and would have killed him if a Count had not hastened to the stirre and taken him out of their bands His Majesty seemed much displeased herear and all issued to the confusion of the one and the glory of the other The year following Prince Maurice had an enterprise upon the Dike of Antwerp from whence he retyred with remarkable losse before the Castle of Wowde which he took by capitulation The Arch-Duke on the other side disgusted at the losse of Sluce and desiring to keep Flanders free from contribution sent Spinela to the said place whose credit was already much augmented amongst his enemies as well as amongst them of the Spanish party But Maurice having prevented him and put all things in good order he found himself fain to seek the same way which the Count de Bucquoy had taken with a flying Camp towards the Rhein which he passed and took Oldenzeel and Lingen and if he had prosecuted his business with the same ardor and promptitude wherewith he began it was very probable he might have seased upon Coeverden Groening yea Embden it self and so have taken footing in Freezland Warre about the Rhein in regard that he would have found no great resstance for want of men especially coming upon an exploit both unforeseen and unexpected There was yet another very dangerous encounter towards the Rhem where Prince Henry had incurred great hazard of being killed or taken if he had not been seconded by his Brother wherein he was more happy then in the enterprise of Guelders The Designes upon Grave and Bergh upon Zoom were hurtfull to the undertakers and served for an advertisement to them upon whom they were practised to keep themselves upon their guard The Count de Buequoy quickly brake the garrisons of Wotchtendone and Cracaw and so winter was as a trumpet which sounded a retreat to both armies The morning is never so fair but that there appears some cloud upon the Horizon before the day be quite spent France is never so well at rest but that there is some stir either in one corner or other or in the middle For they are people of a fiery spirit and enemies to quiet The conspiracy which was discovered in Provence at that time and the author whereof was a gentleman of that Country who was appreheded at Paris together with the Secretary to the Spanish Embassador caused the the said Embassadour to complaine and reproach that the Peace was not well kept to which the King answered by other objections which were the seeds of the contrariety since between these two nations who yet by different wayes seem to have both but one object for their end The birch of Philip the fourth King of Spaine theâ—â— of April This very yeer 1605 upon the 8 th of April was born Philip the 4 th who holds the Spanish Monarchie at this day And the same year died Pope Clement the 8 th and Theodore Beza and the year following Justus Lipsins Professour of the University of Lovain CHAP. VI The difference which happened between Pope Paul the fifth and the Republick of Venice and why The peace made The Duke of Brunswick endeavours to take the Town The King of Denmark goes into England The continuation of the wars in the Low-Countries VVHiles the war was thus hot in the Low-Countries there happened a spark of division in Italy between the Pope and the Venetians which if neglected might have caused an emborasment no lesse perilous then that the one namely the Romane Catholicks ministring all kindes of means and reasons to quench it and the Reformates all sorts of invention to kindle it The knot of the controversie was that the said Republick had made a Law prohibiting all the Ecclesiasticall persons to buy or receive by Will or Testament any immovable goods or other inheritances This Order being ill taken at Rome caused a Bull which was published against the said Republick with the thunderbolt of excommunication in case it were not revoked within the tearm of four and twenty dayes interdicting the Priests to say Masse The difference between the Pope and the Venetians under paine of the same excommunication The Senate protests against it and so from words to blows Italy was instantly in armes The King of Spaine ofters assistance to the Pope and Henry the fourth as much but under condition that he being eldest son of the Church his Holinesse would receive no ayde from any other but himself This proposition together with the information which he had that the King of England and the Hollanders enemies to the holy See had presented all kind of help to the Venetians and being also moved by his own prudent goodnesse and the evident danger to which the Catholick States would be exposed caused him to hearken to the perswations of the two Kings and take off the excommunication whereby the businesse was appeased Taken away by the intercession of the two Kings and all the Ecclesiasticks who were gone out of the City during this fogg had leave to return except onely the Jesuites who carried the whole burthen and were banithed for perpetuity The Jesuites banished out of the Common-wealth of Venice nor have all the intercessions and addresses which have since been made in favour of them by the King of France and many other Potentates served for any thing but to renew the said order of banishment against them The Protestants their capitall enemies have not failed to serve themselves of this occasion as also of many other to cry them down every where by accusing them of some conspiracies against the said Common-wealth whereof yet there is no clear mention made at all For they make profession to be forbidden by their rule to meddle with State business But a good Game good Gaine They are not without fellowes for England furnishes them likewise with matter enough Now these animosities being appeased there returned a calm to all Italy which we will now leave to come back into Germany and Holland For here it is that men are alwayes in action both by Sea and Land whilest the rust of Christendom are at rest It is true that the Duke of Brunswick seeing Spinola with a great army neer Lingen took a pretext to raise one to but it was in effect to attack the chief town of the Dutchy An attempt upon Brunswick His forces seized upon one of the gates and the wall without much trouble but they weakly desended those advantages which they had gotten and so were shamefully beaten oft He besieged the town twice but the Emperour interposing his authority all was quickly accommodated Enterprines never snoceed well but by the courage of the under takers The King of Denmark goes into England The King of Denmark went to see his brother in-inlaw King James and his sister where having been regaled the space of a moneth he returned toward his own Kingdom not without admiring the pomp and magnificence of the English and giving marks of his royall greatnesse
most smiles is then most ready to shoot her inevitable shots of her irradicable hatred against such as love vertue and constance It was necessary to recount this for the greater knowledge of what we are to publish concerning Muscovy which hath selt the tragical effects of Bellona as well as the rest of Europe whereof she is a good part CHAP. IV Of Poland The Government and Religion thereof Henry Duke of Anioii chosen King and afterwards Sigismund of Sweden and Maximilian of Austria who was taken prisoner in a Battell THis Kingdome was governed by Sigismund of Sweden and had no other enemy at that time then the Swedes for the interest of their Prince But before we give an account thereof we will speak of the manners and Origin of the Country Poland is of very vast distent and takes her name from the great Fields which produce a huge quantity of Corn. The great Dukedome of Lithuania is a part of this Kingdome which is bounded on the one side by Muscovy and on the other Hungary Germany Livonia and Prussia or Borussia to the Baltick Sea there are many Fennes Lakes and huge Forrests Poland full of Forrests and Fennes as there likewise are through all the North where in the Trunks of Trees is often found great store of hony whereof they make a certain Drink chiefly in Lithuania which is most delicate and yeelds not awhit in goodness to Spanish wine Now here well deserves to be inserted the story of a certain Peasant or Countriman who being fallen by accident into one of the Trunks which was full of hony ran great hazard to be drowned The story of is Peasant saved by a strange accident without an almost miraculous succour which came to him by chance And it was a Bear approaching the said place to lick the hony whereof these creatures are very lickorish the poor man layd hold of his tayle and the beast violently endeavouring to run away drew the man out of this sweet but fatall precipice The winter is there very long and sharp against the rigour whereof the Inhabitants who have no want of wood serve themselves of stoves and good furred gownes as all the Northern people do The Nobility is very studious of Warre and desirous of Travell and in short of an humour much like that of the French They express their gallantry in the beauty of their Cloathes Weapons and Horses in the sumptousness of Feasts Weddings Funeralls Christenings and in numerous Trains of servants too when they go a woing They are very stout and decide their quarrels for the most part by encounters so that there are more Fights then Duels They are very good souldiers whereof they have given frequent testimonies against the Turks whom they oppose not with Fortifications and Bulwarks for the defence of their Kingdome and all Christendome but with their Bodies in the Field The Tartars do them much hurt by surprizes who as soon as they have done their feat and find the Poles advancing betake themselves to their heels with their pray and fell their prisoners to the Turks by whom they are made slaves The Polanders anciently called Sarmass were very redoubtable to the Romans and contemned their power they embraced the doctrine of the Gospel and since learning and sciences have been in Vogue amongst them they are extremely civilized as all other nations like wife are which have changed the darkness of ignorance into light and their brutish manners into amiable society The Latin tongue is so common amongst them that there are very few Gentlemen who do not speak it The custome of drawing a sword when the Priest recited the Gospel in the Mass is now abolished for some misfortunes which happened thereby however by this zealous action they signified themselves to be willing to loose their lives for the defence of the Gospel and for the ingrandizement and propagation whereof they have often tought against the Pagans and do protect Christendome to this day against the puissance of the Infidels Though yet they were moved by this very zeal both inconsiderately and perfidiously to break the sworne Peace with the Great Turk and were consequently all cut off together with their King Vladislans near Varne They are very strong and tall and have faces able to imprint the figure of feare in the countenance of the most confident They slight the rigour of the cold and all other obstacles which may hinder them from a glorious death Yet is it also very true on the other side that vice hath placed its dwelling there as well as elsewhere and that the contempt of the Lawes is not lesse amongst them then in any other part of Europe They who travell through Poland and Hungary carry their beds with them yea and sometimes their victuals too to shunne the hazard of an ill supper and a hard lodging These two Nations have a fashion of cloathing almost alike which doth differ very little and they both weare furred Bonnets The Romane Catholick Religion is the chief however there be other also permitted and freely exercised amongst them as namely the Arrian and many other old Heresies which are still croaking there besides the Greck Church hath also a great number of adherents there The Kingdome of Poland is Elective and when the King is dead the Archbishop of Gssue takes the Government of the State and assembles the Senate and the Nobility for the election of another During the Interreign or vacancy there is committed great store of murthers and insolencies which moves such as love the publick Quiet to speed the Election The Nobility hath most high priviledges whereby the Kings authority is much bridled and retained within the Lawes of the Kingdom whereof in a word they are so jealous that they alwayes mistrust their Prince and imagine every moment that he will either take their lawes from them or at least diminish them to make himself more absolute Murthers are not so rigorously punished here as in other parts of Chrislendome For a Gentleman shall be quit for killing of another with one years imprisonment and if the person murthered be of a mean condition for a small forfeit The Ecclesiasticks have huge Revenues for which they are much envied The most eminent dignities amongst them are to be Senatours whom they call Waiwodes Chatellans and Starosts which are charges of Captains In a word they are all equall like Brothers not enduring any superiority at all The Duke of Anioll elected King The Kingdome being vacant by the decease of Sigismund Queen Katherine de Medicis sent the Bishop of Valence thither for the Duke of Anioll her son who was chosen with applause and the eloquence of the said Bishop prevailed much therein The magnificencie of the Dukes Reception made the French see that the Polanders skorn to fall short of any in gallantry But his Reign proved not very long For hearing of the death of King Charles and preferring the Hereditary Crown of France
not at all the death of his Mother Mary who was beheaded in England preferring the hope of succession to the said kingdom before revenge courting the favour of the Queen and treading all other considerations under foot But heaven left nothing unpunished which often revenges innocence upon the Innocent themselves to chastise them who have not revenged it He married Anne Sister to Christian King of Denmark and lived in peace which yet was disturbed by dreadful conspiracy of a certain Earle called Gore whose Father was beheaded in the end of the said Kings minority Now this Gore returning from travel sent his brother to the King as he was hunting whom when he had made believe that there was a certain man who had found a great pot full of gold he led him into his said brothers Cabinet or Closet where had he not been succoured by his followers he had been unhappily murthered The Tragedy was afterwards acted upon them who intended themselves to have been the actors thereof and the murtherers were justly murthered In this tragedy they who were curious found such mysteries as their modesty kept in silence The Scots are held good souldiers but they were never very fortunate against the English Ireland is an Island both big and fruitfull between Spain and England where the English have exercised great power and authority as well in respect of Religion as for the Rebellion of the Irish against Queen El'zabeth calling the Spaniards to help them But they grew at length to be conquered and have long been governed since by Deputies or Vice-Kings under a most austere Disciplipe which hath constrained some of them to flye to the main Land and others to retire themselves into the Woods and Forrests amongst the wild beasts to seek their liberty after their own fashion This Island was heretofore conquered by the Saxons and a long time after by the Norman under William the Conquerour Their lawes have some resemblance to those of Normandy and Guienne which they had some ages in their possession where the Eldest sonnes take almost all the succession of their Parents leaving but very little to their Brothers and Sisters A very rough Law and almost quire contrary to that of Poland where when the Eldest hath divided the said succession the younger takes the first Portion and after him the other so that the last of all is left to the Eldest The English are good Souldiers both by Sea and Land not in valour and courage inferiour to any one Nation whatsoever and are more apt to offend by temerity and overmuch forwardnesse then cowardise Inghilterra bona terra mala gente The Nobility is generally very courteous and chiefly such as have travelled England sayes a famous Italian is a good Country but the Inhabitants are very bad The English are little affected to other Nations and especially to the French from whom they have a great aversion nor can the French or Scots on the other side endure the incompatible humour of the English After they had lost what they possessed in France and all the intelligence they had there they fell for a long time to Civill Warres But since under the reign of four Kings and two Queens they have seen various persecutions not only about Religion but for matter of State too where of we will speak in the sequel of this History The women are incomparably beautifull and consequently have a great influence upon the men yea the Queens have commanded there more absolutely and have been much better obeyed and respected then the Kings They treat their servants and horses very roughly which gave birth to the Proverb That England is Heaven for Women Purgatory for servants and Hell for horses King James to smother the hatred and partiality which had alwayes been between the people of these Islands by laudable advice entituled himself King of great Britain The Title of King of France which was possessed by many Kings of England hath alwayes checked the Salick Law which excludes the Heyres Femall of France from the Crown so that though the English possessed almost the whole kingdom of France it was more by the right of Arms then by that of the Lawes and Customes Let us now leave Great Britain and look upon Italy where there are many Seates and Republicks whereof we shall make but little mention to shun superfluities and keep our selves within the limits prescribed in this History CHAP. VIII Of Italy Lorraine and Savoy POpe Clement the 8 th held the Chaire and by the prudent administration of him the Venetians and the Great Duke of Tuskany there flourished a Peace throughout all Italy Every one preserved himself within his own interests nor could any little jealousies take root to the loss of the publick Quiet but it was suddenly strangled in the Cradle by wise conduct and most subtile policy The Popes as well by donation as other practises have not onely augmented the Patrimony of St. Peter but drawn also all the Soveraign Authority to themselves by removing the Emperours from the knowledge of the Affaires of Italy The Faction of the Guelphes for the Popes the Gibelms for the Emperours reigned there long and was not consopited or quieted but by eclipsing almost the whole Majesty of Emperours by endeavouring to constrain them to receive the Crown from their hands A difference not quite extinguished yet Besides that they have ever been unhappy enough in pursuing their Right by Arms the Italians cutting them out work enough amongst themselves and often hindring their coming out of Germany so that all the splendour of the Empyre remaines there and is no otherwise known throughout almost all Italy then only by name Under the Reign of Valentinian the Western Empire was much tottered by the Barbarians which forced most of the principall Families near the Sea to retire into the Islands of the Adriatick Streights and there lay the Foundations of that most puissant City of Venice and of that most Serene Republick which hath encreased maintained and conserved herself these twelve ages by an unparallelled blessing by the most perfect observance of the Lawes and by a policy worthy of admiration This gives just cause to judge that they who began her were of the most elevated and prime of all Italy and not slaves as they were who laid the first stone to the Common-wealth of Rome In the Peace which was made between the Emperour Charlemayne and the Emperour of Constantinople it was concluded than that Common-wealth which had already stood more then three ages and a halfe should serve for a bound and gate to the two Empyres They had for a long time in their possession the kingdom of Gypres which the Turks have now taken from them They have had many enemies and have often by their great prudence diverted the storms which have been ready to fall upon them and by the dexterity of their mannagements regained that which they had lost by the fate of Arms.
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
from the attack of ingratitude alledge forsooth that the Kings Cause ought to prevail and that it is by no means necessary to observe and keep a Contract which is made against the Lawes and Rights of the kingdom But there was peradventure no other way to surmount the Eagle then to thrust himself into her feathers Whilest the Queen-Mother and Monsieur de Luynes possessed the Kings favour the fortune of the whole Court depended upon them two but he having lost his life resigned it totally to Cardinal Richelieu only who most absolutely tetained it till his death Kings Gustaves victory wonderfully rejoyced all the Reformates and all them of the Cardinals Cabal however the zealous Catholicks were afflicted and murmured much at him blaming him as an impious man and a favourer of Hereticks but he was an immoveable Rock and so having shaken off his Benefactresse and her faithfull servants he bent all his cares to the direction of the Affaires iâ— Germany and to the meanes which was to be followed to arrive to a point of so much difficulty as he had praemeditated He conducted the King with some Forces into Lorraine took Vic and Moyenvic procured a Cessation of Armes for fifteen dayes The King of France in Lorrain with the Cardinal between his Master and the Catholick Electours and laboured by most secret wayes to induce them to seek his Majesties protection wherein he succeeded but little better then they had done in the Embassie which they sent to the King to beseech him to divert the Arms of Sweden from their Terriories and from the Catholick Countries For the Electour of Trevâ—rs oaly sought his Sanctuary in the Arms of Lewis because he could not hope for it in those of Philip and yet lesse in those of Ferdinand Gustave engry at the protection given to the Electour of Tievirs King Gustave unwilling to let his souldiers coole could not cadure to hear Monsieur de Carnasse the French Embassadour who beseeched him to think of a prolongation of the Truce for a moneth to whom being vexed at the protection given to the Electour of Trevirs and clearly perceiving the intention of France he very cholerickly said that be can not to dismember the Empyre but to deliver it from oppression â—â—rather to retain and keep it entyre and that if his Muster angred him he would go see Paris with fifty thousand men To which Carnasse coldly replyed that his Master would free him from that trouble by meeting him more then halfe way with the like Traine But these little stings vanished in the common Cause and by the dexterity of the Cardinal who judged that it was not yet time to come to that and that it was needfull to dally with the haughty humour of this Septemtrionall Prince so to weaken and attenuate the House of Austria yet more by his Arms. It was too great an Oak to be cut down at one blow They who laboured to exasperate them did but loose their labour for they had to do with Politicians who had good noses and who would be sure not to become enemies but by sharing the whole Prey The Duke of Lorraine layes down Arms and gives three Towns to the King The Duke of Lorraine had raised an Army of twelve thousand men to succour the Emperour and was already advanced as far as the Confines of Hassia but he was constrained to retyre into his Dutchy and promise the King of France who was at Metz not to meddle with the Affairs of Germany and for pledge of this promise to put three Towns into his hands for the space of three yeares A hard condition for a Soveraign Prince who could not see the Emperours ruine but with his own But he was forced to yeeld to a more potent then himself for a time for there grew a change afterwards If the Protestants had cause to complaine of the insolencie of the souldiers the Catholicks had also their turn and were no lesse trodden down then they and especially the Priests Monks and Bithops but above all the sIesuits carried the pack The Landgrave of Hassia attacks the Bishops The first who cast himself upon them was William Landgrave of Hassia who pillaged the Country of the Abbot of Fulda a Prince of the Empyre from whence he returned into Westphalia and to the Diocese of Colcin uppon which he cast irreparable dammages But Count Papenheins came to Colein Papenheim retaits an Army to put a remedy to these mischiefes nor could there be a braver man then he found out to do it if it were within humane wit to invent a way for it which he did and brought it to so good an issue that he merited thereby to be styled the Captain of Captains He began his march with Lamboy recollected the seatterings of the old souldiers and put them in discipline together with the new ones Being arrived at Hamelen he joyned with Groensfeldt retook many places without the losse of a man and the more he advanced the bigger was his Army so great power hath the reputation of a Generall to draw forces together He resolved to beat Bannier from the Siege of Magdeburgh to which end he drew to himself the Garrison which was gone out of Wismar and with this small Body and much military science mingled with cunning he fell upon the skirts of the Swedes when they thought him yet farre enough from them so that they retyred with confusion Beats Bannier and hee charging them in the Reere put them into great disorder and entred the Town Drawes out the Garrison of Magdeburgh and judging it not tenible blew up the Rampars and the Church and drew out the Garrison to the number of foure thousand to do better service elsewhere He continued his victory drew contribution from such Towns as into which he would put no Garrisons because he would not diminish his Army ruined the Landgrave of Hassâ—â—s Leavies and beat Bannier who came to succour him In a word Beats Bannier again as also the Landgrave the Duke of Brunswick and General jot all gave way all stooped He charged the Duke of Brunswick in the Field with so much fury that he had much a doe to save himself with one only Regiment of Horse He afflicted the Bishoprick of Bremen as well as the Dutchy of Branswick and hearing that Generall Jot had besieged Staden he went and chased him thence with the losse of above fifteen hundred men The exploit ef the Westphana drew out the Garrison and found himself in a short time at the head of a brave Army and crowned with many victories He repassed into Westphana which he restored to the Emperours obedience and came in a word very near King Gustave by the number of his great exploits Let us now look back upon the United Provinces where we shall see Bone-fires but we must know for what CHAP. XXIII The taking of the Fleet of Shallops near Berghen op Zoom
design drawn from those revolutions Luther writes against the Pope The Rebellion of the Peasants in Germany Page 24. CHAP. XV. The Anabaptists at Munster The Reformates in France A change of Religion in England by what means The King repudiates his wife The Queens Speech He makes himself Head of the Church Luther writes to him His miserable death Page 10. CHAP. XVI Queen Elizabeth banishes the Catholick Religion out of England again by degrees The Protestant Religion goes into Scotland under the Bastard Murrey who swayes the Scepter It is called the Congregation fortified by Queen Elizabeth and the Hughenots of France Page 29. CHAP. XVII Religion gives divers pretexts causes jealousies The Latin and Greek Religion Page 32. THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. THe Queen and the States refuse peace The Arch-Duke returns from Spain Henry polishes his Kingdom makes war upon the Duke of Savoy Page 34. CHAP. II. King Henry gives his sister in marriage to the Marquis du Pont. Marries Mary of Medicis wages war against the Duke of Savoy The Enterprise of the said Duke upon Geneva Page 35. CHAP. III. The Jubily Biron put to death The Battail of Flanders La Burlotte killed Rhinbergh yeelds Page 37. CHAP. IV. The Siege of Ostend Maurice endeavours to surprize Boisleducq besieges Grave and takes it Page 38. CHAP. V. Peace between the Spaniards and the English King Henry establishes the Jesuits Father Cotton hurt The war is carried on about the Rheyn Page 41. CHAP. VI. The difference which happened between Pope Paul the fifth and the Republick of Venice and why the peace is made The Duke of Brunswick endeavours to surprize the town The King of Denmark goes into England The continuation of the war in the Low-Countries Page 42. CHAP. VII The taking of Ringbergh The mutiny of the Spaniards The Siege of Grol raised by the promptitude of the Marquis The first overture for a Truce rejected Page 44. CHAP. VIII The defeat of the Spanish Armada The Enterprize upon Sluce failed The continuance of the Treaty Spinola arrives at the Haghe The Treaty being broaken again is renewed at Antwerp where the Truce is made for twelve yeares Page 46. CHAP. IX The State of France The King goes to Sedan Troubles in Austria and Bohemia A Conjuration discovered in Spain and the Mores banished Page 48. CHAP. X. A brief description of the Kingdomes of Spain and France Page 50. CHAP. XI The King of France arms The Spaniards do the same All is full of joy and fear He is killed His education Page 53. CHAP. XII The difference which happened about the Dutchy of Juleers or Gulick Iealousie between the Catholicks and Protestants why A tumult at Donawerdt an Imperiall town about a Procession Gulick besieged by Prince Maurice and the French yeelds The Princes will not admit of a Sequestration Page 56. CHAP. XIII A tumult in Poland and why They suddenly arme The Swedes and Muscovits serve themselves of this occasion against the Polanders who loose Smolensko Treason discovered in England The troubles at Paris appeased Rodolph dies Page 58. CHAP. XIV The war between the Danes and Swedes the reasons why Colmar taken Charles dies The Queen-Regent purchases a double marriage in Spain The town of Aix taken and Newburgh succoured by Spinola Page 60. CHAP. XV. The differences which happened in the United Provinces Barneveldt is beheaded and the Religion of Arminians condemned King Lewis humbles the Hughenots and reduces Bearn Page 62. THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I. THe Prodigies which preceded the wars of Germany A description of the Kingdom of Bohemia Ancient differences about Religion The warres of Zisca compared to this Page 66. CHAP. II. The Bohemians take Arms and why All the Princes interest themselves in this war Ferdinand elected Emperour Page 69. CHAP. III. The following of the war of Bohemia The Battel of Prague Frederick flies and forsakes the town together with his people Page 71. CHAP. IV. War against the Hughenots and why A new difference betwixt the House of Austria and the Venetians Page 80. CHAP. V. The War of Austria of Lusatia of Moravia and of the Palatinat Page 76. CHAP. VI. The War of Transylvania The King of Poland treacherously wounded War between the Poles and the Turks Page 78. CHAP. VII War in the Palatinat Tilly beaten takes his revenge and defeates the Marquis of Baden The Bishop of Halberstadt makes himselfe known in Westphalia is beaten passes with Mansfeldt through Lorraine and incamps before Sedan Page 73. CHAP. VIII The continuance of the war betwen the Polanders and the Turks The Tragical end of young Osman The Death of some Lords Page 82. CHAP. IX Sadnesse in the United Provinces for the ill success of Fredericks affaires The war begins again between them and the Spaniards Gulick and Pape-mutz yeeld themselves Count Henry suspected and why Page 83. CHAP. X. Berghen is besieged Mansfeldt and his Bishop beaten by Cordua come to succour the Hollanders The Duke of Boüillous death and a summary of his life Spinola quits the siege Mansfeldt goes into Freezland The third war in France Page 85. CHAP. XI Of the Swissers and Grizous and their Government The fall of a Mountain Soubize breakes the Peace The death of the Great Priour and of the Marshal of Ornano Page 88. CHAP. XII Mansfeldt seeks succour every where puts an Army on foot again The marriage of the Prince of Wales with a Danghter of France after his returne from Spain Page 91. CHAP. XIII The siege of Bredà Enterprises upon Antwerp Page 93. THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I. The war of Denmark The Allyances of the Kings of England France and Denmark as also of the States of Holland against the Emperour Page 96. CHAP. II. The prosecution of the second war against the Hughenots The Peace is made by the intercession of the King of England the Venetians and the Hollanders War between the English and the French and why The beginning of the third and last war against the Hughenots Cardinal Richelieu makes himselfe known admired and feared The siege and reduction of Rochell Page 99. CHAP. III. The following of the war of Denmark unfortunate to the Danes Wallenstein besiedges Stralsund in vain The peace is made Page 103. CHAP. IV. The war of the Peasants or Country-people of Austria Page 105. CHAP. V. The death of Prince Maurice and of the King of England The siege of Groll The state of Lorraine The Jubily at Rome Bethleem Gabor makes war against the Emperour and obtaines peace Page 106. CHAP. VI. Gustave King of Sweden attacks Broussia or Prussia The Imperialists succour the Poles Truce is made for six years Page 108. CHAP. VII The siege of Boisleducq or the Bosse The Imperialists under Montecuculi joyne with the Count of Bergh who enters the Velaw The taking of Wesel Page 110. CHAP. VIII The following of the last war against the Reformates in France The Duke of Rohan makes his peace All the Townes stoop and throw down their
