Soltân (A), who, to stop his swift progrefs, had, with 12,000 Tatars, burnt up all the grafs; fo that neither forage nor water was to be found for the space of nine hours. On this unexpected arrival of the Germans a fourth confultation is held, whether it was proper to attack the enemy in fuch an open plain, before they had fortified their camp, or to wait till they fhould affault the Othmâns in their trenches. : A. D. 1697. THE prime Wazir endeavours to perfuade the Soltân to The Wathe former opinion, alledging "that it was not honourable zîr's ad"to fuffer the enemy, who were so near, to escape without vice offering them battle that the impatience with which "God had infpired the foldiers for a battle, fufficiently de"clared that then was the time to defeat the enemy; and "that if this ardor fhould be repressed, it was to be feared "it would throw the whole army into a pernicious languor, "or excite in them thoughts of fedition, for want of other " employment." This opinion of the Wazir was boldly oppofed by Koja Fâffer Pafbâ, an experienced foldier, who had been present in almost all the battles against the Germans. He urged," that he had obferved whenever the enemy fought "in an open plain, in which they could at pleasure open "their front, advance or retire, they had always gained the "victory, even though the Othman troops were much fupe"rior in number; whereas they had never fo great an army "in the field as at prefent: and that they were now com"manded by a general of approved valour and conduct, "who, as he imagined, would not provoke the Turks to a "battle, unless he had placed his own troops to fuch advantage, as to be in a manner fure of victory." 66 THE Wazir observing almost all the Pafhas to be fwayed oppofed by by Jaffer's opinion, to prevent it taking place of his own, Jaffer Pastiles him an infidel and traitor for giving fuch advice, as if shâ. he had been bribed by the enemy, to prevent the Soltán from taking wholfome counfel. Jaffer Pafbâ, finding the Wazir's obftinacy could not be furmounted any other way, defires the Soltán to remove the curtain (B), and hear in person what he had to say for the advantage of the Othman interest. This being granted, Jaffer goes on, "But if, brother, you have "gained fuch high favour with God, that he infpires you (A) Was Khan after his father Selim Gyeray, under Ahmed III. but foon after was furprifed and flain by the Cherkaffians, as before related. Cant. (B) When upon an expedition a Galibe Diwan is called, the 8 Soltan fits indeed in it, but in a " with A. D. "with counfels, and affures you of the events, you cannot 1697. " blame me if, not knowing it to be fo, I do not believe it. "I am content to be laid in irons, by his majesty's order, "while you attack the enemy; and if within an hour or "two you do not betake yourself to a fhameful flight, I "will fubmit to fuffer like a stinking dog, whatever punishment his majefty pleases to inflict: but if, which God for"bid, my prediction fhould be fulfilled, may you give an account of your imprudence to the Deity and the Soltán.” He added, "That whatever happened to himself he should "adhere to his former opinion, and advise not to engage the The Sol cr enemy, but only fortify their trenches, and wait to be at"tacked: that, by this means, although the Othmâns should "not prove victorious, yet he could with certainty promife they should not be defeated: that even in cafe the enemy "should pass by their camp, and advance to the head of the bridge, he was of opinion they ought not to march out against them, but furround them with ramparts; which "would oblige them, for want of provifions, either to at"tack their camp, or pafs the Danube, and fo give the Turks "an opportunity of falling on them in their paffage, without 66 any hazard." THE Soltan, although he approved of Jaffer's advice, tân doubt- yet adjourns the council till next day; but commands his ful. men to keep in their trenches, and the Chaubi (C) to beat back those who, of their own accord, had already taken the field. This not being fufficient to reftrain the ardor of the foldiers for a battle, the Mufti proclaims by a Fetvah, That whoever should fall in such a battle, would not only lofe the crown of Shehadet (or martyrdom), but also lament their unfeafonable boldness in hell. MEAN while prince Eugene, having advanced as far as the bridge, and with the waters of the Danube refreshed his troops almost dead with thirst and heat, drew them up, and in this posture remained all night. The Turkish foldiers Moved at were, on this occafion, feized with great terror, thinking Laft that they had been reftrained from fighting by their gene (C) There are two forts of Chauh. The first are employ'd in the Wazir's Diwan to receive petitions of the plaintiff; to carry the Wazir's orders to the judge; and put his fentence in execution. The others, called Alay Chaufhi, are made in time of war, to carry the Wazir's orders to the Pafhás; to take care that the horse stand in a ftrait line; to give the fignal of battle; to found a retreat, and the like; in which they are not half fo dexterous as the regular Aids de Camp. Cant. ral's ral's fear, which they confidered as the worft of omens to the Othman affairs. The Wazir making ufe of thefe difcourfes in the camp, to expofe Jaffer Pafba to the Soltân, urges how fatal that officer's too great caution might prøve, unlefs immediately obviated: for that the enemy could not be deprived of neceffaries, fince they had the Danube open, and were masters of all the towns above them; while by the Othmân inactivity time was loft, the army languished in idleness, and the Germans every day strengthened. A. D. 1697. BUT although the Soltan could not confent to attack the to besiege Germans, yet he complied to go and befiege Segedin, the Wa- Segedin. zir fuggesting that it could not hold out above ten days: that when taken, the whole country between the Teile and Danube would be reduced to the Othman obedience, and the neighbouring parts of Hungary laid open to be wafted by the Tatars that the German army was fo heavy and fatigued as not to be able to follow them that they might indeed befiege Belgrade, but could have no hopes of fucceeding against a place provided with fuch a strong garrison, plenty of provifions, and a fleet at hand to throw in fupplies that however, the more effectually to fecure it, Jaffer Pafhd might be fent there as governor, whofe abilities in defending cities had fufficiently