In the valley of _Veristhorne,_ betwixt the River of _Altus,_ and the Mountain of _Rottenton,_ was this bloody Encounter, where the most of the dearest Friends of the noble Prince Sigismundus perished. _Meldritch_ having ordered his Eleven thousand in the best manner he could, at the Foot of the Mountain upon his Flanks, and before his front, he had pitched sharp Stakes, their Heads hardned in the fire, and bent against the Enemy, as three Battalion of Pikes, amongst the which also, there was digged many small holes. {MN-1} Amongst those Stakes was ranged his foot-men, that upon the charge was to retire, as there was occasion. The _Tartar_ having ordered his 40000 for his best advantage, appointed _Mustapha Bashaw_ to begin the Battel, with a general Shout, all their Ensigns displaying, Drums beating, Trumpets and Haut-boys sounding. _Nederspolt_ and _Mavazo_ with their Regiments of Horse most valiantly encountred, and forced them to retire; the _Tartar Begoli_ with his Squadrons, darkning the Skies with their flights of numberless Arrows, who was as bravely encountred by _Veltus_ and _Oberwin,_ which bloody slaughter continued more than an hour, till the matchless multitude of the _Tartars_ so increased, that they retired within their Squadrons of Stakes, as was directed. The bloody _Tartar,_ as scorning he should stay so long for the Victory, with his massie Troops prosecuted the Charge: But it was a wonder to see how Horse and Man came to the Ground among the Stakes, whose disordered Troops were there so mangled, that the _Christians_ with a loud Shout cried _Victoria;_ and with five or six field Pieces, planted upon the rising of the Mountain, did much hurt to the Enemy that still continued the Battel with that fury, that _Meldritch_ seeing there was no possibility long to prevail, joyned his small Troops in one body, resolved directly to make his passage, or die in the conclusion; and thus in gross gave a general charge, and for more than half an hour, made his way plain before him, till the main Battle of the _Crim-Tartar,_ with two Regiments of _Turks_ and _Jaizaries_ so overmatched them, that they were overthrown. The night approaching, the Earl with some thirteen or fourteen hundred Horse, swam the River, some were drowned, all the rest slain or taken Prisoners: And thus in this bloody Field, near 30000 lay, some Headless, Armless and Legless, all cut and mangled; where breathing their last, they gave this knowledge to the World, that for the lives of so few, the _Crim-Tartar_ never paid dearer. {MN-2} But now the Countries of _Transilvania_ and _Wallachia_ (subjected to the Emperor) and _Sigismundus,_ that brave Prince, his Subject and Pensioner, the most of his Nobility, brave Captains and Soldiers, became a prey to the cruel devouring _Turk:_ where, had the Emperour been as ready to have assisted him, and those three Armies led by three such worthy Captains, as _Michael, Busca,_ and Himself,