the Administratour of Magdeburgh and the Bishop of Bremen subscribed also to it The Emperours forces in the mean while grew strong and Tilly began to smell that under the mask of amity there were some new designes a brewing however they protested that they were doing nothing against the Emperour But he answered that the Embassadours of the States of Holland were not there Tilly in Hastis to thred pearles and that he was sure that nothing was treated to his Masters advantage where they had any credit and consequently for a greater testimony of his diffidence he sent for Wallâ—stain with an Army to come and succour him Causes lye hidden under pretexts drawn from necessity and justice but they are easily discovered by people of the same profession Many Prodigies preceded the fatall warres as Armies fighting in the Ayre raining of Blood great Tempests bearing down Trees Houses and Dammes But that which was by all interpreted for an ill Augure or Token was that the King going one evening to walk upon the Rampars The Prodigies or Walls of the Town of Hamelen to visit the Sentinels his horse stumbled at a plank and threw him into the Mote or Ditch out of which he was drawne two houres after and conceived to be dead for more then three dayes together In the mean while they who laid most to heart the love of their Country and Rest employed all diligence to find a means to reconcile this Difference thereby to divert the misfortune wherein all Lower Saxony was likely to be involved To which effect a Treaty of Peace was held at Brunswick and it was already agreed that the Armies should be licensiated They treat of peace in vain by Regiments to wit that the King should casheer the first Tilly the next and so consecutively by turnes to the end But this Treaty was broken off by ambition and so such advantages as could not be reaped thereby were sought by way of Arms. The Gamester is more willing to hazard another mans money then his own I will note only the principal actions of the warre and content my selfe with saying that it is very probable that the Emperour had a design to make his Authority and Religion flourish afresh in those Countries where there was no more left then a faint and languishing knowledge thereof and The ayne of the League that mingled with coldness contempt and hatred But as for the contrary Party they endeavoured not onely to repell the aforesaid Guest but also by vertue of the Allyance to restore the Prince to his States by force of Arms since it could not be done by intercessions and so in fine deliver all the Princes from the jealousie which was given them by this House puffed up with so many victories The King retyred with his Army as farre as the Bishopprick of Werden and thereby gave the Imperialists opportunity to seaze upon many places But Fortune varied at Niemburgh from which Town after the losse of a very great number of their men they were constrained to retreat though yet the said losse were repayred shortly after by the taking of Calembergh and the defeating of some companies of Dragoons Tilly followes the River of Weser and Wallenstein that of the Elbe Wallenstein followed the River of Elbe and Tilly that of Weser who having occupated the Bishopprick of Hall entred the Dutchy of Anholt and fortified the Bridge of Dassaw Mansfeldt attacked this Fort and being repulsed joyned with the Administratour of Hall to besiege that Town Wallenstein hastened thither so they fell to work and the Fight as well through the valour of the souldiers as the experience of the Generals was long time dubious enough but at last the Horse giving ground the Foot found themselves reduced to the necessity of doing the same and such as could not save themselves by flight were either killed or taken Mansfeldt beaten near the bridge of Dassaw In this memorable Battell at the Bridge of Dassaw all Mansfeldts glory was buried howsoever he lost not his courage by so furious an overthrow but having gotten on foot a fresh Army of sixteen thousand men for Germany and the Septemtrion were yet full of brave Souldiers he drew towards Silesia took in some places passed thence into Transylvania where he gave up his Army to the Duke of Wimar and accompanied by some of his principall Officers put himself in the way towards Venice but a Dysentery or Bloody Flux or rather according to the opinion of some a Potion stopped the course of his journey His death designes and life altogether and delivered the Emperour from a troublesome Enemy and the Duke of Wimar also a short space after followed him not to Venice but to the other world Thus ended the life of this famous General who had been fortunate enough in raising Armies but not in fighting Battels Wallenstine having stifled the War of Transylvania marched back into Silesia dissipated Wimars Troops and retook the occupated places And Baudis and Holck being sent to joyne with the said Duke were cut off by Merode and Beckman So that Wallenstein having put an end to all their disorders returned towards Brunswick Tilly being intent upon the occasions of hurting his enemies went and unexpectedly attacked a Quarter commanded by that Valiant Souldier Obertrawt who together with one of the Dukes of Anholt and some hundreds of Souldiers Obertrawt killed was slaine in this encounter and when Tilly went to visit and comfort him he answered him Monsieur de Tilly in such waters are taken such fish Now the King finding himself in great danger by the losse of Mansfeldt and the Bishop of Halberstadt who died at the same time at Wolfenbottel after he had vomited up a Worm of about four ells long did not yet lose his courage The death of the Bishop of Halbersiadt Nature shews her strength in despair and Vertue hers in extremity He saw two Armies upon his skirts to be opposed by him and therefore he resolved to attack the one of them being more inflamed to vengeance by the losse of Munden which he slighted and the furious blow which was given his Cavalrie by Count Furstembergh But he was a little too tardy in going to drive Tilly from the siege of Gothing Besides that he stayed at Luther against the advice of his Lieutenant Generall Fucks and Tilly thereby to make himself as glorious as Wallenstein desired nothing more earnestly then to slight I fine the Battell was given with so much obstinacie that the old Bands which had been accustomed to vanquish Battell of Luther the twenty seventh of August 1626. began almost to stagger towards flight but their time was not yet come and the puissant Gemus of their Generall had a great advantage upon that of the King who perceiving his Horse fly and not being able either by his presence or exhortations to detaine them was compelled to abandon his Foot to the mercy of the Enemy and
Wallenstein takes the Generalat with conditions of toâ— much advantage An Earth-quake at Naples the Mountain of Soma vomited fire THe Hollanders amazed at the admirable progresse of the King of Sweden conceived that it would be for the interest of all the Allyes as well as their own for them to assayle their enemies They were Masters by Sea without controversie And after the taking of the Money-Fleet they seazed upon the Bay and Town of Todos los Santos or All-Saints where the booty they got was great enough to excise their desire to seek more But the King of Spain taking it from them again obliged them to go and attack the Town of Olinda in Pharnambus which deligne issued well and all the Country there about followed quickly after without much resistance In such sort as that the two Branches of the House of Austria tryed almost by turns the cruel effects of that inconstant Goddesse however she have not strength enough to make them loose their courage they having means sufficient to maintain and uphold themselves Now the Spaniards were afflicted with so many losses both by Sea and Land that they resolved to endeavour some revenge They secretly prepared a Fleet of Shalops and vanted of great secrets yea that there was a certain Priest who would make souldiers go under the water and fly in the ayre c. The Hollanders were allarmed at this and Prince Henry incamped himself in the Isse of Tertollen to watch the designes of the Enemy The Fleet hoysed Sayle passed through the mouth of Safting The Fleet of Shallops taken the thirteenth of September 1651. and turned round about the Island but for want of good Pilots to observe the Tyde and staying for some Shalops which were aground in the sands they lost the time and gave it to the Hollanders to attack them and take them as it were in a field of corn and that without so much as fighting for they all rendred themselves up to the mercy of their Enemies and their Cavalry which was come to the bank to help them was fain to return as it came There were more then four thousand prisoners who were all pillaged and then put to ransom by a singtilar favour of the Prince of Orange for they were taken because they could not fly not walk under water and in a place where there was no quarter to be given The truth of their design was never yet known some thought it was upon Willeinstadt others to make Fortresses and separate Holland from Zeland This great victory happened the thirteenth of September 1631 and that of the King of Sweden four dayes after An Earthquake at Naples About two moneths after there chanced a terrible Earthquake at Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many horrible bellowings vomited out burning streams of fire which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea and cast out a huge deale of ashes The Hill of Soma This was renewed the year following in the moâ—eth of February with so great hurt and losse to the circumjacent places is well in houses men women children and cattell that it cannot be expressed nor comprehended Those three aforesaid losses astonished the House of Austria which to put a powerfull stop to the impetuous torrent of the victories of King Gustave her most dangerous Enemy who was inseparably accompanied both by Fortune and Favour cast her eyes upon the Duke of Frithland a most happy and most experimented Captain who in the affront of having been deprived of his charge received an incomparable contentment from Count Tilly's misfortunes And so Embassadours were dispatched to mitigate him Wallensiein retakes the Generalship and offer him the Generalship again and with most ample Commissions and a huge summe of money He suffered himself to be much intreated and courted covering his ambition or rather his vengeance with a thousand dissimulations But at last under conditions which divided the Soveraign authority he was brought to accept it and forth with gave Pattents for the raising of sixty thousand men and so there was an Army of forty thousand on foot as it were in the twinkling of an eye as if with striking his foot against the ground he had raised souldiers and he Generalissimo or Chief Genorall of all the Emperours Armies and Arbitratour of Peace and Warre It often happens that when we endeavour to shuune one kind of Rocks or Sand-banks we hit against another Necessity seemed to command this extremity and to remit the course of affaires to the Divine Providence He did both good and evill and received at length the Crown of his works CHAP. XXIIII George Landgrave of Darmstadt obtains newtrality and why Horne beaten by Tilly The King makes his entry at Nuremberge and Tilly retires The King takes Donawerdt passes the Leck makes Tillyes forces retreat with confusion Tillyes death his Elogies The Siedge of Ingolstadt The taking of Ratisbone Divers instructions of the Embassadours of France The Eagle in danger succoured by whom THe rejoycing which was caused by the Kings victory before Leipsick in the Vnited Provinces to see themselves freed from great apprehension was very much whereas the other as also all the subjects of the Crown of Spaine expressed no lesse sadnesse and cryed aloude that it was high time to arme and stop the progresse of these Goths least both the Empire and all Europ should come to be destroyed by them Between this joy and fear of the people King Gustave played not truant King Guestave posses the Rheyn but having made his entry into Francfurt like a great Conquerour he receaved the Embassadours and Congratulations of his Friends His Armes had droven his enemyes over the Rheyn and therefore he resolved also to passe it and the Spaniards who came to relieve the Electour of Mentz endeavoured to hinder him but they were not able to resist his happinesse and so they gave way to force though not to industrie He took Wormes Spiers and Oppengeim only Mentz and Creutznach made a shew of defence but were quickly compelled to follow the other and the Spaniards either to repasse the Mosell or to be shut up in Frankendal The King having visited the Seate of the mouth of the Mayne resolved to build a strong Town Gustave burgh under his own name opposite to Mentz below Francfurt and so he set men on worke about it and many great Lords built faire houses there but both this Town and the Victories of this great Prince vanished away a few years after as we shall shortly shew Amongst all the Princes of the confession of Auxburgh The Landgrave of Darmstedt obtaines new trality there was none but George Landgrave of Darstadt who kept newtrality and fidelity to the Emperour He sent to demand it also of the King by his Embassadours whom he answered that he wondered that he came not himself in Person since he was so neer Whereupon the Prince assembled the principal Ministers of his Countrey and proposed to
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
command Now this expulsion of them together with so many Colonies as the Spaniards have in the Indies and an infinite number of other Islands hath much dispeopled the Continent of Spain and greatly retarded the progresse The cause of dispeopling Spain which this Warlike Nation might otherwise peradventure have made upon her enemies And this was very well foreseen by a certain Spanish Don who told King Philip the second that the transportation of the Natives would one day be the ruine of Spain But before we passe any further let us speak a word of this kingdom the power whereof is so great that it gives jealousie to all the States of the Universe CHAP. X A brief discription of the Kingdoms of Spain and France SPaine is separated from France by the Pirenaan hills and from Affrica by the Levant or Eastern Sea which communicates it self with the Ocean by that considerable passage called the streights of Gibelatrar The Romans made two Provinces of Spaine and in those two desperate sieges of Segungum and Numantia as well they as the Affricans tryed the constancy and courage of the Spaniards from whom they received great services in their armies So that it is not now onely that they are valiant souldiers The Goths enter into Spaine 168. The Goths Sweves and Vandals after they had ransacked the Empire made choice of Spaine for the seat of their domination as being very proper to command both Europe and Affrica They entered about the yeer 168. and remained in possession thereof more then four hundred that is till Rodrigues with almost all his nobility was defeated by the Saracons who were brought in by a certain Earl in revenge of the honour of his daughter whom the King had ravished Vengeance is against Christian Religion and yet this young Lady made her own native Country a prey to the Barbarians They maintained themselves there above seven hundred yeers as well against the French as the Spaniards themselves who endeavoured to expell them In precedent ages there were numbered about twelve Crowns or Kingdoms which were all reduced to one by Ferdinand and Isabell in the yeer 1474. except that of Portugal which being subjugated by Philip the second both by armes and right of succession hath been peacefully possessed by him and his heirs till the yeer 1640. when the Portugezes withdrew themselves from obedience to Philip the fourth and chose for their King the Duke of Bragaâ—sa under the name of John the jourth It was in the reign of the aforesaid Ferdinand The Indies found our under Ferdinand of Castill that the Indies and many other Islands were found out the riches whereof hath much augmented the potency of Spaine and made her aspire as her enemies say to the Monarchie of the whole world Philip the iv King of Spaine Now besides tho reasons aforementioned why there are so few inhabitants in a Country of large extent there is yet another which is this Ferdinand and Isabell having finished the Warr with the Moors resolved to expell the Jews also out of the territories under their obedience who transported themselves into Affrion Italy the Levant and Portugal The Jewes vanished out of Spaine and Portugall from whence they were likewise chased some yeers after And besides the women are sterill enough especially towards the south and again the warrs which their Kings have so long had in Germany Italy France and the Low-Countries not forgetting the infinity of Garrisons which they are obliged to keep to containe their people in their duty have so much exhausted Spaine that the King hath given great freedoms and immunities to such as have five or six male Children Yea moreover strangers are invited to come and dwell there under profitable conditions provided still that they be Romane Catholicks for the Inquisition suffers no other Religion then that Now this Inquisition so much cried down and reviled by other Nations was instituted at the first for the rooting out of the Mahometisme The Inquisition and Judâ—â—sme though it now extend it self upon all such as give but the least suspicion of not adhering totally to the definition of the Church of Rome If the said Kingdom were as well peopled as France the King would have made farre greater conquests then he hath and would not have been forced to expose his money and his armies to the infidelity of some strangers In fine the King of Spaine hath so many Kingdoms so many Provinces and so many Islands in all parts of the Universe that it was with good reason that a certaine great person in the yeer 1624 refuted Sleidan concerning the four Monarchies in these tearms Philip the fourth who now reigns saith he upon whose lands the sunne never sets is more potent then was any one of those Monarchs for the continuance of neer four score yeers together This nation walks slowly to conquest but she keeps well what she hath gotten She is tardy to resolve but she stoutly pursues what is resolved She is not frighted at the encounter of any difficulties and accomplishes her ends for the most part by pertinacy and obstinacy She foresees afar off and never looses either patience or hope howbeit that length of expectation makes her often loose good occasions She doth marvels under an Italian Generall which was observable in the Prince of Parma Marquis Spiâ—ola and others The Spaniards constant and haughty This proud Nation better understands the art of governing then all other and she hath in her some witts so subtle and acute that her very enemies themselves who hate her are fain to praise her And now let us come back againe over the hills to take notice of the complexion of that brisk Nation her rivall which hath often stopped her victories in the heigth of their course both in the Low-Conntries Germany and Italy France most populous France is a most large most rich and most populous Kingdome divided from Italy by Savoy and the Alps from High-Germany by Lorraine from England by the Sea and from Low-Germany by Luxemburgh Hennanlt Artoise and French-Flanders The Romans who subjugated the Gawles and distributed them into Belgick Câ—ltick and Aquitanick were beaten out by the opinion of some Authors by Cloâ—â—â—s the first Christian King about the year 500. The Francks passed the Rhein under Pharamond the first King Clodion went not beyond Cambray and was forced to return by Stilicon Aetins cut off his Army made him repass the Rhein und hurried him back in Francony-Meroâ—e laying hold of the advantage of the confusions of the Empyre took Trevers passed into Campagne from thence to Paris and then to Orleans and so then and there began to establish the French Monarchy giving to Gawl which he had conquered Gawl takes the name of France the name of France This kingdom by succession of time hath been been very much augmented and hath soon raised to the Throne Royall two and twenty Kings of the
shewed in fine that all was lost There are many persons so passionate that they cannot endure to hear truth spoken if it be contrary to their expectation and others preferre before the infamy of lying the unsteady profit which comes from it Prince Maurice had often enough bid the Generalls of Bohemia have a care of themselves for that they had to do with a great Captain full of courage and experience Many have believed that it was his designe to make Frederick be raised to the Imperiall Crown neither were the means thereof so difficult had not God disposed otherwise of it They of Brabant on the other side by way of equall return to the Hollanders pictured the Emperour in his Throne Loaden with with feathers elevated on high with a King fallen at his feet and the Eagle loaden with feathers plucking the Crown off his Head But Painters and Poets have alwayes been permitted to set forth their fancies and the Common People feed themselves with them as with solid food Now the Contra-Remonstrancers as well by means of the Synod of Dort as by the company of the Prince who declared himselfe of their party having wonne the Day Maurice changes the Magistrates stayed not there For Maurice by the advice of some Lords having changed the Magistrates in many Townes as I have hinted already put in their places such as he liked and such as approved of the said Synod In such sort as the Arminians were fain to leave the Cushion against their wills and were ill treated too in some parts for making too free use of that which by vertue of their birthright and the successe of the Armes of the Common-wealth they conceived could not be denied them These changes begat many Libells and gave ground to the Politicks to make sine observations upon those proceedings which remained secret No definitive sentence can be pronounced upon what may be done but upon what is done Now as mens humours which were agitated began by little and little to relent or slacken and partialities partly for fear and partly for want of nourishment to be choaked in the desire repose just so did the Truce draw towards an end And it must be noted that these people how much soever divided in faction return forthwith to a coherence when they apprehend any forraine Enemy For really common danger hath so great a power upon their minds that it makes them speedily reunite to resist the attempts of strangers and if that come once to faile farewell Liberty for they will never want private enemies and their pride is growne too high not to be envied by many Their vertue is accompanied by envy but their Power is too considerable to be easily and openly attacked One of the greatest wits of our times advised the King of Spain to make a Truce with them if he had mind to tame them The nature of the Hollanders For they are said he like over which joyne together to repell the Wolves but as soon as the danger is once past they fall to oddes amongst themselves The Arch-Duke sounded them to see if they would hearken to a Peace and acknowledge him for Soveraign under such terms as seemed to divide the Soveraignty but they bore a deaf ear and would not hear of so much as a prolongation of the Truce and the Embassadour passing through Delph was entertained by the dregges of the people with durt and mud and most unworthily treated before it could be remedied An Embassadour cannot be welcome where his Master is hated This affront was dissembled Spinola being returned out of Germany went and incamped himself near the Rhein whilest Count Henry of Berghen blocked up Gulick which surrendered it self for want of food in the moneth of February 1622. The same year Papeâ—â—tz in English Priests-Cap was likewise taken by meanes of the huge quantity of Granadaes which were cast into it This was a Fort so called seated upon an Island in the middle of the Rhein built during the Truce to exact Contributions of the circumjacent Countries and to incominodate the Boats which could not pass without being examined and visited by it and it was sacrificed to the vengeance of the Priests because it carried both the name and figure of their Quadrangular Bonnets Count Maurice by the decease of Philip of Nassaw his eldest brother who died like a Catholick at Breda a little before the expiration of the Truce being become Prince of Orange and Heir by will to all his said brothers goods sent his other brother with four thousand men to enter into little Brabant and force the Contributions The Hollanders in Brabant This surprize very much amazed Spinola cast the Country people into despair to see their houses fired and moved the soul of the Infanta who beheld this spoil from the wals of Brussels to compassion The Citizens would have marched out with their arms to revenge this wrong but Spinola commanded the Gates to be kept shut and would not suffer them to go and expose themselves to slaughter and an inevitable defeat The inhabitants of a Town do enough when they defend their own walls for the Field is fatall to them against old Bands and trained Souldiers Count Henry of Bergues arriving too late to hinder the return of the Hollanders which he might have effected either with his forces or by stopping up the River of Demer grew to be suspected of intelligence with his Kinsmen He was reproached that he might have come six and twenty houres sooner and that if he had used all requisite diligence the enemies could not have escaped But he excused himself the best he could and satisfied most of the Councell though not all and after his retreat it was all more maturely examined and considered by the most judicious men The complaint of the Spanish Embassadour in his behalf The Embassadour of Spaine complained once to King Henry of France for his endeavouring to disingage the said Count from his Masters service to which the King answered that he was by birth a Germane and no subject of the King of Spains And thus passed this complaint together with many more which the ignorant people imputed to the hatred which the Spaniards according to their saying and belief carried towards him CHAP. X. Berghen besieged Mansfeldt and his Bishop being beaten by Cordoua come to succour the Hollanders The death of the Duke of Bouillon and a summary of his life Spinola quitts the siege Mansfeldt passes into Friezland A third Warre in France THe burning of many fair villages in the sight of the Court caused so much spite in Spinolas soule that he studied nothing more then the meanes of revenging himself of it He kept his designe secret and assembled a great Army one part whereof he assigned to Don Lewis de Velasco and conducted the other which was far the greatest himself He made a shew to draw towards the Rheyn thereby to amuse the Hollanders whilest the said
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
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
