the Forts newly erected vpon the Ports or Coasts of eyther Sea or in * The Grisins Country Rhetia be demolished and all reduced to the estate they were in before the Germane warre 2. That because the Adverse partie hath had no minde hitherto to repayre offered injuries and hath rejected all intercessions therefore is there no remedie but to vindicate their safetie by strong hand for effecting whereof the King of Sweden is at his owne charges to maintaine 30000. foote and 6000. horse in Germany And the King of France to pay his yearely share in Rixe Dollars whereof the one halfe May 15 and the other November 15. eyther at Paris or Amsterdam as the King of Sweden shall thinke fit who is to appoint his owne Receivers 3. The levying of Souldiers or Mariners the passages of shipping and ammunition shall be in eyther of their Dominions free for either partie and be denied to the enemy Offenders against military discipline and such as runne away from their Colours to be left to their owne Princes to be punished 4. If it pleases God to giue the King of Sweden good successe he shall not deale otherwise in poynt of Religion to those places that he shall conquer or haue yeelded vp to him then the Lawes and Constitutions of the Empire appoynt and the Romane religion shall still be left free where it is now practised 5. Into this League may any other States or Princes eyther within Germany or without be admitted that desire it but let due care be had that whosoever be so admitted may neither privily nor openly favour the adverse partie vnder their owne name or pretence of others or offer wrong vnto the foresaid Kings or the common cause but let each of them rather contribute vnto this warre so much as they are able or concernes their interest Which is to be determined vpon by a particular Treatie 6. With the Duke of Bavaria and the Catholike Leaguers in the Romane Empire let termes of amitie or neutralitie at least be observed if so be they doe the like againe 7. And if by Gods grace any occasion of Treatie offers it selfe let it be by the common Counsells of the Leaguers nor let any of these conclude a peace without the other 8. This League to endure for fiue yeares to come that is from the day of the date hereof vnto the first of March old stile in the yeare 1636. to come Within which terme vnlesse a secure peace may be obtained vpon a generall Treaty of the Confederates let this League be further againe prorogued It is moreover agreed that because the last yeare this League had beene begun to be treated vpon to continue for six yeares and that the King of Sweden had in the meane time beene at the sole charges of the warre therefore in regard of the yeare passed the King of France vpon the day of Signing these Articles is to giue him Bills of Exchange for 300000. pounds Turon which amount vnto 120000 Rixe Dollars which summe is not to be reckoned in vnto the payments to be made in the next fiue yeares Of this League the King of Sweden giues present notice vnto the Protestant Princes now at the Dyet of Leipsich assuring them that his intentions were no other but to defend and restore the Germane Princes and their Liberties c. All the backe of Pomeren being thus cleered by the taking of Colberg turne we backe now againe to what was in the meane time done in other places The King who would see to the doing of all leaving his Army in Mecklenburg was now come backe into Pomeren The siege of Grippenhagen and now casts his eye vpon Grippenhagen This Towne scituate vpon the North banke of the Oder some three Leagues from Stetin is naturally a very strong place A peice of much importance withall by reason of the bridge which it hath over the Oder by which there is easie passage eyther to offend or relieve the Land of Marck on the East side and Pomeren and Brandenburg on the West In it lay an Imperiall Garrison of some 3000. men and Don Capua a Spaniard their Governour In Iuly 1630. therefore the King taking some fiue Regiments of foote and one of horse along with him and sending his Ammunition vp the Oder goes to looke vpon the place as those of Stetin had requested him Being desirous one day to satisfie himselfe in viewing of a passage with 24 horse onely in his attendance he falls into an Ambush of 60. horse where valiantly defending himselfe a while The King in danger he is very timely fetcht off by foure troopes of his owne horse which came in vpon the spurre so soone as they heard the Pistols goe off The place he findes not onely hot but heavie not so easie to be carried and especially for that the Imperiall Army then lay at Gartz some few miles aboue it on the other side of the Oder Therefore giues he it over for that time After his coÌ„ming from Mecklenburg now his Majestie December 23. old stile with 12. Regiments of foote and 85. troopes of horse in person drawes downe toward the Towne about the Evening shewing himselfe in battell array before it The advantage of the ensuing night he takes for the planting of his Ordnance whereof he had brought 80. peices along with him of which 32. being Demy-Canons he mounts 10. of them vpon the place of execution The Townes of Germany haue vsually neere without their walles a goodly payre of stone Gallowes vpon a little hill which is for a heading place which is often timâ—s low walled or fenced in Having given order the day before for prayers and Sermons throughout the Camp on Christmas Eve by fiue a clocke in the morning he begins a most furious battery 10. 