thing for perpetual memory, I have Subscribed and Recorded in the Register, and Office of the Heralds of Arms. Dated atLondon,the nineteenth day ofAugust,in the year of Our Lord, 1625, and in the first year of our Sovereign LordCharles,by the Grace of God, King of greatBritain, France,andIreland,Defender of the Faith, &c.
WILLIAM SEGAR.
Sigismundussends Ambassadours unto the Emperour. The Conditions reassured. He yieldeth up all toBusca,and returneth toPrague.
Buscahaving all this time been raising new Forces, was commanded from the Emperour again to invadeTransilvania,which being one of the fruitfullest and strongest Countries in those Parts, was now rather a Desart, or the very Spectacle of Desolation; their Fruits and Fields overgrown with Weeds, their Churches and battered Palaces, and best Buildings, as for fear, hid with Moss and Ivy; being the very Bulwark and Rampire of a great part ofEurope,most fit by allChristiansto have been supplied and maintained, was thus brought to ruin by them, it most concerned to support it. But alas, what is it, when the Power of Majesty pampered in all delights of pleasant Vanity, neither knowing, nor considering the labour of the Plough-man, the hazard of the Merchant, the oppression of Statesmen, nor feeling the piercing Torments of broken Limbs, and inveterate Wounds, the toilsome Marches, the bad Lodging, the hungry Diet, and the extream misery that Soldiers endure to secure all those Estates, and yet by the spight of malicious detraction, starves for want of their Reward and Recompences, whilst the politique Courtier, that commonly aims more at his own Honours and Ends, than his Countries good, or his Princes Glory, Honour, or Security, as this worthy Prince too well could testifie. But the Emperor being certified how weak and desperate his Estate was, sentBuscaagain with a great Army, to try his fortune once more inTransilvania.The Prince considering how his Country and Subjects were consumed, the small means he had any longer to defend his Estate, both against the cruelty of theTurk,and the power of the Emperor, and the small care thePolandershad in Supplying him, as they had promised, sent toBuscato have truce, till Messengers might be sent to the Emperour for some better agreement, wherewithBuscawas contented. The Ambassadors so prevailed, that the Emperour re-assured unto them the conditions he had promised the Prince at their confederacy for the Lands inSilesia,with 60000 Ducats presently in hand, and 50000 Ducats yearly as a Pension. When this conclusion was known toMoyses,his Lieutenant then in the Field with the Army, that would do any thing, rather than come in subjection to theGermans,he encouraged his Soldiers, and without any more ado, marched to encounterBusca,{MN} whom he found much better provided than he expected; so that betwixt them, in six or seven hours, more than five or six thousand, on both sides, lay dead in the field.Moysesthus overthrown, fled to theTurksatTemesware,and his Scattered Troops, some one way, some another.
{MN}BuscainTransilvaniaoverthrowethMoyses.
The Prince understanding of this so sudden and unexpected Accident, only accompanied with an hundred of his Gentry and Nobility, went into the Camp toBusca,to let him know how ignorant he was of his Lieutenants error, that he had done it without his direction or knowledge, freely offering to perform what was concluded by his Ambassadors with the Emperor; {MN} and so causing all his Garrisons to come out of their strong Holds, he delivered all toBuscafor the Emperor, and so went toPrague,where he was honourably received, and established in his Possessions, as his Imperial Majesty had promised.Buscaassembling all the Nobility, took their Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity, and thus their Prince being goneTransilvaniabecame again subject to the Emperor.
{MN}Sigismundisyieldeth his country toBusca.