Italy to go against the King of Sweden The Duke of Nevers was fain to ask pardon and Investure which accordingly was performed and peace and rest restored to Italy How many combats how much blood-shed was here for a sume of ambition For Religion had nothing to do in the matter But it is credible that the Spaniards would not suffer so potent a French Prince at the entry into Italy and so near the Dutchy of Milan which they keep as tenderly as the ample of their eyes and that the French on the other side would establish him and uphold him without acknowledging the Emperour God makes justice appear when men will throw it under foot with Arms. Prodigies in Italy This warre had been praemonstrated by many Prodigies and Portents which praeceded it as namely by Earthquakes in Apalia whereby more then sixteen thousand persons were overwhelmed by dreadfull floods streams of blood and the like And really these two Nations after having stoutly wrangled and by sword famin and contagious sicknesses lost above a million of mortals came neither of them to the principal but secret end which they had proposed to themselves and reaped no other salarie then that of vain-glory drawn out of jealousie of State The Countries were destroyed the Neighbours oppressed Christian Religion contemned and altered and in the one of the aforesaid nations by many persons quite annihilated The Ministers who love to fish in troubled waters and blow the bellowes of their Masters ambition so to carry them rashly on to warres which might be diverted by one single conference will one day have much to answer before the fountain of all Equity and Justice The enemies of Cardinal Richelieu But let us leave this point to be picked out by the Casuists and return to France where we shall discover how the Cardinal falls as deep into the hatred of the Grandies as he is strong in the possession of the Kings favour The Queen-Mother repented her self of having promoted a Minister who was to destroy her Gastion was vexed to see the management of all the affaires of France in his hands without participating therein That devout Prelate the Chardinall of Berulles laboured to stop him from forging some designes as pernicious to the Catholicks abroad as they had been to the Hughenots in France But Parca cut off the thred of his life and deprived Richelieu of a most Religious Enemy who survived him to accomplish his end in other yea in all such as gave any jealousie and the Hughenots themselves were grown to sing his prayses when many Catholicks had him in horrour and execration CHAP. XII Cardinal Richelieu makes peace with the English and devises new Allyances to attack the House of Austria WHEN the Cardinal by his great prudence had broaken that puissant Party which in some measure both divided and shocked the Soveraign Power re-established every where the Catholick Religion and a fresh springing Amity amongst the people he perceived himself in danger to be cast out of the Saddle But he had acquired so great an influence upon the mind both of King and People by the good successe of his Counsels that he was not a jot moved at the puissant factions which he saw growing against himself at the Court all which he surmounted afterwards by a certain felicity which alwayes accompanied him and which after the Peace of Italy shined with more force and luster His designes seemed to be carried to a breach between the two Crownes The King makes peace with the English for the more eafie atchievement whereof and to involve the Church in this pernicious warre from which some Grandies were averse by the intermission or mediation of the Venetians he made peace with the English whom he could not attack by land and thought of finding another enemy whom he might lay aboard when he would His Master had deserved and possessed the name of Just by humbling with great moderation the Hughenot Party and there was no better meanes left to obtain it also amongst the Reformates who were yet very hot then by poasting to the succour of the Protestant against the Emperour The King of England after the fall of the Hughenots in whose defence he had lost both many men and much money finding the lot of arms unfavourable which was to be also fatall to him afterwards chose to sit still in Royall vacancie and repose The first war of the King against the Spiniards the second against the French and the third against his Subjects He was unfortunate in the first Expedition he made when he sent that Fleer with the Admirall of Holland who joyned with a great number of ships to surprise Cales For after having suffered many inconveniences and losses it was fain at length to return and the King of Spain remitted many prisoners into England to be punished like Pyrats because their King had not denounced the War One affront was paid by another In his second undertaking against France Fortune favoured him yet lesse and his third and lasi was the ruine of his Family as we will shew towards the end of this Epitome Suddenly after the reduction of Rochel the Cardinal pressed hard for the succour of the Duke of Nevers against the opinion of such as could not endure so glittering a Purple and who apprehended a breach But he began it and ended it as we even now said in the yeare 1633. The said Duke sold his homage and duty to the Emperour which gave contentment to the Duke of Savoy and the Marquis de Guastala in regard of their pretensions to the aforementioned Dutchies Now having already dissipated the smallest and weakest enemies of his Greatnesse he crushed that Party which had been so formidable to the precedent Kings and being confirmed by the assurances which his Master had given him of covering him with his Crown against all such as endeavoured his mine he resolved upon this great designe against the house of Austria A designe I say of huge danger and which could not be undertaken and set on worke The Cardinal disposes the Protestants to War against the Emperour but by means of potent Allyes for fear of incurring the hazard of destroying the State Therefore he thought it fir to awaken the Protestants all the North and all such as hated the Roman Catholick Religion nor were the Hollanders the last though the Spaniards courted them in vaine to a Truce The King of England was easily disposed to it in regard of his Son in Law and so great a Family as wherewith both himself and the Hollanders were burthened in a strange Country however the Communion of Religion and compassion made this charge seem supportable and gentle In briefe for the common interest of upholding themselves and for the apprehension which every one in particular had of this puissant House they were all resolved A powerful Oratour cannot faile to perswade when he pleads the Common cause But now there wanted both
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-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
principal Imperial Towns besides It is seated almost in the Center of Germany hath alwayes been extreamely jealous of the Emperours happines opposed his designes by many direct wayes Nurembergh contrary to the Emperour as by Embassyes to the Protestants and by Leagues which it hath made with the Enemies of the House of Austria Wallenstein resolved to go thanke the Citizens of the Town for the good reception they had given his Masters Capital Enemy and by the same means to recall him to their succour The Armies drew neer the Town and invironned it together with the King who not being strong enough to oppose so great and terrible forces sent for all his Generals as Marshal Horne the Landgrave of Hassia Duke Bernard of Wimar Axel Oxensterns and a multitude of other Officers with their Troops who all arrived happily to his camp All the forces before Nurembergh save onely Tupadel who had three Regiments cut in pieces and himselfe taken prisoner Upon the other side Gallasso and Holck gave the Protestants like for like pilladged Misnia and took all the Towns Friburgh to save the Sepulcher of the Duke of Saxony paid eighty thousand Rix-Dollers Leipsick Galasso in Misnia took Garrison the second time and saw them returne whom it thought never to see again and that song was proved false which said that the Emperour was escaped like a Theese and a Highway-man But respect was lost and detraction praised Oh depraved Age Thou art full of injustice and perfidie Papenheim in Westphalia Papenheim being repassed the Rheyn made all his Enemies forthwith know of his returne and all the Birds smelling the approach of the Falcon hid themselves He tore some in pieces and made others fly from their nests without letting any body take either rest or breath Baudis His exploits and the Landgrave felt the prickings of his tallons Duke George of Luneburgh who had besieged Wollfenbottel found himselfe oppressed before he knew of his Enemies coming and he was so well cudgelled that he could hardly get safe to Brunswick This successe so much inflamed the courage of this brave Souldier that he presumed to attack the great Towns and so he took Hâ—ldesheem and Mulhuse with three hundred thousand Rix-Dollars for ransom and Erfurt was already mennased by him when he heard that the King was departed out of Franconie and was coming towards Saxony there to finde his Tomb And indeed he said a little before the Battel of Lutzen that he should not live long because he was too much loved honoured The words of Gustave and respected by the people which prediction of his proved true as we shall forthwith demonstrate CHAP. XXVII The Armies encamped before Nurembergh The Skirmishes They depart from thence The Battail of Lutzen The death of King Gustave King Frederick and Papenheim I Shal not mention all which passed between the two greatest Armies that have been seen these hundred yeares composed of so many Generals as well as others Every one laboured to excell his companion and whatsoever art and subtilty can be in Arms was here set on work The King who boasted that he had to do with a Priest which was Tilly with a souldier Tilly called Priestly the King Papenheim Souldier and Willenstein Foole. meaning Papenheim and with a Fool which was Wallenstein who gave him more exercise then all the rest not being able to draw him to a generall Battail offered him the Crown of Hungary but that not succeeding and the Impostume which Wallenstein had in his soul not being yet ready to burst and vent the filth which was in it recourse must be had to force For the Imperialists were grown Hollanders and served themselves of the Spade instead of the Lance. But Gustave longing to be Master of the Empyre resolved to unnestle him from thence and assembled his principall Officers to dispose his Army that way But finding them of a contrary opinion through the impossibility of the Enterprize he fell to reproach them and utter such injurious language against them as had not their interest been tyed to his Gustave abuses his Officers and their aversion from the House of Austria too great would have made many of them disband In so much as that Duke Barnard rising full of generous choler answered him in these terms Sir the Germans are not Cowards But the King appeased him saying that it was not he whom he taxed and so disposed him together with the other Officers to a Generall Attack The losse of the Swedes The Swedes advanced and the Imperialists covered with their Trenches withstood them and after a stubborn fight of many houres and the losse of the Flower of their Army repulsed them There were aboue five thousand killed upon the place besides hurt and taken Then was the gold of great Gustaves wisdome ecclipsed and appeared that it was neer an end The Imperialists lost about fifteen hundred men And the King fearing least he should loose the Electour of Saxonie left a good Garrison in the Town to secure it and marched with all his Army towards Saxonie to preserve that Countrey for himself But whilest the Armyes were incamped neer Nurembergh and the circumjacent Countries for more then ten leagues compasse ruined by the excursions of so many men General Arnem domineered over Silesia at his pleasure and being reinforced by some Troops constrained Holck to cast himself into Misnia with Galasso The Masters of Politick Science were of opinion that if Wallenstein had had a mind to destroy the King he might have done it without putting himself in the danger of hazarding a Combat had it not been upon very great advantage but that he let him passe so to play his part the better Whatever were the matter his actions were more neerly and narrowly pryed into afterwards which when the right side of the Meddal was turned upwards were discovered to be all criminal The King not having been able to ruin Wallenstein passed to the Dutchy of Wirtembergh and sent General Bannier over the Danub The Duke separated himself to go and defend his Countrey and Wallenstein followed the King but suddenly changed his resolution and marched into the Dutchy of Saxonie there to take up his Winter quarters Gustave hastened thither Wallenstein speedily sent for the Valliant Papenheim The King whose genius seemed to apprehend that of the Souldier laboured to hinder this conjunction and desired to destroy him but could not for the Souldier had too much craft and dexterity and he was very well receaved by his General who sent him with ten or twelve Regiments to surprise Hall and keep Galasso and Holck with himself The King being incamped before Nurenburgh had notice from Wallensteins Camp neer Lutzen of the departure of him whose valour he so much esteemed and being desirous to end the difference by a Battail The Battail of Lutzen disposed his Army thereto with a short speech And Wallenstein having discovered his intension
known But what remedie for so desperate a businesse Weallenstein's designs discovered The Vessel could not choose but run aground when the Pilot himself cast her upon the Sand-bank and against the Rocks This Traitor had all in his hands and the Emperour seeing that his own servants had resolved his ruine implored the help of heaven However it was thought fit in this disorder to send money to the Garrison of Prague so to be sure of that as being the Capitall City of the Kingdom and to retain the King of Hungary who was ready to march into the Field with too weak forces Frithland sent his Brother-in Law Count Terskie to Prague but it was too late for they made him understand that they would acknowledge none but the Emperour Whereupon our design said he is discovered let us pack away and Joyn with the Swedes Now this infamous treason was known to Gordon Leasly and Butler the two former Scotch and the last an Irish Officer but all the difficulty was how to stifle it in the Cradle to which effect they invited Terskie Kinskie Illaw and Newman all his Creatures to supper Supper at Eguer where they took their lives to pay the score and save their Master Ferdinands And thus the Tragedie being begun upon them as the Members must be ended upon him the detestable Head the Commission whereof was faithfully and laudably undertaken by Butler who thrusting open his dore and finding him up so staggered and hared him Wallenstein massacred that he could not make one word of answer to this fatal salutation Oh Traytour to the Emperour and Empyre art thou there And therewith run him through with his Partizan so that he fell down dead and an Irish souldier having crushed his head with the But-end of his Musket took him by the heels and threw him out at the window This was the end of this ungratefull Minister who from an ordinary Gentleman was risen to so much greatnesse that he could climbe no higher without being a Traitour and a Parricide As he had done great services on the one side so had he also received great recompences on the other his Master having created him Prince of the Empyre and made him so potent that he had trouble enough to unmake him again yea and much adoe to save both himself and his House from his cruel perfidie Never were Traitours seen to make a good end ambitions persons fall into the praecipice which they intend for others He was very much hated and that chiefly by the Emperours enemies and yet some to make the Prince odious have presumed to excuse him as if he had been wrongfully killed Men who are overballanced by Passion have no solid judgment It is said of him that for having only awaked him out of his sleep he had caused many to be hanged with this sentence Hang that beast And yet I say he hath found pennes which have justified his proceedings and accused the House of Austria of cruelty and ingratitude But that Polish Bishop who hath defended him against the sense of the very Swedes the French Diâ—seck a Polish Bishop and other of the Emperours enemies hath rather discovered his own antipathy against that Family which was then combatted by so many Protestants then reasons and arguments sufficient to prove his innocence nor are they indeed valued but where blinde passion praedominates though yet still this praeoccupated old man hath not failed to finde applause amongst such of his nation as disapproved the streight Allyance of their King with the aforesaid House Whatever be reported of him he was a good and judicious souldier but ambition becoming the Mistresse of his reason made him according to the opinion of almost all Authors machinate and contrive the death of his Master and his Children by which cruell affect he stained all his gallant exploits and rendred his name infamous to posterity The end crownes the work and it serves for nothing to have well begun unlesse we finish so too The Polanders are in action it is time to speak of their vertue which hath produced miracles CHAP. XXXII The Siege of Smolensko raised The King of Poland compells an Army of a hundred and twenty thousand men to have recourse to his mercy He makes peace with the Muscovits and chastises the Turks The Infanta's death The taking of Rhinbergh Aitona ranges the Militia and takes some Lords prisoners ULadislans the fourth King of Poland was after the death of his brother Sigismund by the cosent of the Stares and Nobility preferred to the Throne and there suddenly presented it self a fair occasion to signalize the beginning of his Reign and let the Polanders see that he would be the terrour of his enemies The Muscovits after having done much spoyle in Lituania besieged the Town of Smolensko the walls whereof are extremely thick The King sent his Army thither and went himself shortly after to command it Great skirmishes were made but small means to beat up a quarter whereupon he resolved to storm two Fortresses or Holds which were upon the River and would needs be there himself in person The more difficult this Enterprise was the greater was the glory for more then six thousand Muscovits were put the sword Upon these advantages he intrenched himself and not being able to unnestle them totally from thence he cut off all their Provisions in such sort as they quickly found themselves reduced to the extremity either of starving An Unheard of victory or rendring themselves to his mercy A terrible thing and not heard of before that a hundred and twenty thousand men should bring their Arms and Colours and cast them at the feet of this victorious Prince This was not a victory but a monster of a victory He pardoned them all and made the strangers which were about fourteen thousand men promise never to bear arms more against the Crowne of Poland A while after peace was made between them upon conditions that the King should relinquish his Title Peace made and praetentions upon the Great Dutchy and the Grand Duke his upon Smolensko and some other places The Turke and Tartars seeing the Polanders busie entred into Poland to make a diversion The Turks â—eaten and give the Muscovits breath But the King had done his work time enough to come and put sire in their tayles for he bear them and forced them to beg peace which he granted them upon most honourable terms for himself At the same time the third part of the City of Constantinople was burnt to the ground with incredible losse A prodigie which threatned the Turkes with that misfortune which is now befalling them Let us now return into Holland through England where we shall finde King Charles as much in love with peace and quiet as King Iames his Father was He went into Scotland and was crowned there the twenty fifth of Iune 1633. We lest the Deputies of the Obedient Provinces very busie about
Mastricht which was of much advantage to him and in some measure recompenced so many losses and had not the Enterprize so excellently begun upon Rhinbergh failed by the cowardise of the Enterprizers all would have remained equal enough For the Spaniards had cast bridges of bulrushes into the Motes without being discovered the selfe same evening that the rejoycing was made for the taking of Breda upon which having passed and made themselves Masters of some Bastions they fell into the Town it selfe but the Souldiers of the Garrison tumultuarily and suddainly taking arms put them to a retreate and the Horse seeing the Gate open durst not enter and so the Town got a fine escape The next year 1638. Fortune returned to the Spaniards For the French laid Siege before St. Omers a strong and well munitioned Place siâ—â—ted upon a little River which empties it selfe into the Sea neer Graveling St. Omers â—â—sieged the birth of the Dolphin the fifth of Seâ—tember 1638. but having lost the Fort neer the Bat and a great Convoy they were compelled to rise with great losse which was mollified by the birth of the Dolphin the fifth of September the joy whereof was universal and the Queen after a marriage of three and twenty years sterility manifested an admirable exception to that Rule which sayes that the Spanish Ladies beare no children after they are four and thirty years old But it is true that this blessed fecundity was sent by the Divine Providence for the good of France Two dayes after this the French were beaten from Fontaraby and their Army defeated The French beaten before Fontaraby which misfortune hapned as it is beleeved by the Prince of Condes bad correspondence with the Duke de la Valette and the losse of this victory obscured the luster of that which they got at Sea as their taking of Reuty a place considerable enough softened a little the wound received before St. Omers Cattelet was also retaken and the Governour together with all the Captains beheaded for not withstanding so much as one assault and expecting the succour which was already neer the Town When Fortune laughs too much she ordinarily carryeâ— venim in her taile which the Hollanders experimented this year For they craftily got into Planders took two little Forts and besieged that of St. Mary where they were so well intrenched that had they kept that Station they had gone neer to make Antwerp quickly change her Master But they were so briskly and frequently attacked by the Spaniards that they grew faint-hearted And the Hollanders before Callo and endeavoured to returne by flight the same way they came but were almost all taken prisoners and all their Artillery and Shallops fell into the Enemies â—iandsâ— There were of them more smothered in the marshes then killed in the fight and Count William had very much adoe to save himselfe with a few more in his company The prisoners had the same treatment which the Spaniards had received who were taken in the Sallops in the year 1631. Nor was the Prince of Orange himselfe much happier before Guelders though he retired with lesse losse and trouble These alternative victories and these great Changes of Fortune constant in her inconstance ought to have made the Princes remember that being Christians they were bound to lay aside their animosities but they were so fleâ—hed upon one another that they aspired to nothing lesse then peace and took nothing more to heart then the utter ruine of each other Their thirst was not yet quenched with humane blood The Queen-Mother arrives in Holland goes into England comes back to Colein Her death nor their heat deminished by reposing all the Winter The Queen-Mother departed from Bruffels passed through Holland where she was received with respect enough in all the Towns but principally at Amsterdam where that illustrious Magistracy performed the honours of the Republick and then embarked for England where she was embraced by her Son in Law and her Daughter with honour and sense of tendernesse and joy There was a report that it was she who counselled the match of the Prince of Orange with the eldest Daughter of England and the English imputed the first seeds of the divisions and wars of their Kingdom to her as if this unfortunate Princesse had every where carried ill luck in her company like some contagious sicknesse But seditious persons are glad to cast the fault and guilt of their ill intentions upon such as are not beloved by the ignorant people nor is there any more vicious and corrupt Soul then that of a detracter She repassed by Zeland to Colein and seeing that he whom she had raised so high slighted her disasters stood fast in favour and in the entire administration of the affairs of the Kingdom she fell sick and after having pardoned all her enemies dyed This great Queen Mother to so may Kings being overwhelmed with miseries and old age left this mortal habitation and taught us thereby that there is no sure and stedfast felicity in this pilgrimage She had most wisely governed the Kingdom of France during the Kings minority and elevated to the highest degree of honour him who rendered her most miserable afterwards If the little ones are trodden under foot the Great ones are also precipitated and tumbled down headlong from the highest honours and dignities into the abysse of calamities to the end that every one may resent the disasters of this constantly deplorable Age. The Season being proper the Armies were led again into the Field and Fortune shared the Victories The French beâ—ten before Theonuille The Army of Campagne under the command of Monsiâ—ur de Feuquieres went to besiege Theonuille where it was quite defeated by Piccolomini and Beck who presented himselfe before Monzon but the Duke of Chastillon having recollected the fragments thereof and joyned them with his Troops for Fenquieres was dead of his wound made him change his route and follow the Infanto's order to come to the reliefe of Hosdin which was furiously attacked by Marshal de la Meilleraye and most excellently defended by the Garrison Though yet at length the Governour having sustained many assaults and spent all his powder and seeing on the other side the Assaultants animated by the Kings presence was saine to yeild it upon a good composition Hosdin rendred to the French â—638 1638. It was belâ—eved that had he been able to hold it out two dayes and two assaults more the Siege would have been raised but Pâ—ccolomini came too late and the Ambuscado which he had laid for the King in his returne from the Field was discovered too soone The Prince of Conde seized upon the strong place of Salces in the County of Rossillion which was quickly afterwards retaken by Marquis Spinola and the King of Spain who often sent forces into the Low-Countries found himselfe quickly in a condition to draw some from thence into Spain This very year Prince Cassimir now
time till the Queen being supplicated to release them was content to grant it And thus Appeased was the first bout which was but precursory to greater evils past and a calme restored to that little world for three or four moneths It is very reasonable say the Strangers that the Shop where the Counsells of so many wars had been forged should feel a part of the Calamities by which Europe hath been so miserably tottered but the mischiefe falls upon the heads of the innocent Strange effects of the Divine Providence which leaves nothing firme and stable in this detestable Age and nothing unpunnished though deferred Let us passe to the second much more dangerous then the first The Queen together with the King and Princes went out of Paris upon the fifth or sixth of January at night 1649 which clandestine retreat The King goes out of Paris which causes a tumult gave the Inhabitants such an Alarme as imagining that she would revenge her selfe of the former Commotion that they took arms again with as much heate as they had done before and raised forces to conserve themselves under the command of the Duke of Beaufort Elbouf and Bouillon as also the Marshal de la Motte and their chief General was the Prince of Conty The King raised some also and there came many to him from all parts to reduce this great City to reason he had already seized upon some approaches and some hot Skermishes were made in one whereof The pretended Duke of Rohan killed His education that pretended Duke of Rohan was killed of whose education the Reader will be pleased to hear a word or two as I have been able to learne it Being yet an Infant he was carried into Holland by a certain Captain and put to nurse to a Country-woman in North-Holland where together with his milk he sucked in the love of the Roman Catholick Religion When he was grown pretty big he was sent to the Latin Schooles at Leyden but with so little care that he was as it were quite abandoned and almost reduced to the extremity of betaking himselfe to learne some Trade During this small state and low condition he told his School-fellowes and namely my sonne that he remembred well that he was come of a good House and that he well knew that he was the sonne of a French Gentleman He went publickly to the Sermons and privatly when he could to Masse which being come to the knowledge of some to whom he was recommended without knowing who he was they forbid him to go to the secret Assemblies of the Papists But in fine the vizard was taken off and the Dutchesse of Rohan acknowledged him by Letters for her sonne sent him men and mony to set up his Traine and bring him into France where he soone sound his grave for a Pistoll bullet decided the sure and the doubt of whether he were the true sonne of the deceased Duke of Rohan or no. Paris was in a more dangerous State then it had been in a long time before for the King held S. Dennis Mewdon Corbeil and Lagny so that to get out of one extremity recourse must be had to another and that to the uttermost parts of the Kingdom I mean they were faine to implore assistance of their Enemies which being favourably offered they received it The Arch-duke goes to sucour Paris 1649. The Arch-duke Leopold promised to succour the Parliament against the Perturbatour of the Peace and quiet of Christendom for so they tearmed Cardinal Mazarin with whom he refused to joyn in Arms to his own great advantage and the ruin of the Partsians Wherefore he departed in March 1649. with very good order in all parts where he passed but with discontentment to his Army which marched in the Enemies Countrey with their hands tyed without receaving mony or daring to take any thing from the Peasants Goodnesse is sometimes dammageabe and to spare ones Enemies is to give them will to hurt him and deminish his strength Cardmal Mazarin seeing the Arch-dukes approach and Parliaments care for the remedy of the disorders which threatned the Kingdome with a great breach gave way to this sterme which being once joyned might come to destroy him So that the Peace was made all those insurrections were pardoned and Leopold found at the bottom of this businesse what the Duke of Lorrain had told him before For he was advised to retyre with all speed for fear least his passage were stopt A considerable favour indeed for having saved Paris from ruin with the losse of almost two thousand Horses which dyed for want of sorrage This deceipt was imputed to the necessity of the rime which when it hath any ground passes for craft for otherwise The peace made it is but meer malice Parisians it will be payd you and your inconstance will be chastized for the busines will not be forgotten The Arch-duke being amazed at this piece of levity speedily retreated towards his borders Ypers besieged and gave the Marquis of Sfondrato order to invest Ypers which he did the 11 th of April with incredible diligence having taken some Forts which facilitated the succour of the Town from Dunkerk but he found more to doe then was imagined for they of the Garrison being in number three thousand having thrust out some fifteen hundred inhabitants such as were most suspected and shut up the Magistrates the Clergy and some of the Nobility in a Cloister til the Tragedie were finished made their Artillery sound lowde and their blowes fall heavy in many sallies and especially in that of the 24. of April when they went and beat up the quarters of the Spaniards which was a most glorious action for had the succour been ready the Town had been infallibly delivered from the Siege In fine after having well defended the Countersearpe and a Half-Moon they yeelded themselves up the eighth of May Renders it self the eighth of May 1649. after having consumed their powder and the Garrison in respect that it was Sunday went out the tenth which was Tuesday St. Venant submitted at discretion the sixth of April and the Garrison were made prisoners of War The French Army made Rendezvous between Perone and Guise being a body of five and twenty thousand effective men under the orders of that fortunate Warrier the Count of Harcourt who knowing that the Spanish Troops were scattered and dispersed marched with speed incamped and intrenched themselves before Cambray Cambray besiged and tâ—â—en This un-thought-of surprize did not a little puzed the Arch-duke who contracting all his forces hastened with the Duke of Lorrain to succour the place and so having put in a supply he obliged the Besiegers to raise the Siege This done he sent his Army into Garrison and the French out of revenge for this affront fell into Hennawlt took Conde and asked both that and all the whole County in such manner as if they had had no intention