15. or 20. peices of Canon continually going off together A fayre and large breach being made the Swedens twice attempt to enter and are twice most valiantly repulsed But 2500. men for no more are now left being vnable to hold out against 20000. the Towne is at the third assault taken The Governour received a shot in his thigh whereof in prison at Stetin he afterwards dyed With him is the Sergeant Major Antonio also taken many chiefe Commanders and 100. common Souldiers 200. were flame some fled the rest flinging away their Armes craved Quarter and had it The King had but six men slaine out right though many wounded for which he tooke eight peices of Ordnance in the Towne The siege of Gartz At Gartz before described another strong Towne with a bridge also over the Oder had the Imperiall Army ever since their removing from Ancklam layne To dare Torquati Conti their Generall into the feild the King with some ten thousand foote and twenty-foure troupes of horse presents himselfe before his Trenches about mid August 1630. He not disposed to come out nor the King to assault him in his Quarters returnes home againe In his
and Peace of the Empire Thirdly How to maintaine correspōdency with the Catholike Princes And fourthly What to answer for themselues both in generall and particular as well concerning the maintenance of the reformed Religion as to the Emperours Edict concerning the Church-Lands when they should come to meete at the Dyet of Franckford The Princes thus invited and the time now come vpon the fourth of February 1631. the Elector of Saxony enters Lypsich in great state and the Elector of Brandenburg a little after him The Protestant partie in the Empire Thither in person came these Protestant Princes also Christianus another Marquesse of Brandenburg Iohn William and Bernard Dukes of Saxon Weymar William Landtgrave of Hessen Frederick Marquesse of Baden Augustus Prince of Anhalt Frederick Count of Solmes Iohn George and Ernest Lodowike Counts of Mansfeilt and the deposed Dukes of Mecklenburg These Princes sent their Ambassadors The Duke of Deuxponts Iohn Ernestus another Duke of Saxony Frederick Vlrick Duke of Brunswicke The Duke of Lunenburg The severall Princes of the Circles of Schwaben and Franckenlandt The Lady of the Abbey of Quedlinburg The Bishops Administrators of Mecklenburg and of Bremen The Counts of Stolberg The Barons of Reussen and Schonberg These Townes and States send their Agents also Norimberg Strasburg Franckford Lubeck Bremen Brunswick Hildesheim Mullhuisen and Northhuisen Duke Lodowick Frederick Administrator of the Dukedome of Wirtenberg was newly dead and Duke Iulius not yet setled and therefore being not able to come himselfe he sent the Vice-Chancelor of the Dukedome called Doctor Loester and some other Counsellors as Deputies for that Dutchie And these be the Protestant party in the Empire some whereof being Lutherans and some Calvinists they first of all agree to haue that distinction of names which had caused so much schisme and hatred heretofore to be vtterly taken away making a generall Decree that both Professions should from thence forth be called by one name of Evangeliacalls That is Professors of the Gospell No man was suffered to stay within the Towne whose businesse was not knowne the streets ends were chained vp and barricadoed guards set at the severall ports and the keyes of the gates every night brought into the Dukes chamber And all this was to prevent Spyes and surprisalls The Duke Elector of Saxony on whose greatnesse and countenance the Partie and Action very much depended makes a speech first of all Saxonyes Oration which had reference vnto his former Letters of Invitation vnto them protesting withall his owne firmenesse and forwardnesse for the peace of the Empire and the maintenance of the Religion and that he would be ready to adventure both life and goods in the Cause so desiring every man freely to giue his Counsell in such manner as they might be able to render a fayre accompt of it vnto the Emperour Vnto this meeting the King of Sweden also sends his Ambassador Doctor Chemnitius who in his Maisters name delivers them this assurance That his Majesties intentions were no other then to restore the Empire to her ancient peace the Princes to their liberties and to defend the Church in her Religion telling them moreover how that the French King was newly entred into a League with him for fiue yeares to come The Ambassador had both speedie Audience and honorable entertainement The Dyet to be briefe brake vp vpon Palme-Sunday the third of Aprill following The Conclusions agreed vpon themselues expresse in their Letters in humble and complaining manner enlarged in many sheetes of Paper sent by an expresse Curryer vnto the Emperour in which their joynt desires were