{MN} Now after the Death ofMichael,Vavoid ofWallachia,theTurkSent oneJeremyto be their Vavoid or Prince; whose insulting Tyranny caused the People to take Arms against him, so that he was forced to flie into the Confines ofMoldavia;andBuscain the behalf of the Emperor, proclaimed the LordRodolin his stead. ButJeremyhaving assembled an Army of forty thousandTurks, Tartars,andMoldavians,returned intoWallachia. Rodolnot yet able to raise such a power, fled intoTransilvaniatoBusca,his ancient Friend; who considering well of the matter, and how good it would be for his own Security, to haveWallachiasubject to the Emperor, or at least such an Employment for the remainders of the old Regiments ofSigismundus,(of whose Greatness and true Affection he was very suspicious) sent them withRodolto recoverWallachia,conducted by the Valiant Captains, the EarlMeldritch,EarlVeltus,EarlNederspolt,EarlZarvana,the LordBecklefieldthe LordBudendorfe,with their Regiments, and divers others of great rank and quality, the greatest Friends and Alliances the Prince had; who with Thirty thousand, marched along by the RiverAltus,to the Streights ofRebrink,where they entredWallachia,encamping atRaza; Jeremylying atArgish,drew his Army into his old Camp, in the Plains ofPeteske,and with his best diligence fortified it, intending to defend himself, till more power came to him from theCrim-Tartar.Many small Parties that came to his Camp,Rodolcut off, and in the nights would cause their Heads to be thrown up and down before the Trenches. Seven of their Porters were taken, whomJeremycommanded to be flayed quick, and after hung their Skins upon Poles, and their Carcases and Heads on Stakes by them.
{MN}BuscaassistethRodolinWallachia.
The Battle ofRottenton;a pretty Stratagem of Fire-works bySmith.
Rodolnot knowing how to draw the Enemy to Battel, raised his Army, burning and spoiling all where he came, and returned again towardsRebrinkin the night, as if he had fled upon the general rumour of theCrim-Tartarscoming, which so inflamed theTurksof a happy Victory, they urgedJeremyagainst his Will to follow them.Rodolseeing his Plot fell out as he desired, so ordered the matter, that having regained the Streights, he put his Army in order, that had been near two days pursued with continual Skirmishes in his Rear, {MN-1} which now making Head against the Enemy, that followed with their whole Army in the best manner they could, was furiously charged with six thousandHeydukes, Wallachians,andMoldavians,led by three Colonels,Oversall, Dubras, andCalab,to entertain the time till the rest came up;VeltusandNederspoltwith their Regiments, entertained them with the like courage, till the ZanzackeHamesbeg,with six thousand more, came with a fresh charge, whichMeldritchandBudendorfe,rather like enraged Lions, than Men, so bravely encountred, as if in them only had consisted the Victory;Meldritch'sHorse being slain under him, theTurkspressed what they could to have taken him Prisoner, but being remounted, it was thought with his own hand he slew the valiant Zanzacke, whereupon his Troops retiring, the two proudBashawes, Aladin,andZizimmus,brought up the front of the body of their Battle.Veltus,andNederspolthaving breathed, and joyning their Troops withBecklefieldandZarvana,with such an incredible courage, charged the left flank ofZizimmus,as put them all in disorder, whereZizimmustheBashawwas taken Prisoner, but died presently upon his Wounds.Jeremyseeing now the main Battel ofRodoladvance, being thus constrained, like a Valiant Prince in his front of the Vangard, by his example so bravely encouraged his Soldiers, thatRodolfound no great assurance of the Victory. Thus being joyned in this bloody Massacre, that there was Scarce Ground to stand upon, but upon the dead Carcases, which in less than an hour, were So mingled, as if each Regiment had singled out other. The admiredAladinthat day did leave behind him a glorious name for his Valour, whose Death, many of his Enemies did lament after the Victory, which at that instant fell toRodol.It was reported,Jeremywas also slain; but it Was not so, but fled with the remainder of his Army toMoldavia,leaving five and twenty thousand dead in the Field, of both Armies. {MN-2} And thusRodolwas seated again in his Soveraignty, andWallachiabecame subject to the Emperour.
{MN-1} A battle betwixtRodolandJeremy.
{MN-2}Wallachiasubjected to the Emperour.