Power and Majesty O Great God! Inexhaustible source of goodnesse and mercy guide thou my pen to the end that it say nothing but what is modestly true to the confusion of Atheists and the consolation of the Elect. Let us therefore begin at that miserable Kingdome the better part whereof which makes the extremity and bound as it were to Europe groanes at this time under the tyranny of Turks and Infidels CHAP. II Of the Warre of Hungary The Death of the Duke of Mercoeur From whence came the Inhabitants of Transylvania NOw since we must kindle our Torch in the age past which is to light us in the labyrinth of this of ours I will take notice by the way of the chief exploits and will begin from the Kingdom of Hungarie the Thenâ—er or Stage of the Warre of the Ottomans This kingdome is most fertile in all the blessings of the earth as in Corne in most excellent Wines in Gold The fertility of Hungary Silver and all other mettals In such sori as that some Authors have presumed to prefer it before all the rest of Europe At present the greatest part of it acknowledges the Turk another is grown desert by the insolencie of the Souldiers and that which lies next to Germany obeys for their King Ferdinand the fourth Son to the Emperour Ferdinand the third This Kingdom being tormented by the Arms of the great Turk had recourse to the Emperour Rodolph and he to the Princes and States of Germany but they blinded by the prosperity of peace and plunged in the delights which the fruits thereof produces slighting the danger which most neerly concerned the house of Austria from abroad slackly promised relief which yet was retarded by the jealousie of such as could not by any meanes brook the glory of that Family and passionately wished the decline or rather the utter ruine thereof Rodolph in the Diet or Assembly at Ratisbone made a remonstrance how Amurat the Sultan had broken the Peace of the year 1991. and taken many Towns and Places of strength Peace of the year 1591. broaken by Amurat. but he reaped nothing but winde for it is in vain to preach to such as will not hear He dyed in the year 1595 and his Son Mahomer succeeded him against whom the Christians had neither good luck nor blessing For Agria was lost because the succour came too late as being delayed by the raines and the Army appeared not till some dayes after it was taken howsoever there first grew some skermishes and afterwards a Battail wherein the Turks were roured and their Canon taken But the Conquerors casting themselves too soone and too inconsiderately upon pillage made them who fled regain their courage in such sort as that they rallyed and defeated an Army of sixty thousand men however they durst not pursue them By means of this memorable enterprize the lot sell upon the impregnable Town of Raab which issued very happily for the good of Christendome to the honour of the Count de Swartsbourgh and Mons de Vanbecour a Lorraine Gentleman together with the French Lorrains Low-burgundians and Walloons The Duke of Mercoeur having taken leave of the most Christian King Mutiny of the French and recollected the fragments of the League went thither for the service of Christendome but his Troops not having an equal zeal with that of their General sell to mutinie in the Fort of Pappeneer Raab chased away their officers and indeavoured to sell the said place to the Turks The Count de Swartsbourgh offered them their pay and conjured them to forbear that treason but they being obstinate in their wickednesse delivered to the Infidels in earnest of their perfidie of men women and children above six hundred Christians and this by way of recompence for some Provisions The Place was invested and the Turks could not succour it and the brave Earle of Swartsbourgh killed These detestable Mutiners after having made many desperate sallyes and fought long against Famine the gate of favour and pardon being shut to them who had so wickedly betrayed the Christian Party were at length almost all caught and punished according to the greatnesse of their treason Canisia was taken by the Turk and Stoul-Vessembourg by the Duke of Mercoeur where he atchieved so much glory that the great Turk intreated Henry the fourth to call him away This war was finished about the end of the year 1606. The Emperours Souldiers mutined for want of pay and committed a thousand robberies which caused rebellious and great famine The Duke of Mercoeur desirous to go visit his native country began his journey full of victorious palms and passed through Vienna where he was very well received by his Imperial Majesty and the whole Court. The death of the Dake of Marcoeur But Parca envious of his happinesse cut off the thred of his life at Novemberg Transylvania is a part of the aforesaid Kingdome of Hungary and is much peopled and most fortill The Inhabitants speak a language much like to that of Low-Saxony and it is also very credible that they sprang from thence but when or how is very uncertain Some Authors recount that a certain Quack-salver or Mountebank not being fully satisfied by the Citizens of Hamelen a Town seated upon the River of Weser according to their promise made him for freeing them from the trouble of an innumerable multitude of Rats which he drew out of the said Town with the sound of his Pipe revenged himself after this manner He gathered together all the children of the Town or to say better he charmed them so well with the sound of his said instrument that he going out and they following to a certain mountain not farre off the ground cleft and swallowed them up and as soon as they were entred closed up again and sometime after it was published and believed that the said children were transported into Transylvania And even to this very day Wheâ—oe came the â—â—thubitants of Transylvania there are some at Hamelen who write in these terms such a year since the departure of our children The Kingdom of Hungary for the most part followes the Romane Catholick Religion though yet both the Reformed party and the Lutherans especially in Transylvania have likewise their Churches But the stepping in of these latter created a great deale of distrust the inseparable companion of contradictory opinions The Soveraign authority hath lost part of her vigour and her power is so much diminished that the Hungarians could not subsist but by the Majesty of the Eagle Let us summarily and without deviating from our path speak of the glory of the ancient Hungarians of the vertues and ill habits which are found now amongst them and of the troubles which they suffer or still apprehend amongst themselves by the neerness and vicinity of the sworne enemy of Christendome Hungary anciently called Pannonia is a Kingdome most abundant in all which Nature covets for her contentment She is
watered with most fair and great Rivers which would make her most flourishing if she had not the Turk in her bowels But she hath an ayer a little too rough for strangers She hath produced a huge number of great Emperours most Religious Kings most holy Persons and men most learned in all kinds of faculties Atilas that scourge of God came from them with his Huns for the affliction of Europe and many other Tyrants who have often rended Germany and made the Emperours pay them tribute a long time to save their Country from the fury of their arms But vice reigns there now with so absolute an Empire as it renders the Hungarians very odious and despicable Ambition made them loose a King a saire Army and Buda the capitall City of the Kingdome Avarice hurries them blindfold upon all wickednesse and makes them sometimes sell the Christians prisoners to the Turks and Tartars without sparing so much as their own neer kindred when the insatiable hunger of mony hath vayled the eyes of their understanding Their Kings have had frequent experiments of their perfidie the Turks of their loosenesse and the Germanes of their cruelty treachery and hatred dangerous both to the one and the other as having made many Fields unfruitful and brought much profit to their enemies The Hungarians saith an old Bishop writing to the Emperour Frederick the first have ugly faces hollow eyes low of stature and barbarous both in manners and speech And yet it must be avowed that there also dwells vertue amongst them as well as amongst other Christians that they defend Christendome and that their bodies are such Bulwarks as the Ottomans have not hitherto been able to leap and which they must first cast to the ground if they intend to assayle Germany They are almost alwayes on horse-back and upon prey with them and they serve themselves of calamity for an aliment to their vertue And indeed that of the valiant Count de Serin amongst so many others shined with so much glory and constancy at the siege of Sigot that it purchased him everlasting praise The Hungarians with their Light Horse do more hurt to the Turks then to the Germanes and in this last Warre of Bohemia they offended more by surprises then by standing Fights In the Battel of Prague not being able to support the rough onset of the Walloons and Germanes they quickly gave ground and so were partly the cause of that remarkable Defeat CHAP. III Of Russia or Muscovia Their Religion The History of Demetrius THis Province which stretches it self to the Icie Sea is of a very large extent governed by an Emperour or Great Duke with most absolute authority after the manner of the Eastern Countries however it lye very near the North. The Muscovits follow the Greek Religion The Greek Religion under a Patriarch though yet it be mingled with very many superstitions which will never be corrected because the Great Duke suffers none of his subjects to travel and see other Countries This people is much tormented by the Turks and Tartars They have likewise waged great warres with the Polas and Swedes but with many losses They were very tyrannically governed by their Prince John Basil who was succeeded by his son Theodore a Prince of small sense for he let both himself and his Country be ruled by his wives brother called Borits Fedorits He died without children and his Brother-in-law was Great Duke after him He had a brother named Demetrius who as many Authors worthy of credit have written The History of Demetrius with great apparences of truth was stolne away in his infancy so to be saved from the evident danger wherewith he seemed to be threatened by the authority of the said Borits and another very like him put in his place was exposed dead to the view of the people Now this Demetrius being brought up in Poland with the Palatine Sandomir after he had travelled in Germany and Italy for the space of twenty yeares gave himself to be known for the son of Basil Brother to Theodore and by the assistance of the said Palatime the Jesnits and the favour of the King himself he entered the second time into Muscovy well accompanied by Germanes Poles and Cosacks Borits raises a most puissant Army to oppose him but the infidelity of his people together with some losses deprived him both of courage and desire of life And so he died the 13 th of April in the year 1605 not without suspicion of having voluntarily prevented his misfortune by despaire His son was received by such as were of his faction But the City of Mosco together with all the Country having admitted Demetrius for their Prince he was forthwith cast in prison Now Demetrius had no sooner made his entry into the said City but they began to murmure and say that he was not the true Demetrius The Lord Basil Chimouskie for having said that he had caused the right Demetrius to be buried brought his head upon a scaffold which yet by special favour he brought back again to weare the Crown and succeed the unfortunate Demetrius O strange effect of Fate The aversion of the people from poor Demetrius appeared yet more when they understood that he had acknowledged the Pope and introduced the Jesuits to work-about a Reformation He married the daughter of his Foster-Father who made her entry into the head City the 26 of April in the year 1606. The persidy of this treacherous people was clearly discovered a moneth after namely the 27 of May and their rage began its first effect upon the Poles and other strangers who yet sold their skins dear enough and others passed on to the Court there to finish the last Act of the Tragedy The Prince hearing of the tumult left the company of his wife wish whom he then was got away and leapt down from the top of a Tower through a window at the foot whereof being found yet alive he was forthwith dispatched This was done under the pretext of Religion He was a Prince of a great wit a lover of hunting and warre he had read much was very ambitious and went much in quest of the allyances of the Kings of Europe and nominatively of that of the Great Henry of France Thus unhappily ended Demetrius his dayes in the very April of his age and the cruelty of the barbarous multitude continued even upon his dead body which they tore in pieces so violent is hatred stirred up by Religion against such as endeavour to change it when fury has gotten the upper hand He was accused by a Declaration to have been a Monk an Heretick and a Witch and to have endeavoured to change the Religion of Russia supplant the Nobility of the Country and introduce that of Poland to have layen with his wife in the presence of an image of our Lady and many other things which are tedious to rehearse A memorable example of the instability of Fortune who when she
before the Elective of Poland three moneths after his arrivall he secretly departed leaving the Polanders the repentance of having chosen him and the trouble to choose another Stephen Batorins succeeds who sell out to be Stephanus Batorins Prince of Transylvania He reigned ten yeares reduced Dantsick to her obedience kept the bordering places within their duty and rejoyned Livonia to the Crown He governed the Kingdome both happily and wisely died in the resolution he had taken to subdue Muscavy to Poland left great grief for his so sudden death amongst tho Poles and a good odour of his vertues to posterity The Polanders after the decease of King Stephen found themselves in a dangerous sicknesse by a division which threatned utter ruine to the Crown The great Chancellour Samotskie the Bishops and many other of the great Lords elected Sigismund of Sweden sonne of King John and Queen Katherine of Poland daughter to Sigismund of Jaguellonne The other party had chosen Maximilian of Anstria who entring 〈◊〉 Poland with an Army made up in haste besieged Warsaw from whence being repulsed Maximilian forces and recruting his forces in Silesia he was the second time defeated and taken prisoner by the Great Chancellour aforesaid After these two victories was crowned Sigismund in the year 1587 and called by the name of Sigismund the third He married Anne of Austria who brought him a sonne named Vladislans who afterwards was King of Poland And this is that which we thought very sit to recount and which must serve us for the present History of this Age. Let us now passe into Sweden and hear what the Swedes alledge against the Polanders with the reasons and arguments both of the one and the other CAROLVS GVS'TMVS ' King of S'wethens Goths Vandalls greate mince of Finland Duke of Esthonia Carelia Lot of Jâ—â—ria Ciou'ned An Dom 1654. CHAP. V of Sweden The discords happening between King Sigismund and his Uncle Charles and why The successe of their Arms. SIgismund King of Sweden endeavouring to put two Crowns upon his head lost the Hereditary one See how all passed This young Prince had been brought up in the Roman Catholick Religion though yet he were the sonne of King Erick who embraced the Confession of Ausbourgh and introduced it into his Kingdome This Erick was sonne to King John and Nephew to Charles Duke of Sudermanic whom he left in Sweden to govern that Kingdome in his absence in the quality of Vice-Roy Now it often chances that Princes who have more then one kingdom grow by little and little to loose the affections of their remote subjects and their authority comes also by degrees to be eclipsed in regard that their said subjects are not warmed by the heat of their favour and prudence and so others grow insensibly to take place as well because their presence winnes the affections of the said subjects as also for that reasons are never wanting to such as have no will to obey And besides every one stands in fear of forraine Rule But the most powerfull argument of the coldness of subjects towards their Soveraigne is diversity of Religions which causes a change in State and alters and shakes it so as that many Princes for the strengthening and fixing of theirs have believed that they neither could nor ought to permit any more then one Sigismund goes into Sweden King Sigismund hearing many complaints from Sweden and conceaving some jealousies of his Uncle Charles resolved with leave of the States of Poland to transport himself thither with some Polish and German forces He departed from Dantsick with a fleet of sixty Sayle and was well received by the Governour of Colmar from whom he went to see his sister at Stebourgh Duke Charles hastened towards him from Finland with an Army to defend the kingdome against the King himself Sigismund beaten who as it was published came to take the Vice-King prisoner and change the State by subverting Religion So there occurred a fierce skirmish wherein the Vice-King had the better and Sigismund the King was forced to retite himself towards the Confines of Denmark In fine he was beaten again near Lincopin and his Fleet taken Upon which seeing his Uncle thus courted by Fortuâ—e through the mediation of some Lords he was fain to make peace with him under certain conditions by vertue whereof his Fleet was restored to him to go by Sea to Stockholm Makes Peace and Duke Charles in whose hands were put the prime Lords of Sweden who had been to fetch the King in Poland went thither by land Sigismund instead of going to the Assembly of States at Stockholm went secretly out of the kingdom which he thereby lost He retires our of the kingdom and regained Dantsick Some Authors have written that he had been advertised of some ill design of his Uncle Charles against him and a certain person who was then at Stockholm affirms that he sighed for his having let slip the bird which he had in his hand However those Lords were beheaded and their heads set upon stakes which were since taken away upon the request of a great Wanyer Duke Charles quickly recovered those places of strength which were in the Kings possession chastised the Citizens of Lubeck who had favoured him caused the States to approve of all his actions and ranged the Finlanders who held the Kings party under obedience to himself Some months after the States deposed the King by a publick Decree declaring him fallen from the Rights he had in the kingdom and renouncing all fidelity to him though yet still they were ready to receive his sonne Vladislans for King of Sweden in case he would forthwith send him thither to be bred in the Religion and customes of the Country But these conditions not seeming receivable were not accepted by the King and the proceedings of the States of Sweden cryed down by the Poles who resolved to take an account of them with the sword This is the summe of what is known of that difference which is yet remaining between the Heires of these two Princes and which is debated by very contrary reasons according to the predominancy either of Passion or Religion and according to the knowledge also of the Right of the Parties concerned The Polanders reproach the Swedes for that without any available reason and upon some ill grounded suspicions only yea even against all Right both Divine and Humane they took the kingdom from Sigismund to give it to Charles To which the Swede answer that the King against his promise had endeavoured under hand to bring in the Jesuits so to replant the Roman Catholick Religion and strangers to check and curb them and many other arguments there are both upon the one side and the other which I let passe in silence and which are found at large elsewhere Now you have had the words take also some effects of their arms Duke Charles after the reduction of Finlande went into
Livoma where he gained some advantage upon Samonskie besieged Riga but in vain and returned into Sweden in great danger to be drowned When he had gotten the Crown upon his head he gave the reasons thereof to all Christian Kings and Princes justifying his proceedings the best he could and seeking the allyance of his Neighbours and chiefly that of the States Generall Samonskie the Great Chancellonr aforesaid writ against him and cried our upon his ambition which greatly offended him and gave subject of great grudges between them which grew at length to implacable hatred Chules looset the Battel Fortune frowned upon him at Riga for his Army being much stronger then that of Poland was rooted by General Cockevietz who having senr four hundred of the Livonian horse over a River to attack the Swedes in the Reer wonne the Battel by this stratatagem and so Livonia came to be under the Polanders till the Reign of the Great Gustavus Adolphus who reduced it to his obedience All Livonia hath embraced the Lutheran Religion as well as Sweden where it is held for one of their Fundamentall Lawes as it also is almost through all the North. Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern kingdoms the Head City whereof is Stockholm a Town the Suburbs and Sea-thore or strand comprised of great distent There are many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes heard great illusions and phancies as there likewise are in the water which are very troublesome and terrible both to men and horses which passe that way The country is not much inhabited and the chief Provinces are West-Gothland East-gothland from whence as also from the rest of Sweden according to the opinion of some Authours came the Goths who so much vexed the Romane Empyre This kingdom is full of Copper and Iron Mines The Swedes are good souldiers both by Sea and Land and have given incredible examples of their valour both in Germany and Denmark they are of a strong Complexion and sit to endure hardnesse and labour The Nobility is very mild and frank loves learning and languages but especially Latin and French travels much abroad is very dexterous at exercises and honours and seeks learned company Yea and they have this vertue above all other nations wherewith I have conversed that they heartily love one another our of their own country hide the vices of their Compatriots and stand much for the honour of their nation The Peasants or Country people send their Deputies to the Assemblies of the States to the end that nothing be coucluded there to the prejudice of their priviledges King Gustave and Queen Christine his Daughter now reigning created much new Gentry which in some sort is disdained by the ancient Families in regard the Nobility of the kingdom was almost exhausted by the Warres CHAP. VI Of Denmark The Description thereof DEnmark is a kingdom the best part whereof consists of Islands as namely Zeland and Fionia The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Jutland to Holstein It was peacefully gouerned by the prudent conduct of King Christian the fourth successour to Frederick the second his Father and Duke of Holstein During his minority he had four Counsellours to help him to bear the charge of the Government He was crowned the 29 th of August in the year 1596. The principal strength of this Kingdom consists of good and stately ships whereof the King hath a considerable number as well for the defence of his said Islands as for that most important passage of the Sownd which is the streight that separates Scania from Zeland and which is of huge advantage by reason of the infinity of ships which must passe over it to go into the Baltick Sea in the same manner that those of all the Havens of the said Sea and bound for the Ocean are forced to passe that way The Nobility of Denmark as also that of Holstein is much more inclined to warres then learning zealous for their liberty and Rights and makes no allyance by marriage with the common people a maxime much observed through all the North Poland and Germany They rufuse Ecclesiastical Honours as below their condition defend their priviledges and make no esteem of others though by their experience and knowledge they may merit the best Offices and Employments in the Country The Government is not much unlike that of Poland in both which Elective Kingdomes the Kings undertake nothing of importance without the consent of the States and Nobility The Gentlemen are all equall and as it were of one Family there being neither Earl nor Baron The Officers of the Crown and Counsellours of the kingdome have the preheminency and assist the King in the most weighty affaires of the Countrey Norway an Hereditary kingdom opposite to Great Britain or England It is very big but very desert and hath no considerable Towns but such as are near the Sea side It yeelds great store of fish wood boards and good skins These three kingdomes were heretofore under the government of the King of Denmark But the Swedes not being able to suffer the tyranny of Christian the second divided themselves from his obedience They all follow the Lutheran Religion and the Capitall City of Denmark is Coppenhaghen a very fair town situated upon the streight of the Sownd near the Baltick Sea a passage of about four leagues most pleasant and recreative by means of a Forrest which borders upon the Sea from Coppenhaghen to Elsener of which passage because it is so much envyed we will hereafter speak more at large The Peasants of Denmark and Poland are treated almost like slaves for the greatest part of the Nobility licentiously abusing their liberty despises all who are not Gentlemen A fault which hath drawn ruine upon many Families which boasted of the story of their Ancestours But it is not enough to be born a Gentleman unlesse it appear by vertuous laudable and generous actions CHAP. VII Of Great Britain The History of the Earl of Gore ENgland is a most fertile and most potent Island as well for scituation as men and ships There reigned Queen Elizabeth a Princesse as happy in her allyances success of arms and love of her subjects as ever was She was Daughter to Henry the 8 th and Sister to Mary and Edward She changed the Religion declared her self Head of the Church She was alwaies well served She sent strong succours to the King of Navarre and her subjects wonne many victories by Sea from the Spaniard against whom she continued her hatred even till her death in favour of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-countries She was a sworne enemy to the Roman Catholick Religion and seemed to have made it her task to destroy that as well as she had the King who bears the surname of it Scotland is a kingdom which makes a part but not the better part of this Island There reigned as King Lames Stewart a Prince esteemed very wise who resented