thus signified Their humble Remonstrance vnto the Emperor Their Complaint and Remonstrance I reduce into these Propositions That the Golden Bull and Constitutions of the Empire had of late beene all abused That the Emperours late Edict for restitution of the Church Lands and his endevours to roote out the Protestant Religion were the maine Causes of these late troubles The first of these breeding jealousies and discontents betwixt the Protestants and the Papists and the second tending to the vtter ruine of the two Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg Then they complaine of injustice done vnto particular Princes and Cities some of which were injuried by the violent taking away of their Church Lands as the Dukes of Wirtenberg and Brunswick the Prince of Anhalt the Counts Hohenloe Stolberg Lippe Valdecht Verthimb Erpach c. the Towne of Ausburg and others Some hindered in the exercise of their Religion as Augustus and Frederike Princes Palatines and yonger brethren vnto Wolfgang William Palatine of Newburg now turnd Papist Others had their Estates confiscated as the Lady * The mother and brother of the King of Bohemia Lewis being Duke of Simmern Electresse Palatine and her Sonne Lewis Prince Palatine the Dukes of Mecklenburg c. for whom the whole Colledge of Electors had interceded in the late Dyet but not prevayled Others complaine of the violent altering of their Feods and Tenures of their Lands and Lordships as the last before named Princes and Iohn Casimire Elector of Saxony into whose Lands the Imperiall Commissaries haue with force and Armes intruded changing the tenures of the tenants and altering the Religion Ernestus Marquesse and Elector of Brandenburg complaines of the same wrongs offered vnto his Pupils the yong Marquesses * Which are of the house of Brandenburg their Lands lying by Nurenberg of Onspach Vlme Duke of Brunswick complaines first of the ravages of his Lands done by Tilly vpon pretence of moneyes owing to the King of Denmarke and made over by the said King vnto the Emperour who imployed Tilly thus to streyne for them Secondly of the seisure of his Bishopricke of Hildesheim and thirdly that the chiefe Towne of his owne residence Wolffenbuttle had beene forced to take an Imperiall Garrison Others complaine how they might not haue the benefit of the Law but were driven away by threatnings and discourtesies The Electors and Princes complaine of contempts and indignities offered vnto their persons some of them having beene threatned the Bastonado by some of the Emperors Souldiers The Cities and Circles of the Empire complaine that vndue and excessiue Impositions and Taxes haue beene layd vpon them not by the consent of themselues as the Imperiall Lawes command but at the pleasure of any of the Emperours Commissaries That vnder colour of protecting them they haue beene forced to afford Quarter and maintenance vnto the Imperiall Armies who when they should indeede haue defended them most cowardly ran away That when they would not endure the Souldiers insolencies they haue beene declared enemies of the Empire and forbidden to defend themselues That their Lands haue beene given to Souldiers as if they had beene Conquered That they haue beene forced to contribute to imaginary companies of Souldiers perchance to foure or fiue as if they had beene a compleat band That the Commissaries haue assigned Quarters and passages vnto the Souldiers
and almost so scituate but the haven much larger Here did Duke Adolph and the Generall Toodt entrench themselues by land the Swedish fleet waiting vpon it by Sea as it did vpon Rostock also Of this siege I can adde but this vnto the former Sea-fight That about the beginning of August the Swedish Shallops boldly going into the haven brought away the Admirall and another Ship brauely towing them both away with them The Kings â—econd expeâ—â—â—ion into Mecklenburg Tilly about the 24. of Ianuary being now advanced as neere the King as Franckford on the Oder his Majestie fearing if he marcht vp into Mecklenburg he might there make fowle worke leaues Gustavus Honne with the Army about Coninxberg and writes his Letters vnto those of the New Marcke on the East side of the Oder to this purpose That seeing he haddow cleered their whole Country from their oppressors the Imperialists every man should a Gods name returne to his owne house His Letters to 〈◊〉 of the â—â—w Marcke trade and husbandry he professing to be their friend and promising to be their protector That which he desired of them was such provisions for his Army left amongst them as they could well spare and the other wanted Those that did not he would take for his and their Countries enemies Vpon which gracious Monitory divers return'd againe without molestation falling vnto their businesse This done the King calls off the most of his Army from the siege of Landtsberg and his troupes from other places appoynting their Rendezvous to be at Dam the 28. of Ianuary Stilo novo and so Feb. 4. he againe passes Stetin towards Mecklenburg where with an Army of 16000. horse and foote he vnlookt for arrived There he first of all takes in New