{MN} Busca assisteth Rodol in Wallachia.
CHAP. X.
The Battle of Rottenton; a pretty Stratagem of Fire-works by Smith.
Rodol not knowing how to draw the Enemy to Battel, raised his Army, burning and spoiling all where he came, and returned again towards Rebrink in the night, as if he had fled upon the general rumour of the Crim-Tartars coming, which so inflamed the Turks of a happy Victory, they urged Jeremy against his Will to follow them. Rodol seeing his Plot fell out as he desired, so ordered the matter, that having regained the Streights, he put his Army in order, that had been near two days pursued with continual Skirmishes in his Rear, {MN-1} which now making Head against the Enemy, that followed with their whole Army in the best manner they could, was furiously charged with six thousand Heydukes, Wallachians, and Moldavians, led by three Colonels, Oversall, Dubras, and Calab, to entertain the time till the rest came up; Veltus and Nederspolt with their Regiments, entertained them with the like courage, till the Zanzacke Hamesbeg, with six thousand more, came with a fresh charge, which Meldritch and Budendorfe, rather like enraged Lions, than Men, so bravely encountred, as if in them only had consisted the Victory; Meldritch's Horse being slain under him, the Turks pressed what they could to have taken him Prisoner, but being remounted, it was thought with his own hand he slew the valiant Zanzacke, whereupon his Troops retiring, the two proud Bashawes, Aladin, and Zizimmus, brought up the front of the body of their Battle. Veltus, and Nederspolt having breathed, and joyning their Troops with Becklefield and Zarvana, with such an incredible courage, charged the left flank of Zizimmus, as put them all in disorder, where Zizimmus the Bashaw was taken Prisoner, but died presently upon his Wounds. Jeremy seeing now the main Battel of Rodol advance, being thus constrained, like a Valiant Prince in his front of the Vangard, by his example so bravely encouraged his Soldiers, that Rodol found no great assurance of the Victory. Thus being joyned in this bloody Massacre, that there was Scarce Ground to stand upon, but upon the dead Carcases, which in less than an hour, were So mingled, as if each Regiment had singled out other. The admired Aladin that day did leave behind him a glorious name for his Valour, whose Death, many of his Enemies did lament after the Victory, which at that instant fell to Rodol. It was reported, Jeremy was also slain; but it Was not so, but fled with the remainder of his Army to Moldavia, leaving five and twenty thousand dead in the Field, of both Armies. {MN-2} And thus Rodol was seated again in his Soveraignty, and Wallachia became subject to the Emperour.
{MN-1} A battle betwixt Rodol and Jeremy.
{MN-2} Wallachia subjected to the Emperour.
But long he rested not to settle his new Estate, but there came News, that certain Regiments of stragling Tartars, were foraging those Parts towards Moldavia. Meldritch with thirteen thousand Men was sent against them, but when they heard it was the Crim-Tartar, and his two Sons, with an Army of thirty thousand; and Jeremy, that had escaped with fourteen or fifteen thousand, lay in ambush for them about Langanaw, he retired towards Rottenton, a strong Garrison for Rodol; but they were so invironed with these hellish numbers, they could make no great hast for skirmishing with their Scouts, Foragers, and small Parties that still encountred them. But one night amongst the rest, having made a passage through a Wood, with an incredible expedition, cutting Trees thwart each other to hinder their passage, in a thick Fogg, early in the Morning, unexpectedly they met two thousand loaded with Pillage, and two or three hundred Horse and Cattel; the most of them were slain and taken Prisoners, who told them where Jeremy lay in the passage, expecting the Crim-Tartar that was not far from him. Meldritch intending to make his passage by force, was advised of a pretty Stratagem, by the English Smith, which presently he thus accomplished; for having accommodated two or three hundred Trunks with wild-fire, upon the Heads of Lances, and charging the Enemy in the night, gave fire to the Trunks, which blazed forth such Flames and Sparkles, that it so amazed not only their Horses, but their Foot also; that by the means of this flaming Encounter, their own Horses turned Tails with such fury, as by their violence overthrew Jeremy and his Army, without any loss at all to speak of to Meldritch. But of this Victory, long they triumphed not; for being within three Leagues of Rottenton, the Tartar, with near forty thousand so beset them, that they must either fight, or be cut in pieces flying. Here Busca, and the Emperour had their desire; for the Sun no sooner displayed his Beams, than the Tartar his Colours; where at mid-day he stayed a while, to see the Passage of a tyrannical and treacherous imposture, till the Earth did blush with the blood of Honesty, that the Sun for shame did hide himself, from so monstrous sight of a cowardly Calamity. It was a most brave sight to see the Banners and Ensigns streaming in the Air, the glittering of Armour, the variety of Colours, the motion of Plumes, the forests of Lances, and the thickness of shorter Weapons, till the silent Expedition of the bloody blast from the murdering Ordnance, whose roaring Voice is not so soon heard, as felt by the aimed at Object, which made among them a most lamentable slaughter.