Numb. 60.
[253]
IF the French King has been so severely censur’d for exciting the Turks to Invade the Christian Power of Europe, what shall we say to the Hungarians, who, for the particular Article of their Grievances, small compar’d with the General Peace of Europe, drew down the whole Powers of Mahomet upon their Fellow-Christians; and began the Terriblest, the most Bloody, and most Desperate War, that ever was between the Turkish and German Empire?
And be it that the Germans assisted by almost all the Princes of Christendom got the better, and that a series of Unexpected Victories ended that War Gloriously for the Emperor; yet the Hazard Europe ran in the first Part of it, and the Blood and Treasure it cost the German Empire before the Turkish Power was reduc’d, was such, as no Age can parallel.
When the Count Wesselini, who headed the first Insurrection, had kept the command about 2 or 3 Years, having carried it on with great Success, and in a great Measure ruin’d the Affairs of the Emperor on that Side, in the Year 1628. he died; and the Malecontents chose Count Teckeley in his Room. During these 2 Years of Count Wesselini, the Germans were Massacred on every Side, and the Towns clear’d of them, and the Affairs of the Emperor came to a very low Ebb. Teckeley assisted by Prince Abassi of Transylvania, grew formidable, and having secur’d all the upper Hungary, Invaded the Hereditary Provinces of Austria and Moravia.
Many and Great Encounters happen’d between the Germans and Hungarians, (during Count Wesselini’s Government) in which the latter generally had the better, and the Imperialists lost Ground every Day.
But the Emperor strengthening himself by Additional Forces from the Empire, and growing formidable to the Malecontents, under the command of Major General Smith.
The Hungarians first entred into a League with Abassi Prince of Transylvania, who assisted them with 8000 Men, and 20 Pieces of Cannon; then they obtain’d 6000 Polish Cossacks, disbanded by the King of Poland upon his making Peace with the Turks. Thus strengthening themselves by Alliance, they proceeded to solicit the Grand Seignior to turn his Arms against the German Empire; but the War with Muscovy prevented it for that time.
During this Heat, a Dyet of the States of Hungary was assembl’d at Altembourg; where, among other things, the Emperor Conceded the Liberty of Religion, and the Restoring their Churches to the Protestants: But this was so far from Satisfying the Malecontents; that as a farther Demonstration that this was not the Original Cause of their Insurrections; they proposed in the Dyet, the Deposing the Emperor of Germany as King of Hungaria, and Electing a new King. Nor did any thing obstruct this Design coming to a Head, but the Difficulty they [254] found in the Choice of the Person; one Party being for one Person, and one for another, as their particular Interest and Affection guided them.
Upon the breaking of these Measures, and Teckeley’s taking upon him the Command of the Hungarian Malecontents, the Emperor who found himself not in a Condition to reduce them by Force, entred into several Treaties with them; the first Treaty was in great forwardness, and People began to conceive some Hopes of an Accommodation. When the Plague breaking out with such Violence at Vienna, and spreading it self over Austria and Hungaria, put a general Stop to all manner of Communication between the Parties: the Malecontents on one hand, retir’d form the Fury of the Contagion into the Upper Hungaria; the emperor and all his Court fled to Lints, and all things appear’d in a terrible Confusion.
The Armies felt it, Count Lestly was forc’d to draw his Men out of the Towns in Croatia and Encamp in the Woods; the Turkish Inhabitants forsook Newhausell, and most of the Frontier Towns, and thus all Negotiation ceased.
After the Heat of this Infection was over, which was in 1680. to 81. many Treaties were begun with the Hungarians, and great Endeavours were used at the Imperial Court by the Ambassadors of Protestant Princes, to reconcile matters between the Emperor and his Protestant and other Malecontent Subjects in Hungaria.
The Powers of Europe thought as they did now, that these Discontents were merely Religious; and therefore assisted them as Protestants; but they quickly saw that the Civil Matters bore as great a Share in the Discontents of the Hungarians, as the Religious; and that the Protestant Religion being restor’d, their churches clear’d, and all the Freedom of Worship granted, that they could possibly demand; that yet the Hungarians were as far from being satisfied, as they were before.
This lessen’d the Sollicitation of the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburgh, who had concern’d themselves in the Behalf of the Protestants, but did not think it reasonable to plead for them in their Demand of a King, and in deposing the Lawful Claim of the House of Austria.
During these Treaties, the Concessions of the Emperor were so great, and the Prospect of Accommodation for that Reason so strong, that had the Hungarians been in their right Wits, Sir Roger Manly observes, the Grand Seignior, to whom Teckeley had address’d himself for Succour, promising to make no Peace with the Emperor without his Consent, began to think a Peace would be Concluded; and that Teckeley would break his Word with him, and abandon his Proposals.
To prevent which, the Turkish Ambassadors were order’d to make an Offer to him of the Principality of Transylvania, after the Death of old Abassi.
In this Turkish Ambassage, the Blackest and most Fatal League was made that ever Christians entred into with the Infidels.
The Turkish Ambassador wheedl’d Count Teckeley and the Hungarian Nobility, with Hopes of great Things to be done for them. The Ottoman Power was then formidable, the Emperor’s Forces Weak and Contemptible.