Brandenburg within 8. leagues of Stetin Takes New Brandenburg Cononel Marezan the Governour taking composition and marching with six Companies of foote and three of horse of Monte-Cuculi his Regiment and 120. of Colonell Putlars Regiment There did the King leaue Colonell Kniphowsen for his Governour To this Towne Feb. 6. he summons the people of the Country of Stargard with whom he treates concerning the maintayning of the forces left for their guard The newes of this being brought to those of Treptow Treptow the same day another good Towne and a passage thereby away run the Imperiall Garrison of which his Majestie having speedy notice he the same day sends some troupes thither and takes it Those of Dammin a very strong Towne fearing to be taken vnfurnished with all speede send to Gripswald nere Stralesundt for more Ordnance but neyther this nor their so strong fortifications will serue their turne For Feb. 14. The strong Towne of Dammin assaulted the King sets downe to the siege after a hideous battery is the Castle first of all taken by assault and the Garrison put to the sword of whom there were seaven Companies as 't is sayd besides 150. others that had newly joyned with them Finding the Citie too strong to take by assault the 15 th day he thunders vpon that againe beates downe the workes and makes so vast a breach in the very hard walles that the Governour the Duke de Savelli an Italian finding the place not to be tenable against such thunder and resolutions Taken parlyes and yeelds Vpon the surrender he receiues the King vnder the gate and the King carryes him backe towards the Market-place Here the King sitting armed vpon his horse makes a speech vnto the Townesmen assuring them of all favour and turning to the Duke wills him to depart the Towne to salute the Emperour from him and to tell him That he was no enemy vnto his person and that his endevour should onely be to restore the libertie of Religion and of the Princes Thus with six Ensignes flying bag and baggage and two peices of Ordnance the Duke marches out of the Towne leaving 36. peices of brasse Ordnance behinde him 60. barrells of powder with victualls and Ammunition proportionable The King lost about 200. men himselfe as some say receiving a light shot Letters were intercepted from the Generally Tilly desiring the Governour to hold out but foure dayes longer at which time he should vndoubtedly be relieved Some say that Savelli was afterwards questioned vpon his life for that being over-confident of his owne strength he had refused to take in some more forces that came to offer their service This Towne much stronger then Rostock is now by new fortifications doubly strengthened Whilest the King himselfe is here busied his Lieutenant Banier goes to Loczin hard by Dammin and takes in that And Malchin another good Towne is by a stratagem surprised also Freidlandt is likewise so served and all the other strong places vpon the Frontiers of Pomerland and so is Westrow by the Sea-side Yea all the strongest places to conclude in that Dutchy except the foure strong great Townes of Wismar Rostock Butrow and Dammitz which last is an exceeding strong Towne vpon the River Elve Thus betwixt Iuly the first and February the last that is in eight moneths space hath he which is scarce credible to report taken full 80. Cities Castles and Sconces in Pomerland and in Mecklenburg Tilly marches â—â—to Mecklenburg By the end of February hath Tilly heard of the Kings proceedings in Mecklenburg and from Franckford on the Oder beginnes to set forward into that Dutchy against him The King now after the taking of Dammin sets downe with his Army betwixt it and Treptow himselfe in person one of the last dayes of February going through Pomerland vnto Berwalt neere Coninxberg where the first of March he concludes the League with France as is aforesaid Within a day or two that is March the third was Colbergen taken as hath beene sayd The next day the King goes from Stetin towards New Angermund on the same side of the Oder with Mecklenburg By this time are some forces come to him out of Scotland and there being no more neede of any Garrisons in the I le of Rugen those he calls out Thus drawes he all that might well be spared out of all his other Garrisons of Pomerland taking to him the 9000. which before were in Brandenburg those that lately besieged Colbergen the States and Gentry of Pomerland he now commaunds at their owne charge to levie 10000. men for their owne defence which forces should take oath to himselfe the Duke and States of Pomeren And now hath he 13. Regiments newly come to him out of Prussia also Thus makes he himselfe as strong against Tilly as possible may be bringing his Army from Coninxbergen over the Oder and forming an Army of some 15000. men betwixt this New Angermund Frejenwald at a little Dorpe called Swedt Hither he brings some 60. peices of Ordnance The Leaguer of Swedt hither also brings he his Ship-bridge from Stetin which here he layes over the Oder over which he hath a free passage both towards
