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
and giving marks of his royall greatnesse to that glorious nation The principall motive of this enterview could never hither to be truly discovered and whatsoever hath been said thereof hath been grounded onely upon conjectures suspicions and mistrusts Spinola comes from Spain and takes Grol In the spring of the year 1606 Marquis Spinola returned from Spain and brought a vast sum of money with him which is the true sinew of war and the most excellent oil to anoint the dull armes of the souldiers and having therewith put the Militia in good discipline he sent the Count de Bucquoy towards the Rheine himself following shortly after but the continuall rains and the vigilancy of Prince Maurice made him lose the hope of re-gaining any access to Groening and the other places of strength on the way The Count de Bucquoy staying behind attempted to passe the Vehal with Pontons and smal Boats by the favour of a battery but he was repulsed But Spinola took Lothem and seeing then that amongst so many enterprizes none of them all prospered so as to get over the Rivers either neer the Soul or elsewhere he turned his armes against Grol which by furious attacks he quickly compelled to yeeld notwithstanding the Garrison were strong enough And not yet conrent with this Town he caused the Count de Bucquoy to invest Rhinbergh who could not hinder Count Henry from putting fourteen Colours into the place and some Cavalrie besides together with many French Gentlemen Voluntiers The complaint of the Spaniard against the French Catholikes The Spaniards and the most zealous Romane Catholicks of Europe have very often accused the French of levity and especially such of them as are Catholicks in regard that being of the same Law with the Spaniards and in peace with them too they contrary to the Treaty of Vervin embraced the other party not onely to strip their master of his Demaynes but the towns also themselves of the exercise of the Catholick Religion If there went none but Spaniards out of our States said the obedient Towns the passion of the French would be in some sort lawfull but since our Religion is banished together with their government they can alleadge no receivable excuse to exempt them from injustice and blame The Priests maintaining that it was a matter of conscience refused to give absolution to the souldiers as favourers of Heresie and enemies to the Church But they alwayes covered themselves under the cloak of policy and made the same answer which Henry the fourth their Master did to the Spanish Embassador that it was not a war of Religion but of State The complaints often enough made by the Archduke and Dutches upon this subject had no other satisfaction then that there might likewise be found enow in their Armies and that it was free for every one to choose what party he pleased But the French followed rather the inclination of their Prince then scruple in Religion laid more to heart the weakening of the Power of Spaine then the ruine of Hereticks and the interest of their Master then that of the Catholick faith So that the Protestants made use of them and have prevailed much by the jealousie of State which reigns betwixt these two potent nations CHAP. VII The taking of Rinbergh The mutiny of the Spaniards The siege of Grol raised by the promptitude of the Marquis The first overture for a Truce received VVE left Spinola so well intrenched at Rinbergh that the Princes courage was cooled to attack him who bethought himself a little too late of sending his brother to Venlo so to make a powerfull diversion For the Town being battered by a rough and smart assaulter and defended by resolute men Rinbergh rendered was at last forced to render and so the Garrison to the number of three thousand dislodged the second of October Now the taking of so important a place just at the nose of so strong an Army produced such discourses as blinde passion dictated to men of blinde judgement and the Marquis as victorious as he was was not yet able to divert some mutinies in his Army for want of pay and therefore considering the huge inconveniencies they suffered by so many marches sieges enterprizes and the harshuesse of the season he thought fit to refresh them in the County of Gulick Now the Prince who desired to put nothing to hazard but be ever prying upon occasions met at length with this He caused Lochom to be besieged which quickly submitted Maurico besiges Grol Spinola rayses him thence and gives Diet to the inutiners and then went to attack Grol But the unexpected arrival of Spinola made him change the vexations of that siege which bred so many diseases in his army into a most advised retreat and send his souldiers into their winter quarters It is the part of a good Pilot to take his measures well amongst the rocks and of a good Generall to accommodate himself to time and not to struggle against the harshnesse of the season but make his retreat to save his army the conservation whereof is as landable as the hazardous gaining of a battell The Marquis having surmounted many inconveniences to deterr his enemies from the continuing the siege and made them at length dislodge endeavoured besides to sweeten the mutiners by granting Diet for their winter quarters where we will leave them and follow him to Brussels to contrive the first propositions of the Truce Never was there so much trouble to decide a businesse of importance as there was to bring the confederated States to hear of any overanes of Peaces or Truce It seemed more easie to make an agreement betwixt fire and water and all the mettals together then to reconcile these two parties But indeed the distrust was too great the hatred too much rooted and fortune too favourable And whereas other Countries grow poor by war this most rich most potent and most flourishing For on the one side the enemies army could not enter in regard of the frequencie of great rivers and on the other they are guarded by the sea in such sort as that by trafique they are risen to such a height that every body courts their friendship Many assemblies and mediations for Peace and accommodation were made but all vanished into smoak and served rather for a spur to war then a balsom to mollifie the ulcerated wounds of such as make their profit by Alarms For this was the common talk There is no trust to be given to the Spaniards or the Papists for they teach that they are not to keep their faith with Hereticks The fowler sings sweetly to draw the birds into his Nets and many other such reasons which served onely to destroy all propositions of Peace Nay even the Embassies of the Emperours so often reiterated were able to reap nothing but ceremonies and those of other Princes yet lesse The complaints of the neighbours endammadged and oppressed by the souldiers were not
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
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
must reckon twice Prince Thomas his Troops defeated They cutt of Prince Thomas's Troops which presumed to oppose such an Army as that the Vant-guard whereof only put them to flight and which was a terrour both to Friends and Foes yea the Prince of Orange himself and the States when they beheld this so gallant an Army and above seven thousand Horsemen with scarlet Cassocks were so amazed that they would have made the signe of the crosse thereat had they been accustomed to it But afterwards distrusts and jealousies the obstacles to all brave exploits wriggled themselves in amongst them and continued till the end of the Field The first prey was Tirlemount famous for the ruine thereof for all imaginable cruelties and unnaturall actions were perpetrated and executed in this unhappy Town The Churches Tirlemount taken and burnt Grâ—at cruelties and whatsoever the Catholicks held in greatest Veneration was handled with lesse reverence then if they had been meer Tartars All was pillaged all violated and burnt and almost all massacred A fine beginning cannot choose but haue a fine end The Cardinal Infanto in the mean time retyred and incamped himself before Brussels expecting succour from Germany and gathering together the forces of the Provinces all which were not sufficient to stop this impetuous torrent which carried all before it The Armies pitched their Camp before Lovaine the seat of the Muses which Mars ought to spare and by consequence he did nothing for Jupiter saved it Grotendonck with six or seven Regiments commanded in the Town and the Enemy stayed in this Siege about twelve dayes Lovaine besieged but French at length being better furnished with Pistolls then Bread found themselves besieged by hunger which caused fierce muttering and then disbanding Is succoured and the Hellanders retyre The Prince of Orange seeing this disorder and the relief came out of Germany under Piccolommi concluded with the French Marshals to make a retreat and the Infanto with his Supply to pursue them They went and incamped neer Grave and the Spaniards neer to the Fort of St. Stephen where they stayed not long for the Prince being advertised that the fort of Schenck was surprized hastened thither speedily with three thousand men and the Armies followed him This Fort stood upon a point which divided the Rheyn into two Arms or Branches and was so well strengthened and furnished that it was not besiegeable But Captain Eenholt a native of those parts desiring nothing more then a favourable occasion to revenge the death of his Father who was beheaded at the Haghe pryed so well into matters and layd so fit hold of his time that he got it with small trouble and losse to the great cost of the United Provinces whose Army camped at Besaw and the French at Emmerick and Rees And besiege the Fort of Scheck taken a little be fore The Spaniards who vanted that they found the key of Holland kept this Fort nine mouths but the Lock was changed insomuch as that they were in deliberation of blowing it up Thus Fortune played the wagge with them by giving victory sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other The French demy much diminished and afflicted This French Army which was the lustiest and gallantest that had been raised since the beginning of this Age being reduced to five or six thousand men of forty thousand which it was felt the whole winter the crosses of irreconcilable Fortune or rather the effects of that great God who was so much irritated by them for the souldiers were constrained to sell their Horses and Cassacks and go a begging It was a pittifull thing to see Gentlemen of good birth dye of sicknesse in Hospitals and the souldiers miserable by the expectation of the wind which was almost four months quite contrary Thus passed the first Field which looked at first as if it would swallow and devoure all and so both Parties were equall But if Fortune smiled upon the Assailants in the beginning she did so yet more upon the Defendants who prepared themselves to attack the other the year following and so the war grew hotter then ever towards the Rheyn in the Low-Countries and in France CHAP. V The Imperialists beat back the French into Lorraine Oxenstern passes into France Bannier renewes the war and beats the Saxons Hatsfeldt succours them Magdeburgh yeelds The Battail of Witstock Leipsick succoured THen offers it self so much to be said in the carrcer of this deplorable war which as streaming Rivers swell bigge by receiving many other brooks into them embraces so many other in it and growes so universall that if I made any longer stay then only to pick out every one in their particular circumstances I should never come to an end Wherefore having sufficiently declared the motives and praetexts I will speak of them only in bulk especially since we are now descended to those which are known to all men for the wounds thereof are bleeding yet in the most illustrious Families and the Villages still smoaking some whereof have so far lost their form that they are reduced as it were into a certain First matter or Chaos and serve for nothing but a retreat to Wolves and Scritch-Owles or Birds of ill augure which advertise us that it is time to aspire to some other place since this land is cursed and desert producing nothing but nettles and thistles The abomination of desolation is in the holy place let us hope for no amendment but fly to the mountains An inundation in Holstein This year of 1635. by means of a flood which happened near Glucstat there were drowned about six thousand persons and more then fifty thousand beasts The like misfortune chanced in Catalunia some years before and the Plague which began in the North passed through Holland and carried away above twenty thousand mortalls in the Town of Leyden only without counting such as were consumed in Amsterdam The plague at Leyden and other Townes And this contagion seemed to be fomented by the famine which had been in Germany where the very dead were disinterred to be eaten in the Palatinat and Alsatia The French beaten out of Germany The French had no better luck at fighting in Germany from whence they were expelled with losse of men Canon an Baggage and Iohn de Werdt went beating them to Monthelgard and Galasso having made them quit Mentz Gust aveburgh and other places went pursuing them in the Reer as farre as Metz in such sort as that Weimar and Cardinall de la Valette were compelled to forsake all and the Imperialists being tyred with following them and want of food were fain to return and give them leave to take breath In other Ages such revolutions as these would have produced peace but in this these losses were but as matches to kindle them to a continuation for he who got a great victory hoped forthwith to suppress his enemy and if Fortune changed desire of revenge