The Glittering Hopes of Power, Principalities, and Freedom, as they call’d it, from the Yoke and Tyranny of the Germans, blinded the Eyes of the Hungarians against their own Interest, and prevented their seeing the Power and Strength of all Christendom; which by this Design of theirs, they were bringing upon their own Heads, both to the Destruction of the Ottoman Power, and their own utter Ruine, as in the Consequence it prov’d.
ADVICE from the Scandal. CLUB.
THE Society had a long Debate this Week, upon the Occasion of the following Accident. A Certain Quaker not only unhappily destroy’d himself by Cutting his own Throat in the Street, but did it in such a manner, as seem’d to be rather a Design of Cutting his Head off, than Cutting his Throat.
The Description of the Fact was so extraordinarily represented to the Society, that they thought themselves oblig’d to send for Two Eminent Nameless Surgeons of the City, to debate the Matter.
One said the Man had Cut thro’ both the Jugulars; and that the Rasor or Knife had divided all, but what requir’d the Help of a Chopping Knife, towards Cutting his Head off.
The other said it could not be, and quoted a certain famous Tower Example on that Head; [255] in which it has been alledg’d, that for a Man to Cut his own throat thro’ both the Jugular Veins, requires two different Motions; one with the right Hand, extended to Cut the left Jugular, in which the Motion must be from the left Hand to the right; and one with the left Hand lifted up to Cut the right Jugular, and with a Motion from the right Hand to the left; and that in the Interval of these Two, the Sence would fail so much by the Cutting of One, that he would have no Power to move towards the Other.
The Society without reflecting either on this Case or that, desire the Learned in those things to give them their Opinions, whether the Preparative Force to such an Action, may not push on the Instrument more or less, according to the Eagerness and Will of the Person; as a Stone thrown from a Hand will yet flye its Length, tho’ the Person throwing were shot dead in the very Moment of Delivering it, the Strength of the Body being given to it before the Disabling Blow.
Tho’ this Head may require a farther Debate, and the Society may have a farther Occasion to Discourse of it; they could not conclude without inserting another complaint relating to Self-Murther, express’d particularly in the following Letter.
Sir,
IT’S a long time since I thought of Addressing my self to your Scandal Club, to have one of the greatest Abuses in Evasion of a Positive Law, inform’d against, or at least those Juries that are guilty of such Evasions Censured by your Club. It’s in short this, That let any Person, never so Maliciously and Premeditately, Murder himself, and before the Action, never known in the least degree to be Distracted; yet as soon as the Coroner’s Inquest sits, it’s almost constantly brought in, Non Compos, &c. Upon this Reason, that unless the Person were mad, he would not have destroy’d himself; which Reason, if it were valid, it would hold good in all sinful Actions, or at least in the reach of any positive Law, whereof the Penalty was Death, &c. And the Consequence of such Reasoning is, That it’s impossible for any one to be guilty of Self-Murther, so as to come under the Penalty of the Law; therefore the Law in that Case is useless and troublesome; whereas if Persons never before Distracted, were denied Christian Burial, their Goods and Chattles forfeited, Buried in the High Way, and had a Stake drove thro’ their Body; there would be fewer would lay violent hands on themselves. I am afraid this Abuse proceeds form Bribery, in the Friends, so the Coroner. I am
Your most humble Servant,
G.S.
To this the society made this short Reply.
1. That any Law is not put in Execution, they allow to be a Neglect, a Publick Grievance, and an abusing the end and Design of the Legislators. But,
2. As to Self-Murther, it seems a serious Question, and hard enough to answer; whether they, who the Fears of future Misery, and immediate launching into a dark and unforeseen Eternity, will not deter from so horrid an Action, as laying violent Hands on themselves, may be supposed to be concern’d about such Trifles, as Wife and Children, Christian Burial, a Stake driven thro’ them, lying North and South, being buried in the High Way, and the like; and tho’ ’tis true that every Man who commits a Capital Crime is a Madman, yet as the various and unaccountable Occasions of the melancholy of such Persons, are such perhaps as are not to be describ’d by the Pen; So they are of the Opinion, no human Laws can be made, that will have any Effect upon those wretched People whom God as permitted so to lose both the Powers of their Christian as well as Rational Faculties: And therefore the Society are enclin’d to wish Pity should be shown to their Posterity, rather than when a Family has such a fatal Disaster happens in it, the Children should be starv’d because the Father has destroy’d himself.
As for the Coroners, &c. being brib’d in those Cases, they doubt ’tis true; but they know no Case in the World in which bribing of Juries can do less Damage; and therefore they are less forward to Censure the Practice.
The Parson of Ab—ton, in C—shire, was brought before the Society, for Mocking his People, coming up into the Pulpit, and putting them all in expectation of the unusual blessing of a Sermom, and on a suddain going down again, and saying never a word to them, to the unspeakable disappointment of all the Parish.
