University of Virginia Library

Chapter V.
The siege of Stowlle-wesenburg;

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5

The effects of
Smiths Fire-workes; A worthy exploit of
Earle Rosworme;

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6

Earle Meldritch takes the
Bashaw prisoner.

A GENERALL rumour of a generall peace, now spred it selfe over
all the face of those tormented Countries: but the Turke intended
no such matter, but levied souldiers 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 Mathias, the Emperours
brother, and his Lieutenant Duke Mercury

to defend Low Hungary,
the second, by Ferdinando the Arch-duke of Steria, and the Duke of
Mantua his Lieutenant to regaine Caniza; the third by Gonzago,
Governour of High Hungary, to joyne with Georgio Busca, to make
an absolute conquest of Transilvania.

Duke Mercury with an Armie of thirtie thousand,

whereof
neere ten thousand were French, besieged Stowlle-wesenburg, otherwise
called Alba Regalis, a place so strong by Art and Nature, that
it was thought impregnable. At his first comming, the Turkes sallied
upon the Germane quarter, slew neere five hundred, and returned
before they were thought on. The next night in like manner they did
neere as much to the Bemers, and Hungarians; of which fortune
still presuming, thinking to have found the French quarter as carelesse,
eight or nine hundred of them were cut in pieces and taken
prisoners. In this encounter Monsieur Grandvile, a brave French
Colonell, received seven or eight cruell wounds, yet followed the
Enemie to the Ports; he came off alive, but within three or foure
dayes died.

Earle Meldritch, by the information of three or foure Christians,
(escaped out of the Towne) upon every Alarum, where there was
greatest assemblies and throng of people, caused Captaine Smith to
put in practice his fiery Dragons,

hee had demonstrated unto him,
and the Earle Von Sulch at Comora, which hee thus performed:
Having prepared fortie or fiftie round-bellied earthen pots, and
filled them with hand Gunpowder, 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, stucke them round in the mixture about the pots, and
covered them againe with the same mixture, over that a strong Sear-cloth,
then over all a good thicknesse of Towze-match well tempered
with oyle of Lin-seed, Campheer, and powder of Brimstone, these he
fitly placed in Slings, graduated so neere as they could to the places
of these Assemblies. At midnight upon the Alarum, it was a fearfull
sight to see the short flaming course of their flight in the aire, but
presently after their fall, the lamentable noise of the miserable
slaughtered Turkes was most wonderfull to heare: Besides, they had
fired that Suburbe at the Port of Buda in two or three places, which
so troubled the Turkes to quench, that had there beene any meanes
to have assaulted ∥ them, they could hardly have resisted the fire,
and their enemies. The Earle Rosworme, contrary to the opinion of
all men, would needs undertake to finde meanes to surprize the
Segeth and Suburbe of the Citie, strongly defended by a muddie
Lake, which was thought unpassable.

The Duke having planted his Ordnance, battered the other side,
whilest Rosworme, in the darke night, with every man a bundle of
sedge and bavins still throwne before them, so laded up the Lake, as
they surprized that unregarded Suburbe before they were discovered:
upon which unexpected Alarum, the Turkes fled into the
Citie, and the other Suburbe not knowing the matter, got into the
Citie also, leaving their Suburbe for the Duke, who, with no great
resistance, tooke it, with many peeces of Ordnance; the Citie, being
of no such strength as the Suburbs, with their owne Ordnance was so
battered, that it was taken perforce, with such a mercilesse execution,
as was most pitifull to behold. The Bashaw

notwithstanding drew
together a partie of five hundred before his owne Pallace, where he
intended to die; but seeing most of his men slaine before him, by the
valiant Captaine Earle Meldritch, who tooke him prisoner with his
owne hands; and with the hazard of himselfe saved him from the
fury of other troopes, that did pull downe his Pallace, and would have
rent him in peeces, had he not beene thus preserved. The Duke
thought his victory much honoured with such a Prisoner; tooke order
hee should bee used like a Prince, and with all expedition gave charge
presently to repaire the breaches, and the ruines of this famous Citie,
that had beene in the possession of the Turkes neere threescore
yeares.