Citizens who were killed by Musket-shot was like to have put that illustrious City into a deplorable confusion The English not content with taking their ships attacked and took also many other vessels which go every yeare to catch Herrings and other fish so that they hurt and do yet hurt this Republick by all the means and ways they could or can devise The Propositions of the English not receivable The Propositions which they made our Embassadours were so high and unequall that they sufficiently evidenced their design against this Common-wealth the principall whereof was this That we should enter into a League Offensive and Defensive with them and that we should make all their enemies ours c. Points of most dangerous consequences But let us go further CHAP. XVI The English attack the Convoy of the Fishers Tromp returns to Sea and findes Blake The Tempest separates them and he comes back into Holland De Ruyter attacks Ascue Van Galens Victory before Ligorne The English take all without distinction Tromp safely conducted the Fleet into France Divers combats Tromps death Cromwell and his Exploits The Diet at Ratisbone The Election and Coronation of Fetdinand the Fourth King of the Romans VVhen Nations cannot be reconciled by all kinds of reason and justice war must be endured The Astrologors foretold this in the observation of that Comet of the year of 1618. and that of the year before and advertised us that the wrath of God was not appeased The States having received the troublesome news of the taking of those ships of war which accompanied the fishermen gave order to attack the English by way of retorsion The Fleets at Sea Tromp departed in July with resolution to make the English repent their having neglected and slighted the Hollanders friendship and espying Sir George Asene in the Downes with a Squadron of Ships was not able to bear up with him by reason of the Calme and so going to seek Blaks in the North where some Vessels which came from the Great Indies were to pass he discovered him The prayers were said and the Onset begun A storm dammageable to the Hodanders 1952. but a great wind separated the two Fleets made the English retyre into their Havens and some of our Ships perish upon the Rocks and the rest were saved in Hitland and about forty came home with the Admirall Thus the Calme and the Tempest parted them two several times but de Ruyter going to convoy the Marchant-Fleet with forty Ships met Asonâ— with his Squadron and faced him so stoutly that he was constrained â—o â—â—treat into England and give him passage General Badiley bravely defended himself against twice his number of Ships in the Streights but being over-powred lost the Phanix which was after wards recovered by Captain Cox The Victory obtained afterwards before Ligorne by Admiral Van Galen was successful Van Galens Victory before Lavorno for three Vessels were taken and some other burnt yet was in some manner otherwise the said Admiral receiving his deaths wound in the engagement It very often chances that they who gaine the Battel have not the greatest booty for there are some who go out in Party and sometimes make their Fortune The Capes of Grip are certain particular persons who go to Sea with small Vessels set out at their one charge and they make huge profit and they lie at present about the Coast of England and cause much danger The conjunction of Vice-Admiral Witt Wittenson was rendred infructuous by the Cowardise of some Holland Captains who forgot their duty whilest the English performed theirs with great advantage by taking the Spanish mony which was destinated to pay the Armies in the Low-Countries and carrying it to London where it was stop't The English detaine the mony which comes from Spain and rever restored because there were some Holland Marchants Goods or Wares in the Vessels and albeit the instances made by the Arch-Duke Leopold and the Spanish Embassadours were heard they yet took no effect whereupon some have believed that they were but faigned but however it were they kept the mony and have served themselves of it The Rendeznous of the Ships near Rochâ—l 1653. The States considering the greatness of the danger gave all the Marchant Ships order to assemble themselves in a General Rendeznuous before the Isle of St. Martin near Rochel and there expect the Navy consisting of seventy six Men of War and eight Fire-Ships which departed the first of December under Admiral Tromps orders to convoy home the abovesaid Merchant Ships which were above three hundred all loaden with Commodities The English approached but came off with losse and returned into the Thames and so the Fleet arrived in France without any dammage But during these great Attacks the little War was carried on with much partiality and prejudice to the Marchants For the mitigation of Gods wrath and the diversion of his scourge from the United Provinces the States ordered prayers to be made every Weducsday at four of the clock in the afternoone all Shops to be kept shut and all negotiations forborne during the time of the Sermon Thus was the War indirectly mennadged upon this blew Element between the two most potent Nations that are at present or ever have been in all the North for the Dominion of the Ocean and for the retention of Trade None but the Sea-Monsters are able to render an account of all the brave Actions which are done there as being Spectatours of them The said States being advertised of the great preparation which their Enemies were making to attack Tromp in his return with the Marchant-Fleet gave order for the speedy equipaging of some other Ships to go to meet him but they were hindred by contrary windes The Navall Battel which lasted three dayes 1653. Tromp being arrived near Bolein discovered the English Fleet and a little after began a Battel which continued three dayes the most furiously that could be Nothing was feen but fire and flame and one would have said that the Ocean was become combustible and had taken the nature of the contrary Element The Land had been already sufficiently steeped in blood and now the Sea must be also coloured with it The indignation of that just God extends it selfe upon all the Elements malediction is upon the Land and upon the Water The end of the Combas was that Tromp retreated into Calais Road and brought back the most part of the Fleet into Holland all which the English thought to eatch though they were faine to becontent with the taking of some Marchant Ships and some Men of War and with letting the Hollanders see that they had to do with most generous and redoubtable Enomies But our Admiral had two difficulties to overcome the one to charge the Enemies in their retreat and the other to guard the Marchandise When a Shepherd sees many Wolves coming to attack his flock he keeps it behinde him and cannot serve
his stroakes be heavie and the justice of his wrath will reduce this wretched world into dust In Germany they who laboured to revive the Gospel fell to oddes principally about the Sacrament of the last Supper It is easier to pull down an old Building then to set up a new one Erasmus of Rotterdam that great Wit flourished at this time and contented himself only by scoffing the Monks without medling with the party of the Reformers For he well knew that the abuses came from men and manners and not from the 〈◊〉 Doctrine heretofore taught by the Church The horrible Rebellion which arose about this time did not a little deform Doctor Luthers new-born Doctrine For the Peasants thinking all things lawfull to them for the liberty so called they this new Reformation of the Gospel took arms and assayled the Church-men Cloisters and Gentry Their number was growne to be a hundred thousand men and their chief leader a Minister called Muntzer The holy Scripture teaches us to obey our Magistrates and not to exterminate and cast them out But ambition dwells both in Cabans in Churches and even under ragged Cloakes They are defeated They were routed in three distinct Battails the first by the Lord Trueses the second by Philip Landgrave of Hassia and the last by Anthony Duke of Lorrain who cut them off when they were endeavouring to enter France where they hoped to play Rex by meanes of the Confusion which they imagined they should find there by the Kings captivity who was carried into Spain Charles endeavours to humble the Protestants Now the greatness of the Emperour Charles being reconciled to the Pope and counselled by him to reduce the Protestants for so were the Princes and States termed who had received Luthers Doctrine into the lap of the Church either by threats or force gave no small apprehension to the German Princes And he being glad of any subject to establish his power in Germany was not willing to lose this fair occasion So the Armies marched into the Field and Francis the first after him his sonne Henry were requested to give relief for the maintaining as they styled it of the German liberty now like to be lost under the Spanish Domination which was granted by the French foâ— State-interest though they were enemies to the Religion But neither Arms nor Victories nor Disputes nor the Majesty it self of the Emperour was able to deracinate or root out this Doctine and so in fine it was permitted by his Authority at the Diet of Ausbourgh Now it was not Luther alone who rose against the Popes authority For a certain Revolted Monk called Menno began also to preach a Doctrine different enough from his and his Adherents were called Anabaptists Besides that learned man Iohn Calvin carried on that Reformation much farther then Luther as well in France as elsewhere and fixed his Chayre at Geneva They agreed well about combating the Pope and some other points but yet since they remained not in perfect unity of Doctrine In so much as that this party and that of Luther are very little better friends amongst themselves then either of them is with the Roman Catholicks as we shall see in the sequel of these Tragedies CHAP. XV The Anabaptists at Munster The Reformers in France The Change of Religion in England and by what meanes The King repudiates his Wife The Queens Speech The King makes himself Head of the Church Luther writes to him His unhappy death NOw we have seen the Lutherans established in Germany let us see what the Anabaptists do at Munster an Episcopall Town in Westphalia which was to be the Head of a Chimerical Kingdom and serve for a precious testimony of the wrath of that great God which for a time suffers his Word to be abused and the wicked to cover their pernicious Designes under the Cloak of Religion and the mask of Hypocrisie Oh Lord Thou dost hourâ—ly admonish us by so many prodigies and monstrous accidents but our eyes are shut our eares stopt and our hearts hardened John de Leide King of Munster John of Leiden by trade a Taylor and his adherents seized upon the aforesaid Town and he was made King thereof and fought long against the Bishop by whom they were at length subdued and chastised according to the measure of their crimes The extremity of their rigour was against the Church men a clear argument of the indignation of God against them because they had deviated from their duty and were lulled asleep in ignorance idlenesse and pleasures They likewise desclaimed the Authoriry of the Pope and brake down the Images without sparing the very Pictures of the Church-windowes A zeal too violent to proceed from the Holy Ghost and of little conformity with that of the Primitive Christians These insolencies being once repressed at Amsterdam returned there no more The Anabaptists which are now in the united Provinces and the Confines thereof disown the proceedings of the former and count them in the number of Hereticks The Reformed Religion in France Now the Doctrine of Martin Luther passed into France under the reign of Francis the first though yet it could not take fast root enough there as well because of the persecutions and the Kings aversion from it as also for that it was too far distant from the Author and Teacher thereof And so it quickly grew to be transformed into that of John Calvin and his Disciple Theodore Bezâ—â— and so much encreased in few yeares throughout the greatest part of the Country during the troubles caused by Envies of State and the League that the Kings after many bloody Wars were constrained by various Edicts or Proclamations to grant them free exercise of their Religion through all the Kingdom King Francis was a great persecutor of the said Doctrine Obtains free exercise and made open protestation that he would not spare even his own Arm if it were infected with Heresie And yet the â—â—â—lousie which he had conceived against the prosperity of Charles the Empeâ—our moved him neverthelesse to succour the Protestants King Henry succeeded in his Fathers hatred to them but being sent to his grave by the thrust of a Lance they began to respire saw the end of their persecutions lost the smell of the Fagot and propped by some Princes of the Blood rendred themselves at length no less considerable in France then the Protestants are in Germany The Protestant Church in England Let us now make a step into England and see how the Protestant Church hath sowen her first seed supplanted the ancient Doctrine and established her self as Mistress there King Henry the eighth for writing a Book against Luther in defence of the Roman Church and her seven Sacraments was honoured by the Pope with the Title of Defender of the Faith His prime Minister was that great Cardinal Wolsey who ruled all So that it is not only from this day that Cardinals have introduced them selves into
four Primitive ages that Lay men were forbidden to read the holy Scriptures that so they might remaine in darknesse and not see the light of evangelicall truth c. The Queen assembled a Parliament which acted to abolish what Queen Mary had done by the authority of the Pope and against the Protestants The Bishops and some secular men also opposed it A specious conference was offered in which there was forced upon them a Judge who was an enemy to their Cause They complained of this proceeding and said that they were very hardly dealt with and that they had been advertised of the Theses or Argument but two days before In fine not being able to agree about the form of the Dispute the Protestants before the combat cried victory and the other When shall we be assured of our Faith if there be always leave to dout and dispute Some of them were so much moved that they would have excommunicated the Queen But others being better advised alledged that the disposal thereof must be left to the Pope See Cambden Reformation in England by degrees The Queen proceeds to a change by degrees She prohibits to speak ill of the Sacrament of the Altar and suffers the Communion to be given under both kindes A little while after both Masse and Pictures were banished out of the Churches and then the Oath of superiority was tendered to the Bishops and other Roman Catholicks and in case of refusal they were dismissed from their charge All this passed without any tumult and hitherto the Reformation was carried on very conform with the Confession of Ausbourgh And in Scotland under the Bastard Murrey who weildes the Scepter About the end of the year 15â—8 the Protestant Religion began also to spring up in Scotland and the Authors of it styled themselves the Brethren of the Congregation They carped at the Kingly Authority as much as they did at the lives of the Priests and the abuses of the Church They refuâ—ed to pay their duty to the Queen-Mother-Regent a most wise and modest woman The Head and Ringleader was James Priour of Sr. Andrews since called Earl of Murrey natural Brother to the Queen who gave very great suspicions of his intending by favouring these changes to make himself Master of the Scepter of Scotland They wanted no pretext to cloak their Design For James protested that he sought nothing but the glory of God and the liberty of the kingdome oppressed by the French and the Queen-Regent who was daughter to the Duke of Guise Hammelton and divers other Gentlemen raised by the Possessions of the Church ranged themselves in their Party Complaints against Religion are ordinarily accompanied by those of the violation of Priviledges They draw up theirs For there will never be wanting such as seek their advancement in the change of the State and implore the assistance of the Queen who alwayes attentive to her profit and fearing the power of France undertakes the defence of the said Congregation promises to expell them out of Scotland and by consequence the Roman Faith with them Whilâ—st this was in agitation the Queen-Regent died and her Daughter Mary Widow to Francis the second departed from France towards Scotland Her Brother aforesaid who was a meer Bastard both in blood and heart counselled Queen Elizabeth to surprize her at Sea so to secure both her person and Religion But she being