But long he rested not to settle his new Estate, but there came News, that certain Regiments of straglingTartars,were foraging those Parts towardsMoldavia. Meldritchwith thirteen thousand Men was sent against them, but when they heard it was theCrim-Tartar,and his two Sons, with an Army of thirty thousand; andJeremy,that had escaped with fourteen or fifteen thousand, lay in ambush for them aboutLanganaw,he retired towardsRottenton,a strong Garrison forRodol;but they were so invironed with these hellish numbers, they could make no great hast for skirmishing with their Scouts, Foragers, and small Parties that still encountred them. But one night amongst the rest, having made a passage through a Wood, with an incredible expedition, cutting Trees thwart each other to hinder their passage, in a thick Fogg, early in the Morning, unexpectedly they met two thousand loaded with Pillage, and two or three hundred Horse and Cattel; the most of them were slain and taken Prisoners, who told them whereJeremylay in the passage, expecting theCrim-Tartarthat was not far from him.Meldritchintending to make his passage by force, was advised of a pretty Stratagem, by the EnglishSmith,which presently he thus accomplished; for having accommodated two or three hundred Trunks with wild-fire, upon the Heads of Lances, and charging the Enemy in the night, gave fire to the Trunks, which blazed forth such Flames and Sparkles, that it so amazed not only their Horses, but their Foot also; that by the means of this flaming Encounter, their own Horses turned Tails with such fury, as by their violence overthrewJeremyand his Army, without any loss at all to speak of toMeldritch.But of this Victory, long they triumphed not; for being within three Leagues ofRottenton,theTartar,with near forty thousand so beset them, that they must either fight, or be cut in pieces flying. HereBusca,and the Emperour had their desire; for the Sun no sooner displayed his Beams, than theTartarhis Colours; where at mid-day he stayed a while, to see the Passage of a tyrannical and treacherous imposture, till the Earth did blush with the blood of Honesty, that the Sun for shame did hide himself, from so monstrous sight of a cowardly Calamity. It was a most brave sight to see the Banners and Ensigns streaming in the Air, the glittering of Armour, the variety of Colours, the motion of Plumes, the forests of Lances, and the thickness of shorter Weapons, till the silent Expedition of the bloody blast from the murdering Ordnance, whose roaring Voice is not so soon heard, as felt by the aimed at Object, which made among them a most lamentable slaughter.
The names of theEnglishthat were slain in the Battel ofRottenton;and howCaptainSmithwas taken Prisoner, and sold for a Slave.
In the valleyofVeristhorne,betwixt the River ofAltus,and the Mountain ofRottenton,was this bloody Encounter, where the most of the dearest Friends of the noble Prince Sigismundus perished.Meldritchhaving ordered his Eleven thousand in the best manner he could, at the Foot of the Mountain upon his Flanks, and before his front, he had pitched sharp Stakes, their Heads hardned in the fire, and bent against the Enemy, as three Battalion of Pikes, amongst the which also, there was digged many small holes. {MN-1} Amongst those Stakes was ranged his foot-men, that upon the charge was to retire, as there was occasion. TheTartarhaving ordered his 40000 for his best advantage, appointedMustapha Bashawto begin the Battel, with a general Shout, all their Ensigns displaying, Drums beating, Trumpets and Haut-boys sounding.NederspoltandMavazowith their Regiments of Horse most valiantly encountred, and forced them to retire; theTartar Begoliwith his Squadrons, darkning the Skies with their flights of numberless Arrows, who was as bravely encountred byVeltusandOberwin,which bloody slaughter continued more than an hour, till the matchless multitude of theTartarsso increased, that they retired within their Squadrons of Stakes, as was directed. The bloodyTartar,as scorning he should stay so long for the Victory, with his massie Troops prosecuted the Charge: But it was a wonder to see how Horse and Man came to the Ground among the Stakes, whose disordered Troops were there so mangled, that theChristianswith a loud Shout criedVictoria;and with five or six field Pieces, planted upon the rising of the Mountain, did much hurt to the Enemy that still continued the Battel with that fury, thatMeldritchseeing there was no possibility long to prevail, joyned his small Troops in one body, resolved directly to make his passage, or die in the conclusion; and thus in gross gave a general charge, and for more than half an hour, made his way plain before him, till the main Battle of theCrim-Tartar,with two Regiments ofTurksandJaizariesso overmatched them, that they were overthrown. The night approaching, the Earl with some thirteen or fourteen hundred Horse, swam the River, some were drowned, all the rest slain or taken Prisoners: And thus in this bloody Field, near 30000 lay, some Headless, Armless and Legless, all cut and mangled; where breathing their last, they gave this knowledge to the World, that for the lives of so few, theCrim-Tartarnever paid dearer. {MN-2} But now the Countries ofTransilvaniaandWallachia(subjected to the Emperor) andSigismundus,that brave Prince, his Subject and Pensioner, the most of his Nobility, brave Captains and Soldiers, became a prey to the cruel devouringTurk:where, had the Emperour been as ready to have assisted him, and those three Armies led by three such worthy Captains, asMichael, Busca,and Himself, and had those three Armies joyned together against theTurk,let all Men judge, how happy it might have been for all Christendom: and have either regainedBulgaria,or at least have beat him out ofHungaria,where he hath taken much more from the Emperour, than hath the Emperour fromTransilvania.
