 Basta praised his skill in directing "hajduk" raids, during which Cercel collected various bounties, but in the end ordered him to return, fearing Polish reprisals.From 1604, Marcu was faced with the Bocskai uprising in Transylvania, which cut him off from Moldavia.He was stranded at Libochowitz, in Austrian Bohemia, a pensioner of the Aulic Council and member of Sigismund Báthory's retinue.