arrived at Edeâ—bourgh made no change at all but expressed great clemency towards her subjects thereby to give the lye to those false reports which those Rebels had dispersed of her and to convince them also of cruelty and treachery But the Queen of England stopped not there For she made a Law by which all were declared guilty of High Treason who refused to make Oath that she had full power and absolute authority in all spiritual things and over Ecclesiastical persons O good God! How little comparison is there between those times and these Was not this to force mens consciences The Hugenots of this present Age would be ashamed to accept such a Law as was received with so much alacrity by these first Reformers The Scots during these Interludes cast the Archbishop in prison for saying Masse and astronted another Priest for the same subject even within the Court and before the very face of the desolate Queen who neverthelesse with teares in her eyes took them out of the hands of their enemies though yet all her clemency mingled with so many sweet charms as accompanied her Majesty was never able to soften the hearts of these mutiners who never left till she had her Head cut off from her shoulders as we shall hereafter shew together with a part of those misfortunes which have since happened to her posterity Now Queen Elizabeth who thought not her authority sure unless she put her helping hand to the supplantation of the Roman Catholick Religion in Scotland as well as in England strengthened so well the party of the Congregation that the Queen no longer able to endure so many indignities nor to disintangle her selt from the snares which the perfidious Crue had laid for her was fain at length to betake her self to flight She also did for the Hugenots in France that which hath been so much condemned in the King of Spain For she took them into her protection assisted them with men and money and shewed her self every whit as zealous for the exaltation of her Religion as the Catholick King did for his So that she rendred her self as odious at Rome and to the Roman Catholicks as he did in the Low-countries amongst the Calvinists and Lutherans The Reformation came into the Low-countries The Confession of Ausbourgh entered on the one side into the Low-countries and the Reformed Religion from Geneva from the Palatinate and from England on the other the one by the communication of German soul-diers and the other by that of the Nobility which had travelled the Ministers who came from France and the Merchants who daily arrived at the Islands opposite to it It slipped in at first very secretly found favour in the Houses of some great persons and affection in the hearts of some people But being at length discovered and the Inquisition of Spain intervening it grew to be much thwarted But Fire and Sword cannot extinguish a doctrine nay rather the patience of such as suffer Racks and Torments begets compassion to them and hatred to their persecutors In fine both parties arm and ambition being the one half of the game the Spaniards regained ten of the Provinces by the sword the others who vaunted themselves to have had recourse to these extremities by the violence and cruelty of the Spaniards for their priviledges liberty of conscience embraced through all the Towns and Villages the Reformed Religion as it is taught at Geneva in some Cantons of Switzerland in the lower Palatinate and in the Distinct of Hassâ—â— The Roman Religion was sent packing contrary to
last King of the race of Valois Now the Royall race of the Valois being extinguished by the death of Henry the third son to Henry the second he succeeded to the Crown though with much dispute and repugnancie but his justice was accompanied by his valour and so by rejecting that which was most prejudiciall to him to wit the reformed Religion he quieted all his subjects and reduced them to their duty CHAP. II King Henry gives his sister in marriage to the Marquis du Pont espowses Mary of Medicis and wages warre with the Duke of Savoy The enterprizt of the said Duke upon Geneva Henry gives his sister to the Marquis du Pont THe King not content with giving the Hughenots all they had ever desired intended besides to obliege the house of Lorraine by allying the Princes thereof with his own And so he matched his sister to the Marquis du Pont who retained the exercise of the reformed Religion lived in most perfect amity with her husband and deceased without issue The Kings marriage being declared null and Madame Gabriell by whom he had many children the eldest whereof is the Duke of Vandosme ending her dayes by suddain death Marries Mary of Medicis he married Mary Medicis sister to the grand Duke of Florence who arrived in France in the moneth of December being the last of the precedent age Upon the delay of the Duke of Savoy to restore him the Marquisat of Saluces he prepared himself for warre And the Duke to divert the storm came to him at Lyons with store of presents and promised to render him the said Marquisat Makes war upon the Duke of Savoy or else the County of Bresses within the term of six moneths But the effect thereof not following the King quickly made himself master of all Savoy There is no amusing or retarding a potent creditor who hath both will and meanes to make himself payd In fine by the mediation of the Pope a peace was made whereby the Duke remained in possession of the Marquisat and the King of the aforesaid Country of Bresses Through this peace Italy was delivered from a great oppression and so the Troops of the Conde de Fuentes marched out of the Duchy of Milan towards Flanders During the civil wars a little before the terrible execution at Blois the aforesaid Duke easily recovered the said Marquisat by vertue as it was believed of Pistolls Gold He caused money to be coined with a Centaur treading under his feet a Gawlish Hercules with this Motto Opportunè But Henry after his Conquest and the accomplishment of his Pretensions stamped another sort representing a Gawlish Hercules treading upon a Centaur with this Opportunius We must never let our hearts be too much puffed up with prosperity but consider that the conquered grow often to be Conquerours We will not leave Savoy till we shall first have spoken of the enterprize Which the Duke had upon the City of Geneva The City of Geneva She is situated upon the Rhine neer a great Lake and was before that reformation the Seat of a Bishop She changed her Religion in the yeer 1535 since when no Romane Catholick as it is published is tollerated there above three dayes Now Charles Emanuel the aforesaid Duke attempred to make himself Lord of her by surprize He secretly listed twelve hundred men under the command of Monsieur d' Aubigny who by meanes of great store of ladders and other instruments got to the number of two hundered into the Town whilest the Duke was following with some Regiments of recruit But being discovered and the Citizens running to their armes they were strucken with terrour and returned the same way they came without having been able to seize upon so much as one of the Gates to let in the forces Thus this great designe so long premeditated so secretly carried so well begun and almost compleatly executed at last failed But whether through the valour of the townsmen or the cowardlinesse of the Savoyers I know not they were so nettled by this fright that Father Alexander a Scottish Jesuite with all his remonstrances and exhortations could never infuse any courage into their hearts But this hot Camisado or assault made them of Geneva stand upon their guard for their own preservation and to this effect they raised some souldiers and implored the assistance of the King who declared them comprized within the Peace of Vervin and gave them a pension since which time they have kept themselves in peace The Princes of the aforesaid family affirm that the said City is seated within the district of Savoy and consequently belongs to them But that which cannot be gotten by force will not be acquired by allegation of right CHAP. III. The Jubile Biron executed The battell of Flanders La Bourlotte killed Rinberg taken The Iubile THe first yeer of this age Pope Clement celebrated a Jubile at Rome whether there flocked an infinite number of people from all parts some out of curiosity and to see Italy and others out of devotion and to gaine the Indulgences But let us now return towards the Low Countries in regard that France grew to be even steeped in delights the fruits of peace and no body in motion but Mareschal de Biron Biron beheaded who attainted and convicted of the crime of high Treason for having kept correspondency with a forraigne Prince was beheaded in the Court of the Bastill Indeed that infinity of brave actions which had crowned his head with lawrell ought methinks to have saved him from this stroake But what Fortune had elevated him very high so to tumble him down headlong into this precipice The Archduke Albert seing it was but labour lost to solicite the States of Holland to a reconciliation and that all the exploits of the Admiral did more sharpen the bordering provinces then fright the confederates and that the enterprize upon Bommel proved as fruitlesse as that of La Bourlotte upon some places thereabouts yea and that one part of his forces mutinied and had taken up their quarter apart under the conduct of one Eelcto The mutiny of the Spaniards he began to lay about him to find money to content them and reduce his Militia to a good discipline but he could never be brought to pardon them who sold the Fort of St. Andrew The States upon the other side and Prince Maurice having shut up their Common wealth by the taking of such places as gave them enterance to the enemy and by consequence deprived him of all meanes of drawing contribution out of the said Provinces resolved to keep one foot in Flanders the most fertile Province of all thereby the more to incommodate the Archduke who hearing that the Prince was entered with a puissant army neer Newport made his troops march with all speed cut off seven or eight hundred Scots who kept the Bridge and being prowd upon this happy encounter advanced to affront his enemies
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
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
Church of Rome and taken up their Quarters apart to be very different from that of the Primitive Christians amongst the Pagans and Gentiles those remaining in the Predicament of Passion onely and these adding also that of Action True it is that ambition and desire of novelty both in the one and other State have been the efficient causes of these great changes If they who have cried out with a loud voice for the reformation of manners had been heard as well as they who have called in doubt many Maximes of Faith we should really now live in the Golden and not in the Iron Age. They assault the Images Zisca tames Bohemia The first warr they made was upon the Images the Prelates the Cloisters and the Magistrates who opposed their unbridled licentiousnesse A Truce was made and no sooner made then broken Zisca that famous Head of the Faction made himself Master of Bohemia and commanded all the Churches dedicated to the Saints to be battered down alleadging for his reason that they must be consecrated onely to God He defeated all the Armies that oppugned his Designes like a Torrent which carries away and destroyes all whiles Fate made him loose that one eye which was left him He marched into Austria and quite blinde as he was left not nevertheless to crush his Enemies and arrived time enough to chastize the Citizens of Prague who were revolted from him because of the demolition of the Churches and Imaâ—es In fine Fortune by an occult mystery of the great God averted the Prelates from their duty and humbled the Emperour so far as to bring him upon his knees before this blind man yea and constrained him moreover to offer him the Government of the Kingdom and the Militia But that Eternall power having served himself sufficiently of this scourge drew him out of the world by a contagious sicknesse though even at his death His death he signified his martiall humour and the passion he yee had to further mischief for he commanded that after his decease a Drum should be made of his skin saying that his enemies would fly at the very sound thereof Let Divines discourse upon these mysterious chances where they will finde work enough to entertaine themselves The Hussits continued the warr under the orders of a certain person called Procope at the very report of whom whole armies were suddainely terrified yea fourty thousand men being entered into Bohemia and having taken some towns through a certain panick or phantastical fright threw down their arms and betook themselves to their heels Zisca's skin works miracles to save their infamous an I cowardly lives even before the Bohemians appeared Perhaps Zisca's skin wrought all these miracles and would have merited a Temple if he had not demolished those which were dedicated to the Saints It is therefore no wonder if in this last Age there have hapned such strange changes proceeding from causes so little foreseen or wholy contemptible in regard that a handfull of men at that time rendered themselves Masters of a Kingdome and beat the forces of the Emperour as often as they durst encounter them besides that their meer reputation put their enemies to flight as much as their arms Athists open your eyes confess these changes proceed from an infinite power The Turks a barbarous and despicable people have subdued a great part of Asia and destroyed the empire of Greece Tamberlaine from a shepherd Tamberlaine being become a souldier was the instrument whereof God served himself to abate the pride of that great Emperour Bajazet These are revolutions the reasons whereof are not discovered to man It is lawfull to seek the causes of them by probable conjectures but not to pronounce a definitive sentence or conclusion upon them I was willing to relate a part of this History because I find therein a great similitude or resemblance with that of our Age as well in order to Causes and effects though not successes for a proof of this instability of the things of this world CHAP. II. The Bohemians arme and why All the Princes interest themselves in this Warr. Ferdinand chosen Emperour NOtwithstanding the licence granted to the Bohemians by the Fathers of the Councell of Basill to receive their Communion under two Forms or Species there ceased not still to be Factions amongst them against the authority of the Pope and favour to such as oppugned it Now because the greatest Rivers draw their Origin for the most part from some small abstruse and unknown springs just so this deplorable war of Bohemia which being once kindled and diffused in that Kingdome grew to skatter and sly up and down like wilde fire throughout all Europ and is not extinguished even yet began at first from so contemptible a spark as might have been quenched by one single tear had it but chanced to fall right upon it But it must needs draw deluges of blood and general destruction of Christendom Where Sins are great Repentance must be proportionable And why In the year 1616 the Hussits layd the foundations of a Church at Brunaw The Abbor who was Lord of the Place opposed them and complained to the Emperour Mathias who commanded the Magistrates to appear before him and to suspend the building till the Cause were decided but in vain for the Church went on and was finished without answer as if it had suffised that it pleased them who loved novelty to build it Whilest this passed Mathias finding himself without issue by the consent of the House of Austria adopted his Cousin Ferdinand and Crowned him King of Bohemia with the general applause of the Bohemians Which done it was shewed to the abovesaid Hussits that the States onely had power and authority to build Churches and so they were all condemned and such as presumed to resist imprisoned and their Church demolished And this was the first motive of this war and this the leaven which hidden for two years together under the Past of ambition of the chief of that Kingdom made it rise and sharpen so much as that there was nothing expected but onely the hour to put it in the oven The Lutherans Jubily The year following the Lutherans by way of a generall thanks giving to God for having already preserved their Religion the space of an hundred yeares made a Iubily as they also did some Leagues amongst themselves at Heilbron against the Roman Catholicks which proved advantageous to the Bohernians as seeming as it were to give them the Signe or Watch-word to which all their humours were disposed and prepared for in regard that after so many Books composed and so many Disputes held there could be no Accord made in matter of Religion there seemed a necessity to try the strength of their Arms All tends to Warre and come from words to blowes The demolition of the aforesaid Church was of hard digestion to the Hussits and so it caused murmurations Monopolies or private