{MN-1}the Battle ofRottenton.
{MN-2}Extracted out of a book, instituted, the Wars ofHungaria, Wallachia,andMoldavia,written byFrancisco Ferneza,a learned Italian, the Princes Secretary, and translated by Mr.Purchas.
In this dismal Battel, whereNederspolt, Veltus, Zarvana, Mavazo, Bavel,and many other Earls, Barons, Colonels, Captains, brave Gentlemen, and Soldiers were slain, give me leave to remember the names of our own Country-men, {MN} with him in those Exploits, that as resolutely as the best in the defence of Christ and his Gospel, ended their days, asBakersfield, Hardwick, Thomas Milemer, Robert Mollineux, Thomas Bishop, Francis Compton, George Davison, Nicholas Williamsand oneJohna Scot, did what Men could do, and when they could do no more, left there their Bodies in Testimony of their minds; only EnsignCharleton,and SergeantRobinsonescaped: ButSmith,among the slaughtered dead Bodies, and many a gasping Soul, with toil and Wounds lay groaning among the rest, till being found by the Pillagers, he was able to live, and perceiving by his Armour and Habit, his ransom might be better to them than his Death, they led him Prisoner with many others; well they used him till his Wounds were cured, and atAxopolisthey were all sold for Slaves, like Beasts in a Market-place, where every Merchant, viewing their Limbs and Wounds, caused other Slaves to struggle with them, to try their strength, he fell to the share ofBashaw Bogal,who sent him forthwith toAdrianopolis,so forConstantinopleto his fair Mistriss for a Slave. By twenty and twenty chained by the Necks, they marched in file to this great City, where they were delivered to their several Masters, and he to the youngCharaza Tragabigzanda.
{MN}The English Men in this Battel.
How CaptainSmithwas sent Prisoner thorow theBlackandDissabaccaSea inTartaria;the Description of those seas, and his usage.
This NobleGentlewoman took sometime occasion to shew him to some Friends, or rather to speak with him, because she could speak Italian, would feign her self sick when she should go to theBannians,or weep over the Graves, to know howBogaltook him Prisoner; and if he were as theBashawwrit to her, aBohemianLord conquered by his Hand, as he had many others, which ere long he would present her, whose Ransomes should adorn her with the glory of his Conquests.
But when she heard him protest he knew no such matter, nor ever sawBogal,till he bought him atAxopolis,and that he was anEnglish-man,only by his Adventures made a Captain in those Countries. To try the truth, she found means to find out many who could speakEnglish, French, Dutch,andItalian,to whom relating most part of these former Passages she thought necessary, which they so honestly reported to her, she took (as it seemed) much compassion on him; but having no use for him, lest her Mother should sell him, she sent him to her Brother, theTimor BashawofNalbrits,In the Country ofCambia,a Province inTartaria.
