University of Virginia Library

Chapter VI.
A brave encounter of the Turkes Armie with the
Christians; Duke Mercury overthroweth Assan Bashaw;
Hee divides the Christian Armie; His noblenesse
and death.

MAHOMET, the great Turke, during the siege, had raised an
Armie of sixtie thousand men to have releeved it; but hearing
it was lost, he sent Assan Bashaw,

Generall of his Armie, the Bashaw
of Buda, Bashaw Amaroz, to see if it were possible to regaine it; The
Duke understanding there could be no great experience in such a
new levied Armie as Assan had; having put a strong Garrison into
it: and with the brave Colonell Rosworme, Culnits, Meldritch, the
Rhine-Grave, Vahan and many others; with twenty thousand good
souldiers, set forward to meet the Turke in the Plaines of Girke.
Those two Armies encountred as they marched, where began a hot
and bloudy Skirmish betwixt them, Regiment against Regiment, as
they came in order, till the night parted them: Here Earle Meldritch
was so invironed amongst those halfe circuler Regiments of Turkes,
they supposed him their Prisoner, and his Regiment lost; but his two
most couragious friends, Vahan and Culnits, ∥ made such a passage
amongst them, that it was a terror to see how horse and man lay
sprawling and tumbling, some one way, some another on the ground.
The Earle there at that time made his valour shine more bright than
his armour, which seemed then painted with Turkish bloud, he slew
the brave Zanzack Bugola, and made his passage to his friends, but
neere halfe his Regiment was slaine. Captain Smith had his horse
slaine under him, and himselfe sore wounded; but he was not long
unmounted, for there was choice enough of horses, that wanted
masters. The Turke thinking the victory sure against the Duke, whose
Armie, by the Siege and the Garrison, he had left behind him, was
much weakned, would not be content with one, but he would have
all; and lest the Duke should returne to Alba Regalis, he sent that
night twenty thousand to besiege the Citie, assuring them he would
keepe the Duke or any other from releeving them. Two or three
dayes they lay each by other, entrenching themselves; the Turkes
daring the Duke daily to a sett battell, who at length drew out his
Army, led by the Rhine-Grave, Culnits and Meldritch, who upon
their first encounter, charged with that resolute and valiant courage,
as disordered not only the formost squadrons of the Turkes, but
enforced all the whole Armie to retire to the Campe, with the losse
of five or six thousand, with the Bashaw of Buda, and foure or five
Zanzacks, with divers other great Commanders, two hundred
Prisoners, and nine peeces of Ordnance. At that instant appeared,
as it were, another Armie comming out of a valley over a plaine hill,
that caused the Duke at that time to be contented, and to retire to
his Trenches; which gave time to Assan to reorder his disordered
squadrons: Here they lay nine or ten dayes, and more supplies repaired
to them, expecting to try the event in a sett battell; but the
souldiers on both parties, by reason of their great wants and approach
of winter, grew so discontented, that they were ready of themselves
to breake up the Leager; the Bashaw retiring himselfe to Buda, had
some of the Reare Troopes cut off. Amaroz Bashaw hearing of this,
found such bad welcome at Alba Regalis, and the Towne so strongly
repaired, with so brave a Garrison, raised his siege, and retired to
Zigetum.

The Duke

understanding that the Arch-duke Ferdinando had
so resolutely besieged Caniza, as what by the losse of Alba Regalis,
and the Turks retreat to Buda, being void of hope of any reliefe,
doubted not but it would become againe the Christians. To the
furtherance whereof, the Duke divided his Armie into three parts.
The Earle of Rosworme went with seven thousand to Caniza; the
Earle of Meldritch with six thousand he sent to assist Georgio Busca
against the Transilvanians, the rest went with himselfe to the Garrisons
of Strigonium and Komara; having thus worthily behaved
himselfe, he arrived at Vienne; where the Arch-dukes and the
Nobilitie with as much honour received him, as if he had conquered
all Hungaria; his very Picture they esteemed would make them fortunate,
which thousands kept as curiously as a precious relique. To
requite this honour, preparing himselfe to returne into France, to
raise new Forces against the next yeare, with the two Arch-dukes,
Mathias and Maximilian, and divers others of the Nobilitie, was
with great magnificence ∥ conducted to Nurenburg, there by them
royally feasted; (how it chanced is not knowne;) but the next morning
he was found dead, and his brother in law died two dayes after;
whose hearts, after this great triumph, with much sorrow were
carried into France.