he sent some Troops which made a shew of coming from the Camp before Breda as carrying the same Motto's and Colours which Spinola carried they arrived undiscovered to the very Mote applyed their Ladders and set all their rare Engynes on work to render themselves Masters of the Place whereof they could not have failed had not their own hearts failed them first For one Who goes there of the Sentinell followed by the discharge of a Musket made theirs fall our of their hands and left them no more courage then onely to fly It was thought that he had a mind to bestow the honour of this expeditiupon the Hollanders whom he onely employed in it and that if he had mingled any of the other nations with them the businesse would have issued to his contentment This newes struck the Marquis almost into a feaver and sent the Prince loaden with Melancholy to the Hage where towards the end of the winter he died leaving his Army to his brother Henry Frederick and Spinola before Breda who seeing no meanes to take it by force resolved to famish it A former enterprize upon the same Cittadell The aforesaid Prince had had a former enterprize upon the said Cittadell and held himself so sure of it that he told the Burgomasters of Dort at his departure that none but God could hinder it And indeed he was no sooner embarked but there arose so violent and so extreamly cold a tempest that it put both his life and his Fleet in danger and so he was forced to return God hath put limits to Victories which cannot be passed by humane wisdome Spinola having sufficiently learnt how needfull it was to be vigilant with an enemy who slept not reinforced the Garrison of the aforesaid Cittadell kept himself fast in his trenches before Breda expecting the consumpsion of the Provisions of the Town and made magazin for the Winter and being advertised besides that the Enemy was assembling some forces and that four Kings had interested themselves in this Siege He sent for some Regiments from the Emperour Uladislaus Prince of Poland before Breda Prince Vladislaus since King of Poland came to see this famous siege and was received by the whole Army with such military honours as were due to the Sonne of a King and a very great Captaine The King of Spaine having foreseen this tempest which was contrived against his Low-Countries and being unwilling to hazard the whole for one piece thereof wrote to his Aunt that it was better to leave the siege then obstinately to persist in the impossibility of taking the Towne with the losse of all her States This savoured well with the Emulators of the said Marquis as Don Lewis de Velasco c. A Magazin burnt There happened also another misfortune which was that the Hollander fired a Magazin which would have staggered any other General but such a one as he who quickly requited this losse and by his vigilancie repulsed the English who with a most martiall courage went to attack a Quarter of his Camp Breda copitulates In fine after a Siege of ten moneths Breda was yeelded and it happened the very same day that the Kings Letters arrived with his absolute command to draw off the Army We left the King of Poland with his Nobility marching against the great Turk and therefore let us now look what the Swedes in the mean while are doing Gustavus laid hold of that occasion passed an army into Livonia and after the siege of five weeks to the great trouble of the Citizens took Riga The Swedes take Riga The Polanders hereupon made loud complaints of him for beginning the Warre just when they were busied against the Common Enemy and for breaking the Truce in the articles whereof it was comprized that the one of the Kings should not enter into the Lands of the other without having denounced the War three moneths before To which the Swedes made answer that they had sent their Embassadours And mâ—â—k at the complaints of the Foles and that they were not able to dispatch their Commissions any sooner being hindered by windes and tempests which were to be accused and not they a trick of War which must be made passe for good according to the Maximes of this Age. In short this occasion was favourable to the Swedes who cared as much for their reasons as Monsieur de Montmorancy did for those of the Magistrates of Metz when he was gotten into possession of their Towne This War was finished by a Truce whereby the Swedes were obleiged to return by Sea after they had well fortifyed Riga with intention never to restore it againe Now the Electour Palatine after being spoiled of his States was deprived also of his Dignities and his Electorat transferred upon the Duke of Bavaria his Cosin 1623. which much augmented hatred against the Emperour Duke Maximilian and all the Catholicks and caused in fine many new Allyances to be made which put spurts to the War we are going to discribe in this next Book The Electour Palatin spoiled of his States and banished This Prince was crowned King of Bohemia the fourteenth of November 1619. in the moneth of January following he made his Allyances and in the same year also he lost his Kingdome and his States was proscribed by the Emperours Edict and his Coronation declared Null He who grasps much holds little and it often falls out that whilest we are in pursute of other mens good we lose our owne THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I The Warre of Denmark The Allyances of the Kings of France England Denmark and the States of Holland against the Emperour GEneral Mansfeldts arguments had as much efficacy in the North as they had towards the South because the dangers which seemed to threaten that Country were grown greater and besides a Prince which becomes potent makes himself both feared and hated Tilly wintered in Hassia in despight of the Landgrave Maurice nor were the States of Low-Saxony a little troubled to see the Imperiall Eagles fluttering up and down upon their fronteers and that not without giving them great incovenience besides that they feared lest they should peradventure come to replant their old authority there The King of Denmark together with many other Princes and States thereabouts were moved to much impatience by the ruine of Frederick as apprehending lest these Guests should come and take up their lodging amongst them Wherefore being advertised by common danger and by that which themselves perhaps would have done if they had had the same power and right which the Emperour had they made a League for the defence of the Circle of the Lower Saxony into which entred the Kings of England France and Sweden together with the States Generall and the King of Denmark himself was the Head A League against the Em perour as being General of the said Circle The Dukes of Brunswick Mekelenburgh and Holstein
the Enemy and retyre himself as fast as he could gallop to Wolfenbottel This was a great and bloody Fight and the Imperialists remained entirely victorious in it The Victory of the Imperialists and the death of Generall Fucks Brave Generall Fucks who had disswaded the Battell lost his life in this occasion and gave the King sufficient testimony that it was not through basenesse of heart or cowardize but upon strong arguments that he desired him not to precipitate Many other Officers were also slain together with above six thousand Souldiers Thirty Pieces of Canon three thousand Prisoners fourscore and ten Colours adorned the Conquerours Chariot and all the booty was given to the Souldiers in recompence of their Valour This was that famous Battell of Luther which happened upon the 27 th of August whereby the Emperours authority and the joy of his Allyes was much augmented and their Enemies fear redoubled and after this there followed a continuall thred of Victories and taking of Towns even to the very sea-side Favour flatters Fortune and when there is no more meanes lest to make open resistance against the storme the sailes must be taken in or the Vessel steered for safety to the shelter of some Wood or Rock The Duke of Brunswick quitts the League The Duke of Brunswick followed this Maxime by making his Peace and renouncing the League with Saxonie Tilly lost no time seized upon Rotemburgh and many other places whilest the King recollected the fragments of his Army and put it in Equipage during the Winter but to no purpose For this vessell was too much tottered to do any more service at all In conclusion Tilly having taken Nontheen drew neer the River of Elbe which was also to be conquered after the conquest of so many enemies But we leave France too long in Peace which yet was not all this while quiet CHAP. II The prosecution of the second Warre against the Hughenots The Peace made by the undertaking of the King of England the Venetians and the Hollanders Warre between France and England and why The beginning of the third and last Warre against the Hughenots Cardinall Richelieu makes himself known admired and feared The siege and reduction of Rochell The Duke of Soubize takes some shipps WE have already shewed how the Peace was made in Italy as well upon the request of the Pope as to put a remedy to the inopinated Invasion of the Duke of Soubize who against all expectation and in full peace launched with a Fleet from Rochell came before the Port of Blavet and seized upon some ships which he found there But the Duke of Vandosme who was Governour of the Province transported himself thither with so much promptitude that he hindred the aforesaid Duke from making any farther progresse and forced him to retyre with two or three great Vessels and some of a middle burthen In such sort as that by this invasion The peace is broken the Peace which was made in the year 1622 before Montpellier was broken in that of 1625 and the Duke of Rohan his brother recommenced the Warre in earnest both in High and Low Languedock under pretext that the Treaty of Peace had been ill observed The King sends an Embassadour to the Hague This surprize so much displeased the King that he forth with sent all those Troops which were destinated for Italy towards Brittany and an Embassadour to the Hague to summon the States to his assistance with twenty ships according to the tenour of the Allyance made betwixt them But the Embassadour found some repugnance in the Colledge of the said States in respect of Religion though yet when he had remonstrated to them that the businesse was onely to humble the Kings subjects to their obedience and threatened them also with a breach in case of refusall they granted his demand My Master sayes he is of the same Faith with the King of Spaine and yet he maketh no difficulty to assist you against him And will you in a Warre of State expresse an inconsiderable zeale of Religion He obtaines twenty shipps Soubize being beaten retyres into England Hereupon the States dispatched Admirall Hantain who being joyned with the Kings Navie carried himself like a Mediatour of a Reconcilliation and obtained a Truce of three dayes which yet was ill enough kept by Soubize who hoped to draw some advantage from it but his Fleet was defeated and he forced to retyre into England with six or seven vessels and so the French took the Island of St. Martin and built two Forts there The King upon the intercession of the States pardoned them of Rochell but the Zelanders did not pardon Admirall Hautain who had for his recompence his house demolished by the people which were mad at the losse of the said Place But these were ruled by the passion of Religion and those by that of the preservation of the State The reason why Monsieur de Soubize brake the Peace was because the King had differred the demolishment of Fort Lewis raised near Rochell which served for a bridle to the Town and a Prospective to the Townsmen But the Governour indeed refused to do it upon some informations which he had received from the Town of some sinister designes In fine the Fort still remained entyre for all this and was to prove fatall to the Party illustrate the Kings Majesty throughout all France and cut off the root of all Religion It was believed that the Duke of Rohan had begged succour from the King of Spaine in this discord of the Reformates and his own and his brothers disaster but being pressed by the King of England the Venetians the Hollanders and the Savoyers he expected not the return of his Embassadour The Peace is made by an allyance against the Emperour and so upon the instance of the aforesaid King and States who could not indure the ingrandishment of the Imperiall Majesty in Germany the Peace was renewed the same year thas it was broken and the League was knit up in Denmark as we have lately said in the year 1625. But before that warre which was fatall to the Danes was finished began the disorders which thrust themselves in between the French and English the reason whereof as also of the third warre which consummated the ruine of the Reformed Party you shall forthwith understand King James a peaceful Prince King James jealous of his Royall authority and more prone to study then fight could never be induced to assist the Hughenots in France But after his decease King Charles his sonne by the reasons of Monsieur de Soubize and his Favourite the Duke of Buckingham suffered himself to be perswaded to it manifesting thereby in imitation of his Brother in Law that that Friendship which grew from the allyance of marriage was weaker then that of interest There wanted no pretexts as well of Religion as otherwise and the English being already pricked against the French and these
