May xx.
His Excellency continued his journey this day to Balasfalva; and in the morning we at Abba Julia wait on the governor, Count Banti, a worthy and courteous protestant nobleman, but for many years weakened and tormented with the colic. We were conducted to him thro the room, where the comitia totius Transylvaniae are now held; and where Count Seau, commissary for his Imperial Majesty, solicites the states for raising of subsidies, and proposes other orders to them from the court of Vienna. This done, we visit likewise Count Seau; who was so complaisant as to shew us the castle where he dwells, being a magnificent palace, and lately the residence of the princes of Transylvania. At the same time we viewed the large Calvinist church adjoining thereto, which is a lofty and stately fabric, but has suffered much from the Tartars, who defaced the fair monuments, and burnt the tower, in the year sixteen hundred and fifty eight. It is now fortified with a ditch and rampart, which is likewise usual all over Transylvania. The above mentioned monuments are of Joannes Corvinus, commonly called Huniades; of Queen Isabella, and her son Ladislaus; of Sigismund, and George Ragotzi, together with the famous Gabriel Bethlen. The same morning we paid a visit to the bishop of the reformed church in Transylvania, who resides here, and is likewise pastor of the place, by name Stephanus Vespreni. He is an old man, seems decayed in his parts, and is troubled with a palsy in his tongue. With him we saw the professor of the Schola Albensis, which in the year sixteen hundred seventy two was translated hither from Patak in Hungary. He is a learned, curious, and laborious man, teaches divinity, natural philosophy, the tongues, and mathematics; has traveled into England and other countries, and is a great admirer of the English; for which reason his study is full of our books, and he both writes, and speaks, and even teaches our language once a week to his scholars. His name is Kaposi Samuel, and was made S. Theologiae Doctor by a diploma from the Prince of Orange. These visits performed, we repair to Count Banti’s to diner, where we were honoured with a splendid feast; the governor keeping his chamber. There sat at table the Lady governess, who is of the family of Bethlen, with Countess Bethlen Samuel, Count Bethlen Nicolas chancellor of the states of Transylvania, Count Apór treasurer, Count Holler president of the states (the two last papists) together with Count Telchi, Joannes Sacks the Judex regius Cibiniensis, with Count Seau, and some others. After diner we spent some time with professor Kaposi, and at night supped with Count Seau.