THE APPOLLOGIE OF THE ILLVSTRIOVS Prince ERNESTVS Earle of Mansfield c. WHEREIN FROM HIS FIRST Entertainment are layd open the Occasions of his Warres in Bohemia Austria and the Palatinate with his faithfull Seruice to the King of Bohemia Translated out of the Originall French Coppie Printed at Heidelbergh 1622. TO THE READERS REaders you must giue me leaue to present my Booke to you without the Epithite of Gentle Courteous or Impartiall Readers for mine is an Apologie which hee that is sure of such Readers needs not make And if the glory of this most loyall and victorious Count hath still at home bin confronted with envious censures how should a story of his Actions euery where meet with such Readers This therefore rather hopes to make then find you so And readers I call you plurally for it lookes to fall into diuers hands and all not alike minded some may light vpon this Apologie who by their enuious detractions from his Acts haue bin the causers that some such as this were sit to bee made for his iustification But I hope that they being now out of action and so no longer corriuals in his honour the proofe of his victorious fidelity hath by this time either made them ashamed or silent A second sort are those whom these scandalous reports haue suspended in their goood opinions of his fidelity to the King and to them is this Apology chiefly intended for it well hopes that by relating the treacheries who by his martiall sentence suffered for it and withall truely representing his diligence and letters to the traytors and the wants which disabled him from hindring their plots when his wisdome had discouered them will throughly enforme such a Reader turne him now to an impartial Reader A third sort may light vpon this who haue liued so farre off from newes that they neuer heard him so much as suspected for thankes be to God his glory is further trauelled then their enuy which hath either bin lost by the way or turned backe againe and I hope these men will thinke their money well bestowed in that an Apology must of necessity discouer more priuate and particular passages whence this enuy sprang then any generall History of these Bohemian warres need produce for such a story rather relates then proues and besides here are diuers letters coppyed out and letters be the very linings and insides of Stories and this way too this Apology giues these Readers best satisfaction Yet for one fauour I must appeale to thee Gentle and Courteous Reader for so I hope euen in this point to finde the first sort of these Readers because what I entreate although it goes with the history yet it is besides the scope of it which is the thing they onely maligne I meane to craue your fauourable censures for the rudenesse of the Style For wee Bohemians next our vulgar more frequently vse the neighbour Italian speech but because the campe whither this is chiefely sent compoūded of diuers Nations best vnderstand one another in the French I haue therefore wrote it in that language wherein I was lesse perfect But maruell not if wee Swordmen who vse to hew out our way now and then hacke at a word a souldiers writing stile is his stilletto and when wee parlee wee send summons not orations and their owne necessity perswades the vanquished to yeeld and not the victors Rhetoricke but if it be plaine plainnesse best sets forth truth as this is And peraduenture it will be the better thought to be so for the Author profession for a souldier as much scornes to giue the lye as to take it Seeing then this braue mans Fame hath bin put to his compurgators I who haue bin a witnesse of all I write come in here as one of the Iurors and vpon mine owne knowledge deliuer the truth and willingly nothing but the truth and to this I sweare and you here see I lay my hand vpon the booke Farewell and listen after him his owne Actions shall next make their owne Apology or need none S. W. AN APPOLLOGIE MADE IN DEFENCE OF THE ILLVSTRIOVS PRINCE ERNESTVS Earle of MANSFIELD Marquisse of CASTEL NOVO and BONTIGLIERE Baron of HELDRVNGEN Marshall of the Army of BOHEMIA and the Prouinces Incorporated thereunto c. PAssion is a most strange and wonderfull thing it is a malady and sore disease of the soule which hindreth the functions of Iudgement and a mist darkning the eyes of the Spirit making thinges to seeme otherwise and contrary vnto that which in effect they are Loue the most violent passion of all others thinketh that which is euill fauored to be faire and that which is wicked to be good Scilicet insano nemo in amore videt hatred Enuy and euill will contrary passions produce contrary effects and cause that which is good vertuous and commendable to appeare and shew to be euill vicious and worthy of blame From thence Ingratitude