{MN-1} Here now let us remember his passing, in this speculative course fromConstantinoplebySander, Screw, Panassa, Musa, Lastilla,toVarna,an ancient City upon theBlack Sea.In all which Journey, having little more liberty, than his eyes judgment, since his Captivity, he might see the Towns with their short Towers, and a most plain, fertile, and delicate Country, especially that most admired place ofGreece,now calledRomania,but fromVarna,nothing but theBlack SeaWater, till he came to the two Capes ofTaurandPergilos,where he passed the Streight ofNiger,which (as he conjectured) is some ten Leagues long, and three broad, betwixt two Low-lands, the Channel is deep, {MN-2} but at the entrance of the SeaDissabacca,there are many great Osie-shaulds, and many great black Rocks, which theTurkssaid were Trees, Weeds, and Mud, thrown from the In-land Countries, by the Inundations and violence of the Current, and cast there by the Eddy. They Sailed by many low Isles, and saw many more of those muddy Rocks, and nothing else, but salt Water, till they came betwixtSufaxandCuruske,only two white Towns at the entrance of the RiverBruapoappeared: In six or seven days Sail, he saw four or five seeming strong Castles of Stone, with flat tops and Battlements about them, but arriving atCambia,he was (according to their custom) well used. The River was there more than half a Mile broad. The Castle was of a large Circumference, fourteen or fifteen foot thick, in the Foundation some six foot from the Wall, is aPallizado,and then a Ditch of about forty foot broad full of Water. On the West side of it, is a Town, all of low flat Houses, which as he conceived, could be of no great strength, yet it keeps all them barbarous Countreys about it in admiration and subjection. After he had stayed there three days; it was two days more before his Guides brought him toNalbrits,where theTymorwas then resident, in a great vast Stone Castle, with many great Courts about it, invironed with high Stone Walls, where was quartered their Arms, when they first subjected those Countries, which only live to labour for those TyrannicalTurks.
{MN-1}How he was sent intoTartaria.
{MN-2}The Description of theDissabaccaSea.
{MN} To her unkind Brother, this kind Lady writ so much for his good usage, that he half expected, as much as she intended; for she told him, he should there but sojourn to learn the Language, and what it was to be aTurk,till time made her Master of her self. But theTymor,her Brother, diverted all this to the worst of Cruelty; for within an hour after his arrival, he caused hisDrubmanto strip him naked, and shave his Head and Beard so bare as his Hand, a great Ring of Iron, with a long stalk bowed like a Sickle, revitted about his Neck, and a Coat made ofUlgriesHair, guarded about with a piece of an undrest Skin. There were many more Christian Slaves, and near an hundredForsadosofTurksandMoors,and he being the last, was slave of Slaves to them all. Among these slavish Fortunes, there was no great choice; for the best was so bad, a Dog could hardly have lived to endure, and yet for all their pains and labours, no more regarded than a Beast.
{MN} Smith'susage inTartaria.
TheTurksdiet; the Slaves diet; the attire of theTartars;and manner ofWars and Religions, &c.
{MN-1}TheTymorand his Friends fed upon Pillaw, which is, boiled Rice and Garnances with little bits of Mutton or Buckones, which is Roasted pieces of Horse, Bull, Ulgrie, or any Beasts. Samboyses and Muselbit are great Dainties, and yet but round Pies, full of all sorts of Flesh, they can get chopped with variety of Herbs. Their best Drink is Coffee, of a grain they callCoava,boiled with Water; andSherbeck,which is only Honey and Water; Mares Milk, or the Milk of any Beast, they hold restorative: but all the Commonalty drink pure Water. {MN-2} Their Bread is made of thisCoava,which is a kind of black Wheat, and Cuskus a small white Seed, likeMilliainBiskay:But our common Victuals, the entrails of Horse and Ulgries; of this cut in small pieces, they will fill a great Cauldron, and being boiled withCuskus,and put in great Bowls in the form of Chaffing-dishes, they sit round about it on the Ground, after they have raked it thorow, so oft as they please with their foul Fists, the remainder was for theChristianSlaves. Some of this Broth, they would temper withCuskuspounded, and putting the Fire off from the Hearth, pour there a Bowl full, then cover it with Coals till it be baked, which stewed with the remainder of the Broth, and some small pieces of Flesh, was an extraordinary Dainty.
