A true discourse wherein IS SET DOWN THE Wonderful mercy of God, showed towards the Christians, on the two and twenty of june. 159●. against the Turk, before Syssek in Croatia. Truly translated out of the high Dutch Copy. Printed at Vienna▪ LONDON Printed by john Wolf, 1593. A TRUE DISCOURSE, WHEREIN IS set down the wonderful mercy of God, showed towards the Christians, on the two and twenty of june. 1593. against the Turk, before Syssek in Croatia. Upon the 14. day of june, that Christian enemy, and Common violator of peace Hassam Bassa of Bossna, with the rest of his Lords and soldiers, to the number of thirty eight thousand and two hundred, surprised the castle and tower of Trentschina, sometimes belonging to the Bishopric of Agram. From thence, upon the 15. following, he marched before Syssek, and played upon it with his artillery, until the eighteenth day, with such force, that he overthrew even to the ground, the tower thereof, and two pieces of ordinance, together with the master gunner's which were appointed, for among such field pieces as he there used, he had three in chief, which shot bollets of forty, four and forty, & five and forty pound weight. Upon this the borderers of the Empire, drawn thereunto partly by necessity, and partly through desire to relieve Syssek aforesaid, assembled their forces together over against Agram as namely Rupertus Baron of Eckhenberg general of the field: Andrea Awersperg chief commander in Croatia: Erdody Baan Lord of Carlstat in Windismarke, the Lord of Graswein, Colonel of the horsemen of Styria and Carniola, and Melchior of Roderne Chieftain of the Ruitters of Sylesia, to the number of five hundred the Kopprainitzers also, and the Estates of Windismarke were present likewise: who leaving two hundred footmen for the defence of Agram, and two hundred were for the Sconce (made upon the bridge), marched forward in the name of God: & about midnight (being the eighteenth of june,) came before Syssek, to the number of four thousand five hundred men. Upon the nineteenth following, the Turks assaulted it: but effectuated nothing, only they lost some three score Turks: at which instant, our men behaved themselves manfully. Upon the 20. day Bassa sent out three hundred men, to see if they could intercept any person, by whom they might be informed of the state of our Camp: against whom the Baron of Ecke●berg made out some four hundred horses, who presently put the Turks to flight, of whom, they slew some, some other were taken prisoners, and brought home about some forty horse. Upon the 21. day, there issued out again on th'other side of the water, some four hundred of the enemy, likewise to learn and hearken of our precedings, who were in like manner beaten back, and forced to retire to their Campe. Who because they could not pass the water, with convenient speed, lost many of their company, viz: two shippefulls in the water, which were drowned, at which time our men took two ensigns, and one Agga, or Colonel, (who had the leading of seven ensigns). Upon the two and twentieth of june, our men marched near Syssek & entered the Island, against whom, th'enemy presently made head: whose great power and force, when our men had perfectly viewed and examined, some were of opinion to make a retraitte, esteeming it, no point of wisdom to put themselves into such an apparent and manifest danger. But the Baron of Eckenberg, with certain other of the Lords and Chief Commanders, were of a contrary advise, and thought it more convenient (in God's name) to try the fortune of the Battle, especially, because the necessity urged, & they of Syssek were not able one hour longer to endure the siege. Besides, it was to be feared, lest th'enemy, in making their retraicte, would undoubtedly set upon them. Which advise allowed and approved of the rest, they put themselves in order of battle. The enemy did the like. And as Hassam Bassa of Bossna made head against our men, with some ten thousand horse and more, and was now entered the Island and brought all his Ruitters before Syssek, he caused his Turkish footmen to be placed upon th'other side of the River (where a bridge was made of ships) and the greater part of the Army kept itself close in a Troop. The fight began about eleven or twelve of the clock: And the L. Baan with his Hungarians, and the people of Windismarke gave the first assault: who through the force and multitude of th'enemy, and namely of the janissaries, who were placed next the river, issued out upon them so forcibly, that they were fain to retire, who nevertheless were rescued and relieved by the Lord Graffen of Monte Kukulle, and the arquebusiers of Carniola. Upon th'other side the Koppreunitzers, they of Carlestat, the Stirians, and Carniolans, to the number of three hundred horse, broke upon th'enemy: amongst whom was the L. General of Eckenberg, with the Lords of Roderne and Silesian Ruitters, and the Chief Commanders of the horse, who likewise made their fight. Now as soon as the Turks espied them, and found them by their manner of riding, to be of Carlstat, High Almains, and of the Confines (for they were at the first persuaded, that they had been, as in times past, but Bowers and Peasants) they took their flight towards the Bridge, right over against their Leaguer on the other side of the River of Kulpa: amongst whom our people broke in with a great fury. As soon as the Hassam Bassa espied this he ran in all haste to the Bridge made upon the River Kulpa, hoping there to make his people (who were now in Flight) presently to return to the Fight, but all in vain: for there were about two Ensigns, or five hundred Turks, which had already past the Bridge, unto the Footmen there, and the rest endeavoured to follow with all their might and main: who were intercepted by them of Carlstat and the Koppreunitzers, & forced them to leave the Bridge: And the Turks, which were on the other shore, laboured in the mean while to break down the Bridge, whom our people with their shot forced to retire. When the Turks perceived, that the Bridge was taken from them, they took the water, which at that time was great, and ran so still, as if it had been a standing lake. In which many a stately, worthy and renowned Turk and horse, lost his life; for they no sooner entered it, but were presently drowned. Of all these Turks, very few or none escaped the water, by reason of the shot which continually played upon them, all that day and night. Hassam Bassa of Bossna, himself with certain other Beegen, Aggen, Spahyen, say, also other renowned Turks, were forced to take the water even under Syssek, and were there drowned. The high Almains would not take any Turk prisoner, but slew them all: but they of Windesmarke, took some and brought them from thence. The Turks which were on tother side of the water greatly lamented, and entreated that if their Bassa were taken prisoner, they would not touch his life, but rather honourably entertain him, for their Emperor would assuredly ransom him. The Turkish Emperors sister's son, called Mehemet Beeg, stretched forth his hand in the water (craving as it were to be relieved) but he was presently slain with a shot. The bodies of Bassa, Ernot Beeg: Rhustan Beeg: and Mehemet Beeg: who was chief General of the Turkish cavalry, were taken out of the water, and the said Mehemet had his head presently struck of. The Almain footmen, & such as were under the conduct and leading of Ferdinand Werdners, were not present at this encounter: but were left behind to guard th'Artillery: who forced th'enemy to leave eight Field pieces upon carriages (which were under the charge of the Kazianerins, and taken from us by th'enemy Anno 33. before Essek) and also certain f● conetes, with thirty ships of Victual: they took spoil likewise of the whole Camp and riffled 〈◊〉 tyltes. Thus hath almighty God wonderfully protected the christian soldiers (which in number were nothing comparable to those of the Turks. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT of the Turks, which were taken prisoners, the Bassa had then of his own soldiers, men and household people, as followeth. FIrst. In men. 4000 Rhamathon Beeg. 1000 Birth Beeg of Kliss. 3000 Zeiveri Memy Beeg. 1500 Seffer Beeg of Zerink, brother to the Bassa in Bossna. 700 Beeg of Hertzoguina, son to Achmat Bassa of the Ports. 3000 Kurth Beeg, son to Ferhat Bassa. 1500 Rhustan Beeg, of Petrina. 500 Ibrohim Beeg, of Likaw. 2000 Captain of Gratischko. 1000 The number of the other Spahyen, say and land people were. 20000 FINIS.