need at all to speak thereof Mary Eleonor her eldest sister was married to Albert Frederick Duke of Prussia who died without issue male and left four daughters behinde him Anne who was the eldest was given to John Sigismund Duke of Brandenbourgh and Elector of the Empire The second to the Old Elector The third to the Duke of Courland The fourth to Duke John George of Saxonie brother to the Elector The second sister of the said Duke called Anne in the year 1574. married Philip Lewis Duke of Newbourgh in which marriage she brought Wolsgang William who kept his Court at Dusseldorp and died in the moneth of April in this year of 1653. The third who was Magdalen was made wife to the Duke der Deux-Ponts And Sibill the fourth was bestowed upon Charles Duke of Austria who had no childe Difference for sâ—â—cession Now Duke Iohn William dying without children Iohn Sigismund Elector of Brandenbourgh who married Anne as we have already said eldest daughter to the eldest sister of the said last Duke presented himself to be received by the States of the said Dutchy wherein he was opposed by the Duke of Newbourgh son to the second daughter Magdalen who was then yet living The Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh The Elector of Saxonie and the Duke of Neuers declared themselves also heirs so that the Emperour Rodolph summons the Parties to appear before him endeavours to sequester the Dutchies and to that end dispatches the Archduke Leopold Nâ—wburgh refuse the sequestration and demand relief from France Bishop of Straesbourgh who makes himself master of the Town and Castle of Gulick Whereupon the two first presumptive Heirs upon some articles of governing the Country made an agreement between themselves and in stead of addressing themselves to Prague before the Lord of the Fief who is the Emperour had recourse to the King of France O! How great is the strength of distrust which tyes the hands of justice and gets authority over ber They obtained a promise of strong relief The other Princes both Protestants and Catholicks yea even the Emperour himself sent their Embassadours likewise to Paris where the King sounded them all one after another In the mean time they take Arms make Excursions awaken the Neighbours The Germane Protestants receive the Alarm Germany takes the Alarm and assemble themselves at Hal and the Catholicks on the other side at Hirtsburg there to provide for their safety propose the Election of a new King of the Romanes and bring the said Protestants to a more strict observance of the accord of Passavia These are the first seeds of the divisions which being come to maturity will quickly fill all Germany with horrible disturbances as being watered by strangers for fear least they perish with moisture or humanity drawn out of the essence of Religions as we shall briefly shew in fit place The businesse of Donawerds Atumult at Donawerdt which is proscribed and foreed by the Duke of Bavaria which had already irritated the Protestants passed thus Some Religious or Conventuall men dwelling in the towne and endeavouring to make a Procession were desired by the Magistrates to desist for fear of some tumult But they answered that they would not quit their Rights which depended upon the Emperour In short they make a Procession the people falls upon them and affronts them The Emperour informed of the insolence demands an exemplary punishment wherein being disobeyed he proscribes the Towne and gives the execution thereof to the Duke of Bavaria who by a siege forced it to submit Now this proceeding very much displeased the Protestants and principally such as were grieved to see the Empire so long in a profound Peace But the enmity was not yet grown so strong for it shortly after brake out to the ruine of all this great Body But let us returne to the Country of Gulick The Princes excessively afflicted at the death of the King of France Gulick besieged and taken sollicited Prnice Maurice to besiege Gulick which he did and by the assistance of the French Army under the conduct of Marshall de la Castre constrained Leopold to render the said place into the hands of the said Princes upon an honourable composition Now it is to be observed that they would not admit of a sequestration nor the decision of the Emperour to whom it belongs by right but it looks as if they all endeavoured to weaken the Principall head of Europ And so the Princes were reproached for having ejected the Garrison of Gulick with forraine forces which was immediately to conremne the Imperiall authority and that they had thereby given cause to the Emperour to arme against them The Duke of Saxonie beares also the title of Duke of Gulick Cleveland and Montagues and draws his pretentions from Sibill Aunt to John William and Daughter to William who was given in marriage to Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxonie who lost the Electorac for having taken arms against the Emperour Charles He was admitted by the two Princes to govern the Country till the definitive decision of the difference It seems that diffidence and suspicion in affairs of State authorize the taking up of Arms without any other forme of Iustice and that it is no more lawfull to the Lord of the Fief to dispose of his Right CHAP. XIII A tumult in Poland and why They arme The Swedes and Muscovites serve themselves of this occasion against the Poles and loose Smolensko Treason discovered in England The troubles appeased at Paris Rodolph dies VVE left the King of Poland very busie about recovering his Kingdome of Sweden and the expulsion of the Swedes our of Livonia and now we finde him as busie to maintaine himself in the Elective after having lost the Hereditary Fortune never ceases to trouble Vertue and one disaster comes not without another The begining of the troubles was by a little blast or slash which kindled a fire that carried it self to the very highest loft or story of the building The scholars of the Jesuites through an impious zeale Yuâ—â—â—nlss in Poland rushed one day upon the Church of the Protestants of Posen and set it on fire Prince Radzivil and some other Ranting blades of the Party took arms for the defence as others said of their liberty and to revenge this injury under the vaile of Rakozians Fortune smiling upon them at first and they puffed up with a small victory endeavoured to expell the King and choose another unlesse he would subscribe to some certaine insupportable articles proposed by them Ill intentions grow to be discovered by good successe In a word the Warr was kindled in good earnest and the cloak of Religion not forgotten The Rakozians being beaten make Peace The Rebels or Rakozians being defeated and vanquished returned to be friends and good subjects But some space after the wound having been dressed by too milde a Chirurgion opened and gangroened and could not be shut up without
Protestants whose Cause and Religion he vanted that he came to defend Moreover this generous Prince being brought up in arms was sure that could he but once come to beate that old Captain Tilly. that victorious Rock against which all his Enemies had made shipwrack all the Lutherans would lend him their hands from the one end of the Empire to the other and then what honour and what glory should he obtain And if it hapned otherwise he might consolate himselfe with all such other Warriers as had suffered the like disgrace though yet still with this advantage beyond them that his Enemies could not follow him into his kingdom In brief he wanted but the getting of one General Battel to put into his hands the two thirds of the Empire and one more for all and Italy in to the bargaine King Gustave leagues with the Dake of Pomerania Whilest he was treating the League with Duke Bogislaus who received him in Stetin and driving the Imperialists out of Pomerania and Meckelenbargh being fortunate in many Encounters and chiefly in that which was offered for the succour of Colbergh where the Imperialists were knocked and Torquaro Conty forced to incamp himselfo at Gartz the Protestants assembled themselves secretly at Leipsick from whence they communicated with him and amongst themselves about the means of retaining the Ecclesiastical Lands and Goods in question of maintaining their Religion and reducing and restraining the Empire to the same state wherein it had been before the troubles All kindes of defence are authorized when there is fear of the diminution of estate and State together with that of Religion It seems that in these times men may dispense with their faith or word given even upon meer doubts and that it is lawful upon meer apprehensions onely though without any ground to withdraw ones selfe from obedience But dissidence and power to hurt upon occasion have more weight in State-interest then in Right and they who have not Peace and Justice for the scope of their armes do not make War but commit robberies for the end of War ought to be Peace He blocks the sea Towns Now the King spent all the Summer in blocking up the maritine Places raising new Troops exciting the Inhabitants to expell their Guests and receive their old Masters wherein they shewed themselves so good Servants that their fear effectively appeared in all parts Bogistans wrote complaints and excuses to the Emperour but they brought nothing back but reproaches and condemnations In the mean time the Imperial Army and that of the League were without a Head because the Duke of Frithland had obeyed the Emperours Order and General Tilly had a minde to submit to some pious inspirations which commanded him to leave this Trade and passe the rest of his dayes in the service of his Heavenly Master In such sort as there was much a doe yea and many great Divines were faint to display their eloquence to make him re-admit this Burthen upon his shoulders For he considered that he had alwayes had Fortune as his Handmaid that he had acquired as much glory as any one Captain in the World and that all this might change that in a great Calme a great Storme is to be feared and that it often happens that the soundest and best disposed bodies are those which most easily fall into grevous sicknesses No no said he let another younger then I am untangle this Web It is a faire Field to winne the Lawrel since the dispute is about Religion and the Authority of the Prime man of the World the Cause is just and the more difficulty it hath in it the more glory will it also have Sweat and Dust mingled with blood will alwayes revive and quicken the Palmes and Bayes wherewith his head shall be crowned Mine begin to way old with me and I will now consecrate them to the foot of a Crucifix O how happy had he been had he followed this connsel and put himself into a Monastery as he had projected But his delights were to be mingled with bitternesse his glory was to be obscured and he was to taste the condition of a Conquered as well as that of a Conquerour The Crosse which he had a minde to embrace in a Cloister The praise of Tilly who retakes the Generalate was but exteriour and voluntary but this was to be active and essential There were published of him these three things That be let no day slip without hearing Masse That he had never touched a woman And that he never lost Battel Let us leave him taking the charge and care of ranging the Souldiers again into good order and discipline and see what passed at Magdeburgh since the year 1628. CHAP. XIX The Siege of Magdeburgh The Duke of Lauemburgh beaten and taken neer the Elbe King Gustave takes Francfurt upon the Oder and beats the Imperialists MAgdeburgh is an Imperial Town in the Country of Saxonie situated upon the River of Elbe grown very rich and puissant and by consequence insolent by the conveniency of Trade It put Charles the fisth to much vexation and trouble and he proclaimed an Outlawrie against it and gave Maurice Duke of Saxonie the execution thereof who either through collusion or otherwise forbore to take it and from thence came the German Proverb Magdeburgh the first disturbance thereof Metz and Magd refused to dance with the Empetour After Luthers Doctrine was planted there the arch-Arch-Bishops authority began to be much vilifyed and consequently that of the Emperour But let us now come to the state of the controversie This Town chose Augustus Son to the Elector of Saxonie for her Administratour Ferdinand consented not to this Election and the Pope desirous to restore his credit in that Country together with that of the Emperour established the Arch-Duke Leopold who is at present Governour of the Low-Countries for the King of Spain The Imperialists seized upon some places neer it and extorted a summe of money from it for their Solde or Pay and by continuing to demand a greater provoked the aversions of the Cirtizens and encouraged them to take arms and chase them away They seized also upon some Barkes which went to the Country of Meckelenburgh so that Wallenstein at length was faine to come and revenge that Commotion Appeased by Wallenstem Brief the Town was invested temerity turned into repentance and arms into supplications in conclusion all was pardoned they dispensed with for a Garrison and the Forfeit of a hundred and fifty thousand Riv. -Dollars which was liberally remitted out of respect to some certain Princes though yet all this made them not a whit better Servants to Ferdinand Thus was the first bout past but there followed a second which brought an utter ruine and that the most miserable one that ever fell upon any Town I will be bold to say then that of Troy even though all were true which hath been written thereof by the Greeks and then that
in adversity onely that we are apt to remember him and such as were not content to live in such delicious idlenesse betook themselves to the warre either in Germany or the Low-Countries King Chales will have a Conformity of the Chu ches of Scotland with that of England King Charles made Proclamation for a Conformity as well in Ceremony as otherwife of the Churches in Scotland with these of England The Puritans opposed iâ— a tumult was raised against the Bishops and principall parsons of quality and a new Allyance or Covenant amongst the Puritans The King warned them to renounce it â—ut they on the other side persisted published scandalous Writings made a League abrogated the Episcopall Authority fortified some places and constrained him to leave his rest and take arms The Scots arms The Scots having gotten possession of the Castle of Edinburgh entred in to England took Newcâ—stle and Durham The King called a Parhament which being for the most part composed of Puritans he found them inclined to favour the Scots Whereupon he marched with an Army towards the Botders where he slighted the advice of one of the chief of his Kingdom who told him that if he would be a King and were not weary of raigning he must hazard a Battell But he preferring a pernicious peace before a necessary warre made an accommodation and at the same time called a Parliament which forth with assembled and the Scots after having finished a fine Master-piece of businesse whereof they felt excessive inconveniences after wards returned home The Deputy of Ireland prisoner his death The King gave this Parliament all full and absolure power provided that in any wife it touched not his Preroâ—ative nor such as were near it an individuall point by verâ—ue of a Law made in Henry the seventh's time But the first thing they did was to imprison the Lord Deputy of Ireland who could not be saved by the Kings requests nor his own defence but that he must needs be sacrificed to the hatred of the ignorant people who expressed their brutality by demanding his death and their folly by being moved to compassion at his firm and immutable constance to the last The Prince of Orange in England The Prince of Orange having demanded the eldest Princesse for his Son and obtained her he sent him thither to espouse her where he heard the said Deputies arguments and saw him brought upon the Scaffold and after his departure the Queen conducted her Daughter to the Haghe where she was received with very great honours but found the States more inclined to Neutrality then to meddle with that intestine warre For the King finding his Authority sensibly checked was already retyred to York where he set up his Standard sent for the Knights of the Garter and having neither Ships nor money sought some support in the affections of his subjects but too late for the forces whereof he had dif-invested himselfe were in the Parliaments hands however he was succoured by the greatest part of the Nobility The Malignants and Round-heads who and Gentry upon whom was imposed the name of Malignants as that of Round-heads was upon the Parliament souldiers The Queen having received some money upon her Jewels and drawne a good summe from the Prince of Orange repasted into England War between the King and Parliament but was cast back by a most horrible tompest upon the Coast of Holland though yet some weeks after she arrived in safety with all the Munitions which she had been able to purchase and afterwards retired into France leaving her husband in this storm wherein he was swallowed up S r. Thomas Wentworth c. Lord Debuty of Ireland sould by P. Stent In sine understanding that the English had called in the Scots by vertue of the Covenant concluded and confirmed by Oath on both Parcies wherein they swore the destruction of the Bishops he dispatched Prince Robert against them The Royâ—lists beaten by the Scots who joyned his forces though not his opinion with the Earl of Newcastle for he would needs venter a Battail which he lost and the said Earl fled into Germany and all the Kings felicity with him During these interludes the Earl of Montroffe did wonders for the King in Scotland for with a very small Army he gained a Battail came off with advantage in many encounters and repayred in fine the Kings affaires there Montrosse for the King in Scotland whilest they impayred in England for having lost another victory to Fairfax he was compelled to retyre to Oxford where he was besieged Whereupon his Son went into France and himself fled disguised to the Scotch Army The King flies to the Scotch Army and is sold who received him at first with great honour and complement though afterwards they delivered him up to the Parliament Army for a summe of mony He was made passe amongst the people for a Papist and a Tyrant and that he had a design to annull all the Priviledges of England c. Ah ungratefull People Ah Scotch Captains You who have the renown of being Souldiers how could you consent to such a basenesse Had avarice more power over your soules then respect vertue and duty For though you had an opinion that the King were a Papist is it lawfull for subjects to act against the Annointed of the Lord that which they would not have done to themselves As soon as the news of the Deputies imprisonment arrived in Ireland The revolt in Ireland the Irish took Arms to free themselves from the Captivity of the English as they called it but with so much barbarity and cruelty that they rendred themselves detestable thereby especially to such as knew how they had been treated by the English But what will not people undertake which from a long time are grown brutish and savage when they crush the head of their Governours with their own Chaines The Collections which were made in Holland for the succour of the Reformates in that Country The Collections in Holland for what begat as well the admiration of the Charity of that Nation towards their Brethren as doubt also on the other side whether such large summes ever arrived there The King being near London found himself reduced to the extremity of granting them of the Parliament whatsoever they asked and not being able to suffer some inconveniences which were cast upon him he made his escape to the Isle of Wight where he was treated like a prisoner But in fine being led back again to London and the Vpper House being abolished The King is executed the 30. of January 1649. he was accused by the Army and brought before a High Court of Justice where he was tryed condemned to be beheaded and executed the thirtieth of January 1649. There have happened enormous accidents in this Age but none which hath so much astonished the world as this strange proceeding Such as are curious have made a shift
not at all the death of his Mother Mary who was beheaded in England preferring the hope of succession to the said kingdom before revenge courting the favour of the Queen and treading all other considerations under foot But heaven left nothing unpunished which often revenges innocence upon the Innocent themselves to chastise them who have not revenged it He married Anne Sister to Christian King of Denmark and lived in peace which yet was disturbed by dreadful conspiracy of a certain Earle called Gore whose Father was beheaded in the end of the said Kings minority Now this Gore returning from travel sent his brother to the King as he was hunting whom when he had made believe that there was a certain man who had found a great pot full of gold he led him into his said brothers Cabinet or Closet where had he not been succoured by his followers he had been unhappily murthered The Tragedy was afterwards acted upon them who intended themselves to have been the actors thereof and the murtherers were justly murthered In this tragedy they who were curious found such mysteries as their modesty kept in silence The Scots are held good souldiers but they were never very fortunate against the English Ireland is an Island both big and fruitfull between Spain and England where the English have exercised great power and authority as well in respect of Religion as for the Rebellion of the Irish against Queen El'zabeth calling the Spaniards to help them But they grew at length to be conquered and have long been governed since by Deputies or vice-Vice-Kings under a most austere Disciplipe which hath constrained some of them to flye to the main Land and others to retire themselves into the Woods and Forrests amongst the wild beasts to seek their liberty after their own fashion This Island was heretofore conquered by the Saxons and a long time after by the Norman under William the Conquerour Their lawes have some resemblance to those of Normandy and Guienne which they had some ages in their possession where the Eldest sonnes take almost all the succession of their Parents leaving but very little to their Brothers and Sisters A very rough Law and almost quire contrary to that of Poland where when the Eldest hath divided the said succession the younger takes the first Portion and after him the other so that the last of all is left to the Eldest The English are good Souldiers both by Sea and Land not in valour and courage inferiour to any one Nation whatsoever and are more apt to offend by temerity and overmuch forwardnesse then cowardise Inghilterra bona terra mala gente The Nobility is generally very courteous and chiefly such as have travelled England sayes a famous Italian is a good Country but the Inhabitants are very bad The English are little affected to other Nations and especially to the French from whom they have a great aversion nor can the French or Scots on the other side endure the incompatible humour of the English After they had lost what they possessed in France and all the intelligence they had there they fell for a long time to Civill Warres But since under the reign of four Kings and two Queens they have seen various persecutions not only about Religion but for matter of State too where of we will speak in the sequel of this History The women are incomparably beautifull and consequently have a great influence upon the men yea the Queens have commanded there more absolutely and have been much better obeyed and respected then the Kings They treat their servants and horses very roughly which gave birth to the Proverb That England is Heaven for Women Purgatory for servants and Hell for horses King James to smother the hatred and partiality which had alwayes been between the people of these Islands by laudable advice entituled himself King of great Britain The Title of King of France which was possessed by many Kings of England hath alwayes checked the Salick Law which excludes the Heyres Femall of France from the Crown so that though the English possessed almost the whole kingdom of France it was more by the right of Arms then by that of the Lawes and Customes Let us now leave Great Britain and look upon Italy where there are many Seates and Republicks whereof we shall make but little mention to shun superfluities and keep our selves within the limits prescribed in this History CHAP. VIII Of Italy Lorraine and Savoy POpe Clement the 8 th held the Chaire and by the prudent administration of him the Venetians and the Great Duke of Tuskany there flourished a Peace throughout all Italy Every one preserved himself within his own interests nor could any little jealousies take root to the loss of the publick Quiet but it was suddenly strangled in the Cradle by wise conduct and most subtile policy The Popes as well by donation as other practises have not onely augmented the Patrimony of St. Peter but drawn also all the Soveraign Authority to themselves by removing the Emperours from the knowledge of the Affaires of Italy The Faction of the Guelphes for the Popes the Gibelms for the Emperours reigned there long and was not consopited or quieted but by eclipsing almost the whole Majesty of Emperours by endeavouring to constrain them to receive the Crown from their hands A difference not quite extinguished yet Besides that they have ever been unhappy enough in pursuing their Right by Arms the Italians cutting them out work enough amongst themselves and often hindring their coming out of Germany so that all the splendour of the Empyre remaines there and is no otherwise known throughout almost all Italy then only by name Under the Reign of Valentinian the Western Empire was much tottered by the Barbarians which forced most of the principall Families near the Sea to retire into the Islands of the Adriatick Streights and there lay the Foundations of that most puissant City of Venice and of that most Serene Republick which hath encreased maintained and conserved herself these twelve ages by an unparallelled blessing by the most perfect observance of the Lawes and by a policy worthy of admiration This gives just cause to judge that they who began her were of the most elevated and prime of all Italy and not slaves as they were who laid the first stone to the Common-wealth of Rome In the Peace which was made between the Emperour Charlemayne and the Emperour of Constantinople it was concluded than that Common-wealth which had already stood more then three ages and a halfe should serve for a bound and gate to the two Empyres They had for a long time in their possession the kingdom of Gypres which the Turks have now taken from them They have had many enemies and have often by their great prudence diverted the storms which have been ready to fall upon them and by the dexterity of their mannagements regained that which they had lost by the fate of Arms.