{MN-1}TheTymor'sDiet ofCambia,is as theTurks.
{MN-2}The Slaves Diet.
{MN} The better sort are attired likeTurks,but the plainTartarhath a black Sheeps-skin over his back, and two of the Legs tied about his Neck; the other two about his middle, with another over his Belly, and the Legs tied in like manner behind him: Then two more, made like a pair of Bases, serveth him for Breeches; with a little close Cap to his Skull of black Felt, and they use exceeding much of this Felt for Carpets, for Bedding, for Coats, and Idols. Their Houses are much worse than yourIrish,but the In-land Countries have none but Carts and Tents, which they ever remove from Countrey to Countrey, as they see occasion, driving with them infinite Troops of black Sheep, Cattel and Ulgries, eating all up before them as they go.
{MN}The attire of thoseTartars.
{MN} For theTartarsofNagi,they have neither Town, nor House, Corn, nor Drink, but Flesh and Milk. The Milk they keep in great Skins likeBurracho's,which though it be never so sower, it agreeth well with their strong Stomachs. They live all inHordias,as doth theCrim-Tartars,three or four hundred in a Company, in great Carts fifteen or sixteen foot broad, which are covered with small Rods, wattled together in the form of a Bird's Nest, turned upwards, and with the Ashes of Bones, temper'd with Oil, Camels Hair, and a Clay they have, they loam them so well, that no Weather can pierce them, and yet very light. EachHordiahath aMurse,which they obey as their King. Their Gods are infinite. One or two thousand of those glittering white Carts drawn with Camels, Deer, Bulls, and Ulgries, they bring round in a Ring, where they pitch their Camp; and theMurse,with his chief Alliances, are placed in the midst. They do much hurt, when they can get anyStroggs,which are great Boats used up on the RiverVolga,(which they callEdle) to them that dwell in the Countrey ofPerolog,and would do much more, were it not for theMuscovitesGarrisons that there Inhabit.
{MN}TheTartarsofNagiand their manners.
The Description of theCrim-Tartars;their Houses and Carts, their Idolatryin their Lodgings
{MN-1}Now youare to understand,TartaryandScythiaare all one, but so large and spacious, few, or none, could ever perfectly describe it, nor all the several kinds of those most barbarous People that inhabit it. Those we call theCrim-Tartars,border uponMoldavia, Podolia, Lithuania,andRussia,are much more regular than the interior parts ofScythia.This GreatTartarianPrince, that hath so troubled all his Neighbours, they always callChan,which signifieth Emperour; but we, theCrim-Tartar.He liveth for the most part in the best Champion Plains of many Provinces; and his removing Court is like a great City of Houses and Tents, drawn on Carts, all so orderly placed East and West, on the right and left hand of the Prince's House, which is always in the midst towards the South, before which, none may pitch their Houses, every one knowing their Order and Quarter, as in an Army. {MN-2} The Princes Houses are very artificially wrought, both the Foundation, Sides, and Roof of Wickers, ascending round to the top like a Dove coat; this they cover with white Salt, or white Earth, temper'd with the Powder of Bones, that it may shine the whiter; sometimes with black Felt, curiously painted with Vines, Trees, Birds, and Beasts; the breadth of the Carts are eighteen or twenty Foot, but the house stretcheth four or five Foot over each side, and is drawn with ten or twelve, or for more state, twenty Camels and Oxen. {MN-3} They have also great Baskets, made of smaller Wickers, like great Chests, with a covering of the same, all covered over with black Felt, rubbed over with Tallow and Sheep's Milk, to keep out the Rain; prettily bedecked with Painting or Feathers; in those they put their Houshold Stuff and Treasure, drawn upon other Carts for that purpose. When they take down their Houses, they set the door always towards the South, and their Carts thirty or forty Foot distant on each side, East and West, as if they were two Walls: The Women also have most curious Carts; every one of his Wives hath a great one for her self, and so many other for her Attendants, that they seem as many Courts as he hath Wives. One greatTartaror Nobleman, will have for his particular, more than an hundred of those Houses and Carts, for his several Offices and Uses, but set so far from each other, they will seem like a great Village. {MN-4} Having taken their Houses from the Carts, they place the Master always towards the North; over whose head is always an Image like a Puppet, made of Felt, which they call his Brother; the Women on his left hand, and over the chief Mistriss her Head, such another Brother, and between them a little one, which is the keeper of the House; at the good Wives Beds-feet is a Kids Skin, stuffed