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
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
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
discovered in his physiognomy that he should one day become the Author of much disturbance to Christendome which afterwards proved true For he caused the Duke of Orleans to be massacred which raised a huge warre between these two illustrious Houses to the great advancement of the English affaires in France But now for the remedy of all those evills a Peace was made and Duke John assassinated in a Conference in the presence of the Dolphin Now this dismal chance this unseasonable revenge and this mad Counsell was the cause why the English assisted by the Burgundians and Flemmings made themselves masters of almost all the kingdome of France For Philip surnamed the Good joyned with the English to revenge the death of his Father against Charles the seventh In fine there happening a civil warre in England between the Houses of Lancaster and York the White and Red Rose and Duke Philip drawing his stake out of the play the English came by degrees to loose all they had gotten in the said kingdome This good Prince instituted and established the Order of the Golden Fleece in the year 1430 and tyed so by succession all those Provinces into one body to which Charles the Combatant annexed the Duchy of Guelders sold to him by Duke Arnolt for the summe of 92 thousand Crowns The pretensions of the Duke of Juleers or Gulick were also granted by consent of the Emperour Frederick in consideration of the summe of eighty thousand Florens in gold He left one only Daughter named Mary of Valois who was a very vertuous Princess and was married to Maxmilian of Austria and her death proved fatall to the Low-countries in respect of the war which followed there Her sonne Philip having renewed his alliance with Henry the seventh went into Spain and married Iane of Castile who brought him Charles of Austria And thus these Provinces being bound first to the House of Burgundy and then to that of Austria came last into the possession of that of Spain which by the discovery and conquest of the Indies happening almost at the same time is become most puissant and terrible as well to other States and Princes as also to the Ottomans themselves who seeing the Romane Empyre governed by a Prince of this Family loaden with so many Crowns and so many potent States take no small pleasure in seeing so many Schismes amongst the Christians Charles being chosen Emperour had Francis the first for his Competitor which kindled great Warres between them The success whereof was that Francis being taken prisoner promised though he performed not to restore the Duchy of Burgundy and renounce the Rights which the Kings of France had had in some Provinces of the Low-countries land Italy so that the Heyres of Charles remained a long time in the quiet and peacefull possession of them France being enough embroyled at home by the tender youth of three Kings all sonnes to Henry the second and by Civill Warre without looking back into old quarrels The House of Austria encreased by Marriages and Navigation And here we may see how by marriages and Navigations the House of Austria is both amplified and elevated which hath maintained her self by arms given jealousies to the Princes of Europe by her victories and struck sear and hatred into the soules of the Protestants who have made Leagues to uphold themselves and put a flea into the eare of France which hath abandoned the interests of Religion to make her self great and check this formidable power From this Knot or Tye of so many Crowns and great States together wherewith the King of Spaines head is burthened sprang that ticklish and indissoluble difference of precedency or preheminency which the Kings of France by the title of Eldest sonnes of the Church and most Christian Kings have alwayes attributed to themselves CHAP. X A Relation of the mischiefs happened in France under the minority of the Kings and by the diversity of Religions The jealousie about the power of the Guilards The Evils in France through State-jealousie FRance by the deplorable death of Henry the second grew in a very short space to sink into calamities which dured to the end of the last Age. The evil began in the minority of Francis the second and under the Regency of Katharin de Medicis through a jealousie which thrust it self in amongst the Princes of the Blood the Constable Montmorency the Counts of Chattillon and Andelot Admiral Caspar de Colligny and other Lords on the one side and the Dukes of Guise the Princes of the House of Laâ—rraine and other Noblemen on the other The Princes complained of the Guisards or them of the House of Guise whom in mockery and to make them odious they termed strangers had the mannagement of all the Affaires of France in their hands They almost all embraced the Reformed Religion which at that time began to encrease much through the whole kingdome whereof they declared themselves Protectors The chief motive of hatred betwixt these two most illustrious and ancient Families grew from a jest which the Admiral de Colligny cast upon the Duke of Guise concerning the taking of Theonnille A prick of a Lance which drew such a deluge of blood as no Chirurgion was able to stench Hatred between these two Houses for a jest The greatest part of the Ecclesiasticks and the most zealous of the Romane Catholicks took the Party of the King and the Guisards Many Battails were fought many Siedges of Townes laid and many Peaces made and no sooner made then broken In fine under Charles the ninth at the Wedding of the King of Navarre at Paris upon the Eve of Saint Bartholomew hapned that abhominable Massacre so much and so justly exclained against by the Protestants and blamed even by the Romane Catholicks themselves In the Reign of Henry the third was made a League called the Holy League for the exclusion of Henry de Bourbon from succession to the Crown as being an Heretick whereof the Duke of Guise a Prince of courage and high esteem was the Head who having routed the Reyters or Germane Horse ented Paris in despight of the King where he was received by the Citizens with excess of honours and when the showes of joy were ended they raised certain Barricadoes which made the King retire himself to a place of safety A Fatall Honour to all subjects how innocent soever they be For redress of these disorders there was a Peace endeavoured betwixt the King and the Duke The place of Treaty was Blois where the King contrary to his Royal Word given him caused both him and the Cardinal his Brother to be treacherously murthered His Children were saved by the Queen-Mother for the King had resolved to extirpate the whole Race thereby to prevent the danger of revenge Paris revolted and in imitation thereof many other Townes besides The King applied himself to the Huguenot Party and sent for the King of Navarre which rendered him still more odious