bad speeches and slaunder accursed Daughters of such wicked Mothers which satisfie and feede themselues with euill as the Spider doth with the poyson which shee sucketh out of all sorts of Flowers and that from the best like these who blame and dispraise all sortes of actions yea and those that are most commendable Lycurgus so excellent a person that the Oracle of Apollo was in doubt and made question whether it should place him among the rancke of the Gods or of Men what did not hee doe for the good and benefit of his natiue Countrey and for the welfare of his fellow Cittizens but in the meane time they being led and carryed away by this disease in stead of acknowledging his benefits imparted vnto them sought to doe some mischiefe vnto him charged him with many Iniuries and blowes and finally banished him out of his Countrey The like in a manner happened vnto Scipio hee I say who by the ruyne of the Carthagian Empire strengthened the foundation of the Romane Common-wealth his bones could finde no rest in that place whereunto hee had procured the same Charles Duke of Burbon one of the most braue and valiant Princes that France euer brought forth worthy in truth to haue Descended out of that most Illustrious house and of a better Fortune if it had pleased God to haue graunted him that fauour as well as he had indowed him with great and rare Vertues by diuers and good effects witnessed and set forth the greatnes of his Courage and the affection that he bare vnto the King his Master He deliuered Dision from the siege that the Switzers layde about it tooke Millaine out of their handes And which is more aduanced the Victory which the King had against them in the Battaile of Marignan For all which his Noble actions and many other eminent Seruices which he did for him yet he could not obtaine his fauour But to the contrary the further that he proceeded still hee found himselfe to be further from it Passion hauing in such manner
he could not haue audience of his Highnesse all the while he was in Racoviz hee was constrained to follow him to Prague where the ouerthrow of the Armie decided the question before the said Ferenz could speake with his Highnesse and bring backe an answer Vpon new businesse as we say we must take new consultations The Lord Marshall hauing before taken his leaue of his Maiestie as was said minded nothing but his retreat but this new accident hauing quite altred all other things chang'd also his resolution finding himselfe alone in Bohemia after the other Chiefes had withdrawne themselues and engag'd in honour to keepe Pilsen he cast his eyes round about him to see if there were any likelihood of succours from any part His Highnesse some dayes after the battell wrote to him assuring him that shortly he would send him new directions these hee expected with great deuotion still hoping they would lead him out of these troubles but hauing long waited and hearing no newes from his Highnesse who after that time neuer wrote him so much as one word he found himselfe by so much the more perplexed The stopping vp of the passage of Germanie from whence he only hoped to be releeued doubled all these difficulties which of themselues were exceeding great already For being thus enuironed on all sides with enemies and hauing small store of munition and being bare of money his souldiers ill paid discontented and which is worse without any hope of succours euery man may imagine in what estate he was To be set to the helme when the winde is good is but a pleasure a simple Pilot may then steere the course but when the windes are contrary and the seas high-wrought and danger still thrusting vpon them then is the sufficiencie of a Master required The Imperialists being seiz'd of the Towne of Prague re-establisht by way of discharge the States in their ancient freedomes and caused them to write to the Lord Marshall and to his Captaines and souldiers of the garrison of Pilsen to this purpose That they would bee contented with a summe of money which they should presently receiue in hand with assurance of the rest hereafter and for this to render vp Pilsen and other places vnto his Emperiall Maiestie Furthermore that seeing the King was now retired out of Bohemia it was in the power of the said States to discharge the said Lord Marshall seeing that they had entertained him of themselues into their seruice and it was to them that he had taken his oath These conditions were taken into consideration and to say truth so it was that they seeing no other meanes to get their pay suffered themselues to be staggerd with this offer But the most part especially the Lord Marshall knowing that these were not the same States that had entertained them into their seruice for these were