King of Poland going into Spain to be Vice-Roy of Portugal was beaten by a tempest into a Port of Province where being stayed prisoner and conducted to Paris he was detained a very long time there and not enlarged till after many reiterated Embassyes from the King and Common-wealth of Poland Charles Prince Palatin having in England received the news of Duke Bernards deceaseâ— and conferred with the King and the Spanish Embassadour there departed secretly and passed through France to winne the favour of that Orphan-Army and take possession of Brisack but he was discovered at Moâ—â—lins in the district of Burbon and carried prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes The Duke of Lorraine fought very unhappily against Monsieur du Hallier saw himself quickly stripped of the rest of his States and his poor subjects very ill treated The distressed Burgundians had also their share of the mischiefs of war and sufficient cause to repent themselves of having refused the Troops offered them by Galasso The Spanish Fleet beaten in the Downes 1639. We will finish this year with the huge victory which the Hollanders got of the great Spanish Armada or Navie upon the Coast of England which was almost all burnt and ruined the twenty one of September 1639. and a good number of ships carried into Holland The account of the dead and wounded men was very great and Spain resented this wound a long time by the dispeopling of her Inhabitants It hath not yet been known upon what design this Navie came into the North and all the discourses which have been held thereof have been founded but upon simple conjectures A Revolt in Normandy and in Pâ—â—ou The Normans fell into Commotions and seditions which quite ruined their Province The people were so oppressed by Gabells and Taxes that they had nothing left them but their miserable lives and those full of despaire too To what purpose is it to take some Townes upon the Fronteers of their enemies if it be done with the blood and ruine of the poor people I would take Towns enow saida certain great Warrier but they would cost my subjects too dear I desire to winne them not to buy them In fine not being able to support so many exactions they took Arms under the conduct of a certain Jean Vanuds-pâ—eds in English â—ohn Goe bare-foot At first they were despised and slighted but finding favour credit and intelligence it was needfull to send forces to defeat them which was done and Generall Gassion entring into Rouen disarmed the Inhahitanâ—s and used them as if it had been a Town taken upon the Spaniards without carrying respect so much as to that Illustrions Company some whereof he ignominiously casheâ—red Oh Times Oh manners If the reverence which we ought to bear to Justice be taken away in what esteem think you can the Lawes be The Inhabitants of Caen had almost the same treatment The revolt of the Croquans in Boiâ—oâ—â— had no better issue and all such as would endeavour to check this Great Cardinals authority made ship-wrack of both body and goods It was not lawfull to complain for that blinde Goddess had perhaps taken up her lodging in the head of this great Minister who could not faile It is said of the French that they Ride and not faile In effect were their potency so great upon the one of these Elements as it is upon the other and they as prudent to preserve as they are generous to atchieve they might openly pretend to an universal Monarchy For they have manifested in these last wars that they know how to correct their defects and that they can as well defeat Navies at Sea as Hosts ashore and Monsieur de Brezè with the Arch-Bishop of Bourdeaux shewed no less address and dexterity in the conduct of his Vessels then he had done in that of the Army which he led into Brabans so that work was every where cut our for the King of Spaines Subjects CHAP. X The revolt of Catalunia and Portugal The taking of Arras The Spaniards beaten beaten before Cazal The Hollanders beaten before Hulst THe House of Austria was not enough afflicted yet by so many losses and so many Plots and Treasons but she must be yet more tottered by other disasters and rebellions Spain was indeed within her singers breadth of destruction by the revolts which are yet in durance and which it was believed would make her loose the Low-Countries and her States in Italy But as a great Oak agitated by the windes resists strongly and raises it self up against them just so does this House which men labour in vain to overthrow For there are too many Allyes to maintain her It is in the deepest misfortunes that she shewes least apprehension and in the most imminent dangers that she makes her valour known This year of 1640 was almost fatall to her by the defection of Catalunia Portugal and part of the Indies the loss of Arras and the unhappy success of her Arms in Italy besides the approach of the Swedish war to the bank of the Danub Let us take notice in due order as much as brevity will permit us of the motives of these stirres King Philip the fourth who now reignes in Spain being a milde Prince and a little more addicted to his pleasures then the state of his affaires required left the administration thereof to the Count of Olivares who as changes grow not without a cause rendred himself odious to almost all his Masters Subjects yea and complaints came of him even from the Low-Countries themselves besides that the Grandies who ordinarily pry upon all occasions to get themselves rid of a potent Minister so well fomented the grievances of the people that they brought them to open revolt upon these pretexts He had great forces of Spaniards and Walloons in Catalunia ordered to guard that Province against the invasion of the French But Rule and Discipline was not so exactly kept but that the licentiousness of the souldiers made the Inhabitants murmur who suddenly rising up in Arms slew their Guests and beat such as came to revenge the sedition Yea upon Corpus Christs-day it self The revolt of the Cataluniaâ—s 1640. they cruelly murthered their Governour With a mutinous people there is nothing sacred no more then there is reason The King was not able to stop this torrent by mildness and clemency and so since the Sluce was broaken the water must be let run For the very Bishops and Priests themselves wore plain Incendiaries and Don Ioseph of Margarita with some other great persons made them subtract themselves from the obedience of their Prince to embrace the protection of France A certain great Politician of this Age discoursing one day upon this matter said that the Catalunian took Armes for their Priviledges and to be succoured by a Nation which made profession of observing none at all The Marshall of Schoonbergh desirous to advantage himselt by this occasion offered them his forces and obliged
The Father stripped himself of his States two years before his death to attend to pious exercises And the Sonne two years before his was afflicted with grievous pains and torments which he suffered with superlative patience Some Writers who take pleasure in looking back into the Causes of such accidents within the secrets of the Almighty have presumed to publish that it was a punishment from heaven for the cruelties which his Governours had practised as well in the Low-countries as in the Indies Others of more moderation have believed that God had a mind to shew in the person of this porent Prince that all the Greatness of this world is nothing but dust and vermin There is nothing constant in this world but the constant order of Change and Vicissitude The I'underbolt strikes none but the highest Towers and loftiest Mountaines By his endeavouring to succour the League in Francâ— he lost the confederated Provinces And in the design of invading England he lost a most powerfull Navy and armed enemies against his States who gave him much displeasure and trouble CHAP. XIII The differences which happened between the Earls of Frâ—ezland and the Town of Embden The States put a Garrison there THe knowledge of the difference of the Town of Embden with the Earls thereof is to be joyned to that of the Low-countries and so by consequence it is convenient to mention it here When Townes grow strong they ordinarily loose their will to obey for which they never want either examples or pretexts whether it be of Religion or Priviledge yea and to accuse the weaker party of injustice too if they get a good issue in it Now this Town whereof we are speaking