That mad League of the Pope the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain would have invaded any other State but theirs so much amazement did it strike into those Areopages who yet by their rare industry were able to untangle this fatal conjuncture and save their Common-wealth from the shipwrack wherewith she was much threatned In fine after that peace which they had made with the Turk and which followed close upon the glorious Battel but with small fruit of Lepante they finished that Age and began this present in good intelligence with their Neighbours The King of Spain enjoyes in Italy the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily and the Duchy of Milan upon which States the French have also their pretentions which often cause frequent warres between the two Crownes whereof we shall speak towards the end of this Treatise in the revolution of those last tumults The Grand Duke of Tuskany the Dukes of Mantua and Parma keep their Seates in peace and the Common-wealth of Genoa hers tyed fast for her profit to the interests of Spain Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy a Prince as subtle as inconstant but yet unlucky enough for having seized upon the Marquisat of Salluces found himself forced to put on his harnesse and to leave his rest in the first year of this age as we shall hereafter shew neither his journey to Paris nor all the politick craft he could use being able to warrant him from this check The Dukes of Savoy are very potent and often seen to make the skale hang towards that Crown to which they leane France seeks their friendship to have the gate open into Italy in the intrigues whereof she finds her self passionately concerned Lorraine was governed by Duke Charles a milde Prince who still complained of the wrong which the enemies of the League whereof the Princes of that house were the chief had made him suffer This Province which divides Germany from France is very fruitfull and takes her name from the Emperour Lotarius and her Princes their Descent from Charlemagne They have alwayes been great Warriers and Godfree of Bouillon through zeal of piety went and conquered the Holy Land The Dukes of Lorraine for interest of State keep good correspondence with their Neighbours and the last misfortune which happened in this Duchy was caused rather by the decline of the Emperours Affayres and the ambition of him who thought all lawfull to him then by the fault of the Prince who could not shelter himself from that storme which had already shivered both Masts Sayles and Helme These States aforesaid in regard they never knew any Religion but that of Rome suffer not any other so much as to bud or spring there and if peradventure there be any one found in Lorraine who hath embraced the Protestant Religion he retires himself to Metz or Geneva and they of the Country of Luxenbourgh to Sedan Diversity of Religions parts humours gives desire of motion to such as are ambitious and makes a Prince very little loved by them who are not of the same opinion We have already gone round about Europe therefore let us now enter into the middle and speak of those great Monarchies which by their motions have shaken all other States as being governed according to the influences thereof and accommodating their interests to the ballance of their greatnesse For since Warre hath been declared between Spain and France very few Princes have stood Neutrall some having joyned their forces to the party most necessary for them and some others though but spectators have not yet forborne to poise more to the one side then the other But none have been willing to have either of these Crowns suppressed by the other for the apprehension and fear wherein they all are of a Generall Monarchy CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy NOw to get entire knowledge of the interests of these two Crownes of the Causes which so often arm them to the great detriment of Christendom and the apprehensions which they give of aspiring to a general Monarchy though by unequall and different wayes we must goe up to the source and so come quickly down again drawing from thence a true explanation for our subject which we will follow as our guide to the end of our Course France being delivered from the warres with England and wholly restored to her self as well by the help of forren as the help of her Neighbours and even the very Spaniards themselves with whom she had a close friendship at that time Having I say shaken off the yoke of the English who were expelled from Guyenne and Normandy she became the most puissant Monarchy of Europe King Charles the 8 th went to feaze upon the kingdom of Naples which was no sooner got then lost by his departure thence Lewis the twelfth having made an Alliance with Ferdinand of Castile for the recovery of the kingdom enters Italy surprises Milan and the unjust usurper Sforce and so retakes the said kingdome of Naples But it sometimes happens that the sharing of stakes makes friends foes for these Allyes fell to oddes and Consalve having in many Encounters routed the French setled the kingdome upon the Castilians and the power and reputation of the Spaniards encreased much by the valour of the great Captain The first reason of the hatred between the Spaniards and the French Francis the first having broken the Swissers in a great Battail easily made himsel Master of the Duke dome of Milan and consequently of the kingdom of Naples But Fortune smiled upon the French only to betray them For she suddenly turned to the Spaniards who took King Francis prisoner and established themselves in the said kingdome and in the State of Milan Now from hence proceeded the hatred between the two Nations which hath since been augmented according to occurrences of State-jealousies and other considerable accidents whereof we will here give a short hint The second reason But there is a second and a more pregnant reason for which not only France but the neighbouring States also have conceived apprehensions of jealousies which is that of the Union of Spain by marriage with the houses of Austria and Burgundy and the latter of these began thus Philip de Valois none to John the sixth King of France for having well defended his Father in a Battail against the English was by marriage made Duke of Burgundy and Prince of the Low-countries and John his sonne succeeded him not onely in all the Provinces of his Parents but in the hatred also which he bore to the House of Orleans Now this young Prince going with a great force of the Nobility of France and the Low-countries into Hungary against the Turk fell into the hands of Bajazet who would have caused him to be beheaded as well as the rest of the prisoners had he not been advised to put him to a Ransom and send him home and this because it was
of the Duke of Mayenne and the rest of the League with King Henry Albert resolved to make the united Provinces also feel the stroake of his Arms And so he presented himself before Ostend an Apple not yet ripe and afterwards before Hulet which after many Assaults he at length carried But the Marshall de Rosue had his Head taken off by a Canon Bullet and more then three thousand souldiers were also slaine The year following Prince Maurice had his revenge near Turnhawt where he cut off the Troops of the Count de Varax In the month of March of the same year Hernantello Governour of Dourlens like a Fox surprised Amiens by a stratagem to the great astonishment of all France and the King retook it like a Lion after six moneths siege He passed thither with strong forces and thought to have given a just retaliation to the Spaniards by surprising Arras but he was repulsed by the young Count of Buquoy who after wards rendred great and remarkable services to the Emperour as we shall shortly shew During the time of these changes the Pope forbore not to represent to the King the misfortunes and mischiefes which this long Warre brought upon Christendome and beseeched him to hearken to a good and firm Peace with the King of Spain especially being invited thereto by the disorders of his own kingdome and the fear of a new Revolt more dangerous then the former There was none but the Queen of England and the Confederated States who endeavoured by advantageous offers to divert him and keep him on horse-back Though yet he dissembled their reproaches and answered that the Queen was a gainer by this warre but for his part that his people was exhausted and that he received many and great dammages from the Spaniards who promised by this Peace to render all they had gotten in France That he was obliged as a good King and a good Father to solace and refresh his poor subjects So that all their offers and many more the Peace of Vervin 2598. were not able to hinder this holy work which was concluded and established at Vervin in the moneth of May 1598. The King of Spain also for his part was urged to make Peace as seeing himself crazed with age and having a young Prince and a Princesse his children to marry and Fortune very often against him Besides three enemies upon his back as France and the Confederated Provinces which threatened him with the utter losse of the Low-countries and England which either destroyed or spoyled his Fleets upon the Ocean endangered thereof the Indies and put him to great charges to secure it and lastly their taking of Cales the prime key of the kingdom and other Places Now by vertue of this Peace the places were restored But the pretentions which each of these Kings hath to some certain Demaynes of the other were not taken away From whence sprang the seed of new Warres which were one day to smoother the promises of arming no more even though there should be occasion for it The Peace was received by the poor people with such showes of joy and teares of tendernesse as cannot be comprehended but by such as have suffered and almost lost all The States in the mean while let not these occasions slip by the great distance of the Cardinals forces For Prince Maurice marched into the Field took Bergh Grol Oldenseel Lingen and some other places which progress purchased him the reputation of a very great Captain and of understanding the profession of the Militia as well as any man of his time After the publication of the Peace Philip the second by his Letters Patents dated at Madrid the 6 th of May 1598. conferred all the Low-countries together with the Duchy of Burgundy upon the Infanta Isabell his Daughter to which the Prince her Brother consented and confirmed it both by oath and writing upon condition that if the said Princesse came to die without children the said Provinces should return to the Dominion of Spain besides many other Clauses too long to recite Now forasmuch as the actions of great persons are examined and either approved or disapproved according to every ones passion this which I here note was not forgotten by the contrary party All things are profitable yea Lyes themselves provided they last four and twenty hours are of utility and advantage CHAP. XII The Areh-Duke goes into Spain and the Admirall into the Duchy of Cleveland The death of King Philip. His admirable Patience THe Allyes of both parties were invited to the Peace of Vervin but the Queen of England not being able to induce the States to it resolved to joyn with them in warre under conditions of more advantage to her then before This gave the Arch-Duke subject to complain of her for continuing a warre with so great stomack and grudge upon him by whom she had never been offended But he having now received the Procuration of the Infanta his Wife was acknowledged and received for Prince of the Low-countries and he wrote a Letter to the Confederated States but received no Answer The Arch-Duke goes into Spain He departed for Spain with the Prince of Orange and passed through Germany to conduct Queen Margaret of Austria nominating for Governour during his absence Cardinal Andrew and the Admirall of Arragon for Captain General who led a strong Army into Cleveland and Westphalia where he took Rinberg and many other small places and made his Winter-Quarter there notwithstanding the complaints of the Lower-Ceroles He sent La Bourlette to the Isle of Bommel took Crevecoeur laid siege to Bommel which he was forced to raise and so after he had built the Fort of St. Andrews he retreated into Brabant where his souldiers began to mutiny for want of pay The Ceroles had raised another Army which was disbanded for want of order some of them being for the Spaniards and the other for the States It is in vain to lead great forces into the Field without a good purse to maintain them and good counsell to encourage them The death of King Philip. King Philip lived not long after the conclusion of the Peace which he also wished both with the English and Hollanders as being desirous to die in Peace He was long tormented with a feaver and two impostumes and in fine his whole body was so wasted that it was pittiful to behold But more admirable was his patience to suffer all as he did without murmuring He commanded like a great Prince and died like a good Christian In the beginning of his Reign he was happy but in the decline of his age he saw the losse of one part of the Low-countries and received many other dammages from the English He was much blamed for not coming himself in person into Brabant and for proceeding too roughly with that people which had been so affectionaâ—e to the Emperour Charles and in fine for constituting two Generals over the Fleet surnamed The Invincible
had so much adoe to awaken In sine Whatsoever is profitable in matter of State seems lawfull But what we do our selves we ought not to condemn in others the Peace made 1506. The suspicion daily encreased and that chiefly because Count John of Ritsbergh was become a Roman Catholick But at last by the intercession of the King of England and the States-Generall the Peace was made at the Haghe in the year 1606 as also that of the Christians and Turks and all jealousies which could come from thence quite take off CHAP. XIV Of the Changes which happened in precedent Ages about matter of Religion and the motives of our Design drawn from these revolutions Luther writes against the Pope The Rebellion of the Peasants of Germany THe differences which have happened amongst Christians upon the diversity of Religions the distrusts which have sprung from thence as the fire from the flint and the reasons of State precious covers for manifest wickednesse have proved the cause of the greatest part of all our present mischiefes and languishments Therefore let us seek out the true root of it and leave passion to such as cannot receive any other impressions then those by which they are utterly blinded My purpose is not to dyve into questions of Divinity but only to search in History after the causes of so many alterations and so much hatred drawn from so holy and innocent a subject Pope Julius the second We will therefore begin with Pope Iulius the second who died in the year 1513. This Pope more carefull of the Temporall then of the Spiritual and more studious of propagating the Jurisdictions of the Church then the kingdom of God made an Allyance with the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain to the utter ruine of the Venetians But he quickly changed his Cards forsook the Allyes reconciled himself with his enemies animated Henry the Eighth King of England against the French and Ferdinand against the King of Navarre whom he spoyled of his kingdom for refusing him passage He embroiles Europe He also dissolved the Allyance between the Emperour and the King of France and called the Swissers into Italy to drive the French out of the Milan In fine having sunk all Europe into inexplicable confusions and scandalized his Flock he made place for Leo the 10 th a man who loved rest and was lesse a souldier then Iulius of whom is written this great praise that he once cast some Keyes into the Tyber saying that St. Pauls Sword should have more power then the Arms of St. Peter The duty of a good shepherd is to keep his sheep in peace and feed them and not scatter them and send them to the shambles Whilest these warres lasted which ruined the Publick and Human Laws the Divine ones were also very ill kept The ignorance of the Prelates caused superstitions and their loose and vicious lives together with their great and vast possessions the hatred of the people The learned desired a redresse in the Ecclesiastical Policy as well as Peace required in the Secular Divorce which continues to this day with as little apparence of Reunion as there is of seeing the Rivers run back to their springs And it is that the Pope published a Iubily for the collection of monies to resist the Turk which was most necessary at that time But the impudence of a certain Monk called Teâ—zel exceeded so farre as to presume to sell the Indulgences or Pardons for the sinnes committed and to be committed I have horrour to recite this cheaâ—erie the companion of superstition ignorance and avarice and forthwith to draw soules out of Purgatory Martin Luther Martin Luther opposes Tyrzel Dector of Divinity at Witembergh and Monk of the Order of St. Austin briskly opposed this Impostor made a Thesis or General Position which he dedicated to the Pope himself to testify the will he had to relye upon his definition But through excess of indignation he passed the limits of Christian modesty and Catholick Truth Insomuch as that at length he grew to write against the Popes authority wherein he was impugned by a Divine called Eckins See Florimoud of Remond He is excommunicated Now Pope Leo desirous to quench this spark excommunicates Luther but that was to cast oyle into that fire and put poison to the wound For Martin raises his Batteries against him and calls him Antichrist which the Pope too much slighting applyed all his thoughts to warre Those enemies who are most despised are very often most hurtfull But the God of Peace drove him out of this world to make room for another more worthy and more vâ—â—tuous though lesse politick then he However Policie be a very convenient Science for such as govern great States and Empyres Pope Adrian the Preceptor or Tutor to Charles the 5. was born at Vâ—rick and promised to bring a wholesom Balsom to the diseases of Christendome For he had already elevated the hopes of the Good by abolishing Simony punishing sins against nature and not alienating the possessions of the Church But his too suddain death declared that God had otherwise disposed of him that his two Predecessors had too much embroyled the Flock that the sicknesse must have its course and that the Body was filled with too many bad humours to be cured by one single purge or one Blood-letting onely His doctrine in Saxony Now Luthers doctrine passed from Saxony into Sweden King Gustave and Frederick of Denmark being leagued together against Christian who deserted by his people was fled and they also forsook the Pope as well as their King and much ranged the authority of the Bishops of their kingdomes And as Luthers Doctrine grew to be received so diffidence and hatred grew equally up with it together with a desire also to maintaine it against all who endeavoured to suppress it There was besides another accident which very much troubled the Church and it was that Charles the Emperour and King Francis the first had very often entreated the Pope and Cardinals to call a General Councill for the reformation of abuses in the Church and Clergy But this song was little lesse unpleasant then the opposition of Luther And so these two Princes laying aside that care they being too nearly tyed to their own interests meditated nothing but warre upon each other Pope Clement successor to Adrian seeing the King of France prisoner made speedily a secret Allyance with his own subjects and almost all the Princes of Italy so to put a limit to the power of the Emperour who in revenge thereof abrogated his Authority in Spain surprised Rome and took him prisoner who was very ill treated by the Germans as being for the most part Lutherans Now these two Monarchs being the chief Pillars of Europe ought to have favoured a Reformation and hindred a separation But what The impiety of the people whets the sword of the Almighty who comes slowly to vengeance though
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
States to have the total administration of them This man being eminently ambitious hoped to come to be Pope by the recommendation of the Emperour The story of Câ—â—â—inaâ— Wollâ—y But seeing himselt frustrated of his expectation he turned his hate upon him whispered the King in the ear that his marriage with Katharine of Spain Aunt to the said Emperour was incestuous because she had formerly been married to his Brother O! How great is the wickednesse of such as have for saken God to serve their ambition and revenge This Prelate who ought to have framed the reformation of abuses and opposed Heresies since himself held for such all the Doctrines which checked the Pope was not content with so much honour and wealth as he enjoyed without seeing the Emperour thrown down and buried under the very ruins of that Church the Religion whereof he professed with so great Majesty and under the Purple of so great luster The King intangled in love with a young Lady newly come from the Court of France and disgusted with the Embracements of that most veâ—â—â—ous Princess his Wife was glad of this scruple and sollicited the Pope to grant him a Divorcement upon the aforementioned reason But the Pope temporizes and sends in sine his Legat to examin the matter The King and the Legat sir the Queen being summoned appears and in presence of the chief of the Kingdom makes a Speech in Latin to the King which is able to move a very rock to compassion How is it possible Sir sayes she that after having lived almost twenty yeares together in great concord and having had so many children as we have had it should now come into your thought to repudiate me Your Brother Arthur fell sick the very first day of our marriage and some dayes after dyed I take the great God and your conscience to witness that you found me a Virgin And if you are resolved to separate me from your Bed expect at least so long as till I may have advertised my Nephew Charles thereof to the end that I may know how to behave my self in this affliction since I can hope for no support in the equity of my cause here where you are Absolute King If I have offended God since I have been your wife it has been in being a little too curious to please you Ah Vertue This is not the first time that thy adversary endeavours to suppress thee Thy luster is too bright not to dâ—â—le the eyes of the wicked This poor Princesse in this tribulation had this imperfection that in regard Nature had been sparing to her of her rich gifts of beauty she had had recourse to innocent Art thereby to draw her Husband from the levities to which he was too much inclined as well by his own naturall Passion as by the attractive Charms of his fair subjects Her Speech being ended which produced but faint pitty in the soul of the King and some of the Auditory she retired her self together with her Daughter into a private House where the spake thus to this ambitious Cardinal who came to her in behalf of the King to intreat her to yeeld to his will It is thou said she O wicked and disloyal Minister who returnestâ—â—s this recompence To my Nephew for not advancing thee to the Holy Chayre and to me for not being able to suffer thy impudicity and naâ—ghtâ—â—esse The King divorced himself from the Church of Rome because the Pope would not condescend to his demand and from his Wife by whom he had alwayes been so respectfully loved to conjoyn in publick marriage with Anne of Bolein The King leaves his Wife an I the Church of Rome The Cardinal died in the year 1530 being not long before deprived of all his employments and fallen from the favour of his Prince which he had preferred before that of his God as he restified by these words full of christian and holy repentance which issued our of his dying mouth Ah! I would to God said he I had taken so much pains to serve my Creatour as I have done to serve my Prince He put into the Letanies From the tyranny of the Pope good Lord deliver us whose authority was abrogated thorowout the whole kingdome and the King by Act of Parliament declared Head of the Church of England He seized upon the possessions of the Church by the advice of Cromwell and some others who all ended their dayes unhappily Takes away the possessions of the Clergy He also bestowed part thereof upon the nobility for fear of commotion He hanged such as refused to subscribe that he was Head of the Church as aforesaid and condemned the protestants to the fire In fine after having crushed the Church and lived like a tyrant he died miserable and little regretted by his people Sir Thomas More that great Heroe fell under the rigour of his command and so did an infinite number of other noble persons Luther seeing him in ill tearms with the Pope and encouraged by the King of Denmark very humbly beseeched him Luther writes to the King and receives an affront by a letter which he wrote to him to embrace the doctrine of the Gospel but he received such an answer as he little expected namely that he should forsake his apostacie and his wife and return to his Monastery Now the Church of Rome seeing her head disclaimed and his authority banished out of England felt her self much shaken as well by Peter Martyr as orther Protestant ministers in such sort as that Edward Edward establishes the Protestant Religion son to the said Henry having taken the reines of the English Monarchie had no great trouble to throw her quite our and fixe the Protestant But he dying very young and Queen Mary succeeding him she had an intention to pluck up this tender plant and re-establisheth the old doctrin which yet could not recover its full strength before it was exterminated again Young trees by being re-planted get vigour but old ones wither and dye CHAP. XVI Queen Elizabeth banishes the Romane Catholike Religion again by degrees That of the Protestants passes into Scotland under the bastard Murrey who swayes the Scepter It is called the Congregation and is fortified by the above said Queen and the Hugenots of France QUeen Elizabeth who during the life of her sister Mary feigned her self a Roman Catholike and was like to lose her life by giving some suspicions of her being a Protestant being raised to the royall Throne forthwith unmasqued her self and began to treat of the meanes how to annull the one and revoke the other which was easie to be accomplished For the ignorance of the Priests was great the desire of their possessions greater and the curiosity to check a Religion full of ceremonies which few could solidly defend greatest of all It was represented to the People both here and elsewhere that the doctrine was falsified and in no wise congruous with that of the
German Doctor Luther and Calvin whom we have so often mentioned and a French one likewise who first preached against those said superstitions and then ventured to set up their Standards against the Church her self with so universal applause that in a few years even whole kingdomes grew to separate themselves from the communion of that Body which acknowledged the Pope for the Supreme Vicar of Iesus Christ The Iesuits oppose Now at the same time as we have formerly shewed sprang the Iesuits and armed themselves to quell these valiant souldiers who skipped out of their holes so openly to attack a power which all the States of Christendom held in so much veneration They stopped the course of this Torrent which neither Fire Persecutious nor strict Prohibitions were able to effect and they have united to the Body a good part of those people which had untyed themselves from it It is not by fire but by force of Doctrine and not by words but by exemplary life that a remedy must be put to all these disorders which happens amongst Christians Now this Society could not but meet with meet with envy enough amongst the Clergy which felt it self so reprehended and pricked by such new men For Admonitions and in structions how necessary and profitable soever they be leave not to imprint some harshnesse upon the soul of the receivers An exact Captain is displeasing to lazy souldiers Violent remedies served for nothing In fine recourse was had to such violent remedies as so sharpened and stung the parts affected that there will never be meanes to introduce a reconciliation unless perhaps it fall out to be by ways full of suavity and charity For interest took this powerful occasion so fast by his fore-lock and these Divisions are grown so firmly rooted that it is probable they will not finish but with the world And this is the principall source of the evils which we have seen and yet daily see happen to the grief of all good men in this last Age. And thus we have shewed about what when for what reasons and by whom began these Reformations Nor must we wonder at the monstrous effects since they could not be more noble then their Causes If we would reflect often upon it we should find Ministers and instruments enough thereof The holy Scripture sayes that there must be scandals but cursed be they who shall give them THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I The Queen of England and the States of Holland refuse Peace King Henry of France polishes his Kingdome and makes War against the Duke of Savoy THE Peace of Vervin filled with joy not only the subjects of the Kings but also all such as acknowledged the See of Rome The Protestants invited to the said Peace by Henry the Great shut their eares to the Propositions and studied only how to make most streight Allyances for their preservation Where Diffidence gets the mastery Reason is not understood unlesse it be ushered in by strong and irrefutable assurance It was impossible for the Arch-Duke Albert to bring the States to a very advantageous Peace as the Ministers said for them since the arguments of King Henry could obtain nothing from them For his offers were as stints out of which they drew sire to kindle the warre with so much the greater animosity They sent their Embassadours into England Elizabeth and the states refuse Peace where they sound the Queen most disposed to receive theirs so that it was most facil to draw her to their opinion In the mean while the Arch-Duke receives a Procuration from the Infanta his future Spouse in vertue whereof he was generally and solemnly received and nominatively at Antwerp where the oath of sidelity was payd him by the Deputies of the obedient Provinces Albert goes into Spain 1598. And so he went into Spain but before his departure he signified to the confederated States that he went to marry the Infanta and that he had the Low-conntries for Portion with her and was already acknowledged Lord thereof Therefore he conjured them to associate themselves to the other Provinces in respect that the King had divided them from his other Demaines and that thus all distrusts being taken away he withed nothing more then to see that Body entire and in peace under his Government But all in vain For Religion and liberty were too charming subjects to be abandoned and they who are growne to be Masters abhorre to fall back into forvitude He began his journey in the moneth of September in the yeer 1598 leaving Cardinal Andrew his cosin for his Licutenant and sent his army towards the Rheyn which at his return he found full of confusion and revolt for want of pay He was received in all places where he passed together with the Princess Margaret of Austria spouse of Philip the third whom he conducted in his company with honours due to the greatnes of their quality He stayed not in Spain but as soon as he had married the Princesse Clara Eugenia The King of France repolisheth his Kingdome he brought her into the Low Countries and they made their entry into Brussels in the moneth of September 1599. He brings the Infanta 1599. King Henry of France having given his subjects a peace made it all his care to repolish his kingdom much depraved by the prolixity of the civil warrs to revive the laws strucken dumb by the licentiousness of the souldiers to place good order every where and in fine to establish two Religions in very good union aswel for his own service as for the repose of his people Whereas King Philip on the other side in his would have but one But some persons of very great experience have conceived that if he had embraced the same Maxime he might have preserved the seventeen Provinces though others have beleeved that he would rather have lost them all as being too far distant from them and consequently unable to accommodate himself to all occurrences which required a diversity of temperaments But this Prince namely Henry had been educated in the reformed Religion and so knew the humours the forces of that party not to be contemptible He was Son to Anthony of Bourbon who was slain at the siege of Roüen The Prince of Conde being slain in the battell of Jarnac and the Admiral remaining Generall of the Hughenot army he advised them to nominate for their Generall Henry of Bourbon a young Lord who had ever defended their party and so he being turned Catholick and upon that made King of France had alwayes a particular care to uphold them as a people from which he had received great services But there was very great danger of taking from them that which had been promised them by so many Proclamations or Edicts nor did they indeed forbear to cry up their services and bragg that it was they onely who put the Crown upon his head Henry the 3.
