- 1r -

.Translation des Mehmet Bassa schreiben
.an ir ksl. Mt. etc.

10 Nachdem eur Mt. etc. unnsere guette grüeß, die sich gezimen und eur ksl.
.Mt. etc. wirdig sein, angezaight worden, sey eur Mt. etc. freundtlichen khundt,
.das eur Mt. etc. podtschafft, welliche an diser fürtrefflichen Porten residirt
.bey dem pallast seiner durchleichtigkheit, welliches ein nesst der glickh-
.selligkhait ist, schrifftlich angebracht hat, wie eur Mt. etc. begern, das,
15 inmassen die erstreckhung des fridens, noch in zeitt weillend sultan
. Selims, guetter gedächtnus, Gottes Barmherzigkhait und vergeberlösung sey
.ob im, auf acht jar beschlossen worden, sollicher frid und rueh auch noch-
.malls zwischen unns sey und bleibe, welliches ich zum öffternmal dem
.erhöbten tron seiner ksl. hochait angezaigt und fürgebracht, die sich
20 darüber erindert und gemelt hat von denen sachen, die sich von irenn
.thaill wider die fridts pact begeben haben, alls mit dem Ibrahim Aga,
. Curt Aga, Suleiman Aga, dem Hassan Emin, den vleisch hackern von Ofen,
.auch mit dem Janusch Ballasch, Sibenbürgischen handl, Beckhesch und Bogdan
.Wayvoda, und gesagt, weil dist unnsere diener gewesen sein, warumben
25 haben sys wider den Friden angenomben und nit widerumb daherr geben,
.saget auch weitter, wan sy den friden und ruehe lieb hetten, sy
.würden demselben nit sollicher gestalt zuwider gethan haben, das
.sy auch den friden suechen und wollen, das sein nur wort der podt-
.schafften. Seit demnach mein ksl. hocheit in die succession dises
30 hohen und glickhseligen trons komen ist, hat mein gemieth mich zum
.khrieg und streit gemanglt, und saget noch, das sein durh. gegen Graetia
.(damit er Europam verstanden) khrieg fieren wellen.

Dann also
.ist die tapferhait, verstand, gemiet, weißhait und guette vernunfft,
.disers unnsers glickhseligen khaisers, also liebt und gebraucht er auch - 1v -
.mit seiner person die instrument und waffen des khriegs, das er etlichermassen
.seine großmüettige vorfordern und urellttern ubertrifft. Sonderlich in disem
.seinem noch jungen altter ist im das glickh so günstig und er so genaigt zum
.khrieg und streit, das es uber die maß, hat auch umb oberzelltter ursachen willen
5 den friden nit bewilligen wellen. Wie aber eur Mt. etc. ir schreiben geschickht,
.deß inhalts, der Beekhesch seye in das land khomen, dieselben örtter und seine güetter
.nur zu besehen und nit sich weyda zumachen, ime doch darnach teütsch khriegs volck
.geben, gleichsfalls der Ballasch Janusch, der seinen sohn und vill khriegs volckh
.damit wider Sibenbürgen geschickt. Mit hilff und gnad des wahren
10 Gottes ist der gedacht verfluecht, und das ganz hör, so von den teufln belaittet
.mit im gezogen, hernach wol gestrafft worden, und noch uber dise
.wider den friden geübte ublthatten hatt der Ballasch Janusch zum schein
.etliche Türckhen ledig gelassen, und sich bewieglicher weiß gestelt und
.erbotten, er woltte sich hie daheer undtergeben und gehorsam laisten,
15 darüber auch die Türckhen zu sein castell zu khomen beschaiden. Wie aber
.offenbar worden, das er sy in grueben fallen machen wellen, sein die
.Türckhen nit hin khomen, und weill er offtmals den friden gebrochen,
.der herr Mustapha Bassa auch darüber außzogen, deß verfluechten schlösser
.eingenomben und also dise scharffe abstellung und einsehung bey im ge-
20 thon, ist seiner hochait gemiet, zu dem es numer gegen dem wintter
.gangen, hierdurch etwas gestilt und zufriden worden.