The Gentleman told them, he thought he was ill used; for that when he came into the Pulpit he design’d to have Preach’d, but feeling in his Pocket for his Sermon, he found he had left it behind him; and so was at a great loss; but however, as to saying never a word to them it was false; for that he told the People honestly how it was, and promised to do that he [256] had not done in many Years for them, viz. Preach in the Afternoon; and he thought that might make them amends.
The Society agreed the Gentleman had made them Satisfaction, and that they ought not to be angry with him; and Ordered for the Future, that if the People are not satisfied with one Sermon a day, they must pay more Money to the Parson, to make it worth while; and Ordered this to be Posted up at the sign of – at Bourn Bridge, in the great Road to Bury.
A heavy Complaint of Scandal and Injury lying before the Society, against Mr. E—ds, within the sound of Bow-Bell.
Order’d a Letter be sent to Advise him to make speedy Satisfaction to Mr. J— Johnson the Complainant, to avoid the farther Censure of the Club.
ADvertisements are taken in by J. Matthews in Pilkington-Court in Little-Britain.
AN Historical-Didactical Treatise of the two Covenants. Wherein are briefly laid down the Life of Christ, and that of Moses; and several obscure Passages of Holy Scripture open’d, many common Mistakes about this Matter corrected, and a good Life seriously pressed. By John Parker, Now Rector of Colne-Engayne, in the County of Essex, and formerly Fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge. Printed for Jeffery Wale, at the Angel in St. Paul’s Church-Yard.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S.
THe Royal Essence for the Hair of the Head and Perriwigs, being the most delicate and charming Perfume in Nature, and the greatest Preserver of Hair in the World, for it keeps that of Perriwigs (a much longer time than usual) in the Curl, and fair Hair from fading or changing colour, makes the Hair of the Head grow thick, strengthens and confirms its Roots, and effectually prevents it from falling off or splitting at the ends, makes the Powder continue in all Hair longer than it possibly will, by the use of any other thing. By its incomparable Odour and Fragancy it strengthens the Brain, revives the Spirits, Quickens the memory, and makes the Heart cheerful, never raises the Vapours in Ladies, &c. being wholly free from (and abundantly more delightful and pleasant than) Musk, Civet, &c. ’Tis indeed an unparalled fine Scent for the Pocket, and perfumes Handkerchiefs, &c. excellently. To be had only at Mr. Allcrafts, a Toyshop at the Blue-Coat Boy against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. Sealed up, at 2s. 6d. a Bottle with Directions.
There is now preparing for the Press,
AN Authentick History of Publick Transactions and Affairs in England and Abroad, from the Restauration of King Charles II. (where my Lord Clarendon’s third and last Volume ends) to the Year 1678. with the Characters of Bishops, Ministers of State, Commanders by Sea and Land, &c. and a large Account of the Chief Mannagers and Intrigues of the Discontented Party at Home, within that Period. Written in Latin by the Right Reverend Father in God, Samuel Parker, late Lord Bishop of Oxford, and Faithfully Translated from the Original M.S. by Samuel Parker, Gent. And will be Printed for George Sawbridge in Little-Britain.
LIves English and Foreign: Containing the History of the most Illustrious Persons of our own and other Nations, from the Year 1559, to the Year 1690. By several hands; who have been assisted in the Work with Many private Memoirs. In two Volumes in 8vo. The English Lives are, William Lord Burleigh, Sir Walter Raleigh, George Duke of Buckingham, Marquess of Montross, Oliver Cromwel, Duke of Hamilton, General Blake, Duke of Albemarl, Earl of Shaftsbury, Duke of Monmouth. Printed for B. Took, at the Middle-Temple-Gate in Fleet-street, and W. Davis, at the Black-Bull in Cornhil; and sold by John Nutt near Stationers-Hall. 1704.
AT the White Swan upon Snow Hill, over-against the Green Dragon Tavern, are made and sold the Newest fashion Flower-Pots for Gardens; Urns, Eagles, and Pine-Apples, to stand upon Posts of Large Gates; also large or small Figures, all made of hard Mettal, much more durable than Stone, and cheaper; also Candle Moulds, fit to make Wax or Tallow Candles, from 1 in the Pound, to 20: There is also made Artificial fountains, that Play Water from 1, 2, or 3 Foot, to 20 or 30 Foot high, 1, 2, 3, or 6 Hours together, without Repeating with the same Water; which Fountains or Engines may be made use of to extinguish Fire 40 or 50 Foot high, with a continued Stream, larger than the Common Fire-Engines.
*** A Doctor in Physick Cures all the Degrees and Indispositions in Venereal Persons, by a most easie, safe, and expeditious Method; and of whom any Person may have Advice, and a perfect Cure, let his or her Disease be of the longest Date: He likewise gives his Advice in all Diseases, and prescribes a Cure. Dr. HARBOROUGH, (a Graduate Physician) in Great Knight-Riders-street, near Doctors Commons.
Lately publish’d,
THE Monthly Journal, of the Affairs of Europe; Containing Divers Important and very Entertaining Matters, not Extant in other Accounts; beginning with the Month of July, 1704. To be continued Monthly. Printed for George Sawbridge in Little-Britain; and sold by John Nutt near Stationers-Hall.
MDCCIV.