States to have the total administration of them This man being eminently ambitious hoped to come to be Pope by the recommendation of the Emperour The story of Câ—â—â—inaâ— Wollâ—y But seeing himselt frustrated of his expectation he turned his hate upon him whispered the King in the ear that his marriage with Katharine of Spain Aunt to the said Emperour was incestuous because she had formerly been married to his Brother O! How great is the wickednesse of such as have for saken God to serve their ambition and revenge This Prelate who ought to have framed the reformation of abuses and opposed Heresies since himself held for such all the Doctrines which checked the Pope was not content with so much honour and wealth as he enjoyed without seeing the Emperour thrown down and buried under the very ruins of that Church the Religion whereof he professed with so great Majesty and under the Purple of so great luster The King intangled in love with a young Lady newly come from the Court of France and disgusted with the Embracements of that most veâ—â—â—ous Princess his Wife was glad of this scruple and sollicited the Pope to grant him a Divorcement upon the aforementioned reason But the Pope temporizes and sends in sine his Legat to examin the matter The King and the Legat sir the Queen being summoned appears and in presence of the chief of the Kingdom makes a Speech in Latin to the King which is able to move a very rock to compassion How is it possible Sir sayes she that after having lived almost twenty yeares together in great concord and having had so many children as we have had it should now come into your thought to repudiate me Your Brother Arthur fell sick the very first day of our marriage and some dayes after dyed I take the great God and your conscience to witness that you found me a Virgin And if you are resolved to separate me from your Bed expect at least so long as till I may have advertised my Nephew Charles thereof to the end that I may know how to behave my self in this affliction since I can hope for no support in the equity of my cause here where you are Absolute King If I have offended God since I have been your wife it has been in being a little too curious to please you Ah Vertue This is not the first time that thy adversary endeavours to suppress thee Thy luster is too bright not to dâ—â—le the eyes of the wicked This poor Princesse in this tribulation had this imperfection that in regard Nature had been sparing to her of her rich gifts of beauty she had had recourse to innocent Art thereby to draw her Husband from the levities to which he was too much inclined as well by his own naturall Passion as by the attractive Charms of his fair subjects Her Speech being ended which produced but faint pitty in the soul of the King and some of the Auditory she retired her self together with her Daughter into a private House where the spake thus to this ambitious Cardinal who came to her in behalf of the King to intreat her to yeeld to his will It is thou said she O wicked and disloyal Minister who returnestâ—â—s this recompence To my Nephew for not advancing thee to the Holy Chayre and to me for not being able to suffer thy impudicity and naâ—ghtâ—â—esse The King divorced himself from the Church of Rome because the Pope would not condescend to his demand and from his Wife by whom he had alwayes been so respectfully loved to conjoyn in publick marriage with Anne of Bolein The King leaves his Wife an I the Church of Rome The Cardinal died in the year 1530 being not long before deprived of all his employments and fallen from the favour of his Prince which he had preferred before that of his God as he restified by these words full of christian and holy repentance which issued our of his dying mouth Ah! I would to God said he I had taken so much pains to serve my Creatour as I have done to serve my Prince He put into the Letanies From the tyranny of the Pope good Lord deliver us whose authority was abrogated thorowout the whole kingdome and the King by Act of Parliament declared Head of the Church of England He seized upon the possessions of the Church by the advice of Cromwell and some others who all ended their dayes unhappily Takes away the possessions of the Clergy He also bestowed part thereof upon the nobility for fear of commotion He hanged such as refused to subscribe that he was Head of the Church as aforesaid and condemned the protestants to the fire In fine after having crushed the Church and lived like a tyrant he died miserable and little regretted by his people Sir Thomas More that great Heroe fell under the rigour of his command and so did an infinite number of other noble persons Luther seeing him in ill tearms with the Pope and encouraged by the King of Denmark very humbly beseeched him Luther writes to the King and receives an affront by a letter which he wrote to him to embrace the doctrine of the Gospel but he received such an answer as he little expected namely that he should forsake his apostacie and his wife and return to his Monastery Now the Church of Rome seeing her head disclaimed and his authority banished out of England felt her self much shaken as well by Peter Martyr as orther Protestant ministers in such sort as that Edward Edward establishes the Protestant Religion son to the said Henry having taken the reines of the English Monarchie had no great trouble to throw her quite our and fixe the Protestant But he dying very young and Queen Mary succeeding him she had an intention to pluck up this tender plant and re-establisheth the old doctrin which yet could not recover its full strength before it was exterminated again Young trees by being re-planted get vigour but old ones wither and dye CHAP. XVI Queen Elizabeth banishes the Romane Catholike Religion again by degrees That of the Protestants passes into Scotland under the bastard Murrey who swayes the Scepter It is called the Congregation and is fortified by the above said Queen and the Hugenots of France QUeen Elizabeth who during the life of her sister Mary feigned her self a Roman Catholike and was like to lose her life by giving some suspicions of her being a Protestant being raised to the royall Throne forthwith unmasqued her self and began to treat of the meanes how to annull the one and revoke the other which was easie to be accomplished For the ignorance of the Priests was great the desire of their possessions greater and the curiosity to check a Religion full of ceremonies which few could solidly defend greatest of all It was represented to the People both here and elsewhere that the doctrine was falsified and in no wise congruous with that of the
and would have killed him if a Count had not hastened to the stirre and taken him out of their bands His Majesty seemed much displeased herear and all issued to the confusion of the one and the glory of the other The year following Prince Maurice had an enterprise upon the Dike of Antwerp from whence he retyred with remarkable losse before the Castle of Wowde which he took by capitulation The Arch-Duke on the other side disgusted at the losse of Sluce and desiring to keep Flanders free from contribution sent Spinela to the said place whose credit was already much augmented amongst his enemies as well as amongst them of the Spanish party But Maurice having prevented him and put all things in good order he found himself fain to seek the same way which the Count de Bucquoy had taken with a flying Camp towards the Rhein which he passed and took Oldenzeel and Lingen and if he had prosecuted his business with the same ardor and promptitude wherewith he began it was very probable he might have seased upon Coeverden Groening yea Embden it self and so have taken footing in Freezland Warre about the Rhein in regard that he would have found no great resstance for want of men especially coming upon an exploit both unforeseen and unexpected There was yet another very dangerous encounter towards the Rhem where Prince Henry had incurred great hazard of being killed or taken if he had not been seconded by his Brother wherein he was more happy then in the enterprise of Guelders The Designes upon Grave and Bergh upon Zoom were hurtfull to the undertakers and served for an advertisement to them upon whom they were practised to keep themselves upon their guard The Count de Buequoy quickly brake the garrisons of Wotchtendone and Cracaw and so winter was as a trumpet which sounded a retreat to both armies The morning is never so fair but that there appears some cloud upon the Horizon before the day be quite spent France is never so well at rest but that there is some stir either in one corner or other or in the middle For they are people of a fiery spirit and enemies to quiet The conspiracy which was discovered in Provence at that time and the author whereof was a gentleman of that Country who was appreheded at Paris together with the Secretary to the Spanish Embassador caused the the said Embassadour to complaine and reproach that the Peace was not well kept to which the King answered by other objections which were the seeds of the contrariety since between these two nations who yet by different wayes seem to have both but one object for their end The birch of Philip the fourth King of Spaine theâ—â— of April This very yeer 1605 upon the 8 th of April was born Philip the 4 th who holds the Spanish Monarchie at this day And the same year died Pope Clement the 8 th and Theodore Beza and the year following Justus Lipsins Professour of the University of Lovain CHAP. VI The difference which happened between Pope Paul the fifth and the Republick of Venice and why The peace made The Duke of Brunswick endeavours to take the Town The King of Denmark goes into England The continuation of the wars in the Low-Countries VVHiles the war was thus hot in the Low-Countries there happened a spark of division in Italy between the Pope and the Venetians which if neglected might have caused an emborasment no lesse perilous then that the one namely the Romane Catholicks ministring all kindes of means and reasons to quench it and the Reformates all sorts of invention to kindle it The knot of the controversie was that the said Republick had made a Law prohibiting all the Ecclesiasticall persons to buy or receive by Will or Testament any immovable goods or other inheritances This Order being ill taken at Rome caused a Bull which was published against the said Republick with the thunderbolt of excommunication in case it were not revoked within the tearm of four and twenty dayes interdicting the Priests to say Masse The difference between the Pope and the Venetians under paine of the same excommunication The Senate protests against it and so from words to blows Italy was instantly in armes The King of Spaine ofters assistance to the Pope and Henry the fourth as much but under condition that he being eldest son of the Church his Holinesse would receive no ayde from any other but himself This proposition together with the information which he had that the King of England and the Hollanders enemies to the holy See had presented all kind of help to the Venetians and being also moved by his own prudent goodnesse and the evident danger to which the Catholick States would be exposed caused him to hearken to the perswations of the two Kings and take off the excommunication whereby the businesse was appeased Taken away by the intercession of the two Kings and all the Ecclesiasticks who were gone out of the City during this fogg had leave to return except onely the Jesuites who carried the whole burthen and were banithed for perpetuity The Jesuites banished out of the Common-wealth of Venice nor have all the intercessions and addresses which have since been made in favour of them by the King of France and many other Potentates served for any thing but to renew the said order of banishment against them The Protestants their capitall enemies have not failed to serve themselves of this occasion as also of many other to cry them down every where by accusing them of some conspiracies against the said Common-wealth whereof yet there is no clear mention made at all For they make profession to be forbidden by their rule to meddle with State business But a good Game good Gaine They are not without fellowes for England furnishes them likewise with matter enough Now these animosities being appeased there returned a calm to all Italy which we will now leave to come back into Germany and Holland For here it is that men are alwayes in action both by Sea and Land whilest the rust of Christendom are at rest It is true that the Duke of Brunswick seeing Spinola with a great army neer Lingen took a pretext to raise one to but it was in effect to attack the chief town of the Dutchy An attempt upon Brunswick His forces seized upon one of the gates and the wall without much trouble but they weakly desended those advantages which they had gotten and so were shamefully beaten oft He besieged the town twice but the Emperour interposing his authority all was quickly accommodated Enterprines never snoceed well but by the courage of the under takers The King of Denmark goes into England The King of Denmark went to see his brother inlaw King James and his sister where having been regaled the space of a moneth he returned toward his own Kingdom not without admiring the pomp and magnificence of the English
with him against his Nephew the Spaniards and the Jesuits for it was upon them that he chiefly aymed and whom he so much mistrusted who yet peradventure dreamt not at all of him and demanded a speedy succour before the Poles had quite subdued Muscovie He also mentioned the quarrell between him and the King of Denmark offering to referre it to them or any other Neutrall Princes and to acquiesce in their Decision The States also sent theirs to him but he was able to effect nothing with him The King declares a warre upon him In the moneth of April 1611. King Christian declares a Warre founded upon four points The first upon the Fishing of Lapponia or Lapland the third part whereof he pretended to appertain to himself The second a complaint formed upon Charles his having fortified Guttemburgh to the disadvantage of the Sound the third was the redemanding of the Isle of Oesel held by the Swedes And the last that Christian would not suffer him to put in his Arms the three Crownes nor the Title of Lapland and North-land Kings have never any better reason to make Warre then that which is offered them by occasion It is a Royal thing sayes a Disciple of that so much disclaimed Italian to attempt the Possessions of others Colmar taken The Danes seazed Colmar the prime key of the kingdom of Sweden and besieged the Castle both by Sea and land which unlesse it were famished was held impregnable by reason of the situation Neither was it taken now by that way but yeelded up by the levity of the Governour who went to fix his habitation in Denmark That which cannot be digged by Iron is often done by Gold The King of Sweden found work enough to do with two so potent enemies upon his skirts but that which most troubled him was that he could not bring the Danes to any Composition Fonce so that in sine having lost Colmar with above a hundred pieces of Canon six ships of Warre the Isle of Bornholm and some other The death of Charles also forced to bow to old age and afflictions caused by these losses he fell sick and coming to die made way for that great Captaine Gustavus Adolphus the very relation of whose victories makes the world tremble Charles was a Prince of great courage and lover of his Law for the only defence whereof the Swedes affirm that he accepted the Crown and not through any ambition he had to be a King He inclined a little towards the Reformates and could not endure to have prayers made in Latin He was speechlesse some time before his death and was much more prone to rigour then moderation yea even to Tyranny it self which is a vice much observed in the successours of Erick after they are past forry years old The Danes sayling with the winde in poupe took many ships near Elsburgh together with the Castle it self But the Swedes were fully revenged upon them by taking their measures well as it will appear in the continuation of this History With patience all things are effected In fine Peace made a Peace was made and Colmar upon agreement of some barrels of Gold restored to the Swedes The Kings were friends and afterwards an Enterview and an Allyance both Offensive and Defensive concluded against the King of Poland But let us go back to the South Italy produced no seed of sedition at all every one keeping himself within his own jurisdiction but the Duke of Mantua being taken out of his by death without sons his Brother succeeded him who assisted by the Spaniards waged a long warre against the Duke of Savoy who was supported by France Since the Truce in the Low-countries and the expulsion of the Mores there passed nothing in Spain worthy of memory but some Fights at Sea against Pirats who were defeated by the Spaniards and the Hollanders The match sought in Spain Queen Mary of Medicis willing to keep her subjects in Peace during her Regencie and prevent all occasions of disorder mediated a double match with Spain that is of her Son and Daughter with Prince Philip and the Infanta his Sister but the marriages were differred in regard of their too tender age though yet this good newes caused great rejoycing throughout all the Territories of the two Crowns with Tilts and Turnaments worth anmiration wherein the French Lords expressed as well the agility and fine disposition of their bodies as the gentilnesse of their mindes Let us now draw back to the Low-countries again which observe the Truce but let not their souldiers rest in favour of their Neighbours For the Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh this being grown a Roman and that a Reformat renewed their old unhappy quarrel either for want of a right and mutual understanding or else for being the object of the ambitious passion of some other Princes The Arch-Duke had sent Spinola into the Field to execute the sentence given upon them of Aquisgrane Aix or Aquisgrane yeelds The Spaniards succour the Duke of Newburgh and the Hollanders the Duke of Brandenburgh who had incurred the disfavour of the Emperour by expelling the Roman Catholick Magistrates out of the Town and their sudden submission gave the Spaniards conveniency to hasten to the relief of the Duke of Newburgh by whom they were expected They took Wesel and some other small places and Prince Maurice on the other side who was sent by the States to succour the Electour took and fortified Emmerick and Rees It is most dangerous to have a Neighbour stronger then ones self for his succour is alwayes dammageable to him who accepts it These two Princes know it as well as any others But what Passion very often prevailes over Reason and the errour of the Hunters gives the Hare opportunity to escape But let us reprize this Webbe contrived of many threds of different colours and woven by divers Weavers The Emperors Authority proving inefficacious and his threats as it wore our of breath and saint as coming from so great a distance with these two Princes who proud of the assistance of two Kings and shouldered by a strong Common-Wealth equally shared the Government of the Dutchy for some time making their Residence together at Dusseldorp But by means of some small jealousies were quickly disunited and the Marriage of the Duke of Newburgh with the Duke of Bavaria's Sisters awakened as great suspicions in the Duke of Brandenburghs breast being a Reformate as the Allyance of the united Provinces in that of the Duke of Newburgh who was become Cathohok The Design upon Dusseldorp had no successe and that which was so prosperously executed upon Gulick by the Governours meanes manifested to the Arch-Duke a peacefull Prince that the Reformates in a fair occasion want no boldnesse no courage The Spaniards took the Allarme so much the more powerfully as the Treaties went on slowly and as the French seemed to favour the Duke of Brandenburgh more to put