the French and shortly after Prince Francis of Lorranâ— himself did the same with the maine body of the Army upon conditions that he should enjoy the Dutchy of Bar and the County of Vaudement as also a penssion from the King of France sufficient to maintain himself and his Family and the Lords who had been Commanders in his Brothers Army under him and were come with him restored to their Estates The faid Forces were all dispersed and ranged under Marshal Turâ—nns orders in Picardy The disgust of some Fronteer Governours The lansenists in France There hapned a great disgust between the King of France and the Governours of Dourlans Arras Peronne and Corby about some contributions and other Advantages belonging to their Goverments in so much as it looked a great while as if they intended no less then to revolt and undertake the Prince of Condes party but seasonable satisfaction being given them they returned to their obedience to the great elusion and frustration of the expectation of the Spaniards and the Dutchesse of Chatillon who was imprisoned for having endeavoured to incite the Marshall D'hocquincourt Governour of Peronne towards a defection was also set at liberty About this time Complaint was made to the Court of France of the great increase of the Iansenists or such as adhered to the doctrine of Iansenius Bishop of Ypers in Flanders which notwithstanding it had been consopited by Pope Innocent the Tenth some years before by a speciall Bull authorized and sent by him to that effect began now to be again resuscitated by Doctor Arnault and some others of the Sorbon as also some of Lovain in such sort as had there not been very mature prevention used it might have grown by degrees to be a businesse of difficulty enough to allay the principles of the said doctrine having much affinity with what was held by Saint Augustin and is now in conformity with that of the Reformed Churches touching Predestination Free-Will Merit of Works c. besides that it is no way displeasing to many learned and considerable persons amongst the Roman Catholicks themselves on this side of the Alps and therefore the more caution was used for the timely silencing thereof The King of Sweden after his former great victory the King of Polands flight and the generall successe of the Swedish Arms in Poland and the Dominious thereupon depending besieged Cracovia and took it by Composition called a Diet or Assembly of the States of Poland at Warsovia drew an Oath of Fidelity from them The Polish Quartians submit and setled the affaires of the Kingdom under obedience to himself at which time the Polish Cavalry called Quartians together with their General Podolskie Great Standard-bearer of Poland submitted themselves to him five thousand whereof he took with himself sent two thousand of them with Licutenant Generall Muller into Great Poland and employed the rest upon other occasions This done and an agreement being made with Chimlinskie Generall of the Cossacks who came to offer himself to the King of Sweden with about sixty thousand men he sent his Armies into Prussia which took Thoren and Strasburgh by Composition and marched to Marienburgh An Embassadour from Portugal at Rome Upon the twentieth of November Francisco de Sowza arrived at Rome in the quality of Extraordinary Embassadour to his Holinesse in the behalf of the Churches of Portugal in despight of all the powerfull opposition made by the Spaniards and their Faction in that Court The Swedish Fleet consisting of fifty ships commanded by Generall Wranghel after having layn long near Wismar launched into the Road of Dantzick and attempted to seize upon the little Town of Hoste but was repulsed by the stout resistance of the Inhabitants and forced by ill weather back into Pomerania The Protestants of the Valleys of Piedmont finding the Agreement made between the Duke and them to be very disadvantageous to them as well in regard of the rigour of some of the Articles thereof as also for that the demolishment of the Fort Saint Martin and some other promises made them by their said Duke goe slowly on towards performance feel themselves in as much calamity and insecurity as before and consequently cease not to send their complaints and implore the assistance of their Brethren abroad as much as ever There happened also not long agoe a great controversie between the Protestant and Catholick Cantons of Swisserland about the falling off of about thirty families from the Romish Religion and embracing the other which if not quickly pacified may peradventure produce much misfortune It is said that the Pope having offered the King of Poland some assistance of mony the said King made answer That the summe was too inconsider ble to advance him to the recovery of his States and that for his own subsistance as a King he thanked God he had treasure enough and finally that however he had lost his Crownes yet could he not lose his Kingly Title But it is fully conceived that the Emperour and some of the Catholick and Ecclesiasticall Princes of Germany will at length resolve to affoard him such relief both of men money and other necessaries for war as may enable him to appear in the Field against his Enemies and make the Game fairer for him then hither to it hath been not withstanding the Emperour aforesaid have made a kinde of Declaration to the contrary and sent his Extraordinary Embassadour to the King of Sweden to complement him and intercede for a friendly Accommodation for he hath already sent divers Regiments into Silesia and still goes on with his Leavies which he distributes and ranges near the fronteers both of Sweden and Poland and indeed this prodigious prosperity of the Swedish Arms in Poland gives an Alarme not only to all Germany but even to Italy also and makes them stand upon their guard not knowing whose turn may be next During the distractions of Christendome the Pope hath not been much asleep since his coming to the Chayre but hath uncessantly laboured by Letters to the Kings of Spain and France to draw them to a firm peace yea and he hath sent two of the most eminent and most potent Cardinals of all the Colledge namely Cardinall Barberini and Cardinal Grimaldi who have shewed themselves upon all occasions great servants to the French Interest to the Court of France to negotiate the matter and it is thought that the Spaniard being on the loosing hand and almost desperate will give France whatsoever she askes rather then misse a peace however some be also of opinion that they will be able to effect little therein in regard that France hath made her Peace with England which was published at Paris and London with extraordinary joy and splendour the ninth of December 1655. with very much advantage to the English Nation FINIS