usually happen about that season of the year withdrew themselves likewise into Harwich and Yarmouth Roades Let us leave them both labouring to repayre their ships without examining the number of the dead and wounded or lending eare to the cries and groanes of Widows and Orphanes which ring even to heaven it selfe in all parts of Europe to see what passed at that time in Guyenne and we shall meet by the way some Vessels richly loaden The French â—â—bes some ships of the Spaniands which Mons. de la Mâ—ilheraye carried in triumph from Spain to Nantes We have told you already that Bourdeaux had recourse to the Kings clemencie The reasons why Bourdeaux yealds the cause of which change was this The length of the siege the Plague Famin and more then all secret Intelligence and the Act of Oblivion prevayled for the King The â—pâ—nish Fleet â—â—rives too late In such sort as the Spanish Fleet which arrived two dayes after the accommodation returned into Spain to see the Admiral thereof beheaded and the Princesse of Condè retyred into the Low-Countries to her husband who after this reduction had no body lest in those parts who sides with him Indeed the tardity of the Spaniards and the proceeding of the Prince of Conty gave France glory and such as knew the affayres of the world matter to examine the reasons thereof All these successes were attributed to the Cardinals prudence who by destroying the Princes Party fortifyed his own and prepared himself to have the King annointed The tumult in Languedock passes like a flash for that tumult of Languedock between the Count of Rieux and them of the Religion which looked as if it would have caused an embarassement proved but a flash and forthwith disappeared so that the troubles were allayed in those two great Provinces and they in condition to see thenceforth no other forces there then they that are usually raysed for Catalunia The heat of the English recalls us speedily towards the North besides there passed nothing worthy of memory in the County of Rossillion After that bloody Navall Battail which makes the haire stand on the heads of such as hear it related and which looked as if it must needs have cooled the courage of these Champions for entring the lists any more which all Christendome beheld with terrour the English were the first who endeavoured to resume the Dance A tempest indâ—â—â—ages the English Fleet. but a horrible tempest arising made them repent their temerity and sent them back to their ports many of their ships being much incommodated In fine these most valorous Sea-souldiers gave the Belgick Lyon so many jerks and â—hogs that almost all the States of Europe foreseeing and apprehending this terrible Power desired to gain their amity amongst which the Swedes were not the last The Swedes make Amity with England to evidence that interest of State was not less near their hearts now then the pretext of Religion was formerly from which they drew so great advantage The Hollanders fearing lest the prosperity of their enemies should make them enterprize somewhat upon them by land as well as by water made the Country people take Arms and keep good Guard every where without neglecting what belonged to the Sea and the furnishing of Ships The Country people take Arms in Holland about which they laboured incessantly But this was not sufficient for they must chuse an Admirall who fell out to be Opdam of the most ancient House of Wassenaer who forthwith transported himself to Amsterdam Opdim Admirall and thence to Texel at the mouth of the North Sea to put all things in good order Eukhayse drawn out of the hands of the Rabble At the same time the Town of Enkâ—sen seated upon the South-Sea seven Leagues from Amsterdam was drawn out of the hands of the Rabble by means of some souldiers who entred very craftily whilest they were all running to the Town-house to heat a Proclamation This tumult was of so dangerous a consequence that it had dismounted the Magistrates but that of the Haghe about the young Prince A tumult at the Haghe and was begun by Children and augmented by some malicious persons who brake the glass-windowes of many houses made the Burghers or Townsmen run to their Arms and the Nobility get on horse-back to stop these petulances which deserved somewhat more then the rod. at Alckmaer That of Alckmaer had the same issue and was refrenated by the prudence of the Magistrates All which seditions had but one and the same Cause and their Pretexts were also very little different Indeed the Red-Lyon had very much to do both at home and abroad by the strength of his enemies Murmur against the States and by disunion of wills amongst his friends and such as were bound to the Helme were not a little exposed to the venimous traducements of evill tongues A tumult in England England felt also some Commotion for want of pay but that was smothered and no body stirred but some certain Seamen some whereof payd the score for all In the moueth of November the Holland Fleet having conducted another towards the Sownd and being fallen too near the Coasts was surprised by a suddain storme which cast many of the Ships so a ground A tempest afflicts the Holland Fleet. that they could not ger off into the Main and many poor Seamen miserably perished about a Musket-shot from the Mountains of Sand so that Fortune treated both parties alike in sight of the Coast laughed at their Enterprises but the more judicious sort of men foreseeing that at long running the Traffick would be utterly annihilated and the ruine of Holland advanced which was so much envied for her riches considered that a Peace though little glorious was better then a thousand triumphs The Embassadours of Holand return into England to begin the treaty of peace again Wherefore the States sent their Embassadours again to London to begin the Treaty for the last time and in case of refusal to tell the English that they would enter into a Confederation against them with some other Princes thereby to bring them to reason The confusion which was made by the plurality of voyces and the roaring of the Red Lyon rung so loud that the most considerate Lord Protector and his Parliament who regorged with booty taken from the Hollanders opened their ears to the Propositions of Peace But whilest these things were in agitation who would have believed but that many should needs be well disposed for the Kings eldest Son For the High-landers in Scotland had taken Arms and had received some from Holland the French spighted at the taking of their Fleet without a denunciation of war arrested all the English Merchants goods in Normandy the Hollanders made a shew of preparing themselves in good earnest for the war which yet notwithstanding they endeavored to shun as most pernicious to them Some beleeved
Livoma where he gained some advantage upon Samonskie besieged Riga but in vain and returned into Sweden in great danger to be drowned When he had gotten the Crown upon his head he gave the reasons thereof to all Christian Kings and Princes justifying his proceedings the best he could and seeking the allyance of his Neighbours and chiefly that of the States Generall Samonskie the Great Chancellonr aforesaid writ against him and cried our upon his ambition which greatly offended him and gave subject of great grudges between them which grew at length to implacable hatred Chules looset the Battel Fortune frowned upon him at Riga for his Army being much stronger then that of Poland was rooted by General Cockevietz who having senr four hundred of the Livonian horse over a River to attack the Swedes in the Reer wonne the Battel by this stratatagem and so Livonia came to be under the Polanders till the Reign of the Great Gustavus Adolphus who reduced it to his obedience All Livonia hath embraced the Lutheran Religion as well as Sweden where it is held for one of their Fundamentall Lawes as it also is almost through all the North. Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern kingdoms the Head City whereof is Stockholm a Town the Suburbs and Sea-thore or strand comprised of great distent There are many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes heard great illusions and phancies as there likewise are in the water which are very troublesome and terrible both to men and horses which passe that way The country is not much inhabited and the chief Provinces are West-Gothland East-gothland from whence as also from the rest of Sweden according to the opinion of some Authours came the Goths who so much vexed the Romane Empyre This kingdom is full of Copper and Iron Mines The Swedes are good souldiers both by Sea and Land and have given incredible examples of their valour both in Germany and Denmark they are of a strong Complexion and sit to endure hardnesse and labour The Nobility is very mild and frank loves learning and languages but especially Latin and French travels much abroad is very dexterous at exercises and honours and seeks learned company Yea and they have this vertue above all other nations wherewith I have conversed that they heartily love one another our of their own country hide the vices of their Compatriots and stand much for the honour of their nation The Peasants or Country people send their Deputies to the Assemblies of the States to the end that nothing be coucluded there to the prejudice of their priviledges King Gustave and Queen Christine his Daughter now reigning created much new Gentry which in some sort is disdained by the ancient Families in regard the Nobility of the kingdom was almost exhausted by the Warres CHAP. VI Of Denmark The Description thereof DEnmark is a kingdom the best part whereof consists of Islands as namely Zeland and Fionia The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Jutland to Holstein It was peacefully gouerned by the prudent conduct of King Christian the fourth successour to Frederick the second his Father and Duke of Holstein During his minority he had four Counsellours to help him to bear the charge of the Government He was crowned the 29 th of August in the year 1596. The principal strength of this Kingdom consists of good and stately ships whereof the King hath a considerable number as well for the defence of his said Islands as for that most important passage of the Sownd which is the streight that separates Scania from Zeland and which is of huge advantage by reason of the infinity of ships which must passe over it to go into the Baltick Sea in the same manner that those of all the Havens of the said Sea and bound for the Ocean are forced to passe that way The Nobility of Denmark as also that of Holstein is much more inclined to warres then learning zealous for their liberty and Rights and makes no allyance by marriage with the common people a maxime much observed through all the North Poland and Germany They rufuse Ecclesiastical Honours as below their condition defend their priviledges and make no esteem of others though by their experience and knowledge they may merit the best Offices and Employments in the Country The Government is not much unlike that of Poland in both which Elective Kingdomes the Kings undertake nothing of importance without the consent of the States and Nobility The Gentlemen are all equall and as it were of one Family there being neither Earl nor Baron The Officers of the Crown and Counsellours of the kingdome have the preheminency and assist the King in the most weighty affaires of the Countrey Norway an Hereditary kingdom opposite to Great Britain or England It is very big but very desert and hath no considerable Towns but such as are near the Sea side It yeelds great store of fish wood boards and good skins These three kingdomes were heretofore under the government of the King of Denmark But the Swedes not being able to suffer the tyranny of Christian the second divided themselves from his obedience They all follow the Lutheran Religion and the Capitall City of Denmark is Coppenhaghen a very fair town situated upon the streight of the Sownd near the Baltick Sea a passage of about four leagues most pleasant and recreative by means of a Forrest which borders upon the Sea from Coppenhaghen to Elsener of which passage because it is so much envyed we will hereafter speak more at large The Peasants of Denmark and Poland are treated almost like slaves for the greatest part of the Nobility licentiously abusing their liberty despises all who are not Gentlemen A fault which hath drawn ruine upon many Families which boasted of the story of their Ancestours But it is not enough to be born a Gentleman unlesse it appear by vertuous laudable and generous actions CHAP. VII Of Great Britain The History of the Earl of Gore ENgland is a most fertile and most potent Island as well for scituation as men and ships There reigned Queen Elizabeth a Princesse as happy in her allyances success of arms and love of her subjects as ever was She was Daughter to Henry the 8 th and Sister to Mary and Edward She changed the Religion declared her self Head of the Church She was alwaies well served She sent strong succours to the King of Navarre and her subjects wonne many victories by Sea from the Spaniard against whom she continued her hatred even till her death in favour of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-countries She was a sworne enemy to the Roman Catholick Religion and seemed to have made it her task to destroy that as well as she had the King who bears the surname of it Scotland is a kingdom which makes a part but not the better part of this Island There reigned as King Lames Stewart a Prince esteemed very wise who resented
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-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.
had so much adoe to awaken In sine Whatsoever is profitable in matter of State seems lawfull But what we do our selves we ought not to condemn in others the Peace made 1506. The suspicion daily encreased and that chiefly because Count John of Ritsbergh was become a Roman Catholick But at last by the intercession of the King of England and the States-Generall the Peace was made at the Haghe in the year 1606 as also that of the Christians and Turks and all jealousies which could come from thence quite take off CHAP. XIV Of the Changes which happened in precedent Ages about matter of Religion and the motives of our Design drawn from these revolutions Luther writes against the Pope The Rebellion of the Peasants of Germany THe differences which have happened amongst Christians upon the diversity of Religions the distrusts which have sprung from thence as the fire from the flint and the reasons of State precious covers for manifest wickednesse have proved the cause of the greatest part of all our present mischiefes and languishments Therefore let us seek out the true root of it and leave passion to such as cannot receive any other impressions then those by which they are utterly blinded My purpose is not to dyve into questions of Divinity but only to search in History after the causes of so many alterations and so much hatred drawn from so holy and innocent a subject Pope Julius the second We will therefore begin with Pope Iulius the second who died in the year 1513. This Pope more carefull of the Temporall then of the Spiritual and more studious of propagating the Jurisdictions of the Church then the kingdom of God made an Allyance with the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain to the utter ruine of the Venetians But he quickly changed his Cards forsook the Allyes reconciled himself with his enemies animated Henry the Eighth King of England against the French and Ferdinand against the King of Navarre whom he spoyled of his kingdom for refusing him passage He embroiles Europe He also dissolved the Allyance between the Emperour and the King of France and called the Swissers into Italy to drive the French out of the Milan In fine having sunk all Europe into inexplicable confusions and scandalized his Flock he made place for Leo the 10 th a man who loved rest and was lesse a souldier then Iulius of whom is written this great praise that he once cast some Keyes into the Tyber saying that St. Pauls Sword should have more power then the Arms of St. Peter The duty of a good shepherd is to keep his sheep in peace and feed them and not scatter them and send them to the shambles Whilest these warres lasted which ruined the Publick and Human Laws the Divine ones were also very ill kept The ignorance of the Prelates caused superstitions and their loose and vicious lives together with their great and vast possessions the hatred of the people The learned desired a redresse in the Ecclesiastical Policy as well as Peace required in the Secular Divorce which continues to this day with as little apparence of Reunion as there is of seeing the Rivers run back to their springs And it is that the Pope published a Iubily for the collection of monies to resist the Turk which was most necessary at that time But the impudence of a certain Monk called Teâ—zel exceeded so farre as to presume to sell the Indulgences or Pardons for the sinnes committed and to be committed I have horrour to recite this cheaâ—erie the companion of superstition ignorance and avarice and forthwith to draw soules out of Purgatory Martin Luther Martin Luther opposes Tyrzel Dector of Divinity at Witembergh and Monk of the Order of St. Austin briskly opposed this Impostor made a Thesis or General Position which he dedicated to the Pope himself to testify the will he had to relye upon his definition But through excess of indignation he passed the limits of Christian modesty and Catholick Truth Insomuch as that at length he grew to write against the Popes authority wherein he was impugned by a Divine called Eckins See Florimoud of Remond He is excommunicated Now Pope Leo desirous to quench this spark excommunicates Luther but that was to cast oyle into that fire and put poison to the wound For Martin raises his Batteries against him and calls him Antichrist which the Pope too much slighting applyed all his thoughts to warre Those enemies who are most despised are very often most hurtfull But the God of Peace drove him out of this world to make room for another more worthy and more vâ—â—tuous though lesse politick then he However Policie be a very convenient Science for such as govern great States and Empyres Pope Adrian the Preceptor or Tutor to Charles the 5. was born at Vâ—rick and promised to bring a wholesom Balsom to the diseases of Christendome For he had already elevated the hopes of the Good by abolishing Simony punishing sins against nature and not alienating the possessions of the Church But his too suddain death declared that God had otherwise disposed of him that his two Predecessors had too much embroyled the Flock that the sicknesse must have its course and that the Body was filled with too many bad humours to be cured by one single purge or one Blood-letting onely His doctrine in Saxony Now Luthers doctrine passed from Saxony into Sweden King Gustave and Frederick of Denmark being leagued together against Christian who deserted by his people was fled and they also forsook the Pope as well as their King and much ranged the authority of the Bishops of their kingdomes And as Luthers Doctrine grew to be received so diffidence and hatred grew equally up with it together with a desire also to maintaine it against all who endeavoured to suppress it There was besides another accident which very much troubled the Church and it was that Charles the Emperour and King Francis the first had very often entreated the Pope and Cardinals to call a General Councill for the reformation of abuses in the Church and Clergy But this song was little lesse unpleasant then the opposition of Luther And so these two Princes laying aside that care they being too nearly tyed to their own interests meditated nothing but warre upon each other Pope Clement successor to Adrian seeing the King of France prisoner made speedily a secret Allyance with his own subjects and almost all the Princes of Italy so to put a limit to the power of the Emperour who in revenge thereof abrogated his Authority in Spain surprised Rome and took him prisoner who was very ill treated by the Germans as being for the most part Lutherans Now these two Monarchs being the chief Pillars of Europe ought to have favoured a Reformation and hindred a separation But what The impiety of the people whets the sword of the Almighty who comes slowly to vengeance though
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
Crown upon the Head of King Henry And he seeing the disorder which happened in that Family and strengthened by the friendship of some Catholick Princes Paxadge demanded of them of Colem as well as most assured of that of the Protestants leaned visibly that way The Magistrates of Colein being intreated by his Deputies to grant Provisions for mony and passage for his Army were fain to avow that it would be temerity to opposeso great a King who had been alwayes victorious Besides the noises which some scattered up and down that he would allow and maintain three Religions to wit the Roman the Lutheran and the Reformed In brief his Designe seemed to be to extend the bounds of the French Monarchy at the cost of the House of Austria and some neighbour-Princes In the mean time the King Don Philip stood not with his arms a cross at the newes of this terrible Preparative The Arch-Duke puts an Army on foot which rejoyced all such as were enemies to his States The Arch-Duke Albert contracts all his old forces raises new and sends a strong Army towards the Consines of France under the command of Spinola who intrenched himselfe near Gambray In fine men talk of nothing but Armes and Horses in the Countries of both Crownes and the Pope sends his Nuncio to divert the King from his Designe but he was dispatched to Monzon Amazement every where Now all Europe stood amazed and the Princes of Italy seeing the Duke of Savoy in allyance with Henry by meanes of the marriage of his Sonne with the Daughter of France begin to think of their preservation The King in the interim confirms his Intelligences gives the Rendezvous of his Troops in Campagne and after having extraordinarily courted the Embassadours of the United Provinces conjures them to to send Prince Maurice with some Troops to attend his coming at the fronteer of Cleveland The Protestant Princes could hardly dissemble their joy The joy of the Protestants and fear of the Catholâ—â—ks and the Cartholick strangers their fear at the approach of so formidable an Army Infine both friends and enemies were ballancing or staggering in apprehension joy and uncertainty and every one in pain to know what he was either to hope or fear It came so farre as to be published that the King was to march with an Army of forty thousand men and leave as many to guard the kingdome whereof he declared the Queen Regent after her Coronation But he was treacherously murthered in his Coach the fourteenth of May 1610 and this fatall blow put all France in mourning his Corps into the Tomb and his great Designes into Smoak Above all this misfortune was impatiently taken by them of the Religion as also by the greatest part of his Allyes amongst whom his Arms had not as yet moved the least jealousie The most generall opinion was that after having established the Princes in the possession of the Dutchyes of Galick and Cleveland he was to go for Germany And indeed the House of Austria had reason to keep her selfe upon her guard as well knowing how much this Prince was affected to her opposers His death gave matter enough every where for men to inform themselves of who might be the Authour and the Jesuits were not forgotten to be called in question by the Protestants however Ravilliaâ— never confessed any such thing This King was brought up in labour and toyle and noursed in the the Civil Warres His first wife was Margaret of Valois His Life whom when he was come to the Crown he repudiated He had been Head of the Hugenots and wonne many Battails against them of the League When he was become Catholick and after the reconciliation of the Dukes of Mayanne and Mercoenr all stooped and layd down their arms He had a quick wit brave thoughts and excessive high points of judgement had in fine such eminent qualities as would have ranged him in the number of the grearest Kings that ever wore a Crown had ho not been too passionately inclined to handsom women a vicious habit which is familiar to Princes He alwayes loved the United Provinces of the Low-Conntrâ—es and assisted them with men money and counsell notwithstanding the complaints of the Arch-Dukes He was the Restorer of the French Monarchy which was horribly tottered and obtained by generall consent in regard of his heroick actions in arms the surname of Great He was beloved feared and redoubted and amongst all his Kingly vertues none shined more brightly then his Clemencie VVhy suspected to be a Hugenot Many were in doubts of his Religion for the Gâ—genots believed him of theirs and some others also besides in respect of the favour ge shewed to the Protestant Party and for that it was imputed to him to have said that the Crowne of France was well worth a Masse It is onely God who can judge of the Conscience of Soveraigns and therefore men must be silent and abey However it were he much loved Conferences and Disputes as it appeared by that of Cardinall Peronnâ— against Du Plessis Mornay The Confederated States had good reason to love him in regard of the care he alwayes took to conserve them though their seeing him expected by Prince Maurice with the forces of the Low-countries near Wesel and a Letter written by him to the Princesse Dowager of Orange intimating that he would come and visit her at the Hague not as a King but as her kinsman thrust a flea into their eare The said Prince of Orange above all impatiently took this strange and unexpected accident But indeed his death freed a good part of Europe from a great terrour filled the other with sadnesse and amazement gave way to the Prince of Conde to return into France with his wife and so the Armies to retire to rest till another season and another conjuncture which afterwards presented it self in the Warre of Gulick CHAP. XII A difference happening for the Dutchy of Gulick Jealosic between the Catholicks and Protestants and why A Tumult at Donawert an Imperiall Towne about a procession Gulick besieged by Prince Maurice and the French yeelds The Princes will not admit the Sequestration VVE have already shewed how the pretext of the Arms of Hebry the Great was the succour promised to the Princes of Brandeabourgh and Newbourgh therefore let us now look upon the justice of the Competitors since the quarrell is not quite consopited yet Sone weeks before the the conclusion of the Truce Death of the Duke of Gulick deceased John Wolliam Duke of Cleveland and Gulick leaving no Children by the Countesse of Baden his former wife noâ— yet by the sister of the Count of Vandemon his later Now this Princesse passing through Colein was received by the illustrious Magistraces and Citizens of that ancient City with great magnisicence acclamations and wishes of fertility in this match and all this for their interests which are visible enough in themselves without any
