Note (I) — THE HISTORY OF Solyman the Magnificent, and Mustapha his Son.

Buda is the Capital of the Kingdom of Hungary formerly a rich and strong City, before it fell into the hands of the Othomans, who deftroy’d most of the stately Edifices: it lies on the west of the River Danube over-against the Town of Peste and join’d to it by a Bridge of Boats, the Stream being too rapid, and wide to admit of any other. In the year 1179 Pope Nicholas III, and Ladislaus King of Hungary held a Council here. It is divided in two Parts, the Upper and the Lower; in the Lower Town there are now many Baths, both cold and hot, very finely adorn’d by the Turks to perform their Abdest or Washing, before they enter their Mosques or Places of Devotion. It was taken by this Solyman 1526, and retaken by Ferdinand Archduke Of Austria 1527; Solyman retook it again 1529, after the Garrison had bravely defended it in eleven vigorous Assaults. Ferdinand in 1541 attack’d it, when the Siege was raised by our Solyman. It was twice besieg’d by the Christians without success in 1598, and in 1601: in 1680 the Duke of Lorrain besieg’d it without success; but in 1686 took it by storm, after a noble Defence, tho’ an Army of fifty thousand Turks look’d on. The Duke found there the famous Library of the Hungarian Kings, inlarg’d by Matthias Corvinus, entire, which he transported to Vienna; four hundred pieces of Cannon and Mortars, three hundred thousand gold Ducats, besides many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver, magnificent Furniture, and other valuable things.