an obstacle to the Arms of Spain then for any other consideration Brief the Army marches into the Field under the conduct of Spinola Aix or Aquisgrane stooped and the Romane Catholick Magistrates were re-established Mullem was battered down and Otroy taken besides many othes places where there was no Garrison of the united Provinces for fear of a breach The taking of Wesel seemed to countervail that of Gulick swelled the hearts of the Spaniards and made those people know that their Masters should have but a seeming Government as long as these puissant forces stayed in their States But if they had relyed upon the judgement of the Emperour it is likely that these misfortunes had not happened At that troublesome and vexatious Treaty of Santen all the Princes layd open their Interests the Leaven of partialities about Religions began to swell the Deputies went away discontented leaving the Businesse imperfect the occupated Townes retained their Ghests and the two Princes learnt to their own cost what many other had tryed before them CHAP. XV The Differences which happened in the United Provinces Barnaveldt beheaded and the Religion of the Arminians condemned King Lewis humbles the Hugenots and reduces Bearne THE Peace without the united Provinces had shut up many turbulent and seditious humours within them which not being able to get out hatched some very dangerous tumults Commotions in the united Provinces The precious names of Peace and Rest were both odious and insupporatable to them We often flye from that which is advantageous to us and follow that which is hurtfull The first was at Alâ—mar the second at Liewerden and the third and most perilous at Vtrick where some of the bolder sort of the Mutiners fortified by a huge crew of their Caball constrained the Magistrates to abdicate their charges and chose others in their places who were most of them the Heads of their sedition But this sicknesse requiring a more violent remedy then the first Lepitives and the Town threatned with a siege all grew to be appeased and the Garrison augmented Disputes about Predestination Yet this was nothing in respect of that mischief which arose from a controversie in Divinity concerning Predestination and some other Articles annexed to it which like a thick Fogge so blinded all the Inhabitants that it left not any use of light at all to any but to such as served themselves thereof to theâ—â— own profit The two Champions who by their Sermons and Disputes divided all Holland into two Factions were Arminins and Gomarus Such as followed this latter who ardently maintained the said Predestination were called Contra-Remonstrancers and the other Remonstrancers of Arminians who were said to professe a Doctrine disagreeing from that of John Calvin This was too high and difficult a passage to be comprehended by the common people and so it brought with it nothing but confusion Yet the Dispute ended not with the life of Arminins but was more and more kindled by his Disciples and chiefly by Verstius who upon the Recommendation of the Remonstrancers was made Professouâ— From Disputes came Factions and Vorstius was deposed by the threats of the King of Great Britain In brief every one takes arms for his own defence They of Harlem Leiden and Vtrick by the counsell as was reported of Advocate Harnaveldt raise forces Prince Maurice hastens surprises Vtrick disarnis the Citizens and changes the Magistrates a remarkably action as he also did at Harlem and Leiden where they had barricaded the Town-House and imprisons the chief of the Arminian Faction But the Ministers notwithstanding all these proceedings ceased not to dispute not the Printers to set forth Books concerning this controversie Wherefore there was a Synod convocated at Dort where the Arminian Doctrine was condemned the Ministers who persisted in it imprisoned and some were banished and sought their abode in Holstein and other places Barnaveldt beheaded The great States-man Barnaveldt formerly much cherished by King Henry of France and greatly renowned for his services done to the Common-Wealth and chiefly for having drawne out of the clutches of the English the three places engaged to Queen Elizabeth as also for having made divers Embassies and sweated under various burthens of State finished his life by an infamous punishment This man being about seventy two yeares old was accused of being Head of the Arminian Faction of disturbing the tranquility of the Townes and checking the authority of the Prince whose power he wished indeed to see lessened thereby to secure the publick Liberty In sine there was a rumour scattered that he should have had a design to usurp the Government of the Common-wealth They who were of his party for proof of his innocence represented the greatnesse of his services and cares to maintain the power of the States And yet howsoever all his friends melted as it were like snow before the Sun of the Princes Authority and one of the most famous Writers of this Age sayes that he was condemned in the name of the States but by the practices of King James and Prince Maurice There is nothing sure in this world and the greatest fortunes are very often those which are upon the slippery top of their pracâ—pice If all they who are ambitious to go out of their condition to get up to another more clevated and high would but represent to themselves the disasters and misfortunes which we see fall upon those great persons they would have no other desire then to stay where they are The Treaty of the Truce which by his advice was made for twelve years against the reasons of Prince Manrice who being a souldier and for his own interest endeavoured to break it purchased his disfavour and his very great credit his hatred besides his disswading the Warre of Bohemia together with what we have just now said and many other accusations abbreviated his life for some dayes When Jupiter chides all the rest of the Gods are silens Hugo Grotius went to keep company with the other Ministers who were prisoners at Louwestein though by the prudent cousel of his Wife he brake quickly off from it afterwards Thus was this mist which threatened the Common-wealth with a dangerous convulsion dispelled the Churches employed by the Contra-Remonstrancers only and the Arminians reviled and disclaimed as no better then half Traytors by the very dregs of the People But really the blamable treason of the children of Barnaveldt who breathed nothing but revenge of their Fathers death was the cause why many retired themselves from this Party which for a time was much discredited It King Iames on the one side ardently prosecuted his destruction King Lewis sollicited his deliverance as hotly on the other and would scarce give ear to the multitude of excuses which was brought by the Embassadours for so passionate an execution Howsoever all these changes were not able to change the happinesse of these Provinces the popular Tumults growing by little and little to slacken
by the death of the Marquis d' Ancre and by the return of the Princes leagued against the said Marquis and his greatness by that of the unfortunate wife that unhappy Favorite whose Possessions and Goods were liberally bestowed upon him The death of the Marquis d' Ancre by the King He was killed by his Majesties command and by the counsell of this new Minister just as he was entring into the Loüure and his Body torne in pieces by a people which thought it self going into a Golden Age after this Execution And his VVife His wife who had been the companion of his Greatnesse was likewise to be so of his disaster and fall She was cast in prison and notwithstanding she baffled and eluded the vanity of the witnesses who accused her of magick or witchcraft she was neverthelesse condemned to suffer a shamefull death upon the Market-place of Greve Her Exccution caused pitty in the soules of some contentment in others and amazement to strangers the eyes of whose understandings were not dazled by the clowds of passion For it was a strange thing to set a Lady upon a base and infamousscaffold who had been but a little before with so much power and greatnesse at the Court Ah false and treacherous Fortune How much gall dost thou hide under thy honey and how many treacheries under thy favours No marvel if thou destroy what thou hast made since thou overturnest even Kings and Kingdomes themselves which had taken their foundations from the hands of the Almighty himself This tragical Beginning being brought to his desired issue Luynes counselled the King to banish his Mother from the Court whom he knew to be in implacable indignation against him Her Exile which was taken for a Retreat the advancement of his two Brothers companions of his fortune and the total and entire disposal of the favour of the good King cast him into the hatred of the people which he could not faile to inherit as well as of the Queen and into the aversion of the Princes who took his government for a pretext of their discontentments and for a cloak to disguise their interests From the quality of an ordinary Gentleman he rid Post as it were to honours and was created Earl and Viceroy of Picardy Duke and Peer of France and within a very short time after Constable In fine all smiled upon him every one adored this Golden Calfe yea even they who if they could have gotten him in their power would have crushed and shivered him to pieces To secure himself from the Queen-Mother he procured the deliverance of the Prince of Conde but common necessity obstructed the course of his greatness though it hardly extinguished the hatred which all the French bore him and left him but two friends who caused his miserable Body to be secretly interred for fear lest be should receive the same treatment of him whose place he had taken O short felicity full of troubles disquiets cares and vexatious apprehensions O vain Glory so much hunted after so much envied and so dearly and painfully bought how deceitful is thy end O vain Honours How are you steeped and drenched in gall And how different from those which are prepared by Eternity for us On the other side Prince Henry was beloved almost throughout all France as well for his great vertue as for the open hatred he carried to the Constable ended his dayes upon the bed of honour before Montanban for the Catholick Faith and for the restauration of the Authority of his King and the whole Kingdom His life He was son to the deceased Duke of Mayenne so well known in the History of the precedent Age to whom France had this obligation that she was not dismembred and crippled during the fury of the cruell Warres Whilest he courted the Widow of the Count de Soissons she moved both him and the Duke of Nevers 1614. to this pernicious Warre to whom the Prince of Conde and the busie Duke of Boüâ—â—lon joyned themselves also which kindled by some certain Princess who respired nothing but vengeance and terminated by the prudence of that most wise Queen at Saint Menehout He retired from the Court for the hatred he bore to the Constable and followed the party of the Queen-Mother 1620. together with other Princes in regard of the ill treatment she received His choler caused him to commit a great fault before Moissac in Quercy whereof the of a frank and open humour without dissimulation such as is fit for a Prince and not for a Courtier He was also free to speak and deliver his opinion and very courteovs to his inferiours much more intense upon the ruine of the Hugenot Party then upon prolonging the Warre as many have done for their own proper interest In fine a Bullet sent him to his grave put the Army in disorder France into mourning The mourning of all France for his death an end to so many brave exploits which which will cause him to be eternally hurt to the siege of Montaubane and to the fear of the Hugenots who called him the great Butcher and the tears interrupted by sobbes expressed the true love which all the Orders of France really bore him and which was besides most amply decleared by the elegant Orations made at his Funerall The newes of his death being divulged at Paris so much moved the Common-people that they cast themselves upon the Reformates and fired the Church of Charenton yea and the mischief had yet gone further had it not been prevented and stopped by the Queens and the Lords of the Parliament Some dayes after the Pontan Change in English the Exchange Bridge and the Pont des Orfebures in English Goldsmiths Bridge were likewise set on fire with inestimable loss for which the Reformats were much suspected by their enemies thereby to revenge themselves of the affronts which had been done them for vengeance is sweet But much more diligence was used to finde out the riches which was fallen into the River then the cause of two such disasters However it be the Warre grew hot the next year after and the King made himself Master of the Isles St. Martin d'Oleron and Bronage After some small victories gotten upon the Duke of Rohan and his Brother The Peace made at Montpeillier 1622. A Tumult at Paris against them of the Religion The Peace made the Peace was concluded at Montpeillier by which the said Towne more by force then by inclination returned to her duty and all the party which had been attacked by many Armies throughout all the Provinces after frequent losses began to respire and shewed that it was no more invincible This Peace separated the Navies hindered the Duke of Guise from prevailing upon his advantage and the Fort Lewis built upon the Haven of Rochelle gave subject to renew the War as we shall hereafter shew The Venetians to procure reparation of the dammages received from the Croats 1617.
of the Emperours Generals repaired and raised his Authority to so much splendour that every body desired to keep himself fast with him and gaine his favour there remaining none who durst openly act for Frederick but such as were droven by despaire For the Duke of Anholt finding the gate open to a reconciliation stooped to get in and many Townes also did the same And the Landgrave William sonne to Maurice of Hassia who finding Bellona too hard and rigorous a Mistresse betook himself to the society of the Muses followed the example of the former and was received with the same benevolence yea and adorned with a new Title of Honour besides We are forced in a scorn to make a good Part which when the danger is past we do not value Mansfeldt recollected fragments of the Armies found means to repair his losses Mansfeldt uses deceit in the Palatinate and grew likely to restore things to the point from whence they were fallen In effect not being able to get into Bohemia he wheeled about towards the Palatinate where by the taking of some places and fighting some prosperous skirmishes he raised the courage of his souldiers and struck astonishment into his enemies But the Duke of Bavaria seased upon the upper Palatinate reduced him to such extremity that upon the condition of a summe of mony and some very high title of Honour he was content to seek Peace with the Emperour however it were intended by him but onely to save his Army and so to kill two birds with one stone Foul play or cheaterie when it succeeds well passes for a gallant piece of warlike craft and wickednesse never seeks long before it findes an occasion For as soon as he arrived in the Lower Palatinate he threw off his Vizard broke his word took many Towns which served for a Fee to his hunger-starved souldiers sacked Alsatia Takes Hagenaw and surprized Hagenaw Frederick upon the noise of these successes left Holland passed incognito through France and not without huge paines and danger got to the Army There happened a surious Encounter near Wisloch The Bavarians beaten where the Bavarian lost abost above two thousand men a great number of Colours and four Field-Pieces which were testimonies that the victory was not coutemptible But Tilly was not long before he found meanes to revenge himself of this affront It is good to lend to such as are alwayes read to render For having joyned his Troops with Don Cordocia and being informed that the Marquis of Baden was separated from Mansfeldt he followed him so close that he overtook him neer Wimpfen where after a stubborn fight of some hours he put the Cavalry to flight But the Infantry or Foot finding themselves abandoned with a masculine resolution mingled with despair and desire of an honourable death fought very valiantly and made Tilly know that he should not have their lives at so cheap a rate They have their revenge as not to wrangle stoutly for them howbeit by an unlucky chance they were deprived of the meanes though not of the will Victory of the Imperialists near Wimpson to continue it For by the perpetual playing of the Ordnance the fire got into the powder which sprung the Waggons with so unfortunate hurt that all the Foot fell into disorder and was cut in pieces And eight and thirty Pieces of Canon a great deal of Baggage and money with six score Coulors falling into the hands of the Conquerours made the Conquered confesse that they received a huge and most sensible losse The Field was strewed with dead Bodies and the perishing of six thousand men upon the place gave cause to count this for one of the greatest Battails of this Age. The Bishop of Halberstadt in the interim was not asleep but having contracted great forces The cruelties of the Bishop of Halberstadt in Westphalia he went ravaging and pillaging all Westphalia sparing neither Monkes Nunnes nor Ornaments of the Church it self to satiate his cruelty leachery and avarice Indeed the scandall he gave was too great for his proceedings were blamed even by them of his own Party and he purchased the name of the Mad Bishop But the Catholicks were too much tyed to the Emperours service and therefore he thought fit to chastise them since there was no other means to hurt their Victorious head and besides the disgust of their so often singing Te Deum was too sharp and hot to be endured At Paterborne he took a Statue of Sains Liborius of massive Silver and melted it into Rex Dollars which he signed with an Arm stretched out and a sword with this motto A Friend to God and an Enemy to Priests The youthfull insolencies and unreasonable actions which he committed in a certain Cloyster of Nunnes must be buried in silence for the like could not happen but in a corrupt Age. This Army cast the greatest bulk of the war Warre again the Ecclesiasticks upon the Ecclesiasticks nor can there be imagined any kinde of sacriledge which was not perpetrated by them neither went they in fine very farre before they received the Crown of their works For being coasted or overtaken by the Count of Anholt who was now joyned to Tilly they were strenuously assaulted near the River Maine and endeavouring to passe in confusion the Bridge brake and made fine sport for the Imperialists who cut off such as were stopped and the River conspiring to their destruction thruzled a great many more so that only they who could swimme escaped and through their great diligence made a shift at length to reach the Avantguard of the Army where their Bishop marched and so ranged themselves under the wings of General Mansfeldt so that the River shared stakes with the Imperialists in the honour of this victory as having drowned about three thousand of them Frederick after this so rough a check having no means at all left to maintain his forces any longer disbanded them and retired himself back to the Hague there to expect the issue of the Treaty at Brussels by which Frankendal with the consent of King Iames of England was sequestred into the hands of the Infanta Tilly went afterwards and took Heidelberg by force and Manhein by composition and that great renowned Library Heidelbergh taken and the Library carried to Rome was transported to Rome for the Pope would have also his part of the booty to the great trouble of all the Electorall Family but who can resist against Fate Mansfeldt and his Bishop marched on towards Lorrain through which they passed without any repugnance the Duke being surprized by their unexpected approach and stayed some weeks at Sedan and Cardâ—â—â—a who was at their heels incamped himself at Ivoy We will leave them there to plot new Designes with the Duke of Boâ—â—llon and return into Poland to see what great body of Nobility march so briskly on to face that potent Emperour Osman CHAP. VIII The continuance of the warre
he sent some Troops which made a shew of coming from the Camp before Breda as carrying the same Motto's and Colours which Spinola carried they arrived undiscovered to the very Mote applyed their Ladders and set all their rare Engynes on work to render themselves Masters of the Place whereof they could not have failed had not their own hearts failed them first For one Who goes there of the Sentinell followed by the discharge of a Musket made theirs fall our of their hands and left them no more courage then onely to fly It was thought that he had a mind to bestow the honour of this expeditiupon the Hollanders whom he onely employed in it and that if he had mingled any of the other nations with them the businesse would have issued to his contentment This newes struck the Marquis almost into a feaver and sent the Prince loaden with Melancholy to the Hage where towards the end of the winter he died leaving his Army to his brother Henry Frederick and Spinola before Breda who seeing no meanes to take it by force resolved to famish it A former enterprize upon the same Cittadell The aforesaid Prince had had a former enterprize upon the said Cittadell and held himself so sure of it that he told the Burgomasters of Dort at his departure that none but God could hinder it And indeed he was no sooner embarked but there arose so violent and so extreamly cold a tempest that it put both his life and his Fleet in danger and so he was forced to return God hath put limits to Victories which cannot be passed by humane wisdome Spinola having sufficiently learnt how needfull it was to be vigilant with an enemy who slept not reinforced the Garrison of the aforesaid Cittadell kept himself fast in his trenches before Breda expecting the consumpsion of the Provisions of the Town and made magazin for the Winter and being advertised besides that the Enemy was assembling some forces and that four Kings had interested themselves in this Siege He sent for some Regiments from the Emperour Uladislaus Prince of Poland before Breda Prince Vladislaus since King of Poland came to see this famous siege and was received by the whole Army with such military honours as were due to the Sonne of a King and a very great Captaine The King of Spaine having foreseen this tempest which was contrived against his Low-Countries and being unwilling to hazard the whole for one piece thereof wrote to his Aunt that it was better to leave the siege then obstinately to persist in the impossibility of taking the Towne with the losse of all her States This savoured well with the Emulators of the said Marquis as Don Lewis de Velasco c. A Magazin burnt There happened also another misfortune which was that the Hollander fired a Magazin which would have staggered any other General but such a one as he who quickly requited this losse and by his vigilancie repulsed the English who with a most martiall courage went to attack a Quarter of his Camp Breda copitulates In fine after a Siege of ten moneths Breda was yeelded and it happened the very same day that the Kings Letters arrived with his absolute command to draw off the Army We left the King of Poland with his Nobility marching against the great Turk and therefore let us now look what the Swedes in the mean while are doing Gustavus laid hold of that occasion passed an army into Livonia and after the siege of five weeks to the great trouble of the Citizens took Riga The Swedes take Riga The Polanders hereupon made loud complaints of him for beginning the Warre just when they were busied against the Common Enemy and for breaking the Truce in the articles whereof it was comprized that the one of the Kings should not enter into the Lands of the other without having denounced the War three moneths before To which the Swedes made answer that they had sent their Embassadours And mâ—â—k at the complaints of the Foles and that they were not able to dispatch their Commissions any sooner being hindered by windes and tempests which were to be accused and not they a trick of War which must be made passe for good according to the Maximes of this Age. In short this occasion was favourable to the Swedes who cared as much for their reasons as Monsieur de Montmorancy did for those of the Magistrates of Metz when he was gotten into possession of their Towne This War was finished by a Truce whereby the Swedes were obleiged to return by Sea after they had well fortifyed Riga with intention never to restore it againe Now the Electour Palatine after being spoiled of his States was deprived also of his Dignities and his Electorat transferred upon the Duke of Bavaria his Cosin 1623. which much augmented hatred against the Emperour Duke Maximilian and all the Catholicks and caused in fine many new Allyances to be made which put spurts to the War we are going to discribe in this next Book The Electour Palatin spoiled of his States and banished This Prince was crowned King of Bohemia the fourteenth of November 1619. in the moneth of January following he made his Allyances and in the same year also he lost his Kingdome and his States was proscribed by the Emperours Edict and his Coronation declared Null He who grasps much holds little and it often falls out that whilest we are in pursute of other mens good we lose our owne THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I The Warre of Denmark The Allyances of the Kings of France England Denmark and the States of Holland against the Emperour GEneral Mansfeldts arguments had as much efficacy in the North as they had towards the South because the dangers which seemed to threaten that Country were grown greater and besides a Prince which becomes potent makes himself both feared and hated Tilly wintered in Hassia in despight of the Landgrave Maurice nor were the States of Low-Saxony a little troubled to see the Imperiall Eagles fluttering up and down upon their fronteers and that not without giving them great incovenience besides that they feared lest they should peradventure come to replant their old authority there The King of Denmark together with many other Princes and States thereabouts were moved to much impatience by the ruine of Frederick as apprehending lest these Guests should come and take up their lodging amongst them Wherefore being advertised by common danger and by that which themselves perhaps would have done if they had had the same power and right which the Emperour had they made a League for the defence of the Circle of the Lower Saxony into which entred the Kings of England France and Sweden together with the States Generall and the King of Denmark himself was the Head A League against the Em perour as being General of the said Circle The Dukes of Brunswick Mekelenburgh and Holstein