of the religion but those Catholicks thought it not his best not to hearken to them The Lord Marshall brought into these streights wrote to his Maiestie and his Highnesse and to all those that might be any way interessed in the keeping of that place made truce with the enemie entred a treatie with them and to that end sent Hieronimo de la Porta his Treasurer to Prague In the meane time to ease himselfe and to discharge Pilsen of part of the garrison he billeted some foot and horse in Heiden a little Towne where there is a reasonable good castle Thus there passed 5 or 6 weekes without hearing any newes either from his Maiestie or his Highnesse In the end weighing the profit that would redound to the publique cause by staying within Pilsen with that which might be made by withdrawing into some other place he resolued vpon a departure to see if he might either releeue some way the ruinated estate of the present affaires or else preserue it from an vtter fall he went from Pilsen with the rest of his horse about the middle of December leauing the command there to Colonel Frank and went to take in Tachaw then without a garrison and there to lodge his Cavallerie as well to be assured of the passage from thence into the Palatinate as also to enlarge himselfe and passe ouer the rest of the winter so much the more comodiously He wrote to Sir de Thilly Lieutenant Generall to the Duke of Bauaria and other Chiefes of the contrary party in Bohemia to assure them that this was not with any intention to breake the truce but the better to accommodate his Cauallerie hee wrote also to those of Equer who wauered already and enclined to the Emperor but vnderstanding his pleasure they returned to their obedience and held firme afterward This being done he takes his way towards Norimberg with an intention to goe to Wormbs to see the Lords the Princes but the time being too short for him and fearing to goe to farre from Pilsen when he was once returned to Norimberg he dispatcht one of his Captaines in post to Wormbs from whence being returned and hauing brought nothing but hopes the Lord Marshall after he had sent an expresse messenger to his Maiestie to aduertise him of what had passed he turned againe towards Bohemia and before he arriued there he had notice giuen how all went The enemie preuailing in his absence and beleeuing perchance he was gone for altogether wrought secretly vpon his Captaines thinking to corrupt them or at least to draw them to a speciall treaty contrary to that which the Lord Marshall had begun with Bucquoy at Prague Don Martin de Huetta Gouernour of Shuttenhofen first attempted to draw some of them to a priuate conference to which he being not able to bring them or they at least not at liberty to come out to him he wrote againe to them all in generall and more openly That vpon consideration of a summe of mony they would yeeld vp themselues and the place to the Emperour The Prince of Liechtenstein did second him with letters to the same purpose The foresaid Hieronymo de la porta ouercome by the large promises of the Imperialists in stead of doing for his Master as he was obliged did for himselfe and the aduerse party and wrote also to the same purpose endeuouring beside to perswade them that the Lord Marshall was gone neuer to returne againe This letter comming from the hand of such an Officer who had so good reputation with them and meeting with humours symbolizing somewhat with his intentions I leaue it to you to iudge whether this did stagger them or no. Casta est quam nemo rogauit T is the tryall that makes the man knowne This is not all Don Martin goes further and mixing rigor with courtesie the rather to prouoke our Garrison he breakes the truce and vsed brauing menaces and approaches and so forc'd them to breake out into open hostility and made pillage of all hee could get going and comming to and from Pilsen and in briefe did all he could to disturbe the said Garrison
For all this the said Captaines shrunke not for this blow but t is well seene by that which themselues wrote to the Lord Marshall what they would haue done if he had not opportunely come to them and kept vp the businesse See here the Tenor of their letter in their owne words My Lord WE haue receiued a letter from your Excellencie and vnderstand the effects of it whereof wee maruell much that your Excellencie will still delay the returne you promised vs seeing we haue had a hard time of it till now And for this one thing of keeping of good orders surely t is a thing impossible to doe without money as well in respect of the officers as souldiers Our hopes were to haue receiued in present pay euery Captaine 1000. florins according to your Exc promises And for want of this what shall we doe