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
four Primitive ages that Lay men were forbidden to read the holy Scriptures that so they might remaine in darknesse and not see the light of evangelicall truth c. The Queen assembled a Parliament which acted to abolish what Queen Mary had done by the authority of the Pope and against the Protestants The Bishops and some secular men also opposed it A specious conference was offered in which there was forced upon them a Judge who was an enemy to their Cause They complained of this proceeding and said that they were very hardly dealt with and that they had been advertised of the Theses or Argument but two days before In fine not being able to agree about the form of the Dispute the Protestants before the combat cried victory and the other When shall we be assured of our Faith if there be always leave to dout and dispute Some of them were so much moved that they would have excommunicated the Queen But others being better advised alledged that the disposal thereof must be left to the Pope See Cambden Reformation in England by degrees The Queen proceeds to a change by degrees She prohibits to speak ill of the Sacrament of the Altar and suffers the Communion to be given under both kindes A little while after both Masse and Pictures were banished out of the Churches and then the Oath of superiority was tendered to the Bishops and other Roman Catholicks and in case of refusal they were dismissed from their charge All this passed without any tumult and hitherto the Reformation was carried on very conform with the Confession of Ausbourgh And in Scotland under the Bastard Murrey who weildes the Scepter About the end of the year 15â—8 the Protestant Religion began also to spring up in Scotland and the Authors of it styled themselves the Brethren of the Congregation They carped at the Kingly Authority as much as they did at the lives of the Priests and the abuses of the Church They refuâ—ed to pay their duty to the Queen-Mother-Regent a most wise and modest woman The Head and Ringleader was James Priour of Sr. Andrews since called Earl of Murrey natural Brother to the Queen who gave very great suspicions of his intending by favouring these changes to make himself Master of the Scepter of Scotland They wanted no pretext to cloak their Design For James protested that he sought nothing but the glory of God and the liberty of the kingdome oppressed by the French and the Queen-Regent who was daughter to the Duke of Guise Hammelton and divers other Gentlemen raised by the Possessions of the Church ranged themselves in their Party Complaints against Religion are ordinarily accompanied by those of the violation of Priviledges They draw up theirs For there will never be wanting such as seek their advancement in the change of the State and implore the assistance of the Queen who alwayes attentive to her profit and fearing the power of France undertakes the defence of the said Congregation promises to expell them out of Scotland and by consequence the Roman Faith with them Whilâ—st this was in agitation the Queen-Regent died and her Daughter Mary Widow to Francis the second departed from France towards Scotland Her Brother aforesaid who was a meer Bastard both in blood and heart counselled Queen Elizabeth to surprize her at Sea so to secure both her person and Religion But she being arrived at Edeâ—bourgh made no change at all but expressed great clemency towards her subjects thereby to give the lye to those false reports which those Rebels had dispersed of her and to convince them also of cruelty and treachery But the Queen of England stopped not there For she made a Law by which all were declared guilty of High Treason who refused to make Oath that she had full power and absolute authority in all spiritual things and over Ecclesiastical persons O good God! How little comparison is there between those times and these Was not this to force mens consciences The Hugenots of this present Age would be ashamed to accept such a Law as was received with so much alacrity by these first Reformers The Scots during these Interludes cast the Archbishop in prison for saying Masse and astronted another Priest for the same subject even within the Court and before the very face of the desolate Queen who neverthelesse with teares in her eyes took them out of the hands of their enemies though yet all her clemency mingled with so many sweet charms as accompanied her Majesty was never able to soften the hearts of these mutiners who never left till she had her Head cut off from her shoulders as we shall hereafter shew together with a part of those misfortunes which have since happened to her posterity Now Queen Elizabeth who thought not her authority sure unless she put her helping hand to the supplantation of the Roman Catholick Religion in Scotland as well as in England strengthened so well the party of the Congregation that the Queen no longer able to endure so many indignities nor to disintangle her selt from the snares which the perfidious Crue had laid for her was fain at length to betake her self to flight She also did for the Hugenots in France that which hath been so much condemned in the King of Spain For she took them into her protection assisted them with men and money and shewed her self every whit as zealous for the exaltation of her Religion as the Catholick King did for his So that she rendred her self as odious at Rome and to the Roman Catholicks as he did in the Low-countries amongst the Calvinists and Lutherans The Reformation came into the Low-countries The Confession of Ausbourgh entered on the one side into the Low-countries and the Reformed Religion from Geneva from the Palatinate and from England on the other the one by the communication of German soul-diers and the other by that of the Nobility which had travelled the Ministers who came from France and the Merchants who daily arrived at the Islands opposite to it It slipped in at first very secretly found favour in the Houses of some great persons and affection in the hearts of some people But being at length discovered and the Inquisition of Spain intervening it grew to be much thwarted But Fire and Sword cannot extinguish a doctrine nay rather the patience of such as suffer Racks and Torments begets compassion to them and hatred to their persecutors In fine both parties arm and ambition being the one half of the game the Spaniards regained ten of the Provinces by the sword the others who vaunted themselves to have had recourse to these extremities by the violence and cruelty of the Spaniards for their priviledges liberty of conscience embraced through all the Towns and Villages the Reformed Religion as it is taught at Geneva in some Cantons of Switzerland in the lower Palatinate and in the Distinct of Hassâ—â— The Roman Religion was sent packing contrary to