the Enemy and retyre himself as fast as he could gallop to Wolfenbottel This was a great and bloody Fight and the Imperialists remained entirely victorious in it The Victory of the Imperialists and the death of Generall Fucks Brave Generall Fucks who had disswaded the Battell lost his life in this occasion and gave the King sufficient testimony that it was not through basenesse of heart or cowardize but upon strong arguments that he desired him not to precipitate Many other Officers were also slain together with above six thousand Souldiers Thirty Pieces of Canon three thousand Prisoners fourscore and ten Colours adorned the Conquerours Chariot and all the booty was given to the Souldiers in recompence of their Valour This was that famous Battell of Luther which happened upon the 27 th of August whereby the Emperours authority and the joy of his Allyes was much augmented and their Enemies fear redoubled and after this there followed a continuall thred of Victories and taking of Towns even to the very sea-side Favour flatters Fortune and when there is no more meanes lest to make open resistance against the storme the sailes must be taken in or the Vessel steered for safety to the shelter of some Wood or Rock The Duke of Brunswick quitts the League The Duke of Brunswick followed this Maxime by making his Peace and renouncing the League with Saxonie Tilly lost no time seized upon Rotemburgh and many other places whilest the King recollected the fragments of his Army and put it in Equipage during the Winter but to no purpose For this vessell was too much tottered to do any more service at all In conclusion Tilly having taken Nontheen drew neer the River of Elbe which was also to be conquered after the conquest of so many enemies But we leave France too long in Peace which yet was not all this while quiet CHAP. II The prosecution of the second Warre against the Hughenots The Peace made by the undertaking of the King of England the Venetians and the Hollanders Warre between France and England and why The beginning of the third and last Warre against the Hughenots Cardinall Richelieu makes himself known admired and feared The siege and reduction of Rochell The Duke of Soubize takes some shipps WE have already shewed how the Peace was made in Italy as well upon the request of the Pope as to put a remedy to the inopinated Invasion of the Duke of Soubize who against all expectation and in full peace launched with a Fleet from Rochell came before the Port of Blavet and seized upon some ships which he found there But the Duke of Vandosme who was Governour of the Province transported himself thither with so much promptitude that he hindred the aforesaid Duke from making any farther progresse and forced him to retyre with two or three great Vessels and some of a middle burthen In such sort as that by this invasion The peace is broken the Peace which was made in the year 1622 before Montpellier was broken in that of 1625 and the Duke of Rohan his brother recommenced the Warre in earnest both in High and Low Languedock under pretext that the Treaty of Peace had been ill observed The King sends an Embassadour to the Hague This surprize so much displeased the King that he forth with sent all those Troops which were destinated for Italy towards Brittany and an Embassadour to the Hague to summon the States to his assistance with twenty ships according to the tenour of the Allyance made betwixt them But the Embassadour found some repugnance in the Colledge of the said States in respect of Religion though yet when he had remonstrated to them that the businesse was onely to humble the Kings subjects to their obedience and threatened them also with a breach in case of refusall they granted his demand My Master sayes he is of the same Faith with the King of Spaine and yet he maketh no difficulty to assist you against him And will you in a Warre of State expresse an inconsiderable zeale of Religion He obtaines twenty shipps Soubize being beaten retyres into England Hereupon the States dispatched Admirall Hantain who being joyned with the Kings Navie carried himself like a Mediatour of a Reconcilliation and obtained a Truce of three dayes which yet was ill enough kept by Soubize who hoped to draw some advantage from it but his Fleet was defeated and he forced to retyre into England with six or seven vessels and so the French took the Island of St. Martin and built two Forts there The King upon the intercession of the States pardoned them of Rochell but the Zelanders did not pardon Admirall Hautain who had for his recompence his house demolished by the people which were mad at the losse of the said Place But these were ruled by the passion of Religion and those by that of the preservation of the State The reason why Monsieur de Soubize brake the Peace was because the King had differred the demolishment of Fort Lewis raised near Rochell which served for a bridle to the Town and a Prospective to the Townsmen But the Governour indeed refused to do it upon some informations which he had received from the Town of some sinister designes In fine the Fort still remained entyre for all this and was to prove fatall to the Party illustrate the Kings Majesty throughout all France and cut off the root of all Religion It was believed that the Duke of Rohan had begged succour from the King of Spaine in this discord of the Reformates and his own and his brothers disaster but being pressed by the King of England the Venetians the Hollanders and the Savoyers he expected not the return of his Embassadour The Peace is made by an allyance against the Emperour and so upon the instance of the aforesaid King and States who could not indure the ingrandishment of the Imperiall Majesty in Germany the Peace was renewed the same year thas it was broken and the League was knit up in Denmark as we have lately said in the year 1625. But before that warre which was fatall to the Danes was finished began the disorders which thrust themselves in between the French and English the reason whereof as also of the third warre which consummated the ruine of the Reformed Party you shall forthwith understand King James a peaceful Prince King James jealous of his Royall authority and more prone to study then fight could never be induced to assist the Hughenots in France But after his decease King Charles his sonne by the reasons of Monsieur de Soubize and his Favourite the Duke of Buckingham suffered himself to be perswaded to it manifesting thereby in imitation of his Brother in Law that that Friendship which grew from the allyance of marriage was weaker then that of interest There wanted no pretexts as well of Religion as otherwise and the English being already pricked against the French and these
against them for the bad treatment of the Priests and Officers of the Queen they were easily brought to break as well by the arguments of Soubize as of the whole Body together The English enter the Isle of Ray 1627. and so the English Fleet made a descent or disembarkment in the Isle of Ray in the moneth of July of the year 1627 and besieged the Fort of St. Martin which was not yet quite finished This Warre which in outward appearance had no other scope at all then that of Religion with many other petty punctilios which merited not so much as an ill look from either to the other proved fatall to the English and glorious to the French Are beaten off with shame by the enterance which they made into the Island and the chase they gave their Enemies from thence but yet more glorious to Monsieur de Toir as who defended the Fort neer four moneths both against them and famine and most glorious to the Marshal of Schoenbergh who put in the succour and forced them after they were lustily beaten to retyre to their ships So that upon the matter the English went away with the shame and the Rochelers stayed with the losse And this warre helped to forward the King of Denmarks ruine in regard that these Kings gave him not the assistance they had promised him by the Contract and so he struck a ground Rochell The Confederated States after the reduction of Rochel were saine to hear as well the reproaches and calumnies of the whole Body of the Hughenots of France as the taunts and raylings of the English Where blinde Passion rules there is no roome for Reason For it was not their fault that this difference was not decided by some other meanes then that of armes But let us now note the successe of this siege Rochell is a Town situated in the Country of Asins which is grown to have great traffick and riches through the convenienie of the Haven The growth of the Towne and by consequence insolent against the Kings authority The Inhabitants mutined under Francis the first but as soon as they saw him in Arms and that he would be obeyed their audacity quickly turned into humility After they embraced the Reformed Religion they became by little and little so powerfull and so considerable that the Kings through that the necessity of their affaires were often obliged to make a shew not to see or connive at that which was not invisible to any When we cannot correct Vice we must seem to be ignorant of it For having the principall Key of the Kingdome they made themselves chief of the Party and all such as for any discontentment absented themselves from Court and bent themselves against the King and his Authority could never faile to be welcome unto Rochell It is besieged by Henry the 3. They were once besieged by Monsieur who was afterwards Henry the Third but upon request of the Embassadours of Poland the siege was drawn off just at the time when they were in hazard of being tamed But since that their strength together with their Intelligence both within and without the Kingdome is so much augmented they have relyed upon their fortifications and have subtracted themselves from the yoke nor more nor lesse then the Imperiall Towns have done from that of the Emperour Cardinall Rechelieu having gotten full possession of the Kings favour for having dissipated some tumults and found out the Mine whereof the Count of Chalais payd the whole score as a Complice for all the rest had no more left to do then to acquire also that of the Clergie and People by some remarkable service to the State whereof he could not faile by the reduction of Rochell And then by Lewis the 13. in the year 1627. Now the King being informed of the descent of the English in the Isle of Ray commanded his Troops to march and as soon as he was recovered of a dangegous sicknesse which he had at that time he made them also intrench and advance all the shipps of France to stop the Haven even the Spaniards themselves comming to take possession of the place which the Hollanders had left under a specious pretext of mending their Vessels The Damme being perfected and the shipps sunk in the deepest and hollowest place of the Channell the besieged were reduced to a famine which exceeded that of Jerusalem All their hope was in the English and Buckingham made all the haste he could to succour them who had furnished him with victualls for his Army and now with most instant and urgent supplications begged some back againe from him but he being assassinated by a certaine Englishman Buckingham killed by Felton called Felton who went expresly out of Holland to sacrifice him to the hatred of the People the Fleet was retarded This murderer committed this fact by the meer and onely impulse of zeal to the Religion and so by thinking to forward the businesse he hindered it We very often aspire to that which is against us and reject that which is for us This Duke of Buckingham had entirely disposed of King James and was no lesse in the favour of the King his Sonne though neither his good countenance nor his gracefull carriage nor his liberality nor his courtesie was ever able to winne the People who held him still for the Authour of all imaginable mischief to the Kingdom The Reason of State whereby Princes maintaine Now the King of England being in some misunderstanding with his Brother in Law the King of France sent the Lord Montalgue to the Dukes of Lorraine and Savoy to animate them to a powerfull diversion thereby to withdraw him from this siege What cannot reason of State work upon Princes who ought to have a care to preserve their interests by all rationall meanes By this same reason have the Kings of France maintained the Hollanders and the Protestants By this might it seem lawful to these two Princes to passe by the consideration of Religion By this do the Swissers and the Venetians uphold themselves And the two aforesaid knew well enough that the French having fastened this pinne would not faile to trouble their Neighbours upon the very first occasion since there wanted no pretext besides that perswasion whereby some flatterers will needs make them believe that all Europe belongs to them The Cardinall to whom all these plots and practises were not unknown as having his Pensioners in England as well as elsewhere provided himself for them The Aequinoctiall brought the Fleet which was to break the Damm and put some food into the famished Towne The Damm The Nobility posted thither to serve their King and purchase glory All was hemmed in with Artillery and Souldiers and the passage so stopped as well by the said Damm and variety of Engines as also by the Vessels that the English not seeing any meanes to penetrate retyred The Rochelers of whom there was not
above the tenth part left so much were they wasted with hunger rendered themselves into the hands of their King Rochell being starved yields who took them into his mercy and granted them the free exercise of their Religion but he discharged his just choler upon the Bastions and Works which he caused to be thrown down Never had the Hughenots a more sensible losse then this nor ever had the Catholicks a more gratefull Victorie Nor was the Cardinall without his share thereof the French every where singing his praises raising him to Heaven making him their Angel Guardian and even a God upon earth But this love was quickly changed and this second Tiberius made them feel that he was a Fox and governed himself meerly by the Maxims of Machiavell CHAP. III. The prosecution of the Warre of Denmark unfortunate to the Danes Wallenstein in vain besieges Stralsund The Peace made Tilly passes the Elbe SInce we have left Tilly near the Elbe let us march on with him and see what resistance he findes The terrour was so universal that every body fled yea the souldiers themselves forsook their Canon Forts Arms and Baggage at the very name of this great General Only the Marquis of Dourlac presumed to face about but the Count of Slick quickly made him turn his back and stick to his heels The number of the Gunnes and Colours much illustrated this victory There were no more left Dourlac Calembergh and Nell are beaten then the Generals Calembergh and Nell who being found intrenched were invested by the said Slick and having no hope at all of succour yeelded themselves to him Three thousand horse and two Regiments of Foot took part with the Conquerors But the Generals having gotten possession of Holstein and Iutland there remained yet some Townes to be subdued so that it was necessary to divide the forces to accomplish the work Papenheim was before Wolfenbottel which after it been long blocked up opened him the Gates Nerbrot defeated by Anholt There chanced yer another misfortune in the Countrey of Bremen which drove the Allyes quite out of the Field and it was that General Nerbrot was attacked and without scarce having fought for it utterly routed by Anholt so great power had fear upon such as were staggered by the puissant Genius of victorious Tilly and the souldiers being deserted by their General forgot their duty and embraced that party to which Fortune most inclined What strange felicity had this man yea even higher then that of Iulius Caesar himself since he could more clearly and truly say I came I saw and I overcame Townes besieged by the Imperialists The Armies finding now no more Armies to combat were employed about the taking of Towns by the resistance whereof many souldiers and much time was lost and leasure given the King to fortify himself in the Isles of Funds and Zeland Stade after a huge opposition yeelded to Tilly and Newburgh to the Duke of Brunswick The Imperialists attempted severall times to passe to the Islands but were repulsed with losse God had put bounds to their victories and would not suffer this generous Prince to be quite dispoyled of his kingdom The Conquerors in Meckelenburgh The Dukes of Meckelenburgh took part with the King for Fate it seems would needs involve them in the same disasters But at the arrivall of the Imperial Troops all gave way all stooped the Towns opened their Gates to receive Garrisons and their purses to sweeten the insolencies of the victorious souldiers A hard condition for that poor people who had so long enjoyed the sweet fruits of Peace But who can resist against the cruel lot of Destiny Having recovered some ships they tryed for the last time to passe and re-invest the poor King but were soundly cudgelled and compelled to make towards Pomerama which was already conquered except Stralsund and Steene the former whereof being a Maritime Town was besieged by Arnhem upon the command of his Generall And here it was that Fortune made the Imperialists confesse that if they could domineer by land Wallenstein besieges Stralsund in vain their enemies could do as much upon the water For Wallenstein thought to terrify the besieged by frequent Assaults but not being able to hinder the entrance of the ships he lost an infinity of good souldiers his own labour and some part also of his glory There was a rumour scattered as if he had vanted that he would take Stralsund The King haâ—cen again even though it were hung in the ayer and tyed with Iron chaines The King regained courage and footing in Pomerania but found still that Fortune was yet but his Step-mother as suffering him again to be benten near Wolgast so that he could do no more then re-inforce the besieged who were ready to yeeld and retyre himself into Denmark Canipo was forced by famin and there it was that the French who came to succour the King manifested their valour Gelucstat a strong place upon the River below Hamburgh was long time beleaguered in vain by Tilly who lost both his time and his labour about that as Wallenstein did his before Stralsund In fine a Peace was treated and a Warre finished in five moneths which had lasted five yeares Peace made 1629. The King abandoned by almost all his Allyes who had work enough at home with a Royall and indemptable heart employed all his abilities and industry not only to defend his Islands but also to expell his enemies out of Holstein But the peace concluded at Lubec put a period to all his troubles dislodged the Imperialists since they had lost the hope of conquering the whole Kingdom out of his Territories and freed all the North from the danger whereby it was threatned of a change both in Church and State By this Peace which a certain French Writer terms shameful for the Conquerours as being with intention to dispossess a Catholick Prince of his lawfull succession the King renounced the Provinces of Saxony and so the amity between the two Princes was renewed The Emperour writing to the King told him formally that their quarrel proceeded from nothing but the craft and practises of some certain Merchants The States Generall being fearfull left by so many losses heaped together and the felicity which accompanied this valorous Count the Imperialists should gain Zeland The Hollanders will defend the Sound and make themselves Masters of that famous Streight which is of so much consequence offered to defend it with their ships But the most desired newes of the Peace and Retreat stifled all these apprehensions Whatsoever was past was sunk into the gulph of oblivion all setled is it had been before the Warre and the Emperour gave sufficient testimony that he knew as well how to restore and pardon as to vanquish and that he had taken armes to defend the Majesty of the Empyre and his own Authority not to strip the King of his kingdoms This Peace was