repentance for having so often offended the Emperour who was loaden with victorious lawrel and therefore he sent his Embassadours who found Ferdinand as ready to pardon as their Master had been light to offend and so he was content to accept all the conditions proposed to him by the Conquerors signe the Peace and be quiet The Hungarians rejoyced hereat because those disturbances held them in continual Alarmes And this was the end of the warres of Hungary and Austria besprinkled with the blood of the Peasants and Barbarians Let us now suffer them to repose some years and return again towards the Septemptrion CHAP. VI. Gustave King of Sweden attacks Borussia or Prussia The Imperialists succour the Polanders A Truce is made for six years PEace being made being made between the Emperour and the King of Denmark the Imperialists departed out of Holstein and all the other occupated places The Stralsundians under the protection of King Gustave who enters into Prussia and dispersed themselves throughout all Meckelenburgh and Pomerania The Citizens of Stralsund grown sturdy and proud by having eluded the Attacks of Wallenstein put themselves by content of the King of Denmark under the King of Swedens protection This action much displeased Ferdinand begat the most dreadfull warre of this Age and opened the passage to the Swedes to come and usurp a good part of the Empyre after having troubled it all Gustavus Adolphus having made himself Master of Livonia endeavoured to do as much with Prussia where he had powerful Correspondents When there there is not strength enough recourse must be had to shifts He entred unresisted with a puissant Navy took and fortified the Pilaw passed to Elbing which yeelded out of affection as also many other Places Onely Brunsbergh a Catholick Town durst make defence and was taken by constraint Takes many Towns All trembled between hope and fear love and hate and the desire of novelty seemed to prevail over ancient duty We desire saith the Poet alwayes that which is denyed us and labour to obtain that which is forbidden us I have heard some men of that Country worthy of credit affirme that if the King had drawn neer Dansick with the same bosdnesse and resolution that he did before Elbing it is very probable that the Citizens would have made their accommodation with him But opinion is as much subject to falshood as truth The River Wistule parts it self into branches the one whereof bathes Elbing and the other passes through Dansick and a little below it shoots it self into the sea Makes a Fort at the separation of the River The King lost no time but gained the Point and built a Fort there like that of Schenck at the separation of the Rheyn The River being thus bridled the Polanders who were wont to bring their corn to Dansick in certaine long Boats which they call Canes chose rather now to let it moulder and perish at home then carry it at a most vaste charge through their Enemies Quarters which caused a dearth in Holland and incommodated the Traffick so much that had this Warre lasted any long time it would have done the Spaniards businesse there The Polanders who boasted that they could easily drive out the Swedes made no great haste to put their Army into the Field The Polanders slight their enemies but were much amazed to see so many Trenches and the Townes which were lost half fortified in a trice There occurred many ambiguous Fights but the matter was never brought to a generall decision The Swedes made Warre after the Holland fashion and the Poles after the French and these were beaten before Strasburgh and those before Torn Generall Arnhem came to succour the Polanders but he brought them more hurt then good A truce made for six moneths In sine by the intervention of the Count d' Auanx Embassadour of France and those of the States Generall a Truce was made for six years to the great contentment of the Hollanders who were full of joy before by the gaining of Boisleduc which how it came to be taken the strength thereof making it held impregnable I will forthwith declare King Gustane being fortified by the relicks of the Polish Army marched back into Sweden to deliberate of the Germane Warre which was undertaken not by any Right but Usurpation and more for conveniency and jealousie then any justice at all Whatsoever other Princes do is lawfull merits praise and is put into the necessity of their affaires onely the House of Austria is guilty and culpable She must endure all and if the Lot of Warre favour her against such as presume to shook her she must not resent it but make a stop to her Victorie to avoyd the being accused of Usurpation The Empyre hath been too long in her possession it must be torn out of her hands though it were to be done by the destruction of the Catholick Religion and the fundamentall Lawes But great Preparatives call us back into Holland there is some huge Designe to which they are invited by the disorder of the Spaniards CHAP. VII The Siege of Boisleduc The Imperialists under Montecuculi joyne with the Count of Bergh who enters in Velaw The taking of Wesel THe Hollanders well knowing the Situation Fortification and Importance of Boisleduc were wont to say as by a common Proverb to demonstrate the small apparance there was of taking it I will pay you when Boisleduc is * Ours or of our Partâ— all which were called Gueuse Gueuse that is to say I will never pay you But the event hath manifested the contrary this Town having closely followed Rochell which was conceived to be unbesiegable in regard of the Haven But in this detestable Age there hath been nothing found impregnable for wickednesse being every where the Sword enters every where all gives way to Injustice and Impiety Nothing is able to resist insolence nothing so sacred but it is prophaned nothing so solid but it is moved and nothing so firme but it is broken The Prince of Orange seeing the Emperours forces employed in Denmark and Austria and those of Spaine a ground by the taking of the Indian Silver Fleet and carrying it to Amsterdam egged on from abroad and inflamed also with desire of taking this place by the very difficulties there were in it resolved after having maturely picked out all the circumstances to go a Maying there the last of April 1629. His Intelligences both within and without the Town were not small and the obstacles which offered themselves in bulke very great But considering that the greater the difficulties be the more luster they give to Vertue he slighted all Fortune forwards the stout The Siege of Boisleduc and hinders the timid He invested it with an Army of thirty thousand men and speedily finished his Trenches and Lines of Communication whilest they were disputing at Brussels who should command their Army Henry of Bergh General of the Army Count
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
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
sent speedily after Papenheim and resolved to stand fast and expect the Enemy The Shock or Ouset was furious and bloody The Croats did well enough at the beginning and the Swedes better and if Papenheim had stayed a little longer the Imperialists had fled But he came time enough Papenheim slain to redresse the Army which already began to stagger and to repulse the enemy but the shot of a Falkon a piece of Ordnance so called put a period to his life and all his glorious enterprizes Germany hath produced but few such Souldiers as he was for Valour Felicitie and Courage His elogies and the Emperour hath had few who have equalled him in fidelity He first made himself known in the Valtelme and at the Battail of Prague he was found amongst dead He finished the Tumults of the Peasants in Austria and above all after the Battail of Leipsick he redressed his Masters desperate party in Westphalia He seemed to dye content when he was told that the King was killed and it is held that if he had lived yet some years more he would have restored the Imperial Majesty to the first splendour The Horse basely gave ground as they had done in the first Battail It is beleeved that the King was slaine about the beginning of the Battail having receaved five wounds two whereof were mortal but it could never be learnt by whose hand he fell and opinions were so different that the truth could never be discovered The Swedes have reported that he was killed Gustave slain by a great Lord of his own Army others by Papenheim but neither the one nor the other is very likely to be true He was found amongst the dead so trodden and tumbled by the Army which had passed over his body that he was hard to be known What shall we say of the potency of this world since so much glory and merit is trodden under foot by horses This Prince who like another Alexander was grieved and vexed to stay so long in Germany and wished nothing more His praises then to go seek new Trophies elsewhere is borne down and that so venerable Majesty so much respected and feared every where is now reduced to dust This great Warrier this invincible Monarch the delight of the Protestants the terrour of the Catholicks the Darling of Fortune lost his life in the middle of Triumphs and of Germany His fall caused so much rage and despaire in the soules of his souldiers that they chose rather to die then retyre and obliged the Imperialists after they had fought till dark night to make a retreate but little more modest then plain flight towards Leipsick His life Duke Bernard and Cniphanse gave great testimonies of themselves in this bloody Fight and the whole Army melted in teares to see the King their Generall without sense and motion He was Son to Charles Duke of Sudermam who had taken away the Crown from his Nephew Sigismund King of Poland It is reported that he had made his Apprentiship in War disguised and unknown under Prince Maurice and that even after he was King he made a journey into Germany in the quality of an ordinary Horseman His Governours son hath told me that he was in the war of Bohemia saw the Count of Bucquoy's Army discovered himselfe to some Princes and then sowed the first seeds of his intelligence in the Empire He made War in Livonia and Prussia with a most singular odour of his great felicity His many Victories changed his sweet and tractable nature into a too rough and austere severity an hereditary Vice in the race of Erick as soon as they are past forty years old Thus gloriously ended Gustavus Adâ—phus his dayes and Parca by cutting off the thred of his life made him triumph to manifest that if he had lived some years longer Europ would have been too little for the number of his Conquests and his glory He presumed against the content and opinion of the Chiefe of his Council to come into Germany with an Army of eight thousand men to defend the Lutheran Religion and to check so vast and formidable a Power as that of the House of Austria but he was sure of his Allyes and of the affections of all the Protestants in general Also that though Fortune should have treated him as she had done others he had still the means left to save himselfe in his own Kingdom and draw up the Bridge after him But she was too kinde to him to break company with him so soone and his designes too high to please his Allyes Never was there Prince more regretted and deplored then he and all the North put on mourning whilest the South rejoyced at his fall but it felt the rough Attacks of his Generals after his death and the Swedes went not out of Germany till they got a Peace the spoiles and a share of the Empire a notable recompence The Battel of Lutzen the sixteenth of November for having whipped it so well This Battel hapned the sixteenth of November some dayes after deceased King Frederick at Mentz a milde Prince and much bewailed by his people He accompanied Gustave into Bavaria who was willing to restore him to the Palatinat The death of Frederick but under hard and unreceiuable conditions Let us see what passes in France CHAP. XXVIII The Elector of Trevirs takes the protection of France Monsieur enters into the Kingdom with an Army The death of the brave Duke of Montmorancy THe fidelity of the Ecclesiastical Electors was so great that they chose rather to suffer all the rigour and extremity of Fortune then untie themselves from the Emperour The French drivo the Spâ—niâ—ds from Trevirs save onely that the Elector of Trevirs sought to shelter his Country under the protection of France and received a French Garrison into Harmestein an inexpugnable place neer Cobelents where the Mosell casts her selfe into the lap of the Rheyn And he would have done as much at Trevirs if he had not been prevented by the Chapter which put a Spanish Garrison in before whereby the King was moved to send the Marshal De'stree to dislodge it and put in another Whilest the said King and Cardinal were looking upon the affairs of Germany Monsieur his Brother marched out of Brabant with an Army and published that he would deliver France from the Tyranny of the Cardinal The Duke of Montmorancy ranged himselfe with him Monsieur enters France and it looked as if all were disposed to Richelnis ruine Many of the Grandees inâ—lined also that way being jealous to see the King of Sweden destroy the Catholick League in Germany shouldered by the Allyance of the Eldest Sonne of the Church upon the suscitation of this proud Minister The Marshal of Schoonbergh followed this said Army with some ordinary forces There hapned a Skirmish wherein the Duke of Montmorancy would needs be nibbling and so was wounded and taken and his Party ruined
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
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
