a poor oppressed people who dwelt on both sides of the Danube, and who, about the year 1594, being weary of the Turkish thraldom, first took 13 of their vessels upon that river; and then drawing together a body of fifteen thousand men between Buda and Belgrade, twice defeated the pasha of Temeswar with a body of fourteen thousand Turks. They afterwards took Baczkerek, four miles from Belgrade, and the castle of Ottad; then laying siege to that of Beche, on the Theyffla, the old pasha of Temeswar marched to relieve it with eleven thousand men; but the Rascions encountering them, flew near ten thousand, and took 18 pieces of cannon. The consequence of this victory was the reduction of Werfetza and Lutz. Then, sending to the archduke for aid and gunners, they offered to put themselves and their country under the emperor's protection.