mute and the intercession of the Nuncio proved fruitlesse the Arch-Duke being resolute and they re-inforcing themselves with men and mony by the near neighbourhood of the consederated Provinces Now these Revolts gave advantage to the States and meanes to go in execution through all the Country of Luxembergh and such as refused contribution had the grief of seeing their house set on fire This Cavelcada or Inroade was finished in lesse then a moneth and without any resistance at all During these interludes the Mutiners governed themselves in form of a Republick observing a most exact discipline and amongst other Lawes forbidding Cards and Dice They were besieged in Hoochstrade Are besieged and succoured by Prince Maurice and succoured by the Prince upon certain conditions which done he returned again before Boisleduc But this Conquest was reserved for his Brother as we shall hereafter shew The Arch-Duke notwithstanding so many inconveniences mutinies vexations and losses stood as firm and immoveable as a Rock against the greatest stormes before Ostend though to his no small displeasure saw it often relieved And Prince Maurice not yet satiated with so many victories both by Sea and Land resolved to vanquish his contumacie by a more sensible diversion The expences of this siege could not choose but be great but the people liberally consented without grudging So pleasant is victory how dear soever bought Money The arrivall of Marquis Ambrose Spinola with the Golden Fleece was a Spinola came into Flanders with mony wholesome Balsom to cure the disease of the mutinied Squadron for it made them return to the Arch-Dukes service and hastened the rendition of the Town by the order of continuall mining which was given by the said Marquis The Prince in the interim was not asleep for he departed in the moneth of April with a huge number of Boats took many Forts besides the Towns of Isendike and Ardenbergh and incamped himself before the renowned Town of Sluce Sluce taken by famine which with some Gallies was rendred three moneths after by famine though Spinola acted all the parts which could be invented by the most subtle wit and used all the force which the most valiant and resolute souldier could manifest to relieve the besieged But his enemies were too well intrenched and his provident Rivall kept himself too much upon his guard Ostend taken 1604. The taking of Ostend 1604 followed close upon the heels of that of Sluce and the composition made by the besieged was very honourable There marched out of divers nations about three thousand men the number of the dead as well on the one side as the other surpassed the beleif of man and the issue of this siege kept all the power of Europe in suspense This Age which was to be all Iron fire blood and slaughter This Age I say which was to be the totall ruine of Christendome together with that of Faith and Charity could not begin better then by such a siege This was the most famous Schoole of warre that ever was before as where all the Martial Spirits resorted to learn Discipline and to put it in practice as they have done since in their own Countries The French the English the Germans and the Scots The Siege lasted above three years together with the Hollanders defended this place about three yeers through the advantages and commodities afforded them by the Sea The Spaniards Italians Walloons Burgundians and other Germans attacked it with all the force and industry the greatest courages were able to invent All such as were not present at this bloody exercise but remained mute at home at the noise of so much blood-shed expected the dubious issue of so hazardous a siege upon which the Monarchy of the whole world seemed to depend Yea even the Great Turk himself ravished with joy by the ruine of the Christians was not a little glad to see such an obstinate resolution on both sides Let us here take notice of the Divine Providence which like another Jupiter laughs at the folly of Mortalls who like other Gyants will needs make themselves masters of all and endeavour to outbrave the very Elements themselves The fiercest enemies to mankind are War Plague and other Infirmities The Reward of victory a morsell of earth and houses buried under their own foundations And now if courage and generosity egged on many to this certainly pitty moved infinitely more there to bewayle their friends buried under the ruines of this second Troy and view a little piece of ground which had cost so much pains so much sweat so much time so much blood and so much mony All the industry of man was set on work there on both sides and the Arch-Duke and Arch-Dutches had both the trouble and the charge of repairing this place and putting it into that state wherein we now see it Necessity caused this siege at first judged easie to be begun Reputation to be continued and power in despight of interest by the industry and valour of Spinola brought it to an end CHAP. V Peace between the Spaniard and the English King Henry of France re-eshablishes the Jesuits Father Cotton hurt Warre about the Rhein Peace made between the Kings of Spain and England 1604. THe Spaniards having sufficiently tried the great hurt done them by the English during the life of Queen Elizabeth as well in Spain it self as by Sea and in the Low-countries yea and at the Siege of Ostend also and finding that all satisfaction endeavored to procure from them either in Ireland or England had not any kind of good successe began to think that a peace with these insulary people would prove necessary for the State Nor had they much trouble to obtain it King James being easily inclined to it by some certain jealousie which had taken root in his soul The Arch-Duke and his Dutchesse were comprehended in it and it was concluded the very same day that the Garrison went out of Ostend France through the enjoyment of seven yeares peace was so well restored that there seemed not to have been any warre in more then half an age before King Henry being a great husband of his Finances or Exchequer made a journy to Metz where two Jesuits cast themselves at his feet beseeching him with a very elegant speech to vouchsafe to re-establish them through all the kingdome The Parliament of Paris and the Sorbon opposed them but the King by special grace admitted them The Jesuits re-established in France and demolished the Pyramide which had been erected against them for that one of their Schollars had hurt the King in the mouth And the Mines which the Hughenots sprung against their Society were either discovered or despised At least they wrought no effect But Father Cotton going once to the King was attacked in the Loüure by a great number of Lackies Father Cotton hurt by Lackies at the Lonure who after many quipps and scoffes very dangerously wounded him
departure the States were advised by the Kings of England and France with both whom they had made a most streight Allyauce for the maintaining of the Peace in case it were concluded to renew the Treaty of a Truce And to this effect it was again taken into deliberation by the said Embassadours at Antwerp in the moneth of March The Treaty renewed at Antwerp whether the States likewise sent their Deputies namely Count William of Naffaw and the Lord of Brederode the â—5 of the same moneth and they concluded a Truce for twelve yeares upon the ninth of April 1609 which caused great rejoycing every where as well amongst the Neighbours as the Parties themselves concerned Truce made and the Embassadours were regaled and honoured with great presents During this Treaty many libels were made and dispersed some with reasons to countermine this sweet Peace and others to advance it Birds of mischief seck the dark and like Owlas blame the light as hurtfull and discovering their actions And so their fluttering was despised And here we see the end of this war for a while which sprung up at the beginning of the reign of King Philip the second and that upon divers pretexts as namely that of liberty of conscience and priviledges and under various Governours of different humours fomented by ambition Religion and diffidence under the Princess of Parma the Duke of Alva Don Lewis Don Iohn of Austria on the one side and Prince William and the States-Generall on the other the latter whereof made a strong union amongst themselves at Vtrick the Articles of which namely for the free exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion have been much altered They formed their Common-Wealth under the Arch-Duke Matthias and the Duke of Alanson under the Prince of Parma they begged the assistance of the King of France and the Queen of England They continued the Warre with much success against Count Mansfeld and Cardinall Andrew They repaired what was amiss in their Republick by the factions which arose under the Earl of Leicester They valiantly defended themselves against the Arch-Duke Albert and the Brave Spinola even till the very publication of the Truce We will now stay awhile and repose our selves in the rest of the Low-countries which we so much desired as being the part where the War was so long time carried on with so much expense and no lesse industry then good discipline though it were often disturbed by the frequent mutinies of the Spaniards for want of pay from whence the Confederares knew how to draw most considerable advantages CHAP. IX The State of France The King goes to Sedan Troubles in Austria and Bohemia A Conjuration discovered in Spain and the Mores banished thence THe hast we had to see an interruption of the misfortunes wherewith the Belgick * The Low-countries Lion had been tormented above fifty years together and his roaring heard throughout the whole Universe to the astonishment of all the greatest States of the world made us slight the reasons of them who partly out of hatred to the House of Austria and partly for the Roman Catholick Faith the utter abolition whereof they passionately desired endeavoured to hinder the Truce We will therefore turn back a little towards France which flourished now as if there had never been any warres at all Courtesie the essential vertue of that Nation together with the Beauty Bounty and Fertility of this kingdome founded upon most excellent Lawes fine Sciences and laudable Exercises attracted the Nobility of all Europe thither as to a School of vertue and glory In effect there was no remarkable Commotion able to give any apprehension or disturbance to the Publick Rest For the Warre of Savoy and the conspiracy of the Marshall Biron were almost as foon smoothered as known It was a kind of Terrestrial Paradise where they who were enemies about the difference of Doctrines lived in friendship by the authority of their Master who maintained peace both abroad The death of Charles Duke of Lorraine and at home Charles Duke of Lorraine a Prince loaden with age adorned with singular vertue and piety lest his Sonne Henry his Heyre to retire himself to the Coelestiall lerusalem in the yeare 1608. The King of France goes to Sedan with an Army In brief the fruits of Peace were most delicious when the King suddenly raised a great Army and conducted it to Sedan For there were some misunderstandings between him and the Duke of Boüillon which were taken away by the intercession of the forrain Embassadours However this Cavalcada gave no small jealousie to the Spaniards who found themselves obliged thereby to put strong Garrisons through all the country of Luxemburgh and the Confederates reaped great profit from it For it made men believe that it was but a fiction or rather a prelude of that huge preparation which we shall shortly relate However much talke there was of it and great indagation into the reasons thereof by men of curiosity The Duke of Boüillon feeling the pulse of the Protestant Princes his neighbours judged it not necessary to draw blood yet and that which was differred shall be found in sit time LEWIS THE XIIII KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARR Now these divisions between Brothers and Cousin-Germans of the same House were taken by such as meddle not a little to pick out the actions thereof but for artifices or tricks and men said it was the only right way to preserve Hungary Moravia Bohemia and other Provinces depending upon the said kingdome from falling into the hazard of a new Election A conjecture grounded upon probabilities of consideration enough Spain in the mean while looked not only upon the troubles of the Low-countries and means to bring them to an end but she had likewise a particular care to steer her Indian Fleets into a good Port For as for the rest there had in some years passed nothing which could disturb the tranquility of that kingdom But in the year 1609. there was discovered a Conjuration which had it taken effect would have involved it in a totall ruin supplanted Christian Religion and reduced the King to fly for Sanctuary elsewhere But the greatest storms are those which often do least hurt and are diverted by slight causes Yea a gentle rain often allayes the most furious windes The Mores implored the assistance of the Grand Signior The Conjuration of the Mores discovered in Spain and other Mahometan Princes the Doctrine of whom they followed in effect though in apparence Christians and they had also for a long time been heaping up Arms and with the slight succour of twenty thousand men they being already at the least a hundred thousand in Spain combatants they promised themselves to bring all Spain under their subjection But being detected They are banished into Africa the King of France having refused them his ayde they were all embarked in the kingdom of Valencia and transported into Barbary by the Kings
first Family Breâ—â— oâ—â— and thirteen of the second the first whereof was Pepin father-in-Father-in-Law to Charlemagne Hugh Capet the first King of the third Family by the exclusion of Charlos Duke of Lorraine through force of Arms and the favour of some of the Grandies got the Government of the French Monarchy about the year of our salvation 993. Lewis the fourteenth who reigns at present is the thirtieth of that Family This kingdom is composed of four and twenty Provinces wherein there are fifteen Arch-Bishoppricks ninty seven Bishoppricks ten Parliaments fourteen Vniversities and four Orders of Knighthâ—od that of the Starre was eclipsed under Charles the fist that of St. Michael now little valued and the third and that which hath most luster is of the Holy Ghost instituted by Henry the third The fourth is not much pursued In ancient times there were but twelve Peâ—rs of France six Ecclesiasticall and six Secular and they were the Arch-Bishop of Rhenns the Bishops of Lâ—ton Langres Chalons Noyon and Beauâ—ais The Dukes of Burgundy of Normandy of Guienne and the Earles of Flanders tholose and Champagne But the number of Dukes and Peers is now very very much encreased as also that of Marshals and the Rights of both very much diminished The French inclined to ams The French areso naturally inclined to Arms that the Proverb sayes they are born Souldiers nor can they indeed stay long at rest for if they have no warre with their Neighbours they quickly make it amongst themselves by the ambition of some Lords or other as also by the Martial humour wherewith they are tormented Points of honour make them runne into the Field as to a Feast in such sort as that the greatest part of the Nobility unhappily falls in Duels They are very impatient and enemies to the Spaniards by maxime of State whom by all means possible they oppose to the end that they may not arrive to the Vniversal Monarchy or else that under this pretext they may atchieve it themselves They go like Thunderbolts to Combats and Conquests and reverse whatsoever oppugnes them but as soon as this heat growes to be a little cooled they turn their backs and suddenly loose what they had gained with so much reputation It is no lesse laudable to keep thou to get which the Spaniards know very well Prosperity easily makes them slight their enemies and jeer their Allies to whom they render themselves suspected by the vanity of their tongues in such sort as this kind of levity does them much harm The French are more then men sayes the Proverb at the beginning of a Fight and lesse then women towards the end But they have given a contrary account of themselves in many Battails in Italy and the Low-countries where after they been repulsed or routed they have rallyed and carried away many glorious victories as we shall hereafter see Besides it must be confessed that the French Cavalry is the stoutest and best of the whole world There is also a saying that the French are wise after the businesse and the Spaniards before it In effect they are rash yea and they have very often wonne Battails by this very Passion Their generosity is remarkable in regard they grudge not to give praise to the vertue even of their enemies when they deserve it They are of so gentile an humour that they make themselves admired by strangers but they agree so ill out of their Country by occasion of petty envies and shamefull detractions that they are generally blamed every where for it and make themselves disesteemed by it The Clergy the Gentry and the People are the three States Three States upon which the Monarchy rests the Priviledges and Liberties whereof if well maintained would make it the most flourishing in the World But let us now see what passed there during the Peace for it is not our scope to make a most ample relation of the particulars of every kingdom CHAP. XI The King of France arms The Spaniards do the same All is full of joy and fear The King killed his Educacion Croupir KIng Henry having too generous a heart to be longidle was meditating Warre even during the Peace For which effect he had alwayes a special care by the admirable oeconomy or stewardship of the Duke Sâ—illy to Preparation of war in France to mannage and husband his Finances or Exehequer and accumulate great treasures On the other side he saw a brisk Nobility which longed for nothing more then the occasions to express their Martial courage under the conduct of so great and valorous a Captain He therefore resolves to raise an Army for the execution of some huge Designe which he kept private to himself to give exercise to his warlike People The pretext was the Warre of the Princes Heyres to the Dukedom of Gulick Cleveland and Bergues But because the truth of the principall motives of this arming of his Vnder pretex of the war of Juliers or Julick could never yet be known we will only note such conjectures thereof as are grounded upon very receivable probabilities He would not so easily have pardoned the Heads of the Leagus for the mothereing of the Civill Warres had it not been to revenge himself one day upon the Spaniards who had so powerfully traversed or thwarted his lawfull succession the Crown He saw himself cherished by his subjects feared by his enemies loved by all his Allyes and chiefly by the States Generaâ—â— of Holland Moreover the interest of the Crown seemed to invite him to reduce under his States all such Provinces as speak French and consequently the greatest part of all the Low-countries which had formerly been of the Demaynes of France as namely the Counties of Flanders and Artoise the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and many other which would not have been able to esape his ambition The flight of the Prince of Conde caused this speedy Arming and the honourable and Christian protection which he found in the States as well of the King of Spain as in those of the Arch-Duke in the Low-countries seemed likewise to give some colour of justice to the most Christian King irritated against a Prince of his own blood This Prince when he was two and twenty years old married Margaret Daughter to he Constable Montmorency a most beautiful and vertuous Princess whom he veretly carried to Brussels so to quench the fire which her Charms had kindled in the heart of the King But Love holding the Empyre over the Reason of this generous Alexander commanded him to recover by force that which vertue so justly denied him In so much as that for this chast Helen of France all Europe was like to be cast into most dangerous troubles Now the Princes of Germany weary of seeing the Empyre so long in the possession of the House of Anstria as also of the prolix rest they had enjoyed together with the encrease of their Treasuries would not have been offended to see the Imperial
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
need at all to speak thereof Mary Eleonor her eldest sister was married to Albert Frederick Duke of Prussia who died without issue male and left four daughters behinde him Anne who was the eldest was given to John Sigismund Duke of Brandenbourgh and Elector of the Empire The second to the Old Elector The third to the Duke of Courland The fourth to Duke John George of Saxonie brother to the Elector The second sister of the said Duke called Anne in the year 1574. married Philip Lewis Duke of Newbourgh in which marriage she brought Wolsgang William who kept his Court at Dusseldorp and died in the moneth of April in this year of 1653. The third who was Magdalen was made wife to the Duke der Deux-Ponts And Sibill the fourth was bestowed upon Charles Duke of Austria who had no childe Difference for sâ—â—cession Now Duke Iohn William dying without children Iohn Sigismund Elector of Brandenbourgh who married Anne as we have already said eldest daughter to the eldest sister of the said last Duke presented himself to be received by the States of the said Dutchy wherein he was opposed by the Duke of Newbourgh son to the second daughter Magdalen who was then yet living The Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh The Elector of Saxonie and the Duke of Neuers declared themselves also heirs so that the Emperour Rodolph summons the Parties to appear before him endeavours to sequester the Dutchies and to that end dispatches the Archduke Leopold Nâ—wburgh refuse the sequestration and demand relief from France Bishop of Straesbourgh who makes himself master of the Town and Castle of Gulick Whereupon the two first presumptive Heirs upon some articles of governing the Country made an agreement between themselves and in stead of addressing themselves to Prague before the Lord of the Fief who is the Emperour had recourse to the King of France O! How great is the strength of distrust which tyes the hands of justice and gets authority over ber They obtained a promise of strong relief The other Princes both Protestants and Catholicks yea even the Emperour himself sent their Embassadours likewise to Paris where the King sounded them all one after another In the mean time they take Arms make Excursions awaken the Neighbours The Germane Protestants receive the Alarm Germany takes the Alarm and assemble themselves at Hal and the Catholicks on the other side at Hirtsburg there to provide for their safety propose the Election of a new King of the Romanes and bring the said Protestants to a more strict observance of the accord of Passavia These are the first seeds of the divisions which being come to maturity will quickly fill all Germany with horrible disturbances as being watered by strangers for fear least they perish with moisture or humanity drawn out of the essence of Religions as we shall briefly shew in fit place The businesse of Donawerds Atumult at Donawerdt which is proscribed and foreed by the Duke of Bavaria which had already irritated the Protestants passed thus Some Religious or Conventuall men dwelling in the towne and endeavouring to make a Procession were desired by the Magistrates to desist for fear of some tumult But they answered that they would not quit their Rights which depended upon the Emperour In short they make a Procession the people falls upon them and affronts them The Emperour informed of the insolence demands an exemplary punishment wherein being disobeyed he proscribes the Towne and gives the execution thereof to the Duke of Bavaria who by a siege forced it to submit Now this proceeding very much displeased the Protestants and principally such as were grieved to see the Empire so long in a profound Peace But the enmity was not yet grown so strong for it shortly after brake out to the ruine of all this great Body But let us returne to the Country of Gulick The Princes excessively afflicted at the death of the King of France Gulick besieged and taken sollicited Prnice Maurice to besiege Gulick which he did and by the assistance of the French Army under the conduct of Marshall de la Castre constrained Leopold to render the said place into the hands of the said Princes upon an honourable composition Now it is to be observed that they would not admit of a sequestration nor the decision of the Emperour to whom it belongs by right but it looks as if they all endeavoured to weaken the Principall head of Europ And so the Princes were reproached for having ejected the Garrison of Gulick with forraine forces which was immediately to conremne the Imperiall authority and that they had thereby given cause to the Emperour to arme against them The Duke of Saxonie beares also the title of Duke of Gulick Cleveland and Montagues and draws his pretentions from Sibill Aunt to John William and Daughter to William who was given in marriage to Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxonie who lost the Electorac for having taken arms against the Emperour Charles He was admitted by the two Princes to govern the Country till the definitive decision of the difference It seems that diffidence and suspicion in affairs of State authorize the taking up of Arms without any other forme of Iustice and that it is no more lawfull to the Lord of the Fief to dispose of his Right CHAP. XIII A tumult in Poland and why They arme The Swedes and Muscovites serve themselves of this occasion against the Poles and loose Smolensko Treason discovered in England The troubles appeased at Paris Rodolph dies VVE left the King of Poland very busie about recovering his Kingdome of Sweden and the expulsion of the Swedes our of Livonia and now we finde him as busie to maintaine himself in the Elective after having lost the Hereditary Fortune never ceases to trouble Vertue and one disaster comes not without another The begining of the troubles was by a little blast or slash which kindled a fire that carried it self to the very highest loft or story of the building The scholars of the Jesuites through an impious zeale Yuâ—â—â—nlss in Poland rushed one day upon the Church of the Protestants of Posen and set it on fire Prince Radzivil and some other Ranting blades of the Party took arms for the defence as others said of their liberty and to revenge this injury under the vaile of Rakozians Fortune smiling upon them at first and they puffed up with a small victory endeavoured to expell the King and choose another unlesse he would subscribe to some certaine insupportable articles proposed by them Ill intentions grow to be discovered by good successe In a word the Warr was kindled in good earnest and the cloak of Religion not forgotten The Rakozians being beaten make Peace The Rebels or Rakozians being defeated and vanquished returned to be friends and good subjects But some space after the wound having been dressed by too milde a Chirurgion opened and gangroened and could not be shut up without
with him against his Nephew the Spaniards and the Jesuits for it was upon them that he chiefly aymed and whom he so much mistrusted who yet peradventure dreamt not at all of him and demanded a speedy succour before the Poles had quite subdued Muscovie He also mentioned the quarrell between him and the King of Denmark offering to referre it to them or any other Neutrall Princes and to acquiesce in their Decision The States also sent theirs to him but he was able to effect nothing with him The King declares a warre upon him In the moneth of April 1611. King Christian declares a Warre founded upon four points The first upon the Fishing of Lapponia or Lapland the third part whereof he pretended to appertain to himself The second a complaint formed upon Charles his having fortified Guttemburgh to the disadvantage of the Sound the third was the redemanding of the Isle of Oesel held by the Swedes And the last that Christian would not suffer him to put in his Arms the three Crownes nor the Title of Lapland and North-land Kings have never any better reason to make Warre then that which is offered them by occasion It is a Royal thing sayes a Disciple of that so much disclaimed Italian to attempt the Possessions of others Colmar taken The Danes seazed Colmar the prime key of the kingdom of Sweden and besieged the Castle both by Sea and land which unlesse it were famished was held impregnable by reason of the situation Neither was it taken now by that way but yeelded up by the levity of the Governour who went to fix his habitation in Denmark That which cannot be digged by Iron is often done by Gold The King of Sweden found work enough to do with two so potent enemies upon his skirts but that which most troubled him was that he could not bring the Danes to any Composition Fonce so that in sine having lost Colmar with above a hundred pieces of Canon six ships of Warre the Isle of Bornholm and some other The death of Charles also forced to bow to old age and afflictions caused by these losses he fell sick and coming to die made way for that great Captaine Gustavus Adolphus the very relation of whose victories makes the world tremble Charles was a Prince of great courage and lover of his Law for the only defence whereof the Swedes affirm that he accepted the Crown and not through any ambition he had to be a King He inclined a little towards the Reformates and could not endure to have prayers made in Latin He was speechlesse some time before his death and was much more prone to rigour then moderation yea even to Tyranny it self which is a vice much observed in the successours of Erick after they are past forry years old The Danes sayling with the winde in poupe took many ships near Elsburgh together with the Castle it self But the Swedes were fully revenged upon them by taking their measures well as it will appear in the continuation of this History With patience all things are effected In fine Peace made a Peace was made and Colmar upon agreement of some barrels of Gold restored to the Swedes The Kings were friends and afterwards an Enterview and an Allyance both Offensive and Defensive concluded against the King of Poland But let us go back to the South Italy produced no seed of sedition at all every one keeping himself within his own jurisdiction but the Duke of Mantua being taken out of his by death without sons his Brother succeeded him who assisted by the Spaniards waged a long warre against the Duke of Savoy who was supported by France Since the Truce in the Low-countries and the expulsion of the Mores there passed nothing in Spain worthy of memory but some Fights at Sea against Pirats who were defeated by the Spaniards and the Hollanders The match sought in Spain Queen Mary of Medicis willing to keep her subjects in Peace during her Regencie and prevent all occasions of disorder mediated a double match with Spain that is of her Son and Daughter with Prince Philip and the Infanta his Sister but the marriages were differred in regard of their too tender age though yet this good newes caused great rejoycing throughout all the Territories of the two Crowns with Tilts and Turnaments worth anmiration wherein the French Lords expressed as well the agility and fine disposition of their bodies as the gentilnesse of their mindes Let us now draw back to the Low-countries again which observe the Truce but let not their souldiers rest in favour of their Neighbours For the Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh this being grown a Roman and that a Reformat renewed their old unhappy quarrel either for want of a right and mutual understanding or else for being the object of the ambitious passion of some other Princes The Arch-Duke had sent Spinola into the Field to execute the sentence given upon them of Aquisgrane Aix or Aquisgrane yeelds The Spaniards succour the Duke of Newburgh and the Hollanders the Duke of Brandenburgh who had incurred the disfavour of the Emperour by expelling the Roman Catholick Magistrates out of the Town and their sudden submission gave the Spaniards conveniency to hasten to the relief of the Duke of Newburgh by whom they were expected They took Wesel and some other small places and Prince Maurice on the other side who was sent by the States to succour the Electour took and fortified Emmerick and Rees It is most dangerous to have a Neighbour stronger then ones self for his succour is alwayes dammageable to him who accepts it These two Princes know it as well as any others But what Passion very often prevailes over Reason and the errour of the Hunters gives the Hare opportunity to escape But let us reprize this Webbe contrived of many threds of different colours and woven by divers Weavers The Emperors Authority proving inefficacious and his threats as it wore our of breath and saint as coming from so great a distance with these two Princes who proud of the assistance of two Kings and shouldered by a strong Common-Wealth equally shared the Government of the Dutchy for some time making their Residence together at Dusseldorp But by means of some small jealousies were quickly disunited and the Marriage of the Duke of Newburgh with the Duke of Bavaria's Sisters awakened as great suspicions in the Duke of Brandenburghs breast being a Reformate as the Allyance of the united Provinces in that of the Duke of Newburgh who was become Cathohok The Design upon Dusseldorp had no successe and that which was so prosperously executed upon Gulick by the Governours meanes manifested to the Arch-Duke a peacefull Prince that the Reformates in a fair occasion want no boldnesse no courage The Spaniards took the Allarme so much the more powerfully as the Treaties went on slowly and as the French seemed to favour the Duke of Brandenburgh more to put