justice finally and his mercy his exemplary and his indefatigable industry his affabilitie and his easinesse of accesse the goodnesse of his cause and the common Libertie which his victories bring with them haue conquered more then his sword What now shall hinder this braue and princely Warriour to arriue vnto that height of reputation which Gonsalvo did in the warres of Naples whom the Historians of that age worthily stile the great Captaine yea so great a Conquerour hath the King hitherto beene that I dare challenge the skilfullest Historian to set for all particulars such another by him God blesse the King of Swedens Majestie and thoroughly enable him to be the glorious Assertor of the Germane Libertie Vale. If the Readers desire the continuance of our Relations our Intelligencer shall be much the better furnished to giue Content if they please to send vs in their owne Intelligence For that it seemes impossible for vs English to avoyde that observation of Philip de Commines That in all great actions wee are still harkning after Prophecies which the taking of some things in this kinde hath even now verified wee will therefore feede the humor of the times a little with a Prediction of a great Astronomer of our owne Nation vpon that great Conjunction of Saturne and Iupiter Iuly 18 1623. And the second a Prophecy of the famous Paulus Grebnerus his Booke now in Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge The Astronomers judgement is this That the effect of that Conjunction would be felt in the North and Northeast parts of Europe in particular and in generall over all That it would produce Famines Plagues Warres c. Places subiect to this he nameth Italy France Bohemia Silesia and Germany Of Provinces he nameth Prussia Brandenburg Stiria Hassia and Saxony Yea he descends to Cities naming Rome Prague Magdenburg Coblents betwixt Mentz and Cullen Vlmes Brunswick Ausburg c. He sayes it is likely to goe hard with the Romane Empire Clergie and Iesuites He speakes of a King of a true Religion that should doe all this and of much happinesse that should succeede it The whole Discourse will perchance shortly be imprinted PROPHETIA IN LEONEM DOMVS SAXONIAE DIV aspectavi connivi ego huic actui fidem Domui Austriacae Philippo synceram praestiti ne in victissimum Regis Philippi Belgium jamdudum ad extraneos de veniret quod mihi Hispania acceptum referre habet I am vero diutiùs sopitum quiescere quasi micare in tenebris mihi filio meo Christiano intoleranda irrecuperabilis jactura et damnum videtur Ideo arcum intendo meum jacula mitto sagittae meae ac tela fortunae filij mei Christiani etiam directè collimant metam invadentes feriunt ac disijciunt Burgundicum illum ac Austriacum Leonem vnde meum ac filij mei regnum ac dominatio amplè dilatatur Quod ego Haerésque meus faeliciter consummavimus A Prophecy of Paulus Grebnerus vpon the Lyon of the House of Saxony I Haue long lookt on and winked at the businesse and still haue I kept my faith vntainted vnto the house of Austria and to Philip that so the vnconquered * The Low-Countries and the Wallon Countries Belgium might not long agoe haue falne into the hands of Strangers and thus much Spaine owes me But for me to lye still asleepe and to be hoodwinkt as it were any longer seemes an intollerable and an irrecoverable losse and detriment vnto my selfe and my son Christianus Now therefore bend I my bow and shoot abroad my darts whereupon the arrowes and darts of mine owne fortune and Christianus my Sonne doe directly hitte the marke and smite those that invade me yea they cast downe that Burgundian and Austrian Lyon wherupon is the Kingdome and Dominion of my selfe and Sonne very amply enlarged Thus much haue I and mine heyre most happily atchieved OF THE MEETING Given by the Emperor vnto cercertaine Electors of the Empire at the Dyet of Ratisbone 1630. Acurately and truely described in a Letter by one that very well vnderstood how matters were there carryed Faithfully translated out of the Latine Printed Copie with some Marginall Notes added for cleering of the Story The Letter COncerning the passages of the Electorall Dyet truely my noble friend N N I had according to my promise dispatcht a more early advice vnto you but that vpon my returne to Ratisbone there were more dayes spent in mutuall visits and Entertainments of friends then indeed I was willing withall But having now gotten loose of this troublesome kinde of Courtesie and that the dispatch of my businesse together with the retyrednesse of the place where I now reside had afforded me some leysure I would no longer delay the discharge of that obligatiō in which I stood engaged vnto you Now after twelue yeares of most bloudy warres and almost vtter desolation brought vpon a goodly Countrey very probable surely it was that a peace would be desired on all hands and that for the full concluding thereof this very Dyet had principally beene Convoked As for the Protestants they verily had even vnto this day vndergone the hardest of all hardship being still overlaid with most heavy impositions and with the billettings of the Souldiers of the Catholike * The Catholike Princes of the Empire who haue entred into a League for the recovery of the Church lands and