other purpose then to make the constance of the Townsmen admired augment the story of King Lewis the Inst and elevate that of the Cardinal above the Stars A very great and most acceptable Victory to France had she remained in the same liberty which she enjoyed during the potency of this Town A most damnable victory to the House of Austria which the French themselves accuse of having then forgotten her interest A victory which ruined and brought to a full stand or Non-plus all that Party which divided the Kings Authority A Victory which gave that great Cardinal one half of his honour and upon which he founded the highest and most constant power that ever any Minister had to the ruine of many most illustrious Families and old Priviledges the confusion of all Christendom and even of his own great Benefactresse her self Now since the English had rather hindred then furthered the Party and were accused of being the cause of this irreparable losse a resolution was taken to seek to some other support elsewhere and so an Embassadour was dispatched into Spain to represent to that King that interest he had to keep this Party The Duke of Rohan deâ—â—ands siâ—â—cour in Spain and to beseech him to send mony only and to remember the King of France's Allyance with the Hollander whom he maintained with as much heat and zeal as if they were his own subjects and of his own Religion Whereupon the Spaniards by the permission of the Counsell Conscience resolved upon it thereby to give as many vexations to the King of France within his kingdom as they received from him in the Low-countries But the said Embassadour The death of the Negotiatour or Necessitator though a subject of the King of Spaines was taken and condemned to death by order of the Parliament of Tholosa his innocence founded upon the action of a publick Minister serving him for nothing however this Decree were censured by such as had not their eyes vailed by passion and who could speak freely of it without danger Makes his peace with the King and all obey King Lewis discovered all their plots and prevented them by the prudence of the Cardinal and having made but a slight peace with the said Duke he fell with his Army upon the Vivaret surprised Privas and took it by open force chastised insolence by putting all to sword treated well the Townes which submitted and assured them of the free exercise of their Religion Upon this the Duke had recourse to his clemency and he graciously embraced him and augmented his Pension Castras Niemes and some other places which might have given a long trouble also submitted without any other punishment inflicted upon then the demolishment of their new Fortisications which Commandment was of hard digestion to them of Montauban who were nevertheless disposed to obedience by the Cardinals presence and the force of his eloquence who alledged that the King could not endure any fortified place in his kingdom And so in fine they stooped and with regret enough brake down that which gave the jealousie which could not be obtained from them by violence and the noise of the Canon Time ripens all things and that which in the precedent Age was judged impossible hath been found feasible in this The end of the Hughenot Party This was the end of the Hughenot Party in France which had given so much labour and toyle to the Kings and so divided their jurisdiction It took birth from the doctrine of Luther and Calvin passed infancie under Henry the second got vigour and strength under Francis the second grew to strong youth under Charles the ninth and Henry the third through the favour of the Princes of the Blood enemies to the power and authority of the Dukes of Guise and by the valour of the King of Navarre It obtained free Exercife and some Townes of safety under Henry the fourth and remained quiet and without commotion out of respect and reverence to so great a Prince But under Lewis the thirteenth finding it self abandoned by some of the principall Heads it began to stagger and at last vanished quite away in such sort as that though the Religion be still there there is yet no formed party and the root of the ambition of the Grandies who under the shadow of Religion did very often disturb honest people on both sides is quite cut off Their distrust which is called the companion of safety which they conceived they should not be able to find in the Kings word made them often importune the Queen-Regent and the marriage with the Infanta of Spain a Nation which they abhorre above all other made them joyn to the Prince of Conde to hinder it which much hastened their disgrace The King being declared Maâ—or recovered Bearn more by veneration then by force and more by the brightnesse of his Majesty then by that of his sword He was the pralude of the first warre speeded by their Assembly at Rechel Father Arnour and counselled by Father Arnour who was preferred by the Duke of Luynes to the direction of the Conscience and partly also of the favour of his Majesty But as the said Luynes made the Fortune of this able â—esuit so did he also soon unmake it thereby to free himself from the jealousie it gave him Saumur The taking of Townes Saint Ieand ' Angeli and a great number of other Towns Burghs and Villages fortified were taken with incredible successe There was no more left then Montauban which forced the Conquerours to retreat and in some sort dimmed their Triumph The year following produced the Kings constant resolution to be obeyed and to punish the revolted Towns the reduction of Moutpeillâ—er and the Peace which followed by the counsell of the Constable d' Edignieres Edigniereâ— This Lord being of a mean extraction grew to be elevated to the highest Charge of France through all the degrees of a souldier His life and had heaped up a huge deale of treasure Not with standing his Belief which was the same of the Reformates he alwayes kept his faith inviolable with the King and was by consequence but little loved by the most zealous of the Party Makes himself a Catholiâ—â—â— A little before his death he embraced the Roman Catholick Religion as having promised it in a frollick to Urban as soon as he should come to the Pontificat The second warre made the Hugenots loose the Lordship of the Sea The third being begun with the assistance of a stranger was consummated by the direction of that potent Cardinal and so the whole conduct of that great Vessel was restored into the hands of the just and milde King Lewis Let us go into Hungary to see the end of the fickle and busy Gabor CHAP. IX The Death of Bethleem Gabor Ragoski his Suceessour The Marriage of Ferdinand the third with the King of Spain's Sister The death of Gabor BEthleem Gabor growne wise by
a Captain and Cause sufficient to cover both this apprehension and the ambition also of some certaine people the former whereof they were resolved to finde quickly out though they were forced to goe seek him in the Ice and amongst the Deserts of the North and as for pretexts as well false as true they could not be wanting for since they were about to play their last Game they would hazard all and if they lost the consequence would be an universal Monarchie In the Treaty of Peace at Vienna the Embassadours of France promised that the French should not meddle with the affairs of Germany and yet there was another Treaty at Stockholne at the same time about an Allyance for the quiet of the Empire and a War against the Emperour But for the better understanding of what I shall say of that cruell fatality which hath made both Germany and all the Provinces neer it a kinde of a Church-yard it will very much import to make some short mention First of the quarrells and pretensions of the Emperours against France and then of the state of the Empire it selfe the Theater of the most destructive and deplorable War that ever was But there was a necessity in it to the end that the Prophesies might be accomplished nor is there any end even yet Henry the second seeing Germany in great combustion by jealousies drawn from the difference of Religion and being invited into Germany by the Protestants in armes against Charles and offered the protection of that Party and invited also on the other side by interest of State sent thither the Duke of Montmorancy with a puissant Army who seized upon those three Bishopricks by way of correspondence and would have done the same to Strasburgh if he had been able to get leave to march with his Troops through the Town as he had done at Metz. But the conclusion of a Peace between the Emperour and the Princes stopped the progresse of the French and made them return as Metz did that of the Emperour and forbide the Eagles any further flight Ferdinand the second having triumphed over all his Enemies whom the French by vertue of their Allyances The affront of the Bishop of Verdun had succoured with Councel Men and Mony and being irritated besides by the affront newly done to the Bishop of Verdun seemed willing to require satisfaction so to give exercise to his triumphant Forces and make War with better conveniencie and more advantage in Lorraine then in Italy At least the Cardinal was fearful least he should take old quarrels into deliberation again and send his Troops to replace the Eagle at Verdun which was beaten down to set ut the Flower de luce Wherefore for the diversion of this tempest and to make it burst upon Germany it self he complotted and projected with all his Allyances hoping the luck would turne and take away that Party The utility of those Allyances through France puffed up with so many Victories redoubted for greatnesse hated for the contributions by which it exhausted Germany and execrated for the redemanding of the Eeclesiastical Possessions which was executed about that time If this Dam were broken but by one single Victory of what a vast profit would it be to France The people would fall upon the Imperialists as they formerly did upon the Lutherans and so all that Party would be in confusion Lorraine and Alsatia would be but a Breakfast the three Ecclesiastical Electors would infallibly cast themselves into the King of France's armes thereby to shelter themselves from the fulminating fury of the Protestants and by consequence the Imperial Crown could not escape the head of his most Christian Majesty The Spaniards being shut up and deprived of succour from Germany would be easily droven out of the Low-Countries The secret Allyance and thus a certain secret Allyance which was discovered and miscarryed since that time would one day be a plank or foundation to the universal Monarchy This great Cardinal so admired and glorious after having broken the Hughenot Party succoured the Duke of Nevers in Italy and trodden upon the belly of the Savoyers prepared himselfe I say for this most dangerous designe disposed the Protestants to it by Father Ioseph in the Assembly at Leipsick Father Joseph at Leipsick and laboured earnestly for the destruction of the House of Austria as well knowing that it was better to prevent then be prevented and in what credit he should be amongst all such as sought the ruine of the Roman Catholick Faith and that of the aforesaid Victorious House But let us speak of the State of the Empire before this horrible tempest began to bruise it CHAP. XIII A Discription of the state of the Empire The election of the King of the Romans VVE finde in history that Charlemagne King of France Son to Pepin and Grand-child to Charles Mared going to Rome to defend Pope Leo was saluted by him to crown his merits and recompence his services Emperour of the West I will not here enter into the dispute between the two Nations of whether he were a German or no But sure it is that he was King of France before he was Emperour and the Germans themselves affirme that he transferred the Empire upon their Nation yea and that none can be elevated to that dignity unlesse he be born a German And so Maximilian of Austria being dead Charles was preferred before Francis the first King of France for that he was born at Gaunt a City of Low-Germany and the arguments of the Elector of Trevirs in the behalf of Francis were refuted and rejected Others alleadge that to save the West which was exposed to the excursions of the Barbarians by that remorenesse or slacknesse of the Emperours of the East it was transferred by the Pope upon the Gawles or French and that the race or Charlemagne coming to saile Pope Gregory the fifth transferred the Right of Election upon the Germans abolished the Hereditary and gave hope to Princes of vertue to be able to ascend to this charge which is the most glorious in the World The Emperours have been more absolute then they are at present and in the contentions with the Popes from whom they receive their Crown or at least their Confirmation they have been much disadvantaged Henry the seventh coming to die in Italy every several Town assumed to itselfe a peculiar principal in such sort as that the Emperours have had little there since save onely the bare Title Besides the same Popes have caused troubles in Germany on purpose to leave the domination to them there and cut off the opportunity of coming to rub up old quarrels in Italy Our Saviour indeed said that his Kingdom was not of this world and that his Apostles should not reign The Primitive Supreme Bishops declared it by the Crown of Martyrdom but some others spurred on by ambition have wrangled for another which both made them odious and their Authority
despicable in many places And moreover the peaceful nature of some Emperours hath made them seeke rest and neglect the Rights of Majesty The Empire is not Haereditary but Elective and when the Emperour is dead The King of the Romans is elected for great affairs the Archbishop of Mentz writes to the rest of the Electors to assemble themselves at Francfurt within three months either in person or else to send their Embassadours During the Interreign or Vacancy the Elector Palatin is the Vicar or Lieutenant and he who is elected King of the Romans is declared Heir There three Ecclesiastical Electors and four Secular The Arch-Bishops of Mentz Trevirs and Colein The King of Bohemia the Prince Palatin the Duke of Saxony and the Marquis of Brandenburg who are not Kings but may stile themselves the said Kings Companions Being assembled at Francfurt they make Oath to the Elector of Mentz they will chuse one who shall be capable of the Charge They are obliged to finish the Election within thirty dayes and may not go out of the Town till all be accomplished If the voices happen to be equal he who receives the King of Bohemia's Vote is infallibly proclaimed Emperour The King of the Romans is not chosen during the life of the Emperour but for great Affaires and he cannot any way faile of succession as soon as the Emperour is dead All is observed according to the Golden Bull of Charles the fourth The King of the Romans is obliged to take Oath that he will not seeke to make the Empire Haereditary to his House but that he will maintain all the Rights and Splendor thereof There are two Fundamental Laws namely the Golden Bull and the Imperial Capitulation to the maintaining whereof he is bound by Oath Which makes me finde their opinion very weake who praesume to sustaine that the Emperour is a Mouarch in regard that his Authority is so parted and divided between him and the Electors that it looks as if they were associated to help him beare this heavy burthen Besides since Germany hath been so distracted by the diversity of Doctrines the Protestants have inhaunced so much of the Majesty to themselves through the too timorous bounty and moderation of some Emperours since Charles the fifth that his hath been but little more acknowledged and adored both in Germany and Italy And therefore it is no wonder if the Eagles Triumphant by so many Victories have endeavoured to look back upon some Rights which are now so many years old and if a general Conspiracy of the Neighbours of the said Protestantes have been made to hinder old Praetensions though grounded upon very much equity and justice But those forreign Princes who have thrust themselves into this quarrel have stopped their eyes to justice opened them to interest of State and to the means of either praeserving or ingrandishing themselves CHAP. XIV A discription of the three States of the Empire The Hans-Towns SInce we have spoken as much as is necessary to our purpose of the Emperour and the King of the Romanes his Vicar or Successour it concerns us to say also somewhat of the States of the Empire The first State The first and prime State therefore is that of the Electours as being the nearest to the Head or Chief They are the Fathers and Senatours and the maine and firme Prop of this Edifice They assist with their prudence the Head which they have chosen and are compared with the Kings of Europe The Ecclesiasticks have the precedencie in this ranck first the Archbishop of Mentz next he of Trevirs and then he of Celein The King of Bohemia the Duke of Bavaria who was advanced to the Electoral dignity by the deposition of the Prince Palatin and then he of Saxonie and he of Brandenburgh The second State is constituted first by foure Archbishops namely of Magdeburgh Salsburgh Bremen and Besansow The second State after whom follows the great Master of the Tentonick Order And afterwards there take place one and thirty Bishops who are followed by ten or eleven Abbots with the Title of Princes as the Abbot of Fulda c. The secular Princes are placed after these Ecclesiasticks and are in number eighteen Families the first whereof is that of the Archdukes of Austria divided into two branches namely of Germany and Burgundy And this Family hath of much praeheminence above that of the other Princes as the Archbishops have above the Bishops Then follows that of Bavaria of Saxonie of Brandenburgh c. After which sit the Abbesses as there of Quedelemburgh of Esson c. Some whereof have both the effect and title of Princesses And lastly sit the Counts and Barons whereof there is a great number Reinking to whom I referre the curious calculates about eight and fifty of them The third State The third state is compleated by the Imperiall and free Towns which are sixty five in number or thereabouts and they are to be considered two wayes the former and more noble whereof is that they immediately depend upon the Emperour and have nothing at all to do with any body else and the other that these also depend upon the Emperour but yet they owe some small recognitance to the Prince Lord or Praelat in whose territories they are seated however they leave not thereby to be free and to enjoy the rights of Royalty So that these Towns possesse the ancient liberty the priviledges of Princes have their Session and Vote in the Diets and are tearmed the Noble member and Pillars of the Empire wherein they are incorporated neither more nor lesse then the Princes and Praelats They are divided into two Benches The foure first are Lubeck Metz Auxburgh and Aix or Aquisgraue The other being in the quality of Subjects to Empire are not called There is yet another companie of Towns which by vertue of the union are called Hans-Towns The Hans-Towns which are composed partly of such as are free and partly Provinciall and obnoxious This said company or Vâ—â—â—ns hath no other ayme or end then that of commerce and it was approved first by Charles the fourth It hath foure Classes or Metropolitan Cities to wit Lubeck Colem Brunswick and Dansick and they have an annuall Assembly at Lubeck where they have their Charters or Rolls But theire last warrs have much altered all the orders which were formerly kept The ten Gerclet The German Empire is distributed into ten Cercles Franconia Bavaria Austria Swevia that of the upper Rheyn and that of the four Electours towards the Ribeynâ— Wastphaliaâ— Saxanie Low-Saxonie and Burgundy Now the Emperour as he is head of the Romane Empire is bound to swear that he will defend all the priviledges of the Empire but that doth not at all derogate from his Majesty in regard that all Kings at their consecration do the same and he is also greater then all the Members of the Empire and may command them as having received homage from them
not only all the Protestants but also all such as to whom those glorious Fiagles seemed too proud and so much undertaking The number of the dead was very great by the obstinat resistance of the combattants nor was that of the prisoners small which amounted according to the opinion of some Authors to thirteen thousand men The darknesse of the night sheltered such as fled however they could not all escape the rage of the Peasants who cut the throates of three thousand of them Tilly retyred by the way of Hall towards the Weser passed through Hassin conferred with the Bishops of Wurtzburgh Tilly retyred himself into Bavaria and Bamburgh whom he upbraided with the contempt of his advice which was that they should open their purses to raise a new Army and not expect till he were oppressed by all the forces of Germany together This done he departed towards his Master the Duke of Bavaria And General Aldrwiger hearing of this defeat and observing small desire in his Army to make head against the Swedes who were already reported to be invulnerable by vertue of certain Spolls or Characters was forced to return towards Franconie and from thence also into Bavaria The King having received the Congratulations of his victory and protesting that he would pursue the old Corporall so called her old Tilly to the end of the world The King goes goes into Franconie prosecuted his point towards Franconie took Coninxhoff and Wurtzburgh after having reduced Halberstade and Erfurt and this last voluntarily received a Garrison from him though it had flatly refused any from Tilly and from thence he went to salute the River Mayne where Francfurt threw open her Gates and Hannaw yeelded her self to him This done he divided his Army sent one part of it towards the Elbe let the Duke of Saxony recover his lost places And the Duke of Saxony in Bohemia and afterwards march towards Bohenia with General Arnham who took Prague and Eguer A little before this glorious victory he received newes that his Queen was arrived at Stetin with eight thousand men which were come out of England under the conduct of Marquis Hamilton Oh poor Germany What miseries and mischiefes are thou about to suffer all thy Provinces being full of souldiers Fortune by her inconstancy courting now the one side and then the other will destroy thy Townes and Villages and make thy great Empyre no better the a Church-yard Thy fine Lands will become vast and savage there being no body left to culituate them Famin will cause the dead to be unburied Contagion will sweep away such as escape the hand of the souldier and thy fields will grow white with bones The first Post which arrived at Vienna brought newes of the defeat of the Saxons the second that of Tilly which disturbed the joy and the third filled the whole Court with sadnesse and made it think of a way how to repaire this great losse If the Affricans being puffed up with so many victories and with the ruine of the Romans whereof they held themselves cock-sure were much amazed to see them before Carthage so to say the truth the Bishops and the Roman Catholicks were not a whit lesse by the destruction of this Army A terreur amongst the Catholick which had alwayes been victorious and by means whereof after the gaining of one Battail they hoped to see the Masse and the Imperial Authority restored throughout all Germany A flock of sheep is not more scattered when if sees it self environed by Wolves and without a shepherd then were the Ecclesiasticks by this accident for terrour having thrust it self in amongst them they betook themselves all to flight The flight of the Reclesiasticks some to the other side of the Dannb and others by the Rheyn to Colein But that which troubled them most was that they were fain to forsake their money which they might better have employed for the raising of an Army at that time when all the Lutherans took Arms. In fine the confusion of the one the joy of the other was so great that it could not be expressed and the money of the Priests served for a bait to attack them Indeed their avarice was ever blamed and the great Revenues they possessed purchased them hatred They were too much at ease it was necessary to unfatten them a little The hope of plundering upon them encouraged an infinite multitude to bear Arms for King Gustave who never let them be quiet but kept them continually in action thereby to disable the Emperour from recollecting himself Thus luck turned and Fortune took part with the Swedes whom we will now leave in the honours which are done them and the shouts of joy which the Lutherans make for this glorious victory Now the King seeing himself thus adored by his own party and so much redoubted by his enemies coursed them every where imagining that from thence forward he should easily find the way to the Universall Monarchy But in an allyance every one hath his design apart as I shall more amply demonstrate France calls me now back thither Ill newes ought to be sooner carried to a Prince then good that so a more speedy and prompt temedy may be found for disorders CHAP. XXII The Cardinall watches upon the Affaires of Germany Abuses the Duke of Lorrain Papenheim retakes Westphalia succours Magdeburgh and beats the Swedes CArdinal Richelieu having finished the Civill War of the Hughenots as also that of Mantua found himself almost overwhelmed by the plots and practises of such as liked not that he alone should have the mannagement of the Affaires in his hands But he came most gallantly off by sheltering himself under his Kings favour in such sort as that the said Kings only Brother was fain to retyre himself from the Court The Duke Ocleans in Lorrain and pass through Orleans into Burgundy and then to the Duke of Lorrain The Queen-Mother also unable to ruine him whom she had raised so high and to undo him whom she had made so powerfull being fled from Camplegne where she was as it were guarded retyred her self to the Infanta at Brussells And the Queen-Mother at Brusselst He made use against her of that authority which she had procured for him which she could not now take from him Ingratitude amongst private persons is a vice in businesse of State but a necessity and so all is pald with excuses The said Cardinal was revoked from his banishment to induce her upon whose minds he had a very great influence to a peace and give her such advice as was most usefull to the King and most dammageable to her self and which served him for rongs or steps to climbe to the top of that greatnesse to which he had ascended Thus destroyed he her who laboured to elevate him and who trusted wholly in him and made him in fine her prime and principall Minster But they who relate this proceeding to save him