being very much encreased and enriched by the great number of people which repaired thither there to seek as it were a sanctuary from the rigorous execution of the Placarts of the Duke of Alva against all such as had licentiously and perhaps by old priviledges broaken Images and thrown down Altars as also for the conveniencie of the Haven which was held then and still is one of the best of the Low-countries and of the North Seas In the first place the Citizens began to murmur against their Count saying that he would clip their priviledges and Religion That he bad already introduced a new one into his own House That he raised souldiers underhand That he forbad the Consistorial Assemblies and the like A bold and licentious pretext Tâ—â—â—ults in the Town Now their humours being thus prepared there wanted nothing but a hot â—iry and zealous Preacher to set them a work who also was quickly found in the person of one Mentzo Alting a man odious to the Count for some important reasons who got up into the Pulpit desplayed his Rhetorick cryed down his Masters actions foretold the ruine of the Town endeavored to excuse himself of what was imposed upon him protested to be gone with the consent of the Townsmen however he were content to stay with his Flock and live and die with his sheep and the like Words no lesse audacious then those of the Priests whom a certain learned person called Baals elsewhere for the League in France It concerns not Church-men to blow the Trumper nor such as thrust their noses into State-matters through passion of Religion to excuse in some what they accuse in others Iliacos intra muros peccatur extra These reasons were as welcome to the people which loves Novelty in State provided it be preached as a draught of water uses to be to a thirsty person In short they arm they choose six Collonels amongst the Citizens they invoke that Great God who hears and sees all and at length they turn their Ordnance upon the Counts Pallace O brave proceeding O true forms of Justice The Count asks the reason of this novelty and whether they disowned their obedience to the Emperour the Empyre and himself They answered that they had taken arms for Religion and their own defence against many falfe accusations That they made no difficulty to acknowledge the Emperour and him as their Lords and whatever else should be reasonable In these Contests they rush upon his House making themselves Masters thereof by force and dispatch their Embassadours to the Haghe as the Count also did his he to complain of the insolency of his subjects and they to justify their actions The effect of these Embasies was that they put themselves under the protection of the States A Garrison of the States in the Town and took a Garrison of a thousand men into the Town to the disadvantage of the said Count who at last was fain to suffer his House to be shut up and some other extremities which have much weakned and skattered his authority-The Townesmen embraced the Reformed Religion yea and they threw the Bowle yet farther For by a more ancient priviledge they had a grant of a Religion conform with that of Ausbourgh See Emmanuel de Merten From this disorder sprang much good to the united Provinces by securing to themselves this so advantageous Port which otherwise by these divisions might have fallen into the hands of their enemies But this agreement being made in hast could not last long and so there happened some disturbance which is an ordinary thing when any one party gets too much interest The Count complained to the Emperour of the said Town by which he was accused to have had some intelligences there so to make himself absolute Lord of it But these complaints as well as that which followed afterwards for the Traffick in Spain were quickly patched together with a weak thred In the mean time Count Edzard died and left five sonnes Enne Gustave John Christopher and Charles the Eldest whereof reconciled himself to the Town Christopher went to serve the Arch-Duke and was afterwards Governour of Luxenbourgh The Count will repaire his authority In the year 1602. Count Enne propped by some Gentry as Cuiphanse and others endeavoured to repayre his authority by imposing Taxes forcing the small Townes and nourishing a faction in Embden And so he raised souldiers under pretext of going against the Turk gave his Daughter to his Brother John who married her by a dispensation from the Pope and embraced the Roman Catholick Religion and fortified some villages to block up the River The States of Holland moved more by their own interest then by the complaints of the Town sent to oppose him drove him out of the Villages who retyred into Germany and justified their proceedings by suspicions and informations which they said they had received from Brussels that the said Count acted for the Spaniards and would bring them into the Town Now he had remonstrated before both to the Emperour and Empyre that it would be expedient to exercise an Admiralty upon the River of Enis so to prejudice the nearest Inhabitants with reasons strong enough to move that great and dull Body if it could be moved which so many Dyets have
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
the Administratour of Magdeburgh and the Bishop of Bremen subscribed also to it The Emperours forces in the mean while grew strong and Tilly began to smell that under the mask of amity there were some new designes a brewing however they protested that they were doing nothing against the Emperour But he answered that the Embassadours of the States of Holland were not there Tilly in Hastis to thred pearles and that he was sure that nothing was treated to his Masters advantage where they had any credit and consequently for a greater testimony of his diffidence he sent for Wallâ—stain with an Army to come and succour him Causes lye hidden under pretexts drawn from necessity and justice but they are easily discovered by people of the same profession Many Prodigies preceded the fatall warres as Armies fighting in the Ayre raining of Blood great Tempests bearing down Trees Houses and Dammes But that which was by all interpreted for an ill Augure or Token was that the King going one evening to walk upon the Rampars The Prodigies or Walls of the Town of Hamelen to visit the Sentinels his horse stumbled at a plank and threw him into the Mote or Ditch out of which he was drawne two houres after and conceived to be dead for more then three dayes together In the mean while they who laid most to heart the love of their Country and Rest employed all diligence to find a means to reconcile this Difference thereby to divert the misfortune wherein all Lower Saxony was likely to be involved To which effect a Treaty of Peace was held at Brunswick and it was already agreed that the Armies should be licensiated They treat of peace in vain by Regiments to wit that the King should casheer the first Tilly the next and so consecutively by turnes to the end But this Treaty was broken off by ambition and so such advantages as could not be reaped thereby were sought by way of Arms. The Gamester is more willing to hazard another mans money then his own I will note only the principal actions of the warre and content my selfe with saying that it is very probable that the Emperour had a design to make his Authority and Religion flourish afresh in those Countries where there was no more left then a faint and languishing knowledge thereof and The ayne of the League that mingled with coldness contempt and hatred But as for the contrary Party they endeavoured not onely to repell the aforesaid Guest but also by vertue of the Allyance to restore the Prince to his States by force of Arms since it could not be done by intercessions and so in fine deliver all the Princes from the jealousie which was given them by this House puffed up with so many victories The King retyred with his Army as farre as the Bishopprick of Werden and thereby gave the Imperialists opportunity to seaze upon many places But Fortune varied at Niemburgh from which Town after the losse of a very great number of their men they were constrained to retreat though yet the said losse were repayred shortly after by the taking of Calembergh and the defeating of some companies of Dragoons Tilly followes the River of Weser and Wallenstein that of the Elbe Wallenstein followed the River of Elbe and Tilly that of Weser who having occupated the Bishopprick of Hall entred the Dutchy of