appeared in the fiege of Temefwar. : As this part of the Wazir's advice was given with a view Marches to remove Jaffer PaЛbâ from the Soltân, and then find oc- to Zenta. cafion to put him to death for a warning to others, Mostafa, who perceived it, would not confent, under pretence that Jaffer's counfels would be neceffary in the army. Next morning, being the 5th of Jomazio 'lâwel, at day-break, he fet forward with his forces, and after nine hours march pitches his tents near a lake, with a bridge over it, where the Germans had lately encamped. Next day, leaving Kyuchûk Jaffer Pafba (D) behind, with 500 horfe, he proceeds before day to Zenta, a caftle, little noted before, on the banks of the Teiffe, with extraordinary expedition. PRINCE Eugene, on hearing the Tubulkhâna, imagined it Prince was the fignal for battle, and drew up his troops to receive Eugene the Turks but when he understood by his feouts that they follows. • CANT. p. 405, & feq. (D) Being taken here by the Germans, he gave them an exact account of the ftate of the Othmán army; for which he was fet at liberty after the battle. MOD. HIST. VOL. XIII. Nor was he, at his return, pu- H were A. D. were marching to Zenta, taking this to be a flight, he orders 1697. the Hungarian horfe to hafte before, and leaving behind the heavier and weaker part of his army, immediately follows, with lefs prudence than courage, at the head of only 16,000 men. The Hungarians that night coming to the lake, find the Turks fleeping, who expected nothing lefs than the enemy, and cut off the whole party, excepting the Pafha's chamberlain. This perfon, who efcaped by means of the darkrefs, immediately flies to Zenta, and informs the Wazir of this difafter, and the approach of the Germans. That minifter, to prevent the report from raising new commotions in the camp, immediately beheads the meffenger of it; and informs the Soltán that the Hungarians had indeed surprised Jaffer Pafha, but were afterwards defeated by the Othmân forces. He had fcarce made this report, when fome Tatar troops arrive, and inform the camp that the whole German army were pursuing the Othman forces with the utmost speed, and were now just at hand. HEREUPON the Soltán commands his men to halt, and a bridge to be run over the Teiffe; which was performed in four hours. At noon the Soltan paffes over firft on horseback, and when the Wazir came to kiss his stirrup, puts him off with a stern countenance; at the fame time bidding him take care to convey over fafely whatever was in the camp, for that if the enemy fhould take but a fingle waggon he should fuffer an infamous death. The Wazir knowing it required at least two days to tranfport every thing, and that his ruin was inevitable if he should ever appear before the Soltân, at first fends over eight cannon with their ammunition, and allows the Spahi's, with the troops commanded by the Páfha's, to pafs, but ftops the reft; alledging, that the remainder of the cannon and army, which was the greater part, ought to be detained for defence of the camp, in cafe the enemy fhould attack it in the rear. THESE forces were scarce gotten over next day at noon, when the Wazir being informed the Germans were within three hours march of the camp, that he might not die without his rivals, fends for all the Pafbá's who had already passed over with their troops, under pretence of confulting them. They being obliged to obey his order, return on foot, as the waggons on the bridge would not allow horfes to pafs; and being all affembled, except the Kaymaykâm, Bayukli Mostafa Pafha, the Wazir tells them, "That the enemy being now "in fight, they, who had refused to fight when they had a "convenient place and opportunity, fhould now be forced to "do it, without thofe advantages; that they had but one "hap happiness left, to be Gâzi, if they conquered, or Shehid, A. D. "if they died valiantly; and as one of thofe ineftimable 1697. "privilèges waited for him that day, he thought it unrea"fonable to defraud them, his brethren, of the right they "had to be partakers with him. Behold, therefore, conti"nued he, paradife open before you, which I command you by the divine injunction to enter, and enjoy the delights promised by our prophet: but if you refuse to obey the law, and my orders, my fword (which he fhewed) "shall deprive you both of the life which you desire, and "the paradife which you despise." 66 THE Páfbas, not daring to oppofe the Wazir in the midst Resolved of the camp, or knowing how to escape, pretend obedience, to die and retire to the trenches; which being too extenfive for the fighting.] forces which remained, they began to form a leffer trench within the greater. The foldiers indeed complained, and reproach'd the Wazir to his face with their imminent danger, yet obey'd his orders, as their own fafety was concerned. Mean time the German army appears, and covers the whole plain; at which fight the Soltan, enraged, fends repeated Khatibârifs to the Wazir; commanding him to fend over the Janizaries, cannon, and ammunition, let what would become of the other carriages. But Elmas Mohammed conceals thefe orders from the Pafba's, and anfwers the bearer, that he had rather die fighting valiantly with his fword, than be put to death by the Saltan; and ftops the Janizaries from paffing. In this he is affifted by the negligence of the herdfmen, who, feeing the Germans approach, drive all the cattle appointed for drawing fo many thoufand waggons into the river. The ftream forcing them against the bridge, they endeavour to mount it, and thus fink three of the boats, on which it was founded; fo that no more than one man at a time could make a shift to pass upon planks laid across. THE imperial forces arrive about three hours before night; Battle of and imagining the Turkish camp to be only guarded by the Zenta. carriages, fall on at once, but are repulfed with confiderable lofs. Therefore when they find, that befides two rows of waggons, chained together, the Turks were fortified by a double trench; and that the forces on this fide the river were much fuperior in number to their own, they resolve to go another way to work. The channel of the Teille, when fwoln by the autumnal or winter rains, is full of water, which falling in fummer, leaves a fandy space of thirty paces at the foot of the western banks of the river, which are high and fcraggy. Here prince Eugene orders a trench to be dug a little below the Turkif camp; and several regiments to fall |