by his temerity It is in a general Definition and not in a particular fight that a General ought to shew his dexterity and valour A Peace was made in haste and the strangers who were ingaged with Monsieur very ill handled and he hoped to obtaine the aforesaid Dukes pardon but in vaine for he ended his life The Duke of Montmorancy beheaded by the hand of an ordinary Executioner and his House ended also with his life This brave Lord who had performed so many remarkable services was sacrificed to the interest which was taken in the Swedish Party his aversion from which was discovered by himselfe It is great wisdom to hide ones passions and to lay open those of others to hear much and say little This violent proceeding much amazed all the Lords of France augmented the Cardinals hatred and gave Monsieur a good horse to be gone again out of the Kingdom This very year the Embassadour of Spain arriving at London brought things so to passe with his frequent pursuits and instances Peace between Spain England that he terminated the difference between his Master and the King of England notwithstanding all the oppositions which were made and the thwartings which were brought by the Embassadours of France and the confederated States Pope Vrban to purge himselfe from the hatred which was born him by all the zealous Catholicks Pope Urban little loved by the zealous Catholicks for their seing him in secret intelligence with the Cardinal whom they made Author of all the misfortunes and mischiefs suffered by the Church published a Jubile but all that was not able to wash away the ill opinion which was conceived of him and in a Synod which was held in Spain they treated of abrogating his Authority in regard they saw him favour them who endeavoured to destroy a House which will never fall but with the ruine of the Catholick Religion Yea because he appeared not abroad at the publick rejoycing which was made at Rome for the death of King Gustave who had been so much feared many were heard to mutter and speak such bad and rash words as the licentiousnes and unlimitednes of the miserable Times produced When the Shepherd takes no care of his Sheep the Wolves get some of them very cheap Piety waxes cold and the weeds grow at length to stifle the good corne CHAP. XXIX The King of Sweden regretted and by whom Wallenstein causes some Officers to be executed John de Werdt makes himselfe known The Battel of Hamelen and the cruelty of the Victorious Brisac succoured by the Duke of Feria War in the Archbishoprick of Colein THe Body of this great Warrier was embalmed and carryed into Pomerania and from thence to Stockholme to be laid in the Tomb of his Ancestours He resuscitated the ancient glory of the Goths and the notice of his Army struck both Europ and Asia into terrour There was a report given out It is published that Gustave is not dead and beleeved by some of them who were most affectionate to him that he was not dead but had secretly transported himselfe into Sweden for some affairs of importance and to discover the humour of the Princes but this fiction was grounded upon Maxime of Policie and having gotten some Vogue was not unprofitable to the Party He was given neither to wine not women and he inexorably chastized all such as fayled of their duty He much changed at last from what he had been as his first entry into Germany and no marvail since his very Subjects themselves having been as gentle as Lambs before were now become arrogant by so much good success so many spoyles and the enjoyment of a Countrey so much better and happier then their own The Princes of the Party lamented him extrinsecally but were in effect glad enough to be rid of such a Conquerour who had gotten a far greater possession of the hearts of their Subjects then they had themselves But the King of France and the Cardinal were truly sorry for him because they had not brought that House lowenough which they had a minde to strip of some fayre States as it hath since appeared And now in regard they had payd the charge they prepared to go to the Banquet by buying the Towns which the Sweeds had taken neer the Rheyn He left one Daughter only He left behinde him only one Daughter Heyress to her Fathers vertues as well as his Crowne and he left his Lievtenants and Allyes the care to finish the worke not yet perfected The Hollanders began more to feare him then love him and by consequence expressed no great resentment of his death nor did they desire him at all for their neighbour wherefore they were not a little glad to see him leave Colein and march up into Bavaria He will never be forgotten either by his friends or his enemyes and his memory will live to the end of the world The Hughenots cal the Lutherans Brothers The Hughenots of France for his sake began already to call the Lutherans their Brethrea and it is held for certain that he was endeavouring to awaken the old quarrels in Italy and else where He was about two years and a half in Germany accompanyed by so much happiness yea too much to last long that his own very friends were amazed at it The Swedes make the Offensive every where To declare to all the world that he had obtained the Victory when he dyed his enemies retyred into Bohemia and the Swedes made every where the offensive The Duke of Brunswick and the Landgrave of Hassia brought War upon the Bishops in Westphalia who had lost their Souldier Gustave Herne and some others transported it into Alsatia and Swaveland and General Bawdas in the district of Colein Duke Bernard cleansed Misuia and Arnem subjugated Silesia But what did Wallenstein during all these floods He cut of the Heads of many of his Officers Wallenstein executâ—s some Officers and why And why for not having performed their duty Yea rather to begin thereby to warp the web of his treason and put in execution what he had hatched in his Soule and therefore he put to death such as he knew were most affectionate to the Emperours service Vertue comes upon the Scaffold as well as Vice There was no remedy for he had full power without appeal but the innocent blood spurted in his face sooner then he thought for the cry thereof never findes the ears of the great God stopped is must be revenged Baudits designe upon Tuits a small town upon the bank of the Rheyn opposite to Colein issued well but he was beaten out again and his proceeding abhorred for breaking the new trality So that he retyred to Siburgh a convenient place to incommodate the Archbishoprick Aldringers Victorâ— General Aldringers Victory was greater neer the Leck where he cut of the Troops of the Marquis of St. Andrew and retook some places in Sweveland and John
had begun But Seruient found himself repugned by such as had power and was not able to hinder however his arguments sufficiently incumbred the Colledge but the Peace which was signed at Munster the 8. of January was ratified at the Haghe published at Munster and proclaimed through all the Towns and Villages of this puissant and glorious Republick the 5. of June 1648. And here by the way we may take notice of the admira ble conduct of the Spaniards who though at a great distance and having no other passage then by sea have neverthelesse against all human apparence defended these Provinces the space of thirteen years against three most potent Enemies Such as have more sence of particular then publick interest have condemned this Peace as having been too much precipitated alled ging that the States ought not to have separated themselves from the French but that they ought to have helped them to drive out the old enemies and come to share stakes and many other arguments making for the prolongation of the War To which it may be answered that all Wars which have not a necessary defence and true Peace for their scope are unjust Besides if the Hollanders obtained by this Peace whatsoever they desired and asked it needs must follow that they were obliged to ratify it And as for the interest of France which was also to accept it for the repose of her Subjects and for the great advantages offered therein they clearly perceived that that great Minister would not have it and therefore they resolved not to obey his passion besides that the Embassadours themselves advised them to embrace it in case they could bring the King of Spain to an utter renunciation both for himself and his Successours which after the attendance of a whole year togegether was effected All the world is also of opinion that for the good of their State it is better for them to be separated from the French There are likewise some other reasons which remained in the Cabinet and which some events not foreseen by many have made to be judged very pregnant France hath sufficiently declared by the taking of many Holland-Marchants ships how displeasing this Peace was to her but Holland hath dissembled this proceeding with admirable prudence as attributing it to the passion of the great Ministers Creatures Allyes of different nature bold good in common necessity but at the end of the reckning that frienship growes faint This War which had lasted almost ninety years and which was conceaved to be immortal expired in the Spring time 1648. to the great contentment of such as love peace and tranquillity and the great discontentment of the French who had much reason to be angry at it for two subjects the one for the division or Stake-sharing and the other because they had not quite chased the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries The pence was not pleasing to all It was observed nevertheless that this joy was not universal and that some others beside the French would have been more glad to carry on the War to the total expulsion of the Spaniards Indeed the Bonefires were kindled with more zeale and shined with more light in one Town then in another and coldnesse appeared in the countenances of many persons But above all they who made their advantage of following the Armies and such others also as with whom passion of Religion prevailed more then interest of State expressed their dissatisfactions The number of such as embraced the Reformed Religion and the doctrine of Luther growing in despight of all Placarts and Prohibitions to encrease and multiply sowed the first seed of the division to which was added the ambition of some certain Governours who according to their own sence The causes of the first tumults were ill enough divided the discontentment of the Nobility the Clergie and all in general for augmentation of the Bishops and the retardment of the Forrain Militia in the Low-Countries Cardinal Granvels authority and the report which ran of the Inquisition caused excessive commotions in the Provinces but ambition change in Repigion the exaction of the tenth penny the bloody proceedings of the inexorable Duke of Alna the weakening of the Royal Prerogative and the pretexts of maintaining priviledges were the windes which brake the bounds of respect and concord and caused the Warrs against the Governours and the Duke of Parma's Victories having made the King burie the confederates moved them to begin the War against him which lasted till the valliant Henries death In the beginning of the tumults they first indirectly set upon the Catholick Church by destroying Altars and Images under colour of abuse Idolatries and liberty of conscience and then upon the King under that of the Tyranny of his Governours togeather with the avarice cruelty and licentiousness of the Souldiers But in fine by the succour of strangers the War was carried on directly and that with so much dexterity and good successe that the King hath lost seven Provinces and the said Church her exercise in such sort as that Philip the fourth now raigning by the articles of this Peace hath declared the said Provinces Free States Let us now see in what coudition the Emperours affayrs are after a losse so little expected All his Subjects on this side the Danub were fled for fear and some also ou the other side saved their goods in Stirmark and in the district of Salsburgh in such sort as that had the Swedes endeavoured to passe the River though it were very large all the hereditary Countries of the House of Austria would have run hazard of being handled like the rest of Germany They took Grembs by assault and laid Siege to Brin And hear it was that Fortune made a pause gave the Imperialists leasure to breath and look about them The siege of Brin as also the Inhabitants beyond the River to put themselves into better posture Mons de South governour of Brin The Governour of this place was one Mons. de Souch a native of Rochels who upon some very great disgust had abandoned the Swedes whom he had served with great zeal of Religion and affection and in the quality of a Colonel which charge he now possessed on the other Party Torstenson after three weekes Siege summoned the Town advertizing him that in case of refusal there would be no quarter for him He answered That he would never ask any and that he would also give none When a Gentleman of merit burns with desire of revenge and acquisition of honour there is no difficulty which he wil not surmount The Siege raised Torstenson after having made many assaults mined undermined and cast a multitude of Granada's into the place was forced to retire And this Siege lasted four moneths destroyed about four thousand Swedes without counting run-awayes and attcheived the Governour an immortal reputation besides the Emperours favour who being desirous to distinguish this rare vertue from the common made him
ever to returne thither again Then they entred into the Dutchy of Brabant and carried themselves not a jot better where they passed then they had done in Hennawlt so that the Citizens of Brussels found themselves almost in the same apprehension wherein they were in the year 1635. And so this Field was passed at the losse of the Country-people and of the lives of some Souldiers who were killed in the skermishes Champagne and Luxemburgh rifled The Duke of Wirtembergh with fower thousand men pillaged Champagne and General Rose did as much in the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and so they all retyred into their Winter-quarters Obmiserable condition of this most miserable Age the Sink of all other which is turned to corruption by the infection of so much stanghter They who had tilled and sowed the land were knocked in the head for their paines or starved with their poor Children in the rigout of Winter to leave their Harvest for their murtherers And such as escaped sled into Holland to save their unhappy lives by Day-labour When shall we see an end of all these misfortunes Alas It will not be possible but with the end of the universe Now we have finished the Warrs of Germany and Holland let us go into the Bishoprick of Liedge and see with what fuell that fire is made CHAP. IIII. The tumults in the Province of Liedge The choosing of a Coadjutour Tumults at Trevirs The Lorraines in the Kingdome of Aix and the Land of Gulick or Juleers beate the Country people The War kindled again at Neaples THis fatall War is like the Hydra the more heads are cut off the more grow up out of one smothered in one place their sprang many in another If this impetuous torrent be stopped but with the least apparence of good successe it forthwith breakes out in many places It is a great embarassement the more water is cast into it the more it kindles Nor may we hope for any amendment since those horrible effects which we have now described and which we yet see dayly happen will not permit us to doubt but that this is the last Age. The people of Liedge are very firme Roman Catholicks and very much love novelty as well as the French they are stank and single-hearted A description of the City of Liedge but a little too cholerick and jealous of their priviledges The Town is faire and great and the Palace and S. Lamberts Church of an admirable structure It is situated in a Bottom and surrounded by Mountaines which take away the sight of it unlesse one be very neer it and it is bathed by the River Moze which passes both through it and before it Sciences so much flourished there heretofore that Historie affirme that there were fourteen Princes at one time all Sonnes of Kings or Soveraignes At least it is no hard matter to judge that it hath been one of the most flourishing Cities of Europe In the time of Ferdinand Duke of Bavaria Elector of Colein Prince and Bishop of Liedge there were some tumults and complaints tending to the destruction of his authority For they cryed aloud that their Priviledges were not maintained that the Prince came not to dwell in the Town and that he did not say Masse c. The power of these factions encreased which pretended nothing but the conservation of Priviledges and Liberty the general pretext of all such as love novelty and strangers endeavoured to blow this fire of division especially after the taking of Mastricht La Ruelle murthered by the Count of Warfuses treachery who was also cut in pieces The Burgher Master or Maior of the Town called La Ruelle who favoured of the people and was cherished by them was justly suspected by his Prince for Soveraigns will not have the affection of their Subjects divided So that it was judged that this thick cloude would power down a great Shower The Count of Warfuse after having betrayed his Master retyred himself into the said Town where thinking to wash away the old treason by a new one and winne the favour of the Prince to returne to that of the King caused the said Burghermaster to be unhappily murthered at a Dinner to which he was invited both him and the Abbot of Mouzon Resident of France his confident who had great intelligence and authority in the said town which murther being discovered whilest it was hot made the Citizens take Arms and cut the murtherers in pieces and so their grew great tumults Since which time the leven of the Sedition hath always remained and faction hath held up her head there Faclions in the Town under the names of Chiroux and Grignoux Such as kept their respect towards the Prince took pride to be called Chiroux and they who professed themselves for Liberty Grignoux In fine the Prince being no longer able to suffer the deminution of his authority nor the affront which was done him when he desired to enter into the Town armed himself to chastize the said Grignoux He put some thousands of men into the field under the conduct of Generall Spar armed the Peasants and drew neer the Town whereof he quickly grew Master by the intercession of the Chiroux The Prince enters into the Town and so the difference was drowned in the blood of both the Burghermasters and some others who followed A Cittadell was built to defend the one from the oppression of the other yea to maintain Justice and the Princes authority and to represse the insolence of the common People A calme being restored to the Town every body in quiet and the cabal of the Grignoux destroyed who had so much laboured under hand for help from the Hollanders and the French a coadjutour was elected and the votes fell unanimously by divine providence not upon the Prince of Conty whom his Brother endeavourd to establish by fayre meanes and foule but upon Prince Maximilian Maximilian of Bavaria â—â—adje tour Henry of Bavaria a most worthy Prelat and great ornament of the Church who ought to be imitated by all the other as being the most noble example that could be proposed There wanted a holy Pastour for so irâ—egular and undisciplined a Flock The difference at Trevirs Almost the same difference hapned of Trevirs for the same subject but without blood-shed and with lesse heat the temperament or constitution of these being more moderate then that of the Liedgers In fine by the intercession of some Electors all was appeased and the Election fell upon the Lord Charles Gasper of Leyen at present Arch-bishop and Elector The Lorraines beat the Liedgeoises 1549. The people of both these Electors had absolution but they were fain to do pennance and the Duke of Lorraines Souldiers have often and some years together since disturbed their rest For they went to seek their Winter-quarter in the year 1649. in the said Province beat the Country people who presumed to oppose them and the Characters