Visigoths Daces and Vandals who came altogether to dismember the Romane Empire and the Franks and Burgundians who drove the Romanes out of Gawl For these People having expelled the old Usurpers by the successe of a battel or two leagued themselves forth with with them whom they had freed from the yoke and instantly laid the foundations of a new Kingdome But this Warr which we are now going to describe involved all Europ and there is not so much as one Province which doth not resent it yea that which is more deploreable is that we see not the end of it yet for for my part I am of opinion in this wicked age Men will sooner be wanting then Will to such as are ambitious to continue this bloody exercise The Prodigies which both went before it and happened during the continuance of it like waves of the sea have two much informed us that it would ingulf all the Provinces of Christendome one after another and such as thought to be exempted from it as well for the advantages they had upon their enemies as for the impossibility of introducing the Babes of Mars amongst them by reason of their situation feel at present the scourge with as much sharpnesse as the former That facall Torch which appeared towards the end of the year 1618 with a long and formidable tayle seemed to announce to us the wrath of God thereby to prepare us to repentance or else patiently to suffer the evils which we could not avoid Those sights which were seen in the ayre Prodigies hapned in Europe in many places those Tempests those exundations of Rivers those disruptions or shiverings of Barrs by the mercilesse Ocean those earthquakes and inundations those monstrous Productions those waters turned into blood those impetuous windes which have overthrown so many Towers and rooted up so many trees those bloody raines and so many other supernaturall accidents are the messengers of Divine indignation to such as are obstinate in their wickednesse Fools who say in their hearts there is no God have despised these advertisements and lead a life worse then that of the people of the time of Noah Germany by a Peace of so many yeers durance being grown extreamly opulent the Princes potent and the Towns much elevated The State of Germany began to withdraw herself by little and little if not wholy from servitude yet at least from duty The Courts were full of debaucheries and the excesse of drinking was recompensed with a Crown of victorie the Tables loaden with meat The debawches were sometimes overturned with brutall insolence and that which could not possibly bring any good was that the greatest part of the Grandees there left the management of their affaires to their Chancelours or their Favourites whilest themselves were plunging in delights luxurie ranting and superfluities together with the pleasures of the Court and the Chase The Emperour Matthias who was Crowned in the year 1612 made not his Authority in the Empire shine a whit brighter then his Predecessours had done in such sort as that the State wasfallen as it were into a Palsie and languishment Not withstanding all these voluptuousnesses and debauches distrusts were grown so high that it was impossible for the Banks or Damns to stop these Torrents without letting some part of them loose The children were then matching in Troops and Bands through the streets with Arms Drums and Colours and the old men sighing and crying out Prognostications of Warrs We shall quickly feel the effects of a cruell Warr. That which arrived at Donawerds brought some of the imperiall Townes to a league to which they invited the Electour of Saxonie but not receiving so good an answer as they hoped threats remained without effect and all stayed in apparent enmity the one party casting the fault upon the other till the occasions which we are going to recount But let us enter upon the War of Bohemia Bohemia is a little Kingdom but very fertill in Corn Wine Mines of Gold Silver Tinne and all which is necessary for the life of man The King is ranged in the number of the Electours and his Vote or suffrage is so necessary that when the Parties are equall he who receives it is elevated to the Imperiall Throne This said Kingdome is almost quite invironed by Germany and it stretches on the one side to Moravia The Inhabitants speak the language of Slavonia though yet the High-Dutch be as common there as the French is in the Low-Countries The Metropolitan City is Prague which is watered by the stream of Moldaw The Country is very great most populous and adorned with a most famous and most ancient University wherein for a time were numbered above thirty thousand Scholars Now because the first controversies about Religion which caused the separations and hatreds amongst Christians proceeded from thence it will not be out of our way and much for the contentment of the Reader to take notice of the source and Origin thereof About the year of Grace 1400. John Huss having found and read the Books of Wâ—tcliff John Huss betook himself publickly to teach a doctrine much like that of the Waldenses condemned by the Church of Rome as much checking the Points and Tenets thereof received as namely the authority of the Pope Purgatory Worship of Images and the like God permitting a diversity of Doctrines during the Schismes of the Church for the disputes of the Popes gave subject to attack the Points of Faith exhibited by them and their own Authority The Councell of Constance A Councell was assembled at Constance whether Jerome of Prague and John Huss were invited under a safe conduct or passe from the Emperour Sigismond But for all that they persisted in the Doctrine of Witcliff and maintained that the Churches diffused up and down the world were deviated from the traditions of the Apostles they were both contrary to publick Faith and the Emperours Paste given them sentenced to be burned and their ashes cast into the ayre And from thence came the Axiome so often and so justly chanted and iterated by the Protestants and whereof they serve themselves to quicken their distrusts Faith must not be kept with Hereticks The Fathers of the said Councell were moved on by a too inconsiderate yea and unjust zeal which if we may have leave to deduce the consequence of the effects thereof which have followed very much displeased the Father of Truth The Romane Catholicks disprove of this Maxime and the Emperour Charles the 5 th expressed that he was no friend to it by keeping his word so truly w th Doctor Martin Luther at the Assembly at Wormes The disciples of John Huss â—ake arms Now the disciples of the aforesaid John Huss being very impatient at the death of their Masters and not content with the Churches which were granted them took arms under pretext of desiring more But I find the zeal of all them who have withdrawn themselves from the
between the Poles and the Turks The tragicall end of young Osman The death of some Lords THe Polanders being resolved to revenge the affront done their Embassadour received besides some kind of check in Moldavia but Prince Vladistans hasting thither with a puissant Army defeated the Turks in a ranged Battail which kindled so great fury in the young Emperour Osman that he swore he would be revenged and destroy the kingdom of Poland with that terrible Army whereof we have spoken already King Sigismund received the Alarme and sent his Embassadours to all Christian Kings imploring their assistance against the Common Enemy King James aforesaid sent five thousand men whom the King of Denmark would not suffer to pass in respect of the Allyance between him and the King of Sweden In fine the Polanders finding nothing but excuses every where were fain to get all on horse-back together with their King and go to deliver their Prince who was so ingaged that he had almost no means left him to escape evident danger It was a worthy object They make all the Nobility march to succour â—ladâ—slaus to see a King march at the Head of two hundred thousand Gentlemen whereof the Grand Signor being advertised sent to offer a Peace to the Prince who embraced it as an Embassie come from heaven because the third part of his Troops of sixty thousand men which were left to defend the Confines against this huge multitude was quite consumed partly by continual attacks The Yeate made and partly by diseases as having been compelled for want of victuals to eat many of their own horses The Tucks after having wanted half their Army made their retreat which together with the Peace was about the moneth of October 1621. Let us follow them to Constantinople where we shall see the tragical and pitifull end of their Prince Osman the aforesaid young Prince by some deportments of his gave suspition to the Innisuries of his having a mind to transferre both the Treasure and seate of the Empyre from Constantinople under pretext of making a pilgrimage to the Sepulcher of their Prophet Mahomet Osman strangled and Mustapha clâ—â—led in his place Whereupon his ships were stopped his Favorites massacred in his presence and himself after having endured a thousand indignities from the Souldiers strangled by the command of his Uncle whom they had drawne out of his Hermitage to succeed him But he did not long enjoy those honours whereof indeed he was unworthy Happy are they who live content in the lownesse of their Condivion and are not exposed to the blowes of the Thunderbolt at those Captaines also are who for sake the Armies to return to the Plough without I stening to the voyce of the charming Syrens of ambition But it is not only here that we have seen unheard-of changes Now these fatall Tragedies were advantageous to the Christians who were so divided by the two so often mentioned Passions The Count de la Tour obtaines sucoâ—â—â— of the Turk that there was no appearance left to reunite them The old Count de la Tour and the Marquis of Lagerendorf were knocking at the Grand-Signors Gate and displaying both their Rhetorick and their Presents seconded by the Embassadours of the inconstant Gabor so much were they seazed by desire to ruine the House of Austria which almost all Christendome banded together hath not been able to effect hitherto no nor so much as to deprive it of the Imperial Crown Sâ—â—ks Moravia However they obtained some succour sackaged Moravia and joyned with Gabor but the Turks were defeated and their Mustapha compelled to yeeld up his place to Amurath Is beâ—◠〈◊〉 Brother to Osman And these Tragedies were the cause of the warre which chanced between the Turks and Persians to the great good of Christendom and gave occasion also to the Gossacks to make a Cavalcada or Inroade to the very Gates of Constantinople The Cossacks at the Gates of Constantinople For after they had passed many great Forrests and vast Deserts the Alarme grew so hot that if the said Cossacks had not speedily retreated with their prey the poor Christians in the Town had had their throats cut it regard that it was published that they had intelligence with them Let us now take leave of the Countries of the Half * The Turks Moon for many yeares and return by the Mediterranean into those of the * The Roman Catholick Countries upon the Mediterranean Sea Crosse which being momentarily sprinkled with blood cannot choose but multiply abundantly The Venetians were very attentive to the successes of the Bohemian warre and being more propense to their own interest then their Religion occultly favoured the Bohemians But the rest of the States of Italy leaned more to the other side however Peace remained amongst them just as they did in Spain where they received the newes of a great victory upon the King of Maroco and saw after the expiration of the Truce some Holland Vessels brought into their Ports which came from Venice and were taken in the Sreights of Gibelaltar This year 1621. in the moneth of March deceased Philip the third King of Spain and was followed some moneths after The death of Philip the third King of Spain and of and Cardinal Bellatmine by the pious Arch-Duke Albert who left the Country to his Isabel and the Command of the Militia to the Marquis Spinola That famous Cardinal Robert Bellarmin so well known by the Books he left written both against the Reformats and others paid likewise his tribute to Nature this very year being above fourscore years old England continued in Peace and therefore we will step into the Low-Countries CHAP. IX Sadnes in the Low-Countries for the bad successe of the Affaires of Frederick The Warre begun again betwixt them and the Spaniards Gulick and Papemutz surrendred Count Henry suspected and why HOlland was full of loy upon the termination of the Domestick Disorders and the condemnation of the Arminians a great part whereof withdrew themselves out of united Provinces some others embraced the doctrine of the confession of Auxbourgh and the rest fought so long against their Crosses that they surmounted them at length by obtaining in many Towns free Exercise of their Faith But this joy was quickly turned into mourning by the arrivall of the newes of the unhappy successe of King Fredericks Arms and the losse of his Kingdom which he had already had some moneths in his possession Though yet the Gazets sung alwayes of his victories and of the decline of the Emperours Affayres yea and the Painters represented him already sitting in the Imperial Throne Ferdinand on his knees before him and the Eagle all peeled and debilitated The Eagle peeled It was also published that the Battail before Prague was wonne by him and the contrary tidings contemned as suspects and given out by the Papists till himself arrived and brought the naked Truth with him and
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
Henry was chosen but he marched so slowly that he found the Prince too strongly intrenched for his defence to be possibly forced out For he had dammed up the Rivers and brought them round about his Fortifications in such sort as it was like a broad Sea And on the other side the Summer was so faire A dry Summer and so dry that it looked as if heaven had entered into contract with the Prince to give him the fruition of the Victory For had it chanced to be moist and rainy as it is ordinary in that climate their mills of so rare workmanship would have proved uselesse and Nature would have jecred Art out of countenance The Spaniards in the Velaw The Spaniards indeavoured to succour it in vaine which made them passe the Rheyn at Wesel to joyne with the Imperialists and the passage of the Isell being open and maintained with the sword gave them a fair prize together with the defence of some Companies which followed But the Prince drew out part of his Army which so well coasted the Spaniards that they made no remarkable progresse at all Never had they Fortune so favourable and never did they loose so many men as in that field not by the sword but by other inconveniencies Whereas had they gon forward at first they had found no kinde of resistance all the Country being full of fear and consternation The Prince stood so fast before Boisleduc that he could not be parswaded by the States of Guelders Overysel and Vtrick to quit the siege though it were to save the Country bidding them by way of answer to have patience and put all in good order c. that the enemy would give them more fear then hurt All which proved true for the Hollanders having taken breath and done all which was necessary for the defence of their Country with some of the licensiated Troops of the King of Denmark put the Armies to a sudden stand without either Counsell or courage upon the dry sands of the Velaw Yet howsoever Take Amersfort they were bold enough to attack Amersfort which not being tenible was forthwith yeelded and some other small paltry places near the South-Sea were attempted and not taken in regard their design was discovered before it was fit to be executed Besides to encrease the misfortune of the Enemies upon the nineteenth of August being a very fair morning Wesel was taken Wesel being surprised makes the Spaniards draw out and the booty of the Imperialists snapt which forced them to draw out of the Velaw faster then they went in without having so much as seen Amsterdam which was alwayes in their mouthes But the grapes were sower because the Fox could not reach them Count Henry retyred not to Brussells but to his Government and could not so well clear himself but that there remained some suspicions greatly disadvantageous to his reputation in the soules of the more clear-sighted men which were verified by the open retreat he made grounded upon slight and frivolous excuses only concerning the Kings service Boisleduc yeelds for want of powder In fine Boisloduc was rendered the Imperialists returned into Germany much lighter then they came and the Spaniards into Brabant almost half of them wasted by hunger sicknesse and disbanding not without loud murmuring and plainly cursing their General Count Iohn of Nasseaw left the passage of the Isel and the Prince went into Holland where he was received by all with marvellous acclamations of joy and unparallelled applause This Place being one of the most important the King had was taken for want of powder and a sufficient Garrison and the Prince on the other side having no want of mony commanded a Bank to be raised from Holland overthwart the Fennes or Marishes which cost the United Provinces much treasure and much hastened the taking of the Town besides that to say truth the Magistrates of Amsterdam were not backward to advance money to declare the zeal they had to the preservation of the Common-wealth Never did Fortune smile more upon the Spaniards with a more unhappy issue and never frowned more upon the Confoederates to give them a more glorious victory The losse of this most important place frustrated the Spaniards the hope of regaining Holland and served for an invincible Clausure to the Common-wealth for the future if we look upon the outside of it but it is subject to corruption in regard of the abundance of ill humours wherewith it is stuffed within as rising from the fenny grounds about it which yet easily are voyded by weak and slight physick as will shortly appear But let us now go see the conclusion of the Warre in France against the Hugenots and the ruine of that Party which gave the King means afterwards to shock the House of Austria and afflict his Neighbours CHAP. VIII The prosecution of the last warre against the Reformats in France The Duke of Rohan makes his Peace All the Townes humble themselves and throw down their Fortifications The end of the Party DUring the siege of Rochell that two Brothers namely the Dukes of Rohan and Soublse did all they could to succour the Center of their State moving even Heaven and Earth with the most zealous of the Party to save the Place from the shipwrack whereof it was in danger The one made insurrections every where saying that if the Town were taken all they of the Party would be massacred but the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Montmorancy charged him so often and so closely that he had almost ever the worst The other encouraged the English and urged them to make haste before the Damme were finished about which the French wrought with great ardour â—â—â—o reâ—sons retard the succour and good successe Two reasons in my opinion retarded the succour so long the one that they could not imagine that the said Damme at which they laughed would be able to hinder their passage and that being stronger by Sea then the French they should easily break all obstacles The other is that they would not relieve the Town till it were in extremity to the end that the Townesmen being for the most part starved or debilitated with hunger they might make themselves masters thereof and place a Colony of their own nation there to be ready at all times to incommodate France and awaken their old pretensions They who ask relicfe have one designe and he who gives it another Besides that it is also very credible that the Cardinal who was not ignorant of how great his credit would be after the reduction of this Place which was judged impregnable had corrupted the chief of the Counsell of England with mony that so the succour which was hastened by zeal might be delayed Whatever it were neither the great Arsenal nor the strength of the Bastions nor the Purse at Porrette nor the desperate resolution to die and to hang him who should first speak of yeelding served to any
with four thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and he wrought so much by his frequent suites and instances with the Emperour induced thereto by Cardinal Richellen that he procured the Dignity of Generall to be taken away from the Duke of Frithland Frithland disâ— missed from his charge who had alwayes so well served him though by his behaviour he were growne insupportable chiefly to such as loved not the House of Austria Those powers which are trayled by so many puissant Aemulators together run post to destruction This councell proved dammageable to the Emperour and yet more to him who gave it and he who invented it was very likely to overthrow the whole Empyre The King of Sweden invited to come into Germany The King of Sweden being advertised of all which passed in Germany invited by the Germans themselves incited by France England Venice the Vnited Provinces and by occasion which he took up by the Forelock as also by his own peculiar interests began to make his preparatives There wanted nothing for a potent League but Causes and Pretexts whereof there would be found enough though it were no more then every one 's own advantage apart which is so strong that it ordinarily carries the ballance how full soever it be of reason and justice Men of this Age adore it neither is it without ground that a certain learned person calls it the Idoll of these times Towards the beginning of the year 1630. Europe was in a kind of Crisis war in Italy Germany full of old souldiers who struck terrour wheresoever they passed France apprehending lest this storm should fall upon her and that the Eagles should come and nestle again in those three Townes which were taken from them as I have noted already hindied a Treaty of Truce by hindring the acceptation of the Propositions and sent to the very bottom of the North to awaken Gustavus Adolphus to a League Nor needed there much eloquence to pers wade him who looked asquint already upon those puissant Troops upon the Baltick Sea which draw near him But knowing how he had been caught by his Neighbour he would not be content with promises but required a surety at Amsterdani before he would passe any further England besides the generall interest had that of the Prince Palatine which she conuld not handsomely abandon in such a conjuncture and yet was she also fain to give assurance for moneys before she could enter the League of this great Captain The States Generall were much concerned therein since by the growth of the House of Austria they foresaw their certain ruin in regard of the succour which she would be able to give the Spaniards And moreover they might well fear lest all the States of Germany humiliated or joyned to those of the Emperour he might come to redemand some Townes amongst them which are yet noted at the corner of the Eagle or Empyre The Venetians not warmed with the zeal of Religion as the Protestants were as being of the same with this House found for the interest of their State that it was necessary to put the said House into such termes as might not give so much jealousie And so the Protestants being inflamed and incouraged by the Catholicks which were interessed and desirous to see some disorder spring up in this powerful Body undertook the same designe And then it was that the Empire was to be torne in pieces since the Germans themselves conspired her ruine with her Enemies and subtracted themselves from her obedience because they could not endure her Majesty The House cannot faile to be burnt when the very owners themselves as well as the enemies help to set it on fire This unhappinesse was reserved for the latter times Let us see the King of Sweden come in for he will dance better then all who came before him CHAP. XVIII The entry of the King of Sweden into Germany His reasons why Those of the Emperour Allyances with Bogistaus He blocks up the Sea Towns Tilly takes the Generalate against his will VVHere shall I be able to finde tearmes and Inke black enough to expresse and write tragically enough the cruel and dismal effects of this sanguinary and horrible War Where shall I chuse words of energy or force enough to curse the inhuman actions and unnatural Tragedies which have been acted in wretched Europ and which are not yet ended and that onely by the immense ambition of some few persons It is lawful openly to blame Vice but not such as commit it It is God onely who must judge and we poor Subjects must bend our shoulders and expect our deliverance from above About Mid-Summer in the year 1630. the King of Sweden entred Germany with an Army having first cleansed the Isle of Rugia and the borders of Stralsund from the Imperial Garrisons The reasons which he published for his coming as an Enemy were First because his Embassadours had not been admitted to the Treaty of Lubeck Secondly in regard the Imperialists came against him in Prussia And thirdly for that some Letters of his which he sent to Bethleem Gabor had been intercepted in full peace But these were but pretexts for the true and moving grounds were these His reasons First because the Emperour had deprived his kinsmen the Princes of Meckelemburgh of their Dutchyes Secondly for that he had built Forts in all the Havens and made Ships to render himselfe potent upon the Baltick Sea with designe to passe one day further into Sweden then he was to expect that the Eagles would be suffered to coast And lastly in respect there was some apperance of extending his domination in Germany and in a word it is alwayes profitable to fish in troubled waters The answer to the aforesaid reasons The Emperour answered that he himselfe had begun by putting a Garrison into Stralsund and that there could be no treating with him without drawing it from thence As for his Letters besides that all the plots and practices both of himself and his Allyes were already discovered it was impossible but they must tend to his disadvantage being directed to a man who had as often revolted as opportunity was offered him to do it and who never kept his faith but when he wanted occasion to break it In relation to the Baltick Sea he had at least being Chief and Emperour as much to do with it as Gustavus had That the succour which he sent the King of Poland was sounded upon the same Maxims upon which himselfe had succoured the King of Denmark and Stralsund In order to the Dukes of Meckelemburgh he objected that he had nothing to do to controwl him in Germany and that himselfe would not take it well that he should medle with any of his kingdom That his cares were open to Intercessions but not to Commands But all these arguments served for nothing there must be blowes For the King was sure of his Allyes and of the inclination of all the
from the attack of ingratitude alledge forsooth that the Kings Cause ought to prevail and that it is by no means necessary to observe and keep a Contract which is made against the Lawes and Rights of the kingdom But there was peradventure no other way to surmount the Eagle then to thrust himself into her feathers Whilest the Queen-Mother and Monsieur de Luynes possessed the Kings favour the fortune of the whole Court depended upon them two but he having lost his life resigned it totally to Cardinal Richelieu only who most absolutely tetained it till his death Kings Gustaves victory wonderfully rejoyced all the Reformates and all them of the Cardinals Cabal however the zealous Catholicks were afflicted and murmured much at him blaming him as an impious man and a favourer of Hereticks but he was an immoveable Rock and so having shaken off his Benefactresse and her faithfull servants he bent all his cares to the direction of the Affaires iâ— Germany and to the meanes which was to be followed to arrive to a point of so much difficulty as he had praemeditated He conducted the King with some Forces into Lorraine took Vic and Moyenvic procured a Cessation of Armes for fifteen dayes The King of France in Lorrain with the Cardinal between his Master and the Catholick Electours and laboured by most secret wayes to induce them to seek his Majesties protection wherein he succeeded but little better then they had done in the Embassie which they sent to the King to beseech him to divert the Arms of Sweden from their Terriories and from the Catholick Countries For the Electour of Trevâ—rs oaly sought his Sanctuary in the Arms of Lewis because he could not hope for it in those of Philip and yet lesse in those of Ferdinand Gustave engry at the protection given to the Electour of Tievirs King Gustave unwilling to let his souldiers coole could not cadure to hear Monsieur de Carnasse the French Embassadour who beseeched him to think of a prolongation of the Truce for a moneth to whom being vexed at the protection given to the Electour of Trevirs and clearly perceiving the intention of France he very cholerickly said that be can not to dismember the Empyre but to deliver it from oppression â—â—rather to retain and keep it entyre and that if his Muster angred him he would go see Paris with fifty thousand men To which Carnasse coldly replyed that his Master would free him from that trouble by meeting him more then halfe way with the like Traine But these little stings vanished in the common Cause and by the dexterity of the Cardinal who judged that it was not yet time to come to that and that it was needfull to dally with the haughty humour of this Septemtrionall Prince so to weaken and attenuate the House of Austria yet more by his Arms. It was too great an Oak to be cut down at one blow They who laboured to exasperate them did but loose their labour for they had to do with Politicians who had good noses and who would be sure not to become enemies but by sharing the whole Prey The Duke of Lorraine layes down Arms and gives three Towns to the King The Duke of Lorraine had raised an Army of twelve thousand men to succour the Emperour and was already advanced as far as the Confines of Hassia but he was constrained to retyre into his Dutchy and promise the King of France who was at Metz not to meddle with the Affairs of Germany and for pledge of this promise to put three Towns into his hands for the space of three yeares A hard condition for a Soveraign Prince who could not see the Emperours ruine but with his own But he was forced to yeeld to a more potent then himself for a time for there grew a change afterwards If the Protestants had cause to complaine of the insolencie of the souldiers the Catholicks had also their turn and were no lesse trodden down then they and especially the Priests Monks and Bithops but above all the sIesuits carried the pack The Landgrave of Hassia attacks the Bishops The first who cast himself upon them was William Landgrave of Hassia who pillaged the Country of the Abbot of Fulda a Prince of the Empyre from whence he returned into Westphalia and to the Diocese of Colcin uppon which he cast irreparable dammages But Count Papenheins came to Colein Papenheim retaits an Army to put a remedy to these mischiefes nor could there be a braver man then he found out to do it if it were within humane wit to invent a way for it which he did and brought it to so good an issue that he merited thereby to be styled the Captain of Captains He began his march with Lamboy recollected the seatterings of the old souldiers and put them in discipline together with the new ones Being arrived at Hamelen he joyned with Groensfeldt retook many places without the losse of a man and the more he advanced the bigger was his Army so great power hath the reputation of a Generall to draw forces together He resolved to beat Bannier from the Siege of Magdeburgh to which end he drew to himself the Garrison which was gone out of Wismar and with this small Body and much military science mingled with cunning he fell upon the skirts of the Swedes when they thought him yet farre enough from them so that they retyred with confusion Beats Bannier and hee charging them in the Reere put them into great disorder and entred the Town Drawes out the Garrison of Magdeburgh and judging it not tenible blew up the Rampars and the Church and drew out the Garrison to the number of foure thousand to do better service elsewhere He continued his victory drew contribution from such Towns as into which he would put no Garrisons because he would not diminish his Army ruined the Landgrave of Hassâ—â—s Leavies and beat Bannier who came to succour him In a word Beats Bannier again as also the Landgrave the Duke of Brunswick and General jot all gave way all stooped He charged the Duke of Brunswick in the Field with so much fury that he had much a doe to save himself with one only Regiment of Horse He afflicted the Bishoprick of Bremen as well as the Dutchy of Branswick and hearing that Generall Jot had besieged Staden he went and chased him thence with the losse of above fifteen hundred men The exploit ef the Westphana drew out the Garrison and found himself in a short time at the head of a brave Army and crowned with many victories He repassed into Westphana which he restored to the Emperours obedience and came in a word very near King Gustave by the number of his great exploits Let us now look back upon the United Provinces where we shall see Bone-fires but we must know for what CHAP. XXIII The taking of the Fleet of Shallops near Berghen op Zoom
