[1r]
. Mehmethi Baßae× . Maximilianus etc.×
Accepimus literas vestras, die 30.
5 mensis proxime praeteriti datas, quaque inter
.alia de negotio Polonico scribitis, benigne in
Neque enim is unquam
.fuit, vel etiamnum noster est animus, ut contra
.vel contra Poloniam× vel Transylvaniam× quic
Nam ad Moschorum principem ×
10 quod attinet, ita nobis persuasum est, illum,
.nisi lacessatur, facile quieturum esse. De
.
Transylvania× autem et Caspare Bekes× quo
Eius rei quavis occasione
.ac tam in annua munerum, quae etiam pro
.hoc praesenti anno primo quoque tempore
.istuc expedituri sumus
quam alias, tam benignam ra
[1r]
to Mehmet Pasha× . Maximilianus etc.×
Most illustrious and magnificent man, sincerely beloved by us, greetings.
We have received your letters, dated the 30th of the last month, and have kindly understood what you have written, among other things, concerning the Polish matter, and from both your letters and those that your most serene emperor sent us on the same subject, we have learned especially that his serenity and you have been informed quite differently from how things truly stand. For although we do not deny that not long ago we were informed about the war preparations of the voivode of Transylvania ×, we had not sufficiently investigated where they were aiming. And since we did not consider it right to entirely neglect those things necessary for the security of the upper parts of our kingdom of Hungary×, which adjoin Transylvania×, we permitted our captain general there to increase his forces by a certain number of soldiers. However, from that time, we have instructed the said captain that as long as the pasha of Timișoara and other Turkish officials, whom we heard from elsewhere were preparing arms and as your letters also indicate, do the same, he should distribute these forces in garrisons and certain stations.
For it was never our intention, nor is it now, to undertake anything by force of arms either against Poland× or Transylvania×. On the contrary, due to our sincere desire for public peace and tranquility, we have always held it as our utmost concern [1v] and will continue to do so, that the recently extended beneficial peace between his serenity and us may be as stable and long-lasting as possible. Therefore, we do not see any justifiable reason why his serenity should be so offended by the Polish matter, that he should take occasion thereby to break the peace without any cause given by us. For as far as the prince of the Muscovites× is concerned, we are convinced that he will easily remain quiet unless provoked. Regarding Transylvania× and Gáspár Bekes×, we believe that you have understood from our last letters, as you have often before, how things stand. And therefore, in regard to those previous letters, as well as to what we add in our letters to your most powerful emperor×, we wish, by returning the correspondence, that you may make up your mind that, as nothing is so dear to us as public peace and tranquility, we will not allow it to be said justly that a reason for disturbing the peace is given by us. By giving us promises in return, you will ensure that our subjects can at last enjoy the benefit of extended peace and that they will no longer be harassed in a hostile manner by your border soldiers, as is almost daily the case, contrary to the articles of the same peace. We have no doubt that with your supreme authority this can be easily achieved, and, moreover, given your dutifulness, which you have hitherto displayed and which you have clearly demonstrated both at the time of the initiation of peace with the former Sultan Selim×, and at the time of its recent extension and confirmation, we promise that we shall leave nothing to be desired in our efforts to promote public tranquility.
On any occasion of this, and also in the matter of the annual gifts which we shall send there for this present year as soon as possible, we will hold such a generous disposition that you may recognize by this very thing itself that our gratitude and generosity towards you have not been lacking. Finally, we kindly extend our imperial benevolence to you and wish you good health.
Given in Vienna×, on the 22nd of March, 1576.