Anholt and fortified the Bridge of Dassaw Mansfeldt attacked this Fort and being repulsed joyned with the Administratour of Hall to besiege that Town Wallenstein hastened thither so they fell to work and the Fight as well through the valour of the souldiers as the experience of the Generals was long time dubious enough but at last the Horse giving ground the Foot found themselves reduced to the necessity of doing the same and such as could not save themselves by flight were either killed or taken Mansfeldt beaten near the bridge of Dassaw In this memorable Battell at the Bridge of Dassaw all Mansfeldts glory was buried howsoever he lost not his courage by so furious an overthrow but having gotten on foot a fresh Army of sixteen thousand men for Germany and the Septemtrion were yet full of brave Souldiers he drew towards Silesia took in some places passed thence into Transylvania where he gave up his Army to the Duke of Wimar and accompanied by some of his principall Officers put himself in the way towards Venice but a Dysentery or Bloody Flux or rather according to the opinion of some a Potion stopped the course of his journey His death designes and life altogether and delivered the Emperour from a troublesome Enemy and the Duke of Wimar also a short space after followed him not to Venice but to the other world Thus ended the life of this famous General who had been fortunate enough in raising Armies but not in fighting Battels Wallenstine having stifled the War of Transylvania marched back into Silesia dissipated Wimars Troops and retook the occupated places And Baudis and Holck being sent to joyne with the said Duke were cut off by Merode and Beckman So that Wallenstein having put an end to all their disorders returned towards Brunswick Tilly being intent upon the occasions of hurting his enemies went and unexpectedly attacked a Quarter commanded by that Valiant Souldier Obertrawt who together with one of the Dukes of Anholt and some hundreds of Souldiers Obertrawt killed was slaine in this encounter and when Tilly went to visit and comfort him he answered him Monsieur de Tilly in such waters are taken such fish Now the King finding himself in great danger by the losse of Mansfeldt and the Bishop of Halberstadt who died at the same time at Wolfenbottel after he had vomited up a Worm of about four ells long did not yet lose his courage The death of the Bishop of Halbersiadt Nature shews her strength in despair and Vertue hers in extremity He saw two Armies upon his skirts to be opposed by him and therefore he resolved to attack the one of them being more inflamed to vengeance by the losse of Munden which he slighted and the furious blow which was given his Cavalrie by Count Furstembergh But he was a little too tardy in going to drive Tilly from the siege of Gothing Besides that he stayed at Luther against the advice of his Lieutenant Generall Fucks and Tilly thereby to make himself as glorious as Wallenstein desired nothing more earnestly then to slight I fine the Battell was given with so much obstinacie that the old Bands which had been accustomed to vanquish Battell of Luther the twenty seventh of August 1626. began almost to stagger towards flight but their time was not yet come and the puissant Gemus of their Generall had a great advantage upon that of the King who perceiving his Horse fly and not being able either by his presence or exhortations to detaine them was compelled to abandon his Foot to the mercy of
not left them that worthy Brother and that strong Atlas who forthwith took the burthen of the Government upon his shoulders This was he who firmly fixed this reeling Common-wealth by his Arms took many Townes in Freezland Overysell and Guelders with small charge few men and little bloodshed in such sort as that he merited to be termed as he was the Father of the Souldiers And of King James a peacefull Prince In the same spring also died King James a Prince who much loved Peace and learning After he had the Crown of England upon his Head all the disasters and misfortunes of his House begun upon his Praedecessours were stopped by him as water is by the opposition of a Dam or Bank so to gush out with the greater violence upon his children and succesours as we shall hereafter shew But who can penetrate into the secrets of Gods Judgments He governed his kingdom in peace and maintained his Subjects in riches and delights but there grew up a little Venim which wrought afterwards in fit time The â—vills which we see often happen draw their cause sometimes from afarre off Prince Henry having payed the last duties to his magnanimous Brother departed from the Hague to hinder the designe which the Spaniards had The Spaniards will joyne the Rhein to the Moâ—â— 1626. to joyn the Rhein to the Mose and by the erection of many Forts keep the Hollanders from passing over an Enterprise which unprofitably exhausted their money and made them seem able to make no more then meerly a Defensive warre Jupiter laughed at the Gyants who would scale Heaven Time hath declared the inutility of this work and to what intention also that advice was given For the Hollanders are Masters of that liquid Element and passe it when they will There chanced nothing worthy of note in that toylsome March save only that Count Henry of Bergues beat up the Horse-Quarter brought away the Count of Stirum his Cousin prisoner with some Horse Count Stirum prisoner In revenge whereof the Prince sent Count Ernest to unnestle the Spaniards from Oldenzeel and destroy the nest The Siege of Grol In the year 1627. he laid siege to Grol a small but strong Town upon the Confines of Westphalia which he carried in lesse then a moneth in the sight of a puissant Army Spinola in the mean time was busie about the fortifying of Sandflect a Village between Antwerp and Berghen op Zoom which was a design of more advantage and consideration then that of uniting the two Rivers By this exploit of the Prince it was judged that his Government would prove happy and the vessels loaden with mony which were brought out of Holland by Peter Hein moved him to undertake the siege of Boisleduc which was begun the first of May and ended the seventeenth of September a fatal day to the House of Austria Lorraine was peacefully governed by the wise conduct of Duke Henry son to Duke Charles but his term was but of sixteen yeers The death of the Duke of Lorraine He departed to a better life the twentieth of Iuly 1624. and shortly after him the repose and tranquility of all that Country by the ambition of her Neighbours He left but two Daughters the elder whereof was married to the Count of Vandomonts sonne her Cousin-German The Salick Law in Lorraine The year following the Salick Law having regained vigour and Francis of Vandomont being next heir by the said Law which excludes Females surrendred his right in that Dutchy to his sonne Charles which was approved by the States of the Country and so Charles Duke of Lorraine made his entry into the good City of Nancy and took full possession of the whole Dukedome Now some have written against this said Law as if it were to be observed no where but in France as coming thither with them out of Franconie But most Writers affirm that the ancient Franks established their habitation from the bank of the Rhein to the River of Loire in such sort as that Lorraine being comprised therein and having been also a parcell divided from that kingdom it followes that the Predecessors had the same intention to establish it as well in the kingdom of Austrasia as in that of France and that it hath been tacitly and quietly observed without any dispute Besides that it is proved by the Testament of Renè of Ierusalem Duke of Lorraine and Bar made in the year 1406. by which the Male are called to Succession and the Female excluded as it further appears also by experience it self A Jubily ar Rome This year of 1625. Pope Vrban celebrated an universall Jubily at which the Prince of Poland coming from the Low-Countries was present and the same year the Emperour Ferdinand Crowned his Son King of Hungary invited thereto by the States of that kingdom to be defended by so great and powerfull a Prince against the perpetual ambushes and snares of the inconstant Gabor Nor was it enough that he had one Crown The Crowning of the King of Hungary for that of Bohemia was also resigned him by his Father with the accustomed Ceremonies Let us not leave the Danub which was yet all red