or Charms wherewith most of them were furnished served them for nothing In the last Wars of Germany these superstitions and obcecations of the Divel were much put in practice and were usefull for sometime but to the ruin of such as trusted in them The said Duke of Lorrain having received some satisfaction drew his forces out of the said Bishoprick and sent them towards the Kingdome of Aix which invasion put such a flea in the ear of all the bordering Princes and the Governour of Mastricht that they were already complotting an Alliance to fall upon them who had pillaged some Carts coming from Boisleduc and sent some Regiments into the land of Ravestein but they changed their way and went to the Dutchy of Gulick There wanted not Muskets but * Gold so talled Pistols to drive them into the Bishoprick of Trevirs where they shore the sheep which had very little more left then the bare skin because they had been shorn so often before One part of them repassed at the beginning of Summer into Flanders and the rest stayed to hasten the contributions This Army is at present the most odious and most revyled of all Europe because the last evils are more sensible then the first which are half-forgotten Indeed they do much harme but the Swedes did much more in Sazony through the spight which was caused them by the peace of Prague and through a resentment which they made ring very loud nor doth this Prince want any indignation as not having been comprized in that of Munster thought yet the tyrannies which his Souldiers have exercised as well in Germany as elsewhere be not excusable But all these desolations must be imputed to the corruptnesse of this Age which being cursed cannot produce any thing but abhomination not to be remedied by humane understanding The end of that destructive War of Germany made all the world see that the ay me of the French and Swedes was quite contrary to what they pretended For they said alowd that they took Arms and came into Germany to defend the Lutheran Religion the Liberty of Germany which lay gasping under the Tyranny of the House of Austria and for the re-establishment of such as were oppressed I intreat the reader whose judgement is not stolne away by passion to examine with me the proceedings of both Partyes In the year 1635. the Swedes would not accept of an excessive summe of money for a recompence offered them by the Duke of Saxony in such sort as that at the Treaty of Munster they were faine to leave them in the possession of Pomerania Wâ—smar and the Arch-bishoprick of Bremen to obtain peace and they abandoned the cause of the Ghospellers and Reformates from whom they had drawn most remarkable services in Austria Bohemia Moravia and Silesia For the satisfaction of France which served it self of the same pretexts they were constrained to yeeld it the Rights in the three Bishopricks leave it Brisack and a good part of Alsatia to the losse of a Prince allyed to it by bloud and forsake the Duke of Lorrains cause For though Peace were treated War was neverthelesse carryed on with extremity and the said Allyes imagined that they should have brought all the forces of the Empire to an end before it were concluded But the Hollanders being pacifyed obliged them to consider that Fortune often changes and to content themselves with what they seemed able to keep in all occurrences or accidents Thus were the Protectors of the German Liberty against the Soveraigne Head The Emperour being attacked by a Vassal of the Empire despoiled him of his States and having many times defeated them who acted for him imposed nothing more upon him for restitution of all his Lands and Goods then a meer single acknowledgement of his fault and a feigned humility by asking pardon I mean the King of Denmark who entred Germany in an hostil manner and was beaten and Ferdinand for the expences of the war manifested by restoring him all that he would have the world know that he sought not to give jealousie to any by retaining such States as he had occupated by a just Cause and by the lot of Arms. Oh you Clarks who vant so much of the sincority of the intentions of your Masters and who desire to make things appeare quite otherwise then they are confess now what you cannot deny namely that their designe was to fish in troubled waters and that in stead of the liberty of the Empire they effectively sought the ruin thereof Before you make a Family guilty of Vsurpation look first what they are whom you defend Give her leave to maintaine her interest as well as your Masters do theirs and never blame that in others whereof you are culpable your selves In this Treaty the King of Spaines complaints and the protestations of his Embassadours concerning the Circle of Burgundy obtained not that satisfaction they hoped and expected for the French had there too much authority and so the aforesaid King expressed his resentment thereof by retaining his Garrison in Frankendal as we will shew and manifested that he was able to cast yet more prejudice upon his enemies Let us return to Neaples where there grew to be a greater Combustion and that of greater vogue then it was under the command of Aniello The nearness and terrour of the Turkish Arms had not quenched the desire of the Spaniards from punishing against the Agreement made the people of Neaples The Comparison of the troubles of Neaples For the Prophesie concerning Aniello was to be accomplished as well upon this miserable City as in his person the losse of his authority was to be lamented Let us make a brief discourse upon this last misfortune which both for beginning progresse and end was not much unlike that of the Low-Countries Margaret Dutchesse of Parma by the wisdom of her Council dissipated and quashed all the disorders which sprang up during her Regency Together with those of the Low-Countries and appeased the complaints both of the one and the other as the Duke of Arcos also did by publishing a General Pardon But the Duke of Alna by violent examinations and inquires awakened what was consopited before since all was forgiven all ought to be forgotten the relapse very often causing death cast the people into despair and into a resolution of shaking off the yoak both of his and their Master Don John of Austria instead of receiving the honours which were prepared for him commanded the people to lay down Arms and thereby aggravated the wound by the saying of the Pope himself which was not yet well skinned For upon the refusal of some quarters or parts of the City the Spaniards began to batter her from three Cittadels and from some Gallyes also The cruelties in the Kingdom of Neaples with so much fury for the space of three dayes together that it looked as if they would have buried her under her own ruines Nor was this
let us leave Scotland in teares let us leave the different opinions concerning the successe of this war for those of our Continent call us speedily back and especially the difference which happened in Cleveland Wars between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The Electour of Brandenburgh in full peace sent four thousand men into the Duke of Newburghs Country who attacked the strong House of Angremont and performed all acts of hostility without having denounced the war This invasion much displeased the Emperour and much more him whom it more nearly concerned Religion served here for a pretext and this affront put a flea in the ear of the bordering parts which yet by the intermission of the Emperour and the States of Holland was soon taken out the Lorrainers who went to succour the Duke of Newburgh sent back the forces casheered and the Princes returned to their former good intelligence This war gave Colem much apprehension and no small distrust to the United Provinces which feared lest if the fire increased it might grow to burn their Neighbours houses according to the Latin Proverb Tum tuâ—res agitur paries cum proximus ardet When thou seest the next house burn Be sure the next will be thy turn Let us go seek out Cardinal Mazarin in his disgrace CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entry into Paris The joy for both the Dutchesse of Longuevilles and the Marshall of Turennes repasse into France The Baptisone of the young Prince of Orange and the dispute about his tutelage The Damme broaken near Waguening Uleseldt accused of having intended to poyson the King of Denmark Berghen St. Weynock taken by the Spaniards THe Queen being very often petitioned by the Members of Parliament to set the Princes at liberty for the Kings service and the kingdoms quiet and seeing the Resolute run up and down the streets of Paris requiring their deliverance condescended to it but the Kings Counsell on the other side was not a little staggered to hear the importunate voyce of the people Live the King Live the Princes no Mazarin His eminence finding France disgusted by his Ministery retyred himself as we have have already said and the Princes made their entry into Paris the 16. of February where they were received by the Duke of Orleans and all the great ones with very strong resentments of joy The conditions upon which they were released were that the hostility of Stenay and Turenne should cease The Cardinal departs out of France and takes an order for his banishment The Cardinal not being able to prevent or hinder this return of theirs so prejudicial to his Authority and seeing the Duke of Orleans who had consented to their detention so urgent now under pretext of the kingdoms good for their releasement got the King and Queen to approve of his retreat The joy for his departure was incomprehensibly great for every one gave him a wipe and acccused him of having exhausted the Finances or Exchequer nor is there in fine that wickednesse in nature wherewith he was not branded in such sort as it was believed that his absence would bring back the golden Age. But his banishment touched him much more to the quick His enemies had now their time and he not long after had his It is better to laugh at last then at first His departure was ignominious but his return was glorious The Spaniards offered him all kindness of favour in his disgrace which he discreetly refused upon the consideration of a former obligation The Parliament of Roüen Decreed also against him All the world yea even the Pope himself hated him And yet for all this the mischiefs whereof he was held to be the Authour ended not by his retyrement The King and Queen made a Manifest wherein they declared the Princes innocent Goes to Dinant and then to Bruel and approved all that which was ordered against Mazarin who passed by Perone Sedan and Dinant where he stayd some days and then went to Liedge and in fine retyred to Bruel to the Electour who received him according to his qualities Thus was he exiled cryed down and hated by all his services were forgotten and even they themselves who shewed him some courtesie in his retreat were made guilty thereby None but great spirits make their magnanimity appear in misfortunes The Vice-Count returns into France The Dutchesse of Longueville the Marshal of Turenne and the Count of Grandpre returned into France with their Troops where they were welcom leaving the care of finishing the work to the Spaniards who could not sufficiently wonder at this change however the Princes sent to Brussels to thank the Arch-Duke for his care of their deliverance Wilhelmus Henrious Prince of Orange nassau sonn of the Princis Royall London Printed sould by P Stent The great assembly at the Haghe In the mean while the great assembly persevered in the care of making the union stronger then ever and repayting some disorders in relation to which it was judged necessary to grant an Act of oblivion to put the Militia into good method to maintaine the Reformed Religion to keep the bitt in the Roman Catholicks mouthes and exclude such as followed that Doctrine from all Publick employments Separates All being concluded the Assembly sent for a Minister to give God thanks and parted with most perfect intelligence A day of prayer was held and alms was distributed and the Firewords and Ordnance made a concert for the Simbole of the union The Bank broken The yeare of 1651 towards the end of Winter the Snowes melting by a thaw the Waters of the Rheyn swol up in such sort that the Bank between Rhene and Waguening brake and put the inhabitants about Amerssort into great perplexities Indeed Many Inundations this year deserved to be called the yeare of deluge for there were very few Rivers in Europe which did not by the continuall raines exceed their bounds and bear down their banks The Scourge of God as water fire and sword are every where felt Let us go to the septemptrion where we shall finde one of the greatest Lords yea the high Steward of the House of the King of Denmark himself suspected and accused of having intended to poyson the King A wickedness unknown heretofore in the colds of the North. Ulefeldt the high Steward of the Kings houshold accused of having intended to poyson him It was Mons. Vlefeldt a man of great experience and much renowned for the Embassayes wherein he had rendred the King and Common-Wealth great services who was accused of this treason by a lewd woman who not being able to prove the said accusation was beheaded One Colovel Walter was also suspected who having defended his innocence summoned the said Vlefeldt but he in stead of appearing before the King departed secretly with his wife into Holland afterwards into Sweden His flight was extreamly ill
taken and Hannibal Zeestadt for having contemned the Kings Authority was degraded from his charge and deprived of almost all his Estate These two Lords had marryed each of them one of the dead Kings naturall Daughters and were Brothers-in-Law to Count Wolmaor The Count Wolmaer goes into Muscovie who during his Fathers life went into Muscovie to marry the Grand Dukes Daughter where he tryed the perfidie of those Barbarians who in consideration of an advice come from another place would not give him the Princesse but upon unreceivable conditions In fine having unpesterest himself from their hands and received his liberty he repassed through Poland put himself into the Imperiall Armies whore he acquired great reputation and high employments and the Emperours favour to boot Thus all was appeased in that Kingdom and let us now returne post back through Germany where we shall find nothing but a reformation and some complaints which rang every where of the Garrison of Frankendal The French forces marched towards the Low-Countryes and committed some robberies and violences upon the Fronteers of Flanders the Spaniards opposed them and towards the end of the Summer drew out some regiments and made them march under the conduct of that great Captain the Marquis of Sfondrato who took Fuernes with small resistance Sfondrato takes Fuernes and Berghen St. Wynock 1651. but Berghen St. Wynock a strong place and ayded by the waters of the Sea which the Sluces being drawn let passe and which gave the Souldiers great vexations opened her gates the eleventh day to let the Spanish Garrison in and the French out The Fort Linck was also soon reduced and Burburgh being abandoned was put again into condition to defend it self It was conceived that the Spaniards would make an attempt upon Dunkerk but the continual rains the lateness of the season and sicknesses amongst the souldiers sent the Army back to rest CHAP. XII The Cardinal returns into France The Lords who had been imprisoned are restored to their employments The Prince of Condè retyres from Paris The King declared May or Prodigies seen upon the Sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why The death of Spiâ—ing The Cardinals forces passe through Holland HOwever Cardinal Mazarin was unhappy in a Crosse of fortune yet he omitted not either his care or any occasion to serve the King of France For he contracted some of the forces which were disinissed in Cleveland and sent them secretly down the Rheyn to Rotterdaim where being discovered and their leader summoned to the Haghe the Souldiers constrained the Boatmen to put them a shore and so every one went whether he pleased In the moneth of August there arrived neer two thousand Neapolitans before the Rammekens in foure ships who tryed the courtesie of the Zelanders heard their grumblings and were forced to returne to Sea since the passage to Antwerp was not allowed them The Printe of Condè retyres himself from coâ—rt After the Princes departure the Lords who were released were restored to their former charges But a sudden gust or blast which surprizes the Mariners at Sea in a great Calme doth not more hare them then the Prince of Condes sudden retreat did the French upon an advertizement which had been given him that the Queen would secure his person again She sent a protestation to him that she had no such design and that it was nothing but false reports scattered by the Enemies of France and so upon conditions that the Cardinals Creatures as Servient Tellier c. should retyre from the Court he came back to Paris but these conditions were ill enough observed The King declared Mayor the seventh of September 1651. The seventh of September the King being at the Parliament the Chanceller declared him Mayor as being entred into the fourteenth year of his Age and the Queen discharged her self of her Regencie The Prince of Condè upon another information given him that they would murther him retyred himself again to St. Maur and from thence to Bourdeaux where he drew the inhabitants to his party and the Spaniards came to succour him with seventeen Ships Mezarin returns into France The King and Queen went to Poictiers where they sent for the Cardinal who forthwith obeyed and came to them with some thousands of men and was received by them both with superlative testimonies of benevolence Thus was the fire grown greater then ever and more certain apparence of a general combustion throughout the whole Kingdom An order of Parliament was proclamed against Cardinal Mazarine declaring him guilty of High Treason as a Perturbatour of the Kingdom all his Lands and Goods confiscated his fine Library sold a hundred and fifty thousand Livers or Florins adjudged to any body who would bring him alive or dead The Spaniards come again into France and the Spaniards called again into France by the Prince of Condè under the conduct of the Duke of Nemours The Kings complaints were answered by other and the conclusion was that if his Majesty would expell the Cardinal the forrain forces should retyre out of France Let us leave the French thus divided some leaning to the Princes side and some to Mazarins and these latter were styled Mazarinists for we must take notice of the motion of the English towards a War with the Vnited Previnces which were of the same Religion their Friends and Neighbours For the English put out an Act forbidding the importing any commodities from any place but those of their own growth and in their own ships to the intention of increasing the shipping and Mariners of that Nation which act how highly it disgusted the Hollanders the effects of a most fierce War will demonstrate Some Prodigies preceded this War which I will set down briefly without staying upon the circumstances thereof Oh unhappy Age No sooner are we delivered from one misfortune then we fall into a greater For these united Provinces had no sooner given thanks to the Almighty for Peace then they found themselves ill looked upon by many Potentates envied by some and incommodated by others in their trade In fine the mischief came from that part which they least suspected Take heer the Prodigies which were seen by men of credit and report thereof made to the States in this substance Prodigees seen neer the mouth of the Sea That upon Fry day the twenty second of December 1651 about nine of the clock ten or twelve leagues from the mouth of the Moze they saw a plaine Field of the hight of a man about the Horizon and therein many Souldiers both foot and Horse which forthwith disappeared Next they saw neer about the same place a great Fleet coming from the North some of the Vessels whereof had their Sayles but half up By and by there appeared another from the South-east which came straight to attack the Former and then it seemed as if all the Ships were sunk to the bottom which
yet shewed themselves again so distinctly that they were able to discerne the Ropes and Cables Last of all they saw the great Vessels again which they had discovered first These visions lasted about three houres A Lyon on the North side of the Ships performed the last Act under which there appeared animals of different shapes which turned into Ships The Parliament of England being grown formidable by Charles Stewarts expulsion whom they quite expelled the Island and by the conquest of the Kingdom of Scotland was much intense upon War and desirous to diminish the traffique which hath inriched these united Provinces as by taking the Ships which they met either at Sea or came into their havens and then by giving Letters of Mart. The begining by Letters of Mart. Whereupon the complainrs of the Holland Marchants obliged the States to send their Embassadours to acknowledge them for a Free Common Wealth to renew friendship and to redemand their Vessels taken The first point pleased them and the second was payed with silence and the third differred as never to be granted The Propositions which they made the said Embassadours were so high and beyond their expectation that the High and Might Lords resolved upon War Whilest these things were in agitation there hapned an encounter betwixt General Blake and Admiral Tromp about striking The first attak wherein Tromp was so briskly received that he had much adoe to get handsomly off leaving two ships behind him in the possession of the English This action hastened the returne of the Embassadours and set the States on work for the fitting of a second Fleet which was retarded by the wary Hollanders out of hope of composing the difference by representing the necessity of a good harmony betwixt the two Nations They wanted neither strength courage nor convenience to hurtâ— but other considerations made them seek an accommodation which these new Republicans rejected Mousieur Spiring the Embassadour of Sweden used all diligence to prevent the States Embassadours departure Every one goes into England to acknowledge the Parliament and encouraged them to acknowledge England for a Free State The Title in his Letter of Credence not being well adjusted he met with some little difficulty yet nevertheless obtained Audience but death taking him soon away deprived that State of a great friend After the Spanish Embassadour had acknowledged them every body hastened to the Offering as fearing to be the last Only France seemed not much to care but after having suffered a very rough check she at last came as we shall shortly demonstrate But we must yet make another great circuit before we conclude our Work CHAP. XIII The miseries at Sea caused by Pirats The present state of Norway Denmark Sweden Poland Hungary Germany Italy Spain and France c. HItherto we have seen the wars begun and caried on first for the authority and occupation or seazure of Countries under the princtpal pretext of Religion and then there hapned so great a Hotchpot and such a confused variety by the shuffling together of so many different Allyances and deceiptful practices that this precicus Cloak being grown quite thred-bare could be no longer worne and therefore the hatred of Nations and old quarrels must now be brought upon the Stage Indeed if according to the saying of Tertullian by forging so many Religions there grow at length to be none at all left with the like foundation may I also say that by making so many various Allyances which are so easily broken and so dexterously patched together again there is no Allyance at all I have to do said a certain Monarch with a bordering people which never keep their Faith but when they perceive no occasion to hurt me By this it is that there is so much trouble to make a peace and they who labour to joyne the two Parties finde so much difficulty and repugnance in regard of the indelible distrusts and jealousies between them that they cannot accomplish it Sea-Rovers Besides that there have alwayes been Sea-Rovers who as The The eves hidden in the Woods and Forrests have surprized passengers and laid wait for the Merchants Ships and at present we see whole Fleets the Sea loaden with Vessels to attacke not by stealth but open force the said Merchants Ships and the men of War also which accompany them Some years agoe the Sea was free and safe enough but now there are more and greater dangers there then there ever were by Land Let us passe through the North and end our Carrer in England The Kingdom of Norway being secured by its poverty feared not the year before nor this present year neither the war wherein the King of Denmark seemed ready to involve himself Thirty English Ships stopt in Denmark For he redemanded the Portion of his Aunt Anne Queen of England which being refused he stopped and confiscated some thirty English Merchant Ships and made a streight Allyance thereupon with the States of Holland for their Common Interests That Libell which was made in Sweden being washed and wiped off with the blood of the Authours thereof all was there in good order and diligence was used for the setting out of a little considerable Fleet which gave the bordering parts so much jealousie that King Frederick sent his Embassadours thither who returned with a good answer A Spanish Resident at Stockholme There was then a Spanish Resident at the Court of Sweden who treated secretly and the affairs of the last Assembly were conducted there so occultly that there was no light at all to be found thereof But true it is that Silence is the Soul of great Expedtions Livonia was well guarded against the invasion of the Polanders and the Treaties at Lubeck between them and the Swedes produced no good operation at all so that the Embassadours retired to the great displeasure of such as meddled in them The Muscovits did nothing in a long time which deserves to be noted here But the Polanders felt as well as the rest of the Nations of Europe the Rod of the Almighty by pestilence inundations and wars which continue even yet against the Rebellious Cossacks under the direction and authority of King Casimir The accidental fire which was like to burne the young Princesse was taken as an ill augure by such as were curious but the Kingdom is yet in vigour and the Armies in condition to ruin their enemies The Turks and Tartars made some irruptions into Hungary which gave both dammage and fear by the marching of some Troops but at present the Peace is exactly kept The Empire enjoyes the Peace made at Munster and every Prince labous by the offer of fair Priviledges to revive both his Country and the Religion he professes The Emperour who shewes that he took the redresse of the Empire more to heart then the preservation of his own life assembled all the Electors the last year at Prague The Electors at Prague 1692. and courted