seeing the enemie hath sent out some troupes of horse on euery side of vs and haue taken moreouer aboue 80 of our men although we yet know not what will be the issue of this truce Behold t is more then time for your Exc to returne home with all speed lest the counsell comes after the harme The enemy threatens to keepe vs in so strait that we shall not safely fetch in our fewell and if any misfortune fall out against our wills we desire to be held excused and blamelesse before God and the world On the other side my Lord we haue here a letter from his Royall Maiestie of Bohemia directed to your Exc but we are no wayes desirous to be put vpon any seruice till we be sure of our pay Moreouer let it be taken well or ill we are desirous to know how the King will pay vs our old arrerages For the third though the King would giue vs one months pay it will not serue our turnes wee cannot be contented with two For the fourth Forasmuch as neither your Excellencie nor wee the Captaines are fauoured by the Prince of Anhalt wee will not be commanded by him considering how he hath dealt with vs both in Austria and here and aboue all we intreat this that if your Excellencie would not haue too great disorder among the souldierie let your Excellencie make all haste to come home so soone as possibly according to your High promise at your departure In thus doing your Excellencie shall infinitely obligevs No more at this present but our prayers to God for the prosperitie of your Exc c. And shall euer remaine My Lord Your Excellencies most humble and affectionate seruants Giuen at Pilsen the 2 of Ianuar. 1621 stilo novo Iohann von Pierriz Leonhard Syrach Hartman Alexander von Kronniz Wolff Sigmund Teuffel Iohann Grotte Postscript My Lord this day newes is brought that the enemie giues chase to our convoyes others they disarme and more they take prisoners This letter was presently followed by another of the same tenor but much fuller of passion Meane while the Lord Marshall tooke horse to goe towards Tachaw accompanied with Colonel Gray some part of his Scottish Regiment being there arriued hee wrote to the said Captaines as followeth MY Masters after you had done me the honour to beare Armes vnder me vpon so faire occasions and with such reputation I was confident you would so well haue obserued my actions past that you would not now haue come to this point to question my sinceritie seeing that euery way you had leysure to know me that I neuer sought but the good of euery one of you Yet must I needs with great vnpleasingnesse take notice of the distrust you haue of me in a matter of so great consequence as is now in hand you lightlier giue credit to those who apparantly seeke your ruine vnder dangerous conditions then to him who seekes nothing but to preserue that honour which you haue engaged If I haue giuen my promise to returne I haue kept my word and see I am comming to doe the King seruice and what shall be for your good as I my selfe shall see occasion without receiuing law from you who ought to giue it I am now about it nay and haue the meanes now in mine owne hands that shall content you and the whole Armie but t is by another kinde of way then to stand to their mercy who desire to entrap you It is I say a more honourable course I had once entred into a treatie with the enemie that we might haue got our pay that way if we could not an other and haue drawne our companies out from thence where we wanted succour but seeing there is yet another way to come by it and that we haue the meanes to get from thence and that I otherwhere perceiue the enemie casts about how to ouer-reach vs I will no more of that treatie And I cannot beleeue that you who are bound in dutie to mee would preferre an vncertaine profit before your honour that so loosely in so faire an occasion you would forsake your Chiefe from whom God be praised you neuer receiued dishonour You haue in following that way wherein I set you your pay assured your liberties and honours safe Wheras in place of this from the other partie you cannot expect your pay when you are once made slaues and bound hand and foot so that you can haue no hope of assurance Adde to this the hazard whereinto you shall runne your reputations Then if contrary to my hopes you haue now trodden vnder foot the respect you owe me notwithstanding my fatherly aduises you be obstinate to render vp Pilsen why you may do it for my part I will wash my hands and protest from henceforward and hitherto that if Pilsen be now giuen vp it is against my will my pleasure and my commandment T is you that in this case must answer it before God the King and all his braue soldiers seeing that you being not as yet forced of necessity against all necessity contrary to the