_The Siege of_ Stoll-weissenburg; _The effects of_ Smith's _Fire-works;
A worthy Exploit of Earl_ Rosworme; _Earl_ Meldritch _takes the_
Bashaw _Prisoner._
A General rumour of a general Peace, now spred it self over all the face
of those tormented Countries: but the _Turk_ intended no such matter, but
levied Soldiers from all Parts he could. The Emperour also, by the
assistance of the _Christian_ Princes, provided three Armies, the one led
by the Arch-duke _Matthias,_ the Emperour's Brother, and his Lieutenant
Duke _Merceur_ to defend Low _Hungary;_ the second, by _Ferdinando_ the
Arch-duke of _Styria,_ and the Duke of _Mantua_ his Lieutenant to regain
_Caniza;_ the third by _Gonzago,_ Governour of High _Hungary,_ to joyn
with _Georgio Buson_ to make an absolute conquest of _Transilvania._
Duke _Merceur_ with an Army or Thirty thousand, whereof near Ten thousand
were _French,_ besieged _Stoll-weissenburg,_ otherwise called _Alba
Regalis,_ a place so strong by Art and Nature, that it was thought
impregnable. At his first coming, The _Turks_ sallied upon the _German_
Quarter, slew near five hundred, and returned before they were thought on.
The next Night in like manner, they did near as much to the _Bemers,_ and
_Hungarians;_ of which, Fortune still presuming, thinking to have found
the _French_ quarter as careless, Eight or Nine hundred of them were cut
in pieces and taken Prisoners. In this Encounter Monsieur _Grandvile,_
a brave _French_ Colonel, received seven or eight cruel Wounds, yet
followed the Enemy to the Ports; he came off alive, but within three or
four days died.
* * * * *
{MN} _The siege of_ Alba Regalis.
Earl _Moldritch,_ by the Information of of three or four _Christians,_
(escaped out of the Town) upon every Alarum, where there was greatest
Assemblies and throng of People, {MN} caused Captain _Smith_ to put in
practice his fiery Dragons, he had demonstrated unto him, and the Earl
_Von Sulch_ at _Comora_ which he thus performed: Having prepared forty or
fifty round-bellied Earthen Pots, and filled them with hand Gun powder,
then covered them with Pitch, mingled with Brimstone and Turpentine; and
quartering as many Musket-bullets, that hung together but only at the
Center of the division, stuck them round in the mixture about the Pots,
and covered them again with the same mixture, over that a strong
Searcloth, then over all, a good thickness of Towze-match, well tempered
with Oyl of Lin-seed, Camphire, and Powder of Brimstone, these he fitly
placed in Slings, graduated so near as they could to the places of these
Assemblies. At mid-night upon the Alarum, it was a fearful sight to see
the short flaming course of their flight in the Air, but presently after
their fall, the lamentable noise of the miserable slaughtered _Turks_ was
most wonderful to hear: Besides, they had fired that Suburb at the Port of
_Buda_ in two or three places, which so troubled the _Turks_ to quench,
that had there been any means to have assaulted them, they could hardly
have resisted the fire, and their Enemies. The Earl _Rosworme,_ contrary
to the opinion of all Men, would needs undertake to find means to surprize
the Segeth and Suburb of the City, strongly defended by a muddy Lake,
which was thought unpassable.
* * * * *
{MN} _The effect of good fireworks._
The Duke having planted his Ordnance, battered the other side, {MN-1}
whilst _Rosworme_ in the dark Night, with every Man a bundle of Sedge and
Bavins still thrown before them, so laded up the Lake, as they surprised
that unregarded Suburb before they were discovered: Upon which unexpected
Alarum, the _Turks_ fled into the City, and the other Suburb not knowing
the matter, got into the City also, leaving their Suburb for the Duke,
who, with no great resistance, took it, with many Pieces of Ordnance; the
City, being of no such strength as the Suburbs, with their own Ordnance
was so battered, that it was taken by force, with such a merciless
Execution, as was most pitiful to behold. {MN-2} The _Bashaw_
notwithstanding, drew together a Party of Five hundred before his own
Palace, where he intended to die; but seeing most of his Men slain before
him, by the valiant Captain, Earl _Meldritch,_ who took him Prisoner with
his own hands; and with the hazard of himself saved him from the fury of
other Troops, that did pull down his Palace, and would have rent him in
pieces, had he not been thus preserved. The Duke thought his Victory much
honoured with such a Prisoner; took order, he should be used like a
Prince, and with all expedition gave charge presently to repair the
Breaches, and the Ruins of this famous City, that had been in the
possession of the _Turks_ near threescore years.
* * * * *
{MN-1} _A worthy Exploit of Earl_ Rosworme.
{MN-2} _Earl_ Meldritch _takes the_ Bashaw _prisoner._
* * * * *