with Wooll, and near it a Puppet looking towards the Maids; next the door another, with a dried Cows Udder, for the Women that Milk the Kine, because only the Men Milk Mares; {MN-5} every Morning those Images in their orders, they besprinkle with that they drink, be it Cossmos, or whatsoever, but all the white Mares Milk is reserved for the Prince. Then without the door, thrice to the South, every one bowing his knee in honour of the Fire; then the like to the East, in honour of the Air; then to the West, in honour of the Water; and lastly to the North, in behalf of the dead. After the Servant hath done this duty to the four quarters of the World, he returns into the House, where his Fellows stand waiting, ready with two Cups, and two Basons, to give their Master, and his Wife that lay with him that Night, to wash and drink, who must keep him company all the day following, and all his other Wives come thither to drink, where he keeps his House that day; and all the Gifts presented him till night, are laid up in her Chests; and at the door a Bench full of Cups, and drink for any of them to make merry.
{MN-1}The description of theCrim-Tartar'sCourt.
{MN-2}His Houses and Carts.
{MN-3}Baskets.
{MN-4}Their Idolatry in their Lodgings.
{MN-5}Cosmos is Mares Milk.
Their Feasts, common Diet, Princes Estate, Buildings, Tributes, Laws, Slaves,Entertainment of Ambassadors.
{MN}For their Feasts,they have all sorts of Beasts, Birds, Fish, Fruits, and Herbs they can get, but the more variety of wild ones is the best; to which they have excellent Drink made of Rice, Millet, and Honey, like Wine; they have also Wine, but in Summer they drink most Cossmos, that standeth ready always at the entrance of the door, and by it a Fidler; when the Master of the House beginneth to drink, they all cry, ha, ha, and the Fidler plays, then they all clap their Hands and dance, the Men before their Masters, the Women before their Mistresses; and ever when he drinks, they cry as before; then the Fidler stayeth till they drink all round; sometimes they will drink for the Victory; and to provoke one to drink, they will pull him by the Ears, and lug and draw him, to stretch and beat him, clapping their Hands, stamping with their Feet, and dancing before the Champions, offering them Cups, then draw them back again to increase their Appetite; and thus continue till they be drunk, or their drink done, which they hold an honour, and no Infirmity.
{MN}Their Feasts.
{MN} Though the Ground be fertile, they sow little Corn, yet the Gentlemen have Bread and Honey-wine; Grapes they have plenty, and Wine privately, and good Flesh and Fish; but the common sort stamped Millet, mingled with Milk and Water. They call Cassa for Meat, and drink any thing; also any Beast unprofitable for service they kill, when they are like to die, or however they die, they will eat them, Guts, Liver and all; but the most fleshy parts they cut in thin slices, and hang it up in the Sun and Wind without salting, where it will dry so hard, it will not putrifie in a long time. A Ramm they esteem a great Feast among forty or fifty, which they cut in pieces boiled or roasted, puts it in a great Bowl, with Salt and Water, for other Sawce they have none; the Master of the Feast giveth every one a piece, which he eateth by himself, or carrieth away with him. {MN-2} Thus their hard fare makes them so infinite in Cattel, and their great number of Captive Women to breed upon, makes them so populous. But near the Christian Frontiers, the baser sort make little Cottages of Wood, calledVlusi,daubed over with dirt, and Beasts dung covered with sedge; yet in Summer they leave them, beginning their Progress inApril,with their Wives, Children, and Slaves, in their Carted Houses, scarce convenient for four or five Persons; driving their Flocks towardsPrecopia,and sometimes intoTaurica,orOsow,a Town upon the RiverTanais,which is great and swift, where theTurkhath a Garrison; and inOctoberreturn again to their Cottages. Their Clothes are the Skins of Dogs, Goats, and Sheep, lined with Cotton Cloath, made of their finest Wooll, for of their worst they make their Felt, which they use in abundance, as well for Shooes and Caps, as Houses, Beds, and Idols; also of the coarse Wooll mingled with Horse hair, they make all their Cordage. {MN-3} Notwithstanding this wandring life, their Princes sit in great State upon Beds, or Carpets, and with great reverence are attended both by Men and Women, and richly served in Plates and great Silver Cups, delivered upon the Knee, attired in rich Furrs, lined with Plush, or Taffity, or Robes of Tissue. TheseTartarspossess many large and goodly Plains, wherein feed innumerable Herds of Horse and Cattel, as well wild as tame; which are Elkes, Bisons, Horses, Deer, Sheep, Goats, Swine, Bears, and divers others.