with the blood of the Peasants till we shall first have seen that of the Transylvanians and Turks stream also there together with the motives of that Warre Gabor breakes the peace This Gabor being swolne with pride by the Allyance of one of the most illustrious Houses of Germany honoured at his wedding by the presence of the two Emperours besides those of Kings and other Princes found himself tickled by a new desire to Reign and the occasions were so fair that they stifled the Peace so often sworne and so often broaken For the Armies were drawne towards the Baltick Sea and the Bavarians and Pahouheim had work enough with the revolted Peasants Whereupon he passed out of Hungary into Moravia and took many Townes the fear of so unforeseen an evill making the people have recourse rather to God then Armes But Mansfeldt having redressed his Army after being cudgelled in Saxony marched out of Silesia into Hungary and Wallenstein traced him affronted them all together and defeated them Upon this he called the Tartars who passed through Poland to his assistance but they being loaden with pillage were so hotly charged by the Poles The Tartars beaten that they were fain to lay down both their packs and their lives in such sort as that there remained not so so much as one alive to carry the newes so that there were only the Turks upon whom to look now and them he invited but it was only to augment the Triumph of Wallenstein And the Turks by Wallenstein who beat them took their Canon and pillaged their Camp which was full of riches The Grand-Signor desirous to keep the Peace called back his Troops and their departure gave Gabor Gabor repents and obtaines peace both disgust and
Wallenstein takes the Generalat with conditions of toâ— much advantage An Earth-quake at Naples the Mountain of Soma vomited fire THe Hollanders amazed at the admirable progresse of the King of Sweden conceived that it would be for the interest of all the Allyes as well as their own for them to assayle their enemies They were Masters by Sea without controversie And after the taking of the Money-Fleet they seazed upon the Bay and Town of Todos los Santos or All-Saints where the booty they got was great enough to excise their desire to seek more But the King of Spain taking it from them again obliged them to go and attack the Town of Olinda in Pharnambus which deligne issued well and all the Country there about followed quickly after without much resistance In such sort as that the two Branches of the House of Austria tryed almost by turns the cruel effects of that inconstant Goddesse however she have not strength enough to make them loose their courage they having means sufficient to maintain and uphold themselves Now the Spaniards were afflicted with so many losses both by Sea and Land that they resolved to endeavour some revenge They secretly prepared a Fleet of Shalops and vanted of great secrets yea that there was a certain Priest who would make souldiers go under the water and fly in the ayre c. The Hollanders were allarmed at this and Prince Henry incamped himself in the Isse of Tertollen to watch the designes of the Enemy The Fleet hoysed Sayle passed through the mouth of Safting The Fleet of Shallops taken the thirteenth of September 1651. and turned round about the Island but for want of good Pilots to observe the Tyde and staying for some Shalops which were aground in the sands they lost the time and gave it to the Hollanders to attack them and take them as it were in a field of corn and that without so much as fighting for they all rendred themselves up to the mercy of their Enemies and their Cavalry which was come to the bank to help them was fain to return as it came There were more then four thousand prisoners who were all pillaged and then put to ransom by a singtilar favour of the Prince of Orange for they were taken because they could not fly not walk under water and in a place where there was no quarter to be given The truth of their design was never yet known some thought it was upon Willeinstadt others to make Fortresses and separate Holland from Zeland This great victory happened the thirteenth of September 1631 and that of the King of Sweden four dayes after An Earthquake at Naples About two moneths after there chanced a terrible Earthquake at Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many horrible bellowings vomited out burning streams of fire which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea and cast out a huge deale of ashes The Hill of Soma This was renewed the year following in the moâ—eth of February with so great hurt and losse to the circumjacent places is well in houses men women children and cattell that it cannot be expressed nor comprehended Those three aforesaid losses astonished the House of Austria which to put a powerfull stop to the impetuous torrent of the victories of King Gustave her most dangerous Enemy who was inseparably accompanied both by Fortune and Favour cast her eyes upon the Duke of Frithland a most happy and most experimented Captain who in the affront of having been deprived of his charge received an incomparable contentment from Count Tilly's misfortunes And so Embassadours were dispatched to mitigate him Wallensiein retakes the Generalship and offer him the Generalship again and with most ample Commissions and a huge summe of money He suffered himself to be much intreated and courted covering his ambition or rather his vengeance with a thousand dissimulations But at last under conditions which divided the Soveraign authority he was brought to accept it and forth with gave Pattents for the raising of sixty thousand men and so there was an Army of forty thousand on foot as it were in the twinkling of an eye as if with striking his foot against the ground he had raised souldiers and he Generalissimo or Chief Genorall of all the Emperours Armies and Arbitratour of Peace and Warre It often happens that when we endeavour to shuune one kind of Rocks or Sand-banks we hit against another Necessity seemed to command this extremity and to remit the course of affaires to the Divine Providence He did both good and evill and received at length the Crown of his works CHAP. XXIIII George Landgrave of Darmstadt obtains newtrality and why Horne beaten by Tilly The King makes his entry at Nuremberge and Tilly retires The King takes Donawerdt passes the Leck makes Tillyes forces retreat with confusion Tillyes death his Elogies The Siedge of Ingolstadt The taking of Ratisbone Divers instructions of the Embassadours of France The Eagle in danger succoured by whom THe rejoycing which was caused by the Kings victory before Leipsick in the Vnited Provinces to see themselves freed from great apprehension was very much whereas the other as also all the subjects of the Crown of Spaine expressed no lesse sadnesse and cryed aloude that it was high time to arme and stop the progresse of these Goths least both the Empire and all Europ should come to be destroyed by them Between this joy and fear of the people King Gustave played not truant King Guestave posses the Rheyn but having made his entry into Francfurt like a great Conquerour he receaved the Embassadours and Congratulations of his Friends His Armes had droven his enemyes over the Rheyn and therefore he resolved also to passe it and the Spaniards who came to relieve the Electour of Mentz endeavoured to hinder him but they were not able to resist his happinesse and so they gave way to force though not to industrie He took Wormes Spiers and Oppengeim only Mentz and Creutznach made a shew of defence but were quickly compelled to follow the other and the Spaniards either to repasse the Mosell or to be shut up in Frankendal The King having visited the Seate of the mouth of the Mayne resolved to build a strong Town Gustave burgh under his own name opposite to Mentz below Francfurt and so he set men on worke about it and many great Lords built faire houses there but both this Town and the Victories of this great Prince vanished away a few years after as we shall shortly shew Amongst all the Princes of the confession of Auxburgh The Landgrave of Darmstedt obtaines new trality there was none but George Landgrave of Darstadt who kept newtrality and fidelity to the Emperour He sent to demand it also of the King by his Embassadours whom he answered that he wondered that he came not himself in Person since he was so neer Whereupon the Prince assembled the principal Ministers of his Countrey and proposed to