Politick knowledge to get out wherefore let us untangle our selves I say from a mater which is understood only by them of the Cabinet and go rowze up the sluggish Protestants neer that Banck or Damm by advertizing them of the approach of the Imperalists CHAP. XIII Piccolomini rayses the Siege of Wolfenbottel with losse Torstenton comes from Sweden with a supply Lamboy beaten and taken The progresse of the Swedes in Silesia The Imperialists defeated before Leipsick who after having punished the stacknesse of the Souldiers recollect themselves and raise the Siege of Friburgh The hattail of Honcourt The Exploits in Catalunia Mons. le Grands death The Cardinals death An Epâ—â—â—e of his life The Siege of Wolfenbottel WE lest all the Protestants forces with the Duke of Brunswick before the strong Town of Wolfenbottel which they laboured to reduce to their obedience by means of a certain Damm or Banck wherewith they stopped a brook which watered the said Town and the water was already grown so high that the Inhabitants were fain to forsake the lower parts of their houses Ficcolomini knowing the importance of the place and the affront he should do this great Army if he constrained it to retyre from thence advanced with his Troops And the losse of the Imperialists who constraine the besiegers entred into the Town and commanded some Regiments to attack them who garded the said Dike The combat was furious but the Seaâ—e and advantage of the Protestants put the Catholicks to a retreate with the losse of about two thousand men This frighted him not at all but he took another way and surprised some Towns from whence they received their provisions To retire which made them resolve to abandon the Siege and march oft though first they peirced the Dike and the Impetuosity of the water did as much hurt to Brunswick by slowing as the detention thereof had been little profitable before for of this water it is that they brew that good beer called Mum which is so much esteemed through all Low-Saxony and chiefly in Holland The Armies divided themselves as they had done the year before the Swedes expected Generall Torstenson who was come from Sweden with seven thousand men to whom Coninxmarck and Stalhans being joyned they all advanced to wards Silesia the Imperialists towards Bohemia and the Weymarians to the Rheyn whether we will accompany them to see the Bridge of Boats which they made to passe the River near Wesel The Confederated States had not yet forgotten the Cavalcade or Inroad of Papenheims and the favour he found in the Diocese of Colein It is most dangerous to offend such as can revenge themselves when they please Lamboy was in the said Country and his Regiments being distributed amongst the Villages were defeated one after another Lamboy beaten and taken the â—7 of January 1642. for want of good Guard upon Saint Authony's day 1642. and in one of the Villages which was dedicated to the said Saint bore his name and acknowledged him for Patron or Defender the Generall himself was taken prisoner and carried together with many others to the Bois de Vincennes to visit Iohn de Werdt and tell him that it was time to go and make head against the Weymarians This Army being uttery cut off the victorious enemy made great booty in those parts The Count of Guebriant for having behaved himself so well merited and received the Marshals staffe took many small Towns as Ording Nuits Campen and other and was supplyed by some Regimens of Britany which stayed not long in that Country The Swedes under their new Generall performed exploits of no lesse renowne For in May they took Glogow by force and in Iune Suchâ—â—t And the Imperialists in Silesia Olmâ—â—z surprised after having beaten the Imperial Troops commanded by Duke Francis Albert who died of his wounds and finally in Iuly Olmitz the Head Town of Moravia These sensible losses were followed by one of more note The Arch-Duke Leopold together with Piccolomini marched into the Field to stop this progresse Torstonson passed into Misnia and besieged Leipsick The Imperialists charged him and Piccolomini who commanded the Right Wing brake through the Left The defent of the imperialists near Leipsick the 2. of November 1642. but his men falling forthwith to plunder the said Swedes rallyed and attacked their enemies so sharply that they slighted the Arch-Dukes command refused to fight and through cowardize mixed with treachery began all to run So that the Swedes had a good bargain of it for there were found above six thousand men who never shot Pistoll nor Musket The Arch-Duke retyred with extreme displeasure into Bohemia and Piccolomini was full of confusion and spight to see so much perfidy and the losse of so fair a Game After this Battail which was fought the second of November 1642. the Swedes shewed themselves before Leipsick which forthwith submitted to them and in Ianuary following before Fribergh which sustained the siege for two months to the great amazement of all Saxony and Piccolomini after having chastised some Regiments in Bohemia and redressed his Army succoured it and so wiped off the affront which the base dastardliness of his souldiers had made him receive Which done he took his leave of the Emperour and the Electour of Saxony Fribergh succoured who feasted him and did him great honours for this advantageous exploit But he being loath to hazard his reputation amongst men of Arms so forgetfull of their duty came back to Brussels and put himselfe into the King of Spaines service The Swedes returned to Torgow and the Imperialists to General Gallasso The Weymarians domineering at their pleasure upon the Rheyn Hatsfeldt was commanded to face them who sound himself too weak but soon after there happened another change For Don Francisco de Melo now Captain General for the King of Spain having received some millions of money put the souldiery in state of action and marched from Brussels the last week of Lent 1642. forthwith took Lent and the first day after the Holy-days incamped himself before La Bassee which within seventeen days after opened him the Gates and the Garrison of above three thousand men marched out The French beaten by Melo near Harcourt and he came and surprised the Wâ—ymarians The Count of Harcourt indeavoured to succour it but found it too perilous an enterprise And so Melo went to attack the Marshall of of Guiche whom he utterly defeated and made it appear that Fortune was divided in her self This victory layd France open to him and his Van-guard by a fine stratagem was already entred when the news came to the Prince of Orange who was incamped at Littoye that his Reer and the Battalia or full Body of his Army were neer Mastricht This crafty Spaniard would not leave so potent forces behind him and would also surprise the Weymarians before he fell into France A great Design had it not been both prevised and
Emperours consent who alone together with the Duke of Bavaria entertained the Minstrills of the Revel but his Companion danced better then he For had he abandoned the Party at the perswasion of the French he would not have danced much longer and had he been willing to hazard any more neither the Swedes nor the French had danced so well but he chose rather to dance sure for feare of tripping Let us now withdraw our selves from the Labyrinth of Germany and see in what condition the affairs of Flanders are for as for those of the Emperour they are sufficiently afflicted and have almost no other support then that of the justice of their Cause besides that so many fine actions as are performed in those parts away from hence CHAP. XVII The deplorable state of the Low-Countries under obedience The taking of a great number of strong Towns in Flanders AFter so remarkable a Victory as that of Rocroy which hapned after the death of Lewis the thirteenth and so many losses in Germany which had so peeled the Eagle that there was no more apparence or possibility left of herflying farre after the defection of Portugal and so many Battels lost in Catalonia it was conceived that the King of Spain would have neither power nor will to succour the Obedient Provinces as having work enough at home and that the first Field following the French and Hollanders would carry all yea that the people being abandoned would revolt and to hinder a total ruine joyne themselves with the Conquering Party In effect the Ecclesiasticks and the Nobility cast their eyes already upon France in regard of the Religion and the people turned their heads to wards Holland for love of the Traffick but the onely deprivation of the exercise of their Faith made them as it were weeping follow the Spaniards Peace was necessary for them and for that they held up their hands but the Treaties walked too slowly on Nothing but the rigour of the Placarts of these Provinces and the preaching of their Priests made them resolve to endure all the extremities of war rather then submit themselves to the Reformates For if we must needs change our Master said they let us range our selves under the French so to have and retaine our Religion rather then under the Hereticks who destroy Souls The Plenipotentiary Embassadours of France passed by the Haghe renewed the Offensive Allyance for three years more The League renewed for three yeares spake in the behalfe of the Catholicks of Holland but obtained nothing it being too ticklish a matter For where the Reformates are Masters they give no liberty to them of that Profession and will not have them amongst them not being able to suffer Idolatry and the Papistical Ceremonies shook their over-tender Conseiences Let us leave them going to Munster to begin a work which they will not perfect and let us go see the bloody fruits of this Field The Duke of Orleans being declared Lieutennant-General of all the King his Brothers Armies sent La Meillieraye Gassion and Rantzow towards Flanders who made a shew of going to Dunkerke but sate down before the strong Town of Graveling and seized upon all the Forts about it and Admiral Tromp came and ranged himselfe before the Haven The French take many places in Flanders 1645. to shut up the passage This Town was taken in lesse then two moneths and thereby made the Spaniards avow that there is nothing impregnable when mens lives are not spared For the French lost above six thousand before it and all the industry of the Spaniards could not save this Bulwark of their State Don Francisco de Melo who hindred the Prince from passing the River into Flanders hastened with all the best of his Forces gave the Hollanders meanes come over The Sass of Gaunt taken 1945. and take the Sass of Gaunt with many other Forts and the losse of the said Sass and Graveling the two maine defences of the Country laid it open to an entire Conquest The Duke of Orleans followed his Carriere and all stooped to him he took Bourburgh the Fort of Linck Lens Bethune St. Venant Lillers Armentiers and Mening and put all the rest into Contribution besides that Mardyke was also surrendred after a Siege and so this Field of 1645. ended The Victories of the French were little lesse splended in Italy by the taking of Piombino and Portolongòno 1646 to wipe away the affront of Orbitello where they were beaten and constrained to discamp and many other places were also taken besides the defeate of the Spaniards at the passage of Mora. Count Harcourts Victory in Catalunia 1645. The Count of Harcourt who was not wont to be idle when any thing was to be done got a glorious reputation by winning a Battel and taking some Towns in Catalunia 1645. Notwithstanding that Flanders was almost quite conquered the Subjects remained firme in their fidelity amongst so many troubles Mardyke surprized by the Spaniards and the surprizing of the Fort of Mardyke in the Winter made them take fresh courage This Place cost but ten or twelve mens lives to retake it and had cost above five thousand to teare it out of the Spaniards clutches Let us see the begin-of this Field of 1646. The Duke of Orleans being entred into Flanders with a tertible Army resolved to compel the Enemy to a General and final Decision or to take some Towns of importance in the heart of the Country which might give the State a mortal blow And though the Spaniards were too wise to hazard the former yet could they not hinder the latter Courtrack taken which was the taking of Courtrack in the middle of Flanders seven leagues from Gaunt But the enemy making a Defensive war onely forced them for want of victualls to draw back towards the Sea side where they took Berghen St. Wynock and besieged Mardyke which they hoped to carry by many assaults before the Holland Fleet arrived but their temerity was so well chastised by the supply which entred every Tyde into the said Fort that Monsieur de la Trisllerie who was newly come out of Denmarke was constrained to complain to the States of the delay of their Fleet. And they who walked a slow pace and observed the falling back of the French with their bravado of saying that this Field would make them Masters of Flanders and the next after of all Holland judged by the rash discourse of the Souldiers of the intention of their Master and shewed themselves very cold in the pursuance of the designe to come to the concluded Stake sharing for in this knot it is that the best friends become foes and this was the stumbling-block as it shall shortly appeare However at length they sent Admiral Tromp who was no sooner come then they lowed their colours to signifie that they would render themselves up and so the Garrison of three thousand men marched out Mardyke retaken by the French and
courted both by enterprise and open force but alwayes so valliantly defended that it never changed Masters Whilest this small war was mennaged in this Bishoprick the motion of these great Armies made all tremble all fear and all hope For never were all parties seen so hot as after the Treaty was begun at Munster in such sort as that some tooke it for an amusement and that the Strangers would winne the whole Game since they had the better of the play Let us return to the French Weymarians who were grown proud by the taking of Philipsburgh and Memz The Duke of Anguien after these brave exploits which made the Germans know how much the valour of that Nation is to be redoubted returned into France with two Regiments The Bavarians being incamped upon the River Necker retook some places revictualled Friburgh and having repulsed four thousand men who attempted to crosse their designe took up their winter Quarters as the Imperialists also did theirs in Alsatia Lorrain and upon the Rheyn where being reinforced with some Regiments they repassed the River to feck the Bavarians who assembled their Troops and to shew that they were willing to strike for it presented themselves before their Enemies upon the fifth of May in the morning 1645. The Conflict was horrible and the dexterity of that brave General Merey was the maine instrument of the whole Victory John de Werdt who was now a Count Colonel Colbe The Battel of Mergendal and Spork made themselves famous there General Rosa Smithergh and a great number of Officers fell into the Enemies hands without counting the dead and the Viscount of Turenne was pursued as farre as the Country of Hassia There were two Regiments which were not at this Feast because they came too late but howsoever they were charged with the Run-awayes and paid their share of the Reckoning as well as the rest This Battel being gained near Mergendal raised the drooping hearts and hopes of the Imperialists when they were almost quite sunke by that furious blow two moneths before near Jankow in Bohemia caused the conjunction of the Hassians and Connixmarck with the Marshal of Turenne and was likely to have saved La Mote The Duke of Anguiâ—n returns into Germany which was besieged by Magalotti and defended it selfe bravely made the Duke of Anguien hasten who with twelve thousand men for that kingdom is very populous and the French are Souldiers from their Cradle arrived at Mentz joyned with the other Generals made a stand near Heidelbergh and with a lusty and puissant Army marched in quest of his victorious Enemies who wondering from whence such a multitude so suddainly came re-inforced themselves with four thousand men under General Gleen and stayed near Nortlinghen to the great contentment of the said Duke that young Mars who sought nothing but Combats to feed his generous ambition Nor did his enemyes desire it lesse then he as not being men who were long to be sought In briefe they closed with so much resolution and courage that it looked as if the Monarchy of the whole Universe had depended upon this Conflict The last Battel of Nottlingo hen 1645. In effect the number of persons of condition slaine was very great and the Germans have written that the French Army was so much ingaged that without the succour of the Hassians after so fierce a Blood-letting it would have fainted The Bauel lasted till night and the death of brave Merey that Lorrain Baron gave the Enemies some advantage for they kept the Field as I have already said And really after this Lords death the Bavarian Army made no more then a meer Defensive war rather