them the Oath which he had made to his Father never to bear Arms against the Emperour unlesse he forced him in his Law or Religion and made war upon him and asked them whether in this conjuncture it were lawfull for him to break it without any wrong done him by the said Emperour or any dammage at all brought upon him by his Souldiers They all held the Negative and with this sentence he went to the King at Francfurt and so handsomly represented his reasons to him that he obtained what he asked Whilest Gustave was in doubt whether he should go down the Rheyn where all was full of fear and trembling to seaze upon Colein he receaved newes that Tilly had beaten Horne in Bambergh defeated foure thousand of his men took twenty Pieces of Canon a multitude of Coulers Horne beaten by Til'y and made a shew to attack Nuremberge This was the last favour Fortune did this Darling of hers whom she abandoned to court another Whereupon he instantly marched wich all diligence and Tilly not knowing what to doe was constrained to retyre speedily by a strong accident which was that his powder took fire did a great deal of hurt amonst the Baggage-Waggons and drew this complaint out of the mouth of this old Souldier Let us retyre said hee For it is high time since fortune turns her back to us Indeed he had reason for she was preparing him a bed of honour Who repasses the Danub upon which he was quickly to repose He was followed by the King who entred Nurembergh in Triumph and that illustrious Senate presented him with a Goulden Globe as a Symbol of the Monarchie which they prognosticated for him But he foresaw not the misfortune which he was to suffer that Summer For being accompanyed by King Frederick who came from the Haghe in the middle of Winter to see his Countrey and his Deliverer and after compelments falling to treat of businesse the conditions displeased him and changed the love which the Princes bore him into diffidence which was so much the greater by how much the lesse they durst shew it Oh! the inconstance of things in this world Oh I how subject is all to change Is refulsed He took Donawerdt and passed the River Look in despight of poor Tillyes resistance who though crazed with age left not yet to encourage his Souldiers His death till he was mortally wounded and then they retyred a gallop though with an orderly retreat enough to Ingolstadt where this famous Captain dyed of his wounds His elogies He was by birth a Walloon and a Gentleman He had alwayes been happy til the last year when he tryed the effects of the inconstancie of fortune He was one of the most Valliant and Prosperous Warryers that ever bore Arms. He dyed on a bed of honour for the defence of the Church and his Prince Honours to Gustave at Auxburgh Rain and Newburgh were yeelded to King Gustave and the Citizens of Auxburgh opened their gates singing his praises and exhibiting all the honours and testimonies of amitie that could be given to any mortall man Yea I know there were some who wore his Medall with as much love and reverence as the Roman-Catholicks doe their Relicks or Agnus Dei They took the oath of Fidelity to him as to their lawful Lord and consented to the destroying down of the faire Gardens about the Town to begin the fortifications This done he turned towards Swaveland where the Lutherans who make the biggest party in that Province The exploits of the Swedes in Sware rendered themselves to him and received Garrisons from him nor was there scarce any but Lindow a Town situated upon the Lesk which remained constant Italy was allarmed by the report of so great prosperitie and Feria the Governour of Milan made an Army to defend the entry Some trembled and others who desired change of State and Money rejoyced But the mischief went no further the Italians had but the feare for their punishment was able enough to fall upon them without expecting it from the hand of strangers The Siege of of Ingolstadt Ratisbone taken by the Bavarians The King having brought so many faire Towns in Swaveland under his Laws whilest the Saxons afflicted Bohemia and Papenheim domineered in Brunswick returned to the Siege of Ingolstadt a fatal Town to the Protestants full of spight to hear that the Elector of Bavaria had craftily seized upon Ratisbone an Imperial Town which he fortifyed as being wholly his own and upon which depended the ruine of that which he went to besiege in vaine The Letters which had been written by the Inhabitants of the said town being intercepted gave the Bavarians opportunity to enter at a Gate which was opened them as thinking them to be Swedes The traitours went to pot the town was saved from pilladge and the Inhabitants condemned to a forfeit of Money and to work about the fortifications They had forgotten gotten their Oath to the Emperour and the Empire and novelty and the triumph of the Swedish Armies had dazled the eyes of the Protestants who like Israel sung their deliverance Ingolstadt in the mean while saw the principal forces of the Protestants before her Walls and if she yeilded farewel Bavaria But the King found work here and this was the first town which taught this great Conquerour that he was to have bounds to his Victories besides that he was very likely to loose his life by a Cannon Bullet The Elector feeling himselfe so roughly attacked by an enemy whom he had never offended unlesse Princes take the occasion to hurt for an offence sent the French Resident Monsieur de Sainct Estienne to the King to remonstrate to him that in regard he was so deeply ingaged in the Allyance with the King of France he could not be assailed by him A notable observation without making himselfe his enemy The Resident spake confidently with him and endeavoured to divert him some other way but the King interrupted him and said I know your Masters intentions better then you do and for the rest I pardon your French liberty for you are not sent to me in the quality of an Embassadour But the President followed his instructions and Monsieur de Carnasse his in such sort as that these two being both Officers of the same Master fell to difference and were very like also to come to blowes This was not the first prank of activity which the Cardinal played in Germany though it were well observed by the Elector and would have been taken for couzenage in another Age but in this for politick craft Howsoever he made his profit of it stood fast with the Emperour and so neately and dexterously retorted the ball upon the French that the Cardinal himselfe was faine to avow that the Duke of Bavaria was the most cautious and subtile Prince in Germany When we have to do with Cheaters we must take heed of all things and
difference which was between him and the Cardinal and for the Homage he had offered to do it in his own name but not his wives according to the Maxims of the Salick Lawes whereof we have spoken already But these complaints were but pretexts to cover the designe they had to seize upon the Dutchy which is upon the passage into Germany thereby to get a footing there with more facility so that they might be hindered by nothing from conquering the better part thereof For if the Eagle could not be taken whole and alive they were resolved to have some of her feathers at least and so leave her without strength and vigour After Nancy quickly followed all tho rest of the Dutchy under certain colours which offered themselves without being sought And all Lorraine And this Country being thus subdued by his Eminences activity nothing which was on that side of the Rheyn could escape him His wisdom was drvine he disposed of the influence of the Starrs and of this lower world at his pleasure but there was a power infinitly just above him which brought both him and all he had gotten by unlawfull wayes into dust Oh ye Flatterers Plagues of this corrupt Age And you Mercenary Pens instruments of all mischief who have employed all your talents upon the excessive praises of one of the greater persons that ever wore the Purple Why have you not been content to represent his fine actions to the world in a more modest and true style without mingling therewith the contempt of the infinite Essence and of Princes unjustly oppressed Why doe thou accuse of pride and ambition such as repell force by force and seek revenge after they have been attacked Open your eyes to what hath happened and doth yet daily happen and look upon the end It is laid that the good Cause shall triumph at last and you shall agree with me that afflictions will one time be Universall The King of France having given order for the building of a Cittadell to a Town which in apparence was but borrowed put himself upon the way towards Paris and the Duke of Lorraine towards Germany to charge the Swedes neer Hagnenaw The Encounter neer Haguenaw where his Foot ran basely away without fighting at all as his Enemies Horse also did after a furious combat But he with his was not able to force their Foot which defended it self bravely It was here at Andernack a Town seated upon the Rheyn that Monsieur de Rantsaw a Gentleman of Holstein gave a high account of himself and this was the first step whereby he ascended to the dignity of Marshall of France But let us go seek Wallenstein upon the Confines of Poland and leave the French the care of disposing of Lorraine for the expences of their journey into Germany whereof because it is a Land of Conquest every one must have his share CHAP. XXXI Wallenstein defeats the Swedes in Silesia The Colonians or they of Colein retract the Accord made before Nancy The Tragicall death of the said Wallenstein VVHilest the Princes and States which were enemies to the House of Austria rejoyced extreamly to see the Eagle lose her strength under their noses by the weakening of so many Provinces by so much blood-shed by the totall occupation or seazure of all Lorraine and by so many rubs and traverses as the Hollanders gave the King of Spaine who yet like a good Physician defened her with his forces and fortified her His money from the Indies with his Aurum potabile or liquor of life from the Indies it seemed high time to that ambitious General to hatch his pernicious designes for that by so many brave actions as he had performed he thought he deserved to wear a Crown though it were at the charge of his Masters Behold here the most ungratefull of mortalls and the most dangerous of all the Emperours enemies who was likely to have effected alone that which all the rest together had not been able to do Desire of revenge and ambition made him forget his duty and cruelty moved him to undertake this detestable Treason He sent Generall Holck into Misnia who reduced many Towns and even Leipsick it self for the third time but a contagious sicknesse stopped the course of his prosperity and greatnesse He was a Dane borne and a Gentleman that had acquired reputation in Stralsund whereof he was Governour and after the peace was made he obtained the honour of commanding an Army in the Emperours service Galasso passed into Silesia and Wallenstein not being well satisfied concerning the conditions of Peace The Swedes defeated towards Stenaw the 18. of October 1633. followed him with the Body of the Army and employed so much promptitude and addresse that he surprized the Enemies near Stenaw defeated the Horse which was much in number and surrounded the Food which yeelded and put into his hands above six score Colours with all the Baggage and Artillery Whereupon all Silesia instantly submitted and it was firmly beleeved that he endeavoured to bring back the war to the mouth of the Baltick Sea to recall the Swedes to defend that passage by which they entred and sent home their booty But he on the other side did the direct contrary and as if he had been vanquished marched from Pomerania and sent Generall Henry Count de la Tour with Tubal and his forces to take up their Winter quarters in the Emperours Hereditary Lands Which proceeding amazed the Court at Vienna gave the Swedes time and means to recollect and discovered to the whole world what he had hatched in his soul None made any profit of this victory but they of Colein who were much encouraged by it and consequently they declared that they could not ratily the Treaty which they had made with the King of France nor receive any Garrison of his into their City but that he might put four hundred men into Andernach The Colonians will not ratisy the Agreement made with the King of France and as many at Zonts founding their excuses upon the insolence of the people In effect the Citizens being singularly affected to the Emperour memeed both the Magistrate and the Clergy it self to beat them of Town if there were any more speech of changing their Master Let us now shew the tragical end of the ungratefull Wallenstein for since we have already seen the recompence of his services let us also publish the just punishment of his crimes and treasons Biron was advanced to the high dignity of Marshall of France to crown his vertnes and his head was strucken off by the publick Executioner for having plotted against his Master This said Wallenstein whom the Emperour had made Duke of Frithland collected his forces near Eguer in Bohemia gave them three moneths pay and made them take an oath to himself without mentioning the Emperour at all Thus the Impostume brakes ' ambition brought forth Rebellion all was discovered and his practice with the Swedes
the Dutchy of Wirtembergh after which they sighed and longed as the Children of Israel did after the Land of Promise but they must first passe the Red Sea and winne a Town whole Garrison was strong and required a Siege before they could arrive to the bank The Swedes sent for all their own forces and those of their Allyes Horne joyned with Duke Barnard and argued against him that it was better to let go one Town then hazard the Publick Cause and that an occasion for fighting would be found in time with more advantage The Duke disputed the contrary alleadging that the winning of this Bartail The Siege of Northinghen Austria would be open Bavaria a prey and their Party our of all danger That they must venter it before the Spaniards came In fine it was concluded that it should be the next day being the sixth of September and the proceeding of that Imperiall Colonel who asked to speak with a Kinsman of his of the same Charge in the Swedish Army upon the word of a Cavalleer to whom he proposed an overture of Peace in his Masters name which was rejected by the Party was taken by the Swedes for a good augure It would require a volume to recount the particulars of the most bloody fight that ever happened amongst Christians The forces of the Duke of Wirtembergh the Landgrave of Hassia and Count Cratz who left the Bavarians when he saw that his Treason was discovered which was to deliver Ingolstadt to the Enemy were already arrived so that there wanted none but the Rhingrave who was beyond the Rheyn with four or five thousand men But they would not expect him for fear lest the Imperialists who had gotten to them the Armyes of the Duke of Bavaria and Cardinal Infanto might chance to escape them The Battail of Nordinghen 1634. the sixth of September The Fight began in the morning the most furious shock was given for the getting and keeping of a Hillock and the Swedish Infantry received great losse about the storming of a mined Fort. The Canon it self being hidden behinde some thick bushes did terrible execution by piercing quite through all the squadrons and the Swedes upon the other side amazed to see the grave motion of the Spaniards who did not recoyle or start back but gently retreat and advance with a sure discharge were constrained to fly and the Cavalry being pursued by the Duke of Lorrain John de Werdt The absolute victory of the Imperialists who gave a brave account of themselves that day was almost utterly defeated and the quarter given at Hamelen was exactly observed till the the King of Hungary ceased the slaughter All the Canon to the number of eighty Pieces and three hundred Colours were the irreproachable marks of an entyre victory which crowned the heads of both the Ferdinands It is held that there were above twelve thousand men killed upon the place and near six thousand prisoners amongst whom was that brave Generall Gustave Horne who was received by the King with such testimonies of benevolence as were suitable to the merit of so courteous and valorous a Captain The pillage was for the souldiers and the fruit of the victory a peace which poor Germany enjoyed not long for she was not yet enough drained Whereof the first was a peace and she had still some ill humours left within her which were not suffered to settle by her Neighbours But if the Protestants and they who had mixed their interest with them received much joy by the first Battail of Leipsick no lesse were the hearts of all the Catholicks both in and out of Germany accumulated with alacrity and gladnesse by this The joy of the Catholicks And the Generalls divided this great Army into many small Bodies as the Swedes had done theirs after the Battail of Lutzen to carry an offensive war up and down into many places whereof we will speak as briefly as out matter will permit us Nortlinghen forthwith surrendred the Dutchy of Wirtembergh quicky in her Enemies power and the Duke unwilling to be spectator of so pitifulla State got himself together with the most prompt of his party to Strasburgh The luster of the Eagles Majesty and of the glory acquired by her as well in Germany as Denmark had been much discoloured and obscured by the happinesse of that great Septemtrional Mars But now she sufficiently recovered it The Swedes will have war in their victory and the Imperialists peace in theirs by this memorable victory of Nortlinghen and to shew that she durst follow her enemies she contraried their proceedings For they would have war in the continuation of their Conquests and she declares her desire of Peace in hers They would carry away all with violence and extremity and she would restore all to the first order and state by a moderate accommodation In effect the King of Hungary offered it to the Duke of Saxony and the rest of the Princes by whom it was accepted but it lasted not long no more then the deceitfull favours of that variable Goddesse did by the puissant odour of the Flower de luce as the drift of this History will shew The Cardinal Infanto after having embraced and taken leave of his Brother-in-Law departed towards the Low-Countries whether we will let him go and stay yet a while in Germany to note the carreer of Ferdinands victories in the disorder of the Protestants THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE BOOK I. PART II. CHAP. I The Peace made at Prague after the reduction of many places and small States The complaints of the Swedes ALL the Towns of Swaveland and the Lake of Bregants returned to the Emperour their Lord. The Imperialists divide themselves Auxburgh was taken by famine and pardoned Rain and Newburgh followed Vlme and Neuremburgh were invested but this Prince who fought for nothing but Peace and won it for no other end then to give it such as would have it received them into favour take many places The Castle of Wurtzburgh held out a long time for fear of not being forgiven Gonnixhof after a long Siege was taken by Hatsfelt Piccolommi plaied Rex in Turing and Coloredo in Saxony in such sort as that he compelled the Elector to hearken to a Peace from which indeed as also from the Emperour he had no aversion at all but onely his own interest and that of Religion Which the King of Sweden very well observing in the midst of his prosperity and knowing the amity which was between these two Princes was fearful least it should come to be renewed I know there were some who beleeved that he was the first who discovered to his friend and Master the Emperour the Treason which the Duke of Frithlund had brewed against him However it were the Peace was made at Pragne The Peace made at Prague 1635. in the moneth of May 1635. with advantage enough to the Ghospellers for their Religion was setled
Duke of Mercoeur had been before Canisse in Hungary Hatsfeldt fell sick and the Swedes being re-inforced divided themselves into two Bands or Bodies the one under Bannier to go towards Silesia and the other under Wranghel towards Marche but this latter was met and defeated by General Bredaw which losse obliged them to stay in Pomerania During this bloody knocking where Fortune remained not constant the Landgrave William being advertised of the retreate of the Swedes began also to think of his own for Cassel was not able to shelter him and so he retyred into Holland with his Wife and Children himselfe and his Army The Landgrave retires into Holland with his Wife His death put themselves into East-Freezland to be shouldered by the States and the North-Sea but Parca cut off the thred of his life by a pestilent Feaver and left the Game to be played by his wife who did it with much felicity Let us leave them forging new designes and passe to the other side towards Lorraine CHAP. VI. Coleredo taken The Spainards pass into Picardy John de Werdts exploits The Siege of Dole raysed Gallasso enters into Burgundy War against the Duke of Parma who makes peace Truce prolonged in Prussia DUke Bernard of Weymar and Cardinal de la Valette having with very much adoe gotten loose from their Enemies by whom they were both followed and flanked retired themselves fighting to Metz but with the losse of Canon Baggage and a great number of men as well by the Sword as Famine And John de Werdt and Gallasso tracing them were also so received by this scourge and sicknesse that after a good part of their Army was consumed they were forced to retreate the latter into Germany and the former into the Province of Liedge The defeate of young Coleredo by young Crecqui in Lorraine brought the war back again into Alsatia The Spaniards in Picardy with a potent Army The House of Austria to make France feel what she had made her suffer in Germany and the Low-Countries resolved to carry the war into her very bowells and to the very Gates of Paris it selfe The greatnesse of the Spanish Nation was engaged herein to make the French know that they had force enough to revenge themselves effectively and not by vaine rodomont ados or ranting For which end the Cardinal Infanto was making huge preparations all the Winter long He entred by the way of Picardy with an Army of sixteen thousand Horse and fifteen thousand Foot The Imperialists were conducted by Piccolomini and John de Werdt and the Low-Country Country Forces by Prince Thomas It was thought that Army would have devoured all France there being none but the Count of Soissons with ten or twelve Regiments to hinder their passing the River of Some Take some places Catalet Capelle and Corbie made small resistance and the other places served but for pillage Count Soissons retyred with some losse and the ransack which Iohn de Werdt made together with the dust of his Army cast terror into the City of Paris He surprised some beat others and went on with so much speed that he compelled his Enemies who were very much steeightened to keep themselves upon their guard The King raised a puissant Army and marched directly to his Enemies who not being willing to hazard the Country by a generall Battail retyred and he having after some weeks siege retaken Corbie and finding the the winter near at hand did the same But the Hollanders upon the other side not enduring to see the Spaniards in the Fort of Schenck after a siege of nine moneths constrained them to change their lodging Let us pass into Burgundy and see in what condition the Prince of Conde is there The Burgund ans say that he attacked them contrary to his own word given them Dole besieged 1626. is sueâ—ured by the Duke of Lorraine Gâ—llasso retyred into Germany and that a Prince who breaks word can never have good luck He laid Siege before Dole and the Inhabitants were resolved rather to perish all with their swords in their hands then yeeld themselves to him The Duke of Lorrain came from the Low-Countries and made him raise the siege and Galasso went out of Germany with an Army of thirty thousand men and fell upon France but stayed not long there and returned with small glory and a smaller Train after he had shewed the French that the Germans knew how to plunder as well as they However he left no mark at all of his valour behinde him for his Army being diminished by almost the one half as well through famin as flight he returned from whence he came and Monsieur de Rantzaw behaved himself so valiantly against him that he acquired the Marshalls staffe These Attacks upon the one side and the other between these two Crowns not having wrought the effects which were both feared and expected it looked as if the Kings would open their eares to the holy propositions of Peace which were made them by Pope Vrban But this Iron Age admits no such Remonstrances and all the mischiefes must be fulsilled because they have been foretold it is an Age of slaughter and not of peace Piccolomini returned into Germany and Iohn de Werdt to the Diocese of Colein after having humbled the Country of Liedge and carried the Eagles into the Kingdom of France but the Flower de Luce had yet too strong a smell for thern to suffer Hermestein bâ—eked renders by faâ—â—in the sixteenth of June 1638. The Fort of Hermestein had been two yeares blocked up and the Garrison forced by famine to consume all their horses for the Hassians were in Frienland and in France too farre off to give succour to a place which was like to be lost for want of it Some Waggons there went from Wesel with Victualls and Cloathes but Iohn de Werdt having notice thereof marched and charged the Convoy with so good successe that he routed the Cavalty and took all They of Hannaw went more cunningly to work and put three Barks loaden with provisions into their Town which passed before Mentz with a Burgundian Crosse and two souldiers clad like Monks thereby to cozen their enemies It is not the Habit which makes the Monk This Euterprise issuted well but the second was not so happy and so the French were constrained to render this good place into the hands of the Imperialists Ferdinand the Think Emperour of Germany c The Italians were not exempt from the fury of warre for after the Cardinall Infanto's departure the Duke of Parma upon some discontentments made a League with the Duke of Savoy and took the protection of France which was of much more advantage to him then it had been to the Electour of Trevirs and his subjects The two Confederates besieged Valencia where they lost their time mony and a multitude of men The Dake of Parma at Paris The said Duke of Parma was received at Paris 1636.