give them like for like if we can Indeed when jealousie and mistrust hath once taken root in the hearts of the Germans there is no means to pluck it out The designes of the Confederats The Confoederated Strangers were almost all resolved to make a Capiratado or Minct-meat of the Imperial Eagle but they could not agree about the sawee for King Gustave would have it sower and intended to eat it himselfe alone as the Lion did the Stag which he had taken in the company of the Wolfe and the Asse The King of France would have it sweer and praetended to both the wings at the least The King of England would have a share to his Brother in Law The vnited Provinces desired not her death but onely to cut off her Tallants that so she might not scratch The Venetians were of the same opinion with the Protestants who would onely make her change her nest and render her so tame and gentle Differences that she might be no more so fierce nor able to beck them Every body endeavoured to hurt her and turmoile her every one laid gins to catch her But when the Princes saw the King Gustave tormented her too much and handled her after such a-fashion as they liked not and that the French began to pluck off her feathers they apprehended both her ruine and their own too She was not succoured by the Polanders because thy were most exact observers of the Truce between themselves and the Swedes She got but very small aide from Italy for the Pope himselfe preferring the odour of the Flower de luce before all other considerations seemed not to care for the dangers to which she was exposed together with the Church whereof he possessed the supreme Dignity And yet for all this she defended her selfe with great resolution being succoured by the Spaniards and the Obedient Provinces as also by the City of Colein which was escaped out of a most evident danger The Eagle defended and by whom The Catholick Electors shewed themselves willing to die with her and the Duke of Lorraine made no difficulty to loose his States and hazard his life for her safety and preservation But the Elector of Trevers despairing of her health and endeavouring to save his own States from shipwrack and charmed besides by the eloquence of that great Cardinal cast himself into the armes of France as we shall hereafter finde though yet he could not escape the misfortune which was prepared both for his Arch-Bishoprick and himselfe But let us return into Brabant to the Siege of Mastricht CHAP. XXV Count Henry of Bergues disgusted with the Kings service goes secretly to the Haghe The Siege of Mastricht Papenheim repulsed returns into Germany Limburgh followes Mastricht and the Deputies the Prince to the Hague The death of three Kings THis year was memorable for the death of three kings Sigismund of Poland who very piously departed the 29 th of April The King of Sweden who lost his life upon the bed of honour and King Frederick who rendred his by sicknesse at Mentz The last year the Hollanders triumphed by water and they did it this by land as we shall see The Spaniards had sent the best part of their forces to the Palatinat and left the Low-Countries without men mony and counsel and in great terrour for so many losses Count Henry of Bergues disgusted by some pretended affronts with the service of his Prince whose Armies he commanded and by whom he could not be made greater then he was seeing the huge progresse of the King of Sweden and the occasion most opportune to beate out the Spaniards went to the Prince of Orange at the Haghe with whom together with Monsieur de la Tilillerie the French Embassadour there he had a very secret Conference Count Henry of Bergues goes to the Haghe the effects whereof appeared the first Field and the Prince being at the head of his Army marched the tenth of June from Grave up the Moze presented himselfe before Venlo from whence the said Count was already departed the same day and summoned it to render Venlo and Ruremund yeild The end of the War upon such conditions as he sent it in Blanke There was a report published that this Feild would produce an end of the War and of the Spanish Government which was the onely thing aimed at with the safety of the Catholick Religion and the Infanta's authority and person The bird cannot chuse but be taken if she hearken to the fowler Venlo was forthwith yeilded none going out of the Town but the Garrison for the Priests and Monks remained and the Reformats were content with one Church Count Ernest of Nasseaw went with a part of the Army before Ruremund which defended it selfe but through despaire of succour yeilded at last upon the same conditions that Venlo had done and a shot of a Harkebuse Ernest of Nassaw killed or Gun which was the last that was shot from the Town stopped the course of the said Counts life retarded the designe for some hours and gave Count John of Nasseaw meanes to put two and twenty Coulours into Mastricht This recrute brake the neck of all great designes purchased the Count of Bergues Savoâ—sr into Mastricht and them of his Cabal much disreputation and blame put the Hollanders in danger and preserved the succession for Philip the fourth King of Spaine how bitterly soever it have been disputed since The Infanta being fully informed of the said Count Henry's intentions whom she had alwayes loved and supported against all such as envyed him was at length induced to permit that an Order might be sent to the Governour of Guelders to seize upon his person and bring him with a good Guard to Brussels since he had refused to come of his one accord But he having smelt the designe retired himselfe forthwith to Liedge The Count of Bergues goes to Liedge where he laboured to draw the Kings Army to him by promising them an end of the War but none would follow him even they who had accompanied him thither forsooke him for the Souldiers desire not an end of War because they have no other Trade to live The Count of Warfuze And the Count of Warfuze who was of the Plot got also thither but the Duke of Arschot who was suspected for it stirred not at all but remained firme in his duty As soone as the Holland Cavalrie appeared before Mastricht Count John marched out with his in such sort as that the Prince not being able to winne the Town with faire words Mistricht besieged as he had done the other was constrained to change his note and keep measure with the Canon So that he intrenched himselfe before it and gave the Spaniards leasure to put an Army into the Feild who sent for their forces out of the Palatinat which beat the French who endeavoured to hinder their passage and joyned in a Body under the conduct
Politick knowledge to get out wherefore let us untangle our selves I say from a mater which is understood only by them of the Cabinet and go rowze up the sluggish Protestants neer that Banck or Damm by advertizing them of the approach of the Imperalists CHAP. XIII Piccolomini rayses the Siege of Wolfenbottel with losse Torstenton comes from Sweden with a supply Lamboy beaten and taken The progresse of the Swedes in Silesia The Imperialists defeated before Leipsick who after having punished the stacknesse of the Souldiers recollect themselves and raise the Siege of Friburgh The hattail of Honcourt The Exploits in Catalunia Mons. le Grands death The Cardinals death An Epâ—â—â—e of his life The Siege of Wolfenbottel WE lest all the Protestants forces with the Duke of Brunswick before the strong Town of Wolfenbottel which they laboured to reduce to their obedience by means of a certain Damm or Banck wherewith they stopped a brook which watered the said Town and the water was already grown so high that the Inhabitants were fain to forsake the lower parts of their houses Ficcolomini knowing the importance of the place and the affront he should do this great Army if he constrained it to retyre from thence advanced with his Troops And the losse of the Imperialists who constraine the besiegers entred into the Town and commanded some Regiments to attack them who garded the said Dike The combat was furious but the Seaâ—e and advantage of the Protestants put the Catholicks to a retreate with the losse of about two thousand men This frighted him not at all but he took another way and surprised some Towns from whence they received their provisions To retire which made them resolve to abandon the Siege and march oft though first they peirced the Dike and the Impetuosity of the