for want of good Command then gallant Troops but it was too dangerous to vener again without huge advantage both Armies being so extreamly weakened The French took Dunkelspiel which was quickly retaken and the Duke of Anguien no lesse courteous then valliant released his prisoner General Gleen with a noble present as Maximilian Duke of Bavaria who would not by any means be vanquished in curtesie also did to the Marshal of Grammont whom he sent back with a rich Coach In the mean time the supply of four thousand men formerly conducted by Gallasso arrived and advanced with their General Gleen to relieve Hailbrun which the French though re-inforced with some fresh Troops were constrained to forsake The Duke of Anguiâ—n returns into France and the Duke of Anguiâ—n for want of health departed out of Germany In sine the Arch-Duke being come the French made a disorderly retreat and took up their winter-quarters in Alsatia and Lorrain where La Motte was rendred and dismanteled General Wranghel upon the other side attacked Starbergh which yeelded upon the same conditions with the Towns before taken but the Burghers or Townsmen for having shewed too much zeal for their own defence were sacked as a forfeit for their duty and constancy This approach gave an Alarme not onely throughout Westphalia but also upon the Kheyn For the Swedsh Army marched straight to Marpurgh and thence to Giesen which caused the Imperial and Bavarian Troops to advance to the reliefe of that Prince Hitherto we have seen the Armies march apart but now we will relate what they did after this Conjunction for the Weymarians having left the Siege of Frankendal went also into Hassia The Armies march together and then both Armies incamped at Weteraw The Swedes got the Van marched towards Hailbrun and so straight to the Land Bavaria of Promise The Elector raised his Subjects who could not hinder their passage nor their pilladge so that they took Rain upon the Leck and besieged Auxburgh from whence they were repulsed by the Catholick Armies but they got Landsbergh and entred into Bavaria Whilest these things were in agitation there was a Treaty for a Truce at Vlme though every where else the War was carried on by parties as General Wittembergh in Silesia against Monte-Cucoli and Teste de Corbean against Melander in the Diocese of Colein The Conquerors in Bavaria the Imperialists pursue them When the Swedes and French had been some time in Bavaria the departed thence and circumfused themselves throughout all Swaveland even to the very Frontiers of Tirol and the Lake of Baden They attacked the Castle of Bregants which they took with incredible successe and made thereby appeare that their valour was conforme with the report which flew every where of their repution and glory They also destroyed an Army of Peasants and chased them out of many Holdes in such sort as that this victory alarmed all Swisserland and made men believe The Swedes before Lindaw that Wranghel would take Lindaw Constance and all the Places upon the said Lake He beset the former of the two which taught him that God limits Victories for the Besieged made so generous resistance that he was compelled to quit the Siege after he had continued it two moneths But the Imperialists had better
luck Wysembergh taken at the Siege of Wysembergh in Nortgaw of which place though it were excessively strong they grew Masters after the attack of some weeks Had they made such a business of it before Wysembergh as the Swedes did before Lindaw they had been reduced to the state of a troublesome and weake Defensive for many moneths after CHAP. XXII The exploits of the Swedes upon the Confines of Swisserland alarme the Cantons Gallasso's death Melander General of the Imperial Armies THe prodigious Successes of the Swedes alarmed all that part of Swisserland which lies near the Lake The Swissers are alarmed and carried terrour to the very Gates of Italy Whereupon the Arch-Duke of Inspruck sollicited the Cantons to an Offensive and Defensive Allyance against these Conquerours but found lesse warmth amongst the Protestants as being farther from the fire then amongst the Catholicks However some Assemblies were made wherein a resolution was taken to raise some thousands of men to guard the approaches and order for more in case of necessity and then Embassadours were dispatched to General Wranghel who well knowing how dangerous it was to move this strong Body treated them with more courtesie then he had formerly done Charles Duke of Burgundy and promised them to maintaine good friendship and Newtrality with them The French Embassadours on the other side Whom the French cannot lull asleep endeavoured to lull them asleep by assuring them of their Kings sincere intentions But after the taking of Bregants of the strong Castle of Argents of some Islands the danger wherein Constance was by this new progresse and the Siege of Vberling begun by General Tisrenne and that of Lindaw by the Swedes the said Swissers rowsed themselves out of their drowsinesse and calling to minde their own interests which were stronger then all the assurances these cunning Conquerours could give them run to their Arms and advised their new Neighbours to retire from their Borders They run to their Arms. for that their Subjects had been ill treated by some Swedish Souldiers und moreover because they had taken Constance into their protection The Swedes wanting Forradge blew up the Castle of Bregants razed some Forts and marched towards Francony and the French towards Wiâ—temberg This retreate manifested that their Myne was discovered and that it was most dangerous to stay till they were farther detected The Swedes retire The Fowler sings sweetly to catch the Bird. This action hindred not the Treaty at Vlâ—â—e for a Cessation of Arms which was granted the Elector of Bavaria but the Emperours Deputies could obtaine nothing They treat of a Truce which is granted onely to the Duke of Bavariâ— for they had resolved to pluck off his Crown and destroy his House but in vaine for it will not fall how sierce assaults soever they give it It looked as if the Emperour would not be able to uphold himselfe any more since both his Arms namely the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony had sought their repose in the promise of the two Crowns which aimed at no other Peace then that of entire Victory or Conquest Howsoever he lost not his courage though he were in the middle of so many Enemies and abandoned by his Allyes yea of almost all his States which for their own particular interest left that of the Empire destitute and exposed to Strangers and yet notwithstanding in the Treaty for redresse or rectification of Aâ—fairs every one of them would enjoy his Right as well as he though they forsook the Common Cause On the one side Ragoski kept him alwayes in action and on the other the Conquering Armies after having dulled or subjugated almost all Germany came and fell in upon his Hereditary Lands And this Field having given them plunder for their labour and appeased a potent Enemy what had they more to do then to seize upon Austria and share the Double or Spred-Eagle betwixt them For behold the Ship split amongst the waves and raging Seas abandoned by all the Seamen attacked by three terrible windes at once and garded onely by the Master himselfe so that she must needs make Shipwrack But if she do they who have deserted her will not get ashore and the Confederates who think now to have her good cheap will snap them one after another without any difficulty at all Their procedings sufficiently discover what their intention is Ferdinand the third notwithstanding so many troubles the retreat of so many friends and the number of so many enemies lost not his care of the Empyre Ferdinand bolds oâ—t he calls the Mother of God to help him For it is after the losse both of Masts and Anchors and at the point of splitting or sinking and when all counsell is lost that the good Marriner makes his industry appear Great spirits never lose hope nor courage To whom doth he addresse himself in this revolution Not to Turks or Infidells but to him to whom his Father had also recourse when he was besieged in Vienna For he is Heyr to his Christian verutes and hath nothing short of his devotions He caused to be erected an Image of the Virgin Mary Mother of God directed his Vowes to her took her for Patronesse and Advocate not only of himself but of all his subjects of Austria his People and his Armies with a fine prayer to God Almighty and with so much religious zeal that all the by-standers could not sufficiently admire this good Prince They who know not that the honour which is given to that Mother returns to God himself to glorify his Incarnation disapproved of this piety others stood amazed to see that in so thick a cloud as was ready to burst upon him there was no other defence or opposition made then that which would not be able to stop that impetuous torrent But chear up for the water riscs much above it without passing and the enemies violence will slacken Melander called Holizappâ—â— General of the Imperial Army Generall Gallasso having paid his tribute to Nature the Command was conferred upon Melander Count of Hoâ—zappel who put the Militia in Discipline again and made the Rendezvous of his forces near Budiceis And Wranghel being retyred out of Swaveland as we have already said unexpepectedly attacked the strong Town of Swinsfort which by great fortune he brought under obedience to the Mistresse thereof and the Governour for having slighted the notice of the enemies approach had sufficient time to repent We left the French-Weymarians in Wirtembergh and now we will follow them to the Rheyn and into the Country of the Landgrave of Darmstaâ—â— where they made a deplorable shipwrack upon the Lands of a Prince who had not displeased but by his too constant fidelity Some little while after the Marshall of Turenne having received order to joyn with the Marshalls Gassion and Rantzaw in Flanders so to stop the course of the Arch-Dukes victories found himselt surprized by a suddain disunion amongst his Troops for
the Germans divided themselves from him and sent Complaints to the King In a word they would not goe out of Germany but ranged themselves under General Conninâ—inarck which had almost brought some disorder betwixt the two conquering Crownes But a small rain makes not the Rivers overflow their banks and they who thought in this alteration to attract them to their party advantaged nothing at all for the Tower which they attacked was not yet fallen Upon the other side Iohn de Werdt and Sporck were like to have debawched or corrupted seven or eight Regiments of the Bavarian Cavalry to conduct them into the Imperiall Army in Bohemia but they issued not so well as Spar upon Warendorf in the Province of Munster and so they betook themselves ill accompanied to the said Army there to possesse great Offices But this action stirred up jealousie and the Electour had much adoe to quench it They who possesse Goods by force are all alwayes mistrustfull CHAP. XXIII The taking of Swinsfort and Eger Lamboy and Conninxmarck camped before Rene. The taking of the Retschin The Siege of Prague GEnerall Wranghel having taken Swinsfort at discretion and refreshed his forces in the Bishopricks of Franconie marched into Bohemia and sent for Generall Wittembergh who was in Silesia and so with a very gallant Army ingrosted or augmented by many Troops Eger besieged he besieged Eger a strong Town in Bohemia Melander with the Imperial Army hastened all he could to succour a place of so great importance but either the Eagles appeared too late or else the Governour yeelded too soon and indeed the Swedes so much exercised the Garrison with continual Aslaults Yeelds upon dis cretion notwithstanding the losse of men that he surrendred at discretion and that at the same time when the Van-guard approached to give notice of the succour but he paid dearly for it for he was beheaded It is true that Ladron who had rendred Swinsfort upon the same terms for Wranghel gave no other was acquitted for a forfeit of mony a chastisement little proportionable to the crime committed For what cannot Gold and favour do But this proceeding of a for rain Generall in the middle of the Empyre and in Towns which enjoyed many Priviledges was abhorred for it diminished the Soveraign who chastised the Rebels for having taken Arms against him Was not this to remove himself from the pretext of the Liberty of Germany The Army encamped neer Eger a league beyond that of the Swedes where there happened many sharp skermishes and Ferdinand being once surprized in the midst of his Troops The Swedes beaten found himself in some danger But there grews fierce encounter wherein his enemies were worsted and Helm Wranghel killed with more then thirteen hundred of his men and so the Swedes after the loss of sorne Standards retreated into Turingh Go into Brunswick and the Imperialists into Hassia and Brunswick and Melander being still at their heels and not able to draw them to a General Battail and unsatisfied besides with the Landgravinne of Hassia fell upon that Country where he played Rex retook the Town not the Castle of Marpurgh and so returned into Franconic But General Wranghâ— found no less freindship in the Dutchy of Brunswick then his Predecessors had done for he recruted his Army and put it in good order one part of his Cavalry mounted and the souldiers in the Field to drive the Imperialists out of Hassia who melted like snow before the Sun whilest the Swedâ—â— recollected themselves and grew stronger Oh strange Metamorphosis Upon the other side Conninxmarck that brave Captain was in the Bishoprick of Bremen where he stood not still but in a very short space took the Fortress of Wecht and many more with almost as much success as Papenheim had done Conninxmarck in Westphalia but by drawing so near Munster he went so far beyond his duty and promise made that he had almost disturbed and broaken that most illustrious Assembly in so holy and necessary a work for all Christendome Insomuch as Lamboy reinforced with some of the Duke of Lorraines Troops was sain to go into Westphalia and East-Freezland to make a notable diversion Lamboy makes head against him But this Inroad was displeasing to the States who in favour of their Allies made him depart and Conninxmarck hasted thither to beat him They were almost the whole Summer incamped near Rene a little Town of the aforesaid Bishoprick which was set on fire by the said Conninxmarks Bombs and not taken for not being able to draw his Antagonist to a Combat nor cut off his victualls he forsook that Country and left the Inhabitants as little sorry for his departue as the Saxons had been before It is said that his hat falling once from his head when he was on horse-back was found and brought to him full of water and he being wholly amazed at this mystery shewed it to his Minister who not moved at all thereat presumed to tell him that it was the teares of the poor people whose houses he had caused to be fired I know not whether this be a story made on purpose to render him odious and the better to paint out his rigorous proceedings and to deface so many gallant actions as he had performed but howsoever it is also true that he was very cruell Be it what it will he did the Crown of Sweden many most remarkable services the last whereof which was the most admirable most profitable and most important was that memorable enterprize upon the great City of Prague which hastened the Peace as you shall forth with see in few words A certain Colonell of the Imperial Army being disgusted with the service and having conceived some disdain against his Master shewed him this trick whereby Ferdinand found himself necessitated to conclude the Treaty of Munster and surrender his enemies many of his Rights Poor Prince The wicked rise up against thy vertue and Traitours endeavour to dispatch that which thy open enemies cannot destroy or subdue Connixmark being advanced to the Fronteer of the Kingdom he addressed himself to him shewed him the facility of surprizing the Retschin or Small side as they called it for by reason of the River there are many Townes within Prague offered himself to lead on his Troops and be the first to scale the wall in the Assault Conninxmarck being confirmed by some Horsemen which he had taken The enter prize upon the Reischin succeeded that the condition of the place was just as he told him marched speedily entered easily and surprized many Officers in their beds amongst whom was old Coloredo and found so much booty as was more troublesome to be carried away then the place had been to be taken This Cross of Fortune must also needs fall upon this pious Prince which had been enough to stagger him had he not fixed the anchor of his hopes upon an immovable foundation The Prince Palatine Charles-Gustave being