will of the Chiefe you giue ouer a place which you before gained with so great glory and reputation As for the Newes from Morania and Silesia with which they would scarre you I wonder that like men of Spirit and experience you marke not the sleights of a Foe and how easie it is to forge such subtle lyes to make vse of against Enemies But if the worst happens what is that to vs T is our Honour and our pay we must looke after which we are sure to haue if we follow good Counsaile For we knowing the meanes as I said I am presently resolued to fall vpon the atchieuement to which I inuite you also That wee may hereafter performe some exploit seruiceable to the King and our owne selues And to this effect I will draw c. From Tachaw Ianuary 16. The same day he wrote to Colonell Franke as followeth Sr. the further I goe the lesse I know the resolutions of my Captaines I thought they had taken a good course and in the meane
Lord began to turne her backe against him and prepared a crosse for him The 10. of Iune anno 1619. shee gaue him the blowe checke and almost a mate VVe will declare the circumstances thereof in some sort for speciall cause He had Commission to leaue certaine men in the Garrisons for the Defence and keeping of them and with the rest to goe and joyne himselfe with the Army that lay before Budweis and in pursuite of that Commission he departed from Pilsen and went to Portewin an houres going from Vodnian where he attended for 500. Horsmen that the Earle was to bring vnto him there he expected them from day to day In the meane time the Generals prest him to goe forward without staying any longer for them so the Tenth of the said month he departed from thence with his Troupes being about 8. Companies of Foote but not compleat because of the Garrisons aforesaid and about 450. Horsmen among the said Garrisons there was one of 30. Souldiers in a Village called Netoliz on the right hand of the way which the Generall held The euening before his departure the Hungarians that serued the Enemy set Fire thereon and constrained the Garrison to withdraw themselues into the Church The Generall being arriued with the Army at Zablatti in Dutch Grossen Lasken a Village distant about a Germane myle and a halfe from the said Netoliz was aduertised by the Earle of Solmes who as then was at Vodnian with charge to prouide for the said Garrisons that the said Souldiers yet made resistance and desired him to ayde them to goe thither with the Army my Lord found it to be a dangerous matter to abandon them he feared a reproach Therefore he resolued vpon another course and commaunded the body of his Army to stay there while he himselfe with 150. Horsemen ranne thither causing part of them to stay by the way to ayde him in his retraict and to the same end commanded 400. Muskatiers to march to lye in Ambuscado and to stay his returne He thereupon put forward with the rest of his Horsemen and met with the Hungarians whom he valiantly charged but the first part of them being seconded by a great number of others and by some Troupes of Cuirasses he was constrained to retire by another way without hauing meanes to preuaile of the aduantage which he prouided for himselfe by the Ambuscado which neuerthelesse hee caused to be aduertised that they should slide along through the Wood and by the water side and so get to the Army which they effected in such manner that they safely arriued there but yet were narrowly pursued by the Enemy In the meane time the Earle of Bucquoy with the maine body of his Army consisting of 5000. Horse and 4000. footmen marched forward following the traces of the said Lord Generall who being come to the Village where the rest of his men stayed for him and thinking to refresh himselfe sodainly all the Earle of Bucquoyes Army shewed it selfe Whereupon the Generall mounted on Horsebacke with all his Souldiers in order of Battaile commanded them to make a Fortification or sconse of Waggons which was presently begun on the left side but by reason that the VVaggoners were put into a great feare by the running away of certaine Caroches it was not made round about as it should haue bin The length of the Village was behinde at the backe of the Generals Army his Horsemen being deuided into 3. Battalions in manner of a Triangle the better to ayde one the other The Foot-men were behinde and the Carriage in the middle being 4. Companies on the left hand and 3. on the right and one before the Carriage all in such manner disposed that the Horsmen had meanes to be defended by the Muskatiers The Enemy being very neere and all the field couered ouer with his horsemen my Lord Generall set vpon those that were formost and scattered certaine Squadrons of Hungarians but the Cuirassiers