_The unhappy Siege of_ Caniza; _Earl_ Meldritch _serveth Prince_
Sigismundus; _Prince_ Moyses _besiegeth_ Regall; Smith's _three single
Combats; His Patent from_ Sigismundus, _and Reward._
{MN} The Worthy Lord _Rosworme_ had not worse Journey to the miserable
Siege of _Caniza,_ (whereby the extremity of an extraordinary continuing
Tempest of Hail, Wind, Frost and Snow, insomuch that the _Christians_ were
forced to leave their Tents and Artillery, and what they had; it being so
cold, that three or four hundred of them were frozen to Death in a Night,
and two or three thousand lost in that miserable flight in the Snowy
Tempest, though they did know no Enemy at all to follow them) than the
Noble Earl of _Meldritch_ had to _Transilvania,_ where hearing of the
Death of _Michael,_ and the brave Duke _Merceur,_ and knowing the Policy
of _Busca,_ and the Prince his Royalty, being now beyond all belief of
Men, in Possession of the best part of _Transilvania,_ perswaded his
Troops, in so honest a Cause, to assist the Prince against the _Turk,_
rather than _Busca_ against the Prince.
* * * * *
{MN} _The unhappy siege of_ Caniza.
{MN} The Soldiers being worn out with those hard Pays and Travels, upon
hope to have free liberty to make booty upon what they could get
Possession of from the _Turks,_ were easily perswaded to follow him
whithersoever. Now this Noble Earl was a _Transilvanian_ born, and his
Fathers Country yet Inhabited by the _Turks;_ for _Transilvania_ was yet
in three Divisions, though the Prince had the Hearts both of Country and
People; yet the Frontiers had a Garrison amongst the unpassable Mountains,
some for the Emperour, some for the Prince, and some for the _Turk:_ To
regain which small Estate, he desired leave of the Prince to try his
Fortunes, and to make use of that experience, the time of twenty years had
taught him in the Emperours service, promising to spend the rest of his
days, for his Countrys defence in his Excellencies Service. The Prince
glad of so brave a Commander, and so many expert and ancient Soldiers,
made him Camp Master of his Army, gave him all necessary relief for his
Troops, and what freedom they desired to plunder the _Turks._
* * * * *
{MN} _Earl_ Meldritch _serveth with Prince_ Sigismundus.
{MN-1} The Earl having made many Incursions into the Land of _Zarkan,_
among those Rocky Mountains, where were some _Turks,_ some _Tartars,_ but
most _Bandittoes, Rennegadoes,_ and such like, which sometimes he forced
into the Plains of _Regall_ where is a City, not only of Men and
Fortifications, Strong of it self, but so environed with Mountains, that
made the Passages so difficult, that in all these Wars, no attempt had
been made upon it to any purpose: Having satisfied himself with the
Situation, and the most convenient Passages to bring his Army into it: The
Earth no sooner put on her green Habit, than the Earl overspread her with
his armed Troops. To possess himself first of the most convenient Passage,
which was a narrow Valley betwixt two high Mountains; he sent Colonel
_Veltus_ with his Regiment; dispersed in Companies to lie in _Ambuscado,_
as he had directed them, and in the Morning to drive all the Cattel they
could find before a Fort in that Passage, whom he supposed would sally,
seeing but some small Party to recover their prey; which took such good
success, that the Garrison was cut off by the _Ambuscado,_ and _Veltus_
seized on the Skonces, which were abandoned. _Meldritch_ glad of so
fortunate a beginning, it was six days ere he could with six thousand
Pioneers make passage for his Ordnance: The _Turks_ having such warning,
strengthened the Town so with Men and Provision, that they made a scorn of
so small a number as _Meldritch_ brought with him before the City, which
was but eight thousand. Before they had pitched their Tents, the _Turks_
sallied in such abundance, as for an hour, they had rather a bloody Battel
than a Skirmish, but with the loss of near Fifteen hundred on both sides.
The Turks were chased till the Cities Ordnance caused the Earl to retire.