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
yet shewed themselves again so distinctly that they were able to discerne the Ropes and Cables Last of all they saw the great Vessels again which they had discovered first These visions lasted about three houres A Lyon on the North side of the Ships performed the last Act under which there appeared animals of different shapes which turned into Ships The Parliament of England being grown formidable by Charles Stewarts expulsion whom they quite expelled the Island and by the conquest of the Kingdom of Scotland was much intense upon War and desirous to diminish the traffique which hath inriched these united Provinces as by taking the Ships which they met either at Sea or came into their havens and then by giving Letters of Mart. The begining by Letters of Mart. Whereupon the complainrs of the Holland Marchants obliged the States to send their Embassadours to acknowledge them for a Free Common Wealth to renew friendship and to redemand their Vessels taken The first point pleased them and the second was payed with silence and the third differred as never to be granted The Propositions which they made the said Embassadours were so high and beyond their expectation that the High and Might Lords resolved upon War Whilest these things were in agitation there hapned an encounter betwixt General Blake and Admiral Tromp about striking The first attak wherein Tromp was so briskly received that he had much adoe to get handsomly off leaving two ships behind him in the possession of the English This action hastened the returne of the Embassadours and set the States on work for the fitting of a second Fleet which was retarded by the wary Hollanders out of hope of composing the difference by representing the necessity of a good harmony betwixt the two Nations They wanted neither strength courage nor convenience to hurtâ— but other considerations made them seek an accommodation which these new Republicans rejected Mousieur Spiring the Embassadour of Sweden used all diligence to prevent the States Embassadours departure Every one goes into England to acknowledge the Parliament and encouraged them to acknowledge England for a Free State The Title in his Letter of Credence not being well adjusted he met with some little difficulty yet nevertheless obtained Audience but death taking him soon away deprived that State of a great friend After the Spanish Embassadour had acknowledged them every body hastened to the Offering as fearing to be the last Only France seemed not much to care but after having suffered a very rough check she at last came as we shall shortly demonstrate But we must yet make another great circuit before we conclude our Work CHAP. XIII The miseries at Sea caused by Pirats The present state of Norway Denmark Sweden Poland Hungary Germany Italy Spain and France c. HItherto we have seen the wars begun and caried on first for the authority and occupation or seazure of Countries under the princtpal pretext of Religion and then there hapned so great a Hotchpot and such a confused variety by the shuffling together of so many different Allyances and deceiptful practices that this precicus Cloak being grown quite thred-bare could be no longer worne and therefore the hatred of Nations and old quarrels must now be brought upon the Stage Indeed if according to the saying of Tertullian by forging so many Religions there grow at length to be none at all left with the like foundation may I also say that by making so many various Allyances which are so easily broken and so dexterously patched together again there is no Allyance at all I have to do said a certain Monarch with a bordering people which never keep their Faith but when they perceive no occasion to hurt me By this it is that there is so much trouble to make a peace and they who labour to joyne the two Parties finde so much difficulty and repugnance in regard of the indelible distrusts and jealousies between them that they cannot accomplish it Sea-Rovers Besides that there have alwayes been Sea-Rovers who as The The eves hidden in the Woods and Forrests have surprized passengers and laid wait for the Merchants Ships and at present we see whole Fleets the Sea loaden with Vessels to attacke not by stealth but open force the said Merchants Ships and the men of War also which accompany them Some years agoe the Sea was free and safe enough but now there are more and greater dangers there then there ever were by Land Let us passe through the North and end our Carrer in England The Kingdom of Norway being secured by its poverty feared not the year before nor this present year neither the war wherein the King of Denmark seemed ready to involve himself Thirty English Ships stopt in Denmark For he redemanded the Portion of his Aunt Anne Queen of England which being refused he stopped and confiscated some thirty English Merchant Ships and made a streight Allyance thereupon with the States of Holland for their Common Interests That Libell which was made in Sweden being washed and wiped off with the blood of the Authours thereof all was there in good order and diligence was used for the setting out of a little considerable Fleet which gave the bordering parts so much jealousie that King Frederick sent his Embassadours thither who returned with a good answer A Spanish Resident at Stockholme There was then a Spanish Resident at the Court of Sweden who treated secretly and the affairs of the last Assembly were conducted there so occultly that there was no light at all to be found thereof But true it is that Silence is the Soul of great Expedtions Livonia was well guarded against the invasion of the Polanders and the Treaties at Lubeck between them and the Swedes produced no good operation at all so that the Embassadours retired to the great displeasure of such as meddled in them The Muscovits did nothing in a long time which deserves to be noted here But the Polanders felt as well as the rest of the Nations of Europe the Rod of the Almighty by pestilence inundations and wars which continue even yet against the Rebellious Cossacks under the direction and authority of King Casimir The accidental fire which was like to burne the young Princesse was taken as an ill augure by such as were curious but the Kingdom is yet in vigour and the Armies in condition to ruin their enemies The Turks and Tartars made some irruptions into Hungary which gave both dammage and fear by the marching of some Troops but at present the Peace is exactly kept The Empire enjoyes the Peace made at Munster and every Prince labous by the offer of fair Priviledges to revive both his Country and the Religion he professes The Emperour who shewes that he took the redresse of the Empire more to heart then the preservation of his own life assembled all the Electors the last year at Prague The Electors at Prague 1692. and courted
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
died the the seventh of this moneth of Iannary and the Cardinals after a long deliberation in the Conclave and the colluctation of the French and Spanish Factions elected Cardinal Ghisi to the See Cardinal Ghisi elected Pope who took upon him the name of Alexander the Seventh The States of Austria upon the twenty sixth of February did homage to the young Arch-Duke Leopoldus Ignatius Son to the present Emperour which was performed with great State The Treaty being ratified between the King of Sweden and the City of Bremen the said City disbanded many Companies and gave Generall Conninxmark passage over the Bridge The Duke of Newburghs forces so much much streightned the Lorrainers in their quarters that they had much adoe to subsist there and the difference lately hapened betwixt the Electour Palatine and the Electour of Mentz not being yet ended but referred to the Assembly now here at Frankfurt the orther two Ecclesiastical Electours kept a small Army on foot to be able to stand in readinesse upon all occasions The Governour of Theonville who had boasted upon a certain time that he would be in Arlon at dinner the next day having notice that the Prince of Simay who is governour of Luxemburgh was marching with a considerable strength to meet him changed his design returned to Theonville and sent his men into winter quarters The Factions in Hungary about the chusing of a Palatinate being grown very high the Emperour resolved to go thither as well to allay the said troubles as also to have his Son Leopoldus Ignatins crowned King of that Country at Presburgh The Emperours Sonne Crowned King of Hungary which after many difficulties and some satisfaction given by him to the States and people of the Kingdom was performed with the accustomed Ceremonies An Insurrection in England There was a great Insurrection of the Cavalier-party in various parts of England against the Lord Protectour and present government which had it not been seasonably discovered and dissipated might peradventure have involved the whole Nation in a most fierce and bloody war One Party of them was under the conduct of Sir Joseph Wagstaffe and was routed neer Salsbury in Wilishire many principall persons taken prisoners amongst whom was Mr. Penruddock who with some others was alterwards tryed and executed at Exeter but Wagstaffe himself as also many others made their escape beyond-sea There were many of the said Plot taken in divers others parts of the Nation About the same time a Gentleman of great quality of the Country of Provence in France was arrested and imprisoned upon suspicion that he kept correspondence with General Blake then at Ligorn and that he intended to have betrayed the Port of Tonlon together with the ships therein to the English but after the said Generall was gone with his Fleet towards the Coast of Barbary he cleared himself so well of that charge that he was set at liberty and his said accusation found to be but a meer suggestion of some enemies of his The Polanders beat the Muscovits and Cossacks The Polanders obtained a great victory over the Muscovits and Cossacks near Vsman where after a shrewd fight of three dayes they put them to a totall rout and killed about fourteen thousand upon the place themselves losing not above two thousand save only some persons of condition The booty and spoyle they got was very great besides seven hundred Waggons and near a hundred Colour of Horse and Foot Whilest the Cardinals were busie in the Conclave about the Election of a new Pope An Anti-Pope chosen at Ascoli there met seaventy two Archbishops and Bishops with some Abbots at a certain place called Ascoli upon the borders of Neaples where after some dayes conference they chose one of their Members to be Pope rendring him all the usual honours even to the very worshipping him This Anti-Pope called himself Eugenius But the news thereof coming to the Conclave at Rome it so much startled them that they sent to the General of the Church-Militia to march speedily thither with some Forces to secure the Chief Authors of this great Schisme but they having notice thereof to prevent being apprehended brake up and parted and the new Anti-Pope fled The Tinkish Emperour Crowned There was such a concurse of people at Constantinople to see the Coronation of the young Emperour that lodging was hard to be found there and provisions were also at an excessive rate the Cossacks according to their old custom having so wasted and spoiled the Country on that side near the Black-Sea that it made them very scarce The Dogi or Duke of Venice being dead the Forty one shut themselves up according to custom and after some debate unanimously elected the Lord Contarini heretofore Embassadour Plenipotentiary at Munster and one of the most ancient Senators who was Crowned with the Dukes Crown with the wouted Solemnity the five and twentieth of March. The Queen of Sweden widow to the great victorious King Gustave having lain long sick of a Quartan Ague followed by a strong Rheume which fell upon her breast died the last of March in the Town of Niccoping The Duke of Savoy cast a cruel persecution upon the Protestants in the Vallyes of Angrogna The persecution of the Protestants in Piedmont Lucerna and St. Martins by sending the Marquis of Pianella together with the Count of Quince one of the French Licutenant Generals who set upon them beat them our of the said Vallyes and forced them tofly to the Mountains where they suffered much hunger and cold The news hereof coming into England the Lord Protectour being moved with compassion The Lord Protectours charity to them and charity dispatched one Master Moreland one of his own Gentlemen by the way of Paris to the foresaid Duke to mediate with him in the quality of Agent in behalf of the said distressed Protestants sending them also some relief of monyes out of his own Treasury and animating the people besides to contribute and collect publickly in the Churches considerable summs for them which accordingly was performed with remarkable zeal and remitted them as they have at large acknowledged by a most humble and ample Letter of thanks which they wrote to his Highness the transcript whereof would be too long to set down here and so would that of the King of France to his said Highness in answer to his to his Majesty wherein the King clears himself of having had any hand in the persecution of the said Protestants and friendly assures his said Highness to intercede with the Duke of Savoy in favour of them So that in fine after many debates the difference between the aforesaid Duke and his said Subjects is accommodated and Master Moreland returned Upon the two and twentieth of June there hapned such an extraordinary Thunder A Tempest at Gulick and Lightning at Gulick or Juleers that it pat all the people in excessive fear and there fell a Thunderbolt