with great ceremonie and many complements from whence after a while he repassed into Italy and the French and Savoyers into the Dutchy of Milan where they were beaten and the said Duke being almost spoyled of all his States by the Spaniards and seeing no succour come from France nor any effects of the promises made him chose rather to reconcile himself with them then lose all the rest Reconciles himself with the House of Aust 〈◊〉 wherefore he subtilly dismissed the French out of Parma and Placentia and as soon as he had renounced the Kings Protection all his said States were restored to him 1636. Yet for all this the Warre departed not out Italy for the Spaniards besieged and took the Fort of Brema Brema taken The death of the Marshals of Crecqui and soiras and the Marshall of Crecqui coming to spy by what meanes it might to be succoured was taken out of that trouble by a bullet and sent to eternal repose from all his labours The same end had the Marshall of Toiras the yeare before and in the like occasion who was regretted by all for his incomparable dexterity and valour Verseil fell also into the hands of the Spaniards after the defence of about two moneths and so Cardinal de la Valettes succour proved fruitlesse And the Dukes of Mantua and Savoy In the moneths of September and October the Dukes of Mantua and Savoy passed to a better life but let us go into Poland to see if that King will draw his sword any more There was a Truce for six yeares which expired in that of 1635. Vladislaus raised a puissant Army with intention to drive the Swedes who were much ingaged in the German warre out of all Prussia and Livonia and reconquer the Kingdom of Sweden The House of Austria animated him in this fair occasion both for her own interest and his France and Holland for theirs counselled a peace which not being to be found amongst so many difficulties The Truce prolonged for six and twenty yeares between the Pole and Swedes 1635. there was concluded a prolongation of the Truce for six and twenty yeares and that by the perswasion of the Count of Avaux who had gotten a great influence upon the Senatours of the Kingdom of Poland By vertue of which composition Prussia was restored to the Poles Livonia remained to the Swedes and the interest of the two Houses neglected by the address of these fortunate and able Ministers though it were not indeed without regret that Vladislans being a great Captain re-sheathed his sword and suffered his magnanimous courage to coole in Royall and pompous vacancy CHAP. VII Ferdinand two dayes after the Diet of Ratisbone where his Sonnes had been Elected King of the Romanes dies The Relation of his life Bannier makes new progresse Many Princes take newtrality and afterwards the Swedish Party The Arthduke Leopold Generalissimo or Chief General THE Emperour Ferdinand the second feeling himself debilitated in body by the burthen of so many years and so many Warrs as whereby he had been tormented took nothing more to heart then the meanes how to provide for the establishment of that Empire which Domestick partialities seconded by the ambition of Strangers had much shaken Holy thoughts and worthy of such a Pilot as merited to govern such a ship in a storme which threatened this great world with destruction But it had passed the bounds of all Justice the great Sun-dyal of the Sea had no more strength recourse must be made to the Stars to implore their assistance and direction for fear of making Shipwrack by the extraordinary violence of the windes Wherein he was gratiously heard against the expectation of his enemies whose practises were faine to give way to the incomprehensible decrees of the divine providence He called a Diet at Ratisbone and sent for the Electour of Trevirs who was prisoner in the Low-countries The assembly at Ratisbone 1636. Ferdinand the third King of the Romanes In this assembly the Poland Embassadours speech had more weight for Ferdinand the third already King of Hungary then the under-hand dealings of the French for the Duke of Bavaria so that the voice fell upon him and the affection of the Protestants was declared with so great harmony that the General Showt was Live Ferdin and the third King of the Komans The ceremonies being accomplished the 22. of December 1636. the Emperour in most Christian manner rendred up his Soule to God the 15 th of February following The death of Ferdinand the second the 15 th of February 1637. His life Here we may admire the stupendious and supernaturall effects of the Divine goodness in this Prince who by the good successe and prosperity of his Lieutenants maintained his Scepter directly and indirectly at several times and all together against almost all the world For he was no sooner Crowned King of Bohemia then that people revolted and chose another When he was Emperour he had the seditions of the Hungarians and of his own subjects in Austria Mansfedt and the Bishop of Halberstadt never lelt to hate him nor ceased to hurt him till they ceased to live The Danes provoked his Arms and felt the effects thereof The English Scots and Hollanders conspired against him In fine the Swedes with an Army of six thousand English under the conduct of Marquis Hamilton and the whole Protestant body and the French by the profusion of their Treasures and the effusion of so much bood openly manifested the desire they had to pul the Crown from his head or at least to take it away from his House nor was it enough to excite the Peasans but they must also corrupt the faith of that impertinent General In a word this poor Prince was no sooner got out of one War then there sprung up two other and the weapons whereof he served himselfe in these extremities were the prayers he daily addressed to God which King Gustave seemed more to apprehend then he did all his Armies He experimented the Arms of the Tuks Catholicks Lutherans and Reformates over all which he triumphed saw his Sonne Crowned King of the Romans in despight of all his enemies the Swedes shut up in Pomeranta and the French beaten out of Germany yea and his own Army together with that of the Spaniards almost at the Gates of Paris a year before his death He was a so mild a Prince that the Lutherans themselves found nothing to blame in him but that he hearkened too much to the Jesuits and that he was too zealous for the Reformation Strong reasons for them to revolt Very zealous for the Reformation and call in the Swedes but they had cause to repent afterwards Let us now drive the Swedes out of Pomerania and hear the complaints of the Imperalists upon the disorder of their Army for want of bread The Swedes had formerly taken the Town of Luneburgh and put the Table or Altar of Gold to Ransom Duke
Imperialists victualled the Town but the magazine being spoyled by fire they were constrained to send other Provisions which happily arrived but Fortune smiled upon them to deceive them For they were furiously attacked which they sustained with advantage and the fight was stubborn the Generals being both old Souldiers but the inconstant Goddess forsook them and so their Army of twelve thousand men was utterly defeated The besieged had patience The Imperalists beaten again Brisack besieged till another was raised where with Lamboy made such a happy assault that he got possession of a Fort neer the Bridge but not being soon enough seconded he was forced to quit it again The Duke of Lorrain who took to heart the praiservation of this place had no better luck then the Imperialists General Goetz being suspected of having too much temporized was made prisoner And Reinaker the Governour after having combated a desperate famin was compelled to surrender with a huge magazine Renders by famin in the maneth of December 1638. And the Weymarian goe into Burgundy and much riches the said Town of Brisack the very pillow upon which the House of Austria reposed and the best key of the Empire If this Victory were glorious to France it was so much the more dammageable to her Enemies and Duke Bernard to take off all impediments from the French in Germany fell in upon the Free County of Burgundy which he so quelted with Sieges Encounters Picories or Robberies that he reduced in almost all under obedience to them by whose power he had fubsisted after the Battail of Mortlingen He did also as much in Lorraine and it looked as if fortune would never abandon him Duke Berrard refuses to go to Paris The King in the mean while invited him to Paris under pretext to thank him for so many Victories obtained but he chose rather to stay at Brisack which was his heart the center of all his praetentions and the inestimable Pearl of all his conquests His refusal though coloured with some reason pleased not the Cardinals palat who desired to asture himself of that Gate whatsoever it cost him In matters of State interest is only observed and all other affections pass not beyond civility This brave Prince wanted no judgment and knew well of what importance this place was and therefore had no mind to give it the French but he had to do with a man who was more cunning then himself In fine he fel sick and after having made his Wil died in the flower of his age in the midst of his Victories and of his Army Some Germans published Falls sick and dyes hat he dyed of poyson wihich was sent from afar off as if a naturall death were not as well to be found in Armies as a violent one His life This Prince was desended from the Electoral House of Saxony which dignity was taken from his Praedecestors by Charlos the fifth and transferred upon them who have and dopossess it ever since upon which account he was always an enemy to the house of Austria even to the very last gasp of his breath After the King of Sweden no Prince was more lamented by all the Protestants then he and indeed withour lying he was one of the most valliant and prosperous Captains of this Age. The King sent forth with a hundred thousand Dublous to pay the Army and keep it in his service and the Duke of Longueville went out of Burgundy to command it who left the Germans the possession of Brisack Let us leave them to untwist their jealousies and make a turne through Germany to see what passes in Westphaha since it is all in trouble again Our right way thither is by Hannaw a strong Town neer Francfurt which being well seated and considerable was in the hands of the Earle of Ramsey a Scotch Coronel who commanded there like a petty Tyrant without sparing any yea not not so much as the Count himselfe who was Lord of the Place But this domination of his proved short Hannaw taken for as good a Souldier as he was he found himselfe attacked upon a faire occasion and taken in it though he left not his small Empire but with his life The Count of Dillingburgh was chiefe of this Enterprize and of all the Associates who had interest in it Pâ—terbone by the Swedes Meppen by the Imperialâ—â—ts The Hassians upon the other side took Paterborne by force and the Baron of Velleen the strong Town of Meppen by an enterprise upon the Prince Palatin His Army was defeated by Hatsfeldt neer Lemgow and Prince Robert his brother taken prisoner and carried to Vienna Which blow made him returne to the Haghe and confesse that Fortune was not yet weary of afflicting his Family and let us go the same way with him let us be gone I say out of this poor Empire all tottered by a Tyrannical war to see another beâ—tâ—r disciplined Indeed if Evils grow worse Prodigies went also multiplying and Christian vertues being ecclipsed gave way to all forts of impâ—etiâ—s horrours blasphemies and sacriledges CHAP. IX Breda renders it selfe to the Prince of Orange Venlo and Ruremund to the Cardinal Infanto Landrecies taken The French beaten from before St. Omers and Fontarriby The Queen-mother goes into England returns to Colein and dyes The defeate before Theonuille and that of the Hollanders before Callò The ruine of the Spanish Armada or Navy The revolt of the Normans ALbeit that these two unfruitful Fields and these huge Armies on both sides made more noise then effect as it ordinarily falls out yet could not the Popes exhortations dispose the Soveraâ—gne Heads ever the sooner to a good peace but that they would needs begin again the yeare following 1037. The Prince of Orange having affronted the Spaniards with his Fleer went unforeseen and unexpectedly to besiege Breda which in eleven weeks space he took Bredà besieged and taken and Charnasse the French Embassadour was killed there with a Musket bullet The Spaniards defeated before Leucate This year was happy for France by the defeate of the Spaniards before Leucate a strong place in the County of Rossillion which was both beleaguered and succoured on Michaelmasse Eve by the Duke of Alvin and by reprize or retaking of the Isles St. Margaret and St. Honorat which had been held by the Spaniards two years by the brave Count of Harcourt with but a handful of men Landrecies a most strong Town in the County of Hemâ—nwlt The French take â—â—â—y Towns in the Low-Countries was taken by the Marshal of Chastillon after a Siege of six weeks and many other small and untenible places followed it Capell was also retaken and Danvilliers having sustained some assaults yeilded to the Count of Soissons The Cardinal Infanto not being able to succour Bredà marched towards the Moze took with small trouble Venlo Ruremund And the Spaniards Venlo Ruremund and a great Magazine appointed for
prevented by the aforesaid Prince who made his Army march at one of the clock after mid-night and pitched his Camp near the said Weymarians in such sort as that Melo coming some hours too late durst not meddle with them and avowed that he had to do with one of the cunningest Captains in the world But whilest these things passed Baron John de Werdt returned out of France and shewed that he had not forgotten his Trade by the discontinuance thereof for in less then two months there were above two thousand horses sold at Colein which he had taken from the enemy Let us now pass into Catalunia and see the condition of the affaires of that Country commanded by Monsieur de la Motte Houdancour who so often beat the Castilians took so many Towns and succoured so many more that he deserved and had the Marshalls staffe The King and Cardinal went thither The great progresse of the Frénch in Catalunia and the French took Salces Perpinlan and all the County of Roussillion which had been formerly engaged to the Crown of France but was restored by Charles the eighth Monsieur le Grand had such an advantagious possession of the Kings favour at that time that the great Cardinal was alarmed by it and found himself ready to be cast out of the Saddell For he let the King know how necessary a Peace would be for his kingdom which was impoverished and exhausted by so many Taxes and Warres and had already disposed him to listen to an Accommodation with the King of Spain But he warped a Web into which he so involved himself that he was not afterwards able to put it off For they who recommended Peace were held for malefactors and worthy of death Monsieur le Grand beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon saved by whom Wherefore he was sent to Lyons with Monsieur de Thoii where they were both beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon had run the same Fortune had he not been saved by the high and sharp intercession of the Prince of Orange and the consideration of the Town of Sedan For the said Prince had newly preserved the Weymarian Army and rendred France a most remarkable service whereby he could not merit less then the safety of an innocent mans life The execution of the two young Lords aforesaid augmented the hatred which all the world bore this ambitious Cardinal yea and the King himself expressed some coldnesse to him The great Cardinals death which together with so many other inconveniences encreased his sickness and the fourth of December 1642 sent him to the other world since he had troubled this enough already Never did any man ascend to such an immense greatness and maintain himself so well in it His life was very like that of Seianus but their deaths were different this being naturall and that violent Don Alvarez de Luna rose very high but his fall was so heavy that it brake his neck Cardinal Wolsey disposed absolutely enough of his Master but his credit never passed the Sea but by sits and yet was he degraded before his death and in houtly expectation of the Hangman He was born at Paris of a noble extraction was well learned A brief relation of his life and took the Orders of Priesthood at Rome It is said that Pope Paul the fifth looking him once in the face told him That he would one day be the greatest cheat upon earth The Queen-Mother finding him a man of great wit procured him the Bishoprick of Luzon where he wrote a Book of controversie upon which she recommended him to the King her Son and afterwards to the Pope who sent him the Cardinals Cap and the taking of Rochel gave him so great an influence upon his Masters Mind that he left him almost the totall direction of his Kingdom He got himself shut of the Queen and all who favoured her cut off the Marshall of Marillacs head and destroyed all such as gave him any jealousie He never pardoned such as he had offended He was a most accomplished Politician beloved by the most zealous Protestants and hated by the most zealous Catholicks He made it his task to ruine the House of Lorrain by beginning with that of Guise as also that of Austria by labouring to conquer the Low-Countries so that he could not faile to be beloved by all such as hated the Church of Rome He is accused of having embroyled England to the end that for interest of State it might not hinder his seazing upon Flanders For an English Embassadour imputes to him the destruction of his King by most unjust and maligne practices and of setting all Europe by the eares in generall But he cannot be deprived of the praise of having done the Kingdom of France superlative services though it were with the huge oppression of the poor people A Polish Waywodt of great age and experience desired to outlive the said Cardinall to see what end he would have As he had done many people a great deale of hurt so was he alwayes in perpetuall apprehension and fear nor was there eyer Tyrant who lived in greater disquiet then he A great Volume might be made of the observations of his life which being wholly miserable was sustained but by a blast of ambition In fine whilest he was thinking to triumph over Europe his infirmities and troubles redoubled upon him till they made his soule go out of his wretched Body His death was lamented by few and such as had either feared him or fled from his persecution returned into France not to put on mourning but to give God thanks and repossesse themselves of their Charges and Estates CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Just The ' Battel of Rocroy The Battel of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein THe same Play was still acted under different names For they who had so much longed for great Gustaves death for the establishment of the Emperours Affaires were all amazed to see his Generalls accompanied by the same prosperity as if they had been destinated to consummate the begun-work Upon the other side many Princes and Townes openly favoured them in such such sort as the Emperours affaires weakened so fast to mens sight that they began to despaire of his redresse And so it was held for certain that that Great Cardinals death would cause a huge alteration in France and give the Spaniards the prize but it happened quite otherwise for the French defeated all their forces before Rocroy Let us therefore confesse that it is the Almighty who governes all changes destroyes subverts and augments States both when and how he pleases and that for the bringing of this Great All to an end he permits the Destruction to be Universall and the Confusion Generall Lewis the Just being arrived at his good City of Paris quite altered with the toyle and trouble of his long journey and extremely sad and melancholy began by little and little to lose his health and
alledged of the stopping and visiting some of their ships are neither valid nor sufficient and therefore we will shew another The King of Dâ—nmarke always wished to see an and of that destructive war and consequently ceased not to sollicite the Parties to assemble themselves for the remedy of those mischiefs yea and he offered himself for Arbitratour of the controuersie The Swedes consented thereto and the Emperour being much troubled at this too long and too bloody dance very freely condescended and accepted him for Judge Munster was chosen for the dispute and the Embassadours were invited thither The King sent his and wrought so far with the Emperour that he withdrew his Garrison from Wolfenbottel and rendred it to the Duke of Lune burgh This gave the Swedes jealousie as imagining that the King was more affected to the Emperour then to them and that he would infallibly make them let go their prize In such sort as that in stead of sending their Embassadours to Munster they sent their Armies into his territories as also Commission into Holland to hire ships and raise Sea-men whereof that little Province is the Nursery Torstenton advanced into Holstein and his Cavalrie being almost all dismounted by the continuall march he made was quickly remounted in that good country He surprised Kiel whilest the Marohants and Gentry were assembled there took away the money passed on further and seazed with facility enough The Swedes occupats Intland upon Intland The King provided the small Isle of Fune intrenched the approaches and made all take arms who were able to beare them so that Torstenson was repulsed with losse as often as he offered to passe In the interim the King applyed all his thoughts to the Sea prepared a little Fleet and went with it before Gotemburgh and having given charge to make a greater he distributed Patents for the raising of men and dispatched his Embassadours towards the Emperour to implore his assistance in a farre greater danger then that of the year 1628. He complained of this invasion to all Neighbours Friends and Allyes and informed them that they made war upon him in full peace and without having denounced it before The Swedes in the meane while got ground in their Enemies Country and Coninxmarck subjugated the Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen The Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen which belonged to the King when he was Prince so that the good old King had but two Islands left namely Zeland and Fune They having obtained leave to hire Vessels in Holland sent for a Fleet thence under the orders of Admiral Martin Ties The King attacked him with so much resolution that he forced him to retire into a Port. All the World wondered at the report of this Kings Expeditions who being about sixty seven years old was not startled at all The courage valour of King Christian to see many brave Lords fall on every side of him by Canon and Musket shot but breathing all blood cheered up his Souldiers and Mariners to stand stoutly to it Nor was there need of any other exhortations then his example and whosoever could have lost his courage by seeing him act would have deserved to loose his life He left the Seas to command the Land Army after having attacked the Swedish Fleet himselfe in person with so much magnanimity that after a long resistance it was constrained to retreat with full saile to the Haven of Kiel where the passage was so stopped up by the Danish Navy that in humane appearance it was in danger to fall into their hands The war in Holstein was waged by Skermishes and Torstenson had made himselfe master of the strong place called Christianprys so that there were no more then two more of importance left for the King to wit Gluckstat and Cremp which much hurt the Swedes by surprizes Gallasso comes to succour hun In fine Gallasso arrived at Oldesto entered Hamburgh and Lubeck and began to treat with the King about a League Offensive and Defensive against the common enemy Monsieur de la Tuillerie the Embassadour of France went into Denmark under pretence of being a Mediatour but in effect to quash the House of Austria's Negotiation The Politicks displayed all the subtility they had Who offered a League to server their Masters in this conjuncture however those of Vienna had as bad an issue here as they had in Poland when they counselled war with a very fine shew of well doing in the year 1635. The Dunkerekers being considerable at Sea offered to maintain at their own charge a Fleet of a hundred Ships and Frigots as well to defend the Sownd as to offend in all the Ports of Sweden and that the King might onely keep the said Streight with his own and forty of their Ships against all such as should come from Holland To which Leagve he much inclined as finding himselfe strong enough to attack Gustave Horne and the Imperialists able with some forces to stop Torstensons passage who could neither assault any more places nor hold those he had taken if he were compelled to put himselfe into a posture of defence The Embassadours of France and Holland represented to him the danger there was for him to involue himselfe in such an Allyance not forgetting the old argument that that formidable House which was in her decline and had alwayes aspired to the Universal Monarchy sought no other occasion to set her selfe up again and make his Kingdom the seate of the war They promised him to mediate an honourable and advantagious peace for him Which the other Embassadors hinder threatened him if he engaged himselfe so deeply and said aloud that they should finde themselves obliged to follow their own interests and succour their Allyes yea and they skared the States of the Kingdom by using the same language to them and weakened in fine the Imperial Party which had bad luck both in Camp and Court During these Transactions the Swedish Fleet escaped without any damage and got into the maine The King beheaded his Admiral Galde for not having well kept the passage and marched into Scania with a brave Army of sixteen thousand men almost all Germans intending to give Horue Battel But La Tuillerie seeing the Party unequal run betwixt the two Armies and with his Rhetorick stopped the Onset which was ready to be give promising the King mountaines of Gold and so both Hosts retired and the Imperial Forces suffered Torstenson to passe before them and return into Germany without stirring at all But Gallasso follwed him who when he might have hindered him from marching out or compelled him to fight upon disadvantage in the Dutchy of Holstein commitred a fault just like that of the Admiral of Denmark Gallasso suspetiet whereupon he was held by some for a traitour and as if he had been corrupted by the Swedes and such as defended him made use of a common argument to wit that he had no Order to hazard his Army But
to pick out some kind of similitude of his death to that of the Saviour of the world but for my part I will be silent Since that time the English have fought prosperously against the Irish and Scots But let us now end the war and the difference between the King of Spain and the States Generall and see the success of the Armes of France CHAP. XIX The continuance of the Exploits in Flanders The Battail of Lentz THE Prince of Orange made his last Field in the year 1647. when he passed into Flanders and received a supply of six thousand French conducted by Marshall Gramment who did nothing but plunder and gave proof of their courage and irregular Discipline to the souldiers of this Common-wealth He took a Fort before Antwerp which he presently after lost again He found so much repugnance in the States against the Siege of this Town that he changed his design Hemy Prince of Orange sick His death 1648. and marched towards Venlo but after the loss of many men there he retyred to the Haghe where he fell sick and died in the moneth of March 1648. and was interred at Delft by Prince William his Father This generous Prince gave so many testimonies of his valour in so many perilous Sieges that he made himself admired by all the world Armentiers and Landrecies taken 1647. The Arch-Duke Leopold being arrived in the quality of Governour of the Low-Countries besieged Armentiers the thirteenth of May which the French had fortified and made a Magazine there which he gained the twenty sixth of the same monoth But Gassion being intrenched with eight thousand men near Esterre hindred him from any further attempt upon Artoise and chiefly Arras upon which he seemed to have cast his eye Wherefore he went and invested Landrecies and brought it under obedience in less then three weeks The French take La Baneè Diemude end Tortoza But Gassion recompenced the first loss by the taking of La Baneè which he effected by an Assault only without a siege as Rantzow also did Diemude In such sort as Piccolomini was forced to lay a formall Siege to it and tear it our of the hands of Monsieur Palvaw the Governour Rantzow had an enterprise upon Ostend which being discovered was hurtfull to the Enterprisers Nor had that of Beck upon Courtrack any better success and La Baneè remained as a Curb to Lile But the Arms of France had better luck in Catalunia where the Marshall of Schoonbergh recompenced the loss which the Count of Harcoart made in raising the Siege of Lerida in doing the like for the Spaniards before Flix and by easily taking Tortoza From whence the name of Hibernia to Ireland a Town situated at the mouth of the River Ebro called by the Romans Iberus But Terragona was a stumbling-block for them as well as Casal had been to the Spaniards The next years Field must do miracles and shew the Hollanders that without them they were able to beat the Spaniards out of Flanders Indeed the Army was very great and the General had both luck and courage enough to undertake impossible things The French take Ypers and the Spaniniards Courtrack 1648. The fair and strong Town of Ypers was attacked and taken in twelve dayes and Courtrack retaken by the Spaniards in five Indeed the want of Victuals was so great that if Ypers had held out four days more the Army had been in danger of suffering much The forces of both Parties met near Lentz a Town though small yet famous for brave Gassions death Gassion killed who was killed by a musket bullet in the Approaches to the Town The Sraniards were about seven thousand and the French much sewer The Foot did their duty well enough The Battail of Lentz and especially the Lorraines but the Horse according to their custom sled and would not hearken to General Becks exhortations who was taken and died rather of vexation then of his wounds In sine the Spaniards lost the Battail and had almost lost the Imperiall Prince too had he not been succoured by the Prince of Ligne The victory of the French who remained in pawn for him For want of Foot the French were fain to be content with the Town of Fuernes which was afterwards retaken by the Spaniards to guard Dunkerk It was conceived that this victory would have been a means to ingrandish the French Monarchy but it was likely on the other side to make it stumble and indeed it gave it such a shogg that it hath not been able to recover it self wholly hitherto For this great Body being strong and nimble is fallen into a feaver which makes it frantick It is like a Watch the principall wheels whereof being broken keeps no true course or measure But let us go and finish the war of the United Provinces since the news thereof is already come for if we should stay to note all things we should never have an end CHAP. XX The Peace made betwixt the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable Siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate THe last Field having produced no remarkable effect at all was taken by many as the shooting off of a Musket without a bullet rather to content the Allyes then to advance upon the enemy rather to drive away the time then to make use of advantages and rather to tyre the French then to come to share stakes with them Indeed the Hollanders had a fine game of it for the enemy not being able almost to stoop was fain to avow that all their defences being taken away in Flanders they had nothing more left to oppose against them then the Walls of Amwerp Gaunt and Bridges for Guelders was half conquered Brabant open and Flanders almost quite subjugated so that there remained but one and the last Bowt to come to the sharing of stakes In the mean while the Embassadours which last arrived were the first dispatched for they found so much inclination in them of Spain that the Proposition for a Truce being changed into that of a Peace all their demands were granted them In such sort as more then a twelve moneths time was spent in attending and uniting the two Parties howbeit they had brought them so far already that whatsoever the French had gotten by conquest of the Spaniards and other enemies was to remain as their own for perpetuity and they had confirmed it amongst them by a sure and fast League in order to which Monsieur de Seruient had taken great pains at the Haghe yea he indevoured under this pretext to draw the States to a continuation of the war The Peate made between the Spaniards and the Hollanders and the utter expulsion of the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries and therefore it was no marvaile if Prince William leaned that way with him For this young Eagle being newly received as Governour and Captain Generall desired to accomplish what his Predecessors