Visigoths Daces and Vandals who came altogether to dismember the Romane Empire and the Franks and Burgundians who drove the Romanes out of Gawl For these People having expelled the old Usurpers by the successe of a battel or two leagued themselves forth with with them whom they had freed from the yoke and instantly laid the foundations of a new Kingdome But this Warr which we are now going to describe involved all Europ and there is not so much as one Province which doth not resent it yea that which is more deploreable is that we see not the end of it yet for for my part I am of opinion in this wicked age Men will sooner be wanting then Will to such as are ambitious to continue this bloody exercise The Prodigies which both went before it and happened during the continuance of it like waves of the sea have two much informed us that it would ingulf all the Provinces of Christendome one after another and such as thought to be exempted from it as well for the advantages they had upon their enemies as for the impossibility of introducing the Babes of Mars amongst them by reason of their situation feel at present the scourge with as much sharpnesse as the former That facall Torch which appeared towards the end of the year 1618 with a long and formidable tayle seemed to announce to us the wrath of God thereby to prepare us to repentance or else patiently to suffer the evils which we could not avoid Those sights which were seen in the ayre Prodigies hapned in Europe in many places those Tempests those exundations of Rivers those disruptions or shiverings of Barrs by the mercilesse Ocean those earthquakes and inundations those monstrous Productions those waters turned into blood those impetuous windes which have overthrown so many Towers and rooted up so many trees those bloody raines and so many other supernaturall accidents are the messengers of Divine indignation to such as are obstinate in their wickednesse Fools who say in their hearts there is no God have despised these advertisements and lead a life worse then that of the people of the time of Noah Germany by a Peace of so many yeers durance being grown extreamly opulent the Princes potent and the Towns much elevated The State of Germany began to withdraw herself by little and little if not wholy from servitude yet at least from duty The Courts were full of debaucheries and the excesse of drinking was recompensed with a Crown of victorie the Tables loaden with meat The debawches were sometimes overturned with brutall insolence and that which could not possibly bring any good was that the greatest part of the Grandees there left the management of their affaires to their Chancelours or their Favourites whilest themselves were plunging in delights luxurie ranting and superfluities together with the pleasures of the Court and the Chase The Emperour Matthias who was Crowned in the year 1612 made not his Authority in the Empire shine a whit brighter then his Predecessours had done in such sort as that the State wasfallen as it were into a Palsie and languishment Not withstanding all these voluptuousnesses and debauches distrusts were grown so high that it was impossible for the Banks or Damns to stop these Torrents without letting some part of them loose The children were then matching in Troops and Bands through the streets with Arms Drums and Colours and the old men sighing and crying out Prognostications of Warrs We shall quickly feel the effects of a cruell Warr. That which arrived at Donawerds brought some of the imperiall Townes to a league to which they invited the Electour of Saxonie but not receiving so good an answer as they hoped threats remained without effect and all stayed in apparent enmity the one party casting the fault upon the other till the occasions which we are going to recount But let us enter upon the War of Bohemia Bohemia is a little Kingdom but very fertill in Corn Wine Mines of Gold Silver Tinne and all which is necessary for the life of man The King is ranged in the number of the Electours and his Vote or suffrage is so necessary that when the Parties are equall he who receives it is elevated to the Imperiall Throne This said Kingdome is almost quite invironed by Germany and it stretches on the one side to Moravia The Inhabitants speak the language of Slavonia though yet the High-Dutch be as common there as the French is in the Low-Countries The Metropolitan City is Prague which is watered by the stream of Moldaw The Country is very great most populous and adorned with a most famous and most ancient University wherein for a time were numbered above thirty thousand Scholars Now because the first controversies about Religion which caused the separations and hatreds amongst Christians proceeded from thence it will not be out of our way and much for the contentment of the Reader to take notice of the source and Origin thereof About the year of Grace 1400. John Huss having found and read the Books of Wâ—tcliff John Huss betook himself publickly to teach a doctrine much like that of the Waldenses condemned by the Church of Rome as much checking the Points and Tenets thereof received as namely the authority of the Pope Purgatory Worship of Images and the like God permitting a diversity of Doctrines during the Schismes of the Church for the disputes of the Popes gave subject to attack the Points of Faith exhibited by them and their own Authority The Councell of Constance A Councell was assembled at Constance whether Jerome of Prague and John Huss were invited under a safe conduct or passe from the Emperour Sigismond But for all that they persisted in the Doctrine of Witcliff and maintained that the Churches diffused up and down the world were deviated from the traditions of the Apostles they were both contrary to publick Faith and the Emperours Paste given them sentenced to be burned and their ashes cast into the ayre And from thence came the Axiome so often and so justly chanted and iterated by the Protestants and whereof they serve themselves to quicken their distrusts Faith must not be kept with Hereticks The Fathers of the said Councell were moved on by a too inconsiderate yea and unjust zeal which if we may have leave to deduce the consequence of the effects thereof which have followed very much displeased the Father of Truth The Romane Catholicks disprove of this Maxime and the Emperour Charles the 5 th expressed that he was no friend to it by keeping his word so truly w th Doctor Martin Luther at the Assembly at Wormes The disciples of John Huss â—ake arms Now the disciples of the aforesaid John Huss being very impatient at the death of their Masters and not content with the Churches which were granted them took arms under pretext of desiring more But I find the zeal of all them who have withdrawn themselves from the
Camp being suddenly staggered after the resistance of some Regiments the whole Body fell into confusion and such as could save themselves got into Prague There perished more by water then by the sword and the terrour was so universall that there was no other thought left for the conquered but to flye towards Silesia King Frederick not daring to trust himself in the Places of strength which remained nor yet to his new Subjects neither retired speedily towards Breslaw where entring into conference with the States of the Countrey and finding neither forces nor safety to stay there he put himself upon the way towards Holland This Generall Decision fell out upon the eight of November 1620. the very day upon which was read the Gospel of Give Casar that which is Caesars and God that which is Gods And indeed it was manifested by the Augures or Signes from heaven to whom Godthad determined to give the victory The number of the slain and drowned was very great as being related by some of the most moderate writers to have amounted to six or seven thousand The Conquerours lost but very few of theirs but Count Godfree of Papenheinâ— was found lying amongst the dead so extremely wounded that he could hardly declare his own name But his hour was not yet come as being reserved for exploits which were to fill the whole distent of the world with his glory The number of the prisoners was not equall to that of the dead the City being near enough for the retreat of such as were timely spurred on by fear Prague being abandoned by the principall Heads of the Party remained the price of the Victory The nest was there but the Birds flowne The Duke of Bavaria after this Master-blow retired himself to Munâ—â—ken leaving the Command of his Army to Monsieur de Tilly and the rest of the Businesse to the Conquerours who quickly brought all the Places of the kingdome to the Emperours obedience One and the same cause often produces very different Effects The Bohemians being of the race of them who had defeated so many Armies not only with the sword but even with the very noyse of their names fighting now for the same Cause and upon the same pretexts obtained not the same good issue It is true that those others had to do with people who in respect they had lived long idle in peace had not any knowledge or understanding of armes and these here with men who came out of a School where Mars praesided where the best Lessons were taught and where experience had made them Captaines Let us now return into France CHAP. IV. Warres against the Hugenots and why A new difference between the House of Austria and the Venetians THe Hugenots not being able to digest the reduction of Bearne which was performed more by the venerable luster of the Kings Majesty then by that of the sword which remained unsheathed and fearing to be one day overwhelmed by his good successes through the instigation of their good friends the Jesuits discovered their distrust A second warre against the Hugenots by Assemblies in divers parts of the kingdom and last of all at Rochell where all the Churches met to consult and provide for their Businesse The King being informed that this Generall Convocation of theirs without his knowledge and permission too visibly checked his Authority that that which he had granted them at Londun proved prejudicial to him and that it was to his Grace and not to Arms that they were to have recourse gave them to understand his Royall Will which was that they should separate themselves within a few dayes under pain of the crime of High Treason But in vain They whose courages are so inflamed by the clattering of Arms as to hold it for pleasant musick are not to be terrified by threats They send their Deputies to Paris to make protestation of their fidelity and excuse the necessity of their affaires But the King required nothing but obedience and so he advanced his Troops towards Saumur which was delivered him up by Monsieur de Plessis Saint Iohn d' Angeli after having suffered some Attacks implores the Kings pardon Benjamin Duke of Soubise comes and casts himself at his Royall feet and promises him to wear his sword no more against his service though afterwards he quickly forget that promise The Walls were demolished upon which the choler of Lewis the just was stopped and his elemencie extended upon the Inhabitants This good successe made him resolve to march into Gascony nor did a whit disanimate the Gascons who had determined on the other side to sell their liberty at as dear a rate as they could Many Townes were constrained to humble themselves to the victorious Arms of their Prince The women were often seen most desperately fighting upon the Breach of the Walls and really if the chief of the Party had shewed as much stability as the Common people did zeal the prize had not been gotten so good cheap nor their Republick the foundations whereof they were suspected to have already laid so easily destroyed The prosperity of this vertuous Prince together with the promptitude he used to surprise the Hugenots before they could have meanes to put any considerable forces into the Field facilitated to him that which could not be denied to his justice and since hath declared that his will was to command his Townes and not the consciences of his People for the Hugenots who put all their confidence and security in the fortifications of theirs were at length constrained to rely only upon his Royall Word His exploits against his Subjects of the Reformed Religion are amply described by many Authours and therefore it suffices me to take notice only of the course or Current of them insert the misfortunes briefly follow my way and return with him to Paris there to hear his victories sung by the one and see the displeasure done to the other The siege of Montaubanc The liedge which was laid before Montaubanc a Town of superlative strength at the beginning of Autumne was raised by the great resistance of the Besieged seconded by continuall raine and diseases which much afflicted and diminished the Kings Army not without the losse of many brave men The Dake of Mayenne killed as the Constable de Luynes and the Duke of Mayenne who was lamented most of all Now these two Lords who had most excellently acted their parts upon the Stage or Theater of France and danced a Gig Round most different in cadency to one another as they were of a very contrary humour so had they likewise a very distinct death And in regard that all the most tragical and most memorable accidents which happened are found annexed to their lives we will succinctly passe through them The Castle of Amboise gave the beginning and the Birds laid the foundation of the fortune of Monsieur de Luynes Reletion of the life of the Constalle Luynes His credit glittered
by the death of the Marquis d' Ancre and by the return of the Princes leagued against the said Marquis and his greatness by that of the unfortunate wife that unhappy Favorite whose Possessions and Goods were liberally bestowed upon him The death of the Marquis d' Ancre by the King He was killed by his Majesties command and by the counsell of this new Minister just as he was entring into the Loüure and his Body torne in pieces by a people which thought it self going into a Golden Age after this Execution And his VVife His wife who had been the companion of his Greatnesse was likewise to be so of his disaster and fall She was cast in prison and notwithstanding she baffled and eluded the vanity of the witnesses who accused her of magick or witchcraft she was neverthelesse condemned to suffer a shamefull death upon the Market-place of Greve Her Exccution caused pitty in the soules of some contentment in others and amazement to strangers the eyes of whose understandings were not dazled by the clowds of passion For it was a strange thing to set a Lady upon a base and infamousscaffold who had been but a little before with so much power and greatnesse at the Court Ah false and treacherous Fortune How much gall dost thou hide under thy honey and how many treacheries under thy favours No marvel if thou destroy what thou hast made since thou overturnest even Kings and Kingdomes themselves which had taken their foundations from the hands of the Almighty himself This tragical Beginning being brought to his desired issue Luynes counselled the King to banish his Mother from the Court whom he knew to be in implacable indignation against him Her Exile which was taken for a Retreat the advancement of his two Brothers companions of his fortune and the total and entire disposal of the favour of the good King cast him into the hatred of the people which he could not faile to inherit as well as of the Queen and into the aversion of the Princes who took his government for a pretext of their discontentments and for a cloak to disguise their interests From the quality of an ordinary Gentleman he rid Post as it were to honours and was created Earl and Viceroy of Picardy Duke and Peer of France and within a very short time after Constable In fine all smiled upon him every one adored this Golden Calfe yea even they who if they could have gotten him in their power would have crushed and shivered him to pieces To secure himself from the Queen-Mother he procured the deliverance of the Prince of Conde but common necessity obstructed the course of his greatness though it hardly extinguished the hatred which all the French bore him and left him but two friends who caused his miserable Body to be secretly interred for fear lest be should receive the same treatment of him whose place he had taken O short felicity full of troubles disquiets cares and vexatious apprehensions O vain Glory so much hunted after so much envied and so dearly and painfully bought how deceitful is thy end O vain Honours How are you steeped and drenched in gall And how different from those which are prepared by Eternity for us On the other side Prince Henry was beloved almost throughout all France as well for his great vertue as for the open hatred he carried to the Constable ended his dayes upon the bed of honour before Montanban for the Catholick Faith and for the restauration of the Authority of his King and the whole Kingdom His life He was son to the deceased Duke of Mayenne so well known in the History of the precedent Age to whom France had this obligation that she was not dismembred and crippled during the fury of the cruell Warres Whilest he courted the Widow of the Count de Soissons she moved both him and the Duke of Nevers 1614. to this pernicious Warre to whom the Prince of Conde and the busie Duke of Boüâ—â—lon joyned themselves also which kindled by some certain Princess who respired nothing but vengeance and terminated by the prudence of that most wise Queen at Saint Menehout He retired from the Court for the hatred he bore to the Constable and followed the party of the Queen-Mother 1620. together with other Princes in regard of the ill treatment she received His choler caused him to commit a great fault before Moissac in Quercy whereof the of a frank and open humour without dissimulation such as is fit for a Prince and not for a Courtier He was also free to speak and deliver his opinion and very courteovs to his inferiours much more intense upon the ruine of the Hugenot Party then upon prolonging the Warre as many have done for their own proper interest In fine a Bullet sent him to his grave put the Army in disorder France into mourning The mourning of all France for his death an end to so many brave exploits which which will cause him to be eternally hurt to the siege of Montaubane and to the fear of the Hugenots who called him the great Butcher and the tears interrupted by sobbes expressed the true love which all the Orders of France really bore him and which was besides most amply decleared by the elegant Orations made at his Funerall The newes of his death being divulged at Paris so much moved the Common-people that they cast themselves upon the Reformates and fired the Church of Charenton yea and the mischief had yet gone further had it not been prevented and stopped by the Queens and the Lords of the Parliament Some dayes after the Pontan Change in English the Exchange Bridge and the Pont des Orfebures in English Goldsmiths Bridge were likewise set on fire with inestimable loss for which the Reformats were much suspected by their enemies thereby to revenge themselves of the affronts which had been done them for vengeance is sweet But much more diligence was used to finde out the riches which was fallen into the River then the cause of two such disasters However it be the Warre grew hot the next year after and the King made himself Master of the Isles St. Martin d'Oleron and Bronage After some small victories gotten upon the Duke of Rohan and his Brother The Peace made at Montpeillier 1622. A Tumult at Paris against them of the Religion The Peace made the Peace was concluded at Montpeillier by which the said Towne more by force then by inclination returned to her duty and all the party which had been attacked by many Armies throughout all the Provinces after frequent losses began to respire and shewed that it was no more invincible This Peace separated the Navies hindered the Duke of Guise from prevailing upon his advantage and the Fort Lewis built upon the Haven of Rochelle gave subject to renew the War as we shall hereafter shew The Venetians to procure reparation of the dammages received from the Croats 1617.
Crosse on the side and the Half-Moone on the other CHAP. VI. The warre of Transylvama The King of Poland treacherously wounded Warre between the Poles and the Turks BEthlem Gabor having made an allyance with Frederick and seeing Ferdinands forces employed in Bohemia began to consider not onely of making a powerfull diversion but also of winning a Crown We have Ambition and we shall also quickly find Religion He raised a great Army under very abstense and farre-fetch'd pretexts thereby to puzzle and baffle such as had power to resist him This man for a fine beginning oppressed Gabriel Batorius his Lord by the assistance of the Turk and so being grown Master of Transylvania and propped by the Ottomans he possessed it in the quality of Prince thereof He made a League with the Archdukes but seeing them entangled in dangerous Wars he pricked up his ears and raised a potent Army to seize upon the Kingdom of Hungarie Convenience moves men to break ally ances as well as necessity and good successe covers the injustice of the Cause or at least urges the doubt that if Right be to be violated it ought to be onely to winne a Crown War of Transylvania In fine he secretly armed took occasion by the fore-lock and cloathed the Lyon with a foxes skin He got possession of Cassovia before the people thought themselves in danger They whose affections he enjoyed were discovered by their Religion The Romane Catholicks and such others also as had any resentment of their duty being frighted some armed Gaber takes Posen and others fled He took Posen under the title of Prince of Hungarie marched to Vienna and joyned with the Confederates to besiege the Town But the Polanders having defeated his Troops which remained in Hungarie Is declared King of Hungarie made him return and mould his businesse after another form so much did he stand in awe of the King of Poland though he went backwards onely to leap the better For he obtained a Truce which he quickly brake proclaimed himself King by them of his Caball entered again into Austria and if Fortune had not turned her back upon the Confederates in Bohemia it is very likely he might fully have accomplished all his pretentions and ruined the said House of Austria it self There is something wanting we rise either too early or too late The Emperour was shut up in the Town and constrained both to hear and suffer the insolency of some seditions Citizens which was repressed by the Count of Dampiere who departed not long after towards Posen with intention to surprize it but he was killed by a Musket bullet Dampiete killed He was by birth a Lorrain had done the Emperour many most considerable services and was much deplored by the whole Patty Bethlem finding this thorn out of his foot and having bought the amity of the Turk with money brake the Truce but his Letters by which he invited the Tartars and wherein he gave them testimonies of what services he would perform to the Grand Signior at the cost of the Empire and all Christendome by allying himself with the Turk being intercepted he disobleiged the prime Lords of Hungarie who cast themselves into the Emperours armes and fell upon Gabors forces and handled them almost as ill as the Polanders had done the year before The Count de Bucquoy in Hungarie Hereupon the Count de Bucquoy entered into Hungarie took many Townes and amongst others Posen it self and the Tartars coming to relieve Gabor were cut in pieces by the Poses under the command of that great Captain Cotqueviets The Emperour had run great hazard of loosing the Kingdome of Hungarie Is killed had not Fortune saved it by the death of the brave Count of Bucquoy who attempting to repulse the Hungarians when they sallyed out of Newhewsel was layd upon the ground with no lesse then sixteen wounds He could not more generously surrender his soul nor finde a more illustrious bed of honour to crown the greatnesse of his actions had not his souldiers so basely forgotten their duty His A my disbands it self and disbanded themselves so ignominiously For they might by carrying the body of this Mars with as much reason have expected to winne Victories as the Spaniards did by that of their Rodrigues but after the losse of their Generall they found themselves without pulse life and motion And so we may easily think how sensible a losse this was to the Emperour and all his family to whom he had rendered so potent services Thus by the death of this one brave Captaine Fortune changed and the Conquered became Conquerours They who before were reduced to a meer feeble and fearfull defensive Warre regained courage and returned to besiege the places which they had lost But Fortune lighter then the winde made Bethlem know how necessary it was for him to make Peace and Ferdinand desirous to remedy so many evils as surrounded him on every side easily suffered himself to be induced to it by his own naturall inclination And so upon the restitution of the Crown and the relinquishment of the Title of King the Peace was made and Arms laid down for a while though Gabor never cast off the desire of moving nor the hatred which he carried to his Lord the Emperour The King ' of Poland hurr Now since we are gotten so neer Poland let us deliver that which hapned there in the year 1620 The King being at Wartsawe where the Diet was held and going into the Church upon the fifteenth of November a Gentleman gave him two blows with a Pole-axe upon the head and another on his shoulder which very much endangered his life But the Parricide received his reward and the King was heard by the standers by with a faint and feeble voice to pronounce these words What said he do the Polanders learne of the French to kill their Kings Let us go hence till we shall first have related the subject for which Osman the Emperour of Turkie with an Armie of above four hundred thousand men attempted to swallow up all this puissant Kingdome which was this The Waywood of Walachia being revolted from the Grand Signior and calling in the Poles to relieve him was attacked by the Tartars and Turks who in the first fight having the worst and in the last the best of the day the Waywode was killed and the Polish Nobility defeated and this Victory so much inflamed the heart of the Great Turk that he shamefully banished the Poland Embassadour from his Court and declared a war upon the King Fortune is the Mistresse of young Princes for by good successes Osmà n attacks Poland she fills them with temerity to destroy them CHAP. VII The warre in the Palatinate Tilly beaten revenges himself and defeates the Marquis of Baden The Bishop of Halberstadt makes himself known in Westphalia and is beaten passes with Mansfeldt through Lorraine and incamps himself before Sedan THe prosperous progresse
between the Poles and the Turks The tragicall end of young Osman The death of some Lords THe Polanders being resolved to revenge the affront done their Embassadour received besides some kind of check in Moldavia but Prince Vladistans hasting thither with a puissant Army defeated the Turks in a ranged Battail which kindled so great fury in the young Emperour Osman that he swore he would be revenged and destroy the kingdom of Poland with that terrible Army whereof we have spoken already King Sigismund received the Alarme and sent his Embassadours to all Christian Kings imploring their assistance against the Common Enemy King James aforesaid sent five thousand men whom the King of Denmark would not suffer to pass in respect of the Allyance between him and the King of Sweden In fine the Polanders finding nothing but excuses every where were fain to get all on horse-back together with their King and go to deliver their Prince who was so ingaged that he had almost no means left him to escape evident danger It was a worthy object They make all the Nobility march to succour â—ladâ—slaus to see a King march at the Head of two hundred thousand Gentlemen whereof the Grand Signor being advertised sent to offer a Peace to the Prince who embraced it as an Embassie come from heaven because the third part of his Troops of sixty thousand men which were left to defend the Confines against this huge multitude was quite consumed partly by continual attacks The Yeate made and partly by diseases as having been compelled for want of victuals to eat many of their own horses The Tucks after having wanted half their Army made their retreat which together with the Peace was about the moneth of October 1621. Let us follow them to Constantinople where we shall see the tragical and pitifull end of their Prince Osman the aforesaid young Prince by some deportments of his gave suspition to the Innisuries of his having a mind to transferre both the Treasure and seate of the Empyre from Constantinople under pretext of making a pilgrimage to the Sepulcher of their Prophet Mahomet Osman strangled and Mustapha clâ—â—led in his place Whereupon his ships were stopped his Favorites massacred in his presence and himself after having endured a thousand indignities from the Souldiers strangled by the command of his Uncle whom they had drawne out of his Hermitage to succeed him But he did not long enjoy those honours whereof indeed he was unworthy Happy are they who live content in the lownesse of their Condivion and are not exposed to the blowes of the Thunderbolt at those Captaines also are who for sake the Armies to return to the Plough without I stening to the voyce of the charming Syrens of ambition But it is not only here that we have seen unheard-of changes Now these fatall Tragedies were advantageous to the Christians who were so divided by the two so often mentioned Passions The Count de la Tour obtaines sucoâ—â—â— of the Turk that there was no appearance left to reunite them The old Count de la Tour and the Marquis of Lagerendorf were knocking at the Grand-Signors Gate and displaying both their Rhetorick and their Presents seconded by the Embassadours of the inconstant Gabor so much were they seazed by desire to ruine the House of Austria which almost all Christendome banded together hath not been able to effect hitherto no nor so much as to deprive it of the Imperial Crown Sâ—â—ks Moravia However they obtained some succour sackaged Moravia and joyned with Gabor but the Turks were defeated and their Mustapha compelled to yeeld up his place to Amurath Is beâ—◠〈◊〉 Brother to Osman And these Tragedies were the cause of the warre which chanced between the Turks and Persians to the great good of Christendom and gave occasion also to the Gossacks to make a Cavalcada or Inroade to the very Gates of Constantinople The Cossacks at the Gates of Constantinople For after they had passed many great Forrests and vast Deserts the Alarme grew so hot that if the said Cossacks had not speedily retreated with their prey the poor Christians in the Town had had their throats cut it regard that it was published that they had intelligence with them Let us now take leave of the Countries of the Half * The Turks Moon for many yeares and return by the Mediterranean into those of the * The Roman Catholick Countries upon the Mediterranean Sea Crosse which being momentarily sprinkled with blood cannot choose but multiply abundantly The Venetians were very attentive to the successes of the Bohemian warre and being more propense to their own interest then their Religion occultly favoured the Bohemians But the rest of the States of Italy leaned more to the other side however Peace remained amongst them just as they did in Spain where they received the newes of a great victory upon the King of Maroco and saw after the expiration of the Truce some Holland Vessels brought into their Ports which came from Venice and were taken in the Sreights of Gibelaltar This year 1621. in the moneth of March deceased Philip the third King of Spain and was followed some moneths after The death of Philip the third King of Spain and of and Cardinal Bellatmine by the pious Arch-Duke Albert who left the Country to his Isabel and the Command of the Militia to the Marquis Spinola That famous Cardinal Robert Bellarmin so well known by the Books he left written both against the Reformats and others paid likewise his tribute to Nature this very year being above fourscore years old England continued in Peace and therefore we will step into the Low-Countries CHAP. IX Sadnes in the Low-Countries for the bad successe of the Affaires of Frederick The Warre begun again betwixt them and the Spaniards Gulick and Papemutz surrendred Count Henry suspected and why HOlland was full of loy upon the termination of the Domestick Disorders and the condemnation of the Arminians a great part whereof withdrew themselves out of united Provinces some others embraced the doctrine of the confession of Auxbourgh and the rest fought so long against their Crosses that they surmounted them at length by obtaining in many Towns free Exercise of their Faith But this joy was quickly turned into mourning by the arrivall of the newes of the unhappy successe of King Fredericks Arms and the losse of his Kingdom which he had already had some moneths in his possession Though yet the Gazets sung alwayes of his victories and of the decline of the Emperours Affayres yea and the Painters represented him already sitting in the Imperial Throne Ferdinand on his knees before him and the Eagle all peeled and debilitated The Eagle peeled It was also published that the Battail before Prague was wonne by him and the contrary tidings contemned as suspects and given out by the Papists till himself arrived and brought the naked Truth with him and