Ich, eur Mt. etc.
.freundt, hab gelegenhait gefunden und mit guettem bericht und rath hab
.ich zu seiner hochait also gesagt, wann sy welle khrieg füeren, so
.werden alle zeit von beeden thailln die underthanen verderbt und verhört,
25 und damit eur glickhselige großmechtigkhait, mein khaiser, ain solliche sind
.nit auf ir hab, so solle sy solliches nit thuen. Wie ich nun diß vor
.seiner durh. glückhlichen tron gegenwiertig gemelt, ob wol sein groß-
.muettiges herz zum khrieg und streitt genaigt gewesen, iedoch aus
.seiner billichait und furcht Gottes, die er hatt, welliche alle andere ding uber-
30 treffen, auch aus güette und mitleiden gegen beider seits underthanen,
.hat er den friden und guette rueh bewilligt, und die ksl. haubt con-
.firmation solliches fridens, wie sy sein vatter sultan Selym, Gottes
.barmherzigkhait und vergeblösung sey mit im und sein stell im paradyß,
.im anfang, also auch die, so er hernach durch den Machmut Dragoman - 2r -
.hinaus geschickht, angenomben, denselben gemäß, ist auch diser sein
.ksl. brief geschriben, und eur Mt. etc. podtschafft uberantwort worden.

.Ich eur Mt. etc. allzeit guetter freundt, will von eur Mt. etc. und beeder
.thaill underthonen rueh weegen, wie es sich dann gebürt, auch die
5 notturfft und unnser mußulmanisch gesaz erfordert, auf disem
.thaill den friden zu haltten, alle sorgfelttigkhait und vleiß fürzuwenden
.nit unnderlassen, aber nichts desweniger wierdt die frid, rueh und
.die freündtschafft von eurm thaill nit gehaltten, und müessen wir
.allzeit mit unwarheit besteen.
10 Insonderhait aber so ist von disem thaill niemals ettwas begert oder eur
.Mt. etc. vermeldt worden, welliches wider die billichait wäre und des sy nit
.aus genuegsamer erhöblicher ursach thuen hett khönen. Alls erstlich
.der capitulation nach sein eur Mt. etc. verbunden gewest, die ienigen,
.so wider den friden gefangen worden, ledig zu zellen, und das sy auch
15 den Beckhesch und Bogdan wider den friden nit aufhaltten, sonder der
.confirmation nach sy an dise glickselige Porten schickhen hetten sollen.
.Wann Caspar Beckhesch und der Bogdan, wie sy hinkhomen sein, strackhs
.an ires herrn Porten wären geschickht worden, bis datto hetten sy das
.so sy begert nun schon erlangt, dann allen den weyvoden auf an-
20 haltten und begern der khönig sein ire waydaschafften verlichen worden.
.So haben auch eur Mt. etc. geantwort, der verfluechte Beckhesch, der sey dort-
.hin khomen, das land und seine güetter zu besehen, wellicher antwort
.sich zwar zuverwundern, dann weyll er aus der schwarzen Wallachey
.(der Bassa verstehet das landt zwischen Sibenbürgen und der Wallachey) ist,
25 wie khann dan dasselb land (Sibenbürgen scilicet) sein vatterlandt
.sein. So werden wir bericht, das der Bogdan Weyvoda auch mit und bey
.den losen leütten, so uber Sibenbürgen zogen, gewesen ist. Wir hoffen
.das auch er sein straff werd gefunden haben. Unns und euch
.gebürt das die sachen, so in der fridts prorogation begriffen und ver-
30 heissen worden, gehaltten, auch den ublthättern von beeden thailln khain
.sicherhait gegeben, und allen denen, die also dem friden, rueh, und sicher-
.hait zuwider handlen, ir gebürliche pein, und straff angethan werde,
.damit sy andern schalckhafftigen zu ainem exempl, und also iederman
.in seinem thuen und wesen in rueh und sicherhait sein und bleiben möge.

- 2v -

.Diser appendix ist den 28. November hinzu khomen.