belonging to the Baron of Walstein comming forward he was repulsed and so whotly charged on all sides that he was put to flight A little before the Enemy began to giue the on-set 50. Souldiers of the Colonels company that were on the right side were commaunded to goe to the Generals lodging to defend it and the little Street betweene both but as they went the rest of the Company followed them by misunderstanding And the two other Companies did the like and were no sooner gone but the Enemies entred into their places who acknowledging and perceiuing their errour turned backe againe to place themselues as they were at the first but then it was too late in such manner that they were constrayned to looke for their owne safety There was a Wood beyond the Village whether they sought to retire but finding themselues to bee out of the Village to crosse ouer a plaine They were presently enuironed on all sides by the Hungarians and so hardly charged that few of them could saue themselues the rest were either slaine or taken prisoners In the meane time the horsemen were broken part of the footmen lost and the fiue Companies remaining in great hazard to be spoyled Carpezo the Serieant Maior the Rhingraue The Captaines Haid Scheammerdorf and N. commaunding them had the great body of the Enemies forces before them the fire at their backes and all the Amunition except some carkes of powder with all the carriage burning whereby they were put to their shifts and if they had any blood at their fingers ends it was then time for them to shew it as it became them Assoone as the horsemen were dispierced the Enemy began to set vpon the fiue Companies on all sides where they could come at them and they defended themselues valiantly as they were in a Garden hauing the aduantage of a hedge which was a good defence and safegard vnto them The Earle of Bucquoy made certaine peeces of Cannon to be shot at them on that side thinking to beat it downe but he could not doe it that day The Sunne shone very hot and the heat that encreased by the fire that burnt in the Village was the cause that the fire which the Enemy put into the hedge easily burnt but the diligence of those that were assayled surmounting all difficulties presently quenched it In the meane time the Generall without any astonishment at that disorder had reassembled and gathered his horsemen againe together and with them forcibly past through the Hungarians squadrons and ranne too and fro in field and returned againe into the Village with an intent to mount vpon a fresh horse and to put on his Cuirasse being then vnarmed But hee found his lodging already taken vp by the Enemy and that side of the Village that was behind at the backe of his Souldiers all set on fire which notwithstanding he sought by all the meanes he could to get among his footmen but the way was stopt on all sides At the last as hee turned and lookt about
of the yeare is now contrary as also that the proportion of the assaylers to the assayled and the mutenies and Discords whereon you ground are vncertaine as likewise that the Enemies in this season making you beleeue their weakenes will haue aduantage against you But bee it as it will if you obtaine the Victory you shall deserue to be Crowned with commendations I pray you let me bee informed of your proceedings at Nurembergh If there be any man in the world who with all that hee hath to the vttermost of his power will doe you good it is hee that is and will be my Lord. Your most affectionated Friend to doe you what seruice he can CHRISTIAN Prince of Anholt A great courage accompanied with a good Iudgement effecteth strange thinges if there were difficulties the Lord Generall of the Artillery assured himselfe to finde the meanes to surmount and ouercome them all and vpon that assurance he went to besiege Pisacke But because he had not sufficient Cannot shot he sent for some to Prague And in the meane time while he stayed for them tenne or twelue dayes past ouer When they were come the Lord General set them so well on worke that within few dayes after that is vpon the sixth day of December he wanne the Towne I will not take on me to set downe or declare the great importance of that enterprise I am content to let the Reader know it by the Coppy of certaine Letters that were written to the Lord Generall touching that Subiect by the Prince of Anholt from Ambergh the 29. of Nouember St. V. in manner as followeth MY Lord I am aboundantly wel satisfied with the good newes which you haue imparted vnto mee by my Poast touching the taking of Pisacke which I esteemed to bee very difficult in so hard a time and specially in respect of the small prouision that might be sent vnto you wherein you haue once againe yeelded a proofe