for the rooting out of the Protestant Religion Leaguers Yea the Catholickes themselues having had often tryall of the insolencies of the Imperiall Souldiers and of the chargeablenesse of the warre beganne now also mightily to distast the Covetousnesse of their owne partner the Duke of Bavaria Vpon this discontentment was the Palatine of * The Duke of Newburgh a yonger house of the Palsgrave who put in for the Electorate lately before turnd Papist Newburg reported to haue fallen off from the League as for the Archbishop of Saltsburg he as having no share among the other Princes in what should be conquered or recovered by the warre had for many yeares past withdrawne his Contribution The Bishop Elector of Triers also very earnestly complained of the damages received by the Spanish namely of the pillaging of his Country and the plundering of his Subjects houses yea and the Bishop * Brother to the Duke of Bavaria Elector of Colein also gaue off among the rest In this one point notwithstanding did the counsels and desires of the Protestant party differ from the Catholickes for that They out of a well meaning simplicitie desired an vtter forgetfulnesse of things passed and a right downe peace whereas These t is true seemed to be contented to lay downe Armes but not except the Church goods withheld by the Protestants might first be restored Furthermore that the Emperour was for his part heartily desirous both of the Peace and this Dyet we are in courtesie bound to beleeue it For when it was talkt on in every mans
sufficiently appeare how that that distinction of time agreed vpon and the Transaction of Passaw hath not hitherto beene observed no not by Caesar himselfe but that of the following time hath beene observed seeing that the Credit of all proofes though never so cleare hath beene overthrowne by cavills and by subtleties Certaine it is that the Count of Furstemberg President * Iudicij Prases of the Iudgement returned no other answere vnto Caspar Vrban à Feiltsch Chancellor to the Marquesse of Brandenburg complaining of the vnjust sentence decreed against the Counts of Hohenlo than this vulgar Verse Fronte capillata est posthac occasio calva That Occasion is to be taken by the foretop because shee is bald behind Which same man in a familiar manner thus answered vnto George Muller whom you well know and to my selfe that seeing our Counts * The Masters of George Muller and of the Author had confessed themselues for the space of fourescore yeares and vpwards to haue kept the possession of the Church Goods it followed necessarily that they must with a good will leaue them for as long time vnto the Catholikes and that after that terme they might possibly returne vnto the Protestants againe These mocks were added vnto Iustice denyed vs. And yet about the latter end of the Dyet the Ambassadors of Franckenlandt Schwaben of the Saxon Princes also and the Duke of Brunswick and of certaine Cities besides delivered in writing the Forme and the Decrees of that * Of Passaw as before where Anno 1553. there had beene a former Dyet held wherein the Protestant Princes had received some confirmation or consent from the Emperour for their Appropriated church goods Against which Transaction the Emperour had since taken them away by sentences and Commissions against them Transaction vnto the Chancellor of the Bishop Elector of Mentz and he on the other side in another writing declared vnto them the Conditions vnto which the Catholike Princes seemed to haue consented And to this passe the matter at last came That for the further Compounding of all Differences the time was appointed to be in February and the place Franckford The Catholike partie treated * That the orders of Passaw might be kept and the Protestāts not be too suddenly cast out of the Church Lands the businesse in good earnest but whether the reason of it were for that intelligence being even now given them by their Spies of certaine secret levies of Souldiers at that instant made by the Elector of Saxony and some others in Franckenlandt and that they standing in feare thereupon of further troubles were desirous to maintaine the hope of a good agreement in the Protestants I cannot easily determine time will discover all Of all which as also how things now stand betwixt the Princes of the Catholike League and of the Orders taken for showe rather than for continuance about the manner of paying the Souldiery wee shall at my comming into land more commodiously speake together Farewell my noble Friend N N and loue me still Your Observant N. N. THE PROTESTANTS DYET OF LEIPSICH February 8. 