[82] This is the estimate of Sobieski himself in his famous letter to the queen after the battle. He bases it on the number of tents, which he places at nearly 100,000. Daleyrac says that a list was found in the Grand Vizier’s tent, which gave the number of the Turks alone as 191,800.
[83] Daleyrac tells an amusing story of the way in which these Cossacks brought in their prisoners. The king offered a reward to those who could catch him a “Tongue” whom he could cross-examine. A Cossack brought a prisoner to the king’s tent, flung him on the ground like a sack, and went away without a word. Shortly afterwards he came back, and putting his head into the tent, said, “John, they have paid me the money; God restore it thee! Good-night!”
[84] “The siege of Vienna had given terror to all Europe, and the utmost reproch to the French, who ’tis believed brought in the Turks for diversion that the French king might the more easily swallow Flanders, and pursue his unjust conquests upon the empire, while we sat unconcerned and under a deadly charm from somebody.”—Evelyn’s Diary, September 23rd, 1683.
[85] Letter of the Emperor to the King of Poland from Passau, August 24th.
[86] A grand subscription was being raised in Rome. Cardinal Barberini alone gave 20,000 florins.
[87] Daleyrac, chap. i. p. 21, and Salvandy.
[88] Published by N. A. Salvandy; translated by M. le Comte Plater. Paris, 1826.
[89] Salvandy, ii. pp. 173, 174, quoted in Foreign Quarterly Review, No. xiv. vol. vii.
[90] He begins every letter to her, “Seule joie de mon âme, charmante et bien-aimée Mariette!” He calls himself her faithful and devoted Celadon, and reminds her that it would soon be her turn to become the wooer. Yet he was fifty-nine years old, and she was probably forty-eight.
[91] His army probably did not know of it; but Daleyrac says he had the news from a spy. It is inconceivable that he should not have employed a few scouts.