{M-2} The next day _Zachel Moyses,_ General of the Army, pitched also his
Tents with nine thousand Foot and Horse, and six and twenty Pieces of
Ordnance; but in regard of the Situation of this strong Fortress, they did
neither fear them nor hurt them, being upon the point of a fair
Promontory, environed on the one side within half a Mile with an un-useful
Mountain, and on the other side with a fair Plain, where the _Christians_
encamped, but so commanded by their Ordnance, they spent near a Month in
entrenching themselves, and raising their Mounts to plant their Batteries;
which slow proceedings the _Turks_ oft derided, that their Ordnance were
at pawn, and how they grew fat for want of Exercise, and fearing lest they
should depart ere they could assault their City, sent this Challenge to
any Captain in the Army.
* * * * *
{MN-1} _Earl_ Meldritch _maketh incursions to discover_ Regall.
{MN-2} Moyses _Besiegeth_ Regal.
That to delight the Ladies, who did long to see some Court-like pastime,
the Lord _Turbashaw_ did defie any Captain, that had the command of a
Company, who durst Combate with him for his Head: The matter being
discussed, it was accepted, but so many Questions grew for the
undertaking, it was decided by Lots, which fell upon Captain _Smith,_
before spoken of.
{MN} Truce being made for that time, the Rampires all beset with fair
Dames, and Men in Arms, the _Christians_ in _Battalia; Turbashaw_ with a
noise of Haut-boys entred the Field well mounted and armed; on his
shoulders were fixed a pair of great Wings, compacted of Eagles Feathers,
within a ridge of Silver, richly garnished with Gold and precious Stones,
a _Janizary_ before him, bearing his Lance, on each side another leading
his Horse; where long he stayed not, ere _Smith_ with a noise of Trumpets,
only a Page bearing his Lance, passing by him with a courteous Salute,
took his Ground with such good success, that at the sound of the charge,
he passed the _Turk_ thorow the sight of his Beaver, Face, Head and all,
that he fell dead to the Ground, where alighting and unbracing his Helmet,
cut off his Head, and the _Turks_ took his Body; and so returned without
any hurt at all. The Head he presented to the Lord _Moyses,_ the General,
who kindly accepted it, and with joy to the whole Army he was generally
welcomed.
* * * * *
{MN} _Three single combates._
The Death of this Captain so swelled in the Heart of one _Grualgo,_ his
vowed Friend, as rather inraged with madness than choler, he directed a
particular challenge to the Conqueror, to regain his Friends Head, or Idle
his own, with his Horse and Armour for advantage, which according to his
desire, was the next day undertaken: as before upon the sound of the
Trumpets, their Lances flew in pieces upon a clear Passage, but the
_Turk,_ was near unhorsed. Their Pistols was the next, which marked
_Smith_ upon the Placard; but the next shot the _Turk,_ was so Wounded in
the left Arm, that being not able to rule his Horse, and defend himself,
he was thrown to the ground, and so bruised with the fall, that he lost
his Head, as his Friend before him, with his Horse and Armour; but his
Body, and his rich Apparel were sent back to the Town.
Every day the _Turks_ made some Sallies, but few Skirmishes would they
endure to any purpose. Our Works and Approaches being not yet advanced to
that heighth and effect, which was of necessity to be performed; to delude
time, _Smith_ with so many incontradictible perswading Reasons, obtained
leave, that the Ladies might know he was not so much enamoured of their
Servants Heads; but if any _Turk,_ of their rank would come to the place
of Combate to redeem them, should have his also upon the like conditions,
if he could win it.
The challenge presently was accepted by _Bonny Mulgro._ The next day, both
the Champions entring the Field as before, each discharging their Pistol,
having no Lances, but such martial Weapons as the Defendant appointed, no
hurt was done; their Battle-Axes was the next, whose piercing Bills made
sometime the one, sometime the other to have scarce sense to keep their
Saddles, specially the _Christian_ received such a blow, that he lost his
Battle axe, and failed not much to have fallen after it, whereat the
supposed conquering _Turk,_ had a great shout from the Rampires. The
_Turk,_ prosecuted his advantage to the uttermost of his power; yet the
other, what by the readiness of his Horse, and his judgement and dexterity
in such a business, beyond all Mens expectation, by God's assistance, not
only avoided the _Turks_ violence but having drawn his Faulchion, pierced
the _Turk,_ so under the Culets, thorow back and body, that altho' he
alighted from his Horse, he stood not long ere he lost his Head, as the
rest had done.
* * * * *