water did as much hurt to Brunswick by slowing as the detention thereof had been little profitable before for of this water it is that they brew that good beer called Mum which is so much esteemed through all Low-Saxony and chiefly in Holland The Armies divided themselves as they had done the year before the Swedes expected Generall Torstenson who was come from Sweden with seven thousand men to whom Coninxmarck and Stalhans being joyned they all advanced to wards Silesia the Imperialists towards Bohemia and the Weymarians to the Rheyn whether we will accompany them to see the Bridge of Boats which they made to passe the River near Wesel The Confederated States had not yet forgotten the Cavalcade or Inroad of Papenheims and the favour he found in the Diocese of Colein It is most dangerous to offend such as can revenge themselves when they please Lamboy was in the said Country and his Regiments being distributed amongst the Villages were defeated one after another Lamboy beaten and taken the â—7 of January 1642. for want of good Guard upon Saint Authony's day 1642. and in one of the Villages which was dedicated to the said Saint bore his name and acknowledged him for Patron or Defender the Generall himself was taken prisoner and carried together with many others to the Bois de Vincennes to visit Iohn de Werdt and tell him that it was time to go and make head against the Weymarians This Army being uttery cut off the victorious enemy made great booty in those parts The Count of Guebriant for having behaved himself so well merited and received the Marshals staffe took many small Towns as Ording Nuits Campen and other and was supplyed by some Regimens of Britany which stayed not long in that Country The Swedes under their new Generall performed exploits of no lesse renowne For in May they took Glogow by force and in Iune Suchâ—â—t And the Imperialists in Silesia Olmâ—â—z surprised after having beaten the Imperial Troops commanded by Duke Francis Albert who died of his wounds and finally in Iuly Olmitz the Head Town of Moravia These sensible losses were followed by one of more note The Arch-Duke Leopold together with Piccolomini marched into the Field to stop this progresse Torstonson passed into Misnia and besieged Leipsick The Imperialists charged him and Piccolomini who commanded the Right Wing brake through the Left The defent of the imperialists near Leipsick the 2. of November 1642. but his men falling forthwith to plunder the said Swedes rallyed and attacked their enemies so sharply that they slighted the Arch-Dukes command refused to fight and through cowardize mixed with treachery began all to run So that the Swedes had a good bargain of it for there were found above six thousand men who never shot Pistoll nor Musket The Arch-Duke retyred with extreme displeasure into Bohemia and Piccolomini was full of confusion and spight to see so much perfidy and the losse of so fair a Game After this Battail which was fought the second of November 1642. the Swedes shewed themselves before Leipsick which forthwith submitted to them and in Ianuary following before Fribergh which sustained the siege for two months to the great amazement of all Saxony and Piccolomini after having chastised some Regiments in Bohemia and redressed his Army succoured it and so wiped off the affront which the base dastardliness of his souldiers had made him receive Which done he took his leave of the Emperour and the Electour of Saxony Fribergh succoured who feasted him and did him great honours for this advantageous exploit But he being loath to hazard his reputation amongst men of Arms so forgetfull of their duty came back to Brussels and put himselfe into the King of Spaines service The Swedes returned to Torgow and the Imperialists to General Gallasso The Weymarians domineering at their pleasure upon the Rheyn Hatsfeldt was commanded to face them who sound himself too weak but soon after there happened another change For Don Francisco de Melo now Captain General for the King of Spain having received some millions of money put the souldiery in state of action and marched from Brussels the last week of Lent 1642. forthwith took Lent and the first day after the Holy-days incamped himself before La Bassee which within seventeen days after opened him the Gates and the Garrison of above three thousand men marched out The French beaten by Melo near Harcourt and he came and surprised the Wâ—ymarians The Count of Harcourt indeavoured to succour it but found it too perilous an enterprise And so Melo went to attack the Marshall of of Guiche whom he utterly defeated and made it appear that Fortune was divided in her self This victory layd France open to him and his Van-guard by a fine stratagem was already entred when the news came to the Prince of Orange who was incamped at Littoye that his Reer and the Battalia or full Body of his Army were neer Mastricht This crafty Spaniard would not leave so potent forces behind him and would also surprise the Weymarians before he fell into France A great Design had it not been both prevised and
mean condition had been employed for the erection of the said Company The Portugueses make themselves Masters of Brazil The Portugueses complaining of the cruelty and avarice of the souldiers took Arms and by the help of some certain Traitors made themselves Masters of the whole Countrey save only the Rocif a strong place built in the Sea This action stirred up the United Provinces to revenge and so they speedily accommodated a great Fleer to go and reconquer the said Country The Portugal Embassadour at the Haghe used all possible diligence to divert this storm and made offers of high consideration to wit either to render the said Country or to give so many millions for the Reinbursement of the Zelanders but it was in vain for the Fleet set sayle with a multitude of good souldiers but the Expedition proving fruitless and the Expences unprofitable the said Company remained almost without pulse and Vice-Admiral Wit Wittenson having been constrained to abandon the said Country for want of releif was arrested at the Haghe to answer the objections made against him for his so speedy retreat The States of Holland will dismisse some Troops Since that time there hath been other fish to fry and other knots to untye which have caused that to be for gotten For the States of Holland being willing to play the good husbands thereby to discharge themselves of a part of their debts considered that it was necessary to licentiate or dismiss part of their forces on foot to be eased of so much useless expence The Prince opposes it The Prince of Orange opposed this design alleadging against them how dangerous it was to disfurnish themselves of the souldiets during the war between the two Crowns They urged a Reduction and a yearly Pension for such Officers as should be deposed but the difficulty being found greater by the oppugnance of some Provinces and chiefly the Dutchy of Guelders it was held fit And goes amongst the Townes that the said Prince should go amonst the Towns to dispose the Magistrates to let the Militia remain in the same state wherein it was and to content themselves with that dismission of the new Troops which was already made In effect the Colonels having received orders to keep their souldiers together the Prince went to Dort the ninth of June and after he had been at Delfe Rotterdam Gorkom Dergawde c. He returned the sixteenth of the same moneth to the Haghe The Petition which was made him by two Deputies of Amsterdam not to come into their Town seemed not pleasing to him as appeared by what followed Upon the twenty seventh of the aforesaid moneth the Deputies who had accompanyed him made report to the Assembly of States that the Answer of the Towns had been different Some whereof refuse to give audience ane that some of them as Harlem Dolst Amsterdam and Medemblick had refused him audience and had remitted the businesse to the Haghe to be there decided by their Deputies Complaines Upon the 30 the prince complained alowd to the Colledge of the States of the refusal made him by them of Amsterdam which was against his dignity and respect as also against the greatnesse of the Province of Holland whereof he was Governour affirming that this proceeding tended to the deminution of his authority and contempt of his person wherefore he desired that reparation and satisfaction might be made him by the Magistrates of the said Town