{MN-1}Their common diet.
{MN-2}How they become populous.
{MN-3}Their Princes State.
{MN-1} In those Countries are the Ruins of many fair Monasteries, Castles, and Cities, asBacasaray, Salutium, Almassary, Precopia, Cremum, Sedacom, Capha,and divers others by the Sea, but all kept with strong Garrisons for the GreatTurk,{MN-2} who yearly by Trade or Traffick, receiveth the chief Commodities those fertile Countries afford, as Bezoar, Rice, Furs, Hides, Butter, Salt, Cattel, and Slaves, yet by the spoils they get from the secure and idle Christians, they maintain themselves in this Pomp. Also their Wives, of whom they have as many as they will, very costly, yet in a constant custom with decency.
{MN-1}Ancient Buildings.
{MN-2}Commodities for tribute to theTurk.
{MN} They areMahometans,as are theTurks,from whom they also have their Laws, but no Lawyers, nor Attornies, only Judges, and Justices in every Village, or Hordia; but Capital Criminals, or matters of moment, before the Chan himself, or Privy Councils, of whom they are always heard, and speedily discharged; for any may have access at any time to them, before whom they appear with great Reverence, adoring their Princes as Gods, and their Spiritual Judges as Saints; for Justice is with such integrity and Expedition Executed, without Covetousness, Bribery, Partiality, and Brawling, that in six Months they have sometimes scarce six Causes to hear. About the Princes Court, none but his Guard wear any Weapon, but abroad they go very strong, because there are many Bandittos, and Thieves.
{MN}Good Laws, yet no Lawyers.
{MN} They use theHungarians, Russians, Wallachians,andMoldavianSlaves (whereof they have plenty) as Beasts to every work; and thoseTartarsthat serve the Chan, or Noblemen, have only Victuals and Apparel, the rest are generally nastly, and idle, naturally miserable, and in their Wars better Thieves than Soldiers.
{MN}Their Slaves.
{MN} This Chan hath yearly a Donative from the King ofPoland,the Dukes ofLithuania, Moldavia,andNagayon Tartars;their Messengers commonly he useth bountifully, and very nobly, but sometimes most cruelly; when any of them do bring their Presents, by his Houshold Officers, they are entertained in a plain Field, with a moderate proportion of Flesh, Bread and Wine, for once; but when they come before him, theSultans, Tuians, Vlans, Marhies,his chief Officers and Councellors attend, one Man only bringeth the Ambassadour to the Court Gate, but to the Chan he is led between two Councellors; where saluting him upon their bended knees, declaring their message, are admitted to eat with him, and presented with a great Silver Cup full of Mead from his own hand, but they drink it upon their Knees: when they are dispatched, he invites them again, the Feast ended, they go back a little from the Palace door, and rewarded with Silk Vestures, wrought with Gold down to their Anckles, with an Horse or two, and sometimes a Slave of their own Nation; in them Robes presently they come to him again, to give him thanks, take their leave, and so depart.
{MN}His Entertainment of Ambassadours.