and giving marks of his royall greatnesse to that glorious nation The principall motive of this enterview could never hither to be truly discovered and whatsoever hath been said thereof hath been grounded onely upon conjectures suspicions and mistrusts Spinola comes from Spain and takes Grol In the spring of the year 1606 Marquis Spinola returned from Spain and brought a vast sum of money with him which is the true sinew of war and the most excellent oil to anoint the dull armes of the souldiers and having therewith put the Militia in good discipline he sent the Count de Bucquoy towards the Rheine himself following shortly after but the continuall rains and the vigilancy of Prince Maurice made him lose the hope of re-gaining any access to Groening and the other places of strength on the way The Count de Bucquoy staying behind attempted to passe the Vehal with Pontons and smal Boats by the favour of a battery but he was repulsed But Spinola took Lothem and seeing then that amongst so many enterprizes none of them all prospered so as to get over the Rivers either neer the Soul or elsewhere he turned his armes against Grol which by furious attacks he quickly compelled to yeeld notwithstanding the Garrison were strong enough And not yet conrent with this Town he caused the Count de Bucquoy to invest Rhinbergh who could not hinder Count Henry from putting fourteen Colours into the place and some Cavalrie besides together with many French Gentlemen Voluntiers The complaint of the Spaniard against the French Catholikes The Spaniards and the most zealous Romane Catholicks of Europe have very often accused the French of levity and especially such of them as are Catholicks in regard that being of the same Law with the Spaniards and in peace with them too they contrary to the Treaty of Vervin embraced the other party not onely to strip their master of his Demaynes but the towns also themselves of the exercise of the Catholick Religion If there went none but Spaniards out of our States said the obedient Towns the passion of the French would be in some sort lawfull but since our Religion is banished together with their government they can alleadge no receivable excuse to exempt them from injustice and blame The Priests maintaining that it was a matter of conscience refused to give absolution to the souldiers as favourers of Heresie and enemies to the Church But they alwayes covered themselves under the cloak of policy and made the same answer which Henry the fourth their Master did to the Spanish Embassador that it was not a war of Religion but of State The complaints often enough made by the Archduke and Dutches upon this subject had no other satisfaction then that there might likewise be found enow in their Armies and that it was free for every one to choose what party he pleased But the French followed rather the inclination of their Prince then scruple in Religion laid more to heart the weakening of the Power of Spaine then the ruine of Hereticks and the interest of their Master then that of the Catholick faith So that the Protestants made use of them and have prevailed much by the jealousie of State which reigns betwixt these two potent nations CHAP. VII The taking of Rinbergh The mutiny of the Spaniards The siege of Grol raised by the promptitude of the Marquis The first overture for a Truce received VVE left Spinola so well intrenched at Rinbergh that the Princes courage was cooled to attack him who bethought himself a little too late of sending his brother to Venlo so to make a powerfull diversion For the Town being battered by a rough and smart assaulter and defended by resolute men Rinbergh rendered was at last forced to render and so the Garrison to the number of three thousand dislodged the second of October Now the taking of so important a place just at the nose of so strong an Army produced such discourses as blinde passion dictated to men of blinde judgement and the Marquis as victorious as he was was not yet able to divert some mutinies in his Army for want of pay and therefore considering the huge inconveniencies they suffered by so many marches sieges enterprizes and the harshuesse of the season he thought fit to refresh them in the County of Gulick Now the Prince who desired to put nothing to hazard but be ever prying upon occasions met at length with this He caused Lochom to be besieged which quickly submitted Maurico besiges Grol Spinola rayses him thence and gives Diet to the inutiners and then went to attack Grol But the unexpected arrival of Spinola made him change the vexations of that siege which bred so many diseases in his army into a most advised retreat and send his souldiers into their winter quarters It is the part of a good Pilot to take his measures well amongst the rocks and of a good Generall to accommodate himself to time and not to struggle against the harshnesse of the season but make his retreat to save his army the conservation whereof is as landable as the hazardous gaining of a battell The Marquis having surmounted many inconveniences to deterr his enemies from the continuing the siege and made them at length dislodge endeavoured besides to sweeten the mutiners by granting Diet for their winter quarters where we will leave them and follow him to Brussels to contrive the first propositions of the Truce Never was there so much trouble to decide a businesse of importance as there was to bring the confederated States to hear of any overanes of Peaces or Truce It seemed more easie to make an agreement betwixt fire and water and all the mettals together then to reconcile these two parties But indeed the distrust was too great the hatred too much rooted and fortune too favourable And whereas other Countries grow poor by war this most rich most potent and most flourishing For on the one side the enemies army could not enter in regard of the frequencie of great rivers and on the other they are guarded by the sea in such sort as that by trafique they are risen to such a height that every body courts their friendship Many assemblies and mediations for Peace and accommodation were made but all vanished into smoak and served rather for a spur to war then a balsom to mollifie the ulcerated wounds of such as make their profit by Alarms For this was the common talk There is no trust to be given to the Spaniards or the Papists for they teach that they are not to keep their faith with Hereticks The fowler sings sweetly to draw the birds into his Nets and many other such reasons which served onely to destroy all propositions of Peace Nay even the Embassies of the Emperours so often reiterated were able to reap nothing but ceremonies and those of other Princes yet lesse The complaints of the neighbours endammadged and oppressed by the souldiers were not