himself of the advantage be hath upon any one alone by pursung him for fear of giving the rest the occasion of seizing upon his sheep This brave man did wonders Tromps praise but he had the displeasure of seeing seeing above twenty of his men of War fly without fighting at all The States ceased not during these fatal actions to employ all possible inventions to disingage themselves from these troubles which obstructed the Commerce either by force or friendship For the advantages which the Enemies had by the conveniency of their Havens before which they are necessitated to passe as at the mercy of the Canon oblidged such Fleets as were not furnished with sufficient Convoyes The Ships passe behinde Scotland to passe behinde Ireland and Scotland and before Norway a long paineful and perilous Voyage and which very often caused the merchandises to be corrupted and spoiled 〈◊〉 The great Fleet which departed this Spring from Rochel made this huge circuit and by an admirable felicity artiyed safely without having meâ— the Enemy who expected it at the passage that which was appointed towards the Baltick Sea was all the Summer at the Flie without daring to come out and that of the great Indies is not yet arrived In the Battel against General Deane Tromp was forced to retreat with considerable losse because he had a contrary winde General Deane beat the Hollanders and stayed before Flushing to repaire his Ships But the English kept the Sea and shewed themelves before the Brill and then before the Taxell where we will leave them to see what passes in the Province Seditions in Holland and chiefly at Enchuien During these Tragedies at sea murmurations and mutterings were heard a shore and certain Libells intitled the Lords of Louvenstein It was said that there was a design to ruin the House of Nassaw and that the Prince of Orange ought to be Governour of the Country and many other Calumnies which deserve to be suppressed When the Drum was beaten for the raysing of Souldiers the common people would needs have it done under the conduct of the Prince of Orange in such sort as that at Enchuysen there hapned a Tumult of very ill example The States considering the potency of their Enemies and many other affairs which might be thought of for security sent for a great Body of Horse into the very center of Holland and placed it near the Sea-coast The Horse comes into Holland But they chiefly expressed their infatigable care in the fitting and setting forth of a Fleet to chastise a Nation which neglected their friendship whereof the were deceived as the sequel will demonstrate Tromp having put his Fleet into a fighting posture again and the souldiers being payed and assured of maintenande in case they were may med set sayle towards the end of Iuly and went generously to face his Enemies and Witt Wittenson departed from the Texel to second him The fight began and the Hollanders charged twice through the English Fleet and in the third time it was A furious Battel wherein the Hollanders are worsted that this warlike Nation of the English shewed their magnanimity and courage by forcing the Hollanders to a retreat into their Havens three Dutch Fire-ships fastened on three of their Flag-ships But the English contemning all danger flung themselves into the flame and disingaged their Ships Tromps deaths The valliant Tromp dyed in this bed of Honour He was beloved and regretted by all in general for the mildnesse of his nature and for the services which he had done his Native Country He was ennobled by Lewis the thirteenth King of France in recompence of those services which he had done him and very much esteemed by Cardinal Richelieu Eâ—nobled by the King of France but Rarea took him a way before he had finished this War which drew the attention of the whole World upon it General Cromwel a most prudent Politician and most magnanintous Captain having surmounted the Royal Party subjugated the Irish defeated in many Battels Victorious Cromwel dissolves the Parliament and humbled the Scots as well in their own Country as in England and dissipated Charle's Forces had now no more to do then to dissolve the Parliament which he performed with as much glory to himself as shame to them So that he is now more absolute in Authority then any of the Kings ever were by vertue of his Army whereby he keeps the people in awe and order who governs the State not only like a Brutus but like a Caesar also He constituted a new Parilament which changed not their resolutions to hurt the Hollanders who had also the power to defend themselves This we see the State of England not onely under a Brutus but a Caesar afso Confusion in the Church of England the Church governed by Independents and full of confusions yea the women have preached against St. Pauls expresse Commandment and the Clâ—â—thes turned into Stables But a regulation of all these exorbitances is expected from the government of so sage a Ruler But in what condition have we lest Holland In the care of choosing a new Admiral and maintaining the Union of the Consoederated Provinces For conclusion we will go back to see that most famous Assembly of Ratisbone where there is nothing treated but what is of high The Assembly at Rausbone and noble consequence The saines are past the stormes scattered and the Mariners repair the Vessels the Sun of Justice shewes himself and such as have escaped shipwrack dry their Cloathes and rake together the fragments of what is left them However Ferdinand the third that most Religious and most August Emperour were arrived at Ratisbone together with the Electours and had sufficiently declared that for the good of the Empire is was necessary to provide a worthy Successor they endeavoured not yet to elect a King of the Romans till after the hews was come that the Swedes had restored into the hands of the Marquis of Brandenburgh The Hinder Pomerania rescorred Heir to the last Duke of Pomerania that Portion or Parcell which is called the Hinder-Pomerania the time being passed in visits divertisements and honest recreations But then the said Emperour transporting himself together with the Electoral Colledge and an infinite multitude of other Princes to Auxburgh his Son Ferdinand the fourth King of Bohemia and Hungary was with a common voice proclaimed King of the Romans Ferdinand the fourth proclaimed King of the Romans By the happy Conjunction of these Stars nothing could be expected but a previous influence of long repose through the whole Empire of Germany a reparation of disorders and an establishment of a good Peace by there-union of minds Great God! How infinite are thy wonders and how immovable is thy Providence The choose the Sen of him out of whose hand they laboured to pull the Helme to whom they give both with him and after him the government of this
so great mercy c. Besides these aforesaid advantages the Earle of Oppalinski nothing content to have forsaken the King of Polands Party himself drew also many of his friends and neighbouring Lords into the same engagement and they joyntly made an agreement with the King of Sweden containing these heads 1. That they should no longer own the King of Poland or acknowledge him for their Soverargne 2. That all such as should refuse to doe the same should be pursued with fire and sword 3. That the King of Sweden should have the same Authority over them which the Kings of Poland had and that for security of the performence of this Article they should deliver all their strong Holds to General Wittembergh And lastly That the King of Sweden should dispose of all the forces already raysed in great Poland The French after the surrender of Landrecies besieged and took Conde St. Ghistain and some other small places and made excursions even to the very walls of Brussels The Spaniards Embargo The Spaniards after having set out a Fleet to watch Generall Blake upon their Coast upon the news of the miscarriage of the designe of the Generals Pen and Venables at St. Domingo in Hispamola put a General Embargo upon the English Marchants Goods and imprisoned many of their persons also in all the Ports of Spain and the King published a Manifest which was quickly and roundly answered by the Lord Protectour whereupon there instantly followed actions of hostility at sea The Siedge of Pavia raysed The City of Pavia in Italy which had endured a long and fierce Siege by the Duke of Modena and Prince Thomaso was at length delivered by the valour of the Townsmen and the succour brought them by the Marquis of Caracena Governour of the Dutchy of Milan and the two aforesaid Princes forced to a disorderly retreat with the losse of many of their men some Canon and Baggage and the said Duke dangerously shot in the Arme. The Provaditore Morofini General for the State of Venice against the Turks got possession of the Island of Egina in the Archipelago and of the strong Hold of Vola which was surrendred the twenty second of March and which is the more advantagious in regard that the Turks had made their chief Magazine there for this summer expedition so that the Venetians gained besides their Ammunion a very great quantity of Bisquet and seaven and twenty pieces of great Ordnance most of them Brasse As much of the Provisions as could be carried away was put on ship-board and the rest syred that so the Enemy might not be benefited thereby and the best of the works demolished Victories of the Venetians a gainst the Turks About a moneth after they gave a totall defeat to the Turkish Fleet which endeavouring to come out of the Dardanelles upon the fourteenth of July at night after a very hot fight of eight houres was utterly routed and dispersed and forced to get shelter under the Castles of the said Dardanelles having lost in the battail sixteen ships six Gallyes two Mahones and many other Vessels foure thousand men taken prisoners who were all made slaves and a greater number killed This victory was so much the more remarkable for that the whole Venetian Fleet was not there a party thereof having been sent towards Canca a few dayes before to prevent the Turks relieving that place The Turkish Navy consisted of about a hundred ships and Gallyes and the Venetians but eight and thirty with eight Gallyes and two Galleasses The King of Sweden puts forth a manifest The King of Sweden upon his entry into Poland published a Manifest and sent a Letter also to the Emperour comprehending the reasons of his taking Arms against that King wherein he accuses him of eluding the Treatyes held between them of usurping the Title of the Crown of Sweden of endeavouring to debauch the people of Livonia or Leefland and to draw them to a defection of sending a Fleet into the Baltick Sea of attempting to intice the States of the Isle of Oesely to a revolt and many other charges he imputes to him in order to his having broaken the Articles of Truce concluded between the two Crownes From the very time that he entred Poland he went on with a conquering and irresistible hand all submitting partly by force and partly by composition and voluntary inclination to his obedience After he had taken and stayed some time at Warsovia he endeavoured by all means possible to joyne with Field-Marshal Wittembergh so to meet or seek the enemy with the more security whereof the Poles being advertized laboured to crosse that designe and hinder their conjunction to which effect they placed themselves in the woods so to sally out at unawares upon the said Field-Marshal as he marched by as not imagining that the King could possibly be yet arrived to him So that his Maâ—esty being sufficiently informed of their purpose fell in very good order upon them and advanced with such successe by entertaining them with his Ordnance and Forlorne The Polanders beaten that however they sometimes endeavoured to rally and draw to a head again they were constrained to quit the Field in great confusion with the losse of all their Baggage consisting of three thousand Carts and the Swedes pursued them in the Reer almost as farre as Cracovia putting most part of them to the Sword Nor was their prosperity a whit lesse in Lithuania the Nobility of that Country having abandoned their obedience to the King of Poland and sworne fidelity to the King of Sweden howbeit some of them shortly after began to repine at that yoke and the Muscovits desirous of amity with the conquerours departed Hereupon the Count of Steinbock Master of the Ordinance passed the River Vistula with his Troops and advanced against the Marsovians being there between nine and ten thousand strong where both he and his behaved themselves so valliantly that they rowted the said Marsovians killed and rook many of them and put the rest to flight The King and Queen of Poland fly The King of Poland finding the progresse of his Enemies so prosperous against him and himself deserted as well by his own Subjects as by Fortune and seeing at present small hopes of making any advantagious opposition to so impetuous a torrent fled together with his Queen into Silesia In the interim Christina lately Queen of Sweden being departed from Brussels Queen Christine declares her self a Roman Catholick betook her self towards Rome through Germany and made a solemne and publick Renunâ—ation of her former Belief embrancig the profession of the Roman Religion at Inspruck in Tiroll after which proceeding to her journies end she was received by the Pope with great magnisicence and splendom The Lottain Army goes to the French together with Prince Francis Whilest tuâ—sâ— things passed a Brigade of the Lorrain Army consisting of five Regiments â—eserted Spanish service and went to
Crosse on the side and the Half-Moone on the other CHAP. VI. The warre of Transylvama The King of Poland treacherously wounded Warre between the Poles and the Turks BEthlem Gabor having made an allyance with Frederick and seeing Ferdinands forces employed in Bohemia began to consider not onely of making a powerfull diversion but also of winning a Crown We have Ambition and we shall also quickly find Religion He raised a great Army under very abstense and farre-fetch'd pretexts thereby to puzzle and baffle such as had power to resist him This man for a fine beginning oppressed Gabriel Batorius his Lord by the assistance of the Turk and so being grown Master of Transylvania and propped by the Ottomans he possessed it in the quality of Prince thereof He made a League with the Archdukes but seeing them entangled in dangerous Wars he pricked up his ears and raised a potent Army to seize upon the Kingdom of Hungarie Convenience moves men to break ally ances as well as necessity and good successe covers the injustice of the Cause or at least urges the doubt that if Right be to be violated it ought to be onely to winne a Crown War of Transylvania In fine he secretly armed took occasion by the fore-lock and cloathed the Lyon with a foxes skin He got possession of Cassovia before the people thought themselves in danger They whose affections he enjoyed were discovered by their Religion The Romane Catholicks and such others also as had any resentment of their duty being frighted some armed Gaber takes Posen and others fled He took Posen under the title of Prince of Hungarie marched to Vienna and joyned with the Confederates to besiege the Town But the Polanders having defeated his Troops which remained in Hungarie Is declared King of Hungarie made him return and mould his businesse after another form so much did he stand in awe of the King of Poland though he went backwards onely to leap the better For he obtained a Truce which he quickly brake proclaimed himself King by them of his Caball entered again into Austria and if Fortune had not turned her back upon the Confederates in Bohemia it is very likely he might fully have accomplished all his pretentions and ruined the said House of Austria it self There is something wanting we rise either too early or too late The Emperour was shut up in the Town and constrained both to hear and suffer the insolency of some seditions Citizens which was repressed by the Count of Dampiere who departed not long after towards Posen with intention to surprize it but he was killed by a Musket bullet Dampiete killed He was by birth a Lorrain had done the Emperour many most considerable services and was much deplored by the whole Patty Bethlem finding this thorn out of his foot and having bought the amity of the Turk with money brake the Truce but his Letters by which he invited the Tartars and wherein he gave them testimonies of what services he would perform to the Grand Signior at the cost of the Empire and all Christendome by allying himself with the Turk being intercepted he disobleiged the prime Lords of Hungarie who cast themselves into the Emperours armes and fell upon Gabors forces and handled them almost as ill as the Polanders had done the year before The Count de Bucquoy in Hungarie Hereupon the Count de Bucquoy entered into Hungarie took many Townes and amongst others Posen it self and the Tartars coming to relieve Gabor were cut in pieces by the Poses under the command of that great Captain Cotqueviets The Emperour had run great hazard of loosing the Kingdome of Hungarie Is killed had not Fortune saved it by the death of the brave Count of Bucquoy who attempting to repulse the Hungarians when they sallyed out of Newhewsel was layd upon the ground with no lesse then sixteen wounds He could not more generously surrender his soul nor finde a more illustrious bed of honour to crown the greatnesse of his actions had not his souldiers so basely forgotten their duty His A my disbands it self and disbanded themselves so ignominiously For they might by carrying the body of this Mars with as much reason have expected to winne Victories as the Spaniards did by that of their Rodrigues but after the losse of their Generall they found themselves without pulse life and motion And so we may easily think how sensible a losse this was to the Emperour and all his family to whom he had rendered so potent services Thus by the death of this one brave Captaine Fortune changed and the Conquered became Conquerours They who before were reduced to a meer feeble and fearfull defensive Warre regained courage and returned to besiege the places which they had lost But Fortune lighter then the winde made Bethlem know how necessary it was for him to make Peace and Ferdinand desirous to remedy so many evils as surrounded him on every side easily suffered himself to be induced to it by his own naturall inclination And so upon the restitution of the Crown and the relinquishment of the Title of King the Peace was made and Arms laid down for a while though Gabor never cast off the desire of moving nor the hatred which he carried to his Lord the Emperour The King ' of Poland hurr Now since we are gotten so neer Poland let us deliver that which hapned there in the year 1620 The King being at Wartsawe where the Diet was held and going into the Church upon the fifteenth of November a Gentleman gave him two blows with a Pole-axe upon the head and another on his shoulder which very much endangered his life But the Parricide received his reward and the King was heard by the standers by with a faint and feeble voice to pronounce these words What said he do the Polanders learne of the French to kill their Kings Let us go hence till we shall first have related the subject for which Osman the Emperour of Turkie with an Armie of above four hundred thousand men attempted to swallow up all this puissant Kingdome which was this The Waywood of Walachia being revolted from the Grand Signior and calling in the Poles to relieve him was attacked by the Tartars and Turks who in the first fight having the worst and in the last the best of the day the Waywode was killed and the Polish Nobility defeated and this Victory so much inflamed the heart of the Great Turk that he shamefully banished the Poland Embassadour from his Court and declared a war upon the King Fortune is the Mistresse of young Princes for by good successes Osmà n attacks Poland she fills them with temerity to destroy them CHAP. VII The warre in the Palatinate Tilly beaten revenges himself and defeates the Marquis of Baden The Bishop of Halberstadt makes himself known in Westphalia and is beaten passes with Mansfeldt through Lorraine and incamps himself before Sedan THe prosperous progresse