The answers To which the Deputies wanted no answer but alledged their Rights as may be seen in the Declaration of both parties to which I refer the Reader It was generally believed that these complaints would have gone no further and that they would have been peacefully resolved in the Cabinet when on a suddain Six Lords taken the news came that the Prince had caused six Lords to be seazed upon namely De Witt Burghermaster or Mayor of Dort John Duâ—st of Delft John de Wael Burghermaster and the Syndick Reul both of them of Harlem the Syndick Keyser de Horne and Stellinguerf of Medemblick some of them Deputies and others Counsellers Whilest all the world was waiting to know the subject of this so extraordinary Imprisonment there came other news more strange then this which struck the ears of every one in particular filled all Holland with amazement and the curious with desire to see the Issue When waters which have been stopped find passage they make themselves heard with more violence and at a greater distance then those which have but their natural course The Prince not having received satisfactions his complaints were to be manifested but in what manner Every body knows The night of the twenty ninth or thirtieth of July a remarkable night and day till next morning being Satterday and all quiet at Amsterdam the Post of Hamburgh arrived about eight of the clock and brought word to the magistrates Troops straight to Amsterdam that he had met a Troop of Horse which was confirmed by the Drossart of Muide and that there were many more which marched straight to the Town alongst the Coast of the South Sea There was but one of the Burghermasters then in Town who forthwith assembled the said Magistrates and provided the Town against these forces which the people thought to be the Duke of Lorraines Thought to be the Duke of Lorrains The Gates were instantly shut and resolution taken to put some companies of men in Arms to which effect the Drummes were beaten with so great concourse that in a very few howers They run to Arms. the Souldiers and Canon were seen upon the Walls and all in a posture of defence as well on the side of the water as that of the Land This City being the most famous and most celebrated of the whole universe in regard of the Traffick and infinity of the vessess which arrive there from all the Havens of the world had not had any Alarme in eighty years before and yet she lest not to bestir her self for her own preservation and the security of the commerce A very dark night It is to be noted that that night was so dark and rainy that it deprived the Souldiers of the knowledge of the wayes and of the strength to march stedfastly In such sort as the guydes stayed and being puzled at a crosse-way made the Van march as soon as they found themselves right but the rest wandered so much up and down that they found themselves in the same Village an houre after The Magistrates having caused the Bridges to be drawn up dispatched their Deputies to ask Count William to what end he came thither with so great forces Whereupon he put this little Paper of the Princes into their hands which said That he had lately been very Ill received in their Town The Princes Letter whether he came for the service of the Common Native Country and to the end that the like might be done him
let us leave Scotland in teares let us leave the different opinions concerning the successe of this war for those of our Continent call us speedily back and especially the difference which happened in Cleveland Wars between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The Electour of Brandenburgh in full peace sent four thousand men into the Duke of Newburghs Country who attacked the strong House of Angremont and performed all acts of hostility without having denounced the war This invasion much displeased the Emperour and much more him whom it more nearly concerned Religion served here for a pretext and this affront put a flea in the ear of the bordering parts which yet by the intermission of the Emperour and the States of Holland was soon taken out the Lorrainers who went to succour the Duke of Newburgh sent back the forces casheered and the Princes returned to their former good intelligence This war gave Colem much apprehension and no small distrust to the United Provinces which feared lest if the fire increased it might grow to burn their Neighbours houses according to the Latin Proverb Tum tuâ—res agitur paries cum proximus ardet When thou seest the next house burn Be sure the next will be thy turn Let us go seek out Cardinal Mazarin in his disgrace CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entry into Paris The joy for both the Dutchesse of Longuevilles and the Marshall of Turennes repasse into France The Baptisone of the young Prince of Orange and the dispute about his tutelage The Damme broaken near Waguening Uleseldt accused of having intended to poyson the King of Denmark Berghen St. Weynock taken by the Spaniards THe Queen being very often petitioned by the Members of Parliament to set the Princes at liberty for the Kings service and the kingdoms quiet and seeing the Resolute run up and down the streets of Paris requiring their deliverance condescended to it but the Kings Counsell on the other side was not a little staggered to hear the importunate voyce of the people Live the King Live the Princes no Mazarin His eminence finding France disgusted by his Ministery retyred himself as we have have already said and the Princes made their entry into Paris the 16. of February where they were received by the Duke of Orleans and all the great ones with very strong resentments of joy The conditions upon which they were released were that the hostility of Stenay and Turenne should cease The Cardinal departs out of France and takes an order for his banishment The Cardinal not being able to prevent or hinder this return of theirs so prejudicial to his Authority and seeing the Duke of Orleans who had consented to their detention so urgent now under pretext of the kingdoms good for their releasement got the King and Queen to approve of his retreat The joy for his departure was incomprehensibly great for every one gave him a wipe and acccused him of having exhausted the Finances or Exchequer nor is there in fine that wickednesse in nature wherewith he was not branded in such sort as it was believed that his absence would bring back the golden Age. But his banishment touched him much more to the quick His enemies had now their time and he not long after had his It is better to laugh at last then at first His departure was ignominious but his return was glorious The Spaniards offered him all kindness of favour in his disgrace which he discreetly refused upon the consideration of a former obligation The Parliament of Roüen Decreed also against him All the world yea even the Pope himself hated him And yet for all this the mischiefs whereof he was held to be the Authour ended not by his retyrement The King and Queen made a Manifest wherein they declared the Princes innocent Goes to Dinant and then to Bruel and approved all that which was ordered against Mazarin who passed by Perone Sedan and Dinant where he stayd some days and then went to Liedge and in fine retyred to Bruel to the Electour who received him according to his qualities Thus was he exiled cryed down and hated by all his services were forgotten and even they themselves who shewed him some courtesie in his retreat were made guilty thereby None but great spirits make their magnanimity appear in misfortunes The Vice-Count returns into France The Dutchesse of Longueville the Marshal of Turenne and the Count of Grandpre returned into France with their Troops where they were welcom leaving the care of finishing the work to the Spaniards who could not sufficiently wonder at this change however the Princes sent to Brussels to thank the Arch-Duke for his care of their deliverance Wilhelmus Henrious Prince of Orange nassau sonn of the Princis Royall London Printed sould by P Stent The great assembly at the Haghe In the mean while the great assembly persevered in the care of making the union stronger then ever and repayting some disorders in relation to which it was judged necessary to grant an Act of oblivion to put the Militia into good method to maintaine the Reformed Religion to keep the bitt in the Roman Catholicks mouthes and exclude such as followed that Doctrine from all Publick