of that learned writer the Imperial Crown upon his brothers head because he would rather have had it upon his Sonnes and the Germans will not see it upon that of a Spaniard How then shall these instruments be tuned I conclude that she hath been moved to act by Interest only to uphold her self and not to hunt aster this chimericall Monarchy The Emperours which have been since have manifested no excess of ambition and Philip the third made no stir at all So that it must be either Fâ—rdinand the second or Philip the Fourth Let us examin the grounds which may give these jealousies and authorize these opinions The said Ferdinand the second had War with the Bohemians and the Prince Palatine every one knows for what He would have the three Episcopal Townes had he not right to them The Victories he got in Low-Saxonie moved him to restore and re-established his Authority there was he out of reason Here-demanded as Soveraign Judge the Ecelesiasticall Lands and Goods according to the tenour of the contract at Passavia was he ill-grounded The Lutherans themselves will not say so Shall we therefore suffer this House to swallow up all Now it is that we must have recourse to the interest which every body ought to have in commendation and not stray from the path of Justice As for Hypocrisiy whereof he accuses them of this Family by comparing their piety to the colours of the Rain-bow which are but deceipts and illusions it is acalumnie which confutes it self and a malice convinced by the testimonies of the Lutherans who have frequented the Imperiall Court A calumny convinced and have wished that all the Courts of the Protestant Princes were regulated like that Indeed the words which he uses to cure as he sayes the mindes of such as are praeoccupated by errour are not strong enough to make them passe for good even in his own opinion For a may be cannot form a determinate truth of future things Yet it is not my intention to approve all the actions of this House and defend her ends and much lesse to deliver the Bordering Princes from the fear which they may have of her greatnesse by the refutation of those arguments but only freely and plainly to lay open the justice of her Arms and the strong necessity of her interests to maintain her self against so many enemies I combat no Soveraign Family but reverence them all without exception and praeoccupation I only demonstrate the practices cheateries and effects of ambition together with those of self-advantage which render whole Provinces desert and breed general calamities In the Treaty of peace at Manster we shall discover the intentions of all the Princes without amusing our selves any more with the words of interested Clarks But we must first consider why France which hath always restored to the Dukes of Savoy such of their States Why France wi keep Lorrain as she hath seazed upon by arms doth now yet so obstinatly retaine Lorrain as she also did the three Bishopricks I answer that she hath done the former to avoide giving jealousie to the Princes of Italy whole good correspondence she holds necessary for her so to maintain her interests there But she will not let Lorrain go in regard of her conquests made in Germany and because the Princes of that Country being divided into Parties are not sourgent for the restitution of the losses of their Neighbours as those others are France calls the Princes of the House of Austria and all such as are tyed to her interests her Enemies and in regard that this irreconcitiable-hatred is not very ancient we shall quickly finde out the source thereof During the English Warrs in France the Spaniards being then great friends and Allyes with France always succoured her and there were some Lords of that Nation who possested great Charges in the said Warrs Yea in that memorable assembly of Arras where to the confusion of the English the Peace was made between the King and the Duke of Burgundy a certain Spanish Knight in a contention of honour took the White Cross without giving any other reason for it then that it was a sign of Amity But now The causes of the hatreds between France and Spain the said House being annexed to Spain the first spark of division sprung up in Italy the second and the greatest was about the Imperial â—â—â—â—n and jealousie of State which lasted til the death of Henry the second a 〈◊〉 as a wakened again under Henry the third by the counsell of the Hughenots and his brother the Duke of Alencon sudddenly made Duke of Brabaâ—t Philip the second of Spain did the like for him by favouring the Heads o the League to the deminution of his Authoritie and the Hughenot Party Henry the fourth took his revenge advanced the hatred always contraried opposed and laboured to weaken this power which gave him jealousy And then it was that not only the Hughenots but the Catholicks also began to hate that Nation Not did the Spaniards remain their debtors therem In such sort as the hatred of the people is formed by that of State But this kings death stopped the currnet of those partialities that double marriage seemed quite to stifle them out in vain for these two proud Nations the most potent of Christendom have many pretensions upon each other and cannot endure any praeeminence at all In so much as that when the one makes any progresse the other endeavours to stop it besides sides the same Ministers of State spurred on by ambition and desire to raise their Families have from time to time kindled these suspitions which have hatched these fatall wars to the destruction of all Europe The one of these Houses styles her selfe most Christian and yet meddles not much with the businesse of Religion for she ordinarily attracts the Reformates to her interests who are enemies to the Pope and by consequence to the other House which suffers not their Doctrine in her Dominions The other is tearmed Catholick and abandons not the interests of Religion no more then she doth her own unlesse it be by force proceeding from the necessity of State-affaires through some new conjuncture as we shall see in the sequell of this work Lewis the thirteenth shocked this House with so much authority and power and procured her so many Enemies that she had very much adoe to keep her self up in such sort as that great Cardinal the Angel-Gardian of France by his puissant Allyances begat an opinion in the Soules of many Politicians that he sought the Universal Monarchy In effect by this great Conquerours means he hoped to overthrow the Emperour and had already devoured the possession of the Low-Countries by the help of the Hollanders But man purposes and God disposes But let us withdraw our selves out of this Labyrinth since we have already gon round about it and if we enter into it we have not a sufficient thred of