fatal to the French as Casal had been to the Spaniards nor was all that great preparation both of men The Prince of Comde in Catalunia and money able to save him from it For thinking to overcome a Place which had in vaine been attacked by two so great Warriers he besieged it whilest Harcourt was at Paris in great esteem where his vertue had already so far triumphed over all such as envyed him as that nothing was wanting but the issue of this Siege The King of Sweden when he was going to give the brave Count of Tilly battel was heard to utter these words If Fortune be against me it will not have been any grent affront to me to have lost against a man who hath alwayes been victorious but if she look upon me with a propitions eye what glory will be due to me for having surmounted a Mars who hath been alwayes invincible Besieges Lerida in vaine This young Alexander swolne with Victories continued the Siege but meeting with the same impossibilities the same disbandings and the strong relief which was near at hand he was faine to with draw himselfe from a place which was so disasterous to the French God hath limited Conquests and therefore let him come back into France Leaves the Country where he was reserved for great affairs For the horrible Change which hapned at Neaples the Comedy mingled with blood and the Tragedy interlarded with ridiculous accidents will not suffer us to stay any longer in Catalunia whether the King sent the Marshal of Schoonbergh who by a remarkable felicity repaired these disasters THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I The tumu'ts at Naples begun by Thomaso Aniello and why The History of Conradine Prince of Swaveland His death The Sicilian Vespers or Even-Songs The History of Catenesa and of the Tragedies which happened at Naples PEace is an effect of Gods Grace and War another of his just Choler For since Charity is grown cold Faith almost dead and the wickednesse of man universall we must not wonder if the punishment of this present time be extended upon the whole Body of Christendom without exception of Age Sex or Condition But that which is most insupportable is the wicked have the winde in poupe and prosper and as the exhalations are ordinarily drawne from the vapours which offuscate or darken the Sun just so impunity of offences causes this disorder The Kingdom of Naples had been oft enough advertised of a scourge which was prepared for it by that Mountain near it which so often vomited up lumps of fire and sent it snowes of ashes but the Preservatives hindred not the disease The strange accidents happened in the kingdom of Naples in former ages The strange accidents which happened in this kingdom in the twelfth and thirteenth Age make us confesse that wickednesse parricides and perfidies were already known in those times but not so universally as in these For if there were found great vices amongst some great persons there were also found more vertues more piety and a quick and lively Faith in generall through all Christendom But at present Justice is trodden under foot mony does all vertue is made a laughing-stock even by them who boast to have drawn their Origin from it and vice being a la mode or in fashion is esteemed yea many sin rather by example then by inclination in this depraved Age and more to please the vicious then for that they approve of the vice By how much the more the Great ones retyre themselves from the Commons by so much the more do the Commons endeavour to withdraw themselves from their service But let us stay at Naples The infamous death to which Charles of Ainoâ—ü put Frederick Duke of Austria and his young Cousin Couradine the last Duke of the most ancient Imperial House of Swaveland for having sought his own Right which was taken from him by the Pope and given to the said Charles teaches us that this is not the first time that Soveraignes have ended their lives by the hand of an ordinary Executioner and that a good cause hath not alwayes a good issue For the three hundred French Gentlemen who were sacrificed to the spirits of these two Lords and the Torches of the Sicilian Vespers or Even-songs which were extinguished in the blood of the same nation tell us that vengeance hath alwayes been sweet and that it is most dangerous to put an irritated people into fury This Gatenesa from a mean Landress being grown the Nurse of a Prince and afterwards Governess of six Princesses one after another with such an absolute power upon their mindes and chiefly upon that of the last that she grew to dispose of the greatest Charges and Offices of the kingdom and distributed the best part thereof amongst her own children saw her self at last with all her family dragged to the execution Yea a King was hanged at the Grate of a window by consent of his wife and she some years after strangled by a just judgement of the Great Judge These were the miracles or rather the prodigies of those Ages which hapened all in the said kingdom with so many other as make us conclude that usurped possessions seldom pass to the fourth Heyr or else alwayes cause troubles Towards the end of the fourteenth Age this kingdom being revolted from Alfonso of Arragon the States thereof offered the Crown to Charles the eighth King of France who easily got it into his possession and the Neapolitans with the same facility shook off that yoke afterwards for being frustrated of their Charges and recalled the aforesaid Arragonian The French returned thither by the commandment of Lewis the twelfth who ought to share it with Ferdinand of Castill but they could not agree about the spoyles and so Gonsalvo rather by might then right drove them both our It hath been attacked since but not subdued and so remaines to the King of Spain Now the wars being grown hot both in Germany and the Low-Coumtries and the House of Austria finding her self taken to task by so many enemies the State of Neaples was oppressed by so many Imposts or Taxes that that House being strong and vigorous before became so lean and feeble that he could not longer carry so heavy a burthen This mischief began first to operate almost throughout all Sicily where the people constrained the vice-Vice-King to take off the Imposts From thence it passed to Neaples and by that good success made the Ne politans take the same resolution and that by such meanes as you shall forthwith understand The beginning of the troubles at Neaples The tears of the poor peeople the advices and admonitions of some great ones the libells and burning of the Custome-Houses were all able to draw but faint promises of ease without any effect at all Whereupon a certain Fellow of the very dregs of the People who had dyed in the obscurity of his birth had
To all which he answered with a consident aspect that he had done nothing but for his Masters service and that by his partionlar Command Gosimirus King of Poland Great Duke of Lithuanice c c. A o. 1649 But what do the Polanders do Are they in peace Are they exempt from the mischiefs under which all the rest of Christendom lies growning Let us step a little that way After the Truce was made with the Swedes the Common-wealth of Poland was without enemies and in repose which yet was disturbed by the Cossacks a people which follow the Greek Religion and depend upon the Government of Poland The Cossacks which they are obliged to serve on horse back against the Turks and Tartars whose passage they stop But for the rest they are hard to be ruled and are wont to receive the Peasants whom the tyranay of the Gentry drives out of Poland as also many others for any wickedness or oftence committed The death of victorious King Vladislans some Churches which were taken from them and a certain Gentleman called Chimenelisky who was their Head and Leader made them take Arms Take Arms. against the said Common-wealth For this General seeing the occasion fair to revenge himself of the affront which had been done him by some certain Lords put the Cossacks into the Field beat the Polish Armies twice and by these Victories opened the way into the Kingdom which was exposed to the cruelty Beat the Polanders barbarity and infamous avarice of this dreggy people The Peasants chastised in Lituania The fire flamed up again towards Litnaria and the Peasants began also to revolt but Prince Radzivil repressed them Pinskow was reduced into ashes and the Inhabitants for example to others put to the Sword The King goes into the Field a Battel Prince Casimir being chosen and crowned King at Warsaw went himself into the Field with his Army to stop the progresse of the said Turks and Tartars who were joyned together The Battel was given and the Enemies The Peace made after a stubborn Combat of five hours long retired with confusion enough and put themselves in posture again the next day for the number of them amounted to above three hundred and ninety thousand men In fine the Peace was made the Tartars returned malcontent the Priviledges of the said Cossacks were confirmed and Chimenelisky pardoned This newes came to Prince Radzivil who was in these termes with his Army He had beaten the Rebels taken many Towns and was of resolution to go and affront the rest but he returned and retired to Vilna Religion acted her part in this war as the jealousie which the Polanders ordinarily have of their King did also hers The Peace had so much rest and quiet as distrust and turbulent spirits are wont to afford and so by consequence It dares not long it lasted not long for Chimenelisk having attacked the Prince of Moldavia would needs compel him to give his Daughter in marriage to his Son which Prince Radzivil the said Princes Son in Law endeavoured to hinder This General seeing the Armies in the Field and the war resolved he who had corresponce in Poland sent his Embassadours to Constantinople of whose expedition we shall speak hereafter For France in the bickerment of Civil and Forraigne wars gives us no more leasure to stay any longer here The French being the most affectionate almost of all other Nations to the service of their King could not endure to see the direction of affaiâ—sin a forraign Ministers hands and indeed other Nations would never have suffered it so jealous are they of the confirmation of their Rights and by consequence were extreamly irritated by the imprisonment of the Princes The Orders of the Parliament of Bourdeaux and the Parliament of Bourdeaux renewed the Order given against the Marquis d'Ancre which contained that no Stranger should ever more have the great Ministery or Intendency of the Kingdom Whilest the Arch-Duke and the Vice-Count of Turenne were busie about sending the Armies into the Field and that this latter refused all the conditions which were offered him the French presented the said Arch-Duke a Peace with the Articles of Munster which he would not accept of whereupon a certain French Writer exclaimes and sayes that it is a convincing argument that the Spaniards will not have peace But this is but to amuse the poor people For doth he not know that the time is changed and that there was then a necessity of taking whatsoever was offered Occasion is bald behind The Spanish Army attacked Guise and took it by Assault but the Castle holding out The Spaniards before Guise and the news of the defeat of the Convoy being come made them retyre in hast with the losse of many men which hunger caused to runaway The said Convoy consisted of about fifteen hundred horsemen who had every one a bag of powder upon his back Retyred with losse and carried bread to the Camp but being attacked by four hundred men only they threw down their burthens and fled Thus were the first fruits of this Field spoyled and the Cardinal who knew not which way to turn himself to quench the fire went towards Bourdeaux to force the Allyes and the said Town to repentance for their faults leaving Champagne open to the enemies It was conceived that the King by his presence would have reduced them all to their duty but it proved quite otherwise for Mazarin raised more partialities hatred and obstinacy The Arch-Duke seeing the occasion faire sent his Army into the said Province took Retel and many other small Places and gave terrour to the Gates of Paris The Princes for better securities sake were carried to Marcoussy and from thence to Haure de grace Take Retel And the propesition of Peace being vain They goe to Mouzon and take it The Arch-Duke wrote from Basoche to the Duke of Orleans about a Peace who sent him an answer of the same substance but without effect The Spaniards having unprofitably consumed this Field went and besieged Mouzon which they took with much difficulty as wrestling with the raines and the overflowing of the River which caused many sicknesses amongst the souldiers who were beaten into their winter quarters by the season Te Deum is 〈◊〉 is sung at Brussels and at Paris and why Te Deum was sung at Brussels for the happy successe of the Kings Armies as well in Catalunie for the reduction of Tortosa as in Italy for the taking of Piambino and Portolongone as also that of Mouzon in France which had been so faithfully defended by the waters of the Moze It was also sung at Paris with no lesse joy for the recuperation of Bourdeaux and Retel with the defeat of the Vice-Count of Turennes forces See here how things passed The Inhabitants of Bourdeaux having conceived an irreconcileable hatred against the Duke of Espernon as we have already said declared themselves for
the Princes The Duke of Boüillon and the Duke de la Rochefancant raised a great Army But by the intercession of the Duke of Orleans all such as acted for the Princes The Accord made at Bourdeaux 1650 were pardoned Arms laid down every body restostored to favour and the Dutchess of Boüillon delivered There was none but the Princess Dowager of Conde who could not digest this bitterness for taking the detention of her children too much to heart and the repulse of her suits The Princesse Dowagers death she grew at last to yeeld under the burthen of her afflictions and left this vale of misery to go and take possession of the holy Jerusalem The King made his entrance into Bourdeaux the first day of October in a most sumptuous and stately Gally which was sent him by them of the Town where he was received with all testimonies of joy and a Generall Vive le Roy where he passed And the seventh of the same moneth he departed for Paris Cardinal Mazarin seeing the number of his enemies increase resolved to stop their monthes with a glorious action which proved usefull to the State and served for an evidence to all Europe that his Ministery was advantagious both to the King and kingdom of France He puts the Militia in order gave the souldiers money conducted the Army straight to Retel and after having given it three Assaults Mazarin retakes Retel made the Spaniards march out The Vice-Count of Turenne being a brave souldier for whose valour some certain Towns in Germany had declared themselves for him forthwith brought his Troops into the Field hastened to succour the Place and gave the besieged an advertisement of the reliefe but too late He advanced with six thousand horse for his foot could not follow but he was charged by the Marshall of Prastin and after a resistance which cost much blood defeated The Spaniards beaten The Spaniards recollected themselves in the Province of Luxemburgh and the Conquerours went to take up their winter quarters in Normandy and Lorraine where the Count of Lignevills progresse was soon stopped And the Lorraines for being beaten by the Marquis of Seneterre he was compelled to march away with the losse of about nine hundred men and four pieces of Canon This year the Deputies of the Cantons of Swisserland arrived in France to present their complaints and they were contented There needed no lesse then a whole Army to force the Leidgers or people of Leidge to open their purses and the Swedes having obtained the tax of Contributions repassed the Rhein The Princes demand the Investure The evacuation being finished in Germany and the Embassadours retyred the Princes sent an Embassie to the Emperour to demand the Investure of their Fief The King of Denmark asked it for the Dutchy of Holstein by Monsieur de Rantzow who returned with the honour of the title of Count. After these honours followed the Reformations almost every where I would to God that abuses andill customes were also reformed with as much zeal The Goods of the Swissers arrested since the precedent year caused many complaints and menaces which produced a meer restitution only Let us take a turn into Spain with the Emperours daughter newly espowsed to the Catholick King who was every where received with magnificent pomps and honours but principally at Madrid where there was at the same time an Embassadour from the Grand Signor The Embassadour from the Turk in Span. who being brought to a most stately Audience adorned with Diamants and precious stones first condoled the Queens death then congratulated the new marriage and demanded a private audience for his Commission The tenour of his letter of credence was To the most Glorious of all Christian Princes from Aly Solyman Lord of the House of the Ottomans c. First He offered the Holy Sepulcher Secondly True Commerce without further exercise of Piracy Thirdly He proposed a match between Don John of Austria and the Sultanesse of whom we formerly spake and who was now become Catholick at Maltha promising him a kingdom under the Turk And Fourthly and lastly That all prisoners might be released on both sides The Presents were rich and noble and the Embassy in apparence faire but the issue thereof declared that all was but Complement The Residents of the Parliament massacred at Madrid and at the Haghe Mr. Anthony Ascam being arrived at the same Court in the quality of Resident for the Parliament of England found his Tragicall end there as Doctor Dorislaw had already found his at the Haghe Charles Stewarts Embassadour being introduced to his Audience fell forthwith a weeping and thereby moved the King to compassion The King of Portugal by favouring Prince Robert caused the English Fleet to come and lye before his Havens which put him to so much dammage that both he and his subjects had leasure to repent themselves of having offended that Parliament CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stewart in Jersy The Kings Lands and Goods sold The aforesaid Charles goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuation of the war in Candie War by the Pen. The Spanish Embassadour at London The Chineses turned Catholicks IT is in the Britannick Islands that Bellona now exercises her rage for she hath established her sear there and looks as if she would stay some time Charles was in the Isle of Jersy where he distributed Commissions to fall upon the English ships and spoyle their Trade But upon a certain advice which was given him General Blake before the River of Lisbone The Kings Goods sold he departed and Generall Blake went and shut up Prince Robert in the River of Lisbone whilest the Kings Goods were sold at London as namely his three Crownes his Scepter the Golden Garter all the Jewels Pictures Images Rarities and whatsoever else of price and value Some put the Crownes upon their Heads the Garter about their Legs and took the Scepter in their hands saying Look how well these Ornaments become me Who would have imagined such a change The mony which was made of these said Goods was employed upon the States service They passed yet further they brake down the Kings Statue upon the old Exchange and set up this Inscription Exiit Tyrannus Regum ultimus The Parliament searing lest Charles through some good success should come and disturb the Peace of England by means of some Creatures of his there laboured to prevent him and Fairfax having surrendred his Commission to that most renowned Captain Generall Cromwell he marched with an Army of sixteen thousand men to face the Scots who were above five and twenty thousand killed above three thousand of them upon the place Cromwels victory over the Scots and took above ten thousand prisoners for the rest run away to publish the glory of the Nation Indeed he had as good success as Don John of Austria who lost
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
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
how much apparence soever there were of repaying the affront received before it the precedent year The time passed in contest the Garrison of the Town reinforced and the Knight after two dayes sickness The knight of Guises death dead which death for the Violence thereof was suspected of some malignity as well to the Soule as to the body The suddain deaths of great persons give occasion of talke but those of mean ones are put into common necessity However it be one of his Masters drew profit from it and the other disavowed it Commandments are dangerous to such as execute them for not having their Commission in writing This unforeseen accident amazed such as were cleer sighted filled his most illustrious House with mourning cansed great alterations and designes which made more noyse then effect During these irresolutions the Arch-duke departed from Brussels and arrived at the Army neer Cambray to advice how and with what advantage the Field should be finished The siege of Rocroy Rocroy glorious by the defeat of the Spaniards was a subject which deserved to be brought under obedience wherefore the resolution was taken to besiege it and the French who had coasted their enemies to the Frontiers without hazarding any thing went and incamped themselves before Mouzon And of Mouzon I will say nothing in particular of these two Sieges though I were present at one of them but that Heaven being angry to see the two most generous Nations that ever bore the Christian Name ceased not to outrage or vex one another to their mutuall disadvantage powred down so many teares and the windes raysed so many stormes Ill weather that both men and horses felt excessived stresses It parted the victorres to open their eyes for Rocroy which was the first attacked These two Towns renders themselves yeelded two dayes after Mouzon i. e. the thirtieth of September and the Armies being fatigated by the over much wetness of the season went to seeke shelter almost naked The French being very impatient and desirous to be lodged more at large unnestied the Garrison of St. Menehout and the Lorrains And St. Menchout conducted by their own Master the Duke went to affict the Bishoprick of Liedge The Lorraines in the Bishoprick of Liedge The small success of the three last Fields in respect of the great advantages which were promised by the disorder caused by the discontentments of the Princes of the blood at least a second Peace of Vervins made fools talke who open their mouthes when the wise or at least the wary a most usual maxime in these present times keep them shut There was a misfortune foreseen and it fel upon the Abbot of Mercy and the Count of Bassigny who were cast in prison The Count of Bassigay and the Abbot of Mercy prisoners and their imprisonment gave such as were curious ground to scrue into the cause thereof and made others believe that it would discover some great mistery for which the lovers of novelty longed much This first Thunderclap struck but one only steple but before it was dissipated it crushed a Rock which so many Mariners in this Sea of miseries both doubted and feared and against which so many Vessels made Shipwrack For the Liedgers took an Alarme as also a resolution to make an Allyance with the French against the House of Spain Which blow must needs be fatall to his Catholick Majesty if not prevented and Cardinal Mazarin ful of joy to see himself at the Helme of the Ship began to hope that the webs which he had woven in that Country would be more difficult to untangle then it was to unty the Gordions knot The Duke of Lorraine was sent for to Brussels taken prisoner and carried to the cittadel of Antwerp And the Duke of Lorrain Neither the exploits of Mas-Aniello nor the death of the King Charles brought more astonishment to all Europe then this detention which gave things another countenance brake the neck of many designes sent back the great Faber with his forces to Sedan and retained the Liedgers in their liberty which they were about to loose together with their Peace The Imprisonment of this Soveraign Prince smothered all his Counfels which seemed to be great and was taken for one of the strangest accidents of the time and discovered that he was beloved by almost no body He is suspected to have imitated the constable of St. Paul Suspected to imitate the constable of St. Paul and to have sought his profit in this pernicious War where he danced better then he did in the great Ball or Revel which was made at Paris 1642. France blamed this proceeding more for her own interest then for that of the Prisoner his Troops expressed so great discontentments and fell into such disorder Prince Francs arrives aâ— Brussels that it was needful to send for Prince Francis to put them into the state of obedience who having taken leave of the Emperour and all the Court departed from Vienna being well received and cherished every where and principally at Brussels where he arrived with his two Soanes Whilest the Count of Fuensaldania in busy about securing the Lorrains to his Masters service and assigning them good Winter-quarters to the great displeasure of the Inhabitants of Lile we will go down a little lower Promps last battail The last Battail in the moneth of August wherein the valliant Admirall Tromp lost his life proceeded partly from disgust by seeing the Enemies brave or domineer so long upon the Coast before the havens of Texel and the Moze hindring the going out of the ships obstructing the commerce The Hollanders who had made so many bravadoes throughout all the whole Ocean and imagined that the Lordship of the Sea belonged without controversie to them were even almost dead with spight and displeasure to see themselves so highly and grossely affronted even at their own doors This baâ—tail Isay whereof I have hitherto made very little mention declared in the beginning the addres of both Parties by striving for the advantage of the winde and at the end their generous and obstinate resolution to overcome The losse which the Hollanders sustained was of about fifteen or sixteen Vessels and that of the English little as to Vessels but many were extreemly indammaged on both sides In this surious fight as also in all the former the English Vessels by reason of their hight and their number of bigg Brass Gunns had almost the same advantage upon the Hollanders which Curasseers In which as in many former many Captaines did not their duty or Corsler-Horsmen have upon the Light Horse Besides that many Dutch Captains did not their duty in such sort as that the Hollanders reaped no other profit of their valour then that of removing their Enemies from their Coast and were forced themselves into the Texel The English considering in what equipage their fleet was and fearing the violent storms that