.Unnd der Cheyvan Wayvoda, wellicher des jungen grafen von Zrin ein gefangner ist, nach-
.dem er in anfencklich umb 2100 taller geschäzt gehabt, hat ers bey derselben schaz-
.ung nit bleiben lassen, sonder ine hernach umb 4000 taller geschäzt. Wie
5 nun dem gedachten Cheyvan ein anderer gefangner von der Porten umb 4000
.taller, der ine von dem grauen für sich erledigen soltte, geben worden, hat
.der graf dasselb auch difficultiert, und gesagt, das er den schlaven umb
.1600 taller annembe. Ausser desselben schlaven hat gedachter Chayvan
.dem grafen noch vier roß, drey bundtschäckh oder weisse schwänz, die man
10 den rossen vorn anzuhengen pflegt, ain zelltt, vier stück gulden tuech
.und andere sachen mer geschickht, mit disem allem hat er dennocht seinen bruedern
.nit ledigen khönen, sonder hat noch andere fünff zehen hundert taller unnd
.zway haubt roß hohes grosses verdts begert, welliches unns also fürkhomen.
.Derwegen wellen eur Mt. etc. hiemit wissen, das in allen religionen nit
15 zimblich ist, das yemandts seiner wort und zuesagen zurüeckh stehe, wie
.dann die Zigeiner, ob es wol das schlechtist und verachtist volckh under allen
.nationen ist, nicht destoweniger irer wort nit umbsteen und haltten,
.was sy sagen. Sein, des grafen, vatter hat auch taussent ducaten von ime
.genomben, und weill er diß gethan, ist ime sein haubt abgeschlagen und sein
20 gschloß eingenomben worden. Billich und ehrlich ists, das der jung Zrin
.wie solliches die wahre altte freundtschafft erfordert, ermant werde, damit
.er dem gemelten Cheyvan Wayvoda weitter wider den frid nichts unbilliches
.thue, dann es ir nit recht, noch löblich ist, weill er sein ime aufgelegte
.schäzung entricht, das er graf den im Chayvan bewilligten schlaven inn be-
25 halt und noch darzue merers, alls was sein schazung ist, von ime abfordere.
.Wierdt er den frid, der zwischen unns ist, nit bässer in acht und ehren haltten,
.fürwar er wirdt ainmal, so woll alls sein vatter sein straff finden,
.dan wann man den versprochen glauben und trauen nit vesst und
.steiff haltt, so faltt es nie nit, das nit allerlay irrung, stritt und zwispalt,
30 darauß volg und erwaxe. Verhoffen also eur Mt. etc. werde darob sein, das
.die conditionen des fridts und der ruehe, zwischen unns geehrt und gehaltten,
.sovil auch einsehung und verordnung thuen, damit des mehrberiertten Cheyvan
.Wayvoda handl zu end gebracht und erörttert werde.

Translation starts here

- 1r -

.Translation of Mehmet Pasha’s letter
.to his imperial majesty.

Praiseworthy and honorable among the great Christian lords, chosen of the great and mighty who are under the Christian law, protector of the whole Nazarene nation, bestowed with the splendor of glory and honor, lord of the signs of honor and exalted majesty, emperor of the Romans, of the German land and of Vienna, King Maximilian, whose end is with all felicity and prosperity, from the true friendship and sincerity that is between us.

Having conveyed to your majesty our good greetings, which are appropriate and worthy of your imperial majesty, let it be known to your majesty that your majesty’s ambassador, which resides at this excellent Porte at the palace of his serene highness, which is a nest of felicity, has written that your majesty desires that, since in the time of Sultan Selim – good remembrance, God’s mercy and salvation be upon him – the duration of the peace was fixed for eight years, such peace and tranquility should once again be concluded and remain between us, which I have often reported and presented to the exalted throne of his imperial highness, who has remembered and reported the things that happened from your side against the peace treaty with Ibrahim Aga, Curt Aga, Suleiman Aga, Hassan Emin, the butchers of Ofen, also with Jánoš Balassa, the Transylvanian affairs, Bekes and Bogdan Voyvoda, saying, since these were our servants, why did you take them in against the peace and not release them again? He goes on to say that if you loved peace and tranquility, you would not have acted against it in this way. Moreover, that you seek and desire peace is merely the assertion of the ambassador. Ever since my imperial highness came into the succession of this high and blessed throne, his mind has been inclined to war and strife, and moreover, he says that he wishes to wage war against Graetia (by which he means Europe).

Such are the bravery, understanding, disposition, wisdom and good sense of our blessed emperor, such does he himself love and use

the instruments and weapons of war, that in many ways he surpasses his magnanimous ancestors and forefathers. At this still young age, fortune is so particularly favorable to him and he is so inclined to war and strife that it is beyond measure. For the above-mentioned reasons, among others, he has been unwilling to grant peace. But when your majesty sent your letter with the content that Bekes had only come to the country to see the same places and his estates, and not to make himself voivode, you nevertheless gave him German soldiers, likewise to Balassa Jánoš, who sent his son and many soldiers against Transylvania. With the help and mercy of the true God he was cursed, and the whole army that marched with him, led by devils, was duly punished afterwards, and in spite of these evil deeds against peace, Balassa Jánoš released some Turks for the sake of appearances, and he showed himself flexible and offered to submit and obey, and also invited the Turks to come to his castle. However, when it became apparent that he wanted to let them fall into pits, the Turks did not go there, and as he often broke the peace, the lord Mustafa Pasha also went out about it, took the castles of the accursed man, and thus put a sharp end to this and punished him, and his highness’s mind, since it was now also approaching winter, was somewhat calmed and satisfied by this.