he sent some Troops which made a shew of coming from the Camp before Breda as carrying the same Motto's and Colours which Spinola carried they arrived undiscovered to the very Mote applyed their Ladders and set all their rare Engynes on work to render themselves Masters of the Place whereof they could not have failed had not their own hearts failed them first For one Who goes there of the Sentinell followed by the discharge of a Musket made theirs fall our of their hands and left them no more courage then onely to fly It was thought that he had a mind to bestow the honour of this expeditiupon the Hollanders whom he onely employed in it and that if he had mingled any of the other nations with them the businesse would have issued to his contentment This newes struck the Marquis almost into a feaver and sent the Prince loaden with Melancholy to the Hage where towards the end of the winter he died leaving his Army to his brother Henry Frederick and Spinola before Breda who seeing no meanes to take it by force resolved to famish it A former enterprize upon the same Cittadell The aforesaid Prince had had a former enterprize upon the said Cittadell and held himself so sure of it that he told the Burgomasters of Dort at his departure that none but God could hinder it And indeed he was no sooner embarked but there arose so violent and so extreamly cold a tempest that it put both his life and his Fleet in danger and so he was forced to return God hath put limits to Victories which cannot be passed by humane wisdome Spinola having sufficiently learnt how needfull it was to be vigilant with an enemy who slept not reinforced the Garrison of the aforesaid Cittadell kept himself fast in his trenches before Breda expecting the consumpsion of the Provisions of the Town and made magazin for the Winter and being advertised besides that the Enemy was assembling some forces and that four Kings had interested themselves in this Siege He sent for some Regiments from the Emperour Uladislaus Prince of Poland before Breda Prince Vladislaus since King of Poland came to see this famous siege and was received by the whole Army with such military honours as were due to the Sonne of a King and a very great Captaine The King of Spaine having foreseen this tempest which was contrived against his Low-Countries and being unwilling to hazard the whole for one piece thereof wrote to his Aunt that it was better to leave the siege then obstinately to persist in the impossibility of taking the Towne with the losse of all her States This savoured well with the Emulators of the said Marquis as Don Lewis de Velasco c. A Magazin burnt There happened also another misfortune which was that the Hollander fired a Magazin which would have staggered any other General but such a one as he who quickly requited this losse and by his vigilancie repulsed the English who with a most martiall courage went to attack a Quarter of his Camp Breda copitulates In fine after a Siege of ten moneths Breda was yeelded and it happened the very same day that the Kings Letters arrived with his absolute command to draw off the Army We left the King of Poland with his Nobility marching against the great Turk and therefore let us now look what the Swedes in the mean while are doing Gustavus laid hold of that occasion passed an army into Livonia and after the siege of five weeks to the great trouble of the Citizens took Riga The Swedes take Riga The Polanders hereupon made loud complaints of him for beginning the Warre just when they were busied against the Common Enemy and for breaking the Truce in the articles whereof it was comprized that the one of the Kings should not enter into the Lands of the other without having denounced the War three moneths before To which the Swedes made answer that they had sent their Embassadours And mâ—â—k at the complaints of the Foles and that they were not able to dispatch their Commissions any sooner being hindered by windes and tempests which were to be accused and not they a trick of War which must be made passe for good according to the Maximes of this Age. In short this occasion was favourable to the Swedes who cared as much for their reasons as Monsieur de Montmorancy did for those of the Magistrates of Metz when he was gotten into possession of their Towne This War was finished by a Truce whereby the Swedes were obleiged to return by Sea after they had well fortifyed Riga with intention never to restore it againe Now the Electour Palatine after being spoiled of his States was deprived also of his Dignities and his Electorat transferred upon the Duke of Bavaria his Cosin 1623. which much augmented hatred against the Emperour Duke Maximilian and all the Catholicks and caused in fine many new Allyances to be made which put spurts to the War we are going to discribe in this next Book The Electour Palatin spoiled of his States and banished This Prince was crowned King of Bohemia the fourteenth of November 1619. in the moneth of January following he made his Allyances and in the same year also he lost his Kingdome and his States was proscribed by the Emperours Edict and his Coronation declared Null He who grasps much holds little and it often falls out that whilest we are in pursute of other mens good we lose our owne THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I The Warre of Denmark The Allyances of the Kings of France England Denmark and the States of Holland against the Emperour GEneral Mansfeldts arguments had as much efficacy in the North as they had towards the South because the dangers which seemed to threaten that Country were grown greater and besides a Prince which becomes potent makes himself both feared and hated Tilly wintered in Hassia in despight of the Landgrave Maurice nor were the States of Low-Saxony a little troubled to see the Imperiall Eagles fluttering up and down upon their fronteers and that not without giving them great incovenience besides that they feared lest they should peradventure come to replant their old authority there The King of Denmark together with many other Princes and States thereabouts were moved to much impatience by the ruine of Frederick as apprehending lest these Guests should come and take up their lodging amongst them Wherefore being advertised by common danger and by that which themselves perhaps would have done if they had had the same power and right which the Emperour had they made a League for the defence of the Circle of the Lower Saxony into which entred the Kings of England France and Sweden together with the States Generall and the King of Denmark himself was the Head A League against the Em perour as being General of the said Circle The Dukes of Brunswick Mekelenburgh and Holstein
against them for the bad treatment of the Priests and Officers of the Queen they were easily brought to break as well by the arguments of Soubize as of the whole Body together The English enter the Isle of Ray 1627. and so the English Fleet made a descent or disembarkment in the Isle of Ray in the moneth of July of the year 1627 and besieged the Fort of St. Martin which was not yet quite finished This Warre which in outward appearance had no other scope at all then that of Religion with many other petty punctilios which merited not so much as an ill look from either to the other proved fatall to the English and glorious to the French Are beaten off with shame by the enterance which they made into the Island and the chase they gave their Enemies from thence but yet more glorious to Monsieur de Toir as who defended the Fort neer four moneths both against them and famine and most glorious to the Marshal of Schoenbergh who put in the succour and forced them after they were lustily beaten to retyre to their ships So that upon the matter the English went away with the shame and the Rochelers stayed with the losse And this warre helped to forward the King of Denmarks ruine in regard that these Kings gave him not the assistance they had promised him by the Contract and so he struck a ground Rochell The Confederated States after the reduction of Rochel were saine to hear as well the reproaches and calumnies of the whole Body of the Hughenots of France as the taunts and raylings of the English Where blinde Passion rules there is no roome for Reason For it was not their fault that this difference was not decided by some other meanes then that of armes But let us now note the successe of this siege Rochell is a Town situated in the Country of Asins which is grown to have great traffick and riches through the convenienie of the Haven The growth of the Towne and by consequence insolent against the Kings authority The Inhabitants mutined under Francis the first but as soon as they saw him in Arms and that he would be obeyed their audacity quickly turned into humility After they embraced the Reformed Religion they became by little and little so powerfull and so considerable that the Kings through that the necessity of their affaires were often obliged to make a shew not to see or connive at that which was not invisible to any When we cannot correct Vice we must seem to be ignorant of it For having the principall Key of the Kingdome they made themselves chief of the Party and all such as for any discontentment absented themselves from Court and bent themselves against the King and his Authority could never faile to be welcome unto Rochell It is besieged by Henry the 3. They were once besieged by Monsieur who was afterwards Henry the Third but upon request of the Embassadours of Poland the siege was drawn off just at the time when they were in hazard of being tamed But since that their strength together with their Intelligence both within and without the Kingdome is so much augmented they have relyed upon their fortifications and have subtracted themselves from the yoke nor more nor lesse then the Imperiall Towns have done from that of the Emperour Cardinall Rechelieu having gotten full possession of the Kings favour for having dissipated some tumults and found out the Mine whereof the Count of Chalais payd the whole score as a Complice for all the rest had no more left to do then to acquire also that of the Clergie and People by some remarkable service to the State whereof he could not faile by the reduction of Rochell And then by Lewis the 13. in the year 1627. Now the King being informed of the descent of the English in the Isle of Ray commanded his Troops to march and as soon as he was recovered of a dangegous sicknesse which he had at that time he made them also intrench and advance all the shipps of France to stop the Haven even the Spaniards themselves comming to take possession of the place which the Hollanders had left under a specious pretext of mending their Vessels The Damme being perfected and the shipps sunk in the deepest and hollowest place of the Channell the besieged were reduced to a famine which exceeded that of Jerusalem All their hope was in the English and Buckingham made all the haste he could to succour them who had furnished him with victualls for his Army and now with most instant and urgent supplications begged some back againe from him but he being assassinated by a certaine Englishman Buckingham killed by Felton called Felton who went expresly out of Holland to sacrifice him to the hatred of the People the Fleet was retarded This murderer committed this fact by the meer and onely impulse of zeal to the Religion and so by thinking to forward the businesse he hindered it We very often aspire to that which is against us and reject that which is for us This Duke of Buckingham had entirely disposed of King James and was no lesse in the favour of the King his Sonne though neither his good countenance nor his gracefull carriage nor his liberality nor his courtesie was ever able to winne the People who held him still for the Authour of all imaginable mischief to the Kingdom The Reason of State whereby Princes maintaine Now the King of England being in some misunderstanding with his Brother in Law the King of France sent the Lord Montalgue to the Dukes of Lorraine and Savoy to animate them to a powerfull diversion thereby to withdraw him from this siege What cannot reason of State work upon Princes who ought to have a care to preserve their interests by all rationall meanes By this same reason have the Kings of France maintained the Hollanders and the Protestants By this might it seem lawful to these two Princes to passe by the consideration of Religion By this do the Swissers and the Venetians uphold themselves And the two aforesaid knew well enough that the French having fastened this pinne would not faile to trouble their Neighbours upon the very first occasion since there wanted no pretext besides that perswasion whereby some flatterers will needs make them believe that all Europe belongs to them The Cardinall to whom all these plots and practises were not unknown as having his Pensioners in England as well as elsewhere provided himself for them The Aequinoctiall brought the Fleet which was to break the Damm and put some food into the famished Towne The Damm The Nobility posted thither to serve their King and purchase glory All was hemmed in with Artillery and Souldiers and the passage so stopped as well by the said Damm and variety of Engines as also by the Vessels that the English not seeing any meanes to penetrate retyred The Rochelers of whom there was not
above the tenth part left so much were they wasted with hunger rendered themselves into the hands of their King Rochell being starved yields who took them into his mercy and granted them the free exercise of their Religion but he discharged his just choler upon the Bastions and Works which he caused to be thrown down Never had the Hughenots a more sensible losse then this nor ever had the Catholicks a more gratefull Victorie Nor was the Cardinall without his share thereof the French every where singing his praises raising him to Heaven making him their Angel Guardian and even a God upon earth But this love was quickly changed and this second Tiberius made them feel that he was a Fox and governed himself meerly by the Maxims of Machiavell CHAP. III. The prosecution of the Warre of Denmark unfortunate to the Danes Wallenstein in vain besieges Stralsund The Peace made Tilly passes the Elbe SInce we have left Tilly near the Elbe let us march on with him and see what resistance he findes The terrour was so universal that every body fled yea the souldiers themselves forsook their Canon Forts Arms and Baggage at the very name of this great General Only the Marquis of Dourlac presumed to face about but the Count of Slick quickly made him turn his back and stick to his heels The number of the Gunnes and Colours much illustrated this victory There were no more left Dourlac Calembergh and Nell are beaten then the Generals Calembergh and Nell who being found intrenched were invested by the said Slick and having no hope at all of succour yeelded themselves to him Three thousand horse and two Regiments of Foot took part with the Conquerors But the Generals having gotten possession of Holstein and Iutland there remained yet some Townes to be subdued so that it was necessary to divide the forces to accomplish the work Papenheim was before Wolfenbottel which after it been long blocked up opened him the Gates Nerbrot defeated by Anholt There chanced yer another misfortune in the Countrey of Bremen which drove the Allyes quite out of the Field and it was that General Nerbrot was attacked and without scarce having fought for it utterly routed by Anholt so great power had fear upon such as were staggered by the puissant Genius of victorious Tilly and the souldiers being deserted by their General forgot their duty and embraced that party to which Fortune most inclined What strange felicity had this man yea even higher then that of Iulius Caesar himself since he could more clearly and truly say I came I saw and I overcame Townes besieged by the Imperialists The Armies finding now no more Armies to combat were employed about the taking of Towns by the resistance whereof many souldiers and much time was lost and leasure given the King to fortify himself in the Isles of Funds and Zeland Stade after a huge opposition yeelded to Tilly and Newburgh to the Duke of Brunswick The Imperialists attempted severall times to passe to the Islands but were repulsed with losse God had put bounds to their victories and would not suffer this generous Prince to be quite dispoyled of his kingdom The Conquerors in Meckelenburgh The Dukes of Meckelenburgh took part with the King for Fate it seems would needs involve them in the same disasters But at the arrivall of the Imperial Troops all gave way all stooped the Towns opened their Gates to receive Garrisons and their purses to sweeten the insolencies of the victorious souldiers A hard condition for that poor people who had so long enjoyed the sweet fruits of Peace But who can resist against the cruel lot of Destiny Having recovered some ships they tryed for the last time to passe and re-invest the poor King but were soundly cudgelled and compelled to make towards Pomerama which was already conquered except Stralsund and Steene the former whereof being a Maritime Town was besieged by Arnhem upon the command of his Generall And here it was that Fortune made the Imperialists confesse that if they could domineer by land Wallenstein besieges Stralsund in vain their enemies could do as much upon the water For Wallenstein thought to terrify the besieged by frequent Assaults but not being able to hinder the entrance of the ships he lost an infinity of good souldiers his own labour and some part also of his glory There was a rumour scattered as if he had vanted that he would take Stralsund The King haâ—cen again even though it were hung in the ayer and tyed with Iron chaines The King regained courage and footing in Pomerania but found still that Fortune was yet but his Step-mother as suffering him again to be benten near Wolgast so that he could do no more then re-inforce the besieged who were ready to yeeld and retyre himself into Denmark Canipo was forced by famin and there it was that the French who came to succour the King manifested their valour Gelucstat a strong place upon the River below Hamburgh was long time beleaguered in vain by Tilly who lost both his time and his labour about that as Wallenstein did his before Stralsund In fine a Peace was treated and a Warre finished in five moneths which had lasted five yeares Peace made 1629. The King abandoned by almost all his Allyes who had work enough at home with a Royall and indemptable heart employed all his abilities and industry not only to defend his Islands but also to expell his enemies out of Holstein But the peace concluded at Lubec put a period to all his troubles dislodged the Imperialists since they had lost the hope of conquering the whole Kingdom out of his Territories and freed all the North from the danger whereby it was threatned of a change both in Church and State By this Peace which a certain French Writer terms shameful for the Conquerours as being with intention to dispossess a Catholick Prince of his lawfull succession the King renounced the Provinces of Saxony and so the amity between the two Princes was renewed The Emperour writing to the King told him formally that their quarrel proceeded from nothing but the craft and practises of some certain Merchants The States Generall being fearfull left by so many losses heaped together and the felicity which accompanied this valorous Count the Imperialists should gain Zeland The Hollanders will defend the Sound and make themselves Masters of that famous Streight which is of so much consequence offered to defend it with their ships But the most desired newes of the Peace and Retreat stifled all these apprehensions Whatsoever was past was sunk into the gulph of oblivion all setled is it had been before the Warre and the Emperour gave sufficient testimony that he knew as well how to restore and pardon as to vanquish and that he had taken armes to defend the Majesty of the Empyre and his own Authority not to strip the King of his kingdoms This Peace was
not left them that worthy Brother and that strong Atlas who forthwith took the burthen of the Government upon his shoulders This was he who firmly fixed this reeling Common-wealth by his Arms took many Townes in Freezland Overysell and Guelders with small charge few men and little bloodshed in such sort as that he merited to be termed as he was the Father of the Souldiers And of King James a peacefull Prince In the same spring also died King James a Prince who much loved Peace and learning After he had the Crown of England upon his Head all the disasters and misfortunes of his House begun upon his Praedecessours were stopped by him as water is by the opposition of a Dam or Bank so to gush out with the greater violence upon his children and succesours as we shall hereafter shew But who can penetrate into the secrets of Gods Judgments He governed his kingdom in peace and maintained his Subjects in riches and delights but there grew up a little Venim which wrought afterwards in fit time The â—vills which we see often happen draw their cause sometimes from afarre off Prince Henry having payed the last duties to his magnanimous Brother departed from the Hague to hinder the designe which the Spaniards had The Spaniards will joyne the Rhein to the Moâ—â— 1626. to joyn the Rhein to the Mose and by the erection of many Forts keep the Hollanders from passing over an Enterprise which unprofitably exhausted their money and made them seem able to make no more then meerly a Defensive warre Jupiter laughed at the Gyants who would scale Heaven Time hath declared the inutility of this work and to what intention also that advice was given For the Hollanders are Masters of that liquid Element and passe it when they will There chanced nothing worthy of note in that toylsome March save only that Count Henry of Bergues beat up the Horse-Quarter brought away the Count of Stirum his Cousin prisoner with some Horse Count Stirum prisoner In revenge whereof the Prince sent Count Ernest to unnestle the Spaniards from Oldenzeel and destroy the nest The Siege of Grol In the year 1627. he laid siege to Grol a small but strong Town upon the Confines of Westphalia which he carried in lesse then a moneth in the sight of a puissant Army Spinola in the mean time was busie about the fortifying of Sandflect a Village between Antwerp and Berghen op Zoom which was a design of more advantage and consideration then that of uniting the two Rivers By this exploit of the Prince it was judged that his Government would prove happy and the vessels loaden with mony which were brought out of Holland by Peter Hein moved him to undertake the siege of Boisleduc which was begun the first of May and ended the seventeenth of September a fatal day to the House of Austria Lorraine was peacefully governed by the wise conduct of Duke Henry son to Duke Charles but his term was but of sixteen yeers The death of the Duke of Lorraine He departed to a better life the twentieth of Iuly 1624. and shortly after him the repose and tranquility of all that Country by the ambition of her Neighbours He left but two Daughters the elder whereof was married to the Count of Vandomonts sonne her Cousin-German The Salick Law in Lorraine The year following the Salick Law having regained vigour and Francis of Vandomont being next heir by the said Law which excludes Females surrendred his right in that Dutchy to his sonne Charles which was approved by the States of the Country and so Charles Duke of Lorraine made his entry into the good City of Nancy and took full possession of the whole Dukedome Now some have written against this said Law as if it were to be observed no where but in France as coming thither with them out of Franconie But most Writers affirm that the ancient Franks established their habitation from the bank of the Rhein to the River of Loire in such sort as that Lorraine being comprised therein and having been also a parcell divided from that kingdom it followes that the Predecessors had the same intention to establish it as well in the kingdom of Austrasia as in that of France and that it hath been tacitly and quietly observed without any dispute Besides that it is proved by the Testament of Renè of Ierusalem Duke of Lorraine and Bar made in the year 1406. by which the Male are called to Succession and the Female excluded as it further appears also by experience it self A Jubily ar Rome This year of 1625. Pope Vrban celebrated an universall Jubily at which the Prince of Poland coming from the Low-Countries was present and the same year the Emperour Ferdinand Crowned his Son King of Hungary invited thereto by the States of that kingdom to be defended by so great and powerfull a Prince against the perpetual ambushes and snares of the inconstant Gabor Nor was it enough that he had one Crown The Crowning of the King of Hungary for that of Bohemia was also resigned him by his Father with the accustomed Ceremonies Let us not leave the Danub which was yet all red with the blood of the Peasants till we shall first have seen that of the Transylvanians and Turks stream also there together with the motives of that Warre Gabor breakes the peace This Gabor being swolne with pride by the Allyance of one of the most illustrious Houses of Germany honoured at his wedding by the presence of the two Emperours besides those of Kings and other Princes found himself tickled by a new desire to Reign and the occasions were so fair that they stifled the Peace so often sworne and so often broaken For the Armies were drawne towards the Baltick Sea and the Bavarians and Pahouheim had work enough with the revolted Peasants Whereupon he passed out of Hungary into Moravia and took many Townes the fear of so unforeseen an evill making the people have recourse rather to God then Armes But Mansfeldt having redressed his Army after being cudgelled in Saxony marched out of Silesia into Hungary and Wallenstein traced him affronted them all together and defeated them Upon this he called the Tartars who passed through Poland to his assistance but they being loaden with pillage were so hotly charged by the Poles The Tartars beaten that they were fain to lay down both their packs and their lives in such sort as that there remained not so so much as one alive to carry the newes so that there were only the Turks upon whom to look now and them he invited but it was only to augment the Triumph of Wallenstein And the Turks by Wallenstein who beat them took their Canon and pillaged their Camp which was full of riches The Grand-Signor desirous to keep the Peace called back his Troops and their departure gave Gabor Gabor repents and obtaines peace both disgust and
other purpose then to make the constance of the Townsmen admired augment the story of King Lewis the Inst and elevate that of the Cardinal above the Stars A very great and most acceptable Victory to France had she remained in the same liberty which she enjoyed during the potency of this Town A most damnable victory to the House of Austria which the French themselves accuse of having then forgotten her interest A victory which ruined and brought to a full stand or Non-plus all that Party which divided the Kings Authority A Victory which gave that great Cardinal one half of his honour and upon which he founded the highest and most constant power that ever any Minister had to the ruine of many most illustrious Families and old Priviledges the confusion of all Christendom and even of his own great Benefactresse her self Now since the English had rather hindred then furthered the Party and were accused of being the cause of this irreparable losse a resolution was taken to seek to some other support elsewhere and so an Embassadour was dispatched into Spain to represent to that King that interest he had to keep this Party The Duke of Rohan deâ—â—ands siâ—â—cour in Spain and to beseech him to send mony only and to remember the King of France's Allyance with the Hollander whom he maintained with as much heat and zeal as if they were his own subjects and of his own Religion Whereupon the Spaniards by the permission of the Counsell Conscience resolved upon it thereby to give as many vexations to the King of France within his kingdom as they received from him in the Low-countries But the said Embassadour The death of the Negotiatour or Necessitator though a subject of the King of Spaines was taken and condemned to death by order of the Parliament of Tholosa his innocence founded upon the action of a publick Minister serving him for nothing however this Decree were censured by such as had not their eyes vailed by passion and who could speak freely of it without danger Makes his peace with the King and all obey King Lewis discovered all their plots and prevented them by the prudence of the Cardinal and having made but a slight peace with the said Duke he fell with his Army upon the Vivaret surprised Privas and took it by open force chastised insolence by putting all to sword treated well the Townes which submitted and assured them of the free exercise of their Religion Upon this the Duke had recourse to his clemency and he graciously embraced him and augmented his Pension Castras Niemes and some other places which might have given a long trouble also submitted without any other punishment inflicted upon then the demolishment of their new Fortisications which Commandment was of hard digestion to them of Montauban who were nevertheless disposed to obedience by the Cardinals presence and the force of his eloquence who alledged that the King could not endure any fortified place in his kingdom And so in fine they stooped and with regret enough brake down that which gave the jealousie which could not be obtained from them by violence and the noise of the Canon Time ripens all things and that which in the precedent Age was judged impossible hath been found feasible in this The end of the Hughenot Party This was the end of the Hughenot Party in France which had given so much labour and toyle to the Kings and so divided their jurisdiction It took birth from the doctrine of Luther and Calvin passed infancie under Henry the second got vigour and strength under Francis the second grew to strong youth under Charles the ninth and Henry the third through the favour of the Princes of the Blood enemies to the power and authority of the Dukes of Guise and by the valour of the King of Navarre It obtained free Exercife and some Townes of safety under Henry the fourth and remained quiet and without commotion out of respect and reverence to so great a Prince But under Lewis the thirteenth finding it self abandoned by some of the principall Heads it began to stagger and at last vanished quite away in such sort as that though the Religion be still there there is yet no formed party and the root of the ambition of the Grandies who under the shadow of Religion did very often disturb honest people on both sides is quite cut off Their distrust which is called the companion of safety which they conceived they should not be able to find in the Kings word made them often importune the Queen-Regent and the marriage with the Infanta of Spain a Nation which they abhorre above all other made them joyn to the Prince of Conde to hinder it which much hastened their disgrace The King being declared Maâ—or recovered Bearn more by veneration then by force and more by the brightnesse of his Majesty then by that of his sword He was the pralude of the first warre speeded by their Assembly at Rechel Father Arnour and counselled by Father Arnour who was preferred by the Duke of Luynes to the direction of the Conscience and partly also of the favour of his Majesty But as the said Luynes made the Fortune of this able â—esuit so did he also soon unmake it thereby to free himself from the jealousie it gave him Saumur The taking of Townes Saint Ieand ' Angeli and a great number of other Towns Burghs and Villages fortified were taken with incredible successe There was no more left then Montauban which forced the Conquerours to retreat and in some sort dimmed their Triumph The year following produced the Kings constant resolution to be obeyed and to punish the revolted Towns the reduction of Moutpeillâ—er and the Peace which followed by the counsell of the Constable d' Edignieres Edigniereâ— This Lord being of a mean extraction grew to be elevated to the highest Charge of France through all the degrees of a souldier His life and had heaped up a huge deale of treasure Not with standing his Belief which was the same of the Reformates he alwayes kept his faith inviolable with the King and was by consequence but little loved by the most zealous of the Party Makes himself a Catholiâ—â—â— A little before his death he embraced the Roman Catholick Religion as having promised it in a frollick to Urban as soon as he should come to the Pontificat The second warre made the Hugenots loose the Lordship of the Sea The third being begun with the assistance of a stranger was consummated by the direction of that potent Cardinal and so the whole conduct of that great Vessel was restored into the hands of the just and milde King Lewis Let us go into Hungary to see the end of the fickle and busy Gabor CHAP. IX The Death of Bethleem Gabor Ragoski his Suceessour The Marriage of Ferdinand the third with the King of Spain's Sister The death of Gabor BEthleem Gabor growne wise by
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
not condescend to it for feare of offending the Emperour and Empire nor did they ever render him any other answer at all to all his replyes which gave him excessive rancour and disgust however he thought fit to make but little shew thereof For it was not indeed the feare of offending Ferdinand which kept them from it for they had done that enough already by many oblique wayes and especially by sending Coronel Pinsen with a strong Brigade into Westphalia But it was because they had rather have for their Neighbour a weak Bishop of Colein then a strong King of France It is Maxime of State which carries it above all obligations and Allyances how strong soever they be are easily broken in these times if Interest command it They sent General Bandits word that if he did not retire himselfe from thence they would drive him away by force So that these former circumstances and the utter route of the Swedes being motives to make the Cardinal differ his designe upon Colein for a sitter season for vengeance waits occasion made him he fixed his thoughts upon things of neerer concernment as thus He had already almost ruined or quite depressed the branches of the House of Lorraine in France and persecuted the Duke of Guise The House of Lorraine afflicted even till his death and therefore he resolved to unroot the maine Stock and destroy the whole Family The Duke of Lorraine after being stripped of all his Places of strength and of Nancy it selfe to get a peace found that France sought nothing but his destruction and that when he resented any of the astronts which were done him by the Cardinal the King who was often ignorant of the cause was forth with made beleeve that he had broken his faith and so his lawful excuses had no accesse where his enemies were stronger then he We very often judge ill because we know not the principal Causes Wherefore haveing no other rolyance then upon God and his Sword and not being able any longer to dissemble his just resentment The Duke of Lorraines Manifesto he published a Manifest wherein he declared that being a Soveraigne Prince borne and seeing that his Enemies whom he could not content sought after his Country and his life he transferred all his Rights upon his brother absolved his Subjects from their Oath of fidelity to himselfe and commanded them to obey him Which done he returned into Germany to serve the Emperour whom the Cardinal studied to ruine with him from whom he received the quality of General of the Catholick Army and passed towards the Danub with the Cardinal Infanto And three or four moneths after the Princesse Nicoll his wife The Princesse Nicoll at Paris made her entrance into Paris where she was well received by their Majesties and entertained according to her condition Richelieu being well informed of all and imagining that this Transport or Deed of Gift was but conditional and for a time and knowing also Prince Francis marrie his Cousin is imprisoned retiers to Vienna that the Cardinal brother to the said Duke had sent to Rome for a Dispensation to marry his Cousin German and render the Cap into the hands of his Holinesse judded it expedient to crosse this match and so sought to surprize the Post but in vaine for he passed through the Guards and the same evening the marriage was consummated But both he and his Princesse were carried prisoners to the Cittadel out of which they both secretly escaped as also out of the Town disguised in the habit of Country people and passing through Savoy Florence and Venice arrived at length at the Imperial Court in Vienna It was indeed in vaine for him to attempt the extinction of this most illustrious and most ancient Race issued from Charlemagne and so many other Kings who have performed so considerable services to Christendome yea and even to France it selfe in the Battel of Crecy and during all the Wars with the English For God raised a young Maid of this Family like a second Judith The Maid Jane of Orleans to save the Kingdom from the oppression of Strangers and the Cardinal after having deprived it of the lawful Prince called in the Gothick Nations to ruine it This noble House I say hath afforded Princes which have defended and maintained the Catholick Religion throughout the whole Kingdom and the Cardinal made the Lutherans flock to subdue it Indeed there are none but the Hughenot Party who have any ground to complain of it since it hath furnished many noble Lords who have alwayes shewed themselves enemies to that Doctrine We must confesse that this Dutchy merited better treatment since it had never offended France That it is a poor maxime of State to oppresse a Prince who desires nothing but Peace and upholds himselfe in the justice of his Cause This proceeding will produce much misfortune for they who accuse him of having so often falsyfied his faith silence the cause thereof either through malice or ignorance CHAP. III. The Imperialist's wast in the Dutchy of Wirtembergh The French come to succour the Swedes Philipsburgh taken by a prank of War The Cardinal enters Brussels and the Duke of Orleans departs FRance hitherto waged War against the House of Austria obliquely and indirectly enough though yet with advantage and seized upon Lorraine more like a Fox then a Lion as more by craft then open force But it was time to throw off the Vizard and lay hold of all Europe since it appertaines to it according to the opinion of that famous Impostour who is so learnedly refuted by Jansenius a Professour of Lonain and a certain Spaniard who argues thus If the Empire belong to France because it was governed by Charlemagne with much more reason doth Languedoc and some other Provinces in France occupated by the Goths belong to the King of Spain as he is Successour of the said Goths who established their Monarchy in Spain and preceded the said Charlemagne in time But let us leave these old trifles and fond Commentations and stay in our corrupt Age where Might amongst many is more esteemed then Right and where the most crafty Cheats are held the best Politicians Duke Bernard being escaped with many other Officers had recourse to the favour of France where being a German he was judged capable and fit to beare the burthen of the War together with Marshal de la Force The French in Germany Such as are least suspected and most interessed as well in matter of Religion as otherwise are alwayes chosen for the expedition of any great Enterprize Make a huge Magazine at Philipsburgh There passed nothing worthy of memory between the two Partyes the Imperialists being grown slack and lazie by the abundance and fertility of the Dutchy of Wirtembergh and the French making a Magazine at Philipsburgh the like whereof was never heard as being sufficient to pay and feed whole Armies together for the entire Conquest