1631. And what followed vpon it vntill their joyning with the King of Sweden THe Imperiall Dyet thus ending November 3 23. left matters in farre worse estate than it found them for that men perceived now their very hopes to be taken away as their liberties and goods had beene before And the Protestant Princes finding themselues startled by foure things especially perceived it high time now for them to take the Alarme The first of the foure was this that whereas the Duke of Saxony had in the time of the Dyet written advice vnto the Emperour of the King of Swedens approaching the Emperour tells him againe how he hoped that himselfe Saxony and Brandenburg would well ayde him with money munition and other necessaries By which answere Saxony perceived a new bill of Charges comming vpon the Protestants next those parts where the King of Sweden was landed The second was this the round course taken by the Emperour for the recovering of the Church Lands which neither the Elector of Saxony was able to stay by his Letters vnto the Emperour nor the Elector of Brandenburg and other Princes with their presence at the Dyet but that even before their owne faces daily Commissions were sent out against them A third was this that rigide course taken by advise of the Iesuites for Reformation of the Protestant Churches and Schooles and the forbidding of the libertie of the Augustane Confession The fourth was that Decree of the Emperours published foure dayes before the breaking vp of the Dyet though hammered vpon long before for the continuance of the Warres against the King of Sweden whereas the way had beene propounded and advised vpon before how to compound the matter rather then how to continue the troubles And that which aggravated the Decree for the warres being not onely that the Princes were to be at the charges of it but that the levies were to be layd and collected not by the consent of those who should pay them but at the pleasure of the Imperiall Commissaries for the moderating of whose power and repressing the numbers and insolencies of the Souldiers notwithstanding some slight promises were now made yet how far they would be kept was in their owne pleasures The Protestants by these arguments being not onely made suspitious but sensible too that there were not too many good intentions in the Emperour towards them their Estates or Religions begin to enter into a Consultation for their owne safetie The plot for it was layd thus That whereas there had beene a Conference betwixt them and the Catholikes at the former Dyet concerning the Church Lands the further treatie thereupon was referred vnto a Dyet procured by the Catholikes to be held at Franckford vpon Mayn in August following the Duke of Saxony should write his Letters vnto the Emperor which was seconded by the mediation of the Electors of Mentz and Bavaria The Emperour graunts the Dyet entreating libertie for the Protestants to hold a Dyet by themselues in some convenient place that so by their vnited Counsells they might be provided for an answere at the future Dyet of Franckford The Imperiall assent being thus obteyned the Protestant Princes by their Letters and Ambassadours agree vpon the Dyet the place to be Leipsich and the time the 8 th of February That the severall Princes and States therefore might know before-hand what Instructions to giue vnto the Ambassadors they were to send 〈…〉 the Duke of Saxony in his Invitatory Letters to each of them layes open the purpose of the intended Dyet fayrely communicating the mayne propositions both vnto them and to the Emperour The contents whereof were First To consult how the Church might with a good Conscience be maintained in her ancient liberties and happie estate Secondly How to keepe their due obedience to the Emperor and yet preserue the ancient Constitutions
without ever asking leaue of the Princes or Countries That people haue beene tortured for their money had their Cattell driven away their houses fired and all Commerce driven out of their Country That the Souldiers neither observed martiall discipline nor morall honestie neither keeping the Lawes nor fearing God That virgins and women haue beene ravished vpon the high Altars That if the weekely Contributions were not payd at the Commissaries absolute pleasure the souldiers then spoyled the Country The Marquesse of Brandenburg complaines that notwithstanding the King of Sweden had two parts of his Country the old and the new Mark yet was he forced to pay a full Contribution for the whole Marquisate That himselfe by the Souldiers so long lying in his Country was left so poore that he was not able to entertaine a Garrison for the defence of his owne Palace and was faine to abridge even the necessary provisions of his owne Table and family That the Souldiers enterteyn'd by the Protestants for their owne defence haue beene turn'd against them to take away the Church Lands That treble more Contributions haue beene raysed against no enemy then ever were when the Turke was in Germany That when the Princes of the house of Saxony as namely Altemberg Weymar and Colburg had excused themselues of disabilitie to pay each of them 1454. Dollars a moneth which the Commissary Ossa had required of them then Tilly threatned to fetch 10000. Dollars a moneth out of them That considering all this they could perceiue nothing else but that the Emperour had intended their vtter ruine whereas he had dealt more gently with those of his owne hereditary Dominions That all this is most contrary vnto the Oath of the Emperour and vnto the Lawes of the Empire and for such hath beene complained vpon by the severall Electors and Princes and by them protested against in the late Dyet of Ratisbone Wherefore they now humbly petition to be relieved protesting otherwise that they are no longer able to endure it but shall be enforced to defend their persons their Consciences their Estates and Subjects Resolving notwithstanding to continue their due loyaltie and obedience vnto the Emperour humbly now desiring a faire and a gracious Answere from him Lypsich March 18. 