Drummes to be beaten and confirmed a most straight Allyance with the aforesaid Arch-Duke the principall conditions whereof were that neither Party should lay down Armes till the Princes were released the Duke of Lorraine restored to his States Sedan rendered and a firm Peace concluded between the two Crownes Which done they began to raise forces and the Spaniards disposed themselves to put theirs into the field The common opinion that the Spaniard sowes dissention in France refuted It is the opinion of many persons that the King of Spain endeavoured to corrupt the greatest part of the Nobleman of France with money and sowed sedition and revolt amongst them with this glittering mettall as if that Nation were not unquiet and turbulent enough of it self without his being necessitated to draine his Treasures to move it And yet suppose that he did it it was no more then what is ordinarily practised every where when there is an apparence of profit being incited thereto by Reason of State and then what was done by King Lewis the eleventh in England and elsewhere But to what purpose should it serve him save only to spend his mony unprofitably enough as appeared by their inconstance Many of them have often retyred themselves into his Dominions to seek their own security and his protection both which they have found and an honourable maintenance to boot but how have they taken their leave Lewis the eleventh being yet in his Dolphin-age withdrew himself to the Duke of Burgundy and for recompence as soon as he was in the Royall Throne he began and continued a war upon the Burgundlans But let us stay in our Age where we shall finde matter enough The Duke of Orleans twice at Brussels The Duke of Orleans fled twice to Brussels cast himself into the King of Spalnes arms who succoured him protected him and gave him an honourable allowance together with his Mother the Queen But being once reconciled and even after the King his Brothers decease he employed himself with as much heat as the most mortall enemy in the world to make warre in Flanders so to destroy his own Sanctuary And other Lords and spoyl his Protectour when all that people thought he would fix all his thoughts upon Peace The Dukes of Guise and Elbenf followed the same trace the former in Italy and the latter in Flanders And what shall we say of the Marshall of Turenne and the Allyance so solemnly sworne with the Arch-Duke The issue shewed that he returned with the same levity before the work was finished and so rendred that fair Field intructuous This is the profit of the Spanish Cathalicon and this the foundation upon which the King built his Conquests or rather this is the recompence of his liberality I praise the fidelity of the French but I blame their inconstance and presume to say aloud that the first obligation cannot dispense with the second made freely and without constraint Nor are there many such examples to be found amongst other Nations yea and it would be very ill taken in France if a stranger after having found his sanctuary there should after his reconciliation labour to make war against it Maurice Duke of Saxony Albert of Brandenburgh and some others made a League with Henry the second for the Liberty of Germany but findings that the French instead of Liberty layd hold of some Places they reconciled themselves with the Emperour and yet were they taxed of perfidy at the Court of France The Count of Fustenbergh having withdrawne himself from the service of King Francis the first and returned into the Emperours favour was beaten in seeking a passage upon the River of Marne and like to be knocked in the head for his ingratitude But let us returne to our purpose The renduclion of Belle-garde 1650. The King having assured himself of Normandy and many Places held by the Prince of Condes Lieutenants caused Bellegarde to be besiedged which quickly submitted for want of succour and he rendred the Inhabitants their Priviledges Let us passe the Sea Charles Stewart goes into Scotland The Scots being Assembled at Edenburgh resolved to take Charles Stewart for their King to which effect they sent Commissioners to treat with him at the Haghe and proclaimed him King of Scotland and England which extremely offended the Parliament at London He departed from Scheveling and we will let him go in great danger to behold the honour which was done Generall Cromwell for having reconquered almost all Ireland the Natives whereof being moved to take Armes by zeal of Religion and respect to the said Charles implored the assistance of the Pope and some other Christian Princes but not being seconded The Irish tamed and puâ—ished and falling into division amongst themselves they were easily tamed and chastized as well for having taken Arms as for having abused the English The Diet at Nurembergh In the same yeare the Diet was held at Nurembergh where after the agreement was made about the restitution of Places and the Assessement for moncy to pay the souldiers the rest of the time was spent in Visits and sumptuous Banquets Festivities and Fire-works of rate workmanship and skil The Duke of Amalsi formerly Piccolomini was there on the behalfe of the Emperours and acquired great admiration and Duke Charles for the Crowne of Sweden Some Counts were forced to pawne their wives Jewells and other Ornaments to be so much the sooner rid of these troublesome Guests Thus the Germans were whipt and payd for the Rodde for they were faine to give whatsoever they had left to recover that which was growne savage and desert The States of the Empyre sent an Embassadour expresse into Spain to beseech the King to draw his Garrison out of Frankendal which was granted at length that so the Peace might have full vigour as we will shew hereaster But since the Embassadours depart from Nurembergh let us go also out of Germany and hasten downe the Rheyn into Holland to see what passes there concerning the reduction of the Militia and other accidents Who will bee able to hide himselfe from the face of the Lord CHAP. VI Containing what passed in the Summer of this yeare of 1650. The Portugal Embassadours offers The Fleet in the Indies does nothing The Princ 's complaints The Siedge of Amsterdam The Imprisonment of six Lords who were carried to Louvestein The Prince of Oranges death His Prayer THe Zelanders before they would ratifie the Peace which they did with an ill will as well in regard of France as for the profit of some particular persons who were wont to go to the Cape of Grip would needs be assured of a prompt supply for the Company of the little Indies The estates of Orphans in Zeland employed in the Company of the Indies which was grown to decay by the revolt of Portugal Which was granted them because the Goods and Estates of many widowes Fatherless children and other persons of