and would needs make others also believe that the States of Holland chose rather a way of Accommodation then to enter into a war which if it had proved successefull to them would have redressed Charles Stewarts affairs and his Nephews to the detriment of their Authority Others maintained that this Peace being utterly broaken the Country would quickly be lost Be it what it will mens passions have been so much the more discovered upon this matter as the liberty of speaking is greater in Holland then elsewhere A tumult at London raised by the Portugucles The tumult which was so temerarily excited at London by the Portugal Embassadours brother made him carry his head upon a Scaffold some moneths after and all issued so well for the great and most prudent Cromwell that he acquired together with the Title of Protectour of the Common-wealth of England the renown of the most acute Politician of this Age. For good successe made the Enterprizers admired gave the Protector full power and authority and left desolate Charles nothing but complements of compassion France the sanctuary of the afflicted France which hath alwayes vanted her self to be the Sanctuary of such as are poor and afflicted labours at present to strip her self of that glorious quality through a maxime of State She hath already felt the strength of the English Will have no war with the English by the loss of her ships and so knowes how dangerous this enemy is and the trouble she had in former Ages to pluck him out of her bowels Wherefore it is better to appease him by politick craft and comply with the Times The reasons then to fall into another war The motions are great enough yet in the Kingdom and it suffices to have the Spaniards for her enemies without drawing the English upon her back too We must sometimes kisse the hands of such as we would have farre enough from us for fear of irritating them And therefore it is that the King sent his Embassadour to London to acknowledge the Republick and treat of a good peace and settle Traffick The Lord Preâ—â—â—tour a great Politician General Cromwel hath expressed his incomparable dexterity in the mannagement of Arms in the direction of Affaires in his Allyances with strangers in dissipating the ambushes and treacheries which have from time to time been land against his designes and his authority and principally in the wars against the Hollanders And you shall now sce how he came to rise higher He assembled another Parliament some of the members whereof being inclined to him proposed one day in full Assembly that the burthen of the Common-wealth was too heavy for them and that it was necessary to impose it upon the shoulders of General Cromwell Some of them not approving of this change retyred secretly to shelter themselves from the contrary winds and the rest were dismissed by him and so the rest went forthwith to conferre that honour upon him congratulate with him and gave him the Title of Protectour England hat 's changed her Gevernment three several times which is not new in that Island and occultly the Soveraignty of England so that in a few years this said Island hath changed her government three severall times and yet leaves not to flourish and to be most formidable to all the powers on earth Some moneths before the dissolution of the Parliament the Kings youngest Son commonly called the Duke of Glocester was sent to Dunkerck in the condition of a private Gentleman with a summe of mony to defray his expences Whilest the Peace is treated at London with many dissiculties by the intervention of the Reformed Cantons of Swisserland and the recommendation of the Queen of Sweden we will take a turn through the North. The King of Denmark being fortified by the Allyance of the States-General and the jealousies which the King of Swedens Leavies gave him The King of Denmark fortifies himselfe being taken away had no other care then to keep his Subjects in arms to hinder all surprises and to intrench the Approaches at the same time when the scourge of God went ransacking all the Inhabitants of the North. At Stockholme Fortune manifested her Empire by casting for a time Count Magnus de la Gardia under her wheel Count Magnus de la Gardia disgraced and depriving him of his Mistresses favour but she was not so rigorous to him as she was to the brave Earle of Essex in Queen Elizabeths time in England Whilest this August Queen is disposing her self to do in the greatest vigour of her youth what the Emperour Charles the fifth did in his decline we will make an in-road into Poland Searce had King Casimir unlaced his Armour yet all stained with the blood of the Rebellious Cossacks The King of Poland attacked by the Muscovites when he saw himself oblidged to put his foot in the stirrop again to resist the Moscovits This Kingdom which had been so much afflicted by the excursions of the said Cossacks by Inundations contagious Diseases Partialities and Distrusts which are ordinary in Free Countries findes her self now in the necessity of making a Defensive War and the Natives to make resistance against a barbarous Nation which they have so often beaten and chased as far as the very heart of Russia and the very Gates of the Capital City Mosco But Changes are as well universal as Chastisements The death of that great Minister Mons de Brum In the beginning of the year 1554. religiously deceased at the Haghe that great man and most faithful Minister Monsicur Anthony de Brun Baron of Apremont and Ordinary Embassadour for the King of Spain to the States He was born at Dole in Burgundy had served his Master from his youth in very great affairs and nominatively in the General Peace at Munster Towards the Spring the Peace was concluded at London against the opinion of many and the news thereof was most agreeable to the Hollanders but when the Articles came to be published The Peace made between the English the Hollanders whereby the young Prince was excluded from all Charges or Offices it much troubled the Provinces and was like to cause divorces and great partialities in so much as the other Provinces set forth complaints and Protestations which were amply enough answered in a Manifest published by the States of Holland and which the Reader may see at good leasure But there were nothing but murmurations they taxed the said States with ingratitude and reproaches and slanders were scattred at random Is this the recompence said they every where of so many services rendred The Princes his Predecessours The cause of the murmurations in behalfe of the Prince of Orange spared not their blood nor their lives nor their meanes to purchase our liberty and in lien thereof we make Agreements so prejudicial to his Authority and so contrary to our duty Ah! what will not the Allyes of this
places and where the fimall pocks domincered was uselesse No no most devoute Monarch it is in vaine to endeavour to conserve this dear Plant the Infinite Essence is too much provoked to wrath by the sins of Christians to grant them this precious Pledge of Justice There is no more fidelity to be found amongst them and when the Pillars shog the Building cannot stand The Archbishoprick of Bremen secularized The Arch-bishoprick of Bremen being secularized by the Peace of Munster fell to be shared by the Swedes for having tormented the Eagle and saved the Protestant Party from shiprack or rather for having crossed the House of Austria's designes They would not be content without the Capital Town it self which is situated upon the Weser a large River which discharges her self into the North Sea for the gaining whereof and to hinder the communication of the Sea The Swedes wil have the Town Count Conninxmark caused a Fort to be built below the said Town which was to bring it to the last gasp This strange proceeding which offended both the Emperour and Empire opened the eyes of the bordering people and discovered the ambition of the Swedes Montecuculi went into Sweden but was put off with delayes for the North understands dissimulation as well as the South Ferdinand threatned this haughty General with the Imperial Thunderbolt but it moved him not at all The impunity of offences provokes men to continue them The Inhabitants of the Town took Arms The Townesmen take Arms. with resolution to defend themselves and sent to implore the Succour of the Head together with that of their Allyes And gaint the Forts About the Summer solstice or Sun-stead in Conninkmarks absence they put their men into the field took those places which lighted them to neer and made the whole Dutchy contribute to this Wat. Connixmarck retakes them and shut up the Sweden Town These affronts were so sensible to this great Warrier that he quickly after revenged himself of them for being seconded by some new forces from Sweden he did not only reconquer the said places but also so streightly shut up the Bremeners that loosing all the confidence they had in their own forces they had recourse to those of their Allyes and especially the Hollanders The States Generall send their Embassadours thither Interest of Religion which is more potent amongst the Reformates as being more popular and lesse tyed then the Catholicks together with that of state and some other considerations made the States Generall resolver to send their Embassadours to mediate an accord and temper the hot demands of the Assailants which were so much preludiciall to the Empire They forthwith declared their Commissions and by mixing the strength of their interests with that of their arguments brought the Swedes to condescend to a more gentle Treaty for fear of obliging the mediatours to become Parties in favour of such as had the same law and whose assistance themselves had received according to their ability in other necessities and whom they could not abandon without being accused of ingratitude yea and there were forty ships equipaged for their relief in case the Swedes would needs try extremities The peace made Thus was this War of the Lutherans against the Reformates soone finished This is the state of the North and that of Germany which is not very safe by the death of the King of the Romanes the Emperours indisposition and the Arming of some Princes in Low-Saxonie for as for that of the Marquis of Brandenbrgh and the Duke of Newburgh time will shew us what scope it hath The King of Swedens marriage with a Priacesse of Holstein But let us now run to the mysterious Siege of Arras and we shal finde Queen Christine at Antwerp who receives the newes of her Cousins marriage with a Princesse of Holstein Arras which was taken by the French in the year 1640 before the face of thirty thousand men and had struggled against famin and some other difficulties which made the most judicious despaire of good successe was likely to be lost playing Wherefore they were thinking to quit the Siege which the youg King had begun presently after his consecration but yet they found meanes to continue it for his Majesties honour and to send the Marshal of Turenne The Marshal of Turenne at the succour of Arras with ten thousand men to succour this place Our young Alexander that accomplished Captain who in his first essay had shewed his mastership thought fit to go ruin those Troops whilest they were feeble The Prince of Conde proposes to goe and attack him but be is not heard and tyred by their long march according to the example of that German Mars that Tamer of Brisack and before they were re-inforced by the Nobility but this too judicious and prudent Nation which chooses rather to fall into the other extremity could not be brought to resolve it choosing rather to cover themselves in their trenches to hinder the reinforcement of the Garrison and to expect the Enemy with a firme foot The French Nobility comes to the succour Stenay yeeldeds The French Nobility which doth more for the love of Vertue and for the favour of their King then many other Nations doe for wages hastened thither Stenay was yeelded the Troops increased and the King himself thereby to animate his subjects to behave themselves well drew neer the place appoinred to get honour All the world expected the Issue of this Siege and some wondered how the Spaniards were able to hold out against such terrible forces The Spaniards â—â—o weake to â—ard so many works which so small ones and the attacks went so slowly on against so weak a Garrison For there were not men enough to defend the lines of so great a circuit to gard the Convoyes and force the Town It was believed that there was yet some Arrow hidden and more then one string to the flow Every body turned their eyes towards the sea and the Embassadours set that Divine Metral together with all their Rhetorick on work either to rayse or stop the tempest In fine the twenty fifth of August being the day of S. Lewis was designed to attack the Lines which were bordered by the Spaniards much deminished and fatigated The French advanced gave the Alarme The Siegeraysed in all the quarters entred by a turn-pike which was ill enough garded and beat down part of the Lines to make way for the Cavaltie There began a confusion in the Camp which made some fly Confusion in the Camp The Prince of Condes valour and addresse tosavt the Army and others resolve to defend themselves The Arch-duke seeing the cowardise of some tesolved to fly and the Prince of Conde vigorously to charge the enemies who contenting themselves with having gained the Artillery succoured the Town and made some hor Skermithes let this rock retite being too hard to be scaled and most dissicult
the French and shortly after Prince Francis of Lorranâ— himself did the same with the maine body of the Army upon conditions that he should enjoy the Dutchy of Bar and the County of Vaudement as also a penssion from the King of France sufficient to maintain himself and his Family and the Lords who had been Commanders in his Brothers Army under him and were come with him restored to their Estates The faid Forces were all dispersed and ranged under Marshal Turâ—nns orders in Picardy The disgust of some Fronteer Governours The lansenists in France There hapned a great disgust between the King of France and the Governours of Dourlans Arras Peronne and Corby about some contributions and other Advantages belonging to their Goverments in so much as it looked a great while as if they intended no less then to revolt and undertake the Prince of Condes party but seasonable satisfaction being given them they returned to their obedience to the great elusion and frustration of the expectation of the Spaniards and the Dutchesse of Chatillon who was imprisoned for having endeavoured to incite the Marshall D'hocquincourt Governour of Peronne towards a defection was also set at liberty About this time Complaint was made to the Court of France of the great increase of the Iansenists or such as adhered to the doctrine of Iansenius Bishop of Ypers in Flanders which notwithstanding it had been consopited by Pope Innocent the Tenth some years before by a speciall Bull authorized and sent by him to that effect began now to be again resuscitated by Doctor Arnault and some others of the Sorbon as also some of Lovain in such sort as had there not been very mature prevention used it might have grown by degrees to be a businesse of difficulty enough to allay the principles of the said doctrine having much affinity with what was held by Saint Augustin and is now in conformity with that of the Reformed Churches touching Predestination Free-Will Merit of Works c. besides that it is no way displeasing to many learned and considerable persons amongst the Roman Catholicks themselves on this side of the Alps and therefore the more caution was used for the timely silencing thereof The King of Sweden after his former great victory the King of Polands flight and the generall successe of the Swedish Arms in Poland and the Dominious thereupon depending besieged Cracovia and took it by Composition called a Diet or Assembly of the States of Poland at Warsovia drew an Oath of Fidelity from them The Polish Quartians submit and setled the affaires of the Kingdom under obedience to himself at which time the Polish Cavalry called Quartians together with their General Podolskie Great Standard-bearer of Poland submitted themselves to him five thousand whereof he took with himself sent two thousand of them with Licutenant Generall Muller into Great Poland and employed the rest upon other occasions This done and an agreement being made with Chimlinskie Generall of the Cossacks who came to offer himself to the King of Sweden with about sixty thousand men he sent his Armies into Prussia which took Thoren and Strasburgh by Composition and marched to Marienburgh An Embassadour from Portugal at Rome Upon the twentieth of November Francisco de Sowza arrived at Rome in the quality of Extraordinary Embassadour to his Holinesse in the behalf of the Churches of Portugal in despight of all the powerfull opposition made by the Spaniards and their Faction in that Court The Swedish Fleet consisting of fifty ships commanded by Generall Wranghel after having layn long near Wismar launched into the Road of Dantzick and attempted to seize upon the little Town of Hoste but was repulsed by the stout resistance of the Inhabitants and forced by ill weather back into Pomerania The Protestants of the Valleys of Piedmont finding the Agreement made between the Duke and them to be very disadvantageous to them as well in regard of the rigour of some of the Articles thereof as also for that the demolishment of the Fort Saint Martin and some other promises made them by their said Duke goe slowly on towards performance feel themselves in as much calamity and insecurity as before and consequently cease not to send their complaints and implore the assistance of their Brethren abroad as much as ever There happened also not long agoe a great controversie between the Protestant and Catholick Cantons of Swisserland about the falling off of about thirty families from the Romish Religion and embracing the other which if not quickly pacified may peradventure produce much misfortune It is said that the Pope having offered the King of Poland some assistance of mony the said King made answer That the summe was too inconsider ble to advance him to the recovery of his States and that for his own subsistance as a King he thanked God he had treasure enough and finally that however he had lost his Crownes yet could he not lose his Kingly Title But it is fully conceived that the Emperour and some of the Catholick and Ecclesiasticall Princes of Germany will at length resolve to affoard him such relief both of men money and other necessaries for war as may enable him to appear in the Field against his Enemies and make the Game fairer for him then hither to it hath been not withstanding the Emperour aforesaid have made a kinde of Declaration to the contrary and sent his Extraordinary Embassadour to the King of Sweden to complement him and intercede for a friendly Accommodation for he hath already sent divers Regiments into Silesia and still goes on with his Leavies which he distributes and ranges near the fronteers both of Sweden and Poland and indeed this prodigious prosperity of the Swedish Arms in Poland gives an Alarme not only to all Germany but even to Italy also and makes them stand upon their guard not knowing whose turn may be next During the distractions of Christendome the Pope hath not been much asleep since his coming to the Chayre but hath uncessantly laboured by Letters to the Kings of Spain and France to draw them to a firm peace yea and he hath sent two of the most eminent and most potent Cardinals of all the Colledge namely Cardinall Barberini and Cardinal Grimaldi who have shewed themselves upon all occasions great servants to the French Interest to the Court of France to negotiate the matter and it is thought that the Spaniard being on the loosing hand and almost desperate will give France whatsoever she askes rather then misse a peace however some be also of opinion that they will be able to effect little therein in regard that France hath made her Peace with England which was published at Paris and London with extraordinary joy and splendour the ninth of December 1655. with very much advantage to the English Nation FINIS
That mad League of the Pope the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain would have invaded any other State but theirs so much amazement did it strike into those Areopages who yet by their rare industry were able to untangle this fatal conjuncture and save their Common-wealth from the shipwrack wherewith she was much threatned In fine after that peace which they had made with the Turk and which followed close upon the glorious Battel but with small fruit of Lepante they finished that Age and began this present in good intelligence with their Neighbours The King of Spain enjoyes in Italy the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily and the Duchy of Milan upon which States the French have also their pretentions which often cause frequent warres between the two Crownes whereof we shall speak towards the end of this Treatise in the revolution of those last tumults The Grand Duke of Tuskany the Dukes of Mantua and Parma keep their Seates in peace and the Common-wealth of Genoa hers tyed fast for her profit to the interests of Spain Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy a Prince as subtle as inconstant but yet unlucky enough for having seized upon the Marquisat of Salluces found himself forced to put on his harnesse and to leave his rest in the first year of this age as we shall hereafter shew neither his journey to Paris nor all the politick craft he could use being able to warrant him from this check The Dukes of Savoy are very potent and often seen to make the skale hang towards that Crown to which they leane France seeks their friendship to have the gate open into Italy in the intrigues whereof she finds her self passionately concerned Lorraine was governed by Duke Charles a milde Prince who still complained of the wrong which the enemies of the League whereof the Princes of that house were the chief had made him suffer This Province which divides Germany from France is very fruitfull and takes her name from the Emperour Lotarius and her Princes their Descent from Charlemagne They have alwayes been great Warriers and Godfree of Bouillon through zeal of piety went and conquered the Holy Land The Dukes of Lorraine for interest of State keep good correspondence with their Neighbours and the last misfortune which happened in this Duchy was caused rather by the decline of the Emperours Affayres and the ambition of him who thought all lawfull to him then by the fault of the Prince who could not shelter himself from that storme which had already shivered both Masts Sayles and Helme These States aforesaid in regard they never knew any Religion but that of Rome suffer not any other so much as to bud or spring there and if peradventure there be any one found in Lorraine who hath embraced the Protestant Religion he retires himself to Metz or Geneva and they of the Country of Luxenbourgh to Sedan Diversity of Religions parts humours gives desire of motion to such as are ambitious and makes a Prince very little loved by them who are not of the same opinion We have already gone round about Europe therefore let us now enter into the middle and speak of those great Monarchies which by their motions have shaken all other States as being governed according to the influences thereof and accommodating their interests to the ballance of their greatnesse For since Warre hath been declared between Spain and France very few Princes have stood Neutrall some having joyned their forces to the party most necessary for them and some others though but spectators have not yet forborne to poise more to the one side then the other But none have been willing to have either of these Crowns suppressed by the other for the apprehension and fear wherein they all are of a Generall Monarchy CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy NOw to get entire knowledge of the interests of these two Crownes of the Causes which so often arm them to the great detriment of Christendom and the apprehensions which they give of aspiring to a general Monarchy though by unequall and different wayes we must goe up to the source and so come quickly down again drawing from thence a true explanation for our subject which we will follow as our guide to the end of our Course France being delivered from the warres with England and wholly restored to her self as well by the help of forren as the help of her Neighbours and even the very Spaniards themselves with whom she had a close friendship at that time Having I say shaken off the yoke of the English who were expelled from Guyenne and Normandy she became the most puissant Monarchy of Europe King Charles the 8 th went to feaze upon the kingdom of Naples which was no sooner got then lost by his departure thence Lewis the twelfth having made an Alliance with Ferdinand of Castile for the recovery of the kingdom enters Italy surprises Milan and the unjust usurper Sforce and so retakes the said kingdome of Naples But it sometimes happens that the sharing of stakes makes friends foes for these Allyes fell to oddes and Consalve having in many Encounters routed the French setled the kingdome upon the Castilians and the power and reputation of the Spaniards encreased much by the valour of the great Captain The first reason of the hatred between the Spaniards and the French Francis the first having broken the Swissers in a great Battail easily made himsel Master of the Duke dome of Milan and consequently of the kingdom of Naples But Fortune smiled upon the French only to betray them For she suddenly turned to the Spaniards who took King Francis prisoner and established themselves in the said kingdome and in the State of Milan Now from hence proceeded the hatred between the two Nations which hath since been augmented according to occurrences of State-jealousies and other considerable accidents whereof we will here give a short hint The second reason But there is a second and a more pregnant reason for which not only France but the neighbouring States also have conceived apprehensions of jealousies which is that of the Union of Spain by marriage with the houses of Austria and Burgundy and the latter of these began thus Philip de Valois none to John the sixth King of France for having well defended his Father in a Battail against the English was by marriage made Duke of Burgundy and Prince of the Low-countries and John his sonne succeeded him not onely in all the Provinces of his Parents but in the hatred also which he bore to the House of Orleans Now this young Prince going with a great force of the Nobility of France and the Low-countries into Hungary against the Turk fell into the hands of Bajazet who would have caused him to be beheaded as well as the rest of the prisoners had he not been advised to put him to a Ransom and send him home and this because it was
upon one of the Magazins whereby not only the House and all the Ammunitions were blown up but many other houses also thereto adjoyning were fired and rent in pieces however through the mercy of God there were but few persons killed but great store of goods spoiled The Garrison of La Bassee five some Villadges and lost The Licutenant Governour of La Basses having notice that the Spaniards had quitted the Fort of Lilers which they kept all the last Winter sent out a Party of that Garrison consisting of about three hundred and fifty to which a Party of Bethane being joyned they marched under the command of the Count of St. Front and plundered and fired the Town of Altembergh and four Villadges beyond Ypers which refused to pay their Contribution which put such a terrour into the adjacent Country that most part of the people sled with their best goods to secure themselves in the strong Towns The Spaniards began to discover their apprehensions of the English Fleet viz that of General Pen in the West-Indies and that of General Blake which after the businesse of Tunnis was fallen back upon the Coast of Spain in order to which take here the Clause of a Letter from the Count of Linares General of the Spanish Gallyes written to a friend of his at the Court of Madrid upon the tenth of June from St. Lucar A Clause of a Letter from the Count de Linares We are now in sight of thirty of the English Men of War who lie at sea three leagues from the Bay and this is the very same Squadron with which I spake at Alicant in November 1654. The Commander then told me that they were going to chase the French but now though they know where to meet with the French in Catalunia they come hither When this said squadron went by this way at first they shewed more friendship to us and more confidence in us for they came in hither but now their sliness and strangness makes us presume and I do presume that they have some unhappy designes against the Gallions of silvèr which are expected It is also feared that another squadron much greater then this which went to the Indies may do us much greater mischief there that we shall hardly know what belongs to a Piece of Eight in Spain Wherefore it will concern men of prudence to hoard up what they can for if that designe prosper all manner of Rents in Spain will come to nothing The Town of Landrecies after a long and sharp siedge was rendred to the French the twelfeh of July upon these following condition 1. That Monsieur de Maugre the Governour and Don John Morphy Colonel of an Irish Regiment together with all Officers and Souldiers Horse and Foot should march out the next day at eight of the clock in the morning with their Arms Baggage Goods Horses Cattel and other things belonging to them Colours flying Bullet in mouth and Marches lighed at both ends and should be safely convoyed to Valenciennes the nearest way 2. That for that end a hundred Waggons and Carts should be affoarded them for the security whereof they should leave two Captains behinde who should be sent to Valenciennes presently after the said Waggons were returned 3. That all Prisouers and also the Horses taken on both sides should be restored and the Souldiers who were run away delivered 4. That such souldiers as were either sick or wounded and not able to march out presently should remaine safe there and be maintained and attended till their recovery and then have Passes to be gone 5. That all Magazines both of Provisions and Ammunitions and all the Artillery not embezeled should be the same day surrendred to such as should be appointed to receave them with restitution of whatsoever might be found to have been diverted by sale or otherwise to the benefit of any private person 6. That the Inhabitants should be free to remain there enjoy their Goods and accustomed Immunities and Priviledges and if any would be gone he should have three moneths time granted him to sell his Goods both reall and personal 7. That the Officers of the Magistrate of Judicature should be maintained in their Places they taking an Oath of Allegiance to the King 8. That such Church-men as were fled into the said Town should have power to go out with their moveables and Church-Ornaments yea and even with those belonging to other Church-men Cloisters and Monasteries which were absent 9. That he Country-people who were there for refuge should have liberty either to returne home or go any whither else with their goods within the terme of three moneths 10. That the said Governour and Colonel should upon the subscribing of these Articles deliver the whole Bastion of the Attack for security of the performance of the said Articles The successe of the French Neer about the same time the Prince of Conti took Castillon and Solsona in Cataluma and the Spaniards having made many attempts upon the later for the recovery thereof were alwayes repulsed with losse so that in fine Te deum was sung at Paris for the prosperity of their Arms in both Countries The King of Swedens great successe in Poland The King of Sweden finding no likelihood of bringing the difference between himself and the King of Poland to a desired accommodation sent Generall Wittembergh with a great Army into the said Kings Territories who making a very great and fortunate progress there the King himself followed shortly after in person whereupon fifteen thousand of the King of Polands Souldiers and three great Provinces revolted to him besides divers other remarkable successes the particulars whereof will appear by these following Instructions for a solemn day of Prayer and Thanks-giving which I heer insert for the Readers satisfaction Whereas his Majesty our most gratious Lord and Soveraigne hath been moved by just and most necessary causes to make war against the King and Crown of Poland and for that purpose ordered Generall Wittembergh to enter that part of the Enemies Country neer Kron which lies next to Germany It hath pleased the most high God so to blesse and prosper his Majesties Armies and undertakings as that the said Generall hath not only taken divers Castles and Garrisons in the said Country but making progresse also as farr as Wsee in the province of Posen the two Palatinates of Posen and Calissen together with the Cities of Posen Calissen Lesno and Micdzirez as also an Army of fifteen thousand men immediatly renounced all Allegiance to the King of Poland and came under the tuition and protection of his Majesty our Soveraigne which was done before the fifteenth of July 1655. Now seeing that it can be no other then the wonderfull worke of God that so great a part of our Enemies Dominions should without so much as one blow be reduced under his Majesties obedience we are bound to render thanks to Almighty God from the bottom of our hearts for