of your valour and vertue which I haue presently made knowne vnto his Maiesty who therewith will bee exceedingly well pleased and haue the greater opinion of your Valour And therefore as well in his Maiesties name as for my selfe I giue you most hearty thankes as also vnto all your Lieutenants Colonels Captaines and all your Souldiers for the paines trauailes and other endeauours by them taken and vsed in the taking of the Towne desiring no other but condignly to requite them all and euery one in particular for the same And therefore I thought it good to dispatch this present Bearer to assure you of the great accompt that I make of the taking of the said Towne My opinion at this present is that you must not refraine to assault the Castle of Straconits hauing the commodity of the Cannon so neare and that there is no appearance that the Captaine therein will long withstand you whome you must not pardon as you did at Winterbergh That done you must looke to your Cannon and if the wayes be too bad you may leaue them for a while at Pisacke But if it may bee done I had rather they should be left at Pilsen and that they should bee kept there till I giue you further order concerning the same In the meane time if you can affect any thing against the Fortes of Guldenstein as I haue heretofore written to the Lieutenant Colonell Poblis I assure you you shall much please his Maiesty And in effect it will be no small matter if you can take order there for Victuals and Munition and that you can spoyle the wayes toward Passaw which will put our Enemies on that side in dispaire And therewith I am of opinion that wee must content our selues for this Winter time vnlesse some good supprise happen by the way which for my part I will not let slip c. With another as followeth MY Lord it is his Maiesty that hath written this Letter hereunto annexed vnto you vpon the great contentment that he hath for the taking of Pisacke It is said in Nurembergh that you are able to enforce Nature I send you aduise c. I am my Lord Your most affectioned Friend to doe you any good I can CHRISTIAN Prince of Anholt His Maiesty the King of Bohemia wrote vnto him in manner as folloeth VVEE yeeld thankes vnto God for your happy successe and assure our selues that of his great benignity he will further shew vs much more fauour that by your Valour great Zeale and Wisedome In the end wee shall see all this Realme and Countrey deliuered out of the handes of our Enemies And as wee doe in no manner doubt but that in all occasions in time to come you will make knowne the great care and vigilancy which you haue hitherto shewen for the aduancement of our Seruice So wee promise to acknowledge your good endeauour by all the Fauours that wee can afford Nuremberg the last of Nouember St. V. FREDIRICK AFter all these exploites the Lord Generall retired his forces into the Garisons the season of the yeare in all places lesning the fury of Armes but not the fire of iealousie which the sound of his happy successe had caused to rise vp in certaine malicious Spirits A fire which in time to come will consume many good Designes in the first beginning of their birth to the great preiudice of the Crowne of Bohemia Plinie writeth of a small fish called Remora and saith that it is of such a quality that cleauing fast to a Ship though it be exceeding great it stayeth the course thereof in the maine Seas small matters preuent great enterprises Our Ship will set sayle but the stinking waters of euill will will produce so many Remores that on what side so euer it sayleth it will hardly arriue at any good Hauen The Reader shall see how it will fall out by the issue of this discourse then let vs proceede If it be greeuous to a particular man to lose that small substance that he hath It may easily be iudged how much it displeaseth great personages to lose Crownes and whole Kingdomes It was easily to be seene and perceiued that Crumaw and Budweis being lost Bohemia would be cleane quit out of the hands of the house of Austria And that how much the more those places were of great importance for the conseruation of that Kingdome so much the more the Emperour and all the Princes of that house would enforce and strengthen themselues for the maintainance of them The Lord Generall of the Artillery foresaw this and that to pull those two Townes out of their hands they must not goe empty handed thereunto Now for that the great Armie of Bohemia was in Austria and he in Bohemia with the rest of the Troupes he esteemed that the conquest of those two Townes was reserued for him as the rest of his taske In the Winter time he began to dispose of his affaires thereafter framed intelligences and lent his Spirit to looke after that which in any wise might