so great mercy c. Besides these aforesaid advantages the Earle of Oppalinski nothing content to have forsaken the King of Polands Party himself drew also many of his friends and neighbouring Lords into the same engagement and they joyntly made an agreement with the King of Sweden containing these heads 1. That they should no longer own the King of Poland or acknowledge him for their Soverargne 2. That all such as should refuse to doe the same should be pursued with fire and sword 3. That the King of Sweden should have the same Authority over them which the Kings of Poland had and that for security of the performence of this Article they should deliver all their strong Holds to General Wittembergh And lastly That the King of Sweden should dispose of all the forces already raysed in great Poland The French after the surrender of Landrecies besieged and took Conde St. Ghistain and some other small places and made excursions even to the very walls of Brussels The Spaniards Embargo The Spaniards after having set out a Fleet to watch Generall Blake upon their Coast upon the news of the miscarriage of the designe of the Generals Pen and Venables at St. Domingo in Hispamola put a General Embargo upon the English Marchants Goods and imprisoned many of their persons also in all the Ports of Spain and the King published a Manifest which was quickly and roundly answered by the Lord Protectour whereupon there instantly followed actions of hostility at sea The Siedge of Pavia raysed The City of Pavia in Italy which had endured a long and fierce Siege by the Duke of Modena and Prince Thomaso was at length delivered by the valour of the Townsmen and the succour brought them by the Marquis of Caracena Governour of the Dutchy of Milan and the two aforesaid Princes forced to a disorderly retreat with the losse of many of their men some Canon and Baggage and the said Duke dangerously shot in the Arme. The Provaditore Morofini General for the State of Venice against the Turks got possession of the Island of Egina in the Archipelago and of the strong Hold of Vola which was surrendred the twenty second of March and which is the more advantagious in regard that the Turks had made their chief Magazine there for this summer expedition so that the Venetians gained besides their Ammunion a very great quantity of Bisquet and seaven and twenty pieces of great Ordnance most of them Brasse As much of the Provisions as could be carried away was put on ship-board and the rest syred that so the Enemy might not be benefited thereby and the best of the works demolished Victories of the Venetians a gainst the Turks About a moneth after they gave a totall defeat to the Turkish Fleet which endeavouring to come out of the Dardanelles upon the fourteenth of July at night after a very hot fight of eight houres was utterly routed and dispersed and forced to get shelter under the Castles of the said Dardanelles having lost in the battail sixteen ships six Gallyes two Mahones and many other Vessels foure thousand men taken prisoners who were all made slaves and a greater number killed This victory was so much the more remarkable for that the whole Venetian Fleet was not there a party thereof having been sent towards Canca a few dayes before to prevent the Turks relieving that place The Turkish Navy consisted of about a hundred ships and Gallyes and the Venetians but eight and thirty with eight Gallyes and two Galleasses The King of Sweden puts forth a manifest The King of Sweden upon his entry into Poland published a Manifest and sent a Letter also to the Emperour comprehending the reasons of his taking Arms against that King wherein he accuses him of eluding the Treatyes held between them of usurping the Title of the Crown of Sweden of endeavouring to debauch the people of Livonia or Leefland and to draw them to a defection of sending a Fleet into the Baltick Sea of attempting to intice the States of the Isle of Oesely to a revolt and many other charges he imputes to him in order to his having broaken the Articles of Truce concluded between the two Crownes From the very time that he entred Poland he went on with a conquering and irresistible hand all submitting partly by force and partly by composition and voluntary inclination to his obedience After he had taken and stayed some time at Warsovia he endeavoured by all means possible to joyne with Field-Marshal Wittembergh so to meet or seek the enemy with the more security whereof the Poles being advertized laboured to crosse that designe and hinder their conjunction to which effect they placed themselves in the woods so to sally out at unawares upon the said Field-Marshal as he marched by as not imagining that the King could possibly be yet arrived to him So that his Maâ—esty being sufficiently informed of their purpose fell in very good order upon them and advanced with such successe by entertaining them with his Ordnance and Forlorne The Polanders beaten that however they sometimes endeavoured to rally and draw to a head again they were constrained to quit the Field in great confusion with the losse of all their Baggage consisting of three thousand Carts and the Swedes pursued them in the Reer almost as farre as Cracovia putting most part of them to the Sword Nor was their prosperity a whit lesse in Lithuania the Nobility of that Country having abandoned their obedience to the King of Poland and sworne fidelity to the King of Sweden howbeit some of them shortly after began to repine at that yoke and the Muscovits desirous of amity with the conquerours departed Hereupon the Count of Steinbock Master of the Ordinance passed the River Vistula with his Troops and advanced against the Marsovians being there between nine and ten thousand strong where both he and his behaved themselves so valliantly that they rowted the said Marsovians killed and rook many of them and put the rest to flight The King and Queen of Poland fly The King of Poland finding the progresse of his Enemies so prosperous against him and himself deserted as well by his own Subjects as by Fortune and seeing at present small hopes of making any advantagious opposition to so impetuous a torrent fled together with his Queen into Silesia In the interim Christina lately Queen of Sweden being departed from Brussels Queen Christine declares her self a Roman Catholick betook her self towards Rome through Germany and made a solemne and publick Renunâ—ation of her former Belief embrancig the profession of the Roman Religion at Inspruck in Tiroll after which proceeding to her journies end she was received by the Pope with great magnisicence and splendom The Lottain Army goes to the French together with Prince Francis Whilest tuâ—sâ— things passed a Brigade of the Lorrain Army consisting of five Regiments â—eserted Spanish service and went to
THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE VVherein is set dovvn the true state of EUROPE as it was in the year 1500. ALSO The Original and Causes of all the VVarres and Commotions that have happened Together with A Description of the most memorable Battels Sieges Actions and Transactions both in Court and Camp from that time till this present year 1656. Illustrated vvith the lively Effigies of the most renowned Persons of this present Time Written Originally by J. PARIVAL and now rendred into English by B. HARRIS Gent. LONDON Printed by E. TYLER and are to be sold by J. Crook S. Miller and T. Davies at the Ship and at the Starre in Pauls Church yard 1656. TO THE HONOURABLE JOHN RVSSEL Esquire c. Brother to the Right honourable THOMAS Earle of Bedford c. Honourable Sir AS the Sun by the circumfusion of his corruscant beames doth not onely extrinsically discover the vast extent of the Vniverse but intrinsically foment and nourish all the particular productions thereof by the infusion of heat the same doth Nobility and Vertue in great Persons the reputation of whose worth and merit being carried through the World by the nimble and happy wings of Fame makes them not onely known but engenders an Admiration of their vertues and a certain kinde of respect also and reverence to their Persons even in such as never saw them This Noble Sir is the principal motive which not onely animates but instigates me to consecrate this Translation to you with as much assurance of your benigne acceptation as if Fortune had been as favourable to me in making me knowne to your most worthy Person in England as Fame hath been liberall in making me participant of the report of your high Birth and Qualities abroad Wherefore being upon the matter a kinde of halfe-stranger to my Country not to the Idiom thereof to whom should I addresse the first fruits of my small labours after my late return into it but to so worthy a Branch of the most illustrious and Heroick Stock of the Russells And to whom should I dedicate a History which contains the most renowned Exploits and the most remarkable and most imitable Actions Transactions and Examples both in Court and Camp of the bravest Hero's of Europe for so long a Series of years but to him the reputation of whose in vincible Courage in war and whose incomparable Courtesie in Peace together with his singular Generosity Clemency and Benignity to all persons of all conditions and in all occasions in generall gives me sufficient ground to hope that he will not onely vouchsafe to patronize the Worke but pardon the presumption of the Workman whose lively zeals and respect is the onely cause of his ambition Be pleased therefore Most noble Sir to embrave it as propitiously as it is presented to you humbly and excuse the in-elegancie and roughnesse of the stile in regard that besides that the Subject is an Historicall Relation my occasions suffered me not to attend nor correct the Presse If you meet with any Passage in the Booke upon the reading whereof you may thinke fit to entertaine your noble Thoughts in some of your vacant hours as doubtlesse you will there being great variety of all kindes of humane Actions Passions and Accidents it will not onely be an object of present Contentment but a subject also of future Encouragement to me to speake my selfe in other and better Language what the height of my Ambition makes me aspire to be Honourable Sir Your most humble and most devoted Servant B. H. TO THE READER Dear Reader I Have one Request to make thee which thou wilt have much ado to refuse me and it is That thou wilt be pleased to suspend thy judgement till thou shalt have maturely weighed my Work that so nothing may fall from thee which may be too pracipitate or too passionate Thou wilt finde some things which will please thee and will make thee pardon such as will be more for other rains palats then thine But above all I conjure thee by Chriâ—â—an Charity that I have spoken according to my opinion without any flattery at all and if thou findest some things whereof thou art better informed then I thou wilt do me the favour to remember that being in a private Condition and not having been admitted into the Cabinet I am not the first who hath erred through ignorance I praise not vice by praising vicious persons but the vertue which is found in them as a Diamond upon the Dunghill and if I speak not all I know understand that there is more danger to utter all then profit to silence all I call this Age the Iron Age in regard that all the Evills and Prodigies have happened in grosse which were in praecedent Ages but in retail For if disorders were then great in some corners they are so now every where If thou laugh at my opinion Noah was also mocked for having exhorted the people to Repentance and began the Ark about a hundred years before the Deluge No body knowes when the Great Judge will come but the Prodigies advertise us to keep our selves ready that so we may not be found as in the dayes of Noah Eating and drinking without care Farewell A TA. A TABLE Of the Chapters PART I. BOOK I. CHAP. I. THe State of Europe towards the end of the precedent Age. Page 1. CHAP. II. Of the war of Hungary The Mutiny of the French rigorously punished The Duke of Mercoeurs death Whence came the Inhabitants of Transylvania Page 3. CHAP. III. Of Russia or Muscovia the Religion The History of Demetrius Page 5. CHAP. IV. Of Poland the Government the Religion Henry Duke of Ainioü elected King and afterwards Sigismund of Sweden and Maximilian of Austria who was taken prisoner in a Battail Page 6. CHAP. V. Of Sweden The disorder which happened between King Sigismund and his Vncle Charles and why The successe of their Arms. Page 9. CHAP. VI. Of Denmark the description thereof Page 11. CHAP. VII Of great Britain The History of the Earl of Gowrey Page 12. CHAP. VIII Of Italy Lorrain and Savoy Page 13. CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy Page 15. CHAP. X. A relation of the evils which have happened in France under the minority of the Kings and by the diversity of Religions The jealousie about the power of the Guisards or the House of Guise Page 17. CHAP. XI Commotions in the Low-Countries and why In fine the Peace of Vervins followes The Donation of the Low-countries to the Infanta Page 18. CHAP. XII The Arch-Duke goes into Spain and the Admirall into the Dutchy of Cleveland The death of King Philip. His admirable patience Page 21. CHAP. XIII The difference which happened between the counts of Freezland and the town of Embden The States put in a Garrison Page 22. CHAP. XIV Of the changes which happened about matter of Religion in the precedent Ages and motives for our