him. His claim, however, was resisted by
Zapolya John, a Hungarian magnate, who caused himself to be elected King.
Hungary was for a long time devastated by the wars between the partisans
of Zapolya and Ferdinand. At last Zapolya called in the Turk. Soliman
behaved generously to him, and after his death befriended his young son,
and Isabella his Queen. Eventually the Turks became masters of
Transylvania and the greater part of Hungary. They were not bad masters,
and had many friends in Hungary, especially amongst those of the reformed
faith, to which I have myself the honour of belonging; those of the
reformed faith found the Mufti more tolerant than the Pope. Many
Hungarians went with the Turks to the siege of Vienna, whilst Tekeli and
his horsemen guarded Hungary for them. A gallant enterprise, that siege
of Vienna--the last great effort of the Turk. It failed, and he speedily
lost Hungary, but he did not sneak from Hungary like a frightened hound.
His defence of Buda will not be soon forgotten, where Apty Basha, the
governor, died fighting like a lion in the breach. There's many a
Hungarian would prefer Stamboul to Vienna. Why does your Government
always send fools to represent it at Vienna?

_Myself_. I have already told you that I cannot say. What became of
Tekeli?

_Hungarian_. When Hungary was lost he retired with the Turks into
Turkey. Count Renoncourt, in his Memoirs, mentions having seen him at
Adrianople. The Sultan, in consideration of the services which he had
rendered to the Moslem in Hungary, made over the revenues of certain
towns and districts for his subsistence. The count says that he always
went armed to the teeth, and was always attended by a young female
dressed in male attire, who had followed him in his wars, and had more
than once saved his life. His end is wrapped in mystery, I--whose
greatest boast, next to being a Hungarian, is to be of his blood--know
nothing of his end.

_Myself_. Allow me to ask who you are.

_Hungarian_. Egy szegeny Magyar Nemes ember, a poor Hungarian nobleman,
son of one yet poorer. I was born in Transylvania, not far to the west
of good Coloscvar. I served some time in the Austrian army as a noble
Hussar, but am now equerry to a great nobleman, to whom I am distantly
related. In his service I have travelled far and wide, buying horses. I
have been in Russia and Turkey, and am now at Horncastle, where I have
had the satisfaction to meet with