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
Mastricht which was of much advantage to him and in some measure recompenced so many losses and had not the Enterprize so excellently begun upon Rhinbergh failed by the cowardise of the Enterprizers all would have remained equal enough For the Spaniards had cast bridges of bulrushes into the Motes without being discovered the selfe same evening that the rejoycing was made for the taking of Breda upon which having passed and made themselves Masters of some Bastions they fell into the Town it selfe but the Souldiers of the Garrison tumultuarily and suddainly taking arms put them to a retreate and the Horse seeing the Gate open durst not enter and so the Town got a fine escape The next year 1638. Fortune returned to the Spaniards For the French laid Siege before St. Omers a strong and well munitioned Place siâ—â—ted upon a little River which empties it selfe into the Sea neer Graveling St. Omers â—â—sieged the birth of the Dolphin the fifth of Seâ—tember 1638. but having lost the Fort neer the Bat and a great Convoy they were compelled to rise with great losse which was mollified by the birth of the Dolphin the fifth of September the joy whereof was universal and the Queen after a marriage of three and twenty years sterility manifested an admirable exception to that Rule which sayes that the Spanish Ladies beare no children after they are four and thirty years old But it is true that this blessed fecundity was sent by the Divine Providence for the good of France Two dayes after this the French were beaten from Fontaraby and their Army defeated The French beaten before Fontaraby which misfortune hapned as it is beleeved by the Prince of Condes bad correspondence with the Duke de la Valette and the losse of this victory obscured the luster of that which they got at Sea as their taking of Reuty a place considerable enough softened a little the wound received before St. Omers Cattelet was also retaken and the Governour together with all the Captains beheaded for not withstanding so much as one assault and expecting the succour which was already neer the Town When Fortune laughs too much she ordinarily carryeâ— venim in her taile which the Hollanders experimented this year For they craftily got into Planders took two little Forts and besieged that of St. Mary where they were so well intrenched that had they kept that Station they had gone neer to make Antwerp quickly change her Master But they were so briskly and frequently attacked by the Spaniards that they grew faint-hearted And the Hollanders before Callo and endeavoured to returne by flight the same way they came but were almost all taken prisoners and all their Artillery and Shallops fell into the Enemies â—iandsâ— There were of them more smothered in the marshes then killed in the fight and Count William had very much adoe to save himselfe with a few more in his company The prisoners had the same treatment which the Spaniards had received who were taken in the Sallops in the year 1631. Nor was the Prince of Orange himselfe much happier before Guelders though he retired with lesse losse and trouble These alternative victories and these great Changes of Fortune constant in her inconstance ought to have made the Princes remember that being Christians they were bound to lay aside their animosities but they were so fleâ—hed upon one another that they aspired to nothing lesse then peace and took nothing more to heart then the utter ruine of each other Their thirst was not yet quenched with humane blood The Queen-Mother arrives in Holland goes into England comes back to Colein Her death nor their heat deminished by reposing all the Winter The Queen-Mother departed from Bruffels passed through Holland where she was received with respect enough in all the Towns but principally at Amsterdam where that illustrious Magistracy performed the honours of the Republick and then embarked for England where she was embraced by her Son in Law and her Daughter with honour and sense of tendernesse and joy There was a report that it was she who counselled the match of the Prince of Orange with the eldest Daughter of England and the English imputed the first seeds of the divisions and wars of their Kingdom to her as if this unfortunate Princesse had every where carried ill luck in her company like some contagious sicknesse But seditious persons are glad to cast the fault and guilt of their ill intentions upon such as are not beloved by the ignorant people nor is there any more vicious and corrupt Soul then that of a detracter She repassed by Zeland to Colein and seeing that he whom she had raised so high slighted her disasters stood fast in favour and in the entire administration of the affairs of the Kingdom she fell sick and after having pardoned all her enemies dyed This great Queen Mother to so may Kings being overwhelmed with miseries and old age left this mortal habitation and taught us thereby that there is no sure and stedfast felicity in this pilgrimage She had most wisely governed the Kingdom of France during the Kings minority and elevated to the highest degree of honour him who rendered her most miserable afterwards If the little ones are trodden under foot the Great ones are also precipitated and tumbled down headlong from the highest honours and dignities into the abysse of calamities to the end that every one may resent the disasters of this constantly deplorable Age. The Season being proper the Armies were led again into the Field and Fortune shared the Victories The French beâ—ten before Theonuille The Army of Campagne under the command of Monsiâ—ur de Feuquieres went to besiege Theonuille where it was quite defeated by Piccolomini and Beck who presented himselfe before Monzon but the Duke of Chastillon having recollected the fragments thereof and joyned them with his Troops for Fenquieres was dead of his wound made him change his route and follow the Infanto's order to come to the reliefe of Hosdin which was furiously attacked by Marshal de la Meilleraye and most excellently defended by the Garrison Though yet at length the Governour having sustained many assaults and spent all his powder and seeing on the other side the Assaultants animated by the Kings presence was saine to yeild it upon a good composition Hosdin rendred to the French â—638 1638. It was belâ—eved that had he been able to hold it out two dayes and two assaults more the Siege would have been raised but Pâ—ccolomini came too late and the Ambuscado which he had laid for the King in his returne from the Field was discovered too soone The Prince of Conde seized upon the strong place of Salces in the County of Rossillion which was quickly afterwards retaken by Marquis Spinola and the King of Spain who often sent forces into the Low-Countries found himselfe quickly in a condition to draw some from thence into Spain This very year Prince Cassimir now
prevented by the aforesaid Prince who made his Army march at one of the clock after mid-night and pitched his Camp near the said Weymarians in such sort as that Melo coming some hours too late durst not meddle with them and avowed that he had to do with one of the cunningest Captains in the world But whilest these things passed Baron John de Werdt returned out of France and shewed that he had not forgotten his Trade by the discontinuance thereof for in less then two months there were above two thousand horses sold at Colein which he had taken from the enemy Let us now pass into Catalunia and see the condition of the affaires of that Country commanded by Monsieur de la Motte Houdancour who so often beat the Castilians took so many Towns and succoured so many more that he deserved and had the Marshalls staffe The King and Cardinal went thither The great progresse of the Frénch in Catalunia and the French took Salces Perpinlan and all the County of Roussillion which had been formerly engaged to the Crown of France but was restored by Charles the eighth Monsieur le Grand had such an advantagious possession of the Kings favour at that time that the great Cardinal was alarmed by it and found himself ready to be cast out of the Saddell For he let the King know how necessary a Peace would be for his kingdom which was impoverished and exhausted by so many Taxes and Warres and had already disposed him to listen to an Accommodation with the King of Spain But he warped a Web into which he so involved himself that he was not afterwards able to put it off For they who recommended Peace were held for malefactors and worthy of death Monsieur le Grand beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon saved by whom Wherefore he was sent to Lyons with Monsieur de Thoii where they were both beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon had run the same Fortune had he not been saved by the high and sharp intercession of the Prince of Orange and the consideration of the Town of Sedan For the said Prince had newly preserved the Weymarian Army and rendred France a most remarkable service whereby he could not merit less then the safety of an innocent mans life The execution of the two young Lords aforesaid augmented the hatred which all the world bore this ambitious Cardinal yea and the King himself expressed some coldnesse to him The great Cardinals death which together with so many other inconveniences encreased his sickness and the fourth of December 1642 sent him to the other world since he had troubled this enough already Never did any man ascend to such an immense greatness and maintain himself so well in it His life was very like that of Seianus but their deaths were different this being naturall and that violent Don Alvarez de Luna rose very high but his fall was so heavy that it brake his neck Cardinal Wolsey disposed absolutely enough of his Master but his credit never passed the Sea but by sits and yet was he degraded before his death and in houtly expectation of the Hangman He was born at Paris of a noble extraction was well learned A brief relation of his life and took the Orders of Priesthood at Rome It is said that Pope Paul the fifth looking him once in the face told him That he would one day be the greatest cheat upon earth The Queen-Mother finding him a man of great wit procured him the Bishoprick of Luzon where he wrote a Book of controversie upon which she recommended him to the King her Son and afterwards to the Pope who sent him the Cardinals Cap and the taking of Rochel gave him so great an influence upon his Masters Mind that he left him almost the totall direction of his Kingdom He got himself shut of the Queen and all who favoured her cut off the Marshall of Marillacs head and destroyed all such as gave him any jealousie He never pardoned such as he had offended He was a most accomplished Politician beloved by the most zealous Protestants and hated by the most zealous Catholicks He made it his task to ruine the House of Lorrain by beginning with that of Guise as also that of Austria by labouring to conquer the Low-Countries so that he could not faile to be beloved by all such as hated the Church of Rome He is accused of having embroyled England to the end that for interest of State it might not hinder his seazing upon Flanders For an English Embassadour imputes to him the destruction of his King by most unjust and maligne practices and of setting all Europe by the eares in generall But he cannot be deprived of the praise of having done the Kingdom of France superlative services though it were with the huge oppression of the poor people A Polish Waywodt of great age and experience desired to outlive the said Cardinall to see what end he would have As he had done many people a great deale of hurt so was he alwayes in perpetuall apprehension and fear nor was there eyer Tyrant who lived in greater disquiet then he A great Volume might be made of the observations of his life which being wholly miserable was sustained but by a blast of ambition In fine whilest he was thinking to triumph over Europe his infirmities and troubles redoubled upon him till they made his soule go out of his wretched Body His death was lamented by few and such as had either feared him or fled from his persecution returned into France not to put on mourning but to give God thanks and repossesse themselves of their Charges and Estates CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Just The ' Battel of Rocroy The Battel of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein THe same Play was still acted under different names For they who had so much longed for great Gustaves death for the establishment of the Emperours Affaires were all amazed to see his Generalls accompanied by the same prosperity as if they had been destinated to consummate the begun-work Upon the other side many Princes and Townes openly favoured them in such such sort as the Emperours affaires weakened so fast to mens sight that they began to despaire of his redresse And so it was held for certain that that Great Cardinals death would cause a huge alteration in France and give the Spaniards the prize but it happened quite otherwise for the French defeated all their forces before Rocroy Let us therefore confesse that it is the Almighty who governes all changes destroyes subverts and augments States both when and how he pleases and that for the bringing of this Great All to an end he permits the Destruction to be Universall and the Confusion Generall Lewis the Just being arrived at his good City of Paris quite altered with the toyle and trouble of his long journey and extremely sad and melancholy began by little and little to lose his health and
finding himselfe decaying employed the small strength he had left upon the care of his foul and the quiet of his Kingdom The death of Lewis the Just He declared the Queen Regent or Governesse of his Sonne the King recommended Cardinal Mazâ—â—â—n to her and then rendred up his spirit to God This Prince alwayes loved Justice and was carried to warre more by the ambition of his Minister then any motive of his own and consequently would have been glad to see a Peace made which he much instanced before his decease He destroyed the Huguenot Party which gave jealousie and obscured his Majesty after which he assisted the Duke of Nevers in his succession to the Dutchy of Mantua seazed upon Lorrain made an Ally-ance with the King of Sweden and all the Protestants against the Emperour and waged warre both against him and the King of Spain under the pretexts which we have already recounted The Bâ—â—tail of Rocroy glorious to the French Don Francisco de Melo went to besiege Rocroy 1643. with a most gallant Army but having declared the Duke of Alburquerque a young Portuguese Lord Generall of the Horse he so much offended the Officers thereof that when the French came they would not do their duty but forthwith began to run so that all the Foot was defeated by the Duke of Angnien now Prince of Conde This victory was very great in which Generall Gassion gave a high character of himself and was the cause of the taking of Theonâ—ille And Melo was so much discredited that the King was constrained to call him away and give the government to the Marquis of Castel-rodrigo who kept it till the Arch-Duke Leopold arrived The successe of the Armies was various and if one Party lost a Battail the Allies got another so that there could not faile to come a totall mine CARDINAL MAZARINE Rgoywood focit P Stent excudit These were two of the most memorable Battails of our Age the one whereof hapned in the moneth of May and in the beginning of the raigne of Lewis the fourteenth given-by-God by the conduct of the young Duke of Angulen and the other towards the end of November under that of the Duke of Lorrain and they may be compared to those of Leipsick and Nortlinghen After this glorious Victory the French treated with him but without any fruit at all For he had been once at Paris to be jeered and he would returne thither no more but with forces to take his revenge Wherefore he marched back to the Low-Countries took Falkenstein a strong place in his way and left the command of the brave Army to Francis Baron of Mercy who after having taken Rotweil went and besieged Vberling a place of importance upon the Lack seazest upon before by Stratagem for want of good Gard but it yeelded now upon composition for want of Victuals sower moneths after In the meau time the Garrison of Brisack mutinied for want of pay and whilest the disorder lasted there was found a certain Marchant who offered about fower hundred thousand Rixdollers but General Erlach by his care brake this bargain and punished five or six of the Authours of the sedition General Mercy having fayled to retake Hoheniwiel by treaty left it blocked up by five Forts and went to attack Friburgh and Brisgaco where we will leave him till the valliant Duke of Anguien came and disolodged him and see in what tearms the Swedes are We said that Generall Torstonton having been compelled to raise the Siege from before Friburgh marched and planted himself upon the Elbe General Counixmarck slept not in the interim but skipped up and down to and fro with so much speed and activity that he always surprized his Enemies and never returned without booty Crackow was sent into Pomeranid to make a diversion but he had not the wit to faise the Siege of Domitz not resist Connixmark though enough to runne away though Poland Torstenton went into Moravia where he beat Bucham and came back into Misnid At the beginning of December he entred Holstein with so much promptitude that he was seen passe before Hamburgh when he was thought to be upon the Fronteer of Bohemia The Swedes enter into Hollstein 1643. At that same time came news that Gustave Horns was entred into Scania with an Army of twelve thousand men whereat all the world was amazed and men began to beleeve that the Imperialists would grow to respire by this new War but it proved quite contrary for they made no protis of it at all and the Swedes marched our to earry the terrour to the very Gates of Vienna Let us speak a little of the pretexts of this expedition since the Danes themselves were ignorant of the cause which could not well be found but in the Generall Maxime This the French and Weymariant were beaten and the Swedes gone out of Germany to ingago themselves in a frest quarrel so that the Imperialists had fine sport and did wonders CHAP. XV Of the Warre of Denmark with all the circumstances thereof NEver did Fortune more undertake the Swedish Interest then in this War and never was good King Christian in more danger of being stripped of his States then in this perillous conjuncture It is said that that great Astrologer Ticho Brahe had foretold him that he should be droven out of his Kingdome that he should depart with a staffe in his hand and that this immutable fate should defal him in the moneth of Jannary in the year 1644. I know not whether this report be true but sure I am that the prediction was false though yet there were once very great apparence and probability that it would come to pass For had the Swedes been able to snap the ships and Barks which were in a certain haven of that Province as their designe was to do they would easily have entred into the Isle of Fune and crastily rendred themselves masters of the whole Kingdom at unawares and without striking stroake The war of the Swedes against the Dams But the most premeditated Enterprizes are sometimes hindred and overthrown by a meer matter of nothing for the Soule of great designes is silence and he who knows not how to keep that will never bring any thing to good effect The Swedes fayled not of themselves but God only made them faile The King was strucken with as much amazement at the first notice of this invasion as it a thunderbolt had fallen upon his head and writing to his Resident at the Haghe he commanded him to tell the States General that this irruption seemed so strange to him And why that he would father have believed that the Sky would fall then that he should see the Swedes enter into his dominions But what could move the Swedes to begin a new War having so great a one already in Germany and knowing that this latter endangered the losse of all their conquests yea of their very Kingdom it self For the reasons which they
the most probable judgement is that he was commanded not to advance unlesse the League were first concluded upon the the same terms that it was between the French and the Swedes which it was conceived that the Danes could not refuse in regard that the Emperour came to extinguish the fire amongst them whilest he left it burning at home and for that being leagued together they might restore things to the same stare wherein they were before the warre especially since the interest of that kingdom apart seemed to require it thereby to dessen and abase the Swedish potencie King Christian deceived These reasons were strong and inclined the King to the match but he was not absolute and so the Dunkerkers came not the Imperialists returned and left the business to be mannaged by the Danes themselves who were sufficiently penitent when they heard that their Fleet was beaten by the Swedes to wit six as fair and stately ships as could be made taken and two fired And then the Treaty of peace went slowly and feebly on and La Tuillerie was not so hot as before For much of that which was granted before was now taken off and the King being of a different sense from the States reproached them with the disorder of the kingdom and told them that they were the cause of the ill successe of affaires The Swedes promised themselves no lesse then the Conquest of the whole kingdom since the principal strength thereof which consisted in the ships was very much maimed But the Kings vertue overpowring all his misfortunes he reassembled his whole Fleet before Copenbaghen to preserve the Isle of Zeland made the Peasants work upon the approaches and placed a good Guard to hinder ther the Descent or Disembarkment of the Swedes there which they were every minut projecting The Hollanders who have as much care of their interest as any Prince or Common-wealth in Christendome and who could not suffer the Swedes to be so puissant without betraying them and being morcover satisfied for some affronts which they pretended to have been done them as well in the Sound The Fleet of Holland before Copenhaghen as elsewhere and moved to compassion if there be any in matter of State by the troubles which this old Prince endured sent a Fleet under the conduct of Admiral Witteson who anchored before Copenhaghen and landed the Embassadours of the said Common-wealth The King conceiving this said Fleet to be come to assist his enemies was ready to defend self but the Embassadours moved him to a Peace and resumed the heat which La Tuillerie had left But the Swedes hoping to grow Masters of the whole kingdom and thereby continue the War in Germany the better would not hearken to it till seeing the said Embassadours so much in earnest and interest they suffered themselves willingly to be induced to it The peace madâ— In fine the Peace was concluded to the advantage of the Danes who renounced some Islands gave up some good Holds and King Christian being restored to rest and quiet died like a very good Christian some time after having reigned above fifty yeares He manifested by his death that the Prophecie was false and that Astrologers are men who very often abuse themselves by abusing others There was nothing remarkable in this war by land for the Danes but the generous resistance of the Garrison of Rensburgh which constrained the Swedes to quit that long Siege and the Enterprise of Bromorfund which issued happily for them CHAP. XVI Galasso retires out of Holstein Is ruined by Torstenson neare Magdeburgh The Battell of Lankewits The exploits of the French in Alsatia under the conduct of the Duke of Anguien The taking of Philipsburgh POsterity will not be able to comprehend how the Swedes could make warre in so many parts of the world and from whence they got so many men because though the Kingdom of Sweden be very great yet it is very desert and dispeopled in such sort as that in all these warres there never came sixty thousand men from thence by the confession of one of the Grandies of that nation it self I answer that two Reasons furnished them with so many and so strong Armies The former that almost all the Protestants leagued themselves with them like the Ivie to the tree and most of them believed that in the ruine of the Swedes was included that of all the Lutherans And the latter because Fortune being favourable to them favour turned also towards them principally in regard of plunder It is most certain that in Horus Army there were many women in the habit of men who like so many Amazons performed the actions of brave souldiers so much was the courage of this generous Nation inflamed by prosperity But let us go seek the Armies again Galasso ruined near Magdeburgh Galasso pitched his Camp near Magdeburgh and Torstenson a little above him who so much ruined him by famin rather then by skirmishes that he returned with very few men into Bohemia and his Charge whereof he had very ill acquitted himself was taken from him Coninxmarck one of the most prosperous and dexterous Captains of this Age Coninxmarck in the country of Bremen and another Papenheim in the Swedish Party after having defcated General Enkefurt returned into the Bishoprick of Bremer took Staden Boxtehawdt and all the Country whilest Torstenson marched into Bohemia Who could have believed but that after so great successe as accompanied the Bavarians and the departure of Torstenson with the chief forces the Imperialists would have every where redressed affaires We must confesse what we cannot deny which is that God clearly shewes his power by the disposal of several Governments For it was in vain that they blocked up Ohnitz in Moravia took Wolow in Silesia and made Ragosky some resistance However they put their Army on foot under the Orders of the Generals Goetz Hatzfeldt and other brave Officers to whom Iohn de Werdt joyned with sour thousand men The Battel of Lankow Inbtief a Batrail was given which was a long time ambiguous victory inclining sometimes to one side and sometimes to another General Goetz was slain in the beginning and Iohn de Werdt made so close an impression that he forced the Swades to retyre in confusion The Imperialists thinking the Day was theirs cast themselves according to their custom upon the Baggage where Generall Torstensons wife was who letting them alone awhile fell upon them at length with his reserve and put them all to flight He surprized them loaden with booty charged them off their horses easily routed them and went fighting with them above four Leagues long Unhappy for the Imperialists the 6. of March 1645. This was a most sensible defeat to the Imperial Party for it lest Bohemia as a prey and opened the passage into Morayin and the Empetours Hereditary lands as far as the Danub There were about three thousand killed upon the place four thousand prisoners
in adversity onely that we are apt to remember him and such as were not content to live in such delicious idlenesse betook themselves to the warre either in Germany or the Low-Countries King Chales will have a Conformity of the Chu ches of Scotland with that of England King Charles made Proclamation for a Conformity as well in Ceremony as otherwife of the Churches in Scotland with these of England The Puritans opposed iâ— a tumult was raised against the Bishops and principall parsons of quality and a new Allyance or Covenant amongst the Puritans The King warned them to renounce it â—ut they on the other side persisted published scandalous Writings made a League abrogated the Episcopall Authority fortified some places and constrained him to leave his rest and take arms The Scots arms The Scots having gotten possession of the Castle of Edinburgh entred in to England took Newcâ—stle and Durham The King called a Parhament which being for the most part composed of Puritans he found them inclined to favour the Scots Whereupon he marched with an Army towards the Botders where he slighted the advice of one of the chief of his Kingdom who told him that if he would be a King and were not weary of raigning he must hazard a Battell But he preferring a pernicious peace before a necessary warre made an accommodation and at the same time called a Parliament which forth with assembled and the Scots after having finished a fine Master-piece of businesse whereof they felt excessive inconveniences after wards returned home The Deputy of Ireland prisoner his death The King gave this Parliament all full and absolure power provided that in any wife it touched not his Preroâ—ative nor such as were near it an individuall point by verâ—ue of a Law made in Henry the seventh's time But the first thing they did was to imprison the Lord Deputy of Ireland who could not be saved by the Kings requests nor his own defence but that he must needs be sacrificed to the hatred of the ignorant people who expressed their brutality by demanding his death and their folly by being moved to compassion at his firm and immutable constance to the last The Prince of Orange in England The Prince of Orange having demanded the eldest Princesse for his Son and obtained her he sent him thither to espouse her where he heard the said Deputies arguments and saw him brought upon the Scaffold and after his departure the Queen conducted her Daughter to the Haghe where she was received with very great honours but found the States more inclined to Neutrality then to meddle with that intestine warre For the King finding his Authority sensibly checked was already retyred to York where he set up his Standard sent for the Knights of the Garter and having neither Ships nor money sought some support in the affections of his subjects but too late for the forces whereof he had dif-invested himselfe were in the Parliaments hands however he was succoured by the greatest part of the Nobility The Malignants and Round-heads who and Gentry upon whom was imposed the name of Malignants as that of Round-heads was upon the Parliament souldiers The Queen having received some money upon her Jewels and drawne a good summe from the Prince of Orange repasted into England War between the King and Parliament but was cast back by a most horrible tompest upon the Coast of Holland though yet some weeks after she arrived in safety with all the Munitions which she had been able to purchase and afterwards retired into France leaving her husband in this storm wherein he was swallowed up S r. Thomas Wentworth c. Lord Debuty of Ireland sould by P. Stent In sine understanding that the English had called in the Scots by vertue of the Covenant concluded and confirmed by Oath on both Parcies wherein they swore the destruction of the Bishops he dispatched Prince Robert against them The Royâ—lists beaten by the Scots who joyned his forces though not his opinion with the Earl of Newcastle for he would needs venter a Battail which he lost and the said Earl fled into Germany and all the Kings felicity with him During these interludes the Earl of Montroffe did wonders for the King in Scotland for with a very small Army he gained a Battail came off with advantage in many encounters and repayred in fine the Kings affaires there Montrosse for the King in Scotland whilest they impayred in England for having lost another victory to Fairfax he was compelled to retyre to Oxford where he was besieged Whereupon his Son went into France and himself fled disguised to the Scotch Army The King flies to the Scotch Army and is sold who received him at first with great honour and complement though afterwards they delivered him up to the Parliament Army for a summe of mony He was made passe amongst the people for a Papist and a Tyrant and that he had a design to annull all the Priviledges of England c. Ah ungratefull People Ah Scotch Captains You who have the renown of being Souldiers how could you consent to such a basenesse Had avarice more power over your soules then respect vertue and duty For though you had an opinion that the King were a Papist is it lawfull for subjects to act against the Annointed of the Lord that which they would not have done to themselves As soon as the news of the Deputies imprisonment arrived in Ireland The revolt in Ireland the Irish took Arms to free themselves from the Captivity of the English as they called it but with so much barbarity and cruelty that they rendred themselves detestable thereby especially to such as knew how they had been treated by the English But what will not people undertake which from a long time are grown brutish and savage when they crush the head of their Governours with their own Chaines The Collections which were made in Holland for the succour of the Reformates in that Country The Collections in Holland for what begat as well the admiration of the Charity of that Nation towards their Brethren as doubt also on the other side whether such large summes ever arrived there The King being near London found himself reduced to the extremity of granting them of the Parliament whatsoever they asked and not being able to suffer some inconveniences which were cast upon him he made his escape to the Isle of Wight where he was treated like a prisoner But in fine being led back again to London and the Vpper House being abolished The King is executed the 30. of January 1649. he was accused by the Army and brought before a High Court of Justice where he was tryed condemned to be beheaded and executed the thirtieth of January 1649. There have happened enormous accidents in this Age but none which hath so much astonished the world as this strange proceeding Such as are curious have made a shift