I, your majesty’s friend, have found the opportunity, and with good report and advice I have thus said to his highness that if he were to wage war, the subjects of both parties would be destroyed and devastated for all time, and so that your blessed exalted highness, my emperor, would not have such a sin upon him, you should not do so. As I have now reported this to the felicitous throne of his serene highness, although his magnanimous heart was inclined to war and strife, out of his equanimity and reverence for God, which he has and which surpasses all other things, and also out of kindness and compassion for the subjects of both sides, he has granted peace and good tranquility, and in accordance with the initial imperial confirmation of peace and with the one sent later by Mahmud Dragoman, - 2r - which were issued by his father, Sultan Selim - may God’s mercy and blessings be upon him and his place in paradise - his imperial letter has also been written and delivered to your majesty.

I, your majesty’s ever good friend, will not refrain, for the sake of your majesty and the tranquility of the subjects of both sides, as is proper, necessary and required by our Muslim law, from keeping the peace on this side, from exercising all care and diligence, but nevertheless peace, tranquility and friendship are not kept by your side, and we must endure untruth at all times. In particular, nothing has ever been requested from this side, or reported to your majesty, which was contrary to propriety and not done for a sufficiently important reason. First of all, according to the capitulation, your majesty was obliged to release those who were captured against the peace, and should not have stopped Bekes and Bogdan against the peace, but should have sent them to these blessed Porte according to the confirmation. If Gáspár Bekes and Bogdan had been sent straight to their lord’s Porte on arrival, they would have already obtained what they desired, for all the voivodes have been granted their voivodships at the request of the kings. Your majesty also replied that the cursed Gáspár Bekes had come there to see the land and his possessions, but this answer is astonishing, for since he is from Black Wallachia (as the pasha calls the land between Transylvania and Wallachia), how can the same land (Transylvania, that is) be his fatherland? Furthermore, we are told that Bogdan Voyvoda was also with and among the loose people who crossed Transylvania, and we hope that he too has found his punishment. It is incumbent upon us and upon you that those things which were included and promised in the peace prorogation should be kept, that no security should be given to offenders on either side, and that all those who thus act contrary to peace, tranquility and security should receive their due chastisement and punishment, so that they may be an example to other scoundrels, and that consequently all may be and remain in peace and security in their actions and deeds.

- 2v -

This appendix was added on 28 November.

Furthermore, the Cheyvan Voyvoda, who is a prisoner of the young count of Zrin, was first asked to pay a ransom of 2100 thalers, but the latter did not leave it at that and raised the ransom afterwards to 4000 thalers. When the Porte offered another prisoner for 4000 thalers in exchange for the said Cheyvan to free him from this horror, the count made it more difficult by saying that he would only accept the slave for 1600 thalers. In addition to this slave, Cheyvan sent the count four horses, three piebalds, or white tails, which are usually attached to the front of horses, a tent, four pieces of golden cloth and other things, but he was not able to free his brother with all this. Instead, the other wanted another fifteen hundred thalers and two horses of great value, which was subsequently brought to our attention. Therefore, your majesty should know that it is not customary in any religion for anyone to break their words and promises, and even the Gypsies, though they are the worst and most despicable people among all nations, stand by their words and keep their promises. The count’s father also took a thousand ducats from him, and for this his head was cut off and his castle taken. It is appropriate and fair that the young Zrin be admonished, as true old friendship requires, so that he does not do anything inappropriate to the aforementioned Cheyvan Wayvoda, furthermore against the peace, for since the latter has paid him his ransom, it is neither right nor praiseworthy that the count should retain the slave granted to him by Cheyvan and, moreover, demand more from him than his ransom. If he does not better keep the peace that is between us in respect and honor, he will indeed one day, like his father, find his punishment, for if one does not keep the promised faith and trust firmly and steadfastly, it does not take much for all kinds of error, strife and discord to follow and grow out of it. We therefore hope that your majesty will ensure that the terms of peace and tranquility between us are respected and maintained, and that you will also consider and order that the matter of the much-vaunted Cheyvan Voyvoda be brought to a conclusion and discussed.