University of Virginia Library

Chapter X.
The battell of Rotenton;

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5

a pretty stratagem of
fire-workes by Smith.

RODOLL not knowing how to draw the enemie to battell, raised
his Armie, burning and spoyling all where he came, and returned
againe towards Rebrinke in the night, as if he had fled upon
the generall rumour of the Crym-Tartars comming, which so inflamed
the Turkes of a happy victory, they urged Jeremy against his
will to follow them. Rodoll seeing his plot fell out as he desired, so
ordered the matter, that having regained the streights, he put his
Army in order, that had beene neere two dayes pursued, with continuall
skirmishes in his Reare, which now making head against the
twixt Rodoll enemie, that followed with their whole Armie in the best manner
they could, was furiously charged with six thousand Hydukes,

Wallachians,
and Moldavians, led by three Colonells, Oversall, Dubras,
and Calab, to entertaine the time till the rest came up; Veltus and
Nederspolt with their Regiments, entertained them with the like
courage, till the Zanzacke Hamesbeg, with six thousand more, came
with a fresh charge, which Meldritch and Budendorfe, rather like
enraged lions, than men, so bravely encountred, as if in them only
had consisted the victory; Meldritchs horse being slaine under him,
the Turks pressed what they could to have taken him prisoner, but
being remounted, it was thought with his owne hand he slew the
valiant Zanzacke, whereupon his troopes retyring, the two proud
Bashawes, Aladin, and Zizimmus, brought up the front of the body
of their battell. Veltus and Nederspolt having breathed, and joyning
their troopes with Becklefield and Zarvana, with such an incredible
courage charged the left flancke of Zizimmus, as put them all in disorder,
where Zizimmus the Bashaw was taken prisoner, but died
presently upon his wounds. Jeremie seeing now the maine battell of
Rodoll advance, being thus constrained, like a valiant Prince in his
front of the Vantgard, by his example so bravely encouraged his
souldiers, that Rodoll found no great assurance of the victorie. Thus
being joyned in this bloudy massacre, that there was scarce ground
to stand upon, but upon the dead carkasses, which in lesse than an
hower were so mingled, as if each Regiment had singled out other.
The admired Aladin that day did leave behinde him a glorious name
for his valour, whose death many of his enemies did lament after the
victory, which at that instant fell to Rodoll. It was reported Jeremie
was also slaine, but it was not so, but fled with the remainder of his
Armie to Moldavia, leaving five and twenty thousand dead in the
field, of both Armies. And thus Rodoll was seated againe in his
Soveraignty, and Wallachia became subject to the Emperour.

But long he rested not to settle his new estate, but there came
newes, that certaine Regiments of stragling Tartars,

were forraging
those parts towards Moldavia. Meldritch with thirteene thousand
men was sent against them, but when they heard it was the Crym-Tartar
and his two ∥ sonnes, with an Armie of thirty thousand; and
Jeremie, that had escaped with fourteene or fifteene thousand, lay in
ambush for them about Langanaw, he retired towards Rottenton,
a strong garrison for Rodoll; but they were so invironed with these
hellish numbers, they could make no great haste for skirmishing with
their scouts, forragers, 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 thicke fogge early in the morning,
unexpectedly they met two thousand loaded with pillage, and two
or three hundred horse and cattell; the most of them were slaine and
taken prisoners, who told them where Jeremie lay in the passage,
expecting the Crym-Tartar that was not farre from him. Meldritch
intending to make his passage perforce, was advised of a pretty stratagem
by the English Smith, which presently he thus accomplished;
for having accommodated two or three hundred truncks with wilde
fire, upon the heads of lances, and charging the enemie in the night,
gave fire to the truncks, which blazed forth such flames and sparkles,
that it so amazed not onely their horses, but their foot also; that by
the meanes of this flaming encounter, their owne horses turned tailes
with such fury, as by their violence overthrew Jeremy and his Army,
without any losse at all to speake of to Meldritch. But of this victory
long they triumphed not; for being within three leagues of Rottenton,
the Tartar with neere forty thousand so beset them, that
they must either fight, or be cut in peeces flying. Here Busca and the
Emperour had their desire; for the Sunne no sooner displayed his
beames, than the Tartar his colours; where at midday he stayed a
while, to see the passage of a tyrannicall and treacherous imposture,
till the earth did blush with the bloud of honesty, that the Sunne for
shame did hide himselfe, from so monstrous sight of a cowardly
calamity. It was a most brave sight to see the banners and ensignes
streaming in the aire, the glittering of Armour, the variety of colours,
the motion of plumes, the forrests of lances, and the thicknesse of
shorter weapons, till the silent expedition of the bloudy blast from
the murdering Ordnance, whose roaring voice is not so soone heard,
as felt by the aymed at object, which made among them a most
lamentable slaughter.