Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/191

haughty contempt at their extremely powerful neighbour the Turk, but even to provoke him against them by injuries and insults. For when Soliman, the present emperor, on the death of his father, proclaimed to the neighbouring countries, according to their custom on such occasions, that he had succeeded to his father's territories, and that the opportunity was open to all to declare peace or war, and sent this proclamation more particularly to the Hungarians by his ambassadors; and as there were not wanting those who advised them to seek peace with the Poles as they had previously done with Soliman, the Hungarians not only rejected this wholesome advice, but even seized the ambassadors of the Turkish emperor, and put them in confinement. Soliman, incensed at this insult, invaded Hungary; and first taking Naudoralba, which was not only the strongest fortress in Hungary but in all Christendom, proceeded to take others also, and succeeded so far as to gain possession of Buda, the seat of royalty, and all the principal most fortified citadels, and in fact the best and most flourishing part of the entire kingdom. And he now threatens the remaining portions in such a manner, that they may almost be regarded as subdued and conquered. It is true the Hungarians thought they had some right to detain the ambassadors of Solyman, inasmuch as his father had detained Barnabas Bel, an ambassador from the Hungarians, who had been sent to him, and had taken him with him in the expedition undertaken against the Sultan. But had the Hungarians held their peace about this, since as, the saying is, wrath without strength is a useless thing, they would have done better than by the gratification of an impotent revenge to provoke a more powerful enemy, and so to call down upon themselves their own destruction, as well as draw their neighbours into the same danger. At the time that Solyman a second time took possession of Buda (for it had been taken once before, but rendered up to John Zapolski, and now, after his death, was a second time besieged and taken, and