1631. Their Conclusions published Their Conclusions were answerable vnto their Propositions 1. That considering it was their sinnes which deserved these punishments they command publike prayers to be made vnto Almightie God for the averting of these miseries 2. That meanes might be thought vpon and a friendly Treatie appointed with the Catholike Princes for removing of all jealousies and restoring of good termes and concord betwixt them as for seaventie yeares before it had beene 3. That when the time and place for this Treatie were once appointed the Protestants should there appeare a little before to prepare themselues what to say in it 4. And the fayrelier to dispose both Caesar and the Catholikes vnto their intentions that their grievances should in humble manner be before-hand by Letter presented both vnto the Emperour and the three Catholike Electors 5. That these grievances should in those Letters be pressed to be contrary vnto the Emperors Oath the Imperiall Lawes the priviledges of the Princes the honour and safetie of the Empire That the warres would vndoe all the insolencies of Commissaries and Souldiers were so insufferable as that it stood neither with their Consciences their safeties nor their honours to suffer themselues and Subjects to be any longer thus abused and that they would herevpon desire the benefit of the Emperours so often promised protection 6. That seeing these greater and fuller Assemblies were both chargeable and tedious they agreed that certaine Deputies should as necessitie required be in the names of all the rest appointed both to treate and determine of what should seeme convenient for the Common cause 7. They decree of levies of Souldiers both of horse and foote to be made in their severall Dominions and Divisions without crossing the Constitutions of the Empire or offence of any and onely in their owne defence 8. That whereas in a Dyet of the Empire held 1555. it had beene Decreed how that neighbouring Princes should liue neighbourly and if any oppressed others the rest should relieue them this reliefe they now promise one another desiring that if in these troublesome times the levies and other carriages could not possibly be every way agreeable to the Constitutions of the Empire that it might not be interpreted to be done of purpose 9. They decree the continuance of their loyaltie and obedience vnto his Imperiall Majestie 10. They agree also vpon the proportion of the Levies Thus the Elector of Saxony engages himselfe to rayse six Regiments Brandenburg three The severall Circles of Swaben the Rhine and Franckenlandt three Regiments a peece and the Circle of the Lower Saxony agreed to furnish moneyes for the raysing and paying of one Regiment Each Regiment of foote was to be 3000. strong and of horse 1000. And thus the Dyet being ended vpon Palme Sunday with a Sermon Saxony displayes his Defensiue Banner beates vp his Drummes begins his Levies and so at their comming home doe the rest of the Princes These Conclusions and Resolutions of the Protestants were not a little boggled at at Court did not slightly displease the Emperour and startle the Catholike Leaguers with their Adherents The Protestants heare of it on both eares For this are they both by words and writings both threatned and reviled yea their new League and strength were by some Confidents not a little scoffed and scorned at But they that had beene vsed to hard deeds before were sufficiently hardned against fowle words now they were not to be discouraged this way they did their businesse and let the others talke their talkes Things going thus on it was by the middle of May every where perceived How that these Leaguers of Leipsich were now in very good earnest For now vpon the taking of Magdenburg the Protestants strongly suspecting by the inhumane crueltie there vsed by the Imperialists that it was not a heate of warre alone but that there was a Coare of malice discovered in it not an Imperiall but a Popish spite vnto that Citie aboue others for having beene one of the first that harboured Luther and his Religion they beginne to make it their owne case and that for their Religions sake all they were likely not to be much better vsed Some therefore of the neighbour Princes those namely of Saxony and Swaben demaund of the Cities of Vlmes and Memmingen c. Scituate in Swaben by the River of Danubius which were of the Protestant League with them to enterteyne for Garrisons some of these new levyed Forces Memmingen consents but Vlme being a greater Citie relyes vpon her owne strength These things being done Command is given by the Emperour vnto Eggon Count of Furstenberg appointed Generall for the Circle of Swaben to imploy those 8000. lately come out of