employments Separates All being concluded the Assembly sent for a Minister to give God thanks and parted with most perfect intelligence A day of prayer was held and alms was distributed and the Firewords and Ordnance made a concert for the Simbole of the union The Bank broken The yeare of 1651 towards the end of Winter the Snowes melting by a thaw the Waters of the Rheyn swol up in such sort that the Bank between Rhene and Waguening brake and put the inhabitants about Amerssort into great perplexities Indeed Many Inundations this year deserved to be called the yeare of deluge for there were very few Rivers in Europe which did not by the continuall raines exceed their bounds and bear down their banks The Scourge of God as water fire and sword are every where felt Let us go to the septemptrion where we shall finde one of the greatest Lords yea the high Steward of the House of the King of Denmark himself suspected and accused of having intended to poyson the King A wickedness unknown heretofore in the colds of the North. Ulefeldt the high Steward of the Kings houshold accused of having intended to poyson him It was Mons. Vlefeldt a man of great experience and much renowned for the Embassayes wherein he had rendred the King and Common-Wealth great services who was accused of this treason by a lewd woman who not being able to prove the said accusation was beheaded One Colovel Walter was also suspected who having defended his innocence summoned the said Vlefeldt but he in stead of appearing before the King departed secretly with his wife into Holland afterwards into Sweden His flight was extreamly ill
taken and Hannibal Zeestadt for having contemned the Kings Authority was degraded from his charge and deprived of almost all his Estate These two Lords had marryed each of them one of the dead Kings naturall Daughters and were Brothers-in-Law to Count Wolmaor The Count Wolmaer goes into Muscovie who during his Fathers life went into Muscovie to marry the Grand Dukes Daughter where he tryed the perfidie of those Barbarians who in consideration of an advice come from another place would not give him the Princesse but upon unreceivable conditions In fine having unpesterest himself from their hands and received his liberty he repassed through Poland put himself into the Imperiall Armies whore he acquired great reputation and high employments and the Emperours favour to boot Thus all was appeased in that Kingdom and let us now returne post back through Germany where we shall find nothing but a reformation and some complaints which rang every where of the Garrison of Frankendal The French forces marched towards the Low-Countryes and committed some robberies and violences upon the Fronteers of Flanders the Spaniards opposed them and towards the end of the Summer drew out some regiments and made them march under the conduct of that great Captain the Marquis of Sfondrato who took Fuernes with small resistance Sfondrato takes Fuernes and Berghen St. Wynock 1651. but Berghen St. Wynock a strong place and ayded by the waters of the Sea which the Sluces being drawn let passe and which gave the Souldiers great vexations opened her gates the eleventh day to let the Spanish Garrison in and the French out The Fort Linck was also soon reduced and Burburgh being abandoned was put again into condition to defend it self It was conceived that the Spaniards would make an attempt upon Dunkerk but the continual rains the lateness of the season and sicknesses amongst the souldiers sent the Army back to rest CHAP. XII The Cardinal returns into France The Lords who had been imprisoned are restored to their employments The Prince of Condè retyres from Paris The King declared May or Prodigies seen upon the Sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why The death of Spiâ—ing The Cardinals forces passe through Holland HOwever Cardinal Mazarin was unhappy in a Crosse of fortune yet he omitted not either his care or any occasion to serve the King of France For he contracted some of the forces which were disinissed in Cleveland and sent them secretly down the Rheyn to Rotterdaim where being discovered and their leader summoned to the Haghe the Souldiers constrained the Boatmen to put them a shore and so every one went whether he pleased In the moneth of August there arrived neer two thousand Neapolitans before the Rammekens in foure ships who tryed the courtesie of the Zelanders heard their grumblings and were forced to returne to Sea since the passage to Antwerp was not allowed them The Printe of Condè retyres himself from coâ—rt After the Princes departure the Lords who were released were restored to their former charges But a sudden gust or blast which surprizes the Mariners at Sea in a great Calme doth not more hare them then the Prince of Condes sudden retreat did the French upon an advertizement which had been given him that the Queen would secure his person again She sent a protestation to him that she had no such design and that it was nothing but false reports scattered by the Enemies of France and so upon conditions that the Cardinals Creatures as Servient Tellier c. should retyre from the Court he came back to Paris but these conditions were ill enough observed The King declared Mayor the seventh of September 1651. The seventh of September the King being at the Parliament the Chanceller declared him Mayor as being entred into the fourteenth year of his Age and the Queen discharged her self of her Regencie The Prince of Condè upon another information given him that they would murther him retyred himself again to St. Maur and from thence to Bourdeaux where he drew the inhabitants to his party and the Spaniards came to succour him with seventeen Ships Mezarin returns into France The King and Queen went to Poictiers where they sent for the Cardinal who forthwith obeyed and came to them with some thousands of men and was received by them both with superlative testimonies of benevolence Thus was the fire grown greater then ever and more certain apparence of a general combustion throughout the whole Kingdom An order of Parliament was proclamed against Cardinal Mazarine declaring him guilty of High Treason as a Perturbatour of the Kingdom all his Lands and Goods confiscated his fine Library sold a hundred and fifty thousand Livers or Florins adjudged to any body who would bring him alive or dead The Spaniards come again into France and the Spaniards called again into France by the Prince of Condè under the conduct of the Duke of Nemours The Kings complaints were answered by other and the conclusion was that if his Majesty would expell the Cardinal the forrain forces should retyre out of France Let us leave the French thus divided some leaning to the Princes side and some to Mazarins and these latter were styled Mazarinists for we must take notice of the motion of the English towards a War with the Vnited Previnces which were of the same Religion their Friends and Neighbours For the English put out an Act forbidding the importing any commodities from any place but those of their own growth and in their own ships to the intention of increasing the shipping and Mariners of that Nation which act how highly it disgusted the Hollanders the effects of a most fierce War will demonstrate Some Prodigies preceded this War which I will set down briefly without staying upon the circumstances thereof Oh unhappy Age No sooner are we delivered from one misfortune then we fall into a greater For these united Provinces had no sooner given thanks to the Almighty for Peace then they found themselves ill looked upon by many Potentates envied by some and incommodated by others in their trade In fine the mischief came from that part which they least suspected Take heer the Prodigies which were seen by men of credit and report thereof made to the States in this substance Prodigees seen neer the mouth of the Sea That upon Fry day the twenty second of December 1651 about nine of the clock ten or twelve leagues from the mouth of the Moze they saw a plaine Field of the hight of a man about the Horizon and therein many Souldiers both foot and Horse which forthwith disappeared Next they saw neer about the same place a great Fleet coming from the North some of the Vessels whereof had their Sayles but half up By and by there appeared another from the South-east which came straight to attack the Former and then it seemed as if all the Ships were sunk to the bottom which