fatal to the French as Casal had been to the Spaniards nor was all that great preparation both of men The Prince of Comde in Catalunia and money able to save him from it For thinking to overcome a Place which had in vaine been attacked by two so great Warriers he besieged it whilest Harcourt was at Paris in great esteem where his vertue had already so far triumphed over all such as envyed him as that nothing was wanting but the issue of this Siege The King of Sweden when he was going to give the brave Count of Tilly battel was heard to utter these words If Fortune be against me it will not have been any grent affront to me to have lost against a man who hath alwayes been victorious but if she look upon me with a propitions eye what glory will be due to me for having surmounted a Mars who hath been alwayes invincible Besieges Lerida in vaine This young Alexander swolne with Victories continued the Siege but meeting with the same impossibilities the same disbandings and the strong relief which was near at hand he was faine to with draw himselfe from a place which was so disasterous to the French God hath limited Conquests and therefore let him come back into France Leaves the Country where he was reserved for great affairs For the horrible Change which hapned at Neaples the Comedy mingled with blood and the Tragedy interlarded with ridiculous accidents will not suffer us to stay any longer in Catalunia whether the King sent the Marshal of Schoonbergh who by a remarkable felicity repaired these disasters THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I The tumu'ts at Naples begun by Thomaso Aniello and why The History of Conradine Prince of Swaveland His death The Sicilian Vespers or Even-Songs The History of Catenesa and of the Tragedies which happened at Naples PEace is an effect of Gods Grace and War another of his just Choler For since Charity is grown cold Faith almost dead and the wickednesse of man universall we must not wonder if the punishment of this present time be extended upon the whole Body of Christendom without exception of Age Sex or Condition But that which is most insupportable is the wicked have the winde in poupe and prosper and as the exhalations are ordinarily drawne from the vapours which offuscate or darken the Sun just so impunity of offences causes this disorder The Kingdom of Naples had been oft enough advertised of a scourge which was prepared for it by that Mountain near it which so often vomited up lumps of fire and sent it snowes of ashes but the Preservatives hindred not the disease The strange accidents happened in the kingdom of Naples in former ages The strange accidents which happened in this kingdom in the twelfth and thirteenth Age make us confesse that wickednesse parricides and perfidies were already known in those times but not so universally as in these For if there were found great vices amongst some great persons there were also found more vertues more piety and a quick and lively Faith in generall through all Christendom But at present Justice is trodden under foot mony does all vertue is made a laughing-stock even by them who boast to have drawn their Origin from it and vice being a la mode or in fashion is esteemed yea many sin rather by example then by inclination in this depraved Age and more to please the vicious then for that they approve of the vice By how much the more the Great ones retyre themselves from the Commons by so much the more do the Commons endeavour to withdraw themselves from their service But let us stay at Naples The infamous death to which Charles of Ainoâ—ü put Frederick Duke of Austria and his young Cousin Couradine the last Duke of the most ancient Imperial House of Swaveland for having sought his own Right which was taken from him by the Pope and given to the said Charles teaches us that this is not the first time that Soveraignes have ended their lives by the hand of an ordinary Executioner and that a good cause hath not alwayes a good issue For the three hundred French Gentlemen who were sacrificed to the spirits of these two Lords and the Torches of the Sicilian Vespers or Even-songs which were extinguished in the blood of the same nation tell us that vengeance hath alwayes been sweet and that it is most dangerous to put an irritated people into fury This Gatenesa from a mean Landress being grown the Nurse of a Prince and afterwards Governess of six Princesses one after another with such an absolute power upon their mindes and chiefly upon that of the last that she grew to dispose of the greatest Charges and Offices of the kingdom and distributed the best part thereof amongst her own children saw her self at last with all her family dragged to the execution Yea a King was hanged at the Grate of a window by consent of his wife and she some years after strangled by a just judgement of the Great Judge These were the miracles or rather the prodigies of those Ages which hapened all in the said kingdom with so many other as make us conclude that usurped possessions seldom pass to the fourth Heyr or else alwayes cause troubles Towards the end of the fourteenth Age this kingdom being revolted from Alfonso of Arragon the States thereof offered the Crown to Charles the eighth King of France who easily got it into his possession and the Neapolitans with the same facility shook off that yoke afterwards for being frustrated of their Charges and recalled the aforesaid Arragonian The French returned thither by the commandment of Lewis the twelfth who ought to share it with Ferdinand of Castill but they could not agree about the spoyles and so Gonsalvo rather by might then right drove them both our It hath been attacked since but not subdued and so remaines to the King of Spain Now the wars being grown hot both in Germany and the Low-Coumtries and the House of Austria finding her self taken to task by so many enemies the State of Neaples was oppressed by so many Imposts or Taxes that that House being strong and vigorous before became so lean and feeble that he could not longer carry so heavy a burthen This mischief began first to operate almost throughout all Sicily where the people constrained the Vice-King to take off the Imposts From thence it passed to Neaples and by that good success made the Ne politans take the same resolution and that by such meanes as you shall forthwith understand The beginning of the troubles at Neaples The tears of the poor peeople the advices and admonitions of some great ones the libells and burning of the Custome-Houses were all able to draw but faint promises of ease without any effect at all Whereupon a certain Fellow of the very dregs of the People who had dyed in the obscurity of his birth had
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
the Princes The Duke of Boüillon and the Duke de la Rochefancant raised a great Army But by the intercession of the Duke of Orleans all such as acted for the Princes The Accord made at Bourdeaux 1650 were pardoned Arms laid down every body restostored to favour and the Dutchess of Boüillon delivered There was none but the Princess Dowager of Conde who could not digest this bitterness for taking the detention of her children too much to heart and the repulse of her suits The Princesse Dowagers death she grew at last to yeeld under the burthen of her afflictions and left this vale of misery to go and take possession of the holy Jerusalem The King made his entrance into Bourdeaux the first day of October in a most sumptuous and stately Gally which was sent him by them of the Town where he was received with all testimonies of joy and a Generall Vive le Roy where he passed And the seventh of the same moneth he departed for Paris Cardinal Mazarin seeing the number of his enemies increase resolved to stop their monthes with a glorious action which proved usefull to the State and served for an evidence to all Europe that his Ministery was advantagious both to the King and kingdom of France He puts the Militia in order gave the souldiers money conducted the Army straight to Retel and after having given it three Assaults Mazarin retakes Retel made the Spaniards march out The Vice-Count of Turenne being a brave souldier for whose valour some certain Towns in Germany had declared themselves for him forthwith brought his Troops into the Field hastened to succour the Place and gave the besieged an advertisement of the reliefe but too late He advanced with six thousand horse for his foot could not follow but he was charged by the Marshall of Prastin and after a resistance which cost much blood defeated The Spaniards beaten The Spaniards recollected themselves in the Province of Luxemburgh and the Conquerours went to take up their winter quarters in Normandy and Lorraine where the Count of Lignevills progresse was soon stopped And the Lorraines for being beaten by the Marquis of Seneterre he was compelled to march away with the losse of about nine hundred men and four pieces of Canon This year the Deputies of the Cantons of Swisserland arrived in France to present their complaints and they were contented There needed no lesse then a whole Army to force the Leidgers or people of Leidge to open their purses and the Swedes having obtained the tax of Contributions repassed the Rhein The Princes demand the Investure The evacuation being finished in Germany and the Embassadours retyred the Princes sent an Embassie to the Emperour to demand the Investure of their Fief The King of Denmark asked it for the Dutchy of Holstein by Monsieur de Rantzow who returned with the honour of the title of Count. After these honours followed the Reformations almost every where I would to God that abuses andill customes were also reformed with as much zeal The Goods of the Swissers arrested since the precedent year caused many complaints and menaces which produced a meer restitution only Let us take a turn into Spain with the Emperours daughter newly espowsed to the Catholick King who was every where received with magnificent pomps and honours but principally at Madrid where there was at the same time an Embassadour from the Grand Signor The Embassadour from the Turk in Span. who being brought to a most stately Audience adorned with Diamants and precious stones first condoled the Queens death then congratulated the new marriage and demanded a private audience for his Commission The tenour of his letter of credence was To the most Glorious of all Christian Princes from Aly Solyman Lord of the House of the Ottomans c. First He offered the Holy Sepulcher Secondly True Commerce without further exercise of Piracy Thirdly He proposed a match between Don John of Austria and the Sultanesse of whom we formerly spake and who was now become Catholick at Maltha promising him a kingdom under the Turk And Fourthly and lastly That all prisoners might be released on both sides The Presents were rich and noble and the Embassy in apparence faire but the issue thereof declared that all was but Complement The Residents of the Parliament massacred at Madrid and at the Haghe Mr. Anthony Ascam being arrived at the same Court in the quality of Resident for the Parliament of England found his Tragicall end there as Doctor Dorislaw had already found his at the Haghe Charles Stewarts Embassadour being introduced to his Audience fell forthwith a weeping and thereby moved the King to compassion The King of Portugal by favouring Prince Robert caused the English Fleet to come and lye before his Havens which put him to so much dammage that both he and his subjects had leasure to repent themselves of having offended that Parliament CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stewart in Jersy The Kings Lands and Goods sold The aforesaid Charles goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuation of the war in Candie War by the Pen. The Spanish Embassadour at London The Chineses turned Catholicks IT is in the Britannick Islands that Bellona now exercises her rage for she hath established her sear there and looks as if she would stay some time Charles was in the Isle of Jersy where he distributed Commissions to fall upon the English ships and spoyle their Trade But upon a certain advice which was given him General Blake before the River of Lisbone The Kings Goods sold he departed and Generall Blake went and shut up Prince Robert in the River of Lisbone whilest the Kings Goods were sold at London as namely his three Crownes his Scepter the Golden Garter all the Jewels Pictures Images Rarities and whatsoever else of price and value Some put the Crownes upon their Heads the Garter about their Legs and took the Scepter in their hands saying Look how well these Ornaments become me Who would have imagined such a change The mony which was made of these said Goods was employed upon the States service They passed yet further they brake down the Kings Statue upon the old Exchange and set up this Inscription Exiit Tyrannus Regum ultimus The Parliament searing lest Charles through some good success should come and disturb the Peace of England by means of some Creatures of his there laboured to prevent him and Fairfax having surrendred his Commission to that most renowned Captain Generall Cromwell he marched with an Army of sixteen thousand men to face the Scots who were above five and twenty thousand killed above three thousand of them upon the place Cromwels victory over the Scots and took above ten thousand prisoners for the rest run away to publish the glory of the Nation Indeed he had as good success as Don John of Austria who lost
let us leave Scotland in teares let us leave the different opinions concerning the successe of this war for those of our Continent call us speedily back and especially the difference which happened in Cleveland Wars between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The Electour of Brandenburgh in full peace sent four thousand men into the Duke of Newburghs Country who attacked the strong House of Angremont and performed all acts of hostility without having denounced the war This invasion much displeased the Emperour and much more him whom it more nearly concerned Religion served here for a pretext and this affront put a flea in the ear of the bordering parts which yet by the intermission of the Emperour and the States of Holland was soon taken out the Lorrainers who went to succour the Duke of Newburgh sent back the forces casheered and the Princes returned to their former good intelligence This war gave Colem much apprehension and no small distrust to the United Provinces which feared lest if the fire increased it might grow to burn their Neighbours houses according to the Latin Proverb Tum tuâ—res agitur paries cum proximus ardet When thou seest the next house burn Be sure the next will be thy turn Let us go seek out Cardinal Mazarin in his disgrace CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entry into Paris The joy for both the Dutchesse of Longuevilles and the Marshall of Turennes repasse into France The Baptisone of the young Prince of Orange and the dispute about his tutelage The Damme broaken near Waguening Uleseldt accused of having intended to poyson the King of Denmark Berghen St. Weynock taken by the Spaniards THe Queen being very often petitioned by the Members of Parliament to set the Princes at liberty for the Kings service and the kingdoms quiet and seeing the Resolute run up and down the streets of Paris requiring their deliverance condescended to it but the Kings Counsell on the other side was not a little staggered to hear the importunate voyce of the people Live the King Live the Princes no Mazarin His eminence finding France disgusted by his Ministery retyred himself as we have have already said and the Princes made their entry into Paris the 16. of February where they were received by the Duke of Orleans and all the great ones with very strong resentments of joy The conditions upon which they were released were that the hostility of Stenay and Turenne should cease The Cardinal departs out of France and takes an order for his banishment The Cardinal not being able to prevent or hinder this return of theirs so prejudicial to his Authority and seeing the Duke of Orleans who had consented to their detention so urgent now under pretext of the kingdoms good for their releasement got the King and Queen to approve of his retreat The joy for his departure was incomprehensibly great for every one gave him a wipe and acccused him of having exhausted the Finances or Exchequer nor is there in fine that wickednesse in nature wherewith he was not branded in such sort as it was believed that his absence would bring back the golden Age. But his banishment touched him much more to the quick His enemies had now their time and he not long after had his It is better to laugh at last then at first His departure was ignominious but his return was glorious The Spaniards offered him all kindness of favour in his disgrace which he discreetly refused upon the consideration of a former obligation The Parliament of Roüen Decreed also against him All the world yea even the Pope himself hated him And yet for all this the mischiefs whereof he was held to be the Authour ended not by his retyrement The King and Queen made a Manifest wherein they declared the Princes innocent Goes to Dinant and then to Bruel and approved all that which was ordered against Mazarin who passed by Perone Sedan and Dinant where he stayd some days and then went to Liedge and in fine retyred to Bruel to the Electour who received him according to his qualities Thus was he exiled cryed down and hated by all his services were forgotten and even they themselves who shewed him some courtesie in his retreat were made guilty thereby None but great spirits make their magnanimity appear in misfortunes The Vice-Count returns into France The Dutchesse of Longueville the Marshal of Turenne and the Count of Grandpre returned into France with their Troops where they were welcom leaving the care of finishing the work to the Spaniards who could not sufficiently wonder at this change however the Princes sent to Brussels to thank the Arch-Duke for his care of their deliverance Wilhelmus Henrious Prince of Orange nassau sonn of the Princis Royall London Printed sould by P Stent The great assembly at the Haghe In the mean while the great assembly persevered in the care of making the union stronger then ever and repayting some disorders in relation to which it was judged necessary to grant an Act of oblivion to put the Militia into good method to maintaine the Reformed Religion to keep the bitt in the Roman Catholicks mouthes and exclude such as followed that Doctrine from all Publick employments Separates All being concluded the Assembly sent for a Minister to give God thanks and parted with most perfect intelligence A day of prayer was held and alms was distributed and the Firewords and Ordnance made a concert for the Simbole of the union The Bank broken The yeare of 1651 towards the end of Winter the Snowes melting by a thaw the Waters of the Rheyn swol up in such sort that the Bank between Rhene and Waguening brake and put the inhabitants about Amerssort into great perplexities Indeed Many Inundations this year deserved to be called the yeare of deluge for there were very few Rivers in Europe which did not by the continuall raines exceed their bounds and bear down their banks The Scourge of God as water fire and sword are every where felt Let us go to the septemptrion where we shall finde one of the greatest Lords yea the high Steward of the House of the King of Denmark himself suspected and accused of having intended to poyson the King A wickedness unknown heretofore in the colds of the North. Ulefeldt the high Steward of the Kings houshold accused of having intended to poyson him It was Mons. Vlefeldt a man of great experience and much renowned for the Embassayes wherein he had rendred the King and Common-Wealth great services who was accused of this treason by a lewd woman who not being able to prove the said accusation was beheaded One Colovel Walter was also suspected who having defended his innocence summoned the said Vlefeldt but he in stead of appearing before the King departed secretly with his wife into Holland afterwards into Sweden His flight was extreamly ill
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
the French Fleet. The Cardinal of Retz induces the King to come back to Paris The Prince of Conde retires into France Cardinal Mazarins praises The Cardinal of Retz carried to the Bois de Vincennes THis young Mars this invincible Courage judging his person to be more necessary at Paris then at Bourdeans left his Lieutenants the direction of his own Forces shewed himself quickly amongst those of the Duke of Orleans and the Strangers and made the Marshal D'hoquincour feel that he was no more in Guyenne for after having lost his Troops Marshal D'hoquincour beaten he was constrained to sly The King made his Army march under Turenns orders who went to attack Estampes but finding the Duke of Lorraine to draw near he retired and confessed that the Strangers who were in the Town defended themselves bravely It looked as if the Princes would have a good bargaine of all such as made head against them when upon a suddain the Duke of Lorraine by the interposition of the King of Englands Eldest Son made a contract apart received mony and retired himself out of the Kingdom but he sent back his Army shortly after with the Spaniards because the restitution of the three places promised was not performed The Prince being irritated and the Parisians extreamly amazed began to revile the said Duke and all in fine discoursed of him according to their passion Some accused him of inconstance and others of avarice but such as had a straine above the vulgar judged that there was some vengeance hidden under this action and that the levity both of the one and the other so often manifested to them whose assistance they had both implored and felt ought to be recompensed by a just retaliation Be it what it will the Princes Troops being tired by frequent Skermishes and by that furious and bloody shock given in the Faubourgs or Suburbs of St. Anthony wherein the Mazarinists or Royalists had the worst being very much diminished the Arch-dukes succour was sent for again which being conducted by the Baron of Clinchant advanced quite to Paris But let us come back into Flanders Graveling besieged Mardyke abandoned yeelds and Dunkeâ—k afterwards The Arch-Duke finding that the fire was too great in France to be so soon extinguished made a shew of besieging Dunkerk but his design was upon Graveling one of the most important places of the Low-Countries which defended it self enough but for want of sufficient Garrison was yeelded upon the same Conditions that it had been formerly taken Mardyke was abandoned and Dunkerk expecting the relief by Sea which was dofeated by the English was retaken without either losse or bloodshed Thus were three places reduced to obedience with a hand-full of men which had cost the French mountains of Gold and Seas of blood Who would have said so much six years before when there seemed to be no doubt at all made of the utter expulsion of the Spaniards Times change men change victories are alternative and nothing is constant but the immutable Order of the Decree of the Everlasting This reduction deservedly rejoyced all Flanders which saw her Traffick and Inhabitants slourish again The Town of Dunkerk had been offered to the States of Holland for Mastricht for a summe of money but the bargain was not made The City of Paris seeing it self in violent and murtherous factions the Parliament in confusion the Country People frighted away strangers in the Kingdome the Princes in a very difficult passage to be cleared and the Clergy afflicted by these unhappy disorders resolved to dispatch the Cardinal de Retx to the King who was with a new Parliament at Pontoise to beseech him The King returns to Paris to return to Paris This Embassie was well received by his Majesty who having published an Act of Oblivion was so much better at Paris The Prince of Conde retyred himself with the forrain Troops took Retel and St. Menhout and his winter quarters at the beginning of the spring 1653. And the Duke of Odeans departs The Duke of Orleans having received order either to come to the King or to retyre himself rather chose the latter then to suffer Cardinal Mazarins presence who quickly caused the order to be annulled that was made against him because there was no body found who had a mind to earn a hundred and fifty thousand Crowns by killing him Thus we see the figure turned up-side down the Cardinal above the wheel and the Princes under it so that Conde chose rather to cast himself into the King of Spaines arms then to trust his own Masters Act of Oblivion and Conty was received at Bourdeaux together with the Dutchesse of Longueville his Sister whilest her husband stayed amongst the waves of this raging Sea in his Government Reader be not amazed at these Metamorphoses or changes for the causes thereof are not so hard to be comprehended as that of the Tyde of the Sea was to the Prince of the Philosophers What do you hope to see but monsters prodiges and miracles The Province of Gasconie being fertill in subtill wits and brave souldiers was no sooner got out of one danger then she fell into a precipice yet more perilous through blind temerity and as well to serve the passion of others as for not receiving the satisfaction promised them or rather for seeing their Complaints despised and that which had been promised them very ill performed The puissant Armies which were to ruine Mazarin returned without having done any memorable action at all The Parliament being in division knew not where to sinde it self the Citizens changed like the wind and wedded sometimes the one Party and sometimes the other Yea the Princes themselves were in discord for the Duke of Neâ—oâ—â—s was killed in a Duel by his Brother-in Law the Duke of Beaufort and the Count of Riâ—â—â— carriâ—d prisoner to the Bastill by the Duke of Orlâ—aâ—â—'s order for having resisted Goâ—de In such sort as all issued to the Kings advantage by the Great Cardâ—nals wise Counsell who like an experienced Pilot saved the vessel from ship-wrack and brought her over so many Rocks amongst so many Quick-sands in the darknesse of a cloudy night and amongst â—o many contrary winds to the Port. For he knew how to sow the tares of distention amongst them who would take the Helm from him and threw them out of that ship which he never abandoned in the very height of the storm Indeed to say the truth the King had need of such a man though he be more usefull to him then to the poor subjects and some have reviled him by following the passion others or for resentment rather then by the knowledge of affaires and therefore are as incapable to judge of him Cardinal Mazuins praise as a blind man is of Colours The rash judgements of the ignorant people cause tumults and seditions and kindle a fire which invirons a whole State for which there there must be a speedy remedy True
and would needs make others also believe that the States of Holland chose rather a way of Accommodation then to enter into a war which if it had proved successefull to them would have redressed Charles Stewarts affairs and his Nephews to the detriment of their Authority Others maintained that this Peace being utterly broaken the Country would quickly be lost Be it what it will mens passions have been so much the more discovered upon this matter as the liberty of speaking is greater in Holland then elsewhere A tumult at London raised by the Portugucles The tumult which was so temerarily excited at London by the Portugal Embassadours brother made him carry his head upon a Scaffold some moneths after and all issued so well for the great and most prudent Cromwell that he acquired together with the Title of Protectour of the Common-wealth of England the renown of the most acute Politician of this Age. For good successe made the Enterprizers admired gave the Protector full power and authority and left desolate Charles nothing but complements of compassion France the sanctuary of the afflicted France which hath alwayes vanted her self to be the Sanctuary of such as are poor and afflicted labours at present to strip her self of that glorious quality through a maxime of State She hath already felt the strength of the English Will have no war with the English by the loss of her ships and so knowes how dangerous this enemy is and the trouble she had in former Ages to pluck him out of her bowels Wherefore it is better to appease him by politick craft and comply with the Times The reasons then to fall into another war The motions are great enough yet in the Kingdom and it suffices to have the Spaniards for her enemies without drawing the English upon her back too We must sometimes kisse the hands of such as we would have farre enough from us for fear of irritating them And therefore it is that the King sent his Embassadour to London to acknowledge the Republick and treat of a good peace and settle Traffick The Lord Preâ—â—â—tour a great Politician General Cromwel hath expressed his incomparable dexterity in the mannagement of Arms in the direction of Affaires in his Allyances with strangers in dissipating the ambushes and treacheries which have from time to time been land against his designes and his authority and principally in the wars against the Hollanders And you shall now sce how he came to rise higher He assembled another Parliament some of the members whereof being inclined to him proposed one day in full Assembly that the burthen of the Common-wealth was too heavy for them and that it was necessary to impose it upon the shoulders of General Cromwell Some of them not approving of this change retyred secretly to shelter themselves from the contrary winds and the rest were dismissed by him and so the rest went forthwith to conferre that honour upon him congratulate with him and gave him the Title of Protectour England hat 's changed her Gevernment three several times which is not new in that Island and occultly the Soveraignty of England so that in a few years this said Island hath changed her government three severall times and yet leaves not to flourish and to be most formidable to all the powers on earth Some moneths before the dissolution of the Parliament the Kings youngest Son commonly called the Duke of Glocester was sent to Dunkerck in the condition of a private Gentleman with a summe of mony to defray his expences Whilest the Peace is treated at London with many dissiculties by the intervention of the Reformed Cantons of Swisserland and the recommendation of the Queen of Sweden we will take a turn through the North. The King of Denmark being fortified by the Allyance of the States-General and the jealousies which the King of Swedens Leavies gave him The King of Denmark fortifies himselfe being taken away had no other care then to keep his Subjects in arms to hinder all surprises and to intrench the Approaches at the same time when the scourge of God went ransacking all the Inhabitants of the North. At Stockholme Fortune manifested her Empire by casting for a time Count Magnus de la Gardia under her wheel Count Magnus de la Gardia disgraced and depriving him of his Mistresses favour but she was not so rigorous to him as she was to the brave Earle of Essex in Queen Elizabeths time in England Whilest this August Queen is disposing her self to do in the greatest vigour of her youth what the Emperour Charles the fifth did in his decline we will make an in-road into Poland Searce had King Casimir unlaced his Armour yet all stained with the blood of the Rebellious Cossacks The King of Poland attacked by the Muscovites when he saw himself oblidged to put his foot in the stirrop again to resist the Moscovits This Kingdom which had been so much afflicted by the excursions of the said Cossacks by Inundations contagious Diseases Partialities and Distrusts which are ordinary in Free Countries findes her self now in the necessity of making a Defensive War and the Natives to make resistance against a barbarous Nation which they have so often beaten and chased as far as the very heart of Russia and the very Gates of the Capital City Mosco But Changes are as well universal as Chastisements The death of that great Minister Mons de Brum In the beginning of the year 1554. religiously deceased at the Haghe that great man and most faithful Minister Monsicur Anthony de Brun Baron of Apremont and Ordinary Embassadour for the King of Spain to the States He was born at Dole in Burgundy had served his Master from his youth in very great affairs and nominatively in the General Peace at Munster Towards the Spring the Peace was concluded at London against the opinion of many and the news thereof was most agreeable to the Hollanders but when the Articles came to be published The Peace made between the English the Hollanders whereby the young Prince was excluded from all Charges or Offices it much troubled the Provinces and was like to cause divorces and great partialities in so much as the other Provinces set forth complaints and Protestations which were amply enough answered in a Manifest published by the States of Holland and which the Reader may see at good leasure But there were nothing but murmurations they taxed the said States with ingratitude and reproaches and slanders were scattred at random Is this the recompence said they every where of so many services rendred The Princes his Predecessours The cause of the murmurations in behalfe of the Prince of Orange spared not their blood nor their lives nor their meanes to purchase our liberty and in lien thereof we make Agreements so prejudicial to his Authority and so contrary to our duty Ah! what will not the Allyes of this
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